Chapter 081: Strive to Get into a Top University! Go for it!
Chi Shen revealed a pained expression, "Are all your wishes this complicated?"
Gripping the kitchen knife tightly, the woman sheepishly responded, "If it's too challenging, we can forget about it."
"No, we can't just drop it!" Chi Shen responded quickly, "Give me two days; I need to prepare."
Though the task seemed daunting, Chi Shen was genuinely frustrated. How could he fail at guiding every single spirit to peace? Even if he started studying soul guiding out of mere interest, the repeated failures would anger anyone!
If a simple wish like Gui Lian's couldn't be granted, then wouldn’t fulfilling this woman's slightly more complex wish truly guide her to peace?
The woman stared at Chi Shen in disbelief, as if he was joking. She cautiously inquired again, "Is that possible?"
Chi Shen nodded, "I'll... try."
He didn't want to overpromise; if he failed, he might have to resort to physically guiding the soul.
Sensing that the woman's wish might be challenging, Chi Shen decided to ask the boy about his desires.
Seeing the boy emerge, the woman swiftly retreated to her room. The boy appeared disappointed but then shifted his gaze to Chi Shen.
After Gui Lian’s persuasion, the boy had come out of the bathroom and moved into the room Chi Shen mentioned. He now exited that room. Accompanied by Gui Lian, he sat on the sofa with great reservation, placing his hands on his knees as he looked at Chi Shen.
"Do you have any wishes?" Chi Shen asked again.
"Wishes?" The boy seemed bewildered, apparently not expecting this question.
Chi Shen flashed his most confident and radiant smile, "We're all roommates now. Helping you fulfill a wish or two is only natural, right?"
The boy subtly shifted further away from Chi Shen, "I wish my mother could leave this house and live her life."
Chi Shen's eyes lit up, "This is simple!"
The boy slightly bowed his head, fidgeting with the sofa, "And... I want to know how my classmates are doing."
His voice faded to almost a whisper by the end, but Chi Shen, with his keen hearing, caught every word. He sighed internally, thinking how straightforward a child's wishes could be.
"No problem!" Chi Shen stood up promptly from the sofa, "I'll take you to see your classmate right now. It's a female classmate, right?"
The boy lowered his head even further, nodding slightly in confirmation.
Chi Shen was already changing his shoes by the door when he looked up, "However, after meeting your female classmate, you have to do a favor for me."
The boy, still a bit naive, nodded, "Okay."
After getting the name and address of the female classmate, Chi Shen set off with the boy. Ji Xing Chen retreated back into his shadow, accompanying them.
"If you get tired, you can rest within my shadow. I'll carry you with me," Chi Shen offered.
"Can I?" The boy hesitated, eyeing Chi Shen's shadow. It was pitch black. He tentatively reached a hand in, then pulled back apprehensively, "I'd rather stay close to you. I... I want to see what the outside world looks like now!"
"That works too. Let's go," Chi Shen motioned, leading the boy out.
As they approached the main door, the boy hesitated, unable to step beyond the threshold. Chi Shen understood that the boy was an earthbound spirit. With a swift motion, he made a cutting gesture between the boy and the door.
The boy seemed to instantly feel lighter. Gratefully, he glanced at Chi Shen and stepped outside.
It was getting late, nearing eleven. Fortunately, the classmate's house wasn't far. Chi Shen unlocked a shared bicycle and rode there.
They soon arrived at the apartment complex the boy mentioned. Chi Shen let the boy enter alone, while he and Ji Xing Chen waited outside, not wanting to intrude on the private conversation between two high schoolers.
Chi Shen took a seat on a bench downstairs, yawning and called out, "Ji Xing Chen."
There was no response from his shadow.
Extending a hand, Chi Shen grasped Ji Xing Chen's wrist, pulling him out of the shadow. He motioned for him to sit beside him, smiling, "Tired?"
"No," Ji Xing Chen replied, "I was thinking, it's a weekday. The high school students should be in school. She might be in a boarding school; he might not see her."
"Then we'll return on the weekend," Chi Shen remarked, adjusting Ji Xing Chen's glasses, "Aren't you curious if that person is really you?"
