Jing Jiujiu straddled Bai Yuhuai's back. If he could have spun in circles at that moment, he probably would have been spinning frantically.
Not knowing how to keep these people from leaving, he instinctively gripped Bai Yuhuai's hair with all ten fingers, as if riding a horse. He tugged slightly, leaning his ghostly form backwards.
Stop, stop—
Bai Yuhuai's hair strands fluttered upwards slightly. Everyone else merely thought it was the strong morning mountain breeze nearly blowing his hairstyle apart. They eagerly called out to him: "Brother Bai, let's go. I'll hold an umbrella for you."
Bai Yuhuai expressionlessly raised his hand to his hair, then glanced at the black umbrella. "No need," he said.
With that, he strode towards the nearby car. His assistant naturally took care of his luggage.
Jing Jiujiu watched helplessly as Bai Yuhuai walked faster and faster, unable to stop him by pulling his hair.
He leaned back more and more precariously, nearly doing a backbend.
Though the man had clearly swayed when Jing Jiujiu tugged his hair earlier, now he was completely immovable. What on earth did he eat to grow so strong? Lead weights?
Don't go...
Bai Yuhuai reached the car door.
The door was already open, but he didn't immediately bend down to get in.
Ghosts are formless.
Even if he sat down directly, Jing Jiujiu wouldn't have been knocked flying by the car roof.
But Bai Yuhuai still casually grabbed the top of his own head, as if unintentionally.
Jing Jiujiu felt as if an invisible force suddenly sucked him down and then flung him out.
When he came to his senses, he found himself sprawled inside the car.
Jing Jiujiu: ?
Only then did Bai Yuhuai sit down, nodding slightly to the people outside. "Thank you for your hard work."
Everyone thought to themselves that the movie star Bai was really gracious, and hurriedly replied, "It's nothing, no trouble at all."
Then the car door closed automatically, and the driver stepped on the gas, heading out of the castle grounds.
The program staff marveled to themselves, and after a while, one said, "Brother Bai's hairstyle... looks pretty wild!"
In the car, the partition between the back and front seats slowly rose, and Bai Yuhuai turned his head slightly.
The assistant in the front seat turned around: "Brother Bai?" "Brother Bai, are you asleep?"
Bai Yuhuai stared at Jing Jiujiu.
The youth was still in a daze, his eyes rimmed with red.
The castle grounds were vast, and it would take about four or five minutes to completely leave them.
Jing Jiujiu counted silently in his heart.
Even if they left one gate, there would be another gate... He gazed at the scenery outside the window, watching as the fountain pool and the main gate in front of it drew closer and closer...
"Whoosh," the car sped on without stopping, stirring up fallen leaves in its wake.
The moment it passed through the main gate, Jing Jiujiu felt a pang in his heart, as if he were human. Then his entire ghostly form leaped into Bai Yuhuai's arms, burying his head.
I'm going back...
I don't want to go back...
Bai Yuhuai wasn't surprised at all by Jing Jiujiu's actions. The youth's chin rested on his shoulder, his whole body curled up tightly against him. Even though he was a ghost... Bai Yuhuai seemed to feel his heartbeat, the blood flowing under his skin...
The youth trembled in his arms.
Shaking even more violently than after watching a horror movie.
Bai Yuhuai raised his hand, encircling the youth's body in the empty air. He lowered his gaze, catching a glimpse of the small patch of snow-white skin exposed where the youth's body was twisted.
The car drove further and further away.
The driver even started playing music that Bai Yuhuai liked.
Suddenly, it began to rain. The rain grew heavier, pattering against the windows and echoing in Jing Jiujiu's ears.
The sound was so clear.
So clear it was as if he were in the middle of a rainforest.
Jing Jiujiu didn't know how long he had been shaking, waiting and waiting, but still not feeling the powerful pull from the castle.
He cautiously raised his head and opened his eyes.
Through the rear window of the car, he glimpsed the rapidly receding road and forest.
He had left?
Jing Jiujiu was stunned.
He had actually left the castle!
Meanwhile, Bai Yuhuai imperceptibly frowned. The youth still hadn't recovered? Was he really that timid? Wasn't he quite bold earlier?
