“More shifts? Are you planning to work full day schedules from now on?” the manager asked.
“Yes.”
Lan Yu was having this conversation with the manager right as he was getting off work. This place paid a base monthly salary but the hours also counted toward extra income.
Now that he no longer needed to do housework at Zhou Hesheng’s home, he suddenly had a lot more time to devote to earning money.
“Working both the morning and night shifts is exhausting. Covering for someone temporarily is fine but doing it long term? Your body won’t hold up,” the manager said with a frown.
“It’s fine. I don’t need much sleep and I’m really short on money right now.” Lan Yu’s requirements for sleep were very low, three hours a day was usually enough for him.
“We’re already running at a tight pace here. If you end up collapsing from overwork, we’ll be the ones responsible. I can’t approve that,” the manager rejected him outright.
Hearing the reasoning, Lan Yu couldn’t argue back. Still, disappointment settled heavily in his chest.
Maybe he could try to find another job that would match the early and late shifts here… he wasn’t sure but he needed to earn more somehow.
The manager looked at him quietly. Seeing that Lan Yu really was discouraged, he sighed and said, “How about this, I’ll schedule you for more shifts but if you ever feel too tired, just tell me. I can adjust for you flexibly, alright?”
Lan Yu’s eyes lit up instantly. “Thank you, Manager! Thank you so much!”
“You’ve always worked hard. You’re serious and meticulous. Everyone calls me Brother Duan in private but you’re the only one who always calls me Manager.”
Duan Gaozhi chuckled and patted Lan Yu’s shoulder.
“It’s not like that…” When Lan Yu first came, he only knew that Duan Gaozhi was the manager, so he kept addressing him by title.
Later, he noticed everyone else calling him Brother Duan but by then he felt it was too late to change the way he addressed him.
Duan Gaozhi was related to the restaurant’s owner. Rumor had it he used to work at a big hotel, then returned and reorganized this old local restaurant, revamping the system, redesigning the layout and upgrading everything.
The place already had a solid reputation but after his overhaul, business boomed even more. Strictly speaking, he was basically half an owner.
To Lan Yu, Duan Gaozhi was a capable man, kind in daily interactions yet impeccably professional whenever he faced customers.
While changing out of his uniform, Duan Gaozhi casually asked, “Do you want to apply for a bed in the staff dormitory?”
This was Lan Yu’s very first job and he hadn’t known anything. When they said “come work,” he just showed up. Because he didn’t talk much to others, he didn’t even find out until long after that the restaurant provided both meals and lodging.
By the time he knew, the timing felt wrong and he was too embarrassed to bring it up himself. Now, Duan Gaozhi was the one offering.
With a rented room now, he didn’t necessarily have to return every night. The shrine table was already set up, so there was nothing to worry about.
If he had a bed at the workplace, then when he was exhausted he could stay here instead of commuting back and since the dorm housed several people, he wouldn’t have to be alone, having others around was strangely comforting, especially on nights when he feared encountering something… supernatural.
“Brother… Brother Duan, I’d like to apply for a bed,” Lan Yu said quietly, head lowered. Even though the other party had brought it up, repeating the request himself still made him feel nervous, like he was imposing.
“Got it.” Duan Gaozhi patted his shoulder again. “You’re diligent and careful. You’ve been doing well. Keep working hard.”
“Thank you, Brother Duan.”
Watching Duan Gaozhi’s figure disappear down the hallway, Lan Yu finally relaxed. He opened his locker and the phone lying inside suddenly lit up.
Lan Yu lowered his head and glanced at it. The sender, flooding him with message after message, was saved under a single remark: Yi Lingxi.
The main character of the book he had transmigrated into.
Yi Lingxi messaged him often. The original Lan Yu and Yi Lingxi had been extremely close, best friends and during these three to four months, Yi Lingxi had reached out many times to ask about his situation.
Lan Yu hadn’t completely cut ties with Yi Lingxi; rather, Yi Lingxi was the only person he kept in contact with. They had been close and Yi Lingxi’s family still stayed in touch with his parents. Keeping that connection intact prevented his parents from panicking and reporting him missing.
He always avoided calling Yi Lingxi but today, he truly felt a strong urge to talk to someone.
