At midnight, Yu Daohen opened the shop on time. This time, with Zhang Jingyi's help, he didn't have to do the chores like boiling water himself.
For the next week, no customers came. Except for Xu Yaya, who would come on weekends to cook for Yu Daohen, there were basically no other visitors to the shop.
At midnight, Yu Daohen opened for business as usual. Zhang Jingyi was also obedient, except for helping Yu Daohen clean and boil water, she mostly hid in the jade pendant.
The dragon fish in the aquarium, however, was active. It swam around the tank all day, watching the figures moving back and forth outside: Why are there so many little ghosts these days?
Since he started keeping this dragon fish, Yu Daohen had gained a talking companion during his night shifts. Although it wasn't as peaceful as before, he didn't mind this feeling.
Yu Daohen opened his eyes, glanced at the situation outside, and then continued to lie on the rocking chair, resting with his eyes closed: I don't know. It's none of my business, so I'll stay out of it.
These were considered lonely ghosts, usually resulting from suicide or accidental death.
These ghosts generally couldn't enter the underworld for reincarnation. They had to wait until their lifespan ended and be taken back by the underworld's emissaries.
Moreover, ordinary people couldn't see them, and they couldn't harm people. At most, they would follow ordinary people or steal some incense offerings.
But it was strange, these lonely ghosts usually hid in the suburbs and didn't wander into the city.
After a while, an old ghost and a young ghost stood at the door. Yu Daohen opened his eyes, glanced at them, and then closed them again: This is not a place you can just come to. If you don't want to dissipate into nothingness, leave quickly.
The two ghosts at the door knelt down. The old ghost spoke, "We hope Master Yu will bestow some incense."
Ghosts in the human realm were generally divided into two types: malevolent ghosts and benevolent ghosts.
Malevolent ghosts strengthened themselves by consuming humans, while benevolent ghosts mainly relied on incense offerings to maintain their spiritual form. Therefore, the Supernatural Bureau would regularly go to the suburbs to burn incense to provide for these lonely ghosts.
Yu Daohen continued to rest with his eyes closed, "I remember the Supernatural Bureau provides you with some incense offerings every month."
The old ghost replied, "We can't go to the suburbs anymore. They've been occupied by malevolent ghosts."
Yu Daohen got up from the rocking chair, went to the drawer, took out a pack of incense, lit them all, and stuck them outside the door.
Although he wasn't a great philanthropist, he could still afford this incense that cost ten yuan a pack.
As soon as Yu Daohen finished sticking the incense and returned to the rocking chair, countless figures rushed forward, scrambling for the incense.
Yu Daohen glared at the figures outside and cursed, "All of you, be quiet! One stick per ghost. Anyone who dares to take more, I'll make them dissipate into nothingness."
As soon as he finished speaking, it became instantly quiet outside. Yu Daohen continued to rest with his eyes closed.
The next morning, while Yu Daohen was still resting with his eyes closed, Xu Yaya arrived at the shop and walked in with light footsteps.
Yu Daohen didn't open his eyes and said directly, "Your aura is too strong."
Xu Yaya was a little disappointed, "I thought you wouldn't notice."
Yu Daohen opened his eyes and sat up, "You should be in school. Why did you come here?"
Xu Yaya placed the freshly bought soy milk and fried dough sticks on the table, "We started our holiday yesterday. Because the Western restaurant was busy, we didn't call you."
As Xu Yaya spoke, she went to the drawer again, took out two sticks of incense, lit them, and stuck them in front of the jade pendant. Then, she fed the dragon fish some snail meat she had bought.
Seeing Xu Yaya feeding it, the dragon fish poked its head out of the water and said, "Oh, little beauty, you've come to feed me again."
Yu Daohen glanced at the dragon fish in the aquarium. This guy was so glib all day. Every time she came, he made Xu Yaya laugh uncontrollably. Moreover, he was picky and wouldn't eat ordinary feed, insisting on meat.
Yu Daohen was a bit helpless. He opened the plastic bag, picked up a piece of fried dough stick with his hand, and started eating. He asked, "You're not helping at the Western restaurant, but you came here. You didn't come just to bring me breakfast, did you?"
After feeding the dragon fish, Xu Yaya came to sit next to Yu Daohen, looking a little embarrassed, "Um, Brother Yu, do you have any plans today?"
Yu Daohen dipped the fried dough stick in the soy milk and asked, "Nothing much, why?"
Xu Yaya lowered her head, "I want Brother Yu to accompany me to a party."
Xu Yaya's voice was very soft, but Yu Daohen heard it all, "A party? It would be awkward for me to go."
Xu Yaya still lowered her head, "Everyone is bringing their boyfriends, so I want to bring you."
Yu Daohen looked down at his shorts and worn-out flip-flops. Except when he went out for business, he always wore flip-flops and shorts year-round. Going to a party like this would be embarrassing for Xu Yaya.
Seeing Xu Yaya with her head down, Yu Daohen reluctantly agreed, "Alright, I'll go with you."
Xu Yaya beamed with joy, "Then I'll go help at the Western restaurant first. See you tonight."
Yu Daohen felt a bit helpless. This little girl insisted on coming in person for something that could have been said over the phone.
After finishing the soy milk and fried dough sticks, Yu Daohen closed the shop door and went to the back courtyard to sleep.
It wasn't until three o'clock in the afternoon that Yu Daohen woke up.
He tidied up the shop a bit, tied his hair up, leaving a few strands in the front. Then, in a rare display, he changed into a different set of clothes and put on a black trench coat.
As Yu Daohen pushed open the door and walked towards the front shop.
"You, this is?"
A voice came from the direction of the well.
Yu Daohen turned his head towards the well and gave an embarrassed smile, "Is something strange about it?"
"No, you look quite good."
After a few seconds, the voice continued.