Midnight Bookstore

Translated by XephiZ

Edited by Aelryinth

“Speaking of which, it’s really strange that I didn’t see a single cab today.”

After throwing the fan away, Xu Qinglang stacked the remaining stuff together to move back to his restaurant. He could build the desktop there.

“Maybe you’re just unlucky,” Zhou Ze did not take the question seriously. He went out of the bookstore to smoke.

The sun in the morning was soothing.

Bai Yingying did not enjoy the sun, most likely because of her origin and her nature. However, it did not necessarily mean she would turn into ashes and scatter into the air like the gyonshis in the old Hong Kong dramas as soon as she made contact with sunlight.

According to Xu Qinglang, even though Bai Yingying did not turn into a terrifying drought demon, she was no longer just a low-level gyonshi after being nurtured by Madam Bai’s soul for two hundred years.

If Bai Yingying really wanted to, she could easily just claim a new identity and live among the humans in the city.

Unfortunately, Zhou Ze was now holding onto her soul blood, so she could not afford to leave. She did not seem to have the intention to leave either, since she might end up being struck to death by a bolt of lightning. After all, she was not pleasing to the eye of the Heavens.

“You should smoke less, you’ve been smoking a lot lately.” The sister-in-law left the bookstore. She was going out to have some fun.

Zhou Ze ignored her advice.

As a matter of fact, Zhou Ze was quite envious of the girl. She was living in a comfortable environment. She might be naive and dumb, but that was a kind of happiness, too.

It was unlike him, a kid from an orphanage who grew up feeling insecure. He had given his all to succeed in life.

Just like his childhood friend Wang Ke, who was so hardworking that he did not even know his wife had been going out regularly to do her hair (have an affair).

Zhou Ze suddenly realized that the sixth sense might actually be a thing when he saw a red sedan stopping in front of his bookstore.

The people that came out of it were familiar. They were Wang Ke’s wife and the little girl.

“Hi, sister and uncle,” the little girl greeted politely.

The sister-in-law could not help but crouch in front of the little girl and pinched her face, “She’s so adorable.”

The woman smiled at Zhou Ze and said, “I’m going to get my hair done. She’ll be staying here to read some books.”

“Sure,” Zhou Ze agreed.

The woman thanked Zhou Ze and went back into the car. She soon turned the corner and left in a hurry.

The sister-in-law hailed a ride and left too. She reminded Zhou Ze not to tell her sister what she was up to.

The little girl stood beside Zhou Ze at the entrance as he continued to smoke.

“Are you back yet?” Zhou Ze suddenly said.

“Uncle, what do you mean?” the little girl seemed confused. She was adorable as usual.

“Hehe,” Zhou Ze patted the little girl on her head, “Come, time to read some books.”

Zhou Ze gave the little girl the book Guwen Guanzhi and asked, “How are you doing at school?”

“My results are pretty good,” the little girl said proudly.

“Do you have any hobbies?” Zhou Ze asked.

“I’m learning ballet and piano,” the little girl replied.

“Fancy a drink?”

“I want to drink Coke!” The little girl stuck her tongue out, “My mum never lets me drink it.”

Zhou Ze nodded. He went over to Xu Qinglang’s restaurant and came back with a can of Coke. “Here you are.”

The little girl took it and said in a sweet voice, “Thanks, uncle!”

The girl took a sip of the Coke and flipped the page. She started reading it enjoyably.

“So you’re back,” Zhou Ze got himself a glass of water and said.

The little girl slowly withdrew her adorable look. Her expression suddenly became thoughtful, like an adult.

She waved the book around and said, “It was too late when I figured I shouldn’t be reading this.”

The little girl was holding the Guwen Guanzhi that Zhou Ze had given her. It was not written in vernacular, nor was it the edition for kids.

{TL Note: Guwen Guanzhi is an anthology of essays written in literary Chinese. It’s unlikely that a kid would understand literary Chinese.}

“Why are you here?” Zhou Ze asked. -Did she take care of the guy in Chengdu? Is that why she’s back?-

“I just came back from Hell. I’ve been missing you, so I came to see you.” The little girl stood up and looked at Zhou Ze with a smile, “I realize that you’re pretty lazy. You’ve been slacking a lot.”

“I don’t understand,” Zhou Ze asked.

“The performance evaluation says that my performance is the worst among the Envoys in this area,” the little girl licked her lips, “I told you to do whatever you like, but I didn’t expect you to be slacking so much.”

“Performance evaluation?” Zhou Ze’s heart skipped a beat.

“What’s the problem? Do you think the Envoys aren’t evaluated based on their performance?” the little girl asked.

“Can I… look at it?”

“Why didn’t you ask me why I can’t just give it to you?”

The little girl went up to Zhou Ze. She wanted to look into Zhou Ze’s eyes, yet she was just too short. Once she got closer, Zhou Ze was staring down at her. It made her feel uncomfortable.

