Chapter 41: Acting Coquettishly

Tan Xueci was already running a fever, and his mind was muddled to begin with. Now, he was completely dazed. How… how do you “coax” someone? He didn’t know how; he had never even coaxed a man before, let alone a male ghost.

His whole body was stiff. My god, is this dead ghost acting coquettishly?

The malevolent spirit looked up at Tan Xueci. Tan Xueci’s lips moved, but he still didn’t say anything to soothe him. The ghost’s long lashes drooped, concealing the swirling crimson in his eyes. He gripped Tan Xueci’s waist tightly, trapping him in his embrace, then lowered his head to suckle at the crook of Tan Xueci’s neck.

Tan Xueci was startled and tried to dodge, but the ghost’s hands were unshakeable. Nailed to the spot, he was forced to feel the other’s icy tongue slide along his neck all the way to his ear, licking wetly and coldly into his small, white ear canal, making it feel as if his very brain were being stirred.

“So mean,” the ghost murmured, hugging him close. He lowered his head to peck at Tan Xueci’s snowy, soft cheek meat. His gaze was heavy and his voice low and muddled as he scolded, “So mean. Why won’t you coax me?”

Tan Xueci, suddenly pecked, opened his dark, beautiful eyes wide, then guiltily glanced left and right.

It seems… maybe I am a bit mean. He Xunye often coaxed him, but he really didn’t know how to return the favor! If he offered himself up to be “used,” He Xunye would probably be happy, but he didn’t want that.

Held in He Xunye’s arms, Tan Xueci’s face scrunched up in conflict. Finally, he cautiously reached out and patted He Xunye’s head, only to hear a low chuckle near his ear.

Tan Xueci’s ears turned red in an instant, a mix of shame and annoyance. He had already said he didn’t know how to do it, yet the man insisted, and then laughed at him afterward. Even in death, he’s so annoying.

He Xunye didn’t say a word or offer any praise for the “comfort”; he simply gave Tan Xueci’s round, pert backside a gentle squeeze.

The touch made Tan Xueci’s scalp tingle instantly. He let out a silent scream in his heart. Drawing strength from some unknown source of courage, he suddenly shoved He Xunye away and stumbled back a few steps.

His dark, moist eyes stared resentfully at He Xunye. Then, clutching his backside, he turned and bolted.

Lu Qi finally made a painful decision. He was going to risk it and go out to find Tan Xueci. However, just as he stood up, he saw Tan Xueci running in with an ungraceful, staggering gait. Startled, Lu Qi jumped up to block the nearby camera lens, narrowly preventing the public broadcast of a male celebrity clutching his rear.

“Put your hands down,” Lu Qi hissed in a low voice. “How shameful! What kind of gesture is that?”

Tan Xueci bit his lip and thought resentfully: What does it have to do with him? The one who is truly shameless is still outside.

The variety show Traces of the Wilderness focused on “realness” and “relaxation.” Many staff members and the director often appeared on camera, so Lu Qi’s sudden movement wasn’t a huge issue. However, after blocking the view, he moved away immediately, revealing Tan Xueci’s wet, red eyes and his aggrieved, heavy little face to the lens.

[??? What happened to our Xiao Xue? He was outside for a few minutes and already had a fight with his hubby?]

[My god, I don’t know if I should say this, but after taking Professor He’s classes for over a year, I never imagined he would get married, much less that his wife would be this type…]

The viewer stopped typing halfway through, feeling a bit guilty and fearing that He Xunye might find and “deal” with them.

Although He Xunye became a professor at a young age—his professional ability being unquestionable and his looks handsome—he should have been popular with students. However, he loathed students dating in his class and would attack the entire institution of marriage during his lectures, so his reputation was actually quite poor.

Many students whispered behind his back that he probably came from an unhappy family and couldn’t stand seeing others get married.

He Xunye taught at Jing University for over three years. He suddenly resigned in the first half of the year. Who could have guessed he quit to get married? And that his wife would be so… so delicate.

