CG - Chapter 28
Chapter 28
The next day, a total of six people and two ghosts sat in the movie theater. On the big screen, Huo Lianqing stood on the bow of a cruise ship, her face a mask of despair. She slowly closed her eyes against the wild sea wind, then leaped into the churning, azure water, vanishing in an instant.
Song Yang's suppressed sobs could be heard intermittently. Wu Gu, who had just felt tears welling up, forced them back down. Song Yang said, "Miss Huo must have been in love with Miss Cao, otherwise why would she have jumped? Sniffle, Miss Cao's death was so tragic, too. The villains are horrible! I want the Miss Cao played by Xiao Qu back!"
Wu Gu hadn't expected a movie about national righteousness to have a hidden lesbian subplot. It wasn't explicit, but if you looked closely at their gazes and actions, and their endings, it seemed perfectly clear. She didn't follow celebrities and didn't recognize that the actresses playing Cao Yuchun and Huo Lianqing were the currently popular Qu Yunning and Shen Zhen, who were, at that moment, sitting right next to her.
The final scene of the movie showed the male protagonist in his twilight years, having crossed the ocean to return to his homeland. His slightly stooped figure receded, lonely and desolate, down a street where everything had changed. Although it was pitiful to watch, Wu Gu thought it was a good ending. After the movie ended and the lights came on, Song Yang frantically yelled in her ear, "Quick, go get me an autograph from Qu Yunning and burn it for me! Hurry! I love her so much!"
Wu Gu mentally grumbled about Song Yang being a fangirl at her age, but she obediently went to ask for the autograph anyway. Shen Zhen, sitting nearby, was displeased and teased her, "How come you only want her autograph and not mine?" Wu Gu blinked as if she'd been hit with a paralyzing spell. Seeing her dazed look, it was obvious Wu Gu didn't recognize her. Shen Zhen added, "I'm the one who jumped into the sea."
Wu Gu was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Did you jump because you guessed Miss Cao was dead? Were you in love with her?"
Shen Zhen said, "Kid, please don't ship me and Qu Yunning. We're not compatible, and besides, I'm already taken."
Beside them, Qu Yunning sneered, "Teacher Lin must be blind."
Shen Zhen's gaze traveled past several seats to Qi Qing at the end of the row. She said in a low voice, "Believe it or not, I can make you show your true colors in front of Teacher Qi. Let's see how you, you big-tailed wolf, can keep up your act then." Qu Yunning pressed her lips together, swallowing countless retorts. Unwilling to show weakness, she shot Shen Zhen a glare.
Yes, Wei Jinzhi had indeed invited the main creative team, but she had deliberately left out the actor who played the male lead. She had seen the movie before and was very fond of the hidden emotional subplot. Both in the movie and in real life, the male lead seemed superfluous. She said to Qi Qing beside her, "Remember to tell me the next time you direct a film."
"Miss Wei certainly has a lot of confidence in me."
"After all, Teacher Qi is a good actor, but an even better director."
Having successfully gotten the autograph, Song Yang finally noticed that Chang Yiqing's gaze had been fixed on Qi Qing the whole time. Alarm bells went off in her head. She raised a hand to cover Chang Yiqing's eyes and said, "No looking, no looking."
A smile played on Chang Yiqing's lips. "Didn't you just say you loved Qu Yunning?"
"That's different."
Chang Yiqing withdrew her gaze and said, "The year I started university, countless people were crazy about Teacher Qi. He was no less popular than your Qu Yunning." She looked at Song Yang, a faint light dancing in her eyes. She said, "Song Yang, thank you. I was very happy today. If we really meet in the next life, I think I'd be willing to give it a try with you."
Tears welled in Song Yang's eyes as she nodded forcefully. "We will definitely meet again. We will."
That night, back at the Changshan Villa, Wu Gu used the Soul-Piercing Bell to open the Ghost Gate. Then, she brought the fingers of her right hand together, tapped the spot between her eyebrows, and her body went limp, caught by Wei Jinzhi who was standing by. Wei Jinzhi, her Yin-Yang eyes open, could see Wu Gu's soul still standing in the same spot. She was still a little worried and asked, "You're a living person. Will you really be okay going to the Underworld like this?"
"It's fine," Wu Gu said. "I'll be back soon."
