The Eleventh Year of Making Hate with My Lover - Chapter 10

“Nothing, it’s just that your home area is quite unique.” Shen Wang took another look to ensure he hadn’t misread it; it clearly indicated that this area was a famous haunted zone in City A.

He held the steering wheel with one hand, swiped through the comments section on the screen with the other, and tapped “auto-play.”

#The Haunted House in the West District of City A#

“Every night on the road by that house, there’s a shadow pacing around. Last time I passed by, I saw a tall figure in black clothes and black hair, as if he were looking for something.”

“Upstairs, I was a bit braver and got closer, but I couldn’t see his face at all! He even spoke to me his voice was so cold asking, ‘I’m looking for my baby, have you seen him?’ I didn’t dare answer and ran for my life. When I looked back, he had already disappeared.”

“Did someone die in that mansion a few years ago? I seem to remember a young couple living there.”

“Now that you mention it, I have a vague impression, too. Not long after they moved in, it seemed like there was only one person left within a year. The one who survived also seemed a bit abnormal; I haven’t seen much of him in the past few months.”

Shen Wang flipped through the comments, thinking that what they saw was likely another type of supernatural entity. Supernatural entities are generated in a variety of ways; ever since humans dug up the “Abyssal Great Beast” in the polar regions a hundred years ago, the world had been polluted. A small number of humans evolved genes to gain abilities, most were infected and turned into supernatural entities, and a portion remained unaffected, continuing as ordinary humans.

Evolved humans, who call themselves Spirit-Awakening Masters, have either slaughtered or expelled most supernatural entities. However, humans who die with deep obsessions can also form a new generation of entities. Not to mention the kind found in Fish-Leaping Town those artificially modified from living people.

Judging by the comments, that was likely a supernatural entity born of obsession. It sounded almost pitiful.

But would Wu Que allow a supernatural entity to exist right at his doorstep?

He couldn’t help but ask: “Did this supernatural entity appear in the few months after you left?”

Wu Que was silent for a while before shaking his head: “No, it’s always been there. But I don’t want to deal with it.”

“Oh?” Interesting.

They say Wu Que is the Alliance’s top Spirit-Awakening Master, and practically no supernatural entity can survive his hands. Yet, as things stood, both his personal identity and his emotional state seemed quite different from the rumors.

Shen Wang said lazily: “Do you pity it, or what? It’s best to clean it up early. It doesn’t look aggressive now, but who knows if it might mutate one day and slaughter the residential area nearby.”

“When that happens, will you, the Inspector, be put in solitary confinement or thrown in jail?”

Wu Que ignored him, reaching out to turn off the audio commentary that was still reading aloud, his face turning slightly pale.

Shen Wang feigned concern: “What’s wrong? Are you carsick?”

“How about you drive? They say the person driving never gets carsick.”

Wu Que glanced at him: “…You’ve wanted to say that for a long time, haven’t you?”

Having been exposed, Shen Wang smiled pleasantly: “I’ve been driving for half the day; I’m tired. If we really can’t go on, we should find a place to rest.”

“I’ll drive.” Wu Que seemed to be in a hurry to get back.

After he took the wheel, the car speed was much faster than when Shen Wang was driving. If not for the seatbelt, Shen Wang felt it was highly likely he would have been flung straight out of the car.

Shen Wang leaned against the passenger seat, rubbing his temples, feeling a bit dizzy. He decided to close his eyes and chat with the system.

[Say what you have to say. If you have nothing, I’ll continue my death-process.]

This system really feels like a person, Shen Wang thought; he sometimes felt its mental state was very similar to his own.

[Nothing, just wanted to chat.]

[Chat about what? You’d better be thinking about how to complete the mission quickly. You don’t have much time left.]

The system calculated for him: [Next week, you must bring him back to the base.]

Shen Wang wasn’t in a hurry, asking back: [You said the person who set you up was, by calculation, me myself.]

The system was silent for a moment before answering: [The set-up person’s name is indeed yours.]

[And if I don’t finish it? Do I just physically self-destruct according to the settings?]

[No, it’s mental. Your spiritual sea will shatter directly, equivalent to brain death. A new spiritual entity will take over your body.]

Shen Wang was silent for a while: [It really sounds like anyone can drive this body. Aside from this forced mission, is there anything else? I’d better ask everything at once, so I don’t suddenly have something else threatening my life.]

[There are no more forced missions, though there might be hidden conditions that will trigger under specific circumstances. There were some things left for you.]

This sounds like playing a game, with challenges and rewards programmed to challenge me.

Shen Wang gave an “Mn.” Put that way, it was basically set up by the original owner himself. But why would he do this? Was he forced to die, or did he not want to live anymore? And how could he be so certain that after his soul perished, someone would “sync” into his body?

He even set up this kind of system for his ex-wife before he died.

Shen Wang subconsciously opened his eyes to look at Wu Que, who cast a perplexed glance at him.

“What’s wrong?”

Shen Wang swallowed the words that had reached his lips. Just then, a [Ding—] sound arrived; Wu Que’s terminal on his wrist rang. He looked down at the name, frowning slightly.

After hesitating for a few seconds, he chose to connect.

A pale blue screen popped up in front of them, showing an elegant and composed woman. Her hair was coiled up, her clothing was exquisite and proper, and not a single flaw could be found on her. Her voice was extremely gentle.

