Chapter 18: The Divide Between Humans and Spirits Cannot Be Crossed

"Alright then, take care and keep in touch!" he finally stopped following me after saying this.

"Sir, do you think that Taoist priest was trying to curry favor with you?" Xiaoyuan asked on the way.

"Of course he was! Do you know who our master is? That guy's just a petty priest. If he can get to know our Lord of the Living, just imagine the prestige he'd have," Xiaofang replied.

Listening to the two little ghosts chattering away and flattering me, I found it quite amusing. At least the journey home wasn't dull.

When I got home, Tan Xiao had already arrived. She greeted me in her usual sarcastic tone, "Your neighbor, that sister next door, came looking for you again!"

"Oh, she probably wants to invite me for breakfast," I replied, heading straight for He Yanran's house.

But as I reached the gate, with three ghosts trailing behind me, Granny Wang called out, "Stop right there! Dust yourself off and come in alone!"

I paused, glanced at Tan Xiao and the two little ghosts behind me, and signaled for them to stay outside.

"This old woman really is sharp. Every time we try to go in, she catches us," Xiaoyuan muttered.

I frowned at his words and turned to Granny Wang. "How did you know I wasn't alone?"

"After all these years, I know what your family is like. I may not be able to see those things, but I can sense them," Granny Wang replied.

So that's how it was. I'd always heard people say she was gifted, and now I believed it. No wonder she'd never warmed to me.

She sat there as if basking in the morning sunshine, so I decided not to say more. Just as I was about to go inside, she blocked me with her cane and asked, "Is there a female ghost following you?"

I froze. She knew even this? Embarrassed, I looked at her. "Is something wrong?"

"Stay away from those improper female ghosts. They’re nothing but trouble. And let me warn you—don’t you dare wrong our Yanran, or I won’t let you off," she said, glaring at me fiercely.

I gave her a wry smile and nodded, but outside the courtyard, Tan Xiao wasn’t having it. She shouted, "Hey, you old crone! Who are you calling improper and nothing but trouble? Zhang Xiaobei, come out here!"

Her calling me made me glance at her helplessly. I gestured for her to keep quiet and hurried into the house.

Even though Granny Wang was quite old, I still didn’t dare cross her.

"Xiaobei, where did you go so early? I went to call you for breakfast but didn’t see you, though your door was open," Yanran said from the kitchen as I entered.

"Nothing, just went out for a walk. I didn’t expect you’d be up this early making breakfast," I said, sitting down.

She smiled and looked at me. "We’re going to town together soon, so I was afraid we’d run out of time."

She seemed genuinely happy about our outing, so I asked, "You really want to go to the city with me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell you off?"

"You wouldn’t dare! I have a great memory for roads—you can’t lose me," she replied.

She didn’t look at me as she spoke, but I could tell she was truly happy. She’d even made an effort to dress up today.

Actually, she was quite pretty, just not made up like city girls. If she really dressed up, Yanran could easily match those city women who’d been pampered since childhood. She had a great figure, too. Once we got to the city and I bought her a couple of nice outfits, no one would think she was just a country girl.

"Xiaobei, is there something on me?" Noticing I was staring absentmindedly, Yanran started checking herself, a little flustered.

I snapped out of it and shook my head quickly. "No, I was just lost in thought."

"Well, come eat. We need to get to town soon, or we’ll miss the bus to the county," she said.

I agreed and followed her into the main hall. She went to call her grandmother in as well.

As we ate, Yanran said to her grandmother, "Grandma, I’m going to the city with Xiaobei later. Please take care of yourself, and call me if you need anything!"

"You brat, stop pretending you care about me. If you really cared, you wouldn’t be leaving with that boy," Granny Wang replied in her usual gruff tone.

Yanran was used to her and didn’t get upset. She even joked, "If you’re yelling at me like that, you must be perfectly healthy. I don’t need to worry."

"You’re just water thrown out—already spilled over to the Zhang family. So wait till I’m dead before you come back," Granny Wang muttered.

"Come on, with how stubborn you are, I’ll probably die before you do. The underworld wouldn’t want someone as troublesome as you!" Yanran shot back.

Listening to their banter, I couldn’t help laughing. It reminded me of my own family quarrels in the past, but now I’d never have that chance again.

"Granny Wang, once we’re settled over there, you should come too," I said. After all, other than her remarried mother, Yanran’s only family was her grandmother. I didn’t want her to end up alone like me.

