Fortune Across the World

Chapter 176: Embracing Under the Moonlit Night (Part 2)

Ding Qiyu put aside her feelings of sadness and guilt, answering, "Yes, once I accidentally fell from a height and met Bai Wuchang." Recalling the incident still felt surreal; without Xie Bian's mistake, her life might have been entirely different.

Le Zhuyi's eyes widened. She had always enjoyed strange tales, and hearing that Ding Qiyu had met a ghostlike figure was incredible. But given the little carpenter's unique constitution, it wasn't entirely unbelievable. Curious, she asked, "What does Bai Wuchang look like?"

Ding Qiyu thought for a moment, "Well... tall and thin, wearing white, with a pale face."

Instinctively, Le Zhuyi grasped Ding Qiyu's collar, eagerly continuing, "Did he have a long tongue or wear a tall hat? Was there anything written like 'Peace in the World' or 'Catching You' on it?" Such were the descriptions in ghost stories.

Her eager curiosity amused Ding Qiyu, "Haha, the Bai Wuchang I met wasn't that frightening, just looked like an ordinary person with a pale face." In the ghost stories of her previous world, Bai Wuchang was depicted similarly, which matched Xie Bian's claim that a supernatural system governed all worlds. Sometimes, when Xie Bian or his colleagues were seen during their work, their images spread. But Xie Bian didn't seem particularly terrifying, aside from his pallor. Perhaps he had hidden his "true form"? Unable to figure it out, Ding Qiyu dismissed the thought.

Zhuyi seemed a bit disappointed by the ordinary description, furrowing her brows, "Maybe there's more than one Bai Wuchang. You saw a plain one."

Ding Qiyu couldn't help but pinch her nose, teasing, "Where did Zhuyi 'meet' Bai Wuchang then?"

"Of course, in ghost stories." Le Zhuyi shrank back slightly, dodging Ding Qiyu's mischievous hand, "I've read many ghost stories, and Bai Wuchang is always depicted like that."

"Oh, Zhuyi is so brave, reading so many ghost stories. Aren't you scared?" Ding Qiyu withdrew her hand and naturally wrapped an arm around Zhuyi's waist, likely unaware she did so. Seeing Zhuyi's fearless demeanor, she felt a mischievous urge to tease her.

Le Zhuyi noticed Ding Qiyu's movement; her previously idle hand now rested on her waist. For some reason, her ears turned red. After a moment, she replied, "Hmph, what ghost story haven't I read? I'm not scared!"

"Haha, you said it. Let me tell you some ghost stories~" Ding Qiyu's mischief was ignited. Without considering if Zhuyi wanted to listen, she began recounting a story.

In the past, Ding Qiyu enjoyed listening to ghost story audiobooks, so she narrated with enthusiasm, emulating the dramatic tones of audiobook narrators, setting the scene in ancient times, weaving suspenseful and thrilling tales. "And then, the old woman lying in bed looked at the little girl in surprise, coughed, and said, 'There's no one here. My husband died five years ago.' The little girl—"

Before she could finish, Le Zhuyi covered her mouth, "Enough, stop!" The story was captivating and increasingly terrifying, the eerie images vivid in her mind. Feeling chills along her spine, it seemed as if an unseen presence lay behind her. She quickly covered Ding Qiyu's mouth, glancing over her shoulder, not wanting to hear more.

Ding Qiyu found her reaction amusing, a mischievous streak taking hold, continuing to mumble fragments of the story through Le Zhuyi's fingers, "The little girl didn't believe—"

"Shut up, shut up! No more!" Le Zhuyi exclaimed, pressing her forehead against her hand to stifle Ding Qiyu's words, trying to silence the mischievous storyteller. Even though she caught the last part, it sent another chill down her spine, prompting her to cling closer to the one who caused her fear. Her voice took on a pleading tone, "No more, no more..."