Ji Xing Chen straightened his glasses, replying calmly, "It's irrelevant."
"You seem to care," Chi Shen teased, "Just admit it. It's not a big deal. You have to believe in yourself. Even if you were alive with other unpleasant memories, you are the Ji Xing Chen who'd say 'call the police'. That's not who you truly are."
A fleeting emotion crossed Ji Xing Chen's eyes. After a long pause, he softly replied, "Okay."
Chi Shen smiled at Ji Xing Chen, who didn’t ask who that person was. Given that, Chi Shen had no intention of telling.
The autumn night was chilly. It wasn't too late, but occasionally, people passed by, glancing at Chi Shen, who appeared to be talking to himself. They gave strange looks, seemingly pitying a young, good-looking man. Wondering, how could someone so young and handsome have lost his mind?
Ji Xingchen glanced at the onlookers and moved closer to Chi Shen. Chi Shen quickly turned to him and said, "I get it; you're warning me with a nudge."
Ji Xingchen immediately stepped back to a more appropriate distance, whispering, "Someone's coming. Be discreet."
Chi Shen chuckled and pulled out his phone, pretending to make a call, saying, "This is so bothersome. I truly find it easier dealing with ghosts."
"You should at least have a few human friends," Ji Xingchen advised, "Normal people do."
"I know, I know," Chi Shen responded casually.
They waited downstairs for half an hour before the boy emerged from the building. The autumnal night breeze was chilly, and the ground was covered with un-swept leaves. As the boy walked over them, he kept his head down, revealing a hint of desolation in his gait.
"Didn't see her?" Chi Shen inquired.
The boy quickly shook his head, saying, "I did."
"Does she have a boyfriend now?" Chi Shen probed.
Again, the boy shook his head, this time with a smile, "She's preparing for the university entrance exams, the one we both dreamed of attending. I'm happy, genuinely happy for her. I saw notes on her desk that read 'Meet in Beijing, as promised with Jun Ge' and 'It's not just me striving; Jun Ge's dreams are with me too'."
His voice cracked, betraying his emotions, "But I can't be there for her now."
Chapter 081: Strive to Get into a Top University! Go for it!
Chi Shen revealed a pained expression, "Are all your wishes this complicated?"
Gripping the kitchen knife tightly, the woman sheepishly responded, "If it's too challenging, we can forget about it."
"No, we can't just drop it!" Chi Shen responded quickly, "Give me two days; I need to prepare."
Though the task seemed daunting, Chi Shen was genuinely frustrated. How could he fail at guiding every single spirit to peace? Even if he started studying soul guiding out of mere interest, the repeated failures would anger anyone!
If a simple wish like Gui Lian's couldn't be granted, then wouldn’t fulfilling this woman's slightly more complex wish truly guide her to peace?
The woman stared at Chi Shen in disbelief, as if he was joking. She cautiously inquired again, "Is that possible?"
Chi Shen nodded, "I'll... try."
He didn't want to overpromise; if he failed, he might have to resort to physically guiding the soul.
Sensing that the woman's wish might be challenging, Chi Shen decided to ask the boy about his desires.
Seeing the boy emerge, the woman swiftly retreated to her room. The boy appeared disappointed but then shifted his gaze to Chi Shen.
After Gui Lian’s persuasion, the boy had come out of the bathroom and moved into the room Chi Shen mentioned. He now exited that room. Accompanied by Gui Lian, he sat on the sofa with great reservation, placing his hands on his knees as he looked at Chi Shen.
"Do you have any wishes?" Chi Shen asked again.
"Wishes?" The boy seemed bewildered, apparently not expecting this question.
Chi Shen flashed his most confident and radiant smile, "We're all roommates now. Helping you fulfill a wish or two is only natural, right?"
The boy subtly shifted further away from Chi Shen, "I wish my mother could leave this house and live her life."
Chi Shen's eyes lit up, "This is simple!"
The boy slightly bowed his head, fidgeting with the sofa, "And... I want to know how my classmates are doing."
His voice faded to almost a whisper by the end, but Chi Shen, with his keen hearing, caught every word. He sighed internally, thinking how straightforward a child's wishes could be.
