Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

The plum blossoms were in full bloom on both sides of the stone steps leading down the mountain.

Ruan Mei descended like a walking corpse, the scenery before her eyes blurring for a moment.

The plum branches sway, and time seems to flow backwards to hundreds of years ago.

There were winters like that back then.

At that time, Qi Zhimu was still young, but he was more sensible and well-behaved than any other child she had ever seen.

Carrying more than a dozen deadly viruses, even though he was able to leave the intensive care unit, he was still extremely weak.

But he didn't care, and said in his childish voice:

"Although I am not in good health right now, there are still some things I can do to help my sister."

Qi Zhimu, carrying a bamboo basket, stood under the plum tree and looked back at her, his eyes filled with a pure and sincere smile.

"Sister, these plum blossoms are perfect for picking, aren't they?"

He tiptoed slightly and pointed to the plum blossoms blooming on the branches of the plum tree.

She nodded, and the boy carefully picked the plum blossom with a bamboo knife.

The boy didn't talk much, but he always appeared when she needed him.

Later, the boy recovered from his illness and grew taller.

I can hold an umbrella for her, I can support her with plum tree branches...

A plum blossom, carrying a cool and refreshing fragrance, brushed against her cheek, bringing Ruan Mei back to her senses.

She returned to the bamboo house, looking at the unfamiliar yet familiar equipment, and the scenes from the past reappeared.

More than once, when she lost track of time while doing her research, the boy would quietly wait outside the lab, preparing warm snacks and tea.

When she frowned in thought, the boy would quietly tidy up the scattered data papers, moving very gently, as if afraid of disturbing her thoughts.

Upon entering the backyard, a winnowing basket for draining water hangs on the bamboo wall.

One year, she lost track of time and when she walked out of the laboratory, she found that the boy had already picked all the plum blossoms to make pastries.

"...I noticed that my sister hadn't finished her research yet, so I took the liberty of picking some plum blossoms. Do you think they're of good quality?"

It sounds simple, but Ruan Mei noticed tiny scratches on his hands.

The boy, who was not even ten years old, was too short to pick plum blossoms by hand, and it was inevitable that he would get hurt.

She nodded and said yes, then asked him if it hurt.

The boy shook his head, gently placed the bamboo basket on the table, and turned to go back to the plum grove.

Looking back now, Qi Zhimu's companionship has always been subtle, gentle, and silent, quietly seeping into the years, making people subconsciously overlook it.

In the past, she had only felt and received love from her relatives.

The boy's love was different from everyone else's; even after taking him on as a student, he remained a stranger.

But she...did not try to understand or analyze it, thinking it was meaningless and unnecessary.

Being too engrossed in pursuing one's obsessions, taking everything for granted, and missing out on too many genuinely warm moments.

The boy who always silently followed behind her had long since lost everything, and regarded her as his only light.

The boy had always been respectful and restrained towards her since childhood, and never made her angry.

However, the seeds of all bitterness were quietly sown during that drunken night.

Following the traces in her memory, Ruan Mei's fingertips touched the edge of the winnowing basket, overlapping with the figure from the past.

Her fingers lingered on a certain spot, as if covered by Qi Zhimu's palm, feeling the warmth he transmitted.

"Oh……"

Ruan Mei withdrew her hand in disappointment, a self-deprecating glint in her eyes.

Some things are only valued once they are lost.

Just like the plum blossoms he picked that year, they will never bloom on the same branch again.

But she had to keep going.

Even if the night ahead is long and endless, even if there is no reunion at the end.

Because—this is a debt she owes to Amu.

Therefore, it was the path she had to choose.

……

In this deserted place, night falls.

In the underground laboratory of a manor.

On the laboratory screen, layers of geometric patterns made of data spirals change, unfold, and flow amidst the sounds of the opera.

After peeling away the layers of patterns, you'll find the secret to Nguyen Mai's meticulous and careful craftsmanship.

Those were her father and mother with their eyes closed, their faces cold as if they were asleep.

After gazing at her parents' faces for a long time, Ruan Mei turned off the play and hid everything away again.

Finally, he shut down the doll of Qi Zhimu that he had made.

From that moment on, she became increasingly indifferent to the existing laws of life.

The more you do this, the faster the progress becomes.

She completely disregarded the formula, then ignored the meaning of life, focusing only on observation, pondering with her own hands, and feeling the data in her grasp.

Then, new species laws were compiled.

In the laboratory, the ferns and flowers grew more and more luxuriantly.

They grow taller at a visible rate, taking up almost all the space.

Through the gaps between the opening and closing of the flowers and leaves, the cool and simple faces of the parents, composed of data, peeked out.

Countless years have passed, and just before the sleeping 'parents' were about to open their eyes—

Ruan Mei nearly destroyed the original species evolution patterns of the entire uninhabited land, but...

She is still moving towards her goal.

Countless years have passed.

She looked up from her study and gazed in the direction of the starry sky.

The gaze of the God of Wisdom descended upon her.

"...Venerable Master of Learning..."

Ruan Mei asked Him a question, but all she received was His silent reply.

Ruan Mei seemed to understand something, but didn't pay it any mind.

After that, she became increasingly indifferent and devoted herself more and more to her research.

She only studies the essence of life.

More diverse life forms emerged under her creation.

Some burning lives transformed into flowing fire, crawling and weaving at her feet; sometimes she felt that she was the fire itself.

Some flowing life forms transformed into liquid light, swirling around her slender wrists, and sometimes she felt that she was the light itself.

Some knowledge-based life forms attempt to develop their own thoughts, consciousness, and emotions.

They sometimes cried noisily, laughed, or wailed, and these sounds became part of her body.

But she couldn't feel them.

Life is fleeting, elusive and transient, but her experiments continue.

Sometimes, her casual research can shake up the biological systems that govern the universe.

Her creations have transcended the experience and imagination of organic life.

She has been pushing her own understanding of life, all for a destination that seems to have no end.

The world is full of dazzling colors, which can be overwhelming. Only by reaching the end can we have the chance to start over.

Whether or not there is a single truth about the nature of life is irrelevant.

She had nothing left to lose, but she had something she needed to seek.

If life could be nurtured, recombined, and reproduced...

It can then dissect memory, regulate balance, deconstruct pure beauty, and recreate immortality...

At that time, she may understand the essence of life, touch upon concepts, reach the end she truly seeks, and find everything back.

The trash cans not far away were piled high with letters.

Ruan Mei picked up the strangely appearing letter from the Genius Club on the table.

After a moment of contemplation, he decided not to throw it in the trash can.

A strange, even morbid smile slowly emerged from her pale face.

Even if the universe is destroyed and restarted, I will definitely find you...

"My...Amu..."