Chapter 4: Social Death
Li Mu’s perspective at this moment was completely bizarre.
He could feel every part of his body, just like normal.
But he couldn’t control it. He couldn’t stop his hips from swaying seductively, and he definitely couldn’t stop the words pouring out of his mouth.
It was like he had become a spectator in his own body, watching in first-person as Lin Xi took control and confessed to Yu Fan with deep emotion.
The shame in his heart was so overwhelming it felt like it was going to burst out!
It’s over. My reputation is ruined!
In class, he always kept a cold and distant expression, making his classmates see him as a quiet, cool-looking guy.
It wasn’t like he was pretending to be aloof, he was just introverted and didn’t like starting conversations. Even when someone talked to him first, he often didn’t know how to respond, so he kept his "ice-cold" face and stayed distant from others.
Whenever he did have to talk to someone, he would overthink every word, worried he might say the wrong thing. But if he just avoided conversations altogether, he wouldn’t have to deal with that stress.
To put it simply, he was just awkward.
And now, if Yu Fan casually mentioned this to his friends on Monday, the entire class would know that the cold and distant Li Mu was actually gay!
Terrifying!
The embarrassment hit him so hard, he felt like shoving his head into the ground like an ostrich.
Maybe… maybe he should just faint right here and now?
He watched as "his own body" smiled sweetly and walked toward Yu Fan, while Yu Fan, absolutely terrified, kept backing away.
That was it. He was now 100% sure he should just pass out.
Yu Fan was already cornered against the wall, his face turning red. He hunched slightly, as if about to shout, and strongly rejected Li Mu’s confession.
"I-I don’t like men!"
Yes, yes, yes, me neither!
But his possessed body only blushed harder, his eyes glazed over, and his hand pressed against Yu Fan’s chest. His fingertips even gently traced circles on Yu Fan’s chest as he whispered,
"It’s okay, I—"
Before the sentence could be finished, Lin Xi suddenly pulled away, looking disappointed.
Li Mu regained control of his body.
It was like he was caught in a spring, and when the external pressure released, his body immediately recoiled backwards. But the speed was too great, his feet tangled, and he fell heavily onto his bottom.
Even though those few seconds felt like a lifetime, the actual possession only lasted about half a minute.
I’m done. I’m socially dead.
Li Mu kept his head down, feeling so dizzy from embarrassment that he didn’t dare to look at Yu Fan. He didn’t even want to stand up. He just listened carefully, his legs tense, ready to run for his life if Yu Fan suddenly lost his temper.
But… the furious outburst he expected never came.
Instead, he saw a large hand suddenly extend in front of him.
Huh?
Li Mu instinctively looked up, and was immediately blinded by Yu Fan’s bright, handsome smile.
What the hell?
You’re not mad about a guy confessing to you?!
If it were me, I would’ve already thrown a punch!
Li Mu took a deep breath, trying to calm his burning face. He got up on his own, shoved his hands into his pockets, and said with a straight face.
"I was possessed by a ghost just now."
"Ah, I get it." Yu Fan nodded and gave him a knowing smile.
Get it, my ass!
You don’t get anything!
In his mind, Li Mu was grumbling and cursing, but on the surface, he kept his usual blank expression to hide his embarrassment. However, the bright red color on his ears completely gave away his emotions.
He tried his best to keep a straight face and continued explaining to Yu Fan.
"A few days ago, Lin Xi from the class next door jumped off a building and became a ghost. For some reason, she keeps trying to use my body to confess to you."
"Anyway, I'm not gay."
He spoke very seriously, and Yu Fan responded with a gentle smile, nodding.
"Got it. I won’t tell anyone about this."
…Why does it feel like he’s being sarcastic?
Li Mu froze, unsure how to continue explaining. Yu Fan, on the other hand, was trying to forget everything that just happened while repeating in his head, "I’m not gay either."
At the same time, he started packing up his grandfather’s old belongings into a suitcase.
Most of the items were books, mystical talismans, and ritual tools used for religious ceremonies.
Once he finished packing, Yu Fan stood up, flashed his usual sunny smile, and asked,
"Want to go back to town together?"
"Either way is fine."
This was Li Mu’s first real interaction with Yu Fan.
Before, he'd always thought of Yu Fan as a 'human heater,' extremely warm to everyone. Whether it was lending money or anything else, if someone had a request, he'd almost always help.
Now that he was actually being treated with kindness, Li Mu realized that the feeling was quite nice, at least it covered up the social awkwardness that would have been the death of him.
As he recalled what he knew about Yu Fan, he started to suspect that Yu Fan was just being extra careful with his words, trying not to hurt his "gay little heart".
But I’M NOT GAY!
"What’s wrong?" Yu Fan’s voice was calm and soothing, with a slight huskiness to it.
He looked at Li Mu and noticed that the strange, flirtatious energy from earlier was gone. That intoxicating orchid scent had also disappeared.
"I really was possessed by a ghost." Li Mu stated firmly, keeping a straight face.
Yu Fan just smiled again and nodded.
"I know."
…This guy can’t see ghosts at all.
To someone who doesn't believe in ghosts, what he's saying sounds like a mix of delusional fantasy and a clumsy cover-up.
With a sigh of regret, Li Mu gave up on explaining. He had originally hoped that Yu Fan’s grandfather might help him solve this ghost problem, but the old man was already dead, leaving only Yu Fan, a total skeptic.
As he was lost in thought, a suitcase suddenly slid in front of him.
Confused, Li Mu looked up, only to see Yu Fan still smiling as he narrowed his eyes slightly and said,
"Carry my luggage."
His tone was warm as ever, but for some reason, it sounded like a threat to Li Mu.
Fine, threaten me all you want, just don’t spread what happened earlier.
With a deadpan face, Li Mu reached for the suitcase and was the first to step out of the small pharmacy.
As Yu Fan locked the store, Li Mu turned his head and glared fiercely at Lin Xi, who was happily clinging to Yu Fan’s arm.
This damn ghost!
She already confessed, shouldn’t that mean her unfinished business is complete? Why is she still here?!
After thinking for a moment, Li Mu asked curiously.
"If a ghost’s unfinished wish is fulfilled, but the ghost still doesn’t leave, what does that mean?"
Yu Fan, completely unaware that a ghost was holding onto his arm, finished locking the door and turned around.
"That means the ghost lied to you, or they just feel like their wish isn’t fully completed yet."
Li Mu froze and looked at Lin Xi again. Only to see her smiling even brighter, looking even more lovestruck.
"Her wish isn’t complete?"
…Does that mean he’s going to do it again?!
Damn it!