Chapter 1 A Sense of Ease

Waking up, Chen Yuan felt a sense of ease.

Clearly, that was her wish; her wish had been fulfilled.

Therefore, she should instantly achieve enlightenment.

Thinking this, Chen Yuan looked at the curtains.

The current spiritual events... the unfolding suspense, undoubtedly proved the existence of spirits. And spirits exist in this world because of tragedy.

Or rather, their attachment to this world.

Then, does that mean that if Xia Xinyu's parents still have regrets, still worry about their daughter, there will also be a ghost-like existence, trapped somewhere?

For example, the place where the landslide occurred.

They may have wanted to see Xinyu, but the journey was too far, and every day at 12 o'clock, they would return to the place that bound them, so they could never reach her.

If I go to Shao Township now, the place where the tragedy happened, will I be able to touch their souls?

Perhaps that's a bit difficult.

An Ruxue's ability to blow air and emit coldness may not be universal, because she is a five-hundred-year-old spirit, with a longer ghost age than Xinyu's parents, who have only been dead for two months.

Or perhaps, Xinyu's parents saw Xinyu at the funeral, learned that she was well, and fulfilled their wish, entering reincarnation?

Otherwise, why did Xia Xinyu dream of her mother on her birthday, unable to make a sound or see a clear face?

No.

I am a pragmatist.

The existence of spirits has been proven.

To prove that there is more than one spirit, you need to prove the principle of the existence of spirits—unfinished wishes.

And to prove this principle, you also need to reverse it—if the unfinished wish is fulfilled, the spirit will disappear.

Yes, that's right.

With this thought, Chen Yuan greeted Xia Xinyu after school on Friday, telling her to go home first. He then went alone to that park, under that gingko tree.

Haitian in December was already a bit chilly, and the wind blowing in his face made his skin feel cold, almost penetrating his bones.

But Chen Yuan knew that this was not the cold air emitted by a spirit.

This kind of cold was normal.

"An Ruxue, are you there?"

If it were any other goddess, starting with "are you there" would be clownish.

But Chen Yuan knew that if An Ruxue was there, she would definitely respond to him.

Either by blowing air or appearing beside him, emitting coldness.

Why?

She has been imprisoned by this gingko tree for more than four hundred years, she desperately craves reincarnation, and if she can't reincarnate, she even hopes to be eliminated, to be freed, which is enough to show that this loneliness is not something ordinary spirits can bear.

Therefore, if she is still here, she will definitely tell me.

In that case, Chen Yuan could only think of other ways to exorcise her.

"Really not here?"

To confirm this, Chen Yuan asked the gingko tree again when no one was around, and said, "If you're here, help me... blow on me, or stand in front of me."

After saying this, there was no reaction for a full half minute.

Nice!

I happily sent her off!

A genuine, heartfelt smile appeared on the corner of Chen Yuan's mouth, happy for this poor spirit.

At the same time, he also thought of a way to pull Xinyu's parents into a dream.

If they still have unfulfilled wishes, and many attachments to this world, they will definitely become ghosts, like An Ruxue.

This is the value that An Ruxue brought to himself, and to Xia Xinyu.

Chen Yuan raised his head, looking at the tall, somewhat 'bald' gingko tree, then lowered his head, clasped his hands together, and closed his eyes: "An Ruxue, congratulations on your successful reincarnation, I hope you meet a good person in your next life."

Just then, a withered leaf slowly fell on Chen Yuan's head.

He picked it up in confusion, looked up, but saw that in the cold wind, the remaining withered leaves on the gingko tree were gently swaying.

"So, it's the wind."

Yes, it's the wind.

Sitting on the gingko tree, blowing a leaf down with force, giving it to Chen Yuan. Dressed in red, with a smile on her face, An Ruxue watched Chen Yuan's departing back after he confirmed that she had been reincarnated. Then, her smile became even gentler than before.

