Chapter 99: Eighteen-Year-Old He Xunye Crosses Over (2)

Tan Xueci pressed her chin against He Xunye’s chest and looked up at him, blinking. The boy’s long black hair fell onto her face, tickling her cheek.

She shook her head randomly and rubbed against it, just like rubbing against the other’s chest. The boy’s already cold expression stiffened further. He tightened his grip on the prayer beads in his hand and stared at her darkly.

Tan Xueci wasn’t afraid of him at all. She felt that Second Husband was all bark and no bite. Back at Qilian Temple, he hadn’t been able to do anything to her.

The boy frowned, pushed Tan Xueci away, and went back to reading his scriptures.

Tan Xueci was disgruntled. In the temple, he had been fine, even calling her “sister,” but now he didn’t acknowledge her.

In the past, she would have cursed He Xunye to trip and fall face-first when walking at night, but she had become more tolerant now. She didn’t get angry even when faced with a cold shoulder.

During the day, there weren’t many people at home. She lay on He Xunye’s bed and played Whac-A-Mole for a while, getting so bored that she whined.

Her previous body belonged to the original owner, naturally weak, like a porcelain shell trapping her evil and restless soul. But now her body was made from He Xunye’s heart, not weak at all. Every day she couldn’t stay still and just wanted to go out.

The problem was that she didn’t want to go out alone; she felt lonely and wanted someone to accompany her. Everyone in the house had been dragged out by her. Even the little cat ghost had been put on her head and taken out for hours. Now it hissed whenever it saw her.

Only her Big Husband, He Pinglan, and Lu Qi were willing to play with her. The others all stayed far away.

Tan Xueci stared at this He Xunye with longing eyes. Finally, she couldn’t help it and went up behind him. “I’ll take you out to play,” she said.

The boy had no idea what was about to happen and didn’t want to play with anyone. But Tan Xueci buried her face in his neck and kept rubbing her small face into the hollow of his throat, messing up his monk’s robes and almost climbing onto his back. With a cold and gloomy expression, he still put down the scripture and went out with Tan Xueci.

Tan Xueci happily went to change clothes, then put on a mask and baseball cap—after all, she was a celebrity.

She also put one on He Xunye, otherwise if someone discovered she had another husband, her reputation would be ruined again.

Tan Xueci thought about it and decided to take Second Husband to the amusement park. She had been there with Big Husband before and thought it was fun.

The boy had no objections. He seemed always so indifferent and uninterested in everything.

They went to the amusement park after lunch. Tan Xueci dragged He Xunye onto the roller coaster a few times. When they got off, the boy’s expression turned even colder, almost dark.

Tan Xueci had wanted to tease him, but she was afraid he would actually get angry.

On the roller coaster, she felt He Xunye gripping her hand very tightly. It didn’t seem like fear, but he probably didn’t like it very much either.

The boy had long hair. Although he had changed out of his monk robe and wore a mask that made his face hard to see, only revealing his dark, cold eyes, people still turned to look repeatedly.

He Xunye had lived at Qilian Temple since childhood and didn’t like interacting with people. He seemed not like someone who had returned ten years later, but a hundred years later.

Tan Xueci started complaining again about why the dead ghost was so tall. If He Xunye were as small as the little cat ghost, she could stuff him in her pocket and take him away.

She had to block in front of He Xunye, not allowing those people to look. If someone pointed rudely, she would beat them all away.

Night gradually fell. The boy’s eyes and brows were shrouded in the cold, dim light under the night sky as he looked at Tan Xueci.

Tan Xueci had been happy when they came out, but people kept staring at He Xunye. Some looks were unfriendly, which made her unhappy. Her eyelashes drooped, and her little face wilted.

She reached out and held a few of He Xunye’s fingers. At first, she held He Xunye’s hand and walked ahead with her head up, but now He Xunye was leading her. She also secretly wiped her tears.

This feeling was a bit strange. The boy could sense that Tan Xueci was feeling sorry for him, but he didn’t understand where this pity came from, nor could he comprehend what love was.

He Pinglan and her husband had a good relationship, but he didn’t feel the love between them. He always thought it was meaningless. No matter how much you loved, you would eventually face death. To him, being alone from birth to death was normal.

Tan Xueci started crying quietly. But He Xunye’s somewhat hot palm grasped her hand. Feeling inexplicably wronged, she couldn’t help but hug He Xunye’s arm and then tears streamed down.

Her little tentacles shot out and tripped the people who had said He Xunye’s hair was strange, making them fall into the trash cans, covered in stinky water.

