Chapter 32

Of course, Miao Bai agreed in the end.

As they were about to head out, Miao Bai said, “This won’t happen again.”

Meng Bai just smiled without chiming in. What “won’t happen again”? They’d go together next time too. She figured if she begged a few more times, Miao Bai would cave again.

The two emerged from the Old Courtyard. Night had fallen deep, the air tinged with chill, and the surroundings eerily quiet.

Meng Bai limped along, shuffling her little steps closer to Miao Bai. “You think there might be snakes around here?”

“That’s anyone’s guess.”

“!” Meng Bai latched tightly onto Miao Bai’s arm. “Then you have to protect me!”

“That’s even more of a maybe. If a snake shows up, I’ll just bolt.”

Miao Bai’s eyebrows arched slightly as she spoke, her voice lilting upward in clear jest.

But Meng Bai took it at face value, hooking her arm even tighter and refusing to let go. “You’re my fairy! You absolutely can’t!”

Miao Bai smiled. “Then give me a reason to protect you.”

“Because I’m your friend!” Meng Bai stared straight at her, though her tone wavered a second later. “I am, right?”

Miao Bai didn’t answer right away.

They walked side by side through the weeds, and only after a moment did a soft hum escape her nose. “Mm. Sort of.”

Her one and only friend, Miao Bai thought.

“A little happy.” Meng Bai tilted her head to gaze at the sky. The moonlight bathed everything tonight, silver glow draping the branches like a dreamscape. “It’s great knowing you, Miao Bai.”

“Ditto.”

Meng Bai’s hand drifted downward, fingers pinching Miao Bai’s wrist. Through the thin fabric, the sharp ridge of bone stood out clearly.

Such a light grip, yet it felt so delicate.

Lower still, and her fingertips brushed the back of Miao Bai’s hand.

Cool to the touch—Miao Bai’s skin was always like that, refreshingly chilly.

Meng Bai splayed her palm, pressing it gently against Miao Bai’s hand in a loose hold, not quite clasping it fully.

Miao Bai didn’t pull away, though puzzlement flickered in her eyes. “Why the sudden hand-holding?”

“Zhou An and I do this all the time.” Meng Bai stole a glance at her. “It’s totally normal between friends. I like it with my good friends.” A couple steps later, she added with a sigh, “Your hands are always so cold whenever I touch them. You get like this in summer too?”

“Mm.”

“Then winter must be brutal for you. I’ll get you some gloves.”

The conversation fizzled out as Miao Bai fell silent. Meng Bai let it drop and they just kept walking.

All of a sudden, the small town’s night felt downright lovely—the autumn breeze cool and meandering, utterly relaxing.

Miao Bai’s faint scent lingered at the tip of her nose. Her hair hung long, brushing Meng Bai’s arm with every step, a teasing itch.

Meng Bai’s eyes fluttered half-shut. She kind of liked the sensation.

This sensation that belonged only to her and Miao Bai.

“Miao Bai.” Light danced in Meng Bai’s eyes; one glance up revealed that beautiful profile.

“Mm?”

“I’m thinking… once I head off to university, we won’t see each other as much. What then?”

Meng Bai’s real meaning: Can you come visit me play?

She hoped Miao Bai would say it. She was sure she would.

But Miao Bai stayed quiet. The silence hollowed out something in Meng Bai’s chest.

“It’s fine, really.” Her voice came out small. “I’ll just come find you on breaks.”

Miao Bai replied evenly, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Meng Bai swallowed the impulse to press further.

She figured Miao Bai wasn’t the type to make promises lightly—probably someone who always followed through, so she avoided commitments altogether.

They walked on and finally left the narrow path behind. The road widened, lights grew brighter, houses cropping up more frequently.

Laughter drifted from nearby; the neighbors were still out, lounging in the courtyard and chatting.

“What if someone spots us?”

“Don’t sweat it. We’ll split up—I’ll head to your room first and wait.”

Meng Bai trudged ahead obediently. Spotting her, a few aunties called out, “Little Meng! Out running around this late?”

“Uh—” Meng Bai jerked a thumb back at the path, flashing a smile. “Study stress is killer. Just went that way for some air.”

One auntie sniffed the air. “Need air? Not there, you don’t! That lunatic lives over there—don’t you know?”

Meng Bai’s smile cracked instantly. Before she could get a word in, the aunties dove into gossip.

“That crazy old bat’s gotta be dead by now, huh?”

“Tell me about it—eighty, ninety years old, hasn’t stepped out in forever! Liable to croak in there and nobody the wiser!”

Meng Bai clenched her jaw, eyes flashing dangerously.

Mouthing off like that—weren’t they scared of karma? For a split second, pain twisted in her gut. All these years, how much vicious talk had Miao Bai put up with?

She fixed her gaze on the auntie. “Oh yeah, Aunt Zhang—Uncle Zhang home yet? Saw him chatting up a storm with Aunt Fang in town the other day. Looked cozy.”

Aunt Zhang’s grin froze solid. The other neighbors blinked in stunned silence.

Nobody saw that coming.

Sure, her man’s been stepping out, but nobody airs that in her face—too damn awkward.

No telling if the girl meant to twist the knife or was just clueless.

“Whoops!” Another auntie jumped in, shooting Meng Bai a pointed look. “Little Meng, you kids get on home and hit the hay!”

Meng Bai spun on her heel and left, chest tight with unfinished business. She hadn’t really stuck it to them.

Rumors could destroy lives. Meng Bai knew she was usually the polite sort, but next time anyone badmouthed Miao Bai, she’d give as good as she got.

She quickened her pace without thinking, betting Miao Bai was already waiting at home.

