[Alternate History Setting—don’t try to map this onto our 1960s; many things are different. But roughly similar. When reading, just leave your brain here with me; I’ll give it back when the story ends.]
[New author on the road, please be gentle! Love you all!]
When Ye Weiliang was flung into the air after being hit by a truck, she was still thinking: Damn, getting hit by a truck really hurts.
With a bang, she landed—yet she got back up.
Don’t be surprised!
It wasn’t her body on the ground that stood up—
It was her soul floating upward.
Ye Weiliang looked at the back of her head, where blood gushed out in a dark red patch.
Her thoughts were scrambled. Why was she hit by a truck?
Oh—she remembered.
Her terrible boss had embezzled her project. She’d argued a bit with him, and boom—she got herself fired.
Going home to find comfort from her boyfriend, she instead found herself standing on a green meadow? And the person with her was her best friend?
She had stormed in, beaten the girl up, and then ran out.
Wait! Why did she run out?
That was her house!
Sigh—now was not the time to think about that.
Wandering aimlessly after exiting, she saw a child rush onto the road.
To save the child, she got hit and died instantly.
The child’s mother stood nearby, watching coldly, her sharp, bitter face showing not a shred of gratitude.
Ye Weiliang sighed: This broken world has given me no hope at all.
So she promptly followed the soul collectors to the King of Hell’s court.
Through the dark corridor, she saw light again—and locked eyes with someone.
A person dressed in black, wearing a hat with the character “Judge” on it.
Ah, the legendary Judge of the Underworld.
Beside him stood two figures, one in black, one in white—oh no, two ghosts;
One had a hat that read “Instant Wealth”, the other “World Peace”.
Yes, yes, these were the infamous Black and White Impermanence!
At the top sat a dazzling figure in gold—the King of Hell himself.
The judge looked at her: “Ye Weiliang, age eighty-two…”
“Wait, wait… my name is Ye Weiliang, I’m only twenty-three, where did eighty-two come from? Are you mistaken?”
The judge adjusted his black-rimmed glasses. Seeing the young woman in front of him, whose face was already plain, his expression darkened further.
The soul collector who grabbed Ye Weiliang trembled.
Ye Weiliang narrowed her eyes: “You collected the wrong soul, didn’t you?”
“Hehe, Miss Ye, our subordinate made a mistake. He was supposed to collect the soul of the elderly lady next to you.”
The judge chuckled awkwardly.
“Then… can you let me go back?” Ye Weiliang asked hopefully.
The judge shook his head: “Impossible. Your body has died. Since you had no family there, the hospital cremated you directly.”
He even showed her the scene.
Ye Weiliang: …
Unbelievable. They cremated her just like that?
Was her house and money going to be claimed by those despicable people?
In silence and despair, Ye Weiliang chose madness!
“Ahhh! Why me? I just graduated, haven’t enjoyed life yet, and now I’m forced to die?! I want to go back, let me go back!”
She screamed, twisted, and crawled darkly on the ground.
The ghosts in the underworld scattered in panic.
Even Black and White Impermanence were shocked.
Are today’s young office workers all this crazy?
Ignoring the writhing soul on the ground, Black and White Impermanence hurried to capture the errant souls with the other collectors.
“Miss Ye, calm down. This isn’t something we can control. Their speed is too fast. And with your injuries, even if you go back, you’d be a vegetable…”
At this, Ye Weiliang’s screaming became even louder:
“Ahhh! I’ve spent over twenty years with no joy, just started working and got a rotten boss, then came home to find those awful people. I saved someone out of kindness, and I died so unjustly… my life is so cruel!”
Her scream made the surrounding souls float faster; timid ones trembled far away.
“Stop screaming, lady! Please, I beg you!” The judge clutched his ears in pain.
Ye Weiliang ignored him, pouring out her heart:
“Waaah! I was abandoned at birth, starving and cold in the orphanage. The third director was corrupt and skimmed our food. I finally made it out, and just as I was about to enjoy life, I’m killed! I won’t accept it!”
Her lament was heart-wrenching, making some nearby low-empathy ghosts weep for her.
“Your Honor, this poor girl has suffered enough. Let her go back!”
“Yes! She’s still so young. Maybe let her reincarnate first.”
“We’ve waited so long, it won’t matter this once.”
The old ghosts all spoke at once.
“Quiet! If I could send her back, don’t you think I would? Her body is already ashes—where would I send her?” The judge sighed in frustration.
“Your Honor, her aura is very similar to mine. Let her take over my body. Besides, we share the surname Ye.” Said Ye Er’ya.
She was a girl of the 1960s: unloved by parents, beaten or scolded by siblings, treated like a slave.
She died last night of a fever before anyone could help—and probably no one at home even knew.
Seeing Ye Weiliang’s misfortune, she offered her chance at life.
Hearing this, Ye Weiliang stopped crying, teary-eyed, looking at the young girl in front of her.
They bore a seven-eighths resemblance. Ye Er’ya was only fourteen, malnourished, so small she looked twelve or thirteen, pale and thin.
The judge frowned at Ye Er’ya: “Are you sure? You still have your lifespan left.”
“I’m sure. I don’t want to stay in that home.” She didn’t say everything on her mind, but her refusal was genuine.
The judge asked Ye Weiliang: “And you? Will you live on using this girl’s body?”
“The 1960s?” Ye Weiliang was shocked.
“Yes. I was born in 1952; this year is 1966. I’m fourteen.” Ye Er’ya spoke softly, a constant victim of hardship.
Ye Weiliang, raised in an orphanage, had to fight or starve—so she was tough, but her face looked harmless and her voice soft, mismatched with her character.
Her anger was always dismissed as fake, which made some girls dislike her, thinking her a schemer.
In truth, she had died unjustly.
The King of Hell spoke: “Ye Weiliang, if you agree to go to the 1960s, I will give you a golden finger.”
Ye Weiliang’s eyes lit up: “Really? What kind of golden finger?”
“That can’t be told. Anyway, it’s yours.”
This “incredible strength” power was fitting—she needed it in that world, as the little girl looked so fragile.
Ye Weiliang looked at Ye Er’ya: “Er’ya, you really don’t want to go back?”
Ye Er’ya shook her head. She didn’t want to return and had told Ye Weiliang this was a novel’s world.
“Fine, I’ll go back for you. And thank you, Er’ya!” Ye Weiliang said calmly: “It’s just a novel world, don’t worry. Think of it as ‘jumping into a story’.”
She would burn incense and pray for the kind girl, hoping her next life would be happy.
“Big sister Weiliang, thank you! If you can, please check on my parents too?” Ye Er’ya smiled sweetly.
Ye Weiliang’s heart skipped a beat. Who could resist such a soft, sweet smile calling you “sister”?
She took a breath, tried to pinch Ye Er’ya’s face—but couldn’t.
Oh right—they were both ghosts.
“Don’t worry, I’ll do it,” Ye Weiliang sighed. This girl was truly kind.
Finally, the judge relaxed: “Ye Weiliang, are you ready? I’ll send you over.”
“Yes!” Ye Weiliang waited.
The King of Hell stood up too. Ye Weiliang noticed a jade pendant on him…
“Wait!” She rushed forward and snatched a piece of jade: “This is your apology for the soul mix-up. Thanks!”
Before the King could react, the judge had already sent her away.
Shocked, the King of Hell raged: “I’ve never seen such a thief! I’ll give that girl strength times N—let’s see how she gets married later!”
Ye Weiliang had no idea.
She was already asleep in bed.