Ji Fuyao

The only sound in the room was the rustling of leaves outside the window; if you listened carefully, you could also faintly hear the murmurs coming from downstairs.

Guo Li couldn't see that there was a semi-transparent figure beside him, silently watching him.

He spoke calmly as he recounted the past: "A year ago, his game was finished and ready to launch, but I stopped him because I discovered a bug. This bug could be big or small; if it wasn't fixed, the game might crash in the later stages, but if it was fixed, it would have to be scrapped entirely. I told him about it, but he had poured so much effort into it that he was already on edge. He was unwilling to accept this fact, always thinking that the bug would only become apparent later on, so he should just launch the game first and patch it later."

Guo Li refused him. He was a meticulous and rigid person, and there was no reason for him to pretend nothing had happened after discovering the problem. Besides, he was Zhang Wei's team leader, and he could not allow the game to go online like this, both professionally and personally.

The two parted on bad terms, and everyone in the company heard their argument that day. Later, because the game's release was delayed, it almost had to be completely rebuilt. Perhaps seeing no hope of a successful release, Zhang Wei became despondent.

Guo Li couldn't stand his attitude. He thought that since it was just the last step, why was he afraid to start over? So whenever he saw Zhang Wei slacking off, he would scold him.

He was usually stern and rarely smiled. Moreover, because of his frustration with Zhang Wei's lack of progress, his words were not so gentle. After several such incidents, rumors spread throughout the company that Zhang Wei was being targeted by his superiors.

Guo Li had, of course, heard this before. Neither he nor Zhang Wei were popular people, but Guo Li was of a higher rank. Although the atmosphere in the company was relaxed, people weren't very close. Even though it seemed to outsiders that no one was taking sides, Zhang Wei still felt isolated. He didn't have many friends to begin with, and now no one paid any attention to him.

Guo Li didn't take those rumors to heart. He always believed in the principle that a clear conscience fears no accusation. He knew what kind of person he was, and he never lived by other people's opinions.

He wanted to pull Zhang Wei back to his senses, so he became increasingly harsh on him until he died.

“Zhang Wei… I scolded him the day before he died, and the next day, he was lying alone in front of the company building.”

His body was discovered by park cleaners early in the morning, and it is unknown how long he had been lying there alone.

No one knew that after work that day, he didn't go home, but went to the rooftop of the building alone. There were no security cameras there, so it was impossible to know why he went there or what happened there, but the police investigated and ruled out murder.

If it's not murder, then it's suicide, but why would a perfectly healthy person commit suicide at their company?

Therefore, the whole company assumed that Guo Li had driven him to his death.

“If I had been more patient that day, used more appropriate words, or told him that I already knew how to fix that bug, would he have…” Guo Li sighed heavily. “It’s only natural that your family can’t accept it. Now that I have fulfilled his last wish, you can vent your frustrations on me. I have nothing to say.”

After Guo Li finished speaking, the room fell silent again. Si Mucheng and Wen Ya remained silent, unsure of what to say.

Si Mucheng had been guessing the truth of the matter, but now that he knew, he could only sigh.

Guo Li awaited his judgment when he noticed the boy suddenly looking behind him. Puzzled, Guo Li turned around, but saw nothing. Just as he was wondering, he heard the boy laugh. His eyes seemed to hold stars, bright and clear, just like when he first met him. Even though the person before him was nothing like the dead man in his memory, looking at his smiling face always reminded Guo Li of Zhang Wei.

Si Mucheng smiled and said, "Zhang Wei said you are a good person. He has never blamed you and he is very grateful to you."

Guo Li stood there, stunned, for a long while before finally speaking, "He...he mentioned me to you..." But then he choked up, overwhelmed by the guilt of over three hundred days. His eyes were red, and he didn't know who he was asking, "How could he...suddenly become so despondent? I clearly found a solution..."

But no one answered his question.

*

The weather was very sunny, the mountain scenery was beautiful, and a gentle breeze was blowing.

“This place is really nice.” Si Mucheng turned to look at Zhang Wei. “What do you think? I found this spot especially for you. It overlooks the whole city.”

Zhang Wei nodded. He looked down the mountain intently, wanting to take one last look at this bustling city that he had once tried so hard to stay in.

“Actually, I remember everything.” Zhang Wei suddenly spoke up. Si Mucheng stared at “him,” while Wen Ya remained silent.

Zhang Wei continued, "Actually, my death had nothing to do with the team leader. That day I was just feeling a bit down and wanted to go to the rooftop for some fresh air and be alone for a while, but I accidentally fell asleep..."

He had just fallen asleep on the roof and woke up very late. There was no safety barrier on the roof, and he was still groggy when he woke up. Because of the dim lighting, he lost his footing.

He wasn't suicidal, nor did he want to die; it was just an absurd and ridiculous accident.

Si Mucheng stared in disbelief, then finally chuckled, "This... this death is truly... unjust..."

