And Who Are You?

Whether anyone dug Cai Yunfei out or not, Xia Chen didn’t care.

His beloved little bicycle was completely ruined, and he even lit a cigarette beside it as a form of farewell.

After returning to that small courtyard—

Ye Nuan called.

Xia Chen sat on a bamboo chair.

The summer night breeze lifted his short hair.

The boy’s expression looked deep, almost too mature for his age.

“Hello?”

“Hello?! Where did you go?!”

Ye Nuan’s voice sounded urgent, as if Xia Chen had stolen money from her and run off.

“I’m at home.”

Xia Chen replied casually, a cigarette between his fingers as he exhaled smoke with ease—more natural than even seasoned smokers.

“You went home just like that? You’re not even off work yet!”

Ye Nuan snapped.

Everyone had already left, and only then did she realize the boy had disappeared.

If Xiao Su hadn’t told her, she wouldn’t even know he had left during the session.

Xia Chen took a drag.

In the courtyard, insects chirped, crickets sang—layered sounds, not quiet but oddly harmonious.

“I have class tomorrow.

Can’t work too late.”

Hearing this, Ye Nuan felt like she hadn’t hired a host, but invited a deity instead.

Who sets their own working hours?

Who did he think he was?

“Do you even want to make money?

If you want money, you have to work hard!”

Xia Chen leaned back in the bamboo chair, smoke drifting before his eyes.

“I just remembered I have class tomorrow.

Too many things going on.

I’ll just work the first half of the night.

Let’s discuss it.”

If anyone else had “discussed” like this, Ye Nuan would’ve fired them on the spot.

But…

Today’s transfer record made her hesitate.

That generous young woman had spent five thousand yuan on Xia Chen in one go.

That alone made it hard for her to stay angry.

Five thousand wasn’t huge—but this boy had been in the room for less than an hour and still managed that.

What kind of talent was this?

Did she pick up a ghost?

She took a deep breath.

“If you only work half the night, you’ll probably only take one client.

In that case…”

“Did I make money today?”

Xia Chen directly asked, sensing something off in her tone.

“Uh…”

Ye Nuan inhaled again.

This boy always hit the exact spot that frustrated her the most.

“What’s your WeChat or Alipay?

I’ll transfer the money.”

Xia Chen thought for a moment.

“I don’t have WeChat or Alipay.

I’ll come collect cash tomorrow.

Anything else?”

Ye Nuan nearly smashed her phone.

Someone his age without WeChat or Alipay?

What was he—prehistoric?

And that tone—should she just burn the money as an offering instead?

“…Nothing else.”

She gritted her teeth.

She was just about to lecture him about work attitude—

“Beep beep beep…”

The call was already hung up.

Not even a goodbye.

“So annoying!”

Ye Nuan shouted, venting her frustration.

People nearby instinctively kept their distance, afraid her anger might land on them.

Xia Chen had nothing else to do that night.

After finishing his cigarette, he returned to his plain, undecorated room to rest.

There were no heavy thoughts.

Nothing really worth worrying about.

He fell asleep just like that.

But calm in reality didn’t mean calm in dreams.

The emotions he suppressed during the day surged back with the tide of sleep.

“Cough… cough… you never told me… this technique would turn my body into this!”

A man in imperial robes coughed violently.

In front of him stood an old Daoist with white hair and an immortal-like presence.

The Daoist shook his head, flicking his whisk.

“Your Majesty, it’s not that the Nine Revolutions Reincarnation Art is flawed.

It’s that your heart is too soft.

You have too many attachments.

If you cannot let go, how can you attain immortality?”

“Rubbish!

You want me to kill my beloved consort?

To abandon my kingdom and my people?

How could I do that?!”

Facing the emperor’s anger—

The Daoist only shook his head.

“Your Majesty, I have calculated it.

Your kingdom’s fate is nearing its end.

Your consort’s destiny is already sealed.

You cannot defy heaven’s will.

Only by cultivating and ascending can you later bless your land and people.”

“To hell with your path!

Cough—!”

Blood spilled from the emperor’s lips onto the bed.

His body was weak.

He felt death approaching.

Countless times he questioned himself.

Countless inner struggles.

It felt like countless dark hands in an abyss dragging him down.

He didn’t want to fall.

He still had things to do.

He didn’t want to die.

He wanted to become immortal.

…

War flames bloomed like fireworks.

Smoke signals filled the sky.

When armies arrived at the capital to defend it, they found nothing left.

Beside him stood a breathtaking woman—

Peach blossom eyes.

A tear mole.

She was smiling.

When cavalry crushed the city walls—

When countless cries filled the air—

Xia Chen heard weeping.

Soft and haunting.

Like sorrow itself.

He woke in the darkness.

Touching his face—wet.

He looked up.

The window was open.

A summer rain had drifted in, dampening the bedding.

Xia Chen sighed and gave a faint, self-mocking smile.

“I thought… I was crying.”

But thinking of that smile from the dream—

Familiar, yet unfamiliar—

His expression grew complicated.

“And you…

who are you?”

PS: Any guesses who the female lead is?