Chapter 486: Grand Finale

Remote border—

Unknowingly, Lu Mingyuan had been here for thirty years.

He had witnessed with his own eyes the people here, who were poor and destitute, with minds like sieves, changing batch after batch.

Similarly, in the eyes of the locals, this Special Commissioner Lu seemed to be all alone. For ten years, there had been no family letters, and he had not left their desolate territory.

What was he after?

Was he too kind, or too stupid?

No one knew the answer.

Only Lu Mingyuan himself knew that he was, atoning for his sins.

As always, the postman said there were no letters for him.

He hunched his back and returned slowly to his temporary residence.

No news was also quite good; it meant his father was still safe and sound.

After returning to the dilapidated and empty residence, he first looked at the only photo on the table that had been framed, looking at it again and again, never getting enough.

Regret?

Hmm, regret.

Over these years, Qingluo had never entered his dreams.

He knew she would never forgive him.

In the next life, she wouldn't forgive him either.

It didn't matter; his end was self-inflicted, he was atoning.

If there was an afterlife, he hoped to use everything he had to exchange for Qingluo's happiness and fulfillment, even if he were to be reincarnated into the animal realm.

"Clatter—"

The photo fell to the ground, making a crisp sound.

The glass of the frame shattered, and the person in the chair left silently...

Twenty-second century—

In an amusement park with a strong cyberpunk atmosphere, many parents brought their children to relax.

Carousel, rock climbing wall, floating bumper cars, companion robots, and other areas were all gathered with children of different ages.

"Mommy! Daddy, come and look, I climbed up, I'm number one!"

A little girl with a charming smile and a lively personality waved at her parents below from the highest position on the rock climbing wall.

A woman with delicate features and exquisite face bloomed with a proud smile, wearing a Klein blue fabric that was very eye-catching in the crowd.

Beside her, a tall and cold man scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes, his large hands tightly protecting his wife.

Then he showed a proud smile to his daughter above, "Manman, you are the best, come down, be careful, listen to the instructor's guidance."

"Got it, Daddy!"

Han Man, under the envy of many children of the same age, slowly climbed down the original path, the safety rope on her body slowly lowering.

When she successfully came down and her feet stepped on the mat, enthusiastic applause sounded all around—

"Clap, clap, clap."

Brave, confident, she was the most eye-catching existence now!

"Great job, daughter, what big meal do you want to eat at noon? Daddy will satisfy you."

Han Zhengqing hugged his daughter who pounced on him, his heart filled with happiness.

He had felt like he had known his wife at first sight, and fell in love at second sight. Soon after a flash marriage, they had their precious daughter.

Over these years, in order not to miss his daughter's growth and to accompany her as she grew up, no matter how busy he was with work, he would find time to accompany his wife and daughter to go shopping and eat.

Han Man hugged her father's neck and muttered in his ear:

"Daddy, I want to eat fire chicken noodles, spicy, super spicy."

"Fine, but take stomach medicine first, otherwise if you cry because you're uncomfortable, I won't dare to take you to eat it in the future."

Han Zhengqing nodded. As for his wife, he would bear the pressure and seek benefits for his daughter...

Shen Qingluo looked at her daughter dotingly, not knowing who her daughter took after, liking spicy food.

Even though she knew her stomach was delicate, she still liked to eat it.

Sigh, fortunately, there was a kind of stomach medicine that could be taken in advance, so that eating stimulating food could protect the intestines.

"My dear mommy, smile."

"Manman, straighten your tongue before talking to me."

"Yes, Mommy."

The family of three was very eye-catching in terms of appearance and temperament, and their backs were so happy that people couldn't help but envy them.

On a tree branch, a pitch-black crow tilted its head and looked for a long time. Until the human couple and their family of three were far away and their backs could no longer be seen, it inexplicably wanted to cry.

"Caw, caw, caw—"

In the security booth not far under the tree branch, the security personnel heard the call of this ominous bird and soon took a bamboo pole out to drive it away.

