Over the past two days, Xiao Ying went back to school during the day but stayed in the hospital to take care of me at night. Her dedication left me feeling both grateful and a little uneasy. Though my injuries were serious, they didn't completely render me helpless—I could at least manage trips to the restroom on my own. Still, the doctor had strictly instructed me to minimize movement to avoid reopening my wounds. Xiao Ying, however, seriously persuaded me that since the doctor said so, I needed proper care. She also admitted she didn't feel safe staying at school alone and preferred to stay by my side.
Reluctantly, I agreed. Having her close meant I didn't have to worry about Feng Lan sneaking up on her. As for the gossip, she nonchalantly pointed out that she'd already spent the first night with me in the hospital, so her reputation couldn't possibly get any worse. Fair enough. I figured we had nothing to hide. As long as we were innocent, let people talk. Besides, with my body aching this much, I couldn't even think about anything improper, let alone do it.
Things seemed quiet at school these days. Feng Lan had seemingly vanished, and even Xiaoxiang and Zhu Wantao had smoothly returned to their normal routines. However, rumors about me "drugging and attempting to assault Xiaoxiang" were spreading like wildfire, taking over the entire campus. I had gone from an unnoticed loser to a notorious villain in record time.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry—should I be happy for the fame or furious about the infamy?
By the third day, my injuries had improved enough for me to get out of bed and walk around. Logically, this meant Xiao Ying no longer needed to look after me. But then she revealed something that caught me off guard: she'd already rented an apartment off-campus on the day Liu Yan had her accident. She had planned to move out the following day but ended up staying in the hospital with me instead.
Her confession left me feeling both guilty and helpless. This girl truly was a handful, keeping such a thing from me while I worried about her safety at the dorm.
"Don't overthink it!" she said with a bright smile. "I don't have any ulterior motives. I just want to repay you for saving my life twice."
Her smile was warm and genuine, leaving me no room to argue. I knew she only stayed to repay her debt of gratitude, while I had feelings for Xiaoxiang and nothing else in my heart. After three days together, not even a spark of romance had ignited between us.
That night, Xiao Ying didn't return to the hospital. As I lay in bed, I realized I'd grown used to her company and felt a tinge of loneliness in the quiet room.
That was when the little ghost girl, who had been "missing" for days, finally showed up again.
I had just struggled to get out of bed to use the bathroom when I heard her lazy voice:
"Man, that was a great nap. Woo-hoo! Hahaha!"
I frowned. What was wrong with her? Shouldn't "woo-hoo" be followed by "alas"? How did it become "hahaha"?
"Hey," I said, "close your eyes. I need to pee."
"Go ahead. Why should I close my eyes?"
"Don't you feel embarrassed watching me pee?" I rolled my eyes.
"Why should I feel embarrassed?" she shot back. "I've seen you pee every day. And with that toothpick of yours... hahaha!"
My face instantly flushed with humiliation. My self-esteem had never taken such a hit. This cheeky ghost had been watching me pee every day and now had the audacity to mock me? Furious, I zipped up, marched back to bed, and yanked the blanket over myself, covering everything from the waist down.
Seeing my reaction, the little ghost girl burst out laughing, nearly doubling over. After a while, she finally calmed down and said, "Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Let me heal your wounds. Don't move."
I froze in surprise. Heal my wounds? They were already almost healed, weren't they? Before I could ask, a cool sensation spread through my body. It was gentle and soothing, making me feel inexplicably comfortable.
Ten minutes later, she said, "Alright, get up and try moving around."
Skeptical, I stood up—and to my shock, there wasn't even a hint of pain! I cautiously walked a few steps, then a few more. It felt like a miracle. "Am I really healed?"
"Obviously!" she said, sounding annoyed. "You wouldn't be walking like this if you weren't!"
Overjoyed, I flopped back onto the bed. No more worrying about medical bills! At this rate, the hospital might just kick me out for overstaying.
"Is everything still calm at school?" she suddenly asked.
"Yeah, Feng Lan hasn't shown up again."
"Humph! Do you think a mere yang energy male can scare off a Fushou Ghost?" Her tone dripped with disdain.
"Fushou Ghost? What's that supposed to be?"
The little ghost girl then explained: in ghost cultivation, there's a sinister practice called "blessing longevity through birth." It involves a female ghost using specific rituals to impregnate a woman with a ghost fetus. Once the child is born, the ghost drains its yang energy, transforming into a "ghost immortal," also known as a Fushou Ghost. Although Feng Lan didn't achieve this through childbirth, she absorbed the spirit and energy of the ghost fetus. As a result, she had essentially become a Fushou Ghost—now even more dangerous.
"However," the little ghost girl continued, "she needs ten days or so to fully absorb the energy. She'll stay low during this time, but if no one deals with her by then, she'll become even more vicious. When that happens, not even running to the ends of the earth will save you!"
Her words sent shivers down my spine. Only now did I grasp the gravity of the situation. A Fushou Ghost was way beyond my capabilities as a "mere yang energy male." What was I supposed to do now?
"Is there no other solution?" I asked urgently.
"There are two options," the little ghost girl said with a sly grin. "Fight her... or resolve her grievances."