Good Night, Mr. Ghost - Chapter 17
Mr. Jiang looked at his son-in-law with disapproval, his tone dripping with sarcasm, “Take good care of our Jiang? Aren’t you a big man? Why are you letting him support you?”
Yes, Old Jiang did it on purpose!
Although he didn’t quite understand what was going on with Meng Loudi, he seemed no different from a normal person. Clearly, he could earn a living, yet he was acting like a kept man!
Mr. Jiang, representing all men, despised him.
Meng Loudi was taken aback.
Mrs. Jiang, with a smile, pinched her husband’s thigh, causing Mr. Jiang’s face to contort in pain.
With a loving look at Meng Loudi, she said, “Don’t mind him, he’s just got a sharp tongue. Meng is such a good kid. Ever since you came, our Chenyi has been so happy every day. You two just live well together.”
Jiang Chenyi poked the man’s chest, asking, “What’s wrong? What did my parents say?”
He noticed something was off in his partner’s expression.
Meng Loudi snapped back to reality and truthfully relayed the conversation to Jiang.
After hearing it, Jiang burst into laughter, looking at the empty space and teasing, “Dad, what are you thinking? How is Meng Loudi a kept man? If anything, Loudi feeds me and does the chores, and he eats so little. Clearly, I’m the one getting the better deal here.”
Mr. Jiang rolled his eyes, “You and your mom just side with this kept man. I have no status at all.”
Mrs. Jiang pinched him again, then looked at Meng Loudi with a gentle expression, “Of course, a mother-in-law sees her son-in-law more favorably over time. Loudi is like half a son to me, so naturally, I hope they live well together.”
Mr. Ghost conveyed the message to Jiang, who grasped the young man’s wrist.
“So, have you been staying here all this time?”
“No, son, we just come by occasionally to check on you. We couldn’t let go of you. But now, you’ve found someone, and we can rest easy.”
“…Yeah, Loudi is great. We’ll live well together,” Jiang said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
“Cheer up, Chenyi. Mom and Dad said they’d spend New Year’s Eve with us,” Mr. Ghost gently comforted him, caressing his cheek.
“Mm!” Jiang quickly perked up. No matter what, being able to talk to his parents indirectly was wonderful.
The two of them made dumplings, with Jiang chatting with his parents through his human translator.
“I tell you, Loudi is definitely a normal person now.”
“Loudi treats me very well, so don’t worry.”
“I’m not a kid anymore; I can take care of myself.”
And so, the four of them spent New Year’s Eve together.
The Chinese New Year Gala played on TV, and steaming dumplings were ready.
Jiang curled up on the sofa, eating dumplings from a bowl.
“Mom, Dad, do you want some dumplings?”
“We don’t have those cravings anymore,” Mrs. Jiang replied with a smile.
After all, things were different now. The living and the dead were separated, not just by words.
After finishing his dumplings, Jiang sat quietly on the sofa, watching the Chinese New Year Gala.
Mr. Ghost held him silently.
The room was filled only with the sound of the TV.
As the gala concluded, Mr. Ghost looked to the side, “Are you leaving?”
Jiang immediately turned his head, looking like a startled rabbit, ears perked in alert.
Mrs. Jiang, seeing her son’s wary expression tinged with reluctance, nodded and smiled, “Our time is up.”
These spirits, still attached to the living, could visit the human world at specific times, but not for long.
“Chenyi, their time is up,” Mr. Ghost said softly.
Jiang lowered his eyes, asking, “When will you come again?”
Mr. Jiang’s eyes glistened with tears, but as a ghost, he couldn’t shed them.
“We’ll come again on the Lantern Festival, Jiang. You need to be strong.”
Jiang pouted, feigning disdain, “Who’s not strong? Alright, see you on the Lantern Festival.”
Meng Loudi watched as the two departed hand in hand, then hugged Jiang Chenyi tightly, whispering, “They’re gone.”
Jiang’s pout turned into tears as he buried his head in the man’s chest, angrily saying, “They’re so unfair!”
“Yes, yes, very unfair,” Meng Loudi soothed, trying to calm Jiang’s emotions.
Jiang, still teary-eyed, complained, “They came before! Why didn’t they give me a sign? Even if the house was haunted, I’d feel comforted!”
How many times had his silly parents come and gone without a word?!
Did they see him cry all those times?!
Didn’t Jiang care about his dignity?
“Yes, it’s their fault, but they probably didn’t want to scare you,” Mr. Ghost consoled his lover.
Jiang looked at the gentle-eyed ghost, feeling a surge of mischief, and bit his neck, leaving a noticeable mark, then angrily questioned, “As a prime example of superstition, would Jiang be scared?!”
Meng Loudi, unsure why he was bitten, asked, “Did I do something to provoke you?”
Jiang hugged him, biting his finger, grinding his teeth, “You’re just too easy to bully, so I have to!”
Who told his Mr. Ghost to be so gentle and harmless?
Meng Loudi looked at the young man gnawing on his finger, a hint of surprise on his face. Did he really seem so easy to bully?
Alright, Jiang unknowingly bit him, and it was noted down.
One day, Jiang would have to repay this debt.
Jiang Chenyi, unaware of this, released his finger, blinking innocently, and lay on the man’s chest.
“I’m still very happy. Knowing my parents spent New Year’s with me, and having Loudi by my side.”
