In the past, Chen Zhou felt that time passed very slowly, but here, he felt it passed quickly.
The turning of the four seasons was fast, and the time spent together passed quickly as well.
Ordinary days were also wonderful. Even though he had been with Xu Nian for a long time, he never felt tired of it.
Xu Nian still got jealous frequently. In places where others could not see, he was a proud and vinegar-soaked jar.
Occasionally, Chen Zhou would mention Cao Ying. Xu Nian would fall silent at those times, looking calm on the surface, but actually getting ridiculously jealous on the inside.
Chen Zhou usually did not expose him, quietly watching him say one thing while meaning another, before going over to coax him.
However, the consequences of teasing him could occasionally be disastrous.
The new jasmine flowers they bought were taken care of wonderfully every year. Blooming on the balcony with a refreshing fragrance, Xu Nian cared deeply about that pot of flowers.
Later, in one particular year, Chen Zhou found a small cat in the courtyard. It was filthy, presumably having been bullied badly, and looked like it had many scars.
Chen Zhou hurriedly took it to the town veterinary clinic for treatment and bandaging, and after much deliberation, brought it home.
Xu Nian did not have any objections to this. However, Chen Zhou later found out that was not the case at all.
Chen Zhou loved teasing cats. Once the cat was brought back, it was inseparable from him, and almost aside from going out, it was just the person and the cat playing together.
At first, Xu Nian only glanced at it, until later, when he was interrupted by the cat’s meows during a kiss, he grew somewhat dissatisfied.
“All your attention is being divided away by it.” Xu Nian pulled Chen Zhou back, not letting him look at the cat.
Chen Zhou found it amusing. “It is just a small cat, are you jealous of that too?”
Xu Nian did not say anything, just staring at Chen Zhou before pulling him into the house in one swift motion. “Don’t go out to look at it today.”
At that time, the kitten did not have a name yet. It had only cried out because it was starving, but unfortunately, its owner ultimately ignored it and went inside the house.
It had no choice but to scratch at the door, but unfortunately, the person inside paid it no mind at all, so it walked away dejectedly.
Sounds drifted out from inside from time to time, so it walked back over, seeming to hear its owner crying out as if being bullied, though the sound did not seem painful either. It let out a soft meow, trying to keep scratching the door, but the person inside still ignored it.
It walked away crestfallen, and until it fell asleep, the door never opened.
However, that kitten was cared for until it became extremely chubby later on, so it selectively forgot all about the past.
Cats grew fatter day by day, and life went on day by day as well.
Chen Zhou spent a very long time in this world, and right up until the moment he left, he still felt some reluctance, though not much sorrow.
Because he and Xu Nian had already lived a complete lifetime here.
Therefore, when leaving, he was very calm as well.
At that time, he was half-lying in bed, and Xu Nian had fallen asleep beside him. Hearing 126’s voice, Chen Zhou lingeringly stroked the back of Xu Nian’s hand, turning his head to look at the jasmine flowers on the windowsill.
[Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission and leaving the world.]
Chen Zhou suddenly thought of the saying, “Sending jasmine to a gentleman, wishing the gentleman never parts.”
[The system can now provide the Host with a memory-clearing service. If the Host wishes, you can forget everything after each world ends. Would the Host like to accept this service?]
As 126 spoke, Chen Zhou’s consciousness was already beginning to blur. Strictly speaking, he should have followed rationality and chosen to forget.
Because what if Xu Nian was merely virtual? What if everything turned out to be fake?
Yet, looking at the pot of jasmine by the window, the words spilled right out of his mouth: [No, I don’t want to.]
He did not want to forget these precious memories.
[Very well. Then the Host is about to be extracted, please get ready.]
His consciousness completely slipped away, while his mind still replayed everything. He still remembered Xu Nian saying he loved him right by his ear, remembering everything.
With a final hum, he knew he had left.
[Welcome here, Host.]
When Chen Zhou opened his eyes, he found the surroundings completely blank with no one around.
[Where is this?]
[Similar to a transit station. You can rest for a bit before going to the next world.]
Chen Zhou nodded. He sat down and rubbed his head, then suddenly remembered something. [Can I bring that little wooden bird from that world to store it here?]
Chen Zhou wanted to leave something behind.
[Certainly, Host. You can store anything you want here.]
A brief moment later, the little wooden bird appeared right beside his hand.
[Host, the next world is about to begin. Would you like to rest for a while longer?]
Chen Zhou gripped the little wooden bird, closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them again.
[It’s fine, let’s begin.]
He had already sorted out his feelings and decided to face everything ahead.
Before figuring out this system, anything was possible, and he believed Xu Nian was real.
No matter how long it took, he believed he would meet him again.