Bai Yuhuai was about to reveal that he could see him.
But the youth suddenly zipped off his body.
The youth knelt on the seat, looking out the back window; then he clung to the left window, gazing eagerly outside; next, he sprawled across Bai Yuhuai's legs, propping himself up to look out the right window...
Bouncing all over the place.
Where was any trace of fear now?
Even the monotonous mountain scenery seemed to hold immense fascination for the youth, captivating him for hours on end.
Bai Yuhuai had to swallow the words in his throat.
The youth apparently found lying on him quite comfortable, for after bouncing around the car cabin for a while, he settled down and didn't move.
Bai Yuhuai: "..."
Never mind.
He clenched his fingers, pretending not to notice, and slowly closed his eyes to rest.
His manager knew he was tired and naturally wouldn't arrange any more engagements for him. When the car returned to Bai Yuhuai's villa, the manager waiting at the door immediately came to greet him.
"Brother Bai!" The manager hurriedly opened the car door.
Bai Yuhuai felt Jing Jiujiu startle and jump up.
Bai Yuhuai: "..."
Bai Yuhuai: "Lower your voice."
Manager: ?
The manager looked at Bai Yuhuai's expression and thought he probably hadn't been resting well lately. He quickly lowered his voice and said, "Are you alright? When I got the call from the program team, I was scared to death. This is all my fault. We really won't accept these kinds of jobs in the future!"
The manager's words were sincere.
If it had been when he first received the call saying Bai Yuhuai and the others had fallen into a pit, he might have burst into tears on the spot.
Bai Yuhuai glanced at him and replied flatly, "Mm."
But he didn't immediately get out of the car.
The manager went to the trunk to get the luggage, and when he came back around, he saw that Bai Yuhuai still hadn't moved. He got nervous: "You're not injured somewhere, are you?"
Bai Yuhuai: "No."
Why hasn't the youth moved yet?
Jing Jiujiu was pressed against the car window, finally finishing his survey of this strange new environment.
It wasn't too different from the villa area he had lived in as a child. Though the houses now seemed to be built even more beautifully.
He reluctantly tore his gaze away and turned his head to find that the man outside the car was urging Bai Yuhuai to get out.
Wait for me!
Jing Jiujiu quickly attached himself to Bai Yuhuai's back, using his hands and feet to cling to him.
Only then did Bai Yuhuai move.
"Put the things inside, then you can leave," he told the manager.
The manager knew he was likely going to seclude himself to read scripts again, so he didn't disturb him further. He nodded in acknowledgment, just helping to move the suitcases inside, along with gifts and letters from colleagues and fans, and vacation gifts prepared by the company...
The living room was soon piled high.
Then the manager and the others all left.
Bai Yuhuai went straight upstairs.
Jing Jiujiu rode on his neck, taking in everything around him from an even higher, broader perspective... Compared to the old castle, many things here were extremely novel.
The TV was so thin!
The chandelier was beautiful!
The curtains opened and closed automatically! Even better than ghost control!
Bai Yuhuai was about to enter the bathroom to shower, but he paused slightly at the door.
Would the youth be afraid if left alone as a ghost in the room?
Normally, Bai Yuhuai would never consider such questions, but the youth had trembled so much just watching a horror movie...
Bai Yuhuai turned back, picked up the remote control, and turned on the TV in the room. After some consideration, he settled on the children's channel as the safest option.
Only after these preparations did he enter the bathroom.
The youth indeed slid off him and curiously went to watch TV.
Bai Yuhuai had just turned on the shower when his phone rang.
He turned his head to glance at it.
It was the director of his next film calling.
Bai Yuhuai dried his hand and answered.
"Hello, I heard the great actor Bai has returned from filming the show, so I thought I'd try my luck with a call," the voice on the other end chuckled.
"Yes, I'm back," Bai Yuhuai replied.
"How's the script reading going? The investor's side has recommended someone, quite an impressive person. They specifically requested to play Cheng Xu. We can't really set up an audition for them. So I was thinking, if everyone's available, we could gather for a script reading session. That way, we can see their line delivery, acting skills, and understanding of the characters, right?" The voice on the other end finished in one breath, clearly having wanted to call Bai Yuhuai for a long time, bursting with impatience.