After Wu Gu led Song Yang and Chang Yiqing through the Ghost Gate, the Soul-Piercing Bell slowly fell back to the floor. Wei Jinzhi picked it up and placed it beside Wu Gu's prone body, then sat on the floor to watch over her and wait for her return.
As soon as they entered the Ghost Gate, Song Yang let out several "wows" of amazement. "Gu Gu, there's a golden light on your forehead!"
Wu Gu had just been wondering what the mark King Yama had given her looked like. Hearing Song Yang's exclamation, she figured the golden light must be it. She strained her eyes upward, but after several attempts, she still couldn't see the so-called golden light, so she gave up. "Let's go," she said.
The scenery in the Underworld was surprisingly nice. Trees and flowers were planted on both banks of the River of Oblivion, and many houses had been built. But since this was Wu Gu's first time here, she couldn't get her bearings and could only follow her intuition, walking along the riverbank.
Time in the Underworld passed differently than in the mortal realm. It seemed they walked for a long time before they saw the flickering shadows of people in the distance. As they got closer, they discovered it looked just like a bustling city in the human world. Wu Gu looked around curiously and saw a long line outside a restaurant at the end of the street. Lifting her gaze, she saw the four large characters "Meng's Private Kitchen" written on the restaurant's antique-style banner. So, Granny Meng was in the restaurant business. She was quite the entrepreneur.
Song Yang was also very curious and pulled Chang Yiqing along to browse the streets. Just then, a ghost messenger—who seemed to be the "beat cop" for this district—walked over. He stopped in front of Wu Gu and said respectfully, "Excuse me, is this Little Tianshi here to see King Yama?" Wu Gu nodded, and he added, "Please follow me."
The ever-busy Lord Yama was currently at his desk, engrossed in his work. When his assistant told him a Little Tianshi with the mark had come to see him, he felt a pang of annoyance, sensing trouble. He was afraid Wu Gu had come to pester him about Ji Yu. He considered pretending he wasn't in, but he had already made a promise and couldn't bring himself to lie to a young girl from the mortal realm.
Wu Gu was taken aback when she entered. She had imagined King Yama would be like the one depicted in Journey to the West. Who would have thought that the King Yama before her would be so dignified, looking to be around forty, and dressed in a sharp suit like the CEO of a large corporation. But even if King Yama's dapper appearance inspired a good impression, it didn't stop her from despising his inaction regarding Ji Yu.
King Yama spoke with a hidden meaning, "Cashing in your favor so soon? You don't want to reconsider?"
"No need." Wu Gu pulled Chang Yiqing forward. After briefly explaining what had happened to her after her death, she said, "I'd like to ask Lord Yama to absolve her of her sins so she can reincarnate."
Only then did King Yama notice the two ghosts behind Wu Gu. He felt a wave of relief, followed by a bit of disbelief. "You came for this?"
"What else?" Wu Gu's words were sharp. "To ask you to help deal with Ji Yu? Would you even go?"
King Yama was left speechless. He rubbed his nose awkwardly, knowing he was in the wrong, and could only speak placatingly. "Are you sure you want to use my favor on this, instead of waiting for a more opportune moment?"
"I think now is the opportune moment." Wu Gu's brow furrowed in displeasure. "You're the great Lord Yama. Surely you're not going to go back on your word."
King Yama laughed. "When did I say I wouldn't agree? I just don't want you to waste such a great opportunity. You should know, while I can't help you deal with Ji Yu, I can help you increase your cultivation, grant you a few techniques, or even a powerful artifact. Besides, if she wants to reincarnate, she could simply cultivate and accumulate merit."
"I don't want any of that. I probably won't even be able to finish learning what my master left me in this lifetime." Wu Gu understood what King Yama was saying and explained, "She was almost scattered to the winds last time she was injured. And the cultivation method would take too long. I'm afraid something might happen."
Seeing her mind was made up, King Yama said no more. He called his assistant in to arrange for Song Yang and Chang Yiqing's reincarnation. Before leaving, Song Yang hugged Wu Gu and cried for a long time. Wu Gu's eyes were red, and her heart ached. Song Yang kept looking back with every step she took, and Wu Gu stood at the door, watching until their figures disappeared from sight.
Wu Gu furtively wiped the corners of her eyes and turned to King Yama. "Thank you, Lord Yama. I'll be heading back now."
"Wait a moment. I've checked their records. Neither of them committed any evil in their past lives, and they even have some minor merits. I've made an exception and chosen two good families for them." Seeing Wu Gu's eyes light up, King Yama smiled and continued, "And I'll arrange for them to be close to each other, to make it easier for them to meet. How about that?"
