Archive of Our Own ^beta

The night sky, lightless and mundane, now painted different colors as fireworks burst. Gu Xiang had never celebrated the changing years before, and frankly she can’t remember if it ever occurred in the Ghost Valley before. Then again, time isn’t important when all ghost struggle to survive every single day of the year. Why bother celebrating another year of suffering?

This is the land of the living, though, and Wen Ke Xing did tell her to behave how a human would. That means abiding by their confusing rules and participating in their habits. Sometimes, her thought interjects. Gu Xiang has never been a compromiser in her ways after all.

Celebrating the new year is supposed to be an event that people experience with loved ones – or so Gu Xiang thought. Cao Weining, that idiot, brought her here to his home and left her all alone in this big villa due to the current shut-down happening in his sect’s territory. Scary times, she gets it. But now she’s lonely.

Not that she’d admit it, though.

The cabin door gets a knock, and Gu Xiang was more than ready to take out whoever had the guts to bother her. The knocking stops, and a familiar “Gu Xiang, let me in!” could be heard. She definitely knows that voice no matter how muffled it is.

She patters towards the cabin door, unlocking it to reveal none other than Cao Weining himself. Gu Xiang was happy confused why the man stood in front of the cabin instead of back in the mountain top. But whatever words and sentences on her lips dies as soon as a few familiar faces comes along.

“Weining-“

“Gu Xiang!” the familiar sound of Weining’s Uncle Master, Fan Huai Kong, and closest senior, Mo Wei Xu, trails behind. The sight of the two making Gu Xiang’s lips tighten into a line as she smiles as polite as she could afford to.

“I thought you were celebrating with the sect,” Gu Xiang looks at the two guests before returning her gaze onto Weining. She thought she had gotten better at hiding her surprise whenever she had to interact with these righteous people, but nope. Gu Xiang looks around anxiously, realizing she hadn’t clean up the villa as much – considering she didn’t even knew there’s guests coming, that idiot Weining. If a glare could kill, her husband to-be would be dead on the floor within seconds.

Fan Huai Kong didn’t bat an eye over Gu Xiang’s jerky movements, knowing that the girl had always been awkward in her own ways. “Gu Xiang, it’s alright,” he reassured before trouble starts between the couple. “Weining brought you here and we couldn’t properly welcome you, making you stay here in this lonesome villa instead of within our home.”

An apologetic bow follows, which Gu Xiang reciprocates immediately, waving off the older man in hurry. “What are you saying! Don’t mind it, Uncle Master,” she stood there with wide eyes. Gu Xiang had never seen a sight like that before. Since when does these righteous people have shame and consciousness?

Mo Wei Xu smiled, extending a hand towards the humble low table on the center of the villa. “Shall we?” he awaits Gu Xiang’s answer. Gu Xiang nods along, only to get surprised all over again as there’s more people outside with hands full, carrying food and drinks. The once vacant table now filled to the brim.

Gu Xiang looks to Weining as if asking for an explanation, only be given that same, stupid smile that lights up her husband to-be’s face. “Have you been lonely?” he asks, earning a shake of head from Gu Xiang. How the hell was she supposed to say yes to that?

“I was completely fine until your mug-face shows up in my doorstep,” Gu Xiang stated bluntly, covering the fact that her cheeks are burning. All this troubles for her sake. Weining learnt how to charm people after mingling too long with her Master, she’s sure of it. “Now my place is full with people and food. How am I supposed to eat all of this myself?” she rambled on, poking Weining’s shoulder repeatedly, only to be reminded that the villa is no longer filled with only the two of them.

Gu Xiang looks to the two older men in the room and quickly realize how she had came off. Weining might’ve been fine with her outbursts, but if she wants to be the wife of a noble man, she should keep the good graces of those her husband-to-be finds important too. Just the way Weining had asked for Wen Ke Xing’s permission to love her.

“I suppose…” she starts meekly, “I have never celebrated the coming year before. Let alone have such a feast with people,” Gu Xiang tried again. Her surprise could’ve come across as complaints. Her ghostly traits inerasable even while she wears a human face.

Ah… when did she stars crying? Gu Xiang wipes the salty tears with the back of her hand. The villa had been cold a few moments ago as she spent it inside, bored to death. Though now, this small crowd made the once-quiet villa so very warm.

“I’m unfamiliar with this,” Gu Xiang laughs, leaning onto Weining for support. His hand holding hers so surely. “Let’s eat, while the food is still warm.” She invited the guests properly this time. She learned a few tricks of hospitality after seeing Gao Xiao Lian up close before.

Weining nods, “Of course,” he tugged Gu Xiang along to take a seat next to him while Mo Wei Xu and Fan Huai Kong sat across from them. The festive moods repelled the dulled silence that had sat with Gu Xiang for as long as she had stayed there.

So perhaps, not all of these human celebrations are completely pointless. Gu Xiang doesn’t understand what to celebrate when all she could have expected was another year of suffering. Though now, with Weining hand on hers, she felt warm. Unfamiliar, but not unpleasant.

Gu Xiang watches as food begins to migrate to plates, and Weining placing the biggest piece of chicken on hers. “It’s our sect’s best,” he smiled excitedly. “Try it.”

Letting go of Weining’s hand in favor of taking her chopsticks, Gu Xiang takes a bite. It’s still warm, and the flavor explodes in her mouth. She hums in appreciation, using the back of her hand to pat Weining’s shoulder as if to tell him about it. “It’s-“ she choked on her words, “You have things like this back at your home?”

Weining proudly nods, all puffed up chest and playful pride. “Our sect is well-known for it’s culinary excellence!” he claimed. Fan Huai Kong shook his head in return, gazing over to Gu Xiang.

“Well, that’s why his cheeks are still full like a child,” he joked, earning a bewildered whine from Weining, a strike to his pride.

“Uncle Master!”

“Joking, joking,” Fan Huai Kong laughed, waving him off before looking back at Gu Xiang, “I’m not joking,” he whispered playfully.

The table erupts into laughter while Weining pouts, not quite beating the childish allegation. Gu Xiang looks around the table and can’t remember when was the last time she had seen a sight like this. Everyone gathering with a smile on their lips, their table full with food enough to keep them full. She could only recall faint traces of hunger that persisted through the day when she was younger, of danger in every corner and betrayed trust for every time she tried to reach out.

Gu Xiang held Weining’s hand. He returned it with a squeeze, not letting go even if it stopped him from eating, and that man loves food more than anything. She laughed to herself.

How warm his hands are.