The Company

Chapter 9: Dumb Shop - Voodoo Puppet

Boss set down his knife and fork, elegantly dabbing the corners of his mouth with a napkin.

Across from him, Doctor held his steak knife with the same precision as a surgical scalpel, deftly cutting into his medium-rare steak. "Hey, you're not going to finish? What a waste!"

"I'm not used to Western food. You should've brought someone else," Boss replied, picking up his wine glass and taking a small sip.

Doctor speared Boss's steak onto his own plate, grumbling, "This Western restaurant just opened, and the discount coupon my friend gave me requires two people. You think I wanted to drag you here?"

Boss wore his black Mao Suit, with a deep red Dragon coiled around his left arm, its head resting near the back of his neck. The exquisite embroidery and lustrous silk fabric had already drawn many glances. Not to mention, two men dining together in this romantic Western restaurant was already quite conspicuous.

Doctor was beginning to regret his decision—he should have come alone!

Boss narrowed his phoenix eyes. "Don't you have anyone else to accompany you? How pitiful."

"With my round-the-clock work schedule, when would I have time to find a girlfriend? If I randomly ask a woman out to dinner, she might misunderstand. Women are nothing but trouble."

Boss raised an eyebrow but offered no comment, merely swirling his wine glass gently.

Doctor chuckled, lowering his voice. "Don't believe me? Look at that couple at the table to the left. The woman is smiling sweetly, but the man looks irritated. I bet they're about to break up."

Bored, Boss swirled his wine glass again, considering whether it was time to head back.

Just as Doctor was about to say more, a sharp slap echoed from the left table, drowning out the restaurant's pleasant music and making everyone turn their heads simultaneously.

The well-dressed man had his face slapped to the side, then hastily threw down his napkin and fled in embarrassment. The young woman, who had been laughing happily moments before, stood there stunned before finally collapsing weakly into her chair.

Startled by his own jinx, Doctor watched as Boss turned to observe the young woman. After a long moment, Boss curled his lips into a smile and said to Doctor, "Hey, here's your chance to play the hero and save the damsel."

"What?" Doctor was confused.

"That young lady probably didn't bring her wallet. The gentleman who came with her left without paying, otherwise she wouldn't be sitting there frozen for so long."

Boss smiled faintly, swirling his wine glass again. It seemed he preferred watching the blood-red liquid swirl in the glass rather than drinking it.

Following his gaze, Doctor indeed saw the young woman in her evening dress looking uneasy, hesitating as she held her phone.

"But why should I pay? I'll pass this hero opportunity to you!"

"Heh, because I didn't bring my wallet either!"

"..."

"What do we do now?" Doctor tugged at his tie, watching the still-crying young woman with frustration.

He had thought doing a good deed would count as his daily act of kindness, but he hadn't expected the young woman to keep crying. Worried about leaving her alone on the streets at night, he and Boss had no choice but to bring her back to Dumb Shop.

"Let's wait until she calms down," Boss said indifferently."Calm down? It's just a breakup! Why are you acting like the sky is falling?" The Doctor couldn't stand such dramatic scenes and momentarily lost control of his volume.

"Wah... I... I'll pay you back..."

The girl in the lilac evening dress lifted her head, revealing eyes swollen from crying. Her light makeup had smeared, making her look utterly miserable.

The Doctor curled his lip and said, "You're still in school, right? I saw your student ID in your wallet earlier. Forget it, consider it my treat. It's just a breakup - there are plenty more fish in the sea!"

The young woman wiped her tears with a tissue and sobbed, "No one could ever be better than him. I only want Xi in this lifetime. Xi and I grew up together, we've known each other since we were four. Why would he break up with me?"

Hearing this kind of lament, the Doctor knew he couldn't offer any more advice. Matters of the heart were something outsiders couldn't interfere with.

Unexpectedly, the Boss spoke up: "Do you want him to change his mind?"

The girl nodded eagerly.

The Doctor watched as the Boss went behind the jade screen to look for something and felt a chill, knowing the Boss was fetching some strange object again.

Soon enough, the Boss emerged holding a palm-sized box, opening it and placing it before the girl.

The girl momentarily forgot her tears, staring dumbfounded at the wooden puppet lying quietly in the Brocade Box.