Wu Gu nodded vigorously, her voice bright and clear. "Thank you, Lord Yama!"
Lord Yama was suddenly filled with emotion. Millions of ghosts had passed through the Underworld, and while there were others like Wu Gu, they were rare. He couldn't help but feel a certain fondness for her. "Wu Gu, I will grant you one more wish. But this time, you can't use it so casually. I am, after all, the highest authority in the Underworld. You used my favor just to get two ghosts a good reincarnation. If word of this got out, how would I save face?"
Wu Gu said, "Oh, so you do care about face? Then go deal with Ji Yu."
King Yama said, "It's not that I'm unwilling, but that I cannot. I was indeed negligent in the matter of Ji Yu, but he is now neither human nor ghost and is no longer under the Underworld's jurisdiction. If I were to intervene, I would face heavenly punishment." His gaze turned profound as he looked at Wu Gu. "You and Ji Yu also share a certain karmic connection. That is why you met Wei Jinzhi and broke her curse. I believe this may be the will of the Heavenly Dao."
Wu Gu could tell there was more to King Yama's words and said sincerely, "I ask Lord Yama to please enlighten me."
King Yama shook his head inscrutably. Before Wu Gu could press further, he raised a hand, and a gust of wind swept her up into the air. He said, "As a token of my apology, I'll give you something. Keep up the good work."
When Wu Gu woke up, she was lying on the soft carpet in Wei Jinzhi's home. She could hear the sound of soft, shallow breathing very close by. She turned her head, and her vision was filled with Wei Jinzhi's peaceful, sleeping face. Suddenly, she heard the sound of a tender shoot breaking through the soil. She remembered what Han Tianyang had said about liking someone. She must be in love with Wei Jinzhi. Otherwise, why would someone who cherished her own life so much be willing to risk it all for her?
She raised her hand, mimicking Wei Jinzhi's usual gesture, and stroked the other's cheek. It was soft and smooth. Her touch was so light that Wei Jinzhi didn't stir, remaining deep in sleep. She then poked the soft flesh of Wei Jinzhi's cheek with her fingertip. Her eyes were so full of mirth that tears of laughter soon streamed down her face from their corners. She thought, I can definitely stop Ji Yu. I will make sure Wei Jinzhi can sleep soundly and peacefully every day from now on.
When Wei Jinzhi woke up, she fell into a pair of clear, bright eyes. And in those eyes was a sea of flowers that belonged only to her. Her heart suddenly hammered in her chest. The voice that came out was calm only through restraint. She said, "You're back?"
Wu Gu nodded and answered, "I'm back."
Wei Jinzhi reached out to touch Wu Gu, feeling her temperature. "How do you feel?"
"Lord Yama gave me some of his cultivation. I feel even better than before."
"As long as you're okay."
The simple conversation ended, but Wu Gu didn't move. She remained lying on her side, gazing at Wei Jinzhi with a smile. Wei Jinzhi met her gaze, reached out to rub her ear, and asked softly, "What is it?"
Wu Gu didn't answer, only shaking her head. She caught the hand on her face and held it there, not letting her pull away. An idea stirred in Wei Jinzhi's heart. She leaned in and kissed Wu Gu's forehead—no longer a cautious, stolen kiss. Wu Gu closed her eyes, the smile on her lips widening. This time, she heard her own strong, powerful heartbeat, which seemed to be in sync with Wei Jinzhi's.
Author's Notes
Wei Jinzhi looked at the Wu Gu before her—no heartbeat, no breath, her temperature gradually cooling—with great novelty. She poked here and prodded there. She wasn't stiff, but rather a bit limp. Then she leaned in closer to see how this Wu Gu differed from her usual self.
Their faces were too close. Wei Jinzhi couldn't resist the temptation and kissed Wu Gu's nose, then her cheek, and finally…
Quick, call the police! Someone here is committing necrophilia…
When I read transmigration novels, I sometimes think that if the story had consciousness, then Ms. Qi would probably curse me every day for not writing her story but always pulling her out for a cameo.
The reason I write all my stories into a circle is that I think if other stories are ultimately left unfinished, the people in them should at least have their names left behind in another way.
Originally, I didn't plan to give Song Yang and Chang Yiqing a proper ending. But then I thought, life is so hard, it's better to be a little kinder.
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