Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Before heading to work, I ran into the Old Man Ghost downstairs doing his morning exercises.

The Old Man Ghost told me that spirits are unable to leave this residential complex, so he asked me to bring him back a few newspapers when I returned.

After work, I delivered the newspapers to him. As I passed by the Older Sister Ghost’s door, I gave her a facial mask I had brought from the beauty salon.

The Older Sister Ghost had been dead for several years and hadn’t touched a facial mask in a long time. She lay back on her sofa, enjoying the sensation as she massaged the essence into her skin with her fingers.

In truth, ghosts are different from humans; they don’t actually need food, drink, or daily necessities. However, they sometimes want to relive the hobbies they had while alive, so they still hold a deep attachment to the things they used to love.

This is why, when people visit the graves of their departed family and friends, they always bring the food and items the deceased enjoyed during their lifetime.

I stayed and chatted with the Older Sister Ghost for a long while. She remarked that the scent of joss paper on me was growing stronger and asked if my time was running out.

I had gone for a follow-up checkup not long ago, and the situation was even more serious than the doctor had anticipated. Forget six months-I might not even make it through this summer.

The Older Sister Ghost looked at me with pity. “Ling Ling,” she said, “when that time comes, have your family place your ashes here with us. We can keep each other company.”

“I can’t afford a house here,” I joked. “I can barely even afford the rent anymore. The Male Ghost at home is always trying to find ways to kick me out.”

The Older Sister Ghost ripped the mask off her face in a fit of rage. “He’s still bullying you? I’m going to go settle the score with him!”

“Don’t,” I said, quickly pulling her back. Remembering something, I asked, “Sister Xiaofei, do you know how he died?”

“I’m not sure. I think he had only been married for a short while?” The Older Sister Ghost thought for a moment and added, “I once saw his parents come by to drop off some of his old belongings. They put a wedding photo inside, but the bride in the picture has never shown up.”

“Do you remember what the bride looked like?”

“I don’t know how to describe it, but she was very beautiful.”

I gave a soft “oh” in response. Seeing my pensive expression, the Older Sister Ghost asked, “You seem very interested in him?”

Startled, I hurriedly denied it several times.

But the more flustered I acted, the deeper the smile in the Older Sister Ghost’s eyes became.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

“Who would be coming by this late at night?” the Older Sister Ghost muttered as she went to check the door.

She peered through the peephole, then turned back to me with a smile. “Ling Ling, come on. Someone’s here to take you home.”

As she spoke, she opened the door. Standing outside was the Male Ghost, looking very uncomfortable.

I asked, “What are you doing here?”

When the Male Ghost saw me, he maintained his usual cold attitude. “Oh, so you are here.”

He spoke with feigned indifference. “I saw that you hadn’t come back for a long time and thought you had moved out today. Since you’re moving, take your things with you so they stop being an eyesore.”

He left immediately after saying his piece, leaving me bewildered.

The Older Sister Ghost was struggling to hold back her laughter. “Ling Ling, can’t you tell? He was worried about you.”

I froze for a second, then waved my hands dismissively. “No way! He’s just afraid that if I leave, there won’t be anyone to bring him delicious food anymore!”