CW: some verbal abuse from an angry Asian mother
“Enough with the ‘dad’.” Wen Nuan shoved Baili Wuchang’s shoulder with all the strength in his little arm. “Let’s hurry and go. If we draw too much attention, the school security might come out to check.”
The delinquents were scattered across the floor, wriggling and squirming around like worms. They hurt so much that they could only roll about instead of getting up.
Baili Wuchang didn’t have any resistance to Wen Nuan in the first place, and after seeing Wen Nuan become so small and adorable, it was like a critical hit.
The anger that had rushed to Baili Wuchang’s head was replaced by a good mood in an instant. “Okay. Let’s go.”
They left the troublemakers on the floor and left the school to go to the Hell Chain Hotel.
“Gurgle—”
They were only halfway there when Wen Nuan’s stomach made a loud noise.
Baili Wuchang stopped. He looked down at Wen Nuan in his arms.
Wen Nuan was a bit embarrassed. He blushed and said, “I haven’t eaten in a while. I keep going here and there, and now I’m famished and thirsty.”
“There’s a convenience store up ahead. I’ll buy you something to eat,” said Baili Wuchang.
It was the middle of the night right now, and eighteen years ago, 24-hour convenience stores weren’t as popular. But in order to grab a bite to eat, the easiest solution was to go to a convenience store.
Of course, convenience stores only had some fast food items and generic drinks. There wasn’t anything that could count as a real dinner. Wen Nuan wasn’t in dire need of a huge meal. He could suffice with a microwavable hamburger and a bottle of water.
But…
Wen Nuan glanced at Baili Wuchang worriedly, his eyes wide with doubt. “Do…you have cash on you?”
Baili Wuchang nodded. He pulled out his wallet and handed it to Wen Nuan.
Wen Nuan grabbed it with both hands and opened it. Two words surfaced in his heart: “As expected”.
Although Baili Wuchang was a ghost envoy from the Underworld and not at all an ordinary person, Baili Wuchang often traveled to the living world to work, so he always kept some banknotes or cards in his wallet that were used by living people.
This was eighteen years ago, so credit cards weren’t usable. As for banknotes…
Wen Nuan took out a bill with a large denomination. He sighed deeply with regret. “I knew it would be like this. This money is a new version issued just a few years ago. Now that we’re eighteen years in the past, this banknote hasn’t been issued yet; they’re still using the old version. If you go to a convenience store with this hundred-yuan, they’ll think it’s fake money.”
Baili Wuchang didn’t take it seriously. He casually snapped his fingers and said, “It won’t happen now.”
Wen Nuan almost didn’t realize what was going on. When he lowered his head and looked down, he was immediately bewildered, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
The new banknote had turned into the old version in the blink of an eye.
“This…” Wen Nuan was dumbfounded. “Is this okay?”
“Don’t worry, it’s usable,” Baili Wuchang said naturally. “I’ve tried it. Normal people can’t tell the difference.”
Baili Wuchang has lived for who knows how many years, and it wasn’t like he’d never encountered banknotes being replaced. For him, this was just a small and unimportant detail to speak of.
Wen Nuan was uneasy. This was the first time he spent such money. If we’re found out, won’t we go to jail?
The convenience store ahead stood alone in the darkness. The sign of the convenience store was a bit broken, flickering on and off.
No one came in or out of the convenience store at this time. It looked very deserted.
There was only one clerk in the convenience store. At this moment, he opened the door and walked out of the store, holding a bag of something in his hand.
The clerk walked to the corner next to the store, squatted down, and sprinkled cat food from his hand into a little bowl. He said gently, “Little buddy, you’re here again. Good boy.”
“Meow~”
“You must be hungry. Eat up.”
“Meow~”
“Ai, where did you go off to this time? You’re filthy again. I’ll have to give you a bath.”
“Meow!”
For every sentence the clerk spoke, the cat responded, as if the cat really had some spiritual ability.
“So this is where you’ve been, Song Xing.”
As he fed the cat, the clerk was surprised to hear someone call his name.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
The convenience store worker working this late into the night was the exact Song Xing that Wen Nuan knew.
Vbcu Wlcu gjlrfv tlr tfjv. “Pa’r sbe, Ljlsl. Qts jgf sbe tfgf rb ijaf?”
Mjc Ljlsl kjixfv bnfg, uijcmlcu ifoa jcv gluta. Lf ibbxfv alwlv, jr lo tf kjr jogjlv rbwfbcf kbeiv olcv bea tf kjr tfgf.
