Chapter 29: “I Was Born in This Life Just to Meet You.”

Not long after, Tu Shanju returned, holding a freshly drawn talisman in her hand.

She folded the yellow charm paper into a small triangle as she walked and handed it to Xie Shiyu.

“This is a sleep charm I created myself. Just slip it under your pillow, and I guarantee you’ll sleep soundly until morning, without a single dream! Thank you for being my private driver today—you’ve worked hard. Good night.”

With that, Tu Shanju turned and walked to her own bedroom.

Xie Shiyu looked down at the charm in his palm, gently rubbing it with his fingers. The corners of his lips curved upward, and he murmured softly, “Good night, Tu Shanju.”

Back in his room, Xie Shiyu stared at the charm for a long while, turning it over again and again in his hand before finally slipping it under his pillow.

He grabbed his pajamas and headed into the bathroom.

Sure enough, with Tu Shanju’s charm under his pillow, he slept without a single dream—the best sleep he’d had in years.

The next morning, he woke up feeling clearer and more refreshed than ever before.

His perception of Tu Shanju’s abilities had reached a new height. After all, he’d never heard of any master who could create their own talismans.

She truly never stopped surprising him.

He pressed a button and the electric curtains slowly opened. Sunshine poured into the room.

Directly outside the second-floor window was a view of the garden.

He saw a group practicing Tai Chi in the yard.

Tu Shanju stood there holding a rattan ruler. She slapped Xie Jingting’s poorly positioned horse stance, then smacked Xie Jingzhou’s drooping arm.

She looked every bit like a competent and strict instructor.

Xie Shiyu stood staring at the scene for a full ten minutes before turning to wash up.

Outside in the garden, as their morning training wrapped up, Tu Shanju clapped her hands. “Morning practice is over!”

Old Master Xie and the others wiped the sweat from their brows.

Xie Jingting plopped right onto the ground. “Ow ow ow—my leg! Cramped, cramped!”

Tu Shanju didn’t even glance at him. “You shouldn’t sit immediately after exercise. Same logic as cooling down after a run.”

Xie Jingting stayed put and grumbled, “Sister-in-law, are you playing favorites? Why didn’t big brother have to get up early and train?”

Tu Shanju replied seriously, “Because he was with me late last night. And he’s not weak—exercise is just a bonus for him.”

At that, Old Master Xie and Xu Airu—who were about to head back—exchanged knowing looks and stifled a laugh.

It seemed the two of them were progressing faster than expected.

They had originally worried there was no emotional foundation between the two and that it would take a long time to build a relationship.

But things were going smoothly—surprisingly so.

Of course, they weren’t misunderstanding anything.

They knew Tu Shanju had been “working” last night.

What caught them off guard was how differently Xie Shiyu treated her.

Yes, to Xie Shiyu, Tu Shanju was someone special.

Compared to the other kids, Xie Shiyu had matured early and always had strong opinions.

Even as a child, he never played with girls.

So when Old Master Xie saw little Xie Shiyu hugging three-year-old Tu Shanju like a cherished treasure, it had been a shock.

Especially with his slight germophobia—back then, he’d wiped her tears and snot without complaint. It had stunned everyone.

Now, it seemed she still held that same unique place in his heart.

Perhaps… this really was fate.

“I was born in this life just to meet you.”

—

After breakfast, Tu Shanju once again rode with Xie Shiyu.

This time, the chauffeur drove, and the two of them sat in the back.

Tu Shanju was looking down at her phone.

At the top of the trending news was the police statement about Yin Qing’s “accidental fall.”

And that wasn’t the only story—many entertainment companies had announced that their artists would be suspending activities for a while.

Some said they were going on vacation to unwind, others cited illness or family emergencies. Some claimed they were entering creative retreats.

In short, the excuses were many and varied.

Tu Shanju glanced through them all and recognized each studio from the list she and Xu Jiangshan had compiled yesterday.

They’d moved quickly—very efficient.

Scrolling further, she saw a post from Bai Yu’s studio.

Just a short message. Clearly not crafted by any PR team—it looked like he had posted it himself.

“I’m Bai Yu. Just a heads-up: I’ll be taking a break starting today. I’m heading back to the deep mountains to cultivate. Don’t bother me. If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”

Although it was written in a jokey tone, Tu Shanju knew he meant it.

Bai Yu really had run back to the mountains.

Not because he was determined to cultivate… but because he was mortified.

Somehow, news of his ghost phobia had spread like wildfire through the Nancheng demon realm overnight.

He’d fled without even packing.

That morning, Bai Lu and Madam Bai had called Tu Shanju to thank her—and also mentioned this.

Tu Shanju hadn’t expected Bai Yu to be not only dumb but also thin-skinned.

Worried that he might spiral into depression, she even did a quick divination for him.

And promptly regretted it.

She wanted to smack herself.

It was pointless—he’d be back in a week.

Sure, he was thin-skinned… but his memory was even shorter than hers.

Once he forgot how embarrassed he’d been, he’d just come strolling back.

Xie Shiyu told the driver to drop Tu Shanju off first.

Because the Underworld’s local operations office dealt with ghosts and demons, it was located way out in the suburbs.

A three-story building stood there, with a silver plaque reading “Nancheng Operations Office.”

At the gate, an elderly man lounged in a rocking chair, fanning himself and listening to the radio.

Tu Shanju stepped out of the car—and instantly recognized he wasn’t human.

This old man was actually a dog demon, and a very old one at that.

As she exited, Xie Shiyu rolled down the window and asked, “What time do you think you’ll finish? This place is pretty remote. Want me to have the driver pick you up?”

Tu Shanju shook her head. “Without me, the driver wouldn’t be able to find this place again.”

At that, the driver stole a glance at her through the rearview mirror.

He thought, Come on… I’ve been a driver for years. There’s nowhere I can’t find. I just drove here a minute ago. What do you mean I can’t find it again?

And besides, even if he couldn’t, surely GPS could?

What he didn’t know was—GPS really couldn’t find this place.

Because ordinary people couldn’t even see the building.

The only reason he could see it now was because of Tu Shanju’s presence.

Once she left, this place would just become an empty lot again—completely unremarkable, like any other.

Xie Shiyu glanced at the building behind her and said, “Alright. Just message me when you’re done and back home.”

“Got it. You be careful too. See you tonight.” Tu Shanju backed away two steps and waved.

Xie Shiyu: “See you tonight.”

Watching the car drive off, Tu Shanju turned and walked toward the gates of the operations office.