"Get away from him!"
On her way back, Yaoxi noticed a crowd gathered around something—or someone. When she pushed her way through to see what was happening, she was horrified to find that the person at the center of attention was the young man, Daizi.
Seeing his mask gone, she immediately understood what had happened. Without wasting a moment, she rushed forward and began to disperse the onlookers.
Yaoxi wrapped her arms around the trembling, panicked Daizi, holding him close. "It's okay now, it's okay. No one's looking at you anymore," she whispered soothingly, trying to calm him down.
Zhang Yao, realizing the gravity of her mistake, also helped to scatter the crowd. Once everyone had left, she approached Yaoxi, holding the mask she had removed from Daizi's face, her expression full of guilt.
"Sister Yaoxi, I'm so sorry. I didn't know…"
Yaoxi shot her a sharp glare, took the mask, and led Daizi back home without saying a word.
Once they were home, Daizi locked himself in his room, refusing to see anyone—even Yaoxi. Seeing him so distraught only deepened her worries. How could she ever leave him like this?
Yaoxi sighed deeply, looking at the peachwood hairpin Daizi had given her. It seemed she would be holding onto it for a while longer.
The next day, Aunt Zhang and her family came to apologize, bringing Zhang Yao with them. Upon hearing that Daizi had locked himself away and wouldn't see anyone, they expressed their deep regret and scolded Zhang Yao for her recklessness.
Yaoxi, understanding that they hadn't meant any harm, didn't hold a grudge. After all, if she were to leave, Daizi would need the support of the neighbors. And now that everyone knew the reason why Daizi wore a mask, they wouldn't be so shocked in the future.
For several days, Daizi remained isolated in his room. Then, one morning, he slowly removed his mask and forced himself to face the twisted, scarred reflection in the mirror.
He knew that if he didn't overcome his inner demons, Yaoxi would never be able to leave him with peace of mind. He couldn't be so selfish as to force her to stay by his side forever.
Meeting Yaoxi had been the greatest fortune of his life, and he was already grateful beyond measure. From now on, he resolved to change himself—to become someone who didn't rely so heavily on her. He wanted to show her that he could manage on his own, even if she left.
Determined, he repeatedly faced his reflection, confronting the fear and shame that had haunted him for so long.
Outside the Haotian Mirror.
As the Yaoxi Empress watched these scenes, tears streamed down her face, her heart aching with sorrow. Only now did she realize how much effort Daizi had put into easing her worries, so that she could leave without concern.
At the time, she had been completely unaware of his struggles, instead thinking about where she might go next if she left Peach Blossom Valley. Looking back, she now saw that the moment she accepted Daizi's peachwood hairpin, her feelings toward him had begun to change—though she hadn't recognized it then.
Recalling the silly, jealous incidents that followed, the Yaoxi Empress couldn't help but smile through her tears. Those memories were some of the most cherished of her life.
Now, all she wanted was to find Daizi's soul and bring him back to life, so they could return to Peach Blossom Valley and live a peaceful life together.
Xuanwei, who had been silently observing her, seemed to understand some of her thoughts. Although she had often found the Yaoxi Empress irritating, a faint sense of sympathy now stirred in her heart.
Back in the Haotian Mirror.
After several days of isolation, Daizi finally emerged from his room one morning. To Yaoxi's surprise, he wasn't wearing his mask.
She didn't think much of it at first, assuming that since they were alone at home, he didn't feel the need for the mask. But when she saw him preparing to go outside without it, she quickly called out, "Daizi, where are you going? Don't forget your mask!"
"The shop… it's been closed… for several days. I'm going… to tidy up," Daizi replied with a cheerful smile. "And as for… the mask… don't worry, Yaoxi… I don't need it… anymore!"
Though he still spoke haltingly, there was a newfound confidence in his voice. With that, he stepped out the door.
Yaoxi watched him go, her mind swirling with questions. Then it hit her—he had just called her by her name!
Her expression turned a bit strange. It seemed Daizi was really growing up, daring to call her by her name now. But for some reason, the thought made her feel oddly happy.
On his way to the shop, Daizi ran into Aunt Zhang and Zhang Yao. He greeted them with a smile, "Good morning… Aunt Zhang, Zhang Yao… sister."
Aunt Zhang was startled at first, not recognizing him without the mask. The smile on his scarred face was indeed a bit unnerving. But when Zhang Yao explained who he was, Aunt Zhang quickly understood and began apologizing again for what had happened. Zhang Yao stood by, clearly feeling guilty and remorseful.
Daizi responded with a light smile, "It's okay… Aunt Zhang. See, I'm… fine now… aren't I?"
Aunt Zhang noted the positive change in him. Without the mask, he seemed more open and confident, even talking more than before. This was undoubtedly a good thing.
After exchanging a few more words, they were about to part ways when Zhang Yao, hearing that Daizi was heading to the shop, offered to help. "Brother Daizi, let me help you!"
Without waiting for her mother's approval, she eagerly followed Daizi, chatting and laughing along the way.
Aunt Zhang didn't mind. After all, Zhang Yao had caused the initial trouble, so it was only right for her to help out now. Watching the two walk away together, Aunt Zhang couldn't help but think they looked rather well-matched.
Sure, Daizi wasn't the most handsome man, but once you got used to his appearance, it wasn't so bad. And if Zhang Yao didn't mind, there wasn't much to complain about.
Besides, Daizi's appearance wasn't natural—his scars were from burns. If his sister, Yaoxi, was any indication, he would have been a very handsome man if not for the disfigurement. If he and Zhang Yao had children, they would undoubtedly be beautiful.
Now that everyone knew that Yaoxi and Daizi weren't married, they naturally assumed they were siblings. With that in mind, Aunt Zhang started thinking about finding a matchmaker to propose a marriage for her daughter.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8