Chapter 9: Ghosts

“What’s wrong, Lin Cheng?”

Lin Cheng suddenly stood up, staring intently up the mountain path with a serious expression.
This made Li Xiaoran a little nervous.

Is there something behind us?
But… I didn’t feel anything at all.
Could it be… Lin Cheng did this on purpose? Pretending there’s something behind us so he can pull me into his arms? Then we can enjoy the ‘suspension bridge effect’ of a crisis situation together…

Li Xiaoran’s cheeks flushed as her soft body was now half-held, half-embraced by Lin Cheng.
Her hands were instinctively clasped protectively in front of her chest—an action she immediately regretted.
If I had known he’d pull me like this, I would’ve opened my arms wide…
But to move now would be too obvious.
She didn’t have the courage to take the initiative.

Her mind spun wildly as she stood beside Lin Cheng.
But Lin Cheng, frowning deeply, wasn’t paying attention to her.

I’m not wrong. This isn’t like before—like being watched or a cold breeze brushing by. This is real. Someone is staring at me… and at Li Xiaoran.

Who could it be?
A thug? A drunkard? A murderer…?

Zhou Mingyuan’s name flashed through Lin Cheng’s mind—and refused to go away.
Is it him?
It must be him.
That certainty came out of nowhere.

The reason was simple.
This was a novel.

Whether male- or female-oriented, when the male lead discovered a threat, he’d either attack first or investigate.
Doing nothing would only make him an incompetent male lead—something you wouldn’t find on a proper storytelling platform.
And Zhou Mingyuan’s actions, even by female-lead novel standards, were probably things you wouldn’t see on a proper platform either.

Lin Cheng didn’t overthink it. He grabbed Li Xiaoran’s wrist.

“Xiaoran, let’s go. It’s getting too late. If we keep climbing, we’ll have to spend the night up here.”

“Ah?” Li Xiaoran sounded disappointed. “So soon?”

She was carrying a small, stuffed backpack she’d packed specially—with a blanket inside.
The girl was pulled along by Lin Cheng as they quickly descended the mountain.

The rugged trail made her stumble, each step slower than the last.
Finally, when they were only a third of the way down, she cried out in pain—her ankle had struck something—and Lin Cheng had no choice but to stop.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Cheng asked, concerned.

“My… my foot’s twisted,” Li Xiaoran said, clutching her ankle, face scrunched in pain. “Let’s rest a bit. I’ll be fine afterward.”

She forced a smile.

Lin Cheng quietly clicked his tongue.
Seriously? A twisted ankle at a time like this?

An ominous premonition rose in his heart.
Whenever the protagonist wanted to act—or kill someone—accidents always happened, even if a smart person had seen it coming.
Somehow, the plan always succeeded.

Why does this scene feel so familiar…?

Lin Cheng took a deep breath. “Xiaoran, let me carry you.”

“Huh? But your arm…”

Li Xiaoran looked at Lin Cheng’s right arm.
Though the cast had been removed, the gruesome wound and fingers that still couldn’t hold a pen properly showed he was at least a month or two from full recovery.

“It’s fine. Just wrap your legs around my waist and hold on tight. I’ll be careful. It’s really too late now—and it’s my fault for asking you to climb a mountain at night.”

He spoke as gently and apologetically as possible.

“No, it was my own carelessness,” Li Xiaoran mumbled, blushing.

“Come on. Remember—use your thighs.”

Lin Cheng crouched in front of her, his back—broad and solid—presented right before her.

Am I too heavy…?
Li Xiaoran swallowed hard, then slowly moved. She placed her hands on his shoulders, sucked in her stomach a few times, and finally leaned onto his back, gently resting her thighs against his waist.

Lin Cheng’s uninjured left hand wrapped behind her knee; his right hand could only rest on her right leg.

“Hold on tight,” Lin Cheng said.

Li Xiaoran’s face turned even redder. She gripped his shoulders and clamped her thighs against his waist.

He handed her his phone. “You hold the flashlight. Watch our surroundings carefully. Let me know if you see anything.”

