"So did I."
Xiu Yuan's voice drifted past Xiao's ear like a gentle breeze.
Xiao's eyes snapped open, and he saw a figure slowly approaching in the morning sunlight.
Looking closer, Xiao realized it was Zhongli.
"Lord Zhongli, what brings you here?" Xiao rose and spoke with great respect.
"I brought you both something." Zhongli slowly held out the two bowls of Almond Tofu.
Hearing this, Xiu Yuan walked over as well.
"I didn't expect a serving for me, too."
Xiu Yuan looked at the two bowls of Almond Tofu and smiled faintly.
"One moment." Rather than immediately taking a bowl from Zhongli, Xiao returned to Xiu Yuan's grave and carefully wiped it clean. Only then did he gingerly take a bowl of Almond Tofu and place it before the grave.
Then he picked up his own bowl, leaned back against the grave, and slowly savored it.
"Even after all this time, you still care for him so meticulously." Zhongli spoke as he looked at the spotless grave.
Xiao froze slightly at those words, the Almond Tofu stopping just short of his lips.
He looked at the bowl of Almond Tofu and recalled the happy days when he had first met Xiu Yuan.
Xiu Yuan, too, picked up a bowl of illusory Almond Tofu.
It had only the appearance of the real thing, without any flavor at all. Like Xiu Yuan himself, it had no substance even when he put it in his mouth.
Yet he continued eating it with undiminished delight.
Xiao sat frozen, lost in countless thoughts.
As he thought, he began to smile.
As he smiled, he began to cry.
A gentle breeze brushed past, stirring his hair.
A few leaves slowly drifted down from the trees.
"Autumn's here..."
Xiao lifted his head slightly, feeling the gentle