To Raise a Soul 38.1

Despite Yu Zhen’s cuteness and his ambiguous actions, Yin Yan was sure that he was deliberately being difficult.

Because the building plans were changed, all the work which had been completed needed to be taken down. The first group of workers had returned to the construction site and begun the task.

After getting out of the car, they first went to see the planted lotus seeds. Once it could be confirmed that there were no problems, they would return to the construction site together.

However, they were stopped by a man in his thirties just as they passed the project signboard. He had a safety helmet on and wore a construction worker’s jumpsuit, however he wore a suit and tie underneath. He appeared gaunt but he had an upright air about him, suggesting that he was a decent man. 

“Manager Yin, there are some details about this project that I would like to discuss with you.”

The man had rushed up to them and spoken in an urgent tone.

Yu Zhen looked on, puzzled. Who is this?

Recognizing the man, Yin Yan reached out a hand and greeted, “Hello, Manager Chi. You’re dressed up like this because…”

“Ah, this. I arrived earlier so I went into the site and made a round,” he explained. Realizing he was a little hasty, he immediately shook Yin Yan’s hand. He added, with some embarrassment, “I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Chi Nan. I was the last person in charge of this project. I’m here to hand over the project.”

Chi Nan had only started working for the Yin family from the middle of the previous year. In the past, he had been working overseas continuously and his capabilities were outstanding. To show that he valued talents, Yin Hexiang assigned him to the project when he transferred and immediately gave him the position of project manager.

Because of the three accidents, work on the project did not progress smoothly. Having originally planned to give a great performance at his new company, Chi Nan was a little distressed by what had happened. He had just resolved to sort out the problem and display his abilities to the company boss, but his superiors gave the orders to transfer him to a bigger project where he would be the assistant manager. The project he was responsible for would be handed to the boss’s son. 

Thinking about it rationally, the megamall project was larger than the leisure centre project. Although his transfer meant his title was reduced to assistant manager, in reality it was a promotion. Whether it be his position within the company or the authority of his words, he would be more powerful than when he was working on the smaller project of the leisure center. 

However, despite the rational thinking, he couldn’t stand it from an emotional standpoint. 

The reality was that he had taken over a project but there were several problems. He also had no chance to prove his skills before being transferred away. 

It was as if he were useless and unable to solve those problems.

But I have a way to solve the problems! Small problems like workers’ accidents are troublesome, but they can be fixed!

It was like he had been doing homework and had made a mistake. Not only that, he had picked up an eraser to remove the mistake and then continue his work. But a teacher then snatched away his homework and gave it to someone else to complete.

As a perfectionist and someone who saw things through, he was so upset by the project that  he could neither eat nor sleep well. Over the course of the New Year break, he had lost some weight.

He eventually began to look forward to the new year and to have a fresh start at work. He decided to tidy up the project’s materials and took charge of the project handover. For his last shift of the project, he arrived at the site early and waited for the arrival of the boss’s rumored “great prince” who had worked at a branch company for many years.

After introducing themselves to each other, Chi Nan’s drawn out anxiety from the holiday finally lessened. Taking out a few documents he had with him, he led Yin Yan into the site and said, “This is information on the people in charge of each department for this project. The one given by the office is less detailed. I made this detailed version. Have a look, it might help you in some way.”

“This is the plan made by the last landscape architect. I’d thought about it and considered making some small changes. Look, I don’t think it’s appropriate to use large trees in this big area. You can discuss this issue with the landscape architect.”

“This is research on the school and gymnasium nearby which I personally conducted. Because the purpose of the leisure center is to benefit the students, it’s been set to be a cultural center. But, in my opinion, today’s students mature early, so we should make it appeal to the young crowd and make it more lively. This is information on successful cultural centers both domestically and internationally. You can use it all as a reference.”

“And this one…” 

Once he started talking about work, Chi Nan couldn’t be stopped. He walked with Yin Yan around the construction site all the while speaking about matters from personnel to plants, from early plans to mid-project plans, and finally about the promotions and operations of the business. He spoke in detail about all aspects of the project.

Yu Zhen listened from his place beside Yin Yan. The more he listened, the more he admired the man, and the more that he discovered he was like a blank piece of paper when compared to truly talented people. His eyes were drawn to and fixed on Chi Nan for a long time.

As he watched the man, he eventually saw there was something strange about him.

Chi Nan was of average height and thin. Although he appeared quite awake and alert, his face was thin and pallid, and his lips were light in color. In short, he looked like he had just recovered from a serious illness.

However, even with a careful study of the man, Yu Zhen couldn’t spot any signs of a major illness.

After his cultivation advanced up a rank, he became more sensitive to bad things. If someone stood in front of Yu Zhen and they had something wrong with their bodies, Yu Zhen would be able to detect the issue with careful scrutiny. 

But Yu Zhen couldn’t “see” anything wrong with Chi Nan.

Something’s fishy. Someone who’s quite healthy shouldn’t look like this. 

Frowning, he glanced at Yin Yan and found him listening attentively to Chi Nan’s analysis of the future business of the leisure center. He acted as if nothing was amiss. Hesitating, Yu Zhen produced a little bit of merit on his hand and rubbed it on his eyes. 

That was an ability he’d gained from the Scripture of Floriculture once he’d moved up to the second rank. It was called ‘Clear Discernment’.

Clear Discernment was similar to seeing ghosts, but different.

