Chapter Fifty-Five: The Illusory Realm of Souls—Little Ai

Katherine began a happy new life in her new home. She had a warm place to live and never had to worry about food again. Moreover, Su Qing's mother took a great liking to her, often talking to her when no one else was around.

Katherine understood every word, though Su Qing's mother never knew it. Whenever Katherine called out to her, her cries were always mistaken for a cat begging for food.

When Su Qing's mother finally gave her a name, it was only after Katherine had fussed repeatedly that she settled on a name that satisfied her—Katherine.

Of course, there was someone Katherine disliked—the man called Dayong. He never allowed her into Su Qing's mother's bedroom. On Katherine’s very first day, he had forcibly carried her to a strange place and handed her over to someone in a white coat.

The terrifying person in the white coat gave Katherine a bath, sprayed her with some foul-smelling medicine, and, despite Katherine’s pitiful meows, gave her an injection before Dayong finally brought her home.

At first, Katherine had resolved never to forgive Dayong. But after he brought her delicious treats a few times after work, she changed her mind. She decided that if he brought her dried fish three more times, she would forgive him.

Everything in this household fascinated her. She couldn't help but scratch here and snoop there, and before long, clever Katherine figured out the use of many things.

Su Qing's mother wasn’t always around to keep Katherine company—especially when Dayong was home. At times, they would shut Katherine outside the bedroom and disappear inside to do strange things.

During those times, Katherine would stealthily open Su Qing’s computer, tapping away at the keyboard with her little paws and occasionally bobbing her head at the screen.

As she spent more time in the house, Katherine discovered something odd.

It seemed there was someone else living in the home!

The longer she stayed, the more convinced she became. One day, seizing a moment when Su Qing’s mother wasn’t looking, Katherine slipped under the bed in the bedroom.

That day, Dayong returned home claiming to be too tired, so nothing unusual happened; soon, both Dayong and Su Qing fell asleep.

In the middle of the night, Katherine crept out from under the bed and glanced up. Between Dayong and Su Qing lay a little girl!

Katherine stared intently, and the girl suddenly opened her eyes.

“You can see me?” the little girl asked.

“Meow? (Who are you?)”

“I’m Xiao Ai.”

“Meow meow? (Who is Xiao Ai? Are you a ghost?)”

“I don’t know… Mama is finally back. I’m so happy!”

“Meow meow (That’s my mama).”

“My mama.”

“Meow (My mama).”

“My mama.”

“Meow.”

…

And so, Katherine met her new friend, Xiao Ai.

They shared many things in common, and Xiao Ai’s silly ways only made Katherine like her more. From then on, Katherine was even happier.

As Su Qing’s belly grew larger day by day, Dayong became increasingly elated, always finding new treats to bring home. Katherine benefited from this bounty as well.

But Dayong also became more protective of Su Qing, hardly allowing Katherine near her.

Only when Dayong was out would Su Qing occasionally pick up Katherine and stroke her. Even these rare moments made Xiao Ai, who watched with longing, deeply envious.

More than once, she confided in Katherine how much she wished her mother would hold her just one more time.

Ever since meeting Xiao Ai, Katherine inexplicably acquired some knowledge about ghosts. Xiao Ai’s wish was actually something Katherine could help with, and as a good sister, she naturally took it upon herself.

One night, as Su Qing and Dayong slept, Katherine and Xiao Ai crept to the computer and logged onto a local website.

After some searching, Katherine used a chat app to add a contact with the username “A Little Hungry, A Little Sleepy, Maybe Some Pesticide.” The request was instantly accepted.

Cat Star: Is this Boss Li?

A Little Hungry, A Little Sleepy, Maybe Some Pesticide: Yes, dear. How can I help you?

Cat Star: I want some things from the forest.

A Little Hungry, A Little Sleepy, Maybe Some Pesticide: Then you’ve come to the right person, dear. Our agents are very capable, especially in sourcing specialties from the forest. If you need it—whether it flies, runs, or swims—there’s nothing we can’t get.

Cat Star: I just want some glowing blue stones, a bit smaller than eggs. There must be some in the forest.

A Little Hungry, A Little Sleepy, Maybe Some Pesticide: No problem, but these stones are actually gemstones, quite rare and not cheap.

Cat Star: Two hundred each. Send me ten first so I can check the quality. If they’re good, I’ll order in bulk.

A Little Hungry, A Little Sleepy, Maybe Some Pesticide: All right, since we’re from the same city, you can have them at that price. I’ll send you a link—please make the payment.

Katherine quickly paid with Su Qing’s account, and soon received another message:

A Little Hungry, A Little Sleepy, Maybe Some Pesticide: Payment received, dear. I’ll ship them out soon. Please leave a five-star review!

And so, the transaction was complete. The next afternoon, Su Qing inexplicably received a package.

Upon opening it, she found only some blue stones, and, seeing the sender’s address was from the same city, assumed it was a prank from a friend. She thought nothing of it and left the package on the balcony.

Then, Katherine and Xiao Ai, sneaky as ever, appeared on the balcony. Under Katherine’s guidance, Xiao Ai absorbed each of the beautiful stones she called “magic stones.”

As Xiao Ai absorbed them, she felt herself growing stronger and more solid. At last, she took on a tangible form!

After absorbing all ten magic stones, it was already late at night. As usual, Dayong and Su Qing had locked Katherine outside the bedroom.

But while the door kept Katherine out, it couldn’t stop Xiao Ai. She simply walked through the wall into the bedroom.

No sooner had she entered than she rushed eagerly toward the sleeping Su Qing, crying, “Mama! Mama! Can you see me now?”

Her voice startled both Dayong and Su Qing awake. Seeing her beloved daughter, Su Qing could not help but burst into tears…

“Ah! A ghost!” Unlike Su Qing, Dayong turned pale and cried out in terror.

How could he not be afraid? The little girl he was used to seeing only in memorial photos had appeared vividly at his bedside in the dead of night.

As the girl lunged toward them, Dayong instinctively dove toward the inside of the bed, crashing into Su Qing and knocking the dazed, murmuring Su Qing off the edge…

Falling to the floor, Su Qing clutched her belly and cried out in pain. Only then did Dayong snap out of his fright—forgetting all about ghosts, he hurried to check on Su Qing.

He anxiously reached out to her, only to find his hand wet. Looking down, he saw it was covered in blood…

Soon, the sound of an ambulance filled the air, and both Dayong and Su Qing were taken away.

The house was left with only Katherine and Xiao Ai—a worried pair, one ghost and one cat, staring wide-eyed at each other.