Several Jing University students in the chat had complicated expressions. He wouldn’t let us date, but he’s eating so well in private.

Furthermore, just as coughing, poverty, and love cannot be hidden in this world, neither can illiteracy.

The night before, Chen Qing had given the other guests a book he had written. Tan Xueci had leaned his heavy face on the table to read it. He stayed there for half an hour and hadn’t even finished one page.

Chen Qing felt inexplicably restless. Did I write something so appalling that Tan Xueci’s face is so dark? Finally unable to help himself, he cautiously asked, “Teacher Tan, do you think there’s a problem with my book?”

Tan Xueci was startled and shook his head frantically. His pale face was tight with tension; he looked even more nervous than Chen Qing.

His lips moved as he tried to offer some “profound insight,” but after a few seconds of daze, he couldn’t squeeze out a single word.

Clearly, he recognized a few of the characters! But Chen Qing was inconsiderate and added several characters he didn’t know in the middle. It was just a big blur of black ink; he couldn’t understand it when he put it all together.

Tan Xueci had a cold, glamorous look, but his timidity and the “empty-headedness” caused by his illiteracy made him look like he had only grown up on the outside, while his insides remained that of a child.

He was more serious and focused than anyone else, and his beautiful eyes would light up or dim depending on how others treated him. Treat him a little better, and he would become a warm little lamp; treat him a little worse, and he would wither into a cold, shivering pile.

To him, the malevolent spirits were plain to see, but he had become a river that reflected everything equally.

Before this variety show started, many people called Tan Xueci “wife,” but a few days into the broadcast, “Mommy fans” were rapidly rising. Tan Xueci had a strong “child-like” quality that made people want to pity and protect him—he seemed a total mismatch for a dark, cold, brilliant person like He Xunye.

[Goddammit, what kind of dog-man is bullying our Xiao Xue? Our Xiao Xue is going to change his profile picture and curse you in a bit.]

[LMAO, baby you’re so useless.]

Tan Xueci didn’t know what the chat was saying about him; otherwise, he’d be unhappy again. Qin Shuyao and the others had made wonton soup. He hid in a corner to eat and ignored He Xunye when the man walked in.

With an extra guest, the staff went to tidy up one of the seven or eight rooms in Auntie Zhang’s courtyard. By the time they finished their late-night snack, the room was ready. Everyone stood up to go to sleep.

“Xiao Xue,” He Xunye’s pale, slender fingers tapped gently on the table. His tone was seemingly gentle, yet it made hearts tighten as he asked, “Aren’t you sleeping with me?”

[??? Mention that and I’m not sleepy anymore.]

[My suggestion is to take me with you. I’m here to join you, not break you apart. doge.jpg]

A chill ran down Tan Xueci’s spine. Meeting the ghost’s eyes—which had lost their crimson glow but had become even darker and more viscous—he couldn’t help but swallow. A strong sense of danger made his scalp tingle.

He couldn’t sleep with He Xunye. Something would definitely happen.

But this ghost was too good at pretending. He looked like a gentle, refined, and good husband. Although everyone felt a faint sense of “off-ness,” no one could find a specific fault. No one could understand Tan Xueci’s fear.

“Teacher Tan,” the director asked tentatively, “Should I have someone help you bring your luggage over?”

“…” Tan Xueci’s pale jaw tightened, his lashes fluttering. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, “No…”

He didn’t want to crawl into a blanket with a ghost! Before, he had wanted company, and he could pretend he didn’t know the truth, so sleeping with He Xunye felt okay. But on this show, Lu Qi and Jin Chen were in the same room as him. The ghost had even shown his true form—revealing his greedy, malevolent side—so he naturally wouldn’t choose He Xunye.

The director was confused. He Xunye had driven all the way here in the middle of the night for Tan Xueci; he thought their relationship was great. Is it good or not?

