Transmigrated as Jane’s Ghostly Godmother - Chapter 28.1

Chapter 28.1: Regarding Madeira — Miss Ghost’s Repayment of Debt

It was a rare sunny day for boarding. The azure horizon met the sea, and the waves caught the sunlight, shimmering like overturned fragments of clouds.

Lin Zhao stood on the deck, feeling a bit dazed in the sea breeze. Since coming here, everything had been foreign: the Western-style architecture, the features so different from her own, the foreign language used for conversation… but looking up at the sky from the sea, the scenery ten thousand miles above seemed little different from the world a century or two later.

Yet, the more familiar it felt, the more alien it became. She still longed to return to the world that truly belonged to her.

“Lin.” Amidst her mixed emotions, someone called her name. In this place, only one person would do so.

Hiding the touch of sentimentality on her face, Lin Zhao turned and flashed a smile at Jane. “Back already? Not staying a bit longer with Eleanor and the others?”

Upon boarding, Miss Constance seemed to have something to discuss with Mr. Harrison, and they left together. Mrs. Harrison, not faring well with sea travel, was resting in her cabin. Julian had headed to the ferry’s small library. The three girls, at Beatrice’s request, had gone to the dining room to check the menu.

Lin Zhao hadn’t followed; she truly wanted to watch the sea view, so she had told Jane and come to the deck.

“Yes. I wanted to see the sea too. Lina and the others said they’d come over later after changing their clothes.” Jane walked over to Lin Zhao’s side.

She wasn’t quite tall enough to reach the top railing. After answering, she stared at the bars for a few seconds, then decisively stepped onto the bottom rung, straining to lean against the top rail.

“…Jane, has anyone ever told you how bold you are?” Lin Zhao marveled at the fluid motion.

Jane balanced herself, turned to look at her, and grinned. “I knew you wouldn’t scold me for being reckless. But ‘bold’—is that supposed to be a compliment? If a girl does this, she’d likely only be called unmannered and improper.”

Lin Zhao curled her lip dismissively. “There’s no reason for things boys can do to be forbidden only for girls. However,” she added, “things forbidden for all children are another matter.”

“I’m already eleven. I’m moving up to the senior grades next year,” Jane protested, quite dissatisfied with being called a “child.”

Lin Zhao arched an eyebrow and pulled the paper she had written a while ago from her pocket. “Fine then, Miss Jane Eyre. Shall we discuss the arrangements for when we reach Madeira?”

Honestly, although Jane had been startled when she first saw Lin Zhao writing the schedule, after the first week at Ashford, she couldn’t help but wonder why the ghost hadn’t mentioned it. Finally, the time had come.

“Is there a ‘Ball Survival Guide’ this time?” Jane asked before looking at the paper.

Lin Zhao laughed, wondering what kind of impression her schedules had left on Jane. She shook her head. “That would be difficult for me; I’ve never been to a ball. These are just some simple instructions for while I’m away…”

“Where are you going again?” Jane looked up sharply before reading even a few lines, her eyes wide. “If you’re gone a long time again and miss the ship back to England, what will you do?”

To save time on explanations, Lin Zhao had written the reasons on the paper. So, she simply twinkled her eyes and joked, “Then you go back and study hard. When you earn money in the future and still remember me, come back here and fetch me.”

Jane lowered her brows, her face solemn as she seriously considered the possibility.

“…It was just a joke, Jane. Finish the plan first.” Lin Zhao’s smile was now a bit helpless.

Jane finally relaxed her brows and scanned the note. After finishing, she was silent for a long time before squeezing out a question: “So, you’re leaving because you want to find my uncle?”

By now, Lin Zhao wasn’t afraid of being seen as “methodical” in her actions. She nodded candidly. “Yes. We can’t have you going around the ball asking everyone if they are Mr. Eyre. There’s a period of time before the ball; isn’t it the perfect time for me to scout for information?”

It was an unarguable reason.

“But I’ll be scared being alone.” Jane pursed her lips, staring straight at Lin Zhao for a long time, yet unable to voice her inner awkwardness.

Whether Lin Zhao sensed it or not, she leaned down to eye level, her gaze becoming earnest. “Don’t worry, Jane. It’s only temporary. I will return. Stay close to Eleanor and the others; don’t go out alone. I believe nothing will go wrong if you do that.”

The black of her eyes showed a brownish tint in the sunlight. Jane saw her own reflection mirrored there, like a tiny tumble-toy—small head, big body, swaying back and forth but never falling out of that circular boundary.

“…Fine. I’ll follow the plan,” she finally relented, her voice muffled. “You stay safe too. I mean, it’s your first time here as well, isn’t it?”

“Of course.” Words of concern were always encouraging. Lin Zhao leaned forward, her forehead lightly touching Jane’s. “I am your fairy godmother; I will return safely.”

Though the arrangements for Madeira were settled early, they still had at least a week of sailing. During these days, Jane didn’t watch Lin Zhao every second as she had before. She forced herself to gradually get used to the ghost’s absence.

