The first light of morning slipped past the crooked blinds, painting faint gold stripes across Wei's small apartment. She blinked awake, groggy from staying up too late scrolling through obscure folklore forums on jade amulets and "possible demon sightings" which were mostly conspiracy theories.
For a moment, she thought the strange events of last night had been a dream until she smelled something odd.
Burnt rice? Soy sauce? Was that sesame oil?
Wei sat up quickly.
"What the…"
In her tiny kitchen, Yan stood shirtless in her apron, tall frame hunched awkwardly as he peered into a pot that was bubbling over. Steam clouded around him, and the counter was already littered with ingredients: eggs, scallions, a bottle of soy sauce, and somehow tea leaves floating in a bowl of hot water.
He turned when he heard her.
"Ah, you're awake. I was attempting to prepare sustenance."
Wei stared, then burst out laughing before she could stop herself. It was the first time she'd genuinely laughed in weeks.
"Sustenance? You mean breakfast? What is this?" She pointed at the pot.
Yan glanced down, looking completely serious.
"Congee, I believe. But the taste seemed plain, so I added…" He held up the half-empty soy sauce bottle with a frown. "Is this not the same as tea?"
Wei nearly choked on her laugh.
"That's soy sauce! Not tea! Oh my god, you put that in congee?" She hurried over, grabbing a spoon to stir.
The mixture had turned brown. Yan looked genuinely puzzled, brows furrowing. Wei pressed a hand to her forehead, torn between exasperation and amusement.
"You really are hopeless."
But there was something strangely warm about the sight- this tall, otherworldly man who had appeared from a burst of dark energy last night, now fumbling in her tiny kitchen like a clueless boyfriend.
He tilted his head, watching her reaction.
"You are smiling. That means you are pleased?"
Wei blinked, realizing she was. She quickly busied herself with turning off the stove.
"I'm laughing at you, not with you."
Yan didn't look offended at all. Instead, his lips curved into the faintest smile.
"If it makes you laugh, then I will continue."
Wei froze for a beat, her heart giving a small, unexpected thump. She quickly turned away to hide it.
"Please don't. My kitchen can't survive another experiment."
She scraped the ruined congee into the trash and reached for some instant noodles.
"Let's start simple. Boiling water. No soy sauce involved."
Yan leaned against the counter, still studying her with curious eyes.
"You take care of me again."
Wei tried to brush it off casually, though she felt a strange warmth crawl up her neck.
"Don't get used to it. You're supposed to take care of me, remember? Boyfriend duties and all."
Yan's gaze softened at the word boyfriend, like it was something precious he wanted to hold on to.
"Then I will protect you even if I cannot cook."
Wei swallowed, suddenly unsure if her little lie had gotten far more complicated than she'd expected.
She dropped two packets of noodles into the pot of boiling water, the steam rising quickly. Yan leaned closer, watching as if she was performing some sacred ritual.
"You see?" She explained, stirring with her chopsticks. "You don't need soy sauce, or tea leaves, or whatever else you were trying. Just noodles, hot water, and the seasoning packets."
Yan nodded with a seriousness that made her want to laugh again.
"So simple yet I failed. I apologize."
Wei glanced over her shoulder at him.
"It's not like you've ever cooked noodles before."
He tilted his head.
"Noodles… are they a common offering?"
Wei blinked.
"Offering? No, they're just food. Cheap and quick food."
Yan frowned slightly, repeating the word as though testing it on his tongue.
"Cheap and quick. Strange words for something that sustains life."
Wei smirked, shaking her head.
"You really do sound like some ancient nobleman sometimes."
"I am no nobleman," Yan replied quietly, almost to himself. He focused again on her, as though clinging to the role she had given him. "I am your boyfriend and I should learn what you eat."
The weight of his words made her hand pause mid-stir. She quickly shook it off, pouring the noodles into two bowls.
"Here," she said, setting one in front of him on the little table by the window.
Yan sat cross-legged on the floor, the bowl dwarfed by his large hands. He sniffed the noodles first, cautious, then slurped one up in a surprisingly ungraceful motion. His eyes widened.
"It has flavor! Warm…salty… a little sharp. Comforting."
Wei chuckled, settling across from him with her own bowl.
"Congratulations. You've discovered instant noodles. The college student's survival tool."
Yan slurped another strand, then nodded solemnly.
"This must be your favorite food."
Wei almost choked.
"Not exactly. But yeah, sometimes. Especially when I'm tired." She hesitated, then added softly, "It's just easy, you know? When you live alone."