“My apologies,” the ghost said to the director, his posture polite and apologetic. “In truth, I made Xiao Xue angry before. I came here to apologize to him. I’ve caused you trouble.”

“No, no, no,” the director said quickly. “It’s fine. Anyway, the cameras can film anywhere. Teacher Tan can decide for himself.”

The crew filmed material for the final cut, so even when they weren’t live, several fixed cameras were always on, one by each room.

Outside, the storm was raging as if it would trigger a flash flood. In the booming, pale rain, the ghost’s dark phoenix eyes curved slightly. That face was deathly and eerie. He reached his hand toward Tan Xueci.

The other guests, not knowing the truth, cheered and pushed them together, saying they should make up.

Tan Xueci wanted to scream silently again. Make up? This is a ghost! He felt that He Xunye looked like a ghost from head to toe, yet no one else could see it.

Just as he was about to bite his hand and his eyes began to mist over—thinking he would have to sleep with He Xunye tonight—the ghost’s gaze fell on his bitten, slightly bleeding fingers and his damp hair after a day of fever. He suddenly paused.

He Xunye raised his hand and grabbed Tan Xueci’s thin fingers, preventing him from biting. He wiped away the tiny beads of blood, then leaned down to kiss the boy’s lips and patted his head. He seemed to give up.

“It’s okay. Xiao Xue, go to sleep.”

Tan Xueci’s eyes and the tip of his nose were red. He stayed silent, scared out of his wits. He didn’t know why He Xunye suddenly backed off, but he wasn’t relieved at all. He thought He Xunye might have another scheme or would suddenly appear in his bed during the night.

He went back to sleep in a melancholy mood. He had brought his “little sheep” plushie and fell asleep in tears while hugging it. But He Xunye actually didn’t come to find him. Even the ghost that ate raw rice didn’t show up. Tan Xueci slept peacefully until dawn, finally getting some good rest. When he woke up, his fever had mostly subsided.

He sat up groggily, wondering if the rice-eating ghost and the ghost hiding among the guests were the same person. Maybe He Xunye had eaten them, so they didn’t come.

How disgusting. He Xunye ate ghosts and then wanted to kiss him.

The other guests were already up. Tan Xueci quickly changed his clothes to go have breakfast. Xiao Cai and Xiao Shuan weren’t playing cat’s cradle today; they both stood in the corner with expressionless faces, staring at He Xunye.

Tan Xueci wanted to ask He Xunye if something was wrong with this place—he had felt uncomfortable since entering the village—but he didn’t know how to start the conversation, so he stayed silent.

Today they were going to the General’s Temple and Auntie Zhang’s Temple. Auntie Lanzhi had told them yesterday to bring the dolls they made to Auntie Zhang’s Temple.

It wasn’t strictly necessary to tie a doll or fulfill a vow; leaving their handmade dolls in the temple for a few days would let them soak up Auntie Zhang’s “divine aura” and bring them protection.

It was still a cloudy day, with only a light drizzle that didn’t even require an umbrella.

Tan Xueci walked in a wobbly, zig-zag manner, intentionally trying to avoid walking next to He Xunye. But He Xunye would always appear on his other side like a ghost; before he could react, he would bump into He Xunye’s chest, looking as if he were actively hugging the man.

After being blocked several times, Tan Xueci finally gave in and unwillingly walked while holding He Xunye’s hand.

From the front, the ghost had a gentle smile while Tan Xueci’s stiff face looked coerced—they looked like a miserable couple. From the back, He Xunye had one arm around Tan Xueci’s shoulder and his other hand holding the boy’s palm; they looked exactly like a pair of lovey-dovey newlyweds.

Director: “…” What a twisted love. The director silently waved to the cameraman following them, signaling him to circle around and film from behind.

When they reached the General’s Temple, Tan Xueci discovered the statue of the General was identical to the one they were worshiping in their room, just a different size. No wonder he couldn’t tell if it was a monk or a priest; it was a General. However, he didn’t look particularly burly, unlike the stereotypical General.

