Afterlife Department

Chapter 132 – Foster Father

Huo Ling drifted in the hallway. As he looked at each door, he felt nostalgic.

Aunt Gene's unit is near the elevator since she's getting old. Her children, who already have their job in the city and some has family of their own, visit her thrice a week since she didn't hire a caretaker. Thrice a week is the maximum number of visits her children can compromise.

The Fortuna family, a family of four, lives next to Aunt Gene. Their children have grown up and they would visit Aunt Gene and chat to the old lady. The father and mother are white-collared workers like Aunt Gene's children, so they felt relieved their children wouldn't go around and just chat with the old lady all day. It's because of their children Aunt Gene acceded to her children's compromise.

Laila, a single mother, and Lily – her daughter, lives in the unit at the end of the hallway – which is the farthest from the elevator, since Laila is afraid her daughter would wander around and fell off the stair near the elevator.

Sam, who lives next to Laila and Lily, isn't a local and arrived in this island half a year ago.. He looked like an average man, if you disregard his gentleman's bearing. One can see he lived a wealthy but strict life. He leaves very early and comes back very late. No one questioned him because of his indifferent attitude.

Then, there's the neighbor Huo Ling and Yi Bing met earlier – Kale. He is a young man and an architect. His work is in the mainland and he just occasionally returns in the island. Every time he returns, he would bring gifts to them his neighbors, most especially to Laila and the children of the Fortuna family.

Huo Ling has a nice impression of him. Not only is he kind but also he is bubbly. Completely opposite of that man – his father's friend, and his foster father for six years.

He couldn't help but sigh in dismay. However, suddenly, he heard the hallway had gone silent. Currently, there's only him and Yi Bing in the hallway. Kale still hasn't gone up. Since Yi Bing has a body, his footsteps should be heard. But, the hallway is completely silent.

"Yi Bing?" he called when he noticed Yi Bing wasn't following him. "What's wrong?" he asked as he turned around. He saw him standing motionless in front of the elevator. "Hey." He called when Yi Bing he didn't hear him answer.

Yi Bing flinched and he raised his head. He was greeted with Huo Ling's worried expression. "Nothing…" he answered in a low voice.

"Are you sure it's nothing?" Huo Ling asked as he studied Yi Bing's expression.

"… yes." Yi Bing answered as his hands inside his pocket trembled. This isn't the time to think about his past life. He has to bring Huo Ling's soul to his reincarnation. This is Huo Ling's fourth life. Five more and he can investigate about his past life, and Huo Ling's connection to him.

With that, he finally calmed down.

Huo Ling is still puzzled, but he didn't push the matter. Maybe Yi Bing is worried if he'd be sacrificed next? He thought. "Then, let's go. Our unit is 600." He told Yi Bing.

"… 'liu ling ling'?" Yi Bing muttered as he followed Huo Ling.

"Eh?" Huo Ling turned to Yi Bing. "How did you know that name?" he asked.

"… name?" Yi Bing looked at him.

"Yes. That's my foster father's friend's name." Huo Ling said and smiled.

"…" Yi Bing is speechless. What kind of name is that? He rolled his eyes. "No… those are Chinese numbers…" he helplessly explained.

"Oh. Right." Huo Ling said. He remembered that, indeed, '6' and '0' are 'liu' and 'ling' in Chinese. Now that he realized it, his brows knitted. Was that man messing with him? How dare he play me! So the name he told me is actually our unit's number?! His face darkened and he glared at the '600' above the door when they reached the unit. He planned to scare the man when he sees him behind the door. "Press the doorbell." He told Yi Bing.

Yi Bing did as he told. The sound echoed in the hallway. However, a few minutes passed but no one answered from inside, nor the door opened.

Huo Ling frowned. Is that man still sleeping? He thought. Dang! It's already eleven in the morning! He overslept again?! He must have overworked himself! That definitely it is! He would only oversleep when he overworked!

