GHOST 1
Chapter 1: An Absolute Ghost Marriage
The Zhang family, the wealthiest in Luocheng, was seeking a spouse for their eldest young master. The requirements were staggering.
First, the candidate must be male.
Second, their birth characters^ must be compatible.
八字 (Bā Zì): The Eight Characters / Four Pillars of Destiny. A key concept in Chinese astrology, based on the year, month, day, and hour of birth. Used for fortune-telling and determining compatibility, especially for marriage.
Third, there were extremely specific demands regarding facial features: eyebrows shaped like swords, slightly upturned at the ends, with the space between them fitting a coin. Eyes like bright stars, clear and spirited, with distinct black and white, and slightly upturned at the corners. A nose bridge straight as a mountain ridge with full wings. Upturned corners of the mouth with rosy color. A full and high forehead, slightly prominent cheekbones, a jawline that is both strong and sharp…
These requirements were complex to the point of being tyrannical, and even feudal to the extent of leaving one speechless.
Netizens who saw this couldn't help but say, "What is this? Is a feudal traditional family trying to marry a male bride? Are they sick in the head?"
However, when everyone read the final item, "Bride price cash: 8,888,888," they were momentarily shocked. "Is this cash? Not a Wi-Fi password?"
And when they saw the additional note "Jewelry, cars, and property are negotiable. Sincere candidates only, no prenup required", public opinion instantly flipped. "Well, of course an elite family would have high standards. Totally reasonable!"
Thus, a long queue formed at the Zhang family's marriage recruitment office.
Hard requirements like gender and birth chart were naturally used to filter resumes upfront. As for facial features, it was harder to say, because photos attached to resumes could be highly photoshopped. Never mind a physiognomy of wealth and nobility, even a Martian's face could be faked. They still had to see the person in real life.
The Zhang family's marriage interviewer wore a stern face, quickly interviewing and filtering people, his tone cold and severe, "Please participate in the interview without makeup. Next."
"BB cream doesn’t count as bare-faced. Next."
"Forehead is full but it’s an implant. Next."
"Indeed sword-shaped eyebrows, but they're semi-permanent, estimated to smudge in five years. Next."
"Sword brows, star eyes—check. Full forehead—check. Nose bridge—check. Lips—check." The examiner paused. "But your sclera isn’t pure enough. We need cold, porcelain-white whites with zero redness. Thanks. Next."
The remaining candidates collectively shuddered. At this point, only a custom 3D model could meet these standards!
To be honest, even the examiner privately thought the requirements were excessive. But the Zhang patriarch’s instructions were hyper-specific, so he had no choice.
Just as the interviewer was beginning to lose hope, a candidate named Bai Qing stood before him.
When the interviewer saw this person, even his flawless professional expression revealed a trace of astonishment. How could anyone be so perfect!
Bai Qing was practically a walking template. He had sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, a full forehead, a straight nose bridge, even his eyeballs were as clear as glass marbles, uniform in color, the whites not only lacking red veins but even the slightest hint of blue or yellow, like the purest... something, shimmering with a captivating luster under the light.
The queued candidates, seeing his appearance, felt all hope vanish, consciously accepting their elimination: How could someone look so standard!
Was he sculpted by Nuwa?^
Nuwa is a goddess in Chinese mythology who created humanity. A modern internet meme praising someone's perfect looks, implying they were personally and carefully crafted by a deity, not mass-produced
Bai Qing thought: No, not by Nuwa, but by my control-freak Shifu.
Ten years ago, his Shifu^ traveled around, observed the earth's veins, and deduced that a certain desolate mountain contained a rare spiritual object. Overjoyed, thinking it was something like a millennium-old ginseng, he took a shovel and dug and dug and dug.
师父/MasterHe dug up a slumbering living corpse.
Shifu: Achoo! Ugh!
Although it was unlucky, his Shifu felt that since he had dug the person out, he couldn't just bury them back. He took the scattered and broken Bai Qing home, pieced him together, and used magic to awaken him.
—————— At this point, Shifu would usually recall nostalgically, "When I dug you out, you were all tattered and beyond recognition. I spent who knows how many treasures and spiritual energy to repair you. You must take good care of your master in return!"
Bai Qing thought, "Beyond recognition"? Wasn't I probably ripped apart by your shovel in the first place?
Bai Qing said, "Shifu's great kindness and virtue, I dare not forget for a lifetime!"
Shifu studied Bai Qing and asked, "You really can't remember how you came to be buried in that desolate mountain?"
"I don't remember," Bai Qing replied.
"Living corpses are inherently incomplete in soul, and having slumbered too long, forgetting the past is common," Shifu sighed. "But, to refine a living person into such a vivid and lifelike, flesh-and-blood living corpse, the refiner not only needed extraordinary cultivation but also had to expend countless treasures and effort. Such methods are far beyond ordinary people. Since that's the case, why wasn't there even a decent coffin, just a rough mat rolled around you, burying you in such a wild, desolate place for so many years?"
Hearing this, Bai Qing couldn't help but feel a bit doubtful too.
He frowned, trying to salvage fragments of memory in his mind, but only netted a vast emptiness.
His Shifu didn't pursue the matter further, only saying, "However, since I dug you out, it's our fate. You follow me."
Bai Qing didn't raise any objections.
Shifu thought again, "You should also have a name. Any ideas?"
Bai Qing answered, "I can't remember my name either. But since my mind is a blank slate, having forgotten the past, why not just call me 'Bai Qing'?^
Bai = white/blank, Qing = feeling/situation, implying 'blank slate' or 'no past feelings')
And so, Bai Qing traveled around with his Shifu.
For convenience, the two presented themselves as uncle and nephew to outsiders, and ten years passed this way.
