Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

Unexpectedly, one pill was not enough to maintain his physical condition.

The setting sun hides behind the western mountains, exchanging turns with the crescent moon.

The wind picked up, bringing a greater sense of coolness.

Qi Zhimu took the opportunity to leave temporarily, urgently increased the dosage of medicine, then put on a white coat and took off Claris's coat.

Clarice didn't think much of it.

Wrapping herself in the coat Qi Zhimu had given her, Clarice greedily inhaled the comforting scent lingering on it.

To outsiders, she was an unusual girl.

As a child, I always liked to ask adults strange questions, which often led to me being ridiculed by my peers and gradually becoming isolated.

For example: Where did humans come from? Who created humans? How did this world begin?

She also relentlessly pressed for details about those stories that belonged to the past, those that were once known as "the past."

His father passed away early, and apart from his mother, no one understood why a child was so fixated on these things.

It wasn't until she met Mr. Qi that she gained another person in the world who understood and accepted her.

No matter what questions she asks, whether they are absurd or have standard answers, Mr. Qi will always be honest with her.

The five years she spent knowing Mr. Qi were the most relaxed and wonderful time of her life.

It is also the warmth that can be touched in the world, apart from the harbor of home.

His deep brown eyes held a tenderness that could make anyone fall for him.

But the girl had a vague feeling that deep within that gentleness lay a trace of estrangement and loneliness.

Whenever she tried to get closer to Mr. Qi's heart, she always felt like she was hitting an invisible wall.

Clarice was unsure whether her feelings for Mr. Qi could be considered liking or love.

Maybe, I guess so?

My mother once said that if you can feel an unprecedented peace in the world that person lives in, perhaps that is a kind of love.

"Mr. Qi, your mother's condition is still worsening, isn't it?" The girl stopped her wild thoughts.

"Yes."

"Is there really no way to completely cure it...?"

"Of course." Qi Zhimu smiled gently, reassuring Clarice.

The girl's eyes lit up instantly, and she looked at him expectantly.

"In two more months, I will definitely be able to completely cure Ms. Durand's amnesia and give you back a healthy mother."

"Mr. Qi is amazing!"

The girl was overjoyed and couldn't help but cheer. Her eyes, like the sunset reflecting the night sky, looked bright and charming.

She had no doubt about Mr. Qi's abilities.

"At that time, you can return to your home planet, and you won't have to bring Ms. Durand to my remote mountain forest so often."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Clarice's joyful expression faltered.

home……

There's nothing left there worth staying for a long time.

She didn't want to go back, otherwise it wouldn't be so easy for her to see Mr. Qi now.

It's decided—

Once her mother's amnesia is completely cured, she will find an opportunity to express her feelings to Mr. Qi.

It may be immature and naive.

Yet it is full of purity.

My mother once said that endless waiting may ultimately lead to regret.

She didn't want to have any regrets.

"Let's not talk about that now, Mr. Qi. I'd like to do a fortune telling for you about your future; it's very accurate."

As she spoke, Clarice took out a set of tarot cards.

"How effective is it?" Qi Zhimu chuckled.

"Spiritually, about five years ago, roughly determined the area where Mr. Qi's bamboo house was located."

"Oh? That's impressive. I'll give it a try. But I know nothing about tarot cards, is that alright?"

"It's alright. What kind of divination would you like Mr. Qi to do? How about we try the marriage divination first?" Clarice suppressed her nervousness, afraid of being rejected.

"Heh... okay, how do I do it?"

"Let's keep it simple, Mr. Qi. You only need to draw three cards from the deck. No peeking, okay?"

Without hesitation or thought, Qi Zhimu randomly drew a card and smiled, indicating to the girl that she could proceed to the next step.

Clarice couldn't wait to turn to the first page.

The smile on her face froze for a moment when she saw the card.

It's the Three of Swords...

It set a bad precedent.

She turned to the second page.

Ten Swords!

Clarice's face was faintly pale as she turned the last page with trembling fingers.

Reversed Star...

"What's wrong? Did I draw a really unlucky combination?" Seeing her pale face, Qi Zhimu asked softly.

"No, no! It's very, very auspicious! I'm shocked to have drawn such a rare deck of cards..."

Clarice quickly shook her head, gritted her teeth, skipped the complicated analysis, and gave a conclusion that was completely different from the implied meaning.

"Mr. Qi will be with the one he loves in the future, and they will become each other's spiritual home. Simply put, it is eternal love."

"I see... Then I accept the kind words of the great fortune teller, Miss Clarice."

Seeing Qi Zhimu's trusting smile, Clarice couldn't help but clench her left hand under the table.

The true meaning of this deck is that profound heartbreak leads to the end of a relationship and brings unforgettable despair.

Ultimately, the beautiful future they had envisioned lost all possibility of becoming a reality.

Divination is not a panacea, and its accuracy is not 100%.

But... this was the first time Clarice had fallen into such deep self-doubt.

When treating patients, no matter how serious the illness, Mr. Qi always only charges a symbolic small fee.

Over the past five years, the credits spent on treating his mother's amnesia are less than a tenth of what he would have spent on a spaceship to travel from his hometown to this planet.

How could someone so kind and gentle towards life face such a future?

...It can't be...because of me, right?

No, no, how could I possibly harm Mr. Qi?!

This divination is most likely to be inaccurate.

However, Clarice's hopes for the future were temporarily extinguished as a result.

The girl's innocent heart and her quietly declining mood were keenly noticed by Qi Zhimu.

He didn't expose her, after all, it was a white lie told by the girl.

It seems the divination results were completely opposite to what she had said.

As he was about to die, where did he find the chance to hold hands with his beloved, and where did eternity come from?

To die quietly of old age was the inevitable end he had chosen.

However... even a perfect life cannot avoid leaving some regrets.

The teacher is unlikely to change his mind about that study.

He couldn't persuade him.

late at night.

Clarice, burdened with worries, slumped over the table and fell asleep, exhausted.

Qi Zhimu gently picked her up and moved her to a bamboo couch with a soft sleeping mat, then covered her with a fleece blanket.

After confirming that Ms. Durand in the medical pod was not in any abnormality, he entered the folding space to continue his unfinished business.

Looking at the cold parts on the alloy workbench, Qi Zhimu put on his goggles and proceeded to the next step methodically.

……

The warm sunlight pierced through the lush branches, creating dappled golden light that spilled onto the scattered fallen leaves on the ground.

Clarisse's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she slowly opened her eyes.

He stood up and glanced around blankly, his gaze lingering on the handsome profile of the man sitting on the windowsill, gazing into the distance.

The morning light draped him in a layer of golden amber, like a dream.

For a moment, Clarice became lost in thought.