On impulse, he pressed the call button.
Yi Lingxi picked up instantly. “Lan Yu!”
“Lingxi.” It wasn’t the first time he heard Yi Lingxi’s voice but he still had to admit, the man’s voice was so pleasant. Even his voice was flawless. No wonder Yi Lingxi always drew attention effortlessly wherever he went.
“How have you been recently? You haven’t messaged me in a while,” Yi Lingxi asked, clearly worried.
“I rented a new place and had to move. I’ve been busy,” Lan Yu said, giving a simple excuse to avoid the awkwardness of admitting he’d intentionally delayed replying.
“Renting a place? What kind? Are you sharing with someone?” Yi Lingxi asked naturally.
“No, a full rental. It’s just me.”
“Do you have enough money? And why aren’t you accepting the transfers I sent you?” Yi Lingxi sounded genuinely puzzled.
Lan Yu had received several transfers from him but he’d never accepted them. He and Yi Lingxi weren’t truly close, at least not from his perspective and accepting money so casually felt wrong.
“You’re not well off yourself. I’ll be fine,” Lan Yu said.
“I found a way to make money. I have plenty now. You need it more than I do,” Yi Lingxi replied vaguely, clearly not intending to explain that he had already entered a wealthy household.
“Earning money is tiring. You didn’t have to work before, so now it must be hard and the more you earn, the harder it is, right? I’m really fine here.”
The two had once been close enough to talk in this caring, familiar way. Hearing Lan Yu’s gentle reply, Yi Lingxi’s tone instantly brightened, a smile clearly in his voice. “Really, it’s no problem.”
“I’m doing well too. Things are alright here,” Lan Yu said. He didn’t have the heart to push Yi Lingxi away completely, so he switched the topic. “How are my parents doing lately?”
“They only asked about you once. After that… they didn’t say much,” Yi Lingxi answered.
Lan Yu rubbed the edge of his old cellphone. He had never met those parents before and he wasn’t particularly attached to them but hearing how indifferent they were, how unconcerned they seemed after their child had been gone for months, still made his chest tighten with sourness.
It wasn’t for himself.
It was for the original Lan Yu.
“Lingxi… have you ever seen a ghost before?” Lan Yu suddenly asked.
“A ghost? Did you have a nightmare?” Yi Lingxi sounded genuinely puzzled and his tone made Lan Yu second guess himself. That reaction didn’t sound like someone who believed in ghosts at all.
“Well… I think I might’ve run into one,” Lan Yu said cautiously, testing the waters.
“Huh?”
Both sides fell silent for a moment.
“Have you been too tired lately? Really, I’m not short on money right now. Let me transfer you some. You need to rest, if you don’t sleep properly, your brain will start imagining things,” Yi Lingxi said again, full of worry.
“Ai! no! no! it’s fine. I was just talking casually.”
Even up until the moment the call ended, Yi Lingxi’s worry was practically spilling out of the receiver. Lan Yu sat alone in the changing room, covering his face in helplessness.
He only ran into a ghost once. Was there really any need to make such a big deal out of it?
As long as he didn’t run into one again, that would be the end of it… right?
It shouldn’t be something that happens often… right?
Lan Yu spent the next few days on edge, jumpy at every shadow but gradually, his nerves loosened. Nothing strange happened again. No sudden chills, no ghostly figures, nothing creeping up on him.
So maybe ghosts weren’t something you could just bump into whenever you walked outside.
Duan Gaozhi checked his scheduling preferences once every week and Lan Yu easily managed to secure full attendance every single day. He spent more nights in the dormitory than he did in his rented room.
And perhaps because he was living in the dorm now, Lan Yu finally had the chance to talk to people.
“Have you been too busy lately? Even though I stopped working overtime but you’re still working every single day,” Zhou Hesheng asked from across the table, brow furrowed.
Lan Yu had thrown nearly all his time into work recently. Zhou Hesheng had finished his own work and invited Lan Yu out to dinner and Lan Yu had purposely arranged with the shift lead to take one night off just to make it.
“My treat today, Brother Zhou. Really, today I’m treating.” Lan Yu had just gotten last month’s salary and he felt unusually wealthy.