Fury bubbled in his heart. He was about to pass through the wall to go inside when they heard the elevator ding-ed and its doors opened. Then, they saw Kale came out.

"Ah… damn those women. They're also in heat. They're worse than animals…" he muttered as he fixed his shirt that was crumpled and his hair that had gone messy. There were kiss marks on his shirt and cheeks. His lips are suspiciously red.

Kale is an attractive man. Not overly handsome, but good-looking. He has sun-kissed skin, toned muscles and expressive eyes and sexy lips. His appearance is also another reason why he is liked by people.

"Huh?" Kale's green eyes flitted to their side. Well, actually, it is only Yi Bing he can see. "Who are you?" he asked as he walked towards them.

Yi Bing turned and faced Kale. "Hello." He greeted with a British accent.

Kale was taken aback. He stared at Yi Bing with widened eyes. He… knows I'm British? He thought in surprise. "You speak so well… aren't you Chinese?" he asked as he looked at Yi Bing's eyes.

"Yes." Yi Bing calmly answered. "I… am visiting a friend." He said and glanced at the unit 600.

"Oh. Right. I remember now!" Kale said. "Howee is half-Chinese. So you're his friend?" he said and smiled at Yi Bing. However, it was a sad smile. "So you must haven't heard. Howee regretfully is one of the victims in that cruise ship's shipwreck." He sighed. "Everyone's gone to claim his corpse. I am also going there after I change my clothes." He explained and wryly smiled. "I just can't face him looking like this, right?" he forced a laugh.

"Kale…" Huo Ling felt his eyes became misty. So that's why the surrounding is empty. They all went to see him.

"You see, Howee is a good child." Kale said. "He is hardworking and kind. He is a responsible young man. It must be because he was orphaned." He sighed.

Yi Bing silently listened to Kale. He already knows. He glanced at Huo Ling on his side and saw Huo Ling's eyes are red from holding back his tears.

"Kale…" he called and sniffed. His tears were about to fall when he suddenly heard what Kale said next.

"He is really unfortunate." Kale said. His voice is filled with sympathy. "He doesn't have any relatives, that's why his corpse is left to us – his neighbors." He lamented. "Such a good young man…" he said as he continued.

If Huo Ling has a body, he would feel his blood becoming cold and goosebumps on his skin as his hairs rose. However, now, he's just a soul. His eyes slowly widened in shock and horror as he stared at Kale. His eyes filled with disbelief. "WHAT?!" he exclaimed. His voice is very loud, yet no one heard him. Not even Kale. Only Yi Bing can hear him. "What do you mean… what do you mean, I don't have any relatives?! There's Lou Lingling!" he yelled as he tried to grab Kale to shake him, but his hands only passed through Kale's body.

"Brr… why does the air feel cold?" Kale asked as he shivered.

"What the heck…" Huo Ling muttered. His face looks stunned as he stared at the glaring '600' above the door. "I swear… I swear. Lou Lingling exists!" he screamed as he looked at Yi Bing who just silently stood on his spot. "Yi Bing. I swear. Lou Lingling exists!" he told him. "He's my father's friend. My father gave me to him before my father died." He said, speaking very fast as he poured out everything he knew about Lou Lingling. He's trying to convince Yi Bing, but it looked like he's convincing himself instead after his belief was shaken by Kale's words. "Yi Bing… Lou Lingling exists. He exists…" he said as his tears fell. "He took care of me. for six years… six years…" he gritted his teeth as he hung his head. His voice aggrieved. He felt wronged.

Yi Bing looked at his dejected appearance. "Don't jump to conclusion." He said. "We don't know if Kale is speaking the truth." He told him.

Huo Ling's pupils shrank and he raised his head to look at Yi Bing. "But, Kale has no reason to lie…" he said before his voice faded. He stared at the man before him. Today, his eyes were opened to another world. "You mean… this might be the work of a yao?"