Chapter 059: I Am the Devil.
There were indeed many discrepancies in Ji Xingchen's memories. Everything he recalled was cheerful, even the weather was always blue skies and white clouds. Chi Shen could empathize with the version of himself in Ji Xingchen's memories and sensed that Ji Xingchen was always happy. It was evident that these memories were not natural. Large chunks of memory were missing, as if someone had deliberately erased the unpleasant moments, leaving gaps behind.
Ji Xingchen did have moments of unhappiness, but those arose after he woke up in the old mansion. After joining an international trading company, another substantial chunk of his memory went missing. The subsequent memory was of him waking up in the old mansion, but this time as a ghost.
After awakening, Ji Xingchen began to cautiously explore the mansion, trying to survive in its nooks and crannies, grappling with his newfound existence. Later, he met Chi Shen and decided to investigate the cause of his death.
But these post-mortem memories were different from those when he was alive.
Additionally, a significant figure was missing from Ji Xingchen's memories - his father. Even after his mother's disappearance, there was no sign of his father. The mother in Ji Xingchen's memory was a gentle housewife with no apparent source of income, yet Ji Xingchen always lived comfortably. There was also no mention that he came from a single-parent household.
One could argue that memories related to being labeled from a single-parent household were not pleasant and thus, were erased.
Chi Shen, however, believed that the father was a vital figure in Ji Xingchen's life. For some reason, he was omitted from Ji Xingchen's blissful memories.
Precisely because all of Ji Xingchen's memories were positive, Chi Shen referred to him as "wonderful" rather than "in pain."
Listening to Chi Shen's words, Ji Xingchen, standing by the door, slightly lowered his head. Concealing the emotions in his eyes, he put on his glasses. Once again, he became the calm and meticulous Ji Xingchen.
"It's time for lunch," Ji Xingchen reminded him as usual. "Miss Xu Xiuyin called you three times this morning while you were sleeping. I hung up for you. If necessary, you can call her back."
"Well done, I'm too lazy to return the call. If she needs something, she'll call back," Chi Shen said nonchalantly. Not wanting to delve deeper, he sneezed, went to freshen up, and headed downstairs for a meal.
After eating, Chi Shen finally had time to handle matters in the rental house. He felt he should greet his new roommate, a socially anxious individual who wasn't too welcoming. Chi Shen thought of getting a gift as a gesture, but had forgotten due to the late hour the previous night.
Chi Shen went to the supermarket and bought several stacks of colored card paper, some fruits and snacks, and even splurged on an entire roasted duck and five large hairy crabs.
As they say during deep autumn... the crabs are at their fattest...
I'll keep a crab for myself and let the roommates taste the rest.
Carrying a huge amount of items, Chi Shen joyfully returned home. He drew the living room curtains, darkening the entire space, and then lit some aromatic candles. Facing the empty living room, he smiled warmly, “My name is Chi Shen, and I'll be living here from today on. Apologies for any inconvenience.”
There was no sound throughout the room. In the dim light, Bai Wan, who had somehow appeared in the living room, stood silently by the coffee table, while the ghost with the distorted face and the lady ghost in red were drooling over the food.
Was it too early? Chi Shen wondered.
He then added, “I've bought some offerings. Let's share them.”
Still, no response came from the room.
The sobbing from the kitchen didn't resume, the ghost from the bedroom... Ah, that one had been persuaded by Chi Shen to leave last night and was now nowhere to be seen. The specter from the restroom was also missing, and the shadow that used to hang from the living room chandelier didn't appear either.
Perhaps the new roommates are shy, thought Chi Shen.
He lit the aromatic candles, made a brief worship gesture, and both the ghost with the distorted face and the lady ghost in red showed contented expressions. Even Ji Xing Chen's expression softened. Since last night, his usually emotionless face had become much more serious. Chi Shen's consolation earlier seemed to have helped. After enjoying the food offering, he looked as usual.
After distributing the food to everyone, Chi Shen began to unwrap his own crab. As for the new roommates, if they don’t want to come out, so be it.
Just as he was undoing the rope around the crab, there was a sudden noise from the kitchen. A ghostly figure crawled out – a middle-aged woman dragging blood behind her, her face stained with two lines of blood tears. She didn't approach the living room but bowed from the kitchen entrance to Chi Shen and then retreated.
The ghost Chi Shen had seen in the restroom also appeared, looking like a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy in a blood-stained school uniform. The boy respectfully bowed at the doorway and then vanished.
Apart from these two, no other ghosts appeared.
Chi Shen gave them a kind smile, acknowledging their gratitude, and then continued unwrapping the crab, sighing, “It seems I truly lack personal charisma.”
The ghost with the distorted face, feeling better after eating, cheerfully chimed in, “Personal charisma? Like Li Xun? Can you even compare?”
