Chapter 26: Never Without Attachment (2)
To say Zhou Shengchen had no beliefs wouldn’t be entirely accurate.
What he believed in was science.
As Shi Yi listened to their conversation, she lightly tapped the surface of the water with her fingers, enjoying the cool, refreshing sensation.
She wondered if the him from a thousand years ago, drunk on the battlefield, could have ever imagined standing today amidst the dense green shade of the mountains, casually discussing a world pieced together by physics and chemistry. Or perhaps, everything she remembered was merely an illusion?
"Fine wine in golden cups, we drink beneath the night, / The lute urges us forth—to battle, to the fight. / Do not laugh if we fall drunken on the battleground— / How many warriors ever came back safe and sound?"
The poems remained, but the poets and the people within them had long become history.
With someone like Zhou Shengchen present, the earlier eerie atmosphere was naturally dispelled, putting Zhou Wenxing’s mind at ease. Yet, though the young girl studied medicine, she still retained a girlish sensibility, and having grown up in such a traditional family, she remained deeply wary of ghosts and spirits.
Before leaving, Zhou Wenxing even went through the motions of bowing to a few dragonflies, murmuring something like, "We meant no disrespect to your ancestors, please don’t hold it against us."
During the Ghost Month, the Zhou family would always set aside an extra table during meals, laid out with identical dishes.
Zhou Shengchen, as the representative of his generation, would symbolically fill each wine cup as an offering to their departed elders.
At first, Shi Yi hadn’t given it much thought, but after the events of the afternoon, she realized he was truly a paradox. No wonder he had openly admitted to her that he wouldn’t ultimately remain living within this family.
With Mei Hang and Zhou Wenxing’s arrival, the evening finally gained some liveliness.
Mei Hang sat chatting with Zhou Wenxing and Shi Yi, while Zhou Shengchen stayed seated as well—though he was occupied with his laptop, flipping through materials she couldn’t understand at all. She leaned against him, and naturally, he wrapped an arm around her waist, half-embracing her as he continued reading.
Not wanting to disturb him, she simply listened to the other two.
Mei Hang was an excellent storyteller, though he also had a knack for frightening people. The conversation gradually shifted to various supernatural tales, and he very "considerately" tied them to the architecture of the Zhou family’s ancestral home.
"That library building—" he began, finally bringing up the topic of the library after discussing several other places.
"Stop, stop," Zhou Wenxing, who had been leaning against Shi Yi, immediately sat up straight. "You can’t talk about the library."
Mei Hang looked puzzled. "Why not?"
"It’s my sister-in-law’s favorite place," Zhou Wenxing said seriously, stopping him. "If you say something scary, what if she gets too afraid to go there again?"
Mei Hang glanced at Shi Yi in surprise.
After a moment’s thought, she also said cautiously, "Maybe it’s better not to talk about that place. I really might not dare to go back."
"I’ve read quite a few of the books there, though," Mei Hang mused. "It seems like no one’s been there to read in many years."
Shi Yi considered this—it was true. Despite being kept spotlessly clean, the library lacked any trace of human presence.
Zhou Wenxing sat cross-legged on the sofa, casually picking up a teacup and taking a sip. "You love classical literature—you should’ve been born into our family. From what I’ve seen, not many of your siblings are interested in these things."
Mei Hang chuckled, his eyes darkening. "Yes, indeed not many."
"Last month, did anyone solve that riddle you posted?"
"Riddle?"Zhou Wenxing reminded him, "The one you mass-sent to everyone, that string of poetic tune names. I later asked you what it was for, and you secretly told me it was a preliminary test question for choosing your future wife."
Shi Yi, hearing this, recalled the question she had answered for Zhou Shengchen.
She froze for a moment, glancing sideways at Zhou Shengchen.
The latter clearly hadn't heard, still flipping through the materials in his hands.
Mei Hang cleared his throat lightly, "That was just a joke."
"No one got the answer?" Wen Xing probed.
"Well... someone did," Mei Hang tapped unconsciously on the wooden armrest of his chair, "Your sister-in-law."
"Shi Yi?" Wen Xing was surprised at first.
