After eating and drinking, Ji Tong went to take a shower, then returned to her room to do homework.

She hadn’t slept well the night before. Resting her chin on the desk while reading classical Chinese, she began to doze off. When she woke up again, a blanket had been draped over her shoulders, which slipped off with her movement and piled up behind her.

“You’re awake.”

She looked toward the voice and saw He Feng standing by the bookshelf. “Is it morning already?”

“Still early.”

Ji Tong rubbed her eyes and glanced at the alarm clock. “It’s only eleven-thirty. Didn’t you go to the underworld?”

“I’ve already finished the investigation.”

“So fast.”

“Mm.”

“Did you find her?”

“Yes.”

“Where is she now?”

“Unfortunately, that female ghost has already been reincarnated. She was just born two days ago.”

“She reincarnated!” Ji Tong sighed regretfully. “Just two days late. Is it a boy or girl? Where was she reborn?”

“A girl. Coincidentally, still in this city.”

“Then what do we do?”

“We’ll discuss it tomorrow. Go sleep on the bed.”

“I won’t sleep. I haven’t finished my practice papers.”

“Write them tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow morning will be too late.”

“Go sleep. Being too tired and forcing yourself has no efficiency.”

“Seeing you makes me not tired anymore.”

“Then I’ll leave.”

Ji Tong hurriedly raised her hand, passing through his body and catching only cold air. “Don’t go.”

He Feng smiled. “I’ll leave after you fall asleep.”

…

After Ji Tong told Yi Rui the news about Xiao Zhen, he waited at the school gate for a whole day.

“Is he here?”

Ji Tong nodded. Yi Rui suddenly pleaded, “Can you tell me where Xiao Zhen was reborn? Please help me once more?”

Ji Tong looked toward He Feng. Yi Rui followed her gaze and suddenly knelt down, banging his head heavily on the ground. “Please, please, please.”

Ji Tong tried to help him up. “Don’t do this. Get up quickly.”

Yi Rui struck even harder, until his head was bloody. “Please, just let me see her once. I won’t pester her or affect her life.”

Ji Tong asked He Feng, “Can’t we tell him? Are there rules against it?”

“Yes.”

“Will you be punished if you tell him?”

“Yes.”

Yi Rui pressed his face completely to the ground, tears mixing with dirt, crying until saliva flowed out. “Let me know where she is? Whether she’s doing well, what kind of people her parents are. Please, I won’t disturb her, just let me see her from afar.”

Seeing him like this, Ji Tong felt inexplicably sad, tears welling up in her eyes. He Feng frowned in displeasure and asked her, “Why are you crying?”

“His crying is too infectious.”

He Feng felt both heartache and anger. “Wipe away your tears.”

Ji Tong obediently rubbed her eyes.

He Feng’s heart softened after all. “Tell him I’ll take him there. He can’t say much, can’t get close, and must not interfere with that person’s future life.”

“But you’ll be punished.”

“It’s fine, just a fine.”

…

This hospital wasn’t large. The corridor was empty and very quiet.

As they approached the door, Yi Rui suddenly hesitated. His face was pale, sweat soaking his hair into strands that stuck to his scalp.

He looked up, then down, down, then up, finally slowly moving to the doorway.

He Feng told Ji Tong which one was Xiao Zhen.

The hospital room door wasn’t closed, and the sound of a woman coaxing a child came from inside. Yi Rui looked in, and when the woman turned around, their eyes met. She didn’t think much of it and continued holding the child while walking around. Suddenly, the child began crying loudly. In that instant, Yi Rui seemed stimulated and rushed in, standing woodenly in front of the old woman.

Ji Tong couldn’t stop him and stood outside the door, caught in a dilemma.

“Who are you looking for?” The woman held the child tightly. “Are you Wang Qiang’s friend?”

Yi Rui didn’t answer, his body rigid with tension.

The woman coaxed the child while looking at this strange person, moving toward the window. Yi Rui followed closely. Looking at the child’s eyes, tears streamed down his face as he asked in a low, hoarse voice, “Why does she keep crying?”

The woman found this even more baffling and moved further away. “Who are you? Why are you crying too?”

He Feng came to Yi Rui’s side and spoke to him alone: “You’ve seen enough. Let’s go.”

Yi Rui lowered his head, wiped his tears, and said to the woman, “Sorry for frightening you. The child is very cute.”

The woman looked at him in confusion.

