The Mystery Author and the White Fluffy Cat - The Girl Who Fell from the Moon

“There are mysteries that cannot be solved by logic alone.

Sometimes… the impossible simply sits across from you, quietly asking for a bowl of rice.”

— The House Without Footprints, by Shadow Raven

The bookstore remained silent.

Only the soft ticking of the old wall clock echoed gently through Moonlight Pages.

Tick…

Outside, the evening breeze rustled the camellia leaves in the small garden.

Inside…

One mystery novelist lay unconscious on the wooden floor.

“…Mmm…”

The young woman sleeping upon the couch stirred.

Her eyelashes fluttered.

Slowly…

Sapphire-blue eyes opened.

She stared blankly at the unfamiliar wooden ceiling above her.

Silence.

Her mind struggled to catch up with reality.

Then—

The memories returned all at once.

The twin moons.

The dungeon.

Her farewell to the camellia tree.

The strange Human World.

The terrifying dogs.

The warm arms that had caught her.

“The human…”

She immediately sat upright.

Her movement stopped halfway.

She blinked.

Slowly…

Very slowly…

She looked down at herself.

Long black hair fell over her shoulders, its silvery highlights faintly visible even beneath the soft light inside the bookstore.

Two slender human hands rested upon her lap.

Five fingers.

Two legs.

No paws.

“I transformed…”

A small sigh escaped her lips.

“Good.”

“It worked.”

For a brief moment, relief softened her expression.

Then…

She frowned.

“…Something feels…”

“…light.”

Confused, she lowered her gaze a little further.

Silence.

“…Where are my clothes?!”

Her pupils immediately shrank.

“No.”

Her heart skipped a beat.

She closed her eyes tightly.

“My spiritual clothing…”

“It should have appeared automatically.”

She hurriedly raised both hands.

Silver spiritual energy gathered weakly around her fingertips.

“…Come on…”

A faint glow flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then—

Poof.

The tiny light disappeared like a candle extinguished by the wind.

Meixiu froze.

She stared at her empty palm.

“…My spiritual energy…”

“…is empty.”

The realization hit her all at once.

Crossing between realms.

Concealing her spiritual aura.

Running without rest.

Skipping meals.

Being chased through unfamiliar streets.

Leaping over walls.

Throwing herself into the arms of a complete stranger.

Then forcing herself into human form.

Every last drop of her spiritual energy…

Had been exhausted.

“My spiritual energy…”

She slowly covered her burning face with both hands.

“…It ran dry because I was too tired and hungry at the same time.”

Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.

“…I’ve never exhausted my spiritual energy like this before.”

The First Miss of the Xue Clan…

A young woman praised throughout Shangyue Realm for her elegant control over spiritual arts…

Had discovered the existence of the impossible.

Her transformation…

Had malfunctioned.

“…How embarrassing…”

She wanted to bury herself underground.

Unfortunately…

There wasn’t any ground available beneath the couch.

Only polished wooden flooring.

She remained frozen for several seconds before forcing herself to calm down.

“…Think, Meixiu.”

“…Panic has never solved anything.”

She took a slow breath.

“First…”

“…recover your dignity.”

Her sapphire-blue eyes wandered around the bookstore.

Bookshelves.

A coffee table.

Flowerpots.

A woven basket.

Then—

Her gaze landed upon a neatly folded tablecloth resting on a nearby table.

Her eyes sparkled.

Without wasting another second, she hurried over.

She carefully unfolded the soft white cloth before wrapping it around herself as neatly as she could.

After adjusting it several times…

She looked down.

The tablecloth wasn’t exactly fashionable.

Nor was it particularly elegant.

But at least…

“It isn’t proper clothing…”

“…but I have my dignity back.”

She nodded once with complete seriousness.

“…Much better.”

Satisfied with her temporary solution…

She finally remembered something very important.

“…The human."

She turned toward the couch.

Silence.

The couch was empty.

She blinked.

