Chapter 26

After long and arduous work, Gu Feiyin finally reached the pinnacle moment of her life!

The benevolent leader expressed great admiration for her talent and dedication, especially her commitment to the haunted house profession. Overcoming inner fears and making significant sacrifices to serve visitors is no easy feat. It’s rare to find someone who can lie in a coffin without any psychological burden. Other haunted houses might use mannequins to pop up and scare people for a quick thrill, but Gu Feiyin’s approach has become their signature feature. To not waste her passion for the job, she was promoted ahead of schedule, officially hired as a permanent employee.

She finally transitioned from a temporary worker to a permanent one, and from now on, she’s someone with a work contract.

The most delightful part is that her salary increased from sixty a day to two thousand two hundred a month. This isn’t just a small step forward; it’s a giant leap! With this money, she can finally taste the flavors of tea eggs and milk tea. What a heavenly life this is!

Indeed, those who work hard will never be overlooked!

Knowing her financial struggles, the kind-hearted leader even advanced half a month’s salary after signing the contract and reminded her again, “Xiao Gu, keep up the good work. I have high hopes for you!”

Gu Feiyin felt she had met her life’s mentor! She always believed that even without a diploma or degree, she had brains. With a smart and capable mind, she could always find a new direction in life.

“Thank you, leader. I won’t let you down!”

…

Gu Feiyin, clutching her fortune, felt particularly anxious and hid in the restroom to count the money three or four times before happily storing it in a plastic bag, folding it multiple times, and tucking it into the inner pocket of her padded jacket.

This money is her ticket home. With funds, she can prepare to post small flyers. The more people know, the greater her chance of returning home. So every penny must be spent wisely, as earning money is truly challenging.

The Red-Dressed Ghost couldn’t bear to watch. Back when she was alive, a thousand yuan was pocket change, not worth a second glance. Forget a thousand; even ten thousand or a hundred thousand wouldn’t make her blink. But this Long Black Straight Hair treats a thousand yuan like a priceless treasure, hiding it away, constantly checking it, fearing it might disappear.

Wondering where she came from, her perspective is too narrow.

“It’s just a thousand yuan, stop fussing over it…”

“What do you mean just a thousand yuan?” Gu Feiyin tilted her head, looking at the Red-Dressed Ghost seriously, “Do you know how important this thousand yuan is? It’s proof of my talent and effort. Do you know how many tea eggs and cups of milk tea a thousand yuan can buy?”

The Red-Dressed Ghost felt a chill down her spine from Gu Feiyin’s gaze, “A thousand yuan doesn’t buy that many…”

Gu Feiyin: “How can it not buy many? With this thousand yuan, I can be extravagant, eating two tea eggs a month and drinking one cup of milk tea each month.”

Red-Dressed Ghost: “…” That’s quite extravagant.

“With this thousand yuan, I can also buy two candles for the Old Lady and Jumping Sister to improve their meals. You don’t understand.” Tasting once a month is also a pretty good heavenly life.

Red-Dressed Ghost: “…”

Her blood-red eyes were speechless, feeling a myriad of emotions, “Where did you come from, really?”

Gu Feiyin said, “Of course, I came from Mu Mountain. Mu Mountain… Oh, you don’t know, I lived a carefree life there! I had a pit full of money!” Her eyes showed longing. She really had a good life back then. When hungry, she’d find a Malevolent Ghost to eat. Since she was experienced, Malevolent Ghosts couldn’t beat her, and she’d easily devour them. After eating, she’d return to her pit to count her gold and silver treasures and sleep soundly, waking up only to eat again. Unlike now, worrying about the next meal, needing to work hard just to earn a living. Human life is truly not easy.

But human life has its perks too, with more food and fun. TV is nice, and phones are even better. When she returns to her pit, she must bring a few back to play with!

The Red-Dressed Ghost had heard of “Mu Mountain” before. Long Black Straight Hair had asked her about it long ago, but she had never heard of it, unable to help. She even asked some ghost friends, but they all said they didn’t know… Long Black Straight Hair was really disappointed for a while, even her box lunch didn’t taste as good.

But compared to that, she’s more curious about Long Black Straight Hair’s leg.

Who knows what’s wrong with that leg, seemingly without sensation but still functional. Walking is slow and twisted, sometimes looking like a seizure, sometimes like polio. Yet Long Black Straight Hair seems unfazed. Initially, she was unaccustomed to walking, using her hand to lift her leg a bit. Now she’s used to it, not even lifting her leg, walking with a strange gait, making her Long Black Straight Hair even more flowing…

Thinking of Long Black Straight Hair’s appearance, the Red-Dressed Ghost couldn’t help but be startled. Luckily, she lies in the coffin, not going out to scare people. If someone saw such a person walking by in the dark, they’d be scared out of their wits.

With ghostly kindness, the Red-Dressed Ghost kindly suggested, “Is your leg really okay? Maybe you should see a doctor?”

“I don’t know if it’s okay.” Gu Feiyin patted her leg, also puzzled. Her leg doesn’t hurt or itch, doesn’t seem injured, just woke up one day stiff and slow, not as functional as before.

