A short story I read

Was at the library today again, browsing through their collections of books, and I happened to land my eyes on a Chinese novel, can’t recall the full title now, but it has a “HOLIDAY” in the title. The novel was in the same novel series where it featured another famous short story, “Calling You” which was made into a movie (I liked that movie, even though the ending was bittersweet)

The book contained 2 short stories, but I had only managed to finish the first one today. It had made a deep impression on me and I just wanted to write it down somewhere. The title of the short story is 幸福宝贝 which roughly translate to “Treasure of Happiness”, it features a gloomy and anti-social protagonist which has found a cheap place to rent for his college life, seems like a good deal right? Yeah, except for the past that the land owner has conveniently left out: A university student was murdered in that exact house just 3 weeks earlier…

As all supernatural stories goes, our protagonist slowly finds out that he is definitely not alone in the house, and that the spirit of the previous occupant is still living in it with him. Instead of taking a typical horror turn, we find out that the spirit does not go out of her way to scare our dear protagonist, and in fact helps in ways like making breakfast, coffee for the protagonist. As the story progresses we are offered more insight into what kind of person the spirit was through the eyes of the protagonist, e.g. she was a sunny like girl who like to take pictures, a total opposite of the protagonist (gloomy and anti-social).

There was one part where the protagonist mentions that she wasn’t really that scary, and in return he found a letter on his desk next morning with the classic horror threats, well… at least it was till halfway where it looks like she got bored of writing it and just mentions she was feeling lonely, and would like some noodles. That scene was priceless XD.

Endings… each story has one and even though I wanted it to go on forever, it was soon I realized I was reaching the ending of the tale. The murderer was apprehended, and it was time for her to move on, she then leaves a letter to the protagonist to cheer him up and tells him the world isn’t as dark as he thought out to be. It ends with the protagonist opening the curtains and started the routine cleaning (since she is not around anymore).

For a short story, I felt it was well-written, I hope other people will also enjoy it as well.