The Second Life, Farewell

[Note: Qiqi is a zombie who has lived for hundreds or thousands of years, not a minor.]

Meanwhile, the sachets Xiu Yuan had given out began to glow with a gentle, comforting light.

Hu Tao and Zhongli of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor noticed it too.

"Mr. Zhongli, you've seen so much of the world. Have you ever seen anything like this?" Hu Tao asked as she gazed at the glowing forest.

"No," Zhongli answered plainly, looking at the forest.

When he came back to his senses and turned to Hu Tao, he froze.

"Director, why are you crying?"

Only after hearing Zhongli's words did Hu Tao realize it. She wiped at her tears, at a loss.

"I don't know why, but I feel so sad, as if I've lost something important..."

Hu Tao's tears kept flowing like an unstoppable spring.

Seeing her like this, Zhongli seemed to sense something strange as well.

"Xiu Yuan... I only met him for the first time this morning, yet I felt Erosion..."

Unable to make sense of it, Zhongli could only turn his gaze back to the forest.

"It's beautiful. The last time I saw anything this lovely was at the annual Lantern Rite."

"Yes, it's gorgeous. How did this happen?"

"This sachet is glowing with the same light. Could that man who gave out sachets this morning have created this extraordinary sight?"

"Oh, you have one too? Look, I have one as well."

"How does everyone have one? Did he hand them out one by one?"

"Does anyone know his name?"

"No. I only know there's a little zombie called Qiqi. If we meet her, we should try not to shun her."

"That's what he told me too."

The people of Liyue took out their warmly glowing sachets. All traces of sleepiness gone, they watched the luminous forest with faint smiles.

Xiangling sat high on a rooftop, cupping her sachet in both hands as she gazed tenderly toward the forest.

Looking back, she saw that Liyue, which had already fallen asleep, was now ablaze with lights, its warm glow echoing that of the forest.

"Xiu Yuan, is it time for you to go?"

She smiled faintly as two tears slipped from the corners of her eyes.

In the forest, Qiqi was drenched in tears. She clung desperately to Xiu Yuan, burying her head against his chest.

"Be good, Qiqi. From now on, cast your Edict on yourself."

"And remember to do your Soft Gymnastics every night. No slacking off, or Hu Tao will catch you."

"Your notebook holds all the important things. You mustn't lose it."

"I want to keep walking beside you too, Qiqi, but my time is up. From now on, let the people of Liyue take my place and walk beside you."

"Let this little cabin in the forest be a place to remember us. When you miss me, come and visit. Have Xiangling bring something tasty."

Just then, Qiqi's arms, which had been wrapped tightly around Xiu Yuan, suddenly closed on empty air.

Looking up through her tears, she discovered that the lower half of Xiu Yuan's body had vanished completely, while his upper body was slowly turning transparent.

"No... no... don't leave Qiqi..."

"Doesn't Xiu Yuan love Qiqi most...?"

"We... promised... we'd be together forever..."

"Xiu Yuan is a big liar..."

"You said you wouldn't lie to Qiqi... you swore..."

"Don't go... please... don't go..."

Tears streaming down her face, Qiqi hurried back into the cabin, grabbed the birdcage, and stumbled back outside.

"Look... this is Little Fluff, whom we raised together... didn't we promise to stay together forever...?"

"You can't leave us... Xiu Yuan... take me with you... take us with you..."

"Qiqi only wants you... no one else... Qiqi doesn't want anyone but you... please..."

With only his chest and above remaining, Xiu Yuan gently rested his hand against her cheek.

The same tender smile as always remained on his face.

"I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me."

Before his words had faded, his face began to dissolve too. Qiqi held his hand, sobbing too hard to speak.

"No... don't go... Qiqi forgives you... come back... Qiqi will do anything you say... as long as you come back..."

"Don't leave Qiqi... don't..."

When his hand, the last of him, finally faded away, it turned into a firefly.

With tears streaming down her face, Qiqi carried the birdcage and chased after the firefly. She could feel that it was Xiu Yuan.

-Before, I only wanted to keep living...

-Though I didn't know what I was living for...

-But now, I think I know...

-I want to keep living with you...

Tears like white crystals scattered along the ground, following the stream all the way down. They were Qiqi's tears.

Chasing the firefly, she finally ran out of the forest.

At that moment.

The morning sun rose slowly over a mountain peak, and the firefly vanished into its light.

Qiqi's little hand, reaching out to catch it, fell limply to her side.

She knelt on the ground, staring blankly at the rising sun.

Until a ray of sunlight fell upon her.

This time.

She no longer felt scorching heat.

Only warmth.

"Your name is Qiqi, and you're a zombie. I'm Xiu Yuan, and I'm here to help you."

"Your body is stiff because you're a zombie, Qiqi. It's not that you don't know how to walk."

"Qiqi... wants to walk too..."

"Then let's do some Soft Gymnastics."

"What is... Soft Gymnastics...?"

"It's something that will let you move freely, Qiqi."

"Qiqi, let's build a camp."

"A camp... is it our home...?"

"Uh... yes, our home. A home that will shelter us from the wind and rain."

"That's wonderful... Qiqi... will have a home..."

"Qiqi, would you like another cup?"

"Coconut milk... tastes good... yes..."

"Qiqi, from now on, write anything important in here. That way, you won't forget the important things."

"Important things... write them in here... okay... Qiqi understands."

"Hu Tao is a bad person... Qiqi doesn't like her..."

"It's all right. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you, Qiqi."

"Sorry... Qiqi... is so stupid..."

"You don't need to apologize, Qiqi. You've already done wonderfully."

"Really...?"

"Really, Qiqi. Don't blame yourself. I love you most."

"C-can we... always be together... forever...?"

"Yes."

"Can we really...?"

"Of course. We'll be together forever."

"Then... I'll protect you..."

"I should be the one protecting you."

"Then let's... pinky swear."

"All right."

"Pinky swear, cross my heart, no changing it for a hundred years."

"My body... is very cold... holding me... will make you sick..."

"It won't, Qiqi. It won't. Your body isn't cold at all. I love you most."

"I was wrong. I shouldn't have stayed so far away from you last night."

"My body was too hot. I was afraid holding you would make you uncomfortable. It definitely wasn't because your body was cold."

"I'm sorry, Qiqi. I won't do that again."

"Really...?"

"Xiu Yuan... wouldn't lie to Qiqi... would he...?"

"Really. I'm not lying to you, Qiqi. I swear, if I lie to you, then..."

"Then... you'll never get to drink coconut milk again..."

"All right. If I lie to Qiqi, I'll never get to drink coconut milk again."

"Then Qiqi... wants to sleep beside you... can she...?"

"Yes, of course."