My Ghostly Darling Cuddles Me Every Day - Chapter 21.1

Chapter 21.1: Jinjiang Literature City

 

A sudden roll of thunder crashed through the air. Bo Yu, who had been kissing for only a few seconds, snapped her head up.

 

The thunder roared again, deafening. Bo Yu’s ears rang incessantly.

 

“Sis?” Bo Jingxian knocked loudly on the door. “Sis, I’m about to leave. Come out and see me off!”

 

“Sis, I know you’re in your bedroom. Don’t hide in there just because you don’t want to say goodbye!”

 

“Or are you in the bathroom? I don’t care. Open up! Open the door right now!”

 

Bo Yu woke up with a start, gasping for air and drenched in sweat. The sensation of kissing Xie Yinwan was so vivid it left her body numb, with lingering jolts of electricity pulsing through her.

 

“I heard you! Stop knocking!” Bo Yu called out, her voice raspy.

 

It was terrifying. What kind of dream was that? Was it… a sex dream?

 

Bo Yu struggled to sit up, only to realize the “Xiexie” doll was once again tucked inside her pajamas. She pulled the doll out and placed it aside, gently patting it. Not only had she had a scandalous dream, but she had stuffed the doll inside her clothes again. She was becoming truly strange—downright bizarre—and she felt sorry for putting the doll through that.

 

Feeling her throat parched, she coughed a few times and shouted toward the door, “I fell asleep. Give me two minutes, I’m coming out.”

 

Bo Jingxian continued to knock. “Well, hurry up. I’m not leaving. I’ll wait right here at the door. You have to see me off today. If you don’t come out, I’ll keep knocking.”

 

“…”

 

Bo Yu didn’t want to go, but she knew that if she didn’t, Bo Jingxian would complain about it for an entire semester.

 

Her legs were still weak. She leaned against the wall for five or six steps before she could finally stand straight. Approaching the bathroom mirror, she saw a person with a flushed face and sweat-beaded skin, looking as if they had just engaged in something… self-satisfying.

 

Bo Yu looked away in denial.

 

She was now certain: her rut had unexpectedly arrived a day early. But was her face this red purely because of the rut, or because of what happened in the dream?

 

That dream… it was truly too embarrassing. And unlike her usual dreams that faded by eighty percent upon waking, she remembered every single detail of this one with startling clarity. She remembered the sensation of her feet sinking into the sand, the chill of the snow under her bare toes, and everything involving Xie Yinwan.

 

She remembered being draped over Xie Yinwan’s body.

 

Stop. Bo Yu cut the thought short. She rummaged through her drawer, found her suppressant tablets, and swallowed one. These tablets had a milder effect on the body than the injections, but they required a dose every six hours. If she missed the window, she would become extremely uncomfortable.

 

She checked the time: 3:00 PM. The next dose would be at 9:00 PM. During her rut, her pheromones often clouded her judgment, so she set an alarm for 9:00 PM to remind herself to take the medicine.

 

She quickly washed her face with cool water, trying to regain her composure. After a quick change into dry clothes, she stepped out.

 

“You said two minutes; I’ve been waiting for ten!” Bo Jingxian was at the door, perfectly made up and carrying a small Chanel bag, grumbling irritably.

 

Bo Yu sighed softly. “You didn’t say you were leaving today.”

 

Bo Jingxian grabbed Bo Yu’s arm and pulled her along, still muttering, “It was a last-minute decision. But you didn’t bother to ask me either.”

 

“When exactly was ‘last minute’?”

 

“About half an hour ago.”

 

“…”

 

I was in the middle of a dream then.

 

Cut it out. She never wanted to think of that dream again, nor did she want to experience it a second time.

 

As they walked down the steps, Bo Jingxian finally noticed that Bo Yu’s body temperature was higher than usual. Her face was flushed, and the scent of agarwood on her was faintly deepening.

 

Bo Jingxian realized belatedly: “Sis, are you in your rut?”

 

Bo Yu answered absently, “Am I? I suppose so.”

 

Bo Jingxian rolled her eyes. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have made you come down.” If Grandma saw Bo Yu in her rut, she would definitely fuss over her, and all the attention would be on Bo Yu again!

 

“Then you should go back to your room and rest,” Bo Jingxian said, feigning concern.

 

The image of the translucent silk on Xie Yinwan flashed before Bo Yu’s eyes. She remained distracted. “No need. I’m already down here. I can’t let those ten minutes you waited go to waste. Your hand must be sore from all that knocking.”

