Chapter 21: He’s Caught Up

Wen Qi had arranged with Xiang Weishi over the phone that on the third night he would find a way to come pick her up.

Counting the days, it was tonight.

Her heart thumped with nervousness. She wasn’t sure whether that unreliable, never-serious guy could actually come through this time.

She’d given him Wei Qingxuan’s address back then, but there hadn’t been time to discuss the details. All she could do now was hope Xiang Weishi would be smart enough to improvise.

She pushed open the bathroom door. Within seconds, someone pressed up behind her.

Without turning around, she snapped, “Are you a ghost? You don’t even make a sound when you walk.”

Ever since the phone call had been discovered, Wei Qingxuan followed her every single step. If she moved one pace, he moved one pace. Like a ghost attached to her shadow.

“When I eat, you follow. When I sleep, you follow. Even when I go to the bathroom, you follow.” She turned and glared at him. “Why don’t I just die and you follow me then, huh?”

“Die together?” He nodded without hesitation. “Okay.”

“…”

“That only counts as dying for love if there’s love,” she shot back. “What we have is- you’d still refuse to let me go even if you were a ghost. That’s a romance movie. We’re a horror movie,” she emphasized again. “A horror movie. Do you understand?”

The more she spoke, the more irritated she became. From childhood through middle school, any spark of romance she might have had had been snuffed out by Wei Qingxuan.

In high school, no one caught her eye. She was about to start college in a few days, maybe that’s where love would finally ignite.

And instead she’d provoked this mad dog.

Good thing she’d had the foresight not to tell him which city she was going to.

Wei Qingxuan frowned slightly, confusion filling his eyes. “Why is it a horror movie?”

She jabbed a finger into his chest, voice rising. “A romance is two people willingly moving closer. A horror movie is me already planning to die and you still refusing to let me go, still following me.”

As if that weren’t enough, she added, “You’re that clingy, vengeful ghost. Impossible to shake off!”

“You won’t kill yourself,” he said firmly. Someone as vibrant as Wen Qi would never respond to life with death.

She scoffed. “You think you understand me that well? People’s thoughts aren’t fixed. Maybe I don’t want to today. Maybe I’ll want to tomorrow.”

Wei Qingxuan nodded thoughtfully.

Finally, a crack in his stubbornness. Wen Qi let out a long breath and quickly slipped into the bathroom, slamming the door shut.

She had neither the interest nor the ability to deal with bodily functions in front of someone else.

Bang–

Wei Qingxuan stared at the closed door, then sat down nearby. When she came out, he asked leisurely, “What you said just now, does it mean you don’t like me today, but maybe you could like me tomorrow?”

“???”

What kind of mental gymnastics was that? How had he twisted her words to mean that?

“No. Impossible.”

“Why is it impossible?” he returned calmly. “People’s thoughts aren’t fixed.”

“It depends on the category,” she said mercilessly. “When it comes to liking you, my heart is solid rock.”

“…What do I need to do for you to like me?” Wei Qingxuan leaned forward slightly. The usual laziness in his brows was gone. There was no trace of teasing in his eyes, only pure, earnest seriousness. “What do I need to do to pry open your rock-solid heart?”

He didn’t crowd her like usual. He simply stood half a step from the door, eyes steady, watching her without blinking.

“What do I have to do to make you slowly believe I can stay by your side forever?”

Wen Qi opened her mouth, but the harsh words stuck in her throat.

She suddenly understood, just a little, why he was so extreme about keeping her, why he followed her every second.

But would someone really use such primitive, clumsy methods?

She looked up instinctively and met his dark eyes. There was no calculation there. Only unguarded sincerity. Like a small dog waiting anxiously for its owner’s answer, ears almost drooping.

Her heart trembled unexpectedly.

“With your kind of clumsy method,” she said, turning away, “not in this lifetime.”

Up until moments ago, Wei Qingxuan’s phone had been filled with congratulatory messages for becoming the provincial top scorer.

He had won international Olympiad medals, national innovation gold awards. His homeroom teacher praised him as a genius. Even when he handled his late mother’s company affairs in his spare time, industry veterans called him promising.

A person who shone effortlessly in others’ eyes, someone completely unrelated to the word “stupid”, was now standing outside a bathroom door, asking in an awkward tone,

“Sorry. I really am stupid. What can I do for you to try liking me a little?”

Up until now, he had only failed.

Beep beep beep-

Both of them walked into the yard. They didn’t even need to approach the gate to hear Xiang Weishi’s loud voice.

“Hey! Wen Qi! I’m here!”

