Afterlife Department

Yi Bing stared at Huo Ling and saw Huo Ling's face became pale in horror. He could sense his fear. "Halt your thoughts." He told him. "Don't think too much. Control your emotions." He said. "Or you'll turn to a vile ghost if you'd enter your Mania." He told him.

Huo Ling was stunned and he felt he was doused by an ice-cold water after he heard Yi Bing's cold voice speaking in a hurried but gentle tone. He felt like he was drowning earlier, like what caused his death. However, Yi Bing pulled him out of the water. He saved him – which is ironic since he is dead.

"Yi Bing…" he called. His voice is shaking in fear again when he thought of the possibility Liu Lingling was taken – or worse, eaten, by the yao that erased their neighbors' memories of him. "If… if a yao has been here and erased my neighbor's memories…" he said as his lips quivered. His face became paler and his soul is trembling.

"Calm down." Yi Bing said again as he softened more his voice. He placed the book back on the shelf and he approached Huo Ling. "We can't be sure if Liu Lingling was really taken… by that yao." He paused in the middle. He can't make Huo Ling panic more than he already is. "We don't know what is this yao's objective by erasing Liu Lingling from your neighbors' memories." He said. "But, one thing is sure." He looked straight in Huo Ling's crystalline eyes that are as clear as the spring water. "Liu Lingling exists. Your memories of him are not false. And that yao who attacked your neighbors knows Liu Lingling." He told him. "Don't lose hope. Believe in Liu Lingling." He added.

Huo Ling's wildly beating 'heart' had calmed down as he stared at those dark eyes tinged with the color of the sea and sky. Yi Bing... he is a stranger. They only met not that long. Yet, Yi Bing always makes him calm. Yi Bing had told him his kin has affinity with the souls. Huo Ling knew better. This familiarity of Yi Bing of him… his way of appeasing him… it's as if Yi Bing had done it for many times. Yet, Huo Ling knew the two of them only met each other for a short while.

But, what Yi Bing knows, Huo Ling naturally doesn't know. For him, he met Yi Bing just a few hours ago. Yet for Yi Bing, when had he met him? This degree of familiarity of him can't be faked. Yi Bing is acting as if they had met each other… known each other for more than a lifetime.

Yet, Huo Ling knew Yi Bing wouldn't answer him if he'd ask him, thus he remained silent. Although he had only met Yi Bing for a short time, yet he knew the other person… yao, held no malice towards him. That is why he can let his guard down to him. Since he knows he wouldn't hurt him, nor endanger him. Instead, Yi Bing saves him. He helps him each time. He is even patient towards him. Huo Ling, who was dealing with many kinds of people – strangers, as a part of his job, had never met someone who can be this patient to a stranger he had met for a short time. Even if one makes a façade of a gentleman, yet their mask will sooner crack. Yet, Yi Bing maintained his style.

On the other hand, Huo Ling has always been detached to other people aside from Liu Lingling. People always come and go in one's life. One second they arrive. But, they wouldn't stay for a lifetime. Thus, he always had himself not develop deeper feelings towards other people. He had always maintained his distance from them. He never had a friend. He never tried to enter a circle of friend, either. The only one who he had permitted to enter his life is Liu Lingling. His parents are a given.

But, for the first time, Huo Ling wanted to become closer to Yi Bing. That feeling of being cared for. That desire to wanted to know more of the other person… yao. That urge to wanted to stay beside them. his feelings towards Liu Lingling is special. On the other hand, towards Yi Bing… this must be what they call 'wanted to get close to, wanting to befriend them'.

"Okay." He answered with a hoarse voice as he calmed himself and held on to the emotions that shaken his soul. This novel feeling as if embedded deep in his soul and now just awakened from its deep slumber.

Now that he thought about it, he is a cautious person who had always kept his distance from the people around him. But, this feeling he has towards Yi Bing… it's as if Yi Bing has a power beckoning him towards him. As if there's a magnet pulling him towards Yi Bing… he had let his guard down towards him. Was it because Yi Bing was the first person… yao that he had seen when he woke up after his death? Is this feeling he felt like a chick imprinted on whatever it saw first after its birth?

Whatever the reason is, but Huo Ling knew that the moment Yi Bing intruded in the circle enclosing him, acting as a boundary between him and the other people, he knew there's no stopping it. He had fallen in this pit.

If he can't escape, then… he thought as he looked at Yi Bing. I must succeed! I have to become friends with Yi Bing! He thought as his eyes flickered with flames of determination. His father and Liu Lingling had always urged him to make some friends. He also knew his mother would want the same for him. He knows how to make friends, but he felt like it isn't worth it.

But now, Yi Bing appeared before him. He awakened something in Huo Ling. Thus, Yi Bing had to be responsible for him!

Yi Bing's eyes narrowed when he felt the mood around Huo Ling suddenly changed. What was it? He thought. He can't point it out, but he knew something has changed. Even the depressing atmosphere earlier was gone. "Good." He said as he masked his puzzlement. He looked at Huo Ling and saw there was now a calm expression on his face. Suddenly, he felt like he had missed something big.

He hopes that, whatever it is, it wouldn't be troublesome to him.

Half an hour later, Yi Bing and Huo Ling had arrived in the hospital where the corpses of the victims of the shipwreck was sent. The place is crowded not only by the family of the deceased, but also by the paparazzi and reporters combined that came to gossip – for the later, and to ask for the update of the investigation of the incident – for the latter. The paparazzi is here for the famous personas that arrived. After all, one-third of the passengers of the Ascend Cruise Ship are influential people. Not only the deceased, but the family of the famous but now deceased people are, and also, as famous as them.

For one, Mr. Renata's father and brother who had arrived to claim Mr. Renata's corpse are now surrounded by the reporters and the paparazzi asking for their statement. If not for their bodyguards protecting them, the old man and the middle-aged man must have already been squashed flat by the crowd. Mr. Renata's wife and his children were hidden by the Renata family to protect them and to not be bothered by the outside world. They are still grieving for Mr. Renata's death.

Yet, these heartless people still liked to fish in troubled waters.

There's also the CEO of the Huayue Entertainment – Song Jinrong. Like Mr. Renata's father and brother, he is also surrounded by the paparazzi and the reporters. However, since he is a public figure and is living in the entertainment world, he naturally knows how to act in front of the camera. "In behalf of the Huayue Entertainment, I am here to claim to the corpse of Luo Ying." He said as he put on a grieving mask. "Yes. You heard that right. Luo Ying, the rising actor of the company, has met his misfortune. He is one of the passengers of the Ascend Cruise Ship." he explained. However, he didn't divulge any information why Luo Ying was in the cruise ship. Even though the paparazzi and the reporters are itching to ask, but if Song Jinrong wouldn't tell them anything, then they cannot ask. Their company's arrangement is confidential.

On the other side, an obviously wealthy woman was wailing at her husband's chest while her husband is glaring at a man the same age as him. They are not crying like the woman, but it can be seen both men's eyes are tinged red.

"My Hannah!" the woman cried.

The man glanced at her and a guilty expression appeared on his face. "I'm sorry." He said in a hoarse voice as his eyes welled up with tears.