As soon as the class bell rang, the hallway filled with streams of people. Students headed to the cafeteria in groups. The English teacher dragged on past the bell, making some people in class restless.

The teacher persisted through the noise to finish the last reading comprehension question before announcing class was over.

The class monitor said to Takada Shuichi, “Let’s go eat together.”

Takada Shuichi gripped his pen tightly, still drawing on paper. “You go ahead.”

“You’re not familiar with the school. Don’t you need me to show you around?”

“No need, thank you for your kindness.”

“Alright then.”

…

Every window in the cafeteria had long queues.

“Wanzhi—”

Ji Tong spun around abruptly. Gan Ting was playing with her hair, and this pull yanked out several strands.

“You scared me to death! Does it hurt?” Gan Ting frowned. “What’s wrong? What are you looking for?”

Ji Tong looked at the students hurrying back and forth, shaking her head. “Nothing.”

She had no appetite and randomly got two vegetable dishes, then went to find an empty seat. Just as she was about to sit down, she heard another voice – “Wanzhi.”

Ji Tong’s hand trembled, then she gripped the edge of her tray tightly, looking around. Seeing her looking everywhere, Gan Ting said, “I’m right here!”

Ji Tong sat down.

Other than Meng Yuan, no one would call her Wanzhi, but what she’d just heard was clearly a man’s voice.

“Hey! What are you thinking about?” Gan Ting poked her, pulling her thoughts back. “What’s wrong with you today? So absent-minded, people who don’t know would think you’ve seen a ghost.”

Zhao Shen appeared from nowhere, winking at Gan Ting. “Wife, what did you get today?” He reached his chopsticks toward Gan Ting’s plate. “This braised pork looks pretty good.”

Gan Ting batted away his chopsticks. “Go get your own. Don’t steal my food.”

Suddenly, Takada Shuichi stood straight beside their table with his tray. “May I sit here?”

Gan Ting was always enthusiastic and moved over to make space. “Sit, sit, sit. Zhao Shen, this is our new transfer student, Japanese. Hey, what’s your name again? Takada something?”

“Takada Shuichi. You can call me Takada.”

Gan Ting smiled. “Then I’ll call you Xiao Gao, or Lao Gao?”

“Either is fine.”

Zhao Shen had recently watched an anti-Japanese drama and wanted to call little Japanese “devils” whenever they were mentioned. He sized up Takada Shuichi – refined, fair-skinned, and actually a tiny bit more handsome than himself. He pursed his lips. “Oh, I’m Zhao Shen, her boyfriend.”

“Hello.”

Zhao Shen sneered coldly, inexplicably finding him disagreeable.

Gan Ting looked at the food on Takada Shuichi’s plate. “You’re eating so little.”

He only had vegetables and rice, nodding slightly. “I don’t eat much.”

Zhao Shen propped his foot on the nearby iron rail, looking at him sideways. “Do all you Japanese have such small appetites?”

“Not all.”

“Are you used to Chinese food?”

“I’ve lived in China for nearly ten years.”

“No wonder your Chinese is so fluent.” Zhao Shen couldn’t control his mouth and laughed frivolously. “Instead of staying in Japan, what are you doing in China? Taking college entrance exams?”

Gan Ting kicked Zhao Shen. “Go get your food.”

Zhao Shen frowned. “There are so many people here, give me some face. What’s wrong with asking questions and chatting?”

“You still have face?”

“Of course.” Zhao Shen couldn’t sit still anymore. “Going to get food. You all eat slowly.” He raised his eyebrows at Takada Shuichi. “Eat more, don’t go hungry.”

Takada Shuichi smiled at him.

Gan Ting rolled her eyes at Zhao Shen and stuck out her tongue as she saw him off. “Xiao Gao, that’s just how he is – always acting like he’s worth millions, very annoying.”

Takada Shuichi didn’t mind and looked toward Ji Tong, who had been silent the whole time. “Do you have something on your mind?”