Then looked down.

There—

Lying peacefully upon the wooden floor—

Was the kind young man who had rescued her.

“…Human?"

No response.

She carefully approached.

Kneeling beside him, she tilted her head.

“He hasn’t moved…”

“…since I woke up.”

She studied him carefully.

His breathing remained calm.

His chest rose and fell steadily.

“…He’s alive.”

A relieved smile appeared.

“…Good.”

She gently brushed a few loose strands of black hair away from his forehead.

“…His breathing is normal.”

“…His heartbeat is normal.”

She nodded to herself.

“…Perhaps humans simply sleep differently.”

After all…

Spirit Cats occasionally slept for an entire day after exhausting too much spiritual energy.

Maybe humans did something similar.

“…Human?”

She softly poked his cheek.

Nothing.

She poked again.

Still nothing.

“…A stubborn human.”

Her ears almost appeared from frustration.

She immediately slapped both hands over the top of her head.

“No!”

She whispered urgently.

“Stay hidden.”

Fortunately…

Nothing happened.

She let out a relieved sigh.

“…That was close.”

Then she remembered something from her childhood.

Whenever newborn spirit kittens refused to wake up…

The older cats would gently nudge them with their foreheads.

“It always worked…”

She leaned forward.

Very gently…

She pressed her forehead against Yinju's.

“…Wake up.”

Nothing.

She frowned.

“…Still sleeping.”

She leaned back.

Completely puzzled.

“I’ve only been in the Human World for one day…”

“…and I’ve already broken the first human I met.”

Her shoulders drooped.

“…This is a terrible beginning.”

Silence settled over the bookstore once again.

Then—

Yinju’s fingers twitched.

Meixiu’s eyes widened.

“The human!”

His brows furrowed slightly.

A quiet groan escaped his lips.

“…Mmph…”

Slowly…

Mu Yinju opened his eyes.

The ceiling greeted him.

“…I’m alive.”

His head ached terribly.

“…What happened?”

Fragments of memory slowly returned.

The white cat.

The bookstore.

A mysterious young woman.

His eyes widened.

He immediately sat upright.

The first thing he saw…

Was a beautiful young woman wrapped awkwardly in one of his tablecloths.

She was kneeling directly in front of him.

Watching him with obvious relief.

“Oh!”

She smiled brightly.

“The human is working again!”

Yinju froze.

His brain stopped functioning for the second time that evening.

He slowly adjusted his glasses.

Looked around the bookstore.

Looked beneath the couch.

Looked toward the open window.

Then finally looked back at the young woman.

His voice remained as calm as ever.

“…Where is the cat?”

The young woman blinked.

Then, very slowly…

She raised one finger.

And pointed toward herself.

“…Me.”

Silence.

Yinju stared at her.

Then at the empty couch.

Then back at her again.

“…No.”

The young woman lowered the finger that pointed toward herself.

Her brows knitted together.

“…No?”

Yinju adjusted his glasses.

“I asked where the cat is.”

“I am the cat.”

“…No.”

Meixiu blinked twice.

“…Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“…No.”

The bookstore fell into a strange silence.

For nearly a full minute, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Yinju pinched the bridge of his nose.

“…Perhaps I struck my head harder than I thought.”

He looked around the bookstore again.

Everything appeared normal.

The bookshelves.

The coffee counter.

The flowers by the windows.

The young woman wrapped in his tablecloth.

“…One of these things is not normal.”

Meixiu tilted her head.

“…Me?”

“…Yes.”

“I apologized.”

“You… apologized?”

She nodded sincerely.

“My transformation frightened you.”

“I believe you fainted because of me.”

“…That wasn’t entirely inaccurate.”

Meixiu lowered her gaze.

“I’m sorry.”

Her apology was so genuine that Yinju found himself unable to respond immediately.

She wasn’t trying to deceive him.

She truly believed she had done something wrong.

He let out a slow sigh.

“…Start from the beginning.”

