"Haha, I finally got it! Lost a feather, but totally worth it. Now I can go wild in the human world."

The Celestial girl giggled tearfully while hugging her magic doll—creepy as hell. I should probably leave before things get weirder.

Celestial feathers were vital for resurrecting the dead. Without one to anchor the soul, you’d just get a mindless zombie. Celestials rarely appeared in the human realm, making my freshly plucked feather the world’s only viable specimen—way fresher than that centuries-old relic rotting in some church altar. (*Duh. It was just plucked.*)

"Wake up! Second period’s starting!"

I rubbed my eyes and yawned. *Right on time.* Good thing I’d secured the feather. With the Celestial’s permission, I could finally meddle with this world’s order freely.

"Look," my classmate hissed, "Cute Teacher’s your aunt, but ignoring her lecture? Seriously?"

"Had important business."

"Important business? Like playing chess with Master Zhou?"

"Negotiating a *special arrangement* with a Celestial girl."

"Ugh, fine. But don’t sleep through Tigress Teacher’s next class."

After an agonizing afternoon, I finally escaped campus. Xia Bing headed off to buy dinner ingredients while Shan Weihao lurked by the gate like a lovesick stalker.

"Master! You’re here! Where to now?"

"My place first… Why’s your backpack still stuffed with cash? I said I don’t want it."

"I know you’re above mortal things. But my dad’s friend gave him this landscape painting—I begged him for it. Please accept it."

*Rich kid hiding in plain sight.* It’s not that I hated money—it’s that hiding ¥100,000 at home wasn’t exactly practical. Bury it in the walls like some TV drama? As for the painting? Zero interest. A PSV would’ve made me way happier.

"Keep your cash. But I’ll take the painting."

It couldn’t be *that* expensive… right? Refusing would burden him with unpaid debt. Since we were at the school gate, I shoved it into my bag without looking. "Don’t touch anything at my place."

"Of course not! A master’s belongings are sacred!"

*Nope.* Just a neat freak. Like a dragon guarding its hoard—I hated strangers pawing my stuff.

"I’m home."

"Welcome back, Master—*WAH!* Shan Weihao?! Why’s he here?!"

Mengze floated invisibly as a ghost—only I could see her.

"Master, I just heard Mengze’s voice! Is she—?"

I silenced her with a finger. "Your imagination. But you’ll feel her soon. Ever played the pencil game?"

"Tried once. Not great at it."

*Perfect. Neither am I. Time to improvise.*

I set up makeshift tools on the dining table and mumbled nonsense "incantations." (*Who cares what it means?*) Mengze stared at me like I’d grown a second head. *Yeah, I know I look stupid—stop judging!*

"How’s it going, Master?"

"Mengze’s here. Ask your questions."

"Can she appear? I want to see her."

I glanced at Mengze. She shook her head violently, cheeks flushed. I moved the pencil to "NO."

"Why not?"

"Shan Weihao, pencil game rules: one question per turn. My turn now…" I cleared my throat. "Miss Mengze, do you wish to be resurrected?"

She hesitated, then shook her head again. I marked "NO."

"Why refuse life?"

"Nothing’s free. Resurrection must cost a fortune. Besides…" Her voice trembled. "I have no home. No regrets left. Why pay that price?"

(*Translation: Too expensive. Nowhere to go.*)

"Don’t worry! I’ll take care of you! Any price—I’ll pay it!"

*Kid’s throwing his parents’ money around.* Typical rich brat. I set the pencil down.

"Let’s discuss Mengze later. First—do you *truly* love her? Or is this just pity?"

"With all my heart."

*Smooth.* "Then let’s talk cost. Resurrection demands life force. Willing to share yours?"

"Split my lifespan with her? Even if it means dying at fifty?"

"Exactly. Unless you die unnaturally, you’ll share the same death hour. One lifetime, halved—"

"Sounds romantic. I accept."

*He’s insane.* Zero hesitation!

"NO!"

Mengze materialized, clinging to Shan Weihao as tears streamed down her face. "Don’t waste your life on me! You’re a rich heir—you deserve a future! Find someone alive!"

"I finally see you again…"

"Fool! Listen! You could have anyone—why—?"

"Enough. My heart knows you’re my only love. Even with forty years left, life with you is happiness."

*Damn. This dumbass delivers killer love lines.* I almost teared up.

"*Ahem.* Hate to interrupt your lovefest, but shouldn’t we fix your transparent girlfriend first?"

"I, Shan Weihao, pledge half my life to share with Mengze!"

I pulled out the soul contract for his signature.

Mengze snatched it away before he could touch it.