Chapter 130: Qi Yan's Advice

He spoke for a full twenty minutes.

Qi Yan didn't interrupt once while listening. By the time he fully understood the situation, his facial expression had become as stiff as a corpse's. He remained stunned for a long while, unable to process or even visualize the bizarre, untold "hospital encounter" that had just been described to him.

"That’s how it happened. I originally intended to keep it as my own secret. I haven't told anyone but you—not even my sister. She, of all people, must never know!"

Qi Yan lit another cigarette, took a deep drag, and let his mouth form a three-dimensional "O," holding it there for several seconds. Then, looking at Li Lan’s innocent face, he said with a strange expression, "Wait a second... let me sort this out. My head is a bit of a mess."

"You, got hit by a car... during the time you were in a coma, your soul left your body? And then, you 'ran into' the soul of a young girl wandering the hospital, and then..."

Li Lan quickly interrupted to correct him. "No, no, you’re not understanding. From a technical standpoint, she isn't really a ghost. It's just like my situation back then: because we were in long-term comas with specific physical conditions, our souls were able to detach from our bodies. That’s all."

Qi Yan was speechless for a few seconds before following the logic of his explanation. "Fine. So you and a soul-wandering vegetable... had a 'wonderful' encounter in the hospital, and you spent over twenty hours talking? And now you’ve discovered that you’ve fallen for this vegetable?"

Li Lan corrected him again. "That’s not right... First of all, she isn't a vegetable; a brain-dead patient is completely different from a vegetable. Secondly, I don’t like her. I just... I just feel very happy being her friend. Even though I haven't known her long and the way we met was incredible, I just feel... well..."

This time, it was Qi Yan’s turn to interrupt. He let out a dry, mirthless laugh. "Alright, alright... Heh... heh heh, Little Lan, I know you’ve been a boy with many 'extraordinary encounters' since you were small. I also know your sister is very protective of you, and you probably haven't had a real relationship or talked to many girls. But I want to ask you one question first..."

He leaned in closer, his face darkening as he asked in a very serious tone, "Tell me, kid... did getting hit by that car knock you stupid?"

Li Lan looked quite distressed at this. "Tsk, Brother Qi Yan, you don’t believe me? I’m telling you the truth, and I’ve only told you."

Qi Yan raised his voice, sternly saying, "I wish you were lying, or that you’d developed some kind of delusion. If this is the truth, then things are truly complicated!"

He then forced himself to calm down, squeezing out a fresh smile and attempting to persuade him in a more detached tone. "Okay, let’s assume—let’s just assume!—that everything you said is true, and you really did have this... fantastical experience. But as your sister’s friend and a companion through thick and thin, I must warn you: please, forget this girl—what was her name, Shen something?—immediately! Don't you ever try to communicate or chat with her again."

"Why? I... I just want to be her friend. Neither of us is affecting anyone else!" Li Lan’s emotions began to flare up.

Qi Yan didn't know how to explain the gravity of the situation, so he simply laid out the stakes. "Look, you’re a medium by nature, aren't you? You’re prone to attracting spirits and ghosts, right? That’s not your fault, but! If you take the initiative to communicate with a spirit long-term and establish a relationship, then you’ll truly become a medium. Do you want that?"

The usually docile Li Lan turned stubborn. "Ever since I was little, I’ve truly rejected my identity as a medium. I felt that my constitution was nothing but a curse, and I suffered a lot of mental anguish because of it. But after this, I realized that, just like the philosophical saying goes, everything has two sides. I feel that for me, this is the only thing that makes me feel lucky to be a medium."

"She isn't a ghost. And even if she were, so what? I said it before: I just want to be her friend. I haven't thought that far ahead..."

Qi Yan shook his head with a bitter smile. "No, no. Little Li Lan, let me tell you, the way you look right now is the definition of a first crush. Don't give me that nonsense. You’re a university student, you’re clean-cut and handsome. If you wanted to, you could meet a nice girl during your studies and experience a first love worth remembering for a lifetime... Do you really want to sacrifice your first love to a spirit who is already half-ghost?"

Li Lan reverted to his rigorous nature. "I’ve said it so many times: she isn't a ghost, nor is she some 'half-ghost.' She hasn't fully passed away; at the very least, her body is still being kept alive by medical equipment. I truly just want to be friends with her..."

Qi Yan had nothing left to say. What else was there to add? If he thought about it, he wasn't really in a position to lecture anyone on how to live their life; his own life was a mess.

"Fine. Since you’re so determined, I won't support you, but I won't oppose you either. However... I will keep your secret." Qi Yan stood up, ready to head out, but added as he was leaving, "But I still have to warn you: she might not be dead yet, but... to say something you surely won't want to hear, she will eventually become a full-fledged ghost. When that time comes, I pray your passion has cooled. Don't go pulling a Ning Caichen!"

Seeing him leave, Li Lan asked indignantly, "Hey? You’re just leaving? You aren't going to teach me how to talk to girls? Didn't you say you were an expert..."

"What expert... I failed my driving test twice," Qi Yan muttered as he left the room and walked straight into the living room.

Li Ruoke had already prepared the meal. Seeing them come out of the room, she asked curiously, "Hey? What were you two whispering about in there?"

Qi Yan glanced at Li Lan and shrugged. "Nothing, just talking about life, ideals, and the core values of society..."

"Pfft..." Li Ruoke didn't buy it, but she didn't press further.

During dinner, Qi Yan intended to return the walking Buddha amulet she had lent him. He thanked her sincerely, saying, "This amulet was really useful. Thanks to it... here, returning it to its owner."

Li Ruoke was about to reach out, but her hand paused in mid-air. She looked at Qi Yan, then smiled brightly. "Forget it. Since it was so useful for you, just keep it. Take good care of it for me."