Su Xi couldn’t help but recall the last time when her little Zai Zai parted ways with the servant Wu outside the money house, walking alone through the marketplace — his small figure stretched long by the setting sun…
He grew up alone in Prince Ning’s manor, with no one to talk to, no one to accompany him. Even when he was amidst the bustle and noise of the marketplace, he was only watching others’ liveliness — unable to blend in, left all alone.
Although she couldn’t truly be in her Zai Zai’s world — couldn’t talk to him, hold his hand, or ruffle his hair —
If she could at least accompany him to see the lively lantern festival, then in the future, when he walked down that street again and saw other families of three reuniting in joy and warmth, he would at least remember this night when she had kept him company.
At least, he would have some happy memories.
So that he wouldn’t envy others, wouldn’t have to walk quickly and expressionlessly through the marketplace, head bowed, lonely and apart.
When he looked back later in life, it wouldn’t all be filled with bitterness.
With that thought, Su Xi almost didn’t hesitate — she tugged eagerly at her Zai Zai’s left sleeve and said excitedly: “Alright! Let’s go see the lanterns first!”
— After all, today was the weekend anyway.
Meanwhile, Lu Huan looked at his left sleeve fluttering violently in the wind, nearly yanked off its seam, surprised by the ghost’s fiery enthusiasm — yet because of it, he finally breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
He had feared she might find all this boring, unwilling to do such things with him.
She had given him so much before, yet she could neither be seen nor touched. Lu Huan didn’t know what he could possibly do to make her happy too…
Now, seeing her so delighted, Lu Huan’s heart was filled to the brim. The corners of his lips lifted, a hint of color returning to his dark eyes; his brows softened as he gazed toward the empty air and said gently, “Let us tidy up, then we’ll go.”
And so, “tidying up” simply meant changing into more casual clothes — after all, the people in the marketplace wore coarse fabric, and showing up in brocade and silk would be far too conspicuous.
Ever since he had invited the divine doctor to treat the old madam, life in Prince Ning’s manor had become much easier for him. The thin, patched garments he used to wear had long been replaced. Yet, those few old robes mended by the ghostly deity had been carefully folded and put away, stored neatly in his chest like precious treasures.
He entered his room and took out a plain light-gray robe.
He took it out, yet didn’t change right away. Holding the robe in his hands, he asked softly, “…Are you still in the room?”
On the other side of the screen, Su Xi saw the two-headed doodle version of her Zai Zai standing awkwardly in front of the wardrobe, his little bun face filled with embarrassment. She couldn’t help but laugh — what, you think someone’s interested in your soft little hands and feet, that dumpling-white body of yours?
Jokes aside, Su Xi still blew gently at the door, signaling that she had already gone out and wouldn’t peek.
Inside the room, Lu Huan confirmed that the ghostly deity had indeed left — she had always kept her word; if she said she wouldn’t look, then she truly wouldn’t. Only then did the flush at the tips of his ears fade a little, and he quickly changed clothes.
───♡───
From the woodshed courtyard to the marketplace, Su Xi could only follow via scene transition — that stretch of road she couldn’t walk with her Zai Zai.
So Lu Huan left through the side gate of Prince Ning’s manor, cut through a narrow alley, and took a shortcut toward the liveliest streets where the lantern festival was being held. From time to time, he glanced to his side, wondering — why had the ghostly deity fallen silent right after he stepped out?
But when he arrived at the marketplace, a faint breeze rose beside him. A wisp of wind brushed against his fingers, only then did his heart settle. She was still with him.
The long street was indeed bustling. Both sides were lined with stalls selling lanterns, candied figurines, and calligraphy and paintings — even a place not far ahead where maidens were throwing embroidered balls to seek a husband.
Outside the capital’s outer city, many commoners lived modestly, but within the inner city lived nobles and officials, making it incomparably prosperous. Tonight, being the lantern festival, the streets were especially filled with hanging lights and stalls for guessing riddles.
Across the screen, everything was vivid and lifelike — as if magnified into another world right before Su Xi’s eyes.
Su Xi was deeply captivated. She couldn’t stop zooming in on the screen, examining the little stalls that sold all sorts of pretty rouge boxes, clicking her tongue in wonder, eyes sparkling with delight.
These colors—weren’t they practically lipstick shades?!
Oh my god, that coral one on the lower left looked so beautiful!
But since her Zai Zai wasn’t moving, she couldn’t switch the camera view easily—she was afraid of losing sight of him altogether.
So she took his hand and led him toward the stall she wanted to see.
Lu Huan noticed the dense crowd around them and instinctively spread his arms slightly to make a bit of space for the two of them. He was just about to ask, “Do you wish to take a look over there?” when he suddenly felt the ghost by his side grow very excited, directly grabbing his wrist and charging forward through the crowd.
In no time, she had dragged him right in front of a stall selling rouge.
Lu Huan lowered his gaze to look at the small tin boxes of various shapes, all filled with roughly the same shades of red. Amusement rose quietly in his chest—so all women, mortal or divine, must like these things; she was no exception.