She waved her hand and snapped angrily, “Lift me up.”

Zhou Ze bent forward and lifted up the little girl, so her eyes were at the same level as his.

“Do you think I’m not aware of what you’re after?” The little girl rubbed Zhou Ze’s chin with her cold finger. “Aren’t you trying to become a regular?”

Zhou Ze nodded. He had no reason not to admit it.

“I’ll tell you something good. I’ll be heading to Chengdu soon, and once I take care of the guy that has been messing around, they might move me elsewhere for a promotion. I can give you my spot based on how well your performance is for the next month.”

The little girl was giving him a pie in the sky.

Zhou Ze understood what the little girl was up to. It was like someone working in a company handing their job to other people so they could go out and earn some extra income.

“Or maybe there’s another possibility,” Zhou Ze said.

“What is it?”

“That you might die in Chengdu, and I will naturally replace you.”

Zhou Ze did not want anything to happen to the guy in Chengdu, since he had helped him in his dream.

The reason he was being so blatant to the girl was very simple. It was unnecessary to play mind games between them.

“Hehe…” The little girl did not seem to be angry. She jumped down from Zhou Ze’s arms and placed her hands behind her as she said, “Do you think the guy stands a chance against us? You have no idea how many Envoys have been sent after him.”

“You shouldn’t try and explain the situation to me,” Zhou Ze lit up a cigarette and took a puff of it. He said, “It simply means you’re afraid, too.”

“Don’t think too highly of him, and yourself!” The little girl turned around and stared at Zhou Ze in the eyes. “Aren’t you a doctor? Why are you hoping that I would die? Don’t you think I’m adorable?”

“Wow, such an adorable little girl? Where did she come from?”

Bai Yingying happened to be coming down the stairs. She immediately went up to the little girl to give her a hug.

“Madam Bai?” the little girl frowned slightly.

“Ugh…” Bai Yingying immediately realized she was no ordinary little girl.

“Oh, my old neighbor has already left after she was done with her cultivation, you’re the empty shell she left behind!” The little girl rolled her eyes at Zhou Ze and snapped, “No wonder fewer ghosts are showing up, it’s because you’re letting her stay with you!”

“And you are?” Bai Yingying asked timidly.

“I don’t have much time. I only came to remind you that I’m not worried if you’re having some thoughts. Everyone has their own thoughts.” The little girl went to the shelves and said, “I’ll be back in a month. I don’t know if you will take my spot, or if I’ll be promoted. However, if you don’t improve your performance by the end of next month, there’s no need for you to stay in the living world. You will go back to Hell and drink the Mengpo Soup.”

The little girl’s head slanted as she fell unconscious after she finished the sentence. A black light burst out of her body and disappeared into the ground!

Biu! “Boss, who’s she? An Underworld Judge?” Bai Yingying asked nervously.

“She’s an Envoy, I’m just substituting for her temporarily. She’s the official Envoy,” Zhou Ze picked up the little girl that had fallen asleep and placed her in the chair behind the counter before placing a blanket on her.

“She’s just an Envoy. Why was she acting bossier than an Underworld Judge?”

“You’ve seen a Judge before?”

“No.”

“Your madam, what would her role be after she returned to Hell?”

“I’m not too sure, but I think she should be a mandated woman in Hell.”

As they were speaking, a middle-aged man in a police uniform came into the bookstore.

The temperature slightly rose as soon as he came in. Both Zhou Ze and Bai Yingying immediately felt uneasy, as if something was stabbing their back.

Zhou Ze turned around and looked at the man. He was wearing a service cap. The badge on it was reflecting the sunlight.

The man had a square face, thick lips, a muscular build, and an imposing demeanor.

“Boss, any books that you recommend? I’ll be leaving for an official trip soon. I’m thinking of getting some books to read during the journey.” The policeman took his cap off and scratched his head.

“Sure, give me a moment.” Zhou Ze smiled. He took a closer look at the man to see if he was a ghost. He then went to the shelves and picked out some books for the man.

The man received the books. He was startled when he saw the first book, The Basic Knowledge of Public Security.

He was stunned again when he saw the title of the second book, People’s Police Law of the People’s Republic of China.

The remaining two books were Theories and Practical Ways of Resolving Conflicts and A Thorough Explanation on Close Quarters Combat.

The man took a deep breath, as if he was trying to come up with an excuse. He placed the books down.

“Sorry that I wasn’t being clear enough. I’m going away for a vacation with my son. I was worried that he might get bored along the journey, so I’m getting some books for him. He likes reading horror.”

“Oh, got it.” Zhou Ze took out two books from a box under the shelves and gave them to the man.

The books were Scary Internet Stories and Dreadful Radio Game.

The policeman nodded in satisfaction, “These are perfect!”