Chapter 5: WC Research Institute

Remember! Wang Yue nodded and said with certainty, "The research institute is called W.C. something."

Just as he arrived at the entrance of the corridor, before he could steady himself, he saw Wang Yue standing in the corner. His hand trembled, and the washing machine nearly fell on his foot

"Still unable to leave?" Lu Yan glanced around to ensure no one was present and asked in a lowered voice

Lu Yan frowned and quickly added, "I don't need yours; I can't use your body, I can't get in... This is the first time I've encountered a body I can't enter; at most, I've been able to get in but couldn't stay..."

"I can't just follow along, it has to be put in the storage room!" the old lady replied from behind.

What are you doing?" Lu Yan glanced at him

Oh, I understand," Wang Yue nodded, glanced at both ends of the road, and chose the eastern intersection, "I will go that way.

Are you afraid of this? Lu Yan smashed a head of garlic with a slap from the cutting board, and soon the air was filled with the aroma of garlic

Before Lu Yan could speak, he had already disappeared behind the door

I cannot smell anything; I can only hear and see, nothing else. Wang Yue entered the kitchen and stood beside the soup pot, saying, "This looks really delicious..."

"Anywhere will do." Lu Yan turned down the fire and returned to the living room to prepare tea.

No need, you just stay here. Lu Yan turned and walked outside

I am going to eat, if I..." Wang Yue hesitated for a moment, "if I could enter someone else's body, then I could... eat..."

Wang Yue slowly walked over after a while. Lu Yan glanced around at the people, and seeing that no one noticed Wang Yue, he flicked the ash from his cigarette.

I have come out, suddenly I have come out, " Wang Yue stood beside him, " I thought of a question, I pondered for a moment.

Lu Yan quickly shrank back and said: "Are you really not dying of thirst?"

Lu Yan still did not speak, merely casting a glance towards Wang Yue; he did not understand Wang Yue's intentions

Lu Yan said nothing, as if he had been stabbed, jumping up from the sofa and rushing into the bedroom, where he began rummaging through the drawers and cabinets

Lu Yan straightened up, let out a sigh, looked at the cigarette butt on the ground, took out a cigarette, and lit another one

Wang Yue stared at him in silence

There is no need to try; you will know once you get close.

Wang Yue smiled and walked into the room: "Do you know, every time I die, I hear the boatman singing, rocking, oh rocking... but he only sings this one line"

He closed the door, returned to the bedroom, undressed, and lay down on the bed

Lu Yan entered the room, and Wang Yue stood at the door: "Did you not say that you could recite? Recite one for me to hear."

Isn't it said that one cannot leave without saying goodbye? In the blink of an eye, can one leave again?

What happened?" Wang Yue stood outside the bedroom door, looking at him

Lu Yan does not have a good impression of Xu Rong, but occasionally he feels a sense of pity for her. Apart from her brother who sometimes comes to ask for money, he has not seen any other relatives or friends of Xu Rong.

I cannot use your body, not even for a second. I have never encountered such a situation. Ever since I died, I have felt very strange. I cannot be reincarnated. I almost know how many sets of clothes Sister Meng has, yet I still haven't had the Meng Po soup. Wang Yue muttered to himself in a continuous stream, finally pointing at Lu Yan, "That person said to let me find myself, is it related to you?"

"What is this...?" Wang Yue leaned over to take a look, "Buddha beads?"

"How dare you ask us for money for such a thing?" A man pushed Xu Rong.

Lu Yan felt that something was a bit off with what was said, but his focus was not on that. He interrupted Wang Yue's words: "What, have you tried getting on me..."

Who knows, anyway I can't go out. Wang Yue followed him

Where do you usually go?" Lu Yan rested his elbow on his leg and lowered his head, "Haven't you already been wandering around for a long time before you met me?"

What is wrong with me? Lu Yan smiled and said, If you don't tell me the truth, I will just guess along.

How can you be like this?" Wang Yue stepped back, standing in the middle of the living room, with a somewhat displeased expression

Lu Yan felt that he might have misheard, putting down his teacup and staring at Wang Yue: "What did you say?"