Su Xi saw on the screen as the stall owner waggled his brows and asked her Zai Zai,
“Is young master buying this for your elder sister, for an elder, or for someone in your heart? The meaning behind each is quite different.”
Her Zai Zai lowered his eyes, studying the tins as if unable to tell any difference between them, his little head full of confusion.
Outside the screen, Su Xi scoffed—Hmph! Never thought my Zai Zai was such a straight man. I’ll pick myself.
She used her finger to tap the coral shade in the lower-left corner, but each of the exquisite rouge boxes was so delicate that she couldn’t decide. Unable to help herself, she tapped on a few more—but then hesitated. Would this spend too much of Zai Zai’s silver?
Feeling reluctant to splurge, she looked toward the wooden sign hanging on the upper right corner of the stall—
Two taels of silver per rouge?!
Are they robbing people?!
Su Xi immediately gave up the thought of buying any. She couldn’t even use them anyway! She tugged at her Zai Zai’s sleeve, ready to drag him away.
But to the stall owner, it looked like something strange was happening—several of his rouge boxes suddenly shifted as if blown by a breeze. But where did any wind come from tonight? He glanced up at the sky uneasily. Then he noticed the handsome young master before him—his sleeve was being tugged and lifted by the “wind” as well—
What… what is this?
Before the stall owner could start wondering if he’d seen a ghost, he heard the young master say, “Altogether twelve kinds? I’ll take one of each.”
The stall owner nearly burst into tears of joy—a big customer?!
Fearing the young master might regret it, he quickly gathered all twelve types of rouge, packed them neatly into a cloth bag, and handed them over with lightning speed.
Outside the screen, Su Xi was dumbfounded. She hurriedly did the math—wait, that’s twenty-four taels of silver!
Zai Zai, STOP SPENDING LIKE THAT! YOU JUST GOT OUT OF POVERTY!
She watched as her Zai Zai pulled out gleaming silver and handed it over. Her heart ached so much it nearly bled, but the silver was already paid; it was too late.
Su Xi tugged harder at his sleeve in distress, but her Zai Zai just carried the bag and continued walking forward. The warm glow from the marketplace’s lanterns flickered across his face, coating him in a gentle golden sheen. Feeling the tug at his sleeve, he murmured softly, “Don’t feel bad. I wanted to.”
“If one likes something, one shouldn’t miss it.”
“Even if it won’t be used, it’s still beautiful to have. Besides, when you were alive—”
Lu Huan seemed to want to say something more, but paused and swallowed the rest of his words.
Su Xi still felt heartache over his spent silver, but when she saw the faint smile at the corner of his lips—how he seemed even happier than she was—she let him be.
Even though her Zai Zai had been born into the hardships of Prince Ning’s manor, he hadn’t grown crooked. He had always understood the principle of gratitude and repayment. All the things she’d given him before — though he’d never said a word — he must have wanted to return the favor in his heart. If she didn’t let him do something in return, he would probably feel uneasy.
Children were like that, their little thoughts were tender and endearing.
Thinking this way, Su Xi no longer felt bad about her Zai Zai’s spent silver. But she decided she needed to be more careful from now on, she couldn’t show too much enthusiasm for anything again.
Although both sides of the market were lined with delicate paper cuttings and tiny wooden horses, all exquisite and tempting to own — for the sake of her child’s wallet, this mother had to economize.
Lu Huan, however, lowered his dark lashes and glanced at the twelve boxes of rouge in his hands. Alongside his quiet delight, there came a trace of another emotion.
The ghostly deity by his side seemed to love such things. If only she could use them, she would surely be even happier.
But she had no body of her own, could not be seen by others, and could only drift about like this, wordless and unseen…
Though she followed him, she couldn’t even tell him her family name or where she’d once lived. Wasn’t she lonely, too?
He couldn’t see her. If other spirits bullied her, he—he would be powerless to protect her.
And besides, he could never touch her.
Lu Huan stared down at his shadow on the bluestone street. Around him thronged the crowd of common folk, yet beside his shadow was no trace of her. A faint melancholy settled between his brows.
Su Xi had no idea what her Zai Zai was brooding over. She only knew that moments ago he had been walking proudly with his hands behind his back, cheerful and lively — and now he seemed sunken in thought. Could it be that, seeing those families carrying their children to the lantern festival, he was reminded of the mother whose name he did not even know, and felt a pang of sadness?
She couldn’t help wanting to distract him, to lift his spirits a little. With her fingertip, she gave his back a gentle nudge.
Lu Huan came back to his senses and asked softly, “Is there anything else you’d like to buy?”
Su Xi took his hand and pulled him into a nearby clothing shop.
She had already switched the camera view earlier — the shop’s second floor sold youth garments, as well as jade hairpins, coronets, belts, and pendants.
Su Xi grew a little excited just looking at it. Other than this game, the only one she’d ever played was Miracle Nikki, but dressing up flat cartoon figures couldn’t compare to dressing up her little Zai Zai in person.
Lu Huan, somewhat puzzled, didn’t understand why she had brought him to a men’s clothing store.
He first turned to the shopkeeper, handed over some broken silver, and asked him to wait downstairs.
