Jing Jiujiu circled the villa up and down, inside and out, taking in every detail.
He committed the layout and arrangement to memory.
He had stayed at Bai Yuhuai's house for three days, watching his TV, playing his PS4, sleeping in his bed, and even rummaging through his closet... It was so comfortable he almost didn't want to leave.
But he still remembered that he needed to return to the Jing family.
Jing Jiujiu secretly used Bai Yuhuai's computer to look up directions to the Jing family home, and even copied them down on a piece of paper.
Then he started to leave Bai Yuhuai's villa... walk... but he couldn't move?
Just as Jing Jiujiu reached the gate of the residential area, he felt a powerful pulling force, as if trying to drag him back to the mountain where the castle was located.
Jing Jiujiu had to stop, standing on that invisible line.
Go out!
Come back!
He tried several times, back and forth, before finally dejectedly confirming:
He couldn't leave this place.
Or rather... he couldn't leave Bai Yuhuai?
It seemed Bai Yuhuai had become his new vessel, an invisible thread tying the two of them tightly together.
Jing Jiujiu let out a soft sigh and turned back.
It's alright, as long as he could go out with Bai Yuhuai, there would be a way to see the Jing family again.
Bai Yuhuai didn't know about his little excursion. He put the jewel box in the drawer, then took off his outer clothes and drew a new symbol on his back.
Only then did he pick up the script and call downstairs to Jing Jiujiu: "Let's go."
Jing Jiujiu nodded and climbed onto Bai Yuhuai's back as usual.
Bai Yuhuai seemed to want to say something but held back.
The manager was already waiting outside with the car. When they reached the car door, Jing Jiujiu conscientiously climbed in by himself.
The assistant and manager were completely unaware of the ghost in the car. The assistant curiously asked, "Why did Brother Bai suddenly decide to stay over there? Should we hire another housekeeper for Brother Bai?"
Bai Yuhuai: "No need."
Jing Jiujiu couldn't help but lean close to his ear and ask, "Do you have other houses?"
Bai Yuhuai took out his phone to type and show him: "Yes. Another house, not suitable for you to live in."
Jing Jiujiu: "Oh." It sounded like the man had already planned to have him move in.
Bai Yuhuai's other regularly inhabited house was filled with feng shui and evil-repelling objects, as well as things like talismans and bagua diagrams.
Jing Jiujiu would cry out in pain as soon as he entered.
Bai Yuhuai was a man of few words, and the rest of the car ride passed in silence.
They soon arrived at the Xuanyuan Tea House, where luxury cars were already discreetly parked outside.
As soon as Bai Yuhuai got out of the car, he frowned: "There are paparazzi."
The manager immediately turned around: "I'll handle it. Xiao Li, you carry Brother Bai's things."
"Alright!"
It was Jing Jiujiu's first time seeing such a scene. He didn't ride on Bai Yuhuai's neck this time, just following behind him curiously taking in everything.
After entering, several people came up to greet them at once, calling out: "Brother Bai." "The great actor Bai is here." "Come, please sit over here."
Jing Jiujiu asked softly: "Who are all these people?"
Bai Yuhuai typed on his phone again: "Last year's Golden Horse Best Actress, Tao He. Veteran stage actor, Yin Jian, Meng Hexin..."
Jing Jiujiu vaguely recognized two familiar faces among them. He had seen them in TV dramas when he was young! There was one character he particularly liked! He would stay up until midnight every night just to watch.
Jing Jiujiu smacked his lips: "Can I get an autograph?"
Bai Yuhuai paused, then typed: "Who do you like?"
"Meng Hexin."
Bai Yuhuai: "I acted with him in 'Red Sun'."
Jing Jiujiu replied mercilessly: "Never saw it."
Bai Yuhuai: "..."
Jing Jiujiu asked: "Are there any Taoist priests here?"
Bai Yuhuai assumed he was just being timid, so he answered: "No."
