Beyond the sea of flowers lay a clear lake.
This had once been the site of the Nucleus Center. Jiang Lijin's original parents had leaped into the abyss here.
By the lake stood a stone tablet without any engravings.
Tianyan and Tianque had left it there deliberately, without asking if she wanted anything carved on it. They simply placed the stone tablet and waited for her to decide.
Everyone fell silent.
Jiang Lijin walked to the lakeshore and picked two star-petal blossoms in full bloom.
She bent down and gently placed the flowers beside the stone tablet. The petals, dotted with glistening dewdrops, shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
She said nothing. There was no need for words.
The regrets of her original self, the wounds of Blue Star—all came to a perfect close in this moment.
A breeze swept through, carrying the fresh scents of earth and flowers, brushing against everyone's faces.
Chiron stepped forward. His warm, broad palm enveloped Jiang Lijin's left hand, their fingers interlacing. He didn't look at the sea of flowers, only quietly watched her profile.
Baal walked to her right. His tall frame blocked the cold wind blowing off the lake. He didn't reach for her, but stood close—close enough for her to feel his body heat.
Tinia spread open a soft coat and draped it gently across her shoulders from behind. He didn't act clingy as he usually did, just leaned quietly against her back.
Tianyan and Tianque flanked the outer edges. Neither spoke, setting aside all their usual mischief and scheming for this moment of peace.
That evening, the group returned to the new residence Tianyan and Tianque had built for Jiang Lijin in Guixu.
The house sat on a high bank by the lake, nestled into the hillside, surrounded on three sides by a sea of flowers. Opening the windows, one could see that impossibly blue expanse of water.
The design had been finalized by Tianyan; the construction overseen by Tianque. Tinia had sponsored the entire cost. In his own words, "When Sister lives somewhere, every single brick has to be the most expensive."
Chiron handled all the interior decoration, from the color temperature of the lights to the firmness of the mattress—every detail customized to Jiang Lijin's physical data.
Baal didn't lift a finger for any of that.
But the security system in the living room, clearly overkill, with its biometric locks and military-grade force shields, was unmistakably his work.
Dinner was cooked by Chiron himself.
He transformed a table full of interstellar ingredients into the homestyle flavors of Blue Star, using recipes provided by Xiao Yi.
Tinia was in charge of plating and pouring drinks—and also snuck three ribs for himself.
At the table, Rowan sat in a booster seat next to Jiang Lijin, swinging her little legs, cheeks stuffed as she ate.
Baal drank his wine, his brow unusually smooth. When Rowan couldn't reach the salt shaker, he silently passed it to her.
Across the table, Tianyan and Tianque sat together. Tianyan complained while eating that Chiron's cooking was too bland, only to be rebutted lazily: "Your taste threshold is broken. I recommend you make an appointment."
"An appointment with you? Academician Chiron, I wouldn't even notice if you drugged me."
"I only waste drugs on valuable targets."
Tinia laughed so hard he flopped onto the table, slapping it.
Jiang Lijin chewed on a rib, watching the lively scene.
Noisy, chaotic, messy.
After the meal, everyone dispersed to rest.
Jiang Lijin put Rowan to bed, got stopped by Xiao Yi to check every door and window lock in all the rooms, and finally returned to her own.
She took a shower, then sat in a soft chair by the window.
Guixu now had an artificial moon. Moonlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the lake gleamed silver in the night.
Her wristband suddenly buzzed.
Jiang Lijin opened it casually.
It was an encrypted message.
No sender ID, no transmission coordinates, no traceable data source whatsoever.
The timestamp showed that the message had been written many years ago, embedded deep within the main system's core code, with a preset trigger: automatic delivery once the Host's happiness index remained stable for ninety consecutive days.
It was a final message from Xiao Er.
The screen only showed a few short lines:
"Host, I've detected that your happiness index has reached the target.
It seems I've fulfilled the promise between us.
Don't grieve for me. Becoming the main system, paving the way for you—that was my own choice. I've lived a life more brilliant than any system.
The stars shine brightly. May you be free forever.
—From Xiao Er"
Jiang Lijin stared at the screen, motionless.
Only now did she truly begin to grasp that Xiao Er would never return.
And that it had written a blessing in the shadows, long before she could even see the light.
Her eyes burned.
It had been so long since she'd felt that ache in her nose.
Just then, the door creaked open a crack.
No footsteps, only the faint sound of treads rolling across the floor.
Xiao Yi poked half its body through. Its screen brightness was turned down to minimum; even its emoticons had switched to an unusually quiet mode.
(˘꒳˘)
"Host," it whispered in its electronic voice. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
She lifted her head, gazed at the distant lake and the even farther stars, and smiled a little.
"Just an old friend, off on a long vacation."
"Mm." Xiao Yi understood, but didn't press further. It glided over to her feet and stopped.
Its screen flickered, as if weighing its words. "The main brain... has transferred full authority over the main system to me."
Jiang Lijin looked at it.
"I'm no longer just a companion system. I now have cross-world transmission permissions."
"That means—"
Xiao Yi raised its mechanical arm and gently touched the back of her hand.
"If you want to go see other worlds, I can take you there. Not because you have to, not as a mission. Because you want to go, so we go."
"Host, Xiao Er paved the road for you. From now on, I'll lead the way."
"I'll always be your support."
On its screen, an emoticon slowly surfaced.
Not one of its usual goofy, cheeky expressions.
But a quiet, earnest, sincere smile.
(◕‿◕)
Jiang Lijin looked at that simple smile, and her lips curved upward.
She reached out, gently tapped Xiao Yi's screen.
"Okay."
Outside, the night sky of Guixu was impossibly clear.
No shadows of insect swarms. No clouds of war.
The Milky Way stretched across the heavens, starlight blanketing the entire sea of flowers.
If some distant little system, now dissolved in the data stream, could still see this scene,
It would probably flash one last emoticon:
"Mission complete. (≧▽≦)/"
"System No. 332, signing off officially!"
Jiang Lijin turned off her wristband, stood up, and pushed open the window.
The night breeze rushed in, carrying the fragrance of flowers.
She leaned against the frame and glanced downstairs.
Tinia's room light was still on. Chiron's window was half open. In Baal's room, a tall silhouette sat by the window.
Tianyan and Tianque sat at a stone table beneath the window, drinking tea. When they saw her look out, they raised their cups in a toast.
None of them were asleep.
Jiang Lijin withdrew her gaze and smiled.
Tomorrow, there was still so much to do.
The construction of Return to Ruins had only just begun, the resettlement of Blue Star's survivors needed follow-up, the research projects of Seth and Saien required budget approval, Rowan's studies couldn't be neglected, and the empire's state affairs were still waiting for her signature...
But all of that could wait until tomorrow.
Tonight, the moonlight was beautiful.
Jiang Lijin turned off the light and sank into the soft, large bed.
Just before closing her eyes, she whispered softly,
"Good night, Xiao Er."
The room was perfectly quiet.
Xiao Yi, stationed outside the door, had a small nightlight glowing on its screen. Hearing Jiang Lijin's words, it muttered to itself,
"Good night, Host."
...
[The End]
