Chapter 44 – Time to Pick Up Shang Yu, or She’ll Miss the No. 2 Ghost Bus

The psychic connection between twins is a truly mysterious thing.

She could always sense her sister’s emotions.

Even in the three years since her sister passed, she could feel that her soul was still trapped in their home, unable to find peace.

Just like now—she could feel her sister’s deep sense of helplessness.

Shang Guojun and Liu Xiujun fell silent.

For a moment, the only sounds in the living room were the soft sobs of mother and daughter.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

Thump.

Thump thump.

Thump thump thump.

They thought they had been too loud and disturbed the neighbors.

Liu Xiujun quickly wiped her tears and told Shang Guojun to open the door and apologize.

Then she turned to Shang Xue and said, “Alright, enough crying. Let’s not bring this up again in the future. We owe your sister a debt—it has nothing to do with you. Mommy lost control earlier, I’m sorry. I’ll call your teacher later. You stay home today and get some rest.”

Shang Xue kept her head down and nodded after a moment. She turned to head back to her room.

But just two steps in, she suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.

Because standing in front of her—was her sister.

Liu Xiujun didn’t notice her daughter’s strange reaction, distracted by the person at the door. She glanced that way—

It wasn’t a neighbor standing there, but a very pretty young woman.

She was holding their eldest daughter’s spirit tablet in her arms. Most people were wary of such things—seeing that might’ve scared a young girl.

Panicked, she hurried to return the tablet to the room in the back.

Shang Guojun’s eyes were still red and swollen. Seeing a stranger, he exhaled deeply and asked, “Miss, who are you looking for?”

Tu Shanju’s expression was flat as she replied, “I’m here for Shang Yu. I made a deal with her.”

Shang Guojun frowned. Thinking that the two girls looked so alike, she must’ve mistaken one for the other. Patiently, he said, “You must mean Shang Xue. Shang Yu was our eldest daughter. She passed away three years ago. You must be mistaken.”

He turned and was about to ask Liu Xiujun to get Shang Xue.

But then he realized—Shang Xue hadn’t returned to her room at all. She was just standing there, back toward them, unmoving.

He called out, “Xiaoxue, someone’s here looking for you. Said something about a deal. Did you buy something and forget to pay for it?”

Then he turned back to Tu Shanju. “Did my daughter buy something? I can transfer you the money now.”

At that moment, Liu Xiujun came out from the room and stood behind him.

Tu Shanju looked at the couple and shook her head. “No, I didn’t mistake her. The one I made the deal with is Shang Yu. Sorry—I actually arrived a while ago. I heard all the things your family said. I wasn’t eavesdropping on purpose.”

The moment she said it was Shang Yu she had made the deal with, the couple’s expressions darkened.

Liu Xiujun grew upset. “Young lady, my husband just told you—our eldest daughter, Shang Yu, passed away three years ago. How could she make a deal with you? The dead should be respected. That kind of joke isn’t funny, do you understand?”

Shang Guojun was angry too, but since she looked barely four or five years older than their daughter, he held back harsher words.

“Miss, how much did Shang Xue owe you? I’ll transfer it now. Please, just leave.”

Tu Shanju continued calmly, “You’re not just trapping yourselves—you’re also trapping Shang Yu. Because of your obsession, she’s been unable to enter the underworld and be reborn. The longer a ghost remains in the world of the living, the weaker they become. She’s about to dissipate completely—did you know that?”

The couple froze.

Shang Guojun’s breathing quickened, his voice filled with urgency. “What are you saying?”

Tu Shanju sighed. Originally, she had intended to pass on Shang Yu’s words herself. But after hearing their earlier conversation at the door, she decided it would be better if Shang Yu spoke to them directly.

She called into the room—not to anyone physically present.

“Shang Yu, I’m going to grab breakfast. You have one hour. I’ll come pick you up afterward.”

With that, Tu Shanju shoved her hands into her pockets and walked downstairs.

She left behind the stunned couple.

They didn’t even bother closing the door, just turned stiffly toward the living room.

And saw—both of their daughters standing there.

Bang!

The security door slammed shut behind Tu Shanju with a gust of wind.

Moments later, the anguished cries of a reunited family of four echoed from the apartment.

Tu Shanju reached the ground floor, found a breakfast shop, and ordered a whole table of food. She ate slowly and unhurriedly.

She had seen many scenes like this.

But honestly, even now, they still made her feel a bit choked up. After all, a human heart is made of flesh. She might not be sentimental, but that didn’t mean she felt nothing at all.

As for the Shang family—there was really no one to blame.

If blame had to be assigned, then blame fate for being cruel.

They were born on the same day, just five minutes apart. Same womb, but opposite destinies.

Shang Yu was born with a short life. Shang Xue was born to live long.

But both girls were good children. They had done everything they could to save this broken home, and also to save each other. For three years, they never gave up.

It’s not just ghosts who carry obsessions.

Humans do too. And human obsessions are more powerful. When they spiral into madness, the dead can be bound to the living—this is how earthbound spirits are born.

The Shang couple had been “mad” for three years.

And Shang Yu had been trapped for three years.

There are many ways to guide the living and the dead. As long as it helps people let go—that’s enough.

One hour wasn’t long.

But it was enough for the Shang family to find peace.

Tu Shanju had chosen a traditional xiaolongbao shop. She ate six baskets in one go, plus two fried eggs, one tea egg, and finished it off with a bowl of congee with preserved egg and lean pork.

Only then did she feel full.

She took out her phone and saw a message from Xie Shiyu sent ten minutes ago, reminding her not to forget breakfast while working.

Tu Shanju curved her lips into a smile and snapped a photo of the empty bamboo baskets and congee bowl, sending it to him with a caption:

[I’m full now!]

She glanced at the time.

Almost there.

Time to go pick up Shang Yu—otherwise she’ll miss the No. 2 Ghost Bus.