Jing Jiujiu nodded: "Then I can relax."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jing Jiujiu vanished.
Bai Yuhuai's fingers suddenly tightened around his phone.
Meanwhile, the others were also puzzled.
How come it felt like Bai Yuhuai had changed a bit after participating in that reality show? Take this phone, for instance - it was rare to see him playing with it before.
The guide couldn't help but ask with a smile: "Did the trip wear you out, Actor Bai?"
Actress Tao commented from the side: "That can't be right? Back when Brother Bai was filming Director Yuan's movie, we'd shoot for sixteen hours a day. Everyone else was exhausted, but Brother Bai was still full of energy."
Bai Yuhuai, however, seemed a bit distracted.
For the script reading session, they had reserved the entire tea house, with everyone gathered in the main hall.
At this moment, Jing Jiujiu walked out of the bathroom.
His soul had solidified.
A passing waiter even glanced at him.
Everyone could see him now.
Jing Jiujiu winked at him, then walked over. The bodyguards and assistants standing guard instinctively blocked him.
The guide was stunned for a moment, then turned to ask: "Who's that?" "Is he a newcomer in the industry?"
Others were also somewhat surprised: "Haven't- haven't seen him before." Meng Hexin added: "He's quite handsome, could play the little prince in Director Chen's play..."
Hearing this, Bai Yuhuai immediately spoke up: "He came with me."
Then he stood up and walked over.
Seeing him, the bodyguards and assistant immediately realized it was someone he knew and let Jing Jiujiu through.
Bai Yuhuai lowered his voice, with a somewhat gritted teeth quality: "Aren't you afraid people will pass through you?"
Jing Jiujiu: "Touch me and see."
Bai Yuhuai's steps faltered. He turned to look at Jing Jiujiu, only to find the youth's expression pure, without any other implications. He had overthought it. Bai Yuhuai reached out and grabbed Jing Jiujiu's wrist.
It felt smooth to the touch.
Bai Yuhuai's heart skipped a beat.
Back in the castle, he thought it was because he had used his special ability that he was able to pick up the youth when he materialized.
But now it seemed... that wasn't the case.
The youth had become even more powerful as a ghost than he had imagined.
It's just that the youth himself was unaware of it.
If he were a confused and violent ghost, anyone who entered the castle would have a hard time getting out alive.
He had released a powerful ghost with his own hands.
Bai Yuhuai looked at Jing Jiujiu.
Jing Jiujiu winked at him again: "Shall we go?"
A powerful yet innocent ghost.
Bai Yuhuai composed his thoughts: "Mm."
Jing Jiujiu followed Bai Yuhuai over and obediently sat down next to him. The others exchanged glances, secretly marveling. Damn, where did Bai Yuhuai find such an obedient one?
Seeing that everyone was quiet for a moment, Jing Jiujiu first greeted them, then asked Meng Hexin for an autograph.
Meng Hexin was a bit flattered, quickly tearing off a piece of paper and quickly writing his signature for him.
Jing Jiujiu carefully folded it.
Bai Yuhuai took it from him with an expressionless face: "I'll keep it for you."
Jing Jiujiu: ?
"Okay." Jing Jiujiu figured it made sense - when he became transparent again, he wouldn't be able to keep the item on him.
Everyone was inevitably curious about who he was, asking about his age and whether he had signed with an agency.
Before Jing Jiujiu could open his mouth, Bai Yuhuai answered all the questions one by one.
Seeing this, no one dared to ask what the relationship between the two was.
At this point, someone interjected: "What time is it? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"
The guide also couldn't help but frown: "Being late should have its limits. I don't care how others pamper him and let him be late, but today..."
"Let's start first," Bai Yuhuai spoke up.
With him saying so, everyone felt reassured.
The guide's brow relaxed: "Alright, then let's begin. Come on, let's do a first read-through like this..."
Outside the Xuanyuan Tea House, a black minivan came to a stop.
