The first life: I can't stay with you as you grow up

He didn't have much time left.

The mark of the Otherworldly Flower had already been branded onto his body. It could neither be removed nor destroyed; he could only wait for it to wither.

The day it withered would also be the day Xiu Yuan's life came to an end.

"I'm going to the bathroom. I'll be right back."

With that, Xiu Yuan rose and headed toward the bathroom.

"Grandpa..."

Watching Xiu Yuan's retreating figure, Hu Tao seemed to sense something.

"Cough, cough... cough... cough, cough, cough..."

Once he reached the bathroom, Xiu Yuan covered his mouth and began coughing violently.

Afraid someone might hear him if he coughed too loudly, he tried to hold it back even in the bathroom.

Yet just then...

A small figure appeared behind the bathroom.

She stood there for a long while, only slipping into the darkness after Xiu Yuan stopped coughing.

Drained of strength, Xiu Yuan looked at the bright red blood on his hand, his brow creasing slightly.

He quickly washed the blood off his hand, then brushed his teeth. Only after making sure no trace of the bloody smell remained did he hurry back.

He couldn't stay here too long, or Hu Tao might grow suspicious.

When he returned, he found Hu Tao already asleep.

Xiu Yuan slipped under the covers too, holding her in his arms as he fell asleep.

Only then did Hu Tao slowly open her eyes, a clear teardrop sliding down her cheek.

"Grandpa..."

Her eyes were red, and she wasn't sleepy at all.

Over the next week, Xiu Yuan spent as much time with Hu Tao as he could.

He even went to watch Hu Tao teach. Seeing her so confident and cheerful made him very happy.

Hu Tao also told her little friends how Xiu Yuan had unleashed a fire dragon and killed the Kairagi in an instant, recounting it with boundless excitement.

As a result, whenever those children saw Xiu Yuan, they looked at him as though he were their idol, their eyes full of admiration.

Hu Tao proudly puffed out her chest too, like a radiant god.

She was so proud to have such a wonderful grandpa.

But Xiu Yuan's condition kept worsening. The backlash was even stronger than he had imagined.

In just one week, he had lost ten jin, and he was growing increasingly listless.

Even though he ate plenty at every meal, his body showed no improvement whatsoever.

The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's workers and the adults of Liyue all knew what this meant...

They all knew that Old Hu, the director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, possessed a devastating ultimate move that rivaled even an Adeptus's.

Torch Dragon.

Once unleashed, it could destroy heaven and earth!

But even an Adeptus could do nothing about the backlash it brought.

And so, everyone in Liyue played along with Xiu Yuan's act.

They would let the mischievous Hu Tao enjoy this time with him before he passed away.

Xiu Yuan didn't want Hu Tao to know about it either. Though she was sensible and clever, he would much rather see her happy than sad.

"Old Hu, there's something I need to discuss. Could we speak in private?" one of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's workers asked at the dining table.

"Of course. Go ahead and eat, everyone. We'll be right back."

Xiu Yuan gave a faint smile, then walked away with the worker.

Hu Tao clenched her fists, bit her red lip, and lowered her head without a word, fighting with all her strength to hold back her tears.

Once Xiu Yuan and the worker were some distance away, he covered his mouth and began coughing violently.

The worker gently patted Xiu Yuan's back, his face full of worry.

Only after his entire hand was covered in blood did Xiu Yuan say, "Thank you."

"Old Hu... is it really right to keep this from her? Hu Tao... what if she can't bear it when the time comes..."

Xiu Yuan stopped halfway through washing up.

"I..."

"I don't know either. I just want to see more of her smiles before I go..."

With that, he went back to rinsing his mouth.

The worker's eyes reddened too. He didn't know how to comfort Xiu Yuan, and a profound sense of helplessness washed over him.

"Wipe your tears. Don't let Little Tao notice."

"Don't worry. Little Tao may still be young, but I believe she's already capable enough to serve as the director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."

"Let's go. We shouldn't keep them waiting."

With that, they headed back.

When they returned to the dining table, they found Hu Tao was no longer there.

"Where's Little Tao? Where did she go?" Xiu Yuan asked, puzzled.

"She said she wasn't feeling well, so she went back to her room to rest," a worker replied.

"Not feeling well? I'll go check on her."

He opened her door and saw Hu Tao lying on the bed with her back to him.

"Little Tao, what's wrong?" Xiu Yuan asked gently.

But Hu Tao didn't answer him.

"Little Tao?"

"Are you asleep?"

Still getting no answer, Xiu Yuan slowly withdrew and carefully closed the door.

By then, Hu Tao's tears had soaked half her pillow.

"Why did this have to happen..."

She curled into a ball, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face, her eyes red all over.

But Xiu Yuan hadn't left the doorway. Through the crack in the door, he saw Hu Tao sobbing.

His heart felt as though it were being cut apart. He desperately wanted to go over and hold her.

But...

He couldn't.

Rather than shatter it now, it would be better to let this lie, already seen through, continue until the very last moment.

"I'm sorry... Little Tao. I can't stay with you as you grow up..." Xiu Yuan stood at the door, softly apologizing.

After that day...

Hu Tao and Xiu Yuan returned to their usual cheerful selves.

They both knew the truth, but neither wanted to shatter this last bit of happiness.

Three days later...

"Old Hu! Old Hu!!"

An urgent voice rang out from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.