Ch34 - I Want to See Him

Ji Xiunian and Fan Zeng were the only two people in the room at the moment.

The surveillance cameras were still broadcasting the footage of the trainee dorms. The more they played, the quieter it seemed.

Ji Xiunian’s calm demeanour surprised Fan Zeng. He had thought that Ji Xiunian would have denied it. Ji Xiunian had just said that he had seen it. As for what he saw, both of them already knew.

Even Fan Zeng couldn’t describe his feelings right now, and was conflicted for a while before he asked, “Ah, Xiunian, think about it again, did you really see it?”

Ji Xiunian didn’t want to create panic. He originally wanted to bury this matter deep in his heart. But when he thought about how that female ghost might be entangled with Lu Xu, Ji Xiunian felt that he had a responsibility to protect him.

After pondering over what Fan Zeng had said just now, Ji Xiunian affirmed adamantly, “Fan ge, I really saw it. You told me last time that you knew someone in this field, can you invite him over to take a look?”

“Of course, of course.” After hearing Ji Xiunian speak, Fan Zeng was a bit dazed for a moment. On one hand, he had thought that there was something off about this apartment building from the start, and had gotten an affirmative answer from Ji Xiunian. On the other hand, he didn’t want him to say that there really were ghosts.

After all this person had been invited onto the show by him, so Fan Zeng felt rather apologetic towards Ji Xiunian and hurriedly comforted him. “Don’t worry Xiunian, Master Lai is very skilled. It’s said that he has already died once and went to the underworld, but because he had good connections with the place, he was sent back. Ever since that resurrection, he’s had divine powers. All ghosts are terrified when they see him. As long as he takes action, there’s no one he can’t send away.”

Fan Zeng’s words were passionate, but Ji Xiunian thought they were a bit dramatic. “Did he really come back from the dead?”

“Really, a lot of people know about it.” Fan Zeng seemed to really trust this master and immediately vouched for him. “Master Lai is really amazing, a lot of people in the industry have asked for his services. Even those powerful ghosts can be dealt with. Look at this talisman, he gave it to me, and said it’s very effective.”

Fan Zeng sounded very sure, and Ji Xiunian finally nodded. “Okay, then ask that master to come and take a look.”

Fan Zeng spoke to Ji Xiunian a bit more and was a little relieved when he saw that he hadn’t been too affected. “Master Lai’s schedule is very packed, I’ll contact him now to see if he can take some time out to solve this problem during these two days. Oh right, take this talisman to protect yourself, so you’ll be prepared just in case those things come again.”

When Fan Zeng said this, his gaze fell on that yellow talisman, clearly reluctant to part with it. Truth be told, he was also afraid. What if the ghost turned around and came for him when he didn’t have the talisman anymore?

Ji Xiunian merely glanced at it and declined. “No need, Fan ge. I don’t need it for now.”

But Fan Zeng wouldn’t take no for an answer. In the end, he shoved the talisman into Ji Xiunian’s pocket. “Just take it first. When Master Lai comes it will be safe.”

Ji Xiunian couldn’t persuade him otherwise, and could only accept his goodwill. He seemed to think of something and asked again, “Oh right Fan ge, can you give me four sets of trainee uniforms?”

“Sure.” Fan Zeng was very generous in this regard, he was just a little puzzled. “What do you want the clothes for?”

Ji Xiunian hesitated for a moment, the four silhouettes appearing in his mind. “I want to gift them.”

He didn’t say who he was going to gift it to, and Fan Zeng didn’t ask.

Every time they filmed a show, there would be people who wanted to give souvenirs to their friends. Sometimes it was autographs, some people even wanted clothes or similar items.

When Ji Xiunian returned to the recording studio, the trainees had finished their solo shoots.

He looked at the filming schedule in his hand. Next up was the filming for the third episode of the show.

A staff member was holding onto a mic and cleared their throat to get their attention. “Everyone can return to their dorm and rest. Afterwards, please get dressed and come to the dance studio to film the third episode of the show. At that time, we will announce the new tasks. Everyone, please come to the dance studio at 3 P.M.”

“We’re going to film the third episode so soon?”

“That’s right that’s right, it’s 1 P.M., so it’s less than two hours?”

“And we don’t know what the next task will be. I somehow have the feeling that I’m going to get a taste of B-rank…”

The trainees were thrilled with their new assignments. They chatted as they left in groups, praying they would do well in their upcoming performances.