Yi Rui took one last look at the child and turned to leave. Just as he took two steps, the child began crying even louder, the sound hitting his chest like heavy hammers, nearly shattering his heart. He couldn’t help but turn back, reaching out his hand and asking the woman, “Can I hold her for a moment?”

The woman was frightened and hid the child on the other side. “What are you doing? What’s wrong with you?”

“Just let me hold her once.”

Yi Rui’s hand hung in mid-air for a long time without lowering.

Seeing the child wailing incessantly, the woman became even more anxious. “If you don’t leave, I’ll call someone.”

He Feng warned from the side, “Don’t overstep.”

Yi Rui bit his teeth hard and gave up, but just as he was about to lower his hand, the baby miraculously raised her little hand. Yi Rui extended his pinky finger, and the baby grasped his fingernail and smiled.

The woman pushed his hand away and retreated to the bedside, pressing the call button repeatedly.

The child’s father returned carrying a large box, looking at him warily. “Who are you? Who are you looking for?”

“Wang Qiang.” The woman hid behind him with the child. “This man has problems.”

Ji Tong waited outside anxiously. Hearing the commotion, she rushed in to pull Yi Rui out and apologized to them.

Yi Rui was dragged out of the hospital by Ji Tong.

The sunlight hurt his eyes.

“You can’t do this anymore. We agreed beforehand not to get close.”

Yi Rui suddenly lifted his face toward the azure sky and closed his eyes.

Ji Tong swallowed her words of reproach. “What do you plan to do next?”

“Go home, eat well, work well, live well.” His tears had dried. He lowered his head, looked back, and smiled with acceptance. “Then, wait for her to grow up.”

Ji Tong was momentarily speechless.

Yi Rui sighed deeply and pulled out a card from his pocket. “The password is stuck on it. Thank you both.”

Ji Tong stepped back. “It’s not necessary.”

“Please accept it.” Yi Rui smiled bitterly. “Sorry, I didn’t keep the agreement just now. I’ll control myself better in the future. Please accept this as thanks.”

…

Ji Tong didn’t take his money.

She took the bus back to school. There weren’t many people on the midday bus, so she and He Feng sat in the back row.

Ji Tong looked out the window and suddenly sighed. “Yi Rui is already in his thirties. Even if he waits seventeen or eighteen years for her, he’ll be quite old by then. Even if he doesn’t care about age and the parents agree, and they can actually be together – one over fifty and one twenty – if he leaves Xiao Zhen alone again, it would be too difficult for her.”

He Feng listened silently to her murmuring. Since she recovered her past life memories, her personality seemed much more cheerful, and she talked more too.

“If I were to reincarnate someday, would you wait for me for over ten years?”

She answered without thinking, “Of course I would.”

Ji Tong was stunned and looked toward He Feng. “Are you going to reincarnate?”

“I have an official position. I can’t in the short term.”

“I see.”

She turned back to look outside. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t marry anyone. My mom is open-minded – she won’t force me.”

…

This week school was on break. Saturday happened to be Halloween, and Gan Ting invited Ji Tong to go to an amusement park.

Today there would be all kinds of “ghosts” touring the park, but since it wasn’t dark yet and the activities hadn’t started, only some game equipment was operating.

They entered a haunted house. Gan Ting held onto Zhao Shen, scared into a ball, with no mind to care about the people behind them.

Ji Tong saw ghosts regularly, so this small scene didn’t frighten her at all. She deliberately fell behind and, seeing no one around, whispered, “Are you there?”

He Feng appeared before her. “Scared?”

“No.” Ji Tong walked around the severed limbs hanging from above. “I just think if you were here scaring people, this haunted house would definitely be popular.”

“Getting discovered means a fine.”

Hearing him say such things so seriously, Ji Tong couldn’t help but smile. “It’s fine, I can burn money for you.”

…

Gan Ting and Zhao Shen waited outside – one scared pale as a sheet, the other ashen-faced. “Tong Tong, why are you just coming out now? I was so scared I was dazed and didn’t look after you.”

“I chatted with the ghosts for a bit in the back, so I came out late.”

Gan Ting didn’t think much of it. “You’re really brave. I can’t do it – my legs are weak.”

Zhao Shen sighed mournfully. “That NPC almost sent me to heaven.”

Gan Ting hugged his arm coquettishly. “Let’s go play something romantic to calm our hearts.”

Gan Ting pulled Zhao Shen to ride the pirate ship. Ji Tong was afraid of getting dizzy, so she waited for them below.

