"Actually, when I realized that your body might age, I was very happy," Yuanyuan said. "Although it isn't really you, it means... we can grow old together."

"I don't like growing old, not even in a long dream," Su Ming'an said.

"But to me, it's different," Yuanyuan curled her lips, her smile always serene and silent. "It's like... we're still living on Zhai Xing, living in the days gone by... We share the same boat, fulfilling our life ideals, living close together, until we're both gray-haired."

Su Ming'an showed an expression of incomprehension: "Growing old... what's good about it?"

Listening to his puzzled tone, she suddenly understood that the gap between them was here. He couldn't understand the feelings brought by the long years, and she couldn't comprehend his mere one year of stagnation.

"Because those aged memories couldn't exist in the years we've spent, even if for you they're just fleeting," Yuanyuan raised both hands and slowly clenched them, as if she had grasped something. "I'm enough... to hold onto the eternal."

In the years to come, if... they never meet again, she would... always cherish this moment.

Remembering him... growing old together with her.

They stood on the covered boat. Around them, the sounds of exploding fireworks, cheers, and clamor mixed together. The sea breeze blew, a few strands of her drifting white hair flitted across his sight.

So many lives, such long years... and yet for the first time, he saw the white hair beside her temples.

He looked to the place where the waterways converge in the city center, a five-story cloth shop sat there. A woman over forty greeted customers. He remembered this woman, she used to be a pretty young girl. The neighbors joked that she was sure to have a good marriage in the future.

But now, in the cloth shop, there's only her.

No young man with black hair and golden eyes under the eaves.

"What would a hundred-year-old be like?"

"The body becomes less agile, even a few steps make us tired, having to take medicine from time to time, the mind begins to slow, not even recognizing those around us, like returning to being a child...," Su Ming'an reminisced about grandma's image, "Would you regret giving up using Life Authority to maintain youth?"

Yuanyuan's eyes paused for a moment, then she shook her head.

"I've lingered in youthful times for too long. I want to give myself to the years. Because spending these decades with you... I genuinely feel..."

She covered her heart, quietly said:

"...very happy."

"That's a feeling of 'companionship' that I've missed countless times in those worlds."

"I always thought I would slowly grow old, my soul would lose vigor, until my entire existence vanished in some world. You would gradually forget me, thinking you simply couldn't find me. That's the outcome I've imagined countless times for myself."

"I never thought of anything better."

"But now, it seems I've gotten a fleeting illusion before the end days."

"I can't lack your existence, nor can I deny that you are irreplaceably... unlike a familial or romantic bond."

"I wish... to grow old with these memories of companionship."

The covered boat sailed into a secluded waterway, the people by the street gradually dwindling.

She suddenly grabbed his hand and in the starlight, her toes moved gently, starting to spin.

His wrist was lightly pulled by her, revolving slightly with her movements. At that moment, he recognized these little preceding dance steps of hers, this was... the dance she performed the year of their graduation gala.

This was her favorite song, her favorite dance steps.

Back then, she wore a princess-like puffed skirt, daringly showing the marks of domestic violence on her body, which condensed into a soul named "Yuanyuan", independent and strong.

Now she wore a sailor's outfit, its jingling not suited for dance moves. The covered boat was cramped, ill-suited for interlacing dance steps, yet she persisted in pulling up his hand.

Long ago, she needed to wear skirts to dare dance in public. But now, no attire could restrain her.

Su Ming'an vaguely realized that to him, it was a journey that could be recounted in a few words, just a blink. But for her, she had walked with him for a full twenty years.

The perception of time felt like an enormous chasm separating them.

Yet at this moment... when the lady lifted her veil, bent towards the gentleman, reached out, blinked, and smiled... all the chasms instantly crumbled.

Her still fair hand reached towards him, the other hand gently pinching his wrist, as if once he nodded, the fervent dance tune would immediately resound.

The lady curled her lips and softly said—

...May I?

...

Moonlight like spilled silver.

The covered boat halted on the river, like a leaf, unnoticed where it would drift.

