My Ghostly Darling Cuddles Me Every Day - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Jinjiang Literature City

 

Three hair ribbons: two tied around Bo Yu’s ankles, and one binding her hands together above her head.

 

Bo Yu had never imagined that the three ribbons she burned for Xie Yinwan would be used for such a purpose.

 

Bo Yu’s body floated about a meter above the bed, while Xie Yinwan, dressed in an elegant light bamboo-green robe with wide flowing sleeves, lay draped over her. There was no breeze in the room, yet the three ribbons swayed back and forth, and Bo Yu’s body rocked gently like a swing.

 

It felt like a ritual was being performed, but the ghost being enshrined was merely inhaling the fragrance from Bo Yu’s body. Like a cat, she sniffed, inhaled, and nudged. A cat might purr, but Xie Yinwan’s sounds were: “You smell so good”, “I really want to eat you”, “You aren’t allowed to be tainted by anyone else’s scent”, and “Do you hear me?”

 

Bo Yu heard her and responded in a soft voice. The talkative Xie Yinwan would then quiet down for a minute or two. Xie Yinwan only had three ribbons, and since they were all used on Bo Yu’s ankles and wrists, her own hair hung completely loose. Her silky strands brushed against Bo Yu’s eyes and cheeks—soft and light, bringing waves of phantom itching.

 

Xie Yinwan commented on Bo Yu’s figure and skin again. Bo Yu responded softly, and silence returned once more. The room was quiet—a gentle, peaceful silence broken only by the sound of Bo Yu swallowing. Her nerves were pulled taut; she wanted to fall into a deep sleep and be done with it, so she wouldn’t have to face the tension and embarrassment of Xie Yinwan moving down to smell her scent glands and then suddenly moving back up.

 

Xie Yinwan’s tactics were too erratic; she couldn’t figure her out.

 

“The fragrance on your neck travels up from your scent trails, doesn’t it?” Xie Yinwan’s voice was as lazy as a cat’s, soft and light, as her fingertips brushed Bo Yu’s collarbone.

 

At the mention of the scent trails, Bo Yu’s body tensed again—her collarbone, her lower abdomen. The ripples of contraction were humiliating and unbearable.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“Then it does.”

 

“…”

 

Xie Yinwan’s fingertip lightly tapped the curve of Bo Yu’s lip. “When is your next heat? Every month?” Bo Yu’s scent seemed to soothe Xie Yinwan’s soul; every time she inhaled it, she became very comfortable and happy. Right now, Xie Yinwan’s eyes were soft and her movements languid.

 

Bo Yu held her breath and lowered her gaze, waiting for Xie Yinwan to move her finger away, but the movement never came. Bo Yu had to part her lips slightly to speak: “About twenty-eight days. After the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

 

“Mhm.” “Yes.”

 

After a quiet moment, the rambling conversation resumed.

 

“Then during your heat after the Mid-Autumn Festival, you’ll definitely smell even better, right?” Xie Yinwan pressed her chin against Bo Yu’s and toyed with her earlobe. Bo Yu’s earlobe itched, the sensation spreading to her neck, leaving her speechless.

 

Xie Yinwan chuckled—a soft, feminine sound. “Then this Immortal will take the liberty of tasting a bit now.”

 

“?!”

 

Even though Xie Yinwan’s entire body was draped over her, Bo Yu felt no weight—only a cool mist. Suddenly, that cool mist moved downward.

 

“Don’t,” Bo Yu said urgently. “I… I need to use the restroom. I’m dirty.”

 

“You smell so good; this Immortal won’t find you distasteful.”

 

“But, but… but.”

 

Bo Yu couldn’t find her “but.” She was currently like a fish on a chopping block. Xie Yinwan had pinned her down; no matter how much strength she exerted, she couldn’t move an inch. How she would be treated depended entirely on Xie Yinwan’s mood; she could stop nothing.

 

It was better in the dream, Bo Yu couldn’t help but think. At least in the dream, she was the proactive one. She didn’t want to be passive. Thinking this, she actually started to miss the Xie Yinwan from the dream—the one who hugged her with a gentle smile and called her “Baby.” That tenderness was addictive.

 

Suddenly feeling an intense, burning gaze, Bo Yu’s attention was pulled back to reality. She looked up and saw Xie Yinwan floating at the foot of the bed, leaning over with a smile in her bright eyes, looking at her scent glands.