She wondered if her soul and this body weren’t compatible, maybe the body was rejecting her. But probably not, as she’s still trapped in this body, unable to leave. Besides the leg being inconvenient, there’s no other feeling.

Moreover, when she arrived, she was lying in a mountain hollow, her body ice-cold. The original soul was long gone, either reincarnated or elsewhere, she didn’t know. There was nothing else on her, just an ID card and a hundred yuan, along with a few white bread cakes. She vaguely remembered the original owner seemed to have escaped from home but never made it out, dying in the forest.

At that time, her soul wanted to leave the body but couldn’t. She had no choice but to descend the mountain, but unfortunately, after asking and searching, she couldn’t find her way home.

Living among humans, she deeply appreciated the value of teeth, thinking legs must be even more valuable.

In the past, the condition of a leg didn’t matter to her, as she floated around. Having legs or not made no difference. But being human is different; a bad leg means being disabled, possibly facing discrimination, making job hunting even harder. Plus, the twisted leg slows her down, severely affecting her daily life.

Gu Feiyin said, “I should see a doctor, but I don’t think it’ll help. My leg doesn’t seem injured, maybe it’s something else.”

Red-Dressed Ghost: “Could you have been possessed in the mountains?”

“Possessed? How’s that possible?” She’s the most supernatural, a human body with a ghost soul. What evil could possess her?

“If not possessed, then what’s wrong?”

Gu Feiyin looked at the Red-Dressed Ghost, deeply saying, “Maybe the heavens are messing with me again. I feel this isn’t simple.”

Red-Dressed Ghost: “…” It is quite complicated.

Gu Feiyin stroked her chin, recalling long ago when Mu Mountain had a little monk. That little monk was quite handsome. She hadn’t tasted human Yang Energy before, so curiously tried a bite, just a bite. It tasted good, but then her stomach hurt for a whole month! A month! She couldn’t eat anything, had no appetite. It was then she realized ghosts could have stomachaches.

Her neighboring beautiful ghost never had stomachaches from eating Yang Energy, but she tried a bite and was in agony, crying out. And she only wanted a taste, not to eat someone… Since then, she never dared to eat randomly.

She remembered rolling around the mountain in pain, the little monk saw her and, with a compassionate face, made cold remarks, saying the heavens were merciful to her.

The heavens’ mercy made her stomach hurt, what kind of logic is that?

Maybe this time is the same.

…

After work, Gu Feiyin clutched twelve yuan and finally bought the milk tea she had longed for. The milk tea shop guy was particularly nice, adding pearls (a common edible topping in milk tea, soft and chewy) and coconut jelly to her drink. One was black, the other white, not looking great but surprisingly tasty. The pearls were chewy, the coconut jelly sweet and chewy, and the milk tea was delicious, milky and sweet… It was really good! She couldn’t bear to drink it all at once.

She held the milk tea on her way home, stopping to buy two candles for the Old Lady and Neighbor Miss. She was shocked at how expensive candles had become. Two yuan for a candle? She remembered them being much cheaper, just a few cents. Has inflation gone up so much?

She almost bought just one for the Old Lady and Neighbor Miss to share. Luckily, she was promoted; otherwise, she couldn’t afford these candles.

She stuffed the two pricey candles into her jacket pocket and returned to the rundown building with her half-drunk milk tea.

Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady seemed surprised to receive the candles, not expecting the poor ghost to buy them candles.

The two ghosts held the candles, looking at her. Gu Feiyin grinned, proudly saying, “The leader said I did a good job, so he promoted me and advanced half a month’s salary. So I bought you some treats to celebrate. We’re neighbors, don’t be shy.”

Neighbor Miss: “…”

Old Lady: “…”

The two dark eyes stared at Long Black Straight Hair, saying nothing, just sitting by the window, munching on the candles.

Gu Feiyin returned to her room, seriously finished her milk tea, even tearing open the lid to eat every pearl and coconut jelly. She savored it, planning to buy another cup next payday because it was so good. When she returns to her pit, it’ll be hard to have milk tea. After savoring it, she grabbed a plastic bag with clothes and went to the next-door bathroom for a shower.

Her padded jacket needed washing; otherwise, it would start to smell. Being human is troublesome. Back in the day, a piece of clothing could be worn until her soul scattered, no worries about laundry.

But the weather is cold, and the padded jacket heavy, drying slowly without a place to hang it, unlike thin autumn clothes that dry in a few days. Plus, she only had two changes, the one she wore initially and the one she bought later. She thought about it and laid the wet, heavy jacket on the Old Lady’s broom. The Old Lady wandered around, helping to air-dry the jacket.

“Thank you.”

Old Lady: “…”

…

Sudi spent a few days in the hospital, and his pneumonia improved significantly. The frostbite was healing slowly after applying medication. Fortunately, the injuries weren’t severe; otherwise, it would have been much worse. Seeing that his condition was stable and only required medication for recovery, there was no need for him to stay in the hospital any longer. Sudi wanted to be discharged.

