The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

Xu Nian couldn't remember the last time she had such a good night's sleep.

He was awakened by the girl's incessant coughing as the first rays of morning sunlight streamed into the room.

He quickly got up, found the medicine Huang Jianjun had given him, and fed the girl one pill.

After some time, her condition gradually stabilized.

"Xiaoxi, let's go back to the hospital."

Xu Nian gently patted her back, her eyes filled with heartache.

The girl pouted her lips.

"I don't want to go back."

Will going back to the hospital extend her life by another month?

Obviously it is impossible.

After each injection of expensive medication, she could only walk for ten days, spend those ten days in a semi-conscious state, and spend the remaining ten days in endless pain waiting for the next treatment.

Once the medication is stopped, even a god descending to earth couldn't extend her life by another month.

So, she wanted to take advantage of these ten days while she could still move around freely to travel through this wonderful world with her beloved boy one last time.

"Okay, whatever you say."

Xu Nian took her thin hands in her arms and held them tightly in her palms.

They changed their clothes and set off for the mountains and seas amidst the morning glow and white dew.

On the first day, they took a ferry upstream along the river and arrived at Shuangliu City in the mountains.

The streets and alleys here are filled with the aroma of fresh, spicy, and numbing flavors.

For Xu Xi, who loves spicy food, Shuangliu City is simply a food paradise.

Hot and sour noodles, Chongqing noodles, wontons, spicy blood curd, mala tang... A girl's stomach seems to be a bottomless pit, capable of holding all the snacks she sees on the street.

Even Xu Nian, who almost never eats spicy food, was infected by the atmosphere and ordered a bowl of dandan noodles soaked in red oil.

However, after only a couple of bites, he was so overwhelmed by the spiciness that he couldn't close his mouth, and in the end, he ate it all in the girl's stomach.

After eating and drinking their fill, the two played hide-and-seek in the streets and alleys.

If you were to describe Shuangliu in one idiom, it would be "layers of mountains and peaks".

The entire city is nestled among mountains, and the ground floor of each high-rise building is different.

Climbing to the top floor of one building only leads to the first floor of another.

A busy road winds its way through the building, and looking up, there's another bustling sidewalk.

Looking up, it felt like stepping into a futuristic city, filled with a sci-fi atmosphere.

Even Xu Nian, who considers herself to have a good sense of direction, almost got lost in this intersecting space-time.

The girl was like a paper butterfly, flitting freely through the mountain town, leaving only a faint floral fragrance, guiding the boy to follow in her footsteps.

Whenever he faced a maze of paths, feeling lost and unable to find the rose in his heart, he would feel helpless.

The girl would drift away like a spring breeze, gently brushing past his ear, landing beside him, and taking his bewildered hand in hers.

"Hehe~ Silly brother! I've always been by your side."

He held the girl tightly, his eyes red-rimmed.

The next day, they arrived at Changxia Beach, strolled on the golden sand, and caught the small crabs and shrimp that hadn't managed to escape during the tail end of the tide.

On this day, Xu Xi changed into a beautiful, form-fitting swimsuit, which perfectly accentuated her graceful curves.

Xu Nian was completely stunned.

In the past, he would always deliberately look away, avoiding looking at the girl he regarded as his younger sister with impolite eyes.

But once he realized his feelings for Xu Xi, his gaze never left the beautiful girl for even a moment.

She was so beautiful, with a delicate face, every inch of snow-white skin, and every smooth, flawless muscle—she was exactly Xu Nian's ideal woman.

Or perhaps, because she was the girl he loved most, he loved everything about her.

He would remember, remember this girl who so rudely barged into his life and stole his heart like a robber, remember every detail of her face, imprint it in his mind, and paint a picture that would never fade.

Even if we can never meet again, we will never forget each other.

The girl giggled, blushed, and turned her head away, gently scolding him.

"Brother, you weren't always this rascal."

"Now, the big pervert's tail is showing, isn't it~"

......

On the third day, they climbed to a high vantage point and set up camp on the misty mountaintop.

The girl jumped steadily off the boy's back, took his hand, and ran to the edge of the cliff.

This mountain is even higher than the first mountain they once climbed in Yuncheng.

The clouds and mist were beneath their feet, gently lapping against the mountain peaks like ocean waves.

Looking around, it's like being in a fairyland.

The girl raised her hands to her mouth, looked at the distant clouds, and shouted with all her might.

"Little Creek! Love your brother forever!"

Even if this life is extremely short, like a fleeting moment, fading away in the instant of her vibrant bloom.

The boy also put his hands in front of him, took a deep breath, and let out a powerful roar.

"Brother! I'll love the stream forever too!"

His voice was filled with despair, disappointment, and deep resentment.

The sound waves echoed through the valley, creating waves that stretched endlessly.

It was determined to soar to the clouds, so that even the immortals living in the heavenly palaces could hear it clearly.

If there really are gods in this world who can take lives in the blink of an eye.

He longed to ride the clouds to the heavens, grab those old fogies who knew nothing of the world's hardships, and beat them until their heads bled.

Gods? I'll f***ing call them gods!

This poor girl was given such a tragic life, and then, at the moment she transformed from a caterpillar into a butterfly, endless calamities were brought down upon her.

You think you're worthy of being called gods?

If someone has to be the plaything in your fooling games, why can't it be me?

Please, I beg you, take this suffering upon myself and spare this innocent girl.

I would gladly be cast into the deepest hell, never to rise again, in exchange for her peaceful life, to be the angel in her heart, and to spread her holy radiance throughout the world.

......

On the fourth day, they went to the temple to pray for blessings.

Facing the Buddha, who was high above and looked down on the world, Xu Xi knelt down, closed her eyes, and prayed to them devoutly.

Buddha, I would give up eternal damnation after my death to ensure the boy beside me lives a peaceful and safe life, free from all misfortune.

He was so kind and did so many good deeds.

In your words, you have accumulated enough virtue to deserve a peaceful and happy life.

Ideally, I would also bestow upon him a girl even more outstanding than myself, someone who could stay with him forever and grow old together.

He only appears strong; deep down, he's still just a child who hasn't grown up.

If possible, the girl should ideally be a caring older sister who can take good care of him and give him a complete childhood.

......

That night, Xu Nian made an excuse that she had something to do and did not sleep with Xu Xi.

The next day, the abbot of the temple found Xu Xi and gave her a bracelet.

"Little girl, this is a talisman your brother prayed for for you. No matter what disaster or illness you encounter, it will protect you and help you get through it safely."

"Thanks."

Xu Xi politely accepted it, then gave a bitter smile.

Silly brother, still wasting money on her.

The peace charms in temples are just for buying peace of mind; they don't have any real effect.

Perhaps sensing her inner turmoil, the abbot clasped his hands together and muttered some incantations.

"Amitabha Buddha, little girl, don't worry, you will definitely get better."

Why?

"Your brother kowtowed before Buddha all night long."

"In my decades of abbotship, I have never seen such a sincere person."

"Buddha will protect you and help you get through this ordeal safely."

......