"Why did a crow come to our mall?"

"Don't know."

"Anyway, this kind of bird is ominous. If you see it in the future, drive it away, otherwise if it offends the guests, we will all have our wages deducted..."

"Caw, caw, caw—"

The crow dropped a few feathers and flew aimlessly in the sky.

It was born without companions, and no humans liked it.

Where else could it go?

"Bang—"

Not paying attention, it hit the glass of a skyscraper, the world in front of it spun, and it closed its eyes completely...

"Bad luck."

"Isn't it? Where couldn't it die, it had to hit the glass we just cleaned?"

Time passed quickly, so fast that one day, when the children turned off the remote control and stopped chasing TV dramas, the children grew up.

Don't laugh at the white-haired person wearing flowers; time never defeats a beauty.

Shen Man had been retired for many years, and her black hair had turned into silver hair.

Over the past few decades, she had moved from one residence to another. No matter how luxurious the current residence was and how advanced the furniture and appliances were, what she liked most was still the small family courtyard on the Sea Island.

There, she had spent the happiest time of her life.

Knowing and loving her lover, accompanying each other until old age.

There, she had gained friendship and sent away her closest relatives.

In the big villa now, there was a time wall made up of countless old photos.

Every photo on it was a vivid memory.

Every relative, friend, and the growth of the children were recorded on it.

Over these years, when she missed them, she would look and flip through them.

"Why aren't you taking your medicine?"

Behind her, a figure had been standing for who knows how long. Even though that face was no longer young, it was so familiar and so gentle.

"Bitter, I'm not eating it."

Shen Man gathered the shawl on her shoulders, trying to muddle through.

Although Spiritual Liquid was good, in her hands, it couldn't bring the dead back to life; it could only prolong life and eliminate illness and pain.

And now, Spiritual Liquid no longer had any effect on her body.

She knew her time was running out.

In her final days, she didn't want to take medicine anymore.

"Fine, if you don't eat it, you don't eat it. The magnolia flowers in the flower room have bloomed, shall I accompany you to see them?"

Jiang Ye didn't force his wife, but reached out to support his wife to see the flowers.

"Where is Tangyuan?"

"It? It loves to move less and less. It's in its little nest in the flower room, sunbathing."

"That's good, if it loves to sunbathe, let it sunbathe."

The two supported each other and came to the flower room behind the villa.

This was a greenhouse built of transparent glass, where dozens of types of flowers were planted.

In this season, the magnolia flowers were in full bloom, beautiful and magnificent.

The little grandsons and granddaughters in the family all liked to come here to play hide-and-seek, and also liked to come and touch the real cat.

Shen Man sat on the sofa her daughter had specially bought for her and adjusted to a comfortable angle.

Jiang Ye turned on the projector and clicked on the loop playback of the images of their son and daughter getting married and taking wives...

After doing all this, he sat beside his wife as if relieved, holding his wife's hand tightly just like when he was young.

"It's so good. In this life, I am very lucky to have met you."

"I am also very lucky to have met you."

"I have no regrets."

"Hmm, neither do I."

"If there is an afterlife—"

"I am still willing to marry you."

Tangyuan jumped into the arms of its master and the big boss, saying lingeringly:

"Meow."

In the next life, I am also willing to continue being your beloved pet and family!

In the flower room, a burst of laughter rang out.

Later, it was all lonely.

The projector's image froze on the family portrait.

The sunset's brilliance sprinkled on the figures sleeping in each other's arms on the sofa, a rustling sound rang out, and the magnolia flowers fell without wind.

In the flower room, only the fragrance of flowers remained.

Tangyuan returned to the space and slept for who knows how many years.

It seemed to have forgotten someone who was very, very important to it.

Until one day, it was awakened by a human toddler in a familiar floral fragrance—

"Brother A-Ye, look, there is a cute cat here. Shall we take it home and raise it?"

"Okay."

The End.