Chapter 36: The Foolish Ghost

“My biological mother’s name is Tang Xinyi.”

After revealing his birth mother’s name, Yan Yu looked at Zhao Qingqing with anticipation.

Su Han asked, “Qingqing, do you know Tang Xinyi?”

“I…” Zhao Qingqing’s gaze grew somewhat vacant, as if she had fallen into distant memories.

“I’m sorry… I just can’t recall.” Zhao Qingqing furrowed her brow, her voice tinged with apology.

Yan Yu sighed. “It’s alright, I expected this. After death, many memories from life fade away naturally. Unless your resentment is resolved, it’s difficult to remember.”

If Zhao Qingqing truly didn’t know Tang Xinyi, she wouldn’t have subconsciously tried so hard to remember upon hearing the name.

So, Yan Yu received a bit of good news: he had found the right person.

Now with Zhao Qingqing at his side, he knew that as long as he followed the clues, one day he’d uncover the whole truth.

Su Han asked, “So, to investigate your mother, you need to help Qingqing resolve her resentment so she can remember everything?”

“For now, yes,” Yan Yu replied. “Teacher Su, may I ask you a favor?”

“Go ahead.”

“Since Qingqing died at the school, there must be records about her there. If possible, I’d like to obtain all information related to her, including her roommates, classmates, and even the student lists from the classes before and after hers…”

The requests Yan Yu made were no small task; back then, computers weren’t widespread, and all the information was stored in the school’s archives. Even for Su Han, digging through it would take considerable effort.

But Zhao Qingqing was also Su Han’s best friend, so she agreed without hesitation.

“You two have figured each other out, but there’s still something I don’t understand,” Su Han asked, “How did Qingqing become your wife?”

“Well… I don’t know either, that’s what Big Mama said,” Yan Yu answered helplessly.

Could it be an arranged marriage from birth?

But that made no sense. When Zhao Qingqing was alive, Yan Yu hadn’t been born yet; after his birth, she was already gone. The two had always been separated by life and death—how could they possibly be married?

“Oh, the reason doesn’t matter! What matters is, I’m in love!” Zhao Qingqing said, hugging Yan Yu’s arm.

The cold aura emanating from Zhao Qingqing made Yan Yu shiver, and he quietly tried to withdraw his arm, but Zhao Qingqing only held him tighter.

At that moment, she was the picture of an eighteen-year-old girl in love, her eyes sweet and bright. If not for her icy body, Yan Yu might have even enjoyed it.

Su Han rolled her eyes at the pair. Was this sudden display of affection really necessary?

Just then, Yan Yu’s phone rang. He seized upon it like a lifeline and quickly said, “Qingqing, you two wait here for me. I’ll go take this call.”

“Don’t keep us waiting too long!” Zhao Qingqing called out with a smile.

Su Han rolled her eyes again.

Yan Yu stepped out of the private room, finally able to breathe freely, and answered the call. “Who is this?”

“Master!!!!” came the shrill cry of Master Cao from the other end.

Yan Yu nearly had his eardrum pierced and couldn’t help but snap, “What is it?”

“Uh, do you have time right now? Could you come bail me out…” Master Cao asked sheepishly.

Yan Yu paused. “What did you do this time? Got yourself locked up again?”

“It’s nothing serious!” Master Cao replied. “I went out for a stroll tonight, felt my hair was getting long, wanted a haircut. There was a salon by the roadside, the girls inside were all resting on the sofa. Business wasn’t good—those girls were so poor they wore tank tops in winter! So, out of the spirit of helping others, I decided to support them and rescue them from hardship. But just after I paid… the police showed up.”

“…If you’re soliciting, just say it, don’t make it so complicated,” Yan Yu said, exasperated.

Master Cao chuckled. “The officers said I needed to pay five thousand for bail. You know me, I’m always broke; my pockets are empty right now, so I thought of you, Master!”

“What do you want from me? I don’t have money either.”

“Didn’t you take eight thousand from me last time…” Master Cao complained. “Master, I, Cao Yiqian, always repay favors. If you bail me out this time, I’ll come whenever you need help catching ghosts!”

Yan Yu considered for a moment before agreeing, “Deal. Where are you? I’ll come find you now.”

“Plum Blossom Police Station.”

After hanging up, Yan Yu returned to the private room and excused himself.

Su Han lost a round of the game and was in a terrible mood. She didn’t plan to stay in the internet café any longer, so the two humans and one ghost rose and left the room together.

As they stepped out, they heard the fat man’s roar: “Pentakill, pentakill! Damn it, my pentakill… Hey! Big guy, are you trying to pick a fight? Flash ignite? That’s just stealing my kill!!”

Hao Zhuang laughed. “I’m just honoring IG’s fine tradition—never pentakill!”

The fat man cursed him thoroughly. Yan Yu walked over, patted the fat man’s shoulder, and said, “Fatty, we’re about to head out…”

He hadn’t finished his sentence when the fat man suddenly turned around. His face was pale as death, his eyelids drooping, and his forehead was slick with sweat.

“What’s wrong with you?” Yan Yu asked in surprise.

The fat man steadied himself, his voice weak. “I… I don’t know. Suddenly my body feels so heavy, my shoulders… It’s like I’m carrying someone, so tired…”

Yan Yu’s expression darkened. He turned to look at Su Han.

Su Han and Zhao Qingqing both nodded at Yan Yu.

Su Han stepped forward and whispered in Yan Yu’s ear, “There’s a little ghost sitting on Fatty’s shoulder, looks about thirteen or fourteen.”

Yan Yu didn’t have the eyes to see spirits, nor had he made any preparations, so he was blind in this situation. He could only ask, “Is the little ghost’s resentment strong? Is there any malice?”

This was something Su Han couldn’t answer, but Zhao Qingqing sensed for a while and said, “His condition is strange. He’s already passed the seven-day mark, but his three souls and seven spirits haven’t gathered. His resentment is heavy, but he has no desire for revenge, and no malice…”

“I’ve never heard of such a case,” Yan Yu said, frowning.

Zhao Qingqing thought for a moment, her tone uncertain. “The impression he gives me… it’s like… Hmm…”

“A mentally deficient ghost.”

“What?” Yan Yu and Su Han were both taken aback.

“There are mentally deficient people among the living, so I suppose the dead can be, too. This little ghost is just mentally deficient…”

Yan Yu had traveled the world with his master for years, but this was the first time he’d seen a mentally deficient ghost…