“The beginning?”

“Everything.”

He stood, walked behind the counter, and retrieved a small black notebook along with his favorite fountain pen.

Meixiu watched curiously.

“…What are you doing?”

“…Taking notes.”

“Taking… notes?”

“If I’m going to understand an impossible situation…”

He clicked his pen.

“…I should at least document it properly.”

Meixiu stared at him in amazement.

“…Humans are diligent.”

Yinju quietly ignored the comment.

He wrote a title across the top of the page.

Case File No. 001

He glanced up.

“Your name?”

“Xue Meixiu.”

His pen paused.

“A family name first…”

“So that’s how your world works.”

She nodded.

“My name is Xue Meixiu.”

He wrote it carefully.

“Age?”

She hesitated.

“…In Spirit Cat years or human years?”

“…Let's return to that question later.”

She smiled apologetically.

“That may be easier.”

Yinju continued.

“You claim to be…”

“…a Spirit Cat.”

“Yes.”

“From…”

“Shangyue Realm.”

“The Realm of Twin Moons.”

His pen moved steadily across the page.

Unlike most people, Yinju wasn’t interested in arguing.

He simply collected facts.

Whether they made sense could come later.

“What happened before you came here?”

Meixiu’s smile faded.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the tablecloth.

“I…”

“…left home.”

Yinju noticed the subtle change in her expression.

He didn’t press immediately.

Instead, he quietly asked,

“…Were you chased?”

She looked up in surprise.

“…How did you know?”

“You were trembling when you landed in my garden.”

“And you kept looking behind you.”

“You weren’t afraid of me.”

“You were afraid of something following you.”

Meixiu slowly nodded.

“…Dogs.”

“They chased me because I stepped on a metal can.”

Yinju imagined the scene.

A tiny white cat.

Three stray dogs.

A terrified sprint through unfamiliar streets.

He could almost picture it.

“So…”

He looked back at his notes.

“You escaped into my garden.”

“Yes.”

“You were exhausted.”

“Yes.”

“You transformed.”

“Yes.”

He tapped the page gently.

“And your clothes…”

Meixiu immediately covered her face.

“…Please don’t ask.”

“…Unfortunately, I have to.”

She let out the longest sigh of her life.

“My spiritual clothing…”

“…failed to appear.”

“Reason?”

She slowly lowered her hands.

Her cheeks burned scarlet.

“My spiritual energy ran dry because I was too tired and hungry at the same time.”

Silence.

Yinju’s pen stopped.

He stared at the sentence he had just heard.

Years of writing carefully constructed mysteries…

And somehow…

This explanation was the most unbelievable thing he’d encountered.

Yet…

She said it with such complete sincerity.

Not an ounce of hesitation.

Not a trace of embarrassment beyond the obvious.

He quietly wrote:

Cause of incident: Spiritual exhaustion.

Transformation successful.

Spiritual clothing generation failed.

Then, after a moment’s thought, he added a title.

Spiritual Clothing Malfunction Case

Meixiu leaned over to read the page.

The instant her eyes landed on the title—

“…No.”

Yinju looked up.

“No?”

She pointed at the notebook.

“Please change it.”

“…Why?”

“Because it’s embarrassing.”

“…It’s accurate.”

“I know it’s accurate.”

“…But do you have to write it down?”

Yinju considered that for a moment.

“…As a novelist…”

“I document unusual events.”

She puffed out her cheeks.

“…Then at least don’t let anyone else read it.”

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Yinju’s lips.

“…Agreed.”

Without another word, he carefully closed the notebook.

For some reasons he couldn’t explain…

The impossible no longer felt frightening.

It simply felt…

Like the beginning of a story neither of them had expected.

The bookstore returned to its familiar silence.

Yinju carefully placed his notebook back into the drawer beneath the counter.

Click.

The drawer closed.

He looked toward the young woman still wrapped rather professionally in one of his white tablecloths.

