"It's not—" I caught myself. To be flustered before a mortal girl. "I have matters of import to attend to. I will come again, and next time… perhaps you and Jia will like something fine to wear. It doesn't do for me to be seen in such ragged company."
"Oh, you bite." Before I could step away, Lin flung her arms around me. She smelled of sweat, youth, and rice. "Do come back. Jia and I will cook for you. It won't be as amazing as anything you eat up there, but it'll be our best."
A few hours later, when I was safely ensconced in heaven, the sky fell and flood claimed the mortal lands.
* * *
His servants gave me such obeisance, fit for an empress. There is no corner in his house, no path in his garden, where I might walk without the rustling of paper robes and paper caps as spirits of lu