Chi Shen looked at him.
The ghost immediately seemed a bit subdued, “Considering... what happened with you and the glasses guy last night, the fact these ghosts didn’t flee immediately means your charisma is already maxed out.”
Ji Xing Chen adjusted his glasses and bluntly retorted, “They are earth-bound spirits. They can't leave.”
As he cracked open the crab, revealing the rich golden yolk inside, Chi Shen immediately felt happier. Oh well, lacking personal charisma isn’t the end of the world. Eating is what truly matters.
After their meal, Chi Shen rallied everyone for a thorough cleaning. This was to be their new home, and cleanliness was a priority.
Each person, accompanied by several ghosts, meticulously cleaned every nook and cranny. They found a large strip of talisman chewed up by rats, some joss paper and candles, and even some fresh bloodstains. Ghost face, an ancient entity who had long forgotten its own physical form, instantly recognized it as black dog blood.
It made sense why the previous landlord was reluctant to let him move in and insisted on selecting an auspicious day; likely, they were preparing these rituals. However, these preparations seemed futile, as the ghosts in the house were still very much present.
Upholding the principle of harmonious coexistence, Chi Shen spoke with his new housemates, highlighting the efforts involved in sweeping and mopping. He urged them to take care of the home, avoid leaving bloody marks, and create no disturbance to prevent complaints from neighbors.
Chi Shen had thought such communication might take some time. To his surprise, they immediately showed understanding. They stopped dripping blood, stifled their cries, and even hid beneath the cabinets, deeply moving Chi Shen.
Having social anxiety as roommates is okay. As long as there's open communication, everyone can coexist peacefully, Chi Shen believed he was doing well in this aspect.
In the midst of a big clean-up, Chi Shen received a call from Xu XiuYin, asking if he was free for lunch the next day. It had been a while since they last met, and she missed him.
Chi Shen initially wanted to decline, but he remembered the face in Li Xue's dream – the face of a female ghost that resembled Ji XingChen standing before the sunlit old mansion.
He once tried to access the memories of Ji XingChen No.2, but saw nothing. Perhaps because Ji XingChen No.2 was still a corpse, not entirely dead, his ability to empathize with ghosts didn't work on him. The now fully dormant Ji XingChen No.2 was also unreachable, leaving Chi Shen clueless.
The clue from the female ghost was crucial, indicating that Ji XingChen had once been alive and appeared at the old mansion.
Seeking information from the Bai family might yield unexpected insights.
Chi Shen and Xu XiuYin arranged lunch for the next day at a upscale restaurant. Over the phone, Xu XiuYin spoke softly, like a caring mother. She kindly asked if she had noted any dietary restrictions for Chi Shen correctly, something she had observed during their last meal together.
After listening, Chi Shen hung up without confirming or denying her observations.
Ji XingChen, seated beside him, was sketching a design for the balcony. After Chi Shen ended the call, Ji XingChen handed him the sketch, suggesting, "The lounge chair you wanted can be placed here, with some easy-to-care-for flowers on the side."
Chi Shen smiled genuinely, looking at Ji XingChen.
Ji XingChen looked back at him, puzzled.
"Sometimes, I feel more at ease with ghosts than with the living," Chi Shen said with a smile. "I think I might be going mad."
Ji XingChen shook his head, "Ghosts are straightforward in love and hate, but human hearts are inscrutable."
Laughing, Chi Shen looked at the sketch and said, "Put a large black umbrella there so everyone can sunbathe with me."
"Alright," Ji XingChen nodded, quickly adding it to the drawing.
After nightfall, Bai Wan and the red-clothed female ghost stood on the balcony, gazing at the vibrant city lights. Being in the city center, the colorful lights painted the sky.
The building in Chi Shen's residence wasn't particularly tall; the view was obstructed by a few taller skyscrapers nearby. Nevertheless, the woman in red, apparently a ghost, leaned on the railing, chattering and pointing playfully at Bai Wan.
With a smirk, the ghostly figure introduced, "This is modern architecture. Haven't seen it before, have you? The entire city now runs on electricity! Don't be fooled by the darkness, the nightlife has just begun..."
Chi Shen didn't join in the excitement; instead, he lounged lazily on his sofa, browsing through options for recliners. Just then, his phone rang; it was Xu Jiayuan.
"Tomorrow night is All Hallows' Eve, and it conveniently falls on a weekend," Xu Jiayuan's voice sounded somewhat weary. "I never thought Halloween would become popular in Hong City. We've been swamped with work these days. Be cautious; the streets will be bustling with costumes and revelry. There might be real ghosts mingling amongst them. Ordinary folks, with their strong vitality, might be fine. But you, with your frequent ghostly encounters, could easily be targeted."
"I see..." Chi Shen glanced at the spirits surrounding him, chuckling, "Got it, thanks for the heads up."
