Chapter 47: The Resentful Husband

Before Tan Xueci could even process what was happening, He Xunye bumped into him again, neither too hard nor too soft. The man had a smile on his lips, appearing every bit the dignified gentleman, yet his actions were undisguisedly lingering and lewd.

Tan Xueci broke out in goosebumps, his fur practically standing on end as he shoved He Xunye away.

“Why so resistant?” The malevolent spirit circled his waist, pulling him back into a cold embrace. His low, raspy voice sounded like a seductive incantation in Tan’s ear. “Try it. You might find you enjoy it very much.”

“Xiao Xue, you’re an adult, aren’t you? You should discard this meaningless sense of shame.”

Tan Xueci: “…”

He Xunye dared to say it, but Tan didn’t dare to listen. The ghost’s gaze was cloying, licking over him like a wet, cold tongue. Tan’s heart trembled; he had seemingly provoked a real pervert.

Unable to out-argue He Xunye, he simply covered his ears.

He had always thought that “living a life” was the same no matter who it was with, but if he lived with He Xunye, he’d never win a single argument for the rest of his life!

Tan Xueci suddenly felt like he wasn’t gay after all. Whenever He Xunye reached out to touch his legs at night or pressed against him like this, his scalp would instantly go numb with dread. He could handle a little kissing, but being held by a man much larger than him, kneaded like dough, or having his tongue sucked—it made his skin crawl as if he’d stepped on a grave.

Terrified that He Xunye would touch him again, he scrambled to pry the ghost’s hands off his waist and bolted outside.

He ran headfirst into Qin Shuyao. Both nearly screamed in fright. Once Qin realized it was someone from the crew, she let out a wail and hugged Tan Xueci tight.

Tan’s heart was still racing. He stood there awkwardly, having never been hugged by a girl like this. He stiffly patted her back. “What’s wrong, Sister Yao?”

“It’s so scary,” Qin Shuyao rubbed her arms, refusing to let go, shaking as she spoke. “I went to Auntie Lanzhi’s house to help hang lanterns. The temple fair was about to start, so I thought I’d head over early to see the excitement. But the further I walked, the weirder it got. There were so many people with their heads down, carrying lanterns… and it looked like they didn’t have feet.”

She didn’t know if she had misseen it or what, but the fear had been overwhelming. She had turned and bolted.

The moment she ran back, all those people had slowly turned their heads to stare at her. She had tripped and fallen, her head spinning, certain she was a goner. In those panicked seconds, she had frantically grabbed her phone and deleted every “spicy” novel and adult website in one click.

One must leave a clean reputation in the human world.

She didn’t want to die only to have people find a female star’s phone full of smut. She even had one saved about Tan Xueci and He Xunye.

But after lying there for a bit, she realized she wasn’t dead. When she opened her eyes, the figures were gone. She waited until her strength returned and ran all the way back.

Recovering her breath, she let out a shaky laugh. “Maybe I’m just a coward and saw things wrong.”

At least I have backups for my bookmarks.

Tan Xueci suspected otherwise, but he couldn’t articulate what was wrong. He still had to pick up items from Bo Shuizhang, but since Qin was still clinging to him, he decided to walk her inside first.

However, as he turned around, a chill ran down his spine. He Xunye was standing far off at the entrance of the main hall, his face dark as he stared at them.

The ghost’s skin was a sickly bluish-white, and his eyes were a pure black, darker than the mountain night. He stared at Qin Shuyao’s hands wrapped around Tan, and the shadow at his feet began to flow toward them like black ink. Countless pale, ghostly hands emerged from the black water, looking as if they wanted to drag Qin down and drown her.

Tan Xueci quickly pulled Qin back a step, pursing his lips as he looked up at He Xunye.

The ghost’s eyes were heavy and brooding. Since entering the village, he had been under many restrictions—he couldn’t kill He Sui, and he couldn’t kill this woman either. The crimson ghostly energy in his eyes was almost impossible to suppress.

“What is it?” Qin Shuyao asked, oblivious. “Xiao Ci?”

