Chapter 020: I Want to Be a Person Warm Like the Sun.
The man in the mirror was momentarily stunned. A look of profound shock spread across the face that was identical to Pond's. He was frozen, seemingly unable to fathom how he, who intended to pull someone into the mirror, was now the one being seized!
As his face was pulled from the mirror, the handsome face identical to Pond's began to melt. Only then did he snap back to reality, his pupils quaking with panic. Unable to make sense of the situation yet sensing imminent danger, he struggled fiercely, attempting to retreat and place his face back into the mirror. However, with one strong pull, Pond rendered his struggles as insignificant as a butterfly flapping in one's hand.
Holding the throat of the mirror man, Pond pulled him out little by little. The mirrored figure, with his soft body, tried to clutch the edges of the mirror and then the faucet of the washbasin.
Tap,
But it was all in vain. Like an octopus, he was slowly drawn out of the mirror by Pond.
From the moment the mirrored man's face left the glass, the features that belonged to Pond became blurry, melting like wax. Instead of forming a new face, all that remained was a pale, featureless sheet of skin.
"Can I ask you a question?" Pond tossed him onto the bathroom floor. Since the mirror was company property and not to be damaged, Pond had to stand in front of it, blocking the ghostly figure's path back. He politely inquired, "Can you tell me, what attracts you all to this place so much?"
On that pale, faceless skin, a spot, presumably where the mouth should be, pulsed a few times. But the only sound it emitted was a gurgling "glug-glug". He tried to crawl towards the window like a mound of sludge, only to be effortlessly caught by Pond again.
Pond was somewhat exasperated. Without a means to communicate, he had to see for himself.
Although the skill of "Empathy" allowed him to see the past of ghosts and spirits, he would also fully absorb their emotions. In this peaceful world, he wouldn't use it without reason, especially not on a ghost like this.
His eyes deepened as Pond gazed into the soul of the mirror ghost.
The first thing Pond saw was a face in a mirror, blurry to the extent that its features were indiscernible. However, the memory of the mirror ghost told him that it was an exceedingly ordinary face. So ordinary that the ghost himself, unsatisfied, had forgotten his own appearance.
Following that, a surge of the mirror ghost's resentment hit him. The ghost couldn't stand seeing those around him with beautiful appearances being admired, getting better opportunities. He blamed everything on his too-ordinary face, thinking if he had such a face, he could be just like them.
Later on, he died in a car accident. In the rearview mirror, he saw his own mundane face. With his dying strength, he reached out, trying to wipe away that face.
His fixation as a malevolent spirit wasn't on his unexpected death, but on his own face. He took residence in the mirror of a rundown public bathroom near the accident site. Whenever someone good-looking entered, regardless of gender, he would try to swap their face with his. However, every time he emerged from the mirror, those faces would melt away.
The reason the mirror ghost came to Le Dao was similar to that of the Floral Dress. One day, Li Xu visited the restroom, and the ghost followed, coming all the way to the company. Since Li Xu had no room left for him, the ghost settled in the company's restroom.
Finally, Pond witnessed the mirror ghost's intense coveting of his own face.
He admired Chi Shen's face, and Chi Shen was pleased that he admired his own face. Smiling, Chi Shen extended his hand, complimented him on his good taste, and then swiftly dismissed him.
The spirit in the mirror dissolved into a black mist within Chi Shen's grip. Chi Shen then meticulously washed his hands in front of the mirror before slowly exiting the restroom.
Ji Xing Chen held the little girl while waiting in the office area for him. When he emerged, Ji Xing Chen silently returned to Chi Shen's shadow after setting the little girl down.
The little girl curiously peeked into the mirror, and cheered, "It's truly gone! Now, I won't be scared when uncle uses the restroom!"
"If there's any other place," Chi Shen said with a smile, "point it out to me."
A better working environment is undoubtedly something one must advocate for. If he encounters a small issue at work, he must address it fundamentally. If he can't convince his boss, he should discern the reasons behind the boss's popularity.
Although he's still puzzled as to why Li Xu is so favored by ghosts tonight, perhaps questioning a few more spirits might shed some light.
The little girl quickly added, "The rooftop! The table by the entrance! And there's..."
Following the little girl's lead, Chi Shen first drew out the ghost hiding behind the flower pot, then dismantled the ventilation ducts. He politely greeted the ghost on the rooftop, inquiring about its reasons for staying there. Receiving no answer, he sent them to an eternally dark yet peaceful abode.
Just as he was about to approach the reception desk to inquire about the ghost there, his phone rang.
Picking it up, he saw it was from Yuan Yi Ping again.
After some contemplation, Yuan Yi Ping, still concerned, dialed Chi Shen once more.
It wasn't just out of pity for Chi Shen but because all ordinary people are under his protection. It's his duty. Chi Shen had recently encountered a ghost, making him vulnerable, and there's a high chance he'd attract more spirits.
"Where are you? Are you home yet?" Yuan Yi Ping's voice resonated from the other end.