The neighboring stall owner saw her seemingly talking to a tree and called out, “Want to play shooting? There are prizes if you hit the targets.”

Shooting balloons required no skill. She didn’t miss a single shot, popping two rows of balloons with bang-bang-bang sounds.

He Feng stood beside her, watching Ji Tong holding the gun, somewhat lost in thought.

…

After dark, the park gradually became lively. Many people in costume appeared, wandering everywhere.

Gan Ting and Zhao Shen went to ride the pendulum ride while Ji Tong waited below. A boy in hospital clothes with terrifying makeup walked toward her, wanting to scare her. Ji Tong didn’t want to deal with him and calmly turned away.

The boy deliberately teased her, circling to her front and making a scary face.

Ji Tong looked straight at him without any reaction. The boy pursed his lips. “You’re quite brave. Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“I’ve seen scarier than you.”

“Really?” Seeing she was pretty, the boy wouldn’t leave. “Want to join us? I’ll take you to get makeup.”

“No, thank you.”

“There’s pay.”

“No need.” Ji Tong turned around again, showing him her back.

The boy pestered relentlessly. “You’re a student, right? Which school are you from?”

“She said no.”

A cold, stern voice suddenly entered the boy’s ear. He shuddered all over, looked around – there was no one there. “Did you just hear someone speak?”

Ji Tong pretended to shake her head. “I didn’t hear anything. What’s wrong?”

“Oh, maybe I was hearing things.” Just as he finished speaking, he felt someone pat his back. He turned around – no one was nearby. He shivered and muttered to himself, “What the hell.”

Ji Tong said airily, “Be careful there really is a ghost behind you.”

The boy felt his hair stand on end, rubbing his arms as he walked away. “Who’s playing tricks… hey, hey, did you just pat me… wait for me…”

Ji Tong laughed out loud, looking at He Feng beside her. “So fierce. You’re going to get fined.”

“Then let me be fined.”

“Let’s go somewhere else. I’ll text Gan Ting.”

“Mm.”

Ji Tong saw a little ghost perched on a girl’s shoulder on the nearby carousel. “He Feng, look, that one is—”

Before he could finish, He Feng teleported over, pulled the little ghost off the girl’s shoulder, and threw it to the ground.

Ji Tong slowly walked over but didn’t dare get close. The little ghost looked at her, staring with two round eyes, then lowered its head after He Feng scolded it.

The surroundings were too noisy. She couldn’t hear clearly what He Feng was saying, but vaguely caught phrases like “not allowed to scare people,” “or I’ll send you to Shiyi Dian,” and “understand?”

It seemed he was reprimanding the little ghost.

Soon, the little ghost ran away trembling obediently, and He Feng returned to her side.

“It’s really afraid of you.”

“There aren’t many ghosts who don’t fear me.”

“So impressive.”

“Of course.”

Ji Tong smiled and saw the Ferris wheel. “Let’s ride that.”

“Okay.”

Ji Tong was last in line. Luckily, there was no one behind her, so she entered a cabin alone.

Finally having private time, they slowly rose higher. Ji Tong looked down at the brilliant night scene and suddenly sighed. “Being a ghost is so good – you can teleport, fly, and do many things.”

Fireworks suddenly burst in the sky, blooming into colorful flowers before her eyes.

Ji Tong watched the fireworks while He Feng watched her.

Silent until the sky returned to darkness.

She slowly blinked and said in a soft, slow voice, “It’s okay. I’ll become a ghost too, sooner or later.”

…

When they left the amusement park, it was already very late. Gan Ting and Zhao Shen still had a movie to see, so they dropped Ji Tong off at the bus station. On the way, Zhao Shen bought them two cups of milk tea. There was too much sugar, and Gan Ting complained to him the whole way.

Listening to their playful banter, Ji Tong couldn’t help but smile.

“Look, she’s laughing at you,” Zhao Shen said.

“No way, she’s obviously laughing at you.” Gan Ting lightly patted him.

“Hey, hey, hey, no hands! So rough. Learn from her – gentle and quiet.”

With that, Gan Ting directly kicked him. Zhao Shen begged for mercy repeatedly. “Big sister, I was wrong, I was wrong.”

“Looking for trouble.”

Zhao Shen asked, “By the way, Ji Tong, Ting Ting said you don’t have a boyfriend. No one’s pursuing you?”

Ji Tong nodded.

