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My Tenant is a Female Ghost
"When you turn eighteen, if you still remember my words, come find me. I'll be waiting for you, okay?" Bai Zhuo's words echoed in Miao Xiaoqi's mind, and tears streamed down her face once again. This was a moment of overwhelming joy.
She tightly embraced Bai Zhuo, her voice trembling with excitement. "Bai, Brother Bai, I'm so happy!"
In that instant, Bai Zhuo suddenly realized that he might have made a wrong choice.
"Brother Bai, can I rest on you for a while? Am I too heavy?"
"No, you're very light. You can stay as long as you want."
"Brother Bai."
"Yes?"
"Can I kiss you?"
"No way!" Bai Zhuo was taken aback. A kiss? That would lead to trouble!
Miao Xiaoqi hurriedly explained, "I just want to kiss your cheek!"
"That's not allowed either... Where did you learn this from?"
Miao Xiaoqi lowered her head, feeling wronged. "I just feel so happy... I used to do this with Dad."
So she had a bit of an Oedipus complex. Bai Zhuo couldn't bear to see Miao Xiaoqi looking sad and finally relented. "Alright, alright, just a quick kiss on the cheek!"
Miao Xiaoqi's face lit up with a smile as she leaned in closer.
Her lips were slightly pouted, full and alluring. Bai Zhuo decided to close his eyes and pretend he didn't see anything. However, instead of the expected wet sensation on his cheek, he felt a warm brush against his lips. Startled, Bai Zhuo opened his eyes and exclaimed, "Miao Xiaoqi! Wasn't it just a kiss on the cheek?"
Miao Xiaoqi remained unfazed, waving her hand in front of her nose and said in a delicate voice, "Hmm~ Such a strong smell of alcohol, it's awful..."
Bai Zhuo sighed helplessly, feeling a bit downcast. "Alright, alright, come down, Qi. It's late; let's go to sleep."
"Oh~" Miao Xiaoqi obediently rolled off Bai Zhuo and lay beside him, staring wide-eyed at the floral ceiling, lost in thought while giggling to herself.
"Brother Bai, are you asleep?"
"Mm, I'm asleep."
"…"
Bai Zhuo turned over, facing away from Miao Xiaoqi. Even though they were both fully clothed for bed, he could still clearly feel the warmth radiating from her body. He knew she was excited.
"Brother Bai, I'm so happy I can't sleep... I like to hug my pillow when I sleep. Can I hold your hand while I sleep?"
"…Fine, do as you wish, but don't go overboard. You're only sixteen; if I do something inappropriate, I'll be in big trouble."
Miao Xiaoqi grinned as she adjusted Bai Zhuo's position, making him lie flat and pulling his arm into her embrace. "Brother Bai."
"Mm?"
"Nothing, just wanted to call you."
"Brother Bai?"
"…"
"Brother Bai, are you really willing to wait for me?"
Bai Zhuo turned his head and found Miao Xiaoqi staring at him with wide eyes. Their faces were close together, and he felt a bit awkward as his gaze wandered. "Although I'm not exactly a paragon of virtue, I still consider myself a man of my word!"
Miao Xiaoqi smiled broadly and nuzzled against his arm. Suddenly she changed the subject, saying, "Brother Bai, your eyes are really beautiful; they're just like the stars in the sky."
"Alright, alright, you little brat, daring to tease your Brother Bai, close your eyes and go to sleep!"
"I can't sleep, Brother Bai... I'm afraid if I fall asleep, it will all be a dream..."
Bai Zhuo felt Miao Xiaoqi's chest brushing against his arm, making him uneasy. He pretended to be angry, "If you don't sleep soon, I'll make this dream a reality!"
"No! Brother Bai, I'm going to sleep... see, I'm already asleep!"
The night was quiet, filled only with the sounds of insects chirping outside. Miao Xiaoqi began to snore lightly, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes as she drifted off. Bai Zhuo gently pulled his arm from her embrace, covered her with the blanket, and wiped away the tears from her eyes. He murmured softly to himself, "Sixteen years old... I really am... such a sinner..."
As the sun rose and the rooster crowed, Miao Xiaoqi's big yellow dog seemed to have spotted some wild beast and was running through the woods, barking excitedly. Bai Zhuo yawned and woke up, suddenly recalling what had happened last night. He turned sharply to look around but found no sign of Miao Xiaoqi. He threw off the blanket and checked his pants, letting out a sigh of relief. Thankfully nothing had happened; he hadn't done anything beastly.
