Flowers of the Departed Souls - Chapter 20

After settling Chi Ziming and Kelou, Luo Xiaofeng returned home. Originally, to look out for each other, she wanted them to share a room so they could detect any situation in time, and Kelou could also protect Chi Ziming.

However, after Chi Ziming woke up from his second coma, his personality became even more reclusive and strange. He didn’t want to say anything. He insisted on being alone, and they had no choice but to comply.

On her way home, she was also pondering the same question: why had all the incidents lately involved guests at her inn, while she herself lived in the inn for three years and remained perfectly safe?

So, who was next, Chi Ziming or Kelou? And why did the first suicide happen on Chi Ziming’s first day, and he remained safe until now? Could it have something to do with him?

She really didn’t want things to continue happening, but she found herself truly powerless. If she were the owner, she would really tear down or close the inn, but she wasn’t. And her uncle had traveled to Egypt, as if he always had endless energy and financial resources to wander everywhere, regardless of whether his wife and daughter were safe and sound, or whether his business was already in trouble. It was as if his life was meant for constant wandering; otherwise, he wouldn’t be himself anymore.

Although, whenever her uncle returned, he would always bring things for his wife and daughter, as well as for herself and Grandma, how could these make up for the ever-widening emotional gaps? As she grew older, she also felt that Luo Yifu no longer spoke of her father with infinite respect and pride as she used to, especially after Luo Xiaojie’s disappearance. Luo Yifu even refused to mention her father anymore.

Unconsciously, she had arrived at her doorstep. Since she started working at the inn, she had basically been sleeping there. She felt a little guilty towards her grandma. After she started working at the inn, everything inside and out required her attention, so she had almost no time to spend with her grandma. Occasionally, she would come home for a visit, but it was always rushed. But in recent years, she had almost never slept at home.

The older she got, the smaller her house seemed. What was once a grand image to her was now a dilapidated old house, but once, she had been so attached to it.

Luo Xiaofeng brought some cooked dishes home. As soon as she reached the door, she called out, “Grandma, I’m home! I brought you your favorite braised Osmanthus fish with spring onions!”

She put down the bento box, but after a long time, there was no response. Feeling a bit strange, she went to Grandma’s bedroom. She knocked on the door, still no response. Had she gone out? She pushed the door open and saw Grandma half-lying on the bed, her face covered in sweat. Luo Xiaofeng was startled. “Grandma, what’s wrong?”

She touched Grandma’s forehead; it was burning hot. “I’ll go get the doctor.”

Luo Xiaofeng’s hand was pulled by Grandma. “I’m fine. I’ll be alright soon. Really, I’m fine.”

“What exactly happened? Let’s still see a doctor.”

“It’s just a cold and fever. It’s really nothing. It’s not the first time. You know, Grandma is most afraid of injections.”

“But—”

“No buts. Get a towel and wet it with cold water, then place it on my forehead.”

“Okay, I’ll go get it right away.”

Luo Xiaofeng turned to get the towel. She paused as she passed through the corridor, glancing at the photos on the wall. They were photos of her grandfather and parents. Although she missed them, she still hoped to see them again. She knew that the possibility of such a reunion was minuscule. They must have been gone from this world for a long time; otherwise, why wasn’t Grandma’s photo up there? Living people weren’t on it.

She suddenly felt a heavy aura of death clinging to the photos of her parents and grandfather, like the cold wind of the corridor, lingering over them. This feeling sent shivers down her spine, and the pervasive coldness seemed to suddenly lock every pore. She felt the aura of death so clearly.

Luo Xiaofeng quickly hurried through the corridor, dampened the towel, and placed it on Grandma’s forehead. Looking at Grandma now, she saw, to her horror, that Grandma’s face was enveloped in the same aura as the photos of her parents. No, Grandma couldn’t die. This cursed death. No, I’m just overthinking. There’s no such thing as a death aura in this world.

“Grandma, do you feel any better?”

Grandma still lay there, her eyes slightly closed, her breath seeming a bit weak. “Grandma is fine… just need to sleep it off…”

Luo Xiaofeng smoothed out the quilt. When she went to lift Grandma’s hand, she paused, but then she put her hand back under the quilt and looked around. Everything seemed settled. “If you need anything, call me, Grandma. I’m going to my room.”

With that, Luo Xiaofeng retreated. At this moment, Luo Xiaofeng’s heart was filled with another kind of fear. This fear, besides making her aware of that cold, gray aura of death, also made her feel that this place was even more terrifying than the inn. At least, there were Kelou and Chi Ziming there. Here, it was just her.

When she picked up Grandma’s hand, what she felt was a patch of black, velvety hair.