Chapter 20
Gu Chi gazed at Wen Linyu’s sleeping face, chuckling softly. Thankfully, Wen Linyu couldn’t see him, or he might have suspected the Demon Lord was possessed.
As if sensing something amiss, Wen Linyu’s brow furrowed slightly in his sleep. Gu Chi gently smoothed it, relaxing as Wen Linyu’s expression eased, a strange warmth spreading through him.
How fascinating. So this was love.
Sharing his apprentice’s joys and sorrows.
He recalled the netizens’ comments. Never one to admit defeat, he opened the online forum, ready to prove them wrong.
His post hadn’t garnered many views, but there were plenty of replies, mostly criticizing his forceful approach to love.
Even at this late hour, there were still plenty of night owls online. The latest reply was a concerned inquiry:
“OP, are you okay? Seriously, you should see a therapist. Your symptoms seem quite severe. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.”
“MeowMeow Relationships: OP, have you ever been in a relationship? Healthy relationships aren’t like that. Either your ‘boyfriend’ is a ghost, or he’s also sick. You should consult a professional.”
Gu Chi scoffed. He wasn’t sick! And neither was his little apprentice! He typed furiously, claiming he had proof of Wen Linyu’s affection. The netizens who stumbled upon his post laughed, mocking him.
Enraged, he omitted some details, briefly describing his and Wen Linyu’s past, expecting them to envy their “fairytale romance.” Instead, they laughed even harder.
One reply was particularly devastating:
“Hahaha, OP, he likes his teacher. What does that have to do with you?!”
Gu Chi wanted to argue, but the question echoed in his mind, silencing him—Wen Linyu didn’t know he was his teacher!
“This kind of manipulation is rare.”
“No, this kind of self-sabotage is rare! Why are you doing this to yourself?”
“Exactly! If you want to punish him, do it in bed! Why play these BDSM games? [facepalm]”
“Dude, BDSM isn’t trendy anymore. But I’m a sucker for a good drama, hahaha!”
The netizens, enjoying the spectacle, offered no helpful advice, only mockery. Why not just reveal his identity? Had he lost his mind, or listened to some idiot’s advice, complicating a simple situation?
Gu Chi stared at the comment “What does that have to do with you?”, his mind reeling. Wen Linyu didn’t know.
If he liked his teacher, it truly had nothing to do with him!
Panic set in.
He sat up, his anxiety growing. He wanted to summon his butler, but he had come alone. He had no one to turn to.
No, wait. He scrolled back through the replies, finding the “expert” someone had mentioned, MeowMeow Relationships.
He clicked the link, his expression turning strange. It was a shop, offering consultation packages?
It didn’t matter. What was money compared to this? He immediately paid twenty thousand for the most expensive package. The shop responded swiftly, assigning him an expert.
“Dear, what seems to be the problem?” the expert asked in a soothing voice.
Gu Chi, desperate, explained his predicament. After analyzing the situation, the expert concluded:
“Your situation is indeed complex.”
“Based on your description, your partner is emotionally sensitive. With no one else in his life before, he likely developed a strong dependence on you.”
“However, your method of re-entering his life was… less than ideal. You, the person he trusted most, deceived and coerced him. How would you feel in his position?”
“But it’s not too late. We can still find a solution.”
Gu Chi thought about it. He wouldn’t be happy. He would be angry, and knowing his little apprentice, he would also feel hurt.
The teacher he admired had never revealed his true identity, and upon entering his world, instead of explaining, had threatened and forced him into another situation where he felt controlled.
Gu Chi’s eyes widened, filled with regret.
Damn it! I’m such an idiot! Why did I do that? How could I be so cruel?
He wanted to slap himself.
“Gahahaha…” The system, hiding in Wen Linyu’s mind, finally witnessed the scene it had been waiting for, and it was dying of laughter.
And the funniest part was the Demon Lord paying for relationship advice, desperate enough to consult a so-called “expert.”
As expected, when Gu Chi asked for solutions, the expert bombarded him with jargon, finally concluding:
“I don’t recommend revealing your identity just yet. Focus on changing your behavior, improving your image in his eyes, and then, when the time is right, explain and apologize sincerely.”
