Good Night, Mr. Ghost - Chapter 8

Jiang’s ears turned a bit red as he touched the back of his ear, saying, “Whatever, you can call me Jiang if you like.”

He wasn’t too particular about it.

“Then I’ll call you Chenyi, and you can call me Loudi,” Meng Loudi said gently.

“Okay, okay,” Jiang agreed absentmindedly, though his face felt a bit warm.

Calling each other Chenyi and Loudi felt a bit strange.

Why not just stick with Jiang and Old Meng?

But whatever, Jiang Chenyi’s mind was a mess, and he focused on the computer screen to distract himself.

Meng Loudi, what a nice name.

A man from the Song Dynasty, nearly a thousand years old, must have seen a lot.

He had thought the other would always be like an invisible presence in his life, but now it seemed possible that Meng Loudi could become a real, tangible person, even if he was still a ghost at heart.

Ah, would they be living together in the future?

It felt a bit odd.

Jiang’s mind was in turmoil.

He wasn’t sure what he really wanted.

But there was a part of him looking forward to living with Meng Loudi.

Having someone to talk to, someone to keep company, would surely be nice.

Meng Loudi sat by the bed, just like all those nights before, watching the young man.

Suddenly, he called out, “Chenyi.”

“Ah, what’s up?” Jiang Chenyi’s hand trembled as he quickly looked over.

Even though he still couldn’t see anything.

“Nothing, just wanted to call you,” Mr. Ghost said with a smile.

Jiang Chenyi glanced over and suddenly slapped his thigh. This guy watched him play every day, he must want to play too!

Games were so enticing, and here he was playing every day without sharing. Wasn’t that a bit unfair?

After all, Meng Loudi cooked for him, hugged him, and didn’t even need food or drink.

Even incense didn’t cost much.

“Mr. Ghost, do you want to play?” Jiang asked.

Meng Loudi was taken aback, “What?”

“Do you want to play games? I can let you play, I can just play on my phone,” Jiang said with a smile.

His eyes curved into crescents, looking very cute.

“No, thank you,” Meng Loudi replied.

He didn’t want to play; he just wanted to watch the young man.

It felt like he was guarding something precious.

Meng Loudi had thought he could restrain his desires and be satisfied, but gradually, he found himself wanting more.

He wasn’t satisfied with being an invisible presence in the young man’s life.

He wanted a response, to talk to him, to occupy more of his life…

Perhaps it was because his desires had reached a certain point that he could finally speak.

Now, he wanted to become someone who could truly be by Jiang Chenyi’s side.

A living, breathing person who could accompany him to other places.

That’s what he wanted.

Jiang Chenyi scratched his head, “Oh, you don’t have to be shy. You can play. We might be living together for a long time, until you leave, so don’t be too reserved.”

They would be together until one of them left.

Meng Loudi suddenly reached out, grasping Jiang’s hand, and said with determination, “I won’t leave you.”

His tone was firm, filled with resolve.

Startled by his certainty, Jiang Chenyi felt a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite describe.

He awkwardly withdrew his hand, “I got it.”

Though he wasn’t sure what he got.

Meng Loudi didn’t push him, withdrawing his hand and saying, “So, you play, and I’ll watch you play.”

Jiang Chenyi awkwardly focused on the computer screen, saying, “I’ll buy a laptop in the next couple of days, then we can play together.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to buy another desktop; there just wasn’t enough space.

Meng Loudi smiled softly, “Alright.”

“I’ll teach you how to play games then, you’re probably not good at it,” Jiang said with a hint of pride.

It would be his turn to teach the newbie.

“Alright.”

“We’ll play together, and I’ll protect you!”

“Alright.”

The next day, Jiang Chenyi rushed to a nearby mall after work and picked out a silver laptop at the Huawei store, spending nearly ten thousand yuan, and happily brought it home.

When it comes to choosing products, domestic brands are the priority.

Meng Loudi hadn’t expected him to act so quickly.

That night, Jiang Chenyi sat on the bed typing on his laptop, while Meng Loudi sat at the computer desk doing the same.

“Loudi! Over there, over there!”

“I… I’m a bit confused about the directions.” It was his first time playing such a game, and even Meng Loudi was a bit at a loss.

“Hahaha, you’re so bad, Mr. Ghost, you actually turned around! Hahaha, let me laugh for a bit.”

Then, Jiang’s laughter was abruptly cut off by a headshot.

Jiang was on the verge of tears.

The turning Mr. Ghost was still alive, but the boastful Jiang got shot.

“Mr. Ghost! Ahhh, I’m dead! No, no!”

Meng Loudi took off his headphones, climbed onto the bed, and hugged the wailing young man, patting his head in a clumsy attempt to comfort him, “Don’t cry, it’s okay.”

Jiang broke into a smile, hugging Meng Loudi, “I’m not crying, I just yelled a bit. Mr. Ghost, why are you so silly?”