Ji Xiunian watched them file out, trying to find a familiar face among the trainees.

Lu Xu was born looking clean and beautiful. He was the focal point no matter where he stood. Ji Xiunian glanced around casually and quickly saw his silhouette.

He wanted to call out Lu Xu’s name but didn’t know if that would be appropriate.

Just as he was hesitating, Lu Xu seemed to notice something and turned his head around to look in his direction. He was still wearing the pale lavender training clothes. His entire being looked neat and sunny. When their gazes met, Lu Xu suddenly started smiling, apparently in a very good mood.

When Ji Xiunian saw this, he couldn’t resist curving his lips up into a smile too.

When he wasn’t able to see Lu Xu, he was always worrying about whether or not the other party had been affected by that incident. But in hindsight, it seemed like the boy was very strong.

Xu Lele made it to B-rank after his second evaluation and was at a distance away from Lu Xu. When he saw Lu Xu walking in front of him, he couldn’t help but call out, “Xu ge, Xu ge, wait for me…”

After he had finally managed to squeeze over to Lu Xu’s side with much difficulty, wanting to discuss the topic from earlier, he couldn’t resist looking over at Ji Xiunian.

He happened to see Ji Xiunian smile in their direction and his heart felt weak. “Fuck Xu ge, is Nian ge looking at me?”

“Hm?” Lu Xu heard the remark and laughed. He didn’t understand why he would suddenly say something like that. “Probably not…”

Xu Lele was doubtful, hiding by Lu Xu’s side while his imagination continued to run wild. “Do you think he knows I told others about what happened with him?” Without waiting for Lu Xu’s response, the more Xu Lele thought, the more troubled he felt. “I only told you, so he shouldn’t know, ah. But then why would he be smiling at me if nothing had happened, wuuuuuuuuu I’m so scared…”

Seeing that Xu Lele was becoming more and more flustered as he spoke, and looked as if he was about to turn himself in, Lu Xu interrupted his delirious thoughts. “If Nian ge really did know, do you think he would be smiling at you?”

“No.” After saying this, Xu Lele finally reacted and became much more relaxed. “Xu ge is still the one who can grasp the important things hehe. If something like this happens again I definitely will not casually tell others…”

Lu Xu raised his brows again. “Do I count as others?”

“Of course not!” Xu Lele immediately raised his hand as a pledge. “If I hear any news in the future, I will immediately tell you.”

“What are the two of you talking about so secretively?” Xu Haoming wasn’t too far away from Lu Xu, but only see him speaking closely with Xu Lele. He hadn’t heard anything they said.

Before Lu Xu could even open his mouth, Xu Lele had already turned his head and giggled to Xu Haoming, “It’s a secret!”

Xu Haoming pursed his lips. He obviously didn’t take these words seriously and just took it as Xu Lele playing around.

When they arrived at the dormitory, everyone separated and went back to their own dorm rooms to change their clothes, clean, and eat.

When Lu Xu walked to the door, he realized he had forgotten to bring his keys, so he raised his hand and knocked.

Han Tianyu, who was busy looking for his own keys, couldn’t help but laugh. “No way Xu ge, are you hoping for Ba Mei to open the door for us…” The sound of his words hadn’t even landed before he heard a clunk. The door opened from the inside.

“Meow…” Ba Mei sat on the floor, yawning as it waved its tail, obviously having just woken up from a dream.

“Thanks!” Lu Xu rubbed Ba Mei’s head and strode into the dorm.

“Oh my god little Ba Mei, you’re really an intelligent little kitty!” Han Tianyu didn’t even have the time to put away the keys in his hands. His only thought was that the Ba Mei who had opened the door was a fairy kitty.

Song Zhe and Xu Haoming were still being held up at the doorway and immediately urged him. “That’s enough, save your flattery after you go in okay?”

Ba Mei rose with her tail waving about, opening up a path for them.

Lu Xu wasn’t in a hurry to change his clothes after returning to the dorm. Instead, he first went over to take a look at the rope in his drawer. The rope lay safely in the drawer; no one had come to take it.

Was it because she didn’t dare to get past Ba Mei’s guard?

As Lu Xu pondered over this, Han Tianyu, who was standing behind him, suddenly reached over and took the rope. “Xu ge, can you lend me this jump rope? Everything tastes so good so I’ve been eating a little too much recently. I feel like I’ve gained weight and I need to lose it.”