Yan looked at her, something unreadable flickering in his dark eyes.
"Then you are not alone now."
Wei's chopsticks froze. She forced a laugh, trying to hide how his words landed too close to her heart.
"You're really committed to this boyfriend role, huh?"
Yan tilted his head, noodles still dangling from his lips.
"It feels natural as though it is what I should be."
For a moment, Wei didn't know what to say. She focused on eating, though her chest felt uncomfortably tight.
Silence stretched between them, broken only by the sound of slurping noodles. Outside, a vendor called down the alley, selling fresh soy milk. A scooter rattled past. The ordinary noises of the city wrapped around them, as if trying to anchor this bizarre new reality.
After finishing half his bowl, Yan set his chopsticks down carefully. His gaze drifted toward her sketches pinned to the wall- the ones of her dream café.
"What are these?," he asked, touching the edge of one.
"It's my dream to open a café one day. Not just coffee, teas too. Blends that remind people of old traditions, but with new twists. Something cozy, warm, like home."
Yan's expression softened, almost reverent.
"A place that belongs to you."
"Exactly." Wei gave a small smile, though it faded quickly. "But dreams cost money, and I'm just barely scraping by. So maybe someday. Maybe never."
Yan didn't look away.
"You will. I will see to it."
Wei laughed nervously, trying to brush it off. But Yan didn't laugh. His gaze stayed steady, serious, like he meant every word. It made her chest ache in a way she wasn't prepared for. She looked away quickly, focusing on her bowl.
"Eat before it gets cold."
By the time Wei finished rinsing the bowls, Yan was still crouched by the wall, studying her café sketches as if they held the secrets of the universe. She dried her hands on a dishcloth and glanced at him. His borrowed shirt, a faded T-shirt from her ex that hung awkwardly on his broad frame, looked painfully out of place.
If anyone saw him walking around like that, she'd have questions to answer.
Wei pressed her lips together. He can't stay here forever looking like some lost actor from a historical drama.
"Alright," she said finally, tossing the cloth onto the counter. "We're going out."
Yan turned, blinking.
"Out?"
"Yes. Clothes shopping." She said as she typed a message to his boss that she'll be taking a leave today.
He tilted his head, almost wary.
"Do my garments shame you?"
Wei blinked. Garments? She stifled a laugh.
"No, no, nothing like that. But if you walk around like this, people are going to stare. You need to blend in."
Yan's brow furrowed, but he nodded.
"Very well. Lead, and I shall follow."
The streets were alive by the time they reached the bus stop. Vendors shouted about fresh jianbing pancakes, the smell of roasted chestnuts wafting down the road. Yan walked beside her, his eyes darting to everything- the billboards, the buses, the neon signs still glowing faintly in the daylight.
When they reached Wangfujing, the real chaos began. The pedestrian street was crowded with shoppers, bright storefronts spilling music and perfume into the air. Wei slipped into the mall, tugging Yan along.
He stopped at the entrance, staring up at the glass ceiling.
"This is a palace."
Wei laughed.
"No!! It's just a mall."
The escalator nearby hummed. Yan's gaze fixed on it like it was some moving beast.
"It swallows people," he murmured.
Wei sighed, rubbing her forehead.
"It doesn't swallow people. Watch." She stepped onto the escalator, riding it up a few feet, then back down again, waving. "See? Easy."
Yan hesitated, then set one foot on. The step lurched under him, and he almost grabbed his sword except he didn't have one anymore. Instead, he grabbed Wei's hand. Her breath hitched. His grip was warm, firm, protective.
"For safety," he said seriously, eyes fixed ahead as the escalator carried them upward.
Wei tried to play it off, but her heart was pounding. This is ridiculous. He's just holding my hand because he thinks machines will eat him. Still she didn't pull away.
In the clothing store, things didn't get easier.
Yan held up a pair of ripped jeans, frowning.
"These are damaged."
Wei groaned.
"They're supposed to look like that. It's fashion."
He turned the fabric over in his hands.
"Fashion… is pretending one has fought a battle?"
Wei snorted and shoved a pair of plain black jeans at him instead, along with a simple hoodie.
"Try these. Dressing room's over there."
Ten minutes later, Yan stepped out. The hoodie clung to his frame in a way that made her throat dry. He looked normal like someone who could easily pass for her boyfriend. Yan tugged at the drawstrings uncertainly.
"Do I blend?"
Wei crossed her arms, pretending to appraise him critically.
