Chapter 15
Xu Yi followed Xie Zhang, pondering his strange behavior all the way to the elevator.
Then he noticed Xie Zhang’s shadow.
His eye twitched.
He glanced at his own shadow.
The elevator’s lighting and reflective walls caused shadows to be cast onto the surfaces, mirroring the person’s shape, especially when standing close to the wall.
Just like Xu Yi’s shadow now.
However, Xie Zhang was standing slightly in front of him, yet his shadow stretched in the opposite direction, its head bobbing slightly.
Xu Yi squeezed his eyes shut, counted to three, and opened them again.
Xie Zhang’s shadow gave him a peace sign.
The gesture was clear and unmistakable.
Xu Yi: “…”
Dude, that was terrifying.
The elevator doors opened. The broad-shouldered Xie Zhang strode out, his shadow instantly snapping back to normal, trailing obediently behind him.
Xu Yi hesitated, then, as the doors began to close, he jammed the open button and rushed out, following Xie Zhang.
Whether his boss was possessed or simply revealing his true form, today’s meeting, with various investors present, had to go smoothly!
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be getting any time off for the next month.
Trailing behind Xie Zhang, Xu Yi answered his questions while his mind raced, his eyes darting towards Xie Zhang’s feet.
Xie Zhang suddenly stopped.
“Secretary Xu.”
Xu Yi, who had just seen a cat head pop out of Xie Zhang’s shadow, didn’t look up: “Yes, Mr. Xie?”
“Are you interested in my shadow?”
Xie Zhang emphasized the word “my.”
But Xu Yi focused on the word “shadow,” nodding emphatically.
Of course, he wasn’t interested in Xie Zhang—no sane employee would befriend their boss; he was only friends with his boss’s lover—he was worried about Xie Zhang losing it, the company going under, and him losing his job.
Song Jingmo, controlling the shadow, couldn’t help but laugh, the shadow wriggling and rolling.
Xu Yi’s eyes widened in horror.
Xie Zhang, his face expressionless, saw through his thoughts: “Don’t worry, the company isn’t going bankrupt anytime soon, as long as Secretary Xu keeps his attention on business matters during the meeting.”
Xu Yi composed himself, switching back to his efficient secretary mode: “Of course, Mr. Xie.”
The secretary’s office and the CEO’s office were on the same floor. Xu Yi watched as Xie Zhang entered his office.
Just as the door closed, he saw a tiny heart formed by his boss’s shadow.
Xu Yi: “…”
Rubbing his temples, he returned to his desk, rummaging through his drawers for a steam eye mask, desperately trying to soothe his eyes and calm his mind.
But before the eye mask could take effect, he ripped it off, opened his browser, and began typing.
【What to do when you encounter a paranormal event】
【Discovering your boss is not human】
【Suspecting your boss is possessed】
After a flurry of frantic searches, remembering the familiar heart shape formed by the shadow, he deleted everything and typed a new query.
【What to do when your boss’s deceased wife returns as a ghost】
…
Song Jingmo was unaware of the turmoil in the neighboring office.
He explored Xie Zhang’s office, poking and prodding, like a cat marking its territory.
Song Jingmo had shares in the Song corporation and his own successful career, so he rarely visited Xie Zhang’s company.
Initially, it was because of Xie Zhang’s struggles during the early days of his company.
Xie Zhang, with his strong sense of pride, didn’t want his lover to see him at his most vulnerable, and he refused to use Song Jingmo’s money.
So he always deflected Song Jingmo’s offers to accompany him to work.
Song Jingmo, perceptive as always, understood and stopped mentioning it.
Later, as Xie Zhang’s company thrived, he wanted to invite Song Jingmo to visit, but the words wouldn’t come.
They reached a silent, somewhat awkward understanding on this matter.
But the desire to show off one’s accomplishments to one’s beloved was a universal urge.
The deeper the love, the stronger the desire to present one’s best self.
Xie Zhang was no exception.
Watching the shadow exploring his office, a smile touched his lips.
But then he remembered Song Jingmo’s attempts to get Xu Yi’s attention, and his smile faded.
The chibi shadow reappeared, pacing around the office, plucking a lemon from a potted plant, and climbing onto Xie Zhang’s desk, clutching the fruit.
