To Raise a Soul 10

After the notice from her youngest son, Qiu Feiqian immediately stopped shopping and dragged her stunned husband to Dawu’s Civil Affairs Bureau.

However, despite their hurry, they were a step too late.

When they finally got through the traffic jam, Yin Yan had already brought Yu Zheng to Dawu city’s high-end jewelry store to buy their wedding rings. Yin Le, throughout the entire process, stared as if watching a madman.

Regarding Yin Yan’s determination to buy the “contract token”, Yu Zhen only had one thought: I’ll listen. I’ll listen to you and go along with whatever you want.

To survive, he could do anything.

Between the two, one wasn’t familiar with the world, and the other had no interest in weddings. As a result, they settled the issue in a simple manner.

“Please show us the wedding rings with the greatest meaning behind it. A pair of men’s rings. Thank you.”

Yin Yan spoke authoritatively, and the store clerk’s eyes lit up. She took Yin Yan’s expensive clothing into account and quickly labeled him a man of high society with “lots of money to burn.” The clerk immediately brought out the store’s treasure.

“This a custom-made ring our owner ordered from the headquarters in F Country. There’s only one pair in the world. Not only does it boast our brand’s trademark ‘A man can only customize one ring in his lifetime for his true love,’ but it also uses our designer’s unique hoop design. Once worn, apart from your partner, no one else will be able to remove the ring.”

It was obvious anyone could remove the ring, but the message was what was important. Not the details!

Yin Yan looked at the diamond ring, which shone magnificently. He was dissatisfied with the cheap material used for the ring’s main component. However, he was pleased with the meaning. Two people, one bond. He looked at Yu Zhen and asked, “How about this one?”

Shocked by the ring’s price, Yu Zhen didn’t speak.

“Let’s buy this one. Please wrap it up.”

Yin Yan reached into his pocket then paused. He said with a downcast gaze, “This ring, you should buy it.”

“???”

Yu Zhen touched his ear, feeling he had misheard Yin Yan’s words.

The Yin Le who stood two steps away from the pair, pretending to look at his surroundings, turned to look at his brother in disbelief.

Ge is crazy! It’s a forced marriage, fine, but since Yu Ge agreed, you should treat him well! What crazy situation is this?

The one who wants a ring is you. The one who picked out the ring is also you. How could you let Yu Ge, who clearly doesn’t have much, step up to pay for this? Is this even humane?

In the past, he never considered Yin Yan a stingy person. When chasing Han Ya, he was quite a – Fuck! Could Brother’s character have twisted after chasing Han Ya? Is he going to vent his grievances with Han Ya on Yu Ge?

But Yu Ge’s innocent!

“Brother!”

Yin Le cut off the conversation between the two. He strode up to Yin Yan and, with sleight of hand, snatched the wallet from his jacket. Pulling out a card, Yin Le said to the salesperson, “Use this card to pay.”

The salesperson suppressed the excitement as such a large order and reached out to take the card. However, Yin Yan stopped her.

“You can’t use this.”　　

Yin Yan apologized with a hand over his brother’s. He took back the card, then pulled on Yu Zhen’s hand to leave the shop.

Yu Zhen followed without a word and without care about their interlocked hands. The price was too alarming. He couldn’t bear the cost. Therefore, he chose to escape.

Weng Xiping and Yin Le stayed inside, so Yin Yan whispered, “The token of our marriage must come from one of us. My circumstances are complicated, so the one who has to buy them will have to be you.”

Marriage concerned the future and destiny of the partners. As the original Yin Yan had passed away, the future and destiny of ‘Yin Yan’ was overwritten by the current ‘Yin Yan’. Therefore, their contract would be recognized by heavenly law and would be valid.

However, for the token to be a pure representation of the union between Yu Zhen and him, the one residing in Yin Yan’s body, he couldn’t use anything which belonged to the original – for example, Yin Yan’s money.

Although his soul was incomplete, Yu Zhen’s body was his own, and he earned every cent of his money through his own effort. All his money belonged to him, so Yu Zhen had to be the one to buy the rings.

“…” Yu Zhen, understanding this, remained silent for a few seconds.

As a graduate of less than a year, Yu Zhen only had a pitiful amount of money saved in his bank.

His savings could have been less pitiful, but he had recently had to pay for the funeral and his hospital bill. On top of that, his plot at the plant nursery was returned at a far lower price than it was worth due to his unexpected termination of the contract. He also lost the advance payment on the nursery and the rented flat, making his balance so pitiful.

“Umm… Can we buy the rings later?” Yu Zhen whispered.

Yin Yan looked at him quietly and gently shook his head. “Sorry.”

