Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

The doll said, "The other party refuses to explain no matter what I say."

"It feels like something's bothering me... I don't have to tell you, but I need to get that guy at the company to keep me informed." Black Tower rubbed his chin.

"Yes, Madam Black Tower!"

"Also, today is his birthday, so I need to go back to Azure Star."

"It's already prepared for you."

……

Black Tower stood in front of the open wardrobe of the doll, his gaze lingering on a certain dress.

That was a gift from Qi Zhimu.

Next to it, there was also a wizard's hat.

That was a gift she gave to Qi Zhimu.

It seems as if his presence still lingers there, reflecting the unforgettable and beautiful times of the past.

There are countless ways for a genius to make something resistant to the ravages of time.

But... one of the people most closely associated with this thing became her lifelong regret.

"well……"

Black Tower sighed silently, took off the clothes he often wore in his youth, and changed into them himself without having the doll do it for him.

She sat at the dressing table, picked up a wooden comb, and began to comb her long, smooth hair, carefully primping herself.

After a long while, Heita put down the lipstick, her hand instinctively reaching for the transparent jar not far away, but then stopping midway.

Staring blankly at the two remaining candies, his eyes dimmed for a moment.

"Here you go. Ask me for more when you're almost finished. You should like these flavors. It's okay if you can't finish them in a short time; they won't expire."

The boy had once stuffed a clear jar full of candy into her handbag, and he had done this many times before.

She remembered every flavor of the candy made by Qi Zhimu.

I didn't like the grape flavor at first, but I got used to it after eating it for a while.

Now, the person who made the candy for her is gone, and once she finishes it all, she'll never have any more.

Black Tower turned her gaze back to the small box filled with ornaments, took out a black hair ribbon and tied it to a strand of hair on each side, and finally picked up a purple one.

Many mornings, Qi Zhimu would patiently help her with her hair and makeup.

She remembers the process, every single detail.

I remember the faint, fresh scent of soap on him, and his warm breath.

Lost in his memories for a while, Black Tower snapped out of his daze, waved his hand to summon the fourth mirror, and stepped into it.

……

Azure Star, Foggy City.

It's the snow season.

As the birthplace of Lady Black Tower, this place has long been a must-visit destination for countless interstellar travelers.

In memory of her, the entire city has remained unchanged from her teenage years, weathering the storms of time.

Many business people claim that Ms. Heta was a frequent customer of their current shops when she was a child.

However, due to the sheer number of cases and the difficulty in verifying them, visitors gradually stopped taking them seriously.

There are even more outrageous claims.

The owner of a small roasted sweet potato shop on a street corner said:

During her childhood, Ms. Heta's ancestors sold sweet potatoes on this street corner, and she and a boy were often seen patronizing the shop.

Countless people scoff at this claim.

Would a prestigious club like #83 really come to this remote corner to buy sweet potatoes that require no technical skill?

They've gone to extreme lengths to fabricate lies to attract customers, but the name "Black Tower" is still a golden brand.

Whether people believe it or not, there will always be some foreign tourists willing to spend money on this.

Right now, in front of the milk tea shop across the street.

Distracted, with a look of nostalgia and complexity in her eyes, the beautiful young woman, whose beauty was so captivating that one couldn't help but glance at her, lightly picked up a packaging bag from the food area.

"...Why does she look so familiar?"

Two young women watched as the girl's figure disappeared into the crowd.

"I was fortunate enough to visit the Black Tower space station, and she looks very similar to the Black Tower lady's doll."

"Holy crap... could it be—"

"No problem at all. Although few people dare to get plastic surgery to look like Lady Black Tower to attract attention, how many tourists cosplay as her through makeup, claiming it gives them an immersive experience? Look, there are two more over there."

"I see. But that girl was really pretty, at least ten times prettier than those two."

"Now that you mention it, it's true... It's rare to encounter such a high-quality Black Tower lady fan. Shall we go over and take a picture?"

"Forget it, they've vanished without a trace."

……

A roasted sweet potato shop.

Two portions.

The words had barely left my mouth when a cold wind rushed into my collar.

Hei Ta subconsciously looked down, staring blankly at the two cups of milk tea in his hand, motionless.

She only snapped out of her daze when the old man selling roasted sweet potatoes reminded her.

Mu Ran took the paper bag containing two portions of roasted sweet potatoes, paid for it, and turned to leave.

The road beneath my feet is all too familiar.

She remembers clearly which floor tile is loose and which corner has an old shop.

The roads that Qi Zhimu carried her on his back, held her hand, or walked side by side with her countless times back then, are now all she has left.

The Black Tower surveyed the landscape, preserved in her memory, from left to right.

But in her heart, wasn't it also a way of remembering Qi Zhimu?

Although the brain has accepted the fact that he is no longer there, the body still remembers the old habits and will prepare a copy for Qi Zhimu no matter what it buys.

Walking along familiar roads, I drifted away from the hustle and bustle and unknowingly returned to my vicinity of home.

The United Government guards stationed in the outer area to protect the original site of Lady Black Tower's former residence saw the girl walking alone and were about to stop her when they saw her face and froze on the spot.

The scanners on their bodies, designed solely to identify the Black Tower Lady, all flashed the same signal.

No one dared to utter a sound, suppressing their excitement and bowing their heads respectfully as they listened to the footsteps passing in front of them.

Only when the noise subsided did everyone dare to look over there from a distance, witnessing the girl casually open the keypad door.

The guards stationed here have changed over the centuries, and very few have been fortunate enough to have seen Lady Black Tower in person.

When they retire, they'll have something to brag about for the rest of their lives.

Black Tower paid no attention to what the people outside were thinking and stepped into the courtyard.

A thin layer of snow had accumulated on the swing. I brushed it off, sat down, and opened the paper bag containing the roasted sweet potatoes.

The sweet potato is still warm.

The milk tea was still warm.

However, the taste is different from what I had back then.

The swing swayed gently, and Black Tower surveyed the empty courtyard, as if he could see two figures playing badminton.

Laughter echoed across time and space, blurring the line between illusion and reality.

After a long while, two snowy owls flew in silently.

One landed on Black Tower's shoulder, and the other on her lap, tilting its head.

Black Tower then came to his senses.

The extra cup of warm milk tea and the remaining roasted sweet potato in my hand had both turned cold.

A tremendous sense of emptiness washed over her, leaving her bewildered and disoriented.

Tears slid down my cheeks without me even realizing it, landing on the snow and disappearing quickly.

Only after temporarily stepping away from days immersed in intellectual pursuits and looking back do I truly understand—

Longing will not fade with the passage of time.

"I'm no longer the girl who needed protection; I've become the person you loved most..."

"But when will you answer my call?"

"Brother Mu... Zhi Mu... Magician, Creditor..."

How can I call to you so that you will hear me?