Gan Ting answered first. “Tong Tong? She’s just slow to warm up and doesn’t like talking. She’ll be better once you’re familiar.”

Ji Tong perfunctorily hummed in acknowledgment. She poked at her rice, taking a small bite after a long while. Takada Shuichi asked her again, “No appetite?”

Ji Tong was pondering what had happened earlier and didn’t hear his words.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with her today, acting all strange.” Gan Ting suddenly leaned over to hug her. Ji Tong was so startled she shuddered violently, dropping her chopsticks on the floor, which in turn scared Gan Ting. “Oh my god, you’re so jumpy, you scared me to death.”

Takada Shuichi quickly pulled out tissues and handed them to her with both hands. “Are you alright? Wipe yourself.”

Ji Tong didn’t take them. She bent down to pick up the chopsticks from the floor, got up to get another pair, and came back.

“What were you looking for just now? I saw you looking around constantly.”

“Nothing, I was hearing things. Thought someone was calling me.” Ji Tong lowered her head to continue eating. “Must have heard wrong.”

“Maybe someone really was calling you,” Takada Shuichi said.

Ji Tong looked up at him for two seconds without speaking, then shifted her gaze and continued eating with her head down.

…

During evening self-study, Ji Tong fell asleep on her desk. She felt inexplicably unwell today – dizzy and constantly drowsy.

Takada Shuichi observed her for a long time. During break, he deliberately kicked her chair.

Ji Tong woke with a start and immediately sat up, her forehead clearly marked with sleeve impressions. She knocked her head and rubbed her eyes, collected her finished papers, and put them in her desk drawer.

There was a white card by her feet. Ji Tong bent down to pick it up and flipped it over – it was a photograph, and an old one at that. It showed a man and woman, the woman in a qipao, the man in a Western suit, looking very well-matched. Only the woman’s face was damaged, with just one eye visible.

Looking at the man in the photo, though somewhat blurry, she could still make out the general outline and felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Just as she was absorbed in looking,

“That’s my grandfather and his fiancée.”

Ji Tong returned the photo to him. “It fell on the floor.”

“Thank you.” Takada Shuichi took the photo, staring at her expression. “What’s wrong?”

Ji Tong shook her head without speaking and turned away.

Hearing this, Gan Ting turned back to ask him, “Your grandfather’s fiancée? Not your grandmother?”

Takada Shuichi shook his head.

“Can I see your photo?”

“Of course.”

Gan Ting carefully pinched a corner of the photo, looking at the date in the corner. “Oh, this is from the 1930s.”

“Mm.”

“How could your grandfather be from that era? He’d be a hundred years old.”

“Grandfather adopted my father when he was fifty. He’s already passed away.” Takada Shuichi looked at Ji Tong’s back. “He never married.”

“Because of the woman in this photo?”

“Yes.”

“So devoted.”

…

It was raining outside. Ji Tong hadn’t brought an umbrella and hadn’t taken the late bus home in a long time. Most students were like her, waiting for the bus at the stop. It was crowded, and Ji Tong didn’t want to compete. Two buses passed and she couldn’t squeeze on either.

Without He Feng, Ji Tong always had more worries on her way home, afraid some evil spirit might suddenly appear and chase her relentlessly. Fortunately, it had been peaceful this past month.

She sat in the back row, pulling out tissues to wipe rainwater off her backpack. Someone suddenly sat beside her – it was Takada Shuichi. She had no intention of talking to him and turned away to continue wiping her bag.

“What a coincidence.”

Ji Tong pretended not to hear.

Seeing her ignore him, Takada Shuichi said, “Do you have some opinion of me? Did I do something to upset you?”

Ji Tong didn’t want to deal with him and was even somewhat annoyed. “No.”

“Then why are you so cold to me?”

“That’s just my personality.”

Takada Shuichi smiled. “I like your personality.”

“…”

“I live in Nanchuan Nanyuan. The next stop is mine.”

“Oh.”

“What about you?”

“Beiyuan.”

