Chapter 3: Jealousy (2)

Not far from the gates of Jing University, inside a quiet café, the glass door swung open and then closed, the paper crane wind chime hanging on it chiming softly. Jiang Shengsheng, her forehead adorned with a cooling patch, stepped inside and immediately spotted a man smiling and waving at her.

Sunlight bathed Song Qingxiu, who sat nestled in the corner by the wall. His gentle features were sliced by the interplay of light and shadow, and in his eyes—fixed on her—lay a depth of meaning Jiang Shengsheng could not quite decipher.

“Senior Song,” Jiang Shengsheng greeted softly, most of her small face obscured by a white mask, only her shimmering apricot eyes visible.

Hearing her husky voice, Song Qingxiu’s expression remained calm as he curled his lips slightly. With natural ease, he expressed concern and slid a steaming cup of strawberry hot cocoa across the table toward her.

Noticing her gaze, Song Qingxiu blinked, a smile blossoming in his tender peach blossom eyes. “Next time, you should treat me.”

At his words, Jiang Shengsheng paused momentarily as she unlocked her phone, then nodded and set it down.

Before entering this next chapter, Song Qingxiu was only given one clue: “Greed and jealousy.”

His identity was straightforward—he was a third-year computer science student at Jing University.

Beyond that, he was a minor exorcist, gifted with the rare yin-yang eye. Though his abilities were moderate, dealing with harmless spirits was no challenge.

Three months prior, his cousin Song Wu had been in a car accident. Around the same time, members of his dormitory began experiencing a string of mysterious incidents.

Some narrowly escaped death when flowerpots fell from above; others mysteriously slipped and nearly drowned. The eerie pattern was undeniable.

Song Qingxiu had initially suspected Song Wu, though unaware of the dynamics within their dorm.

It was his instincts as an exorcist that kept his attention fixed on Song Wu.

Yet, despite his efforts, he found no trace linking Song Wu to the disturbances. The investigation stalled.

Until last night, when one of Song Wu’s roommates sleepwalked and leapt from the rooftop.

Fortunately, the aging dormitory wasn’t high. The young man suffered broken legs and a moderate concussion and was rushed into the ICU. Though out of danger, he had slipped into a vegetative state.

Not long after, Song Wu’s ex-girlfriend, Jiang Shengsheng, called him, claiming she’d encountered a ghost.

In a flash of insight, Song Qingxiu guessed the identity of the spirit—most likely Song Wu himself.

Lowering the flicker in his eyes, Song Qingxiu smiled innocently and chatted casually.

He took a sip of bitter coffee, the rich bitterness filling his mouth. “Shengsheng, may I call you that?”

The intimate nickname, coming from her former cousin, made Jiang Shengsheng momentarily uneasy. She licked her lips and nodded obediently.

---

From now on, she might have to rely on Song Qingxiu more often. Jiang Shengsheng didn’t mind.

Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the creamy white round table as the gentle man propped up his chin, his fringe falling slightly over his eyes.

He smiled faintly. “The one you saw was Song Wu, wasn’t it?”

“...Yes,” Jiang Shengsheng admitted, surprised for a moment before recalling Song Qingxiu’s identity and responding as expected. “I thought it was an evil spirit, but it was Song Wu.”

Seeming to sense her inner turmoil, Song Qingxiu narrowed his eyes, which gleamed amber in the sunlight, and fixed his gaze on her. “Shengsheng, the living and the dead walk different paths. Since Song Wu has already passed, he shouldn’t linger in the mortal world.”

Moreover, he had caused harm.

These words remained unspoken; Song Qingxiu wasn’t afraid to frighten Jiang Shengsheng but saw no need to explain too much to someone merely playing a transient role in this story.

At first, Jiang Shengsheng had no intention of contacting Song Qingxiu.

But after encountering dark shadows more frequently, panic-stricken and desperate, she sought him out—someone known in his field.

“I know...” Song Qingxiu’s eyes swept over her pale fingers clinging to the ceramic cup, and he silently chuckled.

Jiang Shengsheng felt her mind a tangled mess.

Her logic told her Song Wu was now a ghost, and that was an impassable divide. Their relationship was over; the right thing was to send Song Wu on to reincarnation.

Yet her emotions stung her eyes with tears.

“Shengsheng,” the man’s gentle voice called, and she lifted her head to meet his eyes, as encompassing and soothing as flowing water.

He said quietly, “Stay away from Song Wu. He has become a malevolent spirit.”

What could be more terrifying than a former boyfriend turning into a ghost?

That he was a malevolent ghost who had done harm.

Stepping out of the café, Jiang Shengsheng stood beneath the sunlight.

The weather in May was lovely, the blazing sun hanging high in the sky, yet no amount of warmth could dispel the chill that seeped from her heart.

Walking through the bustling street, she peeled off the cooling patch and tossed it into a trash bin. Her mind in turmoil, she wandered aimlessly.

Unconsciously, she found herself standing before the gates of Jing University.

Now in her sophomore year, it was a Saturday, a day off.

She disliked living in the dormitory; her family had bought a property in the school district under her name, allowing her to return home every weekend and enjoy solitary respite.

---

Having loved the spotlight since childhood, Jiang Shengsheng had gone viral last semester with a few short videos and now livestreamed weekly at irregular times.

Suddenly recalling a fan from her livestream who crazily called her “wife” and obsessively monitored her every move, Jiang Shengsheng shivered involuntarily.

“Sis? Why are you standing here?” A light tap on her shoulder startled her so much she bristled, spinning around and stepping back hurriedly, then pouting at the newcomer.

Xi Jinyuan, her neighbor and childhood playmate, a year younger, was amused by how easily frightened she was. He raised a hand with a smile. “Watching horror movies again in secret? You’re so jumpy.”

He knew well how much Jiang Shengsheng loved yet dreaded horror films—always the first to shout she wanted to watch, then sobbing as they left the theater.

A perfect embodiment of both timid and playful.

Surprised to meet an acquaintance here, Jiang Shengsheng snorted softly. “Had some stuff happen. Planning to grab some food now.”

After all, it was nearly noon, and she was starting to get hungry.

Noticing she said no more, the smile on Xi Jinyuan’s lips faded subtly.

When she looked up at him again, the smile returned.

With a grin revealing his cute little tiger teeth and eyes curved like innocent crescents, he asked, “I haven’t eaten either. Sis, how about treating me?”

His interruption dispersed much of her gloom.

“I knew you just wanted a free meal,” she said.

“Yup, yup. So, big sis Jiang, will you give me a chance?” Xi Jinyuan, taller by a head, leaned down slightly and smiled.

Jiang Shengsheng raised a hand to push him away and strode forward, tossing over her shoulder, “For all those times you took the blame for me when we were kids.”

The expected answer made Xi Jinyuan chuckle.

Then his expression shifted as he remembered something; the smile disappeared, lips pressing tightly.

Disgusting, he thought. Even though he’s dead, he still occupies a place in her heart...

At this moment, the man’s round eyes brimmed with deep, murky emotions and a fierce hatred for Song Wu.

As he stepped up beside her again, Xi Jinyuan mused casually: luckily Song Wu was dead—he didn’t believe he could be defeated by a ghost.