Late Night Bookstore - Chapter 7

“Sorry about that.”

Zhou Ze raised his hand to indicate that it was unintentional—this situation was far too awkward. Especially considering that he had no idea why “Xu Le,” the live-in son-in-law, was so disfavored by his in-laws.

“Are you feeling unwell?” Dr. Lin put down her chopsticks and asked.

“No, I’m fine.”

Zhou Ze picked up his chopsticks again and started to eat, just as he began chewing, a wave of nausea swept through him. It felt as if what he was trying to swallow wasn’t rice but something far more disgusting.

Pfft…

This time, Zhou Ze couldn’t hold it in. He sprayed the rice all over his in-laws sitting across from him. Rice grains stuck to his father-in-law’s glasses and hair, and his mother-in-law’s neatly pinned-up hair was now adorned with glistening white rice.

With a loud clatter, his father-in-law’s chopsticks fell onto the table. His face twitched a few times, unsure how to react to the situation. His mother-in-law, however, took a deep breath, her eyes blazing with fury.

This was truly a case of giving face but not receiving it back!

Bang!

His mother-in-law shoved her chair back and stood up abruptly.

“Xu Le!”

The mother-in-law was a retired head nurse. She knew that even if someone was sick, it was impossible to vomit food in such an exaggerated manner. Moreover, Xu Le didn’t seem to be in a “life-threatening condition.”

He must be doing it on purpose!

He’s rebelling!

Zhou Ze clutched his chest, left the dining table and rushed into the bathroom, lifting the toilet lid and starting to gag violently. This time, even bile came up, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

There was no way he could finish this meal.

Dr. Lin glanced toward the bathroom where Xu Le was still vomiting and turned to her younger sister.

“Xiao Yi, go make some noodles.”

“Oh, okay.”

The sister-in-law stuck out her tongue. She also thought her brother-in-law had gone a bit too far today. She quickly got up and headed to the kitchen to prepare some noodles.

“How outrageous! This bastard!”

The father-in-law slammed the table and took off his glasses, shaking off the rice. Xu Le’s father-in-law was a retired deputy director and he prided himself on his decorum and appearance. Today, however, he had clearly crossed his bottom line.

“I’m going to confront him and ask what exactly we’ve done to offend him! We didn’t ask for a dowry and we even paid to set up that money-losing bookstore of his. What more does he want?!”

The mother-in-law was about to storm into the bathroom.

“Mom, just clean up the mess. He’s not feeling well.”

Dr. Lin began to clear the plates on the table that had hardly been touched.

“You’re still defending him after all this?” her mother snapped, pointing accusingly at her daughter.

“What choice do I have? Who was it that forced me to marry him in the first place?” Dr. Lin looked directly at her mother, her delicate features appearing particularly resolute at that moment.

The mother-in-law was momentarily speechless. Indeed, it had been her and her husband who had pressured their daughter into this marriage. Desperate for a grandson, they went to great lengths to recruit Xu Le as a son-in-law. After all, with only two daughters and no sons, they needed someone to carry on the family name. Xu Le, a college graduate with no living parents, seemed a suitable candidate.

“I’m not eating anymore.”

The father-in-law couldn’t bear to look his daughter in the eye He had made the final decision back then and in hindsight, he felt some guilt toward his daughter. He left the table and retreated to his study.

“Hey, old man, you know your stomach can’t handle this!” the mother-in-law called out anxiously.

“Mom, bring him some noodles later,” Dr. Lin suggested as she finished cleaning up and walked toward the bathroom.

The mother-in-law watched her daughter’s back and ultimately said nothing more.

Pushing open the glass door of the bathroom, Dr. Lin saw Zhou Ze kneeling beside the toilet, one hand gripping the edge of the toilet and the other clutching his chest.

“Are you still feeling unwell?”

“I’m okay,” Zhou Ze replied. He had felt fine before the meal, but who knew he would end up like this just as he was about to eat?

“I asked Xiao Yi to make some noodles. Maybe you can try eating later.”

“Ugh…”

The mere thought of noodles sent another wave of nausea through Zhou Ze and he began dry-heaving again.

Lin Wanqiu frowned slightly.

“Should we go to the hospital?”

“No need, I’m fine. I won’t eat anymore.”

Zhou Ze waved his hand and, with great effort, stood up to rinse his mouth and wash his face at the sink.

Tonight’s dinner had clearly ended in disaster.

Zhou Ze’s in-laws and sister-in-law lived on the first floor, while he and Lin Wanqiu’s bedroom was on the second floor.

After cleaning up, Zhou Ze took a quick shower. Not knowing where his clean clothes were, he decided not to change and went upstairs wearing his previous clothes, his hair damp. As soon as he reached the top of the stairs, he noticed Lin Wanqiu was taking a shower in the second-floor bathroom.

Zhou Ze stood at the bathroom door for a while, watching the silhouette of her graceful figure behind the frosted glass and gently licked his lips.

It’s in moments like these that one feels most impulsive—and most grateful.

Thank you.

Zhou Ze thought in his heart. This was the first time since inhabiting Xu Le’s body that Zhou Ze had felt some appreciation for the poor soul. Sure, Xu Le had left him with a tangled mess of relationships, but his wife was truly beautiful.