But Granny Wang said, "I’m not going. I’m an old woman—I’m not used to life outside. Just let me be here and fend for myself."

Seeing her so ungrateful, Yanran said to me, "Ignore her, Xiaobei. She’s just stubborn!"

I smiled and kept eating.

After breakfast, Yanran went to wash the dishes, leaving me alone with Granny Wang. She quietly told me, "That girl’s a bit naive. Don’t let anyone trick her. Whatever she does, help her double-check it."

"I understand, Granny Wang, you…" I started.

"Just call me Grandma. No need for the surname," she scolded, rolling her eyes.

I nodded. "Alright, Grandma, take care of yourself at home. I need to pack my things."

"Go on, and remember—keep your distance from that female ghost," she reminded me as I left.

But I really didn’t get it—why did she want me to stay away from Tan Xiao? I was a Lord of the Living, and Tan Xiao was a ghost sent by the underworld to assist me. She might be here to supervise me, but she wouldn’t harm me.

I didn’t understand. The Lord of the Living’s eyes could see ghosts and see into people’s hearts, but not the hearts of ghosts.

Back home, Xiaoyuan, Xiaofang, and Tan Xiao were all there. The two little ghosts looked at me as if they wanted food, but Tan Xiao looked like she wanted to eat me alive.

"Zhang Xiaobei, why didn’t you come out when I called you?" she demanded.

"I was having breakfast. Why would I come out before eating?" I answered.

"So you’re just protecting her? Her grandma insulted me, and you didn’t even defend me? Have you forgotten how I helped you on the train? I even said I was your girlfriend, and you didn’t deny it," she said, looking aggrieved.

I quickly stepped back. "Sis, you said that yourself! I was just playing along, acting for the situation. Did you really take it to heart?"

"What, is it because I’m a ghost that you think I’m not good enough for you?" she said, on the verge of tears, leaving me at a loss.

I admit she looked quite pretty now, but I’d never thought of pursuing anything with her. Why did she act like I’d abandoned her?

"Zhang Xiaobei, do you despise me because I’m a ghost?"

"Come on, don’t cry, okay? Listen, it’s not that. It’s just that people and ghosts live in different worlds—it’s not suitable. Besides, we haven’t known each other long; there’s really no feelings involved. Let’s just be colleagues, partners, like a great working duo, alright?"

Seeing me so earnest and anxious in my explanation, Tan Xiao suddenly burst out laughing and patted me. "Look at you—so scared! It’s not even fun," she teased.

"… You think this is funny? Childish!" I shot her a glare and went back to my room.

To be honest, she’d really scared me just now. I’d just promised Yanran to take her to the city and assured her grandmother I’d take care of her, and then Tan Xiao pulled this stunt—I was truly flustered.

If I had to choose, of course I’d choose He Yanran. Not to mention the issue of one being human and the other a ghost—even if they were both human, I’d still pick Yanran, who’d grown up with me. I might be a bit younger than her, but I knew her well.

As for Tan Xiao, I’m sure she was beautiful when she was alive, but I didn’t really know her. Apart from her name, I knew nothing about her.

So under those circumstances, who would choose a pretty woman they’d only known for a few days to marry? Besides, Yanran wasn’t lacking in looks. If it weren’t for our childhood friendship, the local guys my age would have lined up at her door by now.

"Xiaobei, are you packed yet?" As I was busy putting things away, Yanran called out.

Tan Xiao, standing nearby, couldn’t resist a jab, "Can’t wait to go live with him, can you?"

Of course, Yanran couldn’t hear her, so I ignored it, grabbed my things, and hurried out. "All done. Are we leaving now?"

"Yes, let me help you with your luggage!" Yanran reached for my bag, but I stopped her and said, "He Yanran, I don’t need you to protect me anymore!"

"Huh?" She was startled by my words.

I smiled, then deliberately said in front of Tan Xiao, "I’m a man—I should be the one protecting you. So don’t always think you have to do everything for me."

At that, Yanran blushed instantly, while Tan Xiao looked utterly disdainful, mimicking me, "From now on, let me protect you, ugh…"

Seeing her pulling faces behind Yanran’s back, I ignored her, grabbed my luggage in one hand and Yanran’s hand in the other.

But just as I was about to leave, I suddenly remembered I hadn’t taken something from my parents’ room.

"Wait here, don’t move. I’ll be right back," I told them.