“…”

She should never have placed hope in him. And she’d even opened the door for him. With Wei Qingxuan’s temper, he might weld the gate shut overnight in a few days.

“Open the door!”

Wen Qi lowered her head, not daring to look at Wei Qingxuan. Tonight she’d probably be dragged into the bathroom again.

Fine. If he dared, she’d bite a layer of skin off him.

“Someone’s here to see you,” Wei Qingxuan asked with a curved smile. “Aren’t you going to say hello?”

“Can I…?” Her smile had just formed when it froze.

At some point, he had picked up a glass. It was now crushed in his hand. Shards embedded into his flesh. Blood seeped out.

“Of course you can.” His smile was as gentle as ever.

But Wen Qi knew what lay beneath that gentleness. She shook her head. “Forget it. You go.”

His tightening hand paused. “You don’t want to see him?”

“Will you let me?”

“…”

Wei Qingxuan tossed the shattered glass aside. “I’ll go deal with him. Qi Qi, be good next time.”

She frowned but still reminded him, “Don’t hit him. Don’t hurt him.”

After all, she was the one who had called Xiang Weishi. She couldn’t let him get beaten for nothing.

“You care about him?” Wei Qingxuan said quietly. “You’ve never cared about me like that.”

Wen Qi swallowed the urge to curse. The situation didn’t allow it. She took a deep breath. “You’ve never given me the opportunity to show it.”

“Is that so?” He thought for a moment. “I’ll create opportunities for you.”

Outside, Xiang Weishi kept shouting louder and louder, “Wen Qi! Are you even alive? Say something! Did a ghost snatch your soul?”

“Stop yelling. Coming,” Wen Qi coughed lightly. “You go.”

“Mm.” As if remembering something, Wei Qingxuan turned back before reaching the gate. He walked up to her and kissed her forehead. “I learned that song you wanted to hear. I’ll sing it for you tonight.”

Wen Qi didn’t go back to her room. She sat in a corner of the yard and cursed both Wei Qingxuan and Xiang Weishi thoroughly.

Damn Wei Qingxuan, crazy one moment, normal the next. What song did he learn? Singing a few lines now wouldn’t kill him.

Damn it, why did she even want to hear it?

And Xiang Weishi, she had literally said “help” and he still didn’t get it. Shouting at the gate like that. Summoning her soul, was he?

A perfectly good opportunity wasted.

Just as she was fuming, a small stone hit her shoulder. She ignored it at first. When a second one hit, she finally looked up.

Someone was crouched on top of the courtyard wall.

“Xie… Xie Hejing?”

“Shh!” He gestured for silence.

She pressed her lips together and nodded. “Why are you here?”

“Get up here first. Xiang Weishi can’t stall for long.”

Understanding instantly, Wen Qi mentally praised Xiang Weishi from the bottom of her heart.

He was the most amazing person in the world.

She hadn’t expected Xie Hejing to come. And Wei Qingxuan had no idea such a person even existed. At this moment, he was still confronting Wen Qi’s so-called “beloved.”

“Why is it you? Where’s Wen Qi?” Xiang Weishi had his hands in his pockets, speaking to Wei Qingxuan but glancing off into the distance.

“She doesn’t want to see you.”

“She doesn’t want to see me?” Xiang Weishi scoffed. “The person she wants to see most right now is probably me.”

“While we’re still talking nicely, I suggest you bring her out.”

“What if I don’t?” Wei Qingxuan repeated silently: Don’t hit him. Wen Qi said don’t hit him. So he wouldn’t.

But if he got hit… would Wen Qi feel sorry for him?

“Don’t push me. I’m not exactly easy to talk to. If we start fighting, you-”

Xiang Weishi suddenly cut off. His phone vibrated in his pocket, the signal he and Xie Hejing had agreed on. Once Wen Qi was in the car, call.

He smoothly changed tone. “Fighting wouldn’t look good. I love peace. Just call her out. I’ll say a few words and leave. I’ve got things to do.”

Wei Qingxuan sensed something. He lowered his eyes. “What do you want to say? I’ll pass it along.”

Since the person was already secured, Xiang Weishi didn’t plan to waste time. He tossed out a few casual lines and then added a threat.

“Not letting me see her? Wen Qi’s probably thinking about me right now, maybe even cursing you. We’ll meet again. Next time, she’ll definitely be standing by my side.”

He didn’t dare linger. He turned and ran toward the car.

Panting, he opened the door and collapsed into the back seat. “Drive! That was terrifying. I swear that guy wanted to strangle me just now.”