It was a doll only as long as a palm, made from some unknown type of wood. Judging by the peeling, mottled lacquer, it appeared quite ancient.

The entire doll was wooden, and from its angular facial features, it was clearly a male figure. It wore its hair in a bun at the back of the head, dressed in thick inner garments with a wide-sleeved robe tied with a belt over them. Its eyes were slightly closed, its features delicate and handsome. Even though it was carved from wood, one could appreciate the fine details. The carving style was ancient yet well-proportioned, simple but not crude - clearly the work of a master craftsman.

This doll resembled a sleeping handsome man, as if it might open its eyes at any moment, exuding an indescribably eerie feeling.

"This is Chen Ajiao's Voodoo Puppet." The Boss's lips curved into a perfect smile. "When Liu Che was four years old, he made a promise to Chen Ajiao: 'If I can have Ajiao as my wife, I will house her in a golden room.' The Golden House Hideaway wasn't meant in the modern sense, but rather a man's vow to his childhood sweetheart and rightful wife."

"But later, Liu Che, who became Emperor Wu of Han, betrayed Chen Ajiao." This piece of history was familiar to everyone. The girl, seemingly reminded of her own situation, said sadly.

"Liu Che became infatuated with Wei Zifu. Chen Ajiao tried to use voodoo magic to win back Liu Che's love, but was instead demoted to Changmen Palace, where she died alone."

The Boss said succinctly, "Chen Ajiao's voodoo was never meant to harm Liu Che, but to pray that he would one day change his mind. The doll in this box is the Paulownia Wood Voodoo Puppet used by Empress Chen Ajiao."

"How much... is this doll?" the girl asked.

"Take it and use it first. If it doesn't work, you can return it. If it does work, you can treat us to a meal at that Western restaurant."

The Boss smiled, "This Voodoo Puppet is hollow. Just put his hair through the small hole at the bottom, seal it with cinnabar, and place it in a dark spot facing true north."The girl clutched a tissue, biting her lower lip. After a long pause, she picked up the Brocade Box, stood up, and bowed to the Doctor and the Boss in gratitude. "Thank you both for tonight. I'll repay the money I owe you next time I come here."

Watching the girl push the door and leave, it took the Doctor a long time to find his voice again. "Hey, didn't you say you don't like Western food?"

The Boss nodded—he truly didn't.

The Doctor stared at him. Then why did you tell her it would be effective and have her treat us to Western food? Suddenly, it dawned on him, and he exclaimed in shock, "Are you saying that Voodoo Puppet won't work at all?"

The Boss poured a cup of tea, held it under his nose to savor the aroma, and smiled faintly. "Did you see Chen Ajiao win back Liu Che's heart?"

Of course not... The Doctor was utterly speechless.

He seemed to have slept for far too long.

So long that he had even forgotten his own name.

It had been far too long...

"Woman, what wish do you desire?" He stretched his still unformed body in the air, looking down condescendingly at the astonished girl.

"I... I want him to come back to me." The girl snapped out of her shock and spoke with determination.

He froze for a moment, as if deep in his memories, a woman had once said the same to him.

He let out a heavy sigh, unsure why his mood had suddenly soured. "My powers only work on the one who awakened me, not on others."

The girl fell silent.

He snorted silently through his nose. Foolish woman, forever lost in the illusion of love.

He yawned in the air, his translucent form resembling a shapeless mist. The girl hadn't answered yet, but he waited patiently, taking the opportunity to sense the world he now found himself in.

So... he had slept for two thousand years...

His face darkened as he realized he couldn't recall what had happened before his slumber—not a single memory remained. Why was this?

Just then, the girl suddenly looked up and said clearly, "I want to return to my old life. Can this wish be granted?"

He rested his chin on his hand, gazing down at the hopeful glimmer in her eyes, and suddenly found it amusing. Well, he had slept far too long and grown too bored. Playing along with her wouldn't hurt.

He blew out a breath, and the mist surrounding him slowly dissipated. A tall, elegant figure gradually descended to the ground. Gracefully, he knelt on one knee, reached out to lift the hem of her skirt, and pressed a light kiss to it. Then, looking up with a faint smile, he said, "My master, your wish shall be fulfilled by me."

As he had anticipated, the girl went from flustered to horrified, her delicate face filled with disbelief.

