Chapter 60: Why Should I Be Afraid? (Third Update)

Ye Mingze was deeply indignant at being scolded by her.

"None of you believe me, do you?"

Ye Shixian's willow-leaf brows furrowed. "Just think about it—you know it's impossible for this to happen. How long has he been dead? How could he possibly come back now?"

Ye Mingze retorted, "But didn't Ye Chutang and the others come back too!"

And they were doing just fine!

Ye Shixian simply didn't want to hear another word from him. "Humans are humans, and ghosts are ghosts; you can't lump them together. Besides, there are no ghosts in this world to begin with. You must have misseen or misheard something. Father is already stressed enough because of Mother; don't add to the chaos."

She swept her gaze over him again. "You actually fainted from fright last night. If word gets out, who knows how much people will laugh at you!"

Ye Mingze's face turned pale with rage. He turned around indignantly and pulled the quilt over his head.

"Anyway, I'm never staying in that room again!"

Who knew if there was something filthy lurking there!

Ye Shixian closed her eyes, suppressing her anger.

Her younger brother had been pampered since childhood, which had cultivated such an arrogant and willful temperament. He never considered the bigger picture; his mind was filled with nothing but himself.

"It's impossible. You just moved, and Father will absolutely not agree to you moving again."

The manor was large, but there was no reason to cause such a stir.

"Besides, if you really move, won't people conclude that you truly saw a ghost? Then the entire household will be subject to gossip! Father's status is at stake right now. What exactly are you trying to do?"

This stern reprimand finally allowed Ye Mingze to regain a shred of reason, but he still felt stifled and wronged. The figure he had seen before fainting, and that carefree, smiling voice, were deeply branded into his mind, refusing to fade.

If he continued to stay there, he would probably have nightmares every single day!

"Then... then I'll just move out! That should be fine, right!"

Ye Shixian sneered, "Move where? To the Chunfeng Pavilion?"

Ye Mingze choked on his words, a flash of guilt crossing his face.

Just then, a servant arrived to report that Ye Chutang had come.

Ye Mingze sat up from his bed instantly. "Why is she here!?"

Ye Shixian glared at him before saying, "Invite Cousin in."

Hearing footsteps, Ye Mingze caught a glimpse of that slender, upright figure in his peripheral vision. He let out a cold snort and turned away, unwilling to look.

As Ye Chutang passed the screen, she saw Ye Mingze lying on the bed with his back turned. His head was wrapped in white gauze, and an unfinished bowl of dark brown medicinal soup sat by the bedside.

It looked like his injury was quite serious.

Ye Chutang said, "I heard Mingze was injured, so I came to check on him."

Ye Mingze sneered repeatedly. "You came to watch me make a fool of myself, didn't you?"

"Mingze," Ye Shixian warned him. "Please forgive him, Cousin. Mingze was startled yesterday and hasn't recovered his composure yet."

Ye Chutang smiled faintly. "It's fine. Actually, I heard the news last night, but there were so many people coming and going that we didn't want to disturb you. If there is anything we can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Before Ye Shixian could speak, Ye Mingze said sarcastically, "Help? Who would dare ask for your help! Ever since you two came back, strange things have been happening in this house one after another. It's truly bad luck!"

He blurted it out without thinking, and Ye Shixian's expression changed instantly.

Such words were fine to think in one's head, but how could he say them to her face!

Her heart tightened, and she rushed forward to persuade him, "Cousin, Mingze didn't mean it that way, you—"

"Strange things?" Ye Chutang countered. "Are you referring to witnessing my brother's soul returning last night?"

Although Ye Heng had strictly forbidden the servants from spreading the news, there is no wall that doesn't leak. Never mind the Ye family; many people outside had already heard of it.

Seeing her bring it up herself, Ye Mingze stopped pretending and spoke plainly.

"That's right! Who knows if it's because of you two—"

Hearing such an accusation, Ye Chutang did not get angry. Instead, her brows lifted slightly. "This is my brother's home. Isn't it perfectly normal for him to return?"

As soon as the words fell, the room fell into a deathly silence.

Ye Mingze's expression froze. He never expected such a reaction from Ye Chutang!

Don't people usually argue when they hear something like that? Why wasn't she bothered at all!?

Ye Chutang looked around, observing the arrangement of every corner of the room, a hint of nostalgia appearing in her eyes.

"These tables, chairs, and screens... Father chose them all according to my brother's preferences. He had a free spirit; sometimes when he didn't want to study, he would lie here alone to slack off, sleeping for an entire afternoon."

Ye Mingze's hair stood on end!

Ye Chutang's red lips curved slightly, as if she were remembering something amusing from the past. She smiled and said, "Actually, it wasn't just this place. He had been to every corner of this house; he was very familiar with it. When I was unwell in the past, he would take A-Yan and A-Feng running everywhere, then buy delicious food to bring back, secretly delivering it to my room and telling me not to tell anyone."

As she spoke, her pale, slender fingers lightly brushed along the armrest of the chair, and she let out a soft sigh.

"A pity, it's all in the past now."

Ye Mingze opened his mouth, but before he could speak, he met Ye Chutang's gaze.

Her dark, gentle eyes were clear and tranquil as she said with sincerity, "So, I really am quite envious of you, Mingze. Can you tell me how you encountered my brother? I miss him very much too."

Ye Mingze's face turned deathly pale, a chill rushing to his head.

Ye Shixian also froze on the spot, her temples throbbing.

Who could have imagined that Ye Chutang would...! She actually came here to ask about *that*!?

Ye Shixian's throat tightened. She forced a smile, but it looked more painful than a sob.

"Cou... Cousin, don't joke. Where would ghosts or gods exist in this world? It was just a momentary mistake by Mingze that caused this misunderstanding—"

"They don't exist?" Ye Chutang interrupted her, blinking softly. "But I believe that there are gods above us, and that in this world, right and wrong, cause and effect, all come with retribution."

Ye Shixian's heart sank, and she fell silent.

Ye Mingze looked at the young woman in disbelief. She clearly possessed an extremely elegant and gentle appearance, yet the words she spoke so softly were like heavy hammers, smashing down hard upon his head!

The air seemed to solidify, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

However, Ye Chutang seemed completely unaware of the impact her words had on them. She shook her head and sighed.

"Or is it that such things are simply a matter of chance?"

A cold dread filled Ye Mingze's heart. Looking at Ye Chutang, he found it utterly inconceivable.

How could there be someone in this world who was eager to see a ghost? She was truly insane!

"You... aren't you afraid? That... that was—"

"Afraid?" Ye Chutang tilted her head slightly, a faint smile spreading across her lips. As if remembering something, a hazy mist seemed to settle in her eyes, making her impossible to read.

She spoke softly, word by word

"That was the brother who protected me since I was a child. I can hardly get enough time to see him; how could I be afraid?"