The ghost husband seemed different after his return this time.
He lay limp like a wilted eggplant, lacking any trace of energy.
Ever since Bai Lixin had started practicing the techniques from the book Song Yuantian had given him, he had been able to see those ghosts and monsters even without his soul leaving his body.
Seeing the ghost husband sprawled listlessly on the bed, Bai Lixin could almost picture him as a pitiful puppy.
“He looks injured,” Song Yuantian observed the ghost husband lying limp on the bed through the video call. “He won’t die, but he seems unable to provide you with any nourishment for the time being.”
“But that shouldn’t be a problem for you—you already have two other sources, right?”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘What a way to put it.’
The ghost husband glanced at Bai Lixin with a resentful gaze, let out a weak hum, and buried his head back into the blanket.
Bai Lixin: “So should I just let him lie like this?”
Song Yuantian: “Uh, if you replenish him with some ghost energy, he should recover fairly quickly.”
“How do I replenish him with ghost energy?”
“Just catch a few evil ghosts to nourish him.”
Song Yuantian’s tone was so casual, as if he were merely commenting on the weather.
Bai Lixin felt the hairs on his arms stand up. “Where am I supposed to catch evil ghosts? Why don’t you catch a few for me?”
“No way,” Song Yuantian refused flatly. “That would cost me my lifespan.”
Bai Lixin: “And I’m not afraid of losing my lifespan?”
Song Yuantian: “Don’t worry, your lifespan isn’t in danger.”
Bai Lixin: “?”
Song Yuantian: “You’re half dead already, what’s a bit of lifespan?”
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Well said, don’t say it again next time.’
Song Yuantian: “Evil ghosts are most commonly found in two places: prisons and hospitals. The former houses death row inmates guilty of heinous crimes and many turn into vengeful spirits after death. The latter is filled with those who died unjustly, bearing unresolved grievances that bind them to the site and so they turn into earthbound spirits.”
“There’s also the scene of violent deaths, like a building that was burned down in a fire or a crime scene. However, these are harder to locate.”
“Besides, there are fewer death sentences in recent years, and you probably can’t get into a prison anyway, so your best option is the hospital.”
Bai Lixin shivered as he recalled the elevator full of ghosts he had seen when his soul had left his body.
Song Yuantian: “Once he regains his energy, ask him how he got injured for me.”
The ghost husband on the bed seemed too drained even to speak; his entire demeanor had regressed to that of a mindless creature.
Bai Lixin felt as if he suddenly had a large, furry dog at home.
Nodding at Song Yuantian’s instructions, Bai Lixin responded with a simple, “Alright.”
Just before ending the call, Song Yuantian added, “One last tip, if you’re going to hunt for evil ghosts, do it at night.”
…
The next day, Bai Lixin met Dr. Dijia at the hospital.
It had been quite some time since he had last seen Dr. Dijia. After a three-day shoot, and four days back home, it added up to a week.
That stream of water only appeared when he was submerged in water, and though it always caused trouble whenever it showed up, it had actually been of great help to him.
He no longer had to find various excuses to get close to Dr. Dijia. Now, whenever he felt his soul growing unstable, he would simply soak himself in the bathtub.
After a week apart, the doctor still maintained that gentle and refined appearance.
At last, Bai Lixin could see the “golden light” Song Yuantian had mentioned.
A warm golden aura surrounded Dr. Dijia, making him appear as pure and sacred as moonlight.
Bai Lixin glanced at it briefly before quickly averting his gaze, not daring to stare any longer.
“You’re saying you want to be admitted?” Not sure if it was his illusion, the smile on Doctor Dijia’s face was very faint this time. “Where are you feeling unwell?”
Bai Lixin: “Didn’t I say I wanted to check my stomach last time but didn’t? Now I’d like to proceed with that check-up.”
The man’s gentle gaze swept over Bai Lixin through his glasses, “I’ll need to conduct a re-examination. Please lie down on the bed.”
Bai Lixin was slightly stunned. “What kind of check?”
The doctor retrieved a pair of sealed rubber medical gloves from a drawer, tearing open the packaging and putting on the gloves. His voice was as elegant as the breeze caressing the willows, “I’ll press down on your abdomen, if there’s an issue, you should feel pain.”
Though his voice was gentle, his tone allowed no refusal. “Alright, lie down on the bed, there’s a disposable sheet there.”
“No need to remove your shoes, just expose your abdomen.”
Bai Lixin obediently spread out the disposable sheet and lay back on the bed, lifting his white shirt up to his chest. “Is this okay, doctor?”
The doctor, now masked, revealed only his eyes.
Those deep-set eyes slowly trailed down Bai Lixin’s neck to his lower abdomen, and the doctor said calmly, “Your lower abdomen also needs to be exposed, loosen your belt and lower your pants a bit.”
Bai Lixin responded with a quick “okay”, and unfastened his belt. “How’s this?”
Two defined hip bones were exposed to the air.
The doctor nodded, “That’s good, hold onto your shirt, and make sure your abdomen is exposed.”
There seemed to be a mysterious power in his words, and at the doctor’s instruction, Bai Lixin gripped the shirt’s hem and pushed it up to his chest again.
A cold, rubbery sensation suddenly pressed down on his abdomen.
Bai Lixin shivered as the rubber moved across his stomach, stopping between his ribs.
