He hurried to call Di Qiuhe up, only to find his phone was turned off. The monotonously mechanical female voice suddenly sounded gloomily frightening. Rubbing his arms and looking around the empty dorm, He Bai promptly packed up two sets of clothes and called Niu Junjie, âBro, are you, are you in B city? Our dorm is⊠is haunted by ghosts. I need you to take me inâŠâ
Niu Junjie was reveling away the time on a luxurious yacht, âIs Bai speaking? Ah! Are there ghosts?â
Assistant Wang brought the mobile phone to Di Qiuhe and spoke in a low voice, âBoss said the recent days were a bit inconvenient for him and that you could contact him by phone if necessary.â
Assistant An also came over, âDear young master, itâs time for boarding.â
âI see. Get on the plane first.â Di Qiuhe turned off his phone again after using it for three minutes only. He stood up in a good mood, put on his sunglasses and said, âYou must be tired in these days. Both of you can have a holiday to take a rest when we return to B city.â
The two exchanged their glance, and Assistant Wang replied, âNot at all. You must have a lot of affairs to deal with when we get back. How about we work in relays? In this way, your burden could be lifted somewhat.
Contemptuous of his intention, Di Qiuhe pretended to be moved by his words and nodded his agreement, âUp to you. Lady first, so Assistant An takes a break first. Wang shall be on duty for several days.â
Assistant Wang replied itâs his pleasure and flattered Di Qiuhe a lot. Then they got on the plane together.
Niu Junjie rushed back to B City overnight, picking He Bai up with a box of fruit from a small hotel outside the campus.
âIs it proper for me to go straight to your home? I hear you have a small apartment in your name...â He Bai finally got relaxed in his company. His reason was back, and a sense of shame flashed through his mind.
âIt's all right. My parents are still on the yacht. Don't be nervous.â Niu Junjie turned the steering wheel in a skillful way, laughing at He Bai, âBai, arenât you an atheist? How come you become scared of ghosts? Itâs said that ghosts are afraid of masculinity. Our dormitory building is full of boys and the masculinity there must be more than enough. Even ghosts dare not to get in.â
Remembering that he received texts from Di Qiuheâs phone which was powered off, He Bai went pale. Rubbing his face, he said, âI didnât believe in ghosts before, but...â But even the rebirth had happened to him; he had no choice but to believe that nothing was impossible.
âBut what?â Itâs quite rare for Niu Junjie to see such a spiritless He Bai. The spirit of brotherhood constrained him from falling into convulsions of laughter, and he thoughtfully changed the topic, âDrop it. You know, the yacht is simply unfit for stay. It was fun to spend one or two days on it, while Iâve passed more than half a month at sea and been sick to death now. In contrast, my parents are still in high spirits. But for your phone call, I couldnât have found an excuse to come back in advance.â
On hearing his words, He Bai cast an envious glance at him. Throughout the two lives, he only embarked a yacht for the purpose of shooting a glacier, when he was nearly freezing to death, there was no such luxury as having fun on a yacht.
âDon't look at me like this, bro. Letâs have a big meal! Iâve brought a box of seafood from the yacht. We can have a barbecue when returning to my home.â said Niu Junjie while his mouth was watering, âI tell you what, my parents hired a wonderful cook. Heâs pretty good at making seafood dishes...â
As Niu Junjie chattered on, He Bai couldnât help recalling the happy days in his last life when he had all kinds of delicacies at will. Thinking of todayâs toil from dawn to dusk to make money, he heaved a long sigh.
He Bai now hardly pondered over the reason for his rebirth, but today, he would like to utter in affection: To hell with the villain that led to his rebirth!
âAtishoo!â
Di Qiuhe gave his nose a pinch and looked at Assistant Wang who had seen An off, asking, âDone with the downtown house?â
âYes, dear master.âAssistant Wang stopped in front of him and answered respectfully.
Di Qiuhe nodded. After a brief silence, his gentle mask disappeared, and a wicked grin emerged on his face, âDo you know what âserving me onlyâ means?â
Trembling with fear, Assistant Wang recalled that Di Qiuhe had caught him in the wrong. He gritted his teeth and replied, âYes, I do. From now on, Iâll serve as the assistant of yours only.â He was well aware that if he didnât make clear his position today, Di Qiuhe would definitely make life difficult for him in that he saw the young master in his true colors in addition to his guilty doings.
