My Sweet Little Flower Turned Out to Be a Sinister Ghost - Chapter 23

Song Yuehua had just returned home when she scooped the soft, fluffy Song Xiaomi into her arms and settled on the sofa. The orange tabby curled up on her lap, purring softly in her throat, its paws gently clutching the hem of her clothes.

With one hand stroking the cat’s fur and the other dialing the number from the rental advertisement, she asked tentatively, “Hello? I’d like to ask about the two-bedroom apartment on the third floor in your complex, is it still available for rent?”

The landlord on the other end spoke for a while, and Song Yuehua listened attentively, nodding occasionally in response. They discussed everything from the rent to the appliances and even confirmed whether pets were allowed, chatting for over an hour in total.

By the time she hung up, her hesitation had completely vanished. She hugged Song Xiaomi and swayed gently. “It’s decided! We’re moving to our new home tomorrow, it’s super close to Qingyu’s place!”

The orange cat squinted as it was rocked, its tail tip lightly brushing her hand. Song Yuehua cupped its round little head and rubbed her nose against its small ear. “You’ll get to see Sister Qingyu often from now on. It’s been a while since you last saw her, right? Do you miss her?”

“Meow.” The kitten didn’t understand, the kitten only wanted its human to serve it.

“Oh, and let’s not tell her for now, okay?” Song Yuehua gazed into the cat’s round amber eyes as if sharing a secret. “After we move, we’ll suddenly appear downstairs and surprise her!”

“Meow!” Pet me or don’t, if you’re not going to, put me down.

Song Xiaomi gently pushed against her hand with its paws, twisting its body as if trying to jump down.

“Alright, alright, I’ll put you down!” Laughing, Song Yuehua set the cat on the floor. The orange tabby immediately trotted off with small, brisk steps, head held high as it made its way to the balcony.

She didn’t tease the cat further and instead headed to the storage room, pulling out a 24-inch suitcase with a rustling sound.

She started by neatly folding and packing her frequently worn hoodies and jeans, then dug out a few pairs of comfortable slippers. Even her toiletries were organized neatly into storage bags.

Song Xiaomi wandered around the balcony for a bit and, finding no one to attend to it, sauntered back to the storage room door, perching on the threshold to stare at Song Yuehua. “Meow!”

Human, it’s time to play with the feather wand.

Song Yuehua was busy stuffing items into the suitcase when she looked up and saw the cat’s “serve me now” expression. It took her a moment to process. “Oh, I almost forgot your things!”

She quickly rummaged through the cabinet, pulling out Song Xiaomi’s belongings and placing them in a cardboard box. “Don’t worry, all your treasures are coming with us. You won’t be deprived in the new home.”

After packing everything, Song Yuehua clapped her hands clean and lay down on the bed, picking up her phone to check her messages. As soon as she opened the chat, she saw a message from Bai Qingyu: “I’ll be working from home tomorrow and won’t be going out.”

Song Yuehua’s eyes instantly lit up, and she couldn’t help but smile. Her fingers quickly typed out an “Okay.”

Perfect timing, she could move in tomorrow.

…

Since there was no elevator, Song Yuehua only brought her suitcase with the essentials.

Fortunately, the rented apartment was on the third floor, which was much easier than climbing six flights of stairs like the day before. When she reached the door, she rubbed her sore wrist before pulling out the old key the landlord had given her.

The key slid into the iron door’s lock, turning twice before it clicked open. The interior was cleaner than expected, the light gray fabric sofa was a bit worn but free of pilling, the wooden dining table gleamed from polishing, and even the wall sockets were dust-free.

Song Yuehua dragged her suitcase inside and took a quick tour: the master bedroom held a double bed, while the smaller room was just the right size for a desk and a bookshelf. She decided to make that room her study.

The bathroom had a wet-dry separation design, its glass door spotlessly transparent. The kitchen cabinets showed barely any grease stains, and the balcony still bore traces of the previous tenant’s potted plants.

She inspected everything: the faucet ran smoothly, the gas stove ignited with a single turn, and the window opened to reveal an old sycamore tree below, no major issues.

Rolling up her sleeves, Song Yuehua began cleaning, first sweeping the floor with a broom, then mopping it with a rag.

The patch of sunlight shifted from the sofa to the corner of the wall, then slowly crept onto the balcony. By the time she straightened up, her lower back ached slightly. Wiping sweat from her forehead, she gazed at the gleaming floor with satisfaction.

In her old place, she’d always felt a sense of unease. But this new apartment truly felt like her own.

She went to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face, instantly feeling more alert. Returning to the living room, she lay down on the sofa and picked up her phone from the carpet.

The screen lit up, revealing two unread messages from Bai Qingyu.

[Bai Qingyu: What are you up to?]
[Bai Qingyu: [Peeking]]

And the timestamp… 10 a.m.!

Song Yuehua checked the current time, almost noon and her heart sank. Her eyes darting nervously, she quickly sat up to reply.