Xie Hejing held the steering wheel with one hand. The headlights flared on. Tires screeched against the ground as the car shot forward.

Wen Qi’s heart remained in her throat. She kept glancing back until the gate disappeared completely from view. Only then did she lean against the cold seatback and gasp for air.

She couldn’t quite believe it, she’d really gotten out.

Her palms were drenched in sweat. Her heart pounded as if it might burst from her chest. Even her fingertips trembled faintly. The tension she’d held all night finally loosened, along with the exhilaration of escaping his sight.

She couldn’t stop the smile tugging at her lips and quickly covered her mouth, afraid she’d laugh out loud.

“Brother Xiang, I don’t see any ghost following her,” a strange male voice suddenly said from the back.

Wen Qi nearly jumped out of her skin.

“Who are you? When did you get in the car?”

“I’m a Taoist priest,” the young man replied. “Brother Xiang brought me to exorcise your ghost. I’ve been in the car the whole time. You just didn’t notice.”

“Taoist priest?” She turned to Xiang Weishi. “Exorcise?”

“You called in the middle of the night saying you were haunted. How was I supposed to know what kind of ghost? Of course I had to get a professional.”

She looked at the young man. He seemed barely out of college, oil stains on his jacket, work badge still hanging around his neck, nothing like the ethereal, detached-from-the-world Taoist she’d imagined.

“Are you sure he’s professional?”

Offended, the young man protested, “Why wouldn’t I be? I have a Taoist certificate!”

“Maybe the ghost following you is too powerful. I can’t see it yet. Let my master check. He doesn’t come out easily, you’re lucky you know me.”

“…No need. I’ve already shaken him off.” Wen Qi felt light from body to soul.

The young man frowned. “Not necessarily. Ghosts can be cunning. It might just be temporary. Better let my master check to be safe.”

“Enough,” Xie Hejing cut in calmly. “Tell us. How did you provoke him?”

They’d never heard about Wei Qingxuan before. They were simply shocked there was someone Wen Qi couldn’t handle.

“You owe him money? Or emotional debt?” Xiang Weishi guessed lazily from the back seat.

Bullseye.

“…Mm.”

He burst out laughing. “How much? He chased you into this state over money?”

“Not much.” Wei Qingxuan didn’t care about money. What he cared about, was something she couldn’t give.

“Then it’s emotional debt,” Xiang Weishi grinned. “I always said you’re a domineering flower.”

Even Xie Hejing chuckled faintly.

Wen Qi fell silent. The young Taoist couldn’t get a word in. Eventually, the car grew quiet except for the rush of wind outside.

Xiang Weishi and Xie Hejing gradually sensed something off. Their expressions grew serious.

“What happened?” Xie Hejing asked.

“What did he do to you?” Xiang Weishi demanded.

“What could he do? Nothing,” Wen Qi said stubbornly. “I did something to him.”

“So what exactly did you do?”

She gritted her teeth. “I… slept with him.”

Silence filled the car for several seconds.

“Wow,” the young Taoist exclaimed. “Brother Xiang, your friend is fierce!”

“…

“If you can’t speak properly, don’t speak.”

Laughter broke out.

“You’re impressive,” Xiang Weishi said. “You got his body but broke his heart. No wonder you can’t shake him.”

“Better to owe money,” Xie Hejing said flatly.

The Taoist squeezed in again, “I can tell fortunes too. Give me your birth dates, I’ll calculate your outcome.”

“Really?” Wen Qi asked skeptically.

“I’m a professional. If it’s inaccurate, I don’t charge.”

Curious despite herself, she gave both their birth dates. The Taoist’s fingers flew as he calculated. He glanced at her, hissed softly, then continued.

“You two are a match made in heaven. Destined soulmates!”

Xiang Weishi chimed in gleefully, “Well, that’s it. You’re stuck with him for life.”

“Shut up.” Wen Qi glared at the Taoist. “You too.”

Soulmates? Why not add reincarnated lovers while he was at it? She’d heard plenty of lines like that.

Stuck? She’d just shaken him off.

She stared ahead, refusing to believe a word…

Until Xie Hejing spoke.

With a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he said, “Not bad. He’s caught up.”

“What do you mean caught up?” Wen Qi turned to the rearview mirror.

A black-silver car followed behind them.

One of Wei Qingxuan’s many luxury cars.

And it was gaining on them at terrifying speed.

Her scalp prickled. “When did you see his car?”

“When you were talking about being a match made in heaven,” Xie Hejing replied lazily. “He started following then.”

“Then drive faster! Faster! He’s really catching up! He’s going to crash into us! Faster- faster!”