The ugly boy snapped back to reality.
"Fairy… Sister… where… are we?" he asked hesitantly, glancing around in confusion.
He was lying on a lush patch of grass by a riverbank, the sound of flowing water filling the air. Nearby, the little red horse was grazing contentedly.
To his amazement, he noticed that the whip wounds on the horse's neck had healed. Even the pain in his own body had vanished—the wounds from the Lin family young master's beating had closed up, leaving only faint scars.
At that moment, he realized the cloth he had used to cover his face was gone. Panic set in, and he hastily covered his face with his hands, turning away to hide his appearance from the white-robed woman.
Seeing his reaction, the woman recalled how the boy had acted similarly during the day, trying to avoid being seen whenever his uncovered face was exposed. Curious, she asked, "Why are you so afraid of people seeing your face?"
"I'm… too… ugly. I'm afraid… I'll… scare you… sister," the boy stammered, his voice trembling with fear and self-loathing.
"So, this is what you call ugly?" The woman frowned slightly as she gently pinned the boy down, pressing his hands into the grass and carefully examining his face.
*Thump, thump, thump…*
At first, the boy's heart raced with fear and panic. All his life, he had dreaded people staring at his face. But as he calmed down, he realized that the fairy-like woman's gaze held nothing but curiosity—no disgust, no fear.
"Fairy… Sister… aren't… you… afraid of… me?" the boy asked, still stuttering, but less frightened.
"Afraid of you? Why should I be afraid of you? Do you think you could eat me or something?" The woman chuckled, finding the idea amusing. Then, with a warm smile, she added, "I can't really tell if you're ugly. I just think you look… different. Since I left home, you're the first person whose face I can remember."
In truth, since she had left the Heavenly Court and descended into the mortal world, everyone had started to look the same to her—ordinary, forgettable faces. But for some reason, this boy's face had left an impression on her.
Her definition of beauty seemed to differ from others'. To her, the boy simply looked unique, not frightening. And how could she, a powerful being, ever be scared by an ordinary mortal?
The boy was stunned. All his life, people had reacted to his appearance with horror, then anger, calling him a monster and cursing him for trying to scare them. It had made him shy and fearful, unable to face strangers.
But this fairy-like sister didn't find his appearance ugly or terrifying; she just thought he looked special. He could tell she wasn't lying or trying to comfort him. This realization brought an indescribable feeling to his heart, and he found himself slowly lowering his defenses around her.
Though he still felt a bit awkward and often avoided her gaze, he was trying his best to overcome his instinct to flee.
"My name is Yaoxi. What's yours?" Yaoxi asked casually.
"I… don't… have… a name…" the boy replied, shaking his head.
"No name?" Yaoxi was surprised. Then, with a playful smile, she said, "Well, since you seem a bit slow, let's call you Daizi from now on!"
"Okay." The boy nodded earnestly. From now on, he would have a name.
"Uh…" Yaoxi was momentarily taken aback. She had meant it as a joke, but seeing the boy's serious expression, she thought, *Well, he really is a bit of a fool.* So be it—Daizi would be his name from now on.
"Are you hungry?" Yaoxi asked, pulling out two oil-paper-wrapped roasted chickens and handing one to the boy. Without any concern for appearances, she started gnawing on the chicken with gusto.
To the boy, her unpretentiousness made her even more endearing. He mimicked her, picking up the whole chicken and tearing into it. He had never eaten so freely before, and even though his hands and face were soon covered in grease, he felt a sense of ease and contentment.
They exchanged glances, and seeing each other's greasy faces, both burst out laughing. Even the little red horse pranced happily beside them.
That night, the boy fell asleep, his small body curled tightly, his brow furrowed, his face pale, and his breath labored. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead as he mumbled in his sleep, "No… no… don't… hurt… Little Red…"
Seeing this, Yaoxi gently stroked his forehead, trying to soothe his troubled dreams. Perhaps sensing the safety she provided, the boy unconsciously snuggled into her arms. Yaoxi froze for a moment, then smiled warmly, softly caressing his bony back.
"Don't worry," she whispered gently. "As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you or Little Red."
Gradually, the boy's frown eased, his tense body relaxed, and his breathing became steady. The little red horse, too, came over and nuzzled Yaoxi's back, as if to thank her.
Feeling all this, a small smile crept onto Yaoxi's lips. The spirited little red horse and the frail but kind-hearted boy had touched her in a way she hadn't expected.
As the sun rose, its gentle rays fell upon the boy, waking him from his sleep. He looked around, and seeing that no one was beside him, his face filled with disappointment.
Until…
"Daizi, you're awake!"
A playful voice called out from a distance. Yaoxi was standing in the stream, her pant legs rolled up. The morning sun bathed her in a soft, golden light, and her radiant smile made her look even more dazzling.
"Come over and help catch fish! We're having fish for breakfast!" she shouted cheerfully.
The boy got up, his face expressionless, and slowly walked toward the stream. But the way his pace quickened, and the barely contained joy in his eyes, made it clear that he was thrilled beyond measure.
She hadn't left!
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8