Morning came too quickly.
The sky was still pale, the sun barely rising above the mountains that had watched over Qingshui for generations.
Everything looked the same.
And yet… everything felt different.
Inside the small wooden house, silence lingered where laughter once lived.
A small bundle of neatly folded clothes lay beside the door—simple garments, just enough for a new beginning.
No hanfu.
No embroidery.
Just practicality.
Just departure.
Lian Hua stood in the middle of the room, her fingers tightening slightly around the strap of her bag.
For years, she had dreamed of this moment.
Leaving.
Seeing the world beyond the mountains.
Becoming something more.
So why…
Did it feel so heavy?
"Are you ready?"
Xue Yan's voice broke the silence.
Lian Hua turned slowly.
Her mother stood by the doorway, her expression calm—but her eyes…
Her eyes told the truth she refused to speak.
"I think so," Lian Hua replied softly.
A pause.
"Come here," Xue Yan said gently.
Lian Hua didn't hesitate.
She stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her mother, burying her face into her shoulder like she had done as a child.
For a moment—
She forgot she was eighteen.
"I've packed enough food for your journey," Xue Yan whispered, holding her just a little tighter.
"And the money… keep it hidden. Don't trust easily."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"But don't be afraid either."
Lian Hua nodded against her shoulder.
"I won't."
A soft breath escaped Xue Yan.
Then, quietly—
"Call your sister."
Lian Hua stilled.
Then slowly, she closed her eyes.
The shift came gently this time.
Like stepping aside instead of being forced away.
When her eyes opened again—
They were different.
"Mother," Lian Yue said.
Xue Yan looked at her.
Not with fear.
Not with distance.
But with the same love she had always given.
"Take care of her," she said softly.
Lian Yue raised a brow slightly.
"…She's the one who owns the body."
"And you're the one who protects it," Xue Yan replied.
A small pause.
"I know you."
For once—
Lian Yue had nothing to say.
Xue Yan stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.
This one… was different.
Stronger.
As if she was holding onto something she could not keep.
"Don't fight her," she whispered.
"Not like before."
Her voice softened further.
"Soon… you'll have your own life."
Lian Yue's expression flickered slightly.
Then she exhaled.
"…Fine."
The shift returned.
Lian Hua stood there once more.
Xue Yan reached up and gently adjusted her hair, her fingers lingering just a little longer than necessary.
"You've grown," she said quietly.
Lian Hua smiled faintly.
"You raised me."
That did it.
Xue Yan turned away slightly, pretending to check the bundle by the door.
But her shoulders had already given her away.
Lian Hua noticed.
Of course she did.
"…Mother."
Xue Yan didn't turn.
"If you miss home," she said, her voice steady but fragile,
"look at the mountains."
A pause.
"They will always be the same."
Lian Hua swallowed hard.
"I'll come back," she said.
Xue Yan finally turned.
And smiled.
But it didn't reach her eyes.
"Go," she said softly.
"Before I change my mind."
Lian Hua hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then she picked up her bag.
Step.
Another.
She walked past the doorway.
Then stopped.
Turned back.
And ran.
Throwing her arms around her mother one last time.
"I'll miss you."
This time—
Xue Yan didn't hold back.
"I'll miss you too."
They stayed like that for a moment longer.
Holding on.
Memorizing.
Letting go… slowly.
Then—
She left.
The village path stretched ahead of her, leading toward the mountains… and beyond them, the city she had only ever imagined.
Behind her—
Xue Yan stood at the doorway.
Watching.
Until the figure in the distance became smaller…
And smaller…
And finally—
Gone.
The wind moved gently through the quiet house.
And for the first time in years—
It felt empty.
Deep within—
Lian Yue spoke softly.
"…We're really leaving."
Lian Hua didn't answer immediately.
Then, quietly—
"Yes."
Ahead of them—
A new life waited.
And somewhere far beyond the mountains…
Fate was already preparing to meet them.