Zhang Wei laughed along, "Yeah, it's not worth it at all."

But life and death are predestined, and he truly blamed no one. Besides, he had already fulfilled all his wishes and desires before his death, and had no more worries.

"I still want to thank you all." Zhang Wei suddenly bowed to Si Mucheng and Wen Ya.

Startled, Si Mucheng waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Hey, don't be so polite, it's what I should do." He thought to himself, "Why do all these ghosts like to bow to people?"

Wen Ya sighed softly, "It's time to go."

Zhang Wei nodded: "Thank you for your help."

Wen Ya took out a talisman, made a hand seal and chanted an incantation. As the talisman suddenly burst into flames and quickly turned to ash, Zhang Wei's spirit also suddenly turned into stars and then disappeared.

Even though this was the third time Si Mucheng had witnessed the sending of a soul, he was still filled with melancholy as he saw the ghost disappear.

"He just left like that."

Wen Ya glanced at him and couldn't help but sigh, "You and 'him' are too close, the bond is too deep, and greed arises..." She wanted to persuade him again, but suddenly, as if sensing something, she looked at the place where Zhang Wei's spirit had just disappeared, but there was nothing there, only the wind swirling the leaves around.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Si Mucheng noticed her unusual behavior, looked around nervously, and asked, "Is it another ghost?"

Wen Ya hesitated and shook her head. The feeling she had just experienced when she sent Zhang Wei away was unlike anything she had ever felt before. In the past, when ghosts entered reincarnation, she could feel the sense of relief as the ghost merged into the world. But just now, she didn't feel that. Had she really sent Zhang Wei away? Where had things gone wrong?

Wen Ya frowned, still unable to find a solution, and could only say, "...Let's go down the mountain first."

This is a mountain in the east of the city, not far from the science and technology park. Wen Ya said that she needed a place to send off the soul, preferably far away from the city, with mountains and water. So Si Mucheng led the way here, to a half-mountain park that had been developed. However, after climbing up the mountain path, they found that the mountain peak was facing Zhao Tianwen's Taoist temple in the distance.

Si Mucheng rested his hand on his brow and gazed into the distance for a while, then said to Wen Ya, "Why don't we go to Brother Zhao's house to take a look?"

I definitely have to go, but not now. Wen Ya said calmly, "I'll go another day."

It was nearing dusk, and the hillside park was so remote with few residents that the path down the mountain was unusually deserted.

Si Mucheng stared at the swaying shadows of the trees by the roadside, feeling a chill run down his spine: "Um... are there ghosts around now?"

Wen Ya was speechless upon hearing this. This person had spent so many days with Zhang Wei, how could he still be afraid of ghosts?

Upon learning of Wen Ya's thoughts, Si Mucheng retorted confidently, "What's there to be afraid of about Zhang Wei? He's an honest ghost; he wouldn't harm anyone. Other ghosts are different; I don't know them well!"

Wen Ya remained expressionless, unsure whether to call it fallacy or to call him an idiot.

Just then, a soft cough came from behind them. Si Mucheng's back hair stood on end instantly, and he almost jumped up. When he turned around, he saw an old man carrying a birdcage looking at him with a complicated expression.

Si Mucheng stared at the old man in horror. Was this a human or a ghost?

"Hey! Young man, don't block the way!" Perhaps seeing that Si Mucheng hadn't moved for a long time, the old man was very impatient. "Such a big guy, walking so slowly, you're blocking the road!" The setting sun cast a long shadow of the old man.

It's a human!

Si Mucheng realized what was happening and quickly stepped aside, saying, "I'm so sorry!"

The old man snorted coldly, as if he looked down on him, and muttered as he passed by, "What gods or ghosts? He's so young, but his brain is all crooked."

Once the old man had walked away, Si Mucheng breathed a sigh of relief: "That scared me to death! When did that old man appear? There wasn't a sound of his footsteps."

Wen Ya just looked at him without saying a word.

Si Mucheng asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Wen Ya helplessly raised her right hand, gesturing with her eyes, revealing Si Mucheng's large hand on her wrist.

Si Mucheng then realized that he had instinctively grabbed Wen Ya's hand when he was startled. He quickly let go and chuckled awkwardly, "Hehehe...sorry, sorry..."

The scorching shackles loosened, and Wen Ya rotated her wrist. This man was not only big and strong, but unfortunately, he was timid.

The two continued down the mountain. After what had just happened, Si Mucheng was like a frightened bird, constantly glancing nervously behind him.

The road was deserted and the surroundings were quiet. The quieter it was, the more frightened Si Mucheng became. He unconsciously moved closer to Wen Ya, but the path became increasingly crowded, and Wen Ya was almost pushed into the roadside greenery. Just as she nearly tripped over him again, Wen Ya finally lost her temper: "You!"

However, before she could even speak, Si Mucheng jumped up with a roar and hugged her.

Wen Ya was caught off guard and was tackled into the roadside flower bushes.