He didn’t need to purposefully try to see ghosts. Once that ability appeared, it stayed active and allowed various types of spirits and negative energy to be seen. In contrast, Clear Discernment required merits or spiritual energy to become active but its range of use was even greater. As long as something was out of the ordinary, it would be clearly detected by the ability.

As it was his first time using it, Yu Zhen was unprepared for what the result could be.

Golden light flashed before his eyes and his vision became warped for a brief moment, then everything changed. The sky was still the sky and the ground was still the ground, but every living being was shrouded in a thin layer of warm light.

The light on people’s bodies shone brightly on some, but dimmer on others. For some, there was a faint trace of black. Looking down, he saw similarities in the grasses growing from the earth. Some were wrapped in bright, warm light, but the light had dimmed and was almost exhausted for others.

Yu Zhen was a little alarmed by the monstrously colorful sight in front of him. He was dazed for a couple of seconds before focusing back on his task. Observing carefully, he found that those with the brightest light, whether it be human or plants, were the healthiest. On the other hand, the weakest had the dimmest light.

Realizing the pattern, he hurriedly looked at Yin Yan and Chi Nan.

Then he was alarmed yet again.

There’s nothing. Not even a trace of light. Yin Yan looks the same as normal. Everyone else has warm light around them, but Yin Yan doesn’t. In a world of warm light, he’s the only one who still has a clear silhouette. 

What’s going on?

Yu Zhen was stunned silly.

The dimmer someone’s light is, the weaker they are. Is Yin Yan in bad health? 

As if aware of his actions, Yin Yan turned to look at him. He moved a finger slightly, flicking Yu Zhen’s forehead gently from across empty air. It was a small punishment for not paying attention to work.

Yu Zhen returned to his senses. Watching Yin Yan’s calm and stable appearance, his rising worries slowly melted away.

Really, worrying about it is unnecessary. Yin Yan is so powerful, how can there be something wrong with him? He’s probably restrained the energy around him on purpose. Even if he didn’t restrain it on purpose, for someone who has reincarnated into someone else’s body, it’s definitely very normal to not have the warm light. 

He composed himself. Looking at Chi Nan, he stared blankly.

The energy around Chi Nan was very bright. The warm light was very vibrant and looked nice, but a part of it was missing. A very big piece. A very big and clearly defined chunk of it, like a biscuit where someone had nibbled away a piece.

“Yu Zhen,” Yan Yan called abruptly.

With the sound of his voice, the warm lights disappeared instantly and the world returned to its usual appearance.

Yu Zhen focused back on reality and restrained his emotions. He then made a sound in reply before walking over.

“This is Yu Zhen. The new landscape architect for the leisure center project.” Yin Yan casually pulled on Yu Zhen’s hand until he stood beside him. Under Chi Nan’s surprised look, he added, “He’s also my husband. We’ll have the wedding at the end of the year.”

“Ah… Congratulations.” Chi Nan couldn’t quite react properly. He had taken Yu Zhen for Yin Yan’s assistant and did not expect him to be the husband.

Yu Zhen nodded politely at Chi Nan. He discreetly removed his hand from Yin Yan’s and held it out to Chi Nan. “Hello, Manager Chi. About the suggestions you’d made about the landscaping, I’d like to have an in depth discussion about it with you. Would you happen to have some time at noon for a meal?”

“O-of course.” Chi Nan immediately returned the shake, deeply appreciating Yu Zhen’s commitment to work.

Yin Yan stood on the sidelines. He looked at his hand, then at the connected hands of Yu Zhen and Chi Nan. Then he looked up at Yu Zhen’s smiling face and didn’t move an inch. 

Yu Zhen pretended not to see that. He took Yin Yan’s place and began talking in detail about work with Chi Nan.

After a whole morning of interactions, Chi Nan understood a little bit about Yin Yan and Yu Zhen’s character. His worries about the project all disappeared. He became more comfortable, his attitude more relaxed.

At noon the trio ate at a restaurant near the school. The dishes were simple, and though portion sizes were more generous than those at home, they tasted quite good.

Chi Nan looked thin, but he had a big appetite. He put his chopsticks down after three bowls of rice, but appeared to have room to continue.

Yu Zhen watched silently and formed a hunch. After their meal, he asked for Chi Nan’s contact details. He explained that he was a new person so, if it wasn’t a bother, he wanted to contact him in the future about matters related to the project.

Unable to stop thinking about the project, Chi Nan immediately agreed and gave Yu Zhen his work number and his private number.

On the way home, Yu Zhen was deep in thought and remained very quiet.

Yin Yan gave in and broke the silence. “What did you want to do after getting Chi Nan’s number?”

Still ‘deep in thought’, Yu Zhen ignored him.

“He’s haunted by a starving ghost. If you want to help him, I can take you to his residence at night.”

Yu Zhen finally stopped being ‘deep in thought’. He appeared to have just broken from his thoughts and he turned to look at Yin Yan. “What did you say? I was thinking so I didn’t hear you clearly.”

Yin Yan didn’t reply.

In silence, Yu Zhen continued focusing on Yin Yan.

Yin Yan turned the steering wheel as he drove into their assigned garage at the apartments.

“I want to eat something you make,” Yu Zhen blurted out.

Yin Yan, who had already parked the car, paused for a moment. He then changed the gear and drove out from the parking spot. “What would you like to eat?”

“You.” 

Squeeeeeeaak.

The car screeched to a halt.