In silence, the night whispered, moonlight filtered through sparse leaves, mottled and falling, their shoulders adorned with the gems of moonlight.

..."Sure."

The gentleman responded to the lady, lightly touching her wrist, slowly spinning with her. Even though the surroundings were silent, it was as if the dance tune played by their ears—a memory she had been away from for a century.

Each step mirrored the waves of the river, each turn mirrored the stars spinning in the sky. As if instead of sailor's garb, they wore fitted suits and dance dresses.

The shadows lengthened and shortened on the deck, everything seemingly became dance partners. Moonlight, starlight, ebb of the water, the gentle sway of leaves, mottled shadows, the tapping of boots, the creaking tilt of the boat... it felt like an elder softly recounting a story belonging to the moonlit night, a memory of a girl named "Yuanyuan", whispering in this flowing sound.

She said, the girl never regretted.

She said, the girl became the person she dared not even imagine before.

She said...

The girl has gained a lifetime of happiness. This happiness doesn't come from wealth or love, but from her... gradually filling, empty heart.

She finally gained enduring tranquility and eternity.

Her life has never lacked.

It's as if, at this moment, in the dance steps, she again became that youthful girl from the graduation gala, like a blank sheet of paper, not understanding much, yet possessing the courage to sacrifice.

Starlight spun around her dim eyes, moonlight streamed over his silent brows.

They stepped in dance in the narrow space, disorderly partitioning boat-full moonlight, as if instantly returning to the past. That night under the dim street lamps, she led him dancing in deserted alleys, the only audience being wild cats and moonlight.

For him, it was the past of a year.

For her, it was the past of a century.

"That day was the first time I felt the sensation of being in the spotlight."

"That was the princess dance dress I borrowed, not belonging to me, just a fleeting trespass on stage, temporarily wearing Cinderella's crystal shoes as an ugly duckling."

"...but off stage, with you dancing with me, those few minutes with you... not a second was borrowed."

"I never thought we'd have such times. I truly... am very happy."

"If one day, you truly drift away from me in the endless world, never finding me again... then please remember, the person named Yuanyuan, she has already gained happiness."

"She just went to her own utopia. There, she must have the dreams she yearns for."

In the moonlight, Su Ming'an glanced at the young girl, then at the traces left by the dark boat, the narrow waterway glimmering with ripples. The blue stone slabs emitted a damp aura, and even the lights on both sides had dimmed.

... Clearly, they still had a long time ahead, yet each day felt like the last night before the end of the world.

Not only him, but she also knew that the chances of them both surviving were heartbreakingly small. Among the billions of possibilities of "death," they could almost find no "life" in which they both survived. Su Ming'an couldn't believe he could make it, and she envisioned herself in much the same way.

This feeling of reluctance mixed with gentle pain made it difficult to breathe.

The two stopped dancing and walked to the shore, sitting by the riverside for a while. The sound of the water gurgled, and she reached out to catch the small fish. Su Ming'an watched quietly, although she was much older than him, she appeared more vibrant.

They recalled the dance in the ruined world. At that time, everyone gathered together, young people adept at sniping guns, a somewhat proud girl, a blonde boy, accompanied by flute and piano sounds... People stepped to the rhythm, dancing in an irregular manner, expressing joy with subtle body movements... It was a brilliantly splendid day.

Now, looking back at those memories, it all seemed blurry. He couldn't remember everyone's expressions, but it was... a rare moment of relaxation.

There were a few moments when she thought that it would be great if such relaxed days could continue.

But when Su Ming'an seemed suddenly awakened, he rose quickly.

The soft moonlight flowed away from them.

Because he heard the system's voice.

"Ding-dong!"

[You have traveled: Over 50 years. Providing you with information related to B or C.]

[You have received a content hint about the "Early Conclusion of the World Game."]

[If you can always hold the authority that high-dimensionals cannot seize, it will become your leverage in negotiations. The organizers are not omnipotent, and they, too, have things they desire. From a standpoint of interests, bringing together high-dimensionals, you, and the organizers into a tripartite round table might be enough to preserve a civilization. But the premise is... you must trust the promise of high-dimensionals.]