The hospital was swarmed with reporters, with some even disguising themselves to sneak in for photos. Due to some unscrupulous journalists exposing Sudi’s location, countless fans gathered outside. While some fans were respectful, others were extreme, trying every means to see Sudi, disrupting the hospital’s normal operations.

Moreover, the manager had to turn down over a hundred interview and magazine requests, showing how intense the public’s curiosity was.

Once Sudi’s condition stabilized, he felt there was no need to stay in the hospital. He arranged for his discharge and wanted to contact Gu Feiyin. He wished to thank her personally and find out if it was a ghost that spared him or if Gu Feiyin had saved him from the supernatural.

Gu Feiyin was Sudi’s savior, so the Su family wouldn’t take this lightly. Gu’s Mother prepared generous gifts, knowing the savior was a young woman. She bought nutritional supplements and a skincare set, something girls typically appreciate.

Gu’s Mother said, “The young lady left quietly before, so she probably doesn’t care about fame. We should visit her discreetly to avoid attracting reporters, which could disturb her life.”

Indeed, the family had been hounded by reporters, and even Sudi’s friends weren’t spared, all for an exclusive story.

Gu’s Mother shared her experience at the temple: “The master is truly remarkable. Before I even spoke, he asked, ‘Is your son safe now?’ He foresaw everything!” She continued, “I told him about your kidnapping and rescue. The master said you were saved by a great person, changing your fate. As long as you do good deeds and avoid wrongdoing, you’ll lead a prosperous life.”

Sudi, once skeptical, now believed after that night.

Gu’s Mother handed out two amulets for peace, one for her husband and one for her son: “These are blessed for safety.”

Sudi wore the amulet around his neck and suggested visiting Gu Feiyin that evening.

It was a weekday, so by evening, she would likely be home, avoiding the reporters.

Gu’s Father agreed, noting that Miss Gu worked at the Amusement Park in City A, which closed at six. They planned to visit at six-thirty, hoping she’d be home by seven. Unfortunately, she didn’t have a phone, so they couldn’t call ahead.

Gu’s Father handled the discharge paperwork. To avoid issues, the manager arranged for a dozen bodyguards to ensure Sudi’s safe departure amidst reporters and fans. The news of Sudi’s discharge quickly trended, sparking widespread discussion among fans.

“Why is Sudi discharged? Is he fully recovered? He should stay longer for observation!”

“Poor Sudi, harassed by media and intrusive fans. No wonder he left the hospital.”

“It’s outrageous! He barely survived, and now he can’t even recover in peace.”

“I heard a girl saved him. She left quietly after bringing him to the hospital, unlike those claiming to love and support him.”

“That girl is amazing. I’ll light an extra incense for her at the temple!”

“Some people are too much. He needs rest after such an ordeal. Let him recover!”

This sentiment resonated with many fans, making “Let Sudi rest without disturbance” a trending topic.

That evening, the Su family, bearing gifts, headed to Fumin Road to find the rumored most rundown building.

Fumin Road was undergoing redevelopment, with new buildings at the front and older ones at the back, mostly rented by outsiders. The “most rundown building” was likely in the back.

Driving through a narrow alley, they spotted several dilapidated buildings. Though rundown, they seemed uninhabitable, possibly nearby.

Sudi rolled down the window, feeling an inexplicable chill as they neared the building. He tightened his scarf, shook off the feeling, and coughed.

Gu’s Mother peered around, saying, “We should’ve confirmed with the police. We’re blindly searching without any information.”

Gu’s Father replied, “I asked. The police haven’t been here, but the record states Miss Gu lives in the most rundown building. It should be easy to find. Just call her name downstairs. Can you spot the most rundown one?”

Gu’s Mother noted the area’s dilapidation, worrying about a young girl living there. It seemed unsafe, but perhaps she had no choice due to her circumstances.

Sudi leaned against the window as the car approached the building. Suddenly, he was startled!

He pressed against the glass, eyes wide in disbelief-why was there a piece of clothing flying in the air?

Near the building, a garment floated up and down, swaying in the cold wind…

No, he must be seeing things. His illness wasn’t fully cured.

He clutched his head, “I can’t take it. My head hurts. Let’s go home!”

Gu’s Parents were alarmed, “Your head hurts? Could it be aftereffects? Should we see a doctor?”

Sudi, pale, quickly said, “No, just take me home!”

His parents, concerned for his wellbeing, turned the car around. The gratitude visit would have to wait.

As they drove away, Sudi glanced back, still seeing the garment eerily floating in the dim sky, sending shivers down his spine.

Too strange-why was there a garment floating in the air?

Rumors abounded on Fumin Road about the haunted building. Passersby claimed to hear voices, and the area felt unusually cold. Some even reported seeing a ghostly figure, believing the floating garment was a ghost they couldn’t see.

The stories spread, with parents warning children to avoid the haunted building.

Even Gu Feiyin heard the rumors. While buying buns, the shop owner, seeing her coming from that direction, warned her about the haunted building and advised caution.

Gu Feiyin nodded in agreement, knowing two ghosts lived there.

“Thanks, I’ll be careful. I’ll take two beef buns and an extra tea egg today.”

Ah, tea eggs-she could finally enjoy them. What bliss!