Tears clung to the corners of Shenhe's eyes, and her pupils trembled wildly, as though she could not believe what she was seeing.
Jean reacted the same way. She froze completely, utterly stunned.
She clearly remembered what Xiu Yuan had said in the alley that night.
"I came to you today because I wanted to ask you to help Shenhe with me."
"She relies on me too much now, but I can't stay with her for the rest of her life. I don't have much time left, so I want to entrust her to you before I leave."
"I have a terminal illness, one that can't be cured. She depends on me so much, yet I'm dying. I don't know whether she'll shut herself away even more after I'm gone."
"That's why I wanted to entrust her to you. That way, even if I die, she won't be all alone with no one to turn to."
Now that Xiu Yuan had appeared before them again, did that mean...
His incurable terminal illness had been cured?!
"Xiu... Xiu Yuan...?" Shenhe hurriedly rubbed her eyes, terrified that she was seeing things.
"It's me," he answered.
"It really is you! You're back!!!"
Shenhe sprang up and threw her arms tightly around Xiu Yuan. She held him with both hands, afraid he would leave again.
The tears she had only just stopped shedding immediately poured out again, spilling onto Xiu Yuan's chest.
Xiu Yuan wanted to stroke her head to comfort her, but his hand suddenly stopped in midair.
Feeling Shenhe's arms around him, he smiled.
This time, he could finally feel her touch.
His hands were no longer insubstantial things that passed right through her.
"There, there."
"I'm back. I won't leave again."
Xiu Yuan let go of every burden, a smile of