Tan Xueci swallowed hard, his palms sweating. He didn’t know how to soothe a ghost’s jealousy. He was out of options; it felt like he’d have to sleep with He Xunye eventually, or the ghost would just continue to resent everyone around him with equal fervor.

The ghost’s phoenix eyes remained fixed on him, gloomy and desolate like a resentful husband. Surprisingly, he retracted the ghostly hands and the black water, turned, and went back into the hall.

Tan finally exhaled, but he felt a strange sensation in his heart. He Xunye seemed more obedient than he had imagined. If someone had told him before that a powerful spirit would listen to him, he never would have believed it.

He walked Qin to the other guests and then headed out. Lu Qi had already parked the car outside, meeting Tan’s unusually heavy expression.

Tan climbed into the car, still brooding. He truly couldn’t understand the point of “mating” for men. What was the use of shaking the bed until it collapsed?

Back then, Tan Yanning and He Sui had slept together once. Perhaps because of that, He Sui often took Tan Xueci out to play, which made Tan Yanning quite unhappy. Once, He Sui took him to a bar and bumped into Tan Yanning drinking there. He Sui thought it was a coincidence, but Tan Xueci knew Yanning had gone there on purpose.

He Sui had a fleeting conscience; he was a scumbag in romance, but he didn’t actually want to kill Tan Xueci. Knowing that letting the boy run wild in a bar would lead to trouble, he made Tan Xueci wait outside a private booth.

As a result, it turned into “listening to the live show.”

Tan had waited over an hour. The booth door was well-insulated, but he could still hear the sounds—Tan Yanning was having s*x with his boyfriend.

When Yanning came out, his shirt was a mess. He apologized to Tan: “Sorry, Second Brother. I didn’t mean to. I didn’t recognize it was He Sui just now.”

Tan had previously wanted to marry He Sui. Even though he didn’t like s*x, he had been willing because He Sui wanted to. But after that incident, he became repulsed. In his eyes, He Sui had transformed from a “prized pig” into a “plague-ridden pig” that had messed around with Tan Yanning.

That was why, when He Sui suggested it in the car, Tan had brought up the “giving birth” thing to disgust him, making He Sui angry enough to kick him out of the car. He had no desire to mate with a “plague pig.”

Tan bit his finger, wondering what it actually felt like to sleep with someone. He was suddenly a bit lost. He Xunye was so much older; who knew how many people he had been with? He didn’t think He Xunye was a naturally gentle or patient person, but the ghost was very good at taking care of him. Maybe it was because he’d cared for others before.

Tan’s face flickered between green and white. In the shadows of the car, he looked like a specter himself, his mouth pouting and his eyes turning red with annoyance.

“Holy shit!” Lu Qi caught sight of him in the rearview mirror and jumped. “What’s wrong with you?”

This couple is both creepy as hell.

The mountain roads were treacherous. They were driving a villager’s illegally modified vehicle; the back seat didn’t even have a door, and the wind whistled through. Tan buried his face in his scarf and stayed silent. He decided he really hated He Xunye.

Since the ghost usually never left his side, Lu Qi finally saw a chance to speak to him alone. “When did you sneak out last night?” he grumbled. “Meeting a wild man behind my back.”

Tan stammered, unable to answer.

“Hey,” Lu Qi asked, puzzled. “Is that husband of yours alive or dead?”

But as soon as the question left his lips, a man’s silhouette appeared in the dim back seat.

“MOMMY!!!” Lu Qi shrieked, his hands shaking so hard the steering wheel jerked. The whole car wobbled, and Tan’s heart nearly stopped. No matter how many times it happened, he couldn’t get used to He Xunye’s sudden appearances. “Jump scares” were clearly a mandatory ghost skill.

“Good evening,” the ghost said. He was wearing a black suit with a sharp, oversized black wool coat draped over his shoulders. His hands were folded over his abdomen as he smiled at Lu Qi. “Brother Lu, I often hear Xiao Xue mention you. I don’t believe I’ve introduced myself formally. I am Xiao Xue’s boyfriend; we’ve been dating for over a month.”

