At 10:30 PM, the area outside the Lanshan Apartments was so dark that one couldn’t see their fingers. In the living room, the lightbulb flickered on and off, creating an atmosphere that was automatically set to the creepiest level.
Gu Lizhou, being a master storyteller who could churn out tens of thousands of words daily and dominate the rankings, effortlessly spun a chilling midnight ghost story. Paired with the eerie ambiance of the old apartment building, Zhong Weishi found himself utterly captivated, almost believing every word.
“The girl was wearing a striking red cheongsam before she died. Her hair was disheveled, and her body wasn’t discovered until several days after she hanged herself. During the autopsy, they found that one of her high heels was missing…”
Hugging a small cushion tightly, Zhong Weishi shrunk into a ball, “Where did it go?”
“No one knows ah. Later, the residents here started feeling a heavy pressure on their shoulders and necks, they went to the hospital but they couldn’t find anything wrong. An old neighbor’s granny advised one of them to consult a Taoist priest. At that time, that priest brought out a Bagua mirror…”
Zhong Weishi listened intently, his mouth slightly agape.
Gu Lizhou, mastering the pacing of his story, suddenly raised his voice at the climax, “And in the Bagua mirror, a shadow appeared! She was hanging right where you’re sitting now!!”
“fvck!” Zhong Weishi felt something tap his shoulder and leapt up instantly. “You-you-you-you, stop talking about this… in the middle of the night!”
Gu Lizhou retracted his arm and leaned back, revealing a triumphant smirk. “Can you still sleep?”
“Why can’t I sleep.”
Though slightly spooked, Zhong Weishi retained his rationality. He knew that ghosts and monsters only existed in novels and TV.
He pulled out his phone and played a song, intending to take it to the bathroom for his shower. “It’s not like I killed her. If she’s looking for someone, it should be her scumbag ex-boyfriend.”
Gu Lizhou was about to make up something even more terrifying when Zhong Weishi cut him off with a look of driving ducks into the water,1Chinese idiom which typically implies someone forcing or ruching another to do something, often with little choice or patience involved. Just like how one might drive ducks into water without their full cooperation. “Why are you still here? Go to bed. I’m going to shower. Or do you want to stay and watch?”
“Go ahead and shower. I’ll just sit here a bit longer,” Gu Lizhou crossed his legs and sat down on the sofa. He was ready to perform a live demonstration of falling asleep right there. After all, it was hot, and crashing on the couch for the night didn’t seem like a bad idea.
“Tsk, tsk. You feel the yin energy here is too strong? My yang energy is abundant. Let me balance it out for you so you don’t get possessed.”
Zhong Weishi felt his nonsense was becoming more and more ridiculous. Suspicious, he asked, “You’re not scared to go back, are you?”
“Ha!” Gu Lizhou let out a cold laugh. “As if. You go shower first, and I’ll leave when you’re done.”
“To be my protector ah? So kind?” Zhong Weishi laughed.
Gu Li Zhou: “When did I treat you badly?”
Just then, Zhong Weishi’s phone chimed.
[Cao Zhiheng]: Little guy, my girlfriend is staying over tonight, so I don’t have an extra room. At this hour, it’s hard to get a ride, so could you let Old Gu stay at your place for the night?
Realization dawned on Zhong Weishi. He replied with a “Sure.”
[Cao Zhiheng]: Sorry to bother you!
[Cao Zhiheng]: He’s mostly fine, just really grumpy when he wakes up. Don’t talk to him in the morning. I’ll treat you to a meal sometime!
After replying, Zhong Weishi turned his head to glance at the one who was now sitting cross-legged on the sofa, looking like he was meditating. He couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
God damn balancing yin and yang.
How had he not noticed before that this guy was full of crap?
“What are you laughing at?” Gu Lizhou frowned, “Why don’t you hurry up and take a shower?”
His tone was so brusque, it was as if he were the master of the house.
“Oh,” Zhong Weishi didn’t say anything. He held his clothes and headed into the bathroom.
Gu Lizhou looked around at his family’s old house.
The landlord likely bought this apartment just to rent it out. They had simply repainted the walls and added some new appliances, but most of the furnishings remained unchanged, only moved around slightly.
The tables, chairs, and stools were the same ones Gu Lizhou had used as a child, even the sofa beneath him now.
The solid wood furniture was incredibly durable; decades later, it had only a bit of surface wear and tear. The armrest still bore the circular burn mark left by his grandfather’s cigarette.
Curled up on the sofa, Gu Lizhou glanced at the TV, which was replaying a legal program. The host’s deep, resonant voice was as familiar as ever.
It was as if time had traveled back to the summer of more than twenty years ago.
“Hey, old man, where did you pick up this little kitten ah?”
“Got it from the factory. Old Li’s family’s cat had a whole litter of kittens, and they’re all so beautifully colored. Zhou Zhou, come out and see what I brought back for you!”
“Kittens!”
“Like it?”
“Like it!”
