The End of an Era, the Eve of the Cherry Festival

The pitch-black night sky shone brightly under the countless stars that converged into Milky Way- like ribbon. Amidst the grand neon lights and cheers, the song of Eden resonated like dazzling gold in the hearts of every listener and tourist, seemingly destined to endure through time and become an enduring melody.

Brilliant fireworks rose slowly, merging with the moonlight and starlight, casting a radiance surpassing that of wine glasses and neon lights, revealing smiles of carefree joy on faces that had shed their usual unease and sorrow.

This is a small town encompassed within the main urban area. It was once a famous cherry-producing region and is also a wine-producing area that produces fine wines. Vast golden wheat fields are a constant sight here, and sweet orchards flowing with honey are the best decoration for festivals. Antique shops hiding secrets are a testament to the long history and symbolize the timeless past.

On this night, shortly after dusk, the world's most renowned voice, which had once again been displayed before the world since the flames that extinguished Sydney, seemed to symbolize that the past era had not yet passed, and as if to declare that the future of humanity was still full of hope.

Everything has not yet been crushed under the wheels of time; the brilliance of humanity and art continues to endure.

This diva, who evokes immense empathy in everyone and is showered with attention and praise, stands atop a parade float. She wears an elaborate yet subdued classical gown, her eyes gazing at the distant, star-like audience with a natural gentleness.

Eden's feet were surrounded by colorful fruits and beautiful bouquets, which at first glance looked like an extension of her skirt. She smiled at all the spectators, clearly used to such a grand scene.

Distance.

Couples, mingling among the orderly crowd and acting as spectators on the roadside, were whispering to each other.

"Eden is indeed very popular. It's only the eve of the Cherry Festival, and it won't officially start until tomorrow, but it's already packed with people."

"Of course, even among the Fusion Warrior, 90% are fans of Eden."

Looking at the sparkling light in that person's eyes, Su Qing'an couldn't help but pat her head through her baseball cap. He glanced at two familiar faces not far away, waving glow sticks and small boards and shouting earnestly, and said seriously:

"I think Shigure and Carole are probably her fans too, and likely among the best."

Fu Hua nodded, indicating:

"See those bags they're carrying? They're full of Eden's records and merchandise. Qiluo and Peibo both said they're trying to get Eden's autograph."

The boy calmly analyzed the situation and stated:

"I think Eden probably won't be able to sign up enough people; there are just too many people here."

Fu Hua responded:

"This is because we haven't continued to promote it; most residents in the main city who live far from here are unaware of it."

Su Qing'an recalled the start of the Cherry Festival's publicity campaign. The specific process seemed to have started this morning, but by evening, it was as if people from all directions had suddenly flooded in, almost blocking the road designated for the parade floats.

The reason people are so enthusiastic is probably largely due to Eden.

He commented:

"It was like a blitzkrieg, hit and run."

Fu Hua responded:

"That's true. Eden won't be singing here tomorrow morning; she's just a special guest at the Cherry Festival."

"I've heard a bit about her work schedule. Apparently, to take care of the residents who couldn't make it, she'll be funding Cherry Festival in other places herself, and using her Gene Ability to prevent any accidents along the way."

"However, to avoid too many people the next day, Eden is expected to only perform once the night before. As for where she goes afterward, that's a matter of personal privacy."

"But personally, I think she might quietly participate in subsequent activities."

Su Qing'an expressed his admiration:

"She seems to be very rich and very generous."

The girl's expression was enigmatic upon hearing this, and she said:

"That's true. Eden is very generous, and I've received some gifts from her as well."

"Very expensive?" he guessed.

She thought for a moment and replied:

"Pretty much. She gave me a book that looked like it was meant to be collected, covered in neatly pressed gold leaf and signed by various masters."

Su Qing'an asked curiously:

"What type of master?"

The little girl gestured and stated:

"Many masters can make complex toys with simple materials, and the majority use paper as their material. This book teaches how to make toys using the simplest methods."

"Simply put, this is a very expensive origami toy making guide."

Su Qing'an: "..."

She continued:

"Eden also gave me a teddy bear."

"Its original company produced the world's first teddy bear, and the one Eden gave me seems to be a collector's edition made by the company to celebrate its 300th anniversary; only 125 were ever produced."

"Although I didn't know its origin at first, it looked very expensive at first glance."

Su Qing'an suddenly realized, and asked:

"Is it the one Xiao Xi always likes to hold when watching TV? Speaking of which, I think she also flipped through that book you mentioned."

The girl said softly:

"Yes, the teddy bear's skin is made of real gold, its eyes are made of extremely pure sapphire, and its iris is made of 20 diamonds. Even disregarding its irreproducibility and collectible value, I think the cost price alone is very expensive."

