Owen Carter, a young foreign student of Hua University, meandered across the campus, his thoughts muddled, a nagging unease gnawing at his mind. He was drawn to a quieter part of the grounds, where the serenity was suddenly broken by a distant commotion. A slim figure, garbed in plain attire, dashed towards him, a look of sheer panic etched on his face.
In a hurried exchange, the boy blurted out, "Please, help me! They're after me!"
Owen, bewildered, instinctively responded, "Who's chasing you?"
Gasping for breath, the boy, Yue, implored, "I'll explain later. My name's Yue, I swear I'm not a bad guy. Just... could you pretend to be my boyfriend for a minute?" Owen's mind reeled – he'd never been in a 'pretend' romantic scenario, let alone with a boy.
As Yue swiftly transformed from a boy into a girl right before his eyes, Owen's jaw dropped in utter disbelief.
Their ruse seemed to work on the two pursuers. "Nope, haven't seen anyone like that," Owen fibbed, pointing them in a different direction. "Oh, maybe over there," Yue added, pointing towards a crowded area.
Once their chasers dashed off, Owen faced Yue, his curiosity piqued. "Who are they, and why are they after you?"
Yue hesitated, then said, "It's complicated. But thanks for helping. I should be okay for now." She paused, eyeing Owen. "You seemed troubled earlier. Something wrong?"
His surprise at her intuition apparent, Owen stuttered, "I've just been feeling weird lately. How'd you know?"
Yue touched his shoulder, uttering a few words. A sudden calm washed over Owen, easing his inner turmoil.
Puzzled yet intrigued, Owen asked, "What did you do?"
Yue smiled mysteriously. "Just a bit of help. You picked up some 'Yin energy' – it's a Chinese concept, like negative vibes. Nothing major, some sunlight should clear it right up."
Before she could leave, Yue's expression changed. She studied Owen's face intently. Owen, bewildered, thought, 'Is it my looks?' But Yue's tone grew grave. "This isn't good. The Yin energy's already affecting you. Your forehead's clouded, a sure sign of impending danger!"
Owen's heart raced at her ominous warning.
YOU ARE READING
Those Years When I Caught Ghosts in China
AdventureShe's got the Taoist mojo, he's accidentally tuned into the spirit world-talk about a culture shock! As they tackle assignments and dodge otherworldly beings, these two become an unbeatable team. She saves him from ethereal disasters, while he's on...
