Chapter 087: Hardcore Wake-up Method?
After the weekend, Chi Shen had initially completed the frameworks for the paper dolls. He made four in total using bamboo strips: one resembling Sheng Yulan, a tall and thin one resembling himself, one of a child reaching up to Chi Shen's waist, and a shorter, delicate frame. Only Sheng Yulan's had a head.
He didn't craft heads for the other structures.
By Sunday night, Chi Shen was pleased with his creations. He began to layer them with Xuan paper to hide the bamboo strips' traces, intending for a realistic finish.
As he was mixing the paste and layering the paper, his phone buzzed, signaling a new email.
Without stopping his work, he finished applying a sheet of paper to the doll. Only then did he wash his hands and check his phone.
An anonymous email had landed in his inbox. Chi Shen opened it to find a series of photos accompanied by a message: "This is the Bai family genealogy. Gathering detailed information on everyone will take time, so I'm sending you the genealogy first."
The photos were shots of the family tree written in brush script. Many looked ancient, documenting names from the Bai family's founding ancestor to the present. Only male descendants were recorded, leaving out the names of wives and daughters, including Bai Wan.
Chi Shen understood this omission. Traditionally, male heirs were seen as the ones carrying forward the family lineage. Women, once married, were considered no longer part of the Bai family and were rarely recorded on the genealogy.
Chi Shen had no particular sentiment towards such feudal family genealogies. He never reasoned with nonsense, only focusing on what intrigued him.
Naturally, the names of the current generation's male descendants were listed on the genealogy. Chi Shen observed that there were dozens of names listed, with some distant relatives yet to be included. By this estimate, the Bai family's descendants, coupled with disciples of other surnames, would number at least in the hundreds.
Chi Shen stroked his chin, musing that a criminal syndicate of hundreds would be quite the catch for Yuan Yi Ping.
With that thought, Chi Shen's gaze drifted across the genealogy, pausing at the branch bearing the name Bai Ran, then tracing up to Bai Xi Ming and further up...
Chi Shen's eyes halted, glancing sideways at Ji Xing Chen.
Ji Xing Chen adjusted his glasses, meeting Chi Shen's gaze and articulating the unspoken observation, "The past three patriarchs died around the age of 50."
"And next..." Chi Shen's finger moved from the previous three patriarchs to Bai Xi Ming's name, "...is him."
Ji Xing Chen added, "In two more years."
Chi Shen chuckled, "No wonder he's in such a rush."
The nighttime breeze gently rustled the freshly pasted paper figures. Chi Shen's phone buzzed again, an anonymous message reading: When can I visit my family?
Chi Shen replied: Once you've completed the task I assigned.
The other party didn't respond further. Chi Shen set down his phone and began making minor adjustments to the paper figure's facial details. By the time he finished the contours, it was time for bed.
At this moment, Sheng Yu Lan shifted slightly. She had been modeling for Chi Shen, enabling him to recreate her likeness.
Rising from her chair, Sheng Yu Lan carefully wiped the blood she had shed and headed to the kitchen with a cloth covering her wound, preparing to rinse it.
Chi Shen gazed thoughtfully at Sheng Yu Lan's injury before glancing over at Bai Wan.
Bai Ran was observing the freshly crafted paper figure, a tablet in hand playing a makeup tutorial, seemingly contemplating how to perfectly recreate Sheng Yu Lan's face.
Chi Shen, however, was pondering something else. Bai Wan's injuries had vanished after she avenged her parents. Sheng Yu Lan had also exacted her revenge, yet her wounds remained. Could it be because the last ghost was expelled by him?
Sharing his suspicions, Chi Shen wondered aloud, "Do we need to retrieve that ghost and let her grind it to pieces?"
At that, the ghosts, previously engrossed by the paper figure, unanimously turned their gaze to Chi Shen, recoiling a step. Even Bai Wan straightened up, instinctively flicking a red candle at her feet.
After a brief contemplation, Chi Shen decided, "Tomorrow, let's check if that ghost still exists. If so, we'll bring it back for Sheng Yu Lan to grind up. That should resolve things."
