Three years after my death, Julian finally started going on blind dates. But he brought our kid to every single one, and he couldn't go three sentences without talking about baby purees. I was so annoyed. I decided to make some noise to give him a good scare. Instead, my daughter pointed a chubby finger at me and blinked. "Daddy, over there, there's a..." Before she could finish, Julian peeled a shrimp, popped it into her mouth, and stared straight ahead. "There's nothing over there." 01 Huh? Was there something around me? I looked left and right, but there was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. Forget it. I slowly drifted closer to them. Just in time to see Julian take off the wedding band from his left ring finger and slip it into his pocket. Good. He finally remembered he was here for a blind date. After all, no one likes a guy who's still hung up on his dead ex-wife. I floated around our daughter, Mia, and made a bunch of ugly faces at Julian, but neither of them reacted. Looks like they really couldn't see me. So, I just plopped down in the empty seat right next to the woman sitting across from him. She seemed pretty satisfied with Julian, a polite smile playing on her lips. "I can accept the child. But in return, I'll need some... compensations outlined in the prenuptial agreement." Honestly, aside from having a kid, Julian was a massive catch. The sole heir to the combined Vance and Sterling corporate empires. Six-foot-two, broad shoulders, narrow waist—handsome in a dark, slightly arrogant, intellectual kind of way. When we were kids, I used to pull my punches when we fought just because of that face, leaving only a few bruises on his back instead of giving him a black eye. Julian finished peeling the last shrimp and dropped it into Mia's bowl. Then, he slowly and methodically wiped his hands with a napkin, his tone completely indifferent. "No problem." "But I sleep hugging my late wife's urn every night, and I spend three hours every Sunday purifying myself to honor her memory. Oh, right, and you can't wear white. It's bad luck." The woman fell dead silent. Her eyes drifted down to the crisp white dress shirt Julian was wearing under his suit jacket. She gritted her teeth. "So, what color is your shirt? A kaleidoscopic white?" She had too much class. If it were me, I would have already started throwing sarcastic daggers. Julian looked mildly surprised. "Oh, this is white? My apologies. I'm colorblind." Ha. What a load of crap. Finally, the woman reached her limit, grabbed her designer bag, and stormed out. Mia hopped down from her chair and waved her little hand like a pro. "Bye-bye, lady! Grandma says Daddy's head doesn't work right." 02 The date was a bust. Julian drove Mia home. In the car, Mia was full from dinner and dozing off in the backseat. I hovered over her, pretending to hold her in my arms. She was already five. She looked more and more like Julian every day, except for the shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth—she got those from me. It's such a shame. I only got to be with her for two years. The space where my heart used to be felt incredibly empty. Ghosts can't cry. It's really annoying. I looked up and caught Julian's gaze in the rearview mirror. He glanced at me, then quickly looked away, staring straight at the road. I drifted into the passenger seat up front, stretching lazily like I used to when I was alive. "You know, you're getting up there in years. If you don't find someone soon, by the time you're old, nobody's going to want you. Might as well use what little good looks you have left to marry yourself off." Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that the wedding band was back on the ring finger of his left hand. "Hah." I leaned in for a closer look. "When we got those rings custom-made, you said this one was just 'average.' Why are you treating it like a precious treasure now?" "Heh, I guess as you get older, the only thing that stays tough is that stubborn mouth of yours." As expected, no response. I was just talking to myself. Boring. When I was alive, bickering with Julian every day turned me into someone who loved a good argument. Now that I'm a ghost, being stuck in the living world by myself is incredibly dull. I gave up and just stared out the window at the passing scenery. Suddenly, I heard a very soft murmur from Julian: "You think I'm old?" I didn't quite catch it, so I leaned in closer, curious. "What are you mumbling about? You sound like a buzzing mosquito." Julian didn't say another word, but the corners of his mouth twitched up into a fleeting smile. Weirdo. Just as it got quiet, Julian's phone rang. It was a group voice call from a chat called "The Mia Protection Squad." I came up with that name. When he answered, there were already four people on the line—my parents and his parents. "Julian, honey, how did the meeting go today?" The one asking was my mom. 03 The Vance and Sterling families were old friends, and our houses were close. So Julian and I grew up together. We were childhood sweethearts, technically. But