This General had a bit of a scholarly air, with downcast eyes and long, flowing hair. He held a long blade that was half a person’s height.

He Xunye walked behind Tan Xueci, his face unreadable as he looked up at the statue.

“Our Yanxia Village is next to the Yan River,” Bai Shuizhang said, handing each of them a few sticks of incense. His young face clearly showed admiration and awe. “The mountains are steep and the water is plentiful. It has rained heavily these past few years, but no matter how big the rain is, this area is never flooded. The elders say the General is protecting us. He drowned in the Yan River himself, so he can’t bear to see others suffer.”

“So effective,” Jin Chen raised an eyebrow. “Why didn’t this General leave a name?”

Bai Shuizhang said helplessly: “I’m not sure. I’m not a local either. I heard the General’s bones were only discovered by villagers many years after he died. By then, the dynasties had changed several times, so no name was passed down.”

The guests were thoughtful and went to bow with their incense. He Xunye also offered a few sticks.

Tan Xueci felt it was a bit disrespectful, but he sensed that this General wasn’t actually that effective. Otherwise, why would he allow a malevolent spirit to burn incense and provoke him in his own temple?

“What are you thinking about now?” He Xunye turned his head. Seeing Tan Xueci’s beautiful, gloomy face, he knew the boy was up to no good.

Tan Xueci’s eyes went wide. He turned and ran off. He was the first to go to Auntie Zhang’s Temple to leave his doll, then he crouched by the ox cart to wait for the other guests.

He Sui hadn’t slept well at all, wishing He Xunye would just stay dead in his coffin. He felt He Xunye probably wasn’t dead. He hadn’t believed in the He family’s feng shui before, but that piece of jade suddenly shattering was truly eerie, forcing him to believe.

Maybe He Xunye really was just faking his death.

With a dark face, he saw Tan Xueci standing by the ox cart and walked over, stuffing something into his hand. “For you.”

Tan Xueci was stunned. He Sui had given him a tiny rabbit lantern carved out of wood with a small lightbulb inside. It reflected in his beautiful eyes in the rainy weather.

“You like this sort of thing, right?” He Sui said somewhat awkwardly.

He Xunye, standing nearby, tilted his head slightly and looked at the rabbit lantern but said nothing.

He Sui sneered in his heart. He had known Tan Xueci for over a decade. Even if Tan Xueci didn’t go out much, they had met many times. There were countless things he could talk about for days—things He Xunye knew nothing about.

How long had He Xunye known Tan Xueci? He didn’t know what the man was so smug about; he wasn’t even as good as an “other man.”

Xiao Cai’s family made paper offerings, but they also made little trinkets to sell at temple fairs. Yesterday, he saw Grandpa Zhang making small lamps and asked for one for Tan Xueci.

Tan Xueci held the little lamp with some hesitation. It was rare for He Sui to try and coax someone, and He Sui felt awkward himself; after giving it, he pretended nothing was wrong and turned to leave.

Most of the cameramen were filming over at Auntie Zhang’s Temple; only Tan Xueci and He Xunye were left outside.

He Xunye’s pitch-black, cold eyes looked down. He grabbed Tan Xueci’s hand, forcing him to hold up the rabbit lantern. The candle-like light shimmered on the ghost’s face, making his deep features look even darker. He had a smile on his lips, but his words were chilling:

“Xiao Xue, I will kill him. Very soon.”

Tan Xueci’s eyelids jumped. He turned to look at He Sui, who had already walked to the side of Auntie Zhang’s Temple.

Outside that temple stood a crooked-neck tree with dark branches and firm roots, looking tall and sturdy. But he saw that tree was actually beginning to tilt in the drizzling rain. If it fell like that, He Sui’s guts would be crushed out.

“…Don’t!” Tan Xueci quickly tried to stop him.

“Why?” The ghost pinched his cheek meat, forcing him to look up. A trail of red overflowed from the inner to the outer corners of his black eyes. His tone was chilly. “You can’t bear to lose him?”

