Chapter 3

The little apartment whose lease was about to end welcomed a temporary guest.

Xue Chiying unlocked the door with her key and invited Li You inside.

The princess obediently inclined her head with pursed lips, exceedingly polite. As she entered, she caught sight of a cat-shaped shadow from the corner of her eye and shuddered in fright. Her shoulder struck the wall on the other side with a solid thud. From the sound of it, she had hit it hard. Her entire face scrunched up in pain, yet she stubbornly kept her lips pressed together without making a sound.

“What’s wrong? Are you afraid of cats?” Xue Chiying tossed the ball of wastepaper she had been clutching all the way there into the trash and picked up the ornament that had frightened Li You from the shoe cabinet, caught between laughter and exasperation. “Not even a lucky cat? Meow—” As she spoke, she imitated the calico lucky cat’s waving paw, her eyes curving as she waved her right hand.

Once Li You realized it was an inanimate object, she breathed a sigh of relief and shook her head. When she was little, a tabby cat raised by her fourth sister had scratched her chin, and the memory still left her deeply apprehensive.

After closing the door, Xue Chiying walked farther inside. “You don’t need to change your shoes. Just come in.”

After taking several steps without hearing any movement behind her, she turned around. Li You still looked completely bewildered. When their eyes met, she blinked blankly.

Xue Chiying simply went back, took hold of her wrist, and led her into the living room. The two-bedroom apartment was only a few dozen square meters and was not particularly spacious. The sofa and floor were covered with her packed luggage. “The bedroom on the right is locked and filled with the landlord’s things. You’ll have to make do and share a bed with me tonight.”

She had to share a bed with this soul-guiding ghost? Li You’s almond-shaped eyes widened. Although somewhat frightened, she quickly composed herself and nodded solemnly before the esteemed Ghost Envoy in her mind could turn around and notice.

Having finished with the necessary courtesies, Xue Chiying’s mouth felt dry. She told Li You to find an open spot and sit wherever she liked, then walked to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of soda water. While drinking, she leaned out and glanced at the young woman sitting upright in one corner of the sofa. The first line Li You had written when Xue Chiying asked her for her name, address, and other information outside the convenience store flashed through her mind—

Born in the sixth year of Yongzhao.

At the time, Xue Chiying had instinctively pressed down on Li You’s hand and asked, “Are you serious?” The young woman had looked up at her with utter sincerity, then emphasized on the paper: Honored Ghost Envoy, Qile has not uttered a single falsehood.

What did “Honored Ghost Envoy” mean…? Xue Chiying had released her hand and allowed Li You to write down two names in succession.

So was she Li You or Li Shuangqing? Which one was the name on her ID card? Knowing that someone in this mental state could easily become lost, how could her family let her go out without bringing an ID or anything similar?

After thinking herself into even greater confusion, Xue Chiying put down the plastic bottle.

She then poured Li You a glass of water and cut up a bowl of refreshing snow pear for her. Leaving her to sit and rest, Xue Chiying walked around the apartment packing the last of her belongings. When she picked up the lucky cat from the shoe cabinet, she suddenly chuckled softly and turned around. Li You was exceptionally vigilant and immediately raised her head to meet her gaze.

Carrying the lucky cat over, Xue Chiying raised it for Li You to see. “Is it really that frightening?”

Li You shook her head extremely slowly, looking uncertainly between the lucky cat and Xue Chiying. Xue Chiying was amused, finding Li You’s expression especially adorable. It reminded her of a stray cat she had encountered while filming. Wanting a lickable cat treat, it had cautiously crawled out from beneath a car, balancing on the tips of its hind paws and ready to flee at any moment.

Xue Chiying did not know that Li You was currently no more relaxed than that little stray cat had been. Uneasy and apprehensive, Li You was deeply afraid that the “soul-guiding ghost” before her would see through her fear and transform the inanimate object into a living creature. Beneath her wide sleeves, her fingertips were desperately clenched together as she repeatedly warned herself that she must never reveal any fear before the Ghost Envoy.

Each harboring her own thoughts, Xue Chiying casually moved the long dinosaur bolster aside and sat down on the sofa. “Since you claim to be from ancient times, did you have cats like this back then?”