The little kitten sniffed around on the floor, occasionally tripping over its own feet as if performing a comedy act.
“Why did you suddenly think of getting a cat?”
“Zhou Zhou spends weekends at home alone—it’s boring for him. A kitten will keep him company.”
…
“Zhou Zhou, eat more so you can grow taller. Look at Old Cao’s son. He never likes eating and is always drinking soda, which is why he’s so scrawny—just a skinny little bamboo stick. You need to eat your greens.”
“Ai–I don’t want to grow taller. I want braised pork.”
“Eat the vegetables first and then eat the meat.”
“But Grandpa didn’t eat any vegetables! He’s already eaten two pieces of meat!”
“Hahaha… you little rascal.”
The little boy, barely over a meter tall, hugged the kitten tightly as he curled up on the sofa. His grandmother’s palm-leaf fan would wave gently, lulling him through a lazy summer afternoon.
The warm smiles and gentle voices of his grandparents seemed to reappear vividly before his eyes. Gu Lizhou chuckled softly at the memory, but soon found the tip of his nose stinging with a hint of sadness.
He laughed because their lives had been filled with love and care for him. But the pain came from how they had passed away—neither peacefully.
Grandpa had terminal stomach cancer, and grandma, overwhelmed by depression, followed him shortly after.
The day his grandfather passed, Gu Lizhou was still at school, unable to make it back in time to see him one last time—a regret that lingered with him to this day.
Zhong Weishi secretly cracked the bathroom door open to sneak a glance. He saw Gu Lizhou stretch lazily before flopping down onto the sofa in a perfectly shameless move.
This wave of rogue operation was quite skillful ah!
When Zhong Weishi finished his shower and came out, Gu Lizhou was still lying in the same position, curled up on the sofa, hugging a small cushion.
A 32-year-old man cuddling a pillow adorned with a cartoon puppy—it was such an absurd yet oddly endearing sight.
The air conditioner in the living room was broken, and the small oscillating fan blew rhythmic puffs of air, causing Gu Lizhou’s T-shirt to billow slightly, revealing a small section of his waist. The gentle curve of his torso, combined with the way his side-lying posture highlighted his collarbones peeking from under his neckline, gave an unexpectedly striking impression.
Even Gu Lizhou’s hair was meticulously styled with hair spray, maintaining a handsome look even as he lounged.
In Zhong Weishi’s eyes, this man was simply flirty as hell.
He hadn’t planned to wake Gu Lizhou, but seeing how his long legs had no place to stretch out, awkwardly curled up on the narrow sofa, made him look a little pitiful.
The two-seater sofa was clearly too small to accommodate the man. If he stayed like this until morning, he was bound to wake up with a stiff back, sore waist, and cramping legs.
Letting Gu Lizhou crash for a night wasn’t a big deal at all, especially since he had covered two months of rent in advance. Honestly, if he wanted to stay here, Zhong Weishi wouldn’t have minded. What he didn’t understand was why Gu Lizhou needed to come up with such a ridiculous excuse to stay.
Bending down, Zhong Weishi poked Gu Lizhou’s arm, silently guessing that the man would play dead.
Sure enough, Gu Lizhou didn’t disappoint. He even added an extra flourish by letting out a rhythmic, believable snore.
The sound wasn’t exaggerated but naturally deep and steady.
“Hey, rich man,” Zhong Weishi muttered, curling a finger and flicking Gu Lizhou’s beauty peak. “Wake up, the moon’s shining on your ass already.”
Gu Lizhou’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but he simply rolled over to face the back of the sofa, pressing his forehead against the gap. A low, hoarse grunt escaped his throat.
The general meaning was: I’m already asleep, leave me alone.
His calm and composed performance was so convincing that even Zhong Weishi had to admit defeat.
Pushing lightly on Gu Lizhou’s shoulder, Zhong Weishi whispered, “You’re really not going to shower ah? Is this how rich people live, just roughing it like this?”
Gu Lizhou’s eyebrows twitched and didn’t move.
Leaning in closer, Zhong Weishi blew a soft puff of air near his ear. “Hey, did you hear me ah? The spot you’re lying on is where the ghost hanged herself ah. Don’t you feel a little heavy on your shoulders?”
When he got close, he could smell a faint tobacco odor on the other person.
It was enough to stir up Zhong Weishi’s cravings for a cigarette.
“I just heard something strange in the bathroom. It was kind of creepy…” Zhong Weishi propped his hands on his knees as he leaned in to whisper near Gu Lizhou’s ear. “How about you move to my room instead, huh?”
Internally, Gu Lizhou celebrated with a triumphant ‘Yes’ but afraid that waking up too suddenly would seem fake. He let out a few groggy grunts for a long time, then finally furrowed his brows and put on an expression that screamed ‘Oh, when did you get here?’ Before asking groggily, “You’re done showering?”
“Ah,” Zhong Weishi nodded. “I’ve finished. So, are you heading back now?”
WTF!?
That’s not what you said earlier!
Gu Li Zhou’s heart roared.
