A whale

The night in Baiyun City was clear and starlit when a colossal aircraft landed at the airport.

Chen Ji carried little luggage and even fewer thoughts. As soon as he settled into the taxi, he devoted himself to fiddling with his camera, paying no mind to the city he had been away from for several weeks.

“Are you a photographer?” the taxi driver asked. Unlike Chen Ji, the driver was not human but a member of the demon clan, capable of transforming into human form.

Over the past century, the spiritual energy of Blue Star had grown abundant, allowing every blade of grass, bird, and beast to first cultivate into spirits or demons, and then greatly increasing their chances and efficiency of assuming human shape.

The driver was evidently one of those who benefited.

“Yes, I am,” Chen Ji replied without looking up, his eyes fixed as he reviewed the photos in his camera, ruthlessly deleting those that failed to meet his standards.

Under the bright city lights, the driver was especially talkative. “What’s so interesting in your camera? Your girlfriend?”

Chen Ji gave a dry laugh, offering no answer. The driver had guessed correctly; his camera held photos of his girlfriend, and both his lock screen and wallpaper featured her.

His girlfriend lived in Baiyun City—the sole reason Chen Ji had left his hometown. To him, nothing was more important than her.

It was midsummer. The car window was half open.

Warm night air from Baiyun City drifted in, tinged with a faint trace of alcohol.

Chen Ji frowned at the whiff of alcohol for barely a moment before his vision was suddenly flooded by a blinding white light, engulfing the world, and the frantic blare of horns nearly shattered his eardrums—

“Watch out!!”

Bang—

In an instant, the world spun. A small delivery truck crashed violently into them. In the chaos, Chen Ji instinctively protected his camera.

*

Police and ambulance soon arrived at the scene.

Victims of traffic accidents in Baiyun City were usually human. Humans were born fragile—a mere cold could claim their lives. The drivers of both the taxi and the truck were demons, unharmed, and would later bear their share of responsibility for the accident.

As the accident’s only injured party, Chen Ji was lifted onto the ambulance and hurried to the hospital.

His condition was not too dire; though his face and body were bloodied, he remained conscious and able to speak.

Seizing what strength he had, Chen Ji struggled to keep his eyes open and murmured, “My phone, give me my phone…”

The police officer riding in the ambulance was momentarily stunned but quickly handed over a black phone. “Mr. Chen, don’t be afraid. We’re on our way to the hospital. Stay strong.”

Chen Ji seemed not to hear, unlocking his phone.

If this moment was indeed his last, he knew exactly what he needed to do.

Beep, beep—

The call connected.

“Ji? What’s wrong?”

Blood thudded in Chen Ji’s ears, forcing him to increase the volume so he could hear clearly—thus, everyone in the ambulance could also hear what was happening on the other end.

It was a lively, rhythmic nightclub track, a vibrant female voice, and—an unmistakably coquettish, sweet tone, eager to please:

“One more drink, just one last!”

Beep, beep—

The heart monitor worked tirelessly, but its sounds could not mask the strange scene; Chen Ji felt his heartbeat amplified to infinity. He stared in panic and confusion at his phone screen, confirming he had dialed the correct number.

How could he be mistaken? This was his girlfriend—she was always like this.

After a moment, Chen Ji forced a bitter smile, still unwilling to give up. “Yun Yun, where are you? What are you doing?”

“I’m at the bar, obviously drinking.”

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“Who’s with you?”

His girlfriend seemed displeased, impatiently replying, “Why are you asking again? Stop meddling! What’s wrong with me having fun at a bar?”

She was right—nothing was wrong. Chen Ji stared blankly at the ambulance ceiling. He had just survived a car crash and barely clung to life, while his girlfriend…

He couldn’t blame her. He kept telling himself that his relationship with Yun Yun had always been good. If not for his busy work and frequent travels, Yun Yun wouldn’t need to seek distraction at bars. Besides, Yun Yun couldn’t predict he’d be in a crash—how could she know?

She was just drinking, nothing more. He was asking too much and naturally irritated her. Even if something happened, it would be his fault for working so much and not being there for her!

Taking a deep breath, Chen Ji managed a weary smile. “Yun Yun, don’t stay out too late. Go home early.”

His gentle words softened her tone as well. “I know. I won’t keep you. Rest up!”

Click—

The call ended, but Chen Ji held onto the phone as if he knew that calling back would only be met with another hang-up.

The police officer was thoughtful and, from a professional perspective, hoped to contact the injured man’s loved ones. “Mr. Chen, try calling her again. At least tell her you were in an accident. She’s your girlfriend, right? Should I redial for you?”

Chen Ji shook his head, put the phone down, and silently wiped blood and tears from his face.

The recent conversation had sparked speculation, and a nurse quietly commented, “…His girlfriend is cheating, how pitiful.”

Chen Ji’s hearing was underestimated. He caught the gossip and angrily defended his girlfriend. “If I can’t be with her, what’s wrong with her going to a bar? Don’t spread rumors!”

The ambulance fell silent, astonished at the burst of life from someone so close to death. The nurse quickly apologized, but Chen Ji did not forgive her—at this moment, something else mattered far more.

He requested the medical staff help him sit upright and calmly said, “I want to make an oral will…”

*

Early the next morning, a white dove landed at the entrance of Baiyun City’s Third Avenue Funeral Home. It fluttered twice, happily approaching a young woman.

Jing Chengyun crouched down to feed the dove some birdseed. “There won’t be any left after this, so don’t wait next time.”

The dove seemed to understand, turned its jet-black eyes, and flew away.

