Chapter 032

Over the next two days, under President Zhang’s warm hospitality, Qiao Man happily enjoyed himself in City X for a few more days.

City X might not be a tourist city, but it had plenty of sights, distinctive landscapes, and local delicacies. The itinerary President Zhang’s assistant had planned was packed with activities yet never exhausting. Everywhere they went, a private car was waiting. They stayed in a five-star hotel and dined at Michelin Black Pearl¹ restaurants. Qiao Man, who’d grown up in the mountains, had never experienced anything like it.

He found joy in everything he saw. Brimming with energy every day, he’d crawl over at the crack of dawn and tug Lu Jianxing out the door. The two of them explored every corner of City X. The city was far more fun than the mountains, and Xiao Man absolutely loved playing with Xingxing.

On the evening of their third day in City X, Qiao Man hugged a Little Yellow Duck swim ring as he soaked in the spacious bathtub. In this luxury suite, the tub couldn’t even be called a tub—it was as big as a small pool. Lying back in his swim ring, he could actually swim around in it.

He swam from one end to the other, and when he got tired, he sprawled on the lounge chair by the floor-to-ceiling window, cradling a glass of hot milk in a wine goblet, feet propped up and toes wiggling contentedly.

Outside the window, the neon-lit nightscape buzzed with traffic, dazzling the five-year-old Master Xiao Man.

Before he could even lift a finger, his assistant Xingxing held a forkful of bite-sized fruit up to his mouth. Qiao Man happily opened wide and gobbled it right up.

Ah, this was living like a little immortal!

The TV in the suite was playing a modern drama, and the male lead was standing before his own floor-to-ceiling windows in a luxury downtown high-rise, admiring the night view. Qiao Man glanced at the screen, immediately imitated the man, and gulped down a big mouthful of hot milk from his wine glass.

The glass was a bit large—he needed both hands to hold it steady. When he set it down, a ring of milk mustache clung to his upper lip.

Assistant Xingxing wiped it off with a tissue, then took the milk cup from his hands.

“Xingxing, where are we going to play tomorrow?”

Qiao Man counted on his fingers. “We went to the museum, and the big park… Can we go to the amusement park? Yesterday from the car I saw a really, really huge Ferris Wheel. I’ve seen one on TV, and I want to ride it too.”

Qiao Man swung his feet excitedly. “Xingxing, I want to see giant pandas too. Can I pet them? I never saw any on the mountain.”

“Xingxing, I’ll take you to eat big crabs!”

Master Xiao Man had earned quite a lot of money on his first business trip, and the check was now safely kept inside his Little Yellow Duck Backpack. Lu Jianxing hadn’t touched the money he’d earned, planning to open a bank account and deposit it for him later.

As for the next part of their itinerary, Assistant Xingxing had his own ideas.

“Xiao Man.” Lu Jianxing forked a piece of peach and brought it to his mouth. Only after he’d eaten it did he say, “We’ve been in City X for several days now. You’ve already helped Grandpa Zhang’s son resolve his problem, so doesn’t this business trip need to come to an end?”

Qiao Man looked a little reluctant, but obediently nodded. “Mm!”

This business trip was so much fun. He wanted to go on another one next time.

Lu Jianxing fed him another piece of peach. “Since the business trip is over, doesn’t that mean it’s time to go home?”

Qiao Man’s mouth was stuffed full, so he could only nod in agreement. “Mm-hmm!”

“Haven’t I been really supportive of your work these past few days? So, in return, will you support my work too?”

“Mm-hmm, mm-hmm!”

Lu Jianxing seized the moment. “Then I’ll buy a plane ticket and send you home tomorrow, okay?”

“Mm-hmm… Mm?”

Qiao Man sat up, gulped down the peach, and looked at him warily. “Send me home? Xingxing, aren’t you coming back with me?”

The child’s eyes were dark and clear, reflecting his own image in their pupils. It seemed no little scheme could hide from him, and Lu Jianxing knew this coaxing method had failed.

He set the plate down and said helplessly, “Xiao Man, you know I have to join the production and start filming. Tomorrow I really do have to go to the set.”

“I can go with you,” Qiao Man said anxiously. “Just like you came on my business trip with me, I can accompany you too!”

“That’s different.”

What’s different about it?

Qiao Man’s eyes reddened again. He squeezed himself into Lu Jianxing’s arms, wishing he could shrink even smaller so he could tuck himself into Xingxing’s pocket and be carried everywhere.

He pressed his little face hard against Lu Jianxing’s chest, his voice muffled and thick with tears. “But… but I don’t want to leave you. I want to see you every day, be with you every single day… Xingxing, I’m still just a little kid. I’ll get scared.”

He sobbed, his tears soaking Lu Jianxing’s clothes. “When you’re not home, I’ll go hungry, and other kids will bully me. Uncles and aunties will spank me and steal my ice cream, and they won’t let me watch cartoons. Xingxing, I’m so pitiful. Just bring me with you—I’ll be really good.”

Lu Jianxing: “…”

What other kids? What uncles and aunties? What drama had he been watching this time?

Half heartbroken and half amused, Lu Jianxing explained, “I asked Sister Yun to look after you. Sister Yun only has a little sister at home, and she’s always been so nice to you, right? She’ll bring you to visit me on set, and we can talk on the phone every day. You’ll still see me all the time.”

Qiao Man shook his head.