[Song Yuehua: Sorry, I wasn’t checking my phone earlier.]
[Song Yuehua: Is something wrong?]

After sending the messages, she bit her lip, her gaze drifting toward the empty balcony. She wondered if she should buy a succulent to place there and drape an off-white throw blanket over the sofa.

Bai Qingyu’s reply came quickly.

[Bai Qingyu: Nothing urgent.]
[Bai Qingyu: Our R&D team is having a celebration dinner tonight for the project’s success. We’re going out.]
[Bai Qingyu: I’ll probably be heading out later.]

Song Yuehua’s wandering thoughts about furniture shopping snapped back to reality. After all, Song Yuelan hadn’t given up completely, and she still felt uneasy about Bai Qingyu returning alone.

[Song Yuehua: Can I come with you?]
[Song Yuehua: I’ll wait outside for you.]

[Bai Qingyu: No need to wait outside. Come in and eat with us.]
[Bai Qingyu: Back when we were busy with the project, you always brought us milk tea and snacks. The team’s been saying they want to thank you.]

Warmth spread through Song Yuehua’s heart. Without further hesitation, she replied with a straightforward “Okay!”.

She sprang up from the sofa, thinking she needed to hurry and move the rest of her belongings. With Bai’s mother just back home, Bai Qingyu was spending most of her time keeping her company. Once her mother recovered a bit more, Bai Qingyu would likely be busy with work, making it harder to coordinate schedules.

Song Yuehua dug out a set of clothes from her suitcase and headed to the bathroom for a shower. After freshening up, she contacted a moving company via her phone.

Once everything was confirmed, she breathed a sigh of relief and stood in front of the mirror to comb her hair.

She applied a muted rose-colored lipstick, careful not to make it too bold, afraid it might seem deliberate. After checking her reflection from different angles, she deemed it acceptable, slung her beige shoulder bag over her arm, and headed out.

She went straight to the sixth floor.

Arriving on the sixth floor, Song Yuehua gently knocked on the door, then instinctively smoothed the stray hairs by her ear as she waited for it to open.

With a creak, the door was pulled open, and Bai Qingyu stood at the entrance. The moment she saw her, her eyes noticeably brightened, lingering on her for two seconds before sweeping over her forehead. Then, with a smile, she stepped aside to let her in. “Come in first. I haven’t changed yetm give me a few minutes.”

Song Yuehua noticed her gaze and glanced down at her clothes, then touched her forehead, an unconscious smile tugging at her lips.

Inside, Bai’s mother was sitting on the sofa, crocheting with light gray yarn, working on a sweater. “Who is it?” she asked.

When she looked up and saw Song Yuehua, her face immediately lit up with a smile. She set down the yarn and reached out. “Oh, it’s Yuehua! Come sit over here.”

“Auntie, I came to see you,” Song Yuehua said, quickly walking over and sitting beside her. “You look much better today. Are you feeling all right?”

“Much better, thanks to you and Qingyu taking such good care of me,” Bai’s mother replied affectionately, patting her hand. “My hands don’t shake anymore, I can even sit and crochet for a while without any trouble.”

Just then, Bai Qingyu walked over with a cup of warm water and handed it to Song Yuehua, smiling as she remarked, “You didn’t seem as tired climbing to the sixth floor today. Last time you were moving stuff, you were panting and complaining about how hard the stairs were.”

Song Yuehua’s hand, holding the cup, paused.

Oh no. I was so caught up in the moment, I forgot I usually complain about how tiring it is to climb six floors. I hope she doesn’t notice anything off.

She gave an awkward laugh and scratched her head. “Maybe… maybe I’m just in a good mood today, so it didn’t feel as exhausting.”

Bai Qingyu didn’t press further, simply smiling and saying, “I’ll go change. I’ll be quick.” With that, she turned and headed into the bedroom.

A few minutes later, she emerged, changed and ready. Her mother reminded her, “Come back early, alright?”

“Got it, Mom. Don’t worry,” Bai Qingyu said, patting her hand before turning to Song Yuehua. “Shall we go?”

Once outside, Song Yuehua’s eyes unconsciously scanned the neighborhood.

The fitness equipment in the corner was clean and polished, the rusted frames freshly painted. The old camphor tree by the roadside spread its branches, shading half the path, its fallen leaves neatly swept into small piles.

She breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Even though the complex was older, the daily upkeep hadn’t been neglected, it was much more comfortable than she had expected.

“Is there a park nearby?” Song Yuehua asked Bai Qingyu.

“Yes, just a five-minute walk from the east gate. There’s a small square where a lot of people dance in the evenings,” she replied, glancing at her with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. “Why do you ask? Want to go for a walk?”

“N-No,” she said quickly, withdrawing her hand and unable to suppress the smile tugging at her lips. Afraid of giving herself away, she quickly changed the subject. “Just curious.”

Bai Qingyu gave a slight smile and asked, “How’s Xiaomi doing at home? After the celebration dinner, should I come by to see her? It’s been a while.”

