Chapter 182: A Surreal Evening at Home

Even though it was a home-cooked meal, dinner turned out to be surprisingly lavish.

In just about thirty minutes in the kitchen, Drunkard had steamed a fish, prepared several side dishes, slow-cooked a pot of red braised pork, and simmered some rice—all while giving her mom a ten‐minute lecture.

Once all the dishes were set on the table, Drunkard cracked open a bottle from a white porcelain bottle and cheerfully called Lu Xin and his parents:

“Come, come, everyone, eat up.”

“…”

Drunkard’s parents wore expressions of sheer despair, occasionally casting Lu Xin a pleading look.

What could Lu Xin do?

Naturally, he just ignored it and downed two bowls of rice.

“Hey, Little Soldier, don’t just keep eating—come on, let me top up your glass…”

Drunkard was exceptionally enthusiastic; while she sipped her own wine carefully, she made sure Lu Xin had some too.

It was his first visit, and too embarrassed to ask for a third bowl, Lu Xin hastily shook his head, “No thanks, after all, we…”

He left the rest unsaid, unsure whether Drunkard’s parents knew about her recruitment.

The Special Cleaning Department enforces strict confidentiality; such matters cannot be discussed in front of outsiders.

“Hey, don’t worry. Wine is like food—the more you drink, the younger you feel…”

Drunkard insisted, pouring some for Lu Xin, then chuckled, “Help yourself if you’re craving meat—after all, you’re young and still growing!”

“Uh…”

Lu Xin stared at the high-school-aged girl before him; her tender, luminous feet were clad in outdated platform sandals and she had changed into a crumpled white shirt that looked more like an old man’s garment. As she busied herself pouring wine and urging him to eat, the whole scene felt utterly surreal.

Drunkard’s Dad stepped in to ease the tension: “If you don’t want to drink, then don’t. And you… maybe cut back a little, little miss…”

At that, he abruptly fell silent, the words he had started refusing to come out.

“Sigh, you’ll understand when you reach my age…”

Drunkard sighed, then grabbed another cup and placed it before her dad, filling it as she chided, “Since there’s no one else here, I won’t call you Dad… Hey, Little Wu, not to be rude, but you’re just too honest…”

“You don’t drink, you don’t smoke—what did Little Wang ever see in you back then?”

“Just look at your social life at school…”

“If nothing else works, just retire—come home and I’ll take care of you. Our family isn’t short of a pair of chopsticks…”

“…”

Drunkard’s Dad was so moved he nearly burst into tears.

Drunkard’s Mom had wanted to say something, but one glance at her daughter made her hold back.

After all, she had just been on the receiving end of a ten‐minute scolding herself…

“……”

“……”

“What kind of life does this family lead, anyway…?”

Lu Xin mused silently; the oppressive atmosphere left him too disheartened to speak, so he just ate quietly.

After what felt like ages, once the meal was over, Drunkard’s Dad, Little Wu, had downed three cups, and even Drunkard’s Mom, Little Wang, was coaxed into a cup. Lu Xin, on the other hand, only took two sips, though he had eaten his fill.

“That night…”

After dinner, Drunkard and Lu Xin settled on the sofa for a smoke, while Little Wu and Little Wang washed dishes in the kitchen.

Noticing that Drunkard kept dodging the main topic, Lu Xin tentatively brought it up.

He wasn’t sure whether she planned to discuss matters or first find a place for him to sleep.

To his surprise, as soon as he mentioned it, Drunkard waved her hand dismissively and said, “Tonight, you sleep in my room!”

“Smack…”

Suddenly, a sharp noise rang out from the kitchen, and the sound of dishwashing ceased abruptly.

It was obvious without even looking that four ears had perked up.

Lu Xin was startled as well: “What?”

Drunkard, puzzled, asked, “What—what’s the matter? You’re already here, aren’t you going to get some rest tonight?”

Staring at the lively, seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl puffing on a pipe, Lu Xin was utterly dumbfounded. It took him a while to muster a suggestion he would normally never offer: “So… how about we just stay at a hotel…?”

“…Anyway, the Company will reimburse it.”

“What hotel?”

Drunkard frowned at Lu Xin and said, “Company money isn’t really money, you know?”

Exhaling a burst of smoke, she pointed toward the bedroom with her Tobacco Pouch Bowl and said, “My bed is big and soft—plenty of space for the two of us. Besides, I only called you over because something’s up; staying at home gives us a chance to talk tonight, don’t you think?”

“But you…”

Lu Xin had never felt so awkward in his life; looking at Drunkard, his face turned bright red.

“We’re all grown men—why are you hesitating so much?”

Drunkard looked a bit annoyed as she shot Lu Xin a sideways glance. Following his embarrassed stare, she glanced at her chest beneath her T-shirt and, with a playful smile, said, “Don’t treat me like a woman.”