He Xunye just turned his head and glanced. The boy’s indifferent eyes then moved back. He held Tan Xueci’s hand and went to a nearby cart to buy her an ice cream.

Tan Xueci’s nose was red, and her eyes were wet and red. She found a dark, secluded spot and sat on a bench to eat ice cream with He Xunye.

She completely forgot that the person beside him wasn’t her Big Husband. She leaned close to He Xunye, almost sitting on his lap.

She also held onto one of He Xunye’s arms and refused to let go, then licked the ice cream in small bites.

This amusement park was near the city center. Not far from the main gate, you could see the streets outside.

It was already when students were getting out of school. On the street, you could see two or three, or even more, students walking together.

In his hand, his heart ached a little. He Xunye’s yin energy was getting stronger and would affect those around him.

Only for exams did he go to school, and he had no friends there.

If no one played with him, he would die. Before, when she was locked up by the Tan family, she would sneak out at night to find the little cat ghost. So she couldn’t bear for He Xunye to always be so lonely.

She felt so distressed that her eyes started to get wet and red again. She licked the ice cream absentmindedly, just staring at He Xunye’s profile, thinking how pitiful her husband was.

The boy’s dark gaze fell on Tan Xueci’s tongue, red from the cold. That small tip of tongue appeared and disappeared in the night, looking tiny, soft, and pitifully red.

They had kissed.

He knew it was soft when held in the mouth.

He actually wasn’t thinking that much, just took a casual glance. He had been observing this world ten years in the future.

Tan Xueci didn’t know where He Xunye was looking, but she felt a strange tingle on her scalp from being stared at. She stopped licking the ice cream, pursed her lips, hid her tongue, and then looked at He Xunye with her round, dark lamb-like eyes.

“It’s melting,” the boy said suddenly when he saw that Tan Xueci had stopped eating and turned timid.

Only then did Tan Xueci realize that the ice cream was indeed about to melt onto her hand. She quickly lowered her head and continued eating.

After finishing, they went to a food stall and bought some barbecue and raw marinated seafood. They ate another meal and then went home.

It was already past ten at night when they got home.

Tan Xueci had completely forgotten the time while playing. In the past, if she was even a few minutes late coming home, He Xunye would immediately send her a message. If she delayed a few more minutes in replying, He Xunye would appear behind her like a male ghost when she turned around.

She was used to being urged by He Xunye before going home. Tonight, for some reason, He Xunye hadn’t sent her a message, so she hadn’t thought of it at all.

The night was pitch black. The front gate of the He residence was also dark, with two lanterns hanging but not lit. Under the blurry shadow of a tree stood a figure even darker, like a ghost. It scared her so much that she almost turned around and burrowed into the boy’s arms. Upon looking more carefully, she realized it was He Xunye.

He Xunye’s dark peach blossom eyes were deep and gloomy, but there was still a smile on his lips. He didn’t look angry.

But Tan Xueci felt guilty instantly.

This is bad.

Last night after the wedding, she had been drunk and hugged He Xunye, saying, “Husband, I love you. From now on, I’ll pick you up from school every day.” But on the first day, she had completely forgotten and went out with another man. She didn’t know how long He Xunye had waited for her.

Tan Xueci put her hands behind her back like a puppy that had done something wrong. Her ears drooped completely, and she occasionally lifted her eyelids to steal a glance at He Xunye.

The boy beside him also had a dark expression. In fact, he still didn’t acknowledge that the evil ghost was himself. He thought that at least he wouldn’t become such a sinister creature.

Moreover, Tan Xueci seemed very afraid of the other. He must have failed as a human and become an evil ghost, and also failed as a husband, making his wife live in fear every day.

Tan Xueci shrank her neck as if afraid of being scolded or beaten. She must have been hit often before.

The evil ghost was very calm and didn’t get angry at his wife. When he saw the boy beside him, he even smiled, then gently took his wife’s hand and said, “Xiaoxue, have you had dinner yet? I made braised fish at home tonight.”

Tan Xueci immediately nodded, then shook his head. Although she had already eaten, she could still eat more.

She quickly hugged He Xunye’s arm tightly, rubbing against him, afraid that He Xunye would actually be unhappy.

She couldn’t take any harsh treatment from her husband. If He Xunye’s tone was even a little heavy, she would cry miserably. But He Xunye had never spoken to her like that; he always called her “baby” every day.

The eighteen-year-old He Xunye followed them to the front hall and found it increasingly strange. The entire He family actually sat together to eat, looking cheerful and harmonious.

Moreover, that evil ghost seemed to have no grudges with the He family and was getting along well with them.