"Yeah. You blend."
His lips curved slightly.
"Then you are pleased?"
Something in his tone made heat rise to her cheeks. She turned quickly toward the cashier.
"Let's just pay before you start asking if socks are weapons."
Yan followed her, still holding her hand as though the crowd might sweep him away if he let go. Strangely, she didn't argue.
The shopping bags swung against Wei's leg as they left the mall, Yan walking beside her in his new hoodie and jeans. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. To her surprise, he blended in remarkably well just another young man among the city's crowds. Except, of course, for the way he kept pausing to gape at neon billboards and mutter.
"Moving paintings…astonishing."
By the time they emerged into the late afternoon sunlight, the bustle had worn both of them out. Wei tilted her head, considering. Taking him straight home might be safest, but she caught the slight wonder in his eyes, the way he looked around like a child seeing the world for the first time.
"Come on," she said, jerking her chin toward the tree-lined avenue. "There's a park nearby. You'll like it."
Yan fell into step beside her obediently, still clutching one of the bags though she'd insisted she could carry them herself.
The Temple of Heaven Park was quieter than the shopping street, filled with wide courtyards, cypress trees, and the distant murmur of tourists. The sun painted everything in warm gold. Yan slowed as soon as they stepped past the archway, his gaze fixed on the ancient structures in the distance.
He stopped dead, hand tightening around the bag handles. His eyes sharpened, their usual warmth giving way to something deeper, darker.
Wei frowned.
"What's wrong?"
Yan tilted his head, almost as if listening.
"The air hums here."
Her stomach lurched.
"Hums?"
He pressed a hand to his chest, brow furrowed.
"A current… something old. Familiar. It is as if I have stood here before… long ago."
Wei's pulse quickened.
No, no, no, don't remember yet…
Before his focus could deepen, she shoved something cold into his hand.
"Here," she blurted as she purchased the icecream in a hurry from sneering vendor. "Ice cream. It's your favorite."
Yan blinked down at the swirl of vanilla on the cone, his grave expression cracking.
"Ice… cream?"
"Yes," she said quickly, forcing a grin. "Our favorite comfort food. Remember? We always share one when we walk in the park."
He lifted it cautiously to his mouth, took a bite and his entire face lit up with surprise.
"It is cold and sweet." His lips curved into the faintest smile. "You are wise to love this."
Wei's shoulders sagged with relief.
"Told you."
They found a bench beneath a row of cypress trees, and Yan sat stiffly, licking the ice cream with careful dignity, as though it were some sacred ritual. Wei stole glances at him, fighting the absurd warmth pooling in her chest.
To fill the silence and solidify her story, she began talking.
"When I was little, I used to come here with my parents. We'd fly kites in the spring, eat snacks from the old vendors. My dad used to tell me if my kite touched the clouds, my wishes would reach Heaven."
Yan turned to her, watching intently. His expression softened, like her words mattered more than she realized.
"And what did you wish for?"
Wei hesitated, then laughed lightly.
"That's a secret."
Yan studied her a moment longer, then nodded, as if respecting that boundary.
"Then I shall protect your secret."
Her heart gave a small, unexpected flutter. She quickly looked away, biting into the ice cream before it could melt all over her fingers.
For a fleeting moment, it felt like a real date just a girl and her boyfriend in the park, sharing stories and sweets as the sun dipped low. Only Wei knew the truth: that this man beside her was something far more dangerous than he seemed.
And yet with his smile softening in the golden light, she almost let herself forget.
The sky had deepened to indigo by the time Wei and Yan made their way back through the winding alleys. Neon signs flickered above shuttering shops, scooters zipped past, and the smell of grilled skewers lingered in the air.
Yan walked at her side, finishing the last sticky trace of the ice cream cone like it were a priceless treasure.
"This world is full of marvels," he said quietly. "Cold sweetness, crowds of moving stairways and you."
Wei almost tripped over a loose cobblestone. She shook her head quickly. Back at her apartment, she unlocked the door and gestured for him to slip in quickly before any neighbors could notice. Yan ducked his tall frame under the doorframe, pausing only to give a low bow as if entering a shrine. Wei sighed. This is going to take some work.
Inside, she decided it was time to secure her story more firmly. She grabbed her phone from the table and patted the couch.
"Come here. I want to show you something important."
Yan perched beside her obediently, his sharp features glowing faintly in the blue light of her phone screen. He leaned close, eyes widening.
"Ah…this glowing box again."
