I walked inside my home when I saw my parents and Nǜshì Lian sitting at the dinner table. Nǜshì Lian wasn't what I expected, she had slightly tanned skin and striking blue eyes. I assumed she was from the Middle East as I sat down. "Hello, Nǜshì Lian."

I glanced at my parents and also saw that they expected that Nǜshì Lian would be Chinese. Nǜshì Lian smiled as my parents gave us some privacy. To my shock, she spoke in perfect Cantonese. "Hello, Xiran. I know, I know, I'm not what you expected."

My cheeks heated up. "Uhm, yeah, sorry."

"If you'd like, we can switch back to English."

"Okay."

Nǜshì Lian started asking questions about my background, history, and education, and I answered them clearly as if it was a test, though, I'm sure that she took that into consideration too.

We had a pot of tea ready and I poured a cup for her. Nǜshì Lian thanked me as she smiled. "Xiran, you sound like a fierce woman. I'll find a husband with the same fierceness."

I tried not to wince but Nǜshì Lian noticed me flinching. "Is something wrong?"

"No, n-not at all."

She set down the cup of tea. "Are you hesitant about marriage? Xiran, to be honest, marriage at this age can end in disaster. If you're worried about your parents, I won't tell them."

"Nǜshì Lian, I...I don't really want to marry right now. I'm almost eighteen, I want to live a bit more. Whoever you pair me up with, I might love them, but I just want to date, not marry."

"Understandable."

"Sorry, I just screwed up your entire session with my doubts."

Nǜshì Lian placed her hands on mine. "It's better to be truthful. Now, I think I have everything I need, Xiran. I'll go fetch your parents and tell them about my findings. Usually, I would bring you many suitors, but I just know the perfect one."

"Thank you," I said as the lady got up from the table. She went to tell my parents the news in the other room as I took a deep breath. I hadn't thought about marriage until now, I felt like I wanted to live first before settling down.

"Xiran," Māmā called as the trio came up to me. Nǜshì Lian nodded as we said our goodbyes. Once she was out the door, Māmā gushed all about it. "Nǜshì Lian will be back tonight with your chosen suitor! Isn't this wonderful?"

"It's amazing, Māmā." I managed a sloppy smile.

"All the years of praying to Buddha worked," Bàba remarked.

"Yeah, it's great. Where's Auntie Ponyo?" I questioned. "I want to thank her, she gave me a jade necklace for good luck."

Mama looked over the necklace, marvelling. "Very good, Xiran."

Bàba looked less marvellous about the necklace for some reason. "Be careful."

Be careful. About what, the jade necklace? I nodded and asked if I could go hang out with Abahai and Ushi to tell them the news. Māmā said not to give a lot of details because she didn't want the whole village to know.

I tugged down the dress as I shoved back on my extra nice sandals. It had a higher heel platform to give off the idea of heels. I felt excitement drum through me as I sprinted to the Soontornvats' shop, my hair whipping in the hair.

"Abahai, Abahai!" I shouted, smiling.

"Xiran?" Abahai looked surprised, checking his watch. "I didn't expect to see you so soon. Did you finish your, er, matchmaking session?"

"Yes, it was easier than I expected," I said, inviting myself into the store. There were a few tourists, staring at Abahai and me. They looked amazed and some looked proud for some strange reason. "My suitor is coming tonight."

He wiped his hands off with his apron, taking it off. He yelled that he was taking a break and Chaluai echoed a response. We went outside and he ran his fingers through his black hair. "Hey, Xiran, remember what that odd tourist said in Golden Alley?"

"Yeah, he was weird." I kicked at some pebbles.

"I think...I think he's correct."

I choked on my own tongue. "Abahai, don't lie."

"Xiran, remember how in our geography unit, the teacher said Hēi'àn De Mìmì wasn't on the maps because it was outdated ones. But, Xiran, I checked at the library, and all the up-to-date maps still don't show Hēi'àn De Mìmì." Abahai was starting to scare me. "And I spend a lot of time with outsiders, they always act as if the sight of the townsfolk is a delicacy. They spend time talking about spirits and ghosts, the souls of the Underworld."

I shook my head rapidly. "This is impossible."

"Xiran, look at the facts."

"You're lying, Abahai," I choked out. "How can the townsfolk of Hēi'àn De Mìmì go decades, or centuries, without noticing that our town isn't real? Abahai, this can't be true."

I spun around and he suddenly grabbed my wrist. "Xiran, please."

"Don't make this difficult."