My Family Is Very Odd

Li Xiao Gui woke up in the middle of the night with a stabbing pain in her lower abdomen. She felt cold and nauseous, like her whole body was out of whack. She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, curled up into a ball, shivering as a cold draft seemed to seep deep into her bones.

After a few minutes, she turned over again, taking deep breaths, but nothing helped. The pain in her stomach was getting worse. She had a feeling what was happening. Throwing off the covers, she slowly shuffled to the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, Li Xiao Gui emerged from the bathroom, drenched in a cold sweat. She collapsed onto the bed.

As she expected, her period had started. It was always irregular, never coming at the same time each month. She'd asked a doctor about it, and they simply said she had poor circulation and was weak, needing to take better care of herself. But nothing seemed to work.

This wasn't a problem unique to Li Xiao Gui. Many female spirit exorcists suffered from irregular periods, though Li Xiao Gui's case was particularly severe.

Li Xiao Gui thought back to the past few days, remembering the constant ache in her lower abdomen and her frequent trips to the bathroom.

Ever since she was a teenager, her period had been the most unbearable time of the month. Though she rarely got sick otherwise, when something did hit her, it hit hard. She became as fragile as a matchstick, ready to snap at any moment.

Living in the haunted house for so long had affected her, making her constitution more susceptible to yin energy. This meant she was prone to bad luck, especially as a child. Learning spirit exorcism helped, as her spiritual energy shielded her from most of the negative energy. But deep down, Li Xiao Gui was still too susceptible to yin energy. Whenever she was weak, her spiritual energy couldn't fully protect her. And right now, she was feeling incredibly vulnerable.

Her period was when she was at her weakest. Her circulation was poor, leaving her open to the invasion of yin energy. This made her period even worse, creating a vicious cycle she couldn't escape.

The first day was always the hardest. The negative energy would surge through her, leaving her in pain, nauseous, dizzy, and weak.

Li Xiao Gui felt like her waist was about to break. Her lower abdomen felt hollow and heavy, a constant churning in her stomach making her want to throw up. Her legs were jelly. The pain brought tears to her eyes.

No matter how she turned or shifted, she couldn't find a comfortable position. Wrapped in her blanket like a cocoon, she inched across the floor, seeking comfort.

…..

The Female Ghost's eyes fluttered open. The Young Ghost, visible in his spectral form, glanced towards Li Xiao Gui's room before fetching a hot water bottle and handing it to the Female Ghost. He then went to turn over the chairs and tables, while the Burly Ghost started boiling water. Ghost Grandma and Ghost Grandpa were in front of the TV, watching the weather forecast.

In an instant, the haunted house, usually shrouded in darkness, was brightly lit.

The ghosts, experienced in handling Li Xiao Gui's period, went about their tasks efficiently.

The most difficult part, as always, fell to the Female Ghost.

Li Xiao Gui was naturally affectionate, but when she was sick, her need for comfort intensified. The problem was, during this time, she couldn't be touched by ghosts. It was best to keep a safe distance.

However, the usually well-behaved Li Xiao Gui was anything but reasonable during her period. This made things incredibly difficult.

The Female Ghost, armed with a blanket and several hot water bottles, pushed open the door.

The sight that greeted her made her heart clench. Li Xiao Gui was sprawled on the floor, buried under the blanket, only her pale face visible. Seeing the Female Ghost at the door, her eyes lit up, sparkling with a mixture of pain and childish hope.

"Mama," she whimpered, her voice small and fragile. "My tummy hurts."

Her pleading expression was both adorable and pitiful. The Female Ghost instinctively pressed herself against the door, her form partially phasing through the wood, leaving only a small part of her visible. The blanket and hot water bottles tumbled from her grasp.

It was precisely because Li Xiao Gui was so endearing that this situation was so difficult.

"My legs are weak," Li Xiao Gui mumbled, struggling to move. "I can't get up."

Li Xiao Gui was a natural at playing on their heartstrings. The Female Ghost hesitated for a moment before wrapping herself in the blanket and scooping Li Xiao Gui into her arms.

The floor was too cold. Li Xiao Gui couldn't stay there.

Even with the blanket as a barrier, the yin energy radiating from the Female Ghost seeped into Li Xiao Gui's very core. The discomfort intensified, but Li Xiao Gui only clung tighter to the blanket, burying herself deeper into the Female Ghost's embrace.

Gently, the Female Ghost placed Li Xiao Gui back on the bed. As she cleaned up the mess on the floor, she left the door open and settled in the furthest corner of the room, a spot that allowed her to keep a watchful eye on Li Xiao Gui.