“What a coincidence, just one street apart.”

Ji Tong said nothing.

“Then we’ll get off together.”

Ji Tong put away the tissues, stuffed them in her pocket, and looked out the bus window.

Red lights always seemed so long.

She looked at the hazy lights in the rain and thought again of those massacred people in Yun Village.

Please arrive at the station quickly.

“My mother is Chinese.”

Ji Tong glanced at him. The knot in her heart immediately lessened by more than half, but she still couldn’t warm up and turned back to look out the window.

“Am I talking too much?” Takada Shuichi stared at her profile. “I just feel you look familiar and feel we’re kindred spirits, so I’ve been overly enthusiastic. I hope you don’t mind.”

“No.”

“That’s good.”

An old ghost stood alone on the sidewalk.

Ji Tong’s gaze swept over it. Seeing ghosts was routine for her, and she didn’t pay attention.

“That old man is so pitiful, doesn’t even have an umbrella.”

Initially, Ji Tong didn’t think much of his words, but after a moment she suddenly realized and looked at him in a daze. “What did you say?”

“I said that old man is pitiful. In such heavy rain, standing by the roadside without even an umbrella.”

“You… can see him?”

“What’s wrong?” Takada Shuichi frowned slightly, his lips still curved in a smile.

The bus suddenly started.

Ji Tong’s back hit the chair. She was stunned for a moment and said, “That’s not a person.”

“I know.” Takada Shuichi’s gaze was gentle. “No wonder I felt you were familiar. Turns out we really are the same kind of people.”

“…” Ji Tong couldn’t speak for a moment. Though she knew there were others like her in the world, this was the first time encountering one nearby, which was inevitably somewhat surprising. “Can you see them in daily life normally?”

“Yes.”

“Do they ever approach you?”

“Yes.”

“When did you start being able to see them?”

“Age seven.”

“Then you’re later than me. I’ve been like this since birth.”

“Just pretend they don’t exist. Don’t interfere with each other – they walk their path, we live our lives.” Takada Shuichi studied her expression. “But you’re a girl, so you’re bound to be scared seeing ghosts with terrifying appearances.”

He removed the ring from his pinky and offered it to her. “Wear this and they won’t bother you. I’m giving it to you.”

“I don’t want it, thank you.”

“Don’t be polite with me.”

“Really, I don’t need it. I have something similar.”

“Alright then.” Takada Shuichi put the ring back on his finger.

The bus arrived at their stop. Takada Shuichi stood up, let Ji Tong out first, then followed her off the bus. “See you tomorrow then. Sweet dreams tonight.”

“Mm, goodbye.”

Ji Tong headed north.

He stood motionless, watching her go until she disappeared before turning to go home.

Takada Shuichi returned home to a huge house where only he lived.

He put down his backpack and removed his ring, placing it on the desk. Suddenly, a mass of black energy emerged from his body and took human form.

Takada Shuichi collapsed to the ground. After recovering, he immediately stood up and bowed his head to the ghost standing by the window, saying in Japanese, “You’ve emerged.”

This ghost had shoulder-length hair tied back with a blue ribbon. He looked somewhat aged, his hair and beard graying, but his form was exceptionally upright. Standing with hands behind his back, he had an imposing presence that made people afraid to look directly at him.

“I’m tired. Go by yourself tomorrow.”

Takada Shuichi stood respectfully behind him and nodded.

“I’m a bit hungry. Find a ghost.” He turned around and entered the black gemstone on the ring.

Takada Shuichi bowed to the ring. “Yes.”

…

After running exercises, classmates gathered to chat about the lotus leaves in the school pond.

Though scared, Gan Ting couldn’t suppress her curiosity and leaned in to ask, “What’s wrong? What crying sounds?”

“You haven’t heard? It’s spread throughout the school.” The girl looked like she didn’t want to speak but couldn’t help opening her mouth. She glanced left and right, saying in a low voice, “It’s that lotus pond behind the school – there’s a red lotus leaf.”