Bai Qing went from being completely unfamiliar with the world to, after ten years, adapting to modern society. From not even knowing how to type on a phone and relying on voice input, he now could type with flying fingers, martially capable of 1v5 at Honor of Kings rank in games, intellectually capable of writing highly upvoted comments roasting idiots online.
He had perfectly integrated into modern society, no different from most ordinary modern youths. He was proficient in using tech products, able to speak foreign languages and use internet slang, with diverse interests, broad horizons, and... well, stingy but loving money.
Although Bai Qing wasn't exactly a living person, that didn't mean he didn't spend money. He didn't need to eat or drink, but he still very much enjoyed fine food and loved beautiful clothes and accessories. This point could be explained.
Shifu had said, "I think you were buried so hastily, without burial objects, not even a coffin. Such corpses are more likely to develop obsessions with material possessions.”
Thus, the money-loving Bai Qing, upon seeing the Zhang family's marriage notice, discussed it with Shifu, "What do you think of this?"
Shifu frowned. "This richest family demanding these things... Could they be engaging in feudal superstitious activities?"
Bai Qing: Hearing the words "feudal superstition" from a Taoist master's mouth always feels strange.
Bai Qing rubbed his nose. "If I were to apply, I'd definitely be number one, right?"
It wasn't Bai Qing boasting, but that's indeed how it was.
First requirement, male. Bai Qing could guarantee no problem there.
The birth chart matter wasn't hard to solve. He had always used a false identity roaming the world, and Shifu naturally had ways to get him a birth chart certificate that perfectly matched the Zhang family's requirements.
As for facial features, Bai Qing was originally a faceless living corpse. Paired with Shifu's skillful hands, not just a handsome male face, even a Doraemon face could be molded.
His Shifu, however, said, “A wealthy family asking for all this... There’s definitely something fishy going on. Why should we wade through this murky water?”
Bai Qing turned the page and pointed to the last line. "Bride price cash 8,888,888.Jewelry, cars, and property are negotiable. Sincere candidates only, no prenup required."
Shifu immediately looked full of righteous conviction. "This Zhang family matter is suspicious. As inheritors of our sect, righteous Taoist masters, how can we stand by idly? You quickly infiltrate and see what's really going on!"
With Shifu's help in cheating, Bai Qing indeed emerged from the selection process unsurprisingly, winning the final qualification to be the eldest young master's bride in the Zhang family, the richest in Luocheng.
However, before formally entering the Zhang family, Bai Qing still needed to pass a one-month test of etiquette and culture courses.
He originally thought it would be a course on modern social etiquette, like table manners, social conversation, etc. Unexpectedly, what they studied were rituals for sacrifices and offerings.
After this course ended, the etiquette teacher said, "You have one day of free time. Tomorrow, the Zhang family will send someone to formally escort you to move into the ancestral residence in preparation for the wedding."
After speaking, the etiquette teacher also took a cash cheque for 8,888,888 from his pocket and handed it to Bai Qing with both hands, saying, "Please accept it graciously."
It was very hard for Bai Qing not to accept it graciously. The corners of his mouth could barely be suppressed.
Perhaps Shifu's theory was correct. Bai Qing, buried hastily wrapped in a mat, having no possessions, only a set of clothes buried with him, thus developed a strong obsession with luxurious clothing.
When he saw nice clothes or accessories, he would stare fixedly, as if possessed by a crow.
But these obsessions of his were hard to satisfy, because following Shifu to make a living didn't require nice things.
He had endured ten bitter years of surging material desires but having no money. Now, holding a huge sum, stepping into a mall, he somewhat had the air of "don't bully the youth for being poor."
Bai Qing originally thought he would be drawn to a clothing store first, but instead, he found himself sitting down in a shoe store.
Bai Qing sat on the soft sofa, listening to the sales assistant introduce how exceptional these shoes were, from the type of top-grade calfskin used, to the number of steps in the meticulous hand-stitching process, to the lining that spared no cost, pursuing only the most expensive materials…
Listening to these advertisement-like descriptions, Bai Qing didn't really feel much. They're just a pair of shoes, how great can they be?
But when he slipped his feet into those shoes, he suddenly had a brand new sensation.
It was as if a warm force enveloped his feet. The shoes were softer than imagined. He was astonished to discover he had never worn such comfortable and beautiful shoes in his life that he was almost moved to tears. He really hadn't expected to look so cheap over a pair of shoes.
When he was with his Shifu, he only wore extremely cheap sneakers. Occasionally, when occasions required leather shoes, he only got to wear faux leather shoes, with poor material and unfit shape, stuffy and pinching. Now, wearing truly good leather shoes for the first time, Bai Qing was almost convinced that not only had he been a poor ghost for the past ten years, but he must have been an ultra-miserable poor ghost before death too, the kind who never even wore a pair of well-fitting leather shoes.
"I'm too pathetic......" Bai Qing almost shed tears for himself.
Seeing Bai Qing’s complicated expression, the sales assistant looked confused.
“Excuse me… is there something wrong with these shoes?”
“No, no, nothing wrong at all, they’re just too right!” Bai Qing exclaimed. “They’re so soft and fit so perfectly. It doesn’t even feel like I’m wearing shoes, it’s like I’ve got two octopuses hugging my feet!”
The sales assistant heard such a description for the first time and chuckled, saying, "Then... would you like to take a pair?"
Bai Qing asked, "How much are these shoes?"
The sales assistant gently replied, "This is our store's limited edition. The price is seventeen thousand eight hundred."
Bai Qing: ......... The poor ghost was shocked.
Although carrying a huge sum, a poor ghost is still a poor ghost. Spending over ten thousand on a pair of shoes made him hesitate.
Just then, a voice sounded behind him, "This, this, this, this............"
Bai Qing thought: Huh? Does this person have a stutter?