 

“Don’t!” Bo Yu panicked, trying hard to press her ankles together. “Immortal, I beg you, don’t look!”

 

“I saw them last time; what are you nervous about?” Xie Yinwan asked with interest.

 

Bo Yu was too ashamed. These were her most private glands; no matter how many times they were seen, she felt humiliated. And the more ashamed she felt, the more she could feel the glands throb. They beat so fast she was on the verge of tears.

 

Xie Yinwan moved her face closer, admiring how the delicate little glands trembled before her. She really wanted to take a taste. She wanted to slowly extend her tongue, wrap it around that exquisite little spot, grind it gently with her lips, suck it softly, and lick it to savor the flavor.

 

Bo Yu would definitely cry, wouldn’t she? She really wanted to hear Bo Yu cry.

 

It was a pity this wasn’t the dream. Her tongue couldn’t taste anything—it wasn’t as sensitive as her nose. She could only use her nose to smell. Even if she extended her tongue, it would only be her “form” and “energy” touching Bo Yu; her form wasn’t that flexible yet, and she couldn’t feel anything. It was boring. The dream was much more interesting. Or perhaps, things would get interesting once she had a physical body.

 

Although she couldn’t taste yet, she wanted to scare Bo Yu. Bo Yu had provoked her anger time and again over the past two days; she wanted to scare her until she begged for mercy to satisfy her own lingering frustration.

 

Xie Yinwan smiled with amusement, resting her cheek against Bo Yu’s left knee, contentedly listening to Bo Yu’s melodic, labored breathing while focusing on her glands.

 

Bo Yu was on the verge of a breakdown. During her last susceptibility period, she had managed to fall asleep without medication, but this time she couldn’t. The torment caused her shame to climb higher and higher; her cheeks flushed and paled, and her body fluctuated between hot and cold.

 

“My mother,” Bo Yu tried to keep her head clear to talk business, her breathing ragged. “Immortal, do you have any news of my mother?”

 

Jin Xuan had said the underworld was vast, with different jurisdictions like provinces and cities. These ghosts were managed by different regional authorities. “If my mother isn’t in this city, is there a way to bring her back?”

 

Xie Yinwan looked up lazily. “Don’t rush me. When there is news, I will tell you.”

 

“…”

 

Is there really no news, or does she just not want to tell me?

 

Bo Yu was in extreme distress—partly because of the position, and partly because she had to endure this humiliation while needing Xie Yinwan’s help.

 

Xie Yinwan suddenly heard a faint sob. “…” Is just looking that hard to bear?

 

In the dream, she let Bo Yu look at her however she wanted; she had actually been eager for it. Not just eager to let her look, but eager for Bo Yu to touch her—to keep touching her and never leave.

 

Is this the difference between an Alpha and an Omega? The Omega loves it, while the Alpha resists it?

 

“Such a crybaby little lady.”

 

“…”

 

Bo Yu’s nose was stinging with tears, but hearing this nickname, she suddenly didn’t know if she should keep feeling aggrieved. Xie Yinwan saw Bo Yu’s cheeks and ears turn from white to a deep grey; she knew Bo Yu must be blushing.

 

“Beg me. Beg this Immortal to stay her hand, and I will spare you tonight.”

 

Bo Yu immediately said: “I beg you, I beg you.” Bo Yu was naturally good at coaxing people with sweet words, and she poured out a long string of pleas.

 

From an angle Bo Yu couldn’t see, the corners of Xie Yinwan’s mouth curled up.

 

“When you were eating with Jin Xuan, your sister was also in the restaurant. She saw you,” Xie Yinwan said coldly.

 

Bo Yu’s chaotic thoughts cleared slightly: “What?”

 

Xie Yinwan gave a silent laugh and deliberately vanished at that moment. The three ribbons binding Bo Yu’s wrists and ankles disappeared with her, and Bo Yu fell back onto the bed. Her limbs were still stiff and numb; she sat in a daze for several seconds after Xie Yinwan’s abrupt departure.

 

“Immortal? Are you gone?” No response. “Xie Yinwan, are you gone?” Still no response.

 

Bo Yu pulled the covers over herself. Why did Xie Yinwan remind her of that?