Bai Yuhuai glanced towards the bathroom door.
He needed to go out.
...He could bring the young man along.
The young man hadn't been in contact with the outside world for many years.
Bai Yuhuai responded, "When?"
"In three days, at 7:30 PM, at the Xuanyuan Tea House."
Bai Yuhuai asked further, "Who's the person recommended by the investor?"
The voice on the other end sighed, "Who else could it be? That idol who's currently at the peak of his popularity, Ding Hanbing."
Bai Yuhuai didn't have any prejudice against idols.
As long as they didn't drag things down, anyone was fine.
Bai Yuhuai ended the call, and twenty minutes later, he walked out of the bathroom.
The young man was engrossed in watching the TV screen, showing no signs of fear at all.
Bai Yuhuai couldn't quite describe the feeling in his heart.
He glanced at the screen.
The young man must have fiddled with the remote control, as the TV was no longer on the children's channel, but showing an online program. It seemed to be some kind of boy group audition show? On the judges' panel sat two of the current top celebrities in the country.
Bai Yuhuai never paid much attention to these things, so he looked away after a quick glance.
Bai Yuhuai raised his hand to dry his hair and called out softly, "Jing Jiujiu."
Jing Jiujiu shuddered in fright.
He stiffly turned his head to see Bai Yuhuai looking down at him.
Jing Jiujiu guiltily slid off the sofa.
How could he see me again?
Doesn't that mean he knows I followed him home?
Is he going to find a master to catch me now?
Jing Jiujiu stood straight next to the sofa, looking like a schoolboy who had done something wrong.
A strand of hair clung to his cheek, making his expression look even more pitiful.
Jing Jiujiu thought to himself, I'm a ghost after all.
Should I scare him by saying I'm going to eat him? Strike first!
This way, he won't ask why I followed him, right?
In just a short moment, Jing Jiujiu had already thought it through in his mind, wondering whether it would be better to bite the arm first or the neck...
Bai Yuhuai said, "Jing Jiujiu, come here, I have something to tell you."
Jing Jiujiu pounced on him, but before he could bite the neck, Bai Yuhuai raised his hand and held him tightly.
...Why does he like being hugged so much?
Bai Yuhuai thought to himself as the towel in his hand fell to the ground.
Jing Jiujiu, unable to move in Bai Yuhuai's grip: ??
Bai Yuhuai asked, "Have you been to the annex building on the right side of your castle?"
Jing Jiujiu was stunned for a moment.
Is that all he's asking?
"No." He had only entered the one on the left side when he followed Bai Yuhuai and the others. He always felt uncomfortable in those places, so he didn't want to explore them.
Bai Yuhuai's tone remained calm: "I found a lot of your things inside. ...Your drawings from childhood to adulthood, your photos, clothes you've worn..."
Jing Jiujiu froze in place.
There were his things inside? And Bai Yuhuai had seen them? Wouldn't that mean he also knew...
Jing Jiujiu: "I'm a ghost."
Bai Yuhuai: "Mm."
Mm? Mm mm mm? That's it? Jing Jiujiu rubbed his head in frustration.
He knew I was a ghost all along!
But he's not afraid of me!
While Jing Jiujiu was still worrying about his dignity, Bai Yuhuai asked, "Do you know who put those things in there?"
Jing Jiujiu's thoughts came to an abrupt halt, and he couldn't help but ponder Bai Yuhuai's question. But then he said uncertainly, "When I was little, my father liked to keep all my things. He said it was for reminiscing in the future."
"Jing Tinghua?"
"No." Jing Jiujiu thought to himself, he really does know everything. Then could he see me before or not? Jing Jiujiu muttered a few words, then said, "I have another father. His name is Yu Ran."
Bai Yuhuai had heard this name before.
About thirty years ago, the Yu Family was quite famous. Their ancestors were said to have been high-ranking officials in some dynasty, then went abroad during the war, and when they returned, they brought a large fortune which they donated to the country.
But later, there was little news about the Yu Family.
Yu Ran... seemed to be the only son of the Yu Family.
"Oh, besides my father, there's one more person who might have..." Jing Jiujiu racked his memory.
"Who?"
