I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

[You didn't respond, but I did indicate that I wanted to find you and hoped to bump into you by chance on some street corner, since you always perform in different locations.]

Eden naturally learned of your situation and offered her congratulations and blessings... In contrast, her experience was more stable and "formal"—she traveled around performing with the school's drama troupe and quickly secured a "leading role," thus attracting the attention of many.

Clearly, her talent has been recognized... It's just a pity that people nowadays don't particularly appreciate classical music or watch operas often, which limits Eden's fame to a very small circle... But Eden is not discouraged. She tells you that she will definitely let people witness the unique weight and beauty of this part of history in the future.

And you, naturally, offered her your congratulations and blessings.

Speaking of which, something interesting happened along the way... During a street performance, you were approached by two peculiar people.

Judging from their appearance, they seemed to be a couple. After hearing your performance, they readily stayed to listen, and stayed for the entire afternoon as if they had nothing else to do. They even paid extra to request several pieces of different styles from you, which you played one by one, receiving praise and applause from both of them.

[Only after your performance ended, and after dealing with the fans who were lucky enough to find you and patiently waited for you to finish playing, did the two of them approach you to discuss things.]

[The two are indeed husband and wife. The husband's name is Gunn and the wife's name is Fidel. Both admire art, but lacking talent, they transitioned into agents, getting close to shining stars and art, and helping them reach bigger and more glorious stages.]

They once tried to bring idols into the realm of art and successfully helped several young idols transition to mainstream careers. However, after idol stars became the mainstream, the two, who were dedicated to pursuing art, were ostracized and eventually became marginalized. Apart from their original connections, they left behind nothing else.

Fortunately, the couple had saved enough money in the early stages of their relationship, so after being ostracized, they left the company, got married, and took the opportunity to travel and relax.

Unexpectedly, this trip yielded some unexpected results... When they heard your performance, they realized that you would definitely shine on the path of art in the future, and they also found information about you online... At first, they also thought you were someone who chased after "online popularity," but after requesting a few songs in person, they abandoned that impolite idea.

They approached you, wanting to make you an artist under their management, and guaranteed that with your talent and their connections, you would definitely become a big star.

You simply smiled and declined, saying you preferred to focus on completing your studies first… This attitude only reinforced their belief in your passion for art. They weren't annoyed by your refusal; they simply left their contact information and occasionally offered guidance on how to manage your personal online accounts.

Over time, you became friends with them.

[Isn't that a good thing? You've made two more friends, and... these new friends are quite well-connected. If Eden wants to step onto that dazzling stage in the future... that will definitely be much easier, right?]

【Hmm? As for why you didn't go? Well... it's naturally because of personal pursuits. After all, performing on the street... you can always see a lot of people, and occasionally hear all sorts of stories from different people.】

Whether it's busy office workers, children overjoyed after school, or elderly people enjoying the lively atmosphere... all sorts of people will gather around you because of music.

They may not know you, but they are happy to talk to you and discuss your music. Some daring people may even dance to your playing, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd.

You're happy to do this, and you're willing to witness it all.

[But amidst this everyday life filled with upbeat melodies, a short, melancholic tune suddenly cuts in.]

Mother Teresa... is leaving.

--------

"Mother Teresa..."

"Ah...child, you've come..."

Mother Teresa lay on the bed, surrounded by various instruments monitoring and sustaining her life... The soft beeping of the electrocardiogram monitor echoed in the somewhat empty church, and the occasional sobs of others could be heard around her.

"Why...why didn't you go to the hospital..."

"I've already been there... Child, I... am fine, it's just... I'm getting old, and I can't handle the strain anymore."

Mother Teresa's tone was no different from usual, even her voice was light and cheerful. Apart from speaking much slower than usual, there seemed to be nothing abnormal about her... She could even sit up in bed and gently hold Xi Wang's hand.

The rough hand touched that nimble and beautiful hand once again, but compared to before, that beautiful hand... was now larger than that rough hand. Mother Teresa could no longer completely cover Xi Wang's hand with her own.

However, Mother Teresa smiled at this, seemingly quite happy.

“Child…please do not worry, I have not left. I am just like him before…returning to His side, watching over you and accompanying you with Him.”

"My child, do not be too attached to me, nor linger your gaze on me. Please move forward with determination... You are on the right path and will surely walk toward a bright future."

"But...but..."

Xi Wang's voice choked with sobs, and warm tears kept flowing from the corners of his eyes... He had never held back anything in front of her, but that was precisely why he couldn't stop the tears.

She knew perfectly well that tears were nothing to be ashamed of, and crying was nothing to be embarrassed about... These were things she had taught herself, but precisely because of this, Xi Wang felt sad and even more unwilling to let her see her like this, feeling a strange sense of shame.

“It’s alright, child… It’s not wrong to express your emotions according to your feelings.”

Mother Teresa slowly raised her hand to touch Xi Wang's unconsciously lowered face, gently wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes... The warmth from her fingertips brought another smile to her face.

He was still as well-behaved as ever.

"Speaking of which, child... I don't think I've heard any of your recent songs yet... Hmm... Could you satisfy my curiosity?"

As Mother Teresa spoke, she gestured to the piano in the center of the church used for the choir, and said half-jokingly.

