The rain wasn’t as heavy as initially, but it still drizzled steadily. People hurried along the streets of South City, occasionally casting puzzled glances at the young man walking silently under an umbrella in the middle of the street. He was dressed in fine clothes and held a candy figurine, but despite having an umbrella, he was completely soaked, water dripping from him. His gaze fell thoughtfully on the ground not far ahead, looking absentminded.

Yet the young man’s steps were steady. When encountering other pedestrians, he naturally stepped aside, seemingly not lost in thought at all. It was all quite strange.

Duan Xu was indeed lost in thought.

He was thinking about how, from such a distance earlier, he couldn’t see what He Si Mu was holding in her hand, let alone distinguish the shape of a crow. That was just an excuse he made up.

He also didn’t know how he had recognized her.

Yes, how had he recognized her? How, in an instant, among countless ordinary and unfamiliar appearances, had he recognized the soul residing within?

He had known this soul for barely half a year.

Duan Xu couldn’t figure it out. He thought about how everyone said forgetting was an extremely easy thing, that perhaps one day when his temples were gray, he would reach the age his father spoke of, unable to remember his childhood companion. Would he still be able to recognize her at a glance in the vast sea of humanity?

For no apparent reason, he felt he still would.

Perhaps by then, he would no longer have the luxury of willfulness, unable to run anymore, his eyesight dim, tottering along, unable to call out loudly, and not knowing what to say to her. When that time came, even if he recognized her, would he still chase after her recklessly like today?

He thought for a long time and then believed he still would.

Why?

As Duan Xu walked, he found a blue brick wall before his feet. He was startled and raised his umbrella to look up, seeing the city wall covered with vines, strikingly lush and green. He had reached the edge of the city wall.

This path had come to an end, with nowhere left to hide.

In this moment, as if light suddenly broke through, the puzzle that had entangled him for so long finally became clear, a sudden enlightenment. Duan Xu suddenly began to laugh. He laughed uncontrollably, his whole body trembling. As he laughed, he dropped the umbrella and covered his eyes, slowly sliding down against the wall in the heavy rain.

To chase after someone while leaning on a cane when your temples have turned gray—how ridiculous! How could there be such a comical thing in this world?

Why would he do such a foolish thing?

From youth to old age, from life to death, a human life is a very long time. How could he be so certain he would never forget?

He did like her. She was the first girl he had liked. He wasn’t even quite clear on what end such worldly affection should lead to.

She was merely the first girl to awaken him.

Just the first girl to reach out to him in darkness so thick one couldn’t see one’s hand before their face.

The first girl to feel both the beauty and pain of the world because of him.

A girl who always spoke harshly but never truly harmed him, even personally feeding him medicine.

A girl, lonely and proud, not expecting to be understood by anyone, not expecting to be remembered or thanked, simply doing what she believed was right.

A girl who always called him “little fox Duan,” “Duan Xu,” “Duan Shun Xi,” saying, “I will protect you, but don’t like me.”

A girl with a long life who would eventually forget him, yet couldn’t be forgotten in his brief decades of mortal life.

Rainwater rolled down between Duan Xu’s fingers as he covered his eyes, mixing with the moisture that seeped through his fingers, dripping onto the stone-paved ground.

It was truly ironic. His original wish was to be a normal person, to escape the shadow known only to heaven, to conceal his brilliance and control his tearing emotions, learning to live like an ordinary person.

Or more precisely, to pretend to live like an ordinary person.

He had tried very hard to do this, but now everything ran counter to this initial wish. The Ghost King He Si Mu had become his new wish—the most shocking and unconventional wish.

He didn’t know what end such worldly affection should lead to, yet he saw his ending, and despite his innate resistance to fate, he accepted it at this moment.

They were all both right and wrong.

Indeed, in this world, no one is indispensable to another’s survival.

But for him, it must be He Si Mu.

When Wu Wan Qing, the wife of the eldest Duan son, saw her brother-in-law in the corridor of the mansion, she was truly shocked. Her brother-in-law, South City’s most sought-after young talent Duan Shun Xi, had returned completely drenched and disheveled, yet he held an umbrella in his hand.

Upon seeing her, Duan Xu immediately raised his finger to his lips and smiled, saying, “Please don’t tell anyone about my appearance, Sister-in-law.”

Wu Wan Qing nodded, then realized he hadn’t entered through the main gate but had climbed over the wall. She was surprised to discover this unrestrained youthful spirit in Duan Xu and strangely asked, “How did you get so wet? Is the umbrella broken?”

Duan Xu shook his head, saying, “The umbrella is fine, I just didn’t use it.”

“In such heavy rain, not using an umbrella means getting soaked. With the cold wind blowing, you’ll fall ill. How can you be so careless with your health?”

With Madam Duan focused on Buddhist worship and not involved in family affairs, Wu Wan Qing was accustomed to managing the household and unconsciously began to scold Duan Xu as if he were her son.

Duan Xu smiled lightly, turning the umbrella in his hand, murmuring, “Yes, knowing full well that not using an umbrella means getting drenched, yet still refusing to use it. Knowing how to live properly, yet choosing not to. Truly insane.”