Gan Ting was stunned. “Now that you mention it, I find it strange too. There really hasn’t been anyone, never.” She frowned, picking at her lower lip with her finger. “That’s not right. Our Tong Tong is so pretty.”

Ji Tong’s mind was full of He Feng following not far behind, and those three words from Zhao Shen’s mouth – boyfriend.

Boyfriend… does He Feng count as one now?

Ji Tong only realized this problem now.

Is she dating a ghost?

“It would be better if you were more lively.” Gan Ting suddenly swung her arm over Ji Tong’s shoulder. “Then definitely lots of boys would pursue you.”

“I haven’t thought about these things,” Ji Tong said perfunctorily.

“Want me to introduce you to a handsome guy?” Zhao Shen raised his eyebrows at her. “Super handsome. I’ll arrange it?”

Gan Ting kicked him again. “Mind your own business. It’s senior year – you don’t study, but she needs to.”

“Pot calling the kettle black. How much better are you?”

“You—” Gan Ting let go of Ji Tong and was about to hit him again. One chased, one ran, making the whole street lively.

“He Feng?”

He Feng appeared beside her. “What is it?”

“I thought you left.”

“I’ve been here all along.”

Ji Tong watched the two people playing in the distance, the corners of her mouth lifting. “Those two are really amusing.”

Gan Ting ran back panting. “Tong Tong, the bus station is just ahead. Our bus arrived. I see your bus is still two stops away, so we’ll go first. Text me when you get home.”

“Okay, you two go.”

“Be safe.” Gan Ting ran back again, turning to blow her a kiss halfway. “See you tomorrow! Come early to let me copy your homework!”

“Okay.”

The long, empty road was left with just the two of them again.

Ji Tong looked at He Feng and suddenly asked, “Is Gan Ting pretty?”

He Feng answered honestly, “Average.”

“Average?” Ji Tong was slightly surprised. “She’s acknowledged as the class beauty in our class.”

“Really?” He Feng looked at her wide eyes. “She’s not as pretty as you.”

“You’re flattering me.” Ji Tong pouted. “I have self-awareness.”

“I never flatter people.” He Feng smiled.

“What are you smiling about?”

“You’re very pretty, prettier than all of them. Though compared to your past life, you’re indeed somewhat lacking.”

“…” Ji Tong stopped talking.

“Your features and bone structure are somewhat similar, but you lack some of her heroic spirit. Back then you were quite confident about your appearance. You should be confident now too.” Seeing her silence, He Feng looked over. “Are you angry?”

“No.”

“Then why aren’t you talking?”

“I don’t know what to say.”

He Feng was also silent for a while. “Then don’t talk. Let’s go home.”

“…”

…

New Year’s was almost here. School hadn’t given a weekend off for a month. Students complained bitterly while burying their heads in work and counting down the days.

During evening self-study, the classroom had only the sound of turning pages and pens scratching on paper. Gan Ting secretly pulled out her phone from her boot, hiding while texting Zhao Shen. When he didn’t reply, she boredly scrolled through her phone and opened the calendar to count days.

Fifteen days until New Year.

She slumped on her desk and sighed deeply. “How is it only the 16th!”

Ji Tong was writing an essay when she heard her words and paused her pen. “Today’s the 16th?”

“Yeah, time passes so slowly! Is the school trying to drive us crazy? If we don’t get a break soon, I’m going to die.”

Two more days until He Feng’s birthday.

Ji Tong was lost in thought.

Suddenly, everything went dark.

Then came cheers from the entire building.

The school had a power outage.

Gan Ting was so excited she almost stood on her chair to cheer. She shook Ji Tong’s arm. “Power outage! Power outage! Oh my god, stay out longer, please don’t come back.”

The supervising teacher tapped the podium. “Quiet, stay in your seats and don’t move. Wait for the power to return.”

No one listened to her. The scene became chaotic.

Gan Ting crouched down, covering her phone’s light with her hand, and texted Zhao Shen again. This time, he replied.

After chatting for several rounds, when Gan Ting straightened up again, Ji Tong beside her was gone.

“Where are you taking me?” Ji Tong followed behind He Feng. “If the power suddenly comes back, I’ll be discovered.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t.”

Ji Tong considered his words. “You didn’t cause this, did you?”

“Mm.”

“Why did you cut the power?”

“Seeing you were too tired, I wanted to bring you out for some fresh air.”

“How thoughtful.” Ji Tong ran in front of him, walking backward. “What’s the catch?”