But there was a hint of weirdness because the others were constantly watching He Xunye’s expression.

Whenever He Xunye’s eyes turned cold, they would freeze in fear, but their smiles would grow bigger, as if afraid that their sad faces would upset someone.

The evil ghost was indeed like a ghost, omnipresent, entangling everyone in the He family and trapping them in this mansion.

The others were both afraid and numb, as if they had resigned themselves. They could only look at each other’s irritating old faces and still sit together drinking and chatting.

But when it came to Tan Xueci, they had a bit more genuine warmth.

As soon as Tan Xueci came in, she greeted Brother Lu, Sister, Brother Yu, Mom, Dad, Big Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Aunt, Fifth Aunt, Mimi, Meow, all in one breath, making everyone’s expression soften unconsciously.

After greeting them, Tan Xueci ignored them and sat next to her husband to eat. There was also marinated raw crab on the table that night. He Pinglan liked it, so the family often made it. She picked a piece for Second Husband.

When they ate at the food stall earlier, she felt that Second Husband seemed to prefer the raw marinated food.

She still didn’t know what He Xunye liked to eat.

Although He Xunye ate with them every night, the dead ghost had no human sense of taste. His real food was the incense Tan Xueci offered him every night.

He Xunye lowered his eyes, watching his wife pick up crab for the boy, but still said nothing.

It wasn’t until after dinner, as they went upstairs, that he held Tan Xueci’s hand and said with a ghostly, sinister red-lipped smile, “Baby, did you take him out to play today? Playing mommy for him?”

The evil ghost was somewhat sarcastic and bitter, but Tan Xueci didn’t understand. As soon as she heard the word “mommy,” she started to react, her ears turning red to the point of bleeding.

Every time He Xunye suddenly called her “mommy,” it meant he wanted to eat that thing. She looked around. He Pinglan had gone to read feng shui for someone after dinner. Few people lived in this building. The father and son butlers always acted like dead people and pretended not to see anything.

Tan Xueci wasn’t used to Second Husband being there. She forgot for a moment, blushed, unbuttoned a few buttons, and then stammered softly, “Be gentle.”

Sometimes He Xunye bit very hard. Even if he didn’t bite, it would be swollen the next day and rub against her clothes.

The evil ghost raised his eyes slightly, as if not expecting this sudden good fortune, but he was never polite, so he reached out and grabbed Tan Xueci’s shoulders.

The boy sat downstairs for a long time, staring at the old folks until their scalps tingled, then frowned and went upstairs.

He still didn’t understand what was going on, but he never got used to asking for help, so he didn’t ask anything.

He walked upstairs. For some reason, the hall lights were off. He could vaguely see two overlapping figures.

The evil ghost’s large hand gripped his wife’s waist tightly. Tan Xueci leaned against the wall, tilting her head up and hugging the evil ghost’s head to her chest.

At first, the boy thought it was just a hug. Although for some reason it was very unpleasant to look at, it was none of his business, so he planned to go back to his room.

But when he took a step forward, he suddenly froze. He heard a very clear sound of water, but they weren’t kissing.

Only then did he realize what the evil ghost was doing. He could even hear the other’s laughing voice, low and hoarse, deliberately irritating by calling his little wife “mommy.”

Tan Xueci didn’t push him away either. Even in the dark, he could see her ears were bright red, but she still held the other’s head, just kept whispering, “Be gentle…”

The other didn’t go easier; he even bit harder. But Tan Xueci didn’t get angry. Instead, she kissed the top of the evil ghost’s black hair, like an especially generous and gentle little mommy.

The boy’s dark peach blossom eyes were full of bewilderment and shock. He never thought there could be such a disgusting man in the world.

His breathing quickened, and he crushed a bead on his prayer beads. Then he coldly walked to his room and slammed the door shut with a bang.

Tan Xueci was dazed from being eaten. Her mind had been dull, and only when she heard the door slam did she come back to herself.

She was startled. She climbed onto He Xunye’s arm and burrowed into his embrace. Only then did she remember that her Second Husband was also there. Instantly, her face flushed bright red, and she pulled her clothes together, refusing to let him eat anymore.

It was so dark in the hall. He shouldn’t have seen, right?

Tan Xueci didn’t know how it had come to this. She felt guilty no matter which husband she faced.

Why on earth do I have two husbands?

Tan Xueci wilted as she went back to sleep with her husband. The next day, when He Xunye went to school, she immediately went to find Second Husband.

The boy still wore that pure white monk robe. His expression was extremely cold and indifferent, no different from yesterday, even a bit colder, but he said nothing.

Tan Xueci finally relaxed. So he probably hadn’t seen it.

