"Mr. Lu Li...Mr. Lu Li?"

In the psychologist's call, the black eyes gradually regained focus.

The ink-stained quill fell onto the paper: "Mr. Lu Li, you may speak."

Lu Li looked out the window, the cold tones of the fog-covered Belfast appeared gloomy.

The Emerald Dream isn't continuous.

Lu Li lowered his eyes, the psychologist watched in surprise as he exited the clinic.

"Da Vinci District."

He boarded a rented carriage by the street, the bumping took Lu Li to Madam Anne's Art Gallery.

It was a bit earlier when he saw Benjamin for the second time, the idle Benjamin was working part-time as a staff member, a security guard, facing the empty gallery.

"Sir, you came at just the right time, we have half an hour before closing, the gallery environment is quiet, uninterrupted art appreciation—"

"I'm an Exorcist, here to investigate the gallery's ghost incident."

A mix of delight, worry, and hesitation, Benjamin tentatively asked, "About the price..."

"Not needed."

Benjamin observed Lu Li, complemented by his slender frame, valuable black coat and shirt, rare black hair and eyes, possessing an air more mysterious and trustworthy than aristocrats.

In admiration of Belfast, Benjamin believed Lu Li and entrusted him with the gallery—being the gallery owner, he certainly knew the value of these works.

After Benjamin left, Lu Li walked with echoing steps to the depths of the gallery, to the oil painting titled "Madam Anne's Daughter."

Before night fell and Anna awakened, Lu Li took down the oil painting and turned to leave.

Before leaving, Lu Li didn't forget to lock the gallery door, carrying the painting as he boarded the waiting rental carriage, returning to the Sailor District.

It's hard to describe this action as exorcism, stealing, or kidnapping.

...

Cough—

The sound of a child coughing came from next door, followed by a mother's gentle comfort.

Clang—

The sound of cooking food and the scent of fried fish wafted down the corridor.

Bang!

The floor vibrated with the slam of a door, blocking out the suddenly erupting sound of an argument.

The wick flame flickered slightly inside the oil lamp shade, the living room shadows swayed with it. As time passed, the shadows gradually returned to stability.

The street scene outside the window was misty due to the darkness.

Lu Li sat quietly behind the desk, closing his eyes in waiting, as if merged with the still space.

At some moment, the colors of the oil painting became vivid, a silhouette gradually emerged from the painting—

Lu Li, who was resting, opened his black eyes, turning to look at Anna, who was frozen in action while crawling out of the frame.

Anna blinked gently, her phantom hands mimicking a scary face: "Awoo~~~"

"Need help?" Lu Li responded calmly and gently.

"Cough cough..."

Embarrassed, Anna awkwardly returned to normal.

"I am a spirit of the painting, um...human." Then, pretending to be reserved and ladylike, she clumsily used stilted "noble speech": "Did you buy this painting?"

"Yes."

"Um...human...do you have any wishes...that won't do...you want—"

Anna stammered onward.

"Actually, you're a ghost, right?"

Lu Li's calm words rescued Anna from her awkwardness, and unsurprisingly, because her ghost identity didn't invoke fear or disgust, the friendless Anna regarded Lu Li as a confidant.

Outside the window, the street was devoid of passersby, the voices next door turned to faint snores and murmurs.

"Um...it's so late, are you tired, Mr. Lu Li?"

When Anna noticed the clock, only three hours remained until dawn.

"No."

Despite hearing Anna's stories countless times.

The understanding Anna didn't think so, awkwardly urging Lu Li to sleep, averting her gaze and murmuring: "After all, you already... bought it..."

Lu Li did not refuse again, nodding gently and said: "Goodnight, have a nice dream."

"Goodnight."

Anna watched Lu Li return to the bedroom, lying down to rest without closing the door, then she floated back into the painting.

Lu Li did not fall asleep, as he was already within the dream.

The quiet night flowed, he silently perceived the presence of the Cursed Title.

The unrelated "Bloodstained," "Speaker of the Trees" could not be sensed, the "Lighthouse" from the Emerald Dream was hard to perceive, yet unexpectedly, "Dreamwalker" sensed a chaotic light cluster in the haze.

That was where Anna was.

Do ghosts also dream?

Lu Li approached the faint glow, merging with it.

Soothing, enchanting music played by his ear, long-missed warm sunlight poured down, on the grass of Himfast Cathedral, Anna, in formal wear, held the hand of Lu Li, wearing a white wedding gown.

"Do you take this gentleman as your husband?" The priest asked Anna, smiling warmly.

"I do."

"And do you take this lady as your wife?" The priest asked "Lu Li," veiled in white.

"I—"

"My princess, the woman you're marrying is a monster!"

The bold voice interrupted, and a knightly figure stormed the wedding lawn, with a face blurred by mist.

"I'm not..." Anna shook her head in panic, the ponytail swaying as she tried to explain to Lu Li, the next moment, her phantom hand passed through Lu Li's palm.

"Princess, I'm here to rescue you—"

When Anna was stunned, the intruder rushed into the banquet, during the chaos charged to Lu Li, sweeping him up horizontally.

The mist suddenly dissipated, revealing a clear face: still resembling Anna.

The farce continued, while Lu Li quietly withdrew from the chaotic dream, delving into more surrounding dim light clusters.

The silent night had passed.

At dawn, the awakened Lu Li roused Anna.

Seemingly a misconception or reality, Anna's gaze held some guilt and peculiarity as she looked at Lu Li. Then, as Lu Li prepared to take her to the beach, it turned to joy.

...

The carriage stopped by the railing of the coastal district,

here it appeared tranquil, near Elm Forest.

Anna didn't need to hide herself, excitedly rushing to the beach.

Lu Li followed quietly behind her, appreciating her joyful enthusiasm.

After running a distance, Anna gracefully turned around, her clear eyes seemed to emit light, filled with surprise: "How did you know I love the beach?"

"I naturally know."

"Um..."

Blushing, Anna turned to the sea, picking up a shell buried in the sand, holding it to her ear to listen.

"It's said that holding a shell to the ear, you'll hear the sound of waves..."

"You can't hear it when you're away from the sea."

"Mom, why is that sister transparent?"

A child's voice suddenly came through the sea breeze, Anna exclaimed as she hid in the Inner World, the shell silently falling into the sand.

The mother looked over from not far, only seeing a black-haired man bending down to pick up the shell.

"Don't say such things." She ruffled the child's hair, some worry making her pull the frequently glancing child, quickly leaving the beach.

After the mother and child left, Anna slowly reappeared beside Lu Li.

The waves washed the shallows, gazing at the bay, Anna's hair tips gently swayed like blown by the sea breeze.

Two figures stood together, leaning against each other.

"Thank you, Mr. Lu Li..." Anna softly said, summoning her courage.

The sea breeze blew over the emptiness beside Anna, the shell lay silently on the sand.

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