PROES Chapter 7

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13

That night, Lu Yan lay in bed reading a book while Ye Tong, a game-addicted internet ghost, was happily playing games in the study. From time to time, his excited shouting could be heard through the voice chat. Lu Yan flipped a page, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile.

Suddenly, Ye Tong let out a scream and bolted out of the study, diving headfirst into Lu Yan’s bed.

"Ahhhhhh! Lu Yan! Lu Yan! Lu Yan!"

Lu Yan remained calm. "Saw a ghost?"

Ye Tong gasped. "Damn! How did you know?"

Lu Yan: "For real?"

Ye Tong wailed. "For real! A man, covered in blood, was stuck to the study window, staring right at me! Scared me to death!"

Lu Yan took a drag of his cigarette and continued reading. "Oh."

Ye Tong: "That’s it? That’s all you’re gonna say?"

Lu Yan: "What else should I say?"

Ye Tong felt utterly wronged. "You’re terrible."

Lu Yan: "What did I do?"

Ye Tong pouted. "Other people's husbands, even if they can't drive ghosts away, would at least comfort their wives…"

Lu Yan was momentarily stunned, then chuckled softly. "Call me 'husband' then."

Ye Tong blushed. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden?"

Lu Yan pulled him into his arms. "You said it yourself—'other people's husbands'…"

Ye Tong covered his mouth. "I misspoke."

Lu Yan: "Did you really?"

Ye Tong: "I… I didn’t."

Lu Yan: "So, are you gonna say it or not?"

Ye Tong buried his face into the pillow and muttered in a muffled voice: "…Husband."

Lu Yan gently patted Ye Tong’s head, got out of bed, and headed toward the study. "Good boy. I'll go take a look."

Ye Tong immediately leaped onto Lu Yan’s back, clinging to him like an octopus. "No, don’t leave me alone!"

Lu Yan sighed. "You’re the most cowardly ghost I’ve ever seen in my life…"

Ye Tong, fuming, bit Lu Yan’s shoulder.

Lu Yan chuckled and finished his sentence. "…But I like it."

14

Lu Yan had no choice but to carry Ye Tong into the study. Ye Tong squeezed his eyes shut and clung tightly to Lu Yan.

Lu Yan struggled to pry his arms off. "You're gonna choke me to death."

Ye Tong reluctantly loosened his grip—just a little.

Rolling his eyes, Lu Yan raised his hand and lightly flicked the glass window. The ghost stuck to the window instantly dissolved into a streak of white light and disappeared.

Ye Tong, eyes still shut, asked nervously: "What happened? Did you see it?"

Lu Yan: "It's gone."

Ye Tong cautiously opened his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. "You're amazing."

Lu Yan calmly corrected him. "You mean, 'Husband is amazing.'"

Ye Tong grumbled but repeated it.

Lu Yan set Ye Tong down, thought for a moment, then explained: "That man died in a car accident near here seven days ago. Today is his seventh day, and he wanted to go home one last time, but he lost his way. So, he went from window to window searching. I just showed him the way home. Once his lingering regrets fade, he’ll enter reincarnation and won’t appear again."

Ye Tong stared in shock. "How do you know all that?"

Lu Yan replied casually. "Didn’t you want to know what my job is?"

Ye Tong clenched his fists nervously. "What… what is it?"

Lu Yan blinked. "Professional ghost exorcist. I actually moved in because the landlord hired me to deal with this old house."

Ye Tong was dumbfounded. "You came to exorcise… me?"

Lu Yan shook his head. "Or maybe to marry you."

Ye Tong lowered his head. "Don’t joke around."

Lu Yan cupped his face seriously. "I’m not joking. The moment I saw you, I knew—you’re not the kind to harm anyone."

Ye Tong sniffled. "Because I look especially kind?"

Lu Yan shook his head. "Because you look especially dumb."

Ye Tong: "…"

Lu Yan chuckled, kissed Ye Tong’s puffed-up cheek, and murmured, "But very cute."

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