Even as a "normie," I'm completely oblivious to it.

Qiuyun hates this smell now, but she has to face it because it's something Xiaota fights against every day, something she's become accustomed to.

As soon as she stepped into the room, she saw the person lying on the hospital bed.

That woman who looks exactly like me.

However, due to his sickly thinness, his figure and face have become somewhat out of shape.

She lay motionless on her back on the spotless white pillow, her eyes half-closed. Her once silky silver hair was now dry and scattered on both sides of the pillow, lifeless.

The most prominent symptom of Xiaota's illness is pain all over her body, but she remains the same as always, with no struggle on her face, only calm and peaceful expression.

From Yang Qiuyun's perspective, if it weren't for the slight rise and fall of her chest with each breath, her quiet appearance would truly seem like she had already...

Even Qiu Yun, who was used to seeing Xiao Ta's sickly appearance, had never seen her so close to death before.

This scene served as another reminder to Yang Qiuyun.

—Little Tower's life...a short journey, has truly come to an end.

But thankfully, I made it in time...

When someone came in, Xiaota didn't even have the strength to open her eyes to see.

She guessed it was probably the doctor bringing medicine...

The knocking sound just now was so reassuring for some reason, reminding her of that afternoon from her childhood.

Alone and helpless, I lay on a haystack, bathed in warm sunlight, when two gentle girls gently shook my shoulders and woke me up.

Not just the sunshine that day, everything felt so warm...

But this can only be an illusion.

They're not coming...

I'm afraid... I won't survive this afternoon...

My head is spinning... my body feels so heavy... I can hardly feel my own existence anymore.

Is this what it feels like to be near death...?

Qiuyun is already in Northern Europe, Sasha is still helping Qiuyun mediate with the Su family, and Xiaota... is also sticking to her last duty.

Through cooperation and achieving their goals, Xiaota realizes her life's value and fulfills her wish to help them.

The original plan is about to come true.

Even if I die alone... that's enough.

Is that enough...?

Is that really enough?

In the last moments of her life, Carlotta felt fear.

She didn't even have the strength to clench her fists, and even kicking off the thin hospital blanket felt like it weighed a ton.

No... I don't want to die here alone like this...

It's so dark, I'm so tired, I can't see anything, it's so scary...

Death itself isn't scary; what's scary is dying alone...

Autumn charm, rustling...

I really miss you all...

Could you... see Xiaota one more time...?

This is the only time in my life that I have ever made a request to you. Haven't you always wanted me to ask for something?

Well... please let me say thank you one last time... okay?

When despair was almost unbearable, tears welled up in my eyes.

Little Tower heard it, a voice that seemed to echo from a memory.

"Little Tower...I've come to see you."

25. The Last Journey

!

Is that so...? Is this a final burst of energy before death?

Did Heaven hear my wish?

Qiuyun's voice is so beautiful... I really wish she could say it again.

"Little Tower...please open your eyes...don't scare me, please talk to me again...okay?"

"!"

Carlota suddenly opened her eyes.

It's unclear what force was supporting her fragile life force, like a flame in the wind, allowing her to force herself to turn her head and look at the side of the hospital bed.

The dim view gradually cleared, and Qiu Yun's beautiful face appeared before her, bringing both nostalgia and peace of mind.

Now that his senses are gradually returning... Xiao Ta can feel that his left hand is being held by Qiu Yun's hands, and his cold palms instantly become warm.

They had someone to rely on.

Carlota stared blankly at Qiuyun's tearful face, first surprised, then gave a helpless bitter laugh, and muttered to herself in the Chinese that Qiuyun had taught her, her voice weak and feeble, as if she wanted to close her eyes again.

"To see your illusion again... Heaven really is looking out for me. I never knew Qiuyun could have such an expression... Hehe... It's so good to see a new side of you again. Just like you said, life really does have something to look forward to every day..."

"Little Tower! Wake up! Don't sleep!"

"?"

Carlota was startled by the sudden, tearful roar.

This illusion... is far too real.

Perhaps it was this roar that broke the stagnation in Xiaota's mind; the warmth she felt in her palm became more and more obvious, and it gradually made her realize a reality.

She opened her eyes wide, opened her mouth several times, and after several attempts, she finally managed to utter the words.

"Autumn Charm...? Is that you?"

"It's me! It's me, Xiaota! Thank goodness you still recognize me... Wake up! Why are you so... lazy? Always wanting to sleep. Can't you talk to me a little longer...?"

"Okay... alright..."

Xiaota's smile was too radiant to be seen in Qiuyun's eyes.

Her smile masked the paleness on her face. As her life drew to a close, she tried her best to meet Qiuyun's expectations and be an obedient little tower...

Now, they are all thirty years old.

But... her smile seemed to transport her back to when she was seven years old, to the satisfied smile she had when she moved into her own little house.

Suddenly, the smile vanished, and Xiaota struggled, tightly gripping Qiuyun's hand, her face filled with terror.

"Qiuyun...! Qiuyun... why are you back...? Let's go, to Northern Europe..."

"I know! I know... Don't move! Little Tower, because of your efforts, no one doubts me anymore. It's perfectly safe for me to come back and see you like this, okay...?"

"real...?"

"Really! When have I ever lied to you? When have I ever lied to you, Elisa? Wait... Sasa will be here soon too, we'll all come to see you."

"what..."

This sudden joy had already suppressed all the panic in Xiaota's heart.

Sasha will come to see me too... If you're here, and Sasha is here too, then death isn't so scary...

She finally stopped struggling.

Even though she was already very weak, when she talked about telling Qiu Yun to leave this place and go to Northern Europe, she was so strong that Qiu Yun had to use some force to hold her down.

In her view, Qiuyun's safety was more important than her own life.

If Qiuyun encounters danger, then my final act of repaying her kindness... will mean failure.

Fortunately, Qiuyun said she had succeeded.

Qiuyun helped Xiaota lie down again and carefully tidied up the silver hair that was scattered around her.

Qiu Yun's eyes were filled with heartache.

Xiao Ta didn't want to lose any chance to talk to Qiu Yun in the end.

"Autumn Charm... are the children... alright?"

"Okay...they're doing great, always lively and energetic. Ah, Xiaota, you know what? Before coming here, I went to see the children. Yuzhe and Yuche were playing hide-and-seek, and they've made lots of new friends. It's so easy for kids to play together..."

Qiuyun actually had no way to see the children, but she had to keep lying to reassure Xiaota.

"Hmm... Phew... Being healthy... is better than anything..."

"Waaah..."

Yang Qiuyun's tears were particularly uncontrollable today.

The words "be healthy and well" coming from Xiao Ta's mouth are truly heartbreaking.

"When we were little... phew... yeah, you and Sasha... played with me... it was so much fun... Qiuyun, keep an eye on Yuche... you said she... is weak... that won't do... weakness will... lead to trouble... and you said... you..."

“I know! I know everything! Didn’t I tell you? My child is your child! Yu Che... she is proof that you existed in this world! I will tell Yu Che about your existence in the future, and Yu Zhe will do the same. They will remember you, and they will come to your grave and call you ‘Mom’!”

"Mmm...that's nice...thank you...thank you..."

Yang Qiuyun has already discovered it.

Now, every word Xiaota speaks is draining her life force; she can barely say a few words anymore.

Every word she uttered must have been a source of excruciating pain.

After that, Yang Qiuyun tried to talk more and more, so that she wouldn't fall asleep and wouldn't suffer from talking.

at last...

Little Tower's eyes were really almost closed.

She used all her strength to hold Qiuyun's hand as tightly as possible, and Qiuyun now had to get close to her mouth to hear her words.