Her expression pleased him, and the smile on his face grew even more unrestrained.

Because the form he had taken now was identical to her boyfriend's.

He accompanied her on a walk in the park.

She wore her favorite light green dress, her face radiant with happiness under the autumn sun. "Xi, look, how beautiful this flower is!"

He smiled warmly and nodded at just the right moment.Yes, his current name is Mu Xi, and his identity is Pei Ying's boyfriend. Pei Ying is the girl beaming brightly before him, a sophomore in college who lives alone off-campus due to family circumstances. The role he now plays is that of her boyfriend.

She awakened him, and her wish was to reclaim her past life, so he had no choice but to fulfill it.

He understood why she clung so desperately to this relationship—not only because she and Mu Xi had grown up together since childhood.

When Pei Ying was very young, her parents divorced and each started new families, having other children. Thus, she became the superfluous one, receiving nothing more than monthly child support deposited into her bank account. In such circumstances, Mu Xi’s presence became especially precious.

After they began dating in high school, Pei Ying poured all her attention into Mu Xi. Yet, such wholehearted devotion, when too pure and intense, transformed into immense pressure.

Mu Xi had his own life, but Pei Ying wrapped around him like a clinging vine, dense and intricate, draining his vitality and air until he could barely breathe.

Time is a sharp blade. Even the deepest affection can slowly unravel amid the friction of trivial conflicts.

Eventually, Mu Xi could bear it no longer and broke up with her.

And then, he was awakened by her.

At this thought, he smiled faintly. All these memories were retrieved through the strand of hair embedded within him. As a Voodoo Spirit, it was his duty to fulfill his master’s wishes within acceptable limits.

"Xi, do you remember? This is where you celebrated my eighteenth birthday."

Her voice drifted over softly, and she turned to give him a gentle smile. Hazily, he recalled someone else—a person who also wore such a lonely yet tender smile.

Similarly, that smile was not meant for him.

"Of course I remember. I even gave you a necklace back then. Yingying, have you been wearing it properly?" He replied with a light smile.

Having absorbed Mu Xi’s memories, he knew every detail of their time together intimately. What she wanted was to live happily ever after with Mu Xi. Naturally, he had to perfectly embody that Mu Xi.

The Mu Xi who had deeply loved Pei Ying.

"Look." She pulled a necklace from her pocket, its pendant a sweet, adorable silver angel gleaming dazzlingly in the sunlight.

"It’s lovely, just like you," he said, repeating the words Mu Xi had spoken years ago, naturally and with deep affection.

She smiled contentedly, looping her arm through his and leaning sweetly against his shoulder as they walked forward, ignoring the startled glances of passersby.

Beneath the brilliant autumn sun, she failed to notice that behind them, only her own shadow trailed on the ground.

Yes, in this world, only she could see him.

No… it seemed there was another woman too.

He suddenly remembered.

Two thousand years ago, in the distant Han Dynasty, there was a palace named "Pepper Chamber," its walls coated with chili paste. The pungent spice warmed the rooms and filled them with a fragrant aroma.

That was the residence of the Han Empress, symbolizing the highest status in the imperial harem. Yet, when he awoke in this Pepper Chamber, it was merely a gilded palace housing a woman who had lost all favor and glory.At that time, everyone called her—Empress Chen.

"Ache, look at this dress, isn't it beautiful?" The stunning woman spun before him in her intricate layered skirts, her crystal-clear snow-like skin adorned with a breathtaking smile.

Ache? Who was she calling? He glanced around and found himself in a vast palace where sandalwood smoke curled delicately from a bronze Boshan censurer carved with dragon motifs. Gold-adorned walls surrounded him, jade-carved doorways, magnolia-wood rafters, and apricot-wood beams—the palace so spacious that even speech echoed.

Though every visible furnishing was exquisitely crafted, crimson and black draperies lent the place a sinister atmosphere, with only a few palace lanterns casting dim, ghostly light.

Where was this? Clearly a place he'd never seen, yet why did such a long-lost familiarity surge from the depths of his heart?

"It looks lovely. A'Jiao, that crabapple-colored dress should be paired with the phoenix-head twining jade hairpin," he heard himself say.

The woman called A'Jiao smiled radiantly, taking his hand to sit before a bronze mirror. She opened a drawer, retrieved a jade hairpin, and handed it to him. "Ache, please help me put it on."

