The Return of the Soul

Chapter 17

Luo Yi stiffened and looked up at the sky. Little Ma, hearing the shrill, tearful tone in my voice, knew this day held a secret. He stopped and turned to look at us. Luo Yi and I stood there, staring blankly at the sky, silent, watching the light shift and dance from heaven to earth. The elders say that on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, if you go under the grapevines, you can hear the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl whispering secrets.

Luo Yi and I weren't eavesdropping on a couple's private conversation; we were processing this sudden realization. I slowly walked over, took Luo Yi's arm, and rested my face against his chest. Luo Yi wrapped his arms around me, and we snuggled together like lovers. Of course, we weren't lovers; we were just seeking comfort in the sympathy of our companion.

Little Ma didn't understand what was going on, and his curiosity made even this tough guy look questioning.

I still needed his help, so I dared not ignore him. I whispered, "Today is the first anniversary of my elder brother's death. You passed away before my brother, so you probably don't know." Thinking back to last year, for the two weeks following the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the news was all about Luo Yi. How could I forget Luo Yi's death anniversary? The seventh day of the seventh lunar month, such a romantic day, yet Luo Yi, a heartthrob, died alone in his apartment on this day. Just these two things alone are enough to evoke so many thoughts.

Luo Yi said wistfully, "I've been dead for a year. I never thought that even in death, people would still fight to the death for power and position. Little sister, I want to go back."

I burst into tears and said, "No, brother, if you go back, you'll disappear completely, and everything will start over. Luo Yi's shadow and soul will be gone. Why don't you wait a year or two? If you really find it boring, then you can go back. You don't have a mother who's three years pregnant waiting for you to save her life."

Luo Yi frowned and said, "What kind of story is that? What kind of woman would be pregnant for three years?"

I laughed and said, "It's a story from an ancient notebook. It tells of a scholar and a monk who were very close friends and often chatted together. One day, the scholar said he was going to travel to the Sichuan and Guizhou region and invited the monk to go with him. The monk was reluctant at first, but eventually went anyway. One day, the boat docked, and they started a fire to cook. A woman came to the shore to fetch water, and the monk saw her and cried. The scholar asked why, and the monk said, 'This woman has been pregnant for three years and will give birth tonight. I am that baby, and she is my mother. Because of my friendship with you, I couldn't bear to leave, which caused her so much suffering all these years. When you invited me here, I knew that the day of our parting had come.'"

Luo Yi laughed at first, then said, "This story is not good. This monk is extremely unfilial. He made his mother suffer so much just to play with his friends. This man is crazy."

I covered my mouth and chuckled. Luo Yi looked puzzled, so I said, "These two are probably from Brokeback Mountain." Luo Yi was taken aback, but after a while she understood what I meant. She laughed and scolded, "Little girl, you've got a lot on your mind." I felt pleased that I had amused Luo Yi, so I kept the other question to myself and decided not to provoke Luo Yi's displeasure for the time being.

We were laughing and crying, while Little Ma remained silent. He pounded his chest a few times and started to leave. I called out to him twice, but he ignored me. Then, the successful man appeared beside me. He said, "It's fate, it's destiny. So today is your day of death. No wonder you have such great power." Luo Yi and I were taken aback and asked what he meant. The successful man said, "Humans celebrate their birthdays because they've grown a year older. Ghosts should also celebrate their birthdays because that's when their power is strongest. You were thrown into the Wuli River by him, and you also benefited from the rain he conjured. With these three forces combined, even without the help of the fish bones, he couldn't defeat you. You chose this day to duel, and neither of you knew how important it was. You are the natural king. It's ordained by heaven; there's no escaping it."

I was delighted to hear this and said, "Brother, did you hear that? You are a natural king. Stop talking about going back. Instead, think of a way to get me back."

Luo Yi waved her hand and said, "What king? Do you think a king's power and wisdom can be transferred on their own? If he doesn't tell me, how would I know? Let's go ask Brother Ma." She pulled me up and stopped Brother Ma, saying, "Brother Ma, give me a ride, and we'll be even."