Then, as soon as he turned back around, a white brocade robe floated before his eyes, along with an ivory-inlaid belt for a young man, a crimson silk hair tie, and a translucent pale jade ornament — all these things drifted in front of him, trembling in midair.
Guessing the ghost’s intent, Lu Huan asked, “You wish me to put these on?”
Outside the screen, Su Xi quickly patted his left hand. Yes, smart boy.
Her Zai Zai’s expression turned slightly strange, as if wondering why she was so endlessly enthusiastic about dressing him up.
But since it was her request, he didn’t hesitate long. He took the items from the air and walked to the corner to change.
Before undressing, his ears flushed red as usual. He said to Su Xi, “Could you close your eyes for a moment?”
Outside the screen, Su Xi rolled her eyes. Does he really think I’m lusting after him? What’s there to lust after in a stick-figure doodle?!
Besides, ancient people wore layers. Even if he took off his outer robe, he still had his inner garments on, didn’t he?
Her Zai Zai changed quickly. Once dressed, he walked over, his whole body tense, glancing a little awkwardly toward the empty air — as if unsure what Su Xi was about to do.
Across the screen, Su Xi took hold of his hand and smoothed out the wrinkles near his elbows, then gently shook the hem of his robe to neaten it.
While she busied herself with these things, she didn’t notice the look on her Zai Zai’s face — only that he stood completely rigid from head to toe.
───♡───
Lu Huan kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, staring unwaveringly at the snow melting on the second-floor window ledge of the clothing shop. He watched the water trickle down the eaves and drip into the swaying lanterns below, listening to the noisy hum of the marketplace outside, pretending his mind was calm… yet the heartbeat of the young man had long since grown quick and uneven.
Thump, thump.
No one had ever done such things for him before—
That night, when he’d been stricken with cold and fever, delirious and half-conscious… had she also changed his sweat-soaked clothes for him like this?
After tidying his outfit, Su Xi stared at her Zai Zai through the screen, heart bursting with joy. Aaaah—he looks so good!
She almost wanted to buy every single set of clothes and have him change once a day just for her to look at!
Who needed Miracle Nikki? Watching her Zai Zai’s outfit showcase alone could keep her entertained all day!
Before, when she’d sent her game avatar clothes, she just wanted to see him in them — but helping him put them on herself felt completely different.
And her Zai Zai was so obedient, standing still and letting her fuss over him without complaint.
When he finished dressing, Su Xi had him turn around so she could fix his hair. With her fingers, she gently brushed through his black tresses — truly the “waterfall hair” the ancients spoke of.
She untied the plain gray hemp ribbon he had used to bind his hair and replaced it with the fine white jade magnolia hairpin she had chosen earlier, sliding it diagonally into his glossy black locks—
Then, when he turned back, the young man’s dark eyes shone like obsidian — he looked like a noble-born immortal, ethereal and untouchable.
Su Xi’s blood was practically boiling with excitement; she couldn’t resist running her hands over his long hair once more. Her motherly heart was overflowing — if it weren’t for the need to complete the game’s mission, she could stroll the market with her Zai Zai until the very kingdom of Yan changed dynasties!
To Lu Huan, everything she did was nothing more than a passing wisp of breeze.
That breeze carried no warmth, no sensation — yet when it brushed over his hair, straightening the slight mess at his crown, his entire body went stiff as stone, and his heart pounded so violently he feared it might make a sound.
A faint electric tingle rippled across his temples, running down his limbs in waves of numbing heat.
Lu Huan didn’t even understand what was happening to him.
…Was this blasphemy against the divine?
The thought struck suddenly, and his eyelids twitched hard. He felt ashamed, unworthy somehow.
His heart was being tightly ensnared by something — something faint, wordless, that had quietly begun to take root before he even noticed.
Afraid the ghostly deity might hear the frantic beating in his chest, Lu Huan hurried a few steps forward.
He stood by the window, letting the cold night air wash over his face. Only then did the panic in his chest begin to ease slightly.
But this cold wind, it was not the same as her cold wind. He could tell the difference.
Su Xi saw her little bun-faced Zai Zai standing by the window, cheeks flushed red, tiny fists clenched, not daring to look back. She thought he must be feeling shy.
She couldn’t hold back a laugh and reached to tug his hand, leading him out of the clothing shop to see what else they could explore that night.
Just then, Lu Huan suddenly caught sight of a fortune-teller downstairs — a man dressed in black Daoist robes, unfurling his banner and calling out to attract customers.
On the banner were several lines of bold characters:
Fortune-telling, divination, rituals for transcendence, spirit consultation, and rebirth invocation.
Something in Lu Huan’s mind snapped awake. His expression, once calm, was instantly overtaken by a flash of wild joy and longing.
That surge of emotion made his face look almost feverish, touched by a hint of madness.
It wasn’t that the fortune-teller was particularly famous or revered. Rather, the moment he saw those words, a thought struck him —
What if… there truly existed a way for souls to reincarnate?
If she could have a body of her own—what then?
Once, he had never believed in ghosts, gods, or the forces of fate. But now…
Even if there was only a sliver of hope, he had to try.