 

“…” Talk about shooting myself in the foot!

 

When they reached the ground floor, Old Mrs. Bo immediately noticed Bo Yu’s flushed cheeks and walked straight to her. “Xiao Yu, are you unwell?”

 

Bo Yu pulled herself together and shook her head with a smile. “I’m fine, Grandma. I just fell asleep and got a bit too warm.”

 

The grandmother reached out to feel Bo Yu’s forehead, but Bo Yu gently caught her hand and leaned against her arm. “I’m really okay. Let’s see Jingxian off first.”

 

The grandmother shot a look at Bo Jingxian. She was displeased that the younger girl had insisted on waking Bo Yu up just to satisfy a whim, but since Jingxian was leaving for school, she refrained from lecturing her.

 

However, being her granddaughter, the old lady couldn’t help but nag about other things: “Jingxian, study hard once you’re at school. Be careful driving around campus—don’t go so fast. And since you’ve opened that bar, get into the habit of checking the accounts for ten minutes every day. If you act like a hands-off boss and the bar fails, don’t even think about entering the Group after graduation!”

 

Bo Jingxian cried out, “Grandma! I’m just about to leave home and you say all this. You don’t love me at all!”

 

The second aunt quickly smiled and intervened: “Nonsense! If Grandma didn’t love you, would she come down specifically to see you off? Look, your father, your sister, and your grandma are all here for you!”

 

It was Saturday. The second uncle, Bo Nuo, was out for a business dinner, and Bo Mi was also away. Everyone else was present. Bo Qin stood by with Bo Jingxian’s two large suitcases.

 

School started on Monday. As a junior, Jingxian was eager to see if there were any handsome freshmen. She had just seen a message in her group chat about a “super handsome junior” and decided on a whim to head to campus early.

 

That was why she insisted on a full family send-off in the living room.

 

Bo Jingxian glanced at her doting but majestic father. She pursed her lips and stopped complaining, hugging her grandmother and then clinging to her father’s arm. “Dad, can you put the suitcases in the trunk for me? I want to feel a father’s love. You’re the best! You love me the most, right?”

 

As she spoke, she rubbed her face against his arm, peeking at Bo Yu’s expression.

 

Bo Yu kept her eyes down and remained silent. She must be heartbroken, Bo Jingxian thought with smug satisfaction.

 

In reality, Bo Yu wasn’t paying attention to her sister’s antics at all. Her mind was drifting back to that dream. It felt so real—not only the touch of skin but the kiss. Every time she forced herself to forget, she lapsed back into the memory. She was stuck between a daze and a lingering sense of guilt that made her want to avoid Xie Yinwan for the foreseeable future.

 

Bo Qin did indeed dote on Jingxian. He patted her head and agreed, “You’re a grown woman and still acting like a child. Let’s go.”

 

Compared to his reserved eldest daughter, Bo Yu, and his affectionate younger daughter, Bo Jingxian, Bo Qin naturally felt closer to the latter.

 

The group took the elevator down to the parking garage, where Bo Qin personally loaded the luggage. Satisfied with the grand send-off and her father’s favoritism, Bo Jingxian waved and finally drove away.

 

Occasionally, Bo Qin felt a twinge of guilt. Seeing his eldest daughter standing silently with her head down, he wondered if she was upset by Jingxian’s “most” comments. Fearing she might distance herself further, he asked gently, “Xiao Yu, since Dad is free, want to come fishing with me?”

 

The grandmother took two deep breaths to suppress a shout of: “Can’t you see she’s unwell? What fishing?!” She felt she had named her son wrongly—Bo Qin (thin diligence) sounded too much like Bo Qing (fickle/heartless). How could he be so cold toward Bo Yu and her late mother?

 

Bo Yu snapped out of her thoughts, looked up, and declined flatly: “It’ll be dark soon.”

 

Bo Qin’s face hardened. “Then tomorrow.”

 

Bo Yu remained indifferent. “I’m busy tomorrow.”

 

With that, she turned to support her grandmother and they entered the elevator together. Bo Qin turned toward his car with a cold face. He had given her an opening, and she had rejected it!

 

The grandmother glared at Bo Qin’s back. The second aunt, Fang Zheng, quickly began making small talk to smooth things over.

 

The brief interlude passed. Back in the living room, the grandmother was so worried about Bo Yu that she asked the housekeeper for a thermometer.