Mjc Ljlsl kjr Vbcu Wlcu’r mijrrwjaf. Qfc Rejc tjv rffc tlw yfobgf. Pa kjr atja glmt ybs ogbw atja vjs lc atf jiifs ktb tjv yffc rfmgfais tfrlajalcu ab tfiq.
Wen Nuan and Baili Wuchang stood across the street from the convenience store, separated by a street from Song Xing and Fan Haiyi.
“Ah, it’s them,” Wen Nuan sighed. It looked like fate really did exist. He didn’t expect to come across Song Xing again so quickly after going back eighteen years.
Baili Wuchang frowned. “Who are they?”
Wen Nuan pointed a finger at Song Xing and said, “The boy wearing the convenience store uniform is a big gege I used to know. He’s a good person. The one next to him…”
When it came to Fan Haiyi, Wen Nuan didn’t know much about him. He’d only seen him once, and he gave off the impression of a cowardly yes-man. He was clearly Song Xing’s friend, but when Song Xing was being bullied, he didn’t dare to jump in, hesitating without stepping forward.
Across the street at the convenience store, Fan Haiyi rummaged around in his backpack to pull out an envelope. He handed it to Song Xing. “Here, take it. You’ll need it tomorrow.”
Song Xing received it and flipped the envelope open in surprise. “This? This much money?”
Fan Haiyi nodded and said, “I know you haven’t paid for your evening classes yet. Tomorrow’s the last day, so take it. The evening classes are taught by our homeroom teacher. If you don’t attend, I think…that would be bad.”
Fan Haiyi left the end of his sentence vague, but Song Xing understood his meaning. Even though their homeroom teacher said that evening classes were voluntary and wouldn’t be forced upon them, if anyone didn’t go, their homeroom teacher wouldn’t be happy, giving them the silent treatment and an attitude.
Song Xing gripped the envelope hesitantly. Fan Haiyi continued, “Just take it. It’s my pocket money. I’m not short on money, anyways. The school keeps catching students working part-time jobs, so in the event you really can’t work anymore, this money will last you a bit. And…”
Fan Haiyi scratched his head. “You’re always helping me at school. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“I…” Song Xing was indeed in need of money. He raised a hand and patted Fan Haiyi’s shoulder, saying, “Then thank you. I’ll pay you back when I’ve saved up enough.”
“Hiss—”
Fan Haiyi had only been patted on the shoulder for a moment, but he shuddered from head to toe, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
Song Xing looked at him in shock. He asked with a frown, “Did your mom beat you again?”
“Heh…” Fan Haiyi didn’t refute this, chuckling awkwardly. “It was just a few lashes with a belt. It’s just a little bruised.”
Song Xing couldn’t laugh with him. Fan Haiyi’s parents beat him, and it wasn’t once or twice; every few days, he would see Fan Haiyi with a new injury.
Song Xing said, “What happened this time?”
Fan Haiyi whispered, “I didn’t score well. I came in second place…”
After he spoke, Fan Haiyi checked his watch in a hurry. “It’s getting late. My parents are going to come home. I’m heading out now, see you at school tomorrow.”
Song Xing waved goodbye as Fan Haiyi jogged away. In the dark of night, he quickly disappeared.
Song Xing watched Fan Haiyi leave and let out a sigh, the envelope heavy in his pocket.
“Little buddy?”
Song Xing looked down to see that the cat had finished eating and had left at some point.
Song Xing walked around, looking in the corners, but caught no trace of where the cat had gone. “What an energetic little buddy. Where did he go?”
“Big gege!”
Song Xing was in the middle of looking for the cat when a childlike voice called out to him.
Wen Nuan came over, carried by Baili Wuchang, waving his hands to say hello to Song Xing.
“It’s you.” Song Xing was surprised. He looked at the tall and broad man carrying Wen Nuan, unable to help himself from staring at him a little.
No matter where Baili Wuchang went, he was extremely eye-catching. If it wasn’t his unparalleled countenance, it was his incredible figure, or even his elegance and impeccable clothing style.
Wen Nuan and Baili Wuchang made quite the “peas in a pod”. Song Xing’s first thought was that Baili Wuchang was probably Wen Nuan’s elder relative.
It was probably wrong to say that he was Wen Nuan’s father. The two looked nothing alike. From their eyebrows to their noses, lips, face shape, etcetera, nothing was alike.
Song Xing didn’t know how to address Baili Wuchang, so he faltered.
Baili Wuchang spoke first, saying flatly, “I’m not his dad.”
Wen Nuan: “…”
Song Xing: “…”
Baili Wuchang’s opening remark with no heads or tails rendered both Wen Nuan and Song Xing speechless.
Baili Wuchang was obviously really hung up on the word “dad”. He’d been brooding for a while.
