Lan Yu worked both the morning and evening shifts and by the time the restaurant finally closed, it was already deep into the night.
The weather had warmed up quite a bit. As long as he wore something slightly thicker, it was enough to keep him warm. Leaning on his wooden cane, Lan Yu headed toward the dormitory. Because of the quiet night, his mind uncontrollably drifted back to last night’s ghost encounter.
If he counted them all, this seemed to be his third or fourth time running into ghosts. Did the original host have some kind of yin yang eyes?
So many ghosts were telling him to go home.
Just thinking about it made Lan Yu tremble, his face turning pale.
Should he quit his job? Should he go home? Should he go back and meet those parents he had never even met once?
He had only just begun to adjust to life here. He had just rented a place, bought a bunch of daily necessities and was finally starting to feel like things were coming together. He hadn’t even had a chance to cook a proper meal in his tiny place yet.
He had made plans to live here long term, spent so much effort buying things he needed for everyday life. His home was so far away, these cheap items weren’t worth bringing back and he couldn’t carry them anyway.
If he really went back, he would definitely get involved with Yi Lingxi again and then he’d be forced to return to his role as a minor cannon fodder, wouldn’t he?
To understand transmigration novels better, Lan Yu had read plenty of them. Some of those books had concepts like “world will.” Could it be that the world will didn’t want him leaving the plot, so it was using these ghost encounters to force him back into being cannon fodder?
Lan Yu was in low spirits all day but he didn’t slack off at work. Even though he still wasn’t great with computers, the restaurant tasks were fortunately much simpler than what he needed to study. Most of the work followed fixed procedures and was easy to pick up.
Being able to handle the front desk alone in just two or three days made Lan Yu all the more reluctant to give up this first job that gave him such a sense of accomplishment.
Instead of heading straight back to the dorm, he hobbled over with his casted leg and sat down on a bench by the roadside.
Should he call home to test things out?
Say that his family was really worried about him…
Maybe the original host’s parents really did miss their child?
Maybe what he knew from the novel wasn’t the full truth. Maybe the original host’s parents actually cared about him a lot? If that were the case, then after taking over the original host’s identity, shouldn’t he also take responsibility?
Lan Yu sighed repeatedly and found the number stored in the old phone.
But if… if they truly missed him, then why hadn’t they called even once?
It had been so long.
Making a phone call would’ve been far more moral than sending ghosts to scare him back home.
Lan Yu’s fingertips brushed lightly over the scratches on the old phone as he gathered his courage for quite a while before finally placing the call.
The waiting time before the call connected felt extremely nerve wracking. What should he say first? Should he call the man “Dad” right away or wait for the other side to speak?
The phone rang several times with no answer. Lan Yu drew the phone away from his ear and looked at the word “Dad” on the screen of the old phone. Why was there still no response?
No answer.
Lan Yu: “…”
Seriously?
Maybe he was busy?
Lan Yu tried calling a second time.
Again, no answer.
Even though Lan Yu didn’t actually want to contact his parents, the lack of response instead triggered a rebellious impulse in him and he dialed again.
This time, there was a response.
The call was hung up.
Lan Yu held the phone in silence for a long time.
It was hung up, right? After two rings, the call made a sharp click before switching to a busy tone, wasn’t that exactly what it meant?
Expressionless, Lan Yu then called the contact labeled “Mom.”
Still no answer.
Lan Yu watched the screen dim.
This wasn’t right…
Hadn’t the ghosts said his parents wanted him to go home? Weren’t they supposedly worried about him? If they were so concerned, why wouldn’t they pick up his calls? They frightened him half to death to force him back home but now they wouldn’t even talk to him?
Did they want him to go home just so they could ignore him in person?
Lan Yu decided to make one last attempt. He called “Mom” again and this time the call was suddenly answered on the second ring. Because he wasn’t mentally prepared, every word he had rehearsed got stuck and he clutched the phone without managing to say a single thing.
“What is it?” A middle aged woman’s voice came through. It was completely unfamiliar.