Wei rolled her eyes.
"It's not a box, it's a phone. People use it to talk, to share everything."
He tilted his head, utterly fascinated.
"Like sending one's spirit through jade slips?"
"Sure," she muttered, deciding not to ask what that meant.
Instead, she opened WeChat.
"Here. Look."
Her fingers flew over the screen, creating a new chat and typing out a string of messages:
Wei: Don't forget our anniversary 💕
Wei: You always say I look prettiest when I laugh.
Wei: I missed you today 🥺
She tilted the screen toward him.
"See? This is our chat history. Proof. You and I were together."
Yan's brows knitted in concentration. He studied the text, then slowly, carefully tapped on the keyboard with one long finger. To her surprise, he sent back a cascade of emojis: 🥰🌸🔥🐰🍚✨
Wei blinked.
"What is this supposed to mean?"
Yan straightened, his expression grave.
"My heart is many things. I could not choose one symbol."
For a moment, Wei was speechless. Then against her better judgment, she laughed. It bubbled up unexpectedly, warming her chest.
"You're ridiculous."
He didn't seem offended. In fact, he looked almost pleased.
"If it makes you smile then it is worthy."
Wei's laughter faltered. Her fingers tightened around the phone, heart giving a small, traitorous pang.
Stop it. He's not your boyfriend. He's not even…
She forced her eyes back to the screen, typing briskly.
"Alright. From now on, you reply to me like this. We're lovey-dovey, okay? That's how couples talk."
Yan gave a solemn nod.
"Then I shall do it with all my devotion."
Wei's pulse skipped, and she quickly shoved the phone into his hands to distract herself.
"Good. Now practice."
The two of them sat side by side on the couch, Yan experimenting with sending sticker packs of cartoon rabbits while Wei pretended not to feel the warmth of his shoulder brushing hers.
Dinner was long finished, their bowls of congee rinsed and stacked in the sink, when Wei finally pulled out her laptop. The screen glowed pale against the dim apartment, the fan humming as she scrolled through a list of movies.
"Romantic comedy," she muttered, clicking on a title. "Light, easy and harmless."
Yan tilted his head, his long hair catching the screen's reflection.
"A tale of love?"
"Yes," Wei said briskly, settling cross-legged on the couch. "People falling in love, misunderstandings, all that."
He lowered himself beside her carefully, as if afraid of breaking the furniture, and watched the opening credits with wide-eyed awe. Every so often, he whispered questions:
"Why do they eat popcorn with such ceremony?" or "Is this one the rival suitor?"
Wei shushed him, but the corners of her mouth kept twitching upward. Halfway through, when the couple on screen finally confessed under the rain, Yan shifted closer. Before Wei could retreat, his head tilted onto her shoulder.
Her entire body went rigid. The faint warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his breath, the way his voice lowered to something achingly gentle as he whispered:
"I'm lucky to have you."
Wei's throat closed. She stared straight ahead, the actors blurring. He doesn't know. He only believes because I lied. Her laughter earlier. His emojis. His promises. All of it sat heavy in her chest.
When the credits rolled, she clicked the laptop shut a little too fast. Yan had dozed off briefly, but roused as she stood, stretching her stiff limbs. To calm herself, Wei reached for her phone and scrolled. An article caught her eye.
"Unexplained Disturbances at Local Temples: Locals Report Whispers, Broken Stones."
The date matched yesterday. Her stomach dropped. The location was marked only as "outskirts near Summer Palace." Her thoughts scattered at a sudden sharp sound.
Yan had risen quietly and now stood at her desk, drawer open. Between his long fingers, the jade fragment glimmered faintly in the lamplight.
Wei froze.
"Don't…"
But it was too late. The shard pulsed once, hard, like a heartbeat. Yan's body stiffened. His eyes rolled slightly back as if staring at something far away.
Blood dripping onto stone. A roar that shook mountains. Shadows writhing like serpents.
It lasted only seconds. Yan blinked rapidly, shaking his head. His grip loosened and the fragment clattered onto the desk.
"Strange," he muttered, his tone almost casual. "For a moment, I thought I saw battle."
Wei's pulse thundered in her ears. She forced a smile, scooping the shard quickly back into the drawer.
"You're tired. Just go rest."
He obeyed without question, but Wei stayed frozen at her desk long after he lay down. Her palm tingled. The faint scar from yesterday's accident with the amulet glowed faintly beneath the lamplight. His memories are coming back.
And when they did would he still believe he was her boyfriend?