Lin Cheng didn’t want to waste time.
He braced himself and lifted Li Xiaoran onto his back.

Though he couldn’t use much strength in his right hand, Li Xiaoran was light—barely ninety pounds. With her holding the flashlight, his pace even quickened.

Yet the unease in Lin Cheng’s chest only grew heavier.

Behind him, Su Wanqing floated silently, biting her lip, overcome with jealousy—but Zhou Mingyuan’s presence was enough to distract even her.

She scanned their surroundings carefully.

Zhou Mingyuan was trailing them, dozens of meters behind, like a ghost—one far more ghostly than herself.

His expression was cold.
His face, under the dim moonlight, was pale and almost lifeless.
He made no sound, just followed them relentlessly—like a final boss in a horror game.

When the protagonist stopped walking, the boss would close in—and dismember them.

How is this bastard more ghost-like than me?

The more she stared, the more uneasy Su Wanqing became. A strange chill climbed up her spine.

For once, she didn’t dare telepathically warn Lin Cheng.
There was no one else around.
What if Zhou Mingyuan really did have a weapon?

With his injured hand, Lin Cheng wouldn’t be able to defend himself.
They had to reach a populated area—only then would Zhou Mingyuan likely hold back.

The entire scene felt frozen in tension. No one spoke. No one broke the fragile balance.

Finally, they reached the foot of the mountain.
After walking another 200 meters past a few self-built houses, they’d be back on the city streets.

Lin Cheng exhaled sharply. Sweat poured down his face.
Less than a month after surgery, he had absolutely overestimated his physical strength.

Especially with Li Xiaoran on his back, who might as well have been a hunk of steel.
He had told her to wrap her legs around his waist, but the girl’s plump thighs were stiff like iron rods—clamped around his waist like industrial pliers.
Anyone watching might think she was some kind of sci-fi construction equipment.

“Um… am I heavy?” Li Xiaoran asked cautiously, hearing his heavy breathing. Her brows furrowed in worry.

“Get down first,” Lin Cheng said, squatting.

She reluctantly slid off his back.

“You’re not heavy,” he said. “Just too stiff. Try to be a little softer next time.”

He’d been squeezed to the point of discomfort.

Lin Cheng turned back to look at the trail. It was empty—nothing behind them.
As if that terrible feeling had all been in his imagination.

Li Xiaoran was just starting to pout, about to unleash a classic girlish grumble—when her entire body suddenly stiffened. She nearly screamed.

She pointed behind Lin Cheng, face pale.
“Z-Zhou Mingyuan?! What are you doing here?!”

Lin Cheng’s heart nearly stopped. He turned his head.

Zhou Mingyuan’s pale face was right behind him.

A ghost!

Su Wanqing shrieked and leapt away in terror.
She darted behind Lin Cheng, trembling.

“Good evening, Lin Cheng. Li Xiaoran.”
Zhou Mingyuan smiled.
“It seems you two have made up.”

“What are you doing here?” Lin Cheng asked, stepping back.
His left hand slipped into his pocket, gripping the fruit knife he had stashed there earlier.

“You, Lin Cheng, were supposed to be at evening self-study tonight,” Zhou Mingyuan said casually. “I was curious… Turns out you were planning a date with your little girlfriend.”

He chuckled.
“I thought you stayed behind because you had plans. Guess I was overthinking it.”

__________________________________________________________________

[Special Mission Triggered]

[Zhou Mingyuan’s Suspicion]
He is the protagonist of the plot. Within the bounds of the story, he can unconditionally suspect anyone and, to some extent, gain the advantage of favorable timing and circumstances. Be very careful. Under special conditions, he can appear anywhere and do anything.

[Mission Requirement]
Embrace Li Xiaoran and act as intimately as possible.

[Hint]
Increase your plot relevance—especially by being with Li Xiaoran ❤️. Anything that stirs gossip in class will boost your narrative weight, helping you compete with the protagonist, Zhou Mingyuan.
Also: continue protecting Su Wanqing.
If she survives past the college entrance exam, you’ll return to the real world—with a legal one hundred million yuan.

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