He stared blankly at the charming, smiling face reflected in the bronze mirror, unable to refuse as he accepted the hairpin. When he lowered his head, he noticed a long shadow stretched across the floor by the palace lantern.

It was her shadow—yet beneath his feet, there was nothing.

He gripped the jade hairpin tightly, an icy coldness spreading rapidly from his palm throughout his body, jolting him awake with a shiver.

"...Xi, Xi?" A voice seemed to call from far and near. He shook his head slightly as roaring human voices flooded in like tidewater, washing away the desolate loneliness of that cold palace completely.

"...Xi, Xi? Are you listening? How do I look in this dress?" the voice asked again.

He blinked, looking at Pei Ying before him. The surrounding clamor left him somewhat disoriented.

They were now in a brand store at a large shopping mall, where the air conditioning blew with a biting chill. Gone was the ancient, magnificent palace, the woman in historical attire—only noisy crowds and curious glances remained. The bustling mall made him yearn even more for that spacious, silent palace.

For a moment, he could almost still smell the lingering scent of sandalwood at his nostrils. But in an instant, it was completely washed away by the Lancôme perfume on Pei Ying.

Suppressing the loss in his heart, he smiled and said, "It looks beautiful." Let's buy this one."

She nodded happily and turned toward the fitting room.

He exhaled deeply. He was perfectly playing the role of Mu Xi—every word and action followed the pattern of his interactions with Pei Ying without the slightest flaw. Perhaps even if the real Mu Xi stood before her, she wouldn't be able to distinguish which was the illusion.

Mu Xi, who deeply loved Pei Ying, would naturally accompany her tirelessly shopping for clothes. But after their affection gradually faded, Mu Xi had never set foot here with her again.

So this should have been a simple wish—he only needed to play the devoted Mu Xi well and create the illusion she desired.

Yet why did he lose himself in another scene? And where did this continuously surging sorrow in his chest come from?"Xi, let's go. Have dinner at my place tonight. I'll make your favorite curry beef."

She changed clothes and walked out, paid with her card, then came over smiling to link arms with him.

He collected himself and returned her smile. "Alright, let's go."

They walked side by side past the shopping mall's fitting mirror. The mirror, merciless yet honest, reflected Pei Ying's intoxicated smile as she stood alone. She naturally linked arms with empty air, walking past under everyone's astonished gaze in that bizarre posture, completely unaware.

"Ache, it's time for you to attend court discussions at the Audience Hall." She sat upright in the pavilion, though her words told him to leave, her eyes clearly showed reluctance.

He smiled slightly. "What's this? Didn't you ask me to enjoy the flowers with you? Look how splendid these peonies are blooming."

She pouted and sighed in frustration. "I've already taken up so much of your time. Soon the censors will submit memorials again, accusing the empress of being spoiled."

Amused, he unconsciously spoke the words he remembered someone once saying: "It's only misconduct when the emperor excessively favors a concubine. But if I dote on my empress, isn't that marital harmony, exactly what the state desires?"

Her expression changed, the smile freezing on her lips.

He too felt annoyed, because he knew that the person who originally spoke those words was currently on the other side of this vast palace, excessively favoring some concubine.

She lowered her gaze and said calmly, "You should go first. I need some time alone."

Suddenly feeling utterly bored, no longer wanting to pretend to be someone else, he flicked his sleeves and stood up, walking out of the pavilion.

After all, he was just a puppet she had awakened. Puppets exist to perform. Both the performer and the audience know - no matter how beautiful the story, it's still just a play.

Descending from the pavilion, passing by two maids attending in the corridor outside, he accidentally overheard their chatter.

"Look, Her Majesty actually had us prepare two cups of tea again. She's waiting for the Emperor to come."

Hmph, ridiculous. That tea was for him, except no one else could see him.

"Sigh, how could the Emperor possibly come? I heard Lady Wei is already pregnant."

He froze, unable to stop himself from turning back.

The lonely figure in the pavilion was lifting the teacup opposite her, pouring out the cold tea that had cooled completely, then picking up the teapot to refill it with fragrant hot tea.

He stared blankly as the wisp of steam dissipated, secretly clenching his fists.

So she really was waiting for that him...

