Chapter Text
“The first time I told anyone about seeing ghosts I was six,” Wei Ying said as he leaned back on his hands. The wooden dock beneath him creaked as he moved and the thick humidity of Lotus Pier in the summer stuck his shirt to his skin. “My teacher saw me talking to myself in the hallway, so I told him about a ghost that had been following me from class to class. All he said was ‘you’re too old to have imaginary friends.’”
“That night, when I got home, I drew a picture of the ghost so I could show my teacher. I was convinced that if he could see it he would believe me. I was just a kid, so it didn’tmake sense to me that I could see things other people couldn’t. For me, the ghost was as real as my teacher.”
“It didn’t work out like I’d hoped,” he sighed, tugging his shirt collar away from his neck and undoing three buttons. “My teacher called Jiang-Shushu, who made an appointment with a psychiatrist, who told me that the reason I saw ‘scary things’ was because my parents died when I was young. So, she prescribed me medication to ‘make the scary things go away.’” He scrunched up his nose in distaste.
“I followed the treatment at first. When it didn’t work, I tried seeing other doctors, but nothing ever changed. I kept seeing the same things I always had, and eventually I got tired…” He looked out across the lake, at the moon’s reflection rippling on the surface, distorted and unsteady. “I realized it was easier to just pretend. I stopped bringing up ghosts, and the Jiangs assumed I grew out of seeing them. They stopped taking me to see doctors, so I stopped taking the antipsychotics and let everyone believe I was normal.” He folded his hands in his lap, fiddling with the rings on his fingers. “And that’s basically how things have been ever since.” He looked up. “Am I talking too much?”
The dripping wet, blue-lipped woman who was sitting beside him stared impassively—her eyes milky and clouded like the thick fog blowing off the lake. Her knotted black hair spilled over the edges of the dock and disappeared into the lapping water beneath them.
Wei Ying sighed. “Sorry.” He tipped his head sideways and examined her more closely. “Are you dressed for bed? Did you drown in the middle of the night?”
The lake woman gazed at him unblinkingly.
He pouted and drummed his fingers against his thigh. “Do you understand me at least?”
She bobbed her head up and down.
“Ah, good!” He cheered. “That’s a relief. I enjoy your company, Āyí. Thanks for being such a good listener.” He smiled sincerely.
Something wet and chilled brushed his skin, and he looked down to see the lake woman’s hand grasping his forearm where his sleeve was rolled up. He blinked in surprise.
“…I can feel that.” He moved to touch her in return, but his fingers went right through her gray skin. His brow furrowed.
Her bloodless mouth moved, like she was trying to speak to him, but no voice reached his ears. His expression softened.
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand…” He tried to read her lips but couldn’t make anything out. “Do you know charades?”
The woman frowned and shook her head.
“What about pointing at things?”
The ghost rolled her eyes and then pointed at his chest.
“Me? What about me?”
She pointed to her ear, mostly hidden by her hair.
“Are you asking if I can hear you? Because no… I’ve never been able to hear ghosts. I can only see them.”
She wrinkled her brow, pointed at her own chest, and then back to her ear.
“You hear something? What do you hear?”
She seemed frustrated and pointed at him again. She moved her lips slower, and Wei Ying studied them. He thought she might have said… ‘I’ve heard of you.’
“A-Ying?”
He snapped his head around, feeling caught. “Shushu?”
“A-Ying, where are you?”
“I’m here!” He called, then turned back to say goodbye… only to find the dock empty.
He looked closer and noticed the wood was still damp where the woman had been sitting. He could even feel the water on his fingers when he touched it and rubbed them together. He narrowed his eyes.
Hmm… something else to worry about.
Footsteps vibrated through the dock and Wei Ying turned to see Uncle Jiang walking toward him.
“What are you doing out here? Isn’t it too hot for stargazing?”
He smiled and shook his head. “It’s my last chance to enjoy the lake for the summer. I couldn’t resist a final goodbye.”
His Shushu folded his arms, wrinkling his purple dress shirt. “You couldn’t be bothered to at least change after dinner?”
“Look who’s talking,” Wei Ying countered with a grin. “Besides, most my stuff is already on its way to Gusu.” He shrugged.