Shi Yi quickly explained, "I just answered it casually for Zhou Shengchen."
Wen Xing tilted her head slightly and whispered, "You're far from matching my brother, so don't even think about coveting my sister-in-law."
Though she was joking, Mei Hang coughed again, signaling with his eyes for the younger sister not to speak carelessly.
Shi Yi also felt somewhat awkward and shifted slightly.
"What's wrong?" Zhou Shengchen noticed, finally looking up from his computer.
"I'll go make tea for everyone."
"Let Liansui do it?" he suggested softly.
"I'll do it myself." She moved his arm aside and went to prepare tea personally.
By nearly nine o'clock, only the two of them remained.
They maintained their usual way of interacting, exchanging only occasional words during breaks.
Shi Yi was still preoccupied with his aversion to deities and supernatural beings from earlier in the day. Restless while reading on the lounge chair, her frequent tossing and turning eventually caught his attention.
Zhou Shengchen walked over and sat on the edge of her lounge chair, bracing his hands on either side as he asked quietly, "Something on your mind?"
"No," she exhaled, "just random thoughts."
"What thoughts?"
"I really believe in deities and such. Does that upset you?"
He suddenly smiled in realization, "You've asked me this before, back in May."
What a memory. It truly was when she first came and accompanied his mother to offer incense.
At that time, he had stood outside the main hall with no intention of entering, then told her he was a complete and thorough atheist.
She looked at him, pondered for a moment, then changed the subject: "It must be hard for you, having to pour wine for... 'the elders' every day."
Zhou Shengchen chuckled, touching her cheek with his fingers, "No matter how strong one's convictions, human relationships are inescapable. Sometimes taking a small step back for those around you isn't so difficult."
She hummed in agreement, letting his hand caress her face.
"Besides, it's just pouring wine," he lowered his head, drawing closer, "much easier than handling reagents in the lab."
There was self-deprecation and jest in his tone.
Indoors, warm wall lamps glowed; outside, lanterns illuminated the night. Seated by the window, she could see a string of lanterns at eye level, but now the view was blocked by the person before her.
For the day before, during, and after the Ghost Festival, the Zhou household kept their lights burning all night.
Three consecutive nights of unbroken illumination.
This place seemed capable of suspending time.
Making it impossible to distinguish which dynasty it was or who anyone truly was.
"I want to give you something. What would you like?" His voice was slightly lower.
Whether it was the lighting or the late hour, his usual strong scholarly aura was considerably muted. With most of his face in shadow, he suddenly seemed so familiar to her. In truth, apart from those clear eyes, nothing else remained the same.
"Why suddenly think of giving me something?""I'm not entirely sure." He smiled faintly.
"Not sure?"
"I mean, I'm not sure of the reason."
She couldn't help but laugh, her voice light as she teased him, "You want to give me something, but you don't know why?"
"Perhaps it's instinct."
"Instinct?"
He seemed to search for the right words, pausing briefly before saying, "A man's... instinctive behavior toward the woman he loves."
Shi Yi shifted slightly and murmured, "Give me whatever you want." Those material things meant little to her—they neither accompanied one in life nor followed in death. She didn’t care what he gave her.
That one sentence was enough.
She was wearing pajamas with a slightly low neckline, and the slightest movement revealed a glimpse of delicate skin. He sat sideways on the edge of the bed, close to her waist. In the brief silence, his gaze drifted from her face to her chest, then down to the curve of her waist. Shi Yi grew slightly dazed under his scrutiny. In the restless quiet, she moved her fingers at first just to distract herself from the rising heat—but then, as if guided by some unseen force, she reached out to touch his face.
She couldn’t tell if he wanted it or simply wanted to look.
His thoughts remained unreadable to her.
"How about jade? What kind do you usually wear?" He finally lifted his eyes to meet hers.
"Why jade?" She thought for a moment, then understood. "Ah, of course. Your family is quite traditional."
He chuckled, sliding a hand beneath the collar of her nightgown, his fingers gliding down to her back. With one arm, he loosened the gown, letting it slip halfway off. "Have you read Shuowen Jiezi ?"
"I’ve read some, but I don’t remember much..."