"Brother-in-law! Sister... Brother Bai! Wake up!" Miao Long's urgent knocking came from outside. Bai Zhuo opened the door. "What's wrong, A Long? Why are you so excited?"
Miao Long grabbed Bai Zhuo's hand and hurriedly said, "Brother Bai, come see Sister Qi!" Bai Zhuo's heart tightened as he asked, "Qi? What's wrong with her?"
"Brother Bai, just come see for yourself! She's really beautiful!"
Filled with strong curiosity, Bai Zhuo followed Miao Long to the village entrance. The area was crowded with members of the Miao Family. Bai Zhuo pushed through the crowd and saw Miao Xiaoqi in a sea of flowers.
There stood Miao Xiaoqi amidst the blossoms, surrounded by hundreds of colorful butterflies fluttering around her in a mesmerizing dance. It was as if they were celebrating her presence just like at Peacock Lake, and more butterflies kept joining in!
A sea of flowers, a swarm of butterflies, and a girl. A smile that could light up the world.
Miao Xiaoqi danced unconsciously among the flowers while the butterflies flitted around her movements as if she wore a long-sleeved dress made of colors—absolutely stunning. Bai Zhuo swore that since Zhu Man and the others had left two months ago, he hadn't seen her smile so joyfully.
"A Long, what's going on?" Bai Zhuo asked.
Miao Long shook his head. "I don't know either. The sun just rose; Sister Qi and I came here to gather herbs. Not long after we arrived, it was like these butterflies sensed the nectar and all flew towards Sister Qi... Wow! It's so beautiful!"
Miao Xiaoqi suddenly spun around in the sea of flowers, and the beautiful butterflies danced along with her movements. Bai Zhuo regretted not having his phone to capture this moment of beauty.
"Brother Bai!" Miao Xiaoqi spotted Bai Zhuo and ran towards him, drawing gasps of admiration from the onlookers. She dashed over joyfully, as if a swarm of butterflies were lifting her into the air.
The fluttering of the butterflies made Bai Zhuo sneeze. Miao Xiaoqi took his hands and pulled him towards the flower field. "Brother Bai, look! It's so beautiful!" Perhaps it was the joy in her heart that made Miao Xiaoqi appear more stunning than ever under the colorful fluttering butterflies. He blurted out, "Qii, you look really beautiful."
The sweetest honey in the world could hardly compare to the sweetness of a girl's beloved complimenting her. Miao Xiaoqi's cheeks flushed crimson, and she didn't know how to respond to her Brother Bai. Suddenly, she felt a flutter in her chest and covered it with her hand.
Bai Zhuo noticed and asked with concern, "Qii, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Miao Xiaoqi paused for a moment, then looked at Bai Zhuo with delight. "Brother Bai! It's Fuzzy!"
"Fuzzy?"
"Yes, it's Fuzzy! She's awake!" Miao Xiaoqi exclaimed as she pulled a delicate container from her pocket and opened the lid. Inside lay Colorful Cocoon, quietly resting. Miao Xiaoqi carefully picked up the Cocoon and held it in her palm.
"Brother Bai, look! Look! It's moving!"
Bai Zhuo quickly focused on the Cocoon in her hand, and sure enough, it rolled slightly! The Cocoon tilted downwards, and a thin crack suddenly appeared on its back, as if it were shattering the entire world!
"Break Out of the Cocoon and Become a Butterfly!"
Bai Zhuo gasped as more colorful butterflies gathered around Miao Xiaoqi. The swarm became more lively, flitting up and down as if celebrating the breaking of the Cocoon.
Miao Xiaoqi held the Cocoon still, afraid to disturb the butterfly inside. The crack widened further, and Bai Zhuo thought he heard a snap. A large opening formed at the top of the Cocoon, and a colorful butterfly leg emerged. The butterfly inside eagerly pushed against its shell with that leg. Finally, after half a minute, its slender body squeezed out, and moments later, Colorful Butterfly broke free! Its coiled rainbow wings slowly unfurled under the sunlight. Miao Xiaoqi exclaimed in delight, "Fuzzy! Fuzzy is back! Hahaha! Fuzzy is back!"
Bai Zhuo genuinely felt happy for Miao Xiaoqi and smiled. "Qii, Break Out of the Cocoon and Become a Butterfly—Fuzzy's name will need to change now, right?"
Miao Xiaoqi replied cheerfully, "Yes! Let's call her... how about Huahua?"
“……”
Miao Xiaoqi knew she lacked the gift of naming, playfully sticking out her red tongue. The Colorful Butterfly fluttered its wings a few times in the palm of Miao Xiaoqi's hand before taking flight. It seemed to remember Bai Zhuo, circling around him. Bai Zhuo extended his finger, and the Colorful Butterfly gently landed on it. He stared at the butterfly for a while and said, “Ayi, let’s call her Ayi.”