The doctor: “Does it hurt here?”
Bai Lixin could feel the pressure of the doctor’s fingertips and shook his head, “No, it doesn’t hurt.”
The fingers moved downward, and as they brushed past his navel, a tingling spread around the area, causing Bai Lixin’s lower abdomen to tighten involuntarily as he gasped reflexively.
The doctor raised his eyes and glanced at Bai Lixin lightly, “Is there pain around the navel?”
Bai Lixin: “It’s just a bit ticklish.”
The doctor’s fingers paused over his navel. Though Bai Lixin couldn’t see the doctor’s actions from his position, he could feel the gentle rubbing and probing around his navel.
The tingling sensation intensified, and Bai Lixin frowned. His toes curled tightly inside his shoes and his lower abdomen grew restless.
He murmured awkwardly, “Doctor…”
The doctor maintained his calm demeanor, his movements professional and thorough.
A few seconds later, he released Bai Lixin’s navel and pressed lightly on his lower abdomen, “How about here?”
Bai Lixin: “There’s a slight ache when you press down.”
“Alright, you can get up now.” The doctor stepped back a couple of steps to give the patient some space, then removed his mask. “You might have a mild case of gastroenteritis. You can get an endoscopy and colonoscopy. When would you like to be admitted?”
Bai Lixin: “Is today okay? It’s Saturday.”
The doctor typed something on the computer and answered absentmindedly, “Alright, I’ll arrange it now. You’ll need to schedule the endoscopy and colonoscopy in advance. The earliest available slot is Monday at 9 a.m. Does that work?”
Across the desk, Bai Lixin looked at the doctor’s hands encased in white latex gloves that accentuated his beautiful knuckles. “Yes, that works.”
There was a knock on the door, and a crisp female voice came from outside, “Dr. Dijia, it’s Nurse Song from the inpatient department.”
“Come in.”
The door opened, and a petite, cute nurse poked her head in. She stood cautiously in the doorway and looked inside. “I’m here to assist Patient Bai Lixin with the admission.”
The doctor tapped a few more keys before looking up at Bai Lixin. He spoke gently, “I’ve arranged for a nurse to take you there. There are several patients today, so I’ll come by to check on you later.”
Bai Lixin sometimes found himself dazed by the doctor’s gaze. He nodded in a daze then shook his head, “Oh, alright… oh actually it’s really not necessary.”
The doctor chuckled, “Go ahead, the nurse is waiting.”
Bai Lixin felt his face heat up and the back of his ears tingled with embarrassment. He felt that he must have been fascinated with the doctor’s beauty.
He followed the nurse in a bit of a daze.
Along the way, Nurse Song looked Bai Lixin up and down. Her large, dark eyes settled on his flushed face, and a mischievous gleam appeared in her eyes as she smiled.
Bai Lixin was puzzled, “What’s so funny?”
The nurse sidestepped his question, “Dr. Dijia is very handsome, isn’t he?”
Bai Lixin: “…He is.”
The nurse continued, “He’s quite popular, but his looks have actually caused some issues in the past. There were patients who pretended to be sick just to see Dr. Dijia, taking up spots from those who really needed medical care.”
Bai Lixin’s cheeks burned even more.
Wasn’t she basically describing him?
“Dr. Dijia was very frustrated by this,” the nurse sighed. “Since then, he never takes off his mask during consultations and no longer smiles. He keeps a cold demeanor.”
Bai Lixin: ?
‘Cold demeanor?’
‘Since when?’
‘Dr. Dijia felt as warm as a gentle spring breeze.’
The nurse’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Bai Lixin, and she suddenly spoke with excitement. “But you’re different!”
“Just now, Dr. Dijia actually smiled at you and even said he’d visit you in your room later. But your condition is only…” She glanced down at her clipboard. “Gastroenteritis? Endoscopy?”
“Be honest with me—what’s your relationship with Dr. Dijia?”
Bai Lixin: “Um, doctor and patient?”
The nurse clearly didn’t believe it. “Is that all?”
Bai Lixin: “Also, he’s my substitute teacher.”
Her eyes lit up even more, “Anything else? Anything else?”
Bai Lixin: “…Nothing else.”
Well, maybe there was that other connection—him as a demon that sucks people’s essence and Dr. Dijia as his source of nourishment?
The nurse’s eyes dimmed slightly, and even though her mouth was covered by a mask, Bai Lixin could almost see her pout. “Is that all?”
Bai Lixin’s phone buzzed with a message notification. He looked down and saw it was from Dr. Dijia: [I’ve changed your room to 1203. Let the nurse know.]
Bai Lixin handed his phone to the nurse, “Dr. Dijia just sent me a message. He switched my room to 1203.”
The nurse stared at the phone for a few seconds before her eyes lit up again. “So, your relationship isn’t so simple after all!”
Bai Lixin: ?
“You even have Dr. Dijia’s phone number? And he’s using such a familiar tone in his texts?! You two must be close.”
“Since you and Dr. Dijia are so close, do you know if he has a girlfriend?”
Bai Lixin: “How would I know that?”
The nurse looked at him with watery eyes. “Could you at least ask him for us? We even have a secret fan club for Dr. Dijia, and we’d really like to know if he’s seeing anyone.”
Bai Lixin: “…Alright, I’ll ask the next time it’s convenient.”