Song Yuehua’s heart skipped a beat, and she waved her hands dismissively. “No, no! Who knows how late the celebration will go? Didn’t your mom tell you to come back early? No need to trouble yourself.”

Are you kidding? Her place was a complete mess right now, if Bai Qingyu saw it, she’d know something was up for sure.

Bai Qingyu’s gaze flickered slightly. She lowered her eyes, her long lashes casting a faint shadow beneath them, and her voice softened. “Alright then.”

Song Yuehua looked at Bai Qingyu’s expression, though the corners of her mouth were clearly upturned, she could still sense Bai Qingyu’s low spirits.

“My room is a bit messy right now. Let me tidy it up first before you come over,” Song Yuehua said.

That made sense. Once the room was cleaned up, she could invite Bai Qingyu to visit her new home.

Bai Qingyu gave a soft “Mm” in response. When she lifted her gaze, the emotions in her eyes were already carefully concealed, and she smiled as she said, “Alright.”

Song Yuehua thought to herself: I need to speed things up.

The celebration dinner was held at a homestyle restaurant near the neighborhood. The private room was warm and cozy. When Song Yuehua followed Bai Qingyu inside, four or five people were already seated, chatting and laughing in a relaxed atmosphere.

“Qingyu! Yuehua! We’ve been waiting for you!” A girl with neat short hair stood up first, it was Senior Lin, a fourth-year student. She waved with a smile, “Come sit! We just ordered a few signature dishes. Take a look and see what else you’d like, don’t be shy.”

Bai Qingyu and Song Yuehua sat down side by side. Lin passed over the menu, and Song Yuehua took it, flipping directly to the page with sweet and sour pork ribs, Bai Qingyu’s favorite. She tapped it lightly with her fingertip and whispered, “Should we order this?” Bai Qingyu smiled and nodded, “Sure.”

The conversation at the table revolved around the hardships of building the project from scratch.

Someone mentioned the empty coffee cans piled up by the desk during late-night revisions, while another complained about nearly smashing their keyboard while debugging data. The air was filled with a sense of relief, as if everyone was thinking, “We finally made it.”

“Speaking of which, we should thank Yuehua for bringing us meals,” the short-haired girl said. “Back then, we were so busy we didn’t even have time to eat.”

Song Yuehua scratched her head, “It was nothing, really. My little contribution doesn’t compare.”

“But the one we should thank the most is Qingyu!” a girl across the table chimed in, her tone full of admiration. “When the core algorithm got stuck last time and we were about to give up, she untangled the deadlock all by herself. Without her, who knows how long this project would have dragged on!”

“It was a team effort,” Bai Qingyu said with a smile, shaking her head. She picked up a serving chopstick and placed a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs that had just cooled down beside Song Yuehua before turning to the others. “You all stayed up late researching and running tests without complaining either. We couldn’t have made it this far without every one of you.”

“Exactly! No more modesty! Today, let’s just enjoy the food and leave the hard work behind!”

The atmosphere in the private room grew even livelier.

At one point, a girl sitting nearby leaned over and winked at Song Yuehua, half-jokingly saying, “You better hold onto Qingyu tightly! When it’s time to write your thesis, with her guidance, you’ll avoid so many detours. You’ll see how lucky you are then!”

Song Yuehua was taken aback for a moment, then glanced at Bai Qingyu before turning back to the group and saying honestly, “Actually, I’ve already switched majors. I’m studying something I’m more interested in now, so I won’t be dealing with code anymore.”

The girl who had spoken was stunned for a couple of seconds, then patted Song Yuehua’s shoulder and laughed with relief, “Well, that’s great too! Being able to escape this ‘pit’ and choose what you love is better than anything!”

Later, the conversation shifted to post-graduation job hunting, who had applied to internet companies, who was preparing for the civil service exam, who planned to return to their hometown and join a state-owned enterprise. Song Yuehua wasn’t interested and focused on eating instead.

When the dinner party ended, everyone stood at the restaurant entrance exchanging farewells. Song Yuehua had stayed close to Bai Qingyu the entire time, her mind preoccupied with Song Yuelan’s matter, and she insisted on walking Bai Qingyu all the way to her doorstep.

Arriving at the entrance of Bai Qingyu’s apartment building, Bai Qingyu stopped and turned to look at Song Yuehua.

A faint smile played on her lips, her gaze fixed intently on Song Yuehua. Her dark pupils resembled ink diluted in water, unreadable as she softly asked, “Yuehua, have you been hiding something from me lately?”

“N-No, not at all,” Song Yuehua stammered, lying awkwardly.

She immediately decided in her heart: I’ll move out tomorrow. Once I’m done, I’ll tell Bai Qingyu everything, this is just too torturous.

Bai Qingyu stared at her for a few seconds but didn’t press further. Instead, she let out a soft sigh and said, “Alright, get some rest. Be careful on your way home.”

“Mm,” Song Yuehua nodded, then turned and left. As soon as she got home, she immediately started packing her belongings.