After Marrying Bigshot Vegetable Boss - Chapter 27
Yu Lan didn’t react at first.
It wasn’t until he felt Chu Wang’s knuckles curl slightly, causing a barely perceptible itch, that he lifted his head and met Chu Wang’s eyes.
His right palm was all red, which looked quite frightening at first glance.
But he didn’t dare to move, softly saying, “Mr. Chu?”
He heard a very low response.
No one could explain what was going on. Chu Wang was the first to realize it, but for some reason, he didn’t let go either.
Perhaps it was because of the soul body, holding onto his knuckles without normal body temperature or the tactile sensation of skin, but not so stiff either.
—Like holding onto a cold mist.
After a few seconds, Yu Lan stared at his hand and finally reacted completely.
“Oh my god!” He exaggerated his voice a bit, covering up the panic that came out of nowhere, “So Master really is a Master!”
He tentatively tried to find Chu Wang’s hand and also tried to touch it with his left hand, but could only pass through the other’s semi-transparent arm—only the ring and little fingers that had touched the cinnabar seemed to have any sensation.
“So it really is the problem with this thing.” Yu Lan examined the small box again, this time without any complaints.
He actually wanted to take a good look at it, but Chu Wang didn’t seem to intend to let go. Yu Lan could only use his free left hand to lift the wooden box and said earnestly, “I’m sorry, I was blind to doubt this thing!”
But after saying that, he still felt a whole set of rooms was really too much, muttering again, “This could have been worth a bathroom this time!”
Chu Wang looked at him, but hadn’t spoken since they touched just now.
The tangible feeling he hadn’t experienced for so long was of no importance at this moment. He didn’t have time to measure its worth or how much, feeling only that if he had known there was such a medium, what did it matter if it cost a whole set of rooms?
Yu Lan looked at the bed rail and some small particles on the ground, and asked, “Then, Mr. Chu, can you try touching somewhere else?”
Only then did Chu Wang come back to his senses and followed Yu Lan’s words to try.
But unlike before, when Chu Wang tried to touch the cinnabar-stained bedside, clearly stained red, it still passed through just like countless times before.
“No, it’s not working.”
Yu Lan also felt amazed, “So it’s… only humans can do this?”
“It should be only you,” Chu Wang thought.
After all, to others, he was nothingness; only Yu Lan could see him.
Regardless of why the gentleman gave him this little thing, whether it was truly capable or just a coincidence, one thing was certain…
This matter was a surprise to both of them.
Yu Lan didn’t think much about it. He was still trying to analyze the possibilities when Chu Wang floated over silently—
And then grasped his fingers again.
The second time, Chu Wang had already cleverly prepared an excuse for himself and spoke calmly, “Let me try again.”
After hearing this, Yu Lan felt that Chu Wang was probably too excited after not having physical contact for so long, and considerately asked, “Then, should I open another packet?”
“…” Chu Wang resisted the urge to agree, his voice still showing no emotional fluctuations, “Not for now.”
What if only these are useful.
Chu Wang thought silently, habitually considering the consequences.
As a spirit without a physical body, in the tales of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, he would be called a ghost, needing a human skin to manifest. He should have been delighted at this moment, but Chu Wang found that it seemed to be more than that.
While Yu Lan was unknowingly pondering the reasons for this, wondering if there could be further progress, speculating on why cinnabar could serve as a medium for contact between them…
Chu Wang didn’t think about any of this at all.
He just lowered his gaze at Yu Lan, observing his expressions of analysis, his perplexing movements, and the way his lips moved when he spoke.
He really wanted…
He really wanted to touch him.
Just thinking about it made him involuntarily flick Yu Lan’s fingers twice.
The actual touch was even better than he had imagined.
Previously, Chu Wang could only feel a slight tickling sensation, like being tickled through boots, when Yu Lan exerted force to turn him over or wipe him. Now it was completely different.
Yu Lan’s fingers were delicate and soft, carrying a pleasant warmth that seemed almost magical, soothing.
His slightly curled hair tips should also be very soft, usually appearing lazy, but would perk up proudly when he thought of harmless little ideas.
His facial skin was much smoother and paler than his hands, like jade.
And Yu Lan’s eyelids were thin, with long black eyelashes. When facing Yu Ling or someone he didn’t like, they would impatiently lift halfway, dangerously beautiful and not easily provoked.
But his lips were as moist and red as ever, as beautiful as rose petals adorned with morning dew.
Chu Wang knew very well that he shouldn’t be thinking about these things right now, but the more he reminded himself, the more uncontrollably curious he became about what that touch would be like.
It wasn’t until Yu Lan’s phone buzzed with a notification that the current scene was broken.
In fact, they had been holding hands for quite a while. As a soul entity, Chu Wang seemed to never have body temperature. No matter how Yu Lan touched him, he still felt icy cold.
Yu Lan looked down to check his phone, and Chu Wang had to release his hand during this moment.
However, those thoughts from just now didn’t completely disappear.
Yu Lan brushed off the red powder from his hands before picking up his phone and realizing it was a message from Zhong Jiale.
