Once the goddess of death disappeared; Qian Lan had already lost her appetite. The water god who left to greet the harvest goddess returns to only find Qian Lan pale and keeping her distance.
"What's wrong with you?"
"No...it's...nothing! I'm fine. I just ate something bad, that's all."
"That's odd. The harvest goddess always serves the best things."
"Ah, I'm going to get some fresh air."
"Don't stray too far. If anyone bothers you, let them know you're with me."
Qian Lan quickly stands up and nods. She runs out of the banquet room and heads back outside to calm her beating heart.
"Ugh, this is all that damn goddess fault. She had to tell me something unnecessary."
Qian Lan walks out towards a large garden that was filled with servants and other gods. With a heavy heart she drags her heavy dress to a small table made out of stone; located near a pond. As she stared into the pond, she realizes someone was standing behind her. Qian Lan quickly turns around screams.
"Ahhh! Who are you?!"
The man also screams after be caught off guard.
"Ahh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you lady."
Qian Lan collects herself and sits back on the table. She motions for the strange man to do the same.
"Who are you?"
"Ah, my apologies. I am the husband of the goddess of harvest. Looking at you, I can tell you're human."
"Did you come here to belittle me too?"
"No, not at all. I was once human myself so it's nice to see another human up here."
"You were human?!"
"Hm? Yes. It's been four hundred years now, but I've never forgotten my time as a human."
Qian Lan leans in and whispers to the well-dressed man. Although he wasn't as handsome as the other gods and goddess she saw, he would still be considered a good-looking man in her time with his height, chiseled jaw and broad shoulders.
"Does that mean you ate the fruit from the harvest goddess tree?"
"Why yes. That can only explain why I'm still alive right?"
"I guess so...if you put it that way. So, tell me, why did you approach me?"
"Well, you're the new bride of the water god, right? My wife and the water god grew up like siblings so I thought it was only appropriate to greet the wife of a brother."
"I guess...you have a point there. But I'm not even his wife. I don't even know his name for god's sake."
"You were chosen to be his wife, so give it some time. He will open up in time."
"What...what if I don't want to be his wife? I really would rather return to my time."
"What do you mean by that?"
Qian Lan sighs and decides it didn't hurt to let another god know of her time travelling.
"I came from the future, because of this bracelet."
"Future? Is it edible? Also, why do you have it? It's supposed to have disappeared when his first wife died."
Qian Lan rolls her eyes and slams her forehead onto the table as she groans in frustration. After rubbing her tired eyes, she finally looks back up and stares at the strange man.
"Hey, Mr. God."
"Oh, just call me Jin."
"Okay, Jin. Do you know the real reason why the water god is preserving his first wife's body?"
"Isn't it just because he wants to?"
"Ugh, I'm asking the wrong person apparently. You're a bit of an air head aren't you Jin?"
Jin smiles and scratches the back of his head as he agrees with Qian Lan.
"Ah ha ha, that's what my wife tells me too."
Seeing as Jin was no help, Qian Lan decided she needed to keep quiet about her talk with the goddess of death.
"Well, Jin it was nice meeting you. I believe its time I head back."
Qian Lan quickly bids Jin farewell and runs off back to the banquet. To her surprise the water gods table was filled with goddess all rushing to talk to him. Qian Lan rolls her eyes from seeing the scene unfold. Quickly walking to the front of the table, she clears her throat.
"Ahem!"
The water god who kept his gaze down finally looks up and see's Qian Lan staring at him with disgust written all over her face.
"You seem to be having fun. Should I come back later?"
"No! No! Come and have a seat."
The water god stands up and grabs Qian Lan and walks her down to her seat as the other goddesses' stare with envy.
"Ah, my wife is back so if you could all give us some privacy."
Although they were reluctant to leave, all the goddess quickly dispersed upon hearing the water god's plea.
"You seemed to be enjoying yourself there. Maybe I should've spent more time talking with Jin."
"You're kidding right? And Jin?"
"Yeah, the harvest goddess husband? Hello?"
"You're willing to call another mans name, but not mine?"
Qian Lan looked confused and turns to face the water god who looked like he was pouting.
"I don't even know your name. How am I supposed to call you something I don't know?"
"What? I never told you?"
"No?"
"Call me Jiang."
"Jiang?"
Once Qian Lan called his name, the water god smiled in satisfaction pats Qian Lan on the head.
"Ah! I'm not a kid."
Qian Lan grumbles and removes Jiang's hand off her head. As the banquet continued, Qian Lan couldn't help but think about what the goddess of death told her. Qian Lan didn't want to ask the water god in case the goddess of death was only lying to her. Throughout the banquet, Qian Lan could only remain silent as gods and goddess all came by to greet the water god.
The fire god who was sitting two tables down could see how quiet Qian Lan was and decided to pay her a visit. He pushes the god of money out of the way and seats himself next to Qian Lan.
"What do you want?"
"Wow, I came to keep you company because you looked bored and you take that tone with me?"
"I didn't ask you to."
"Ha Ha! Fair enough!
The water god could see the fire god acting chummy with Qian Lan. Annoyed he grabs Qian Lan's waist and pulls her closer to him.
"What are you doing fire god?"
"Nothing! I'm just looking after your poor wife."
"Thanks for your concern, but it's not needed."
The fire god smiles and chuckles as he walks back to his table. Once he was out of sight, Jiang finally let's go of Qian Lan's waist.
"Don't talk to him unless I say it's okay."
"What's wrong with talking to him?"
Qian Lan was confused as to why the water god hated the fire god so much.
"He's a flirtatious man with no boundaries. Why do you think he has no wife? That man can't be loyal to just one woman. Rumors has it, that just talking to him for a day can get a woman pregnant."
"Holy crap. Thanks for the warning."
"Also, you need to eat more. What's with that thin waist?"
"I am!"
Qian Lan angrily chews on the meat buns in front of her. The water laughs out loud from seeing Qian Lan's cheeks puff up from being stuffed with food. With the banquet coming to a close, the water god leaves to notify the harvest goddess of them departing soon.
After ten minutes Jiang returns and offers his right hand out.
"What?"
"Let's go home."
Qian Lan places her hand onto of Jiang's extended hand. Without warning he pulls her up and drags her out of the banquet hall. Jiang quickly pulls Qian Lan into an embrace as he whips out his finger to return them to the water palace.
"You can open your eyes now."
Qian Lan breaks away from the water gods hold and scans her surroundings. They were really back at the water god's palace now.
"You did well today. You can take tomorrow off before I give you your duties."
"Duties?!"