Chapter 71 - My Costar Apologizes

Yao Shen probably has the  Sleep Upgrade to thank for for being able to get out of bed the next day and function like a semi-competent human being, because if he got forty full minutes of sleep the night before it was a lot.

Bi Jialu knows that something is wrong with him, but he keeps avoiding her questions and sidestepping the issue.

He keeps looking over his shoulder, afraid of seeing the ghoul somewhere. 

The first scene he shoots is an unmitigated disaster. Luckily he's filming on his own, so he isn't dragging anyone else down with his poor performance, but he needs to get it together soon.

It doesn't help that he has crossed paths with Xin Hulei twice already, and both times Xin Hulei tried to catch his eye. There was something oddly vulnerable to his usually inscrutable gaze, that made Yao Shen feel all the more guilty.

"Maybe we can go for lunch earlier and try again afterwards," Director Chen says, rubbing his hands down his face.

Yao Shen bows deeply to him and leaves for his trailer as soon as he can, absolutely humiliated.

Bi Jialu offers to bring him lunch, but he refuses, citing a headache.

He doesn't feel any better once he's alone in his trailer, with his back against the door.

His mobile has been vibrating in the pocket of his costume ever since he got it back, and he's afraid to even look at it.

Just as Yao Shen has finally managed to get his breathing under control a fist bangs against the door.

He considers ignoring it, but the knocking grows more violent, as if the person on the other side is two seconds away from ripping the door from its hinges.

"I'm busy," Yao Shen says, opening the door with a shout.

Instead of the huge bodyguard or cameraman he was expecting to find, he comes face to face with tiny Tan Liansi, glaring up at him in Chao Yue's simple country girl robes.

"What the fuck did you do to him?"

Tan Liansi pushes him aside and walks into the trailer. "When my ge got back yesterday, he was quiet as a mouse."

"He's not usually talkative," Yao Shen says, his tone defensive.

He regrets it seconds later when Tan Liansi's glare pins him in place. "He was upset about something, and I know it's your fault."

Yao Shen doesn't try to defend himself again. Much worse than Tan Liansi's accusations is the weight of his own guilt. 

But there's no way for Yao Shen to explain himself, not if that can only make everything worse.

The Ghost Kings can retaliate at any moment, and Yao Shen doesn't want Xin Hulei to be caught in the crossfire. 

Whether he wants to admit it or not, he cares for Xin Hulei.

[That was the opposite of Host's mission.]

Yao Shen really isn't too broken up about that. His main concern is escaping the Ghost Kings, and whatever they have planned.

"I'm sorry if I did anything that upset Xin Hulei it wasn't my intention," he tells Tan Liansi. "Tell him I'll explain later."

She scoffs, outraged. "Tell him yourself, he says you haven't answered his messages."

Right on queue his mobile vibrates again. Tan Liansi hears the sound of the muffled vibration and shoots him another glare.

"You're on thin fucking ice," she says pointing a finger in his face, before leaving and closing the trailer's door with a loud bang.

He should at least be grateful that she didn't say all that in public, but it does nothing to dispel the sour feeling in the pit of his stomach.

With great trepidation he finally checks his unread messages.

The earliest one arrived last night, not long after Xin Hulei left.

[Xin Hulei: I don't understand what happened, did I do something?]

[Xin Hulei: I think I must have done something, if so I apologize. I'm not always the best at understanding emotional queues, but that's not an excuse, and I apologize all the same]

The other messages are all from today.

[Xin Hulei: Are you well? I haven't heard from you]

[Xin Hulei: I saw you just now on set, I'm relieved to see you're okay]

[Xin Hulei: I truly don't remember watching your performance in that acting survival show. The judges don't watch the performances live, but I apologize if anything I said offended you, then or now]

Yao Shen stops reading for a moment, an indescribable itch settling in his heart and making him uncomfortable beyond words.

Does Xin Hulei think that everything that happened between them was just part an elaborate revenge plan for what happened in the stupid acting show?

