Yu Duo froze on the spot like someone had cast a spell on her, she couldn't even move one muscle.
The chilled wind blew passed her and it felt like it had taken her soul with it. She was too frightened to move, not even a little.
Where did this wind come from in the middle of the night?
Yu Duo swallowed with difficulty. She shivered like sweat was pouring down on her through a sieve. She had squeezed so hard that the sandwich in her hand was now but an unrecognizable glob. She turned ever so slowly to look at Fu Sinian's portrait on the shrine.
There was nothing unusual about it; it looked just like how it always had.
But still, where did the wind come from?
Yu Duo looked around. It was raining outside so Aunty Lian had shut all the windows tightly, certainly that wasn't where the wind had come from.
Perhaps she was just being silly.
Yu Duo tried to comfort herself and continued to tiptoe toward the stairs.
Two more steps and Yu Duo looked as though she had seen a ghost. She bit down hard on her lower lip; she wanted to run but her legs were too weak to run.
She definitely felt it this time - someone was breathing in her neck!
Her throat quivered and she couldn't help but started to scream.
"AAAAHHHHHhhhhhh!!!"
WHOOOSH-
An even stronger chilled wind blew, and the candles in front of the portrait went out; the entire living room was now pitch black.
RUMBLE!!!
Came another thunder.
Yu Duo was so scared she shut her eyes tightly. Her legs were too weak to stand, so she squatted down right where she was. She broke out into cold sweats, and her teeth clattered.
For real? Metaphysics was real?
CLICK!
The light was turned on in the living room and, suddenly, it was bright like daytime.
Aunty Lian's voice sounded very much like a savior's right now, "Madam, what are you still doing up?"
Yu Duo whipped her head around, and there were tears in her eyes. They were from fear, but when Aunty Lian saw them, she thought madam was missing her husband.
"What's that you are holding in your hands... ?"
When Yu Duo saw Aunty Lian, all her fear was gone. Slowly, she recovered and regained her composure. Softly, she said, "I.... I was sleeping and dreamt that Sinian said he was hungry, so I thought I'd bring him some food."
"Hungry?" Aunty Lian was from an older generation; she believed in metaphysics. When she heard Yu Duo's words, she quickly walked over and took the sandwich and apple from Yu Duo and placed them in front of Fu Sinian's portrait, "Don't worry, Madam. Let's leave these here for now, I'll go make some more food...." Choking back her tears, she added, ".... For the master."
Then she headed into the kitchen.
Yu Duo stood in front of Fu Sinian's shrine and looked at Aunty Lian, who was busying herself with cooking in the kitchen. She could smell the aroma of cooked food. Now she had no idea whether she should stay or go.
Before long, Aunty Lian brought out a piece of steaming steak and placed it in front of Fu Sinian's portriat
The aroma of the steak, which was pan fried in butter, filled the entire living room. Yu Duo swallowed a ton of saliva but could only stood behind Aunty Lian and watch.
"Master, this was your favorite dish. From now on, Aunty Lian will cook you your favorite dishes every day. You come up here to eat whenever you are hungry."
Come... up here to eat?
Yu Duo shuddered.
She'd rather Fu Sinian's ghost goes hungry.
"Aunty Lian, if there's nothing else, I am going to turn in. You should get some rest too."
"Okay, you get some rest, Madam."
Yu Duo quickly made her way upstairs before her stomach grumbled again.
As soon as she had shut the door, her stomach started growling again.
Ay, just bear with me for one more day, I will take care of you tomorrow.
Thought Yu Duo as she rubbed her tummy and felt asleep.
Fu Sinian was very proud of his own accomplished.
He felt a little bit redeemed for being fooled all these years in the stormy nights.