In this chapter, the ghost tells Li that he cannot see the future because he is trapped in the "haunted of eternal time" . He reminds Li that his life has been full of happiness for the past sixteen years, and he wonders if he is too selfish to lock everyone else in this time-shackle for his own sake. He suggests that xiaoya should wait 16 years before she gives birth to her child, and then she should tell the child the entire story of her life. The ghost asks Li to protect the child before he dies, so that he will be able to tell the story to the next spirit.