Chapter 33: Little Ghost’s Countdown to Turning Back into a Human 6

The surveillance footage showed no movement; the little ghost had fallen asleep.

Xie Ningwan did not turn off the camera. He dragged the surveillance feed to the upper left corner of the computer screen and, with the footage playing alongside, began working.

With Xie Ningwan gone, Song Yaoyao felt a bit bored at home alone. After nestling briefly in Xie Ningwan’s bedding to absorb some fortune and catch a quick nap, he climbed out.

He floated down and turned on the TV, first queuing up a cartoon for himself. Then he stacked the sofa cushions into a comfortable little mound and habitually went to the fridge to grab some ice cream, planning to lie on the sofa, watch TV, and eat.

But when he opened the fridge, the little ghost froze in place: “…”

The freezer compartment was completely empty.

He had forgotten that he polished off the last few boxes of ice cream last time.

With the most crucial part of his perfect plan ruined, Song Yaoyao drooped his head and slowly floated back to the sofa, like a deflated balloon leaking air.

He flopped listlessly onto the cushions and suddenly spotted the phone Xie Ningwan had given him before leaving.

Right, Xie Ningwan had said he could ask Assistant Lei to send food over.

Song Yaoyao sat up, grabbed the phone, and fiddled with it.

On the social account Xie Ningwan had set up for him, there were only two contacts: Xie Ningwan himself as the first, and Assistant Lei as the second.

Song Yaoyao tapped open the second chat and tried sending: 【Hello.】

【Hello, miss. What do you need?】 Assistant Lei replied almost immediately, polite and friendly.

Song Yaoyao sat cross-legged on the sofa, lips pursed in slight confusion as he typed: 【I’m not a miss.】

This time, Assistant Lei paused for two seconds before replying:

【Got it. My apologies, Little Young Master. What do you need?】

I’m not some young master either. It was the first time anyone had called him that, and Song Yaoyao felt a bit embarrassed.

He flopped onto the cushions, unsure what Xie Ningwan had told Assistant Lei about him or how he had described him.

【I’d like a few boxes of ice cream.】 Song Yaoyao stated his request.

【Got it, Little Young Master.】 Assistant Lei replied. 【President Xie already instructed us. Someone will deliver it to the villa entrance shortly.】

Xie Ningwan had already arranged for ice cream to be sent?

Song Yaoyao clutched the phone and rolled once on the cushions, his mood suddenly buoyant.

【Thank you.】

Assistant Lei: 【No problem, Little Young Master. If you need anything else, feel free to contact me.】

After ending the chat with Assistant Lei, Song Yaoyao hugged a cushion and waited expectantly for the ice cream.

Half an episode of the cartoon had aired when the villa’s doorbell rang. On the video intercom, an ice cream delivery worker in a black uniform stood at the gate.

The little ghost floated to the door and spoke into the intercom: “Just leave it at the door, thanks.”

“Right away, sir.”

Once the delivery person left, the little ghost swiftly opened the door and whisked the fancy ice cream bag inside.

·

In the president’s office, Assistant Lei came to pick up some files and mentioned to Xie Ningwan: “President Xie, the ice cream has been delivered to the Little Young Master.” He emphasized “Little Young Master” with a slight pause.

“Got it.” Xie Ningwan paid no mind to his phrasing for the little ghost. He looked up, his gaze shifting to the surveillance feed on the computer.

Assistant Lei stood across the desk, unaware of the scene before him. Before turning to leave the office, he added: “By the way, before that, the Little Young Master messaged me about wanting ice cream. I told him you had already arranged it.”

“Good,” Xie Ningwan acknowledged, shifting his gaze from the screen to him. “He messaged you?”

Assistant Lei adjusted his glasses: “Yes.”

Xie Ningwan’s fingers, resting on the desk, tapped lightly on the surface. He glanced at his own phone nearby—no notifications, no messages.

He unlocked the screen, staring expressionlessly at the new account at the top with its default avatar.

Assistant Lei noticed but said nothing, merely smiling.

“Then I’ll head out, President Xie.”

“Mm.” Xie Ningwan stared at the silent message list for a moment, then looked back at the surveillance.

In the feed, a small shadow lugged a large ice cream bag, opened the fridge to store it, then took out several boxes of different flavors. Balancing them on his head, he returned to the living room and lined them up on the coffee table before opening them.

The little shadow then flopped onto the sofa. He was still draped in Xie Ningwan’s shirt, which hung loose and comical on him.

He lay there on the sofa, eating ice cream and watching TV, utterly relaxed and content.

Xie Ningwan shook his head with a sigh, about to lower his head back to his documents, when he noticed the little ghost suddenly remember something and pick up the phone.

The phone hovered in midair, tapped by invisible fingers several times.

From the surveillance, it was hard to see exactly what the little ghost was doing, but it looked like he opened a social app.

Xie Ningwan thus picked up his own phone and opened his messages, waiting.

After a long wait, no new message arrived. The only change was that the new account, previously with a default avatar, now had a new one: a Little Bear Doll sitting primly.