Li You silently shifted half a body’s width farther away, still pursing her lips and shaking her head.

Xue Chiying suddenly placed the lucky cat in Li You’s hands. “Wait here. I’ll find you [unauthorized copy]some paper and a pen.”

The instant Xue Chiying’s back disappeared into the distance, Li You thrust both hands upward and turned her face away in distress, trying to keep what she believed to be the Ghost Envoy’s object as far away from herself as possible.

About half a minute later, Xue Chiying returned.

Li You sat upright and obediently, cradling the lucky cat in both arms as though protecting a precious treasure. Her hands rested quietly on her lap, while her head turned like a sunflower, slowly following Xue Chiying as she approached.

“Here. Write down whatever you need.” Xue Chiying placed the paper and pen on the coffee table.

The temperature was not high that night, and the evening breeze was cool, so the air conditioner was not running.

It took Xue Chiying a long while to notice a bead of sweat sliding down Li You’s temple. Looking more carefully, she saw that the princess’s entire face had turned red from the heat.

She suddenly understood. Of course she was not hot when she was wearing a camisole and shorts. Li You, however, was wrapped in layer upon layer of clothing. There was no way this child could endure a twenty-seven-degree night. Xue Chiying hurried toward the bedroom. As she walked, she found Li You truly baffling. She would not say a word even when she was hot. Could she not at least remove her outer robe herself? Should Xue Chiying really soften her heart and let someone so foolish stay the night? Would it be better to call the police as soon as possible? But involving the police would be troublesome…

She had to return to Shanghai tomorrow to meet with the directing team of Green Trees. It was an opportunity she had waited more than two months for, and she did not want anything to delay it.

At a time like this, she wanted to help but was also afraid of trouble.

Forget it. She would wait until Qu Mian’er finished checking whether anyone had been reported missing. Xue Chiying patted her cheeks, then bent down and unplugged the fan. Hoisting its green plastic stand, she hurried out of the room.

“Xue Lanjing” had silently gone inside, only to emerge carrying a weapon. At the sight, Li You could not conceal her panic. She abruptly held her breath, and even more sweat broke out across her body.

A second later, a cool breeze blew from the weapon and rushed directly toward her.

Li You instinctively turned her face away and raised a hand to shield herself.

Xue Chiying noticed nothing. Crouching in front of the fan, she tapped its electronic display several times before standing. When she looked at Li You, who was suddenly frightened by something yet again, she was beginning to find it unsurprising. She said pleasantly, “If you’re hot, take off your outer robe.”

Li You slowly lowered her arm. The face revealed once more was flushed bright red from the heat, like an apple.

Xue Chiying pointed toward the front door and said gently, “I’m going downstairs to buy you some things to change into.”

Once downstairs, Xue Chiying immediately called her friend in Dongqing City, her distant hometown. “Hello, Ping’er. Did you find anything?”

Her friend replied, “I was just about to message you on WeChat. There are no relevant missing-person reports. Are you sure you gave me the right names?”

“They should be right. Li You and Li Shuangqing. Neither name turned up?”

“That’s right, neither of them. I even asked a colleague to help me check. Is she still with you now? If nothing else works, take her to the nearest police station and file a missing-person report. Maybe she hasn’t been missing long enough for them to open a case yet.”

Xue Chiying planted one hand on her hip, looking troubled. After hesitating for a moment, she asked, “Then… what about Princess Qile of Yongzhao?”

“What?”

“…Never mind. It’s nothing.” Xue Chiying pressed a hand to her forehead. “Um… Ping’er, if I accompany her to the police station, will I need to stay there?”

“Most likely, but every precinct handles things differently. You’ll have to ask when you get there to know for sure.”

“Ugh.” Xue Chiying sighed and raked a hand through her hair. “All right. I’ll think about it.”

“Mm. By the way, are you returning to Shanghai tomorrow morning? Have you moved out of your place in Hengdian?”

“Yes, I have. I’ll have the boxes sent by courier first thing tomorrow morning.”

