"Queen! Queen!"

Fengjiu whipped her head up to see Migu rushing back empty handed and in a panic.

"You forgot my tea." She said sleepily.

"Dijun is waiting outside."

She growled angrily, "Is he deaf? I told him clearly to leave me alone!"

Migu looked terribly confused watching Fengjiu run angrily to the den mouth. Since when was she angry to see Donghua Dijun?

Fengjiu furiously stepped out, her tails snapping out behind her.

"I told you to lea-" the words stuck in her throat and her anger vanished, turning to surprise. "Donghua? Migu said... I thought-"

Wait, she could not tell him that she may have met the Wenchang Dijun whose name was written with hers. If she did, what would he say? Whatever it was, it would probably be something she did not want to hear.

"What are you doing here?" She asked quickly to try and keep him from asking questions.

Donghua noticed her strange mood and studied her face carefully while he spoke.

"I am here to offer apologies on behalf of the heavens for ruining your investigation."

She blinked blankly at him, not quite believing his words. Donghua could see the dark circles under her eyes and frowned internally at her obvious over exhaustion. How could she let herself bear so much? Doesn't she have so many people to count on?

He spoke slower. "I have been sent to assist with the investigation in the hopes you forgive the heavenly clan for their mistake."

Fengjiu was too confused.

"You... You were sent?" She giggled a little. "And who could possibly send you here?" She shook her head and peered at him suspiciously. "Not possible. I must be dreaming."

She smacked her cheeks a little to wake herself up, but Donghua was still there, staring at her. He smacked her on the head with a scroll.

"You're not asleep, but you should be. Fengjiu, you look terrible."

She pouted, rubbing her forehead. It did not feel like a dream, but why else would he be here? In the last sixteen thousand years she had hardly seen him, and he had certainly never come to her before. No, it was much more likely she had fallen asleep waiting for Migu to bring her tea.

"That's mean, Dijun. Of course this is a dream. Why else would you be here?" She frowned and muttered, "You're usually a little nicer in my dreams."

Donghua didn't know what else to do to convince her.

"It's not a dream."

She looked at him for a while. Her head hurt. Maybe it was real. She shook her head.

"Is it really so hard to believe?" He asked, feeling a little exasperated.

"Impossible." Fengjiu looked up at him. "What are you really doing here, Dijun."

"Helping you." Dijun said it simply, but it just confused her more. "You really angered Tianjun by breaking heaven's rules. But don't worry. By saying I will help you investigate, it means I have excused your offense, and so he has to as well."

"Oh." She felt a little sad and disappointed. Tianjun's temper tantrum over the guards were really the least of her worries right now. If that was the only reason, she thought Donghua shouldn't waste his time. "Sorry for troubling Dijun."

He nodded, "I am really troubled. How will you take responsibility for this? You can't become a maid again. What can you do to repay my trouble?"

She blinked up at him, dazed by his words.

"I..."

"You should sleep."

"Sleep?"

He looked at her like she was missing something obvious.

"I have been practicing my dream magic. Having someone to practice on, this would be most helpful."

Fengjiu narrowed her eyes, feeling like she was being tricked.

"Are you really-"

"You think I'm lying?"

Fengjiu shook her head fervently, "I wouldn't dare."

He started to walk into the den. She realized he was leaving her behind and ran to catch up. He stopped, and she ran into his back. Fengjiu giggled. And he said this wasn't a dream? Impossible.

"Where is your room?"

"Dijun is asking where my room is? Definitely a dream."

Fengjiu was now convinced this had to be a dream. So, why not show the stone god to her room? She pointed coyly and giggled.

Donghua sighed. What had he gotten himself into?

Fengjiu ran ahead and hopped into her bed. She yawned wide as her head hit the pillow. She vaguely wondered how she could feel so exhausted in a dream, but was too tired to think much of it. Instead, Fengjiu just watched Donghua sitting calmly next to her. Her eyes started to drift closed. She wrapped her slim fingers around his hand. He started to pull away, so she pulled her hand away first. She rolled over to hide her tears.

"Where else can I see you but in my dreams?" Her voice was full of hurt. Donghua turned away. "And even here... You'll push me away."

He was still silent. Fengjiu sat up to rest her head on his shoulder. She knew she shouldn't. She knew she always pushed too much. In the last sixteen thousand years, she had been very good at stopping herself, but tonight she just couldn't find the energy.

"Fengjiu." His voice was stern, like he was going to scold her, and he started to move like he was going to leave her again.

"I've missed you." Her smile was bittersweet, "Sixteen thousand years... To you it all must be nothing, but it was a long time for me. A few minutes must be less than nothing. So, just for a few minutes, can't I borrow your shoulder?"

Donghua didn't say anything, but he didn't move away either. She sighed and closed her eyes. Only when he heard her soft snores did he dare to wrap his arm around her back to hold her closer. He stayed like that a few moments longer than he should have allowed. Then, he finally stood up and tucked her in.

His hand moved by itself to touch the red between her brows, but he stopped himself. A shaky breath escaped his lips as he pulled away. It seemed he still had not erased those feelings. Donghua wondered if he'd ever be able to properly let go.

Time could erode anything, right? Eventually, she would find her fated love, and she would move on. But what about him? There was no one for him to move on to. He was never supposed to fall in love to begin with.

No, that wasn't true.

There was a time when a name was written with his, but he had erased it. Without a second thought to the other person, he had erased it. More and more often, Donghua found himself thinking about that moment.

If he could turn back time...

Would he have the strength to do it again? He'd never be able to do it so lightly. Now fate had replaced his name with someone else's. Donghua had not thought about it when he'd erased his. The stone god had not given a single thought to what would happen to the woman whose destiny he had taken away. In fact, he only knew her name because Fate had told him.

And despite the many years since then, he somehow remembered it all too well. Looking at Fengjiu now, Donghua knew this was his punishment for forsaking Fate's good graces.