My Ghostly Darling Cuddles Me Every Day - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: “I’ll Grant That You Were Diligent.”

The next day, after the Bo family left for work, Bo Yu took out a dictionary in her room to start working out the possible permutations of the female ghost’s name.

Bo Yu had expected to feel worse this morning after seeing the ghost last night, but the opposite was true. Her fever was gone, her body no longer ached, and she felt only a lingering weakness. She wondered if Master Jin Xuan’s herbal medicine really was strengthening her constitution.

Bo Yu sat holding “Xiexie,” deep in thought. Between the possible surnames Xie (谢) and Xie (解), she leaned toward the former. The second character was likely Yin (吟) or Yin (银), and the third could be Wan (晚), Mian (娩), Guan (莞), Wan (菀), Wan (婉), or Wan (琬). That made for twelve possibilities.

“What do you think her name is?” Bo Yu asked the doll in her arms.

Xiexie’s gaze was clear and innocent, cute and obedient.

Bo Yu suddenly gave a soft, light laugh. “What a coincidence. She’s also surnamed Xie, and your name is Xiexie.”

Xiexie continued to smile adorably. Having no soul, she naturally couldn’t understand. Bo Yu poked the corner of the doll’s mouth, pretending Xiexie was smiling back at her.

Bo Yu placed Xiexie back on the table. She went to get an empty suitcase; she was going to burn things today and didn’t want to take the doll out. The moment she turned her back, however, the doll gave a strange, eerie little smile.

Bo Yu set the suitcase on the floor and picked out twelve dresses. Once she confirmed the name next time she saw the ghost, she would burn more clothes and spirit money.

She called the housekeeper to help her pack the twelve items into separate bags. She did this on purpose; if she tried to sneak a suitcase out, the housekeeper would surely report it to Grandma. It was better to simply tell her she was bringing things to her friend, Zhu Ying.

“Are you driving yourself, Miss? Is it okay? Should I call the driver?” the housekeeper asked worriedly as she helped load the trunk.

Bo Yu put her bag in the passenger seat. “It’s fine. I feel much better today after drinking Master Jin Xuan’s medicine.” Mentioning the Taoist master put the housekeeper at ease, and Bo Yu drove off.

She bought some yellow spirit paper and prepared twelve slips with the different name variations. She drove to the funeral parlor, which had dedicated furnace rooms for burning offerings. Bo Yu wasn’t afraid to be there alone. She burned one dress with one name slip. After finishing all twelve, she discarded her dusty mask and drove away.

Feeling a bit faint, she skipped the office and headed straight home. As she neared the courtyard, she saw a figure in a tracksuit—sleeves and pant legs rolled up—digging in the dirt at the base of the outer wall with a shovel.

“Master Jin Xuan?” Bo Yu stepped out of the car. “What are you doing?”

Jin Xuan looked like she was doing farm work, her hair pinned up as she skillfully drove the shovel into the earth. She looked back, her gaze flickering slightly at the sight of the beautiful Bo Yu.

Today, Bo Yu wore a simple grey tracksuit and had her hair in a bun. Her face was no longer pale; her cheeks were flushed with a healthy tint, her eyes were clear in the sunlight, and a gentle smile played on her lips.

“Miss Bo, you look much better today,” Jin Xuan said with a smile.

Bo Yu nodded. “I have to thank your medicine for that.” She glanced at the shovel.

“Oh, this,” Jin Xuan said. “The Old Lady mentioned my master buried charms around the courtyard years ago. They’ve likely lost their power, so I’m putting down some fresh ones.”

Bo Yu’s heart tightened. “Is it because the old ones failed that my sister was able to bring something home the night before last?”

Jin Xuan nodded. “Most likely. Otherwise, nothing would have ever entered this courtyard, right?”

“…”

This was bad. She couldn’t let Jin Xuan bury new charms. Even if her prayer beads and medicine didn’t affect the female ghost, the perimeter charms might.

Bo Yu thought quickly. A few stray hairs drifted in the wind; she brushed them back and noticed beads of sweat on the Taoist’s face. “It’s so hot out. How long have you been at this? Why don’t you come inside and rest with me for a bit?”

Jin Xuan replied, “I’m fine. I only started a few minutes ago. You go ahead; no one else can help with this, so I have to do it myself.”

Bo Yu felt a surge of relief—she had only just started.

“Is there a time limit? Is it better to do it in the morning?”

“The afternoon is fine, as long as it’s before sunset.”

Bo Yu hesitated, then said with a look of embarrassment, “Master Jin Xuan, actually… I have a favor to ask.”

Seeing Bo Yu’s blushing face, Jin Xuan smiled. “Go ahead.”

Bo Yu looked around shiftily and whispered, “I have a friend who seems to get possessed by ghosts quite often. I didn’t tell Grandma because I didn’t want to worry her, but after you helped me yesterday, I really trust you. Could you come and check on her with me?”

Jin Xuan turned serious. “What are her symptoms?”

