Those who hold onto deep attachments cannot cross the Mackinac Bridge.

So, I could only wander in the underworld and became a guide for lost souls.

This job was called "delivering the paper."

My job was to hand the paper to the lost soul and guide them into their next reincarnation.

They said that once I completed a thousand deliveries, I could drink the soup and walk across the Mackinac Bridge just like the souls I guided.

Finally, I received my 1000th soul.

However, on the paper, I saw my ex-boyfriend's name.

Time: April 10th.

Location: Mount Barney.

Cause of Death: Drowning.

Name: Evan Howard.

Birthdate: January 21st, 1999.

...

Was it him?

He was going to die?

My feelings became complicated.

There might be more than one Evan in the world, but not many with the same birthdate and name.

As usual, the paper spontaneously ignited. This time, the flames were different. An eerie pale blue instead of the usual bright red.

The flames grew stronger, and darkness engulfed me. When light returned, I found myself in front of Evan.

It was really him.

After three years, he was still so radiant.

His handsome face, tall figure, and cool, clear demeanor were unchanged.

My heart tightened, and my pulse quickened.

Even after three years, seeing his face again still took my breath away.

It was love at first sight all over again.

He sat in the driver's seat, looking at me in the passenger seat. His face was expressionless.

As always, he was impeccably composed.

Suddenly, a smile appeared on his face, and my heart fluttered. But I quickly realized he wasn't smiling at me.

A long-haired girl in a white dress sat in the passenger seat.

She smiled and greeted Evan, her body passing right through me.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," she said.

"It's fine," he replied.

So, they were together now.

They really looked perfect together.

That girl was my best friend, Esther Torres.

Good for them.

I thought to myself with a smile, but there was sadness.

Esther was still so beautiful.

She had smooth skin, a lovely face, and a curvy figure.

It was flawless.

They were a perfect match.

I sensibly moved to the backseat, watching them laugh and talk. I remembered how Evan once told me, "The passenger seat is always reserved for you."

Now, it seemed that promises were just empty words.

I admit I was sad.

I had been dead for three years. I couldn't expect him to mourn me forever, but I couldn't control my feelings.

If a person's attachment was too deep before they died, the paper would burn instantly, making it impossible for a guide to find the soul. Without the paper, they couldn't cross the Mackinac Bridge.

I looked at Evan with some resentment. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have died with such regret. I wouldn't be in this situation now.

But now, it was useless to blame him. I could only blame myself for loving this man too much, for having such a narrow vision that it ruined everything.

I sighed and looked at Esther, smiling brightly. I was genuinely happy for her. She ended up with the person she loved.

In love, there's no room for too many people. Since I was never meant to be, this ending was for the best.

After all my sighs, I finally remembered the reason I was here.

I looked at the paper in my hand. After burning, it had become transparent, but the words were still visible. When I crossed the Mackinac Bridge and drank the soup, this paper representing this life would turn to ashes.

Those lines of text looked startling now. Thinking about how they were about to be separated by life and death made my emotions even more complicated.

"Are we spending the night outside?" Esther asked.

"Yes, I'm taking you to see the stars," Evan said. His voice was deep and magnetic.

"Am I going to have to watch them be lovey-dovey all night?" I checked the time, feeling a bit annoyed. There were still at least three hours until the time mentioned in the paper.

Esther seemed very pleased with this answer. "I'm so excited. This is our first time spending the night out together."

Evan didn't say anything, just smiled.

I struggled to keep my emotions in check and thought, "Am I going to have to watch them get all lovey-dovey tonight?

Seriously, this is too cruel.

Did I have to be the one chosen as his guide?"

At that moment, Evan suddenly looked at the rearview mirror without warning. Our eyes met. My heart skipped a beat.

I saw an inexplicable change in Evan's previously calm face. It was subtle but complicated.

"What's wrong?" Esther noticed something was off with Evan. When he didn't respond, she turned to look at the backseat.

After a moment, Evan said, "It's nothing."

He glanced at the rearview mirror again. He started the car and focused on driving.

That look gave me chills. He shouldn't be able to see me!

I cautiously leaned forward. I waved my hand in front of his face, but his expression didn't change. He didn't even blink.