The funeral home was said to offer decent benefits, but few people favored it, considering such work unlucky.

Jing Chengyun was the exception. She majored in mortuary science at university and, upon graduation, immersed herself in the world of the dead, becoming a mortuary cosmetologist.

She had overindulged at the bar last night and was unsteady as she walked to work. Before she could regain her balance, a worried colleague hurried over. “Yun Yun, go to the reception room. Prepare yourself mentally.”

Jing Chengyun pressed for details, but her colleague remained tight-lipped, urging her not to be too sad and to pull herself together quickly.

Nervously, Jing Chengyun pushed open the door to the reception room.

The funeral home’s reception room was much like any other, perhaps a bit warmer due to its unique purpose: greenery, aromatherapy, the most comfortable cushions, even the color scheme was chosen for calm and peace.

A uniformed police officer stood as soon as she saw Jing Chengyun.

Four or five people sat on the sofa; from experience, Jing Chengyun recognized them as the deceased’s relatives.

“Hello, Miss Jing. I’m from the city traffic police. Here is my badge.” She was the officer who handled Chen Ji’s accident.

After showing her credentials, the officer took a deep breath and spoke with sorrow, “I regret to inform you that your boyfriend, Mr. Chen Ji, was in a car accident last night and unfortunately passed away en route to the hospital.”

Jing Chengyun was stunned.

…Chen Ji? Dead?

Just yesterday, she had video-chatted with Chen Ji, who smiled brightly and said he’d return to Baiyun City today, finally able to see her. Last night, they had argued over the phone; she lost her temper, and he gently reminded her to go home early.

She refused to believe it. Her ears buzzed, her legs buckled, and she barely managed to sit down on the sofa, finally hearing herself ask, incredulously, “How is that possible?”

The officer explained the accident’s circumstances and finally added, “Mr. Chen tried to call you in his final moments.”

Her mind buzzed again, her face pale, speechless.

When she started dating Chen Ji, she was advised not to get emotionally attached to a human—humans were short-lived and fragile, their lives a mere speck. She insisted it was just a casual relationship, and they’d break up soon.

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But unexpectedly, a year had passed.

“Oh, yes, that did happen.” Recalling the call, Jing Chengyun felt uneasy. If she had been softer, Chen Ji might have died more peacefully.

Just as she was about to say more, Jing Chengyun noticed something strange.

Looking up, she saw anger, confusion, and speechlessness in every gaze directed at her, each full of complexity.

These were the eyes of Chen Ji’s family, leaving Jing Chengyun baffled. As the deceased’s girlfriend, she shouldn’t be the target of such emotions.

The police officer provided the answer. “Miss Jing, Mr. Chen made an oral will before he died. I and the city hospital’s doctor witnessed it, and there is a recording.”

With that, she played Chen Ji’s final will.

“After my death, please scatter my ashes in the sea. All my savings and the apartment in Egret County are to be left to my girlfriend, Miss Jing Chengyun. My car goes to my foster mother, Chen Zuhua.”

For a moment, Jing Chengyun turned her head and exclaimed, “Me?”

All his savings? An apartment in Egret County?

Was there really such a thing as manna from heaven?

Still reeling from the shock of her boyfriend’s sudden death, Jing Chengyun now found herself in another kind of astonishment.

Windfall fortune—her expression was indescribable. Grief mingled with excitement, her lips sagged but her eyes shone.

The police officer pursed her lips. “Contact me when you have time, and we’ll go to the notary to formalize the inheritance transfer.”

Out of curiosity, she wanted to ask if Miss Jing, as a mortuary cosmetologist, would prepare her boyfriend’s body herself.

Mr. Chen’s remains were peaceful, his features intact and only mildly injured. Even so, as his girlfriend, perhaps she couldn’t bear to look.

At last, Chen Ji’s family, silent until now, could no longer restrain themselves.

The first to rise was a woman in her fifties, her expression indifferent, speaking softly: “As Chen Ji’s foster mother, I suspect the recording is falsified. I request an investigation.”

The news of the foster son’s inheritance division had only reached the family ten minutes before; every one of them was shocked—how could he leave the bulk of his estate to his girlfriend?

“Of course, Ms. Chen, that is your right,” the police officer replied calmly. “Our department’s technical team will conduct a forensic examination. Please come with me later.”

Ms. Chen nodded, turning her gaze to Jing Chengyun. “Miss Jing, Chen Ji left you everything. Have you nothing to say?”

She was calm, not like a grieving mother, but her eyes were red and her voice trembled.

Jing Chengyun was conflicted, unsure what to say. “Aunt Chen, I’m very sad too.”

Yes, she was sad. Chen Ji was a model boyfriend—he cared for her feelings, indulged her whims, endured her quirks—how could she not be sad?

But suddenly, a fortune and a house fell from the sky; who wouldn’t feel a ripple in their heart? She couldn’t very well burst out laughing.

So “I’m very sad too” was Jing Chengyun’s most sincere expression.

“That’s your attitude?!” an angry roar erupted from among the Chen family—a tall man.

Jing Chengyun was perplexed. Was her attitude really wrong?

With that question, she narrowed her eyes, utterly genuine and bewildered. “Should I, like you, make a scene here in the funeral home?”

First the inheritance was lost, then his sore spot was touched. The man exploded in rage, snatching up the ashtray from the coffee table and hurling it furiously!

“Ah!” the police officer cried, expecting Jing Chengyun’s head to be split open, but then, incredibly, cried out again:

“—Ah?”

Was it… could it be?

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