 

Bo Jingxian was worried that if she stayed away from Grandma for too long, Grandma’s affection for her would fade, leading to a smaller inheritance. Therefore, she preferred not to study abroad and didn’t even choose a university out of the province; she stayed local. If Xie Yinwan was reminding her of this, did it mean Bo Jingxian had made a certain face or said something in the restaurant?

 

She knew her Second Aunt and Bo Jingxian had always wanted her to marry and move out quickly. They believed that once she married, Grandma would allocate less of the inheritance to her, and they would receive more. Jin Xuan… Bo Jingxian wouldn’t be trying to start a rumor that she and Jin Xuan are dating, would she?

 

Bo Yu pondered for a while but wasn’t too worried. No matter how much trouble Bo Jingxian caused, she wouldn’t be as hard to deal with as Xie Yinwan.

 

Bo Yu’s thighs were stiff and numb. It took her a while to get out of bed to take her medicine and shower again. Finally, she placed Xiexie neatly on the sewing desk and turned on the camera. Having shopped all day and been frightened by Xie Yinwan, she soon fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

 

About an hour later, once Bo Yu was sound asleep, the Xiexie on the sewing machine—dressed in her pink maid outfit and cat ears—moved.

 

She flew up and looked in the mirror first, posing this way and that, wiggling her butt and shoulders. She seemed to especially like today’s outfit; her large eyes were much brighter than usual. Wearing the novel maid outfit and cat ears, she flew around, entertaining herself for quite a while.

 

When she finally thought about drifting into Bo Yu’s covers to sleep, she turned and saw the thing by the bed following her movements. It was very interesting; wherever she flew, that thing turned to follow her. She didn’t know what it was doing.

 

Xie Yinwan flew in front of the camera and peered into the lens, looking left and right, even sticking her arm in front of it. She couldn’t figure out how the thing worked, so she kicked the machine in annoyance. But she was currently a cotton doll; without using her mental intent, she had no strength. Her kick didn’t move the machine at all.

 

Xie Yinwan found the machine quite boring. Her “Baby Bo Yu” was much more interesting. She went to find Bo Yu as usual. She climbed onto the bed, poked her head into the corner of the quilt, and finally crawled inside Bo Yu’s pajamas, climbing up to lie contentedly on Bo Yu’s collarbone to smell her scent.

 

The word “Baby” was something she had heard one girl call another in a car by the sea-crossing bridge. It sounded sweet. Today, “Baby Bo Yu” had taught her how to recognize her name. Bo Yu’s name sounded so much better than “Bo Fish.” The character “Yu” was very similar to “Hao” (Good). And their names both had the “Woman” radical.

 

Xie Yinwan listened to every word Bo Yu said very seriously. She liked the way Bo Yu organized things, the way she taught her to read, and the way she made peach blossom pastries in the kitchen. She liked the clothes, ribbons, wine, and pastries Bo Yu burned for her. She liked hearing Bo Yu call her “Immortal” in that soft, melodic voice.

 

She liked the clean scent of Bo Yu’s body, her soul that didn’t strive against the world, and she really liked Bo Yu’s exquisite scent glands. Everything about Bo Yu suited her taste; she liked everything about her.

 

I really, really, really like Baby Bo Yu.

 

Xie Yinwan was so excited by her affection that she wanted to eat Bo Yu again. She poked her head out from the quilt, pressed her mouth against Bo Yu’s, and happily kissed her several times. Not satisfied with just kisses, she rubbed her head against Bo Yu’s chin and neck repeatedly.

 

Bo Yu was woken up on Monday morning by her alarm. After turning it off, she reflected for a moment, relieved that Dr. Chu’s herbal medicine was effective; she hadn’t dreamed of Xie Yinwan. Then, with a helpless sigh, she “satisfactorily” pulled Xiexie out of her clothes.

 

It was just as well that Xiexie was in her clothes; it meant the camera setup last night wasn’t in vain.

 

Bo Yu put Xiexie back on the sewing desk. She took the camera and a seat cushion upstairs to the terrace. She laid the cushion on a rattan chair and, in the morning light of the sunrise, opened the recording. She took a slow, deep breath and fast-forwarded the footage.

 

Ten minutes later. Bo Yu: “???” Bo Yu was in disbelief, stunned like a wooden chicken.

 

Xiexie had flown on her own! Xiexie was looking in the mirror, wiggling her butt and waist, and even playing in front of the camera! The camera had built-in AI for human recognition and dynamic tracking, and it had clearly tracked every one of Xiexie’s movements.