Uncle Jiang hummed and sat down beside him, folding his legs. “So… are you excited about Gusu University?”
He nodded. “Of course. You’ve told me so many stories about studying there with my parents. I feel like I already know the place.”
“It’s a great school,” he encouraged. “A-Cheng and A-Li have loved going there, and I’m so glad you three will be together from now on.” He raised an eyebrow. “Just promise me you’ll ride with A-Cheng tomorrow instead of riding Suibian. It’s too far for a motorcycle.”
Wei Ying gasped, “Blasphemy! Suibian is my best friend. I could never leave him behind.”
“I know.” Fengmian snickered. “You begged me for that bike every day for 3 years, and A-Li still wants to kill me for buying it for you. She’s been worried about you every day since.”
“That’s because I’m her favorite,” he teased, grinning, “but she worries too much. I’m an excellent driver.”
Uncle Jiang sighed and shook his head, “You’re so much like your mother.”
Wei Ying’s smile was brittle.
“I know.”
—<><><>—
BOOM, TSK, BOOM, BOOM, TSK.
Wei Ying felt the heavy drumbeat thumping against his ribs like a second heart. He could feel it in his jaw, his teeth, and vibrating in the hollow of his throat as he swallowed down burning liquor that made his whole mouth tingle. He hoisted his glass into the air, “WOO! Beat that.”
“Ying-ge, no one else is playing,” said Nie Huaisang from the stool beside him. He was resting his head in his hand like it was too heavy to hold up with just his neck. His hazel eyes were glassy. “You drank everyone under the table three drinks ago.”
He looked around. Jiang Cheng had his head down on the bar, and Jin Zixuan was passed out in a booth a few feet away. “Damn, what a bunch of lightweights. The guys at Yiling Community College kept up better than this!”
Huaisang rolled his eyes. “Right, because partying is what Gusu University is known for. It’s on all the sweatshirts and everything. I can see why you transferred.” He opened the messenger bag slung around his shoulder and pulled out his wallet. “Since you won, I’m buying. That’s why you suggested this game in the first place, isn’t it?” He handed his card to the bartender with a smile.
Wei Ying pouted and kicked his stool. “Don’t be a sore loser. I don’t have a trust fund like the rest of you.”
“I’ve heard. I still can’t believe Madam Yu made only you pay your way through two years of community college to prove you were committed before giving you a college fund.” He shook his head. “That woman is a piece of work.”
Wei Ying stretched his arms over his head and popped his shoulders before checking his phone for the time: 4:08am. “Fuck, I need to get Jiang Cheng home.” He stumbled to his feet and caught himself on the bar.
“How do you plan to do that?” Huaisang raised an eyebrow. “Both of you are plastered, you just carry it better.” He took out his phone. “I’ll call a car. You worry about getting Cheng-di inside it and I’ll handle Xuan-ge.”
“Deal.” Wei Ying shot him finger guns and swayed over to his brother to haul him up and half-carry half-shuffle him toward the door.
He kicked it open and fresh air rushed his face as they hobbled outside toward a bench near the curb. He slumped Jiang Cheng onto it before sitting down beside him. “Hey, can you hear me in there?”
He groaned and swatted him on the arm. “Shut up.”
“Such a cranky drunk.” He laughed and poked his cheek. “Stay awake. You need to drink lots of water when we get back.”
His brother tried to kick him, so Wei Ying stood up and stepped out of his reach, still laughing.
The bar door opened again and Huaisang appeared, trying desperately to carry Jin Zixuan despite his size disadvantage. Wei Ying rushed to his side to help.
“For fuck’s sake,” He grumbled as he dragged the drunk man wearing head-to-toe designer brands onto his back. “I would ask why he’s so heavy, but I know most of it’s his ego.”
“Fuck off, Wei Ying,” Jin Zixuan complained into his neck. “I’m not even dating your sister anymore, so leave me alone.”
“Yeah, and now she dates women. Strange coincidence that.” He shifted him into a better position on his back and carried him to the bench.
“The car should be here soon,” said Huaisang as he followed behind them, shading his eyes from the brightness of his phone screen. “They’re a couple blocks away.”
Wei Ying sighed and flopped Zixuan down next to Jiang Cheng. The bench didn’t have room for anyone else, so he stayed standing and wandered aimlessly to keep himself awake.