“Big gege, do you work here? It must be tough.” Wen Nuan tried to ease the awkward tension.
Song Xing was already eighteen. He was in dire need of money, so he started to work as soon as he could. However, the school told him over and over again that high school students had to focus on their studies, that he couldn’t take part time jobs or else the school’s reputation would lower, and that they didn’t allow him to work.
But Song Xing truly did need money. If he didn’t work, not only could he not afford evening classes, he couldn’t even afford a meal.
He went to school during the day, so he could only work at night. Sometimes, Song Xing would work throughout the entire night and go straight to school the next day.
Song Xing hesitantly nodded. “Please keep it a secret from the school that you saw me here.”
Wen Nuan quickly said, “Don’t worry, big gege. I won’t tell my aunt. We came here to buy burgers.”
Song Xing held the door open for them to let them in.
In the store, Wen Nuan wanted to get down and choose food for himself, but Baili Wuchang was quite comfortable holding him and was unwilling to put him down.
Wen Nuan protested, “I’m heavy. Can’t you put me down for a minute?”
Baili Wuchang’s lips curved upwards. He looked quite attractive when he smiled, but Wen Nuan felt like this smile wasn’t out of goodwill.
Baili Wuchang pointed at the shelf where the hamburgers were. “If I put you down, how will you reach the burgers?”
Wen Nuan: “…” Angry…
The shelf wasn’t tall for the average person, but for the little bean sprout Wen Nuan, it was a bit…
A little bit too tall.
Baili Wuchang kept going. “Moreover, you weigh no more than a bottle of water. You’re not heavy.”
Wen Nuan: “…” You’re no more than a bottle of water. This is slander!
Wen Nuan remembered that when he was three or four, he was already ninety centimeters tall!
But in the end, he wasn’t even as tall as Baili Wuchang’s legs.
Baili Wuchang took hamburgers from the shelf and put them one by one into Wen Nuan’s arms for him to hold.
Wen Nuan obediently opened his hands. The burgers were too big for him. He could barely hold one with one hand, and could only hold up till the third one.
The fourth and fifth ones blocked Wen Nuan’s sight, and the sixth one was really unbearable.
Wen Nuan couldn’t stand it any longer and said, “Guest…why are you taking so many burgers?”
One hamburger was enough for Wen Nuan. No matter how big Baili Wuchang’s appetite could be, he didn’t need to take so much, right?
In actuality, Baili Wuchang just thought that the sight of Wen Nuan hugging a bunch of hamburgers was very cute, so he couldn’t help but keep adding more just to see when Wen Nuan could no longer hold it.
Wen Nuan discovered that Baili Wuchang did not actually have a purely cold personality. He was just putting a cold front on the outside when he was really passionate on the inside.
In the end, because of Wen Nuan’s protests, Baili Wuchang only bought two hamburgers and a bottle of water, which wasn’t much.
Baili Wuchang didn’t need to eat normally. The two burgers were for Wen Nuan. He didn’t need them at all.
Wen Nuan hugged the hamburgers while waving enthusiastically at Song Xing. “Big gege, we’re leaving. Bye bye.”
“Goodbye.” Song Xing also waved his hand.
Baili Wuchang was a little displeased. He didn’t know how Song Xing was, but he knew Wen Nuan treated him specially. He got special enthusiasm and special treatment. It made Baili Wuchang unhappy from the bottom of his heart.
So before Song Xing had finished speaking, Baili Wuchang had already taken Wen Nuan and left.
Wen Nuan said curiously, “Why are you walking so fast all of a sudden?”
Baili Wuchang said with a face full of justice, “We need to finish our business.”
That’s true. Wen Nuan nodded.
Wen Nuan didn’t have to walk, so he held a big beef burger in his two hands and sat in Baili Wuchang’s arms as he started to eat.
“Wow—”
Wen Nuan’s eyes sparkled. Hamburgers from eighteen years ago were delicious. The meat was juicy. They really didn’t skimp on the job and stint on materials with it.
“Crunch crunch crunch—”
The lettuce inside was still crispy.
With one bite, Wen Nuan was satisfied to the fullest. He finally got to eat, and it was amazing.
Baili Wuchang’s facial expression shifted. He gazed down to see the sesame seeds from the burger bun scatter across his suit as Wen Nuan chewed…
It wasn’t that Baili Wuchang had mysophobia, but the sesame seeds still got on his nerves and challenged his bottom line.
“You…” A vein in Baili Wuchang’s forehead jumped. He wanted Wen Nuan to notice, but at that moment, a shrill voice shouted, masking Baili Wuchang’s words.
“Speak! I’ll let you speak!”