 

Then, Bo Yu clearly saw Xiexie crawl into her quilt. The quilt kept bulging and moving as Xiexie crawled into her arms. A moment later, Xiexie popped her head out and started kissing her on the mouth.

 

Bo Yu: “????”

 

After kissing her, Xiexie seemingly didn’t think it was enough and started rubbing her head against her like a cat. So busy—Xiexie was really working hard!

 

Because Bo Yu already knew a ghost and had even seen many others, she managed to control her hand and didn’t throw the camera when she saw the eerie footage of the doll flying, wiggling, and crawling.

 

Had her doll gained a spirit long ago, or…?

 

No, not that early. Xiexie only started appearing in her arms after she met Xie Yinwan; that’s when she started thinking she was sleepwalking.

 

“Carry her with you when you go out during the day. No matter where you go, keep her with you at all times. It makes it easier for me to collect energy. Can you do that?”

 

Those words suddenly echoed in Bo Yu’s ears. Was it Xie Yinwan?

 

After watching, Bo Yu deleted the video. Even though it was only on the memory card and not uploaded to the cloud, she preferred to be cautious.

 

Bo Yu was lost in thought and distracted all morning. At breakfast, she would take a sip of porridge and then pause for ten seconds. Grandma noticed her distracted state and touched her forehead. “Xiao Yu, did you not sleep well, or are you feeling unwell?”

 

Bo Yu snapped back and smiled. “I’m fine, Grandma. I just didn’t pay attention to the time while reading last night and didn’t sleep until 2:00 AM.” Grandma sighed. “Books should be read slowly; what’s the rush? You’re an adult and still staying up late to read.” Bo Yu smiled and focused on her porridge.

 

She had to take Xiexie to work. When Bo Yu changed Xiexie into a set of “work clothes” and put her in her bag, she felt uneasy all over. She had originally just been raising a cute, immobile cotton doll, but it had suddenly come to life and was doing those things to her at night. She felt a chill on the back of her neck.

 

She didn’t want to keep Xiexie close to her anymore, but she had promised Xie Yinwan, so she had to.

 

At work, Bo Yu remained distracted. Zhu Ying was as energetic as ever. Despite having tripped in the office earlier, she still clattered around in her high heels. Seeing Bo Yu sitting in the office staring blankly into space with a cup of ice water on the table, she leaned over. “What’s up? Did your dad annoy you again? Drinking ice water so early in the morning—you’re so fired up. Or was it Bo Jingxian? Wait, hasn’t her school semester started? How could she bother you?”

 

Bo Yu looked at Zhu Ying, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, then took a sip of ice water to calm herself. “It’s nothing. I’m thinking about that jewelry investment project you mentioned last time.”

 

“Really? Are you lying again? You aren’t in this state when you’re working. You’re the best at lying.”

 

“…I’m also thinking about the Mid-Autumn Festival. My dad mentioned having me attend an afternoon tea party with Nanyan. I don’t want to go.”

 

“Oh.” Zhu Ying believed her. “No problem. If you don’t want to go, just use me as an excuse again. Say I was in a car accident and hospitalized and you need to stay with me.”

 

Bo Yu couldn’t help but laugh. “That mouth of yours… don’t say such things…”

 

Unknowingly, Bo Yu spent two days in a daze. By the third day, Zhu Ying came into the office and saw Bo Yu lying quietly on the bed staring at the ceiling, still looking trancelike. She leaned in curiously. “Boss Yu, what is actually wrong with you?”

 

Bo Yu suddenly sat up, grabbed Zhu Ying’s wrist, and asked, “Zhu Ying, do you want to be my girlfriend?”

 

Zhu Ying: “???” Zhu Ying was horrified!! Bo Yu better not like me! Don’t confess! I don’t like Bo Yu, otherwise we can’t be friends anymore!!

 

At the exact moment of Zhu Ying’s horror, the Italian chandelier over the desk suddenly crashed down with a massive clatter followed by several pops. Zhu Ying jumped in place, her shoulders shaking.

 

Bo Yu, however, calmed down.