After 8 PM, more people began to come for food. Lu Yan was busy attending to them. His stall was not large, but with so many people, he found himself a bit flustered as he was the only one managing it. For the moment, he did not have the time to ponder where Wang Yue had gone.

"What?" Lu Yan picked up the cup and took a sip of tea, "Studying feces."

"Hmm," Wang Yue glanced at him, walked out of the corridor, his figure disappearing, then reappearing on the stairs, shrugging at Lu Yan, "You see, it's just like this"

Lu Yan stood in the living room for a while, opened the door to look outside, and it seemed that Wang Yue was no longer in the hallway. It appears that he has truly left

"Rest assured," Wang Yue waved his hand, "you are not suitable; not just any body will do for me."

"You better be honest..." Lu Yan stared at Wang Yue, recalling how, as a child, he would tremble in terror at the movies whenever a ghost possessed someone, as if he had been electrocuted, a truly horrifying sight.

"I don't know who it is, he pushed me off the boat and told me to find myself, who am I?" Wang Yue felt somewhat confused and a bit irritated, "You tell me, who exactly am I? I am Wang... Yue, right, Wang Yue, 37, isn't that enough? Why do I still have to search?"

Lu Yan looked at him, and Wang Yue indeed did not seem to be lying in this manner

As the old lady stepped outside, her shouting increased significantly in volume, causing Lu Yan's ears to feel itchy.

Lu Yan has prepared the pot and ingredients that will be needed shortly. Downstairs, some people have already started setting up. The rule is that setups can only begin after 9 o'clock, but for Wenyuan Street, the rules they set themselves are the real rules, so by 7 o'clock, everything was already fully set up.

What else is there? Wang Yue became interested and started to linger around him.

Lu Yan suddenly jumped up, almost colliding with the nearby Xu Rong

Lu Yan turned around and glanced at Xu Rong, only to find that Wang Yue, who had been standing at the entrance of the corridor, was no longer there

It was precisely lunchtime, and the aroma of dishes from upstairs and downstairs wafted into the room. Lu Yan closed his eyes; today he did not feel hungry and had no appetite

Rocking and rocking, I reach Grandma's bridge, Grandma praises me as a good baby, inviting me to eat a piece of big rice cake. Lu Yan enters the kitchen and takes out the cooked soup base from the freezer, placing it on the stove to heat. "One pack of sugar, one pack of fruit, Grandma buys a fish to cook."

After taking a couple of puffs, he looked up and saw Wang Yue standing in the center of the street, he was taken aback, he has come out

He sighed, picked up his phone to check the calendar, wondering if it was time to offer incense

The washing machine is of an old style, single tub, not very large, but the hallway is cluttered with this family's cabbages and that family's stoves, making it quite difficult to pass through empty-handed. Lu Yan struggled for half a day, both carrying and dragging, before finally getting the washing machine down the stairs

I will go get it," Lu Yan hurriedly entered the opposite room and brought out the washing machine that the old man was pushing. "Take it downstairs?"

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, he walked back to the hallway entrance, pretending to look at his phone, and quietly said: "You can go stay in my room, no need to just stand here in a daze."

I... Wang Yue fell silent, and after a long while, he finally said, "I don't know, perhaps I just don't remember. I have been dead for a long time."

"You look really good when you smile," Wang Yue suddenly changed the subject, unexpectedly leaning closer to him, "You look great, why didn't you smile before?"

"Research institute?" Lu Yan looked at the tea leaves slowly unfurling in the hot water and sensitively followed up with, "What research institute?"

I am speaking the truth! I have never deceived anyone; deceiving others is to be... to be... to be..." Wang Yue stopped halfway, looking somewhat dazed, "to be... I don't remember..."

Lu Yan's stall is located on the street corner directly across from the building. There is no need to transport items like others do with vehicles; it takes less than half an hour to set up the awning and arrange the tables and chairs.

Lu Yan pointed at him and said, "Keep your distance from me."

