Chapter 60: Ghost Ride

Tanya slowly opened her eyes. In the darkness, the blare of a car horn echoed—a familiar, grating sound. She raised her arm and waved it vigorously in the air, desperately trying to make herself visible to the approaching taxi driver.

She squinted at the taxi heading her way and realized her luck wasn’t too bad; the driver’s seat was occupied by a balding middle-aged man. The bright red “available” sign made the car instantly noticeable. Though the paint had peeled in places, the vehicle was spotlessly clean, proof that its owner cherished it.

The taxi wasn’t moving fast either, which made it easier for Chu Ning to manipulate events from the shadows, allowing Tanya to intercept the cab and, conveniently, hitch a ride for the two of them.

Chu Ning’s request was simple: Tanya was to flag down a taxi so they could travel to their intended destination. If all they needed was a ride, none of this elaborate ruse would be necessary. With enough money, any driver would surely accept their request. Yet, the obstacle before them was a severe lack of funds, forcing them to resort to a bit of trickery to secure a free ride.

Thus, the scheme for Tanya to pose as a female ghost and flag down a cab was born. Chu Ning had readily admitted his lack of money, turning out his empty pockets as proof, and Tanya, resigned, had agreed to the plan.

She reached into her pocket and fingered the few bills she had, shaking her head with a wry smile. She patted her flat pocket and, feeling discouraged, lowered her gaze, contemplating the imposing curves of her own body in silence for a moment.

The dull ache in her feet was a painful reminder of past misadventures, prompting her to abandon any thought of walking to their destination. The irony of being a ghost incapable of floating made her want to laugh and cry; she covered her face in exasperation and finally decided to join Chu Ning in his mischief.

According to the clichés spun in urban legends, the female ghost who hails a cab is always long-haired, her attire either a red or white dress, her figure appropriately haunting, and the scene set on some deserted path where no one else would interfere.

Chu Ning believed these conditions seemed tailor-made for Tanya; she could be cast in a horror film without the slightest incongruity. As he saw it, the allure of a horror movie lay in its chilling plot and veiled sensuality. With that in mind, Chu Ning decided to let Tanya’s hair down and tangle it, half-concealing her face if possible. Her features were too exquisite, easily misunderstood.

“To die beneath the peony is to remain charming even as a ghost,” as the ancients said—lust’s power, once unleashed, was formidable. Had not King You of Zhou set fires to amuse his concubine, or the classic tales of the supernatural recounted such things, or the daring snake-handlers proved it?

These precedents reminded Chu Ning of the risks at hand. To prevent the driver from recognizing their true, human nature, it was necessary to obscure Tanya’s face. He had no intention of letting his directorial debut be marred by an unscripted disaster.

Eagerly, he readied himself, waiting for the fish to bite. Everything was set at the scene; all that remained was for their supporting actor to appear, and then the curtain could rise on their grand production.

Squatting patiently in the roadside grass like a leading man and director rolled into one, Chu Ning watched as a taxi slowly approached. The driver had clearly noticed Tanya standing by the road—an essential first step to success. He covertly signaled to Tanya, pointing to his own eyes in silent communication.

Tanya’s expression was unnaturally stiff, her gaze hollow—she looked every bit the ghost she was pretending to be. But in the dead of night, such a performance might scare off their supporting actor; after all, they weren’t real ghosts and couldn’t magically teleport into the car.

Though Tanya couldn’t hear Chu Ning’s thoughts, she got the gist of his gestures. He was dissatisfied with her lifeless look, devoid of any human warmth.

With a soft huff, Tanya summoned a practiced smile and gazed pleadingly at the approaching vehicle. She’d read enough online advice—both wholesome and otherwise—to know what most men thought, and she was confident her beauty alone could win the driver’s favor.

“Damn! Chu Ning, this stupid idea—if I survive this, I’ll never forgive you!” Tanya’s eyes widened as the taxi suddenly accelerated. At that moment, she had no time to react and could only watch helplessly as the car bore down on her, cursing Chu Ning with all her might.

Quick-witted, Chu Ning darted out, grabbed Tanya around the waist, and pulled her out of harm’s way. He couldn’t help but wonder if he was still the director of this scene—his supporting actor was certainly improvising, adding an unscripted “hero saves beauty” twist.

“You bastard, scoundrel, villain…” Tanya muttered every insult she could think of as Chu Ning’s face darkened like a pot’s bottom.

“That’s enough. Keep going and you’ll have only yourself to blame for what happens next!” Chu Ning retorted, scrambling up from the ground and hauling Tanya up with him.

This mishap was, admittedly, his fault—he hadn’t considered that a stranger, faced with a suspected ghost, might panic and lose control of his vehicle.

Chu Ning eyed the now-stalled car warily, picking up a sturdy branch from the ground as he cautiously approached. There was another, more sinister possibility: the driver had aimed for Tanya on purpose.

After all, there were plenty of people lately who wanted Tanya dead—a risk they couldn’t ignore. Chu Ning’s gaze sharpened as he studied the driver’s seat, where the man was slumped over the wheel, unmoving.

From a distant rooftop, Ye Hui lowered his binoculars in disappointment and sighed, “Failed this time—lucky you. But there’ll be more exciting things in store for you yet.”

“Aren’t you breaking the rules?” Liu Lingling asked lazily, sitting on the balcony with her legs dangling over the edge, a lollipop in her mouth muffling her words.

Ye Hui smiled sheepishly and explained, “Not really. Li Han’s allotted lifespan ends today—by rights, this should be his death day. We low-level employees handle the precise timing, so as long as he dies today, it’s fine.”

“The bigwigs couldn’t care less about these details. So I’m just making use of what would otherwise go to waste—not breaking any rules at all. I’ve only hastened his death a bit, and there’s plenty of leeway in that!”

Liu Lingling grumbled a few words, then lost interest in the humans below. She continued to enjoy the candy she’d worked hard to obtain; tracking down that elusive old-time peddler with his oil lamp had been no easy feat.

“Besides,” Ye Hui continued as he stood quietly behind her, “Li Han was a thoroughly rotten person. Otherwise, why would fate decree a violent death at thirty-four, dying miserably in the street?”

He had tied up the loose ends carefully—after the talisman hidden in Li Han’s left hand took effect, it would be completely absorbed into the body, leaving no trace. No one would be able to fathom what truly happened; it would be written off as a mere accident.

He had technology to thank for that—modern advancements had produced materials the human body could absorb, allowing him to plant talismans undetected. The only drawback was the cost, and the difficulty of acquiring them.