Chapter 03: “Date.”

Shen Xiaofan dreamed that she went on a date with a woman dressed in red, while she wore her favorite white t-shirt. The two of them walked hand in hand and approached an ice cream shop. Shen Xiaofan ordered the sour strawberry flavor while the woman ordered the pistachio flavor. The two of them sat on the benches nearby as they enjoyed their ice cream. The woman scooped her ice cream and gave it to Shen Xiaofan, the latter then took a bite and it tasted sweet. She couldn't tell if this sweetness was coming from the ice cream or the woman in front of her. All that she knew was for the first time in her life, she felt true happiness. She woke up feeling a bit confused and a sense of loss. She had no idea who that woman was, somehow she was familiar with her, she tried to wreck her memories. However, she couldn't remember anything. Who is this woman? And why are they acting so intimately?

Shen Xiaofan pinched her forehead in distress, usually, she didn't care about what she dreamed, but now she does. She woke up and dressed as usual. Today is Sunday, she doesn't have to go to school today. She went downstairs and spotted her mother making breakfast,

"Xiaofan, go eat your breakfast and help your mother clean up.",

"Yes, mom.",

Shen Xiaofan finished her breakfast and helped her mom to do the house chores. The ghost woman who had followed her was watching over her from the table. She sat playfully while looking at Shen Xiaofan cleaning the floor. Later, Shen Xiaofan was asked by her mother to go to the store. She and the woman went to the store together, the girl occasionally sneaking to grab Shen Xiaofan's hand, however, the effort resulted to no avail, she had given up and just followed Shen Xiaofan obediently. Surely, these continuous acts failed to prove her existence to Shen Xiaofan. The woman had thought about various ideas to reveal herself before Shen Xiaofan, however, it was not easy since Shen Xiaofan is actually afraid of ghosts. She didn't want to scare her, instead, she wanted Shen Xiaofan to be charmed by her. The woman was surprised by her own thoughts, when she was alive, she has never had this kind of thoughts before, it's as if she's a young girl in love while she's already in her thirties. Ashamed by her own thoughts, she drifted away from Shen Xiaofan and averted her gaze somewhere else. While the woman was busy sorting out her thoughts, Shen Xiaofan was enjoying her time picking up some vegetables and fruits. She moved from one place to another, searching for the cheapest meat and dairies. Seeing that Shen Xiaofan was enjoying herself, the woman felt annoyed and pranked her by moving the item nearby. Shen Xiaofan took it and put it back in its place, yet, the item kept dropping again and again. Shen Xiaofan felt annoyed and made more space for the item and put it there. The woman felt satisfied after pranking her, the latter just following her around like usual.

Shen Xiaofan had finished all the chores, she took a look at the sky outside. The sun still shines brightly and doesn't seem like it's going to rain. She changed her clothes and went outside to the park alone unless she wasn't really 'alone'. At the park, she saw a couple of kids running here and there, holding cotton candy and balloons. Shen Xiaofan saw an ice cream stand near those kids, somehow, it reminded her about the dream she had today. She approached the ice cream shop and ordered a pistachio ice cream with shredded chocolate topping. Shen Xiaofan scooped the ice cream and ate it, the taste wasn't as sweet as the one in the dream, she wondered why…

"Maybe it's because it's just a dream.",

In the end, Shen Xiaofan just ate the ice cream silently. She didn't know that the heart of the ghost woman who was following her right now is doing sports. Ever since Shen Xiaofan entered the park she recalled the illusion she created inside Shen Xiaofan's dream. But what she hadn't expected the most was the pistachio ice cream, she didn't expect Shen Xiaofan to remember her favorite ice cream flavor. There was a particularly warm feeling inside her, the woman didn't realize she was grinning at Shen Xiaofan. After she had finished the ice cream, Shen Xiaofan was looking for a trash bin nearby. Suddenly, a voice rang behind her ears.

"We meet again.",

Shen Xiaofan was shocked until she had jumped forward, tilted her head and saw a woman dressed in a red dress. It was the same woman whom she had dreamed about last night…

"Sorry to scare you, I just saw you walking at the park and I was excited to meet you again.", the woman apologizes and hands Shen Xiaofan a handkerchief.

Shen Xiaofan recognized the handkerchief, it was the handkerchief she gave to a strange woman who was crying at the school's gymnasium. It was not everyday to spot a beautiful adult woman crying at the school's gymnasium.

"It's been a while, how is the miss doing?", Shen Xiaofan took the handkerchief and cleaned the remaining ice cream on her clothes.

The woman smiled and was happy when she found out that Shen Xiaofan remembers her. The woman helped Shen Xiaofan to clean her clothes, Shen Xiaofan felt embarrassed by two things. One is because a beautiful woman was helping her, second, she had dreamed about this beautiful woman once. The woman tried her best to not grin due to Shen Xiaofan's inner voice. She could hear clearly what Shen Xiaofan's said inside her heart, it's some sort of supernatural's ability.

"Are you okay?", the woman asked worriedly.

"I-I'm fine.", Shen Xiaofan averted her gaze, unable to meet the woman's beautiful eyes. She was so nervous, it's the first time she ever felt this way.

"I happen to come alone to this park, would you please accompany me for today?", the woman asked with a soft tone.

Shen Xiaofan didn't know if there was something wrong with her ears or did this pretty woman just asked for her company in a coquettish tone? Anyway, she also came to this park alone, and she had met this woman before, so, spending time together won't be a problem right? Or is this an act of burglary?

"Sure. I happen to come alone to this park as well.",

"I know.",

"Pardon?",

"I mean, I had seen you come to this park alone.",

"I-I see.",

Shen Xiaofan almost thought this woman was stalking her from home. But turns out, she just saw her enter the park alone. She secretly felt glad and discussed what to do at the park with the woman. She didn't realize that in other people's eyes, she was talking to herself.

"What is the miss's name?",

"Eh, didn't I tell you before?",

"I'm sorry, I must not hear it pretty well.",

The woman chuckled and said, "Then, remember it well this time. I'm Wei Xiu…",

"That's a pretty name.",

"Thank you.", the woman smiled.

When the sky had turned dark, Shen Xiaofan bid farewell to Wei Xiu and headed home. Wei Xiu, who had used her spiritual power to let Shen Xiaofan see her figure immediately turned into a black mist. Wei Xiu followed Shen Xiaofan home, and on the way, there was a wandering spirit that wanted to scare Shen Xiaofan. However, Wei Xiu protected Shen Xiaofan and glared towards the wandering spirit. The wandering spirit was terrified and escaped within seconds.

After all, Shen Xiaofan is hers and only hers… no one is not allowed to claim what's hers. At least not anymore...