Furina didn't remember how she got back to the Palais Mermonia. She only knew that she had been absent-minded the entire way, and by the time she returned, it was already evening.
The same sunset, the same evening glow as the day she first met Yu Xie.
But everything felt completely different now.
That day was the beginning. Today, perhaps, was the countdown to the end.
When leaving Poisson Village, Yu Xie had smiled and waved goodbye to Furina, and Furina had desperately forced a smile in return.
One must respond to a smile with a smile, otherwise, how could she honor that kindness?
But a feeling of despondency was lodged in her throat like a fishbone, and her heart felt as if a stone had been placed inside it.
Was Yu Xie really... going to die?
After that day, Furina would carve out time every day to go to Poisson Village. No one knew why.
The days passed, one after another.
Yu Xie's mental notifications continued to update.
[Remaining lifespan: 30 days]
[Remaining lifespan: 10 days]
[Remaining lifespan: 3 days]
[Remaining lifespan: 1 day]
On a night like any other, Yu Xie stared at the system message floating in his mind, dazed for a moment.
Only one day left, and his condition was deteriorating rapidly.
But perhaps because of the system's support and the medicine Bai Zhu had given him, there were no visible signs of his worsening condition on the surface.
The story was about to end, just as he had wanted.
In the past few days, he had thought about telling Clorinde and Navia about his impending departure, but until now, he hadn't found the courage to speak.
He didn't even know how he had managed to say it to Furina that day.
Outside the window was the familiar night of Poisson Village, with the lights in the residents' homes twinkling like stars in the night sky.
Yu Xie slowly got out of bed and left his room.
He tiptoed through the living room and arrived at the door of a guest room.
Clorinde would occasionally visit Poisson Village, and this guest room had been specially prepared for her by Navia. It had almost become Clorinde's room.
Clorinde was probably already asleep. Yu Xie stood at the door for a while, hesitating for a long time. In the end, he didn't reach out to knock.
Afterward, Yu Xie went to the door of Navia's room. Again, his hand, ready to knock, stopped in mid-air, and then he withdrew it.
In the end, he sat down on the sofa in the living room, his breath steadying.
The "Dream Thief" silently activated.
Having done all of this, Yu Xie stood up again, took one last look around the house, and left.
He really didn't want to see the sorrowful expressions on Clorinde and Navia's faces when they sat by his sickbed, watching him as he was about to die.
It would make him want to stay.
But he couldn't stay. It was fate.
Fate was not something that could be easily changed. It always followed you like a shadow, like a loyal dog.
...
"Clorinde, wake up."
"If you don't get up, I'll smack your butt."
Clorinde heard the familiar voice calling her, slowly opening her eyes.
What greeted her was Yu Xie's familiar face and the familiar room.
Outside the window, the sunlight had already spilled in, and a new day had begun.
"I'll go prepare breakfast. You'd better get up quickly," Yu Xie said with a smile, then turned and left the bedroom.
Not long after, Clorinde entered the dining room, where breakfast was already prepared.
At the table, Clorinde ate the breakfast Yu Xie had made for her, her heart full of warmth.
Although she couldn't quite put her finger on why, something felt slightly off, but the happiness in front of her dispelled any doubts.
Such ordinary days had already gone on for a while.
Being with the person she liked, living an ordinary life—it was already more than enough.
"Today is a rare day off. How about we go fishing?" Yu Xie suggested.
"Sure." Clorinde smiled in response.
Being with Yu Xie, doing anything, she was happy.
After breakfast, the two went to the seaside.
The sun wasn't too hot today, making it a perfect day for fishing.
Every time Clorinde went fishing with Yu Xie, she felt at ease.
Because Yu Xie was right there beside her, not going anywhere.
The baited hook was cast into the water, sending ripples across the surface, the surroundings calm and quiet.
The breeze was just right, and the grass swayed gently.
It felt as if the world had narrowed down to just the two of them.
If such days could last a lifetime, Clorinde would be more than happy.
"By the way, Clorinde, it seems we're running low on oil and salt at home. After we finish fishing today, I'll go buy some," Yu Xie said, casting his rod. A small bass was hooked.
"Let's go together," Clorinde replied.
During these days, the biggest concerns for the two of them seemed to be the small matters of daily life.
What vegetables to buy, who would wash the dishes, who would do the laundry.
The little mundane things kept piling up, but Clorinde felt incredibly happy.
"If there comes a day when I can no longer be by your side, don't be sad." Yu Xie smiled lightly but suddenly changed the topic.
Clorinde was caught off guard.
"Don't say such unlucky things."
"Mm, I won't. Hurry and cast your rod, there's a fish on the line!"
Clorinde quickly raised her fishing rod, but unfortunately, the fish got away.
The two of them looked at each other and laughed at the same time.
The day passed quickly, and before long, it was dusk.
The last rays of the setting sun cast down, and the surface of the water was like a giant mirror, reflecting the twilight sky.
Clorinde turned to tell Yu Xie that they should go home, but she found no trace of him beside her, only a fishing rod left on the stand.
"Yu Xie?"
She called out, but there was no answer.
For some reason, Clorinde's heart instantly filled with worry.
"Yu Xie?" She raised her voice and called again.
"What's wrong?" Yu Xie appeared from behind, holding a water jug.
"Where did you go?" Clorinde asked anxiously.
"The water jug was empty, so I went to get some more…" Before Yu Xie could finish his sentence, Clorinde interrupted him with a tight embrace.
She held him so tightly, as though afraid he might slip away.
The water jug fell from Yu Xie's hands, and he wrapped his arms around Clorinde in return. But his eyes seemed clouded, as though something was obscuring his gaze.
"Clorinde, I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" Clorinde asked, confused, her heart now filled with a growing sense of unease.
"These days… are the last gift I'm giving you."
"What are you talking about?" Clorinde didn't understand, but the sense of unease only grew stronger within her. All she could do was cling tightly to Yu Xie, not letting go.
"I'm about to leave."
"Leave? Where?"
"Don't look for me."
"I don't understand what you're saying. We…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Clorinde suddenly felt something was wrong. She realized that Yu Xie, whom she was holding in her arms, was slowly losing his physical form.
She felt anxious but didn't know what to do, only desperately trying to hold on to him.
But it was in vain.
Her hands passed through Yu Xie's body. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't touch the Yu Xie who was right in front of her.
Tears suddenly welled up and fell from her eyes, sliding down her cheeks.
Yu Xie smiled, extending his already translucent hand to gently stroke Clorinde's cheek, trying to wipe away her tears.
But he could no longer touch her. The tears fell to the ground, scattering into droplets like a bouquet of sorrow.
The wind blew through the sunset, and in the breeze, only Yu Xie's final words echoed.
"Clorinde, we'll meet again in the next life."
End of chapter
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