"This is where Mother loved to come most, and it's also where I love coming most."
"Back then, Mother often brought me here to play."
"Did you know? Every single tree here was planted by my own hands."
Du Shuangshuang stood alone in Falling Leaf Valley, laughing.
She ran about, carefree and unburdened.
The fallen leaves around her seemed to possess spirits, following behind her wherever she went. Wherever she ran, the leaves followed.
She was like a fallen-leaf fairy, able to command the leaves.
"Heavenly Court, are there any other fun places?"
Ye Lin continued asking, arms folded.
At those words, Du Shuangshuang froze. Then she turned to look at Ye Lin with a blank expression.
"Isn't... this place fun?"
"I mean, is there anywhere more fun than this?"
After Ye Lin said that, Du Shuangshuang fell silent.
"No. I usually play here, then stay at home."
Hearing that, Ye Lin fell silent.
Was Du Shuangshuang's range of activity really this small?
Her residence, this place, and that was it?
Ye Lin could not help feeling sorry for Du Shuangshuang.
This was a little too miserable.
He had seen miserable people before, but never anyone this miserable.
She had spent her entire life living only within the little world she believed in.
"Have you never been anywhere else in Heavenly Court?"
Seeing Du Shuangshuang's bewildered look, Ye Lin pressed on.
"N-No. Father wouldn't let me go too far. He said it was bad for my health."
Hearing this, Ye Lin understood.
Thinking back on what had happened before, he came to a conclusion.
Du Shuangshuang did not know about her own physical condition.
And clearly, her father did not want her to know either.
It was as though everyone in Heavenly Court was keeping it from her.
Everyone knew