Little Ma looked at us with disdain, shoved us aside, and continued walking. We had no choice but to follow behind him. Fortunately, his magic was weak at this moment, so he wouldn't disappear and we wouldn't lose him. We hadn't walked far when a graceful figure approached, swaying with every step, wearing an extremely narrow and short silver-blue velvet floral cheongsam, the chest covered with sequins that reflected the starlight, dazzling like the stars of the ocean. Her waist was so narrow it could be encircled with one hand, and it was sleeveless, revealing her rounded shoulders. The cheongsam was so short, breathtakingly short, that sitting down would reveal a glimpse of her cleavage. Such a short cheongsam should really be worn with a long gauze skirt underneath, but Mrs. Little Ma wore it like that, with a pair of black wine glass-shaped stilettos on her feet, the long straps wrapped around her beautiful calves, perfectly matching the short hem. Mrs. Little Ma carried a small white embroidered parasol adorned with lace, walking with captivating charm.

Who would have thought Mrs. Ma had such beautiful long legs? They were always hidden under her cumbersome wedding dresses, their beauty completely concealed. Knowing she was beautiful, Mrs. Ma walked with a swaying, seductive air, a smile on her face, as she swayed her hips towards Mr. Ma. Mr. Ma and Luo Yi stared, completely mesmerized. Men, even in death, are still men; their lust never dies.

High heels, oh high heels, a woman's secret weapon. I'll buy a pair sometime when I have the chance.

Mrs. Ma walked up to Mr. Ma, hooked her arm around his waist, bent her slender waist backward, smiled at Mr. Ma, and said sweetly, "Mr. Ma, am I pretty? Mr. Ma, let's go back."

Whether it was the alluring charm of the beautiful woman or the need for comfort after his injury, the appearance of the beautiful and charming Mrs. Ma at this crucial moment seemed to move him. He reached out and hooked his arm around Mrs. Ma, pulling her close and planting a deep kiss on her cheek. Mrs. Ma let out a soft moan, her arms went limp, and she dropped the pretentious little parasol, hugging him back.

This is restricted content; not suitable for those under 18. However, I'm already 22, so it's okay for me to watch. I enjoyed it very much, thinking that these two are a perfect match, and I hope that Little Ma will turn over a new leaf and treat Mrs. Little Ma wholeheartedly.

Little Ma left arm in arm with Little Ma's wife. I followed, shamelessly pleading, "Little Ma, Little Ma, please show me the way." Little Ma gave me a cold glare and remained silent. Little Ma's wife also glared at me, but her smile was wide. She said, "You've been good to me, so I won't hold a grudge. What do you want? If I can help, I certainly will." Little Ma's wife, in her true form, displayed a strong sense of chivalry. Indeed, she had followed Little Ma before, and was inevitably influenced by him, especially since she loved him so much, even willing to die for him. If she weren't such a chivalrous person, how could she have done such a thing?

I was overjoyed and said, "Mrs. Ma, I just want to ask how I can go back to my body. I don't want to die, I want to live. I have a child in my belly, such a poor child. If I don't go back, he/she will never see the light of day again." I've been pestering this question ever since I arrived, and even a ghost would probably be tired of hearing it. Only someone as devoted to her beloved as Mrs. Ma would not have noticed. I didn't dare complain about why she hadn't listened, so I obediently repeated myself.

Mrs. Ma scoffed and said, "I thought it was a big deal, but it turns out it's this."

I was taken aback and said, "You know?"

Mrs. Ma said, "Ah, it seems like I heard Brother Ma mention this before."

I got impatient and asked, "And then?"

Mrs. Ma didn't answer my question, but instead turned to Mr. Ma and asked, "Mr. Ma, what do you think?" What does it mean to be a "little bird clinging to its owner"? This is it—always prioritizing your loved one and consulting him on everything. I want to learn from that.

Little Ma looked down at the beauty in his arms, and surprisingly smiled and nodded at her. Mrs. Ma stretched her neck and kissed Little Ma's cheek before saying to me, "You still have half your soul left, right? You and she go to Meng Po's place for a bowl of tea, forget everything here, and then jump into the Blackwater River. Be careful, don't just blindly follow everyone to the Bridge of Helplessness; you can only jump into the Blackwater River. You'll have to make your own decision; maybe you'll change your mind and want to live again. This has happened before. You can't remember anything here or there; you can't live with the memories of this place. You must cross the Blackwater River twice; think carefully."

