◎ Chen Du, this is extortion! ◎

Chen Du didn’t fall asleep all night.

Early the next morning, he took the yellowed envelope and left.

Shi Li waited anxiously at home, suddenly worried.

After a person dies, can money in their bank card be withdrawn directly with the password?

Or would the account be frozen by the bank?

Shi Li really didn’t know.

After five years, would the bank have taken the money?

The more she thought, the more anxious she became, pacing around the apartment, glancing at the door almost every two minutes.

Finally, at dusk, Chen Du came back.

Shi Li anxiously circled him, even floated into his computer bag — the envelope was missing.

Did this mean he had withdrawn the money?

Or was the money not taken out, and the card confiscated by the bank?

Shi Li wanted to ask, but she knew Chen Du still couldn’t hear.

She could only patiently wait for him to sleep and ask him in a dream.

Luckily, Chen Du didn’t keep her waiting long.

After coming home, he tossed his coat carelessly on the sofa and went into the washroom.

A few minutes later, he returned to the room.

Shi Li saw him take a small bottle of medicine out of his computer bag.

— It was sleeping pills.

His expressionless face tore open the seal, poured out two pills, swallowed decisively, then quietly lay down.

Sleeping pills were much stronger than melatonin.

Soon, Shi Li heard Chen Du’s long breathing.

Was he taking sleeping pills because he hadn’t slept well before?

Had she just “sent a dream” and disturbed his sleep?

Shi Li was worried and anxious but still forced herself to wait for several hours, giving Chen Du enough time to rest.

Finally, around eleven at night, perhaps having a bad dream, Chen Du suddenly frowned, then turned over, his breathing becoming chaotic.

Was he going to wake up?

That must not happen.

Shi Li anxiously floated to his ear, tentatively whispering, “Chen Du, Chen Du, it’s me again, Shi Li.”

“I have something I want to ask you. Have you slept well?”

After she asked, Chen Du didn’t respond, only his breathing became more rapid.

…Is this, that he doesn’t want her to disturb him?

Shi Li exhaled, feeling downhearted, and said, “Forget it, since you haven’t slept well, I won’t disturb you—”

Before she finished speaking, Chen Du’s finger resting on the quilt suddenly moved slightly, and his brow twitched a little.

After a brief pause, Shi Li saw him slowly and laboriously shake his head.

…Was that a shake of the head?

So he agreed to her dream visit?

Shi Li immediately felt relieved, sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed, leaning close to Chen Du’s ear, awkwardly saying, “Well, it’s nothing else, just about the money I asked you to withdraw yesterday. Were you able to get it? The bank didn’t have any restrictions, right?”

After she asked, Chen Du again gave no response.

Shi Li suddenly realized he was in deep sleep now, unable to speak, and that faint nods or shakes of the head were already his limit.

She had asked two questions at once; how could he answer?

So she simplified: “If you got it, just nod once. If not, shake your head.”

After saying this, Shi Li stared eagerly at Chen Du’s face. After a long, quiet few seconds, Chen Du’s chin moved slightly up and down.

Was this… that he got it?

Did the bank really not require other documents?

Shi Li’s eyes brightened and she asked further: “Did you then exchange it for ghost money and burn it for me?”

After a moment, Chen Du gently nodded again.

Shi Li could hardly believe it. She blinked and asked once more, “One hundred twenty thousand, all burned for me?”

Chen Du’s chin again made an almost imperceptible nod.

Damn, this kid is reliable after all!

With this kind of efficiency and character, whatever he does will succeed!

Shi Li was so excited she wanted to dance a waltz on the floor.

She spun happily several times on the spot, then suddenly pounced beside Chen Du, patting his shoulder joyfully, her face full of feeling: “Hey Chen Du, you really are a good person! I knew I wasn’t wrong about you!”

The past five years of poverty flashed through her mind.

In these years, to maintain residence rights in the underworld, she had to pay a resident management fee every day—which was basically rent and property fees for the ghost community.

Therefore her account balance was always pitifully low; she lived every day on edge, calculating carefully to barely get by.

Who would have thought this time, suddenly twelve thousand plus appeared; converted to ghost money, that was over five million!

She had instantly become a millionaire!

With some more effort, working for another ten or twenty years, she might save enough six million to reincarnate.

Or simply wait patiently in line, which would take about eighty-two years.

During those eighty-two years, she would no longer have to serve; she could peacefully enjoy life as a wealthy ghost in the underworld. How wonderful!

Then she could use the leftover money to buy a premium reincarnation channel, and next life be born as a little rich lady on earth…

This lottery ticket was truly worth it!

Shi Li thought about the beautiful ghost life ahead and smiled happily with squinted eyes.

She solemnly patted Chen Du’s shoulder, her tone full of pride: “Chen Du, you helped me so much. When you die, I will definitely look out for you in the underworld!”

Right after speaking, she realized her words sounded harsh, almost like cursing Chen Du.

She was about to explain when Chen Du nodded again.

Shi Li stared at his face, her gaze settling on his slightly trembling lip muscles.

His lips curled up barely noticeably.

He actually smiled.

This person was surprisingly tolerant, not holding grudges against her.