She stood quietly, her posture graceful despite her unusual attire.

The tablecloth reached just below her knees, tied neatly over one shoulder like an improvised robe.

“…Is something wrong?”

Meixiu blinked.

“I noticed you’ve been looking at the tablecloth.”

Yinju quickly looked away.

“N-No.”

“I was thinking…”

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“…It might be more comfortable if you wore... actual clothes.”

“Actual clothes?”

She tilted her head.

“You mean…”

“…human clothing.”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

She nodded seriously.

“That would indeed be less embarrassing.”

Yinju quietly disappeared upstairs.

Meixiu waited obediently near the staircase, curiously studying the countless books surrounding her.

“So many…”

She whispered to herself.

“…Humans truly love stories.”

A few moments later…

Footsteps echoed from above.

Yinju returned carrying a neatly folded pile of clothes.

He stopped a respectful distance away.

“…These are clean.”

He carefully held them out without stepping closer.

“It's only an oversized shirt and a pair of sweatpants.”

“I hope they’ll fit… well enough.”

Meixiu accepted them with both hands.

The fabric felt wonderfully soft.

“…Thank you.”

“There’s a washroom upstairs.”

He pointed toward the second floor.

“You can change there.”

She nodded.

“I understand.”

Then she paused.

“…How?”

Yinju blinked.

“…How?”

“How do I… wear them?”

Silence.

For a brief second, the quiet bookstore became painfully quiet.

Yinju stared at the folded clothes.

Then at Meixiu.

Then back at the clothes.

He suddenly realized something.

Spirit Cats…

…probably didn’t have shirts.

Or sweatpants.

“I see.”

He coughed lightly.

“I’ll…”

“…explain.”

Meixiu listened attentively like a diligent student.

Yinju carefully unfolded the shirt.

“This opening…”

He pointed toward the large hole in the middle.

“…goes over your head.”

She nodded.

“I see.”

He pointed toward the sleeves.

“Your arms go through these.”

“I see.”

“And these…”

He held up the sweatpants.

“…are worn…”

He hesitated.

“…on your legs.”

“I see.”

She smiled brightly.

“I understand completely.”

Yinju sighed in relief.

“…Good.”

She happily climbed the stairs.

The washroom door closed.

Silence returned.

Yinju leaned against the bookshelf.

“…I hope.”

“…she really understood.”

Five minutes later…

The bathroom door opened.

Footsteps approached.

Yinju looked up.

Then immediately froze.

Meixiu stood proudly at the top of the stairs.

The sweatpants were somehow correct.

The shirt…

…was not.

It was backwards.

The tag peeked out beneath her chin.

One shoulder drooped awkwardly.

The collar sat lopsided.

She smiled proudly.

“I succeeded.”

Yinju looked at the ceiling.

“…Almost.”

Meixiu blinked.

“Almost?”

“The shirt…”

He continued looking everywhere except at her.

“…is backwards.”

Silence.

She looked down.

She turned around.

Looked over her shoulder.

“…Backwards?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

She nodded thoughtfully.

“I wondered why it felt… unusual.”

“…That explains it.”

Without the slightest embarrassment, she turned and hurried back upstairs.

Yinju let out the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

“…Crisis avoided.”

A few minutes later…

She returned once more.

This time…

Everything was correct.

The oversized white shirt reached almost to her thighs.

The sleeves completely covered her hands until she folded them back.

The gray sweatpants were a little too long, forcing her to roll the cuffs twice.

She looked surprisingly comfortable.

Yinju smiled faintly.

“…That suits you.”

Meixiu looked down at herself.

Then smiled.

“It feels…”

She searched for the right word.

“…warm.”

Not because of the fabric alone.

But because these were the first human clothes anyone had ever given her.

Yinju noticed the small smile on her face.

“…Are they uncomfortable?”

She immediately shook her head.

“No.”

“They’re wonderful.”

“…Thank you.”

For a brief moment…

Neither of them spoke.