we were the chaotic, fighting kind. If I climbed a tree, he'd kick the trunk. If he went swimming, I'd hide his towel. Basically, we grew up treating each other like sworn enemies. When we grew up and took over our respective family businesses, we constantly sabotaged each other in the corporate world, just to prove who was better. But somehow, our parents decided we needed to get married. Since we didn't actively hate each other, we just went along with it. A year after we got married, Mia was born. Three years after we got married, I died. After I died, the weight of both the Vance and Sterling empires fell entirely onto Julian's shoulders. He had four aging parents to care for, and a child to raise. He did a pretty damn good job. He didn't use the opportunity to swallow up the Sterling Group, and he treated my parents and Mia incredibly well. So, he's spent three years mourning me. That's more than enough. My parents couldn't bear to see him alone for the rest of his life. Plus, I had dropped a few hints in their dreams, so they recently started setting him up on blind dates. Sigh. People have to move forward. Even ghosts do. Julian let out a soft laugh, his tone gentle. "Mom, these things take time. I'm driving Mia home right now, so I've gotta go." My mom sighed over the speaker. "You kids... alright, alright. Remember to bring Mia over for dinner next weekend." Julian agreed and said nothing else. The parents chatted for a bit longer, and the call only ended when the car pulled into our gated community. Julian reached into the back seat, scooped Mia up, and rested her against his chest. As we walked, he patted her back gently, his voice softer than a summer breeze. "Little baby, we're home. Let's take a bath and go to sleep, okay?" I drifted behind him, watching Mia slowly peel her eyelids open. She’d had a great temperament since she was a baby. No crankiness when waking up. Maybe because both her parents were like sticks of dynamite, having a kid turned out to be like having a tiny fire extinguisher. "Daddy, Mommy is here." Mia rubbed her eyes, trying her hardest to keep them open, but they drooped half-shut again. Julian didn't break his stride. "Mm-hmm. Mommy is always here." 04 The house looked exactly the same as it did three years ago. Nothing had changed. My favorite knick-knacks and plushies were exactly where I left them. My clothes still hung in the closet. Even the bedding in the master bedroom was a set I had picked out. Julian... was surprisingly sentimental. I floated nearby, listening to Julian read Mia a bedtime story. He was a lot better at it than he was three years ago. It didn't take long for Mia to fall fast asleep. When she fell asleep, she was still clutching the cherry-print pajamas I bought her. My heart ached looking at her. I hopped onto the bed, lying down next to her, pretending to pull her into my arms. Why couldn't I touch her? Being a ghost is so frustrating. I needed to ask Hades if there was any way, any spell, that would let me touch her just once. If it was a matter of money, that was no problem. Over the last few years, Julian and both sets of parents had burned a mountain of "hell money" for me. I used that cash to team up with some other rich ghost-girlfriends and started a real estate empire in the Underworld. I was practically the richest ghost down there now. The fact that I could come up to the living world and stay for a few days this time was only because I'd accumulated three years of good karma and spent an astronomical amount of spirit money for the privilege. It was just so I could see them one last time before I reincarnated. I didn't stay by Mia's side for too long. Ghosts carry a heavy aura of negative energy. It's bad for the living, especially kids. So, I sneakily—well, openly, since no one could see me—drifted into the bathroom. Julian was taking a shower. Through the steamy mist, the water traced every sculpted line of muscle on his body, flushing his skin a faint pink. Three years hadn't changed a thing. That body was still incredibly distracting. I audibly gulped. I looked at him from behind, from the side, and finally just floated right in front of him for a full frontal view. Julian leaned one hand against the wet tile, running the other through his dripping, dark hair. "Scarlett, you died way too early. We didn't even get to finish trying everything in your 100 Ways to Spice Up the Shower manual." He was smiling, staring dead-on in my direction, as if he were actually talking to me. My ghost-face turned burning hot. I instantly started cursing him out. "You shameless dog! I've been dead for three years! Can't you leave me a shred of dignity? I'm asking you, can you?" After my rant, I floated right out of the bathroom. I definitely couldn't keep watching that. Thinking back to when Julian and I were in bed together... Neither of us ever wanted to submit to the other. He would pin me down and demand I call him "Daddy." I would bite his shoulder and demand he call me "Mistress." To win the war of dominance, I specifically looked up that 100 Ways to Spice Up the Shower manual, determined to conquer him. I never expected it. That was the first time that bastard ever yielded to me. He praised my research skills to the high heavens. He even suggested I find manuals for the bedroom, the living room, the kitchen... Ugh, absolutely insufferable. 