Gu Chi stared at the message, skeptical. Was that really the solution?
998 was laughing hysterically. These “experts” weren’t interested in solving problems, only in making money, complicating simple situations.
Offering a direct solution would end the client’s need for further consultation. It was all about sustainable income!
The next morning, Wen Linyu stared in disbelief at Gu Chi, wearing an apron, holding a plate of something burnt and unrecognizable.
“Are you alright?” he asked, wondering if the Demon Lord had lost his mind. Cooking breakfast for him? And was that even edible?
Gu Chi’s expression was grim. He hadn’t expected a simple dish to be so complicated. He had tried repeatedly, but the result was far from the appetizing meals in the cooking videos. But he remembered the expert’s advice—it didn’t matter if it tasted good, as long as the effort was visible.
Then he saw Wen Linyu push the plate away with a disgusted look: “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Gahahaha, oink, oink…” 998 erupted in a mixture of goose and pig-like laughter. Gu Chi cooking! This is gold!
Wen Linyu didn’t understand Gu Chi’s sudden urge to cook, but he noticed that Gu Chi wasn’t angry at his rejection, only his eyes filled with disappointment and a flicker of anger.
But the anger wasn’t directed at him. Did Gu Chi know anyone else in this world?
He put the matter aside. He had things to do today.
Learning that Wen Linyu was going out, Gu Chi “considerately” offered to stay home.
The expert had advised giving his partner space. Excessive clinginess and possessiveness could be suffocating.
Gu Chi, who just wanted to be close to his apprentice: “…”
He had gritted his teeth making that decision.
This time, Wen Linyu didn’t give him a strange look. With Gu Chi’s abilities, he couldn’t escape anyway.
Leaving the villa, Wen Linyu first went to the Wu family’s residence in A City. He had been there twice before, delivering things. He wasn’t allowed to stay.
Recalling the past, he chuckled, following his memories to their doorstep. The door was covered in scratches and dents, some shaped like heads, others like axe marks.
The lock was useless. He easily opened the door.
The inside was just as bad, if not worse. Trash and debris everywhere, clothes and shoes scattered, and even puddles of unidentified liquids on the floor. The stench was overwhelming.
Wen Linyu covered his nose, deciding against entering. Disgusting.
A neighbor, hearing the noise, opened her door slightly: “Young man, are you here to collect a debt too?”
Wen Linyu thought for a moment, then smiled: “Yes. Where is the family?”
“Oh dear!” The neighbor exclaimed, launching into a detailed account of the Wu family’s misfortune.
Wu Shuhao, having lost a soul fragment and with his weakened body, had become a vessel. His original soul had been pushed aside, or perhaps consumed by the intruding ghosts. Now, he could transform into twenty different ghosts within a single day.
And the ghosts who could possess people weren’t exactly benevolent.
A starving ghost had devoured everything edible in the house, even nearly biting off his mother’s finger.
He had swallowed the flesh without even chewing, horrifying and disgusting the witnesses.
A lustful ghost had been even worse, trying to assault every woman he saw. His parents, in their wickedness, had even tricked a young female relative into visiting, but thankfully, she was skilled in martial arts and had subdued him, calling the police. The entire Wu family had been arrested.
Then there was a gambling ghost, who, upon release from jail, had gambled away the family’s entire fortune, leaving only their apartment.
But even that wouldn’t last.
The latest ghost was a violent one, who had chopped off his father’s legs with an axe, so severely that they couldn’t be reattached. He had also nearly killed his mother. The police arrived just in time.
After this incident, everyone avoided the Wu family like the plague. Wu Shuhao had been sent to a mental institution, his parents were hospitalized, and their apartment remained in its current state of disarray.
“They’re truly wicked!” the neighbor continued. “Even in the hospital, they can’t stop causing trouble.”
“There’s more?” Wen Linyu was surprised. So much had happened before he even met them.
What a pleasant surprise.