“How can lotus leaves be red?”

“Not pure red, just reddish. You’d know if you went to see.”

Ji Tong buried her head in problems, but their conversation reached her ears sentence by sentence. At the end of last year when she was by the lotus pond with He Feng, she had noticed that leaf. All other lotus leaves had withered, but that one alone grew straight and had a faint red tinge.

“There have been many strange things at school recently. I heard there was even a ghost sighting a few days ago.”

“Really?”

“Two high school sophomores went to the grove for a date late at night and reportedly heard a woman crying, coming from the pond area.”

“Ugh, too creepy.”

“Really, I don’t dare walk alone recently.”

Gan Ting returned to her seat frightened. “Did you hear? The school is haunted.”

“It’s broad daylight, it’s fine.” Ji Tong comforted her. “The school has so many people, strong yang energy. Don’t be afraid.”

Class began, but Takada Shuichi wasn’t in his seat. He didn’t need to take college entrance exams, and teachers didn’t really control him. He could get leave slips easily and come and go freely.

He went to that supposedly haunted pond, stood by the stone railing, and stared at the red leaf in the water for a long while. “Is that you?”

Immediately, a mass of gray energy gathered on the pond surface, circling around the lotus leaf.

“You can’t take form?”

“Who are you?” The ghost’s voice was hoarse and shrill – it sounded like a female ghost.

Takada Shuichi said calmly, “Do you want me to help you?”

“Take me out, take me out!”

…

Takada Shuichi’s body was very special. Perhaps due to long-term ghost possession, he was like a very suitable vessel, much easier to control than other people.

The female ghost possessed him and walked extremely fast. Stray dogs along the roadside barked at him. The destination was an old residential complex near the school that was about to be demolished, with many empty houses.

The female ghost was familiar with this place, heading straight to the sixth floor. She even knew the key was hidden in the second layer of the shoe rack by the door, inside a sneaker.

He unlocked the door. The moment he entered, the female ghost emerged from his body and rampaged through the room. “Where is he! Where is he! Zhao Qiang!”

Takada Shuichi sat on the floor, calmly watching this formless energy.

“Zhao Qiang! Come out!”

Not one clean spot remained on the walls, covered entirely with photos of a girl. Takada Shuichi guessed this was another case of romantic vendetta.

“You still dare keep these photos.” The female ghost let out an eerie laugh. “Can you sleep peacefully? Zhao Qiang! I want you dead too!”

Takada Shuichi said calmly, “He killed you?”

“More than killed me.” The female ghost circled around him. “He cut me into pieces, piece by piece. Hid them in different places! My heart is buried in that school pond. I barely managed to gather enough energy. I don’t even have a complete soul now!” She laughed miserably, then searched everywhere. “Where’s my head? My hands, my legs…”

“I can help you report to police and get you justice.” He was about to reach for his phone but found his pocket empty – he hadn’t brought it. But this house had a landline. He picked up the receiver, was about to dial, when a gust of wind came and directly broke the wall phone, smashing it to pieces.

“What justice? Can it bring me back to life? Can I come back whole and complete? At most they’ll piece together my corpse and convict him of a crime. I want him alive, living long and long. I want to torment him endlessly, make him dream of me every night, think of me every day. I want him to suffer endlessly in life, then go to hell after death.”

Takada Shuichi smiled. Enough resentment – very good.

The murder weapon was hidden under the room’s floorboards. Under the bedroom bed was a head preserved in formalin.

After rampaging all afternoon, the female ghost calmed down, perching on a bundle of dried flowers.

At evening, footsteps came from the stairwell – the house’s owner had returned.

The moment the door opened, the female ghost possessed Takada Shuichi again and lunged at the entering man. “Zhao Qiang!”

He stared wide-eyed, grabbing the man’s throat. “Zhao Qiang, I finally found you!”

The man dropped his fried rice, scattering rice all over the floor. Being choked speechless, he lifted his knee and kicked, making him release his grip and fall backward.