Mr. Ghost tilted his head, leaning close to Jiang’s ear, “I’m not silly, I just care about you.”

Once again, Jiang was charmed by the old ghost, smiling brightly, “Mr. Ghost, let’s just keep living like this forever.”

Meng Loudi thought for a moment and asked, “What do we call this?”

He felt it was important to define their relationship.

Jiang Chenyi paused, pushed Old Meng away, and after a moment of silence, said, “Hahaha, it’s too late, let’s go to sleep.”

Meng Loudi looked at the time; it wasn’t even ten o’clock.

He just didn’t want to answer.

Mr. Ghost felt a bit disappointed.

But he obediently turned off the computer, turned off the lights, got into bed, and held Jiang as they slept.

Jiang lay like a dead fish on the bed, asking, “Loudi, do you like men?”

“No.”

“Do you like women?”

“No.”

“…Then what do you like?” Me?

“I like you.”

Oh no, Jiang was turning as red as a shrimp.

“Ahem, why do you like me?”

“Do I need a reason to like you?” Meng Loudi replied confidently.

“Of course you do! If you can’t give a reason, then it doesn’t count as liking.” Jiang looked to his side, knowing that even though he couldn’t see Meng Loudi, he was there.

“So, what is it about me that you like?”

In the darkness, the young man’s eyes still held a glimmer, as if eagerly awaiting his answer.

Mr. Ghost thought for a moment.

“You brought me back.” You bought the jade ring yourself.

“You’re not afraid of me.” Though you were at first.

“Your smile is warm.” Even when you’re not smiling, you’re warm.

“You’re like me.”

Meng Loudi’s deep voice listed one reason after another.

“How am I like you?” Jiang was puzzled.

Aside from both being male, what else did they have in common?

Mr. Ghost reached out, grasping Jiang’s hand, and said softly, “We’re both lonely, but we long for warmth.”

And in meeting each other, they gave each other warmth.

Isn’t that beautiful?

Even though Meng Loudi had given his reasons, Jiang still wasn’t sure. He said, “Other people have those qualities too. And there are many people like me; I’m just one of many similar people.”

Mr. Ghost reached out, pressing a finger to Jiang’s lips, seemingly a bit annoyed, “But only you met me. And I only met you.”

Perhaps there are many people like you.

But to me, you are the most special among the thousands.

Irreplaceably special.

Jiang felt like he was going crazy. He really wanted Meng Loudi to dispel the idea that he liked him.

“But you’re from ancient times. Did male love exist back then?”

As an old-fashioned person, shouldn’t he be against such things?

Mr. Ghost touched Jiang’s face, his voice as deep as moonlit wine, making one feel light and airy, “So what? From then to now, what haven’t I seen?”

In those thousand years, part of his time was spent in the eerie darkness of the ancient tomb, and part in the bustling, vibrant human world.

He was like a floating weed, drifting in the storms of the human world, unable to find a home.

But now he had found it.

Jiang thought about it, and it made sense. Meng Loudi was old enough to be his great-great-great-great-grandfather.

Meng Loudi held him close, preventing him from saying anything that might upset him, and whispered, “Be good, sleep now.”

Jiang thought for a moment and swallowed his words.

Honestly, this Mr. Meng was trying to be an old cow eating young grass.

Though the young grass was somewhat willing, it was also a bit hesitant.

Was this feeling really like?

Could it truly turn into love?

If it was, could Meng Loudi, who had fallen for him, really have a good outcome?

Meng Loudi had lived for a thousand years.

What about him?

Jiang Chenyi felt a bit melancholic.

Rationally, he thought he should clearly reject Meng Loudi, just remain roommates, and not let anything else happen.

With a mind full of thoughts, Jiang drifted off to sleep.

Mr. Ghost looked at him and sighed softly.

What would it take for you to accept me?

Everything was as usual, except that after waking up in the morning, Meng Loudi only gave Jiang a goodbye hug without saying a word.

Though Mr. Ghost hadn’t said much before, oh, that was because he couldn’t.

But Jiang felt that Mr. Ghost should have said something like “Take care, come home early” or “I’ll be waiting for you at home.”

A bit disappointed.

Jiang entered the tutoring class listlessly, where Yi-Jie was sitting by the coffee table eating soup dumplings.

Seeing the young man, who had been all smiles these past few days, now under a cloud, Wang Yi quickly put down her dumplings and called out, “Come, come, Jiang, what’s wrong?”

He looked like something had happened.

Jiang Chenyi glanced at Wang Yi, thinking that maybe he could talk about this.

After all, it seemed, perhaps, Yi-Jie was good at handling relationship issues.

The young man walked over, sat down, and said, “I have a little problem.”

“Tell me, tell me!” The woman’s eyes sparkled.

The young man scratched his head awkwardly, “Well, there’s someone I really enjoy living with, but I’m not sure how to define our relationship.”