Chapter 53 Morning

Now I am basically certain that Chen Xiaoyao's ability to catch ghosts is definitely not something he picked up from hearsay outside, as he claimed.

Chen Xiaoyao, and that man in the suit—how did so many extraordinary people suddenly appear all at once? I was caught a bit off guard. I just hope they are not like the Taoist priests in television shows who catch every ghost they see. Otherwise, I am quite capable of committing murder.

Throughout the day, I tried my best to speak as little as possible with Chen Xiaoyao to avoid revealing any flaws.

The first thing I did after school in the afternoon was to go to Li Yun's house for an inspection. I found nothing unusual this time; I simply checked the power supply and then locked the door and left. If Li Yun really wanted to hide from me, it would be extremely difficult for me to find her.

After returning home, I searched the news from yesterday and today. A few media outlets had reported on that hotel, but there were no significant developments. It was mostly attributed to domestic violence or romantic disputes.

However, in the video footage, I spotted the man in the suit. He was still standing behind the front desk, not saying a single word, as if everything happening outside had nothing to do with him at all.

What kind of person is he, really? He should have been able to sense that Huang Ying was a ghost the very moment she appeared, judging by the fact that Huang Ying felt threatened by him. Yet, he held back and made no move, not even uttering a word when we left.

Perhaps I was just overthinking, or perhaps Huang Ying sensed incorrectly—maybe he is just an ordinary receptionist!

Back home, Huang Ying and I resumed our private world for two. How wonderful it would be if I could have physical intimacy with her right now.

I won't deny that I am a lecherous ghost lover. Having stayed with Huang Ying for so long, to say I have never entertained such thoughts would be sheer hypocrisy.

I instructed Huang Ying to stay strictly at home from now on to avoid running into those people.

After taking a shower, I immediately called my grandfather. This time, I pestered him into teaching me Taoist arts for at least two hours before reluctantly hanging up the phone.

No matter how much theoretical knowledge one acquires, it is useless without practical application. Yesterday at the hotel, that man in the suit merely tapped the wall, and the sounds within vanished completely. That is true strength.

However, I was far too tired today. I would rest first, and starting tomorrow, I would spend half an hour every night at the potter's field!

At the break of dawn the next day, I scrambled out of bed. For once, I was finally the first to wake up before Huang Ying.

I tiptoed and pushed open the door to Huang Ying's bedroom. She was lying flat on her back, her long hair slightly disheveled, her delicate nightgown outlining her graceful figure.

Every time I looked at her peaceful appearance, my mind grew much calmer.

I quietly lifted the blanket covering her and slipped under the covers. There was still an hour left before my usual wake-up time.

As I lay down, Huang Ying remained completely unconscious, her eyes still tightly shut.

I turned onto my side, staring fixedly at her. Setting aside my feelings for her, she was in her own right a flawless work of art.

Before I knew it, I drifted off to dreamland again. When I woke up, the very first sight that greeted my eyes when I opened them was Huang Ying lying on her side, wide-eyed, staring straight at me.

Studies show that men have extremely high sexual desire in the morning—when desperate enough, a man would even fancy the most unattractive of women, let alone someone as stunning as Huang Ying.

The very first second I opened my eyes startled Huang Ying. She immediately flickered her gaze away, trying to mask the fact that she had been watching me.

The second after, I reached out, wrapped my arms around her waist, and pulled her close into my embrace.

My face burned fiercely, as if scorched by fire.

"You said back in the countryside that we would be together once we returned—was that true?"

When consumed by burning desire, a person can blurt out anything. That was why I uttered those words. I had exercised extreme restraint in the past, but now I found myself less and less able to control it. I wanted to possess her entirely.

Yet, how could Huang Ying possibly answer such a question? If she were to reply, her past image would instantly shatter. So, entirely within my expectation, she remained silent.

Although she gave no verbal answer, she uttered something that sent a surge of even greater excitement through me.

"I love you!" Huang Ying whispered in a voice no louder than a cicada's chirp.

"I love you too!" With that, even though I knew I could not actually kiss her, I couldn't help pressing my lips forward anyway.

Huang Ying watched my face draw closer and closer, and finally, she closed her eyes.

After stealing some affectionate moments, I hurried back to my own room to straighten out my clothes before returning to Huang Ying's room to give her a tight, lingering embrace. Then, after brushing my teeth and washing up, I finally grabbed my schoolbag and left.

I could not take Huang Ying with me now, because my surroundings were far more dangerous than staying at home. I had no grasp of Chen Xiaoyao's true strength or his temperament; I simply could not take that risk.

Besides, my own abilities fell far short of Huang Ying's. The moment danger struck, she would undoubtedly be the one protecting me.

I arrived quite late at school today, so by the time I got there, most of the students were already seated, though Chen Xiaoyao had not yet appeared.

It wasn't until a class had already passed that he staggered into the classroom.

"S-Sorry, I'm late!"

It was obvious that he was utterly exhausted.

He wobbled over to my seat, dropped his schoolbag, and slumped face-down onto the desk, immediately falling asleep.

My initial impression of him was that he was mysterious and studious. During regular breaks, he was either jotting things down in his black notebook or reading a book. Today's behavior was completely out of character.

Could it be that he went whoring last night? Such an absurd thought actually popped into my head!