“Yes! That wicked woman! She scattered red envelopes around the neighborhood, the kind that steal your lifespan!” The neighbor’s voice was filled with anger. “They put ten or twenty yuan in each envelope. Anyone who picks it up and spends the money has their life force stolen.”
The Wu family had been clever. A few hundred yuan, and someone might return it. But ten or twenty yuan? People wouldn’t bother. It was enough for a couple of snacks or milk tea. And they spent so little, it was a win-win for them.
“Whether it actually works or not, it’s disgusting!” The neighbor was furious. Her grandson had found one of the red envelopes. Thankfully, they had taught him well, and he hadn’t spent the money. Otherwise, she would have strangled that Wu woman!
“I only opened my door because I heard the noise and was afraid someone else would fall for their trick. If you’re looking for them, you might find them at First Hospital. If not, try their hometown.”
Wen Linyu thanked her and left.
Birds of a feather. One family exchanging lifespans, the other stealing them.
He went to the hospital and easily found the Wu couple. Even in this state, Wu’s “mother” was still loud and foul-mouthed, cursing everyone and everything.
She was now cursing the residents who had exposed their red envelope scheme in the neighborhood group chat. Her health, and her husband’s, had deteriorated significantly. Their savings were gone, her husband had lost his legs, and she had nearly been killed.
She was anxious, a constant fear of impending death gnawing at her. She didn’t want to die. And these people had ruined her plans!
“What took you so long?!” she yelled as someone approached.
She glanced at the newcomer, then her eyes widened.
“Y-you’re… Wen Linyu?” She could hardly believe it. If she hadn’t raised him for over a decade, she wouldn’t have recognized him.
Wen Linyu stopped two meters away, covering his nose: “It’s me.”
“You little bastard!” Recognition turned to rage. It was all his fault! Why wasn’t it Wen Linyu in that abandoned building? Why wasn’t he tormented by ghosts?
Wen Linyu, as if reading her mind, smiled: “Are you cursing me again, wondering why it wasn’t me?”
Her expression froze, her eyes filled with suspicion.
Wen Linyu nodded, as if answering her question: “Yes, it was me. I fed Wu Shuhao’s soul to a ghost. What are you going to do about it?”
“You, you, you…” She was both shocked and terrified. After all this suffering, even she understood that someone with such abilities wasn’t to be trifled with. But Wen Linyu had been under her thumb for over a decade. How could he have acquired such power?
What are you going to do about it?
She couldn’t do anything. She wanted to expose him, but who would believe her? Everyone thought they had some kind of genetic disease, their son was insane, and they were probably crazy too.
If she spoke out, would she be sent to a mental institution as well? Her son was ruined, but she still wanted to live.
“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely do what you fear most.” Wen Linyu’s smile widened, mirroring her own cruel smile from the past.
Every time she had abused him, she would sneer, “What are you going to do about it? Even your own parents abandoned you!” Now, he would return the favor.
“No, no, please…” She recoiled in terror, but the bed was small, and the wall was behind her. There was nowhere to go.
“Who taught you the red envelope ritual?”
She thought revealing the information would save her, quickly giving him an address, adding that it was Wen Linyu’s own mother who had introduced her.
But as soon as she finished speaking, Wen Linyu acted.
Villains didn’t need to keep their promises. He hadn’t agreed to spare her.
He didn’t approach her, he didn’t need to. To the security cameras and any onlookers, he simply raised his hand slightly, pausing briefly, as if simply talking to her.
He repeated the same process with Wu’s father.
Finished, he left the hospital. On his way home, he passed a market.
He thought of Gu Chi’s attempt at cooking breakfast.
He sat in the taxi, lost in thought. The driver grew impatient: “Young man, are you getting out or not? I charge extra for—”
A stack of cash appeared in his view.
Driver: “…Please, take your time.”
Wen Linyu, recalling a cherished memory, started braiding a decorative tassel from the car. The driver, noticing this, offered him the entire collection.
During the first year, his teacher had taught him about self-awareness. He had started with simple things, choosing his favorite dish, his favorite ingredient.
He had diligently explored different tastes, discovering his own preferences.