Bai Qing curiously turned to look and confirmed the customer who entered the store wasn't stuttering.
He was a young master draped head to toe in designer brands. His fingers tapped rapidly, almost like playing whack-a-mole, across several pairs of leather shoes on the display shelves. Still unsatisfied, his gaze finally landed on the pair by Bai Qing’s feet. He pointed again and said, with casual arrogance, “And that pair too. I’ll take them all. Have them packed and sent to my home.”
“Of course, Young Master Chen,” the sales assistant attending to him replied, completely unfazed. Clearly, this sort of thing happened often.
The saleslady beside Bai Qing, however, looked uneasy. “But… this pair might be the only one available in all of Luocheng—”
“Even better,” Young Master Chen cut her off smoothly. “I don’t want anyone else wearing the same shoes as me.”
The saleslady hesitated, then glanced over at Bai Qing.
Bai Qing then said to Young Master Chen, "Sorry, I saw these shoes first. I've already decided to buy them."
Young Master Chen scanned Bai Qing's head-to-toe street stall goods, as if offended by the poor smell, he turned his head away slightly. "Then I'll give you twenty thousand, you let me have them."
Bai Qing was a bit angry.
He was angry that he actually felt tempted.
—————— Damn it! I'm already part of the undead rich now, how can I still be so spineless!
To give up my beloved for twenty thousand!
At least raise the price to a hundred thousand!
Bai Qing then deliberately put on a disagreeable expression. "Twenty thousand? Then I'll give you thirty thousand, you give them to me!"
Sure enough, this Young Master Chen couldn't be provoked and was instantly ignited with competitive spirit. "I'll give you fifty thousand!"
Bai Qing was overjoyed inwardly, rubbing his hands. "I'll give you sixty thousand!"
Young Master Chen raised his hand angrily. "A hundred thousand!"
This hit Bai Qing's psychological price point. He was just hesitating whether to agree immediately or press his advantage, when the store manager came out and said, "What are you two doing?"
"Manager, what's wrong?" The assistants were confused.
The manager, while serving tea to Bai Qing, said, "Can't you see who this imposing, noble young master is?"
Young Master Chen sneered. "This is imposing and noble? I think you're blind!"
The manager slapped his thigh. "This is the fiancée of the Zhang family's eldest young master!”
Everyone heard this and immediately regarded Bai Qing with great respect. Young Master Chen's face turned red and white upon hearing this. Finally, unwillingly, he said, "Fine, considering the Zhang family's face, I'm willing to accept your sixty thousand. The shoes are yours." After saying this, Young Master Chen was so angry he almost cried, as if accepting this sixty thousand was a huge humiliation for him.
This sudden plot twist stunned Bai Qing. "Huh? What?"
The sales lady also looked nervous for failing to recognize someone important, saying to Bai Qing, "So it's the Zhang family's eldest young mistress! No wonder your taste is so exceptional!"
Bai Qing couldn't accept this sudden change at all, but under everyone's gaze, he could only brace himself and keep smiling.
Because he discovered that although he was a super evincibly dead poor ghost, his nature was actually quite concerned with face. In such a situation, he actually stiffened his scalp and transferred sixty thousand to Young Master Chen, then swiped his card to buy the eighteen-thousand-yuan shoes.
Having spent so much money all at once, Bai Qing felt like he had donated 600cc of blood in one go. His face was pale, his steps unsteady as he left the store, muttering to himself, This couldn't be a luxury store's "pig-butchering scam", deliberately tricking me, could it?^
杀猪盘 (Shā Zhū Pán): A type of long-term romance scam where the victim (the "pig") is fattened with affection before being financially slaughtered.[/tn]
Bai Qing walked to the elevator lobby, planning to catch his breath, when he saw Young Master Chen storming over.
Before Bai Qing understood what was happening, Young Master Chen threw a cheque in his face.
Bai Qing took it and looked. Wow! One hundred and sixty thousand!
Bai Qing's heart blossomed with joy instantly, blinking as he looked at Young Master Chen.
Young Master Chen fumed and scolded, "Who do you think you are? Just now, with many people around, I was embarrassed to say it. But I'm telling you, don't think just because you're marrying into the Zhang family, you can be arrogant and look down on everyone!"
Bai Qing truly couldn’t be bothered with anyone at the moment. He had absolutely no intention of even glancing at Young Master Chen, focusing solely on checking whether the filled-out sections of the cheque had any mistakes.
Seeing Bai Qing really not even glance at him, Young Master Chen got even angrier, raising his voice, "I've seen plenty of trash like you who try to climb the social ladder by marriage!"
Bai Qing: ......... Really? Someone like me, you probably really haven't seen.
"Here's the money, give me the shoes!" Young Master Chen snatched the shopping bag from Bai Qing's hand, saying, "If you dare speak of this, you're dead!"
Bai Qing said shamelessly, "How about giving me a bit more hush money, then I definitely won't tell."
Young Master Chen was stunned for a moment, probably not expecting this reaction from Bai Qing.
But seeing Bai Qing's handsome face, coupled with an innocent expression, wearing these 9.9 yuan delivered clothes, it had a kind of delicate and pitiable air.
Young Master Chen suddenly felt a bit soft-hearted, saying, "You... you're really short on money?"
Seeing that Young Master Chen was susceptible to this, Bai Qing quickly squeezed out tears. "To be honest, I have no parents, I'm an orphan. I've lived all these years, but this is the first time I've worn leather shoes............ Sob... I know I'm very shameful too……………"
Young Master Chen didn't expect Bai Qing's tears to come so readily. Hearing Bai Qing talk about his orphan background, he was even more surprised. His face turned red and white again, feeling somewhat at a loss. In the end, he stuffed the shopping bag back into Bai Qing's hands, saying, "So unlucky! I don't want these shoes anymore, you take them."