Beneath the red dress, her fair bare feet gently swayed.

She heard Chen Yuan's voice just now.

She really wanted to respond, to blow air with her mouth, ruffling his bangs.

But she resisted, hiding here, quietly watching him.

In fact, Chen Yuan did not prove that fulfilling an unfinished wish allows the soul to reincarnate.

Of course, he also didn't prove that it was wrong.

Because An Ruxue still has some attachment to this world.

Obviously, merely doing that wasn't enough to send herself away.

The reason for deceiving Chen Yuan was because...

It's enough.

He had already worked so hard for her, if she didn't disappear, it would be impolite.

Sitting with her legs crossed on the tree trunk, watching Chen Lang, who was walking further and further away and whom she would never have the chance to meet again, although she had thought about how wonderful it would be if Chen Yuan were the groom in that wedding in her dream, she ultimately chose to quietly be her own jibakurei (earthbound spirit), without disturbing him.

……

Xinyu was cooking at home when someone knocked on the door. So, she went to the door and asked, "Who is it?"

"Xinyu's boyfriend."

Xia Xinyu couldn't help but smile when she heard this, but she didn't laugh out loud. Then, she adjusted her expression, opened the door, turned around, and continued to cook.

After Chen Yuan came in, he went to her side and did what he could to help with the cooking.

"It's quite cold outside today, why don't we go buy some winter clothes sometime?" Chen Yuan suddenly asked while slicing potatoes.

"Ah? I have clothes to wear in the winter, I don't want to buy any... but I can go with you." Xia Xinyu said with a smile.

As expected, with Yu Zi's personality, she wouldn't want to buy new clothes.

Moreover, she would use her school uniform as an excuse.

"And the winter school uniform is quite warm, most of the time I'm at school, there's no occasion to wear anything else, right?" Xia Xinyu added.

"Okay, I don't want to buy anything either."

Although he agreed, Chen Yuan was still thinking about getting Xia Xinyu at least a down jacket, a cotton coat, a pair of boots, and two pairs of fluffy cat socks...

He was starting his warm tour around the world again, damn it.

"I actually hope it gets colder," Xia Xinyu said with some anticipation after pouring a dish into a plate. "That way, we can go for a walk wearing scarves."

Couple scarves, traditionally red and blue.

"Is that red one also knitted by you?" Chen Yuan asked curiously, looking at the long red scarf hanging on the suction cup hook outside the cabinet.

"No." Xia Xinyu shook her head and replied with a smile, "This was knitted by my mom."

"I see..."

After answering, Chen Yuan walked to the scarf and gently touched it with his finger.

He had only seen the portraits of his father-in-law and mother-in-law, but never a color photo.

And photos may not be exactly the same as the real person.

What kind of person was Xia Xinyu's mother?

As he thought this, a woman appeared sitting on the bedside, knitting a scarf with red yarn. She looked to be about forty years old, with some wrinkles around her eyes, but not particularly old, appropriate for her age.

And she was a very standard beauty.

"My mom was very pretty, right?" Chen Yuan asked.

Hearing this, Xia Xinyu, who had finished a plate of stir-fried pork, stopped, turned off the stove, turned around, looked at Chen Yuan, and thought for a while, said, "Yes, very pretty."

"I guess, your eyes are very similar to your mom's?" Chen Yuan said, holding the scarf, guessing.

"Yes, yes! Almost exactly the same."

Xia Xinyu nodded in agreement, and then put her finger on her nose and said, "The nose is very similar too."

"I heard that people with beautiful eyes and noses are all great beauties. Xinyu really inherited her mom's beauty, that's why she's so pretty."

"Hehe." Xia Xinyu responded shyly.

The mother in the scene had a very beautiful face shape, very small, and her figure was similar to Xia Xinyu's, even more slender than Xia Xinyu, who was vaguely plump.

She was a gentle, beautiful mother, giving a feeling that she would never get angry.