So it was that simple. If I had known earlier, why would I have been blindly stumbling around here? It was just crossing the Blackwater River twice, wasn't it? It was just being pierced by a thousand arrows and torn to pieces, wasn't it? I wasn't afraid of pain. I was only afraid that I wouldn't be able to go back, that I wouldn't have my lover's chest and arms, that my parents would be heartbroken, that my lover would be lonely. I had already thought it through.

I said, "Then we shall part ways here, Brother Ma, Mrs. Ma. Thank you again. You are my benefactors. When I return home, I will definitely release river lanterns for you on the fourteenth of July. Brother Ma, if we ever meet again, I hope you will be magnanimous and not play tricks on my family. My child is your adopted son. I hope he will receive your care and protection." It's so easy for ghosts to play tricks on people; how could I dare offend them?

Little Ma sneered, pulled his arm around Mrs. Ma, and left without giving me another glance. Mrs. Ma nestled sweetly against him, looking at him as if he were God. Under the starlight, Mrs. Ma's face was as beautiful as a goddess.

I will never meet them again in the future. Looking at their backs, I shouted, "Goodbye, Brother Ma. Mrs. Ma, you are the light, you are the electricity, you are my legend!" After shouting, I went back and took Luo Yi's arm, saying, "Brother, it seems that I can really leave this time. I'm going back to find my shadow now."

Luo Yi looked at me and said, "Although I knew this day would come, I still can't bear to part with you. I'll go with you; your shadow is like a stubborn character."

I thought about my shadow's behavior; she's really stubborn beyond belief. If she gets difficult, I'm afraid I won't be able to control her. Luo Yi is the boss now, so he can definitely guarantee that things will go smoothly.

Luo Yi said, "Little sister, you are so brave. You dared to cross the Blackwater River three times."

I remembered that Wei Yiqing had also said something similar, that I was the bravest girl, so I laughed. "Brother, some girls are pretty, some are cute, some are charming, but I only have courage. Everyone has to have some strengths, otherwise how can you win love?"

Luo Yi laughed heartily, "You child, you always have a good story to tell. If you have any unfulfilled wishes, I will definitely help you if I can. When your child is born, I will be the godfather and I will be watching over him."

I laughed and was touched at the same time, and said, "You don't want to go back again?"

Luo Yi looked up at the starry sky and said, "Just like you said, the thought of dying only lasts for a moment, and after that instant, you feel that this is not bad."

I looked up at the sky. Who would bear to give up such a beautiful starry sky? I never imagined that I would say goodbye to Luo Yi amidst such a magnificent view of the Milky Way. I said, "Brother, I love you." Luo Yi chuckled but didn't say anything. I continued, "Brother, I've always wanted to ask you something. If I don't ask it now, I'll never have the chance."

Luo Yi smiled and said, "Go ahead."

I said, "Brother, you've remembered everything from before since you came back these past few days, right? So how did you die?"

I said, "Brother, I asked you this the first time I met you, and now that I'm saying goodbye forever, I'll never have the chance again if I don't ask. I must know how you died, not for gossip, not out of curiosity, but because I truly love you and care about you. I want to know what injustices you suffered. I'm going back now, and once I'm back, I won't remember anything about this place, and no one here will care about you like I did. Brother, you remember, right?"

Luo Yi's face remained as handsome as ever under the starlight. He was an idol in the hearts of millions, and now only I alone enjoyed this glory. A thousand words flashed in Luo Yi's eyes; if eyes could speak, they would look like this.

A shooting star streaks across the sky.

Luo Yi probably never expected me to bring this up at this moment. His expression and the emotions in his eyes shifted rapidly. I suddenly realized he was a deeply emotional and reserved person, not the frivolous, fickle, and womanizing person the rumors portrayed. Wasn't that right? His unspoken, profound affection for Meng Xixi was the best explanation. It turned out the world had misunderstood him.

I said, "Brother, were you with Miss Meng Xixi that day? Were those drugs hers?"

Luo Yi was startled by what I said, staring at me without saying a word. It seems my guess was about 80% correct.