Inside the car was a young man wearing a black t-shirt with a brown leather collar around his neck. His hair was dyed silver-gray and tied back, his handsome features mixed with a hint of violence.
He looked as if he hadn't slept well for over ten days.
"You're late today. I heard from the guide that Bai Yuhuai is coming too. If you still want to be able to act properly in the future, don't provoke him," the manager across from him said in a low voice. "When we get inside, apologize sincerely first. Whatever you do, don't make the situation too awkward..."
The young man responded impatiently, instinctively touching the leather collar on his neck.
The agent glanced at the leather collar, which looked like it had been almost worn out by the man's constant touching, yet he still refused to replace it. Last time, when it went missing during a costume change on set, he had flown into a rage.
Oh well... the agent tried to console himself. Doesn't the famous "Ice Emperor" actor always wear that same bracelet? Fans and media even praise him for being sentimental and loyal because of it. Though judging by his cold demeanor, the agent couldn't see how he was sentimental at all.
The assistant got out first and opened the door. Then the agent followed behind the man as they entered the teahouse together.
Upon entering, the server blushed at the sight of him, clearly a fan. The agent was about to tell him to smile at her, instead of keeping that stern face, but the man had already stridden past without so much as a glance.
"Ah, Ding Hanbing is here," Tao He raised his head from the sofa.
Bai Yuhuai held onto his script, not even lifting his gaze.
The others glanced at him and followed suit, remaining still.
The young man halted in his tracks.
From behind, the agent gritted his teeth: "Boss! Big bro! What did we talk about in the car? You need to greet the 'Ice Emperor' first! And apologize too!"
The young man stood transfixed, staring at the sofa.
Most of the people here were celebrities, each dazzling and attractive. But they couldn't outshine the youth on the sofa.
The warm yellow light of the teahouse cascaded down onto the boy in the suit, who sat quietly leaning against the sofa. His slightly curled black hair clung to his cheeks, accentuating his snow-white skin.
He was so beautiful, he hardly seemed real.
For a moment, it was as if he'd been transported back to that birthday party seven years ago.
Am I about to die?
After living in a daze for over twenty years, is it finally time to die?
The young man's breathing quickened.
The agent grew more anxious, pinching him from behind, snapping him out of his reverie.
Having regained his composure, the young man walked directly to Jing Jiujiu.
"Jing Jiujiu," he called softly.
His voice was cautious, filled with disbelief.
The agent was dumbfounded, as were the others. Even Bai Yuhuai finally put down his script, raising his eyes to coldly stare at him.
"I'm Ding Hanbing," he said.
Jing Jiujiu had noticed Ding Hanbing the moment he entered.
He was barely recognizable now.
His appearance had changed so drastically from before that Jing Jiujiu had only glanced at him once before turning back to look at Bai Yuhuai's script. That was more interesting anyway.
Now, hearing his voice, Jing Jiujiu's lips moved, but he didn't acknowledge him.
Everyone knew he was dead.
And... who had placed that fish tank? It remained a mystery.
So Jing Jiujiu merely tilted his head and said, "Hm?"
Seeing Jing Jiujiu's distant, unfamiliar expression, Ding Hanbing was enveloped by overwhelming anxiety. He bent down and grabbed Jing Jiujiu's wrist.
It's real.
It's really him!
Ding Hanbing's temples throbbed. "I'm Ding Hanbing," he repeated.
He fell to his knees with a thud, veins bulging in his neck, gripping Jing Jiujiu's hand both forcefully and gently.
The agent watched as two streams of tears rolled down his face.
"I tried so hard," Ding Hanbing said hoarsely. "I wrote your name in notebooks, in books, carved it on my collar, tattooed it on my body... but I still forgot. Why did I forget? How could I forget?"
"Jing Jiujiu, I'm Ding Hanbing."
"Do you still remember me?"
Everyone turned to look in shock.
Oh shit!
Looking at Bai Yuhuai's face, it had turned cold enough to freeze.