Tan Xueci wasn’t afraid of He Sui dying, but He Sui had a special status. If he died, the show would likely stop filming. He wanted to keep filming!

Seeing He Xunye’s dark face—clearly unhappy—his pale face was full of tension and hesitation. Finally, he looked around sneakily; seeing no one was paying attention to them, he looked up and planted a messy kiss on He Xunye’s face. He didn’t even know where he had kissed. Then, he looked at He Xunye expectantly: “Hubby…”

The ghost’s gaze licked over his face, dark and cloying. Now he knows to call me hubby.

Tan Xueci had discovered that He Xunye’s eyes changed when he was in a bad mood or an especially bad mood. Perhaps his resentment or killing intent intensified; this state was very dangerous and even less human than usual.

He Xunye’s pale, handsome features were submerged in the dark, rainy village. His gaze was also gloomy as he stared at Tan Xueci for a while. Then, without any warning, he grabbed the back of the boy’s head and kissed him.

The ghost’s tongue—redder and longer than a normal person’s—pried open Tan Xueci’s lips and licked down his throat.

Tan Xueci’s back went rigid with fear. He whimpered and struggled, but he could only let the ghost stir his tongue and lick the inner walls of his mouth until they were red and sore.

When He Xunye finally let go, he was staggering, unable to stand steady. His legs wanted to press together uncontrollably, his whole body was soft, and he stared resentfully at He Xunye.

The ghost licked his lips, which were covered in Tan Xueci’s saliva. Tan Xueci didn’t know how to kiss; he only knew how to push back with his tongue, leaving both of their mouths a mess. The ghost’s gaze darkened, and he grabbed Tan Xueci’s neck, wanting to continue.

This time, Tan Xueci truly let out a low, muffled scream. He shoved He Xunye hard. His face was flushed red, and he said in a somewhat collapsed, angry voice: “Can’t you just change to another wife?!”

Anyway, ghosts have no feelings; isn’t it the same no matter which wife you have? As long as they have a mouth, you can kiss them. He felt his mouth didn’t even belong to him anymore—it was full of He Xunye’s scent. He felt he was “dirty.”

“No,” the ghost looked down at him. “I only like you.”

But it didn’t sound like a confession. It was so sudden and the tone so flat; a “like” that could be said so casually made him seem even less human.

Tan Xueci’s cheeks burned for a second. His eyes trembled, and he bit his red, swollen lip. After a long moment of stammering, he looked up and whispered: “What do you like about me?”

Can’t I change it? “…”

This question seemed to stump the ghost. He paused for several minutes. Just as Tan Xueci was starting to feel inexplicably nervous and apprehensive, the ghost cupped his cheeks, rubbed his nose against the boy’s, and kissed his lips again. He murmured:

“Xiao Xue is very good. I like how you are good to me.”

Tan Xueci: “…”

Tan Xueci couldn’t tell if He Xunye was mocking him or was simply mentally ill. It seemed the He family were all masochists who liked people who mistreated them.

Tan Yanning always treated He Sui with cold indifference, yet He Sui chased Tan Yanning like a dog. He had found a Taoist to catch He Xunye, yet He Xunye suddenly and inexplicably insisted on liking him.

“…That… that’s all fake,” Tan Xueci mumbled, his cheeks squished together by the man’s hands. “Actually, I’m very bad.”

He Xunye seemed to chuckle. He licked the red bead of the boy’s lip and asked absentmindedly: “How bad?”

“…” Tan Xueci, suddenly licked again, scrunched his face and refused to let He Xunye touch him anymore. He dodged back warily and said uncomfortably, “I’m not good to anyone.”

Tan Xueci took a deep breath. When he looked up, his gaze was dazed and gloomy. In truth, he didn’t like anyone.

He didn’t like Auntie Zhang—she always talked about “Young Master Yanning” this and “Young Master Yanning” that, as if Yanning was a treasure and he was just a little piece of trash.