No sooner had he spoken than the ghost with a grotesque face and the red-clad female ghost exchanged glances, vanishing like the wind. The door to the room slammed shut with a resounding bang.
Bai Wan glanced at the paper figure, then at Chi Shen, before carrying her plaque and disappearing into the living room.
Realizing it was bedtime, Chi Shen looked around the empty living room, deducing everyone was hinting for him to sleep. He cheerfully returned to his bedroom.
Ji Xing Chen followed him into the room. As he closed the door, he glanced back and chose not to lock it.
Chi Shen then took another look at Ji Xing Chen No. 2, frowning at his unconscious form. After watching for a moment, he lay down to sleep.
Deep into the night.
A shadowy figure emerged beside Chi Shen’s pillow: Ji Xing Chen’s head. He peeked at the sleeping Chi Shen. With the room enveloped in silence and not wishing to disturb Chi Shen, even the ghost settled into a deep rest.
He cast another glance at his own body hanging opposite the bed. Rising from Chi Shen’s shadow, he approached the adjacent door, giving a gentle knock on the girls' room.
“Come in,” Bai Wan's voice beckoned, and the door opened by itself.
The dim night light streamed into the room. Ji Xing Chen’s gaze swept past a paper phone and plaque on the nightstand, settling on a kitchen knife on the bed.
Sheng Yu Lan's reflection appeared in the knife. She asked cautiously, "What is it?"
Ji Xing Chen simply stared at her, his gaze drifting to the still-bleeding wounds on her body.
Chi Shen was mistaken. Sheng Yu Lan's grudge, formed from physical and verbal abuse, wasn't merely satisfied by dicing her enemy. Her deep-seated fear and resentment were more profound.
Extending his hand to Sheng Yu Lan, Ji Xing Chen calmly said, "Let me bear your pain for you."
Sheng Yu Lan looked up at Ji Xing Chen. Her eyes briefly turned red, but in an instant, they cleared. The wounds on her body started healing, and even her torn clothes mended themselves. She stared in disbelief.
Bai Wan let out a startled cry. The sleeping ghost in red emerged from the paper phone. As she was about to speak, she too was left speechless by the scene before her.
Wounds identical to Sheng Yu Lan's appeared on Ji Xing Chen, who had reached out to her.
These gashes deepened, with blood seeping through his suit. Yet his expression remained composed, as if he felt no pain.
The ghost in red appeared fearful. Without Ji Xing Chen revealing any signs, she felt as if the pain was her own. Touching herself, she realized she lacked a physical body, and her anxiety subsided.
“Your soul is too weak…” Bai Wan warned, "You'll die."
Ji Xing Chen remained silent. Moments later, the wounds began healing at a rapid pace. Soon, only the torn suit remained, which also mended itself shortly after.
He placed a hand over his chest, the last spot where the wound had vanished, and softly said, "I have no memory of pain; hence, I can endure."
"It's not like that... Ah, never mind." There was a hint of reluctance in Bai Wan's voice, though she left her thoughts unspoken.
Most who've never experienced pain can't withstand profound agony, as it would shatter them. Ji Xingchen's rapid assimilation of Sheng Yulan's suffering likely indicates he has endured even greater torment in the past. Her pain, by comparison, means little to him.
Bai Wan didn't elaborate, her voice tinged with a sigh, "You should leave soon, before your brother finds out."
Coming here while Chi Shen was asleep surely means Ji Xingchen didn't want him to know. Bai Wan understood, so she was willing to keep Ji Xingchen's secret.
Ji Xingchen nodded, exiting the girls' room, leaving behind only traces of blood.
Sheng Yulan remained in a dreamlike state, oblivious to what had transpired. It took her some time to react, and though she wanted to rush out and thank Ji Xingchen, Bai Wan held her back. After Bai Wan's persuasion, Sheng Yulan cleaned up the blood, resolving to act as though nothing had happened.
Ji Xingchen entered the bedroom, its door left ajar. He stood by the bed, observing Chi Shen. Only a faint light from outside cast a shadow, restricted mainly to the area by the pillow, obscured elsewhere by the blanket. That's the only path for his return.