"Xinyu, tell me about your mom," Chen Yuan said.

"Okay, I'll wait until I make dinner, and we can chat slowly while we eat."

In this way, Xia Xinyu continued to cook.

When the two were eating at the small desk, she said many, many things about her mother.

Even including the love story of her father and mother.

Don't think her mother was so beautiful, but her mother confessed to her father first.

"If only I could see your mom in a dream again."

Hearing this, Xia Xinyu was stunned for a moment.

Then she went to the desk, opened the drawer, took out a photo of her with her parents that she had brought from Shao Township, touched the photo with her hand, and murmured, "Yes, if only I could meet her in a dream again. Otherwise, I can't even remember their faces clearly."

Chen Yuan was guiding her.

Entering dreams is 100% certain, and it's not entering someone else's dream.

Entering a dream is entering some of the most memorable scenes in the other person's memory, or the scenes they want to appear.

That way, you can pull certain people into the dream.

But there is a bug, the person pulled into the dream will have a locked perspective and cannot move.

Just like Wu Yixiang and Sun Chang in Sister Fu's dream.

If it's not a memory, but a non-existent scene, originating from the feeling of 'wanting to see the other person', can you summon a real person who can move freely?

This is just an attempt.

Even if the other person still has a locked perspective, it doesn't matter.

Although they cannot move or express themselves freely, the people in the dream have feelings, can hear, and can see.

In short, An Ruxue gave Chen Yuan inspiration, allowing him to have this bold test.

If he can really summon Xia Xinyu's parents, even if they cannot move freely, it would be good if they knew that Xinyu was doing well.

That way, they can fulfill their long-cherished wish and enter reincarnation.

"Then remember her face clearly." Chen Yuan looked at Xia Xinyu and said with a smile, "Maybe she will come to your dream to find you."

Hearing this, Xia Xinyu suddenly realized that perhaps because she was living a full life, and was happy every day, she hadn't dreamed of her parents for a long time.

In the beginning, she didn't dare to dream, because waking up was always empty.

But now, she felt that she could bear this gap.

It's better to say that because she has already accepted reality, she can face even falsehood with equanimity.

"Yes, yes, if she asks me in a dream, I will introduce you to her properly."

"Yes, remember to say a little more."

Chen Yuan nodded slightly, reminding her.

In this way, after the two finished dinner, they returned to their rooms to study and rest.

After saying goodnight to each other, Chen Yuan got up and went to the closet to pick out a slightly decent hoodie without a hood, long pants, and then lay on the bed.

Dream, start—

If there are ghosts in this world.

Then I hope they come to say goodbye to the people who care about them before they reincarnate.

The so-called Chao Zi, this power, isn't it just about doing what can't be done, making up for the regrets that will never be fulfilled once missed?

Every ghost you fear is someone's cherished person.

So,

Ghosts must exist!

The light sphere appeared.

With a gentle touch, Chen Yuan entered a world.

Then, he appeared at the gate of Fourth High School.

The person walking out of the teaching building was Xia Xinyu wearing a school uniform, carrying a schoolbag, holding the schoolbag strap with one hand.

Suddenly, Xia Xinyu stopped and looked at him.

No, why are there only two people in this world?

So, although Xia Xinyu was led by him to think of her mother today, the most important thing to her is still Fourth High School... or rather, the upcoming midterm exam?

Or, ghosts do exist in this world, but the souls of Xia Xinyu's parents are no longer here, they have gone to another world, entering reincarnation.

How can this be...

He finally grasped some hope.

Could this be enough?

Don't you want to see Xinyu more?

Don't be so relieved so easily, she's not as...

Suddenly, Chen Yuan felt some weight on his shoulders.

Turning his head, he saw a woman with a low ponytail, wearing a very plain light red dress. After gently patting his shoulder, she walked forward.

At this moment, Xia Xinyu's eyes instantly turned red, and she ran towards here, opening her arms.