Chi Shen glanced at the trembling ghost hiding under the table. After what seemed like a moment of consideration, he calmly replied, "Not yet. I'm scared to leave because I've seen a ghost."
Even though Yuan Yi Ping found Chi Shen's calmness peculiar, he quickly asked, "Where are you?"
"14th floor," Chi Shen replied, turning to head back to his desk, "Le Dao Culture."
Yuan Yi Ping's eyes widened in shock. He promptly turned to his colleague, "There's a civilian trapped on the 14th floor. Come with me, we must rescue him!"
Chi Shen sat at his desk, smiling at the little girl, "Did you have fun tonight?"
"I did!" The little girl beamed, "Thank you, big brother!"
Charmed by the sweet words of the little girl, Chi Shen's smile widened a bit more. "None of them told big brother why they're here. Can you tell me why you're with Li Xu?"
"Because Uncle is a good person!" The little girl blinked her eyes, "He makes us feel warm, so we follow and protect him!"
A good person? Protect?
Chi Shen stroked his chin, taken aback by the answer. He considered himself a good person, and he strived to be one. If he could make spirits feel warmth, why weren't any of them protecting him?
Li Xu, being bothered by so many spirits yet not reacting at all, clearly couldn't see them. Still, these ghosts called him a good person. Why was that?
If the little girl was referring to Chi Shen, he'd find that more plausible. After all, he had just helped her drive away a threat.
"What has he done for you?" Chi Shen inquired.
However, the little girl simply shook her head, "Just by seeing him, we knew he'd accept us. So, we followed."
Chi Shen understood. Li Xu hadn't really done anything; he had simply won these spirits over with sheer charisma. Was this the power of a reputed horror game developer?
Footsteps echoed suddenly from the corridor. The little girl trembled slightly and looked towards the company's entrance.
"I should go," she swiftly hopped off the table and headed towards the window. With a hint of reluctance, she looked back after exiting, "See you next time!"
Chi Shen waved her goodbye.
The footsteps drew closer, resonating distinctly in the silent midnight building. Chi Shen knew it was Yuan Yi Ping and his crew.
Silence prevailed behind him. Chi Shen, with downcast eyes, whispered, "Don't be afraid; I can protect you."
Ji Xing Chen extended a hand from the shadow, gently grasping Chi Shen's wrist. His deep voice murmured close to Chi Shen's ear, "Thank you."
The arm, dressed in a suit, transformed into a dark phantom, flowing and melding back into the shadows.
Chapter 020: I Want to Be a Person Warm Like the Sun.
The man in the mirror was momentarily stunned. A look of profound shock spread across the face that was identical to Pond's. He was frozen, seemingly unable to fathom how he, who intended to pull someone into the mirror, was now the one being seized!
As his face was pulled from the mirror, the handsome face identical to Pond's began to melt. Only then did he snap back to reality, his pupils quaking with panic. Unable to make sense of the situation yet sensing imminent danger, he struggled fiercely, attempting to retreat and place his face back into the mirror. However, with one strong pull, Pond rendered his struggles as insignificant as a butterfly flapping in one's hand.
Holding the throat of the mirror man, Pond pulled him out little by little. The mirrored figure, with his soft body, tried to clutch the edges of the mirror and then the faucet of the washbasin.
Tap,
But it was all in vain. Like an octopus, he was slowly drawn out of the mirror by Pond.
From the moment the mirrored man's face left the glass, the features that belonged to Pond became blurry, melting like wax. Instead of forming a new face, all that remained was a pale, featureless sheet of skin.
"Can I ask you a question?" Pond tossed him onto the bathroom floor. Since the mirror was company property and not to be damaged, Pond had to stand in front of it, blocking the ghostly figure's path back. He politely inquired, "Can you tell me, what attracts you all to this place so much?"
On that pale, faceless skin, a spot, presumably where the mouth should be, pulsed a few times. But the only sound it emitted was a gurgling "glug-glug". He tried to crawl towards the window like a mound of sludge, only to be effortlessly caught by Pond again.
Pond was somewhat exasperated. Without a means to communicate, he had to see for himself.
Although the skill of "Empathy" allowed him to see the past of ghosts and spirits, he would also fully absorb their emotions. In this peaceful world, he wouldn't use it without reason, especially not on a ghost like this.
His eyes deepened as Pond gazed into the soul of the mirror ghost.
The first thing Pond saw was a face in a mirror, blurry to the extent that its features were indiscernible. However, the memory of the mirror ghost told him that it was an exceedingly ordinary face. So ordinary that the ghost himself, unsatisfied, had forgotten his own appearance.
Following that, a surge of the mirror ghost's resentment hit him. The ghost couldn't stand seeing those around him with beautiful appearances being admired, getting better opportunities. He blamed everything on his too-ordinary face, thinking if he had such a face, he could be just like them.
Later on, he died in a car accident. In the rearview mirror, he saw his own mundane face. With his dying strength, he reached out, trying to wipe away that face.