“All right.” Her friend acknowledged this, then said, “Okay, we’ll talk again after you get back tomorrow. I’m going to shower. Today completely exhausted me.”

“Okay. Bye.”

Xue Chiying ended the call and stood where she was, thinking with furrowed brows for a while. In the end, she did not go upstairs to call Li You down. Instead, she left the residential complex alone and walked to the supermarket.

When Xue Chiying returned home carrying a bag of things, Li You’s face was no longer as red as an apple. However, she was still sitting in exactly the same posture she had assumed upon entering. At first glance, she resembled a human-shaped doll placed in a fixed position, sitting obediently at one end of the sofa.

Xue Chiying carried the bag over and removed its contents one by one. “Disposable panties, a disposable bra, a T-shirt, shorts, slippers, a toothbrush…”

She produced a pile of objects Li You had never seen before as though conjuring magical treasures. They left Li You both ​Read on BaiLianTales​curious and frightened. Her upper body remained still while her eyes followed them back and forth.

“It’s already late, and it wouldn’t be safe for you to go anywhere alone. I’ll take you to the entrance of the police station tomorrow morning, and you can go in by yourself…” Xue Chiying paused. “I won’t be accompanying you inside. I have work. Sorry.”

Li You looked as though she only half understood.

“All right, go take a shower.” After taking everything out, Xue Chiying gestured toward the bathroom with her chin and smiled at Li You.

Under Xue Chiying’s watchful gaze, Li You stood and walked in the direction she had indicated. Her posture was upright and her steps light. She cautiously approached the bathroom door and inspected the entire doorframe. Finally, she slowly raised a hand, but it remained suspended in midair for a long time without touching the handle.

Standing behind and to Li You’s right, Xue Chiying asked, “What’s wrong?”

Li You shook her head, took a deep breath, placed her fingers on the “door latch,” and pulled outward—

The door did not budge.

“…” After a moment of silence, Xue Chiying calmly reminded her, “Press it down.”

Li You gritted her teeth and pressed down hard with her wrist. The door clicked open. She released it as though she had been electrocuted, then turned around sheepishly and looked uncertainly at Xue Chiying.

Xue Chiying was once again charmed by the easily startled expression on that face.

She helped push the door open, turned on the light, and adjusted the shower. Then she went back to retrieve the clean clothes and toiletries Li You had forgotten to bring and instructed her, “Fold the clothes you take off and put them over here. I’ll deal with them later. And these…” In front of Li ​bailiantales.com​You, she placed the pile of items in her hands on the shelf on the other side. “I’ll put them here.”

Li You looked as though she wanted to say something but stopped herself. In the end, she nodded as though to say, “I understand.”

The patter of water came from behind the closed door.

Xue Chiying sat on the sofa scrolling through short videos. She happened upon an amusing story about traveling through time and space, and her gaze drifted toward the bathroom door, her thoughts unreadable.

“Body… wash.”

After Li You laboriously removed her hairpins and ornaments, her long black hair tumbled down in waves.

She did not immediately remove all her clothing. Still clad in her ruqun, she lifted the sleeve of her robe and bent over, reaching through the warm stream of water to retrieve a bottle. Although the characters printed on it differed somewhat from those she had learned in the past, she could recognize most of them by carefully examining their shapes. Her eyes rapidly skimmed line after line, and she soon identified all the body wash and conditioner on the shelf and understood their uses. She slowly brought them closer, gently wafted the air, and caught their fragrance.

While bathing, Li You tilted her chin upward and comfortably narrowed her eyes as water streamed over her. Amid the rising steam, her skin looked as smooth as rich cream.

After roughly half an hour, the sound of running water finally stopped, but no sound came from the bathroom for a long while.

Xue Chiying walked over, knocked on the door, and asked softly with concern, “Li You?”

“What is it—”

Unexpectedly, the sweet and obedient-looking princess—who looked incapable of lying and claimed [Read on BaiLianTales]she could not speak—answered with perfect clarity.

Outside the door, Xue Chiying froze.

Inside, Li You was even more horrified. Crouching on the floor, she slowly hugged the bra she had not yet figured out tightly to her chest, not daring to breathe.