“Just think of me as your old man…”

“…”

Lu Xin felt as if his entire worldview was crumbling.

Unexpectedly, Little Wu and Little Wang emerged nervously from the kitchen. Instead of appearing as reinforcements, they wore delighted expressions. Little Wang said, “You’re right—since everyone’s here, there’s no way we can let Little Soldier stay in a hotel. Staying at home works just fine…”

Drunkard’s Dad, Little Wu, opened his mouth, seeming still a bit hesitant.

But Little Wang promptly tugged him aside and gave a knowing glance at their daughter puffing on her pipe on the sofa.

Gathering his resolve, Little Wu fell silent and said, “I have new pajamas; I’ll get a set for Little Soldier later…”

The family’s unyielding hospitality left Lu Xin feeling uneasy and fidgety.

He could only resign himself, “If it really comes to it, I’ll sleep on the sofa…”

“No need.”

Drunkard’s Mom, Little Wang, suddenly displayed an uncharacteristic firmness and gritted her teeth, “We’ll stay in Wu Gege’s room—that place is spacious!”

Lu Xin looked at Drunkard, who was beaming at him cheekily, and felt utterly hopeless.

……

……

After finishing the dishes, the four sat on the sofa watching TV in an oddly tense silence, when Little Wu and Little Wang suddenly became drowsy.

Under their urging, Drunkard and Lu Xin quickly washed up before being ushered into the bedroom.

The bedroom was indeed spacious and, to everyone’s surprise, truly looked like a high school girl’s room.

The bed was dressed in cartoon-themed bedding, while the walls were adorned with restored posters of old movies—items that were all the rage among today’s youth.

Just above the headboard hung a portrait of a bald, cloaked man, his expression vacant as he stared ahead…

“This bedroom isn’t exactly huge, you know…”

Lu Xin clutched his backpack, too nervous even to sit properly, and could only stammer a few words.

“Shh…”

Drunkard perched on the edge of the bed, legs crossed, giving Lu Xin a conspiratorial glance as she whispered, “They’re eavesdropping…”

Lu Xin paused, finally grasping what she meant, and his face flushed red once more.

Unperturbed, Drunkard took a sip from a Large Porcelain Jar, shook her head, and mused, “They’ve had it tough too—doctors, countless shamans, and they’ve rearranged everything at home to suit a little girl’s taste, even considering setting me up for marriage…”

“At least, switching tastes—from Old Man to Ma’am—isn’t so awful…”

“…”

Lu Xin was at a loss for words, caught between feeling that something was amiss and that nothing really was.

“But…”

She sighed deeply, “It’s no use…”

“In my state, even the guys at the Special Cleaning Department can’t figure me out—not to mention Wu Laoer the shaman…”

“…”

As she spoke, Lu Xin began to take the conversation a bit more seriously.

He had recently captured a ghost—a spirit capable of inhabiting a body. Could it be that Drunkard, like that ghost when displaying its power, actually harbored an old man’s mental entity inside her youthful body?

However, a ghost ability user apparently cannot remain in someone’s body for long.

Otherwise, the host’s mind would assimilate it, truly becoming one with that person.

Yet, given how long Drunkard’s condition had persisted, this wasn’t something a ghost incident could explain.

Moreover, if Drunkard were merely suffering from cognitive issues, she wouldn’t exhibit such clear logic and awareness.

He couldn’t help but be curious about it, though he didn’t dare to ask too deeply.

After all, it involved Drunkard—and probing too far might seem impolite.

“……”

“……”

“That’s enough…”

Just as Lu Xin was mulling it over, Drunkard glanced at the bedside clock, suddenly sprang up, and pulled the curtains closed.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

Lu Xin was genuinely alarmed, his voice quivering.

“What do you mean, what are you doing?”

As she spoke, Drunkard removed her T-shirt and shot Lu Xin a sharp glance.

Then, just as a shiver ran down Lu Xin’s spine—nearly driving him to bolt for the door—he saw her crouch down, pull a box from under the bed, retrieve a Special Protective Vest which she donned, then put on a Full Protective Suit, lace up her Thick-Soled Military Boots, don a headset, and grab a Gun. She meticulously checked it, reloaded the bullets, and tucked it into her leg holster.

“What is this…?”

Lu Xin was truly perplexed.

Drunkard held up a finger, shushed him with a soft “shh,” then turned off the light.

In the dark, she leaned close to Lu Xin’s ear and murmured, “I’ve given Little Wu and Little Wang some wine; they’ll be asleep in no time.”

“And those monsters should be arriving soon…”

“…”

Lu Xin gasped, “Monsters?”

“Of course…”

Drunkard’s voice grew low and serious, “They’ve been after me for days now…”

Then, shooting Lu Xin a sidelong glance, she added, “Do you really think I, as your old man, share a room with you just because I’m after your body?”