“Nothing.” Lan Yu grew tense. Facing a mother he didn’t know at all, he didn’t know how he was supposed to respond. “Just… checking.”
“Where are you now?”
Lan Yu stared at his pants and picked at the seam, not wanting to tell anyone where he currently lived.
The woman didn’t seem intent on getting an answer. When he stayed silent, she instead asked, “Do you need money?”
Lan Yu froze. He didn’t fully understand what she meant but with a bit of quiet pride at his recent achievements, he answered honestly, “No. I’m working now. I’m saving my own money.”
“You’re working?” His “Mom” sounded surprised, then said, “Keep some for your living expenses and transfer the rest to my card.”
Lan Yu’s mind froze for three whole seconds. “What?”
“You won’t spend much on your own anyway. I’ve raised you for so many years, now that you’re earning money, you should give something back to the family. Your little brother and sister are still in school and the burden on the two of us is heavy. You should be helping share the pressure.”
Lan Yu held the phone, his eyes seemingly fixed ahead yet he wasn’t seeing anything at all.
“You used to waste time all day. Now that you finally know how to work, you must understand how hard it was for us to earn money to raise you. You should learn to be considerate of your parents.”
After so long apart, was this really the kind of conversation a runaway child should have upon his first call home?
“Now that you’re living on your own, you finally know how hard life is, right? Only now do you think of your parents, right? You only managed to get by because you had us, ”
Lan Yu abruptly hung up.
He gripped the phone. Silence rushed back to his ears, broken only by the occasional sound of cars passing in the distance.
Was he too impulsive to hang up like that?
If she called again, he would pick up. He would speak calmly, explain properly.
Ten minutes passed.
Twenty minutes.
Thirty minutes.
Lan Yu waited for a long time but nothing came. When he finally picked up his phone again, all he saw was a single new message.
A string of bank account numbers.
Lan Yu fell silent.
He suddenly lifted his head, grabbed his wooden cane and hurried away.
How terrifying. This world was truly terrifying. Even the ghosts in this world were short on money, weren’t they?
Those ghosts kept coming from who knows where to bother him, was it all just to force him back home so he could earn money?
Even though Lan Yu never thought his family life in his previous world was “normal,” he wasn’t stupid. He knew these weren’t normal parent–child conversations.
“The original Lan Yu is already dead. The current Lan Yu will stand tall.” Leaning on his cane, Lan Yu stomped forward angrily. “The scariest thing in this world isn’t ghosts, it’s people!!”
What the hell? Why should the money he painstakingly saved be given to someone he had never even met?!
Ever since he received his first paycheck, his greatest joy every day was checking his growing savings!
And now they wanted to take away the joy of his life? Villains! All of them were villains!!!
“A transmigrator never surrenders!!”
Lan Yu muttered under his breath, psyching himself up.
“I wasn’t raised by the original Lan Yu’s parents. I have a clear conscience. If I stand upright, I don’t fear a crooked shadow. If I do no wrong, I don’t fear ghosts knocking on my door. I’m not afraid of ghosts, not even a little, I’m super not afraid!”
“I’m not going back. Absolutely not!!!”
“Even if I’m scared to death, I’m still not going back!”
He absolutely could not just sit and wait for death.
First of all, Lan Yu immediately blocked every contact labeled “Dad” and “Mom.” Out of sight, out of mind.
“Where did Brother Duan go?” When Lan Yu returned to the dorm, he realized Duan Gaozhi was nowhere to be seen.
“Brother Duan went out this morning to handle yesterday’s mess. I think he went home after that.” Lin Zixi’s nose was completely blocked and he sounded like he was struggling to breathe with every sentence. He didn’t seem bothered though. He grabbed a tissue and blew his nose fiercely.
Silently apologizing to his unlucky roommate, Lan Yu dragged his casted leg, cleaned himself up and sat on his bed. “Um… don’t you think the dorm feels a bit… gloomy?”
