The next day, Hong Chun sent her brother off to the academy even though he didn't see the need of having her accompany him.

Who needed an 18-year old lad to be escorted by his sister? But like always, he was rendered powerless against her.

Right after, Hong Chun roamed around the marketplace wearing a veil.

As she was about to be betrothed, it was improper for her to show her face in public, as was the custom in Han.

Even going outside was frowned upon. But she didn't want to stay at home and embroider a damn handkerchief all day.

Besides, she had better things to do.

Like feeding the homeless, for example.

"We're blessed to have this miss coming here every day just to spend for the likes of us." One of the beggars exaggeratedly exclaimed, showing off his almost toothless mouth.

"Yes, lucky you but what did I tell you? You all can earn a little for yourselves as long as you try. Look at Riri, the girl's making a living now just by collecting scraps from the tailor downtown." Hong Chun wasn't the least bit scrupulous in saying this.

She'd been a 'close friend' to these people for a couple of years now. They saw her as their benefactor, some kind of benevolent maiden directly sent from the heavens.

"Hehe, I'm just kidding with the miss. You know that we're all doing our best to earn a bit every day!"

Hong Chun nodded under her veil. "That's good to hear then. Here's meat and vegetables for dinner later. I'll give it to you, old Tao. Just make sure everyone will have a share. It's not much, you know how hard it is to haggle with store owners these days!"

"Wha- what are you saying miss? Even if this is small, it can be enough for all of us tonight! Aiyo, you're really a fairy from the celestial heavens!"

The girl only waved her hand, not taking his words seriously. "Yeah, yeah. Save your compliments for your wife."

The middle-aged man called Old Tao laughed like a boy as he was used to the miss' casual behavior and jokes.

Seeing that there was nothing else to do, she was about to leave when someone caught her eyes.

It was a young man who looked not much older than her. He was dressed in dirty clothes, hair a mess and skin caked with dried mud and clinging dust.

Nevertheless, there was something about his eyes that could easily pull one's attention.

"A newcomer?" She inquired.

The leader of the homeless people looked to the direction where she gestured.

"Sharp eyes! Yes, this youth just arrived yesterday. He was bullied by the loan sharks as all newcomers would, so we told him to stay with us as long as he likes..."

Old Tao suddenly stopped talking so Hong Chun looked at him, askance.

The middle-aged man leaned a bit closer and covered his mouth. He whispered, "Err, but I think there might be a problem with his brain."

His finger pointed to his own head.

"The lad hasn't eaten anything since yesterday. He also doesn't talk to anyone. Sitting there and staring off into space, that's all he does ah! It's kinda problematic."

Not visible to the person speaking, the girl's eyes deepened under her veil.

Old Tao warned her not to approach as they couldn't have a lady socializing with a possible crackhead. But he didn't realize that Hong Chun started breaking the societal stigma the moment she befriended vagrant people like them.

There would always be times when she would be impassive as a rock and there were times like these when no one could stop her.

She stepped forward towards the boy and squatted in front of him.

"Hello there, brother! My name's Hong Chun. As red as the setting sun and as joyful as spring. How about you?"

Who would know that she could sound amiable whenever she wanted? If Mao Zhen was here, she would probably cry fat tears. When it was her trying to befriend this big sister when they were young, all she ever got was a blank stare.

But as Old Tao expected, the boy treated Hong Chun like air and didn't even spare her a glance.

Underneath her veil, the lady wasn't in a hurry at all.

She could be here until twilight if there was no curfew. She could take it slow but it would be nice if the boy would at least nod.

Old Tao was the first to give up after several attempts of getting the young man to speak. There were more things to do than watching two stubborn people.

One didn't want to talk. Another was too bored with her life.

Hong Chun joined the young man in silence for a while. During this time, she drew random patterns on the ground with a stick.

People passed them by with curious stares but none lingered for a moment more.

After getting tired of drawing, she patted her hands clean and counted the pedestrians in her head.

"You know what's good with meeting new people?" The relaxed tone held more meanings than it should.

"You can tell a name that doesn't have to be your real name. If you hate your old name, why not give a new one? It's lighter for your mind and soul, and you can be reborn into someone else. Isn't that great?"

Unbeknownst to the veiled girl, there was a flash of acknowledgment in the boy's eyes.

He lowered his gaze and his dry lips started moving. It took a while to form the first word.

"Dead... Dead Child."

His voice came out rough and airy but Hong Chun heard it.

"Aiya! When I said to change your name, this miss doesn't mean name yourself dead child!"

Clucking her tongue, her words were like this but she was thinking of the opposite. It was good that he uttered this name.

She pushed the jug of water on her waist to his hands in a careless manner. One that wouldn't tolerate refusal.

He finally accepted them, along with the crackers she was supposed to have as snacks.

She watched him like a curious child.

"S-Si Hai1, you seem troubled by something. Your brows are weighed down with unknown burdens." Despite sounding like she didn't want to say his name, there was a cheerful banter in her voice.

She picked the stick up again.

And with the gentle sway of her hand, the character 死 appeared on the dirt, as artful as it could be if it was laid on paper.

"But a real dead child can't do what you can do."

The final stroke of 孩 was finished. Written on the ground now was his name, Si Hai. Dead Child.

"Whatever you're going through right now won't make the days stop passing or the nights halt their coming. Whether it's the death of someone dear or you losing everything, nothing can change it."

All of a sudden, the boy stopped eating. There was blame in his eyes.

"What? Am I wrong?" Hong Chun looked at her shoes and wiped the dirt away.

"Everything is ephemeral. We can stay dead if we want to but time keeps moving forward. So why make yourself suffer for the things you can't control? Why not live for the things we can actually control?"

Si Hai gulped some water, which made his sleeves lower a bit. Since she was covered by a veil, she had no qualms taking a peek.

She only retrieved her gaze when she heard him softly speaking with mockery. "Young lady talks like an elder monk."

Hong Chun only snorted and stood.

"This miss only said the things that would elicit a reaction from you."

This made Si Hai pause.

His nostrils flared when he understood. He was manipulated!

"What if it didn't work?"

"Then I'll say some other things until something works." She shrugged and he heard the condescending smile in her voice.

The young man looked annoyed by this. But before he could show his anger, Hong Chun was already waving goodbye several steps away from him.

That afternoon, she went home in a good mood.

She finally met that person.

Si Hai was someone she knew but at the same time, didn't.

Hong Chun made an educated guess that she could meet this person face to face. That was why she was diligent in going around the capital whenever she could.

Right now, there's a feeling of awe inside her.

Something finally clicked into place.

All along, she believed she was living inside her novel but didn't have solid evidence to confirm that she wasn't just a madwoman.

Meeting Si Hai was her first face-to-face encounter with one of the characters of the story.

That man was The Fate of Nuo Ying Su's supporting antagonist.

He was a loyal 'watchdog' of the main antagonist, Jiang Ming who was the son of the former Prime Minister of Han.

When Jiang Ming was sentenced to death, Si Hai was sold to be a slave in the province of Yun.

But seeing that he was back in the capital of Han, it could be assumed that he escaped.