Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Really?!
âHey!â Jiang Yigu was caught by the stall owner when he was about to give chase. âYou havenât paid up, sir.â
Jiang Yigu whipped out a hundred dollar note and slapped it on the table. âKeep the change.â
The shop owner blankly pocketed the hundred dollars. âI really canât understand rich people.â
Meanwhile, Tian Miaomiao had gone quite far, and Jiang Yigu was panting heavily when he finally caught up and stopped her. âHow did you move so fast? Could your zodiac animal be a dog?â
Tian Miaomiao promptly burst out, âYouâre the dog! Your whole family are dogs!â
Jiang Yigu was speechless.
Fine, he lost.
After all, one must not fight fire with fire when a womanâs rage meter broke, or there would be nothing left of anyone, not even ashes.
âMay I walk you home?â Jiang Yigu cleared his throat, picking his words carefully.
Tian Miaomiao turned away and put on a brave face. âNo need. I can go home myself.â
âAre you sure about that? Many people have died on this road.â
Many people... died??
Could it really be that horrible?
Still, it was better than having to walk with that man, not to mention that she was still feeling Li Shaolingâs scolding. âNo need, Iâm fine by myself.â She said moodily.
Was there anything she hadnât seen yet after being single for so many years? What was there to be afraid about with people dying!
Who would dare touch her, a goddess whose presence was screaming âdonât touch me!â
âOkay, see you.â Without another word, Jiang Yigu quickly waved and headed off the opposite direction.
Tian Miaomiao stamped her feet where she was even as she looked at the carefree back of the man.
So he really was leaving her.
Humph!
Fine, sheâd walk by herself!
Turning, Tian Miaomiao strode off determinedly.
But right after she had turned around, Jiang Yigu stopped walking and turned as well, his brow wrinkled tightly even as he stared at her from behind.
He sighed with an uneasy look on his face.
***
Tian Miaomiao felt that something wasnât right even as she walked.
It was very silent, with the occasional rustle of leaves and the buzzing of streetlights, which in turn would flash and throw a long shadow behind her.
She promptly turned behind and looked around, but there was nothing.
There was a chill on her back as the skin on her head grew numb, and her mind unwittingly drifted to think about... certain horrific sights.
Sadako, Kayako, Bunshinsaba...
All those sickly white faces.... Oh, she was going to lose her mind.
She became more afraid the more she thought about it, but she gulped and tried to tell herself nothing was there...
Nothing was there...
She even started singing to muster her courage.
Crunchâ
That was when a weird sound left her pausing.
It was a common sound, however, just like a shoe stepping on leaves.
But if she remembered correctly, there was no other human here. She was alone on this road!
Thereâs no human... so, did that mean it wasnât a human?
She could hear the sound coming ever closer and closer...
Goosebumps appeared all over Tian Miaomiaoâs skin. Even her hair was standing on end.
Unable to help herself, her mind thought of what Jiang Yigu had said.
Many people... died on this road!
Was it a vengeful soul behind her... or a serial killer?!
Just as her mind went wild, an ice-cold hand abruptly pressed over her shoulder.
A chill spread from that touch over her whole body.
Tian Miaomiaoâs breath was caught. Her entire body stiffened as she was afraid to move, and even her teeth were clattering too.
Her mind wandered a thousand miles again, and she thought about vampires this time.
Was it going to bite down on her neck and drain every drop of her blood, leaving only bones!
âTian Miaoââ
âArgh! A ghost!â She screamed, while reacting instinctively by catching the hand and launching a shoulder throw.
There was a bang, and a personâs wincing of pain.
Tian Miaomiao felt proud of her own savagery, every bit of fear hence evaporating.
But even as she was feeling pleased with herself, she looked down to find Jiang Yigu rising to his feet raggedly, adjusting his glasses on his brow which was tightening in pain. As he rubbed his arm, his cold eyes were dyed with rage and he exclaimed, âTian Miaomiao, you must be a transvestite from Thailand!â
So strong!
In all his life, this was the first time he was shoulder thrown by a woman.
Such humiliation!
Tian Miaomiaoâs eyes widened in disbelief. âWhy is it you?â
âWho else could it be? A ghost?â Jiang Yigu limped towards her; he sounded annoyed. âIâve come to watch you because Iâm afraid something would happen to you. Is that how you treat someone helping you?â
Tian Miaomiao was stunned, but soon recovered. âHow did you know my name?â
Jiang Yigu glanced at the name tag in front of her chest. âAnyone not blind could see that.â
Her face growing hot, she plucked off the name tag and slid it into her pocket. âSorry,â she said, scratching her head apologetically.
Jiang Yigu waved her off nonchalantly. âItâs fine. Letâs go, Iâll walk you home.â
âOkay...â Tian Miaomiao replied, pursing her lips.
As the two walked side-by-side, even the rustling of leaves now sounded melodious.
Jiang Yigu was quite tall, his checkered shirt flapping in the wind as the eyes beneath his gold-rimmed glasses remained as still as water.
Tian Miaomiao looked much smaller walking beside him.
But who would be able to tell that there was an ironman lurking beneath that little bird look?
Jiang Yigu yawned then, his eyes welling.
âWell... Are you sleepy? Tian Miaomiao asked to alleviate the awkwardness.â
âYeah.â Jiang Yigu replied tiredly. âIâve been performing quite a few major surgeries latelyâitâs been a long time since Iâve had a stroll like this.
âWhy are you doing drinking and eating skewers if youâre sleepy, then?â Tian Miaomiao retorted inwardly.
âI see... Then, do doctors like you have no reaction to dead people? Since youâre performing surgeries all the time...â
There was humor in Jiang Yiguâs eyes. âThatâs true, but you make it sound like we have no heart.â
âItâs a heavy blow to any doctor to declare a patient dead. Weâre meant to save and heal, but even we do feel powerless when we couldnât bring the dead back to life.â
Tian Miaomiao nodded in understanding. âWell, have you met patients whom you would never forget? Or simply leaves an impression?â
After all, it was said that doctors only value the doctor-patient relationship, and they wouldnât remember the patient once they left the hospital.
Still, she was interested in knowing what Jiang Yigu was like.
Nonetheless, Jiang Yigu had paused in his steps for a moment, his eyes tightening.
Even his expression had changed. He turned his eyes to stare at Miaomiao as something quietly surged in his vision.
He suddenly turned away and said flatly, âNever.â
Alright, then. Let this awkwardness end.
Having nothing to say as well, Tian Miaomiao walked on and soon saw a familiar microdistrict.
She had reached home.
Clasping her hands behind her back, she smiled at Jiang Yigu. âThank you. Iâm... um... off?â
Jiang Yiguâs smile was rather unnatural, but he said after a moment, âYeah. Goodnight.â
That was the first time someone told her goodnight.
Tian Miaomiao watched his slumped back as he left. He did not look back as he seemed to melt into the night.
Her voice was quiet, but holding back her delight. âGood... night.â