"What about this cheque?" Bai Qing waved the cheque in his hand.
"You keep that too!" Young Master Chen waved his hand, then looked at Bai Qing with a gaze full of pity. "You... you're from out of town, right? You should... inquire more about the Zhang family's affairs... Their family isn't what it seems. I'm afraid you'll regret it later!"
Bai Qing looked genuinely curious. “What do you mean? Since we’ve run into each other by chance, why don’t you tell me about it while you’re at it?”
Young Master Chen pursed his lips, ultimately didn't say anything, just gave Bai Qing an annoyed glare, and strode away quickly.
Bai Qing thought for a while, feeling he still needed to go back and report the situation to Shifu.
Bai Qing turned right, went out, found another large market, spent a huge sum to buy a pair of 200-yuan leather shoes, put them into the luxury shoe box, and then painfully stuffed the pair of high-end shoes worth eighteen thousand into the large market paper box, which was as scarred as a young girl's first love.
After this bit of switching the real for the fake and passing off fish eyes as pearls, he carried the two bags to Shifu's current residence.
Shifu was also a stingy one. Coming to Luocheng, he couldn't bear to stay in a hotel or anything, and directly found a haunted house to live in. The original owner of this haunted house had died, the next owner had also died, five people died in three years. The large house was left empty.
As soon as Shifu heard about this, he quickly brought Bai Qing to move in with their bags.
When Bai Qing carried the two shoe boxes into the house, he saw Shifu lying on the floor scrolling through his phone.
Shifu always said he was getting old, but his appearance didn't show it. His well-defined face bore few traces of age, making it hard to guess his real age.
Bai Qing had just run back under the sun. As soon as he entered the house, he was hit by a body-full of cold air. He couldn't help but be curious, "Shifu, isn't this house unmanaged, without electricity? Why is the air conditioning so cold?"
"Electricity? What electricity?" Shifu continued scrolling his phone, not looking up. "I beat up the evil spirit in the house and made him burst with resentment. Isn't the house nice and cool now?"
Bai Qing froze, turned around, and opened the kitchen door—sure enough, there stood the evil spirit, cold air seeping off its entire body, holding a huge watermelon and two cans of Coke.
——————— So he's using it as both an air conditioner and a freezer.
Bai Qing retreated from the kitchen and cupped his hands in respect to his Shifu. "My admiration for Shifu is as endless as this fierce ghost's resentment."
His Shifu waved his hand, indicating it was nothing special. His gaze fell on the bags in Bai Qing's hands, his face lighting up with a smile. "What's this?"
Bai Qing said, "I saw how hard Shifu works, so I bought you new shoes."
"That's really too kind. It wouldn't be good for me to take them all." Shifu snatched the luxury shopping bag, then pointed at the large market shopping bag. "This brand suits young people better, you keep it for yourself."
Bai Qing: ......... Hmph, I knew it.
Seeing Shifu about to open the box, Bai Qing quickly coughed and said, "Shifu, never mind the shoes for now, I have more important things to tell you!"
Shifu put down the box and asked Bai Qing, "Go ahead."
Bai Qing pulled Shifu to sit down together, saying, "Today at the mall, I met a rich young master. He warned me that the Zhang family is strange, told me to inquire more, and said the Zhang family isn't what we think... What does that mean?"
"What's there to guess? Heavy bride price, only looking at the birth chart, with these two elements combined, there's definitely a problem." Shifu knocked on the table. "Shifu doesn't even need to inquire. 80% percent it's a ghost marriage."
"So it's just a ghost marriage." Bai Qing breathed a sigh of relief. "You scared me, I thought their family was going bankrupt."
Shifu said, “Right—when the time comes, they might as well just bury you alive. Fitting, really, since that’s your line of work anyway. Consider it a perfect professional match. You’re not exactly earning this money dishonestly.”
Bai Qing and Shifu nodded repeatedly, both feeling relieved.
Shifu, however, intentionally or not, brought up the distribution of the bride price. "Child, there's so much money, I'm afraid you can't handle it. Who knows what will happen once you enter the Zhang family. How about letting Shifu keep it safe for you?"
"Ah, talking about money is too vulgar," Bai Qing immediately teared up. "Actually, I've always been very grateful to Shifu. For the past ten years, only letting me eat one meal a month, tempering my will............"
Shifu looked embarrassed. "Living corpses don't need to eat. Shifu is doing it for your own good. Your digestive system is dead so even if you eat, you still need spiritual energy to metabolize and pass gas, it's too tiring."
"Yes, so I'm really grateful to Shifu." Bai Qing's grateful tears shimmered uncontrollably. "On -18 degree days, Shifu made me wear a T-shirt to go downstairs for takeout and pick up packages. Surely that was also to keep my corpse fresh. Truly thoughtful and considerate."
Shifu: ...........He’s not just a Yin-Yang living corpse, but also a master of sarcasm.
Shifu thought this disciple was not only a living corpse but also a miser. He couldn't squeeze two coins out of him, so he had to give up resentfully. But thinking about it, he was still a bit unhappy. Tossing and turning unable to sleep in the middle of the night, he opened the luxury shoe box and found it actually contained cheap shoes.
He grew even angrier. His temper flaring up, he went to the kitchen, pulled out the evil spirit, and beat it up again. But let's leave that aside for now.
Early the next morning, Bai Qing received a text from the etiquette teacher. "Respected Mr. Bai, the driver and I have arrived at the address you provided."
Bai Qing remembered he was going to the Zhang family today. He got up, wanting to say goodbye to his Shifu first, but saw his Shifu busy trying to hang the evil spirit on the ceiling fan, saying the cool air would be more evenly distributed that way.