I finally breathed a sigh of relief. It was just a false alarm.

There were cases of dying people seeing their guides, but it was extremely rare.

I had only heard of it, never actually encountered someone who could see me.

I wouldn't doubt it if it were anyone else, but this was Evan.

He had been exceptional since childhood, leading a life of success with intelligence and talent beyond the ordinary. If one in ten thousand could see their guide, I believed that person would be Evan.

If he could see me, he should have noticed when I first appeared before him, not after I moved to the backseat.

I tried to control my wild thoughts.

"It'd be nice if Cecilia were still here."

It was Esther who suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

Cecilia was me.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed. I was both eager and afraid to hear Evan's response.

Evan didn't say anything. He just focused on driving.

I let out a sigh of relief, but it seemed like Esther wasn't done.

"Why do you never say anything when I mention Cecilia?" she asked. Her tone carried a hint of frustration.

Esther's words were laced with accusation and dissatisfaction.

"Because I don't want to talk about it," Evan said coldly.

He was still as aloof as ever.

"You can't forget her, can you?" Esther stared at the road ahead. Her expression grew darker.

"No, I just don't want to argue with you," Evan's cold voice drifted from the front.

His cold voice washed over me like a bucket of ice water.

I found it almost funny. In his mind, I was dead. I was someone he would never see again. His answer was honest. Why should I feel sad about it?

He didn't betray me. He just moved on with his life.

But even knowing all this, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

...

If I hadn't gotten sick, Evan and I might never have started.

Or maybe, I stole the fate that Evan and Esther were supposed to have.

During a routine check-up, they found a shadow on my lung. It scared me. I asked my good friend, Esther to recommend someone reliable because she's a doctor.

Esther said there was a young associate chief physician at their hospital who had just returned from abroad and was skilled at diagnosing lung nodules and lung cancer.

That person was Evan.

"It's not a big issue. It's likely benign. Even if it's cancer, it should be primary. The prognosis after surgery is good."

The first time I met Evan, he looked at my test results and said this.

I was immediately captivated by his looks and professionalism. I couldn't help but fall for him.

Evan was very aloof. He was indifferent to everyone. Even though Esther was quite friendly to him, he didn't seem to care.

But I liked the challenge of pursuing such a cold and handsome man.

Going after a man was my virtue.

I wiped my tears and admired Evan's face in the rearview mirror, thinking about how his looks had bewitched me back then.

"Cecilia's mom has been saying she feels short of breath lately. I'm planning to take her for a check-up tomorrow," Esther said. She changed the subject and did not press further.

Seeing that Evan remained silent, Esther continued, "As her best friend, this is the least I can do for Cecilia."

I was touched again. We grew up together, and she's always been better than me. My parents adore Esther.

It's true, you can always rely on your sisters!

After I passed, my parents must have suffered greatly. I was too stubborn, and it wasn't right for me to see them. I couldn't even return on the seventh day.

I couldn't fulfill my duty to my parents, nor could I reincarnate to repay them. I was truly a useless daughter.

Luckily, I had a good sister who helped take care of my parents.

Thinking of this, I looked at the paper in my hand, then at my best friend Esther, and finally at the man I had loved for so many years.

The scenery outside the window kept changing. An hour later, we arrived in the mountains.

I knew this mountain. It was Mount Barney.

The place of death on the paper was right here.

I looked up at the sky. It was clear, and everything seemed calm.

"We'll take this path up the mountain. I know a great camping spot where you can see the stars at night," Evan said.

Evan pointed to the road ahead. It wound deep into the lush forest, disappearing from view.

Esther smiled. She skipped a little and then linked her arm with Evan's.

Evan didn't look at her. Instead, he turned toward me, sending a shiver down my spine.

Ultimately, he said nothing and just turned to walk up the mountain.

I could see a trace of sadness in his eyes, which made my heart ache.

The burning time of the paper is unpredictable. Generally, when the paper burns out, its owner is about to die. Once the flame goes out and I appear beside the owner, death follows shortly, and I guide them on their way.

Sometimes, the paper starts burning long after the owner has died. By the time I arrive, the soul has already wandered for some time.