“Husband goes out to earn money to support the two of us,” Tan Xueci mumbled as she climbed onto the bed, like two little mice discussing where to go play today. She blinked and said, “Let’s go check out Jingda too.”

Besides the amusement park, she also liked going to Jingda. Getting close to the school, she could feel her husband’s ghostly aura, which gave her a sense of security, like a cat burrowing into its owner’s clothes.

The boy was cold-faced and originally didn’t want to go. He also didn’t feel he was being supported by that evil ghost. But he went in the end. If he didn’t go, Tan Xueci would climb up and down on his back.

Everyone was in class at this time. Tan Xueci first dragged him to the campus convenience store to buy food.

She was looking down at snacks and was about to grab a yogurt. She wanted to ask Second Husband which one he wanted to drink. But when she turned, the other suddenly lowered his head. Her soft lips brushed against the corner of the boy’s mouth. She immediately pursed her lips and froze.

“What’s wrong?” the boy glanced at her and said coldly.

His expression was so calm and composed, as if he hadn’t taken that accidental kiss to heart.

Tan Xueci was skeptical. If it had been the dead ghost, she would have thought the dead ghost deliberately leaned in to make her kiss him. But this Second Husband didn’t seem to have so many tricks.

It must have been an accident, right?

Tan Xueci didn’t think any more. She politely asked the other to be more careful, then after buying things, she took him to find her husband.

They arrived outside the classroom where He Xunye was teaching today. Through the window, He Xunye saw her.

He Xunye suddenly turned his head to look out the window. The students in the classroom immediately realized who had come. Some bold ones started to tease, telling He Xunye to invite Little Shimu in to attend class together.

Hearing the term “Little Shimu,” Tan Xueci felt inexplicably embarrassed. She glared at He Xunye hatefully, then blushed and turned to run away.

The boy didn’t approach the classroom. He waited at the other end of the hallway, his figure almost blending into the darkness behind him. Compared to the lively scene near the classroom, he seemed especially lonely.

Tan Xueci bit her lip. She felt that Second Husband was a bit lonely. She couldn’t stand to see He Xunye alone, feeling sorry for him, but she couldn’t split herself in two.

She dawdled over to Second Husband. He Xunye had warned her, so she didn’t dare to kiss mouth-to-mouth. She just looked up, wrapped her arms around Second Husband’s neck, and gave him a few loud kisses on the cheek.

The boy didn’t dodge. He bent down a little so Tan Xueci didn’t have to strain to kiss him.

The boy’s eyes were cold and dark, emotionless. Since he arrived, Tan Xueci hadn’t called him “husband” even once. It seemed that Tan Xueci’s husband was only that evil ghost.

But since he was that thing, what were he and Tan Xueci hiding from? Why were they sneaking around like they were having an affair, even watching that evil ghost’s expression?

Moreover, when Tan Xueci kissed him, it was different from kissing the evil ghost. There was no burgeoning desire; it was like two little mice grooming each other.

Tan Xueci didn’t know why Second Husband had suddenly become unhappy again, even skipping lunch at the cafeteria with them.

She had originally wanted to take Second Husband to the cafeteria; there was a braised chicken dish she thought was delicious.

In the afternoon, He Xunye had to grade student papers. He pulled his little wife into his arms and asked her to accompany him to his office.

Tan Xueci didn’t see Second Husband again until evening.

She quickly followed when the other went upstairs to the bedroom and shoved the small lamb in her hand at him. “This is for you!” she said.

She couldn’t sleep with Second Husband; Big Husband would be jealous, so she had to let the little lamb accompany him instead.

Tan Xueci didn’t dare stay long. He Xunye was talking to He Pinglan, but if he found out she was missing, he would probably get angry.

She shoved the lamb over and quickly left, but before leaving, she couldn’t help turning to look back.

The bedroom was pitch black with no lights on, even the moonlight outside was dim and cold. Only a sliver of light from the door crack cast the boy’s figure into darkness.

The other sat on the bed holding the little lamb plush, his pale fingers slowly squeezing its neck. His long black hair fell loose. He looked up at her, his eyes especially dark. A line of light fell on his deeply contoured face, cutting it into patches of shadow, like a demon hidden in the night.

His eyes were turbulent, staring unblinkingly at Tan Xueci, sending a chill down her spine.

Tan Xueci: “…”

Unbearable. She felt that Second Husband was also ghostly.

She didn’t think any more. She turned and was about to leave, but as soon as she stepped out of the bedroom, a pale hand suddenly reached from behind, grabbed the back of her collar, and yanked her inside.