Chapter 13

The first thing that came to Pei Qian's mind was that the man was actually on the phone but she just couldn't see it properly. But as she looked closer, she just saw a cup of iced coffee in his hand and nothing close to electronic.

Pei Qian's brows drew an arc as she found it quite strange yet comical. As she focused more, she became startled once the man turned around to see her peeking at him blatantly.

She had no time to gasp as the man she saw also had his eyes wide opened in surprise. He looked as if he was caught doing something strange in broad daylight. His eyesight drew sharply to his left where there was supposedly nothing.

Li Shaoze's heart was almost caught in his throat as he realized there was actually a person nearby. That person also heard him talk by himself!

Although it was already in the past, Li Shaoze still became uneasy when he was caught red-handed like this. There was a painful memory he remembered in the Li family where he tried to converse with a ghost once and was heard by his grandmother.

She then said he was actually not of sound mind and would bring disaster in the house. Everyone thought of him as an odd kid trying to gain attention. He was too young back then, he couldn't handle the contempt very well and was very depressed. Even the servants in the house treated him like air.

The glass mug was squeezed harder in Li Shaoze's hand and he appeared lost for words. Pei Qian saw his apprehension and suddenly felt strongly that Li Shaoze wasn't lying when he said he could see dead souls.

"... I'm sorry for staring at you," Pei Qian said slowly, not knowing how to actually start the conversation.

"... It's fine," Li Shaoze was even more awkward and had no social skills especially with women. He refused to look at her straight in the eye.

Silence permeated around them and Li Junfeng was so speechless he could die twice. He tapped on Li Shaoze's shoulder and told him to greet Pei Qian like a normal human being would.

Li Shaoze was suddenly enlightened and forgot to file a complaint against Li Junfeng for not warning him of someone's arrival.

He coughed twice and said, "I hope you wouldn't mind me being here,"

Pei Qian looked at the awkward man in front of her and realized he was actually not very adapt in conversing with others. He was different from Li Junfeng who could even chat with random old ladies on the street.

She chuckled unknowingly and asked, "Why are you here, by the way? This is supposed to be a very private residential area,"

"I moved here recently. I mean... it was Junfeng's idea," Li Shaoze had to tell Pei Qian the truth as he couldn't stand Li Junfeng's eye signal.

Li Junfeng wanted Li Shaoze to talk freely with Pei Qian about his ability to see ghosts and that he could talk with Li Junfeng himself. That way, Li Shaoze would become closer with her once he let go of his apprehensions and his secrets.

Pei Qian gripped the leaf in her hand once she heard Li Junfeng's name. She was supposed to be angry because Li Shaoze mentioned Li Junfeng so casually as if he was still alive and well but somehow she couldn't find it in herself to be mad.

He talked as if Li Junfeng was present and it made it harder for Pei Qian to think things through. So she just asked straightforwardly, "Was it Junfeng...? The one you just talked to,"

Li Shaoze felt a sense of unease inside him as he realized she had actually heard him. He later nodded lightly with a pursed lip, indicating that he wasn't joking.

"He's here...?" Pei Qian asked again as her eyelashes trembled. The emotions in her eyes were very complicated but she decided to keep them at bay.

"... He is," Li Shaoze answered as he glanced to his left. Pei Qian's eyes also automatically turned that way even though she saw nothing.

How great would it be if she could have Li Shaoze's ability? She also wanted to see her beloved.

"How does he look...?" her voice became smaller as she asked.

Li Shaoze stared at the woman in front of him and he suddenly couldn't speak for some reason. She turned to look at him with eyes that were so pure yet desperate and it made his breath become caught in his throat.

"... He's fine." Li Shaoze admitted. Somehow he felt he had done a great offense towards this woman he just met twice.

Pei Qian listened to Li Shaoze as she held back the sourness in her eyes. She had been caught crying by Li Shaoze once so she didn't want to become a repeat offender.

The atmosphere turned eerily quiet and it was hard to slip a word between them. Li Shaoze sighed softly and said, "I apologize for bringing it up to you. It's just that-"

"I get it," Pei Qian said immediately. She didn't cry and her eyes were suddenly very clear.

She then smiled generously towards Li Shaoze and said thank you, which came out as very fake and insincere. Then she excused herself immediately but didn't forget to take a glance to his left once again.

Pei Qian's back appeared in front of Li Shaoze and Li Junfeng's eyesight as she walked away steadily. It was so small and Li Junfeng could sense a certain desolation and unwillingness. But her steps were steady as if she had come to terms with herself.

***

Li Shaoze stared for quite some time and once Pei Qian disappeared completely from his sight, he immediately turned to walk back home.

He didn't even say anything to Li Junfeng and he found himself uncomfortable with the conversation just now. His steps were fast and Li Junfeng was immediately left behind.

Li Shaoze didn't know why he was uncomfortable but since he only did as Li Junfeng wanted, he should be feeling fine. Yet he wasn't.

"Wait, brother!" Li Junfeng chased after him and asked Li Shaoze why he was in a hurry to go back.

Li Shaoze looked at his brother who was now a soul and he felt a certain sense of incongruity. He recalled the look in Pei Qian's eyes and lamented again on how he couldn't save Li Junfeng. It would be better if he was there during the terror. How fortunate would it be if he was really there?

"Why are you in a hurry? Your other online meeting is not until eight," Li Junfeng asked, dumbfounded. His appearance and wayward way of talking seemed to tick Li Shaoze off.

Li Shaoze breathed out and said, "From now on, don't instruct me on how to converse with your lover,"

Li Junfeng widened his eyes and thought about the reason but couldn't find any.