Bai Qing trusted Shifu's experience in this area, so naturally had nothing to say. He hurried downstairs and saw a luxury car already parked below. The etiquette teacher was standing beside the car.
During the etiquette culture class, the etiquette teacher wore a long gown, looking quite elegant. But wearing that by the roadside seemed a bit out of place. Bai Qing couldn't help but scrutinize this etiquette teacher. His facial features were distinct, his face full, rich in collagen, without a single fine line, looking very young. But Bai Qing faintly felt he wasn't that young.
Bai Qing suddenly remembered something and said to the etiquette teacher, "I don't think I know your name yet?"
The etiquette teacher said, "My name is Ying Zhili."^
his name is 应知礼 which literally means “ought to know etiquette” and his job is an etiquette teacher lmao
Bai Qing: This....... this name's match with your profession is too high, so high it feels like it was made up on the spot to fool me.
Ying Zhili's gaze swept over the doors and windows of the haunted house, then quickly returned to Bai Qing's face. "Is that your temporary residence?"
Bai Qing rubbed his nose. "Well... I'm really strapped for cash. I gave all the money you gave me yesterday to my family... I heard this place lets people stay for free. I thought, save where I can............" As he spoke, Bai Qing put on a delicate and pitiable look. "Am I too shabby, disgracing the Zhang family?"
"How could that be? Who doesn't have difficult times? Moreover, you're so filial it's truly touching." Ying Zhili paused slightly, looked towards the doors and windows of the haunted house, and asked again, "Then, have you heard why this house is offered for free?"
"I think they said it's a haunted house." Bai Qing looked completely unconcerned. "It's fine, my fate has always been very hard. I've never been afraid of these things!"
Ying Zhili heard this, was silent for a moment, didn't continue the topic, just nodded lightly, and politely invited Bai Qing to get in the car.
The car soon left the city center and arrived at the Zhang family's ancestral home.
The Zhang family was a century-old lineage. Their ancestral residence was, of course, a traditional garden estate—upturned eaves and carved beams, painted rafters, blue bricks and black tiles—its weathered grace exuding a deep, steady sense of history.
Ying Zhili led Bai Qing through the winding covered corridors, arriving outside the reception hall, but Ying Zhili stopped. He didn't follow in. Instead, an elderly, white-haired housekeeper came forward and invited Bai Qing inside.
Bai Qing nodded to Ying Zhili and followed the old housekeeper into the living room.
Inside the living room, a couple sat in the main seats. It was the Zhang family's Zhang Shuizhi and her husband, Tong Yiwen.
Bai Qing's impression of wealthy families came entirely from movies and TV shows, so he was somewhat stereotypically expecting to see dazzlingly dressed, arrogant rich ladies and gentlemen.
To his surprise, Zhang Shuizhi looked remarkably kind. She was dressed loosely and comfortably, a plain shawl draped around her shoulders. Her hair was casually tied up, a few wisps falling over her forehead and eyes that gleamed with life, and fine wrinkles, untouched by Botox. She smiled often, the faint lines deepening with each expression, but she clearly didn’t mind them at all. Beaming, she said, “Good child, come, let me have a look at you.”
Bai Qing stepped forward. "Ms. Zhang, hello, I'm Bai Qing."
Zhang Shuizhi leaned closer to examine Bai Qing's face, a flash of amazement in her expression. "What a handsome child." As she spoke, she turned her gaze to her husband, "Ah Wen, isn't that right?"
Tong Yiwen nodded repeatedly.
Tong Yiwen looked at least ten years younger than Zhang Shuizhi, but still not exactly young. Although his skin tone was excellent, without wrinkles, it was completely apparent that it was the combined effect of meticulous upkeep and expensive cosmetic procedures.
He maintained a perfectly angled smile towards Zhang Shuizhi. "Yes, Shuizhi, this child is too good-looking. A perfect match for the eldest young master."
Zhang Shuizhi nodded slightly, then took Bai Qing's hand. The center of her eyebrows twitched slightly. "Good child, why are your hands so cold?"
Bai Qing opened his mouth and started his story, "Because I lost my parents when I was young……………"
Before Bai Qing could get to his tragic story of digging for wild vegetables in winter at age eight, which left his hands and feet cold for half his life, Zhang Shuizhi was already crying bitterly, as if saying "No need to make it up, skip the process, I'll cry directly."
Seeing Zhang Shuizhi in tears, Tong Yiwen hurriedly wiped his own eyes as well. He seemed to still be recovering from some cosmetic procedure, so his crying carried a kind of comical smiling-through-the-pain look.
“What a poor child,” Zhang Shuizhi said softly, taking out a jadeite bracelet and pressing it into Bai Qing’s hand. “Here, take this, good child. It’s a family heirloom. Jade nourishes the skin, replenishes blood and energy. It suits you perfectly.”
“This is too much!” Bai Qing protested politely, even as he held the bracelet up to the light to inspect it. He watched as the jadeite seemed to come alive beneath the light, its clarity exquisite, the texture crystalline, like a deep, flowing spring.
Yet within that near-perfect emerald green ran a faint, unusual trace of red—thin as a strand of silk, winding delicately through the stone, like blood weeping beneath the surface.
Bai Qing: ........... Oh my, evil jade with blood streaks.^
Jadeite with red inclusions is sometimes called "blood jade" and can be associated with sinister stories or bad luck, especially if obtained unethically.
This bracelet was originally an extremely luxurious antique, but probably obtained improperly, or touched by some evil influence in between, became an evil object.
No matter, no matter. Take it to Shifu to ward off evil and purify it, then resell it. Earning enough for a villa in the capital shouldn't be a problem.
Zhang Shuizhi, having given the blood-streaked bracelet to Bai Qing, had a flash of unease and guilt in her eyes, but quickly suppressed it.