"Then, ever since I told her 'Thank you, I really like it,' Eden gave me another teddy bear."

The boy began to recall, thinking he had probably seen it somewhere in his house before. He asked:

"Is it that teddy bear in the leather jacket? I don't remember us having that kind of toy in our Brisbane villa before."

Fu Hua stated:

"Yes, that's the one."

"Because they were too expensive, I cleared out a room in my Brisbane home specifically to house those two teddy bears."

"It's said that this is a teddy bear design created in collaboration with luxury brand Stevie Wonder for the brand's anniversary, and designed by fashion brand LV. The leather jacket you mentioned is a Louis Vuitton leather jacket."

"Eden said this was a toy given to her by the organizers when she attended the Sky Forest Exhibition in the Far East, and there's probably only one of its kind in the world."

Su Qing'an was more curious about what kind of image Fu Hua had in Eden's eyes than how expensive the teddy bear was, that she would give her gifts that any girl of marriageable age would be delighted with.

The little girl continued:

"Later, I was worried that Eden would continue to send me teddy bears, so I told her in advance that I didn't have room at home and that she didn't need to send any more next time."

He asked:

"Then what?"

Fu Hua sighed:

"Then one time I ran into Eden in the conference room, and she happened to be slightly drunk. She gave me a teddy bear museum."

A brief silence fell over the room.

Su Qing'an had never experienced a period of extreme poverty; rather, he had always lived a life of comfort and even considerable wealth—although he rarely had the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures that wealth brought—he still found this display of ruthless extravagance and the sheer scale of his life quite impressive.

The girl seized the opportunity and began to complain:

"Eden's voice, manner of speaking, and even the atmosphere she exuded were all so gentle that it was impossible to strongly refuse her."

"Later I thought, since that place isn't in Australia, it's the same as not taking it at all."

"After that day, the person in charge there added me on social media and told me that the handover with Eden had been completed. They would frequently send me information about the museum that day and photos of various teddy bears."

"Finally, he proudly stated that this museum, which displays approximately 1,200 teddy bears produced around the world over the past 100 years, will remain open to me as long as it hasn't Honkai or been destroyed, and that I can take any I like."

Su Qing'an remained silent for a while. This conversation completely explained why she found a bunch of unfamiliar items when she returned to her home in Brisbane last time.

"Was that Aventador sports car model studded with diamonds also a gift from Eden?"

"Right."

"That particularly exquisite miniature castle too?"

"Right."

The boy patted her head and gave his overall impression:

"Eden, do I treat you like a child?"

"... perhaps."

The two bypassed the topic, which had accumulated due to various misunderstandings, and their attention was eventually drawn back to the Shiyu Qiluo and Carole.

Su Qing'an asked:

"They should all work at the Moth to Fire branch in the Australian capital, just like Eden. They should have many opportunities to get each other's autographs normally. Why would they choose to ask for an autograph at a time like this?"

Upon hearing this, Fu Hua responded:

"During the last mission to hunt down the missionaries, Eden and I were in the same group, so I helped Qiluo get her as a friend. I also added Peibo along with her. I heard they chatted with Eden online, so getting an autograph shouldn't be too difficult."

She thought for a moment and continued:

"However, when I asked them this question, they both said they didn't know, but they seemed happy, so I didn't think it mattered."

"Perhaps it's just like what Qiluo said back then: if liking an idol can make you a better person and help you move towards a path that better realizes your self-worth and ideals, then this liking isn't considered neglecting your duties."

Su Qing'an thought for a moment and said:

"Perhaps they enjoy the sense of distance between fans and idols."

"Getting these autographs as colleagues might not be as enjoyable for them as getting them in this way."

He gazed at the radiant figure on the float and whispered:

"Moreover, in such times, this is a stage that Eden has few opportunities to participate in."

"For those who truly admire her stage presence, this is probably a rare and precious opportunity."

No matter how much atmosphere and fleeting brilliance were used to try to hold on, that era that needed art and Queen of Sacred Music was ultimately over.

Eden herself is probably most aware of this, otherwise she wouldn't have given up continuing to perform and remain in the spotlight.

The fact that this singer could face the risks and crises of performing for an extended period of time without fear under such circumstances demonstrates that the fire did not bring shadows and despair, but rather an incredibly vivid and pure reality.

At this point, she deeply understood that that era was inevitably coming to an end.

Joining the Moth to Fire and becoming Fusion Warrior is Eden's ultimate answer to what this era truly needs.

Even so, Eden's heart still retained the glory and splendor of the past era. She simply let it all settle, building a palace within her soul that housed the unique brilliance of that time, and treasuring it deep within.

Su Qing'an wanted to preserve the last vestiges of that era, not for Eden, but simply for the radiant light shining in the eyes of those around her.

