Gu Lili refused sharply. "Why should I?!"
"Because you frightened me," he replied with mock grievance.
"If you're so faint-hearted, how is that my fault?" She brushed off his hand. "Let go—men and women should keep their distance."
But Gu Xichen gripped her arm with stubborn tenacity. "I won't."
She was utterly speechless. Turning to Ye Yan, she said, "Mr. Ye, I'll come to your residence tomorrow night. Your mother told me she'd be waiting there. Shall we meet then?"
Ye Yan gave a small nod, his voice rough with emotion. "Alright. I'll wait for you at home. What's your number?"
They exchanged contact information. Even as they left and got into the car, Gu Xichen's hand never once released her arm.
"Your car's right over there. Why not drive yourself back?"
"I want you to take me," he said, settling into the passenger seat. One hand clutched her arm, while the other made a call instructing someone to retrieve his vehicle.
"I'll take you, but not for free. Ten thousand."
Gu Xichen groaned in dismay. "Are you a swindler? Gu Lili, I'm practically your brother, and you're charging me to drive you home?"
"Even blood brothers settle debts clearly." She would never forgo an open opportunity to fleece him.
"Fine, fine—ten thousand it is. Now drive."
She fastened her seatbelt and started the engine.
"Tonight's been an eye-opener," he said with a sigh. "Why is it that making money seems to come so effortlessly to you?"
"Effortlessly?" she echoed. "Dealing with ghosts I don't even like? Just because I've built up some resistance doesn't mean I can treat them lightly."
"I can't believe my mother never thought of this as a career path," Gu Xichen mused. "If she had, she might've made money faster than my dad ever did."
"It's considered inauspicious by most. My master thought so too. That's why she stayed secluded in the mountains, never sought profit from it. It wasn't until I earned ten million from Madam Gu that I had the idea. But Gu Xichen—don't assume that just because I have this ability, I intend to recklessly exploit it for wealth…" She gave him a sidelong glance. "If I can avoid contact with the dead, I'd still prefer to. However, one thing's certain—I now have more confidence. After all, I carry with me a walking purse. When money runs low, I'll just tap into it. Why not?"
Gu Xichen stared at her profile, then suddenly rested his head on her shoulder.
"It's bad enough you won't keep your hands to yourself. What's with your head now? Move it—I'm driving!"
But he remained unmoved, his voice low. "I'm in a bad mood."
"Well, I'm in an even worse one!"
She kept her eyes on the road, gave her shoulder a shrug, but his head might as well have been glued there—he wouldn't budge.
Just as Gu Lili was about to pull over to the roadside, he abruptly sat up.
"You sat vigil with me before, when my master returned. You weren't this scared then. How can a mere sketch rattle you like this? I truly don't understand."
"Because your drawing was terrifying. And just the thought of that ghost wandering around nearby sends chills down my spine. Especially after you said Ye Yan's mother has been by his side all along. That creeps me out even more… Think about it—we're close friends. We hang out all the time. And sure, I was fine keeping vigil with you—that was my mother. Like Ye Yan, I wasn't afraid. She was my mom. It's the same for him. He might be scared, but he still wants to be close to her."