Chapter Eight: The Shadow Lover

What was happening? The actions of these two women could not be considered overtly flirtatious, but they certainly had a playful undertone. Having grown up in the countryside, I'd rarely encountered such situations.

"Handsome, Sister Yun has something to do this afternoon and won't be back. She told us to keep you company and have tea together," the girl walking in front flashed a charming smile and settled next to Wei Qi. The other girl came over to me. "Big brother, have a seat. Why are you standing there like that?"

Their sudden arrival, accompanied by a fragrant breeze and a breath of spring, caught both Wei Qi and me off guard. I quickly glanced at Wei Qi, mainly to see his reaction.

Compared to me, Wei Qi was clearly someone who'd seen much more of the world. He showed no awkwardness at all; the girl nestled close to him, and he acted as if nothing unusual was happening. His small eyes began to gleam, roaming over the girl's figure.

"Big brother, let me propose a toast to you," the other girl sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, and raised it to clink glasses with me. Her delicate hand held the exquisite cup, her wrist pale as snow, the whiteness of her skin revealing faint blue veins beneath. Sitting beside me, she was a bit shorter, so whenever I looked up, I could see the alluring hollow at the base of her neck.

I dared not look, but couldn't help glancing. Nervously, I clinked cups with her and downed the tea in one gulp, quickly lowering my head. Meanwhile, Wei Qi was already holding the other girl's hand, reading her palm. This guy was acting rather lecherously, stroking her hand as if genuinely telling her fortune—who knows if he really was.

"Big brother, I'm Sister Yun's little sister. My name is Swallow, and I'm a tea master here at this tea house. Come by often and drink tea; I'll give you a twenty percent discount... Everything today is on Sister Yun, so just relax, alright?" The girl in the white dress smiled as she saw my discomfort, her eyes smoldering as if she could peer into my soul.

A tea master? Are all tea masters like this? It certainly didn't feel like it. I couldn't meet her gaze, which carried an indescribable emotion.

"Big brother, do you know how to read palms? Can you check my love line?" The girl, seeing I was silent, leaned forward and extended her slender hand toward me, her fragrance enveloping me, making it hard to keep my composure.

"I—I don't know how..." At that moment, I felt conflicted, wanting to touch her hand like Wei Qi, but lacking the courage, not quite daring, unable to let go. The only time I'd ever touched a girl's hand was in third grade, when I held my desk-mate Lily's hand.

Swallow laughed and returned to her seat. Wei Qi, still holding the other girl's hand, stood up and shot me a glare, dragging me into the restroom. "Da Chuan, are you pretending to be innocent?"

I didn't quite understand. "Qi-ge, no—Qi-uncle, I'm not pretending!"

"Still denying it? Sister Yun arranged these two girls just to keep us entertained. You really think they're tea masters?" Wei Qi looked exasperated.

"If they're not tea masters, what are they?"

"Seriously...? You're such a rookie! Sister Yun found these girls to hang out with us, that's all. They're just here to have fun."

"Why would Sister Yun do this?"

"To curry favor, so we'll handle her husband's ghost marriage perfectly. Just loosen up, don't act like a bumpkin." Wei Qi smacked his lips and, with a look of resignation, took a leak before heading out.

I finally understood what Wei Qi meant. Sister Yun had found us two playful girls to ensure we'd do our best arranging her husband's ghost marriage—a practice I'd only read about in books, where businessmen bribed officials in similar ways. Who would've thought it would happen to us?

Though my heart was tempted, I still couldn't let go. I felt that if I took advantage of a girl, I'd owe her an explanation.

Back from the restroom, the four of us drank tea for a while. Perhaps sensing the mood was too subdued, Xiao Ling suggested singing karaoke, and everyone agreed.

It seemed Sister Yun had arranged everything; we hardly had to lift a finger. Xiao Ling and Swallow booked a small private room, ordered heaps of beer, fruit platters, snacks, and the four of us began drinking and singing. In the dim lights, Xiao Ling and Swallow became wild, so wild that Xiao Ling and Wei Qi started dancing cheek-to-cheek.