The silence wasn’t awkward anymore.

It was peaceful.

Like the quiet atmosphere that always filled Moonlight Pages.

Then—

“…Growl.”

The unmistakable sound echoed through the bookstore.

Meixiu froze.

Yinju blinked once.

Meixiu slowly lowered her head.

“…That wasn’t me.”

Her stomach growled again.

“…Grrr…”

She sighed.

“…It was me.”

Yinju couldn’t help it.

A tiny chuckle escaped him.

Not loud.

Not mocking.

Just… genuine.

Meixiu looked up in surprise.

“…You laughed.”

Yinju blinked.

“…Did I?”

“You did.”

“…I’m sorry.”

She shook her head.

“No.”

A gentle smile appeared.

“…It sounded nice.”

The words slipped out before she realized it.

Both of them became quiet again.

Yinju looked toward the small kitchen at the back of the bookstore.

“…You said…”

“…your spiritual energy ran dry because you were hungry.”

She nodded.

“…Yes.”

He adjusted his glasses.

“…Then.”

“…Let’s solve that mystery first.”

He walked toward the kitchen.

Meixiu stood there for a second before following him with small, curious steps.

“…Do humans always fix problems with food?”

Without looking back, Yinju answered in his usual calm voice.

“…Not all problems.”

He opened the refrigerator.

“…But hunger is one of the easier ones.”

Meixiu smiled softly.

For some reasons she couldn’t explain…

Those simple words warmed her heart.

Perhaps…

The Human World wasn’t as frightening as she had first believed.

The kitchen behind Moonlight Pages was much smaller than Meixiu had imagined.

Unlike the grand kitchens of the Xue Clan residence where dozens of servants bustled from dawn until dusk…

This one belonged to only one person.

A wooden dining table sat beside a wide window overlooking the little garden behind the bookstore. Beneath the quiet moonlight, roses, lavender, jasmine, and hydrangeas swayed gently in the cool night breeze, while near the center, the white camellias bloomed in peaceful silence.

Several white ceramic bowls rested neatly inside an open cabinet.

The countertop was spotless.

Every utensil had its own place.

Everything reflected its owner.

Simple.

Quiet.

Orderly.

Meixiu slowly looked around.

“…It’s beautiful.”

Yinju paused while taking rice from a cupboard.

“It is?”

She nodded.

“It feels…”

She searched for the right words.

“…lived in.”

Yinju looked around his own kitchen as though seeing it for the first time.

“…I suppose it is.”

He placed a small pot on the stove before rinsing uncooked rice.

The sound of running water filled the room.

Meixiu watched every movement with sparkling curiosity.

“…What are you doing?”

“…Washing the rice.”

“Why?”

“So it tastes better.”

“Oh.”

She nodded thoughtfully.

“Human food requires preparation.”

“…Most of it.”

“…Interesting.”

Yinju glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

She was watching him with the same fascination a child might have while witnessing magic.

He couldn’t help wondering…

How different was the world she came from?

A few minutes later…

The gentle aroma of freshly cooked rice drifted through the bookstore.

Meixiu’s ears almost appeared.

Her nose twitched slightly.

“…That smells amazing.”

Yinju smiled faintly.

“I’m glad.”

He opened the refrigerator once more.

“…Eggs should be enough.”

“You don’t have to prepare anything complicated.”

Meixiu immediately shook her head.

“No.”

“I’ll gratefully eat whatever you prepare.”

Those words made Yinju pause for just a moment.

Gratefully.

Not because it was luxurious.

Not because it was expensive.

Simply because someone had offered it.

Without realizing it…

He found himself smiling again.

The sound of oil gently sizzling filled the kitchen.

Crack.

The eggs landed neatly inside the pan.

Meixiu leaned forward ever so slightly.

Her eyes followed every movement.

The whites slowly turned opaque.

The yolks remained golden.

A delicious aroma soon joined the fragrance of freshly cooked rice.