Suddenly, she threw herself into the woman's arms.

Then, with her head buried, she cried loudly for the first time with such excitement and joy.

The woman showed a sincere smile and gently patted Xia Xinyu's back.

"Xinyu, Mom misses you so much."

Suddenly, there was a voice.

So Xinyu's mother's voice was so gentle.

At this moment, Chen Yuan finally confirmed it.

This is the soul.

Like An Ruxue, a soul that can speak and be touched.

Different from the previous blurred face and inaudible voice.

The existence of Mom was very clear.

And if you pay more attention, you can also find that Xia Xinyu's mother was wearing canvas shoes with mud all over the soles.

There was also mud on the back of her calves.

That day was like this.

Xinyu's father was working in the mountains, and then at noon, Xinyu's mother brought a lunch box to send him food in the mountains...

The traces of death cannot be erased from this soul.

Seeing this scene, Chen Yuan closed his eyes and took a long breath.

Sure enough, ghosts really exist.

If there is still attachment to this world, they will not easily reincarnate.

As long as her wish is fulfilled, and she has no more worries, she can...

"Mom, I miss you so much."

Xia Xinyu cried with tears all over her face, crying loudly to this familiar woman who she would never forget no matter what.

"Yes, yes, Mom is here."

Xu Qin also wanted to cry. After she died, every time she thought of her daughter, she wanted to cry, but she didn't know if it was because she was a ghost, but she couldn't cry.

She had wanted to find Xia Xinyu for a long time, but after becoming like this, she would be pulled to the hillside where she died every day at 12 o'clock.

Xia Hai was too far away, she couldn't reach it in a day.

She did see her daughter at the funeral. At that time, Xinyu's father was also there.

During the funeral, the two watched the whole process, feeling sorry for such a young child having to endure so much.

Fortunately, a boy came from Xia Hai from thousands of miles away, sharing a lot for her.

When Niu Qiong was cheating people with IOUs, the two were so anxious that they wanted to take him away.

And that boy properly solved the matter.

Then, they were finally relieved.

"Where's Dad? Why didn't Dad come?" Xia Xinyu asked, wiping her tears while looking at her mother.

"Dad can't come, but he has already seen you."

After Niu Qiong's matter was resolved and the funeral was properly completed, Xinyu's father had no more unfulfilled wishes, and turned into a golden ray, flying towards the sky.

Logically speaking, Xu Qin should also leave, after all, her daughter is doing well now and no longer needs to be worried about.

But…

Why am I so reluctant to leave my baby?

I want to see her a few more times.

"Mom, I have so much to tell you..."

Xia Xinyu took Xu Qin's hand, took her to a bench on the Fourth High School playground, and then sat down.

"Yes, Mom has time, tell me everything." Xu Qin smiled gently, willing to listen.

Child, tell Mom all your grievances.

"Mom, after you left, I..."

Xia Xinyu hadn't told anyone about that memory, it was like a scar, she didn't want to uncover it no matter what. But after seeing her mother, she finally couldn't help but cry and said, "I even thought about going with you. And I almost succeeded."

"There was such a thing? And you almost succeeded?" Xu Qin was very concerned about Xia Xinyu's mental state and quickly asked.

Then, the two started chatting.

Chen Yuan stood in the distance and watched.

The mother and daughter got along very well, and he didn't disturb them.

After a while, Xia Xinyu lay on her mother's lap, using her lap as a pillow and falling asleep.

Mom gently stroked her face, again and again.

After she fell asleep, Xu Qin used her hand to support her cheek. After settling Xia Xinyu down, she walked towards Chen Yuan.

Seeing this, Chen Yuan quickly stood up straight, tidying up his collar, but he was wearing a crew-neck long sleeve, he didn't have a collar…

And Mom had already walked in front of him.

Then, she showed a warm smile like a spring breeze: "Is this our son-in-law Chen Yuan?"

(End of this chapter)