“What’s wrong with him?”

Zhong Cheng turned at the sound and saw Tie Niu sprinting off like a mad bull.

He tilted his head slightly, puzzled.

*Hadn’t the live stream already ended? Why’s he still acting so mischievous?*

...

Zhong Cheng had returned to the ancestral home to find only his grandmother inside.

When he asked where Grandpa was,

Grandma explained he’d gone to a neighbor’s to bum a smoke—couldn’t find his water pipe, craving hit hard—and chat awhile.

She added with a sigh, “That old devil never changes.”

Since evening was closing in, Grandma began dinner prep. Zhong Cheng offered to help.

Though she insisted he needn’t, he stayed and lent a hand.

As dinner neared completion, Grandma asked him to fetch Grandpa. He agreed.

Leaving the house, he walked down the alley, turned twice, and spotted Grandpa seated with villagers.

Sure enough—sharing a single water pipe, passing it around with easy laughter.

“Grandpa, dinner’s ready,” Zhong Cheng said.

“Mm,” Grandpa grunted.

He didn’t rise. Instead, he snatched the pipe and took deep, hurried drags—as if squeezing in a few last puffs before farewell.

Worried he’d overdo it, Zhong Cheng urged him to take it easy.

“Alright, alright,” Grandpa mumbled, but kept puffing, acting like he could still “hang on.”

*Like hell you can,* Zhong Cheng thought. *You’ll wreck your health.*

He snatched the pipe from Grandpa’s hands, cutting off any further “hanging on.”

Grandpa’s face darkened with irritation—but Zhong Cheng didn’t care.

Nearby elders burst into laughter. “Well done! He’d have finished all the tobacco!”

“After smoking so much, shouldn’t you chip in?” someone teased.

Grandpa’s scowl deepened.

Then the praise shifted to Zhong Cheng: handsome, well-educated, village pride, bright future ahead.

Hearing compliments about his grandson, Grandpa’s mood lifted.

But Zhong Cheng’s own face fell—the elders kept bringing up his past engagement to the Ghost Emperor.

He’d already called it off and destroyed the groom’s portrait, but he stayed silent. No need to spook these superstitious elders.

“Brother Zhong Cheng!”

A sweet-voiced girl approached with a bright smile.

Zhong Cheng blinked in surprise. He didn’t recognize her. Why so familiar?

*Does she not realize how suggestive that “brother” sounds?* He tilted his head slightly, confused.

She was lovely—classic oval face, skin not pale but fresh and smooth. Two dimples appeared when she smiled.

Clear bright eyes, long black hair flowing down her back nearly to her hips.

An innocent, unspoiled charm—untouched by city life. Around sixteen or seventeen.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Xiao Yan. Don’t you remember me?” She pouted slightly, clearly displeased.

Xiao Yan?

*It’s really her?*

Seeing that cute pout, memory clicked.

*Girls really do change so much as they grow up.*

Like Tie Niu, Xiao Yan had been his childhood playmate—a true village friend.

He recalled her trailing him like a little sister, hopping between houses, laughing.

But back then? Tomboyish. Unkempt. Slightly sun-kissed skin, broad forehead, mischievous energy.

Now? A fresh-faced beauty in a pretty dress. That slender waist? Solid nine out of ten.

*She could audition for an idol show like this.*

“You’ve changed so much—I almost didn’t recognize you,” Zhong Cheng said sincerely.

“You *definitely* didn’t,” Xiao Yan pouted.

“Sorry.”

“No worries! I heard you were back. Went to your house looking for you earlier—too bad you weren’t there.”

“I see.”

Watching her shy, dimpled smile, Zhong Cheng felt an unexpected ripple in his chest.

He’d never thought of her that way before… but now? Unbidden thoughts surfaced.

*With Xiao Yan looking like this now, could I…*

“Oh! Brother Zhong Cheng, you don’t mind being on camera, right?”

“On camera?”

Before he could answer, she pulled out her phone and selfie stick, smoothly launching a live stream.

“Mua~! Villagers, hello! See this guy? Not my boyfriend—he’s my Brother Zhong Cheng, childhood friend, back for a rare visit!”

“Isn’t he handsome? Top student from the city, prestigious university grad—our village’s rising star!”

“Brother Zhong Cheng, wave and say hi! Mua~!”

“Hello everyone, I’m Zhong Cheng…”

*This routine feels way too familiar.*

Zhong Cheng offered an awkward-but-graceful wave.

This should’ve been a quiet reunion. Instead—live stream. Mood ruined.

*First Tie Niu… now Xiao Yan too? When did the whole village go live-streaming?*

“Brother Niu taught me!” Xiao Yan chirped. “Dress cute like a fairy maiden, go ‘mua mua’ at the phone daily—earn more than working outside!”

Zhong Cheng played along: silly poses, goofy faces for a Douyin clip.

Xiao Yan said she’d head home to edit it, add some “duang duang” effects to look even more fairy-like.

Parting ways, Zhong Cheng sighed inwardly at village savvy.

He also recalled—Xiao Yan had an online boyfriend. Good-looking, daily video calls, deeply in love.

A quiet unease settled in him. All his childhood friends were paired up. He was still solo.

*Life really is as lonely as snow.*

*(Aren’t you engaged to the Ghost Emperor already?)*

*(Zhong Cheng delivered a solid kick to his chest.)*

Returning with Grandpa, twilight still brushed the sky though the sun had set.

Crimson glow clashed with deepening shadow—a breathtaking divide, nature’s own artistry.

A sudden evening breeze stirred. Eerie howls drifted from the dim woods. Distant hills looked bleak.

Grandma scolded them lightly for being late.

After dinner, Zhong Cheng bathed first—no water heater, just heated buckets.

Coming out, he found his room tidied by Grandma.

Usually, family visits meant staying overnight. This time, he was alone.

He stepped inside.

Cleaned but still old. Faint musty scent. Walls covered in childhood doodles—his and his sister’s.

A dim ten-watt yellow bulb cast faint light across the room.

Too early to sleep for city-habituated Zhong Cheng. His body clock whispered: *Stay up.*

He scrolled on his phone in bed. One hour later—10% battery. Low-power warning flashed.

Forgot the charger. Continuing meant shutdown. He enabled power-saving mode and set it down.

Settled under the covers, ready to be a good boy: sleep early, rise early.

*Guess I should hit the bathroom.*

Lying there with no sleepiness, a sudden urge to pee surfaced.