She could distinguish clearly. Which was her illusion, and which was the Liu Che she loved.

He couldn't help but sigh softly. Everything before his eyes began to fade like thick mist...

"Xi? Xi? Why are you spacing out again?"

He snapped back to reality and looked at the magazine in his hands - he had been holding it upside down.

Calmly closing the magazine, he glanced at Pei Ying busy working in the kitchen, then stood up and said, "Don't bother. I have plans tonight. I should get going."

His task was to play Mu Xi well, and this was consistent with Mu Xi's personality. Actually, for Mu Xi, Pei Ying was part of his life, but this part had become very, very small as time passed.

Eventually, it became practically insignificant.She rushed out from the kitchen, hastily wiping her hands on her apron, and grabbed his arm, pleading, "Don't you love beef curry the most? It's been so long since you've eaten at my place. If you're in a hurry, I can make it for you to take away, okay?"

He lowered his head and saw a strange man's face reflected in her clear eyes.

She wasn't Chen Ajiao; she couldn't tell the difference. Which was her illusion, and which was the Mu Xi she loved?

He froze. The words of refusal that should have come out circled on his lips, and in the end, he only nodded.

Her smile, in that instant, was as radiant as the peonies bathed in sunlight from his memories.

Yet such a smile, he had never seen on that woman's face...

"Your Majesty..."

Startled, he turned to see the woman prostrating on the ground and hurriedly helped her up: "What did you call me?"

Her eyes flickered as she smiled bitterly: "You were the one who said I could no longer call you Ache, that I must address you as Your Majesty..."

He froze, realizing she was referring to the real Liu Che. His heart ached as if being gnawed by ants, clearly recognizing that he was merely a substitute.

So be it. An actor's duty is to perform the play the audience wishes to see.

His audience would always be her alone.

"No need to call me Your Majesty. You know, in this world, only you may call me Ache." He embraced her, whispering softly by her ear, just as he had on the night of his coronation ten years earlier.

She leaned compliantly against him, her hair fragrant and pleasant.

"Ache, why don't you love me anymore? Why must you love someone else? Didn't you promise to build a golden house for me?" she murmured in questioning tones.

He stood there dumbly, unsure how to answer her accusations. Because the person she questioned wasn't him.

He could only imitate the words and actions of the one she deeply loved, but never could he replicate that person's heart.

Had he put such effort into portraying the person she desired, only to still fall short? He refused to accept this—at the very least... this time, he wouldn't lose again!

He gritted his teeth secretly, unaware that Pei Ying across from him had set down her bowl and chopsticks, watching him with concern.

"Xi, you seem different lately," she said with a puzzled frown, her voice soft.

"Oh? How so?" He shifted effortlessly, curling his lips into a flawless, impeccable smile.

Lowering her head, she fiddled with the tablecloth and murmured timidly: "Lately... you've been almost too good to me..."

The smile on his lips deepened. He understood her meaning—according to Mu Xi's nature, visiting her twice weekly was already generous, yet now he came almost daily.

Mu Xi never used to accompany her shopping; now he walked with her until her legs ached. Mu Xi never stayed for meals; now he not only dined with her but also washed the dishes. Mu Xi never listened to her complaints; now he heard her out no matter how long she spoke...

He knew he had overdone it. What she needed was her former happy life, someone exactly like the previous Mu Xi.

But he had gone too far.

"What? Are you dissatisfied with me treating you well?" he said with feigned grievance, though unable to conceal the triumph in his heart.

This time, he wouldn't let go easily. He refused to be Liu Che, and even more so, he refused to be Mu Xi.

If striving to become someone else couldn't bring happiness, then he would reclaim himself and seize his own happiness from those he had impersonated!

"No, it's just... too much happiness. It feels... overwhelming..." Her eyes held confusion and unease, as if remembering something, yet also seeming to resist the memory.

He stood up and gently separated her tightly intertwined fingers."Don't be at a loss. From now on, think only of me, alright? Don't speak with others anymore. I'll always stay by your side, alright?"

She lifted her head, gazing steadily into his eyes, and slowly nodded.

He grew increasingly curious. The more time he spent with her, the more he wondered why that Ache could abandon her in the empty palace chambers without a second thought.