Jing Jiujiu said, "He was my neighbor. He used to really like collecting my awards and report cards... His grades were pretty bad." As he said this, Jing Jiujiu's eyes lit up, showing a hint of pride.
Bai Yuhuai paused, then said, "Mm. The person who collected your things and the one who put them in there might not be the same person."
Jing Jiujiu looked at him puzzled: "Is there any difference? Why are you asking this?"
"There is a difference. When I went in, the door was locked with chains and had spells drawn on it. Inside the room, furniture was piled up messily, blocking out the light. Do you know why?" Bai Yuhuai let go of Jing Jiujiu and bent down to pick up the towel.
Jing Jiujiu was clueless: "Why?"
The words reached Bai Yuhuai's lips but were swallowed back.
Should he tell the young man?
Jing Jiujiu, seeing him not speaking, had already been aroused with intense curiosity. He couldn't help but grab Bai Yuhuai's arm again and asked, "Why?"
Bai Yuhuai paused, then said, "When a person's breathing stops and their brain dies, it's biological death. After death, they can still become a ghost and maintain connections with the human world. Their family and friends will worship them and burn paper money for them."
"...There's another kind of death, where after a person dies, they are completely forgotten by people. No one remembers them at all. This means they have completely died and disappeared from this world. Even if they become a ghost, it's very difficult for them to reincarnate, and they easily become wandering spirits, struggling to survive for years before being destroyed by a passing Taoist priest."
Jing Jiujiu shuddered as he listened.
"But a person, whether good or bad, will always have one or two people who remember them after death."
Bai Yuhuai looked at the young man's face, which didn't seem to understand sorrow... In his childhood, he must have grown up surrounded by flowers, wealth, and doting.
So how could he tell the young man -
There was a method where all the things a person had used in their lifetime were placed in a room that didn't see daylight, completely isolated from the outside world, and then sealed with spells. This could cut off the last bit of connection between this person and the mortal world, making everyone in the world forget them.
The arrangement in that building was designed to make people forget him.
Seven years was nothing.
After fourteen years, twenty-eight years, fifty-six years... no one would discover that there was a ghost trapped there, unable to escape.
Jing Jiujiu: "Oh... I understand. The person who put those things there is missing me, right?"
Bai Yuhuai: "...Mm." Bai Yuhuai changed the subject, "Since you've followed me back..."
Jing Jiujiu looked at him nervously.
Bai Yuhuai: "Then stay with me always."
Jing Jiujiu smiled brightly: "Mm mm mm!" His expression was so radiant it was almost impossible to look away.
Bai Yuhuai: "Don't leave me."
Jing Jiujiu: "Mm mm mm!"
Seeing that he was responding half-heartedly, Bai Yuhuai added, "Otherwise, you'll be caught by a Taoist priest."
Jing Jiujiu nodded even more vigorously: "Mm!" He also curled up a bit.
Bai Yuhuai: "I have to go out in three days, you'll come with me."
Jing Jiujiu nodded again.
He wanted to go outside and see too!
"What's the name of your neighbor?" Bai Yuhuai asked.
Jing Tinghua, Yu Ran... and this neighbor, none of them could be overlooked. They all needed to be investigated thoroughly to understand what exactly happened back then.
Jing Jiujiu: "Ding Dabo. Ah, no. That's wrong. That's his nickname. His full name..." Jing Jiujiu tilted his head and thought for a moment, "is Ding Hanbing."
Bai Yuhuai paused.
The Ding Hanbing from the phone call?
Thinking back to when he came out of the bathroom earlier, wasn't Ding Hanbing on the TV screen that Jing Jiujiu was staring at so intently?
Was the young man watching that Ding Hanbing so attentively?
Bai Yuhuai frowned slightly, picked up the remote control and turned off the TV: "Time to sleep."
Jing Jiujiu: "Oh."
He snuggled onto Bai Yuhuai's big bed, saw that Bai Yuhuai's expression hadn't changed, and then crawled under the covers.
What a strange day indeed.
I actually came out!
Why did I come out? ... Is it because I rode on Bai Yuhuai's neck?
Jing Jiujiu burrowed deeper into the blankets.
Well then, I'll have to ride him every day from now on!