“I can’t quite describe it. Master, would it be convenient for you to come with me now?”

Jin Xuan looked at her unfinished work. Since she hadn’t really started and this was another chance to earn a fee, she agreed. “I’ll put my things away, wash my hands, and go with you.”

Bo Yu was immensely grateful. “That’s wonderful. Thank you.”

Jin Xuan felt a flutter at the sight of the bright smile on Bo Yu’s face.

As Jin Xuan went to wash up, Bo Yu immediately texted Zhu Ying to coordinate the lie. She needed to delay the task for the day; once she saw the ghost tonight, she would ask if she was afraid of the charms before deciding what to do tomorrow.

Zhu Ying sent a string of question marks. Zhu Ying: “You’re the one who got possessed! Bo Yu, how many times are you going to use me as an excuse!”

Zhu Ying: “And you were sick? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Bo Yu: “Didn’t want you to worry…”

Zhu Ying: “So the exorcism worked? Why won’t you let her bury the charms?”

Bo Yu: “Nothing, it just feels weird. Let’s have lunch; we can stall her until sunset. Or have her check your family’s ancestral home?”

Zhu Ying: “…Fine. You’re paying!”

With Zhu Ying on board, Bo Yu drove Jin Xuan to meet her. Since they were close in age, they chatted all the way.

Zhu Ying, a pro at covering for Bo Yu, spun a web of nonsense. After lunch, the three young women acted like old friends. They visited Zhu Ying’s ancestral home, and Bo Yu made sure to return just as the sun was setting.

She didn’t mention a word about tricking the Taoist. Seeing Bo Yu’s improved complexion, the Old Lady was satisfied.

After washing up that night, Bo Yu was nervous. She didn’t know if the ghost’s name was among the twelve, or if she had received the dresses. She sat at the sewing machine, edging one of her grandmother’s garments while her heart pounded.

When Bo Yu started sewing, she lost track of time. Before she knew it, it was midnight.

“You have a new red string on your wrist. Where did it come from?” A voice suddenly sounded behind her.

Bo Yu turned around and stood up, leaning on the table. She looked at the ghost’s attire first.

The female ghost was no longer wearing the tattered ancient robes. She was wearing the white dress Bo Yu had burned. Bo Yu felt a wave of relief—she wasn’t going to become a “living corpse.”

The dress wasn’t the exact one the ghost had pointed out; it was a beautiful French-style V-neck elegant dress her aunt had sent from abroad. To show her sincerity, Bo Yu had burned it instead. The ghost looked even better in it than she did; it fit her slender waist and elegant aura perfectly.

Bo Yu quickly recalled the name associated with this dress. It was Xie Yinwan! The Wan (婉) that meant “graceful” and “beautiful.” It was a lovely name. Though, she noted, it was also the Wan in “graceful refusal.”

“Beautiful. Immortal, you look truly beautiful,” Bo Yu said.

Xie Yinwan gave her a cold, sidelong glance. “Why isn’t it the one I asked for yesterday?” This neckline is far too low. Simply scandalous!

Sensing her displeasure, Bo Yu explained that since she didn’t know the exact characters of her name, she had burned twelve dresses with different name tags.

Xie Yinwan flicked her sleeve, summoning the doll to her hand. She squeezed it casually and gave Bo Yu a look. “I’ll grant that you were diligent.”

The tension that had gripped Bo Yu all day finally dissolved. The ghost wasn’t going to punish her.

Relaxing, Bo Yu remembered the ghost’s question. She lifted her wrist. “This was a gift from a Taoist. I didn’t sleep well last night because I was sick, and she said this would help calm my spirit so I could sleep better.”

Jin Xuan had given one to both her and Zhu Ying, claiming she bought them in bulk. To prevent any misunderstanding, Bo Yu added, “I didn’t mean it as protection against you. It’s just for sleep.”

Xie Yinwan snorted contemptuously. “That Jin Xuan from the night before?”

“You know her?”

“She has a bit of skill, but only a bit. She cannot block me,” Xie Yinwan said arrogantly.

Bo Yu was stunned. This ghost really is that powerful.

Xie Yinwan waved her hand. A wind rose, tossing Bo Yu’s hair. Still holding her wrist up, Bo Yu found herself paralyzed. The red string on her wrist suddenly snapped as if cut by a blade and fell to the floor.

With a casual hook of her finger, the red string floated up. Another wave, and the window flew open. A gust of wind carried the red string far into the night.

Bo Yu watched, dumbfounded.

The window slammed shut, and the wind died down. Xie Yinwan beckoned. Bo Yu’s feet left the floor as a powerful force dragged her horizontally through the air until she was right in front of the ghost.

Xie Yinwan lifted Bo Yu’s chin with her finger. Her gaze was icy, and her voice was even colder.

“Don’t wear things she gives you. They have a scent I don’t like. Do you understand?”

Support My Ghostly Darling Cuddles Me Every Day