“No. I’m just making sure you’re aware of our current situation”
Qin Yue settled back in bed.
“I know enough”
With that, he slowly dozed off while Hanguang Zhe sat, seemingly lost in thought.
Hanguang Zhe remained seated on the sofa Qin Yue had pointed out earlier, actually more live hovered over it.
His gaze rested on the bed, on the steady rise and fall of Qin Yue’s chest.
For a long time, he didn’t move.
“Troublesome,” he muttered under his breath.
Morning came quietly.
Qin Yue woke up later than usual.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples.
“You’re awake.”
Qin Yue paused.
He turned his head slightly toward the source of the voice.
“You’re still here.”
Hanguang Zhe sounded offended.
“Where else would I go?”
“Preferably far away.”
“If I could, I would have left you yesterday,” Hanguang Zhe replied coolly.
Qin Yue clicked his tongue and got out of bed.
“With how ‘smart’ you are, I reckoned you had found a solution”
“At least I’m not the one trying to run off and die,” Hanguang Zhe shot back.
Qin Yue brushed his teeth.
Hanguang Zhe stood just outside the sink area, arms folded, watching.
“Do you have to stare?”
“I’m not staring. I’m observing.”
“That’s worse.”
“You’re quite sensitive for someone chatting with a literal ghost”
By the time Qin Yue left the house, he had already developed a mild headache.
“Where are you going?” Hanguang Zhe asked.
“Work.”
“Doing what?”
“Living my life,” Qin Yue replied dryly.
Hanguang Zhe hummed.
“How mundane.”
The first incident happened before noon.
Qin Yue was crossing the street.
It was a normal intersection.
Nothing unusual.
The light was green.
People were walking.
Everything was fine.
“Stop.”
Qin Yue froze mid-step.
The tone wasn’t loud, but it carried a sharp edge that made his body react before his brain did.
A split second later, a motorcycle sped past the crossing, running the red light.
It brushed past the spot Qin Yue would have been standing.
The wind from it tugged at his clothes.
Qin Yue’s pupils shrank slightly then he continued walking as if nothing had happened.
“Thanks.”
There was a brief pause.
“You’re welcome,” Hanguang Zhe said.
The second incident was less subtle.
A loose signboard fell from above.
Qin Yue didn’t even notice it.
“Move left.”
He did.
The sign crashed down where he had been standing a second ago.
People around him gasped.
Qin Yue glanced at the shattered board, then looked ahead again.
Hanguang Zhe was silent for a moment.
“Has this been happening often?”
“More or less.”
The third incident happened at a café where hot coffee spilled right towards him.
“Step back.”
Qin Yue stepped back.
The cup shattered on the floor instead.
The person who dropped it apologized profusely.
Qin Yue waved it off and left.
He leaned against the wall outside a convenience store, staring at nothing in particular.
“Say it. What’s on your mind?”
Hanguang Zhe didn’t pretend not to understand.
“You attract misfortune.”
Qin Yue let out a short laugh.
“You don’t say.”
“It’s not normal.”
“I’m aware.”
“It’s excessive.”
“I’ve noticed.”
Hanguang Zhe went quiet again.
“How are you still alive?”
Qin Yue tilted his head slightly.
“Good question.”
They returned home in silence.
Qin Yue dropped onto the sofa, stretching his arms out.
“I’m tired.”
“Rightfully so I suppose. How long has this been going on?”
Qin Yue let the silence stretch out between them for a while before responding
“Since I could remember”
“Ohh that’s tough”
“Thanks, I never noticed.”
Hanguang Zhe gloated at his misfortune.
“I should have noticed something was wrong when you moved here and inadvertently created a life and death bond with me.”
“You’re not the brightest crayon in the box”
“And I could’ve sworn you deemed me a genius not too long ago.”
“Your status changes by the minute.”
For the next few days, a strange routine formed.
Qin Yue went about his life and Hanguang Zhe followed.
And every time something went wrong…
“Careful.”
“Stop.”
“Wait.”
“Move.”
Qin Yue listened.
At first, it was out of caution.
Then it became a habit.
A falling object.
A slippery floor.
A malfunctioning elevator.
Each time, Hanguang Zhe intervened just enough.
Things that would have inconvenienced him in the past had been avoided.
And slowly, Qin Yue stopped questioning it.
It felt good not having to fear for his head all the time.
One evening, after avoiding what could have been a nasty fall down the staircase, Qin Yue spoke.
“You’re getting better at this.”
“At what?”
“Keeping me alive.”
Hanguang Zhe scoffed lightly.
“I’m not doing it for you.”
“I know,” Qin Yue said calmly.
“At least you’re self-aware.”
Qin Yue sat by the window, looking out at the dim streetlights.
“…Why?”
Hanguang Zhe glanced at him.
“Why what?”
“Why me?” Qin Yue asked.
“Out of all people.”
Hanguang Zhe didn’t answer immediately.
“I told you before. Your aptitude is high.”
“For cultivation?”
“Yes.”
Qin Yue leaned back slightly.
“And you need that.”
“I do.”
“So this whole thing…” Qin Yue gestured vaguely.
“Isn’t entirely an accident.”
Hanguang Zhe didn’t deny it.
“Not entirely.”
Silence stretched between them.
After a while, Hanguang Zhe spoke again.
“Your luck.”
Qin Yue raised an eyebrow.
“What about it?”
“It’s not just bad,” Hanguang Zhe said slowly.
“It’s abnormal.”
Qin Yue chuckled.
“You’re the second one to tell me that.”
“The first being yourself?”
“Exactly.”
Hanguang Zhe’s gaze lingered on him.
“That level of misfortune should have killed you a long time ago.”
“And yet here I am.”
“Yes.”
There was another pause.
“I have a proposal.”
Qin Yue didn’t move.
“Go on.”
“I shield you from misfortune,” Hanguang Zhe said.
“At least, as much as I can in my current state.”
Qin Yue’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“And in return?”
“You help me cultivate.”
Qin Yue didn’t respond immediately.
The room seemed to grow quieter.
“Define help.”
“Your body has high compatibility,” Hanguang Zhe explained.
“With proper guidance, you can gather spiritual energy.”
“And give it to you?”
“Yes.”
Qin Yue hummed softly.
“That sounds like a bad deal for me.”
“You’re already in a worse one,” Hanguang Zhe countered.
“Without me, your chances of surviving long-term are… questionable.”
Qin Yue smiled faintly.
“I’ve made it this long”
“Your eyes, have they always been like this?”
Qin Yue let out a small scoff.
“Perceptive aren’t you?”
“It’s a win-win situation. Why are you hesitant?”
“I’ll think about it.”
His tone bore no room for argument and Hanguang Zhe knew when to retreat so the topic ended at an impasse.
It’s really interesting to write them throwing jabs at each other