Chapter 70 - Ghost’s Bride (6) (1/2)
Bai Xi Xing rubbed his nose and subconsciously looked around. His eyes swept past the location where Cheng Zhi Chu and the groom stood but, like everyone else, he didn’t notice their presence and just lowered his head and muttered a few words. He then revealed a smile and continued to speak to the old man.
“Elder Li, I actually came because I wanted to speak to you. This is something I heard of recently and I thought it was pretty interesting.”
“What is it?”
The old man referred to as Elder Li briefly glanced up at Bai Xi Xing. He didn’t seem to expect to hear anything proper coming from that rascal’s mouth.
“Probably about six or seven years ago, I remember your family going through a bad stage. The two uncles had some problems with their company and was almost about to shut down.”
“But miraculously, just when they were just about to collapse, the company suddenly received several large orders in succession, allowing it to get through the difficult stage. Afterwards, the business got better and better and everything was smooth sailing. Your competing companies not only closed down, they even changed into another line of business leaving your business to take over the whole industry.”
Bai Xi Xing sat casually and had a hint of a smile at his lips. His eyes looked into the distance and he said casually:
“Everyone is curious about how your family was able to turn their fate around. Some said that they saw a child ghost near your villa and suspected that you’re raising a little ghost……..”
“Humph, what nonsense.” Elder Li snorted. He slowly gathered back the fishing line and prepared to take off the hook at the end, “How can a young man like you be so superstitious?”
“I naturally don’t believe in it.” Bai Xi Xing also laughed. “But there is one thing that I have recently confirmed.”
“What is it?”
“Six years ago, when my cousin disappeared, someone saw that you were near the place where he was last seen.” Bai Xi Xing’s gaze suddenly moved over to the old man, “Elder Li, is this true?”
Cheng Zhi Chu who was listening on from the sides was shocked. Elder Li’s action of removing the hook also stopped. The sharp tip left a small wound on the back of his hand and small red beads of blood flowed out.
Cheng Zhi Chu was a little scared. He knew that Bai Yi had disappeared six years ago but he couldn’t tell whether or not the dialogue between Bai Xi Xing and the old man was something that was happening in reality or if it was part of the instance setting.
If it was the former, then does that mean that he can help Bai Yi? And if it was the latter, then why would this instance again involve Bai Yi?
The grooms body turned towards the old man’s direction and he seemed to be looking at him. He then suddenly walked over and placed his hand on the old man’s shoulder and said:
“I have an impression of him too.”
Cheng Zhi Chu heard this, and he became even more confused. The groom not only had an impression of Bai Xi Xing and Bai Yi, he also knew of this old man surnamed Li. He probably lived here in the past and may have also closely interacted with the Bai family.
He couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable. He couldn’t tell if this was reality or just part of the instance setting. If it was something that had truly happened in reality, he couldn’t imagine why the groom would also be buried in the same place. Could his death have some sort of connection with Bai Yi’s disappearance?
What was even more terrifying was that, if the groom’s death and Bai Yi’s disappearance happened at the same time, then what happened to Bai Yi in reality? Could he have——–
His heart trembled fiercely. His attention instantly shifted over to the conversation between the two and he had even forgotten about his own task.
With the groom’s hand on his shoulder, although he couldn’t see him, Elder Li felt his body shudder. He inexplicably felt a chill on his shoulder and his face changed along with it.
A dark shadow flashed through Bai Xi Xi’s eyes. He still maintained a perfect smile: “Elder Li?”
“Ah…….six years ago……..Indeed, Bai Yi that child disappeared.”
Elder Li seemed like he had just returned to his senses and his look returned to normal. He stored away the hook and fishing line in the box and touched the frail hand that was still bleeding. With a look of pain, he said:
“I feel very bad about his situation and I also hope that he can return soon…..”
“But this is something that happened six years ago. My memory isn’t great. The things that I did that day, the places I went, I don’t remember anymore.”
“If it wasn’t for you telling me, I really wouldn’t have known than he had disappeared at a place near me. If I knew that he was there, I would have done everything that this old body can do to save that child. Unfortunately……….sigh………”
“Did you want to ask me about your cousin? In fact, you don’t need to ask in such a roundabout way and just ask me about it directly. But unfortunately, I don’t remember anything and can’t be of help…….”
Elder Li shook his head. He spoke with a tone of deep regret: “My hand was cut by the fishing hook. I’ll go back to disinfect it, so I won’t accompany you. If you still have anything you want to ask, you can find me another day.”
“Not another day. You can answer me now.” Bai Xi Xi smiled, “I haven’t finished asking.”
“This………” Elder Li revealed an uncomfortable expression. He raised his hand, “But look at my hand…….”
“You can come with me. Go to my place and I’ll help you disinfect it.” Bai Xi Xing smiled. His eyes however were cold and he held onto Elder Li’s wrist to stop him from resisting, “I should take responsibility for injuring you, right?”
Elder Li was stunned. He threw away his hand and said angrily: “Not going! You little rascal, stop playing around. I’m not going. Are you going to tie me up and take me over?”
The people around them heard Elder Li’s shouts and their eyes feel on the two people. Bai Xi Xing however didn’t appear to look uncomfortable. He hooked up his lips and moved closer to Elder Li before speaking in a low voice.
“Since you aren’t willing to go with me, that’s fine. I’ll just ask you here instead.”
“Yes, my cousin has disappeared, but our family had never disclosed any details of his disappearance. That day, he just happened to have a conflict with the elders at home and, with his poor temper, many thought that he had left home in anger. Even now many people in our family think this.”
“Only a few people know about the details of cousins disappearance; that he had encountered an accident and disappeared, and was likely attacked by someone.”
“I am certain that the few people who know about it wouldn’t reveal the truth to others but why did Elder Li say earlier that you would have ‘saved’ him?”
There was a hint of playfulness in his tone: “’Save’?”
Cheng Zhi Chu listened on the sidelines and knew that Bai Xi Xing wasn’t telling the truth. Afterall, Bai Xi Xing had revealed to him that Bai Yi had encountered an accident and had gone missing. However, he didn’t disclose that information to anyone so even if Elder Li just happened to learn of this information inadvertently, it wouldn’t have been leaked from him.
Also, based on Bai Xi Xing’s tone, the details regarding Bai Yi’s disappearance was indeed very secretive and only a few people knew about it.
Clearly, Elder Li belonged in the group of people that shouldn’t know about the details. He, however, remained calm and said:
“Your cousin had not returned for many years so how can it be something that he had done in a moment of anger? Isn’t it normal for me to think that he had encountered an accident?”
“Couldn’t it have been an accident that had happened after he left home instead?” The handsome young man raised his eyebrow.
“It’s just a mistaken assumption on my end, but that doesn’t mean anything.” Elder Li said, “I can understand your desire to find your cousin but, with you questioning me like this, are you suspecting me of doing something to your cousin?”
“Well, it’s hard to say. When I connect the fact that, after my cousin’s disappearance, your Li family suddenly received large orders and your business improved——-”
“Bai Xi Xing!”