Using the bed frame for support, Ji Xingchen gently climbed onto the bed.
The autumn wind brushed the half-drawn curtains. Lost in thought, he gazed at the serene profile of the sleeping Chi Shen.
Suddenly, a hand emerged from beneath the covers, gripping his own.
Ji Xingchen started but did not resist.
Chi Shen remained still, eyes closed, breathing even, seemingly in deep sleep.
The grip on Ji Xingchen's hand tightened but didn't release.
Lying beside him, Ji Xingchen closed his eyes and whispered, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," came Chi Shen's reply.
The next day, Chi Shen awoke refreshed, as if oblivious to the previous night. Glancing out at the rising sun following a rain, he noted the rare clear day. Unfortunately, it was Monday, not Sunday.
Ji Xingchen was in the kitchen, attending to breakfast, not in the bedroom.
Chi Shen seemed to have woken up a tad early. Typically, in another two minutes, Ji Xingchen would come in to rouse him.
Having woken early, he decided to get a head start on the day's tasks.
Smiling, Chi Shen got up and approached Ji Xingchen No.2, admiring the handsome and pallid face.
Just then, Ji Xingchen entered from outside. Seeing Chi Shen standing in front of Ji Xingchen No.2, he wasn't surprised. He simply said, "Breakfast is ready."
Chi Shen nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on Ji Xingchen No.2's face. With a tone of curiosity and mischief, he asked, "He's the same as you, right?"
"Yes," Ji Xingchen replied.
"So, he's as shy as you, isn't he?"
“……”
Swiftly, Chi Shen leaned down, placing a delicate kiss on Ji Xingchen No.2's closed eyes. The kiss drifted across his face like a feather.
Ji Xingchen cast a look at No.2, his eyes filled with confusion and a hint of frost.
The heart of Ji Xingchen No.2, pierced by an iron chain, suddenly gave a fierce beat, and blood dripped down the chain.
Chi Shen smirked, "Awake, are we?"
Chapter 087: Hardcore Wake-up Method?
After the weekend, Chi Shen had initially completed the frameworks for the paper dolls. He made four in total using bamboo strips: one resembling Sheng Yulan, a tall and thin one resembling himself, one of a child reaching up to Chi Shen's waist, and a shorter, delicate frame. Only Sheng Yulan's had a head.
He didn't craft heads for the other structures.
By Sunday night, Chi Shen was pleased with his creations. He began to layer them with Xuan paper to hide the bamboo strips' traces, intending for a realistic finish.
As he was mixing the paste and layering the paper, his phone buzzed, signaling a new email.
Without stopping his work, he finished applying a sheet of paper to the doll. Only then did he wash his hands and check his phone.
An anonymous email had landed in his inbox. Chi Shen opened it to find a series of photos accompanied by a message: "This is the Bai family genealogy. Gathering detailed information on everyone will take time, so I'm sending you the genealogy first."
The photos were shots of the family tree written in brush script. Many looked ancient, documenting names from the Bai family's founding ancestor to the present. Only male descendants were recorded, leaving out the names of wives and daughters, including Bai Wan.
Chi Shen understood this omission. Traditionally, male heirs were seen as the ones carrying forward the family lineage. Women, once married, were considered no longer part of the Bai family and were rarely recorded on the genealogy.
Chi Shen had no particular sentiment towards such feudal family genealogies. He never reasoned with nonsense, only focusing on what intrigued him.
Naturally, the names of the current generation's male descendants were listed on the genealogy. Chi Shen observed that there were dozens of names listed, with some distant relatives yet to be included. By this estimate, the Bai family's descendants, coupled with disciples of other surnames, would number at least in the hundreds.
Chi Shen stroked his chin, musing that a criminal syndicate of hundreds would be quite the catch for Yuan Yi Ping.
With that thought, Chi Shen's gaze drifted across the genealogy, pausing at the branch bearing the name Bai Ran, then tracing up to Bai Xi Ming and further up...
Chi Shen's eyes halted, glancing sideways at Ji Xing Chen.