For several nights in a row, after she had fallen asleep, he would quietly make his way to the Xuanshi Hall. Standing there, he would gaze at the figure seated solemnly upon the Dragon throne.

Though they shared identical appearances and every trait, watching the bamboo scrolls he reviewed daily—so numerous that their mere transportation exhausted several attendants—and witnessing him managing state affairs through sleepless nights, he felt bewildered.

He watched him Pointing out the Landscape, dispatching troops to campaign against the Xiongnu; saw him summon virtuous and outspoken scholars for personal consultations; observed him externally practicing benevolence and implementing virtuous governance, while simultaneously ruling the state with severe laws and harsh punishments...

The man in the Weiyang Palace was no longer the youth who, after court sessions, would slam tables and chairs, furiously denouncing some official for undermining him. Now, with just one cold glance from him, everyone would fall silent in fear.

Nor was he any longer the man who would nestle in her embrace, insisting on personally drawing her eyebrows. Now, with a mere crook of his finger, several palace maids would rush forward to attend to him.

This version of him was a truly qualified emperor.

Exalted and solitary.

How goes the night? The night is endless.

In the Weiyang Palace, there were always lamps that remained lit through the long hours.

The one who had pledged the "Golden House Hideaway" had grown up. His world had expanded vastly, while she remained trapped in the beautiful memories of bygone days, unable to extricate herself.

Ah, what a foolish woman... Clearly aware that the real him would never return to her side, she had still awakened him, exchanging reality for a beautiful yet illusory dream.

But this wasn't so bad. Since that Liu Che had chosen grander ambitions, he would be the one to guard her.

With these thoughts, he walked with light steps from the Weiyang Palace back to the Pepper Chamber, eager to return to her side.

Yet when he pushed open the imposing palace door, he was met with a cold inquiry.

"Where have you been?" She sat in the Pepper Chamber, her slender phoenix eyes casting a faint glance toward him.

It was the kind of look—condescending and haughty—that an empress reigning over the realm would direct at her maids and attendants.

Meeting her utterly emotionless gaze, he instantly felt chilled to the bone. As she looked at the man identical to Liu Che, her clarity of perception frightened him. It turned out that the one lost in the illusion was not her, but him.

"How can you tell us apart?" he asked bitterly. He had played his part perfectly. He possessed the same appearance, the same stature, the same memories. Except for the lack of a shadow, and being invisible to others, in her eyes, he should have been indistinguishable from that Liu Che.

She slowly approached, stopping just inches away from him, and said softly, "He now refers to himself as 'zhen' when speaking to me, though he never used to."

"Then I'll also... no, then zhen will also..." he said urgently.

She lifted her head, her eyes holding a sorrow he could neither comprehend nor penetrate. Then, suddenly, her gaze softened again.She raised a finger, gently pressing it against his lips, her voice trembling as she said, "Don't change it, don't change how you address me. I know... it's him who changed, but I don't want you to change along with him. I just wish you could always remain the way you were back then..."

He suddenly fell silent. He understood—he had been imitating the Liu Che she loved, yet she still clung to the hope that the original Liu Che would return to her.

In a faint, melancholic voice, she murmured, "You and him are so easy to tell apart... The way he looked at me never held the kind of unrestrained intensity that yours does..."

He wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms, so close yet just beyond reach.

But he couldn't.

Because he knew that in her heart, it had never been him.

And precisely because of that, this time, he wanted the version of him in Pei Ying's heart to be completely and truly himself.

He heard Pei Ying's phone ring. She answered the call, seemingly conversing with someone on the other end. After a while, she put down the phone, looking at him hesitantly as if wanting to speak but holding back. Timidly, she called out, "Xi..."

"What's wrong?" He leaned back on the sofa, lifting his gaze to meet hers. That kind of timid expression had never appeared on A'jiao's face. She had always been a proud, clear-minded, and cold woman.

Two thousand years ago, he couldn't win her heart. But Pei Ying—this weak and helpless girl—he felt confident he could conquer. Lately, he had been appearing by her side more frequently, deliberately occupying all her time. He kept her from attending classes, prevented her from going shopping with friends, and ensured that any outings were only with him. No wonder her friends were growing suspicious.

"They... they said I might have some mental issues and advised me to see a doctor..." she stammered nervously.

"Nonsense! What gives them the right to say that about you?" He frowned.