 

The housekeeper whispered, “Old Mrs., the Second Miss might be entering her rut.”

 

“Oh!” The grandmother realized. “Right, I almost forgot. Xiao Yu, have you used suppressants?”

 

Bo Yu always felt a bit awkward discussing this. She forced a natural smile. “Normally it would be tomorrow, but it came a day early. I already took a tablet after coming downstairs. I’m fine; I was just a bit hot from sleeping. If you’re worried, I can sleep in your room tonight.”

 

She said this mainly because she hadn’t recovered from that “dream” yet. She felt a one-sided embarrassment and guilt. She was afraid to see Xie Yinwan, afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop looking at the ghost’s lips, and afraid that Xie Yinwan would see the shift in her gaze and threaten to kill her again.

 

She wanted to hide for two nights.

 

But as soon as she said it, she regretted it. What if she had another dream like that while sleeping next to her grandmother? If she started tossing and turning or accidentally touching her grandmother in her sleep, it would be mortifying.

 

Old Mrs. Bo smiled and touched Bo Yu’s face. “Sure, as long as you’re not uncomfortable, Grandma is happy to have you.”

 

Bo Yu quickly walked it back. “Actually, I shouldn’t disturb your sleep. You’ve slept alone for a long time; having someone there might be disruptive. Your sleep quality is the most important thing.”

 

The old lady laughed. “Clearly, it’s you who isn’t used to having someone nearby!”

 

After dinner, Bo Yu didn’t want to stay in her room. The more she was alone, the more she thought of Xie Yinwan. She brought out the Mao suit she had made for her grandmother and asked the housekeeper, Aunt Tang, to help her iron it.

 

Usually, she ironed the doll’s clothes herself, but that was with a tiny travel iron. It wasn’t suitable for large garments, and the high temperature made her grandmother worry about her burning her hands.

 

“This outfit you made for the Old Mrs. is beautiful. She’s going to love it,” Aunt Tang remarked.

 

Bo Yu sat on a chair nearby, watching her work. She smiled. “Grandma has a great aura. I just design things that suit her.”

 

Aunt Tang thought to herself that the Second Miss was truly the sweetest talker in the house. The eldest was polite but not “sweet,” and the third was “sweet” but often said nasty things. Aunt Tang smiled. “Yes, the Old Mrs. has a great aura, and so do you. You take after her.”

 

Bo Yu laughed. “Aunt Tang, can she wear it as soon as it’s ironed?”

 

“Just about. Let it cool for three to five minutes. Are you taking it to her now?”

 

“Yes, I want to make her happy.” She felt her grandmother might be feeling a bit down after the friction between her and Bo Qin.

 

Just as the clothes were ready, the butler came looking for Bo Yu, saying the grandmother wanted her to go for a walk by the lake. Bo Yu took the suit and went to find her.

 

It was past 8:00 PM. The sky was dark, and the lights around the courtyard and lake were glowing. The moon hung at an angle, its reflection dancing on the water with the lamplights as the breeze created ripples.

 

In the silvery moonlight, the grandmother looked elegant in her new black-and-white Mao suit. She happily held Bo Yu’s arm, praising her craftsmanship. The delicate stand-up collar and modified cuffs were perfectly stitched.

 

“Xiao Yu, you have such clever hands. Even the professional designers who come to the house don’t satisfy me as much as you do.”

 

“I’m just glad you like it,” Bo Yu said as they walked into a lakeside pavilion. “The fabric is thin, so it’s perfect for now. When it gets colder, I’ll make you a thicker one.”

 

The grandmother grew nostalgic, remembering how her own mother used to sew for her. She hadn’t expected her youngest granddaughter to do the same. “Just don’t tire yourself out.”

 

Bo Yu laughed, saying it wasn’t tiring at all.

 

“Since you’re in your rut these two days, you should rest your eyes and hands. Are you feeling better after the medicine?”

 

“I’m fine, don’t worry.”

 

They chatted for a while until the grandmother let out a soft sigh. Bo Yu chuckled.

 

“Xiao Yu, you’re a smart girl. You know what I want to say, don’t you?”

 

“I’m not smart; I have no idea.”

 

The old lady smiled; Bo Yu’s answer proved she had already guessed. “That little girl Jingxian was being affectionate with your father on purpose. I know your personality; you don’t care about his attitude, and your relationship with your sister is distant. But I still worry you’ll think about it at night and feel bad. That’s how people grow cold—one tiny, unnoticed slight at a time.”