Ji Xing Chen adjusted his glasses, meeting Chi Shen's gaze and articulating the unspoken observation, "The past three patriarchs died around the age of 50."
"And next..." Chi Shen's finger moved from the previous three patriarchs to Bai Xi Ming's name, "...is him."
Ji Xing Chen added, "In two more years."
Chi Shen chuckled, "No wonder he's in such a rush."
The nighttime breeze gently rustled the freshly pasted paper figures. Chi Shen's phone buzzed again, an anonymous message reading: When can I visit my family?
Chi Shen replied: Once you've completed the task I assigned.
The other party didn't respond further. Chi Shen set down his phone and began making minor adjustments to the paper figure's facial details. By the time he finished the contours, it was time for bed.
At this moment, Sheng Yu Lan shifted slightly. She had been modeling for Chi Shen, enabling him to recreate her likeness.
Rising from her chair, Sheng Yu Lan carefully wiped the blood she had shed and headed to the kitchen with a cloth covering her wound, preparing to rinse it.
Chi Shen gazed thoughtfully at Sheng Yu Lan's injury before glancing over at Bai Wan.
Bai Ran was observing the freshly crafted paper figure, a tablet in hand playing a makeup tutorial, seemingly contemplating how to perfectly recreate Sheng Yu Lan's face.
Chi Shen, however, was pondering something else. Bai Wan's injuries had vanished after she avenged her parents. Sheng Yu Lan had also exacted her revenge, yet her wounds remained. Could it be because the last ghost was expelled by him?
Sharing his suspicions, Chi Shen wondered aloud, "Do we need to retrieve that ghost and let her grind it to pieces?"
At that, the ghosts, previously engrossed by the paper figure, unanimously turned their gaze to Chi Shen, recoiling a step. Even Bai Wan straightened up, instinctively flicking a red candle at her feet.
After a brief contemplation, Chi Shen decided, "Tomorrow, let's check if that ghost still exists. If so, we'll bring it back for Sheng Yu Lan to grind up. That should resolve things."
No sooner had he spoken than the ghost with a grotesque face and the red-clad female ghost exchanged glances, vanishing like the wind. The door to the room slammed shut with a resounding bang.
Bai Wan glanced at the paper figure, then at Chi Shen, before carrying her plaque and disappearing into the living room.
Realizing it was bedtime, Chi Shen looked around the empty living room, deducing everyone was hinting for him to sleep. He cheerfully returned to his bedroom.
Ji Xing Chen followed him into the room. As he closed the door, he glanced back and chose not to lock it.
Chi Shen then took another look at Ji Xing Chen No. 2, frowning at his unconscious form. After watching for a moment, he lay down to sleep.
Deep into the night.
A shadowy figure emerged beside Chi Shen’s pillow: Ji Xing Chen’s head. He peeked at the sleeping Chi Shen. With the room enveloped in silence and not wishing to disturb Chi Shen, even the ghost settled into a deep rest.
He cast another glance at his own body hanging opposite the bed. Rising from Chi Shen’s shadow, he approached the adjacent door, giving a gentle knock on the girls' room.
“Come in,” Bai Wan's voice beckoned, and the door opened by itself.
The dim night light streamed into the room. Ji Xing Chen’s gaze swept past a paper phone and plaque on the nightstand, settling on a kitchen knife on the bed.
Sheng Yu Lan's reflection appeared in the knife. She asked cautiously, "What is it?"
Ji Xing Chen simply stared at her, his gaze drifting to the still-bleeding wounds on her body.
Chi Shen was mistaken. Sheng Yu Lan's grudge, formed from physical and verbal abuse, wasn't merely satisfied by dicing her enemy. Her deep-seated fear and resentment were more profound.
Extending his hand to Sheng Yu Lan, Ji Xing Chen calmly said, "Let me bear your pain for you."
Sheng Yu Lan looked up at Ji Xing Chen. Her eyes briefly turned red, but in an instant, they cleared. The wounds on her body started healing, and even her torn clothes mended themselves. She stared in disbelief.