“…Humans can cook miracles.”

Yinju blinked.

“…It’s only fried eggs.”

“They smell wonderful.”

He quietly flipped them over.

The corners became lightly crisp.

After preparing a simple bowl of hot vegetable soup, he turned off the stove.

“…It’s ready.”

A few moments later…

The two of them sat across from each other.

Steam rose gently from two bowls of rice.

A plate of fried eggs rested between them.

Beside it…

A warm bowl of soup.

Simple.

Ordinary.

The kind of meal Yinju often made after closing the bookstore.

To him…

It wasn’t anything special.

“…You can eat.”

Meixiu looked at the food.

Then at Yinju.

“…Do I begin?”

“…Yes.”

“…Without a ceremony?”

Yinju looked confused.

“…A ceremony?”

“In Shangyue Realm…”

She folded her hands politely.

“We always thank the moon, the land, and those who prepared the meal.”

Yinju listened quietly.

“…Then…”

“…You may do that.”

She smiled warmly.

Closing her eyes, she whispered softly,

“Thank you…”

“…for the blessings of the land.”

“…for the kindness of the hands that prepared this meal.”

“…and…”

Her sapphire-blue eyes slowly opened.

She looked toward Yinju.

“…thank you…

“…for saving me.”

The last words were spoken so sincerely that Yinju was left speechless.

He lowered his gaze.

“…You’re welcome.”

Meixiu carefully picked up the spoon.

She copied how Yinju held his.

Then…

She scooped a little rice into her mouth.

Silence.

Her eyes widened.

She blinked once.

Then twice.

Another spoonful.

Then another.

“…It’s sweet.”

Yinju tilted his head.

“…Sweet?”

She nodded repeatedly.

“So soft.”

“So warm.”

“It melts…”

“…Humans eat this every day?”

“…Usually.”

She stared at the bowl in disbelief.

“…You are blessed.”

Yinju almost laughed.

Then she tasted the soup.

Her expression froze again.

A quiet gasp escaped her lips.

“…This…”

“…It’s wonderful.”

She held the bowl with both hands.

The warmth seeped into her fingers.

Into her heart.

Somewhere along the way…

She realized…

She wasn’t just hungry anymore.

She felt…

Comforted.

Then came the fried egg.

She carefully broke off a small piece.

Placed it into her mouth.

Silence.

Her eyes slowly shimmered.

Yinju immediately noticed.

“…Meixiu?”

She lowered her chopsticks.

“…Why…?”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“…Why is something so simple…”

“…so delicious?”

A tiny tear rolled down her cheek.

Yinju froze.

“…Did I season it too much?”

She hurriedly shook her head.

“No!”

“It’s perfect!”

“I’ve simply…”

“…never tasted food…”

“…made just for me before.”

The words quietly filled the room.

Yinju looked at the table.

Then at the smiling young woman trying to wipe away her tears.

He understood.

Better than she realized.

There had once been a time…

When he too had quietly eaten alone.

Not because there wasn’t food.

But because…

No one had ever asked if he wanted another bowl.

Without thinking…

He picked up the rice paddle.

“…Would you like some more?”

Meixiu looked up.

“…I may?”

“…Of course.”

Her face immediately brightened.

“…Yes, please.”

Yinju gently filled her bowl again.

“…Thank you.”

“…You’re welcome.”

Silence settled once more.

Yet this time…

It wasn’t the silence of loneliness.

It was the peaceful silence of two people sharing the same table.

Outside…

The evening breeze gently stirred the white camellias blooming in the little garden.

Moonlight Pages remained as quiet as ever.

But for the first time in many years…

Its owner wasn’t eating dinner alone.

The warm meal ended much later than either of them had expected.

Or perhaps…

It only felt longer because neither of them had rushed.

For two people who had grown accustomed to eating alone…

Sharing a table was an unfamiliar kind of comfort.

Meixiu gently placed her spoon inside the empty bowl.

