"Really?"
Before I could process it, she kissed me. At first, I was stunned, but once I realized what was happening, I took the initiative, wrapping my arms around her slender waist. But as soon as I touched her, I noticed her body felt cold, without any warmth. This puzzled me, but my instincts quickly took over.
To be honest, it was my first kiss, and I didn't have any technique. I simply followed my instincts, letting my tongue explore clumsily.
"Ha... ha... ha..."
So this is what it feels like to kiss a woman. It felt incredible.
Just as I was about to lower my head to continue, Ning Manwan suddenly stopped me with her hand and playfully said, "That's enough for now."
Her teasing made me itch for more. At this moment, just as I was about to stop her from leaving, I looked up and saw something strange. Right behind her, under the lights, I noticed that she didn't have a shadow.
When I tried to look more closely, she had already left the door.
I shook my head. Maybe I was just seeing things. She had come here and helped me solve a huge problem. I should at least walk her out.
I followed her to the door. She insisted I shouldn't continue to see her off. I had no choice but to turn around and go back.
Back in my dorm, I followed her instructions, lighting the black incense and waiting until it burned down before going to sleep.
I had the best sleep that night. No strange dreams, no visions of things I shouldn't see.
It seemed the gift Ning Manwan gave me was very effective.
The next morning, I arrived at the morgue early.
Old Wang, who worked there, was placing a body onto the table. The body was missing a leg, and there was no blood left—only white remains.
Old Wang was a professional mortician. Regardless of what the deceased had done in life, once they were gone, all was forgotten. They should be treated with dignity as they leave this world.
At the funeral home, they even provided a service where the body, if dismembered, would be reconstructed by the mortician, stitching the body parts together with needles and thread. After the family signed off, the burial arrangements were made.
"Uncle Wang, don't you find it gross to see all these bodies?"
Uncle Wang looked up at me and rolled his eyes. "Gross? One day, you'll be like this too."
Did I say something wrong? Uncle Wang seemed a bit harsh today.
For the next few days, life was surprisingly easy. Even at night, I didn't get scared by strange visions.
One day, as I was about to change into my work clothes, I bumped into Old Zhao.
"Zhao, is there something you need?" I wondered why he was here. He didn't work here anymore. Who would come to a place like this unless they worked here?
He seemed surprised when he saw me, furrowing his brows. He walked up to me and asked, "Kid, what have you been doing lately? Have you encountered something... unclean?"
He hesitated as he spoke.
Hearing this, I frowned instinctively. I was fine, so why was he looking at me like that?
"I'm fine!" I replied.
"You look pale, just like a corpse. Your eyes are lifeless. You don't look like yourself," Zhao continued. "Before, you seemed just tired, but now you look completely different. Are you...?"
He didn't finish his sentence. Realizing he might have said something inappropriate, he quickly turned and left.
I was left confused and wanted to follow him and ask him what he meant, but despite his age, his footsteps were surprisingly fast. By the time I caught up, he had disappeared.
I stood there, puzzled, thinking about his words. I quickly found a place with a mirror. When I looked at myself, I saw that my face was as pale as those bodies lying in the morgue. My gaze seemed empty, and my expression was lifeless. Why was this happening?
An ominous feeling flooded over me, and I began to panic.
The first thought that came to my mind was the mysterious man. I couldn't focus on my work anymore. I immediately left for the address he had given me.
When I reached the apartment, I was shocked. This man, who seemed to be just a fortune teller making a modest living, actually owned a villa.
I stood in front of a three-story villa.
Damn, is this how real life works? A university student like me can't compare to a fortune teller?
After a few moments of anger, I remembered why I was here. I hurriedly knocked on the door, my heart racing, fearing that the mysterious man might not be home.
I waited for about 30 seconds before hearing the door open.
The man was surprised to see me.
But I didn't have time to worry about his surprise. I grabbed his hand tightly, desperate, like I was holding onto a lifeline.
"Please, you have to help me!"
He looked at my hand, frowning. "What have you been doing? Have you followed my instructions?"
I told him about meeting Ning Manwan and everything she had said. He furrowed his brows after hearing it.
"Don't believe me?"
I felt awkward. "I... well, I didn't believe much at first."
He sighed. "I understand. Since we don't know each other, you think I must have some hidden agenda. But I really have no other motives. What could I want from you?"
Feeling his displeasure, I panicked. This man was my only hope. If he gave up on me, I would surely be doomed.