This narrow street becomes inaccessible to vehicles when the night market sets up in the evening, yet many motorcycles and electric scooters pass through, and they do not drive slowly

"Who?" Lu Yan asked, covering his mouth with his hand. In fact, he did not quite understand what Wang Yue was mumbling on about.

Xu Rong strolled on the street for a while, then came over and began to assist him in collecting money and taking items.

Oh. Lu Yan walked past him sideways, heading upstairs

Garlic is of no use either, and Lu Yan was instantly filled with immense disappointment at the various hearsay remedies for exorcising ghosts. Just as he was contemplating whether he should go downstairs to call Xu Rong to try the pregnant woman's method of exorcism, Wang Yue suddenly let out a sigh

"Then where are you from?" Wang Yue followed him out

After Wang Yue uttered the words "make love," he even made many associations, during sleep, while taking a shower, or...! ... even while using the restroom!

"Alright, I understand, no need to rush," Wang Yue retreated to the doorway, half of his body hidden inside, "he has left."

Can't you smell it? Lu Yan entered the bedroom to change his clothes in preparation to go downstairs, where he had placed all his stall items in the storage room.

Feeling unsettled and unable to relax, he is constantly aware of a "person" nearby who can effortlessly breach walls at any moment, leaving him in a state of helplessness. He does not know when another person might suddenly appear to observe him, a pressure he has never experienced before

Lu Yan glanced at her without saying a word, and Xu Rong looked at him sideways: "The two skewers of grilled squid are very spicy"

"Don't act like a rogue!" Xu Rong suddenly raised her voice, "What do you want from me, a pregnant woman!"

Lu Yan remained silent, contemplating? What kind of highbrow activity could a ghost possibly engage in?

Are you afraid of this? Lu Yan pulled out a string of wooden beads from the drawer beneath the wardrobe and held it up in front of his eyes

What is this? I didn't understand a single word

Lu Yan was just about to wave him over when a motorcycle suddenly rushed out. Wang Yue stood still, and the vehicle charged towards him.

Wang Yue stood at the entrance of the corridor, watching him. Lu Yan glanced at him a few times, always feeling that he looked rather pitiful, like a small animal trapped in a glass bottle

After fixing the old lady's washing machine, Lu Yan casually found a fast food restaurant to grab a bite. When he returned, he discovered that Wang Yue was still standing at the entrance of the corridor

Isn't it very fragrant? Wang Yue asked.

Don't go! Xu Rong suddenly shouted, "You haven't paid yet!"

"I have been staying at a ... ... research institute," Wang Yue thought for a moment and then affirmed, "Yes, it is indeed a research institute"

"It has to do with you," Wang Yue said behind him, "I haven't done this in a long time"

Where is Ningbo? Wang Yue pondered for a long time, looking completely bewildered

"Where are you from?" Lu Yan picked up a teaspoon and took some tea leaves, "You speak without an accent."

"Let me see, it's rather dull to be alone," Wang Yue smiled and said, "I have thought of a way that might allow us to go out"

This remark sent a chill down Lu Yan's spine, prompting him to quickly pour out some hot water and begin brewing tea

"Little Lu, go out!" The old lady greeted, not waiting for Lu Yan to respond, and turned back to shout into the house, "I told you not to wear those shoes, what if you fall? Drag that broken washing machine out! Just in time for Lu Yan to help take it to the storage room!"

Rocking and rocking, rocking to Grandma's bridge, Grandma is spinning cotton, Uncle is picking loquats, Lu Yan feels a bit helpless, "A flower on the loquat tree, Auntie is wearing a beautiful dress and visiting others, walking to the east to eat watermelon... I forgot the rest..."

Abbreviation? What the hell is the research institute?" Lu Yan tapped his cup and said, "Your research institute is quite straightforward.

Hmm? Lu Yan looked at him

"Oh, quite the actor!" The person retracted their hand and laughed, "Alright then, let your man come over!"

After two sentences, Lu Yan recognized whose voice it was

Ningbo dialect

"Where am I going?" Wang Yue asked

"Hmm, it's broken, take it down and wait for the scrap collector to come," the old lady nodded and stuffed an orange into Lu Yan's pocket

"What is it, do you have something to say?" Xu Rong smiled and walked over, swaying her steps.