05 After Julian finished his shower, he half-lay in bed, reading a book called The Encyclopedia of Parenting. He rarely wore his glasses. But wearing them gave him a very "sophisticated villain" look. I floated next to him, staring at his face. He was still handsome, but it seemed like he had a few fine lines around the corners of his eyes now. "There's actually a perk to being a ghost. Your appearance freezes at the age you died. So, I still look very young." Saying this, I floated down and sat right on top of him, gazing down at his face. "Heh heh, which means you look a lot older than me now. You're out of my league! How about that? I finally won!" Julian suddenly closed his book and took off his glasses. Then he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Scarlett, how could you be so cruel? In three years, you've only visited my dreams exactly once." His voice sounded exhausted, like he was genuinely blaming me. He wasn't wrong, though. I had only visited his dreams once. And that was to strictly lay down the law: he had to mourn me, properly, for at least three years. He had looked thoughtful, then smiled with red-rimmed eyes. "And if I moved on immediately, would you get so mad you'd come back to life?" Without a second thought, I beat the absolute crap out of him in that dream. I never visited his dreams again after that. Thinking about it, I muttered to myself. "Wasn't it because I was afraid my charm was too overpowering? If I visited your dreams too often, you'd never be able to move on." "After all, I, Scarlett Sterling, might not be the most beautiful woman in the world, but I'm definitely top-tier in the state. Back then, the line of guys wanting to marry me could wrap around the earth three times. I only picked you because I thought you'd be easy to bully." As I spoke, I leaned close to his face, making a pinching motion at his cheek. "Get it?" He suddenly opened his eyes, looking directly at where I was hovering. He let out a soft, low chuckle. "Oh? You really think you're that irresistible?" 06 My heart gave two violent thumps—if I still had a beating heart, that is. Could Julian actually see me? But if the Day Patroller gods found out a mortal could see me, they’d deport me back to the Underworld immediately. All this effort would have been for nothing. But the next second, Julian said, "Are you tired of hanging on the wall for three years? Want me to swap you out for someone else?" It was only then I realized he was talking to the massive wedding portrait hanging on the wall behind me. In the photo, I was forcing a fake smile, while Julian had a faint, genuine smirk. Instantly, I was furious. "Oh, I see how it is! You’ve wanted to find a new wife this whole time, huh? It's just that none of your blind dates were good enough for you!" But as soon as the words left my mouth, I felt like a crazy person. I was the one who asked our parents to set him up. I was the one who wanted him to find a new partner. Yet, hearing him say it still made my chest ache. I was conflicted enough when I was alive; why was my ghost-brain still fighting with itself? So annoying. I was so annoyed I made a series of grotesque ghost faces at Julian. I even morphed my face to mimic the gruesome state I was in when I died, trying to scare him. Julian suddenly stopped looking at the wedding portrait and buried his face back in his book. Perfect timing—his phone rang. I glanced at the screen. It was Liam calling. He was a friend we grew up with. He had a gentle personality. When we were kids, he’d always try to break up Julian and my fights, and somehow, he always ended up catching the most stray punches. Julian answered, and Liam's familiar, warm voice came through. "Jules, a friend recommended a highly respected psychiatrist. You should bring your meds and—" He was cut off before he could finish. "Busy. Hanging up." Julian ended the call abruptly. I floated there, stunned for a moment, a single question circling my mind: Why does Julian need to see a psychiatrist? After spinning in circles for a while, I decided to go into Liam's dreams and ask him. Knowing Julian's personality, even if I visited his dreams and asked him directly, he would absolutely lie just to save face. 07 Liam told me that Julian had developed severe PTSD and clinical depression. He had to take massive doses of medication every night just to fall asleep. I was shocked. But thinking back on the details, it made tragic sense. After all, Julian had witnessed a brutal murder. He watched me die right in front of him. Any normal person would have psychological trauma from that. But he had always acted so casual, so flippant. He hid it so well that everyone just ignored the possibility. Liam also mentioned that Julian was planning to kill himself as soon as Mia grew up and became independent. I fell completely silent. That was absolutely not going to happen. So, I made a quick trip back to the Underworld and begged Hades to let me borrow something. 