Ji Xue, a senior in college, was in a car accident. Just as he was on the brink of death, he was saved by an evil ghost named Miewang.
The good news was that he hadn't died and could now see ghosts. The bad news was that he had to work for the evil ghost and help guide spirits.
Miewang seemed aloof, but was actually softer-hearted than anyone. He said that helping ghosts fulfill their last wishes went against the rules of the underworld, but still helped them in practice.
Besides teaching Ji Xue how to guide spirits, he also taught him to face life and death. Whenever danger came, he would shield him, always thinking of him and looking out for him.
As this life went on day after day, Ji Xue gradually got used to it and began to find it hard to be without him. But the closer they grew, the harder it was to hide the little things.
Other ghosts hoped to earn merit and be reborn into a good family, but Miewang was weary of the world and took no interest in anything. Even with Ji Xue by his side, he seemed to carry a great weight and couldn't be happy.
While Ji Xue was full of questions, a ghost from hell told him: Miewang's obsession in life had been too deep, and his resentment too great. After he died, he deliberately forgot all his painful memories. Unable to find a place to belong, he became a wandering spirit, feared by all ghosts. The only reason Ji Xue could get close to him was that Miewang had ulterior motives.
The ghost warned him never to try to make Miewang remember anything, or the consequences would be dire.
Ji Xue didn't believe Miewang had ulterior motives for getting close to him. He even thought it would be fine if Miewang really did, since something that shouldn't have happened between them had already happened.
As for what the ghost said afterward, Ji Xue agreed completely. He believed it was a sore spot for Miewang, so he never brought it up, until Miewang spoke first:
"I want my memories back, but they won't let me. You're the only one who can help."
Ji Xue froze.
"I got close to you for this, too. I only ask that you don't resent me for keeping it from you..." Tears filled his eyes.
The next second, Ji Xue pulled him into his arms and patted his back. "I'll help you."
**
Zhang Feng was a police officer who died in the line of duty. After his death, he became the most resentful evil ghost of all. No one wanted him to regain his memories, afraid his anger would be roused and he'd tear the heavens down.
But Ji Xue alone was willing to help him recover his memories and soothe all his regrets.
[If there's no road ahead, I'll help you forge one.]
Notes:
1. They save each other, dote on each other. Open ending.
2. The blurb is from the bottom's perspective. Older top.
3. Supernatural mystery and criminal investigation, with episodic cases and a touch of ensemble cast.
4. I hope you'll check out my new top-focused novel, The Down-and-Out Fox and His Nemesis Reach a Happy Ending. Updates begin January 1. Here's the blurb.
Wen Wushang did many shocking things in the one short year after becoming the new White-Clad Guest.
He practiced demonic arts, wiped out righteous sects, massacred cities, and committed every kind of evil. In everyone's eyes, he was the one who most deserved to die.
Yet he was utterly tender with a fox spirit, showering him with affection and behaving in ways that made people's hair stand on end.
Then one day, the fox spirit who had once loved him dearly shot an arrow into his chest when he was at his most unsuspecting.
"I never liked you. Every moment I pretended to love you made me sick," Yun Gui said coldly before he closed his eyes.
Wen Wushang died full of hatred. Everyone who had wished for his death rejoiced, hailing Yun Gui as their savior and placing him on a pedestal.
No one could have imagined that Yun Gui was even more evil and deranged than Wen Wushang. He tormented them until they wished they were dead, and left everyone Wen Wushang cared about barely alive.
Yet this same man held Wen Wushang's corpse in public and said, "I regret it."
Ten years later, Wen Wushang would crawl out of the ground with a broken umbrella and barge into Yun Gui's home. In front of everyone, he would draw a sword from the umbrella and stab it into Yun Gui's heart.
"I heard you've found quite a few new lovers over the years. Don't worry. After you die, I'll send them down to keep you company."
The onlookers saw Yun Gui grip his sword with his left hand and stab Wen Wushang in the heart with a knife in his right. His eyes dark, he sneered, "You're really hard to kill."
He regretted not shooting the arrow deeper back then!
Onlooker A: "Are those two ever going to stop trying to kill each other?"
Onlooker B: "What do you know? This is how two demon lords flirt~"
A ruthless, ambitious fox who hides his true nature X his nemesis, a morally ambiguous schemer
Notes:
1. A love-hate romance, nemesis story, older top.
2. Smiths at first, then they try to kill each other. Neither can die. One is stronger and the other weaker~
3. No deliberate angst for either character. Fans of either the top or bottom can read.
4. A big, capitalized HE. Find the glass shards in the candy~
Theme: Keep striving in the face of adversity