His fixation as a malevolent spirit wasn't on his unexpected death, but on his own face. He took residence in the mirror of a rundown public bathroom near the accident site. Whenever someone good-looking entered, regardless of gender, he would try to swap their face with his. However, every time he emerged from the mirror, those faces would melt away.
The reason the mirror ghost came to Le Dao was similar to that of the Floral Dress. One day, Li Xu visited the restroom, and the ghost followed, coming all the way to the company. Since Li Xu had no room left for him, the ghost settled in the company's restroom.
Finally, Pond witnessed the mirror ghost's intense coveting of his own face.
He admired Chi Shen's face, and Chi Shen was pleased that he admired his own face. Smiling, Chi Shen extended his hand, complimented him on his good taste, and then swiftly dismissed him.
The spirit in the mirror dissolved into a black mist within Chi Shen's grip. Chi Shen then meticulously washed his hands in front of the mirror before slowly exiting the restroom.
Ji Xing Chen held the little girl while waiting in the office area for him. When he emerged, Ji Xing Chen silently returned to Chi Shen's shadow after setting the little girl down.
The little girl curiously peeked into the mirror, and cheered, "It's truly gone! Now, I won't be scared when uncle uses the restroom!"
"If there's any other place," Chi Shen said with a smile, "point it out to me."
A better working environment is undoubtedly something one must advocate for. If he encounters a small issue at work, he must address it fundamentally. If he can't convince his boss, he should discern the reasons behind the boss's popularity.
Although he's still puzzled as to why Li Xu is so favored by ghosts tonight, perhaps questioning a few more spirits might shed some light.
The little girl quickly added, "The rooftop! The table by the entrance! And there's..."
Following the little girl's lead, Chi Shen first drew out the ghost hiding behind the flower pot, then dismantled the ventilation ducts. He politely greeted the ghost on the rooftop, inquiring about its reasons for staying there. Receiving no answer, he sent them to an eternally dark yet peaceful abode.
Just as he was about to approach the reception desk to inquire about the ghost there, his phone rang.
Picking it up, he saw it was from Yuan Yi Ping again.
After some contemplation, Yuan Yi Ping, still concerned, dialed Chi Shen once more.
It wasn't just out of pity for Chi Shen but because all ordinary people are under his protection. It's his duty. Chi Shen had recently encountered a ghost, making him vulnerable, and there's a high chance he'd attract more spirits.
"Where are you? Are you home yet?" Yuan Yi Ping's voice resonated from the other end.
Chi Shen glanced at the trembling ghost hiding under the table. After what seemed like a moment of consideration, he calmly replied, "Not yet. I'm scared to leave because I've seen a ghost."
Even though Yuan Yi Ping found Chi Shen's calmness peculiar, he quickly asked, "Where are you?"
"14th floor," Chi Shen replied, turning to head back to his desk, "Le Dao Culture."
Yuan Yi Ping's eyes widened in shock. He promptly turned to his colleague, "There's a civilian trapped on the 14th floor. Come with me, we must rescue him!"
Chi Shen sat at his desk, smiling at the little girl, "Did you have fun tonight?"
"I did!" The little girl beamed, "Thank you, big brother!"
Charmed by the sweet words of the little girl, Chi Shen's smile widened a bit more. "None of them told big brother why they're here. Can you tell me why you're with Li Xu?"
"Because Uncle is a good person!" The little girl blinked her eyes, "He makes us feel warm, so we follow and protect him!"
A good person? Protect?
Chi Shen stroked his chin, taken aback by the answer. He considered himself a good person, and he strived to be one. If he could make spirits feel warmth, why weren't any of them protecting him?
Li Xu, being bothered by so many spirits yet not reacting at all, clearly couldn't see them. Still, these ghosts called him a good person. Why was that?
If the little girl was referring to Chi Shen, he'd find that more plausible. After all, he had just helped her drive away a threat.
"What has he done for you?" Chi Shen inquired.
However, the little girl simply shook her head, "Just by seeing him, we knew he'd accept us. So, we followed."
Chi Shen understood. Li Xu hadn't really done anything; he had simply won these spirits over with sheer charisma. Was this the power of a reputed horror game developer?
Footsteps echoed suddenly from the corridor. The little girl trembled slightly and looked towards the company's entrance.
"I should go," she swiftly hopped off the table and headed towards the window. With a hint of reluctance, she looked back after exiting, "See you next time!"
Chi Shen waved her goodbye.
The footsteps drew closer, resonating distinctly in the silent midnight building. Chi Shen knew it was Yuan Yi Ping and his crew.
Silence prevailed behind him. Chi Shen, with downcast eyes, whispered, "Don't be afraid; I can protect you."
Ji Xing Chen extended a hand from the shadow, gently grasping Chi Shen's wrist. His deep voice murmured close to Chi Shen's ear, "Thank you."
The arm, dressed in a suit, transformed into a dark phantom, flowing and melding back into the shadows.