“Yeah, I think so. Wasn’t it already haunted? I feel like this cold I caught is weird too. You didn’t catch it probably because you have an open injury, so the yin energy escaped.” Lin Zixi sniffled again and reached for another tissue.
Lan Yu blinked. If that logic was true, then if Lin Zixi poked a hole in himself, his cold would go away? But Lan Yu didn’t have any “open holes” either. He merely had a minor fracture, what did that have to do with superficial wounds?
Lan Yu really wanted to comment but since Lin Zixi got sick partly because of him, he decided to respect his roommate’s beliefs.
“So should we… do something to ward off ghosts?”
“What ward off ghosts?” Lin Zixi asked.
“Um… garlic? Crosses? Wooden stakes?” Lan Yu scratched his cheek.
“That’s for Western ghosts. Doesn’t work here.” Lin Zixi sat cross legged, shaking his head.
Lan Yu thought again. “Black donkey hooves?”
Lin Zixi actually searched seriously. “They say that’s for zombies. You’d use it in a tomb, right?”
“Then… a butcher’s knife?” Lan Yu suggested again.
“Weapons are regulated, you know and where would we even find a butcher’s knife?”
The two of them stared at each other.
A long silence fell.
Hooves? Knife? Well.. This conversation is really funny… Anyway… The ghost is talking about his family not yours Lan Yu! Try ouija board
This double updates is for Christmas celebrations! Happy holidays!
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The Realm accepts your wallet. The translator accepts coffee. ✦
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Who wants to go back to be a minor plot device?Chapter 2 · StartChapter 3 · I’m terrified of ghostsChapter 4 · Do ghosts exist in this world?Chapter 5 · ShadowChapter 6 · There’s something wrong with how this book is dressedChapter 7 · The ghost drew a heart for himChapter 8 · Make troubleChapter 9 · Don’t scare me!Chapter 10 · I’d rather be scared to death than go backChapter 11 · Want to eat together?Chapter 12 · A cleaning ghostChapter 13 · Regret it now?Chapter 14 · ParentsChapter 15 · Find FaultChapter 16 · Ghostly photos?Chapter 17 · Nickname: White ShadowChapter 18 · A haunted taxi?Chapter 19 · Extreme fear turns to angerChapter 20 · I used to be a messChapter 21 · Best friendChapter 22 · Turning pointChapter 23 · The threat of ghostsChapter 24 · It’s not a ghost, it’s eerinessChapter 25 Part 1 · First time entering the eerie houseChapter 25 Part 2 · First time entering the eerie houseChapter 26 · Borrow moneyChapter 27 · He’s jealousChapter 28 · RetributionChapter 29 · Revenge from a Strange SourceChapter 30 Part 1 · How could you be so carelessChapter 30 Part 2 · How could you be so carelessChapter 31 Part 1 · What would happen if I ran away from home again?Chapter 31 Part 2 · What would happen if I ran away from home again?Chapter 32 Part 1 · Firmly uphold the right to privacyChapter 32 Part 2 · Firmly uphold the right to privacyChapter 33 Part 1 · The brother who brought down death to protect his belovedChapter 33 Part 2 · The brother who brought down death to protect his belovedChapter 34 Part 1 · Being secretly massaged by a shadowy figure in publicChapter 34 Part 2 · Being secretly massaged by a shadowy figure in publicChapter 35 Part 1 · Go to my dear older brother and sister’s bedroomChapter 35 Part 2 · Go to my dear older brother and sister’s bedroomChapter 36 Part 1 · Being favored by everyone in the eerie houseChapter 36 Part 2 · Being favored by everyone in the eerie houseChapter 37 · We must protect our precious childChapter 38 · It’s too tragic, I can’t bear to watch anymoreChapter 39 · Because of the unique companionshipChapter 40 · The first meeting with the admirer of the protagonistChapter 41 · It’s eerie, but they’re all real family members!Chapter 42 · Using the eerie house to get a cheat codeChapter 43 · The baby’s crying after getting drunk is so cute!Chapter 44 · A traitorChapter 45 · All family members can help the baby.Chapter 46 · When the family is happy, they will hug their waistChapter 47 · Ear