“Alright, alright, it’s your treat then.”
Zhou Hesheng laughed as he poured Lan Yu a drink. His hand paused for a moment and he gave Lan Yu a teasing look. “Are you drinking tonight?”
Lan Yu’s ears immediately went red. He shook his head vigorously. “No. No drinking.”
Zhou Hesheng burst into laughter but didn’t push him. He poured himself a bottle instead. “Got scared off by last time?”
“No, it’s just… after drinking last time, I ran into a ghost.” Lan Yu hugged his drink and said it in a matter of fact tone.
“A ghost?” Zhou Hesheng blinked, clearly surprised.
“Mm.”
Lan Yu could now retell the entire ghost incident like it was some casual anecdote. “It scared me half to death that night. I was terrified for days. After applying for the dormitory, I didn’t even dare go home for several nights.”
Zhou Hesheng rubbed his chin, expression unreadable. “Hmmm…”
He didn’t give a direct reaction and that made Lan Yu suddenly nervous. “What is it, Brother Zhou?”
“When I was little, I think I might’ve seen a ghost too.” Zhou Hesheng poured himself another drink and spoke in a deliberately mysterious tone.
“When I was a kid, the area near my house was basically a big graveyard. One night, I stayed out playing too late. On my way home, I looked across the cemetery and saw one black figure and one white figure floating around. I think… that might’ve been the Black and White Impermanence.”
“Really?” Lan Yu’s eyes widened.
“But thinking about it now… maybe it was just someone visiting a grave,” Zhou Hesheng added calmly.
Lan Yu: “…”
Seeing his speechless expression, Zhou Hesheng burst out laughing. “But who knows? It’s weird but I feel like almost everyone I know has seen a ghost at least once. There are so many things science can’t explain. Who really knows, right?”
Lan Yu blinked slowly.
He had searched many stories about ghosts online and found countless strange tales and supernatural encounters.
“Is running into a ghost… really that common?” Lan Yu asked in disbelief.
Zhou Hesheng rubbed his chin again and thought seriously. “Now that you mention it, it does seem like I’ve heard a lot of stories.”
Lan Yu lowered his head, deep in thought. In this world… Was encountering ghosts actually common?
“Do the authorities acknowledge ghosts are real?” he asked.
“Of course not. They discourage superstition. Believe in science.” Zhou Hesheng replied without hesitation.
Lan Yu: “…”
After finally managing to pay the bill successfully, Lan Yu exhaled in satisfaction. His relieved expression made Zhou Hesheng laugh again.
That night, Lan Yu headed back to his rented place alone. Just as he climbed up the stairs, he caught sight of a box sitting in front of his door.
He paused.
All the things he’d ordered recently had already arrived and he hadn’t bought anything new. Besides, couriers usually left parcels at the convenience store downstairs.
So why was there a box here?
Confused, Lan Yu carried the box into his room. The lighting inside was brighter than the hallway, so he could see it better.
Yet all that was written on the box was three characters: For Baby.
Baby?
Wasn’t it meant for him?
This was a rented place but strangers couldn’t just walk in. There was a security gate, you needed someone inside to buzz you through.
Lan Yu thought for a moment. Instead of opening the box, he decided to carry it up to the third floor and ask the landlord first.
“Lan Yu? What’s wrong?” Landlord Zhang opened the door and asked when he saw him holding a box.
“There was a box at my door but it doesn’t say who it’s for. Do we have anyone named ‘Baby’ living in our building?” Lan Yu lifted the unopened box for him to see.
“No, not at all. The previous tenant from your room was a family of three. Isn’t it yours?” the landlord asked, looking puzzled.
“No, I just came home and found it sitting by my door.”
“Then toss it. There are stories online about people sending dangerous stuff in packages,” the landlord warned.
“But… What if it’s something important? Or maybe it belongs to the previous tenant?” Lan Yu asked, hesitant.
The landlord hesitated too. “Then… how about taking it to the police booth nearby and asking the officers to open it?”
Lan Yu’s eyes widened. “…That’s allowed?”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
A tiny coffee can be a surprisingly nice “thank you.” ☕
☕ 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?