It was rare for the paper to bring me to the living several hours in advance, like with Evan.

Since the paper brought me here, I had no choice but to follow.

"Do not interfere with the fate of the living."

I remembered the advice given to me by my predecessor when I first started delivering papers.

After that, he completed his thousandth delivery and crossed the Mackinac Bridge.

Spirits burdened by memories of their past lives suffer greatly, and that obsession prevents their souls from finding peace.

I remember, it was the night before my wedding. If I hadn't died that night, maybe I wouldn't have been so obsessed.

I had seen the black flame of obsession devour a thin sheet of paper on my chest. Later, I realized that it was the key to my reincarnation.

I never saw the guide for my soul. I was lost in despair. A strong will to live led me to the paper and made me a guide.

I was about to complete my thousandth guiding and finally say goodbye to all of this, entering a new cycle of life.

Why did it have to be you, Evan?

"Further up, there's an open space, far from the city. The stargazing at night is beautiful," Evan said, pointing ahead.

I had been here with him before. He said the same thing back then, but he added something else.

"But you have to make sure the weather is good. Otherwise, this mountain can easily flood."

This time, he didn't mention any of those dangers.

He just buried his head and kept walking.

I had a bad feeling. When I looked up at Evan, I noticed his back was faintly glowing.

As the sun set behind the mountains, the glow became more noticeable.

It had a slight red hue.

People's souls have different colors, and most are white.

I didn't say anything.

"Honestly, being with you, everything's good," Esther replied.

Two people and a ghost walked along the mountain path. A quiet stillness enveloped us.

I remembered the first time I told Esther I would pursue Evan. She looked at me with disdain.

"I advise you to give up early. Evan is famously cold and handsome at the hospital."

"That's because you're using the wrong methods," I said.

Later, when I won Evan over, Esther's expression was unnatural. She didn't say anything then.

"I really envy you. From childhood to now, you've always gotten what you wanted."

That's what Esther said the night before my wedding.

We both drank a little, feeling tipsy. Her face was flushed, and she seemed a bit down.

Later, I don't know what happened. When I became aware, my lungs were already filled with water. I was suffocating, in pain, sinking.

I saw a reflection in the water. I couldn't make out the person's face. I reached out for help. There was only water everywhere. It choked my voice, my breath, my life.

As night deepened, I saw a red glow on Esther's back. It was even redder than Evan's, casting an eerie light on her smooth skin.

I looked at my watch. The time had arrived.

Evan set up the tent on an open space. This place was a dried-up riverbed.

The first time we came to watch the stars, it was also here.

Under the romantic starry sky, I slowly moved closer to him that night. I looked into his beautiful eyes.

Evan smiled. That smile could melt my heart.

"You're such a little girl. Why can't you ever be reserved? Can't you wait for me to make the first move?" Evan said,

I laughed, too. I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I can't be reserved!"

Under the starry sky, there was only laughter. There was only happiness.

His hand wrapped around my waist. I felt the firm arms of a man. He pulled me into his embrace. A fresh, pleasant scent filled the air. His soft, moist lips pressed against mine.

We were entwined.

I watched his back. My mind was filled with memories.

I watched him revisit this place with his current lover. I should have been happy for them, but the paper in my hand told me this would abruptly end tonight.

To be honest, my feelings were complicated.

"The signal here is bad," Esther suddenly said.

Esther frowned as she fiddled with her phone.

"Perfect, no one will bother us then," Evan lit the bonfire, waving Esther over.

"Look up," Evan pointed.

I looked up and saw the vast starry sky.

"Wow, it's so beautiful!" Esther exclaimed.

Just as beautiful as before.

"There's a meteor shower tonight," Evan said, pulling out a telescope. "We might be able to see it."

"Really? That's awesome," Esther said excitedly, resting her head on Evan's shoulder.

She looked at Evan with affection and said softly, "You're so good."

Then she slowly leaned towards him.

Seeing this, my heart suddenly felt like it was pierced by something. I quickly turned my head away.

Time seemed to freeze.

I didn't hear any lingering affection or intimate caresses.

I only heard Esther ask, "Why?"

"No reason," Evan said.