Lin Zhao followed Jane for the first day, but seeing how cautious Jane was, she felt at ease letting her be. After all, on the ship, there was things she could do. She switched her target to Mr. Harrison, using him to note which merchants were heading to Madeira and might know Mr. Eyre.

During these days, Lin Zhao also happened upon an argument between Miss Constance and Mr. Harrison in the cabin.

“Edward, have you lost your mind? Is that the reason you brought Lina along?” Miss Constance’s voice was agitated, her wording direct.

Mr. Harrison remained unmoved. He looked at his sister with cold indifference. “I don’t care how you choose to live. But Lina is my daughter. I support her and pay for her fine schooling. I shall make the decisions in these matters. And watch those mad words of yours; don’t speak them in front of her every day. Lina has always been an obedient child; I won’t wrong her.”

Lacking the context, Lin Zhao couldn’t understand the specifics of the argument, but the tone and emotions reflected a very troubling situation. Miss Constance glared at her uncommunicative brother and turned to leave without looking back.

Lin Zhao hesitated, then chose to follow her. Miss Constance paced outside the children’s cabin for a long time but ultimately didn’t knock. She looked quite dejected as she left.

Based on her observations of the Harrison family, Lin Zhao preferred to believe Miss Constance’s intentions were positive. She phased into the cabin and added a temporary task for Jane: “Keep an eye on Eleanor.”

Though she wanted to figure out what was happening, Lin Zhao didn’t see Mr. Harrison and Miss Constance together again for the rest of the voyage. Thus, she had to seize the final chance before disembarking to memorize the faces of the people she could “tail” once they reached the island.

On the night before they arrived, Jane and Lin Zhao lay in the same bed for the first time in a while. Lin Zhao was still somewhat worried about Jane, but there was no way to contact her remotely. She could only give careful instructions one last time.

“I’ll find you as soon as it’s convenient; I won’t make you wait until the ball. If anything happens, tell me immediately. This chance in Madeira is rare; if we miss it, we might have to wait two or three years to reunite with your uncle. We must seize the opportunity. However, if you feel it’s too much, tell me now. Perhaps it wouldn’t be that hard to find him at the ball.”

The more she spoke, the more she felt that not going was also an option. She had already recorded several “likely” faces; perhaps finding him at the ball was feasible after all.

But Jane lightly gripped her hand, shook her head, and replied softly but firmly. “I can do it. Lin, go ahead. I know this is for the future.”

A happy future.

Lin Zhao fell silent. Jane’s attitude allowed her heart to settle back into her chest. She turned her hand, hooking her pinky with Jane’s. “I promise, I will find your kin for you.”

The promise was very soft; even if Lin Zhao weren’t a ghost, only the two under the covers could have heard it. Yet, they both knew it was a heavy vow. Jane didn’t speak; she held the position and closed her eyes.

If only you were my kin too, she murmured in her heart before sleep completely submerged her. That way, even across the entire North Pole, there would still be exact blood connecting us.

Perhaps because the North Pole was mentioned, Jane dreamed of that distant place again. This time, it wasn’t on the street, and there was no sun; everything in sight was a silent pitch-black.

It felt a bit like the other school she had dreamed of. She stepped forward tentatively and finally saw some light. At the end of that light was a flight of stairs. Lin Zhao sat on one of the steps, hugging her knees, head buried and silent. Jane could hear her heavy breathing floating in the air.

Jane was much calmer than the last time. After hesitating for two seconds, she walked up and spoke softly to the hidden face. “What’s wrong, Lin?”

The girl didn’t respond. Jane almost wondered if she was asleep, but an answer suddenly surfaced. “Jane, I hate school.”

So this really is a school? Jane looked around, silently marveling at the vast difference in their worlds; this place looked like a room filled with nothing but stairs.

Receiving no response, the head finally tilted up slowly. The eyes looking at her lacked their usual light, appearing dull and grey. “I hate being here. I hate their words. I hate being alone.”

Lin Zhao glanced at her, then lowered her eyes to the floor, adding as if talking to herself: “Sometimes I don’t even know what I’m struggling for. I really admire how strong you are. I even have a mom and dad—though it feels no different than not having them.”

Jane felt her own breathing grow heavy. She realized this Lin Zhao was not the one she knew. Perhaps she hadn’t become a ghost yet; as she said, she had days as a human.

“You aren’t very talkative today,” Lin Zhao said, her sadness easing slightly as she began to study Jane. “It looks like you’re still in school too. So, how is Helen?”

Who is Helen? Jane was caught by the unfamiliar name, missing her chance to reply again. Lin Zhao continued on her own. “No, your face looks much healthier than then. This must be after Lowood was rebuilt?”

Lowood? Isn’t that the school with the epidemic she heard about earlier? Jane didn’t know why Lin Zhao was asking her this. She didn’t reply—not just because of the shock, but because, as Lin Zhao mentioned, she also noticed a difference in the girl before her compared to the last dream. Lin Zhao’s hair was much longer, tied in a bunch and hanging over her shoulder, looking as spiritless as its owner.