Wu Wan Qing sensed deeper meaning in his words and couldn’t help asking, “Brother-in-law… do you have something on your mind?”

“Nothing much. By the way, Sister-in-law, are you quite close with the wife of Minister Wang from the Ministry of Revenue?”

“I often socialize with Madam Wang. Why?”

“Today at Jade Algae Tower, I happened to meet Young Master Wang and his sister Su Yi. Young Master Wang asked me to escort Su Yi home. But while conversing with Su Yi, I spotted a familiar face in the street, possibly a Dan Zhi assassin or spy, so I immediately went to pursue them, momentarily neglecting Su Yi and failing to escort her as promised. Sister-in-law, next time you see Madam Wang, please convey my apologies.”

Duan Xu spoke lightly, his eyes full of sincerity.

Wu Wan Qing looked at Duan Xu’s soaked clothes, feeling the matter couldn’t be so simple, but she had long since understood that most things need not be probed too deeply, so she simply agreed, “All right.”

Duan Xu smiled and nodded, just about to head to his room when he suddenly seemed to remember something. He turned to look at Wu Wan Qing and said, “Sister-in-law, may I presume to ask you a question?”

Wu Wan Qing nodded, puzzled.

“Sister-in-law, you and my eldest brother were childhood sweethearts. Surely it was true love?”

Wu Wan Qing widened her eyes in surprise, and then her cheeks reddened. Somewhat bashfully, she said, “Why… why do you ask this?”

“Recently, Father has been arranging marriage matters for me, so I’m curious. After all, there are many couples like my father and mother who live their entire lives in peaceful indifference, respecting each other as guests.”

“Shun Yi and I, I believe we are truly in love with each other.”

“How can Sister-in-law be certain that eldest brother likes you?”

“Well… naturally, it was visible. When we were fifteen or sixteen, he would be happy whenever I approached him. He would become embarrassed when others teased us, always finding various reasons to come to our house to see me. When he saw me, he would blush, speaking quickly and incoherently. Isn’t that what liking someone is like?”

Duan Xu seemed to think seriously for a while, then smiled noncommittally, “I see. Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

He Si Mu was always so calm before him, gentle yet distant as if always considering his well-being, as if forever unmoved.

According to his sister-in-law’s description of the signs, not a single one matched. Of course, her personality and temperament were quite different from his eldest brother’s. Her preferential treatment and indulgence toward him—how much genuine affection was mixed in?

Duan Xu returned to his room, dealing with his soaked clothes while thinking that he would likely have to gamble once more.

Meanwhile, after parting from Duan Xu, He Si Mu walked through the streets of South City under He Jia Feng Yi’s umbrella, with Zi Ji quietly following behind them, holding an umbrella.

He Si Mu looked straight ahead. This plain-looking body emanated an aura of authority as she spoke unkindly, “He Jia Feng Yi, your divination skills have truly improved.”

He had said there was nice scenery in South City’s streets, dragging her out even in the heavy rain. After walking just a few steps, he exclaimed in surprise, “Isn’t that General Duan sitting in Jade Algae Tower? And who is sitting across from him? They seem to have an unusual relationship!”

He Jia Feng Yi’s white birch cane tapped on the ground as he sighed, saying innocently, “What a coincidence! Who knew we would encounter him?”

This evasive excuse was too transparent.

Rain dripped down the umbrella ribs, and the heavy downpour blurred their vision. He Si Mu was silent for a moment before asking, “Has Duan Shun Xi been well lately?”

“Very well indeed. General Duan is the most appreciated young man in court recently—vibrant and successful perfectly describes him. Although I don’t know if it’s because he was injured on the battlefield, he looks somewhat weak. Getting drenched in this weather, he’s likely to fall ill. Speaking of illness, I have much experience. Someone like him who normally appears healthy, once ill, falls like a mountain. It’s quite dangerous; a minor ailment easily becomes serious, and one life—”

Receiving He Si Mu’s warning glance, He Jia Feng Yi swallowed the words “is lost.”

She snorted coldly, “Do you feel physically uncomfortable if you don’t talk enough?”

“Indeed, Elder, you understand me best.” He Jia Feng Yi smiled with his peach blossom eyes, always looking somewhat mischievous and flirtatious when he smiled. He turned his hand to his lips and whispered, “What’s this? Afraid I’m cursing him to death? Don’t worry, these words had no curse power.”

“I know.”

“You know? Then you simply feel sorry for him and don’t want to hear about his demise?”

“Since your health is poor, you should talk less.”

If he weren’t the descendant of her aunt and uncle, and if she hadn’t cared for him for several years during his childhood, He Si Mu would have beaten He Jia Feng Yi beyond recognition by now. He Jia Feng Yi had grown up in a formal place like Star Minister Palace, so how had he turned out like this?

“Which aspect of you takes after my aunt and uncle?” He Si Mu couldn’t help asking.

“Probably… good looks,” He Jia Feng Yi pointed at his face.

“…”