"Then you didn't have to agree to be with me. Why did you agree and then not let me touch you?" Esther's voice turned sharp.

"Can we not talk about this tonight?" Evan's voice grew low.

"She's been dead for three years!" Esther's expression twisted. "How long are you going to keep suffering?!"

Evan lowered his head and didn't speak.

Esther took a deep breath and adjusted her emotions. "It's always like this. Every time I bring her up, you just stay silent. She's dead, and there's nothing I can do. I just want to live well with the person I love. Can you stop making the living suffer so much?"

Evan stared at the bonfire and said for no reason, "After tonight, it'll be fine."

Esther stared blankly at the man in front of her. After a long time, she turned and went back to the tent. She pulled the zipper tightly, and faint sobs could be heard from inside.

I quietly walked over to Evan. I saw his once calm face start to twitch. Two clear streams of tears flowed from his eyes.

He frowned and raised his wrist. He bit it hard with his teeth, desperately trying to hold back his tears.

My heart clenched along with his.

I couldn't bear to see him sad.

I crouched down. I held his face, and said softly, "Don't cry, Evan. Don't cry."

He couldn't hear my voice. His shoulders shook. He didn't want anyone to see his pain.

I caressed his face. I leaned in and kissed his forehead and his hair.

I couldn't feel his warmth. Life and death had separated our worlds.

"We'll see each other soon, Cecilia."

"Cecilia, that's my name."

He whispered softly, as if he was talking to me.

I was stunned.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

Of course, he couldn't hear me. He didn't answer me, just quietly stared at the starry sky. His emotions gradually calmed down.

"What are you planning?" I started to get nervous.

I began to have bad suspicions about the cause of Evan's death.

He stood up and took out some ingredients from his bag. He poured them into the pot over the bonfire. Then he pulled out some seasoning packets from his pocket and added them one by one.

After it was cooked, he scooped a bowl and walked to the tent. He squatted down and said, "Esther, come out and have some tortilla soup."

"I'm not hungry," a muffled voice came from inside the tent.

"It's my fault. Don't be mad..." Evan said softly.

His emotional shift was a bit abrupt. For some reason, he suddenly became humble.

There was no sound from inside the tent.

"Esther, give me some time," he continued.

The sound of rustling came from inside the tent. The zipper was opened, revealing Esther's delicate face.

"So how do you plan to make it up to me?" She didn't seem as pained as before. A smile appeared on her face.

"What kind of compensation do you want?" Evan asked.

Esther threw her arms around Evan, almost spilling the soup.

"Be careful," Evan said, carefully protecting the bowl of soup.

Esther kissed Evan on the cheek.

"Alright, I'll forgive you this time," she said with a playful smile.

Evan handed her the bowl of soup. "Here, drink this first."

Esther took it. "Okay. Since you made it yourself, I'll drink it all."

After saying that, Esther took a sip of the soup.

"Let's go by the fire. It's cold at night."

"Okay."

Just then, I saw another person appear in the clearing.

It was another guide, Justin Walker.

He smiled at me and waved. "Hey there, you're early."

I looked at him in confusion, then looked at Esther.

"Are you here for Esther?"

"Yeah. I just got the paper," Justin said.

I looked at the two by the fire. The red glow on their backs grew more glaring.

"Tsk, what a hassle. It turns out they're both evil souls," Justin said.

"Have you picked up red souls before?" I asked.

Justin nodded. "Once. It wasn't easy."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Justin glanced at me and gave me a strange smile. "Evil souls have to go to hell. Anyone who sees that scene will wail and resist going in. It's a lot of work."

I fell silent. At this moment, the weather started to change. A strong wind rose, and dark clouds gathered, gradually covering the starry sky.

"I'm a little sleepy," Esther said. "It's going to rain. What should we do?"

"Let's go back to the tent and sleep for a bit. After we rest, I'll take you down the mountain," Evan said gently, helping Esther lie down in the tent.

As soon as they lay down, a light rain started to fall outside.

"It's been raining for the past couple of days. I thought today would be clear, but the weather changed so quickly," Justin paused as he said this. He glanced at the paper and added, "When the King of Hell calls for your life at three in the morning, he won't let you live until five."