From the feed, Song Yaoyao was fiddling with the Little Bear Doll, adjusting its pose to take a photo.

Xie Ningwan: “…”

He exhaled, set down the phone, closed the surveillance, and calmly resumed work.

All day long, the little ghost at home never thought of him.

Only near quitting time did Xie Ningwan receive a message from the account with the Little Bear avatar: 【Are you coming back soon?】

A few seconds later, he replied: 【Mm.】

After sending it, he glanced at the surveillance. The little ghost floated up, returning the shirt and other items he had taken from Xie Ningwan’s closet to their original spots, tidying everything so it looked untouched.

Xie Ningwan laughed helplessly, packed up, and headed home.

·

“You’re back!” As soon as Xie Ningwan opened the door, Song Yaoyao flew at him.

Xie Ningwan stood firm, unmoved by the impact.

Xie Ningwan had brought him cake on previous returns home, and Song Yaoyao, spoiled by this, glanced at his hands—none today. He felt a bit disappointed but perked up thinking of the ice cream.

“How was your day at home?” Xie Ningwan asked proactively.

“Very good.” Song Yaoyao replied.

Xie Ningwan’s expression remained calm, showing no anomaly, though he inwardly thought this little ghost was utterly heartless.

As usual, Xie Ningwan showered, worked in the study for a while, then returned to the master bedroom to rest.

On the large bed, Song Yaoyao had already obediently curled up with the Little Bear Doll.

Xie Ningwan eyed the Little Bear Doll on the bed and thought of last night…

His gaze deepened ambiguously as he lifted the covers and got into bed.

In the center, Song Yaoyao scooted aside to make room. Once Xie Ningwan lay down, he snuggled close again, pressing against Xie Ningwan’s side.

“Song Yaoyao,” Xie Ningwan suddenly spoke, “are you hiding something from me?”

“What?” Song Yaoyao blinked blankly, not catching on.

Xie Ningwan tugged the covers. “This quilt is my barrier. Little ghosts aren’t allowed in.”

Song Yaoyao pouted; he was trying to fool him with that. No way he’d fall for it.

Song Yaoyao shamelessly grabbed the hem of Xie Ningwan’s sleepwear and clung on like an octopus.

Man and ghost silently tussled for a bit before Xie Ningwan relented. Lying on his side, he asked softly: “Why exactly did you appear by my side?”

“I don’t know either.” Song Yaoyao grasped that he was probing again and played dumb.

Xie Ningwan said nothing.

Seeing obvious disbelief, Song Yaoyao half-truly, half-falsely recounted: “I fell into water on my way home from school, and then I appeared here.”

Eighteen was still school age. Last time Xie Ningwan learned this, he had felt pity for the young little ghost.

Falling into water… This was the first time Song Yaoyao mentioned it.

A trace of pity flashed in Xie Ningwan’s eyes.

“So I just stayed at your house.” Song Yaoyao said curtly. Say little, err little.

Xie Ningwan turned on his side, propping his cheek with one hand as he gazed at the bundled shape beside him, eyes deep. “Is that all?”

“That’s it.” The bundle shifted, tone innocent.

Xie Ningwan pressed: “Then why do you…” He wanted to ask why Song Yaoyao always stole his personal items, always stuck to him, clung to sleep together, and lately escalated by secretly kissing him at night.

But for now, he held back, wanting to see what else this little ghost would do.

“Nothing else?” Xie Ningwan asked again, as if promising leniency for confession.

“Nothing.” Song Yaoyao insisted.

Xie Ningwan nodded and lay back down.

Feeling a bit guilty, Song Yaoyao peeked out from under the covers through a gap, cautiously observing Xie Ningwan’s expression. Seeing no reaction, he sighed inwardly in relief, then snuggled out fully to press against Xie Ningwan.

It was deep into the night again.

A gentle breeze rose outside, slipping through the slightly ajar bedroom window and lightly stirring the curtains.

Song Yaoyao opened his eyes and looked up at Xie Ningwan.

Xie Ningwan slept soundly, breathing even and steady, his face serene and peaceful.

Song Yaoyao held his breath, gently crawling out from under the covers. He floated above Xie Ningwan and sat astride his waist.

With the weather warming lately, Xie Ningwan’s covers were light. Song Yaoyao’s current form could be touched but weighed almost nothing. He controlled his shape, sitting feather-light on Xie Ningwan.

Xie Ningwan had grown suspicious again for some reason, filling Song Yaoyao with urgency.

Though their relationship seemed perfectly harmonious now—Xie Ningwan even bought him cakes—he couldn’t reveal everything about transmigrating into the book or absorbing fortune to turn human.

Especially since absorbing fortune required this method… Song Yaoyao sat on Xie Ningwan’s waist, hands pressing his chest, then slowly leaned down to his thin lips.

But he had altered part of Xie Ningwan’s plot and would continue helping, so it should balance out, right?

Song Yaoyao pressed a kiss to Xie Ningwan’s mouth, hesitated, then parted his lips slightly—

He nipped lightly first, then extended the tip of his tongue for a gentle lick.

The Xie Ningwan beneath him suddenly stirred and opened his eyes.