I said, “Brother, I’ve known you for so long and I know your character very well. You’ve been so good to me, caring for me, protecting me, and always supporting me, putting my needs first. Without you, how could I have made it so smoothly from the Misty Realm to the Bridge of Helplessness and back here? I was able to return to life in just three days. Brother, I can never repay your kindness. After I go back, you’ll be all alone here. Although you have Sister Ming and Sister Qingqing, they are both good people and very kind to you. But you need to take care of Sister Ming, and I don’t think you want to get entangled with Sister Qingqing. You’ll have no one to talk to, no one to make you laugh, no one to chat with. If this continues, I’m afraid you’ll become very depressed and turn into a strange ghost, hiding in a haunted house where no one can approach you. Brother, I really want to stay and keep you company, but I have things to do, so I have to leave you here alone. I’m so afraid you’ll get bored.”

Luo Yi forced a wry smile and said, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm not as pitiful as you make me out to be. Don't worry, there are two-thousand-year-old ghosts here. I'll wake them up, and like you said before, we can sit down and play a game of mahjong. That should keep us entertained for three to five years. You think you're the only one who knows how to play mahjong? I'm an old hand at it too. Hey, these old guys have been here for so many years, and they're not bored at all. Why am I bored? Am I some kind of useless person?"

I chuckled and said, "Brother, you've really learned to tell jokes now."

Luo Yi smiled and said, "I learned it from you. If you can be as happy as me in such adversity, then there is really nothing to be afraid of in this world. Don't worry about me. I have learned a lot since we became siblings. Go back with peace of mind. Don't worry about Ming-jie either. I will take good care of her. Miss Leng Qingqing is a very strong person. She knows how to do what is best for herself."

I hummed in agreement and said, "Then I won't go say goodbye to them. Maybe they'll see me when I take a walk along the river in the summer evenings. You can tell Sister Qingqing that if she's willing, she can come and talk to me, and we can be good friends again." I laughed and said, "Her sports car is so cool, wouldn't it be great if she could ride with me for free? That silly boy Wei Yiqing's car is a piece of junk, it can't compare to hers."

Luo Yi laughed again at my joke and said, "I have three cars in my garage, but no one drives them. I'll try to give you one someday."

Overjoyed, I jumped up and grabbed his arm, saying, "You're a man of your word, brother. It's a bit much for you to drive three cars by yourself. Give me one, and let's fight the rich and the poor, redistribute the land, and equalize wealth."

Luo Yi shook his head and said, "I'm such a masochist that I have to give you things for free and still get scolded by you."

I laughed smugly, "Who told you to be my older brother? The older brother should be bullied by his younger sister. Well, older brother, am I right? I won't say a word about Miss Meng Xixi. She's your sweetheart, and I won't talk about her to upset you. I don't even know her. I only care about you." I quickly brought the topic back. I don't know how he died, and I'm not even willing to live.

Luo Yi stopped laughing and nodded after a long pause, saying, "You guessed right, it was Xixi who came that day. Xixi has that kind of hobby." He looked up at the starry sky, which was so beautiful. Meng Xixi was as beautiful as a star; she was a celebrity, but unexpectedly, she was a jinx. When she was in the sky, she was the most eye-catching thing in the night, but once she fell to the ground, she was nothing more than a stone, a stone with ugly pits on its surface, no more beautiful than a pebble.

Luo Yi said, "I tried to persuade her, and she wanted to quit, but once you're hooked, how can you give it up? That's why I distanced myself from her, and that's why I didn't tell her about my feelings for her. I didn't want to be controlled by her, much less by the drug. I want to be a good actor, not just in terms of looks, but also in terms of acting skills. I want to win more awards. My goal is to be an actor like Gregory Peck, someone everyone praises for his looks, his acting skills, his gentlemanly manners, his loyalty to his wife, and his friendship with Audrey Hepburn."

It turns out Luo Yi has such lofty goals and ambitions; we really underestimated him. I said, "Brother, you can definitely do it. You've already achieved half of his success. The other half will take fifty years to complete. Fate hasn't given you that time, but I can already see the result. You still love Miss Meng Xixi, right? Your friendship with me will definitely last fifty years. Fifty years from now, let's be friends and siblings again."