"They said... you're just a figment of my imagination," she replied anxiously, keeping her distance.

That's because your foolish friends can't see me! He scoffed inwardly, reaching out to pull her closer. "A figment of your imagination? Then pinch your own cheek and see if it hurts."

She actually pinched her cheek hard, wincing in pain before giving him an embarrassed smile.

"Good girl, stop overthinking it. Your friends are just jealous of your happiness," he stated calmly, weaving his lies effortlessly.

If she couldn't distinguish between reality and illusion, why bother making her see the truth? Wasn't his mission to ensure her happiness?

"Really?" she asked, half-convinced and half-doubting. Just then, the phone on the coffee table began playing a beautiful melody.

He picked up the phone, his eyes glancing at the name displayed on the screen—Mu Xi. It seemed the rumors about her had reached Mu Xi's ears. But what did it matter? Who was it that pushed her away in the first place? Why come bothering her now? He naturally pressed the reject button and removed the battery. The music stopped abruptly.

"Ignore them. Weren't you going to cook something delicious for me today?" he said with a smile.

"Oh, right! I'll go make it for you now," she replied, jumping up without a hint of suspicion. She tied on her apron and headed toward the kitchen.

A smile spread across his face. Just then, the landline phone beside him rang. He raised his hand and unplugged the phone line without batting an eye.

"Whose call was that?" she called from the kitchen.

"Wrong number," he replied casually."...The empress has violated proper order, deluded by sorcerers' prayers, and is unfit to bear the Mandate of Heaven. She shall surrender her seal and ribbons, be deposed, and retire to the Longmen Palace."

The voice of the decree announcer echoed heartlessly through the empty hall, each reverberation amplifying the desolation. Kneeling on the ground, she still held her head high, maintaining the last vestiges of her dignity as empress.

Years of waiting had yielded only this decree. Years of affection hadn't even earned her one final meeting.

Why? Her gaze toward him seemed to ask.

He knew her question wasn't really for him - she was asking through his face the emperor who wasn't present.

He had countless reasons to answer her. Spoiled behavior, failure to bear an heir, powerful relatives... yet that emperor used witchcraft as his excuse to the world.

How ridiculous. Was it precisely because of his existence that she was banished to the Longmen Palace?

He hadn't wanted this... He only wanted to make her happy. No... actually, this wasn't bad. From now on, her world would no longer have that emperor, only him.

"Yingying! It's me! Mu Xi! Are you home? Come out quickly, everyone's worried about you!"

The frantic knocking jolted him from his memories. Pei Ying was curled up with him on the sofa watching TV when the knocking came, lifting her head in confusion.

"Xi, if you're here, then who's that knocking outside?" Her face was filled with bewilderment.

"Hush, there's no one. It's just your imagination." Seeing her unease, he gave her a gentle smile.

"Really? But that voice sounds so much like yours!" She tilted her head, listening carefully.

"Darling, you're unwell. Don't go to school tomorrow, rest properly at home. I'll stay with you always, alright?"

"...Alright..." She closed her eyes contentedly, her lips curving into a graceful arc, though a crystal tear hung at the corner of her eye.

He held her in his arms, gently covering her ears. If she wished, he could accompany her for a lifetime.

"...The night stretches on as if years pass, my sorrowful heart can never be restored. Calmly I wait for dawn, the desolate hall gradually brightens. I secretly grieve alone, through the years I dare not forget."

Lying on the bed, her young pale face resembled a withered, fragile flower.

He set down "The Longmen Fu" in his hands - this poem purchased for a fortune that only earned Emperor Wu of Han's appreciation for the verse itself. He never even came to see her again.

He reached out to stroke her cold cheek, wearing the face of the man she loved most.

She could no longer smile. Or rather, he had never truly seen her real smile. She had stopped smiling long, long ago.

He thought possessing her completely would make her happier, but she clearly knew everything was just an illusion.

Born into nobility, showered with favor since childhood, she had never learned to kneel and flatter, to set aside her pride, nor had she ever experienced such treatment. During her five years in the Longmen Palace, she remained despondent. Despite exhausting all his methods, he couldn't make her smile again.

"Ah Jiao, actually witchcraft doesn't just create illusions. Its most important function is cursing." He spoke softly, gazing tenderly at this dying empress in the cold palace.