Tan’s face was cold and pale with fright. The ghost reached out to touch his face, pinching it until a red mark appeared. He laughed softly. “Frightened to this extent? With me here, how could I let you crash?”

His attitude was so natural, as if he hadn’t just been brooding over Qin Shuyao, but that made it even more terrifying. The gentler he was, the more it gave people the creeps.

Lu Qi had enough self-awareness to hear the subtext: Tan Xueci wouldn’t die, but Lu Qi might not be so lucky. His hands trembled; he felt like he couldn’t drive in a straight line. What did I do to offend a vengeful spirit? This thing definitely isn’t human! What kind of ‘good person’ just appears in someone’s car?!

“I’m not dating you anymore,” Tan Xueci said, clutching his thumping heart, his lashes trembling. “I want a divorce…”

He’d finally said it.

If He Xunye were alive, he might have endured it for the sake of the ghost’s kindness—even if he was always eyeing his backside. But the man was dead. He didn’t want to be haunted by a ghost for the rest of his life.

“Not dating me?” The smile vanished completely from the ghost’s lips. “Then who do you want to date?”

Tan wanted to say “He Sui,” but seeing the blood-red flicker in the ghost’s eyes, he felt like He Sui would drop dead the moment the name left his lips.

Fortunately, Lu Qi was there. If all else failed, he could just kiss Lu Qi and claim he was his true love, begging He Xunye to let them go.

Lu Qi, oblivious to the fact that he was flashing in and out of the Gates of Hell, saw the ghost’s non-human red eyes and quickly tried to persuade Tan: “Don’t be like that. You’re newlyweds, don’t throw a tantrum.”

He then whispered to Tan, “If he’s human, just endure it; this husband isn’t a bad deal. If he’s a ghost… well, there’s no way out anyway. Just beg him to drain less of your Yang energy so you can live another year.”

Lu Qi sounded like a typical, spineless, middle-aged corporate s*ave. Every time Tan thought he was cowardly enough, Lu Qi proved it was possible to be even more so. Before, Lu Qi would give him to a “forbidden pig” to make money; now, he’d give him to a ghost to save his own life.

“Xiao Mie,” the ghost smiled again, but half his face was masked in shadow, the moonlight highlighting his nose and making him look deathly cold. “Think before you speak, alright?”

Tan Xueci turned his head, his own face dark with gloom. He reached out and shoved He Xunye right out of the moving car.

Lu Qi was dumbfounded. “What the hell did you just push out of the car?!”

“What do you know?” Tan’s heart was hammering. He heard no sound after the shove; he didn’t know where the ghost had landed. He said fiercely, “Friction between husband and wife is normal!”

After speaking, he couldn’t help but lean over the side to look out. It was already past 7 PM; the mountain village was pitch black, with no sign of a dead husband. He couldn’t have ‘died’ from a fall, right? He figured his ghost husband wasn’t that fragile.

Lu Qi: “…” Is that what you city people call ‘friction’?

Lu Qi didn’t dare speak further. He parked the car outside the Village Committee office and urged Tan to hurry and get the supplies. This village was suffocating—cold, damp, and haunted.

The Village Committee was in an alley the car couldn’t enter. Lu Qi stayed in the car while a cameraman waited at the alley entrance. Tan and the cameraman entered together. The temple fair had begun; Tan could even hear firecrackers, making it feel like the New Year.

The Committee was a large courtyard with five or six rooms. As Tan listened to the distant sounds of the fair, he walked past a window and nearly jumped out of his skin. An old man was pressed against the glass. His skin was purplish, and his age spots looked like bloated, livid corpse spots.

Tan almost thought he was dead or a spirit until the man suddenly moved, eyes wide, banging on the window and making “ah-ah” sounds, unable to speak.

Tan backed away in fear, but Bo Shuizhang heard the noise and ran out in a down jacket. His white jacket made his dark skin stand out, almost merging with the night. He scratched his head apologetically. “This is a left-behind elder. His kids are working in the city. He has some mental issues, so he’s staying here temporarily. They’ll pick him up before the New Year.”

