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Mother Haiyan heard strange noises coming from the room and paused, casting a suspicious glance toward her son's room. The door, which she had casually closed, was now ajar, revealing a strange white light through the gap.
"His Father!" Mother Haiyan nervously grabbed her husband's arm.
Haiyan's Father patted her hand and said, "I see it, I see it. Don't worry, don't panic."
"What is that? Could it be that our Yan'er is unconscious because of some evil spirit?"
"I heard that the shopkeeper at Ruyi Rouge is someone who can exorcise demons. How about I go find someone to ask?"
"Do we have to wait until tomorrow?"
"Not until tomorrow. Do you want me to go right now?" Haiyan's Father pointed upward. "Don't worry, I'll go first thing in the morning. For tonight, let's have a couple of servants stay here. Even if there is an evil spirit, with so many people around, it should be scared off."
Mother Haiyan nodded anxiously, but at this moment, there was no other method; she could only follow her husband's plan.
The next morning, Haiyan's parents went to the Fox Demon shop. After hearing their entire account of events, Xing Ruyi nearly cursed! She pointed coldly toward the door and said, "As for your son's matter, I'm afraid the Fox Demon cannot help you. The door is right there; please feel free to leave."
"Miss, are you worried about money? Rest assured, as long as my son wakes up, I will not skimp on your payment."
"Do I look like someone who lacks money?" Xing Ruyi raised an eyebrow. "To be frank with you, your son's illness is indeed an illness, but I have no desire to help him. The reason is simple: I just don't want to."
"Miss! I beg you! Our family only has this one child. I don't know what we did to offend you; if we did anything wrong, we apologize. If an apology isn't enough, then whatever you say goes. I only ask that you show mercy and save my son."
"Your son is your only child and you care for him; what about other families' daughters? Are they not also only children? Shouldn't they be cared for?" Xing Ruyi looked coldly at the couple. "Do you know what has happened to your daughter-in-law, the Winter Pearl who should have been married into your family? If you had told her the truth back then, why would she have traveled so far out of town to search for your son? How did she end up in those situations?"
"We didn't tell her back then because we were considering her future. She was still young and could marry someone else. We made sure she understood everything clearly. Who knew she would be so stubborn and go out of town looking for Yan'er? In the end, she was ruined by bandits. Her immediate decision to end her life was a way for her to find closure for herself. Luckily, she didn't enter our family; otherwise, not just our reputation but even our ancestors' honor would have been tarnished." Haiyan's Father said angrily as he pulled Mother Haiyan along. "I refuse to believe that she's the only capable person in this city; we'll find other Daoists or monks for Yan'er's matter."
"Li Mao, show them out!" Xing Ruyi was already angry and became even more furious upon hearing Haiyan's Father's words. She directly ordered Li Mao: "Make sure to keep a close eye on these two gentlemen and lady. If they come back in the future, remember to close the door of my Ruyi Rouge shop tightly. As for the reason? Of course it's because my shop cannot afford such esteemed guests!"
Li Mao scratched his head, unsure of what had gotten into his Shopkeeper this time. Since the Shopkeeper had given an order, the Clerk could only comply, so he extended his hand and said, "Master, Madam, this way please!"
"Hmph!" Haiyan's Father huffed, glaring.
"Hmph!" Xing Ruyi childishly glared back at him.
That evening, Liu Haiyan met with Winter Pearl once again. He had completely forgotten their past together; the reason he was so eager to see Winter Pearl was that she could see him and hear his words.
Winter Pearl took Liu Haiyan to many places, all of which held memories of them together. She hoped that by visiting these places, Liu Haiyan would remember her. As they walked from darkness to dawn, Winter Pearl felt her mouth becoming dry, yet Liu Haiyan's gaze remained one of confusion.
"Miss Winter Pearl, there is something I must tell you," Liu Haiyan said, looking at the lightening sky. "This may seem unbelievable to you and might even frighten you. But I promise, I will not harm you."
"Please go on, Liu Gongzi!" Winter Pearl looked into his eyes, seemingly searching for a familiar feeling within them. "Over the years, I have experienced many unbelievable things myself, so what you call unbelievable may not scare me."
"I am actually not a living person!" Liu Haiyan added quickly after finishing his statement. "But don’t be afraid; I am still alive, and I am not dead."
"Your words leave Winter Pearl a bit confused. What do you mean by not being a living person but also not being dead?"
