"I'm back. I crouched down beside the white cat, touched her head as usual, and told her, and to myself.

Because the identity of the ghostwriter caused trouble to the people around me, I had to leave Tianbei groceries, went around a lot, went to many places, and found the answers I wanted.

"How are you..."The white cat turned back into a girl's form and looked at me in surprise.

"I've found a way to stay here," I said, pulling the paper spirit out of my bag, "with this, don't worry." ”

Tsubaki looked at me for a long time, "Aren't you leaving?"

"Well, don't go. I said, "It's just that I'll go out once in a while, and the paper spirit can take me anywhere in the world, so that my attraction to youkai will be eliminated and won't cause too much trouble in the store." ”

"But..."Tsubaki's voice was soft, "I'm sorry..."

"Sorry for what?"

"I forgot a lot of things," she said, "I don't know why, it seems like a lot happened, but I can't remember it, so I don't quite understand what you're saying..."

"Don't you remember me?" I said, "let me tell you again what I have forgotten." ”

It was a mixed day, and the only things Tsubaki could remember in full seemed to be how she came to Tianbei Grocery and when I left, and the rest could only remember a few fragments, although she seemed very quiet, but I could see the anxiety and panic in her heart, just like a child abandoned on the street, as if everything was familiar, in fact everything was strange.

I told from the first day she came to the store, trying not to miss a single detail, the encounter between Guan Qing and You Zhen, the story of Qingsu and Chunshui, the fireworks and hundred butterflies in the Black Sea, the adventure of Chongming Bird, the red line connected by the bird, the trip to the Temple of Spring and the commission of Jumang, the old friends and new knowledge of Lao Cai, and even talked about the swamp full of father's love, the silkworm girl who repaid her kindness, the land of life in the land of Lushu, and the blue finger and Philip of the kingdom of adults. "Really?"

"No, did I really say that?" Tsubaki said in surprise.

"It sounds so beautiful, let's go again. Tsubaki said expectantly.

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll just say how I always feel that place is so familiar!" Tsubaki said with a sudden realization.

"It's a pity... I can't remember any of them," Tsubaki said sadly.

"So there are so many youkai out there, too. Tsubaki said a little lonely.

"Take me next time!" Tsubaki said excitedly.

"Hey, have you met a lot of nice people!" Tsubaki said happily.

I looked at her, and the kitten was immersed in the memories I had told her, full of joy and sorrow.

She danced with her hands, burst into tears, opened her teeth and claws, and smiled like a flower.

Tsubaki, still Tsubaki, I wish she remembered this, instead of me telling her.

Finally, I talked about the time gap.

This time, she was silent.

I sighed, "So, the reason why you forget your past is because of me. ”

"But why?" she asked, "why did I leave you?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know about that... Before I could find the answer, your file had been deleted, and although Philip could allow you to retrieve some of your memories, but..."

"No, didn't you say that the little tanuki had to trade his life to reforge the Dream Mirror?" Tsubaki said, "If it can't be restored, then that's it, fine." She looked at me, "We're all back." ”

"Really... I'm so sorry. Tsubaki's indifference made me not know what to say.

The two of us sat facing each other, silent until the voices in the street subsided and it grew late.

"Ding!" the bell on the container rang.

I was stunned for a moment, but Tsubaki had a commonplace expression on his face.

"Looking for you," she said, "you don't know how many guys are looking for you every night in the store these days when you're away, I can't sleep at all, you go and greet them, and there will be time to chat later." ”

"Huh?" I wanted to say a few more words to Tsubaki, but now it seems... I have to change the day.

"Lord Yek, you're back!"

"Oh, Lord Yeke, we're all going to kill you!"

"Lord Yeke, I heard that you went on a trip?"

"Lord Yeke, as soon as I learned that you were back, I prepared a lot of good wine!"

"Let's celebrate Lord Yek here tonight!"

"Of course! That's what I'm here for!"

"Hurry up, hurry up, pick up the wind and wash the dust for Lord Ye Ke!"

......

That's right, it's twelve o'clock, and in the days I've been away, I've almost forgotten how a lively place the Tanbei groceries used to be.

The small space was blocked by a group of monsters, the big ones stood outside the window singing, and the small ones sat on the table playing cards, feeling that they were not here to greet me at all, but to party!

"Don't play too long!" I said, "If you have something to do with me, come to me one by one tomorrow, I have to rest early tonight, and I have to go to say hello to the boss and Guan Qing tomorrow!"

"Lord Ye Ke, you will judge who is more competent in this matter!"

"Lord Ye Ke, do you say that I am a red heart or a grass flower?"

"Lord Ye Ke, this wine is great, why don't you try it?"

......

None of the monsters paid any attention to me... The former prestige is gone.

"Isn't that nice," Tsubaki sat down in her chair and looked at me with a smile, "how nice it is that you don't reject them anymore, and they don't have a barrier with you anymore." As she spoke, she poured herself a full glass of wine, "Come on, keep drinking!"

......

I don't know how long it took, but the room finally quieted down, and the youkai who hadn't drunk too much thanked me one by one and left, and those who had drunk too much fell sideways in the store.

"Alas... What an unruly bunch. I couldn't help but complain, gently picked up Tsubaki, who had turned back into a white cat after drinking too much, and put her on a soft cushion.

It seems that the only way to clean up tomorrow is when these drunken youkai wake up...

"Excuse me, is anyone there?"

I glanced at my watch, it was already past three o'clock in the middle of the night, and at this time, who would come?

When I opened the door, I saw a boy in a white shirt.

"Sorry, we are not open at night. I opened the door and said.

The boy looked a little hesitant, "Are you Mr. Ye Ke?"

"Well, it's me. "That's what youkai usually ask... But it's obviously a human in front of you, huh?

The boy has heavy dark circles under his eyes, looks a little tired, and is dressed as if he has already worked.

"What's the matter?" he didn't speak for a long time, so I had to ask him first.

"This," he hesitated for a moment, before taking out a handkerchief from his bag, opening it with great care and holding it in his hand as if it contained a precious treasure, "the owner of this one, I want to see it." ”

It's a small red umbrella.

(End of chapter)