CHAPTER 539: CHAPTER 539 SORRY, I LOVE YOU

Seeing his parents sometimes lost and sometimes happy, Yuan Kaiyang was a bit confused.

However, he didn’t want to think too much about it now; he just wanted to go home.

"Yes, let’s go home."

Only then did the couple react, each holding his hand, ready to head down the steps.

Before they reached the steps, however, a young girl came up. She paused when she saw them, then gave a professional smile.

"Sorry, I’ll open the door right away, but if you want coffee, you’ll have to wait for a bit."

Deng Huiling was just about to suggest they stroll around a bit and come back later.

Whether they would come back or not, only heaven knew; it was just an excuse.

But Yuan Kaiyang quickly interjected, "We don’t want coffee."

The young staff member paused for a moment and then smiled, "Kids shouldn’t drink coffee. You can rest here for a while, and I’ll get you some water."

Her words surprised Yuan Hesheng and his wife.

If it were any average staff, they might have just smiled and gone about their business.

"Let’s skip it today and try your coffee another time," said Yuan Hesheng and his wife.

"Okay, you take care then." The young girl said, smiling.

No one noticed that Yuan Kaiyang’s gaze was fixed entirely on the right rear of the young lady in front of him.

Because, standing there, was a young man.

He looked at him, and he was looking at him.

Yuan Kaiyang wasn’t surprised. He had seen quite a few other ghosts during his time gone.

But the young man was quite shocked. He walked straight up to Yuan Kaiyang and, curious, asked, "You can see me?"

Before Yuan Kaiyang could answer, he was pulled through him by his parents, passing right through his chest.

The young man was startled at first, then looked at himself, realizing he was unharmed. He then turned back to see that the child had no three fires on his shoulders.

Thinking about it, he turned and followed them.

Going down the steps, Yuan Kaiyang instinctively turned his head back and saw the young man following. He immediately widened his eyes in surprise, "Why are you following me?"

Yuan Hesheng and his wife were startled at his words, looking back and feeling a chill seeing the emptiness behind them.

They weren’t afraid of their own child, but an invisible stranger made them very uneasy.

"You still haven’t told me why you can see me?" the young man continued to ask.

But Yuan Kaiyang, being a bit older, wasn’t like Dou Dou, who would tell everything asked with pride.

He didn’t answer but turned to his parents, saying, "Let’s go."

The couple quickly pulled Yuan Kaiyang away, and once in the car, Yuan Hesheng quietly asked, "Yangyang, is he still following?"

Yuan Kaiyang shook his head, looking out the window, "No."

The young man indeed hadn’t gotten into the car, just stood by the side of the road watching them.

The couple heard this and breathed a sigh of relief. Deng Huiling, somewhat curious, asked, "What kind of person was he?"

"A young man," Yuan Kaiyang replied.

Yuan Hesheng had already started the car, heading toward home.

After driving a bit, he said, "Quite a spooky person; it would be troublesome if he kept following us."

Deng Huiling nodded in agreement.

Yuan Kaiyang comforted them, "You don’t need to be afraid; he can’t hurt you."

"Even though he can’t hurt us, having him follow us would be uncomfortable," Yuan Hesheng said.

Right after he said that, Deng Huiling, sitting in the back, reached over and pinched him hard, making him gasp in pain.

"If you can’t say anything nice, just keep quiet," Deng Huiling scolded.

Yuan Hesheng quickly realized and said, "Yangyang is different..."

Deng Huiling hugged her son, sniffing his hair, so real and unchanged it was like he wasn’t a ghost at all.

Yuan Kaiyang didn’t mind; he knew his parents well. Had he been Dou Dou’s age and heard them talk like this, he might have been sad.

But he was over ten years old, already capable of discerning sincere words and unintended comments, understanding what love is.

So not only was he not angry, but he also comforted his parents.

"You don’t need to be afraid; he should be more scared of you."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because people have three fires; getting close to you would burn ghosts, which is very painful," Yuan Kaiyang said.

Hearing that, Deng Huiling instinctively released Yuan Kaiyang and shrank back, but there wasn’t much space in the back seat to move.

Yuan Kaiyang laughed, "It’s okay because you are my mommy and daddy; your fire won’t hurt me."

Hearing this, the couple exhaled, reassured as they recalled hearing about such things in folklore.

"Also, as long as we’re home, it’s fine. He can’t enter our home. It’s our home; outside ghosts can’t get in. So you don’t need to worry," Yuan Kaiyang continued.

With this reassurance, the couple finally relaxed.

Even though the ghost couldn’t harm them, seeing someone staring while doing something private would be unsettling.

"Wait a moment, that’s not right," Yuan Hesheng remembered something.

"Wasn’t Dou Dou able to come into our home?"

"Dou Dou is different; she... she is not an ordinary ghost."

Remembering Shen Siyuan’s identity, Deng Huiling said, "Is she a Ghost Messenger?"

Yuan Kaiyang scratched his chin and nodded. In fact, he didn’t know much, as all information came from the soul infusion of the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, which only included some of Shen Siyuan’s external identities, not everything.

"Okay, let’s not talk about this. When we get home, Dad will make your favorite dish."

"I’ve already died; I’m a ghost now, so I can’t eat," Yuan Kaiyang said softly.

At his words, Deng Huiling felt a pang of sorrow, hugged her son again, and gently caressed his small face, "Yangyang, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. Can you forgive me?"

"Mommy, why are you saying sorry? You did nothing wrong. It was just an accident. I fell by myself. I’ve never blamed you; don’t feel guilty..."

"I’m not guilty."

"You’re lying. I saw it. You always blame yourself for taking me to the park, and then you become sad, moody. When Dad tries to comfort you, you either argue with him or ignore him. You can’t do that..."

Seeing her son act like a little adult, comforting her so maturely, Deng Huiling felt even more sorrowful.

She hugged him tightly, bending over to press her face to his cheek.

This was her child, the one she dressed, fed, heard call her "Mommy" for the first time, watched take his first steps, grow up bit by bit. How could he suddenly be gone, just like that? It felt like her heart was being cut open.

"I’m sorry, I love you."

Deng Huiling murmured, her tears streaming down her face.