 

She had told Grandma she liked people younger than her, sweet-talking and obedient—and her phone had shattered on the floor. She had a voice call with Jin Xuan to discuss lunch on Saturday—and the rod in her wardrobe fell. Dr. Chu Jingzhi asked her to stick out her tongue and hand—and the banner in the office fell. The rod in her wardrobe had fallen twice for no reason. And just now, when she asked Zhu Ying to be her girlfriend, the chandelier fell.

 

Xie Yinwan is watching me.

 

The conversation with Grandma happened by the lake at night; Xie Yinwan was right there. Other things happened during the day when Xiexie was right beside her.

 

Xie Yinwan is inside Xiexie’s body, isn’t she?

 

While Zhu Ying was on the phone calling for cleaning and repairs, Bo Yu walked behind her and patted her shoulder, laughing. “I’m teasing you. Don’t be nervous. Don’t worry, I don’t have those feelings for you. I was just too bored and my head hurt from thinking, so I wanted to see your reaction to relax.”

 

Zhu Ying, who had almost died of fright: “??” Xie Yinwan, who had almost wanted to kill Zhu Ying: “…”

 

Bo Yu apologized to Zhu Ying with a smile—a very sincere apology—which actually made Zhu Ying feel embarrassed. Bo Yu was the one who made the final decisions on many investment projects and made most of the company’s money; she could certainly afford to make a joke.

 

Bo Yu helped Zhu Ying tidy up and heard the repairman muttering that it was strange—nothing was loose or broken.

 

Bo Yu: “…”

 

If she reasoned backward from this conclusion… Hanhan’s abnormal behavior had a logical explanation. At the reservoir, he suddenly rushed to bump Bo Jingxian, but he wagged his tail at Xiexie. When she was digging up and burying the charms, Hanhan avoided Xiexie, and the vet said Hanhan was faking being sick.

 

If Xie Yinwan was indeed inside Xiexie, and the lamp fell like that… Bo Yu thought, Xie Yinwan truly has a massive temper.

 

Bo Yu then thought: if Xie Yinwan was indeed inside Xiexie, and she crawled into her clothes to sleep every night and kissed her, then Xie Yinwan truly liked the scent of her body. Xie Yinwan was cold and fierce at night and always threatened to kill her, but in the middle of the night, she was so cute—swaying her head, wiggling her butt, and secretly crawling into her clothes. She seems like a pretty cute, arrogant, and slightly perverted little ghost?

 

The office was soon cleaned up. Bo Yu ordered a new lamp. While Zhu Ying was saying “No need, really no need,” she was staring at Bo Yu’s phone saying “This one is good, that one works too.”

 

After ordering the lamp, Bo Yu pulled Xiexie into her arms and played the first episode of Journey to the West on her iPad to watch with her. Journey to the West had so many gods and monsters and was suitable for all ages; Xie Yinwan should enjoy it, right? After watching two episodes, next time she saw Xie Yinwan, she could subtly lead the conversation to deduce whether Xie Yinwan was truly inside Xiexie’s body.

 

“Why are you watching Journey to the West?” Zhu Ying came over again.

 

Bo Yu: “Mhm, watching it with my daughter.”

 

Zhu Ying: “…?” She had never heard Bo Yu call the doll her “daughter” before.

 

Xie Yinwan: “??” How did I become Bo Yu’s daughter? Actually, it was fine. She liked “Baby Bo Yu”; anything was fine. As long as Bo Yu didn’t mess around with Zhu Ying, Jin Xuan, or that doctor and didn’t make her angry, her temper was actually very good.

 

Zhu Ying: “You haven’t been normal lately.”

 

Bo Yu patted Xiexie’s head and stomach, resting her chin on top of the doll’s head. “Mind your own business.”

 

“…”

 

Since Xie Yinwan wanted Xiexie to absorb more energy, she would take Xiexie outdoors more often to soak up the sun and see the mountains and sea. If she made Xie Yinwan happy, perhaps she could see her mother sooner.

 

Just as she was thinking this, Bo Yu’s work phone rang. Without looking at the caller ID, she held Xiexie in one arm and answered: “Bo Yu, Market Analyst. Hello, who is this?”

 

“This is Xiao Lin at the front desk,” the receptionist said. “Xiao Yu, a girl named Bo Jingxian is here saying she’s your sister. She’s brought you lunch. Do you want to come down and get it, or should I have her bring it up?”

 

Bo Yu instinctively looked down at the Xiexie in her arms. Bo Jingxian seemed to be here to cause trouble. Will Xiexie take action?