My Ghostly Darling Cuddles Me Every Day - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Courting Death!

The next day, Monday, Bo Yu woke up feeling aches and pains all over her body. She was running a fever and felt ill again.

Checking the time, it was 5:00 AM. Bo Yu lay in bed, staring blankly and worrying. Last night, after Xie Yinwan had asked if other humans were as fragrant as she was, Bo Yu had tried her best to steady her panicked emotions and replied, “No, only me.” Xie Yinwan had looked at her thoughtfully for a while before disappearing. Bo Yu didn’t know if she had gone to smell others, and she had worried about it all night.

Furthermore, was her current illness caused by her contact with Xie Yinwan?

During those previous five days, she had taken the Chinese medicine prescribed by Jin Xuan, so she hadn’t fallen ill again after interacting with Xie Yinwan. Last night, she hadn’t taken the medicine. Was her body so weak that she had fallen sick simply by stopping the treatment for two days?

Bo Yu wasn’t certain, but it seemed highly likely. Otherwise, why would the fever return so precisely after stopping the medication?

To prevent her grandmother from seeing her sickly state and worrying—and to keep Xie Yinwan from knowing she was ill—Bo Yu took a deep breath. She forced herself out of bed and got ready without appearing frail. After washing up, she changed her clothes, dressed Xiexie, and put the doll in her bag. She peeked out the window to ensure neither her grandmother nor the housekeeper were in the courtyard. Seeing the coast was clear, she put on a hat and mask and headed to the kitchen. The cook was already preparing breakfast; Bo Yu grabbed two homemade biscuits and headed out.

Only after driving out of the compound did she send a message to the family group chat. She stated that Zhu Ying was feeling unwell and had called for her, so she was heading over to check on her and wouldn’t be staying for breakfast. The housekeeper was the first to acknowledge the message. Bo Yu stopped checking the group chat and searched for the nearest twenty-four-hour pharmacy to buy fever reducers and cooling patches.

Taking medicine on an empty stomach made Bo Yu feel nauseous. She was always good at taking care of herself, so she chewed and swallowed the biscuits slowly in the car before taking the pills. Afterward, she pulled up Jin Xuan’s WeChat and sent a message.

Bo Yu: “Jin Xuan, morning. Are you up? I wanted to ask for the prescription you gave me last time. I want to keep a backup without my grandmother knowing. Is it convenient to send it to me?”

Regarding the prescription, she could have directly asked the housekeeper who originally picked up the herbs, but her grandmother managed the entire household. Any small stir would be reported. She didn’t want Grandma knowing she was secretly taking medicine.

Jin Xuan replied quickly via voice message, her voice sounding alert: “I just finished a night shift and haven’t slept yet. I can send it to you, but I don’t suggest you buy and decoct the herbs yourself. It’s best to check your pulse first. In traditional medicine, adding or subtracting a single gram of one herb can significantly change the effect on the body. If you have time, come to my shop. I’ll check your pulse and write a proper prescription. If it’s inconvenient for me to do it, the Chu Clinic next door is also good. You can book an appointment with Dr. Chu Jingzhi through their mini-program.”

Hearing Jin Xuan mention a “night shift” made it sound like she worked at a hospital, but after their long chats when meeting Zhu Ying, Bo Yu knew Jin Xuan had likely been dealing with a haunted house or a cemetery.

Bo Yu indeed found it inconvenient; she didn’t want Jin Xuan to learn too much about her condition through her pulse. However, since her illness was likely caused by ghostly yin energy, a normal doctor might be useless. She needed Jin Xuan, who understood the metaphysical: “It’s fine, I’m not inconvenienced. Since you’re awake, can I come see you now?”

Jin Xuan: “?”

Jin Xuan sent a laughing voice note: “Did you run into a ghost again? So early and so urgent. Fine, I just got to the shop. Come find me; I’ll send you the location.”

Jin Xuan and her master usually stayed in two places: a Taoist temple or a shop in the city for consultations. Bo Yu followed the GPS to the shop.

“How has your yang energy become so weak again?” Jin Xuan asked, her brow furrowing as she took Bo Yu’s pulse.

Bo Yu remained silent. It really was because of her contact with Xie Yinwan.

Jin Xuan shook her head, speculating: “Has a ghost entered your house at night? That shouldn’t be possible. I buried the charms; nothing should be able to get in, nor could anyone bring something in. And you said you haven’t been out at night… I don’t see anything attached to you right now…”

If she couldn’t figure it out, she would have to call her master. Her master could sense anything within a ten-mile radius without needing a ghost-seeking compass like she did.

Bo Yu didn’t want Jin Xuan digging into this unsolvable mystery, so she told a small lie: “I actually snuck out once. Jin Xuan, please don’t tell my grandmother.”

Jin Xuan: “…”

Having an “explanation,” Jin Xuan stopped dwelling on the cause. She wrote a prescription for the herbs but then remembered something. “The Old Lady mentioned that you find medicine difficult to take. This batch is also very bitter. Can you handle it?”

Bo Yu: “…” Grandma even told her that?

Bo Yu continued her soft lie: “It’s fine. I only told Grandma I hate the bitterness to get attention. Taking medicine isn’t actually a struggle for me.”

If it was for the sake of seeing Xie Yinwan, she felt she could handle anything. No matter how bitter the medicine, even if there was no sugar afterward, she could do it.

Jin Xuan didn’t doubt the honest-looking Bo Yu for a second. She nodded with a smile, assuming Bo Yu was just acting spoiled with her grandmother.

This time, Jin Xuan didn’t put a charm in the medicine. Instead, she gave Bo Yu a triangular yellow talisman pouch to carry. “You were born with a weak constitution,” she warned with a slight tone of reprimand, “stop sneaking out.”

Bo Yu nodded hurriedly, promising she wouldn’t, and took the pouch. She felt that there were too many consecrated items in Jin Xuan’s shop that might be bad for “Xiexie,” so she hadn’t brought her bag inside.

Bo Yu asked Jin Xuan to have her staff send the prescription to the Chu Clinic next door. Since the clinic wasn’t open yet, she would return at noon to pick up the pre-boiled liquid medicine. Jin Xuan agreed. Bo Yu then whispered another request: “I have to trouble you again—please keep my visit today a secret. I don’t want Grandma to worry.”

Jin Xuan smiled as she moved the jade pulse pillow aside, observing Bo Yu. Bo Yu had said she was going to work today, so she was wearing a lustrous white silk shirt that made her look gentle and refined. Having taken off her hat, her long hair fell over her shoulders.

Her fever had subsided slightly; her cheeks were flushed deeper than usual, and a thin layer of sweat dampened a few strands of hair at her neck. A faint fragrance drifted from her. Bo Yu’s eyes were bright yet soft, and because she was still physically weak, her voice was light—like a bird with a very beautiful, delicate call.

“I can’t guarantee that,” Jin Xuan teased, looking at her intently. “If you want me to help, shouldn’t you treat me to dinner sometime? I’m an honest person, but I’m easily swayed by a good meal.”

Bo Yu laughed and agreed. “I’ll remember. When we are both free, I’ll definitely arrange that dinner.”

Jin Xuan gave a light chuckle and looked deeply at her. “It’s a deal.”

Support My Ghostly Darling Cuddles Me Every Day