08 I was determined to find a reliable partner for Julian. So, after returning to the living world, I spent days observing Julian. And Maya. Maya was my secretary when I was alive. She had just been hired full-time when she and I were attacked together. Then, I, the boss, died, and Julian took over the company. Right now, she was in the executive lounge, playing with a toy BBQ set with Mia. "Your daddy’s meeting is almost over. Just wait a little longer, okay?" Saying this, she pulled a small box from her pocket. She opened it to reveal a beautiful jade pendant. It looked expensive. It probably cost her several months' salary. Maya slipped the pendant around Mia's neck and tucked it under her shirt. "Wishing little Mia a lifetime of peace and safety." Even though Mia didn't understand the value of the jade, she politely said, "Thank you, Ms. Maya." Then she asked quietly, "Ms. Maya, can I hug you?" Maya froze for a second, then slightly opened her arms. Mia immediately threw herself into Maya's arms, pressing her ear against her chest. "It's beating so fast!" Maya's eyes suddenly filled with tears. At that exact moment, the lounge door opened, and Julian walked in. "Sorry for the trouble." "I heard Apex Corp is trying to poach you? If the position and salary are right, you should consider it. I told you a long time ago, you don't need to stay at Vance Enterprises out of gratitude or guilt." ...How could this guy speak so coldly? Maya stood up, ramrod straight, and replied: "Understood, Mr. Vance. I know." Julian nodded and started packing up Mia's things. Maya watched his back, muttering softly, "Actually, it's not entirely because of that..." She liked Julian, but for complex reasons, she didn't dare say it. I could see it clearly. I had been observing her from every angle these past few days. Not only was she still excellent at her job, but she also knew Julian's personal preferences. She knew he only took half a spoonful of sugar in his coffee, she knew he preferred dark-colored ties... Most importantly, she was incredibly sweet to Mia, and it came from a genuine place. Furthermore, she had my heart beating inside her chest. And Julian really needed to let go of his feelings for me and live a good life. Sigh. Looks like I have to handle this myself. I slowly pulled out a red string. This was the Red Thread of Fate. Once tied, Julian would forget his romantic feelings for me and fall in love with Maya. 09 I tied one end of the red string around Maya's wrist. Then I floated over to Julian, ready to tie the other end. But my hands hesitated. I hovered there for a long time. Just as I finally steeled myself and was about to loop the string around his wrist, I heard him ask Maya: "How are the preparations for our wedding venue coming along?" Their wedding venue? What did that mean? Did this mean they didn't need the red string? They were already engaged? Startled, the red string slipped from my ethereal fingers. I didn't manage to tie it. Maya immediately replied: "We're currently at 100% completion. It matches the traditional style you requested perfectly. The 3D renderings and the promotional rollout plan are already on your desk..." ... Oh. They were talking about a corporate project. I rolled my invisible eyes and prepared to try tying the string on Julian again. But he happened to turn around, scooped Mia up, and walked out of the lounge. So I grabbed a handful of empty air. And because the two of them were no longer in the same room, I couldn't successfully tie the knot. I chased after Julian furiously, yelling at him: "Ahhh! I was so close! You were this close to forgetting me, you jerk!" His footsteps inexplicably faltered for a second, but then he kept walking. I was just about to keep yelling when my ears were assaulted by an ear-piercing ringtone. "Hades wants your soul! Hades wants your soul!" Yes, we have Wi-Fi in the Underworld, and ghosts have smartphones. I nervously pulled my phone out of thin air. As soon as I answered, the roar from the other end nearly blew my eardrums out. "Are you done with your living-world business yet?! I went through hell to steal this Red Thread from Cupid's pocket! Use it quickly before he notices!" "Your three-year death anniversary is in a few days! If you pass the three-year mark, not only can you not reincarnate, your soul will completely dissipate! Stop stalling! Also! You have a mandatory medical checkup the day after tomorrow. You must come back!" I held the phone away from my ear, nodding furiously. "Yes, yes, I'm almost done! I promise! I guarantee I'll be back the day after tomorrow!" After finally hanging up, I sighed. "How am I supposed to leave without worrying?" I floated anxious circles around Julian and Mia. Finally, I muttered to myself: "No way. I have to visit his dreams tonight and give him a serious talking-to."
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