Not only that, but he still apologizes either way.

All this time Yao Shen has been thinking Xin Hulei was cold, but he might be more sensitive than he imagined.

His throat tight, he forces himself to keep reading:

[Xin Hulei: I think Tan Liansi might be on her way to cause trouble for you, I tried to stop her but I don't think I succeeded]

[Xin Hulei: let me know if there's anything I can do]

That's the last of Xin Hulei's messages, but Yao Shen still has an unread notification. A traditional text message from an unknown number.

[(+86)38248...: This is Jia Hao, how come Gao Wu hasn't texted me yet?]

Yao Shen is almost relieved by the frustration that swiftly replaces his sadness. How in hell was he supposed to remember a ghost's romantic problems in the middle of everything that happened.

Although...Jia Hao's sudden message gives him an idea.

[Xin Hulei: Can you come to my trailer? It's urgent]

Seconds later, Jia Hao appears sitting down on top of the table, nearly startling Yao Shen into falling down his chair.

"What do you want?" he asks, crossing his legs and supporting his elbow on his knee. "Is this about Gao Wu?"

"Can you go to the Underworld?" Yao Shen asks.

Jia Hao's smug expression falls immediately. "Are you threatening me? I don't want to move on, I'm not ready to reincarnate."

"That's not it, I want to know if you can go there and get back here?" 

Yao Shen's mind is whirring. He doesn't know if what he's thinking is even possible, but it would seem so. He went there and returned, and he was alive. 

Why wouldn't a ghost be able to do the same?

And there was that System reward; 'Underground level Access'. He didn't question the System about it back then, especially since not long after he was being dragged to the Underworld by that ghoul boy, but it could only be referring to Underworld access.

[Host is correct. This reward allows Host to access the Underworld by creating a portal through any doorway. Host only needs to say the words, 'To come back from death's door'.]

Except Yao Shen doesn't know if the Ghost Kings will be able to tell if he enters the Underworld, even if he were to use invisibility. 

It's far too great a risk. 

Jia Hao on the other hand...

'Can someone else go instead of me?' he asks the System, keeping an eye on Jia Hao's confused expression.

[Yes, but Host really shouldn't be telling others about his abilities-]

That's all Yao Shen needs to know. "If I open you a portal to the Underworld, can you go there and return?"

"What do I get in return?"

"I'll get you Gao Wu's number, and I promise to do anything else you want."

Jia Hao's eyes flash. "You can't take those words back later. It's a great sin to break promises to the dead."

Yao Shen nods. "I promise."

---

Yao Shen tests out first if he can open the portal in the location he wants, to prevent any mistakes and Jia Hao potentially running into trouble.

He creates the portal on the door to the trailer's tiny bathroom, and opens it just a sliver, peering inside and catching a glimpse of the luxurious courtyard outside the pavilion where he met the three kings.

Satisfied that things are going well for now, he tells Jiao Hao what he's supposed to do.

"So you just want me to spy on these people?" he asks, crossing his arms with an arrogant smile, as if Yao Shen is needlessly worried about something way below his current skill level.

"They cannot see you, so stay out the way, even if you are invisible," he adds, "they're very powerful," for good measure but Jiao Hao doesn't look too worried.

"I'm a ghost, being invisible is what I do best."

That might be so in the mortal realm, but how well will he fare somewhere where everyone else is a ghost too?

Yao Shen supposes they're about to find out.

"Just don't get caught, and if you do pretend you're new and just got lost. Come back as soon as you can. Tell me everything they do and say, keep an eye out if you hear my name in particular."

"Stop worrying about me and start worrying about you."

With those cryptic words and one last smug smile, Jia Hao steps through the doorway and disappears into the underworld.

Now all Yao Shen needs to do is wait.

While he does, he finally replies to Xin Hulei's unanswered messages.

[Little Ghost: You don't have anything to be sorry for]

Hopefully, Yao Shen won't either.