Another one with mental issues. Tan felt a chill. There were only about a hundred people in this village, yet he’d met enough mentally ill people to fill a mahjong table.

Darkness had fallen quickly. The courtyard gate was open, and the visibility in the misty alley was low and freezing. Occasional dog barks and the faint sound of opera from the fair drifted in.

Tan followed Bo inside to get the items. The light was dim. As he picked up a box, he looked up and his breath hitched. Before him was a pale, smooth face—eyes closed, brows furrowed, with an expression that was both somber and sorrowfully compassionate.

“Did I scare you?” Bo chuckled. “I just wanted to show you this.”

Tan was sweating from the fright. He realized it was just a mask.

Bo took off the mask and smiled. “This is a mask unique to Yanxia Village; even the Upper Village doesn’t have it. It’s similar to a Nuo opera mask. Putting it on is said to invite a god to descend. If you go to the fair tonight, you should see the play ‘General Yan Battles a Hundred Thousand Water Ghosts.’ The actors wear these.”

The General had no name; the villagers just called him General Yan. Hundreds of years ago, they had composed a play about him protecting the village, which had been performed every year since.

Bo handed the mask to Tan, wanting him to try it on. He stroked his chin, studying Tan. “I think you’re very suited for this mask. You’re just as good-looking as General Yan.”

The General indeed had striking features; even as a weathered statue, one could see his handsome silhouette.

Tan didn’t dare touch it. His years of experience told him it was better not to touch strange things. And speaking of “good-looking,” Bo Shuizhang was actually quite handsome too. Standing beside him, despite his dark skin, one could see a clear, elegant, even beautiful face.

Bo smiled at him. “Yanxia Village is very beautiful, isn’t it?”

Tan might have been a bit “slow,” but he knew the conditions here weren’t great. He Xunye had warmed his clothes on the kang bed last night so they were toasty when he put them on, but they turned cold within minutes of being outside. He felt like a snowman in clothes. The food was bitter, and the fish was full of bones. It wasn’t nearly as good as the expensive dinners He Xunye took him to.

He hesitated, then asked Bo, “Isn’t it hard?” He’d heard Bo was from Beijing and a graduate of Beijing University, yet he’d stayed here for three years.

“How could it be hard?” Bo’s gaze was gentle. “I feel this is where I belong. You’re leaving in three or four days… why not stay?”

A sense of weirdness rose in Tan’s heart as he looked at Bo.

“Don’t misunderstand,” Bo waved his hands quickly. “I just think the village is wonderful, but there are fewer and fewer people. It’s lonely. It makes me sad, so I’m reluctant to see you leave.”

Tan cautiously glanced at Bo’s feet. Bo had a shadow, and his toes pointed forward. Since coming to this village, he hadn’t actually seen a ghost yet. He’d heard someone eating raw rice and seen an extra guest, but he hadn’t seen exactly what those monsters looked like.

Tan gave a fake smile and didn’t speak further. He took the items and hurried to leave.

When he stepped out of the courtyard, the cameraman was nowhere to be seen. He called out tentatively, but there was no response. Maybe he went out first, Tan thought. There was no livestream now, just B-roll being filmed.

He didn’t look for him. The Committee office was desolately quiet, and with only Bo and that old man there, he felt scared.

Clutching a flashlight between his teeth, Tan walked out of the alley alone. But the alley, which should have been only ten meters long, seemed endless. Cold sweat trickled down his spine. He quickened his pace, but a hand suddenly tapped him on the shoulder.

Tan didn’t want to turn around. He’d heard that humans have “three fires” on their shoulders and shouldn’t turn their heads if tapped at night, or the fires would go out.

But instinct is hard to control. Under such tension, he turned his head—and his pupils constricted instantly.

A child in red was standing behind him. He couldn’t see the face clearly, but it was deathly pale, and the mouth was split wide open.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

The Magical Girl Is Raising a Child Today, Too

ActionGender BenderMagic

Read Now →
Not interested