The bar was on the edge of campus, though technically off school grounds, so he could see the manicured lawns of Gusu University stretched out under the moonlight on the other side of the street. There wouldn’t have been anything particularly notable about the view… except that he saw something moving.
He squinted into the distance, and sure enough, the flash of white he spotted out of the corner of his eyes was still there, gliding over the grass. Without thinking, he stepped into the eerily quiet street and ran after it.
“Wei Ying!” he heard Huaisang shouting after him. “Where are you going?”
“One sec!” He called back, jogging across the street and over the dewey lawn.
When he got closer, he realized the pale specter was actually a tall man with long black hair, wearing flowing white robes that had to be between 1500- 1800 years old, based on the style. He also had something wrapped in cloth strapped to his back.
“Wow!” Wei Ying exclaimed in surprise, “You might be the oldest ghost I’ve seen so far.”
The specter stopped walking, turning around to look at him. His expression was blank, but Wei Ying was used to that. Ghosts often struggled to express themselves. The more surprising thing was how beautiful his features were; somehow both strong and delicate with golden eyes that shined brightly even in the dark.
Wei Ying nearly tripped on his own feet in surprise. “Oh… I didn’t expect you to be so pretty! I can’t even tell how you died; you look so perfect.” He scanned him up and down. “Most ghosts die violently, and their appearance shows it, but not you. You look so alive.”
Robe-man’s brow furrowed just slightly, like he was confused. Wei Ying laughed at his expression.
“Sorry, I must have startled you. My name is Wei Ying.” He waved. “I hope I didn’t overwhelm you. I was just so surprised! It’s not often I meet someone who is so many centuries old.”
The man’s expression flickered with realization and his gaze turned so frigid it could give someone frostbite. He whirled, robes fanning out around him as he stormed off, somehow still moving gracefully despite his obvious irritation.
Wei Ying stared after him with his mouth hanging open.
Did I say something wrong?
HONK, HONK, HOOOOOOOOONK.
“WEI YING GET IN THE DAMN CAR!”
“Fuck,” He exhaled and turned back, running toward the car that was idling beside the curb and hopping into the back seat—squishing himself between Jiang Cheng and the door before shutting it behind him.
“What in the hell were you doing?” His brother slurred drunkenly at him. “Huaisang told you the car was coming!”
“Yeah,” Huaisang leaned over to look back at him from the passenger seat. “Why did you run over there to harass Lan Zhan?”
Wei Ying froze shock still. “Wait… who?”
Huaisang raised an eyebrow. “Lan Zhan? The guy in the robes? Why did you run over to talk to him if you don’t even know his name?”
Wei Ying felt cold and sick in a way that had nothing to do with being drunk or hung over.
“I—” he swallowed. “What is he doing out in the middle of the night dressed like that?”
“Oh that,” Huaisang made a face. “His family owns a… temple… for lack of a better word. It’s a big estate in the mountains nearby. Lan Zhan, his brother, and his uncle are like spiritualists or monks or something. Apparently, the robes have sacred properties and if he doesn’t wear them often enough, he can’t perform his duties.” He shrugged. “Maybe he has a ceremony to do at dawn.”
Wei Ying wanted to throw up.
He wasn’t a ghost at all…
“Don’t tell me you were asking Lan Zhan about his robes,” Jin Zixuan spoke up from the other side of the car, barely sounding conscious. “I thought he was going to punch the last guy who did that. Every time a new batch of students shows up at school, some fresh jackass bullies him until they realize he’s terrifying and leave him alone. I guess this time it’s you.”
“I wasn’t bullying him!” Wei Ying tried to defend himself. “I was just… I thought…” he pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead. “Fuck, I’m an asshole.”
“Yep,” Jiang Cheng agreed from beside him. “That’s what you get for running off and bothering strangers in the middle of the night.”
Wei Ying elbowed him in the ribs and then slouched down, leaning his head against the window for the rest of the drive.
Only I would manage to put my foot in my mouth before classes even start, He thought as streetlights flew by outside. I’ll have to find some way to apologize that doesn’t make me sound completely insane… He closed his eyes like a wince. If that’s even possible.
—<><><>—