Shi Li chuckled softly, then babbled on: “Though I don’t know if I’ll still be here when you come. Maybe I’ll have reincarnated by then. But don’t worry, I’ll tell the supervisor to leave you some start-up funds… As for you, just live well with your current girlfriend, live longer, I wish you longevity.”

She spoke elegantly, but this time Chen Du did not agree.

His jaw suddenly tightened, seeming to exert great effort, and slowly shook his head side to side.

This movement was more urgent than before; even his brow twitched slightly.

Shi Li couldn’t understand his meaning and guessed, “…Are you complaining that the start-up funds I’m leaving you aren’t enough?”

She puffed her cheeks, counted on her fingers, hesitated, and tentatively said, “Then I’ll leave you twenty percent? Thirty percent…?”

Chen Du still shook his head.

Shi Li glared at him angrily and said fiercely, “Fifty percent, we split it half and half, no more! Chen Du, this is extortion, do you know that?”

Chen Du continued shaking his head.

From his expression, Shi Li realized he wasn’t talking about this matter.

She propped her chin on her hand, poked his cheek, and tilted her head: “Then don’t you want me to reincarnate? Want me to look after you?”

This time Chen Du finally nodded.

So that’s what this kid was thinking.

Actually, this was just something Shi Li said casually.

The underworld and the living world are completely different, with strict management rules. Ghosts can only move within their assigned areas, and these assignments are completely random.

Given the current death rates, every year more souls come to the underworld, and the chance of being assigned near one’s living relatives is almost zero.

For example, Shi Li is surrounded by a bunch of “foreign ghosts” from all over the world, speaking English, French, Spanish—an unintelligible mess of ghost languages buzzing every day.

Within a few miles, there isn’t even a Chinese ghost, let alone one she knows.

If possible, she still wanted to see her grandfather.

But she knew that was impossible.

Shi Li’s grandfather died very early. In her sparse memories, he was the only family member who truly loved her.

She clearly remembered when she was four or five, grandpa always carried her to the neighborhood convenience store and bought her strawberry-flavored lollipops.

Her brother didn’t get any, only she did.

…Getting off track.

However, even though they can’t meet, ghosts can transfer “money” between each other.

As long as Chen Du’s name is in the account system after he dies, Shi Li can transfer money to him through the underworld system.

…But better not tell Chen Du this yet.

Otherwise, he might think she is scamming him.

Shi Li nervously scratched her head and vaguely said, “…But you are only twenty-eight this year. Based on average lifespan now, I still have many years to wait… I’ll think about it, anyway, I will definitely leave you some money, you can be sure of that.”

After she said this, Chen Du did not respond again.

His calm face suddenly began to twitch and convulse, as if something was extremely uncomfortable.

His hands on the quilt suddenly clenched tightly, instinctively pressing on his abdomen.

His lips trembled slightly, faintly making a painful gasp.

Cold sweat quickly seeped from his forehead.

Shi Li was startled.

…What was wrong?

She suddenly remembered the last time she possessed Chen Du’s body, that unfamiliar and intense pain.

He was suffering again?

But she hadn’t possessed him today; could dream visits also have side effects?

Shi Li immediately panicked, dared not speak or even breathe loudly, and silently floated up to the ceiling, moving far away from him.

About half a minute later, Chen Du slowly opened his eyes, his gaze dim.

He woke up.

Cold sweat soaked his pajamas and hair.

Chen Du painfully stretched out his hand, groped for the bedside lamp, and leaned against the headboard.

The dim yellow light spilled out, revealing his pale, paper-like face.

Although he looked very hurt, he suddenly smiled.

Shi Li even doubted her eyes.

That smile was faint; his lips barely curved.

And his amber eyes reflected a lightness and gentleness Shi Li hadn’t seen in days.

“Don’t worry.”

Chen Du lowered his eyes, his eyelashes trembling slightly, lips still curved, murmuring to himself.

“I won’t let you wait too long. I will hurry.”

Perhaps just waking up, his voice was very hoarse. Shi Li was too far to hear clearly.

…Hurry to do what?

He wants to do what?

Shi Li tilted her head in confusion.

She leaned against a corner of the ceiling’s spiderweb, watching Chen Du’s handsome but thin face from afar.

Her chest felt tight, as if something was blocking it.

Suddenly, a sudden wave of unease flooded over her like a tide.

She felt very scared, very terrified.

Like something catastrophic was about to happen.

Her soul trembled with that fear.

“What exactly am I so nervous about?”

Shi Li hugged her trembling arms, trying to shake off the feeling, muttering softly.

“I’m already a rich ghost, I’m about to go back, what is there to worry about?”

But that unease did not dissipate.

Instead, it felt like a thin thread twisting tightly around her soul.

She leaned against the spiderweb in the ceiling corner, watching Chen Du’s pale, almost grayish face from afar.

Her chest felt heavy, a deep, sad sorrow washing over her.

A sorrow so deep she wanted to cry.

But spirits do not shed tears.

Shi Li pressed on the spot over her heart, spread her hands and stared at her transparent fingertips.

She was horrified to realize that just then she had a strange impulse.

She wanted to go over and hug Chen Du.

Shi Li did not understand why.

But she knew—

She couldn’t hold him.