Chapter 4: The Arrival of Daylight's Comfort
The phone had stopped ringing by then. I crouched by the bedroom door, peering out into the living room.
It was empty, as if nothing had happened at all.
Moving cautiously, I picked up the phone.
The missed call was from Mom.
Just as I was about to call her back, the phone shut off on its own.
I glanced at the clock in the living room—after all the chaos this morning, it was already 11:30.
Grandma should be arriving soon!
But now, I couldn’t tell if she was really my grandma. That female ghost was a master at imitation.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Nuan Nuan, open the door for Grandma."
Before I could figure out a way to distinguish the real from the fake, Grandma’s familiar, gentle voice came from outside.
Tiptoeing to the door, I peered through the peephole. There she was—her slightly hunched figure, a vegetable basket in hand.
Inside the basket were my favorite ingredients: pork ribs and potatoes.
"Nuan Nuan, open up! Still asleep?"
"Grandma… are you really my grandma?" I couldn’t help but ask.
"Silly child, did you just wake up? Can’t even recognize your own grandma’s voice now?"
I suddenly remembered Rule #4:
[Grandma will come from the countryside to stay with you at noon today. Remember, Grandma during the day loves you—you can trust her unconditionally.]
It was daytime, midday exactly, and the timing matched the rules.
The ghost had just left—she probably wouldn’t return so soon.
So, with a whatever, if I die, I die attitude, I opened the door.
Seeing Grandma after so long, the tension that had gripped me all morning suddenly snapped.
I threw myself into her arms, tears falling uncontrollably.
Caught off guard by my sudden breakdown, Grandma fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief, dabbing at my face.
"Oh, Nuan Nuan, you’re all grown up now! Your parents are just away on a business trip—they’ll be back in a couple of days. Why the tears? Did someone bully you?"
"It’s nothing, Grandma. I just missed you, that’s all."
I didn’t want to worry her. Some things were better kept to myself.
"Nuan Nuan, we may not be rich, but we don’t let others push us around either. If something’s wrong, you tell me. Don’t keep it bottled up—Grandma will stand up for you."
"Grandma, I’m hungry. Can you make potato and pork rib stew?"
"Of course! I knew you’d ask. Bought fresh ribs this morning just for you. I’ll start cooking right away."
With that, she headed to the kitchen, basket in hand.
Grandma’s presence eased the fear in my heart.
My phone signal had returned, too.
Worried it might cut out again, I hurried to the balcony to call Mom.
This time, the call connected after just two rings.
"Mom, what’s with that note? What kind of game are you and Dad playing?!"
Anger seeped into my voice, my tone sharper than I intended.
"Nuan Nuan… you saw the note?" Mom’s voice sounded uneasy.
"If I’d slept through the afternoon, I might’ve died in my dreams! What are you two even doing? And what’s this about ‘Grandma during the day loves me’? Does that mean at night she gets possessed by a ghost or something?"
This was the first time I’d ever yelled at Mom like this. Because of some absurd note, I’d almost ended up dead at eighteen.
I ranted into the phone, but Mom stayed silent for a long time.
Finally, she spoke, her voice low but firm:
"Just remember—Grandma during the day loves you. You can trust her completely. But once it’s dark, lock your door."