Fake Human Case

A not-so materialistic had his worldview completely shattered by an event that occurred just a week ago...

Ruan Xun, 22, was a security guard at an rich residential complex. He earned a base salary of over thirty thousand a month. Though his job wasn’t particularly glamorous, it was more than enough for him to live comfortably and indulge himself.

His greatest hobby was writing ghost stories and posting them on forums for unsuspecting internet users. Whenever his stories scared the readers to the point that they couldn’t sleep, he would leave a mysterious comment beneath the post: "This is a true story. If even a single word is a lie, may lightning strike me!"

And then he would enjoy his late-night snacks while reading the terrified responses from the netizens.

“Such cowards. There’s no such thing as ghosts in this world,” Ruan Xun would chuckle to himself.

“Ruan Ge, don’t say that. I still have the night shift tonight…” 

The boy speaking was Sun Yuqiang, a high school graduate working part-time during summer break. Naturally timid, he was always terrified whenever Ruan Xun told his ghost stories.

Ruan Xun gave him a sly look and threw his arm around his shoulder. “Hey, little brother, something really strange happened to me last night while I was on the night shift. Want to hear about it?”

Sun Yuqiang’s face turned pale. “N-no… I don’t.”

“Oh, come on, we’re brothers! I’ll tell you. It was like this: last night, I was watching a movie in my room when a couple came back and asked me to open the building’s security gate. I checked the time—it was exactly 2:30 AM.”

“Maybe they were out late. I didn’t think too much of it and opened the door. But what I saw next was really bizarre!” Ruan Xun gestured animatedly as he spoke. 

Sun Yuqiang sat on a small stool, frozen in place, beads of cold sweat soaking through his T-shirt. He stammered, “What happened next...?”

“I knew that couple. They had a good relationship, no rumors or scandals that I knew of. But as they walked in, I saw something... something strange behind the woman!”

“That woman was followed by another woman, dressed in a bright red robe with her hair disheveled.”

“But! The couple didn’t seem to notice at all. They were still walking arm in arm towards home. I was about to call out to them when the woman turned her head slowly... and stared at me!”

“Her pupils were gone. There was nothing but pure white in her eyes! Her mouth was stretched wide, almost to her ears. That’s when I knew—THIS WAS A GHOST!”

“I was so terrified that I couldn’t even speak. I just watched them walk away, and when the couple came out for a morning walk, the ghost was gone. I mustered the courage to tell them about it, but the woman was so frightened. Her husband yelled at me.”

Ruan Xun pretended to shudder, his voice full of mock terror. “Little brother... the sun’s about to set. That couple still isn’t back. If they come home after midnight, you’d better not open your eyes!”

Sun Yuqiang, now thoroughly spooked, was on the verge of quitting this job. His voice trembled as he pleaded, “Ruan Ge, is this... is this true...?”

“Why would I lie to you?” Ruan Xun patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t be scared, man. I’ve got your back.”

Just then, his alarm went off. Ruan Xun grinned broadly. “Time to clock out!!”

He quickly shed his security uniform, grabbed his bag, and headed for the door.

Sun Yuqiang rushed to stop him, his eyes welling with tears. “Ruan Ge... please, go on the night shift with me! I’ll take your day shift next time.”

“That’s not going to happen. I’ve got a date tonight,” Ruan Xun waved him off. “If you’re scared, just loop the [Great Compassion Mantra]. That ghost won’t dare show up.”

He had only meant to scare the poor kid before leaving for the night, and now that his goal was achieved, he had no reason to stay.

Ruan Xun shrugged off Sun Yuqiang’s grip. “See you tomorrow, brother!”

He dashed out of the security booth, barely able to suppress a laugh, while the desperate cries of Sun Yuqiang echoed behind him.

It was now five in the afternoon, right when school let out. Many parents were walking hand in hand with their children, heading home.

Ruan Xun greeted several familiar residents on his way, his reputation as a friendly guard well earned over the years.

Some children lingered in the school’s playground, reluctant to go home. Their parents chatted nearby.

Ruan Xun spotted a familiar figure—a girl sitting on a swing with her head lowered, seemingly alone, as her parents were nowhere in sight.

“Huh? Are your parents not here today?” Ruan Xun approached her, puzzled. “Xuan, why aren’t you going home?”

“Ah! Ruan Ge!” The girl jolted, as if snapped out of a trance.

“Aren’t your parents with you today?”

“I…” The girl lowered her head, as if lost in thought.

As a kind older brother, Ruan Xun often bonded with the neighborhood childrens. Seeing that Xuan’s parents weren’t around, he decided to step in.

“Have you eaten yet? How about I take you to Pizza Hut?”

Pizza Hut was a tempting offer for any child, but Xuan remained unmoved. She stayed on the swing, her face somber.

“Ah, Xuan, what are you doing there?” A middle-aged woman suddenly rushed over. It was Xuan’s mother.

Upon hearing her voice, Xuan screamed, so loudly it startled Ruan Xun. Then, without warning, she leaped off the swing and clung tightly to Ruan Xun, crying uncontrollably.

“Xuan, don’t be like this,” the woman scolded, then apologized to Ruan Xun. “She’s just throwing a tantrum. I’m sorry you had to see this.”

Ruan Xun gently patted her head. “Xuan, go home with your mom now.”

“No… no!” Xuan trembled violently, her arms wrapped tightly around Ruan Xun.

“Let go! The big brother has to go home too. Don’t make a scene or the neighbors will gossip,” the woman scolded, reaching out to pull Xuan away.

“Don’t touch me!” Xuan screamed in terror, her eyes wide with fear.

Ruan Xun began to sense something was wrong. Xuan was always a well-behaved child, never prone to tantrums. She was usually laughing and chatting with her mom on their way home. What was going on today…?

“Auntie, since Xuan doesn’t want to go home, why don’t I take her out for a bite first? Once she calms down, I’ll personally take her home.”

The woman sighed, “Ruan Xun, I really shouldn’t trouble you…”

“It’s no trouble.” Ruan Xun crouched in front of Xuan. “But after eating, you need to go straight home, okay?”

Xuan nodded frantically, grabbing Ruan Xun’s hand and pulling him away, eager to leave the spot.

It wasn’t until they’d walked quite a distance that Ruan Xun gently asked, “Xuan, why don’t you want to go home with your mom?”

Xuan’s face froze, and with a trembling voice, she whispered, “She’s not my mom…”