Bai Wan let out a startled cry. The sleeping ghost in red emerged from the paper phone. As she was about to speak, she too was left speechless by the scene before her.
Wounds identical to Sheng Yu Lan's appeared on Ji Xing Chen, who had reached out to her.
These gashes deepened, with blood seeping through his suit. Yet his expression remained composed, as if he felt no pain.
The ghost in red appeared fearful. Without Ji Xing Chen revealing any signs, she felt as if the pain was her own. Touching herself, she realized she lacked a physical body, and her anxiety subsided.
“Your soul is too weak…” Bai Wan warned, "You'll die."
Ji Xing Chen remained silent. Moments later, the wounds began healing at a rapid pace. Soon, only the torn suit remained, which also mended itself shortly after.
He placed a hand over his chest, the last spot where the wound had vanished, and softly said, "I have no memory of pain; hence, I can endure."
"It's not like that... Ah, never mind." There was a hint of reluctance in Bai Wan's voice, though she left her thoughts unspoken.
Most who've never experienced pain can't withstand profound agony, as it would shatter them. Ji Xingchen's rapid assimilation of Sheng Yulan's suffering likely indicates he has endured even greater torment in the past. Her pain, by comparison, means little to him.
Bai Wan didn't elaborate, her voice tinged with a sigh, "You should leave soon, before your brother finds out."
Coming here while Chi Shen was asleep surely means Ji Xingchen didn't want him to know. Bai Wan understood, so she was willing to keep Ji Xingchen's secret.
Ji Xingchen nodded, exiting the girls' room, leaving behind only traces of blood.
Sheng Yulan remained in a dreamlike state, oblivious to what had transpired. It took her some time to react, and though she wanted to rush out and thank Ji Xingchen, Bai Wan held her back. After Bai Wan's persuasion, Sheng Yulan cleaned up the blood, resolving to act as though nothing had happened.
Ji Xingchen entered the bedroom, its door left ajar. He stood by the bed, observing Chi Shen. Only a faint light from outside cast a shadow, restricted mainly to the area by the pillow, obscured elsewhere by the blanket. That's the only path for his return.
Using the bed frame for support, Ji Xingchen gently climbed onto the bed.
The autumn wind brushed the half-drawn curtains. Lost in thought, he gazed at the serene profile of the sleeping Chi Shen.
Suddenly, a hand emerged from beneath the covers, gripping his own.
Ji Xingchen started but did not resist.
Chi Shen remained still, eyes closed, breathing even, seemingly in deep sleep.
The grip on Ji Xingchen's hand tightened but didn't release.
Lying beside him, Ji Xingchen closed his eyes and whispered, "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," came Chi Shen's reply.
The next day, Chi Shen awoke refreshed, as if oblivious to the previous night. Glancing out at the rising sun following a rain, he noted the rare clear day. Unfortunately, it was Monday, not Sunday.
Ji Xingchen was in the kitchen, attending to breakfast, not in the bedroom.
Chi Shen seemed to have woken up a tad early. Typically, in another two minutes, Ji Xingchen would come in to rouse him.
Having woken early, he decided to get a head start on the day's tasks.
Smiling, Chi Shen got up and approached Ji Xingchen No.2, admiring the handsome and pallid face.
Just then, Ji Xingchen entered from outside. Seeing Chi Shen standing in front of Ji Xingchen No.2, he wasn't surprised. He simply said, "Breakfast is ready."
Chi Shen nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on Ji Xingchen No.2's face. With a tone of curiosity and mischief, he asked, "He's the same as you, right?"
"Yes," Ji Xingchen replied.
"So, he's as shy as you, isn't he?"
“……”
Swiftly, Chi Shen leaned down, placing a delicate kiss on Ji Xingchen No.2's closed eyes. The kiss drifted across his face like a feather.
Ji Xingchen cast a look at No.2, his eyes filled with confusion and a hint of frost.
The heart of Ji Xingchen No.2, pierced by an iron chain, suddenly gave a fierce beat, and blood dripped down the chain.
Chi Shen smirked, "Awake, are we?"