piercings were adornedChapter 48 · Treasure are the most precious itemsChapter 49 · Revenge is not an easy thing to doChapter 50 · Because I couldn’t see his faceChapter 51 · One of his brothers is a continuous mountain rangeChapter 52 · How could we possibly run into characters from the original storyChapter 53 · The gems my brother gave me piled up into a small mountainChapter 54 · One can feel an overwhelming sense of superiority.Chapter 55 · Sleeping with a shadowy figure means you won’t be afraid of ghosts at allChapter 56 · The fireworks display to celebrate my baby was absolutely devastating!Chapter 57 · It wasn’t this restaurant that treated us; it was another oneChapter 58 · His super-rich older sister paid for his treat!Chapter 59 · He’s different from beforeChapter 60 · It’s all so weird, isn’t it normal for people to want to disappear?Chapter 61 · Wen JieChapter 62 · Has the identity of this strange child been discovered?Chapter 63 · Those who make their child angry are unforgivableChapter 64 · Being too inquisitive about other people’s private affairs will bring you troubleChapter 65 · A person not to be covetedChapter 66 · Can you bridge the racial divide by staying close to your family?Chapter 67 · What to do if my child doesn’t want to celebrate their birthday?Chapter 68 · The baby is also a second-generation, a bizarre second-generation!Chapter 69 · We are clearly each other’s only friendsChapter 70 · The House of Eeries really did throw a ridiculously huge birthday partyChapter 71 · Why would he feel competitive towards his friend?Chapter 72 · Try to appease the jealous shadow.Chapter 73 · If you’re going to take revenge, you should do it in front of him!Chapter 74 · Now that things have come to thisChapter 75 · My baby’s travel is strange and worryingChapter 76 · One of the older brothers who crawled into the suitcase and followedChapter 77 · He resolutely refused to leave his abandoned brotherChapter 78 · I don’t want my baby to see my terrifying true formChapter 79 · I love hugging you like this.Chapter 80 · It’s a good thing to know you.Chapter 81 · Does my brother also want to go out and have some fun?Chapter 82 · His Older brother?Chapter 83 · Xiao Ming!Chapter 84 · I’m doing great as long as the original text doesn’t go crazyChapter 85 · What’s there to be afraid of when everything’s shrouded in eeriness?Chapter 86 · Let’s have a fight for the sake of the original ownerChapter 87 · How did they know he wasn’t the original owner?Chapter 88 Part 1 · Was the shadowy figure injured?Chapter 88 Part 2 · Was the shadowy figure injured?Chapter 88 Part 3 · Was the shadowy figure injured?Chapter 89 Part 1 · To inflict countless severe emotional blows on someoneChapter 89 Part 2 · To inflict countless severe emotional blows on someoneChapter 91 Part 1 · He was like a human in a supernatural taleChapter 91 Part 2 · He was like a human in a supernatural taleChapter 92 · Someone is secretly using underhanded tacticsChapter 93 · The right people I once followedChapter 94 · Let go of your prejudices against the protagonist.Okay! How come on one complain that we can’t right click the link and open a it in a new webapge??Chapter 95 · Favoritism from his current friendsChapter 96 · The baby is going to marry into our familyChapter 97 · The idea of falling in loveChapter 98 · Want to replace your baby?Chapter 99 · What’s wrong with double happiness?!Chapter 100 · It’s just a matter of raceChapter 101 · I need to balance dating and studying!Chapter 102 · After the shadowy figure gained a physical bodyChapter 103 · Confess your love to the eerie house!Chapter 104 · Even with such pampering, your baby still lacks a sense of security.Chapter 105 · How much help did he receive that he didn’t know about?Chapter 106 · You are not worthy to be the middlemanChapter 107 · Is there anything wrong with me being petty?Chapter 108 · You can have both love and studies!Chapter 109 · Suppressed and restrained desiresChapter 110 · What does an unforgettable yet ordinary date need?