Only the rhythmic chirping of cicadas filled the air, their steady hum heightening the intimacy between them.
" Shi you meiren, yi jia yi shi ," he whispered in her ear, interpreting her name.
Shi Yi.
Shi you meiren, yi jia yi shi.
Her name, as he saw it.
The next morning, when Shi Yi awoke, Zhou Shengchen was already gone.
She ate breakfast alone in the small sitting room, taking her time. Liansui and Lianrong waited on her cautiously. In previous days, she might have chatted with the two girls during breakfast, but after last night... she felt too embarrassed to say much. When she set down her spoon, Liansui finally broke the awkward silence as she cleared the dishes. "Today is the Ghost Festival. There will be lanterns."
"Lanterns here?" She had never seen water lanterns during the Ghost Festival before—only land lanterns once or twice during the Lantern Festival.
"Yes," Lianrong said with a smile. "Every year."
People belonged to yang , ghosts to yin ; land was yang , water was yin .
Both water and land lanterns were beautiful sights. But in a bustling metropolis like Shanghai, such traditions had long faded. She remembered that during the Ghost Festival, the most people did was end recordings early, murmuring, "It’s the Ghost Festival—go home early, don’t wander around," and that was it.
"Second Young Master and Second Young Mistress arrived earlier," Liansui added. "Second Young Mistress is pregnant, so she won’t be releasing lanterns."
Lanterns were lit to guide the spirits.
Pregnant women avoided the ritual to protect the unborn child.
Shi Yi suddenly recalled the woman who had died suddenly during her last visit, and a faint discomfort settled over her. Yet everyone here seemed to treat such matters with indifference—even Liansui and Lianrong spoke of Tong Jiaren’s pregnancy in a purely factual tone, devoid of any joy. She wanted to ask more but only managed a soft "Mm."
She remembered Zhou Shengchen’s words:This estate has 68 courtyards of varying sizes and 1,118 rooms, with many people coming and going—a rather complicated environment.
So it's better to ask less and speak less.
Unexpectedly, he didn't return that evening, and dinner was served for her alone in this small courtyard.
She knew his mother had arrived with Zhou Wenchuan and his wife. He must have arranged it this way to prevent his mother from making things difficult for her. Fortunately, there was Zhou Wenxing, who always appeared at just the right moment to put her at ease. Wenxing arrived after Shi Yi finished dinner, specifically to accompany her to release lanterns.
"My mom won't be coming to release lanterns tonight," Zhou Wenxing said with a grin, revealing a small canine tooth. "No need to be too nervous."
Shi Yi hummed in acknowledgment. "Is she feeling unwell?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure. She seemed fine during dinner," Wenxing thought for a moment. "She probably just doesn’t feel like coming."
As they spoke, they set their lanterns afloat on the water.
A breeze rippled across the surface, making the drifting lotus lanterns flicker and cast overlapping shadows.
The shore was filled with members of the Zhou family—young and old—gathered in small groups, chatting idly.
At first, Shi Yi hadn’t wanted to board the boat, but Wenxing insisted, so she didn’t protest further.
Wenxing sat by the edge of the boat, laughing softly as she reminisced. "One year during Ghost Month, I went to Singapore and saw an open-air concert. The singer was performing on stage, and there were chairs set out—but no one sitting in them..." She giggled as she spoke, then suddenly coughed. "So I happily ran over and sat down... Later, my classmate pulled me up and told me those seats were reserved for ghosts..."
Though she seemed cheerful, her coughing grew increasingly severe for no apparent reason.
Shi Yi gently patted her back. "The wind is strong. Should we return to shore?"
"Mm, okay." Wenxing’s face had turned pale as she struggled to breathe, pressing a hand lightly against her chest.
Shi Yi touched Wenxing’s wrist.
Her pulse was rapid and weak.
She didn’t understand much, but she knew this wasn’t good. And Wenxing’s pallor only confirmed her fears.
"Please, take us back to shore," Shi Yi turned to the boatman.
The man quickly responded, steering the boat back the way they had come.
"Sister-in-law, I feel dizzy. I’ll sit here." Wenxing’s voice was hoarse.