Bai Qing, however, couldn't help but want to ask her: How many more such antique treasures do you have at home that you don't want because they've been tainted by dirty things?
When Zhang Shuizhi saw Bai Qing willingly slip the bracelet onto his wrist, her expression flickered with something complicated. But she quickly looked away and said with a smile, “I haven’t introduced you to the children in our family yet.”
No sooner had she spoken than, without needing any instruction, Tong Yiwen instinctively went to call them in. Though she called them “children,” the ones who arrived were all well into adulthood—each over 25—two men and one woman, all impeccably dressed and carrying themselves with the effortless polish typical of those born into privilege.
Bai Qing’s gaze drifted over them, curiosity stirring within him. Which one is the eldest young master?
Sensing his unspoken question, Zhang Shuizhi smiled gently and said, “These are all my adopted children. Each one is as precious to me as the apple of my eye.”
Bai Qing: ...... So, the eldest young master isn't among them?
Tong Yiwen introduced from the side, "This is the second young master, Zhang Er. That is the third young lady, Zhang San, and over there, that's the fourth young master, Zhang Si."^
lmao the children are literally named Zhang 2, 3 and 4
Hearing this casual naming method, Bai Qing was somewhat surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Then the eldest young master's name wouldn't be—"
Zhang Shuizhi, realizing what Bai Qing was about to say, her expression suddenly turned serious and immediately interrupted the words Bai Qing was preparing to utter, "The eldest young master's name follows the clan genealogy. When it's time for you to know, you will naturally know."
"Okay." Bai Qing didn't see the eldest young master and saw Zhang Shuizhi being so secretive, thought to himself: Got it, 80% it's a ghost marriage.
But Bai Qing pretended to be naive and ignorant, chatting and laughing with them.
After everyone exchanged pleasantries for a while, it was time for dinner.
Zhang Shuizhi then went with everyone to the dining room for the meal.
The dining room was also decorated in a traditional Chinese style. At its center stood a hexagonal huanghuali^ wood table, with a matching bamboo-carved chair on each side, which was six in total. It was a perfect arrangement for Zhang Shuizhi, Tong Yiwen, Zhang Er, Zhang San, Zhang Si, and Bai Qing to sit together.
Once seated, Bai Qing glanced around curiously. “There are six chairs here. So… did the eldest young master used to sit in this seat before?”
At his question, both Zhang Shuizhi and Tong Yiwen paused for a moment, looking slightly taken aback. Neither of them answered.
Instead, Zhang Si, the youngest and the quickest to speak, blurted out, “You don’t know? The eldest young master never lived here.”
“Never lived here?” Bai Qing repeated in surprise.
“Yes…” Zhang Si started, but as he spoke, he suddenly sensed the shift in mood around the table. Hesitating, he asked cautiously, “Uh, this… this is okay to talk about, right?”
Zhang Shuizhi quickly put on a warm smile. “Of course. We’re about to become family. There’s nothing that can’t be said.”
Encouraged, Zhang Si turned back to Bai Qing and said with an easy grin, “Actually, none of us have ever met the eldest young master either!”
"You haven't seen him either?" This time Bai Qing was truly somewhat surprised.
Zhang Si, however, didn't seem to find it strange at all, laughed heartily, and continued, "It's like this. The eldest young master was frail since childhood and was sent to a Buddhist monastery to cultivate. They said he had to wait until adulthood, find a man with compatible birth chart and facial features to marry, then he could return."
Bai Qing: Me, a manly man?
Bai Qing thought for a moment and asked, "So, that's why the Zhang family published this special marriage notice with unique requirements?"
"Yes, that's exactly it." Zhang Si nodded cheerfully and smiled.
Looking at Zhang Er, Zhang San, and Zhang Si, all nodding earnestly, as if this matter were perfectly normal.
Bai Qing scratched his head. Did I think wrong? This isn't a ghost marriage?
Could it really be that the eldest young master has an unlucky fate and needs a marriage to match their birth chart?
Just a simple, pure feudal superstitious activity?
If that's true, I'm not some birth chart-compatible manly man. Wouldn't I delay their family reunion?
Just then, the old housekeeper's aged voice cut through the silence, "The eldest young master! The eldest young master! The eldest young master is back!"
The old housekeeper's voice trembled, high-pitched with a sob, as if in surprise, as if moved, and as if fearful.
Upon hearing this, everyone looked up, faces showing astonishment.
Zhang Shuizhi's always smiling face also stiffened for an instant.
But she quickly adjusted her emotions, hung the smile back on her face, and said, "Thank heavens! The eldest young master has finally returned! Let's go welcome him quickly."
Saying this, Zhang Shuizhi stood up first. Tong Yiwen, Zhang Er, Zhang San, and Zhang Si also stood up and walked towards the door.
Bai Qing, his heart filled with intense curiosity, also followed behind.
The group passed through the courtyard, with its small bridge and gently flowing water, and arrived at the main gate of the compound. Beside the gate stood an ancient locust tree, its shadow stretching over the ground. Beneath it, the old housekeeper stood, his figure swallowed by the tree’s dark silhouette. Only his aged, drooping eyes shone with an unusual light. “The eldest young master… the eldest young master has returned…”
Zhang Shuizhi pursed her lips, holding Tong Yiwen’s hand as she stood silently by the door, gazing out.
Zhang Er, Zhang San, and Zhang Si exchanged curious, expectant glances, their eyes widening as they scanned the courtyard, searching for any sign of a person. But before them was only emptiness—silent, still, and utterly ordinary.
Zhang Si frowned. “Housekeeper, are you sure you saw correctly?”
The old housekeeper said nothing, his gaze fixed ahead.
Zhang Shuizhi’s brows furrowed slightly, and she shared a meaningful glance with Tong Yiwen. Both chose to remain silent, an unspoken understanding passing between them.