Lin Li wasn’t home tonight. Lin Li wasn’t home tonight…

The thought tugged her lips into a grin.

She reached the door in no time, fishing out her key. It had just slid into the lock when a shriek erupted from inside:

“Aaaaaaaaaah!!!!!”

Meng Bai jolted, hand trembling.

Shit.

She flung the door open in a hurry. No sooner had it swung wide than another voice wailed, “It’s really a ghost!!!!!”

“Holy shit, Zhou An!” Xu Zhou burst from the room, dragging Zhou An along. The pair bolted out, scared out of their wits.

Zhou An’s face drained of all color. “Aaaahhh, Xu Zhou! Run!!!”

The two bolted in panic, only to find their path blocked by Meng Bai standing in the doorway. “What’s going on? What are you two doing?”

“Holy shit!!! Come on, let’s go!!! Why are you here? There’s a ghost in your room!!!”

Meng Bai couldn’t have cared less about ghosts. What mattered to her right now was: “What are you doing in my house?”

Zhou An had gone pale as a sheet, her entire body shaking. “Are you even listening to me?! I said there’s a ghost in your room!!!”

“She’s not a ghost.” Meng Bai grabbed Xu Zhou and Zhou An, then shut the door behind them.

The pair trembled like leaves in a storm.

“Don’t close the door! Let us out first—I’ll explain everything once we’re outside!!!!” Zhou An’s voice quavered with terror, and Xu Zhou looked nearly as rattled.

It was clear as day that Miao Bai had given them quite the scare.

They absolutely had to get out first and talk.

Meng Bai rubbed her temples.

This was getting complicated…

“Wait. First, tell me why you’re in my house.”

Zhou An held out her open palm, revealing a key. “I-I-I’ve always had a key to your place…”

Meng Bai slapped her forehead. “I totally forgot about that!!!”

~~~

Zhou An did indeed have a key to Meng Bai’s house.

Meng Bai herself had given it to her.

Carpenter Zhou and Zhang Caiyun argued all the time, often so fiercely that Zhou An couldn’t even focus on her homework. So she’d started coming over to Meng Bai’s for refuge.

After so many visits, Meng Bai had simply handed her a spare key.

That had been some time ago, though. Lately, Meng Bai had been the one dropping by Zhou An’s place, so the key had slipped her mind entirely.

She never imagined Zhou An would show up tonight—and at the worst possible moment.

“You said no one would be home tonight!!!” Zhou An clutched Xu Zhou’s hand like a lifeline, jiggling her leg nervously. “I thought it’d be a fun surprise!”

Meng Bai drew in a sharp breath. “No one was home, but—”

But this was no surprise. This was a horror show…

“Aren’t you the one who’s scared of that stuff? We even talked about coming over to keep you company and crash here. We figured you’d be home when we arrived, but you weren’t. We were just wondering where you’d gone when we stepped into your room—and there was this female ghost crawling out of a crack in the wall. Holy fuck!!!”

Zhou An gasped for breath between words, her legs wobbling beneath her as if she still hadn’t recovered. She clutched at her chest. “No way, no way. I need to get some air outside. I think I’m about to have a heart attack…”

Xu Zhou was hardly more composed, her face etched with anxiety. “Meng Bai, maybe you shouldn’t stay here tonight. Your room really has something unclean in it. It’s terrifying.”

“Let’s go—out, out, and talk.” Zhou An yanked Meng Bai toward the door, with Xu Zhou stumbling after them, still shivering.

Outside in the round yard by the entrance, the three of them stood amid the pitch-black night. A chill wind whispered through, lending the scene an ominous chill.

“What happened? Spill it!!!” Zhou An was beside herself with worry. She waved a hand in front of Meng Bai’s face. “Why are you just standing there all dazed? Have you run into something weird lately?”

Meng Bai opened her mouth to speak, then faltered. The words died on her tongue.

~~~

What now?

How could she even explain?

Who would believe her?

“Come on, say something!!! You’re driving me crazy!!!”

Meng Bai took a deep breath. She had to explain this somehow, or the misunderstandings would only snowball.

“I can explain, but give me a minute first. I need to go back inside.”

“Holy shit, you’re going back to that ghost?!” Zhou An latched onto Meng Bai like a vice. “No! Absolutely not! You’ll get possessed for real!!”

“I have to.” Meng Bai’s expression hardened with resolve. “Zhou An, I’m fine. No possession here. Just give me a few minutes—I need to check on something.”

Before they could protest further, Meng Bai dashed back into the house. The two at the threshold hesitated, torn between chasing her and their fear.

Meng Bai barreled into the living room and straight into her bedroom. She didn’t bother with the lights, calling out into the empty air instead. “Miao Bai? Miao Bai, are you there?”

A sigh echoed softly from the darkness. “Still here.”

“I’m sorry—I had no idea my friends would show up like this. I… I don’t know what to do.”

“Just explain it to them.” In the shadows, Miao Bai’s brow furrowed slightly. “Though I admit, it’s a bit sudden.”

Miao Bai had braced herself for this. Continued contact with Meng Bai meant Zhou An would discover her eventually.

But now two girls had seen her?

It was an unexpected snag, no doubt.

Meng Bai wrung her hands, nerves jangling. “But you didn’t want Zhou An to know. What if it causes problems for you…”

“Plans don’t always survive reality.” Miao Bai paused, then added, “Don’t overthink it. If you can convince your friends to keep quiet, perfect. If not… we’ll just have to cut off contact.”

Meng Bai’s heart lurched violently.

No more meetings? That would be unbearable!

Every hair on her body stood on end. “I’ll make them swear to secrecy! Absolutely! Just wait—I’m heading out to talk to them right now!”