TMBIABHL: Chapter 60

 Glossary

·Ye Chutang (叶初棠): The female protagonist, the Second Miss of the Ye family.

·Ye Mingze (叶明泽): Ye Heng's son.

·Ye Shixian (叶诗娴): Ye Heng's daughter.

·Ye Xiting (叶西霆): Ye Chutang's deceased eldest brother.

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Chapter 60: Why Would I Be Afraid?

Ye Mingze, being scolded by her, felt very indignant.

"So none of you believe me, is that it?"

Ye Shixian's willow-leaf brows furrowed. "Think about it—you know it's absolutely impossible. How long has he been dead? How could he come back now?"

Ye Mingze retorted, "But Ye Chutang and the others came back too!"

And they were formidable at that!

Ye Shixian simply didn't want to talk to him. "People are people, ghosts are ghosts. Can you lump them together like that? Besides, there are no ghosts in this world to begin with. You must have seen and heard wrong. Father is already troubled enough because of Mother. Don't add to the mess."

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

Ye Mingze's face turned pale with anger. He turned over resentfully and pulled the covers over his head.

"I'm not going back to live in that room anyway!"

Who knew if there was something unclean there!

Ye Shixian closed her eyes, suppressing the fire in her heart.

Her younger brother had been spoiled since childhood, which fostered this willful personality.

He never considered the bigger picture, his mind filled only with himself.

"Impossible. You just changed living quarters. Father would absolutely not agree to you changing again."

Although the residence was large, there was no reason to make such a fuss.

"Besides, if you really did change, wouldn't people then conclude you really did see a ghost? The entire residence would be subject to gossip! Father's current status is what it is. What are you trying to accomplish by doing this?"

This severe dressing-down finally brought Ye Mingze a bit of sense, but he still felt wronged.

The figure he saw before fainting and that carefree, laughing voice were deeply branded in his mind, impossible to shake.

If he continued living there, he'd probably have nightmares every night!

"Then... then can't I just move out to live somewhere else!"

Ye Shixian sneered. "Move where? To the Spring Breeze Pavilion?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Ye Mingze was stumped, a flash of guilt crossing his face.

Just then, a servant reported that Ye Chutang had arrived.

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

Ye Shixian glared at him before saying, "Invite our elder cousin in."

Hearing footsteps and catching a glimpse of that slender, upright figure from the corner of his eye, Ye Mingze snorted coldly and turned away, unwilling to look.

Ye Chutang walked around the screen and saw Ye Mingze lying in bed with his back turned.

His head was wrapped in white bandages, and a bowl of unconsumed dark brown medicinal broth sat by the bed.

It looked like his injuries were quite serious?

Ye Chutang said, "I heard Mingze was injured. I came to see."

Ye Mingze let out a series of cold laughs. "You came to see me make a fool of myself, right?"

"Mingze." Ye Shixian warned him, then said, "Please forgive him, Elder Cousin. Mingze was agitated yesterday and hasn't calmed down yet."

Ye Chutang smiled faintly. "It's alright. Actually, we heard the news last night, but there were too many people coming and going then, so we didn't disturb. If there's any need for help, please don't hesitate to ask."

Before Ye Shixian could speak, she heard Ye Mingze say sarcastically, "Help? Who would dare ask you for help! Ever since you all came back, strange things have been happening one after another in this house. Such bad luck!"

He blurted it out without thinking, and Ye Shixian's face immediately changed.

Such words were fine to think in your heart, but how could they be said to someone's face!

Her heart tightened, and she hurried forward to mediate. "Elder Cousin, Mingze doesn't mean it like that, you—"

"Strange things?" Ye Chutang asked in return. "You mean, running into my elder brother's spirit returning last night?"

Although Ye Heng had strictly forbidden the servants from spreading this, there were no walls that didn't leak wind. Not just within the Ye household, but even many outsiders had heard about it.

Hearing her bring it up proactively, Ye Mingze simply stopped pretending and laid his cards on the table.

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

Hearing such an accusation, Ye Chutang didn't get angry. Instead, her eyebrow lifted slightly. "This is Elder Brother's home. Isn't it normal for him to return?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Her words fell, and the room fell dead silent.

Ye Mingze's expression froze on his face. He never expected Ye Chutang to react like this!

Weren't ordinary people supposed to refute such talk? Why wasn't she the slightest bit superstitiously avoidant of it!?

Ye Chutang looked around, examining every detail of the room's furnishings, a look of remembrance appearing in her eyes.

"This table, chairs, screen—Father picked them all according to Elder Brother's preferences. He had a lively personality. Sometimes when he didn't want to study, he would lie here alone to laze around, sleeping the whole afternoon away."

Ye Mingze's hair stood on end!

The corners of Ye Chutang's red lips curved slightly, as if recalling interesting past events. She smiled and said, "Actually, it's not just this spot. He's been everywhere in this house, knows it well. In the past, when my health was poor, he would take A-Yan and A-Feng running all over the place, then bring back delicious food and secretly deliver it to my room, telling me not to tell anyone."

As she spoke, Ye Chutang's slender, jade-white fingers lightly traced along the armrest of the chair, and she sighed softly.

"It's a pity, it's all in the past."

Ye Mingze opened his mouth to speak but hadn't uttered a word before meeting Ye Chutang's gaze as she looked over.

Her dark, gentle eyes were clear and tranquil as she said sincerely, "So I really do envy you, Mingze. Can you tell me how you happened to see my elder brother? I miss him very much too."

Ye Mingze's face turned deathly pale, a chill shooting straight to the top of his head.

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

Who could have imagined Ye Chutang would... she actually came to ask about this!?

Ye Shixian's throat tightened. She forced a smile at the corner of her mouth, though it looked more pitiful than a cry.

"E-Elder Cousin, don't joke. There are no ghosts or gods in this world. It's just that Mingze saw wrong for a moment, causing a misunderstanding—"

"There aren't?" Ye Chutang interrupted her, blinking lightly. "But I believe the gods are three feet above our heads. Right and wrong in this world, the cycle of cause and effect—there is retribution for all."

Ye Shixian's heart gave a thump. She closed her mouth.

Ye Mingze looked at the young woman in disbelief. She appeared extremely gentle and refined, yet the words she spoke softly and slowly landed like heavy hammers, smashing down on his head!

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

Yet Ye Chutang seemed completely unaware of the immense impact her words had caused on them. She shook her head and sighed.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

"Or is it that such encounters are a matter of fortune, not something one can seek?"

A chill ran through Ye Mingze's heart. Looking at Ye Chutang, he found it utterly incomprehensible.

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

"You... you're not afraid? But that... that was—"

"Afraid?" Ye Chutang tilted her head slightly. The corners of her lips relaxed into a faint smile. As if remembering something, her eyes seemed veiled by a layer of hazy mist, making her inscrutable.

She spoke softly, word by word:

"That was the elder brother who protected me and kept me safe since I was little. I can't wait to see him again. Why would I be afraid?"

(End of Chapter)

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