"I’m not quite sure myself; I just woke up recently. When I woke up, I found myself lying in a room surrounded by many people. Later, I learned my name and realized that the sorrowful-looking lady was my mother and that the seemingly authoritative yet chatty Master was my father. I discovered that I had been in a coma for many years."
"You were in a coma?" Winter Pearl felt her hands and feet grow cold. "And for many years?"
"Probably? I can't remember! All I know is that I saw myself lying there and wanted to speak to those people, but they couldn’t see or hear me. At first, I thought I was dead and quietly waited at home for the Ghost Messenger to come take me away.
But after waiting for several days without seeing the Ghost Messenger show up, I got bored and decided to take a look around. Unexpectedly, on the first night out, I encountered you. After thinking it through, I realized that I must be one of those souls that people often talk about leaving their bodies. Perhaps in a few days, I will truly die; if I'm lucky, maybe I'll wake up again."
Liu Haiyan smiled again; it was a smile that felt familiar to Winter Pearl.
He said, "I think the possibility of my death is greater. If the master truly wanted me to live, how could I have ended up like this?"
"No! You cannot die, and you will not die. I absolutely will not allow you to die!" Winter Pearl murmured, "I have waited for you all these years, yet I never knew that you had already returned."
"What do you mean?" Liu Haiyan looked at Winter Pearl. "Have we known each other for a long time?"
"I—" Winter Pearl hesitated, covering her face with her hands. "What if... what if I were your unwed Wife? What would you think?"
"You are my unwed Wife?"
"No! What I mean is, if I were your unwed Wife, would that be acceptable to you?"
"If you were, that would be my blessing!" Liu Haiyan stepped closer to Winter Pearl. "Although we haven't spent much time together, I can tell that you are a good girl. You are kind, generous, keep your promises, and are wholeheartedly devoted. The stories of you and your Husband have moved me and often made me jealous—jealous that I am not the person in your story."
"But I'm very ugly!"
"I don't think so!" Liu Haiyan shook his head. "I think you are beautiful, even more beautiful than the most beautiful woman in Luoyang. Although I don't know who the true beauty of Luoyang is, in my heart, it is you! Winter Pearl, that's your name, right? Your name is as special and beautiful as you are. And what I say is the truth and from the heart."
"Liu—"
"But I won't live long. Even though I'm still lying at home and still breathing, even though I don't understand what happens after death—whether it's like this or not—I know in my heart that if my soul continues to drift like this, I will eventually die. So, Winter Pearl, in this lifetime, it seems I cannot be the person in your story."
Winter Pearl quickly shook her head and took a step back. "No! You will not die; you will wake up! You promised me that you would come back to marry me!" With that, she hurriedly fled.
Liu Haiyan stood there dazed. "I will come back to marry Winter Pearl..."
Winter Pearl and Zhu Zhu—the two hazy lines of memory from the Central Plains seemed to gradually overlap. Just as Liu Haiyan was about to remember something, a sharp pain began to throb in his head.
Winter Pearl did not realize that her body had passed straight through the walls and stood before Liu Haiyan. This was her true husband, lying there with a pale complexion. Although his wounds had healed and scabbed over, the scars were still hideous.
Along the way, Winter Pearl had harbored resentment, blaming him for not coming to find her after he returned all those years ago, and blaming his parents for not telling her that he was still alive. But seeing him now, she suddenly understood. What kind of severe injuries could leave such gruesome scars? What had he experienced on the battlefield back then?
He and his parents must have been afraid of implicating her, of dragging her down, which is why they had refused to seek her out.
Winter Pearl slowly crouched down, carefully examining Liu Haiyan's face.
"Why are you in my home? And what did your words just now mean?" Liu Haiyan's soul had returned; he stood behind Winter Pearl, quietly watching her. "Am I the person who appears in your story? I am, aren't I?"
Winter Pearl lowered her head and smiled. "My mother taught me a method that only people from her hometown know. With this Method, I can awaken a sleeping patient and bring a wandering soul back to its body."
With that, Winter Pearl stood up. She pulled out the wooden hairpin from her head and fiercely stabbed it into her own heart.
"Winter Pearl, what are you doing?" Liu Haiyan rushed to her side.
"The blood of a lovesick person can awaken a lost lover!" Winter Pearl said as she stabbed again with force. She felt pain in her heart but did not see any blood. Confusion flickered in her eyes as she sensed all her strength gradually draining away.
"Winter... Winter Pearl..." Liu Haiyan watched as Winter Pearl's shadow began to shatter, finally realizing that Winter Pearl, like him, was not human!
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