Lu Xu watched as Han Tianyu opened the rope up and started motioning with it. He shrugged as he said, “Since you’ve already taken it, then it’s yours.”

“You’re just giving it to me?” Han Tianyu hadn’t thought of stealing someone else’s possessions and hurriedly explained, “I just want to borrow it, let’s all use it!”

As Han Tianyu spoke, he backed up two steps and started jumping.

Lu Xu sat down at his desk. Ba Mei jumped up and sprawled over the desk. A person and a cat watched Han Tianyu exercise with a rope someone had once hanged herself with.

In light of the female ghost’s immoral personality, she would never appear if the rope was in Lu Xu’s hands.

Although he hadn’t thought of dragging other people down with him, Han Tianyu had been the one to volunteer himself, so Lu Xu couldn’t refuse.

He smiled as he looked at Han Tianyu, and suddenly had a new plan.

Just then, his phone’s WeChat rang with a new message––

[Ji Xiunian: I’ve already spoken with Fan ge, he said he knows a master who’s an expert in this field who can come over and send the ghost off, so don’t worry, it will be resolved soon]

A master?

Send the ghost off?

Lu Xu only felt amused, as usually, he would be the one collecting all the stranded souls that he met. He hadn’t thought that a medium would come by to earn some money.

[SS-Lu Xu: What master, are they reliable? I feel like there are a lot of scammers now. Is he very good?]

Ji Xiunian also didn’t know this Master Lai, only that Fan Zeng had praised them highly, so he thought that they should be somewhat capable––

[Ji Xiunian: I only know his surname is Lai and that he’s a very famous master. Apparently, he’s even come back from the dead. If that’s true, then he should be quite capable.]

Come back from the dead?

Lu Xu’s fingers tapped the table when he heard this––for a cooked duck to take flight again, was that really possible?

[SS-Lu Xu: Wow, coming back from the dead sounds really cool. I hope that this Master Lai comes soon, I can’t wait to meet him!]

He even added a shiba inu sticker with its tongue sticking out, making it look so very cute.

[Ji Xiunian: You’ll be able to meet him very soon. Focus on the competition. Good luck!]

Ji Xiunian put down his phone after replying and glanced down to see that Fan Zeng had gotten someone to send over the trainee uniforms.

Apart from the four usual sets of clothes, there were also the uniforms that the trainees wore when filming the MV.

Ji Xiunian looked at the clothes thoughtfully, not knowing whether those four outsider trainees would be able to receive them after he burned them.

He still wasn’t very familiar with matters regarding the ghost realm, so he just had to wait until he could ask them directly.

3 P.M., as the sun travelled to the west.

The dance studio was bathed in a large afterglow, as if someone had poured golden light onto the ground.

The trainees had changed into their clothes and had split into five groups according to their respective ranks. As an A-rank member, Lu Xu naturally stood in the most obvious position.

“Hehe, we’re also official A-rank members!” He Xinghua said to his teammates, obviously beyond happy.

“Yes yes, this time we can proudly stand beside Master Lu Xu.”

Previously, they had followed Lu Xu because no one else could see them. Now that Ji Xiunian had evaluated the F4, they couldn’t help but puff out their chests, their emotions surging forth.

Lan Gaojie had also squeezed to the front, speechless when he saw the four ghosts following Lu Xu.

He didn’t know what Lu Xu was made of to have summoned four ghosts all at once.

Whatever it was, he would definitely get to center position in this competition. He had already bet everything he owned, no one could take what was his away from him!

That was what Lan Gaojie thought. He looked at Lu Xu again.

The other trainees were nervous or excited, their emotions quite strong. Lu Xu was the only one who was different, as though he would be pleased and content no matter what the situation was.

Lan Gaojie didn’t like that attitude of his and secretly decided in his heart that he would show him.

At this moment, the instructors entered. The filming for the third episode officially began.

Shen Chengyu scanned the surroundings once, his gaze sweeping across everyone’s faces. He said lightly, “Previously, everyone has been fighting on their own, did you feel a little bit lonely?”

“Yes!”

All of the hundred trainees were extremely cooperative and answered in unison.

Shen Chengyu nodded his head in satisfaction and announced the contents for the third episode with a clap of his hands. “This time, our goal is to select eleven outstanding trainees to form a group. In order to get everyone used to the rhythm of this show as quick and easy as possible, we’re going to split you into 16 teams, and teams will pair up and compete against each other.”