Shi Yi immediately reached out to help her move to a more stable spot inside the boat, but the vessel suddenly rocked several times. Losing her balance, she lurched sideways. In that moment of shifting weight, she had no choice but to let go of Wenxing—and then she plunged into the river.
The icy water swallowed her whole, along with the darkness.
She couldn’t swim. After gulping down several mouthfuls of water, she was completely submerged.
That instant stretched into what felt like hours—light and shadows dancing on the water’s surface, the relentless flood, the sinking, the darkness. Before losing consciousness, she desperately held her breath...
Until her awareness drifted further and further away.
Then, suddenly, there was no more water around her. Instead, she found herself half-kneeling beside a bamboo chair, her fingers brushing its armrest.
The ridges of the bamboo were distinct beneath her touch.
The man before her reclined in the study’s bamboo chair. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows over him. Half in light, half in shadow, his eyes were clear as water as he lifted his gaze.
And looked straight at her.
In those eyes, she saw her own reflection—clear and vivid.
She wanted to reach out and touch his face, but halfway there, she hesitated, afraid to get closer...
"Shi Yi?"
The ancient vision dissipated as quickly as it had appeared.
Her head throbbed violently, and her abdomen ached terribly.
Struggling to regain consciousness, she shifted from bright sunlight back into darkness. Through blurred vision, she saw Zhou Shengchen.His shirtfront was damp, and he knelt before her, hands braced on the ground as he called her name: "Shi Yi."
"Mmm..." She mustered all her strength to respond.
"Good, you're awake," his voice was tight and hoarse. "Don't speak."
She obeyed, closing her eyes again.
Soon, her consciousness blurred once more. She vaguely sensed someone administering oxygen.
Voices murmured around her—something about "acute ischemia and hypoxia"—but it was too difficult to make out. All she knew was that he was by her side. That fleeting hallucination had been too beautiful, too terrifyingly real. In her childhood memories of the past, she had always been an observer. Only this time had she truly been there—heart and soul.
Even as she drifted back into unconsciousness, she clung to a faint hope: Could she experience such an illusion again?
Just once more would be enough.
When she woke again, daylight had broken.
Her vision blurred momentarily before clearing. Judging by the sunlight, it was nearly noon.
"Awake?" Zhou Shengchen's voice reached her.
She managed a weak hum, turning her head toward the sound. He was leaning against the bedside, still in the same light blue shirt from the night before, his dark eyes quietly watching her.
In a low voice, he said, "Last night, Wen Xing was the one who pulled you out. She’s still asleep now. I need to step away for a moment—just ten minutes."
Wen Xing?
With her frail health, she had jumped into that freezing water to save her?
Shi Yi frowned, her heart suddenly racing. "How is she...?"
"She’s a strong swimmer, just caught a chill," Zhou Shengchen reassured her. "You might be in worse shape—you’ll need some follow-up treatment."
"But her health isn’t good..." She trailed off, knowing he was trying to comfort her. Wen Xing’s condition was far from optimistic. "Go ahead. I feel much better."
Zhou Shengchen quickly summoned someone—not Liansui, but an unfamiliar young woman.
He gave her a few quiet instructions in a serious tone. The girl nodded silently, indicating she understood, and only then did he leave the room. Shi Yi took the opportunity to rest her eyes again.
When the door opened next, Zhou Wenxing entered with Zhou Shengchen.
Wen Xing assured him she would stay with her sister-in-law, urging him to go. Once the room held only Shi Yi, Wen Xing, and the young attendant, Wen Xing sat by the bed and whispered, "Sister, you scared me to death last night. Really, truly scared me..." Despite the light makeup, she still looked pale.
"I’m sorry," Shi Yi reached for Wen Xing’s hand but winced as the IV needle pricked her. She withdrew it. "I should’ve been more careful. I made you jump in after me."
"Thank goodness I’m a good swimmer," Wen Xing’s eyes reddened instantly. "When we got you ashore, your heart had stopped..."
Shi Yi was stunned—she hadn’t realized it had been that dire.
"We were all terrified. Brother’s face was white. During the rescue, he just kept calling your name, saying nothing else... It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have insisted on taking that boat..."
(End of Chapter)
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