Chapter 059: I Am the Devil.
There were indeed many discrepancies in Ji Xingchen's memories. Everything he recalled was cheerful, even the weather was always blue skies and white clouds. Chi Shen could empathize with the version of himself in Ji Xingchen's memories and sensed that Ji Xingchen was always happy. It was evident that these memories were not natural. Large chunks of memory were missing, as if someone had deliberately erased the unpleasant moments, leaving gaps behind.
Ji Xingchen did have moments of unhappiness, but those arose after he woke up in the old mansion. After joining an international trading company, another substantial chunk of his memory went missing. The subsequent memory was of him waking up in the old mansion, but this time as a ghost.
After awakening, Ji Xingchen began to cautiously explore the mansion, trying to survive in its nooks and crannies, grappling with his newfound existence. Later, he met Chi Shen and decided to investigate the cause of his death.
But these post-mortem memories were different from those when he was alive.
Additionally, a significant figure was missing from Ji Xingchen's memories - his father. Even after his mother's disappearance, there was no sign of his father. The mother in Ji Xingchen's memory was a gentle housewife with no apparent source of income, yet Ji Xingchen always lived comfortably. There was also no mention that he came from a single-parent household.
One could argue that memories related to being labeled from a single-parent household were not pleasant and thus, were erased.
Chi Shen, however, believed that the father was a vital figure in Ji Xingchen's life. For some reason, he was omitted from Ji Xingchen's blissful memories.
Precisely because all of Ji Xingchen's memories were positive, Chi Shen referred to him as "wonderful" rather than "in pain."
Listening to Chi Shen's words, Ji Xingchen, standing by the door, slightly lowered his head. Concealing the emotions in his eyes, he put on his glasses. Once again, he became the calm and meticulous Ji Xingchen.
"It's time for lunch," Ji Xingchen reminded him as usual. "Miss Xu Xiuyin called you three times this morning while you were sleeping. I hung up for you. If necessary, you can call her back."
"Well done, I'm too lazy to return the call. If she needs something, she'll call back," Chi Shen said nonchalantly. Not wanting to delve deeper, he sneezed, went to freshen up, and headed downstairs for a meal.
After eating, Chi Shen finally had time to handle matters in the rental house. He felt he should greet his new roommate, a socially anxious individual who wasn't too welcoming. Chi Shen thought of getting a gift as a gesture, but had forgotten due to the late hour the previous night.
Chi Shen went to the supermarket and bought several stacks of colored card paper, some fruits and snacks, and even splurged on an entire roasted duck and five large hairy crabs.
As they say during deep autumn... the crabs are at their fattest...
I'll keep a crab for myself and let the roommates taste the rest.
Carrying a huge amount of items, Chi Shen joyfully returned home. He drew the living room curtains, darkening the entire space, and then lit some aromatic candles. Facing the empty living room, he smiled warmly, “My name is Chi Shen, and I'll be living here from today on. Apologies for any inconvenience.”
There was no sound throughout the room. In the dim light, Bai Wan, who had somehow appeared in the living room, stood silently by the coffee table, while the ghost with the distorted face and the lady ghost in red were drooling over the food.
Was it too early? Chi Shen wondered.
He then added, “I've bought some offerings. Let's share them.”
Still, no response came from the room.
The sobbing from the kitchen didn't resume, the ghost from the bedroom... Ah, that one had been persuaded by Chi Shen to leave last night and was now nowhere to be seen. The specter from the restroom was also missing, and the shadow that used to hang from the living room chandelier didn't appear either.
Perhaps the new roommates are shy, thought Chi Shen.
He lit the aromatic candles, made a brief worship gesture, and both the ghost with the distorted face and the lady ghost in red showed contented expressions. Even Ji Xing Chen's expression softened. Since last night, his usually emotionless face had become much more serious. Chi Shen's consolation earlier seemed to have helped. After enjoying the food offering, he looked as usual.
After distributing the food to everyone, Chi Shen began to unwrap his own crab. As for the new roommates, if they don’t want to come out, so be it.
Just as he was undoing the rope around the crab, there was a sudden noise from the kitchen. A ghostly figure crawled out – a middle-aged woman dragging blood behind her, her face stained with two lines of blood tears. She didn't approach the living room but bowed from the kitchen entrance to Chi Shen and then retreated.
The ghost Chi Shen had seen in the restroom also appeared, looking like a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy in a blood-stained school uniform. The boy respectfully bowed at the doorway and then vanished.
Apart from these two, no other ghosts appeared.
Chi Shen gave them a kind smile, acknowledging their gratitude, and then continued unwrapping the crab, sighing, “It seems I truly lack personal charisma.”
The ghost with the distorted face, feeling better after eating, cheerfully chimed in, “Personal charisma? Like Li Xun? Can you even compare?”