"They even prepared musical instruments for you?"

Perhaps it was because the end was near, Mother Teresa's words were no longer so serious and calm, but rather carried a touch of youthful frivolity and liveliness.

"……it is good."

Xi Wang did not hesitate. She simply wiped away her tears, then smiled slightly and gently agreed before getting up to leave.

"child."

"Well, I'm here."

"The clothes... need to be tidied up a bit more."

As she spoke, she tried to get up to help, but was quickly stopped by the nuns around her. Xi Wang also waved his hand repeatedly, indicating that there was no need for that... He had grown up.

While quickly tidying up his appearance, he rapidly scanned his surroundings, searching for things that could serve as inspiration.

He declined Eden's invitation to join him, and sat alone in front of the piano. He opened the lid, habitually tried a few keys to check the tone, and then... his thoughts became somewhat chaotic again.

He didn't know which piece to play; the tunes were all too cheerful, and in his current state of mind, he simply couldn't play them well... Besides, he wanted to write a song specifically for Mother Teresa.

Looking up at the church bathed in the setting sun, I saw a beautiful winged figure reflected in the stained glass windows—the image of an angel… Turning back, I saw Mother Teresa, full of anticipation, surrounded by others.

My gaze unconsciously fell on the windowsill of the church, where I could see several pure white pigeons.

With a slight movement of my fingertips, I could feel the faint, gentle breeze squeezing in through the crack in the door.

Xi Wang... seemed to have a feeling.

Gently place your hands on the black and white keys, and then slowly press down the notes.

The voice was very soft and gentle, as tender as a pure white feather falling from an angel's wing.

"I took the supermarket flowers from the windowsill~?"

“threw the day old tea from the cup~?”

The gentle voice flowed out slowly along with the piano music, like a mountain stream or a breeze in the forest.

It was mixed with gratitude, with thanks, and also with longing for the past.

There were no other sounds, only his singing and his piano playing, echoing in the church along with the gentle breeze.

"Oh I'm in pieces, it's tearing me up, but I know~?"

"A heart that's broke is a heart that's been loved~?"

Mother Teresa smiled, a very happy and blissful smile, because she recognized the song as one that Xi Wang had spontaneously come up with, a song that Xi Wang had dedicated to her.

She smiled contentedly, no longer forcing herself to stay upright. She simply leaned back against the soft pillows, gazing at him silently with a look of relief in her eyes.

As the sun gradually set in the west, sunlight streamed through the colorful stained glass windows, casting a golden glow upon everything around it. The glow was neither intense nor dazzling, but it drew everyone's attention.

"So I'll sing Hallelujah~?"

"You were an angel in the shape of my mum~?"

She could see it, she could see His gaze upon him, she could see His radiance shining upon him... gentle, loving.

She could see a breeze blowing in, a bluish wind, squeezing in through the cracks in the church's unclosed doors, carrying warmth and gentleness.

She could see white feathers falling, gently landing on the white doves perched on the doors and windows.

"And when God takes you back he'll say Hallelujah~?"

"You're home?"

In a daze, she could see a woman with six wings standing beside him. She had a gentle smile on her face and was surrounded by a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere, like a gentle breeze.

In the hazy light, she could see long, emerald-green hair like leaves in a forest, and hair ornaments like flowers on treetops; she could see the blue surrounding the six wings... The breeze around her was also tinged with color and became visible; she could see the two rings hanging above her head, one blue and one white, pulsating rhythmically like breathing.

【■■……】

She seemed to notice Mother Teresa's gaze, raised her head slightly, and gave her a gentle, breezy smile.

Ah... I see... that's how it is.

Mother Teresa's gaze lingered on her, and she seemed to understand.

???~

Xi Wang's piano music continued, and the slanting sunlight, like a golden stream, flowed slowly, gradually covering the black and white keys.

Xi Wang's piano playing was very slow, with particularly long interludes, as if this could prolong Mother Teresa's life, as if this could keep her alive.

only……

"You...have always been...there."

Mother Teresa gazed at her, and in her vision, everything around her was becoming blurry, but her figure was becoming clearer and clearer.

Golden sunlight arrived with her, like the holy light of heaven.

She could be seen slowly walking towards him, and under the golden light and the backdrop of her blue and white wings, she appeared so beautiful and so holy.

She smiled, her smile filled with tenderness and love, her pale blue eyes revealing a gentleness that seemed almost tangible.

She was getting closer... very close, along with that warm golden hue.

“I know…you…have always been…there.”

Mother Teresa instinctively raised her hand, and the golden stream shone on the back of her hand, bringing a warm touch.

Ah...ah...she...grasped her own hand.

Mother Teresa smiled contentedly, looking at her hand being held by the other woman, at the gentle smile on her face. Mother Teresa... closed her eyes contentedly, and her hand, which had been touching the sunlight, fell limp and remained still.

Di-

The instrument beside him emitted a constant sound, indicating that the person's heart had stopped beating.

The people around were momentarily thrown into panic, but quickly fell silent, leaving only immense sorrow and faint sobs.

???~

Xi Wang's piano music continued... unchanged, and never stopped.

"Hallelujah..."