Chapter 19: Hear Out
Half a month ago, rumors of hauntings had already hit the Jiang City Morning News.
The street surveillance this ti was even creepier than the footage Xu Qing and the others had seen before. A dark shadow flitted by like a ghost, sotis curling into a ball or floating up to the top of a wall, drawing significant attention.
People had been going out less at night, while the police started patrolling the area more frequently.
To play it safe, Xu Qing hadn’t let Jiang He go outside for over two weeks, telling her to stay in the apartnt. Only now that the situation had cald sowhat was he relaxing his guard.
“What a damn ss…”
Xu Qing shook his head and sighed, scrolling through local news on his phone while eating.
So people said it was an animal that escaped from the zoo, while others insisted it was a real ghost, claiming they’d seen a female ghost with a bloody face and bulging eyes.
Fortunately, modern society isn't very superstitious. Most young people dismissed it as a prank by soone with too much ti on their hands, calling it a hoax designed to get attention. They even took screenshots and annotated them for analysis.
Besides that, the news feed was full of repetitive posts about freedom, democracy, harmony, and civility…
“Do people here live like they’re in prison?” Jiang He suddenly asked, her voice muffled as she ate.
After over a month of observation, she’d noticed that Xu Qing spent nearly all his ti at ho, going out only for als or a short morning stroll.
“Of course not. This is called ‘staying in,’” Xu Qing explained, pointing at himself. “I’m a hobody.”
“A job?”
“No, a lifestyle.”
“I don’t really get it.” Jiang He shook her head. She’d been trying hard to learn, but it was tough.
From the Tang Dynasty to the Song, Yuan, and Ming, she had a basic understanding of historical developnt up to now, but those were broad concepts. She was still blind to the practical aspects of daily life.
“It just ans I can choose to go out, but I prefer staying ho. Going out is tiring, so I just lie around here, like so wealthy landlord with nothing to do.” Xu Qing chuckled.
“No… you are like that.”
“…”
“I want to go out,” Jiang He said quietly.
Staying here, she couldn’t learn how to live; every day felt like being a caged pet—like Winter lon.
“Go out?” Xu Qing echoed.
“Yeah.”
“You an… leave here?” He knew her idea of “going out” wasn’t just a short stroll.
Jiang He lowered her gaze and nodded after a mont of silence.
“Stop joking. What would you do out there?” he asked. “Just think about food, clothing, and shelter. You’d have no fresh clothes, just two legs to walk on. Where would you sleep? On a rooftop? And eat?”
“I…” Jiang He opened her mouth but had no response.
“Would you steal? Or rob?” Xu Qing set down his chopsticks, looking at her.
He could give her so money, of course, and she could now order food at a restaurant on her own. But with no way to earn more, it would eventually run out, leaving her stranded with no options but cri or hoping for another benefactor.
“There's no wilderness here for hunting… oh, you could try the trash bins.”
Jiang He lowered her head, her silence hanging over the table.
After a while, her shoulders slumped as she let out a silent sigh, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness.
If Xu Qing’s talk about the importance of identity was a lie, that would be easier to accept. But after over a month, she knew he ant well and wasn’t lying to deceive her.
Without an identity, it was almost impossible to get by.
Xu Qing looked at her for a mont, then softened his tone. “Changing habits, lifestyle, and perspective… it’s hard. I get it.”
“But we have to take things slowly. At least now you know how to take the bus and use money. Isn’t that a big step?”
“I’m not learning anything,” Jiang He muttered, feeling frustrated.
“No, you’ve learned a lot.” Xu Qing thought for a mont. “At least now, you’re not pulling out darts or drawing a sword when I talk to you. And if I give you so cash, you’d manage on your own for a while… way better than when you first arrived.”
“Step by step. Once the haunting rumors die down, I’ll take you out more. So things, you’ll only understand by experiencing them.”
“There’s really a ghost out there?” Jiang He asked, surprised.
“There’s still a Taoist priest out there hopping around,” Xu Qing muttered, glancing out the window as he got up to clean the takeout containers.
To adjust to a completely foreign world, it took more than intelligence. Habits had to change, one by one.
At least now she knew to wait at traffic lights, handle money, and occasionally even win a hand or two at Fight the Landlord…
“When you’re able to earn money, you can pay back. If you can’t, then…”
He paused, seeing Jiang He’s clear, earnest gaze. Swallowing the joke he was about to make, he shook his head and said, “It’s ti we found sothing for you to do. Let think about what you might be good at.”
Jiang He clasped her hands respectfully. “Thank you, young hero!”
“Call ‘great hero.’”
“…”
…
Since she couldn’t get a regular job, Xu Qing figured the next best thing was the online gig economy.
His own work was online, so he understood how it worked. But long-term success required dedication, and few people made a real living from it.
That afternoon…
“Try this ga, see if you can pick it up.”
He’d registered her a new account and was teaching her to play. Online gaming services could be easy money, and a historical-thed ga like Jianwang 3 suited her.
As a ga assistant, she’d at least be occupied, could make so cash, and might even learn from interacting with others.
“Well, it’s just… playing?” Jiang He asked, sensing sothing odd. Looking at the ga’s screen, she thought for a mont, then asked, “Why can’t I do what you do? Just watching caras to earn money…”
“That’s too complicated for you right now,” Xu Qing said, waving his hand. “You’d need a ton of watching experience…”
Click-clack.
Suddenly, the sound of keys turning in the lock interrupted him. They exchanged glances, Xu Qing’s face changing as he motioned for Jiang He to go to her room, shouting, “Who’s there?”
“Open up!”
“…”
Hearing the voice, Xu Qing turned to Jiang He, urging, “It’s my family. Go… hide in your room.”
Jiang He was puzzled but went to her room.
It seed strange for an outsider to have free access while family mbers had to be hidden…
“Coming, coming, I’ll get the door.”
Seeing that Jiang He was out of sight, Xu Qing finally opened the door. “Dad, what brings you here?”
“Call ‘landlord.’”
Xu Wenbin adjusted his glasses, stepping in and glancing at the computer screen, then at Xu Qing.
“Haven’t found a job yet?”
“Why does my landlord care if I work? Ah, fine, here, here, take this. Just pay the bills; who needs a job when I’m fine?”
Xu Qing went to the couch to get his phone. Xu Wenbin shoved Winter lon aside with his finger, looking a little disgusted.
“You graduated and still refuse to get a proper job, doing these little sches all day. Just what are you thinking? I should really…”
“Lock up in a cow shed,” Xu Qing finished, sighing. “I’ll transfer it to you now. Did you really co all the way here just to check if I’m working? It’s National Day—no one’s at work… or did you co to look at the utility bills?”
“Hmph!”
Xu Wenbin gave him a disappointed look, then glanced at the computer. “If you don’t find a job by next month, your rent goes up. Let’s see if you’re still so eager to loaf around…”
“By the way!”
Xu Qing paused mid-transfer and looked up. “Dad, did you see that Taoist priest outside on your way here?”
“I did. Why?” Xu Wenbin frowned.
“There’s a haunting here, creepy environnt… you should lower my rent.”
“Haunt my ! Hurry up and…”
Mid-sentence, Xu Wenbin’s gaze froze as he stared at the balcony. Xu Qing followed his line of sight to see Jiang He’s clothes fluttering in the breeze.
“…”
“…”
Silence settled over them.
“Dad, listen, I can explain…”
Xu Wenbin’s face darkened. “You’re wearing this kind of stuff now?”
???
Xu Qing was baffled.
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