Chi Shen looked at him.
The ghost immediately seemed a bit subdued, “Considering... what happened with you and the glasses guy last night, the fact these ghosts didn’t flee immediately means your charisma is already maxed out.”
Ji Xing Chen adjusted his glasses and bluntly retorted, “They are earth-bound spirits. They can't leave.”
As he cracked open the crab, revealing the rich golden yolk inside, Chi Shen immediately felt happier. Oh well, lacking personal charisma isn’t the end of the world. Eating is what truly matters.
After their meal, Chi Shen rallied everyone for a thorough cleaning. This was to be their new home, and cleanliness was a priority.
Each person, accompanied by several ghosts, meticulously cleaned every nook and cranny. They found a large strip of talisman chewed up by rats, some joss paper and candles, and even some fresh bloodstains. Ghost face, an ancient entity who had long forgotten its own physical form, instantly recognized it as black dog blood.
It made sense why the previous landlord was reluctant to let him move in and insisted on selecting an auspicious day; likely, they were preparing these rituals. However, these preparations seemed futile, as the ghosts in the house were still very much present.
Upholding the principle of harmonious coexistence, Chi Shen spoke with his new housemates, highlighting the efforts involved in sweeping and mopping. He urged them to take care of the home, avoid leaving bloody marks, and create no disturbance to prevent complaints from neighbors.
Chi Shen had thought such communication might take some time. To his surprise, they immediately showed understanding. They stopped dripping blood, stifled their cries, and even hid beneath the cabinets, deeply moving Chi Shen.
Having social anxiety as roommates is okay. As long as there's open communication, everyone can coexist peacefully, Chi Shen believed he was doing well in this aspect.
In the midst of a big clean-up, Chi Shen received a call from Xu XiuYin, asking if he was free for lunch the next day. It had been a while since they last met, and she missed him.
Chi Shen initially wanted to decline, but he remembered the face in Li Xue's dream – the face of a female ghost that resembled Ji XingChen standing before the sunlit old mansion.
He once tried to access the memories of Ji XingChen No.2, but saw nothing. Perhaps because Ji XingChen No.2 was still a corpse, not entirely dead, his ability to empathize with ghosts didn't work on him. The now fully dormant Ji XingChen No.2 was also unreachable, leaving Chi Shen clueless.
The clue from the female ghost was crucial, indicating that Ji XingChen had once been alive and appeared at the old mansion.
Seeking information from the Bai family might yield unexpected insights.
Chi Shen and Xu XiuYin arranged lunch for the next day at a upscale restaurant. Over the phone, Xu XiuYin spoke softly, like a caring mother. She kindly asked if she had noted any dietary restrictions for Chi Shen correctly, something she had observed during their last meal together.
After listening, Chi Shen hung up without confirming or denying her observations.
Ji XingChen, seated beside him, was sketching a design for the balcony. After Chi Shen ended the call, Ji XingChen handed him the sketch, suggesting, "The lounge chair you wanted can be placed here, with some easy-to-care-for flowers on the side."
Chi Shen smiled genuinely, looking at Ji XingChen.
Ji XingChen looked back at him, puzzled.
"Sometimes, I feel more at ease with ghosts than with the living," Chi Shen said with a smile. "I think I might be going mad."
Ji XingChen shook his head, "Ghosts are straightforward in love and hate, but human hearts are inscrutable."
Laughing, Chi Shen looked at the sketch and said, "Put a large black umbrella there so everyone can sunbathe with me."
"Alright," Ji XingChen nodded, quickly adding it to the drawing.
After nightfall, Bai Wan and the red-clothed female ghost stood on the balcony, gazing at the vibrant city lights. Being in the city center, the colorful lights painted the sky.
The building in Chi Shen's residence wasn't particularly tall; the view was obstructed by a few taller skyscrapers nearby. Nevertheless, the woman in red, apparently a ghost, leaned on the railing, chattering and pointing playfully at Bai Wan.
With a smirk, the ghostly figure introduced, "This is modern architecture. Haven't seen it before, have you? The entire city now runs on electricity! Don't be fooled by the darkness, the nightlife has just begun..."
Chi Shen didn't join in the excitement; instead, he lounged lazily on his sofa, browsing through options for recliners. Just then, his phone rang; it was Xu Jiayuan.
"Tomorrow night is All Hallows' Eve, and it conveniently falls on a weekend," Xu Jiayuan's voice sounded somewhat weary. "I never thought Halloween would become popular in Hong City. We've been swamped with work these days. Be cautious; the streets will be bustling with costumes and revelry. There might be real ghosts mingling amongst them. Ordinary folks, with their strong vitality, might be fine. But you, with your frequent ghostly encounters, could easily be targeted."
"I see..." Chi Shen glanced at the spirits surrounding him, chuckling, "Got it, thanks for the heads up."
