Return to the Human World - Chapter 6

After Sheng Yan left, Sheng Lai was no longer as polite to me as before.

He asked in a harsh tone, “Why are you pretending to be Song Tao?”

I calmed myself, met his gaze openly, and retorted, “How can you be so sure that I’m just pretending?”

Sheng Lai stared at me for a while, but he was the first to back down.

“I don’t care whether you’re pretending or not. Just don’t try to get close to my Uncle again.

“He hasn’t had it easy these past years. After a serious illness, it took him a long time to recover. I’m begging you-if you want money, a house, a car, I can give you all of it. Just please leave my Uncle alone.”

My breath caught. “When did he get sick?”

“The year before last, I think. It kept coming back, and he was ill for almost a year. During that time, Shen Ying took care of him. After he got better, they decided to get engaged.”

So, the timeline matches up.

Turns out Sheng Yan didn’t burn money for me because he was sick.

Honestly, it’s my own fault for not being prepared.

I kept thinking that while I was alive, I didn’t enjoy myself enough, so after death, I could splurge as much as I wanted.

I bought villas and luxury cars at will, and kept a bunch of handsome male servants.

Even though I didn’t know how to do business, I insisted on trying.

I couldn’t even handle dealing with people, let alone those cunning, resentful ghosts in the Underworld.

By the time I realized things weren’t working out, I was already trapped.

Since Sheng Lai had spoken up, I didn’t bother being polite with him anymore.

When I asked for a lot of Spirit Money, his expression was as if he’d seen a ghost.

Well, I am a ghost, aren’t I?

If the money I burned for myself had worked, I would’ve asked him for RMB instead.

But Sheng Lai still did as I asked.

Two hours later, he came back with a trunk full of Spirit Money.

He carried the Spirit Money to the open space in the yard, then asked without looking up:

“You should at least tell me who this money is for. Otherwise, the recipient won’t get it.”

“Song Tao,” I said calmly, stating my own name.

Sheng Lai stood up, shock in his eyes.

“You can’t really be Song Tao, can you?”

I sat on the bench, watching the flames dance before me, and smiled.

“That’s right. Didn’t I tell you already?”

Sheng Lai squatted down beside me, turning his head, his face full of confusion: “So, are you actually dead or not?”

“What do you think?”

“Then why didn’t you tell my Uncle just now?”

“Why are you acting silly now? You want him to be happy, and so do I.”

Sheng Lai hugged his knees, burying his face in his arms, his voice muffled.

“Sorry for what I thought about you before.”

Looking at him, seemingly blaming himself, I reached out and ruffled his hair, pretending to be lighthearted:

“What are you thinking? Actually, I should thank you for burning so much money for me.”

Once I pay off my debts in the Underworld, let’s see who dares to look down on me again.

Footnote:
1. Naihe Bridge(奈何桥): In Chinese mythology, this is the bridge that souls must cross to enter the cycle of reincarnation. It is said that souls drink a concoction on this bridge to forget their past lives. The bridge represents the inevitability and helplessness of fate.