He paused, staring at a framed photo on the desk, a pang of sadness in his chest.
It was a photo of him and Xie Zhang.
In the photo, a younger Song Jingmo looked much the same, a carefree smile on his face, his arm draped around Xie Zhang’s neck, making a silly face at the camera.
But Xie Zhang looked much younger, less polished, not the suited CEO he was now.
He wore a simple t-shirt and jeans, a faint smile on his handsome face, but a lingering shadow of sadness in his eyes.
Song Jingmo had a copy of this photo too, but he’d assumed Xie Zhang wouldn’t want to be reminded of his past, so he hadn’t displayed it.
But Xie Zhang kept it on his desk.
Song Jingmo placed the lemon under him, propped his chin on his hand, and stared at the photo, his fondness growing.
Xie Zhang had been so awkward and endearing back then, stiffening whenever he was teased, stuttering whenever he spoke. He’d almost tripped and fallen flat on his face during his confession!
Song Jingmo sighed, touching the young man in the photo with his inky black hand.
Time was a cruel mistress, transforming the adorable youth into the stoic, AI-like man he was now.
When Xie Zhang approached, he saw the fist-sized shadow figure perched on a lemon, facing the framed photo.
His little legs swung back and forth, tiny shadow flowers blooming around him.
A smile touched his lips, then he turned and walked into the adjoining rest area.
Song Jingmo, hearing the movement, immediately abandoned his lemon throne and followed.
He hadn’t noticed the door before.
Squeezing through the gap under the door, Song-shadow looked around.
He’d been to his father’s spacious rest area at the Song corporation headquarters.
But Xie Zhang’s rest area was truly just that, a place for a quick break.
A small single bed, a bedside table with a lamp and a glass of water, a wardrobe with a few spare clothes and accessories, and a full-length mirror.
Completely devoid of CEO extravagance, almost spartan.
Song Jingmo’s shadow tip curled, tapping the cold tile floor.
—Not even a rug.
If he’d known about this place before, he would have made a cozy nest here.
Unlike Xie Zhang, he believed in enjoying life, not just existing.
As he thought this, a wave of sadness washed over him.
There was no “before” anymore.
The chibi shadow slumped onto the bed, dejected.
Noticing Song Jingmo’s sudden shift in mood, Xie Zhang instinctively moved towards him, then stopped, facing the mirror, speaking to himself in a calm voice.
“Xie Zhang, you need to stay focused on work. You absolutely cannot let anyone notice anything unusual.”
“No one cares about you, except for Momo.”
Song Jingmo looked up at Xie Zhang, talking to his reflection.
What was he doing?
Another episode?
No, Xie Zhang wasn’t sick—was he?
Hmm…
Song Jingmo scratched his head, confused.
But he agreed with Xie Zhang’s words.
He resided within Xie Zhang’s shadow. If anyone noticed anything unusual, it wouldn’t be him they feared or shunned, but Xie Zhang.
He’d seen the look of terror on Xu Yi’s face earlier.
He was starting to have second thoughts about his plan.
Perhaps he should wait and see?
Or let Xie Zhang sunbathe for a while longer, and then, when his brother visited, he could try forming a life-sized shadow figure?
Uh.
That might be even more terrifying.
The chibi shadow rolled around on the small bed, making it seem much larger than it was.
Seeing Song Jingmo seemingly preoccupied with whether or not to reveal himself to others, a small smile touched Xie Zhang’s lips. His plan was working.
What could Momo possibly want from Xu Yi?
Probably to convince him to see a psychiatrist, either to confirm he wasn’t ill, or to find a reputable exorcist.
But…
Xie Zhang adjusted his collar and cuffs, looking at himself in the mirror.
How could he allow his rediscovered love to leave him again?
Song Jingmo, rolling around on the bed, suddenly felt a surge of heat and sneezed loudly.
Huh?
He immediately turned to Xie Zhang, standing before the mirror.
Oh, that man!
Song-shadow hesitated for a moment, then leaped onto Xie Zhang’s back, clinging to him, nuzzling and rubbing against him.
Hmph.
Thinking about him even while looking in the mirror, how clingy!