With a mix of fantasies, excitement, impatience and hope, Zhou Ze pushed open the bedroom door— only to stop dead in his tracks, biting his lip in frustration.

Zhou Ze’s expression changed, mentally cursing Xu Le, whom he had just praised.

The bedroom was large, with a big bed and next to the big bed, there was also a mattress on the floor!

What does this even mean? Even a fool would understand!

Is that guy out of his mind?

Is that guy an idiot?

What’s the point of being a son-in-law like this?

Zhou Ze took a deep breath three times, then silently lay down on the floor mattress.

Let’s sleep, no more tossing and turning, stop thinking about it.

Maybe he could earn some money, move out and resolve this complicated situation—whether through divorce or some other means. There were still many problems he had to deal with after taking over this body.

Lin Wanqiu emerged from the shower, dressed in a loose blue nightgown that looked oversized on her slender frame.

Zhou Ze, lying on the mattress, involuntarily swallowed.

“Get up,” Lin Wanqiu said.

“Huh?”

“It’s always been you sleeping on the bed while I sleep on the floor,” Lin Wanqiu said.

“……” Zhou Ze silently got up and climbed onto the bed. Lin Wanqiu turned off the light and lay down on the floor mattress. Perhaps this was her way of compensating for not wanting to share a bed with Xu Le; she would sleep on the floor.

Zhou Ze sighed and prepared to sleep.

Half an hour later, he still couldn’t fall asleep and tossed in bed.

An hour later, he still couldn’t fall asleep.

Three hours later, it was already past midnight but he remained wide awake.

His eyelids felt heavy but sleep wouldn’t come. Meanwhile, the steady breathing from the floor mat indicated that Lin Wanqiu had fallen asleep.

Zhou Ze swore it was definitely not because there was a beautiful woman sleeping next to him that he was restless and unable to sleep. He was very tired, especially after everything that had happened today. But damn it, he just couldn’t sleep.

Lying there, Zhou Ze stared at his hands. Earlier that day, he had used these hands to save a little girl’s life. She hadn’t regained consciousness yet but her vitals had returned. She still had a chance.

Was this a special ability he gained after walking through hell? Or was it something left behind by that old man when he grabbed Zhou Ze’s wrist before dying?

Either way, it felt pretty good.

As a doctor, with these hands, how many lives could he save?

It was an ability that transcended the realm of medical technology and understanding, even allowing one to reach a level beyond that of Hua Tuo¹ and Bian Que². Practitioners in every profession hope that one day they can surpass their ancestors. Perhaps this was not for money or profit, but for something deeper… a sense of purpose.

But just then, a sharp pain shot through Zhou Ze’s arms. He gasped, curling up on the bed as the pain intensified.

Hiss…

Zhou Ze sucked in a breath. The pain continued to escalate, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. Unable to endure it any longer, he got out of bed and stumbled into the bathroom.

Sitting on the toilet in the dark, Zhou Ze looked at his arms. Veins bulged from his skin, as though something was hammering at his very bones.

Damn it, what on earth is happening!

Zhou Ze’s face began to twist in agony. This feeling made him wish for death, giving him the impulse to grab a kitchen knife and chop off his own arms.

In his dazed state, he recalled lying in the cold coffin, about to be pushed into the crematorium, and wandering aimlessly in hell, moving toward an end.

Is this a curse?

A punishment?

Why am I being punished?

What did I do wrong?

Is it because I smuggled myself back?

Is it because I am not a living person, so heaven punished me?

Or perhaps… Is it because I saved someone with it today?

Yes, that must be it.

Zhou Ze took a deep breath. By using that ability to save someone, did he break some rule and suffer backlash?

Then, if he killed that girl again now, would it stop hurting?

A hint of black mist began to gather in Zhou Ze’s eyes, but he was completely unaware.

Uncle, you can’t smoke in the hospital.

The little girl’s voice echoed in Zhou Ze’s mind. Zhou Ze shook his head vigorously.

No, I saved her.

I saved her!

I have no regrets.

No regrets!

……………

“Mom, are you done yet?”

“I just got in. You can use the bathroom on the second floor.”

“Alright.”

The sister-in-law went up to the second floor. She was feeling a bit urgent and since the bathroom on the second floor had no lights on, she pushed the door open and walked in.

At that moment, Zhou Ze looked up at her and she looked at Zhou Ze.

In Zhou Ze’s eyes, the black mist swirled, exuding an aura of dread. It was like the gaze of a malevolent spirit crawling out of hell, filled with curses and madness.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!”

She screamed in terror and stumbled backward, falling to the floor. Her eyes were locked on Zhou Ze, who continued staring at her.

Immediately after, Zhou Ze noticed something unusual underneath his sister-in-law’s nightgown— a wet patch was spreading across the floor tiles.

She had been so frightened… she wet herself?

TL Notes:

1. Hua Tuo – A gifted surgeon and acupuncturist during the late Eastern Han dynasty. Historical texts state that he was the first person in China to use anaesthesia during surgery.

2. Bian Que – Regarded as pioneer among medical physicians during the Warring States period. The first to rely primarily on pulse and physical examination for the diagnosis of disease.