Chapter Eight: I Care About You

“Where is he… where is he?” Tang Wange’s lips trembled as she shoved the nurse aside and stumbled out into the corridor.

The night sky was dark, heavy clouds rolling overhead.

The girl in the hospital gown, her hair disheveled and face pale, ran barefoot down the street. Passersby couldn’t help but stop and turn to look.

But she paid no mind to their gazes. She sprinted all the way back to school and dashed into the campus just before the gates closed.

The lights in the teaching building were already out. The hollow, dark corridor seemed endless.

Ignoring everything, she rushed into the restroom, stepping onto still-wet puddles, and collapsed heavily to the floor.

“Zhao He, Zhao He! You’re here, right? You must be here!” She ignored the pain, trembling as she tried every stall door. When she reached the last one, her hand hesitated.

Zhao He… Zhao He!

She yanked the door open suddenly. Leaning motionless against the wall was the boy, drenched head to toe. The water dripped endlessly, as if it could never dry.

Fear overwhelmed her. She reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling a chill that seemed to seep into her bones.

“I’ll save you, I’ll save you!” Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

She didn’t understand why she was so terrified of losing him—losing Zhao He.

“I’m so hungry…” His voice was hoarse.

She wiped her tears and smiled, cupping his cheeks gently. “We’ll go home. I’ll make you meat…”

Before she could finish, the boy within reach suddenly transformed back into a thin piece of ghost money, still soaked and lying quietly in her palm, dripping soundlessly.

Zhao He…

Tang Wange took a week off. The school took the matter seriously, punishing Fang Yuan and the others involved, who also paid a large sum in medical and mental damages.

But none of that could bring Zhao He back.

That night, she tried drying the ghost money with a hairdryer. She waited a long time, but it didn’t respond—like all life had fled from it.

On the second and third days, it remained just a soaked piece of ghost money, lying still on her desk.

She squatted in front of it with meat in hand, but it never jumped up to grab it…

On the fourth day, Ling Fei called and said she wanted to see her.

At 5:30 p.m., Tang Wange arrived at the KFC across from the school, sitting silently in a corner.

She had lost an uncountable amount of weight since four days ago; the oversized school uniform hung loosely on her frame. Her complexion was even paler.

“Wange, my mom asked me to give this to you.” Ling Fei pulled a red paper from her backpack, inside which something seemed wrapped.

What was this?

Tang Wange took it, looking at Ling Fei in confusion.

“My mom said with everything that happened, you’re probably frightened. This is a calming stone she got from a shaman; placing it by your bedside will soothe your spirit.” Ling Fei held her hand worriedly.

A shaman…

Tang Wange’s grip on the stone tightened suddenly.

Of course—going to a shaman! The shaman would surely know how to save Zhao He!

By the third visit, Tang Wange was quite familiar with the little alley leading to the shaman’s house.

Behind the curtain, thin wisps of incense smoke curled, and the shaman’s shadow flickered faintly.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” the shaman’s voice came softly when she sat down.

“You know everything?” Tang Wange’s eyes widened slightly, her emotions rising. “Since you know, is there any way…”

The curtain fluttered gently. The shaman extended her weathered, wrinkled hand and lightly patted Tang Wange’s back of the hand, soothing her emotions.

“I can help him, but you must promise me one thing.”

“Anything!” Tang Wange answered without hesitation.

The shaman seemed to smile faintly, then withdrew her hand, speaking quietly, “Promise me you will never fall in love with him, and never be with him.”

Her words stiffened Tang Wange’s body. Quickly, she forced a smile. “What are you saying? How could I like him? He’s a ghost! I’m just grateful to him!”

“That’s for the best.”

The shaman nodded. “Remember, you are human, he is a ghost. There can be no future for you two. If you force a union, the only fate he has is to turn to ashes and dust.”

Ashes and dust…

Tang Wange followed the shaman’s instructions and stayed by Zhao He’s side for three whole days.

On the fourth night, she finally couldn’t hold on and fell asleep at the desk.

Just as she drifted off, a cold breeze swept through the living room. The ghost money on the table fluttered into the air and landed on the floor, transforming into a tall, handsome young man.

He knelt on one knee before her, naked, his slender fingers gently touching her cheek. He leaned in slightly, his cold lips pressing softly against the strands of hair on her forehead.

“Tang Wange, the answer you seek, I can tell you now.”

“I have cared for you from the very first moment I saw you.”

Outside, the moonlight was cold and clear.

Inside, the boy’s profile was pure and bright, like white moonlight.

Tang Wange awoke to the drifting scent of rice porridge. Startled, she turned her gaze toward the kitchen.

There, the pudgy ghost money swayed unsteadily, clutching a bowl of rice porridge in its claws, struggling to hold it.

The sight was unbearably adorable.

Her eyes moistened at once. She rushed forward and hugged it tightly.

“Little flat-chest, you you you…” she stammered.

The ghost money Zhao He blushed deeply, barely visible beneath his red face. Helpless, he revealed his human form and wrapped Tang Wange in his arms.

He had no clothes, so he was embarrassed to show himself.

But with her such an eager advance, he had to respond somehow!

“Ah!” Tang Wange accidentally brushed his bare bottom, gasped, and turned crimson. She grabbed a school jacket nearby and smacked it on his head. “You’re such a pervert!”

“You started it and now you blame me?” Zhao He grinned, showing his little tiger teeth, then wrapped the jacket around his waist, looking pitiful. “My clothes got ruined in the water; I have nothing to wear.”

“Then… then I’ll buy you clothes.”

She turned away, too shy to look at him. She pulled out her phone and started browsing online shops.

His awakening was exactly what she had hoped for, and the joy in her heart was beyond words.

Her back pressed against his cool chest.

Her waist was held tightly by his strong arms.

His chin rested on her shoulder, his breath cool. “Thank you, Tang Wange.”

She said nothing, feeling her heart beat faster and faster.

The shaman’s words echoed repeatedly in her mind, twisting her heart into knots once more…

Time passed.

At four in the morning in the villa, Tang Wange’s voice suddenly rang out, filled with grit and determination.

“Zhao—He!!!”