The city was nothing like Qingshui.
The moment Lian Hua stepped into it, everything felt… overwhelming.
Tall buildings stretched endlessly into the sky, their polished surfaces reflecting sunlight like glass. Streets buzzed with life—people moving quickly, voices overlapping, vendors calling out, laughter echoing from every direction.
It was loud.
Alive.
Unpredictable.
In Qingshui, mornings were quiet—broken only by the sound of birds and distant footsteps on dusty paths.
Here—
There was no silence.
Back in the village, people walked for miles beneath the sun, their feet familiar with every stone and turn. Only on rare occasions—after weeks or months of saving—could one afford a simple horse carriage.
But here…
Carriages had been replaced by large, roaring machines that sped through the streets without rest. Every household seemed to own one.
Lian Hua's eyes widened slightly as one passed by.
"…How do people even live like this?" she whispered under her breath.
"This is living," Lian Yue replied instantly.
"Not that quiet prison we came from."
Lian Hua didn't argue.
For once… she agreed.
Her grip tightened slightly on her small travel bag as she stood at the busy transport terminal, scanning the crowd.
It had been years since she last saw him.
Since she was ten.
And in all those years—
He never knew.
He never knew what had happened.
Not the death.
Not the bargain.
Not the two souls now sharing one body.
"Lian Hua!"
The voice came from behind.
Familiar.
Warm.
She turned quickly.
"Uncle!"
Without hesitation, she ran toward him.
Zhang Wei opened his arms just in time, laughing as she collided into him. He pulled her into a firm embrace, patting her back lightly.
"You've grown," he said, pulling away slightly to look at her properly.
His eyes scanned her from head to toe.
Then—
He paused.
"This dress…" he said slowly.
Lian Hua blinked.
"It's not very… city-like," he added, frowning slightly.
"It will draw too much attention."
Lian Hua let out a small, awkward laugh, brushing her hands over her outfit.
"Oh… I didn't realize."
"I told you," Lian Yue's voice cut in immediately.
"You have terrible taste."
Lian Hua resisted the urge to react.
"Come," Zhang Wei said, already turning.
"We'll stop by a shopping center and get you something more suitable."
"Shut up…" Lian Hua muttered under her breath.
Zhang Wei stopped mid-step.
He turned slowly.
"…Were you talking to me?"
Lian Hua froze.
Then forced a quick smile.
"Oh! No, no, Uncle."
She waved her hands lightly.
"It's just… sometimes I hear strange voices, and I tell them to be quiet."
A nervous laugh followed.
"It's a village thing. You wouldn't understand—you weren't around much."
Zhang Wei studied her for a moment.
Then shrugged it off.
"…I see."
He reached for her bag.
"Let me carry that. We'll talk more when we get home."
"Thank you, Uncle, but I still have some dresses from the vi—"
"You want me to change my mind?" he cut in sharply.
Lian Hua stiffened.
Then laughed quickly.
"No, no! That won't be necessary."
They began walking.
The city unfolded before her like a dream.
Zhang Wei pointed out different buildings as they passed—
Restaurants filled with people.
Tall office structures with glass walls.
Bright signboards that glowed even in daylight.
Everything felt unreal.
They soon entered the shopping center.
And Lian Hua stopped completely.
It was unlike anything she had ever seen.
Lights everywhere.
Clean floors that reflected their footsteps.
Rows and rows of clothing, arranged perfectly.
People moving with confidence—touching, choosing, buying.
"…Wow," she whispered.
"…Wow," Lian Yue echoed inside.
For once—
They were in complete agreement.
"This will look good on you," Zhang Wei said, picking up a soft blue dress.
"Now this…" Lian Yue said with satisfaction,
"this is fashion."
A staff member approached with a polite smile.
"Would you like to try it on, miss?"
Lian Hua hesitated.
Then looked at the dress again.
A new life.
A new version of herself.
"…Yes," she said softly.