Xiao Shu and Zhang Yuqiu followed Fan Jia, having no idea where these living dead intended to take them, nor what dangers lay ahead on their path. The one thing they both understood with stark clarity was that they had become hostages. With new successors established and hostages secured, the situation suggested the Spirit Race was currently at a disadvantage. Yet, why had these two clans, the Reborn and the Undead, who usually minded their own business, become entangled in conflict? Xiao Shu couldn't make sense of it.

Passing Qin Xin Park, he considered making a break for it, intending to find Old He and Sister Xiaoyu at the shelter. If Li Xiaohao happened to be there too, the situation would be wonderfully advantageous. But then he considered that if they weren't there, the hundreds of civilians huddled in the refuge might easily become the next meal for these murderous demons. Thinking of this, Xiao Shu couldn't help but sigh, sinking into self-reproach.

"Why the sigh?" Before the person sighing even realized he had done so, the one walking beside him had already seen through his troubled demeanor.

The question came from none other than Zhang Yuqiu, who had been shadowing him. At that moment, she had plucked a leaf from somewhere, rolling it idly between her fingers. Occasionally, she’d bring the tightly rolled leaf, now shaped like a cigarette, to her lips and blow forcefully. After much effort, however, not a sound emerged, save for a stream of saliva spurting out the other end of the leaf roll—utterly useless. Fan Jia, watching from the side, couldn't help but giggle stupidly. Finally, unable to bear Zhang Yuqiu's clumsy performance any longer, he snatched the leaf away. Without bothering to wipe off the saliva, he immediately smoothed it out, placed it precisely against his lips, and blew gently. A clear, melodious birdsong instantly fluttered out from between the leaf and his mouth. Everyone turned to look: Zhang Yuqiu stood sandwiched between two men, as Fan Jia used the leaf to mimic a bird call, sneaking sideways glances at her while he played. At this point, Fan Jia's flirtatious intentions had become an open secret known to all.

While they were all amused by his silly antics to charm the girl, the girl herself was entirely focused on Xiao Shu beside her, prompting the others to start teasing: "Stop blowing that thing, she's already spoken for!" "Idiot bird, can’t you even see that here!" "Hey, who was making that exaggerated gesture for the number two just now?" Speaking of which, everyone recalled the scene where Fan Jia had mocked Yuan Qi for walking ahead of Xiao Shu and Zhang Yuqiu, and they burst into laughter. Someone even proposed erecting a statue of Fan Jia, complete with his cross-eyed 'two' gesture, bowing at the silken skirt of Zhang Yuqiu. Then, they would sculpt Zhang Yuqiu giving her heart to Li Xiaoshu, who was huddled fearfully on the steps. If the two statues could be merged into one, they would name the piece, "The Yuqiu Love Triangle."

With one comment leading to another, they grew more excited, more over-the-top. Except for Yuan Qi, who had nearly suffered a major setback for angering Fan Jia earlier, the others were passionately engaged, their banter good enough to be filmed and shown to the living and the dead across the globe as entertainment based on Fan Jia’s earlier performance.

Fan Jia, who had merely intended to tease Zhang Yuqiu for fun, never expected that one casual gesture would invite such mockery. A slow anger began to build within him, and his face darkened. At that moment, with Yuan Qi walking far ahead, no one else noticed the change in Fan Jia’s expression. They assumed it was just another ordinary bout of joking around, and apart from the central figure, nobody was paying him any real mind.