Good Night, Mr. Ghost - Chapter 18
Jiang had no idea about the peculiar thoughts of his beloved as he struggled to get up, dressed, and contentedly settled himself on the sofa.
Love was now in the air, and so was everything else.
It felt rather nice.
Mr. Ghost handed the seafood congee to the young man, saying, “Try this.”
The temperature was just right; it wasn’t scalding at all.
Jiang was quite skeptical, suspecting that Mr. Ghost had used some supernatural means.
Sitting next to him with a smile, Meng Loudi patted his lover’s head, “Eat up.”
Cradling the bowl, Jiang slurped the congee eagerly. The seafood congee was smooth and richly flavorful, with finely chopped abalone and a mix of vegetables, meat, and egg.
“Ah, this is so good!”
Jiang, thoroughly pleased, reached out, “Another bowl, please!”
Unfazed, Mr. Ghost let the bowl float back to the kitchen, got it refilled, and then floated it back steadily to the young man.
Jiang happily took the bowl, using a ceramic spoon, and said, “You try some too.”
Mr. Ghost leaned over and sipped the congee.
“How is it?”
“I think my taste is almost back to normal,” Mr. Ghost licked his lips, giving the young man a bright smile.
Jiang swore that for Mr. Ghost’s smile, he was willing to do anything!
Good, Jiang was irreversibly on the path of “you’re beautiful, you’re the boss.”
Mr. Ghost, watching his foolishly affectionate wife, smiled broadly.
It was all too easy to read him.
His every emotion was written across his face.
His affection deepened, wanting to always be by his side.
Wanting more of his love.
But there was no rush; it would come gradually.
He would slowly sink into the quagmire of his tenderness, cherished and adored.
“That’s good, but why are you so different, Mr. Ghost?” Jiang, no longer hungry, slowly sipped his congee.
“Maybe it’s because I have your love,” Mr. Ghost offered a seemingly unreliable reason.
Jiang rolled his eyes; he wasn’t buying it.
Grinning, Meng Loudi said, “Maybe it’s because I’ve been a ghost for a thousand years, then I met you and developed this intense desire, so I gradually changed.”
“Desire?” Jiang continued sipping.
Leaning against the sofa, Mr. Ghost added, “Yes, from the moment you took me home, I wanted to touch you because you seemed a bit lonely then.”
Meng Loudi smiled, his eyes brimming with endless affection.
Jiang silently sipped his congee.
Maybe it was fate.
Thankful for the lucky star fate had sent him!
He felt completely content.
Taking a moment, Jiang felt nearly fully recovered.
The two indulged in more affectionate exchanges.
“There’re fireworks outside, let’s go watch,” Jiang heard the sounds of fireworks.
Brilliant blossoms exploded in the sky, shining bright.
Their small county had banned personal fireworks, organized instead by the community committee.
“Sure.” Mr. Ghost changed instantly.
Jiang quickly got dressed in warm clothing, and they stepped out hand in hand to watch the fireworks on the street.
Many people from the community had come out.
Several warmly dressed uncles and aunts greeted them with cheerful smiles.
Good, their gaze was still gentle.
Jiang breathed a sigh of relief.
Though he trusted, there was always a bit of worry.
Fortunately, everyone was very kind.
The fireworks ended quickly.
Hand in hand, they walked back home. As they were about to enter their house, they heard noises from the house across.
Jiang paused, “I thought nobody lived opposite?”
“I thought so too,” Meng Loudi looked towards the door; it had been vacant since he arrived here.
They exchanged glances.
Could it be a burglar?
Was there anything to steal?
Meng Loudi approached the opposite door and knocked, but no one responded.
Jiang frowned, “Shall we check it out?”
Though their community was run-down, there might still be valuables across the street; it wouldn’t be good if a burglar got away with them.
Mr. Ghost could undoubtedly open the door.
As he spoke, the door opposite clicked open, and a tousled, furry head peeked out. It was grey fur, round glasses perched on a nose, the wearer adjusting them. His pupils were a light grey, his face expressionless, he asked, “Can I help you?”
“Uh?! Who are you?” The young man stepped back.
A boy peeked out from the door.
The large boy was scruffy, his clothes wrinkled, his hair a tangled mess, his skin pale and gaunt.
He scratched his messy hair, his deadpan eyes revealing nothing, “I moved here a couple of days ago.”
“Uh, we just heard some noise and thought it might be something… Hahaha, sorry about that.”
“No problem.” The boy’s demeanor remained icy.
The young man scratched his head, asking, “Do you need any help?”
“Thanks, but no. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back inside.” The boy retreated.
The door gently closed.
Jiang looked at the closed door, shrugged, and turned to Mr. Ghost, “Strange, isn’t it? Why move into such a community?”
Their community was indeed remote, not particularly popular among young people.
Meng Loudi looked at the closed door, “Maybe because the rent is cheap, the environment quiet, or perhaps-he’s hiding from someone.”