Bai Qing’s eyes darted across the courtyard, taking in every shadow and corner. Suddenly, his gaze caught something, and his eyes widened. “Over there———” he said, raising a hand to point.
Everyone's gazes turned to the direction he pointed.
On the ground Bai Qing pointed to, a dense layer of white powder was spread, forming a winding path outlined like thin snow.
On this path paved by an unknown white substance, a trail of footprints was clearly imprinted. They were large in size, clear and powerful, looking like they were left by an adult male.
"These were left by the eldest young master, right?" Bai Qing speculated.
"You mean, these are the eldest young master's footprints?" Zhang Er asked in a low voice. "Then, where is he?"
Bai Qing found this question amusing. Where is he?
How do you know he's even a person?
Bai Qing’s gaze lifted to the full moon hanging in the sky, then drifted over the yellow talismans pasted on the window frames. Shifu had said that under a full moon, with yellow talismans to attract souls and flour spread on the ground to catch footprints—if not to lure ghosts, then to summon spirits.
That meant this “eldest young master” wasn’t human at all. He was a ghost.
Shifu’s prediction had been uncannily precise. The Zhang family was preparing for a ghost marriage.
And yet… such a prestigious, wealthy family was actively seeking a male bride, offering heavy rewards, with exacting demands for appearance and birth chart. The so-called precious “eldest young master” had never been seen by anyone, from beginning to end, as if he didn’t exist.
It all clicked into place.
Bai Qing’s mind raced as understanding settled in. He narrowed his eyes slightly, turned his head, and deliberately put on an innocent expression. “Why are there only footprints?” he asked the housekeeper. “Did you really see the eldest young master with your own eyes?”
The old housekeeper, however, said nothing.
The several young masters and young lady, although not understanding the situation, instinctively felt afraid. They turned their doubtful and slightly frightened gazes towards Zhang Shuizhi. "Mom... what, what exactly is going on?"
Zhang Shuizhi looked gravely at the footprints on the ground and did not answer. Zhang Si was still the fastest to speak, "Housekeeper, I think you probably saw wrong! Besides you, no one else saw the eldest young master!"
"I saw him."
————————— A calm voice sounded from behind.
Zhang Si jumped in fright. Turning to look, it was Ying Zhili.
"Oh, Teacher Ying?" Bai Qing was inwardly very interested. "Teacher Ying saw the eldest young master? Where did he go?"
Ying Zhili replied gently, "The rites are not yet complete. We cannot meet for the time being."
"The rites are not yet complete? What does that mean?" Hearing Ying Zhili's answer, the young masters and young lady looked at each other, their expressions full of doubt.
Zhang Shuizhi quickly helped answer, "The eldest young master's fate is unusual. Living with relatives would affect his health. Only after marrying someone with a compatible birth chart can it improve. Now the eldest young master isn't married yet, so of course it's not good for us to meet him."
"So that's how it is!" Zhang Er, Zhang San, and Zhang Si, hearing such a far-fetched reason, all looked convinced and nodded repeatedly. Zhang San pulled Bai Qing and said, "I really hope you and the eldest young master get married soon!"
Zhang Er and Zhang Si also started discussing, "By the way, then where will the eldest young master live?"
"The west wing, I heard Mom say it's been kept empty, waiting for the eldest young master to return."
Ying Zhili bowed slightly, signaling Bai Qing to follow. "Mr. Bai, please come with me. There are some matters requiring your cooperation."
Bai Qing raised an eyebrow, turned to look at Zhang Shuizhi.
Zhang Shuizhi smiled and said, "You go with Mr. Ying. Just follow his instructions in everything."
Bai Qing then followed Ying Zhili.
The two left the main compound, heading west along a long corridor that led past a still pond.
The water lay like a mirror, perfectly reflecting the sky and surrounding scenery. A gentle breeze rippled the surface, briefly shattering the reflection before calm returned, lending the place a quiet, meditative beauty.
Bai Qing stopped, captivated by the pond.
Ying Zhili noticed and asked softly, “What are you staring at so intently?”
Bai Qing withdrew his gaze and replied, “Ordinary ponds usually have fish or aquatic plants to give them life. But this one… it’s so clean, not even a single speck of duckweed. It feels… strange.”
“This pond isn’t empty,” Ying Zhili said quietly. “It’s a lotus pond.”
Bai Qing blinked, staring at the sky-blue, glassy surface. “A lotus pond?” he echoed blankly. “Where are the lotuses?”
“Do you remember the millennium-old lotus we talked about in class?” Ying Zhili asked.
“Of course,” Bai Qing replied, nodding. “That’s the origin of the Lotus Sect. They say ancient lotus seeds can lie dormant in the mud for years without dying—ten years, a hundred years, even a thousand. When the right time and fortune arrive, the long-slumbering seed suddenly sprouts, breaks through the soil, and blooms a flower identical to the one from a thousand years ago.”
Ying Zhili’s gaze was deep and unwavering, fixed on the pond that seemed to hold countless secrets. “Legend says that with careful cultivation, this ancient lotus blooms once every hundred years. And when it does, making a wish upon it can make that wish come true. The Zhang family has prospered for a century precisely because their old patriarch once succeeded in making such a wish.”
“That’s… mysterious,” Bai Qing said, studying Ying Zhili’s expression. “Teacher, do you actually believe the legend?”
Ying Zhili smiled faintly. “By my reckoning, it’s about the hundred-year mark. When the time comes, we’ll see, won’t we?”
He led Bai Qing along the veranda beside the pond, their footsteps slow and measured. At last, they stopped before an antique-style door.
Two lotus-patterned lanterns hung outside, swaying gently in the breeze, their flames flickering as if alive. The soft glow illuminated Ying Zhili’s solemn expression. “Please enter,” he said.
