"Dong... Qian... qiu..." Qu Xi wrote her name down one character at a time, then asked, "Is that 'Qianqiu' as in 'a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations'?"
Dong Qianqiu nodded, then looked around with a faint, complicated smile.
"What a lovely name," Qu Xi said with a smile. "Dong Qianqiu-it sounds like 'understanding a thousand autumns,' as though you understand everything."
Dong Qianqiu said nothing and continued looking around, lost and uncertain.
"When can you start work?" Qu Xi asked.
"Right now."
"All right. Where do you live?" Qu Xi asked, writing something with her head lowered. "Do you need us to arrange accommodations?"
"My home..." Dong Qianqiu gazed blankly around before saying, "is right here."
"Oh?" Qu Xi sounded puzzled. "You live near Mount Unreturning?"
"No. For the past thousand years, I've lived in the Legend Management Bureau." Dong Qianqiu looked sorrowfully at the brand-new palace built of white marble. "I just don't know whether this is still my home, or whether there's still a place here for me."
Qu Xi's hand paused. She did not quite understand what the woman before her meant.
Just then, Xiao Qi came over carrying a stack of documents. When she saw them from a distance, every sheet in her hands scattered to the floor.
"Sister Qianqiu?!"
Dong Qianqiu had barely turned around before Xiao Qi lunged at her like a pet seeing its owner and wrapped her in a huge bear hug. Both feet left the ground as she hung from Dong Qianqiu.
Dong Qianqiu froze for a moment, then reached up and patted Xiao Qi's head. "I heard you were all right. Thank goodness."
Xiao Qi buried her head deep against Dong Qianqiu's chest and burst into loud sobs.
"Sister Qianqiu, I was terrified! Absolutely terrified!" Xiao Qi choked out.