Li Xiao Gui's eyes were wet, her entire demeanor that of a small, wounded bird, desperate for comfort.

"Mama."

The Female Ghost's voice was softer than usual, a gentle murmur in the quiet room. "Be good, Little Ghost. When the sun rises, Mama will come closer."

She continued to soothe Li Xiao Gui, "It will be morning soon."

Li Xiao Gui, seeking reassurance more than anything, nodded weakly. "Okay," she whispered, her voice thick with discomfort.

The Female Ghost sat in the hallway, her gaze filled with love and concern. Soon, Ghost Grandpa and Ghost Grandma drifted closer, their eyes filled with worry as they looked at Li Xiao Gui. "It will be a sunny day today," they informed the Female Ghost.

"That's wonderful," the Female Ghost sighed in relief.

"Indeed," Ghost Grandpa and Ghost Grandma nodded, their pale faces etched with tenderness.

They were beings of darkness, their very essence made of yin energy. Yet, they looked forward to the sunlight with genuine anticipation.

The Burly Ghost was next. "The hot water is ready," he announced. "Little Ghost can drink some when she wakes up." He, too, glanced towards the room.

The Young Ghost, carrying a table and chair, floated towards the balcony, stopping at the very edge where a sliver of sunlight would soon appear. It was the only spot in the entire house that caught the sun's rays.

The Young Ghost stood in the shadows, watching as the sky slowly lightened. Just like every other time, the sunlight would fall precisely on the spot where he had placed the lounge chair.

Releasing a breath he didn't need to take, he draped a blanket over the chair. From experience, he knew how long it would take for the blanket to warm up in the sun. As soon as it was ready, he would move Li Xiao Gui onto it.

The warmth of the sunlight, a natural counter to the yin energy, enveloped Li Xiao Gui. Her tense muscles relaxed, and her eyes fluttered open for a moment before closing again.

A vase with a single rose stood on the table, the flower swaying gently in the summer breeze.

Ghost Grandma sat beside Li Xiao Gui, keeping her company.

To minimize Li Xiao Gui's exposure to yin energy, only one ghost stayed on the balcony at a time, taking turns throughout the day.

As the warmth soothed her pain, Li Xiao Gui's usual energy began to return. She reached for Ghost Grandma, wanting to hold her hand. "Grandma," she mumbled sleepily.

Her hand, however, only met with air. The blanket shifted, exposing a bit of her arm to the cool air.

Ghost Grandma, who usually doted on Li Xiao Gui, shook her head gently. "No, my little darling. Keep yourself covered."

Her attempt at affection thwarted, Li Xiao Gui snuggled deeper into the lounge chair, pulling the blanket tight around herself.

She turned her head, her gaze landing on the rose swaying in the breeze. Ghost Grandma had picked it from the garden, and it was a beautiful bloom. Now, sitting in the vase, it was bathed in both sunlight and shadow, its delicate petals dancing in the wind.

"Grandma, do you like the sunshine?" Li Xiao Gui asked, her voice drowsy.

In the past, Ghost Grandma would have said she neither liked nor disliked it. As a being of darkness, she preferred the night. However, the sunlight did weaken the presence of yin energy, so in that sense, it was preferable to darkness.

But now, sitting in the shadows, a loving smile spread across Ghost Grandma's face. "Yes, I do," she replied.

"Because it reminds me of you, Little Ghost."

Li Xiao Gui tilted her head up at Ghost Grandma, her eyes questioning. What do you mean? How am I like sunshine?

Ghost Grandma chuckled softly. "You're bright and warm," she explained.

A blush warmed Li Xiao Gui's cheeks at the compliment. She buried her face in the blanket, giggling softly like a happy little animal.

The rose continued to sway in the breeze. As Li Xiao Gui drifted off to sleep, her gaze lingered on the flower, taking in both its light and shadowed sides.

"I like it too," she murmured, her voice fading with sleep.

Author's Note:

About how long it takes for a blanket to warm up in the sun# Young Ghost's experience.

One day, the Young Ghost, stopwatch in hand, stood with a much younger Li Xiao Gui.

The timer started.

Young Ghost: "Is it warm yet?"

Li Xiao Gui, touching the blanket with her small hand: "No."

Young Ghost: "Is it warm now?"

Li Xiao Gui felt the blanket again. "No."

…..

Young Ghost: "Warm yet?"

Li Xiao Gui: "A little bit?"

Young Ghost: "Is it warm?"

Li Xiao Gui: "The outside is warm, but the inside is still cold."

…..

Young Ghost: "Warm now?"

Li Xiao Gui, beaming: "It's warm!"

The Young Ghost nodded, making a note of the time.

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