The female ghost emerged from Takada Shuichi’s body. Her soul remained a wisp of scattered smoke, circling around Zhao Qiang. “Zhao Qiang, look at me, look at me! See what you’ve done to me!”

Zhao Qiang caught his breath and looked up at this formless smoke before him. “Xiao Di?” He reached out his hand. “Is that you, Xiao Di?” He suddenly smiled. “Xiao Di, you came.”

“Why did you do this to me!” The black energy rampaged, scattering the photos on the wall to the floor.

Zhao Qiang frantically gathered them, holding one tenderly, placing it against his chest. “Because I love you. This way you can stay by my side forever, and no one can find you.”

“So you murdered and dismembered me! How could you bring yourself to do it! It hurt so much, so much! You try this feeling too!”

“Then why did you get together with someone else!”

“We had already broken up!”

“No breaking up, no, never breaking up.” Zhao Qiang laughed. “Your whole life, you can only be with me. I love you, I love you, Xiao Di.”

…

Takada Shuichi waited on a nearby swing.

At 9:10 PM, Zhao Qiang jumped from the window.

Zhao Qiang’s soul was vicious enough but too dirty – he wouldn’t like it.

Takada Shuichi only took Xiao Di, telling her he could help repair her soul and protect her from being captured by underworld officers. As for Zhao Qiang, he would naturally go to hell for punishment.

Xiao Di had her revenge, but her resentment didn’t decrease – it deepened. With nowhere to go and afraid of being caught by underworld authorities, she had to follow Takada Shuichi home for now. As he took out his key to open the door, Xiao Di suddenly asked, “Why are you helping me?”

Takada Shuichi looked back at her. “Come in and you’ll know.”

He slowly pushed open the door. Inside was pitch black. When Xiao Di saw what was inside, she immediately turned to escape through the window, but was forcibly dragged into the room by a mass of black energy.

“No—”

“Ahh—”

Takada Shuichi stepped through the doorway and closed the door.

He stood quietly by the door, watching as the female ghost was devoured alive amid pleas, screams, and struggles.

The room returned to quiet. He bowed slightly to the ghost standing in the center, saying nothing.

A gloomy ghost voice sounded in his ear: “Not bad.”

…

The streetlights in the community were broken again. At the intersection, a stray cat suddenly darted across, startling her.

Ji Tong turned to glance at it. Just as she turned back, a shadow flashed before her eyes, so fast she couldn’t tell if it was male or female. Ji Tong’s heart tightened – it was clearly a ghost.

She quickened her pace and ran home.

Zhou Xin was putting on clothes. Hearing the door open, she hurried over. “I was just about to come get you.”

Ji Tong calmed down and changed into slippers.

“Are you cold? Mom will heat some milk for you.”

“Okay.”

“Are you hungry? Want something to eat?”

“Sure, I’ll go wash my hands.”

Ji Tong went to the bathroom. Just as she turned off the tap and looked up, she saw a black shadow in the mirror looking at her. She spun around abruptly – the shadow was gone.

Ji Tong didn’t dare make a scene, afraid of scaring her family. She kept her eyes down and quickly walked back to her room, finding the charm Zhou Xin had gotten for her before and stuffing it in her pocket.

“What are you rummaging around for?”

Zhou Xin suddenly appeared from behind, startling Ji Tong. She steadied her breathing and sat in the chair. “Nothing.”

Zhou Xin handed her the milk. “Drink this first. I’ll make you a sandwich and cut you an apple.”

“I don’t want to eat. I’m not hungry.”

“Eat even if you’re not hungry.” Zhou Xin went to the kitchen to work.

Ji Tong turned around and was startled by her own shadow on the window. She quickly drew the curtains tight.

Though she often saw ghosts, no one could stand that kind of deliberate scaring. And she’d never encountered ghosts at home before.

He Feng wasn’t here, and she hadn’t seen Meng Yuan in a long time either.

She hoped nothing would happen.