He had probably started developing feelings for his teacher then. He remembered every detail, every conversation they had while eating.
“You actually like mushrooms? Don’t you find the taste strange?”
“Fish mint? Is that even edible?”
“What’s strange about scallions and cilantro? Why don’t you eat them?”
“Coffee is indeed bitter. I don’t understand why so many people like it. Why don’t they like traditional medicine?”
Although he hadn’t asked about his teacher’s preferences back then, they were clearly revealed in those words.
Yes, he remembered everything clearly. He had been hesitating, unsure whether to test his theory.
What if he was right? What if he wasn’t?
He took a deep breath, got out of the car, and entered the supermarket, buying both his teacher’s favorite and least favorite foods.
Back home, his parents were still putting on their charade of affection.
Wen Linyu ignored them, instructing the butler to take the groceries to the kitchen, specifically requesting the staff to prepare those dishes.
The staff didn’t dare disobey. They would do as he said. Like that morning, when the outsider had blown up the kitchen, they had only dared to fume silently.
After all, that was the man who shared the young master’s bed. He had claimed he was making breakfast for the young master. How could they have stopped him? Although the result was disastrous, and the young master clearly hadn’t liked it, they had kept their amusement to themselves.
“You’re back?” Gu Chi, sensing his arrival, came downstairs, greeting him with a “gentle” smile.
Wen Linyu’s eye twitched. Why was he still doing that? Didn’t he realize how strange he looked?
He placed the small braided trinket on the table, looking at Gu Chi, and replied with a simple “mm-hmm.” The smile on Gu Chi’s face instantly became more natural, more pleasing to the eye.
Wen Linyu went upstairs to change. Gu Chi didn’t follow.
He wanted to, but he remembered the expert’s advice about personal space, and considering his previous actions, he didn’t want to further antagonize his little apprentice.
Left alone, he saw a woman picking up the small bird Wen Linyu had made.
His anger flared. He rushed downstairs and snatched it from Wen Xi’s hand.
Wen Xi, startled, stared at him: “What are you doing?”
“Hmph!” Gu Chi snorted. “This is his. Why are you stealing it?!”
Wen Xi was baffled: “I’m his sister. Can’t I even look? It’s just a little trinket. If I asked him, he would probably give it to me. Why are you so worked up?”
Gu Chi retorted: “He hasn’t even given me anything! Why would he give it to you?!”
Wen Xi rolled her eyes: “Don’t believe me? Fine, I’ll ask him when he comes down.”
Soon, Wen Linyu returned, and Wen Xi, waiting in the living room, called out to him: “Brother, can I have this little bird?”
Wen Linyu paused. He wasn’t close to his sister, but she hadn’t shown him any malice. This seemed to be the first time she had addressed him as “brother.” The little bird was just something he had casually made, nothing valuable.
“You can have it.”
Gu Chi’s eyes widened, glaring at Wen Linyu, his carefully constructed facade crumbling.
Wen Linyu: ?
Gu Chi was furious, but he didn’t say anything. He had made his own mistakes and had no right to be angry. But he was.
His little apprentice hadn’t given him anything! Who was this sister? He had been with him for ten years!
Besides this incident, the afternoon passed peacefully.
At dinner, Gu Chi was still sulking. He didn’t need to eat, and he had no appetite.
Wen Linyu waited, but he didn’t touch his food. A wave of disappointment washed over him, but he had started this, he wouldn’t give up.
He asked tentatively: “Aren’t you eating? I specifically bought these dishes for you.”
Gu Chi’s remaining anger dissipated. He gestured with his chin at Wen Xi across the table.
Wen Xi: …Seriously?
He picked up his chopsticks, then frowned: “Why are there so many things I hate?”
Wen Linyu watched him intently, his voice slightly strained: “Sorry, I forgot.”
Then, his hands trembling slightly, he picked out all his teacher’s favorite foods and placed them on Gu Chi’s plate.
Gu Chi’s expression softened: “That’s more like it!” He mentally thanked the relationship expert. His little apprentice was even serving him food now!
