Chapter 1912: Living with Mr. Ghost: Miscellaneous Affairs 28

The arcade boss again used a little trick, smoothly ushering out the bounty‑rich Xia Tan and Jin Chen.

Then, over the next few short minutes, the boss personally witnessed visitors leaving in batches, even the regular customers who often frequented the place didn't stay.

The boss stood at the empty shop entrance, bewildered and guilty.

【Heh heh~】

Jin Chen paid no mind to Ling Gun Gun's little moves, arm around Xia Tan as they headed to the next date spot, forced to carry a few cute plush toys in his arms, yet his face remained expressionless.

The strikingly contrasting pair drew passersby to glance back repeatedly; Xia Tan covered their mouth and snickered, then hung a small trinket on Jin Chen's coat button.

What happened next was that, just after stepping through the cinema's main gate, the narrow‑minded ghost king pressed them against the corner wall and planted a kiss that flushed their face.

Jin Chen poked Xia Tan's slightly red cheek and said triumphantly, "The reward for holding the toys."

Xia Tan pursed the corner of their sore lip, gave a soft hum, bumped their forehead against Jin Chen's shoulder, and unconsciously cooed, "The movie's about to start."

The movie Xia Tan chose was a very atmospheric love film, also recommended by Lian Min, and supposedly topped the must‑watch list for couples.

But Xia Tan had no idea that Lian Min themselves were a single dog and had never even seen that film.

When the movie reached its midpoint, after the two leads' dim‑lit linger for a full three minutes of black screen and ambiguous sounds, plus the surrounding couples' audience "atmosphere boost," Xia Tan finally realized why the film was so hot.

Midnight showing, the three minutes of blank screen.

Jin Chen hummed with deep meaning, drawing out the tone extremely long, their pale fingertip lifting Xia Tan's chin, gazing into their evasive eyes.

"Is this also part of the date?"

Jin Chen's tone was too teasing; upon hearing it, Xia Tan hesitated for a moment, their face burning hot, and any rebuttal lacked credibility.

"No… I didn't know there would be this segment."

【Mm-hmm】

Jin Chen, unsure whether to believe or not, leaned in closer, the distance now within arm's reach, their eyes smiling.

After a few seconds of silence, Xia Tan found the atmosphere a bit hard to bear, turned their face to rest on Jin Chen's shoulder, and said, "Don't look at me, watch the movie."

But Xia Tan forgot that the movie screen was now pure darkness; they only felt a sudden force at their waist, and by the time they reacted, they were already sitting face‑to‑face in Jin Chen's arms.

"Kiss me once."

Jin Chen pressed against their nose and said, their hoarse voice lowered, then laughed ambiguously.

This made Xia Tan's ears and cheeks flush, they hooked their arms around Jin Chen's neck, offered a damp kiss in the dark, and then felt the embrace suddenly tighten.

In the dark, other senses are amplified without limit; Xia Tan's heart raced so fast that they automatically blocked out other sounds, leaving only this embrace.

The three minutes passed in an instant.

When the screen suddenly lit up with a soft glow, Xia Tan's breathing grew ragged; they instinctively buried themselves in Jin Chen's arms, gave a weak bite to the shoulder—more like a cat's nibble—without much force.

【Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 70!】

Xia Tan took a moment, then pulled Jin Chen's hand from their own clothing and lightly bit his icy fingertip, muttering a complaint.

"You're utterly wicked."

Jin Chen held Xia Tan in their arms, lips twitching, as if to prove the label "utterly wicked," their nose lightly brushing Xia Tan's side cheek, long lashes casting fine, sparse shadows beneath the eyes, smile deep.

"This movie wasn't my pick."

No one—human or ghost—really got into whatever love story the film told, yet its status as a "must‑watch" cannot be denied.

After the movie ended and they headed home, it was already 1 a. m.

No matter how energetic Xia Tan usually is, a day of dating inevitably leaves them somewhat tired, slumped on Jin Chen's back, eyes too heavy to stay open.

