She’s a Passerby, But Can See the Protagonist’s Halo

Ka Ka stared at the notification before her—this was the first time she had ever seen a growable achievement badge.

Thinking back, she had previously earned badges like [Chance Encounter] and [Fleeting Kindness], both of which were incredibly useful. The [Chance Encounter] badge increased goodwill during her travels, while [Fleeting Kindness] boosted her friendliness in Mongolian regions.

But this one—[Ballad of Bygone Days]—left Ka Ka gaping in surprise.

[Equip Effect: +20% chance to trigger past events]

She had never seen an effect like this before. What exactly were "past events"?

Ka Ka had played tabletop RPGs before, and if she hadn't known for sure that this "past" wasn’t related to *that* kind of eldritch horror, she would’ve immediately discarded the badge for good.

"Bygone days… Does it refer to stories like Sister Luo’s?" Ka Ka murmured to herself.

War orphans, displaced refugees, or perhaps more locals with histories tied to those forgotten times?

Upon closer inspection, the badge’s effect wasn’t limited to the Northeast region. That meant she could encounter fascinating people and uncover untold histories anywhere—whether elsewhere in the country or even abroad.

The thought alone filled her with excitement.

Every journey was an experience—an opportunity to see a wider world, meet more people, and uncover stories hidden from the masses.

This time, the video was a single episode. To showcase the extreme off-road vehicle, Ka Ka drove all the way from Xunke County back to Ha City to return it. The final edit even included a segment of Ha City’s Central Avenue.

Snowflake effects drifted across the screen, framing the eclectic architecture—spires and domes interwoven, musicians playing saxophones and violins on balconies.

The soundtrack? Chopin’s *Tristesse*.

In the ending animation, Ka Ka, donning a sable hat, held a candied hawthorn stick in one hand and a Madieer ice pop in the other. She wandered through the vibrant Central Avenue, joining the crowd by the Songhua River as winter fireworks lit up the sky.

Her latest travel vlog, *Winter in the Northeast*, had already hit a million views. Combined with her earlier uploads, her total view count had reached three million, with her grassland episode even making it onto the platform’s "Weekly Must-Watch" and "Treasures of the Site" lists.

Ka Ka didn’t upload frequently—her release schedule depended on her travels. Her earlier videos had almost no ads, but this time, her first sponsor was an "old friend."

Yan couldn’t help but feel proud. Watching the channel grow, gaining more and more subscribers, gave her a sense of shared accomplishment.

"Why didn’t Ka Ka go to the Ice and Snow World? The ice lanterns at Zhaolin Park are gorgeous too," Yan muttered after finishing the video.

"I heard this year’s display is the biggest yet," Tan Xiaobao chimed in.

"Should we go this year?"

Yan’s reply was firm: "We’ll discuss it later!"

The forty-five-minute video passed in a blink, and by the time it ended, it was already ten o’clock. Yan yawned, exhaustion creeping in.

She’d had an exam in the morning, then packed her luggage, followed by a long high-speed train ride where she hadn’t rested. After arriving in Ning City, she’d been stuck in traffic. Now, with everything settled, drowsiness overwhelmed her.

Tan Dabao stood up, and Xiaobao, quick on the uptake, followed.

"Hey, I’m going downstairs to grab my pajamas. Dabao, don’t you need yours too?"

In the blink of an eye, the two slipped out, leaving Yan alone in her bedroom with Zhu Jue.

Neither of them had even turned on the light before leaving.

"Jue Jue, I’m so tired," Yan mumbled, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Let’s get you ready for bed, okay?" Zhu Jue lifted her gently and switched on the bedroom light.

Yan whined, "No… If Mom sees, she’ll say I’m being extra again."

"I wanna sleep~ Sleep~" She nuzzled against his ear, whispering playfully.

Zhu Jue caught the teasing lilt in her voice. Their noses brushed, his ears flushing red as he whispered back,

"Sleep whenever you want."

Their lips met briefly, warmth lingering for just a second before parting. Seeing Zhu Jue’s face and ears burning, Yan decided to spare him.

With him like this, even if she had any mischievous ideas, she wouldn’t dare act on them at home.

"Alright, go keep Dabao company," she said with a wave.

They opened the bedroom door together. Yan had already unpacked her toiletries and began her nighttime routine, while Zhu Jue bid the adults goodnight and headed back across the hall.

By the time Yan returned to her room after washing up, Xiaobao had already showered, changed into pajamas, and claimed the outer side of the bed.

Exhausted, Yan took a quick shower, slathered on lotion and moisturizer, then climbed into bed.

"Hey, sis… Are you asleep?"

"Hm?"

"I’ve been at university for half a year now. Dabao and I have met so many students who skipped grades, and honestly? I’m glad we never did that."

"Mom was totally right. Some of these classmates… They left home and regular school way too young. Their social skills and emotional intelligence are seriously lacking."

Tan Xiaobao rambled on, unloading a semester’s worth of thoughts, waiting for her sister’s response.

Yan: *Zzz~*

"Sis?"

"You’re asleep? Oh well… Goodnight."

The night passed uneventfully. Back in the comfort of home, Yan slept until seven. When she saw the time on her watch, she jolted upright—kicking Tan Xiaobao’s thigh in the process.