Luo Yi didn't respond to me, continuing on his own. Once the cracks are opened, it's hard to stop the outpouring of emotions. He hadn't told anyone about his feelings, not even the woman he loved. He'd been holding it in for too long, practically bursting with pent-up emotions. If he were a pot of rice, after fermentation and settling, he'd become a vat of strong liquor. He said, "I should actually tell her, tell her I like her, we could get married, have a grand wedding, sell the filming rights and photos to newspapers and TV stations, make a killing, haha."

I laughed along with him, but my heart was so heavy it could make vinegar. He brewed wine, I brewed vinegar, and we siblings could open a soy sauce workshop and name it Roes-Roey's, which sounds similar to Rolls-Royce. In Chinese, it would be called Luo Si Luo Yi, and in Hong Kong, we could just use a homophone like "Rolls-Royce." Then we would be a world-famous brand.

Luo Yi continued, "Xixi is a good girl, just a bit spoiled, can't handle hardship, and has a weak will. She also met some bad friends and got led astray. This line of work seems glamorous on the surface, but it's actually very tough. Film crews stay for six or eight months at a time, going to the Gobi Desert, enduring icy water and rain. It's common to work for dozens of hours straight without sleep. A little drug gives her energy, allowing her to work for another dozens of hours. After taking drugs, Xixi is especially good at getting into character. Her eyes can be fiery or alluring at will; her emotions come instantly." I don't know, everyone praised her. She was strong-willed and proud, so she wouldn't say anything, just stubbornly persisted, and later she used more and more. Every time I mentioned it, she would get angry at me, accusing me of being jealous. She tried to entice me to use too, but thankfully I had some self-control and didn't fall for it. When she used too much, we started doing all sorts of things. She was incredibly wild, always coming up with all sorts of tricks, how could I resist? Every time I hardened my heart and left her, she would come looking for me, and I would forget everything. Maybe I was already addicted? Through physical contact with her, I also experienced that kind of pleasure? I don't know.”

Luo Yi seemed a little dazed and confused, blurting out things she shouldn't have said, making me extremely uncomfortable, yet I couldn't help but want to listen on. How could someone like me, living in such a simple and unpretentious environment, have imagined such a decadent and extravagant lifestyle?

A smile flickered across Luo Yi's face, a gentle smile tinged with lingering affection and doting tenderness. Seeing it, I felt only sadness. It was clear that although he couldn't easily speak of what they had done during those days, he truly loved her. Her beauty, her allure, her madness, her desire—all captivated Luo Yi. Perhaps it was precisely this intoxicating infatuation that made him so deeply entangled, unable to extricate himself. What in the world could be more exhilarating than the surging of blood and body in a state of heightened arousal? Who could resist such a surge?

Luo Yi said, “During the Spring Festival, I went to Taxi Dike with her. I almost proposed, but seeing how thin she was, I thought it wasn’t a good idea. I was also a little disgusted by her appearance, so I only stayed for two days and came back. After I came back, I deliberately ignored her and got very close to He Lisha. Lisha told everyone that we were going to get married, but in fact, I never even slept with her. Because my relationship with Xixi was strained, I hated women’s bodies for a while. After I died, those women who said they were pregnant with my child were all lying. From the Spring Festival to the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, I didn’t have sex with a woman for six months. I used to be a playboy, and when I was with Xixi, I slept with many women, but those women wanted to profit from my corpse, and they miscalculated.”

This...this...this Luo Yi, does he see me as a therapist or a confidant? Why does he say whatever comes to mind?

Luo Yi said, "Because I hadn't spoken to her for six months, she got angry and called me a lot to beg and blackmail me, forcing me to meet her. I said if you quit, I'll see you. She said she quit when she left Taxi Die. If I didn't believe her, I could just spend 24 hours with her, right? I softened and agreed, inviting her to my residence in the Roman Garden that day. At that time, I was out of town participating in a promotional event for a new movie, and no one expected me to come back. Meeting in my residence was the safest and most secure option. The hotel had surveillance equipment, and with so many reporters at the promotional event, who would be a fool to be flirting with a woman there, unless they were trying to create a publicity stunt?"

I nodded. All those videos taken in the hotel corridor were just for publicity. The person involved was even crying foul; it was all an act.