“What?” Jiang looked at him, “What could such a kid be hiding from? He might not even be an adult yet. Let’s cook some dumplings and take them over later.”
“Hm?” Mr. Ghost seemed puzzled by his decision.
“Neighbors should get along well,” Jiang entered the house.
At eight o’clock that evening, Jiang, carrying a plate of dumplings, knocked on the neighbor’s door.
The boy peeked out, his eyes lifeless, “What is it…”
The aroma of the dumplings had already spread.
This time, Jiang had made shrimp dumplings, which were very fresh.
He handed the dumplings to the boy, “Let’s be friends. I’m Jiang Chenyi, this is Meng Loudi, my partner.”
The boy, without showing any emotion, accepted the dumplings, “My name is Luo Hui, thank you for the dumplings. I’ll return the plate later.”
“No problem, you can return it tomorrow.” Jiang watched the boy retreat again, satisfied to return home with Mr. Ghost.
Then, ten minutes later, their door was knocked.
Mr. Ghost opened the door.
The boy’s hoarse voice came through, “Sorry to bother, but do you have more of those dumplings?”
Mr. Ghost stepped aside, and Luo Hui, with a bunch of fluff, entered.
Jiang, now curled up on the sofa, stared as the boy stepped in.
Luo Hui was holding the plate, and with him, three fluffy little ones.
An orange cat and two calico cats.
The three cats cautiously looked around.
Jiang almost thought the boy had brought an invasion of cat people.
“What’s up?” Jiang was panicking.
Luo Hui adjusted his glasses, which nearly covered half his face.
“Your dumplings are delicious, I was wondering if you had any left?”
“…Did you eat them all by yourself?”
Jiang was surprised; that plate was enough to fill an adult man.
The three cats spread out in the room, instinctively gathering by the sofa, their tails wagging and large cat eyes fixed on Jiang.
Luo Hui shook his head, “No, we ate them together, they were so delicious, and none of us had enough, so…”
“I see, Loudi, serve our guest some dumplings!”
As the head of the household, Jiang commanded.
Mr. Ghost, unflinchingly, went to serve more dumplings, silently noting in his mind: Jiang actually asked me to serve another man dumplings.
Yes, Mr. Ghost was that petty, a refined but spiteful ghost.
He noted every slight in his little book.
Of course, there were also things to mark off.
Like the few times Jiang had misplaced his vessel, which had been crossed off just this morning.
Meng Loudi served the dumplings to Luo Hui and his cats.
One man and three cats, surrounding a steaming plate of dumplings, their eyes glowing greedily.
Jiang hurried to the kitchen to get small plates, placing them before them, “Take your time, it’s hot.”
“Really sorry about this,” Luo Hui said, his eyes downcast.
Jiang grinned, “No problem at all!”
Building neighborly relations over a few plates of dumplings was indeed wonderful.
Thus, the three cats began meowing and nibbling on the dumplings, while Luo Hui ate politely.
Jiang and Mr. Ghost sat together, sharing dumplings.
“If it’s not enough later, we can cook some more. Feels like our neighbor hasn’t had a proper meal in a while,” Jiang whispered.
“Hm,” Mr. Ghost nodded agreeably.
Fortunately, two large plates of dumplings filled them all.
The orange cat, very foresightful, scampered over to Jiang, rubbing against him, meowing incessantly.
Jiang excitedly began petting the cat.
Who had ever seen a cat so eager to be petted?
This was a first for Jiang!
Luo Hui adjusted his glasses, “Xiao Huang1 is thanking you. Thanks for the delicious dumplings.”
“No problem at all,” Jiang’s face was all smiles.
Mr. Ghost watched the orange cat, silently noting yet another grievance: Jiang petting the cat, ignoring his ghost, outrageous.
After eating, Luo Hui, having accepted someone else’s hospitality, could no longer maintain an indifferent facade. He sat on the sofa, upright, not looking around.
Jiang, holding the cat, asked, “Luo Hui, why did you move here?”
This had been on his mind.
The area was so remote, hardly suitable for young renters.
“Because the rent is cheap, and it’s quiet,” Luo Hui adjusted his glasses, “I’m an illustrator, I need a quiet work environment.”
“Oh, I see. So you’re not in school?”
“…I’m twenty-eight years old,” Luo Hui stated calmly.
Jiang looked at the youthful face that would pass for eighteen at most and fell silent.
“Bro, nice to meet you.” Jiang said.
He was three years older than him but looked like a minor.
Luo Hui deserved that respectful address.
Luo Hui, maintaining his dignity, nodded slightly.
“Hello, Jiang Chenyi. Hello, Meng Loudi.”
The friendly neighborly meeting ended there.
Thanks to two plates of dumplings, Jiang and Luo Hui established a cordial relationship.
Footnote:
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- Xiao Huang(小黄):Xiao Huang is a common Chinese pet name, which translates to “Little Yellow.” It refers to the cat’s orange fur, as the color orange is often colloquially described as “yellow” in Chinese.