It wasn’t anything significant, just a reminder for him not to forget the experimental materials for tomorrow’s class. He had rushed out after class without forming groups, so Zhong Jiale took care of it for him and included him in his own experimental group.
Zhong Jiale was naturally enthusiastic, and now that he knew about Yu Lan’s relationship with him and had promised Xiyun to take good care of him, he sent four or five messages in a very warm tone.
In the last message, he added: “Oh, and say hi to my brother for me.”
Yu Lan showed the messages to Chu Wang. Upon seeing they were from Zhong Jiale, Chu Wang’s tone turned cold as he replied with just two characters: “Nagging.”
Yu Lan glanced at him curiously. Wasn’t everything fine just now?
Why did Zhong Jiale’s string of messages suddenly seem off?
Of course, Yu Lan didn’t know how to ask. After all, this was Chu Wang’s first time having physical sensation, so as a considerate wife, she should give him some space.
He tidied up the powder from the floor with his sleeves. Although the cinnabar particles had been ground finely, they still pricked a bit after a while, so Yu Lan took the opportunity to carefully wash his hands in the bathroom.
As soon as he stepped out of the bathroom, he looked up and saw Chu Wang hanging silently from the ceiling, staring at him.
Although Yu Lan was already used to it, he was still startled for no reason and asked, “Mr. Chu?”
Unexpectedly, Chu Wang just stared at his hands for two seconds before barely speaking, “Cleaned?”
Yu Lan blinked and hadn’t replied yet when Chu Wang stiffly changed the subject, “You… didn’t feel uncomfortable just now, did you?”
His gaze remained on Yu Lan’s hands.
Yu Lan shook his head in confusion. “It’s just some powder dust… I’m fine.”
“That’s good,” Chu Wang finally said.
He knew he had been a bit off earlier, but this thing could serve as a medium for their contact, which was already quite miraculous. In case there was really something mystical about it, it wasn’t impossible.
Although Chu Wang expressed it vaguely, Yu Lan quickly understood his meaning. “Mr. Chu, are you worried that I might be affected by touching the soul?”
Chu Wang didn’t reply, which was tacit agreement.
“What’s there to worry about!” Yu Lan felt that Chu Wang didn’t seem as happy about discovering this as he had imagined. Although he didn’t know why, he continued, “If I were really affected or felt uncomfortable, you would definitely notice.”
“And this isn’t a supernatural novel where ghosts and demons absorb people’s yang energy just by touching them.”
Yu Lan was eager to give an example and didn’t think much about it, but after he finished the first half of his sentence, he realized something was odd and tried to salvage it, “Of course! Mr. Chu, I didn’t mean to imply that you’re a ghost!! After all, Pu Songling wrote about Nie Xiaoqian and Ning Caichen…”
Yu Lan kept adding patches to his explanations as he talked more, feeling like he was digging himself deeper: “No, no! I didn’t mean to say you’ve turned into a ghost! I was just giving an example! An example that I’ll be fine!”
Chu Wang patiently listened, seemingly not angry at all. In fact, his mood seemed to genuinely improve as he nodded, “As long as you’re okay.”
“That’s definitely not going to happen,” Yu Lan reassured repeatedly, “And…”
This time, he didn’t overthink it, looking at Chu Wang and saying, “Forget about others, but as you know, if I ever really have a problem…”
He would never allow himself to be wronged.
Before finishing the last sentence, although Yu Lan knew he had lost his advantage in front of Chu Wang, he still stopped and rubbed his slightly warm ears.
Chu Wang lowered his gaze to Yu Lan’s now pink earlobes and seemed momentarily distracted.
Thus, this incident was reluctantly turned over.
After finishing dinner downstairs, Yu Lan prepared the things needed for tomorrow’s class as Zhong Jiale had instructed.
When he returned to his room, he checked the wooden box given by the master in the morning again. After searching the entire room for half a day, he still didn’t know where to safely place this valuable item in case it got inadvertently cleared away when he wasn’t around.
After thinking for a while, he finally poked Chu Wang who was in standby mode, “Mr. Chu, can I put this box in your cabinet?”
Chu Wang appeared out of nowhere and agreed very amicably, “Mm.”
Yu Lan counted the yellow paper packets inside the box and was about to put it away when he thought of something, “But Mr. Chu, about this item…”
Although they knew it was some kind of medium, they weren’t entirely sure how to use it.
After all, if there was no specific purpose, the idea of taking out a packet of cinnabar for Chu Wang to touch him with still sounded a bit… strange.
Chu Wang seemed to understand the unfinished part of Yu Lan’s words and said in a calm voice, “It’s okay. Keep it for now.”
Yu Lan nodded. Of course, he still remembered the safe code Chu Wang had given him. Relying on memory, he opened the cabinet, entered two different passwords, and cautiously placed the small wooden box in the box Chu Wang used to store confidential documents.
Looking at the stack of files with a not-so-delicate small box on top and genuine gold and silver at the company’s core underneath, but the unexplainable mystical object on the very top, this strong contrast made Yu Lan feel quite intrigued. Finally, he experienced firsthand the “intersection of technology and wealth with the mystical.”