She looked three or four years older than Jane this time.

The thought made her heart beat violently. Will I keep having these dreams until I know how she became a ghost and came to me? Jane reached out to cover her heart, her mind as active as if she were in class.

Questions in dreams never received answers. This time was no different. Before Jane could say anything, a shout came from above.

“Student! What are you doing there? How long has it been since lights out!”

With that loud shout, Jane snapped her eyes open in bed. Broad daylight. Lin Zhao was no longer by her side.

Time is a very cunning thing. When you watch it, it walks slowly like a toddler; but if you look away for even a moment, you’ll find it has run far away, as if it took the chance to learn how to hitch a ride on a carriage.

For Jane, the days spent apart from Lin Zhao were a battle of wits with time. After arriving in the Madeira archipelago, there was still a week before the ball. For the first two days, they were taken out by Mrs. Harrison and Miss Constance to play and experience the island’s customs. Time passed in a blink.

But by the fourth day, Jane noticed that Eleanor—whom Lin Zhao had told her to watch—was becoming increasingly abnormal.

“Lina?” This was the third time Jane had called her. But the girl who usually looked over at the first syllable was still staring into the distance, completely unaware.

Jane stopped speaking and turned to meet Beatrice’s eyes; the latter shook her head at her. The night before last, while they were in their room practicing weaving with local textiles bought during the day, Mrs. Harrison had suddenly called Eleanor away. Since she returned, she had been dejected and absentminded.

Being unresponsive to questions was a minor thing. But yesterday, while they were out, Eleanor had almost been hit by a passing carriage. She looked like she had lost her soul; it took Jane shaking her and calling her for a long time before she tremblingly said she was fine.

After returning, muffled sobs came from Eleanor’s bed in the middle of the night. Jane couldn’t help but ask, but the crying stopped instantly, and no one answered. This morning, Eleanor had forced a smile despite her red, swollen eyes, claiming she had just been talking in her sleep.

Now, they were on the balcony discussing their travel plans for the day. Eleanor had responded with a few “mhm”s at the start, but was now silent again, lost in her own world. Over these two days, Jane and Beatrice had come to a silent, mutual realization: Eleanor was deeply troubled by something.

It was highly likely a family matter. Given Eleanor’s intentional concealment, no matter how worried they were, they couldn’t expect an answer through direct questioning. To watch a friend so distraught and do nothing did not suit their style. Jane and Beatrice exchanged a look and left the balcony for the room.

Closing the door while Eleanor was still adrift, Beatrice spoke first. “There aren’t many days left before the ball. Jane, we must do something.” If it were anyone else, she would never have committed such an overstepping act; prying into another family’s business went against everything she had been taught.

Jane knew the determination Beatrice had made; she didn’t tease her as she usually would. “Of course. But we mustn’t let anyone find out,” Jane said, lowering her voice, “especially Julian.”

This wasn’t an unfounded warning. During their outings over the past few days, Julian had uncharacteristically skipped his business duties with Mr. Harrison to join them. But he had been stony-faced throughout, clearly not there to relax. Jane had caught Julian watching Eleanor more than once.

He was her brother, which alone proved nothing. But Jane had an intuition that his purpose was not simple. She had noted this down, originally intending to tell Lin Zhao when she returned. But Lin Zhao had not appeared these past few days.

Shaking her head to clear her drifting worries, Jane continued in a low voice. “Betty, go talk to Miss Constance and see if you can get anything out of her. She doesn’t seem like the type to do Lina harm.”

“She’s exactly the type who wouldn’t,” Beatrice nodded in agreement, then paused, pulling her rising smile back down. “And you? It sounds like you aren’t coming with me.”

Jane was silent. She had indeed arranged another plan for herself. But to say it out loud reminded her of Lin Zhao’s repeated warnings not to be “alone.”

“I will ask Mrs. Harrison to look after Lina, and then,” she paused again, took a deep breath, and her tone became firm, “I’ll see if I can get anything out of Julian. He isn’t very… guarded against me.”

“Guarded” was a polite way to put it. In reality, Julian didn’t care about her much. Unlike Beatrice, Jane had no family power to rely on. Julian would keep a specific distance from Beatrice, likely to maintain “gentlemanly conduct”—this was Eleanor’s description, as she found her brother’s stiffness particularly grating, hinting it was a superficial courtesy based on status.

But facing Jane, he wouldn’t maintain that distance; he would occasionally ignore her existence. Whether intentional or not, Jane’s first impression of him had shifted to a conclusion: Julian shared the same arrogance as John Reed, though one chose to ignore while the other enjoyed bullying.

Beatrice, who had once shown arrogance toward Jane herself, naturally noticed Julian’s attitude. But since Jane didn’t seem to mind, she hadn’t said anything. Now, hearing Jane’s plan, she couldn’t help but frown.

“Are you sure? Being alone with him is not a good idea.”

Jane nodded again. She was becoming increasingly certain that this task could only be done by her.