"What are you?" Wang Yue said, "I have never encountered a body like yours..."

"Making love," Wang Yue looked at him, "We both..."

"Brother Yan?" Xu Rong's voice came from the stairs, "Who are you talking to? Do you need help?"

Lu Yan frowned and stood up to see Xu Rong blocking a few young men in front of her, has she encountered someone trying to take advantage of her generosity

"As soon as you see me, you run away. What can I, a pregnant woman, possibly do to you?" Xu Rong said disdainfully, leaning against him, "I have never seen someone like you before."

Feeling a bit drowsy, he plans to take a short nap. It is his habit to sleep whenever he has the time, but despite having his eyes closed for quite a while, he remains awake.

"Be careful not to fall." Lu Yan glanced at her, turned, and crossed the street, hearing Xu Rong mutter a curse under her breath.

Lu Yan felt that the conversation could not continue, so he got up and went into the kitchen: "You stay in the living room, I have a lot to do here, let me be quiet for a while."

Lu Yan glanced at him and said, "Are you illiterate?"

He did not open his eyes, instinctively remaining still. After listening to the sounds in the room, he slowly got out of bed, took some money, and planned to go out for a bite to eat, as he still needed to return to prepare the items for his evening stall.

"Thirsty?" Wang Yue slowly crouched down, "Sometimes... it is very hungry... so hungry that my stomach hurts..."

"Why are you still here?" Lu Yan couldn't help but ask.

"Quite... quite tragic," Lu Yan remarked, "So, did you enjoy watching it at McDonald's?"

What is the name of the research institute? Do you remember? Lu Yan asked, uncertain of the reason why this person was following him and claiming to be trapped in the building, but he wanted to clarify. He did not seek to exorcise Tian Qi, but at the very least wanted to find a way to get him away from his side

I am looking for someone in the building, to use this person's body to go out, and then come back... it might be possible

This is a string of peach wood beads. Lu Yan cannot remember where he got them from, but Wang Yue clearly has no interest in them. Lu Yan threw the beads back into the drawer and turned to enter the kitchen

No, Wang Yue leaned over to the pot and looked, "What other words can you say?"

What are you doing!" Xu Rong exclaimed, holding her belly.

Lu Yan leaned against the door frame and stared at him for a long time, finally letting out a sigh: "Come in."

At this age, it is impossible to be a researcher, Lu Yan scrutinized him, is that a research subject? What is being researched? Can it even lead to someone's death in the course of research?

The motorcycle passed through Wang Yue, and only then did Lu Yan realize that this person would not be hit. He sat back in his chair and took two hard puffs of his cigarette

"What does it have to do with me? Don't think that just because you died in front of me once, you can extort me." Lu Yan ignored him and continued to go upstairs

Lu Yan struggled for nearly an hour before finally falling asleep, and he slept straight through to the afternoon. The sound of the old lady across the hall shouting at her husband woke him up.

Oh. Wang Yue responded in the living room

I don't know, Wang Yue bent down to look at the cup, "I don't remember any of those things."

This person's ability to recognize faces is far superior to that of a highway robber, yet they are rather petty; even after all this time, they still dare to come knocking at the door

After being busy for a while, once the guests had started eating, Lu Yan felt a bit more relaxed and sat down on a chair to light a cigarette

"It is not WC, it is W dot C, it is an abbreviation," Wang Yue explained somewhat dissatisfied

Lu Yan stopped in his tracks and turned around. Wang Yue, a few steps away from him, also halted and, after locking eyes for a moment, suddenly asked: "Are there other versions of the Grandmother Bridge?"

Oh. Lu Yan carried the washing machine out of the hallway and turned back to take a look, only to find Wang Yue still standing there without moving

"Garlic?" Wang Yue said calmly, "I don't like to eat it."

Lu Yan took a puff of his cigarette, extinguished the butt on the ground, and lowered his voice: "You go wander around elsewhere first, and I will think it over with you after I close up for the night, alright?"