Mr. Ghost was taken aback.
Jiang chuckled, looking up at him with a bright smile, “Loudi is my lucky star, right?”
Meng Loudi, his ghostly partner, had brought him so much warmth, joy, and happiness.
Jiang wasn’t lonely anymore.
Jiang no longer had to talk to himself in an empty house like a madman.
Jiang had breakfast, a warm embrace, sweet kisses, and a lover.
All thanks to Mr. Ghost.
Jiang was overjoyed.
Meng Loudi watched his young man smile through tears, looking at him as if he were the most precious thing.
Mr. Ghost felt his heart beat, fast and alarming.
He swallowed, then paused.
He raised his long eyes to the young man, saying, “Chenyi, I think I have saliva now.”
Jiang was also surprised.
His Mr. Ghost had a human form, but lacked many things.
Taste, blood, and more.
He leaned in, eager to pry open his lips to see if it was true.
“Really? Let me see.”
Mr. Ghost obediently opened his mouth for the young man to inspect.
“It’s true, Mr. Ghost, congratulations, you’re just a few steps away from becoming human!” The young man beamed with joy.
At this rate, Mr. Ghost might really become human someday!
Meng Loudi, seeing the young man’s joy, felt his heart fill up, warm and full.
“Yes, maybe I can become human, someday in the future.” Mr. Ghost cupped the young man’s face, their foreheads touching.
Meng Loudi’s cold breath brushed against the young man’s face, and he murmured, “Am I really your lucky star, Chenyi?”
“Yes.” The young man smiled with pursed lips.
So adorable.
Mr. Ghost’s eyes were filled with a heavy color.
He leaned to the young man’s side, speaking low, “Then, Chenyi, can you give me something?”
“What?” Jiang was surprised and curious, as this was the first time Mr. Ghost had asked him for anything.
Meng Loudi’s breath mingled with the young man’s, and he smiled, saying softly, “I’ve learned some things before, and I want to try them with you.”
“Sure.” Jiang’s words were swallowed back.
The two embraced.
Jiang Chenyi suddenly felt a chill in his heart. Oh no, had their Mr. Ghost finally been corrupted?!
Where was his pure and harmless Meng Loudi?!
Since it was New Year’s, they stayed up late, and when Jiang groggily got up, it was already four in the afternoon.
These days, the tutoring class was on break.
He was happy to take it easy.
Now Jiang rubbed his waist, muttering, “Really not human.”
The non-human culprit stood at the door, just in time to hear Jiang’s complaint.
He walked in with a bright smile, sat on the bed, kissed the young man’s eye corner, and watched him shiver in surprise, his smile turning mischievous.
“What’s wrong? Was Chenyi just badmouthing me?” Meng Loudi asked deliberately.
Jiang Chenyi swallowed, realizing his man had heard that, so should he admit defeat or stand firm?
Thinking of today’s unfortunate experience.
Jiang decided, I’ll admit defeat!
“I didn’t say anything, I said nothing at all.” Jiang firmly denied, refusing to admit anything.
Meng Loudi smiled at him, secretly noting, Chenyi got up this afternoon, badmouthed me, and lied about it.
Jiang’s eyes darted around, and his stomach growled.
Jiang blushed.
But now there was no one to blame, because Mr. Ghost’s stomach wouldn’t growl.
“Loudi, I’m hungry.” Jiang tugged at the man’s sleeve, pleading pitifully.
“I’ve made it, how about seafood congee? If you don’t like it, I can make something else.”
Aside from certain things, Meng Loudi wasn’t human, but in every other way, he was a perfect homemaker, flawless.
“How did you make seafood congee?” Jiang wondered.
He didn’t recall buying any seafood.
Meng Loudi explained, “I got up this morning while you were still asleep, and didn’t you say? To deliver the dumplings we made to a few families, so I went for a morning run and delivered them.”
Last night, they made hundreds of dumplings, far too many to eat.
This was Jiang’s tradition, something his parents used to do.
In this community, there were many elderly left behind, with their children working in big cities, leaving the old folks behind.
His mom used to buy extra things during holidays and deliver them to each family.
Jiang continued the tradition.
“Then how did you get the seafood?” Jiang was still puzzled.
Mr. Ghost smiled brightly, “They gave it to me. A chubby aunt gave me abalone, and a tall, thin aunt gave me a bag of farm eggs.”
“And how did you introduce yourself?”
“Of course, as your boyfriend,” Mr. Ghost said matter-of-factly.
“Okay, I’m hungry, go get the food!” Jiang said, equally matter-of-factly.
He wasn’t too worried; these uncles and aunts had seen it all and wouldn’t care about his sexual orientation.
He was eager to announce to the world that this man was his boyfriend!
Of course, just kidding.
Jiang Chenyi wasn’t sure if he could handle too much scrutiny and criticism.
But his circle was small.
In his circle, there were just these people, and as long as they maintained a non-interfering, non-judgmental attitude, it was fine.
Mr. Ghost chuckled and went to get the congee.
Actually, he hadn’t mentioned that those uncles and aunts seemed very hopeful that the two of them would live well together.
Of course, he probably should find some work or something.
After all, when he mentioned he didn’t have a job, their eyes were a bit surprised.
He might be seen as a kept man, living off others.
Mr. Ghost thought to himself.