“Xiao Wu.” The woman smiled slightly at Wu Que.

“Mother.” Wu Que nodded to her, continuing to watch the traffic with no expression.

Shen Wang glanced over. Is this the mistress of the Wu family? But aside from both being very good-looking, they didn’t seem to share a single similarity.

“Driving? Where are you going?” the woman said gently: “Your father was very angry when he found out you ran away.”

“Back to City A.” Wu Que leaned back, nonchalant: “Don’t worry, I won’t cause him any trouble. No criticism will reach his ears.”

The woman chuckled: “He sent people to catch you.” She turned sideways, revealing the scene behind her to the camera: “But don’t worry, they’ve all been intercepted for you.”

Behind her was a pile of bound Spirit-Awakening Masters. The butler threw the last person into the room and bowed to the woman: “Madam, they have all been captured.”

Shen Wang glanced at them. The ones sent by the head of the house should be considered high-ranking Spirit-Awakening Masters, but right now they were all bundled up like zongzi, covered in dust and grime, with several bumps on their faces. The scene was truly a bit comical.

Wu Que couldn’t help but hook the corner of his mouth upon seeing this: “Thank you, Mother.”

The woman spoke chidingly: “Xiao Wu has grown up; you’ve become quite distant from me.” She looked at Wu Que’s face gently: “But I’m very happy that you’re finally willing to come out and walk around. Do whatever you want… I heard from the elders that the child has come to look for you again…”

Wu Que gave an “Mn” and adjusted the angle slightly, as this position made it just right for her to see Shen Wang’s profile.

Shen Wang was a bit confused, but he greeted her politely nonetheless.

Madam Wu nodded with a smile, appraising the young man. The last time she saw him was several years ago. Now, his frame was even leaner, but the gentleness he once possessed was nowhere to be found in his brows and eyes; when he wasn’t smiling, there was a bland, icy coldness.

“I heard you were promoted recently, becoming the executive team captain for the base’s Sixth District. That’s very good.” Madam Wu looked at him as if looking at another one of her children: “I haven’t seen you return in all these years. It’s rare for you to come home, but I happened to be out and missed you.”

Shen Wang was certain that the “last time” Madam Wu was referring to definitely didn’t mean when he had snatched her son away from the Wu household.

It sounded like the original owner and Madam Wu were quite familiar, but Shen Wang could only nod vaguely.

“Mother, there’s something wrong with his head,” Wu Que said, offering him an “out.”

That may be so, but why does it sound like an insult? Madam Wu responded with a tone of regret and urged him to get some good rest.

After exchanging a few simple greetings, they ended the conversation.

After hanging up, Shen Wang felt a bit weary. He didn’t actually care much about what had happened to the original owner, but he needed to know what method the original owner used to “take over” his body, and how he could find his own lost memories. He had to be clear about what had happened in these few months and where the original owner had been.

“Your mother seems to care about you quite a bit.” Shen Wang suddenly blurted out this thoughtless comment.

“Mn. She cares about you quite a bit, too.” Wu Que recalled something: “After all, when you were little, you were the only one willing to wear the dresses she made.”

“…?”

Wu Que couldn’t help but laugh out loud: “She really likes little girls.”

Shen Wang raised an eyebrow: “We knew each other when we were little?”

What is this? Childhood sweethearts? There were a lot of elements here.

“Mn.” Wu Que’s tone rose: “When you were little, you even said you’d marry me when you grew up.”

“…Even though I’ve lost my memory, don’t play with me like a fool.”

Wu Que laughed even harder.

A few hours passed on the road, and the car entered City A. It was already completely dark.

Wu Que parked the car at the entrance of a convenience store, intending to buy some food to take back. Shen Wang followed behind, wanting to buy a pack of cigarettes.

He felt he shouldn’t have the habit of smoking, but ever since he came back to life, everything had felt like viewing flowers through a mist; the past and the future were all obscured. The person next to him, who might know some of the truth, seemed to be intentionally avoiding it, as if he didn’t want him to know anything. He couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious.

He leaned against the convenience store entrance, waiting, a cigarette held between his fingertips, suspended in mid-air as it slowly burned.

When Wu Que came out carrying things, he saw him leaning against the wall, lost in thought. The young man had one hand in his dark trousers pocket, the right hand holding a cigarette, his fingers well-defined. As the ember flickered, he lifted his head slightly in the smoke; his pitch-black eyes shifted, catching shards of light within them.

A bit sexy…

Wu Que’s pupils moved, his eyelashes fluttering.

He seemed to see his lover from ten years ago.

“Bought everything?” Shen Wang subconsciously reached out to help him carry them, but felt that the action was both familiar and strange, and his arm froze in mid-air for a moment.

“Get in the car.” Wu Que lowered his eyelashes, shaking off the untimely memories that had popped into his mind.

Suddenly, the store’s lights went out, and the shopkeeper exclaimed: “It must be a temporary power line issue. Everyone, be careful not to bump into things.”

Only the fading light of a nearby street lamp reached them. Shen Wang’s body was mostly blurred in the shadows, his features obscured. A young man walked out and accidentally bumped into him.

“Ah, sorry, sorry.” The young man steadied the bag in his hand and looked up. Suddenly, he let out a scream, and the bag in his hand dropped to the ground, fruits and vegetables rolling all over.

“Ghost! ——————————————”

“……”

Shen Wang: ? Me?