His head tilted downward as an ache swelled in his heart. Weng Xiping and Yin Le exited the store with long strides. Yu Zhen whispered quickly, “Do you want the rings for a reason?”

“It’s very important,” Yin Yan replied.

Yu Zhen pursed his lips, then he nodded. “Alright. I’ll buy the rings, but I can’t afford anything expensive. Don’t be too disappointed.”

Yu Zhen led the way to a nationwide-chain jewelry store. He described his budget to a sales clerk and from the rings presented, selected the most meaningful pair.

“These aren’t unique, or the most luxurious, but the shape is quite nice. Are they suitable for you?”

The salesperson turned to take care of other customers, and Yu Zhen held up the chosen pair, whispering his question.

Yin Yan looked at his uncertain expression and, without looking at the rings, nodded, “Very suitable. They’re perfect.”

With the thought of ‘giving everything for our future,’ Yu Zhen purchased the rings. They were better than the flashy, gaudy rings from the previous store.

They were much better. Much, much better.

The ache rose again, but more noticeably this time. His heartbeat also sped up.

Yu Zhen rubbed his chest, frowning.

What happened? Is the lost-soul sickness causing other problems?

Yin Yan noticed. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and took a step back, putting a little distance between them.

The salesperson turned back to them once she was finished assisting the others. By then, Yu Zhen noted the ache in his chest had subsided as quickly as it arrived. He lowered the hand on his chest and called over the staff, pointing out the rings they had chosen.

The rings swiftly became theirs. Exiting the store, Yin Yan pulled out one of the rings. He rubbed it gently and took hold of Yu Zhen’s hand.

“Do we have to do it this way? I-I can do it myself.”

Feeling strange, Yu Zhen tried to pull back his hand.

Yin Yan met his gaze calmly and continued to hold out his hand. 

It might be another ritual for fooling heavenly law.

Yu Zhen reasoned to himself. He endured the strange weight in his heart and reached out his hand again.

Yin Yan pulled his hand and gently slid the ring onto Yu Zhen’s finger. He held onto Yu Zhen’s hand for a moment before letting go. Then, he held out a hand to Yu Zhen, the other ring in his other hand.

“…” 

Yu Zhen summoned up his courage and took the ring. Trembling, he held the hand he once thought belonged to a ghost. Mysteriously, Yu Zhen’s heartbeat crescendoed. He quickly stuffed the ring onto Yu Yan’s ring finger.

Swhick.

The moment the ring slid into place, Yin Yan took a step back and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

Yu Zhen’s chaotic heartbeat calmed down. Surprised, he asked, “Why’d you move away?”

Yin Yan didn’t answer his question. Instead, he looked at the roadside and said, “Someone’s peeking.”

Yu Zhen followed the direction of his gaze and met a pair of bright, focused eyes. He couldn’t help but also take a step back.

When did that car arrive? They parked illegally and are peeping through the window. A pervert?

Realizing their cover was blown, Qiu Feiqian frowned and quickly raised the car window. She tidied her hair and clothing then kicked her still-stunned husband. Picking up her handbag, she gracefully exited the car.

Having watched the farce of his brother ‘forcing marriage and squeezing a person’s finances dry,’ Yin Le saw Qiu Feiqian as his savior. He madly rushed over and grabbed onto Mother Qiu’s arm. “Mom! Brother’s not behaving like a normal person!”

Yu Zhen trembled from shock. That… peeping ‘pervert’ is Yin Yan’s mother? No, it’s the mother of the “victim” whose body was robbed by “Yin Yan”?

He was finished. He helped this ‘robber’ use the identity and household register of this woman’s son to complete a marriage. Th-this…

“You’ve arrived.”

Yin Yan was very calm as he greeted Qiu Feiqian. He then walked back to Yu Zhen and led him to his mother. He introduced, “Mother, this is my legal partner, Yu Zhen. We’re already married. I hope you’ll give us your blessings.”

Qiu Feiqian’s thought of “maintaining a diplomatic approach” and Yin Le’s many accusations were halted by this righteous assurance. The air between the two men was strange. One stood silently while the other was flooded with a stream of emotions he couldn’t understand.

No one spoke for a moment. No one spoke for another. And another.

…

The timid Yu Zhen’s mind froze up again. He tightened his grip on the ‘robber’s’ hand and absorbed some of Yin Yan’s warmth. Then, he stepped toward Qiu Feiqian and executed a ninety-degree bow. “Aunty, I’m sorry!”

For using your son’s body and using his marriage, I’m very sorry.

Qiu Feiqian grabbed Yin Le’s arm and looked at his face, bewildered.

What happened? I’m not here to put on some ‘evil mother-in-law’ act. This situation… Did I develop an evil mother-in-law’s expression and scare this little gardener?