Round One (Shen Huai, utterly defeated.)

“What’s wrong with you?” You come back with a drink, looking so sour.

Shen Huai glanced at Si Jiu and muttered, “Nothing.”

Si Jiu clicked her tongue. “By the way, I haven’t seen Sweetie—Shen Yu—in ages. If you won’t let me out, at least let him come keep me company, so I don’t get bored.”

Shen Huai was exasperated. “Isn’t my company enough for you?”

Has it really been that long? Barely a month.

“He’s much more fun than you.”

Shen Huai: “…”

He couldn’t bring himself to scold her, nor could he bear to lay a hand on her! What else could he do? All he could manage was to glare at this heartless ghost, pour out more than half a glass of wine with a flourish, and then down it in one go.

Si Jiu narrowed her eyes, a wicked smile curling on her lips.

“Don’t drink alone—let me join you.” She took his glass, filled it up, and poured herself one as well.

“To long-awaited reunion.” She raised her glass to Shen Huai.

Shen Huai paused, then gently clinked his glass against hers and gulped it down.

Those unaccustomed to drinking rarely hold their liquor well, unless they’re born with a special knack for it.

Naturally, compared to Si Jiu, Shen Huai was no match when it came to drinking.

Especially since Si Jiu was intentionally getting him drunk.

It didn’t take long for him to feel the effects.

Drunk, Shen Huai… became particularly docile.

And, of course, clingy.

Other than stubbornly insisting on holding Si Jiu’s hand—interlacing their fingers tightly—he didn’t do anything else troublesome.

“Huai, will you lift the seal for me?” Taking advantage of his drunkenness, Si Jiu turned into a master persuader.

Shen Huai’s gaze was vacant and dazed, his reactions slow by several beats. After Si Jiu finished speaking, she waited a long time before he finally mumbled, “…No.”

“Why not?”

“Sweetie will run away.”

Si Jiu: “…I won’t run. I just want some fresh air.”

She really had no intention of running. Where would she go? She just disliked being confined.

This time, Shen Huai was even slower to respond. He stared at Si Jiu for a long, long while before finally saying, “You’re lying.”

Si Jiu: “…”

Is he always this hard to reason with, even when drunk?

“I’m not lying to you. Not this time. Really.” Si Jiu coaxed him gently.

“You… lie,” Shen Huai mumbled, “You slept and slept, for so long. I waited for you for ages. So long…”

A single tear slipped from his eye and fell onto the table with a soft patter.

Si Jiu: “!!!”

“Don’t leave me.” Suddenly, he clung to her, pulling her into his arms with desperate strength, his voice pleading in anguish, “Don’t leave me, I beg you.”

Si Jiu had no resistance against such a sweet, pitiful Shen Huai.

She sighed, patting his back. “You’re far too persistent.

If all you wanted was a romance, maybe I could oblige you—after all, I do like you.

But you’re asking for forever. I’m sorry, I can’t give you that.”

She didn’t care whether Shen Huai, in his current state, could hear her clearly. No, it was precisely because he was not himself that she dared to speak her heart.

“Remember, don’t get so attached. It’ll scare girls away.”

Knock, knock, knock—someone tapped at the door. Then Shen Yu’s voice called from outside, “Uncle, I saw you bring in a lot of wine. I was worried you’d feel ill from drinking too much, so I brought you some hangover medicine.”

Si Jiu’s eyes lit up. “Sweetie, come in, come in!”

There was a pause outside.

“Hurry up, or do you want me to come out and greet you?”

The door finally opened. Shen Yu walked in hesitantly, curiosity flickering in his gaze as he looked around the room he’d never entered in eighteen years. Then he saw Shen Huai—and Si Jiu wrapped tightly in his arms.

“As I thought, his seal only works on spirits,” Si Jiu pouted, poking Shen Huai in exasperation. “Always picking on me.”

Shen Yu: “…” Did you call me in just to feed me dog food? Thanks, but I’m already full today.

The joy of seeing the beautiful ghostly sister vanished in an instant, even leaving a tightness in his chest.

“I say…”

[Connecting… Connection complete. Preparing to exit current world. Countdown: ten, nine, eight…]

Si Jiu: “!!!”

“Wait—what the hell, why so sudden?”

“What?” Shen Yu looked utterly confused.

[Five, four…]

Shen Yu watched as Si Jiu’s expression grew more and more troubled. He instinctively stepped forward, but shrank back at the sight of Shen Huai.

“Shen Yu, when Huai wakes up, tell him…”

[Three, two…]

Shen Yu, caught up in her urgent tone, grew tense as well. “W-what?”

“Don’t wait for me—you won’t find me.”

[One]

A sudden flash of white light burst forth, making Shen Yu’s eyelids twitch and his heart race. He hurried forward a few steps. “Hey—” But then he froze in disbelief.

Shen Huai’s arms were empty.

Crack—crash—

The bronze mirror on the vanity instantly fractured into countless shards before shattering completely.

Shen Yu’s mind went utterly blank.