"Why are you up so early?" Xiaobao grumbled.

Still bleary-eyed, Yan took in her surroundings and immediately flopped back down. But her body clock, still wired from exam season, refused to let her drift off again.

She groaned, "Ugh, this stupid sleep schedule! I’ve been waking up at six every day for finals, cramming before exams."

Even though she was home, her body hadn’t shaken off the academic grind.

It took a few days for Yan to adjust. She lazed in bed, napping in between waking hours, rummaging through the freezer for ingredients her mom had stashed away, and dragging Dabao, Xiaobao, and Zhu Jue to Ning University’s frozen lake for ice skating.

With winter break in full swing, the lake was nearly empty—mostly frequented by university staff.

Yan and Zhu Jue glided across the ice, hands clasped behind their backs, casually critiquing the conditions.

"This year’s ice isn’t bad. Remember how rough the outdoor rink at our high school was?"

With so few people, the lake was essentially a free-for-all—divided only into skating and ice sledding zones.

As kids, they’d been devoted sledders, linking their tiny sleds into a train with Yan at the front, Zhu Jue at the rear, and the twins sandwiched in between.

Back then, the skating zone had been lively with amateur speed skaters looping around. Now, the only ones circling the rink were the four of them.

"Any ice hockey matches this year?" Yan asked.

Tan Dabao shook his head. "Not enough players."

The northern skies were vast and clear, and even at a biting temperature of minus ten degrees Celsius, the blue expanse overhead remained strikingly vivid. As they chatted, Yan and Zhu Jue glided another lap across the ice, their movements captured on video by Tan Xiaobao.

Yan clicked her tongue as she watched the freshly recorded footage. "A year without skating, and we’ve still got it," she remarked smugly.

She proudly shared the video in their dorm group chat, while Zhu Jue sent it to Chu Shen with an enthusiastic invitation: "Come to Ning City—I’ll take you to see the snow and go ice skating."

For most southerners, that single line was enough to compel action. If not, adding "and eat delicious food" would surely do the trick.

Of course, for someone like Chu Shen—a culinary maestro—the promise of good food might not hold the same appeal.

The four of them, clad in ice skates, circled the frozen lake a few more times before Tan Xiaobao suggested they relive their childhood by trying out ice sleds.

But just as they reached the ice sled area, before even spotting the person in question, Yan caught sight of a golden halo.

After all, the【Rebirth】halo was something she had only ever seen hovering above Xu Jiaojiao and those scoundrels from before.

Yan had been prepared for this, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

Though Xu Jiaojiao wore a white knitted cap, the halo above her head was even more conspicuous than the pom-pom on top.

Yan watched as Jiaojiao sat in the back seat of a two-person ice sled, with none other than Wen Yu—one of the【Rebirth】male leads—occupying the front.

Back at the small-town inn, this particular suitor had arrived with Liang Ruichi only after Jiaojiao had already left, so Yan hadn’t interacted with him much.

But she did remember that Wen Yu had once been the student council president in high school and was now a junior at Ning University, so it wasn’t surprising he could bring Jiaojiao onto campus.

Yan blinked. "Is this a date? Definitely not Jiaojiao’s idea of a good time."

After all, Wen Yu looked positively ridiculous at the moment.

Yan wasn’t sure if Wen Yu had ever been skilled at ice skating. If they were on skates, she could understand—back in high school, there had been optional winter sports classes where budding couples could "teach" each other, holding hands to "steady" one another (though an ill-timed fall could quickly turn romance into slapstick).

But ice sleds? Not exactly conducive to romance.

Out in the freezing cold, with numb fingers, a two-person sled required coordination—both riders had to push with their poles simultaneously to move forward. It was like a frosty version of a co-op game: if one person slacked, the other suffered, and frustration was inevitable.

Right now, Wen Yu’s struggle was downright comical—because Jiaojiao wasn’t helping at all.

She sat leisurely in the back, feigning concern as she murmured, "Senior, are you sure you can manage alone?"

Her voice dripped with sweetness. "Maybe I should help? I don’t mind my hands getting a little cold."

Wen Yu immediately refused. "It’s fine, Jiaojiao. I promised to take you out, so just relax. I’d hate for you to freeze your hands."

With another grunt of effort, he pushed with the poles, the sled inching forward barely a centimeter.

Jiaojiao’s attention, however, wasn’t on him. Her eyes lifted, landing on Yan with delighted recognition before flickering back to the man in front of her with a frown.

She mouthed to Yan: "See you later!"—then pointed at Wen Yu.

Yan instantly understood: Jiaojiao was planning to ditch this guy and join them. The only question was how long "later" would take.

Two days ago, Yan had posted about returning home, and Jiaojiao had been the first to like it, suggesting they go shopping for New Year’s outfits. They hadn’t set a date yet, but now, fate had intervened.

The group’s gazes drifted away from the struggling pair. Watching smooth, effortless skating was a pleasure, but this? This painful, halting display was just uncomfortable.

After a brief discussion, they decided to rent two double sleds and split into teams for a race.

Yan had just settled into the back seat of one sled, gripping the poles, when she looked up—and spotted another【Rebirth】halo.

Yan and Jue Jue: !!!

Oh-ho. ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‍Ji Mingyan had arrived! He was also a student at Ning University.

Drama incoming!