 

Bo Yu was surprised. She thought her grandmother was going to try and reconcile her with her father.

 

The grandmother continued, “I won’t tell you how to handle your father or your sister. I just don’t want you to keep things bottled up. If you hold it all in, you’ll get sick.” Just like Bo Yu’s mother, Jiang Wei, had. “No matter what Jingxian or Bo Qin says, don’t take it to heart. In this house, Grandma loves you, your aunt loves you, your cousin loves you. We don’t care about those two; you shouldn’t either.”

 

Bo Yu’s eyes grew misty. Perhaps due to her rut, her emotions were more volatile than usual. “I know,” she whispered, hugging her grandmother’s arm. “Don’t worry. In this family, you, my aunt, and my cousin are the people I care about most. No one else can affect me.”

 

The old lady patted her hand. “That’s good. We will never let you be sad. I want you to always be this free, without any burdens—peaceful and liberated.”

 

Bo Yu smiled. “Okay.”

 

As they continued their walk, Bo Yu felt much better. Just as she was feeling “peaceful and liberated,” she saw a flash of movement. A figure was floating just above the surface of the lake, right over the moon’s reflection.

 

The figure wore a peach-colored, wide-sleeved Hanfu, looking as if she had just stepped out of a blossom forest. The breeze ruffled her sleeves and hair. She looked ethereal, like an immortal stepping through moonlight and water.

 

It was Xie Yinwan.

 

Bo Yu’s heart skipped. Instantly, images of the beach, the snow, the bed, and the sand from her dream flooded her mind. Her first instinct was guilt; her second was to run.

 

“Grandma, maybe we should go back now—” Bo Yu’s voice was slightly frantic.

 

“What are you nervous about? This girl can’t see me. Keep walking,” Xie Yinwan interrupted leisurely.

 

Bo Yu shut her mouth, nearly laughing. To Xie Yinwan, was her grandmother a “girl”?

 

Old Mrs. Bo looked at Bo Yu, seeing her holding back a smile. “What is it? Why are you smirking? Did you think of something funny?”

 

“No… I just really like walking with you tonight.”

 

“But you just said you wanted to go back. Do you still want to?”

 

Xie Yinwan: “You aren’t allowed to go back. Keep walking.”

 

Bo Yu shook her head. “I thought it was time for my medicine, but I remembered the time wrong. I’ll stay with you.”

 

The grandmother laughed. “You usually act so mature, but occasionally you get all flustered.”

 

Bo Yu smiled sheepishly. It’s all because of Xie Yinwan’s sudden appearance.

 

As they walked, Bo Yu discreetly reached up, pulled off one of her left earrings, and dropped it on the ground. When they reached another pavilion, she helped her grandmother sit down and let out a surprised “Oh!”

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

Bo Yu touched her ear. “I’m missing an earring. Grandma, you sit here; I’ll walk back a bit and look for it.”

 

The grandmother stood up. “I’ll help. My eyes are still sharp.”

 

Bo Yu said quickly, “No need, I can find it. You’ll hurt your back if you bend over too much.”

 

“Fine, fine. I’ll wait here.”

 

Bo Yu walked back, pretending to scan the ground. Xie Yinwan drifted to her side, her robes brushing against Bo Yu’s ear.

 

“Good evening, Immortal,” Bo Yu whispered.

 

Xie Yinwan didn’t respond. Bo Yu looked up and saw the ghost was wearing a cold expression again. What is it now, My Lady?

 

“What’s the matter, Immortal?”

 

Xie Yinwan: “Didn’t you say you were going to burn desserts for me?”

 

“…” So it’s about that. “I woke up feeling unwell at noon and had to lie back down. I haven’t had time to learn how to make them yet. Please don’t be impatient; as soon as I learn and make them delicious, I’ll burn them for you immediately.”

 

Xie Yinwan asked nonchalantly, “Why were you unwell?”

 

Bo Yu looked down. “It’s nothing.”

 

Xie Yinwan’s dark eyes locked onto her. “Hmm?”

 

Bo Yu felt the pressure and explained, “It’s my rut.”

 

Xie Yinwan feigned ignorance. “What does that mean?”

 

Bo Yu carefully explained the modern terms and their ancient equivalents: Alphas were Tian Qian, the rut was Huo Wang Qi (High Fire Period). Omegas were Kun Ze, their heat was Yu Lu Qi (Rain and Dew Period). Suppressants were An Ning Wan, and pheromones were Xin Xiang.