Jin Chen stopped at the house entrance, puzzled, and kicked the black box sitting by the door.

"Xiao Tan, did you buy this?"

"What?"

Xia Tan struggled to open their eyes, examined it closely, then shook their head and buried themselves again, saying, "No."

【Don't pick up boxes by the roadside, don't pick them up.】 Ling Gun Gun shook their head and swayed.

Jin Chen opened the door, placed the drowsy Xia Tan on the sofa, then went back to inspect the black box.

Faint mystical energy coiled around the box, possibly sent by that bunch of people.

To Jin Chen, the unknown's mystery is more likely to spark a challenge than known danger.

Black mist seeped from the crooked joint of a finger, wrapped the box and tore it open, letting its contents fall into Jin Chen's palm.

A slip of paper with writing, and a small magical implement.

See you at the Winding Stream Floating Cups tomorrow afternoon at two.

Jin Chen recognized the emblem on the implement—it belonged to the Qian family, to Qian Xiaoqin.

It seems Zhou Si delivered his words.

"Where are you going tomorrow?"

Xia Tan somehow ended up at the door, clung to Jin Chen's waist from behind, peeked over to see the note in his hand, and immediately felt a subtle shift.

An inexplicable invitation appearing at the door really made them have to think more.

"The person I told you about before—I'll go see her tomorrow."

Jin Chen soothingly squeezed Xia Tan's clasped hands, turned, lifted them to sit on the entryway table, their expression entirely relaxed, leaned in and kissed Xia Tan's lips.

"Once we find a way, you won't have to suffer like this each time it ends."

Xia Tan nodded, the subtle feeling suppressed, drowsiness washed over them again; after the kiss they yawned, wet lashes glistening with moisture in the warm light, then nestled into Jin Chen's neck, rubbing gently.

"I'm so sleepy."

"Why weren't you sleeping just now? What are you doing out here?"

Jin Chen held them and walked back inside, casually asking,

"Because… I don't want to be alone."

Xia Tan answered earnestly, chin resting on Jin Chen's shoulder; as they walked toward the bedroom they could take in the whole living room at a glance—only the outline lights on, the living room somewhat dim, seemingly stirring some memories.

Xia Tan involuntarily tightened the arms around Jin Chen's neck, kissing his collarbone affectionately, as if suppressing an inexpressible emotion, and even the trailing tone turned soft.

"It's too empty here, I'm scared."

This is the first time since Jin Chen came back that Xia Tan mentioned being afraid again, but it's no longer the fear of embracing the ghost.

But rather an empty loneliness, waiting alone, and an excessively long night.

Jin Chen realized something, and upon entering the bedroom Jin Chen switched on the light, which was very bright.

Xia Tan was placed on the bed by Jin Chen, sinking softly into it.

"Be good, don't be scared."

Jin Chen's comforting, as always tolerant, said, "I won't leave, I'm right here."

Xia Tan quieted for a moment, then rolled over wrapped in the blanket, half-lying on Jin Chen acting coquettish, and was finally carried to the bathroom to wash up, rinsing away the day's fatigue.

Inside the room they slept under the same blanket; warm-colored light seeped through the curtain gap, becoming one of the myriad lights of the city, as warm and bright as the stars in the midnight sky.

Xia Tan had another dream.

After Jin Chen came back, Xia Tan rarely had nightmares anymore; today's dream is even stranger.

In the dream, the Jin Chen Xia Tan encountered was worse than now, utterly lacking humanity, taking pleasure in killing.

But the dream was hazy; Xia Tan also knew clearly that they were only dreaming, and when startled awake, in the darkness they heard their own long breath, then curled up into Jin Chen's embrace, holding each other tightly.

Jin Chen felt puzzled, half-opening the eyes and touching the throat, thinking that the spouse's habit of having nightmares was not good—what was wrong with choking the neck?