The needle still in her body, she ran out of the room, her eyes searching all around.

Gray was happy for her: how brave she had become! He finally realized that Spoon had been sheltered since childhood, just like him. That’s why she had come to Yun Village to find him, and that’s why they had fallen in love at first sight.

Gray wanted to pull out the silver needle for Spoon, but Spoon shook her head firmly.

“Don’t, I’m very comfortable with it. I don’t want to pull it out yet! Auntie Qiu, let me take another look at you! Oh, how cruel of you, Gray—you’ve pulled it out!”

Spoon shed tears, and she scolded Gray for not letting her see Qiu.

“She’s always there,” Gray said, “and we shall see her again tomorrow.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. You’ll definitely see dear Auntie Qiu tomorrow.”

They went home arm in arm. Spoon whispered to Gray, “Don’t you think Auntie Qiu and Grandpa Onion are actually the same person? People in this line of work can have several personae.”

“You mean the work of herbalist?”

“Yes. They’re all psychics. And so is Mrs. Yi. I have to apologize to Mrs. Yi. Do you think she’ll forgive me?”

“She forgave you long ago. She’s been urging me to reconcile with you.”

“Really? Why?”

“Because she’s not an ordinary person like you or me. She’s psychic.”

“I sort of understand it now, Gray: there’s always a psychic in the crowd, and that person subtly influences and changes everybody.”

“You’re so smart.”

“I am so happy! But in the past, I was inwardly sly and couldn’t help doing evil things. I don’t think Mrs. Yi should forgive me.”

“But she did, long ago.”

“I—I will work hard.”

“Thank you, Spoon. Look, you have a visitor.”

The woman’s face appeared at the window. She was a thin, middle-aged woman.

“Hello, are you Auntie Qiu? I’m Spoon. Come on in, please.”

The woman shook her head and smiled sadly.

Spoon whispered to Gray, “Auntie Qiu is disappointed in me. I let her down. What have I been doing for the past twenty years!”

Gray raised his voice: “Spoon has great potential. She’ll do great things if she ever wakes up, and no one can stop her.”

As soon as Gray said this, Qiu disappeared.

But Spoon was still staring at the window. After a while, she heard Gray invite her to go to the herb garden, so she stood up and walked out with him.

Without any moonlight, it was very dark outside. Gray lit the road with a flashlight. Spoon said she was afraid. Gray hugged her tightly and walked on. From a distance, Spoon saw a light in Mrs. Yi’s house, but she could see only the outline of the house. Spoon felt herself being dragged along, yet never getting any closer to the house.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when she heard Gray mutter, “We’re here.”

“You mean the herb garden?” she asked.