“…Thank you.”

She lowered her head politely.

“It was the most delicious meal I’ve ever eaten.”

Yinju carried the dishes toward the sink.

“I’m glad you liked it.”

“…Liked it?”

She smiled sheepishly.

“I nearly cried.”

“I noticed.”

Her cheeks instantly turned pink.

“…Please forget that.”

“I’ll try.”

“You also said that earlier."

Yinju stopped washing the dishes.

“…You remember that?”

She nodded.

“My hearing and memory are both better than a normal human’s.”

“…Right.”

“…You’re a cat.”

She smiled proudly.

“A Spirit Cat.”

“…My apologies.”

After everything had been cleaned, Yinju switched off the kitchen lights.

Only the warm lamps inside the bookstore remained illuminated.

Moonlight Pages felt especially peaceful at night.

Outside…

The city still bustled with life.

Inside…

Time seemed to slow.

Meixiu wandered carefully between the bookshelves.

Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled as they moved from one spine to another.

“So many books…”

She whispered in awe.

“There are enough stories here to fill an entire lifetime.”

Yinju quietly straightened a stack of returned novels.

“…That’s one of the reasons I opened this place.”

She looked toward him.

“So people could buy books?”

“…Not exactly.”

He shook his head.

“So people could find one.”

She tilted her head.

“Find… one?”

“The story they need.”

Not necessarily the most famous.

Or the longest.

Or the most beautifully written.

“…Just the one that arrives at the right moment.”

Meixiu smiled softly.

“…I think stories are lucky.”

Yinju looked at her curiously.

“Lucky?”

“They get to stay beside people.”

“…Even after the author has gone home.”

For some reason…

Those words lingered in his heart.

She continued exploring.

There were shelves for mystery.

History.

Poetry.

Science.

Travel.

Children’s books.

Every shelf held worlds she had never imagined.

Then…

She stopped.

An entire display occupied the center of the bookstore.

A handwritten sign rested above it.

Best-Selling Mystery Collection

The author’s name appeared on every cover.

Shadow Raven.

One book displayed a lonely mansion beneath a full moon.

Another showed an abandoned train station swallowed by fog.

One featured a pair of white gloves resting beside a crimson rose.

Each title carried an air of quiet mystery.

Meixiu carefully picked up one of the books.

“…Shadow Raven…”

She traced the pen name with one finger.

“…Is he famous?”

Yinju, who had been rearranging books only a few steps away, looked up.

For the briefest moment…

He forgot how to answer.

Then…

He calmly adjusted his glasses.

“…A little.”

Meixiu looked at the display.

“…A little?”

“There are an awful lot of books for someone who’s only ‘a little’ famous.”

“…People seem to enjoy them.”

She flipped the book over.

“There isn’t a picture.”

“No.”

“No introduction.”

“No interview.”

“No autograph.”

“No.”

She looked genuinely puzzled.

“…How mysterious.”

“…That was probably intentional.”

She nodded thoughtfully.

“I think I’d like to meet this Shadow Raven someday.”

Yinju nearly smiled.

“…Perhaps.”

“If I ever do…”

She hugged the book lightly against her chest.

“I want to thank him.”

Yinju blinked.

“…Thank him?”

“Yes.”

She looked down at the cover.

“I don’t know why…”

“…But these books feel…”

She searched for the words.

“…Lonely.”

“…As though the person who wrote them understood what it feels like to smile while carrying sadness.”

Silence settled gently between them.

Yinju said nothing.

Because she was right.

The old wall clock chimed.

Ten o’clock.

Yinju looked upstairs.

“…You should rest.”

Meixiu nodded.

“…Where?”

“The guest room.”

“You have one?”

“…It’s small.”

“But it’s clean.”

She smiled.

“I’d like that.”

A few minutes later…

Yinju stood at the doorway of the little guest room.

The room contained only a bed, a wardrobe, and a small bookshelf.