[Good luck to you.]

...

This system voice shattered the silence in an instant and brought Su Ming'an back in a flash.

He stared at his palm, silent for a long time, slowly clenching it.

This was a dream.

A dream... and nothing more.

...

Sixty years of the Heavenly Era.

News of the Queen's death came from the Royal City.

When Su Ming'an and Yuanyuan returned from their fourth voyage, the entire city was draped in white cloth. What greeted them was no longer the graceful and dignified Her Majesty, but the young princess yet to succeed.

The princess's golden hair curled, giving off a scent of jasmine, smiling as she pinned a medal on Su Ming'an, just like when the Queen was young. It was as if it were a reincarnation.

This time, Su Ming'an and Yuanyuan did not set sail again. His body had begun to age, Yuanyuan's appearance also grew old, and she suggested to stop adventuring, to find a quiet place to rest for a while.

The deity never told Su Ming'an how Yuanyuan's life authority worked -- whether she would normally die and then be reborn, or she could instantly rejuvenate, like the Lighthouse Jellyfish. But he did not inquire deeply, accompanying her, living under the largest peach tree in the city.

On this day, an old lady came to the door.

She had shiny black braided hair, bright red lips, and wore exquisite makeup like a young woman, yet her complexion was aged, leaning on a cane tremblingly.

"Who are you?" Su Ming'an asked her.

Her hands trembled, and she pulled out a portrait from a cloth bag.

Su Ming'an recognized that it was a portrait of Su Rin.

"This is... someone I've searched for half my life..." the old lady whispered, her cloudy eyes slightly brightening, her fingers gently caressing the portrait, extremely careful:

"Do you... know where he went... on the day the fireworks were brightest, he disappeared, I closed the fabric store, traveled everywhere by boat, until I really couldn't walk anymore... but I... still haven't found him..."

Her tears fell.

Su Ming'an understood that it must be that Su Rin realized Jiang Yin liked him, and to avoid delaying her future, he voluntarily left, wanting her to have the ability to find someone better.

But he didn't expect that... his leaving like this.

She searched for him all her life.

Peach blossoms scattered on her shoulders, the old lady holding back tears, clutching a daisyless glass bottle tightly.

Whose jade flute sounds in the dark.

In the wind came the faint sound of reeds and flutes, the scene of him walking away that day reappeared in front of her eyes. That morning, her heart was still bothered by the sound of fireworks at night, not having a chance to speak a few words with him. And he quietly looked at her for a while, turned, and walked toward the tea house.

At that time, she glanced at his back, thinking that he was going to the tea house next door to listen to a story, just like countless mornings before, she was still thinking, when he comes back... she must prepare for the forty-ninth confession, this time, she even prepared every word.

But unexpectedly... he never returned until sunset.

She stood at the fabric store's entrance, waiting all night, dew covered her shoulders, never waiting for him.

This waiting went on the second day, the third day...

Until,

very, very long after.

Every day, she waited under the light, from sundown till dawn.

In old age, she finally saved enough for travel, closed the fabric store, took ships across every kingdom, searching everywhere, the first year, the second year, the third year... until her hair turned completely white.

She never knew... she would never find him.

He might have returned to the Holy City, or perhaps went to another era, what stood between them was a time that could never be crossed. Even if she traveled every corner, she would never find him.

"This time, if I find him, I mustn't hesitate..." she opened tremblingly, tears rolling down in large drops:

"Otherwise... it's... a lifetime..."

She faithfully obeyed her own wishes... enduring the neighborhood gossip, never marrying a stable man, but living alone to old age, closing the shop, bravely set out on a journey of searching.

Su Ming'an closed the portrait.

"I will pass it on for you," he said softly.

Even though she knew the answer... when she was twenty years old.

She cracked a smile, with sparse teeth, revealing a... smile radiant like a young girl's.

As if at that year's moment, she stood under the house door, in the company of her best friend, looking for the first time at the golden-eyed young man on the eaves, smiling.

... That moment felt eternal.

A lifetime is short.

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