We partied madly into the night. Wei Qi pulled me into the restroom again, grinning mischievously. "Da Chuan, what should we do tonight?"

I asked what he meant. Wei Qi pointed outside. "Should we take these two girls back, or get a room nearby?" He was panting with excitement.

The girls were indeed attractive—great figures, beautiful faces, bold personalities. Whatever their real jobs were, since Sister Yun arranged them, they were surely safe and trustworthy. Truthfully, I wanted something to happen between Swallow and me.

But I couldn't let myself go. I didn't want my first time to be so casual. Though I didn't have a real lover yet, I believed she was somewhere nearby, waiting for me. So I decided not to do anything with Swallow.

Wei Qi patted my shoulder, saying he'd respect my wishes. He said he'd hang out with the beauties a bit longer, and I could do as I pleased. With that, I decided to leave first.

Exiting the KTV, I glanced back at the lively, bustling lights behind me, feeling a pang of regret. Maybe I was being too uptight—if they're beautiful, why not take the chance?

I was torn, almost turned back, but finally decided to leave. Just as I was about to hail a cab, I saw Wei Qi coming out, waving at me. "Wait up, let's go together?"

"Qi-uncle, done already?"

"Come on, I suddenly changed my mind. If you're not playing, I won't either. Let's head back together... This way, Sister Yun won't look down on us." Wei Qi said proudly, slinging his arm around my shoulder.

His return brought me a sudden sense of balance.

Walking back, I thought about many things. The city was so different from the countryside. In the countryside, we never had such temptations, nor even proper tea houses—if thirsty, we'd gulp down water from a bowl. Singing was just singing, no dancing. And those tea masters... I finally understood: in the city, if you have money and power, you can get whatever you want.

When I returned to the hotel, reality hit me. In retrospect, maybe it would've been better to leave with Swallow. I only hoped that Wang Ying, the ghostly woman, would rest in her soul jar and stay out of my dreams.

But fate seldom cooperates. Not only did the ghost appear, she appeared in the flesh.

When I opened the door with my room card, I felt like dying. Wang Ying was sitting on my bed, hugging her knees, her lovely eyes blinking as if deep in thought.

"You—you were supposed to be in the soul jar. How did you get out?" I asked cautiously, afraid to anger her—this ghost was a real shrew.

"So what? Why can't I come out? Your bed is my bed. Can't I sit here?" Wang Ying rolled her eyes, making my skin crawl. I cursed inwardly, can't she be a bit gentler?

"Of course, of course, I'm just worried the yang energy might overwhelm you."

"It's 11 p.m., the peak of yin energy. What do I have to fear?" Wang Ying stretched her arms, the blanket slipped away. She was dressed just like a living woman: a black bra cupped her prominent chest, starkly contrasting, and it made my nerves tighten.

Now I understood why she usually only appeared in my dreams—her real form was like this.

"What’s that smell?" Wang Ying suddenly sniffed, her gaze sharp as a blade.

Her look made me instinctively step back, quickly checking myself. Was something wrong with me? Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"A woman's scent! The smell of an unfamiliar woman. Wang Da Chuan, tell me the truth—where have you been?" Wang Ying threw the blanket over herself, wrapped it around her, and barefoot, walked over to sniff me more closely.

It's over—this ghost's sense of smell was too keen! But we were married in name only; was it worth being so particular? If she were really my wife, capable of giving me happiness and life, I'd accept it. But she was just a ghost, a shadow lover, with nothing real between us—was it necessary to be so exacting?

"Wang Da Chuan, I hate unfaithful men the most. Tell me honestly, which woman did you fool around with tonight? If you don't explain, see how I deal with you!"

Wang Ying sat angrily on the sofa, looking every bit the wife whose husband had cheated on her. She crossed her legs, staring straight at me.

My heart sank. Tonight, it looked like I was doomed.