"We're almost at the crucial point," Luo Yi said quickly. "Xi Xi came, and she was indeed a bit fatter than she was six months ago, which made me very happy. We opened champagne and made love while we drank, and then I felt something was wrong. My body wouldn't cooperate, and my blood felt like it was about to burst. But Xi Xi was smiling, acting perfectly normal. I think Xi Xi mixed drugs into the drink to keep me here."

You are my legend

The truth is shocking. Luo Yi died from drugs and women.

Luo Yi completely ignored whether I could process this ending and continued, "Logically speaking, the amount of drugs I ingested shouldn't have killed me, but for some reason, I just died like that. Xi Xi, out of fear, tidied up the room, dressed me, and left alone. No drugs were found in my body, right? Then Chen Brown and the agency must have spent a lot of money bribing someone at the forensic clinic, right? That woman we met at the Meng Po Tea House said the police found drugs in my house again? Xi Xi has a key to my house; she comes and goes like it's her own home. Hiding something wouldn't be difficult for her, would it?"

My heart was filled with sympathy and anger, but I didn't know where to begin. Remembering my earlier promise not to speak ill of that woman, Meng Xixi, I had to suppress it and said, "You and Miss Meng have such a deep relationship, but the news about you that's spread the most isn't about her. Are you intentionally trying to confuse the public?"

Luo Yi said, "Yes, my feelings are my own business, and have nothing to do with anyone else or any movie. I'm not going to use my feelings to promote a film. I make at least one film a year, sometimes two or three, and I have to promote each one and find selling points for each one. Like you said, holding hands with a new person, kissing an old one, and having sex with someone who's neither new nor old? Jumping into a river, getting into a car accident, disappearing for 24 hours, and doing that every three to seven months—is that still a relationship? It's just like chewing gum!"

Wow, Luo Yi actually remembered what I said not long after we met. That's quite rare. But it's not surprising. He's made so many movies and memorized so many lines; his memory must be top-notch. I might not be able to memorize those long monologues by Shakespeare, and Luo Yi's graduation play was King Lear. It's clear he's a natural king; the signs were there early on. What's even more remarkable is his attitude towards relationships. Love is the most precious thing; how can it be used as seasoning for a single play? If he made a hundred plays in his life, wouldn't he break up a hundred times and get back together a hundred times? That would truly be a play imitating life, and life imitating a play. My opinion of Luo Yi has changed again. I didn't expect him to be such a Casanova, with such fastidiousness when it comes to relationships.

I still asked, "After you remembered, did you ever hate Miss Meng?" I definitely did, because I did. This woman was truly a femme fatale, as beautiful as a peach blossom, yet as ruthless as a praying mantis. In nature, only the female praying mantis eats the male's head during mating. But in human relationships, there are all sorts of strange and bizarre things: patricide, regicide, child killing, daughter drowning, digging up the ground to find one's mother, infatuation with one's father and marriage to one's mother, even murdering one's husband in the heat of passion. I've never heard of someone poisoning their lover during climax. While there are characters in Junichi Watanabe's *Paradise Lost* who share poison during climax, that's because they indulge in the ultimate beauty of love and death, a stark contrast to Meng Xixi's act of killing and surviving alone.

Yes, I can sue Meng Xixi for manslaughter and failing to render aid. As for ingratitude and heartlessness, these are insufficient to describe her cold-bloodedness.

Luo Yi said, "I don't blame her. How could she know that the dosage would kill me? I think she was used to taking it and thought I was like her and could handle it."

"You idiot, she killed you and you're still defending her?" I sneered, "Then she should have called an ambulance."

Luo Yi said, "I died too quickly, so there was no point in calling out."

"It's not right for her to leave you alone, is it?"

Luo Yi then realized I was angry. She turned to look at me, smiled, and said, "I think she handled it very well, leaving no loopholes. Otherwise, if she had called an ambulance or a police car, she would have been exposed, and our relationship would have been exposed as well. It wouldn't have been good for either of us. It's better for me to die mysteriously than to die dishonorably. Didn't you say that after the funeral, Xixi packed her bags and went to Canada? It's been a year, and we haven't heard from her. We haven't heard that she's seen anyone. She's just hiding from the world like that. I think she must be very sad."

I was so angry I stomped my feet and said, "Brother, you're too kind-hearted. She's the one who wronged you, and you're still defending her like this. Her self-exile doesn't absolve her of her sins. If people could just kill someone and hide somewhere and never show their faces, what would be the point of the police, procuratorate, and courts?" Besides, this woman was a drug addict, and I have absolutely no liking for that kind of person.