A woman’s shouts loudly penetrated through the night.
Wen Nuan jumped, choking on a bite of his burger. It got stuck in his throat.
Baili Wuchang helplessly handed him the bottle of water. “Drink.”
There seemed to be an argument ahead of them, but it seemed to be a one-sided argument.
Curious, Wen Nuan looked over to see someone “familiar”.
Fan Haiyi, who had just left the convenience store earlier, stood in front of them with his backpack. He stood in front of a luxury car, and in front of him stood a woman who was harshly berating him.
After the woman spoke, she lifted a hand up. Like a bolt of lightning, she struck with a “pa” across the side of Fan Haiyi’s face.
“Oh—” Wen Nuan gasped. He felt like that strike was too fierce. It was going to knock his teeth out.
The woman shouted, “Where were you? Did you think that just because your father and I weren’t home that you were free to run all over the place?”
“Did you not see how you scored this last exam? It was a disaster! Second place! Are you not ashamed?”
“Your father and I are working so hard to let you study. You can’t even do this one thing right. Maybe you’re better off dead.”
“Go home. Tonight, finish ten test papers, or you’re not allowed to sleep! How dare you still have the gall to stroll around after scoring second place!”
The woman who had hit him was likely Fan Haiyi’s mom. She was enraged. Opening the car door, she made Fan Haiyi get in before slamming the door and driving off.
Wen Nuan watched, stupefied. His brows were tightly knitted in a frown.
He had seen Fan Haiyi act like a yes-man before, unable to help Song Xing, so he thought Fan Haiyi was not much of a useful person.
But now he saw differently, and Wen Nuan thought he was a bit pitiful. It looked like Fan Haiyi’s disposition was largely due to his family’s influence.
“Drink. Why did you stop?” Baili Wuchang held the water bottle up to Wen Nuan.
The luxury car was gone, and in front of them opened up to a wide clearing. Wen Nuan pointed off into the expanse of night where a tall building stood. “Over there, look. The hotel.”
The Hell Chain Hotel was in sight. After crossing another street, they would get there.
Baili Wuchang nodded. “I see it. Let’s go.”
The Hell Chain Hotel was a gloomy and cryptic structure. It was right in between a crossroad where the intersection was convenient for transportation. The hotel building could be seen from either side of the intersection.
They walked towards the Hell Chain Hotel and were about to cross the road when they saw several people going towards the hotel from the other side.
There were almost no people on the road in the middle of the night, so the three people walking across the street looked extremely conspicuous. Of course, for the three people opposite, Wen Nuan and Baili Wuchang were also very eye-catching.
“Cough cough cough!”
“Iz dem!”
Wen Nuan was about to bite into his hamburger again when he saw the three people, and he once again successfully choked on his burger, fiercely coughing as he spoke unclearly.
It’s them!
It was the Baili Wuchang from eighteen years ago, as well as Bai Wuchang and Hei Wuchang.
On the other side, the little bean sprout Bai Wuchang was no longer wearing a dress. He’d changed into a white suit, looking quite adorable.
As he walked, he said, “Gone. Suddenly disappeared, how…Ah!”
He was in the middle of talking when Bai Wuchang jumped in the air, forty or fifty centimeters off the ground.
He pointed across the street and shouted, “That little imp! I found him! There’s someone with him! Is that the boss? How could that be?!”
Bai Wuchang was flabbergasted. He stared at Baili Wuchang, who was carrying Wen Nuan. He couldn’t help but glance back at the Baili Wuchang next to him.
“Exactly…the same…” Bai Wuchang’s brain started playing the scene of “Real or Fake Sun Wukong”.
The eighteen-years-ago Baili Wuchang also stared at Wen Nuan and his copy Baili Wuchang.
He couldn’t help but frown.
I never understand parents who think that being behind someone is the end of the world for their child, because often times, they can never do what their children can do! I’d like to see you try and land first place in something! Second place is not even that bad, you’d have made it to the top three!!
My own mom treats me like this, I can feel for Fan Haiyi!
Ok I have a theory…
Who sent Wen Nuan to the past? Fan Liangda. But why would he want the past changed or altered? I think Fan Liangda is Fan Haiyi and he somehow wants to help Song Xing bc he couldn’t as he has passed on…
Thanks for the chapter!
I love seeing Baili Wuchang having some playful emotions coming out with baby Wen Nuan.
Oh no, I finally caught up. Thanks, I’ve been loving this novel!!
Or maybe fan haiyi is related to fan liangda? Since fan liangda 18 years ago had already started working at hell chain hotel and he looks unchanged so presumably he is a ghost after all? And ooh, finally the two bailis met~~