“No catch, I just feel sorry for you.”

Ji Tong pressed her lips to suppress a smile. “Where are you taking me?”

He Feng didn’t answer.

The entire school was shrouded in darkness. The roads were empty. He Feng brought her to a secluded grove. It was too dark around them – Ji Tong couldn’t see the path clearly and had nothing for illumination, so she carefully felt her way forward.

“Wait, I can’t see the road.”

He Feng turned back to see her hands groping blindly in the air.

He summoned a ball of ghost fire and scattered it, releasing it. Instantly, countless tiny points formed a green chain of light, guiding her path forward.

Ji Tong looked at the green points of light, stunned speechless with amazement.

He Feng stopped under a huge tree by the wall, watching her.

“So beautiful.” Ji Tong looked at the ghost fires scattered everywhere and joked, “Can I even move? Won’t I get burned?”

He Feng raised his hand, a flame flickering on his index finger. “Touch it and see.”

Ji Tong naturally trusted him. She reached out to touch it but passed right through the fire. “You’re fooling me again.”

He Feng lowered his hand behind his back. “This is ghost fire. How could you possibly touch it?”

“But why is this different from the ghost fire I’ve seen before? Why are there so many? And this color?”

“Want to know?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll teach you when you become a ghost.”

“…”

Ji Tong sat on a large tree root, admiring the ghost fires throughout the forest. “Can you find out when I’ll die?”

“I’ve checked.”

Ji Tong looked at him. “When?”

“You’re not in the Book of Life and Death.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I find it strange too.”

“But my health isn’t good. I probably won’t live very long.”

He Feng fell silent.

“He Feng.”

“Mm.”

“What’s our relationship now?”

He Feng didn’t know how to answer for a moment.

Ji Tong stole a glance at him. Seeing him looking down without speaking, she immediately regretted it. Perhaps she shouldn’t have asked like this, putting him in a difficult position.

But unexpectedly, He Feng suddenly knelt on one knee in front of her.

Ji Tong was startled and stood up. “What are you doing? Get up.”

He Feng looked up at her, weak green points floating around him. “I’ve been thinking about this question too. I’m a ghost. Even though I can communicate with you, we’re still from two different worlds.”

Ji Tong held her breath, suddenly feeling suffocated.

“That day at the amusement park, when those two were playing in front and you followed alone behind them, it made me feel useless.”

“No! Don’t think that way.” Ji Tong smiled bitterly. “It’s nothing. I’m used to it.”

He Feng smiled too. “I also want to be like that boy – to hold my beloved’s hand, embrace you, play on the streets, buy you delicious food and drinks, accompany you on that swaying boat and the little train flying in the sky. I want to chase and play with you on the streets without any concerns.” His smile gradually faded. “But we can only secretly hide in dark places. We don’t even have the chance to speak openly on the street. Like you said, talking to air makes people think you have mental problems.”

Ji Tong’s heart ached.

“When you remembered your past life, I was happy but also unhappy. Back then I was reckless and cynical, always bullying you. I don’t know what you think of me now. Perhaps you feel that many things said in youthful frivolity don’t count.”

He Feng gazed at her tenderly, light scattering from under his eye patch to illuminate his entire face. He lowered his head to steady his emotions, then looked up at her with difficulty. “But I was serious every time – from seventeen, to thirty-five, to now. Whether living or dead, wherever I am, every year, every day, every minute, I want to marry you.”

“You keep asking what happened afterward in my past life. I don’t dare tell you – first, because I wasn’t good then. I did many bad things and wronged too many people. You grew up in a happy, peaceful era, and I’m afraid you can’t accept or would fear that version of me. Second, because you’re still young. Many things aren’t what someone your age can bear. When you’re a bit older and stronger, I can slowly tell you.”

Seeing her eyes fill with tears, He Feng’s voice became much deeper. “Humans and ghosts walk different paths. As a patrol officer, I shouldn’t abuse my authority or violate underworld laws. But I’m afraid. I fear you love me, and I fear even more that you don’t. I fear you’ll be with someone else in the future and won’t want me anymore.”

“I can’t accompany you like a normal man. This is unfair to you in many ways. The human world is beautiful – sour, sweet, bitter, spicy – each has its flavor. If someday you meet someone else more suitable and want to live a normal life, I can leave at any time. But until then, I’ll use everything I have to accompany and protect you.”

“So, are you willing to let me be your boyfriend for now?”