The colorful butterfly named Ayi appeared to have received a gift, soaring high into the sky, followed by countless other butterflies that circled above the two of them. Bai Zhuo and Miao Xiaoqi exchanged glances in the sea of flowers, both breaking into smiles.
……
“Early in the morning, where have you two been?” As soon as Bai Zhuo returned to the Village, Ge Shui Lian immediately questioned him. “Qi, you’re a good girl; don’t let that Bai fellow deceive you.”
Miao Xiaoqi hesitated and stammered, “Um, um! I understand, Sister Shui Lian. By the way, Sister Shui Lian, today I’ll ask Great-Grandmother to make some sachets with that red feather to give to you all!”
As soon as gifts were mentioned, Ge Shui Lian’s attention was captured. She shamelessly said, “Qi, Sister Shui Lian likes heart-shaped ones! Let Great-Grandmother help make them heart-shaped!”
“Okay, I got it.”
“By the way, Qi, about last night’s banquet… so suddenly; you didn’t have anything happen with your Brother Bai, did you?” Ge Shui Lian’s intuition was sharp and hit the nail on the head.
Miao Xiaoqi recalled the stolen kiss from last night and immediately panicked, shaking her head like a rattle drum. Blushing fiercely, she argued, “No, no, no! How could that be? There’s nothing between me and Brother Bai!”
Bai Zhuo's heart raced even more as he tried to cover up. “Ge Shui Lian, what nonsense are you talking about? Qi is only sixteen; don’t lead her astray!”
Ge Shui Lian looked suspiciously at Miao Xiaoqi and then at Bai Zhuo. “You’ve got a history of peeping at Yang Liu bathing. If you dare do anything…” Ge Shui Lian smirked and made a scissor gesture towards Bai Zhuo's lower body from a distance, leaving an ambiguous implication.
Bai Zhuo felt flustered and muttered “unreasonable woman” before fleeing the scene.
That evening, Great-Grandmother brought out four colorful heart-shaped sachets and placed them on the dining table. The faint fragrance wafting from them could be smelled from afar.
Great-Grandmother said, “Qiqi, come here; take one for yourself and give the rest to your friends. This is a sachet woven for you by Great-Grandmother using Rainbow Silk. Both Rainbow Silk and Phoenix Feather are rare treasures in this world; wearing them can not only ward off evil spirits but also prolong life. Especially for you, Yang Liu girl; since you have a Nine Profound Yin Body, wearing this sachet will protect you from ghostly troubles for at least five years. If you want to completely resolve your issues, you’ll need to rely on an ancient book called The Yin-Yang Great Melody. However, this is quite difficult and will require you to ponder it yourself.”
"The Yin-Yang Great Melody?" This trip to Miaojiang had not been a mistake; unexpectedly, it brought such pleasant surprises. Yang Liu felt a flicker of joy in her heart and nodded heavily.
"The Yin-Yang Great Melody?" An Zhi Xi seemed to think the same. Although the chances of finding this book far to the west were slim, there was still a glimmer of hope, wasn't there? Bai Zhuo thought to himself, secretly noting this matter in his heart.
"Eh? What’s that fragrance? Why has it changed?" Ge Shui Lian wrinkled her nose and took a sniff. "It seems like it wasn’t this scent just now!"
Miao Xiaoqi handed the sachet in her hand to Ge Shui Lian and smiled, "Sister Shui Lian, this is the magic of our Great-Grandmother and our Witchcraft. The scent is different for everyone, and when your mood changes, the fragrance you perceive also changes!"
Ge Shui Lian exclaimed in surprise, "Really? That’s amazing!" After a moment, she excitedly shouted, "Wow! It’s true! I just thought about some sad memories, and the scent really did change!"
"Haha, right?" Miao Xiaoqi laughed happily, like a child sharing candy, as she handed the remaining two sachets to Yang Liu and Bai Zhuo.
Great-Grandmother said, "Today Qiqi's Gu Worm has broken its cocoon and transformed into a colorful butterfly. Great-Grandmother is happy; come, Zhuozi, let’s have a few bowls together."
Bai Zhuo didn’t want to dampen the mood too much. "Alright, Great-Grandmother, let’s drink within reason. I’ll take one bowl first as a toast!"
...
The night was deep; darkness was the best disguise for killing intent. However, now was not the time. When the prey let down their guard, it would be the perfect opportunity for a lethal strike... (To be continued.)
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