The little girl gazed intently at the cherry-shaped mechanical doll beside the float on the roadside. Watching the doll sway back and forth with its endearing, clumsy appearance, she said:

"I heard from others that Kevin even skipped class and flew from Europe specifically to see Eden's concert."

"Everyone says it's a bit unbelievable, saying that Kevin is so cold and aloof, how could he go to a concert? But if it's Eden concert, it seems quite normal."

Su Qing'an pursed his lips and said softly:

"Before Kevin received the Parvati transplant, he was a very cheerful person and often smiled."

"He mentioned Eden's name to me, so this gossip might actually be true."

Fu Hua seemed lost in thought, and she said softly:

"Is this the effect of Gene Ability?"

The youth cannot deny it:

"While Gene Ability certainly plays a part, the core reason is the ideals he chose to uphold and his determination to implement them."

He followed the girl's gaze to the cherry-shaped robot and stated:

"That one is kind of cute."

The little girl glanced back at him and said earnestly:

"Not as cute as you."

Su Qing'an asked:

"Can I pet your wings?"

She remained silent for a while, not feeling angry, but just finding it strange:

"Taking an inch and wanting a mile."

"..."

The girl was conflicted. She not only felt shy, but also began to question whether the rest of her body was completely unattractive, and asked:

"Can't forget the feel of it?"

The boy shook his head, recalling the other person's reaction when he first stroked their wings. A smile crept onto his lips as he answered honestly:

"Your reaction is unforgettable."

Then...

Su Qing'an was then stomped on forcefully with her little leather shoe by the enraged girl.

After a brief, not-so-sullen, period, the two continued to mingle in the crowd, watching the parade float gradually disappear into the distance before finally leaving the throng and wandering around the rest of the town.

The parade floats were laid out on the map along a route that would reach most corners of the town. The parade would take about two to three laps at a slow pace, taking about three to four hours, and would end around seven or eight o'clock in the evening.

In the past, the floats in the parade mainly featured the exclusive privileges of the lady who won the Cherry Festival competition and was chosen as the Cherry Queen. This right was something that everyone was willing to open unconditionally for Eden, but it was not used for singing.

Eden's ability to hold barrier-free concerts today relies primarily on technological equipment for receiving and playing the recordings, which are then circulated throughout the town.

Although this place is much simpler than the professional stages she used to perform on, it is still very popular.

I heard that after this parade ends, her singing will be recorded into a collector's edition album as prizes for some competitions.

As a concert, this format is quite unique.

During the performance, many new shops and stores began to be built along the outer perimeter of this road. Basically, after leaving Eden, where the largest crowd dispersed, these places would host various activities and prepare a wide variety of goods and food.

But this is only the eve of the Cherry Festival; the real events will begin tomorrow.

For example, markets that specialize in cherry dishes.

Cherry jam, cherry ice cream, cherry liqueur, cherry pudding, and other dishes made from this fruit will be available for guests to enjoy to their heart's content.

The cherry pie eating contest, which was previously held specifically to boost the popularity of their store, will also only take place tomorrow.

So Su Qing'an would send a text message to Fu Hua asking if she was going out tomorrow.

In this hot summer, going out to enjoy this festival is a rare and novel experience for both myself and Hua.

Compared to past experiences and sorrows, the current cooperation and peace seem all the more precious.

The boy was willing to spend every summer with her, but if he were to eventually step into the silent winter like a cicada dying in autumn, then carefully counting the remaining heat and warmth in his palms might become a meaningful thing.

The two sat down in the rather empty shop.

This is the shop where the cherry pie eating contest will be held tomorrow, but apart from one staff member who stayed inside, everyone else, including the owner, mingled in the sea of people along the roadside, gazing at the parade floats and enjoying themselves immensely.

Since Fu Hua had just eaten dinner, the two of them only ordered a cherry pie that was cut in half.

The little girl felt the soft pastry sinking into her teeth and the sweet cherry sauce overflowing from within, and she thought it was delicious.

Her eyes turned up at the corners, and she seemed happy.

But then, Fu Hua took a sip of the cherry wine the shop assistant had given her, and finally remembered that thing that had been forgotten in the corner of her memory. She looked up at the boy and asked:

"Speaking of which, isn't Xiao Xi still under that banyan tree?"

Su Qing'an: "..."

It seems there is such a thing.

Banyan tree.

The girl sat on the tree trunk, her expression indifferent, with bits of seaweed stuck to the edge of her lips, and her two lonely little legs dangling adorably.

Su Muxi was carefully scooping out mousse cake with a small spoon, savoring its delicate texture.

On the other side, the plastic bag she had hung on the tree trunk was full of the remains of snacks.

This person...

They were completely unaware that they had been forgotten.