章 45: Chapter 45

At this moment, Xia Zhi was already awake.

He had suddenly awakened when that slender white ghostly figure floated to his bedside and stared at him with resentful eyes.

It wasn't because she had any chilling aura about her – he had just inexplicably felt his heart skip a beat, sensing that something was staring at him, and then he awoke from his sleep.

Xia Zhi didn't immediately open his eyes, choosing instead to activate his detection ability, and subsequently discovered a white shadow standing directly in front of the bed, staring at him.

???

To be honest, this scene was indeed a bit terrifying at first glance.

Fortunately, since he had already heard that this house was haunted, he was mentally prepared and quickly calmed down.

After all, the ghost in this house had no history of harming people, only scaring them away.

With this premise, as long as he remained still and pretended to be asleep, she should have no way to deal with him.

After instantly understanding the situation, Xia Zhi wasn't afraid anymore, and instead became somewhat interested in this ghost.

He secretly moved his detecting gaze to this white figure, observing carefully.

Oh.

It turned out to be a female ghost.

And quite young and beautiful too.

Her features were delicate, her eyes and brows like a painting.

Her figure was no less impressive than Miss Yun Jin's.

Especially her skin, which looked so white it seemed almost translucent – though who knew if one could actually touch it...

While Xia Zhi was seriously critiquing and researching the differences between humans and ghosts, she suddenly stopped staring at him and turned away, floating to the table instead.

Then, Xia Zhi watched as she reached for the manuscript he had written on the table, lowered her head to flip to a certain page, and began reading intently.

Hey, why are you so familiar with this... You didn't come here last night to read secretly too, did you?

Xia Zhi silently watched this scene before him, feeling somewhat strange.

How to put it...

Having a devoted reader who comes every night to follow his updates before the book is even finished – this was truly a happy thing.

He wondered where her grave was. When his book was published in the future, he would definitely need to burn a copy at her grave.

Just as Xia Zhi was feeling gratified, he suddenly saw the female ghost's reading motion freeze, and then her entire ghostly form began to turn red.

???

What's going on?

Was this the prelude to becoming a vengeful red ghost?

No, what exactly did you read that shocked you so much?

Hmm? Wait, aren't you reading my manuscript... What plot did I write today? Seems like it was some steamy content, involving a snake spirit, and the pace was very, very fast...

Xia Zhi observed her more carefully with his detection and found that apart from her expression becoming somewhat shy and angry, there were no other changes.

So, you're blushing because you saw something exciting, and the huge impact made your whole body turn red?

Xia Zhi fell silent for a moment, feeling that this female ghost was quite innocent.

Ah, I was wrong.

I shouldn't have written such things.

I've disappointed my first reader...

Hey hey! Could you please put down my manuscript?!

What's with that expression of biting your lip in embarrassment while continuing to flip through the pages?

The content after that is too... you know!

Good children shouldn't read such things!

Xia Zhi really wanted to walk over and snatch the manuscript from her hands, then give her a proper lecture.

But he didn't dare – who knew if this female ghost might suddenly become enraged at being caught reading inappropriate material and then...

Although she had no previous history of harming people, what if he became the first case?

Never mind, life comes first – better keep pretending to sleep.

Xia Zhi lay in bed, maintaining steady breathing, continuing to observe her from his god's-eye view.

She was still reading his manuscript, her body still tinged red, but beyond her embarrassed expression, there seemed to be curiosity as well.

This scene reminded him of his first time reading such books.

She and his past self weren't just similar – they were identical.

I have sinned.

I've caused a pure soul to lose her innocence...

No, wait.

She used to only scare people as a ghost, but now that she knows more, she won't turn into a ghost that sleep-paralyzes people, right?

Being pressed down by such a beautiful female ghost...

Perhaps, maybe, possibly...

Not bad?

She loves reading his book, so in a sense, isn't she his fan?

If she really did sleep-paralyze him, would that count as fan service?

While Xia Zhi was lost in these wild thoughts, he suddenly heard a barely audible grinding of teeth and low scolding from the table: "Why is there nothing after this again?"

Oh?

This female ghost's voice was quite pleasant.

Also no less than Miss Yun Jin's.

Then, Xia Zhi "saw" her turn her head and glare at him lying in bed with hateful eyes.

That was the look of someone who wanted to stab someone.

Xia Zhi played dead.

What could he do?

He didn't have a keyboard, he could only write slowly with a quill pen.

He actually understood her feelings – when he used to follow ongoing stories, he often wanted to send knives to the authors too.

But now that he was in the author's position, being stared at with such eyes by a reader who liked his work felt quite peculiar.

Fortunately, she didn't keep staring at him, quickly turning her gaze away.

Xia Zhi breathed an internal sigh of relief, thinking that now that she had finished reading the manuscript, she should leave.

Come back tomorrow.

However, he then saw her rest her chin in her hand and space out for a while, who knows what she was thinking about, her face alternating between blushing and pouting.

Then, she suddenly flipped the manuscript back to a certain page and started reading again.

No!

You're really getting into it, aren't you?

Alright, alright, you've finished reading it again, time to go.

Hey hey!

Why are you starting from the beginning again?

Is that kind of thing really that interesting to read?

When I first read such things, I was... well, okay, I was also insatiable.

Sigh.

I have sinned.

I've caused a pure soul to fall from grace.

One time, two times, three times...

Xia Zhi counted silently in his heart.

This is ridiculous.

Others count sheep when they can't sleep, I'm counting how many times the imperial uncle appears.

I've never seen such a thirsty ghost!

What kind of deprived life did you live before?

To be so addicted to such base pleasures.

Don't you have any other hobbies?

Good thing you're just a ghost.

If you had a body, wouldn't you...

Never mind, never mind, I should just browse the [Shop]...

It wasn't until the sky began to brighten that she reluctantly put the manuscript back in its original place. Then, she floated to the bedside, looked down at Xia Zhi sleeping with a peaceful expression, and let out a light snort.

That soft snort seemed to carry particularly complex emotions within it.

Xia Zhi didn't understand either.

Watching her pass through the wall back to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor next door, Xia Zhi continued browsing the [Shop] for another hour before finally waking up.

By this time, daylight was already bright outside the window.