Round One (07)

"Little fool, are you Shen Huai’s nephew?"
The beautiful ghost lady in red sat on the table, tilting her head as she looked at him.

Shen Yu’s face was still flushed, and he stammered, "No."

What should I do? Should I go tell uncle?

But she seems so powerful, if I so much as take a step, she’ll probably turn me to dust in an instant, won’t she?

Shen Yu’s hands, obediently resting on his knees, unconsciously twisted together.

Ah—such a nervous little gesture. Truly worthy of being raised by Shen Huai, Si Jiu mused.

Even his posture was impeccably proper: a straight back, knees pressed neatly together, and eyes with nowhere to rest.

This child, every detail about him struck Si Jiu’s fancy.

She couldn’t help teasing him, "Not what? Not a little fool, or not a nephew? Hmm?"

Her voice lingered, rising softly and melodiously.

If the system were here, it would surely complain once again that Si Jiu was "not acting human."

Shen Yu only felt his ears burning, even shivering a little, and stammered worse, "N-no, I’m not a little fool, and n-not a nephew either."

Wow! You blurt out the truth so easily— is that really okay?

So sweet?

"If you’re not a little fool, what are you? Not a nephew—then are you a son? Does he look like he could have a son your age?"

"I—I’m Shen, Shen Yu. Not a little fool. Uncle… picked me up and raised me. From the swaddling clothes to now.

Uncle is like a father to me.

I won’t let you mock him in that tone."

What should I do? Will she be angry? Will she eat me?

But what he said was from the heart. This beautiful ghost lady could tease him, but she must not mock uncle.

Shen Yu summoned his courage and looked Si Jiu in the eye, and sure enough, her expression grew serious.

It’s over—dead!

Uncle, I won’t be able to care for you in your old age, your nephew has failed you.

"How old are you this year?"

Unexpectedly, Si Jiu didn’t get angry, nor did she leap forward to take his life, but instead asked an odd question.

Shen Yu hesitated, "E-eighteen."

"What year is it now?"

Shen Yu gave the year, and then saw the beautiful ghost lady’s expression darken further.

He had no idea how shocked Si Jiu was inside.

A hundred years?

It had actually been a hundred years since she last left this dimension!

And Shen Huai was still alive!

Before, Twenty-Three had explained that this wasn’t the kind of supernatural dimension everyone imagined, but rather one closer to the normal world.

But how was this situation to be explained?

She could understand the difference in time flow between the minor world and the main world where the Dimensional Management Bureau was located.

What she couldn’t understand was how a normal mortal could live for more than a hundred and twenty years without his appearance changing at all.

Shen Yu didn’t know what Si Jiu was thinking, only saw her lapse into a daze after asking, her face growing more troubled.

A beauty with furrowed brows— truly enough to stir pity.

Shen Yu couldn’t help but ask cautiously, "What’s wrong?"

Are you feeling unwell? Have you been away from the mirror too long? Do you need to go back in?

"Nothing. Tell me more about Shen Huai."

And so, Shen Yu, as if possessed, spent the night telling Si Jiu stories of "Shen Huai’s past."

Ahem… In truth, there wasn’t much he could tell.

After all, since childhood he’d mostly stayed on this mountain with Shen Huai. Occasionally, people would come seeking Shen Huai’s help for some thorny matters, and they’d go down the mountain for a while.

But with Miss Tang here, Shen Huai never went far, no matter how much money was offered; he had to return the same day.

Life on the mountain was dull.

Most of the time, Shen Huai stayed in his room, while Shen Yu would surf the internet or work on assignments Shen Huai gave him.

As for Shen Huai’s true "past," Shen Yu couldn’t touch it.

Time had flowed too far; those who knew the past were mostly gone.

...

Outside, the sky was growing pale. Shen Yu suddenly stood up.

"Oh no, I still have to take your… mirror to be repaired today, and I haven’t made breakfast for uncle yet!"

He quickly ran a few steps, then hesitated, turning back to look at Si Jiu. "You… I…"

What should he do with this beautiful ghost lady?

Should he tell uncle?

Uncle would surely disperse her without hesitation.

But he didn’t think she was bad. The thought of her vanishing made him a little sad.