“En?” Zhong Weishi raised an eyebrow, looking smug.
Clearing his throat, Gu Lizhou rubbed his ears dramatically. “Uh, did I hear something move? I didn’t catch it clearly; I must’ve been asleep.”
Zhong Weishi chuckled, too lazy to call him out. “Go shower, then come to my room to keep balancing the energy. My place has heavy yin energy—I keep hearing marbles dropping on the floor.”
“Oh!? Really?” Gu Lizhou jumped at the opportunity. “Didn’t know you were so timid. Well, in that case, I suppose I have no choice but to reluctantly help you analyze the situation.”
Zhong Weishi: “…”
Gu Lizhou said he was going back to grab a change of clothes, but after about ten minutes with no sign of him returning, Zhong Weishi’s curiosity got the better of him. Peeking out, he spotted Gu Lizhou crouching in an odd posture outside apartment 303.
No key?
“What are you do…” The rest of the sentence never made it out of his mouth. Zhong Weishi was abruptly spun around, one arm locking tightly across his chest while the other clamped firmly over his mouth.
He tried to push the arm away but couldn’t budge it.
“Shh!—” Gu Lizhou’s voice, along with the heat of his breath, tickled Zhong Weishi’s ear.
Zhong Weishi could feel it—the warmth of Gu Lizhou’s breathing, his fingertips, his entire body. The heat from their skin-to-skin contact spread a sticky, oppressive warmth.
“Mmph! Mmph!” (Let me go!)
“Don’t say anything.”
Zhong Weishi nodded, following Gu Lizhou’s gaze which happened to be the couch in the living room of 303.
There were no lights on in the house.
The faint glow of the TV screen flickered intermittently, outlining two indistinct human figures on the couch. That long-lost couple, reunited at last, was currently engaged in a not suitable for children, overly romantic French-style pastime.
Zhong Weishi let out an ‘ugh’ and muttered in distaste. “You’re such a pervert, spying on other people kissing.”
Gu Lizhou lowered his voice as well. “You think I want to? I just didn’t feel like barging in and interrupting them.”
Zhong Weishi didn’t buy his excuse, “then you’re still watching.”
“I’m waiting for a moment when walking in wouldn’t be awkward,” Gu Lizhou explained seriously. “I thought they’d finish quickly, but I didn’t expect it to be so long-lasting.”
The two of them crouched side by side by the windowsill, resembling a pair of mischievous cats about to steal fish, with only their eyes peeking out.
Cao Zhiheng, with one arm around his girlfriend’s neck, seemed utterly lost in the moment. The more he kissed, the more fervent it became, showing no signs of stopping.
Zhong Weishi’s legs were starting to go numb from squatting. He muttered in a small voice, “I just don’t get it. Why do couples like eating each other’s spit so much? They’ve been at it forever—aren’t their mouths sore yet?”
“..” Gu Lizhou was speechless. Such a romantic act, yet Zhong Weishi somehow managed to make it sound completely unappealing.
As Cao Zhiheng kissed, pinned his girlfriend onto the couch and shifted his kisses to her neck. Zhong Weishi’s eyes widened as if he’d just discovered a new world. He stared intently, practically leaning forward to get a closer look, all while excitedly making wow wow wow noises.
Gu Lizhou hurriedly covered his eyes and mouth, “Go, go, go, children shouldn’t be watching this.”
Zhong Weishi pried Gu Lizhou’s hands off. “I’m an adult!”
“Even if you’re an adult, you still can’t watch.” Gu Lizhou tried to yank him away but failed. He resorted to hooking both arms under Zhong Weishi’s armpits like he was hauling a corpse and dragged him back to 301.
“Why are you like this?” Zhong Weishi planted his hands on his hips. “So it’s okay for the officials to enjoy the show, but the commoners can’t watch?”
“Adult matters. What’s a little brat like you doing getting involved?” Gu Lizhou spread his hands, and said “Where are those imported underwear you were bragging about? Let me take a look.”
Zhong Weishi tossed the bag at him. “A thousand for a pair.”
“Didn’t you say you’d give them to me?”
“That was back when we were friendly neighbors. Now it’s debtor and creditor—totally different dynamic,” Zhong Weishi said.
“Fine, I’ll rent one. Based on a lifespan of three years per pair, it’s a note a day.” Gu Lizhou fished a five-yuan note out of his pocket and slapped it onto the table with a flourish. “Five yuan, keep the change.”
Zhong Weishi laughed so hard his stomach hurt. “Who the hell wears one pair of underwear for three years? Why don’t you calculate based on 30 years? Uncle Cao wasn’t wrong about you—you really are an old beast.”
Gu Lizhou retaliated by chucking a pillow at his forehead. “You little beast!”
A few minutes later, Gu Lizhou heard Zhong Weishi shout from the room, “Do you want to borrow my clothes?”
“Does it cost money?” Gu Lizhou asked. A laugh came from inside.
“You’re allowed to rent it for a day!”
Gu Lizhou laughed and went inside.
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