Qiao Man slipped out of his arms and lay down on the soft carpet. He turned his back to Lu Jianxing, facing the dazzling neon nightscape outside the window, and silently shed tears.

The dim yellow light of a small lamp above fell on his tiny body, and his back looked as pitiful as could be.

Lu Jianxing pinched the bridge of his nose, crouched down beside him, and was about to coax him further when his phone rang.

He took it out and saw it was President Zhang calling.

“Hello.” As soon as the call connected, President Zhang asked eagerly, “Xiao Lu, is Master Xiao Man there?”

Lu Jianxing glanced at the child on the floor. “He is.”

“That’s great. Please have Master Xiao Man take the call—I have something important to ask of him,” President Zhang said.

Lu Jianxing sought the child’s opinion. “Xiao Man?”

Qiao Man didn’t respond.

Lu Jianxing spoke into the phone. “President Zhang, he’s busy.”

“Then put it on speaker and let me say a word to Master Xiao Man. Just a quick word.”

The child on the floor didn’t move. The assistant Xingxing crouched down, turned on speakerphone, and placed the phone next to his head. Lu Jianxing said, “President Zhang, go ahead.”

President Zhang’s familiar voice came through the phone. “Master Xiao Man, Master Xiao Man? Are you there? I have an extremely urgent matter and need your help!”

Qiao Man sniffled. “What’s wrong?”

The child’s voice sounded a bit off. President Zhang wondered for a moment, then quickly explained his purpose. “Here’s the thing: I have a friend who’s run into a bit of trouble lately, also related to that kind of thing. He heard that you helped me resolve the trouble at my company, and he specifically came to me asking for help. Master Xiao Man, do you have any time? Could I trouble you to make a trip over?”

Qiao Man rolled over on the floor, face-down on the carpet, and said miserably, “Can’t.”

President Zhang grew anxious. “Master Xiao Man, my friend is also in City X, very close. It won’t be much trouble for you. You’re still in City X, aren’t you? If you could just stop by on your way to take a look…”

Qiao Man couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst into loud sobs. “I’m going home! I’m going back tomorrow! I can’t stay here!”

The sudden wailing startled President Zhang, and all the persuasive words he had been about to say were swallowed back down. The kid was crying so loudly; President Zhang tried coaxing him a couple of times but couldn’t calm him down, and over the phone, he nearly broke into a sweat from anxiety.

“Xiao Lu.” President Zhang called for reinforcements on the phone. “Xiao Lu, quick, soothe him. Oh dear, why is he crying so pitifully? What’s wrong? If he doesn’t want to go home, then don’t go. Staying here a few more days is no problem.”

Lu Jianxing wanted to pick up the child, but Qiao Man rolled another circle on the floor, moving even farther away. He was utterly miserable, curled up like a little stray dog, letting out sad, whimpering sounds from his throat.

He hurriedly placated President Zhang with a few words, hung up, and focused on calming the child. But the room was too spacious, and Qiao Man, angry and unwilling to be held, rolled forward another circle every time Lu took a step forward. After chasing two steps without catching him, the phone rang noisily again.

This time it was Maomao.

Maomao had arrived in City X with them, but instead of going with them to President Zhang’s company to catch ghosts, he had gone ahead to the film crew to prepare. Usually, Maomao would send a message if he had something to say, rarely calling directly.

Lu Jianxing had no choice but to answer.

“Hey, Brother Lu?”

On the other end, Maomao, from some unknown spot, asked in a hushed breathy voice, “Brother Lu, has Xiao Man gone back? Is he still in City X?”

Lu Jianxing: “Mm.”

“Great!” Maomao sounded relieved, his voice brightening considerably. “Brother Lu, could you bring Xiao Man over to the film crew? The neighboring crew seems to be haunted!”

Lu Jianxing froze, stunned. On the floor, Qiao Man, who had been rolling around, also stopped. He tilted his head slightly, one ear perking up to eavesdrop.

Noticing this, Lu Jianxing put the call on speaker. Maomao’s voice came through clearly. “Didn’t you tell me to come ahead to get things ready? There’s more than one crew filming here. As it happens, I have a friend working on the neighboring crew, and when I’m free I go hang out with him. And guess what I found out?”

“Their props keep mysteriously disappearing, they almost had an accident during filming yesterday, and even more terrifying, the camera captured a ghostly shadow!”

“I heard that someone died on this site before, and the restless spirit lingers here, never leaving. Not sure if it’s true or not.”

“Brother Lu, think about it. Our two crews are so close. If there really is a ghost, won’t it just wander over to our side?”

Maomao lowered his voice again. “My friend says the neighboring crew plans to hire a master to take a look. But some random master from outside can’t compare to Xiao Man. So… Brother Lu, could you ask Xiao Man if he can come over and catch the ghost?”

Before Lu Jianxing could say anything, Qiao Man had already flipped over and scrambled to his feet.

He grabbed onto Lu Jianxing’s pants and jumped up and down, trying to make his voice reach the other end of the phone.

He shouted, “Let me go! Let me go!”

“I… I’m super good at catching ghosts!”

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Translator’s Notes

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1. Black Pearl: The Black Pearl Restaurant Guide (黑珍珠餐厅指南) is a prestigious Chinese restaurant ranking system, often considered China’s equivalent to the Michelin Guide. It awards one to three ‘diamonds’ to establishments based on culinary excellence, service, and cultural heritage. ↩