"I know you would never let any harm come to him. Even after how he treated you, you never considered hurting him in the slightest."

She looked at him weakly, yet her gaze remained painfully clear."It's alright, I won't curse him with a short life. He can live a long, long time, only to witness all those closest to him betray him, and he'll end up killing everyone he cares about with his own hands, dying alone... just like you......"

"A'Jiao, you still don't know my name......"

His figure gradually faded, as if dissolving into the air, carrying an unsettling aura that quickly spread throughout the vast palace.

In the very end, he finally leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "A'Jiao, my name is Yan Sheng. If... we ever meet again, please don't call me by the wrong name......"

In the darkest corner of the palace, a wooden puppet fell to the ground without any wind.

At the same time, a wisp of fragrant soul dissipated within the cold palace.

"Xi, why did you bring me here? Isn't it perfectly fine at home? I don't really feel like going out." She squinted, uncomfortable with the bright sunlight outside.

"Let's go out for a walk occasionally," he said, leading her toward the commercial street. He had calculated that today, that Mu Xi's lifespan would end. If he could seize the body just as the soul departed, then he could truly become Mu Xi and rightfully stay by her side.

He didn't think he was being despicable. He wanted her to be happy, wanted to make her happy—that was all.

He had missed his chance in his previous life; in this lifetime, he would never let go.

Everything under the sunlight was so beautiful. Walking beside her, he lowered his head to look at her shadow.

Soon, he would stand openly by her side as a real, living Mu Xi who would love her forever.

Lost in thought, he suddenly felt her shake off his arm.

"Xi!" Her heart-wrenching cry sounded as if it came from another world. She wasn't calling out to him but rushing toward Mu Xi, who was about to be hit by a truck.

He stood frozen under the sunlight, watching his world crumble bit by bit.

History was repeating itself endlessly. In their previous life, A'Jiao had failed to win back Liu Che's heart. In this life, Pei Ying also failed to win back Mu Xi's heart. Yet she would rather die herself than save him.

Everything was just as before.

He would always be a substitute, always a puppet, always an actor performing a play seen by only one person. It turned out that the one lost in the illusion wasn't her—it was himself.

"Huh? Why has this puppet been returned?" The Doctor sat at the counter and immediately noticed the wooden puppet placed inside the brocade box. He leaned in for a closer look, surprised. "Why is it cracked? Didn't that girl take good care of it? Oh my! Isn't this an antique from the Han Dynasty? How could she be so careless?"

The Boss was gently wiping a porcelain vase with underglaze red designs and glanced over casually. "I heard there was a car accident. This voodoo puppet took the hit for her and cracked."

"Car accident?"

"Yes, I heard it was another rich kid driving drunk who ran a red light. But everyone's fine—both of them are safe. It's just that this voodoo puppet cracked." The Boss recounted calmly.

"What a pity..." The Doctor felt inexplicably sad. Perhaps it was because he had been staying at the Dumb Shop for too long, but he had a vague sense that most of the antiques here had lives of their own.That day when this voodoo puppet was first brought out, he had distinctly felt that historical resonance-like palpitation, but now it had completely vanished, leaving only an indescribable sorrow.

Beside him was someone even more heartbroken—the curator leaning on his cane sighed repeatedly: "This is Chen Ajiao's voodoo puppet! This carving craftsmanship rivals the Eight Cuts of Han jade carvings! This is made of thousand-year-old tung wood! This is..."

"It's yours." Boss straightforwardly cut off the curator's rambling.

The curator immediately beamed with joy. Since the incident with the Yue King's Sword, he had often visited Dumb Shop to sit around, all for the purpose of collecting fine artifacts.

"Ahem, though the crack is regrettable, it won't be noticeable after repair. Look, the voodoo puppet even has Liu Che's birth characters carved on its back... Oh my, it seems we'll need to clear the largest space in the Han Dynasty exhibition hall to display this voodoo puppet..."

Unable to bear his endless chatter, Doctor asked Boss in confusion: "You're just donating this voodoo puppet to the museum? Didn't you mention to me before that this puppet is actually quite extraordinary? It even seems to have a name, what was it called?"

Boss lowered his eyelids and said quietly: "The Ouren Yansheng. But now, it's merely a puppet."

(End of Chapter)