He closed the cabinet and saw Chu Wang looking at him intently.
Whether it was Yu Lan’s misconception or not, he always felt that after today’s incident, Chu Wang seemed to occasionally drift off, though each time was brief, so he dared not draw conclusions.
But Yu Lan felt he could understand. Although he couldn’t empathize with such experiences, he imagined if he had been stuck in one place for a year and suddenly had a medium to interact with others… He probably wouldn’t be as calm as Chu Wang. Maybe he would have already used up that whole box of cinnabar.
Thinking from this perspective, Yu Lan immediately deeply agreed—Chu Wang truly was capable of handling big things.
With the day’s tasks completed, Yu Lan finally had some free time. To help Chu Wang relax, he thought of suggesting, “Mr. Chu, where’s the projector in your room?”
Chu Wang acknowledged with a nod, and Yulan fetched the remote control from where he passed by: “Would you like to watch a movie?”
He thought that Chu Wang must be bored staying in this place all day, passively absorbing information every day. It seemed quite dull—plus he himself had some free time now. Spending the evening without classes lying in a dim room watching a movie was indeed incredibly pleasant.
Seeing Chu Wang nod, Yulan asked, “So, any particular movie you’d like to watch? How about some classic old films for a nostalgic review? You might find it interesting?”
As he spoke, he began browsing through the selection, saying, “Let’s see, are you into films like ‘Inception,’ ‘Shutter Island,’ or classics like ‘The Truman Show,’ ‘The Shawshank Redemption’…”
Yulan listed them off like reading a menu, then heard Chu Wang say, “A Chinese Ghost Story.”
Yulan hesitated, “Well…”
Although it was a classic old film, suggesting to watch a movie where a spirit hovers off the ground and suggests it to the one person who can see it…
Chu Wang remained composed, “You mentioned Nie Xiaoqian and Ning Caichen earlier, so why not?”
Since they had come this far, Yulan couldn’t really object. Moreover, it was his own idea to watch an old film, so he had to genuinely pick from the list, finding the most well-known “A Chinese Ghost Story.” He hurriedly closed all the curtains in the room to set the mood, then resumed.
It had to be said, if one ignored the fact that there was a “spirit” beside him, the atmosphere for watching a movie was actually quite good.
The story was familiar, one that Auntie Liu loved years ago; even her ringtone was the theme song. Yulan had watched it several times with her at the orphanage.
Thus, Yulan remembered all the classic scenes—he glanced cautiously at the spirit beside him and noticed the other wasn’t very focused either, almost as if sensing his gaze, they turned their head, and the two locked eyes.
As the movie scene shifted to the handsome scholar’s night visit to Lanruo and the sudden appearance of the enchanting beauty playing the zither, Yulan hadn’t yet spoken when Chu Wang seemed deliberately, his voice soft as he said, “Ning Caichen?”
Not directed at the movie screen, but at Yulan looking over.
Yulan blushed, and Chu Wang had already looked away: “Just teasing you.”
Rarely at a loss for words, Yulan usually quick with a sharp tongue but now faltered, “Mr. Chu, you’re not Nie Xiaoqian.”
Realizing the comparison was odd, he added, “I mean…”
Yet Chu Wang seemed unfazed by the analogy, “Of course, I’m not the protagonist of the story.”
Unexpectedly, Yulan heard him yawn and said, “That’s quite a coincidence.”
Though unable to explain to Chu Wang, Yulan still nodded with delight, “Mr. Chu, neither am I!”
Chu Wang didn’t know why he was so happy but was still infected, “Really.”
Until Yulan turned back to continue watching the movie, Chu Wang, distracted during a fight scene, thought he couldn’t fit in. But when he was about to look at Yulan’s reaction, he heard a slight, quiet breathing—
Chu Wang glanced down to see Yulan leaning against the upright pillow, somehow having fallen asleep.
Clearly, the movie was playing into **, the volume unchanging, yet Yulan was completely unaffected, peacefully asleep.
The room was dark, with flickering light and shadow from the movie falling on his face and even through Chu Wang’s insubstantial body.
Chu Wang suddenly felt the clouds of his confusion dispersed.
He spread his hands.
He leaned forward slightly, slowly bent his knuckles, as he had done earlier in the day, and hooked Yulan’s fingers.
There was no resistance, once the red powder had been washed away, his translucent hand slipped through.
Chu Wang did not move, as if he could wait there pretending to hold him in place, the same as earlier in the day.
There is no other expression on Chu Wang’s face, just watching Yulan’s quiet sleeping face.
He thought.
He knew very well that he was boring, indifferent, and dull, with no connection to the extraordinary.
But if there were such an opportunity, a possibility, or an idea.
He would also like to pretend to wait in place, wait for a small curly hair, carrying a box, jumping into it, walking into the originally silent, invisible, and desolate wilderness.
“Chu Xiaoxiao (?): Lao Lu crazily f***ing around.”
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Rebecca
They can touch! I love this so much thank you for your hard work!