Bai Qing, sensing a subtle eeriness in the air, frowned. “What is this place?” he asked cautiously.
Ying Zhili’s expression darkened further. “It’s the eldest young master’s room.”
The door creaked open, revealing pitch-black darkness. It was unlike the luxurious chamber one would expect for a wealthy eldest young master, and resembled more a bat’s lair than a living space.
“Where’s the light switch?” Bai Qing’s voice sounded unusually low in the gloom.
“This room has no electricity,” Ying Zhili replied calmly.
Bai Qing blinked in surprise. Then Ying Zhili produced a lighter from his pocket, lighting the bronze lamps one by one. The flickering flames revealed the room’s sparse furnishings. Every inch of space seemed intentionally left empty, while the few objects that remained were old, worn, and fragmented, more like relics weathered by time than signs of someone actually living here.
“Starting today, you’ll be residing in this room,” Ying Zhili told him.
Bai Qing’s eyes widened. “What? This is the eldest young master’s room… You mean… I’m to live here with him?”
Ying Zhili smiled faintly. “Is there a problem?”
“Of course,” Bai Qing replied, deliberately adopting a bashful tone. “We’re not married yet. Wouldn’t this be… improper?”
“It’s natural for you to have such concerns,” Ying Zhili said softly. “I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
"Saying sorry is useless..." Bai Qing muttered, not finishing the sentence: If you're really sincere, give me a red envelope!
Ying Zhili, however, seemed to understand. He immediately took out a cheque. "I hope this can make up for it slightly."
Bai Qing took the cheque, his gaze falling on the string of eye-catching numbers. He immediately became cheerful, "Actually, there's no inconvenience at all. This is a big house, I like it very much!"
Ying Zhili nodded, smiled faintly, bid farewell, and left, leaving Bai Qing alone in the room.
The darkness was oppressive. Even with several bronze lamps lit, the hall felt dim, as if the shadows themselves were clinging to the corners. Bai Qing pursed his lips and wandered slowly through the main hall, bronze candleholder in hand. To the west lay a study, to the east, the bedroom. Every piece of furniture, every element of the layout, was distinctly old-fashioned. The bed in the bedroom was a canopy bed, a relic from another era.
“All genuine antiques,” Bai Qing murmured, brushing the thick layer of dust from the dressing table. “Looks like no one has lived here for a very long time.”
His eyes fell on a round object on the dressing table, covered by a gold-embroidered cloth.
“That’s a mirror, right?” Bai Qing guessed. “Ancient people had many taboos. When mirrors weren’t in use, they’d cover them, afraid of attracting spirits or capturing souls.”
Bai Qing, of course, didn’t share their fears. Without hesitation, he lifted the cloth from the bronze mirror.
The moment the cover was removed, a sudden gust of cool wind surged in from the pond outside. The window frames rattled violently. A chill ran down the back of Bai Qing’s neck. He shivered, bent his head slightly, and stared into the mirror.
He saw himself… and something else.
Behind him stood a shadow, impossibly handsome, face pale as paper, lips thin and bloodless. He wore black silk adorned with the “Five Blessings Surrounding Longevity” pattern. It was burial garments!
The identity of this shadow was unmistakable—————the deceased eldest young master.
Bai Qing's heartbeat accelerated. Hello, handsome dead guy.
It felt like thousands of little deer were crashing around in his chest, each beat carrying an unprecedented force. Bai Qing felt his worldview was being impacted. He had never imagined that his type would be male, handsome, and deceased. A niche preference, indeed.
No wonder he hadn’t found a partner in ten years in the human world. So this was it… he was a pervert.
Bai Qing, however, quickly shrugged off the revelation. After all, he was experiencing that unmistakable flutter of first love.
The object of his affection—or obsession—had been right behind him.
Heart racing, he spun around in delight… only to find the space empty. He looked back at the mirror, hoping for another glimpse, but the ghostly figure he had seen a moment ago had vanished completely, leaving nothing but his own reflection.
Bai Qing: ......Eldest Young Master, you're so tacky, insisting on playing this cliché scene of eerie winds and the ghostly figure flashing on and off?
Can't we skip these cheesy tropes and just light the candles, have the ghost marriage, and enter the bridal chamber directly?
Bai Qing's dazed expression made him look as if he had been frightened by the ghost. Therefore, the eerie wind became even more energetic, blowing at him like a wind machine at full blast, as if saying "Tremble! Mortal! Feel my power! Release the instinctive fear you ought to have!"
Bai Qing felt a sudden ache in his head from the rushing wind. Coming back to his senses, he realized: this eerie gust meant the eldest young master was still here!
Thinking that the eldest young master was watching him, Bai Qing also got energetic. He coughed and said, "It's summer, and there’s no AC in the room. It’s a bit hot."
Having said that, Bai Qing quickly unbuttoned his shirt, about to bare his shoulder halfway and show off his figure.
Unexpectedly, the wind machine seemed to short-circuit as the cool wind stopped abruptly. The windows and doors slammed shut with a "bang," closed heavily by the wind.
Bai Qing was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood. Did he leave because he knew I was going to take my clothes off? And even closed the windows and doors?
Having lived this long, it's the first time I've seen such a polite fierce ghost.
Truly worthy of my handsome, dashing dead fiancé.
Love it love it ♥
Carrying the fervor of first love, Bai Qing spent the whole night searching for the ghost all over the house.
Come out! Come out!
Dead guy, where are you!!!
Give me a bright smile showing eight teeth when I look in the mirror, stare at my sleeping face when I'm sleeping, give me a surprise hug the moment I turn around unexpectedly, let me find love around the corner……………
Of course, ghost pressing on the bed should still happen!
Aren't these all part of your duties as a fierce ghost?!?!
Quick, come out, get to work!!!
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