I asked, "Where does Meng Xixi get her drugs? She's been using them for so long, there must be a fixed source of supply."

Luo Yi said, "Little Ma, who else could it be? Do you think Little Ma only controls me? There are also many celebrities and singers who are coerced by him."

I said, "Brother, you're doing a service to the people today."

Luo Yi said, "You deserve credit too. Even someone as domineering as Little Ma couldn't escape death, and his death was so unjust. He was punished long ago. Not everyone who does wrong will be judged by the law. For those willing to exile themselves, the law is superfluous. Little sister, you came from that side, how come you still don't understand? You reap what you sow; no one can escape it. Even if you escape in life, you'll still be tormented and tortured after death. Because my death was sudden and I was unwilling to accept it, I refused to drink Meng Po's tea or cross the Bridge of Helplessness, desperately searching in the fog how I died, until I met you and came back. Only then did I realize that I wasn't like you, with a persistent pursuit of love, refusing to let go even in death. If I loved Xixi more than myself, I would have told her, and tried everything to save her, instead of abandoning her and leaving her. Since I love her, besides loving her more than myself, I should also love our future together. I made a mistake, I don't blame her."

The highest level of loving someone is this: not only loving that person more than yourself, but also loving the shared future. It's about taking responsibility for that person, saving the love even when it's beyond repair, and never abandoning each other. My love and Luo Yi's love are different. My courage couldn't solve his problems, therefore my ideas about love could never blossom from the ashes of death like his. Love and death can transform someone as selfish and cold as Luo Yi into a saint. Luo Yi has unknowingly become a god. What is the transformation from ghost to immortal? It's like this. It's a sublimation of thought, not a transformation of matter.

I sincerely said, "Brother, congratulations! You've attained enlightenment. You truly are my legend. You now deserve the title of a superstar. With such a mindset, you are a true king returning. Brother, I'm not worried that you'll be lonely after I'm gone. Mountains are high because of people, and a broad mind makes the world vast. Being human or ghost is just a state of existence. As long as matter is indestructible, you will always exist. If you are willing to appear and be my friend at the appropriate time in the future, it will be my greatest honor."

Luo Yi chuckled and said, "How come everything you say sounds different? How did I suddenly become a god or an immortal? You've read too much of the Investiture of the Gods. Who would send a little immortal to serve as a god? Hmm, speaking of which, it reminds me that after I saw you off, I started reading. When we meet again in the future, I can tell you stories too."

I nodded and said, "It's a deal. Come on, let's clap our hands three times." I raised my hand, and Luo Yi also raised his hand. We clapped our hands three times, making a pact for posterity.

After clapping, I stopped and said, "We're here." The Red Cross Hospital was right in front of me. I had just been here last night, when the situation was still uncertain. But tonight, it was already out in the open.

The hospital was brightly lit and bustling with people, much more lively than when I came yesterday. I think it's probably because of the rain; everyone who got caught in the rain has fallen ill. Not only are there more patients, but there are also fewer doctors. Doctors can get sick too, you know. Wei Yiqing went to release those short-lived glass lanterns for me, got caught in the rain, and then got sick?

I said, "Brother, there are too many people here, what should we do?"

Luo Yi was puzzled and asked, "What do you mean, what should we do?"

I said, "You're Luo Yi, right? Everyone knows you. I've been living here for a few months, so some of the doctors and nurses here will recognize me too. If we just walk in like this, won't we scare them to death?"

Luo Yi laughed and said, "Little sister, the rain has stopped for a long time. Do you think we are still visible? The force that came against the current has subsided, and we have returned to normal."

I was taken aback. I couldn't see any difference between us, but what he said should be right, so I decided to believe him. Then I remembered something and asked, "What about you and Qingqing? What are you planning to do?"

Luo Yi scolded, "Little sister!"

I retorted defiantly, "Big Brother!" Then I grinned slyly and said, "You've even told me about your intimate relationship with Meng Xixi, so what's there to be afraid of? Now that you're the boss, your power is far greater than before. Little Ma can flirt with different women every day. Can you and Sister Qingqing become a couple?"