Nothing extravagant.

But it was warm.

“…If you need anything…”

He hesitated.

“…Just call me.”

Meixiu nodded.

Then she paused.

“…Human?”

Yinju looked back.

“…Yes?”

She lowered her gaze slightly.

“…I don’t actually know your name.”

For a brief moment…

He looked almost surprised.

Then a faint smile appeared.

“…You’re right.”

He adjusted his glasses.

“…My name is Mu Yinju.”

She repeated it quietly, as though committing it to memory.

“…Mu… Yinju.”

He gave a small nod.

“…Just Yinju is fine.”

A gentle smile appeared on her face.

“…Good night, Yinju.”

“…Good night, Meixiu.”

He quietly closed the door.

Unable to sleep immediately, Meixiu wandered to the small bookshelf inside the room.

Only a handful of books rested there.

Most were classics.

One worn leather notebook lay neatly beside them.

She hesitated.

“…A notebook?”

She knew she shouldn’t pry.

But it wasn’t hidden.

Nor locked.

Curiosity quietly won.

She carefully opened it.

Inside…

Beautiful handwriting stretched across the page.

Not a story.

Not a mystery.

Just a single sentence.

Fear does not always wear the face of monsters.

Sometimes…

It wears the face of the people we once called family.

Meixiu stared at the words.

For a long time…

She did not move.

Slowly…

She closed the notebook with both hands.

“So…”

Her voice was barely a whisper.

“…you were lonely too.”

The gentle human who had smiled while making her dinner…

Who quietly watered flowers…

Who thanked customers…

Who laughed so softly…

Carried wounds of his own.

Different from hers.

Yet painfully familiar.

She carefully returned the notebook exactly where she had found it.

Some stories…

Were not meant to be read without permission.

Unable to sleep, Meixiu quietly stepped onto the small balcony outside the guest room.

The city stretched beneath the night sky.

Lights shimmered like countless stars scattered upon the earth.

She leaned lightly against the railing.

Then lifted her gaze.

Above her…

The moon shone peacefully.

It wasn’t one of the twin moons of Shangyue Realm.

Just a single, gentle moon.

Yet somehow…

It felt close enough.

She smiled.

“…The moon here…”

“…is beautiful too.”

A cool breeze brushed through her long black hair. The silver highlights within it shimmered softly beneath the moonlight, like delicate threads of silver woven into black silk.

She looked down toward the camellia flowers blooming in the little garden below.

White petals swayed gently in the night.

Just like the camellias she had loved back home.

She placed one hand over her heart.

“…Perhaps…”

A tiny smile slowly appeared.

“…this lonely place…”

“…can become my home.”

Far beyond the Human World…

Beyond mountains…

Beyond clouds…

Beyond the boundary separating two realms…

The twin moons of Shangyue Realm continued to shine.

Three figures stood beneath their silver light.

Hua Qingran looked toward the horizon, her emerald robes fluttering in the wind.

“…She really left.”

Yan Zichen clenched his fists.

“I searched every forest.”

“Every mountain.”

“Nothing.”

Yue Jingchen closed his eyes, quietly sensing the fading traces of spiritual energy lingering near the boundary between worlds.

Then…

His eyes opened.

“…I found it.”

The other two immediately looked toward him.

“…Meixiu crossed into the Human World.”

Silence.

The wind carried white camellia petals across the ancient courtyard.

Yan Zichen’s expression hardened.

“…Then we’ll bring her home.”

Qingran slowly shook her head.

“…No.”

Both young men looked at her.

“If Meixiu chose to leave…”

“…then the first thing we should ask isn’t how to bring her back.”

She looked toward the twin moons.

“…It’s why she believed she had to leave at all.”

The three successors fell silent.

Their friend…

The First Miss of the Xue Clan…

The girl everyone believed would one day lead the Shangyue Realm…

Was gone.

And for the first time…

The peaceful realm beneath the twin moons felt unbearably empty.

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