"No problem!" Chi Shen stood up promptly from the sofa, "I'll take you to see your classmate right now. It's a female classmate, right?"
The boy lowered his head even further, nodding slightly in confirmation.
Chi Shen was already changing his shoes by the door when he looked up, "However, after meeting your female classmate, you have to do a favor for me."
The boy, still a bit naive, nodded, "Okay."
After getting the name and address of the female classmate, Chi Shen set off with the boy. Ji Xing Chen retreated back into his shadow, accompanying them.
"If you get tired, you can rest within my shadow. I'll carry you with me," Chi Shen offered.
"Can I?" The boy hesitated, eyeing Chi Shen's shadow. It was pitch black. He tentatively reached a hand in, then pulled back apprehensively, "I'd rather stay close to you. I... I want to see what the outside world looks like now!"
"That works too. Let's go," Chi Shen motioned, leading the boy out.
As they approached the main door, the boy hesitated, unable to step beyond the threshold. Chi Shen understood that the boy was an earthbound spirit. With a swift motion, he made a cutting gesture between the boy and the door.
The boy seemed to instantly feel lighter. Gratefully, he glanced at Chi Shen and stepped outside.
It was getting late, nearing eleven. Fortunately, the classmate's house wasn't far. Chi Shen unlocked a shared bicycle and rode there.
They soon arrived at the apartment complex the boy mentioned. Chi Shen let the boy enter alone, while he and Ji Xing Chen waited outside, not wanting to intrude on the private conversation between two high schoolers.
Chi Shen took a seat on a bench downstairs, yawning and called out, "Ji Xing Chen."
There was no response from his shadow.
Extending a hand, Chi Shen grasped Ji Xing Chen's wrist, pulling him out of the shadow. He motioned for him to sit beside him, smiling, "Tired?"
"No," Ji Xing Chen replied, "I was thinking, it's a weekday. The high school students should be in school. She might be in a boarding school; he might not see her."
"Then we'll return on the weekend," Chi Shen remarked, adjusting Ji Xing Chen's glasses, "Aren't you curious if that person is really you?"
Ji Xing Chen straightened his glasses, replying calmly, "It's irrelevant."
"You seem to care," Chi Shen teased, "Just admit it. It's not a big deal. You have to believe in yourself. Even if you were alive with other unpleasant memories, you are the Ji Xing Chen who'd say 'call the police'. That's not who you truly are."
A fleeting emotion crossed Ji Xing Chen's eyes. After a long pause, he softly replied, "Okay."
Chi Shen smiled at Ji Xing Chen, who didn’t ask who that person was. Given that, Chi Shen had no intention of telling.
The autumn night was chilly. It wasn't too late, but occasionally, people passed by, glancing at Chi Shen, who appeared to be talking to himself. They gave strange looks, seemingly pitying a young, good-looking man. Wondering, how could someone so young and handsome have lost his mind?
Ji Xingchen glanced at the onlookers and moved closer to Chi Shen. Chi Shen quickly turned to him and said, "I get it; you're warning me with a nudge."
Ji Xingchen immediately stepped back to a more appropriate distance, whispering, "Someone's coming. Be discreet."
Chi Shen chuckled and pulled out his phone, pretending to make a call, saying, "This is so bothersome. I truly find it easier dealing with ghosts."
"You should at least have a few human friends," Ji Xingchen advised, "Normal people do."
"I know, I know," Chi Shen responded casually.
They waited downstairs for half an hour before the boy emerged from the building. The autumnal night breeze was chilly, and the ground was covered with un-swept leaves. As the boy walked over them, he kept his head down, revealing a hint of desolation in his gait.
"Didn't see her?" Chi Shen inquired.
The boy quickly shook his head, saying, "I did."
"Does she have a boyfriend now?" Chi Shen probed.
Again, the boy shook his head, this time with a smile, "She's preparing for the university entrance exams, the one we both dreamed of attending. I'm happy, genuinely happy for her. I saw notes on her desk that read 'Meet in Beijing, as promised with Jun Ge' and 'It's not just me striving; Jun Ge's dreams are with me too'."
His voice cracked, betraying his emotions, "But I can't be there for her now."