He didn’t like Lu Qi—Lu Qi was a coward who always told him to endure and take the abuse, and always wanted to “sell” him.

He treated Lu Qi’s illness because Lu Qi would take him out to eat. If Lu Qi died, wouldn’t there be no one to take him for spicy hot pot? Others went out to eat together; he wanted that too. He didn’t want to be a piece of trash that no one liked. When Lu Qi took him out, he would break his chopsticks and wipe his cup; he felt everyone was watching him and must be envious. He was quite smug, thinking people were saying, Look at this child, someone is so good to him.

But even though Lu Qi was good to him, he was still an ingrate. That time Lu Qi took him to the hotel to find Jin Ji Zhu, he had brought a knife. He had already decided that if Lu Qi really gave him to Jin Ji Zhu, he would stab them all to death and run away.

But just as his hand was on the hilt of the knife, Lu Qi suddenly regretted it. For the sake of Lu Qi continuing to take him to eat, he pretended he knew nothing and acted like a good boy.

He hated Jin Chen—Jin Chen would roll his eyes the moment he saw him. He said Jin Chen’s face was defective just to spite him.

He hated Tan Yanning—Yanning had to compete with him for everything. Even things Yanning didn’t want—like He Sui—Yanning wouldn’t let him have. He also hated He Sui for always helping Tan Yanning bully him.

He hated Tan Shangli—every slap hurt so much. He also hated his father; he always wished his father would hurry up and die.

He hated Zhai Fang, hated Wen Yaochuan for always saying weird things to him, hated the director, and hated the people in this crew for always saying “Xiao Ci is so dazed.”

He hated Gao Ying—she liked him so much at first, like the best mother in the world, then suddenly she didn’t like him anymore.

He… also hated He Xunye. Anyway, he just hated everyone. They all didn’t like him, and he didn’t want to like them either.

Gao Ying didn’t let him go to Tan Shangli’s wedding because the last time Tan Shangli got married—shortly after divorcing his first love and marrying someone else under Gao Ying’s pressure—he was in a bad mood. Tan Xueci had wanted to comfort him, but Tan Shangli told him to get lost with a cold face. So he threw smelly garlic into Tan Shangli’s leather shoes. Auntie Zhang found it and told his mother.

Gao Ying said he must be cursed for causing trouble every day, so she wouldn’t let him go to the wedding.

He was full of bad intentions; he just pretended to be good to trick people into being kind to him. Lu Qi was now completely obedient to him, Jin Chen wasn’t mean to him anymore, and the crew took him for late-night snacks—all because he was good at pretending. He was the best at lying.

He was clingy with He Xunye because He Xunye gave him money to spend and packaged him as a high-society “little sheep.” There were many benefits to being with He Xunye, but now that He Xunye was demanding benefits from him, he would flip his face and refuse to recognize the ghost—use him and kick him away.

He was just that kind of selfish person with a belly full of bad intentions, pretending to be pitiful every day to trick people into being good to him.

Tan Xueci opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He stayed dazed for a while, then suddenly began to cry. He used his sleeve to rub his face haphazardly, making his skin turn bright red.

“You can be mean to them,” He Xunye stopped him from rubbing his face further and cupped his pale, weary features, wiping away the cascading tears. Then he said: “But you must be good to me.”

The ghost finished speaking and raised his vibrant red eyes, which held a jealousy he hadn’t even noticed himself. With a gloomy, dark face, he said: “It’s okay if you aren’t good to me. But you must be better to me than to him.”

Whatever Tan Xueci had given He Sui—whether good or bad—he was going to take it all back.

Tan Xueci’s eyes were red, but he didn’t answer. The other guests had finished placing their dolls and were coming out of the temple. He turned and ran, leaving He Xunye behind.

Only when he reached Lu Qi’s side did he look back. In the village, the lights were as small as beans. He Xunye’s tall figure stood in the damp, cold rain like a stray male ghost that no wife wanted.

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