 

“So you need to kiss an Omega’s gland right now?”

 

“No! No!” Bo Yu stammered, quickly trying to regain her calm. “I just need to take medicine.”

 

Xie Yinwan said coldly, “Why aren’t you looking at this Immortal today? And you haven’t praised my beauty.”

 

“…” Didn’t you tell me not to before?

 

Bo Yu was too guilty to look at her, fearing the ghost would see the awkwardness in her eyes. She stole a quick glance and noticed Xie Yinwan’s cheeks were slightly flushed—she had been drinking again. She was indeed stunning. Bo Yu’s heart fluttered.

 

She quickly lowered her head again. “The Immortal is very beautiful today. I… I simply don’t dare to peer at the Immortal casually.”

 

“I see.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Look up,” Xie Yinwan commanded coldly.

 

Bo Yu pursed her lips and looked up. Xie Yinwan leaned in close to inspect her. Her eyes narrowed. “Your face is very red.”

 

Bo Yu looked at the ground. “Because of the High Fire Period.” She felt like her face was about to catch fire.

 

Xie Yinwan leaned down to smell Bo Yu’s neck. “You are very fragrant today. More than usual.”

 

“Because of the rut.”

 

“Where is your gland?”

 

Bo Yu thought of her gland’s location and then of Xie Yinwan’s gland in the dream. Her face turned beet red and she backed away. Normally, her medicine should still be working, but she was feeling an undeniable surge of heat.

 

Afraid to talk more, Bo Yu snatched her earring off the ground. “Immortal, I found it. I have to go help my grandmother back to her room.” Without waiting for a nod, she turned and ran back to her grandmother. “Grandma, I found it!”

 

The old lady laughed. “Slow down! Why are you running? At least you found it.”

 

Xie Yinwan watched Bo Yu’s retreating figure with a smirk, drifting leisurely after her. Then she wiped the smile away and resumed glaring. Bo Yu felt her scalp tingle under the gaze. She put her earring back on and asked, “Do you want to keep walking?”

 

“I’ll rest for a bit.”

 

“Okay.” Good, I don’t want to go back and face her yet.

 

They sat in the hexagonal pavilion. “Oh, Grandma found a funny video. Let me show you.” The old lady took out her phone and put on her reading glasses.

 

Bo Yu took the phone. It was a “try not to laugh” challenge. It was actually quite funny; Bo Yu chuckled.

 

“Boring. Change it,” a voice said by her left shoulder.

 

Bo Yu glanced left. Xie Yinwan was leaning on her back, arms wrapped around her waist, chin resting on her left shoulder, watching the screen. Cold breaths brushed against Bo Yu’s neck.

 

“…” Humans can’t escape the lure of smartphones, and apparently, neither can ghosts.

 

Old Mrs. Bo hesitated. “What is it, Grandma?”

 

“Nothing. There’s another one; scroll down.”

 

Bo Yu scrolled. It was another funny video. She had a low threshold for humor and laughed again.

 

“Who are these people? So ugly.”

 

“…”

 

“Change it.”

 

Bo Yu didn’t change it; she just smiled and handed the phone back to her grandmother.

 

Xie Yinwan: “?”

 

Bo Yu said, “It’s funny, but you should look at the screen less; it’s bad for the phone. Look at the night view instead.”

 

The grandmother laughed. “Bad for the phone or bad for my eyes?”

 

Bo Yu was so tense she hadn’t realized what she’d said. “A slip of the tongue! I meant your eyes.”

 

Xie Yinwan, still hugging her, rubbed her chin against Bo Yu’s shoulder. “Hurry up. I want to see more.”

 

“…”

 

For some reason, Bo Yu detected a hint of a “spoiled” tone in the ghost’s voice. Her ears turned red. She reached back and made a “be patient” gesture. She didn’t know if the ghost would understand.

 

Bo Yu made some small talk about short videos while pretending to check WeChat. Hiding from her grandmother’s view, she muted the volume and typed “beautiful women dancing” into the search bar. A list of videos popped up. She clicked one for Xie Yinwan to see.

 

Xie Yinwan watched for three seconds. “Change.”

 

Two seconds later: “Ugly. Change.”

 

One second later: “Change.”

 

“…”

 

Every time Bo Yu changed the video, she stole a glance at the screen. They all looked like very beautiful women to her!