âA wise man submits to circumstances.âDi Qiuhe flashed him a smile, âYou seem to be the best among the wise men.â
Bowing his head, Assistant Wang dared not to look directly into Di Qiuheâs eyes and acquiesced to the slightly sarcastic comment.
âSince you've made up your mind to be my assistant only, you might as well call me in another way.â Di Qiuhe took a coin out of his pocket and fiddled with it, âBesides, arenât you supposed to inform your boss, my dear dad, that Miss An is a member of Qin family?â
Qin family?
Assistant Wang raised his head suddenly and lost self-control, âItâs absolutely impossible! Assistant An was recruited together with me, so itâs unlikely she...â
âShe works for Qin Li.â Di Qiuhe raised his hand to hold his face, his slender fingers constantly poking himself in the face. Though he looked casual, his eyes were so sparking that Wang dared not look into them, âNot only she but her boyfriend works for Qin Li. Wang, youâre made fool of.â
The news was like a bolt from the blue. Assistant Wang was at a loss, âHer, her boyfriend? Then I âŠâ
âQin Liâs usual ploy is honey trap, which tends to be of use. Her men also learn it well.â Gazing out of the window at the sinking sun, Di Qiuhe pointed to the villa and the scenery that stretched out of window, and said faintly, âMoney talks. The shameless can do anything to make money.â
Assistant Wang also looked out of the window, with his hands unconsciously clenched, and said reluctantly, âYou are right. Money is really a good thing... Boss wanted to meet me next morning, Mr. Di.
Di Qiuhe looked back at him and smiled to his heartâs content, âWell, tomorrow morning. Itâs a good time.â
After Assistant Wang left, Di Qiuhe had a simple dinner. Then he picked up a backpack and went out of the provisionally arranged villa, ready for a âchance encounterâ with Little Puppy at Q University.
âNo, itâs a sheer waste of ingredients. I wouldnât like to have loose bowels at night.â
âBelieve me. It smells so good.â
âTurn it over, youâll find itâs scorched by fire.â
A vague noise caused by the collision of cooking utensils came.
âWell, I'm unskilled. Roast more, and I can cook well! Don't throw my meat away! It is edible if I cook it again!â
Di Qiuhe halted and cast a glance at the walls of a villa by the wayside.
âYouâve messed it up. If you donât stop, weâll have nothing for dinner. Just leave it to your cook. Iâm terribly hungry.â
âOkay... How about we go swimming? You can put on my swimming trunks. Itâs too hot. Letâs swim a lap first to cool us down. Theyâve changed the water inside. I guarantee youâll have fun!â
âSure.â
âTake off your coat and trousers. Let me see... You're thinner than me. This pair of swimming trunks may suit you, which I wore only once... Don't, there are few people in the yardâyou, me and my cook, all male. Don't bother to go inside. You can change the clothes here. If you mind me putting on it once, you can keep your underwear inside. But it may make you uncomfortable.â
âI choose to cover the underwear with it. I hope you can follow me, in case I see something too personal!â
âYou have already seen it before. After all, weâre close friends⊠Oops, Bai, thereâs a bite of a mosquito on your back. Arenât you getting itchy? Ha-Ha, Iâve mistaken it for a worm.â
âDon't touch it! I do feel itchy!â
Di Qiuheâs brow knitted. He took out the phone and dial He Baiâs number.
âBai, your phone seems to be ringing.â
âLet me take a look... O, crap, itâs a ghostâs call!
âWhat the hell? Hmm, his name is Di Qiuhe.â
Di Qiuheâs patience suddenly snapped and he put the phone down angrily. Drawing a few steps back, he leapt over the parapet after a run-up, yelling at He Bai who wore nothing but a pair of swimming trunks under the tree at a short distance, âLittle Puppy, put it clear, who is the ghost?â
Beepâ
The villa alarm went off, and the searchlight at the corner of the wall shone down on Di Qiuheâs body.
A banging sound came. He Bai was so scared that he couldnât help but let the cell phone loose, which hit a stone and fell into the swimming pool.
âAh!â Niu Junjie bowed his head, staring straight at the swimming pool. He somewhat got into a panic, âBai, the phone your parents left you is gone, so are the texts saved inside...â
He Bai didnât realize his phone was gone until Niu Junjie reminded him. He looked at the empty palm and his mind went blank.
âWhere's my phone?â
Throwing a glance at He Bai who was still gazing at his palm, Di Qiuhe frowned. He jumped off the parapet, removed his backpack and casquette, strode to the pool and sprang into it.