Qi Xiuyi fulfilled his promise.

The week after that night, the museum’s renovations were completed.

The day the renovations were finished happened to be the eve of his birthday.

So, Qi Xiuyi chose to take Qi Wendong to visit the museum on the following day, his birthday.

He had waited a long, long time for this day.

Ten years, plus another half year, before finally getting this opportunity.

That morning, Qi Wendong finished his checkups early and waited for him by the bedside.

He came to the hospital bed, mysteriously pulled his hands out of his pockets, holding a ticket that he had rubbed countless times.

Qi Xiuyi smiled: “Qi Wendong, look!”

Qi Wendong curiously took it to have a look.

Qi Xiuyi raised his chin slightly and said: “This is a one-of-a-kind ticket in the entire world. Countless people beg for it but can’t get it. Today, out of great compassion, I’m giving it to you! Qi Wendong!”

Qi Wendong let out an “Ouch” and looked at him: “Your museum hasn’t even opened yet, where did you get all these people begging for it?”

Qi Xiuyi: “Aiya, Qi Wendong, don’t worry about that, just look at the ticket!”

Qi Wendong held the ticket, examined both sides seriously, and gave his evaluation: “Very good design, great ticket.”

Qi Xiuyi was very dissatisfied and stared at him eagerly: “Look at the bottom right corner!”

Qi Wendong was puzzled: “Bottom right corner?”

Qi Wendong shifted his gaze to the bottom right corner as told.

There, a line of golden serial numbers was slightly embossed—

No.001!

Qi Wendong blinked slowly twice, and a smile suddenly appeared at the corner of his mouth: “Ticket number one, first visitor… Not bad, Qi Xiuyi, you have a conscience.”

Qi Xiuyi was happy that he noticed it. But he was puzzled by Qi Wendong’s words: “What does this have to do with whether I have a conscience or not?”

Qi Wendong smiled with narrowed eyes: “Didn’t let me spoil you for nothing this year.”

Qi Xiuyi: “…”

Qi Xiuyi: “…I didn’t even know you ever spoiled me besides mocking me, Qi Wendong!”

Even though he said that, Qi Xiuyi was still very happy when he took Qi Wendong out.

Although Qi Wendong’s body was weak after falling ill, just like when he returned to the country back then, even at that time, Qi Wendong wasn’t unable to walk.

He just got tired very easily.

So now, he led Qi Wendong out by the hand, helped him into the car, and after arriving at the museum, he squatted down in front of Qi Wendong, turned his head, waved his hand behind his back, and said: “Come on, Qi Wendong, get on.”

Qi Wendong: “?”

Qi Wendong looked down at him in confusion and asked in surprise: “What, does your museum have some special rule? Visitors’ feet can’t touch the museum floor?”

Qi Xiuyi pursed his lips, slightly annoyed: “I’m telling you to get on my back, I’ll carry you! Otherwise, with your stamina, you’ll have to stop and rest every two steps!”

Qi Wendong laughed angrily and kicked his butt lightly.

Not much force, but it was sudden, startling him into stumbling.

Qi Wendong: “People who don’t know better would think I don’t have legs. Get up, I can walk myself!”

Qi Xiuyi stood up gloomily, clapped his hands, completely unwilling.

He mumbled: “Fine, don’t carry if you don’t want to… Qi Wendong, you really don’t understand my good intentions at all!”

Since Qi Wendong didn’t want to be carried, he had to hold Qi Wendong’s hand and walk.

As they walked, he introduced his treasured collections to Qi Wendong.

The dappled winter sunlight spilled into the museum from the large, clear windows, covering the floor.

While introducing, Qi Xiuyi looked at Qi Wendong under the dappled light and involuntarily spaced out.

Was the sun this good that day that year? …He couldn’t remember clearly.

Did he also stare at Qi Wendong unprofessionally like this that day that year? …He couldn’t remember either.

Qi Wendong walked with him, listened, and finally, couldn’t walk anymore at the corner of the first floor.

Looking at Qi Wendong, Qi Xiuyi sighed and squatted down in front of him again.

Qi Xiuyi: “See, Qi Wendong, told you you’d be tired. Get on, I’ll carry you for the rest of the tour. We still have a whole four floors to go!”

Qi Wendong sighed deeply, pointing to the chair at the corner of the first floor: “If I’m tired from walking, can’t you just take me over there to rest for a bit?”

Qi Xiuyi raised his eyebrows, very dissatisfied: “That won’t do. Our museum is huge. If you rest a few more times, we won’t finish touring today! Come up quickly, Qi Wendong. With Curator Xiuyi personally carrying you through the museum, what are you unsatisfied with?”

Hearing this, Qi Wendong laughed.

Qi Wendong sighed leisurely and finally agreed to his action.

Qi Wendong shrugged: “Alright, Curator Xiuyi, since you want to play hero so badly, I’ll let you.”

Qi Wendong climbed onto his back slowly and draped his hands in front of his neck.

Qi Xiuyi carefully found a good position to support him with his hands and stood up steadily.

Thin and light.

But not as light as when Qi Wendong first returned to the country years ago.

Qi Xiuyi didn’t say anything, walking forward quietly and steadily.

His tone remained unchanged, relaxed, as he continued to take Qi Wendong through the floors and introduce things.

After climbing onto his back, Qi Wendong became much quieter.

Only his hands, draped on both sides of his neck and falling in front of him, were restless. They kept playing with the No. 001 ticket, touching it back and forth countless times.

Qi Wendong was very light.

But no matter how light, it was still the weight of an adult.

Carrying him, Qi Xiuyi was exhausted after touring about half a floor.

He was so tired that he had to put Qi Wendong down and take him to a chair to sit and rest together.

But Qi Wendong, who didn’t spend energy walking himself, crossed his legs and laughed at him: “Look at you, with this little stamina, you dare to come out and play hero, disdaining my stamina?”

Qi Xiuyi felt extremely aggrieved.

He glared: “I carried you for a whole half floor, Qi Wendong! My stamina is already very good! Today is my birthday anyway, just lay off the sarcasm a bit!”

Qi Wendong rested one elbow on the back of the chair, tilted his head to look at him, and smiled.

Qi Wendong said softly: “Alright, for the sake of your birthday today… Happy Birthday, Qi Xiuyi.”

That night, they stayed in the museum until very late.

Only after he took Qi Wendong to see all the special night light shows of the museum did he finally leave the museum with Qi Wendong.

Before leaving the museum, Qi Wendong stopped in front of the museum. Looking back at the high plaque.

Qi Wendong read the museum’s name softly: “Wendong Museum…”

Qi Wendong said: “Good name.”

Qi Xiuyi smiled: “I think so too.”

Qi Xiuyi led Qi Wendong into the car.

He didn’t drive himself today; he brought a driver and sat in the back seat with Qi Wendong.

Just like back then, a whole day of visiting was still too exhausting for Qi Wendong. Sitting together in the back of the car, chatting, Qi Wendong’s eyes closed unconsciously again.

He fell asleep again.

The scene from ten years ago overlapped with the scene before his eyes again.

Nothing seemed to have changed.

Even though he and his father had tried their best to contact the best medical resources in the world; even though he had shared the final results of the laboratory he invested in six years ago with relevant laboratories in this world as soon as he returned.

But he still watched helplessly as Qi Wendong reached this moment again.

However, this time, at least one thing was different.

At least… he personally delivered the No. 001 ticket to Qi Wendong.

At least, he completely took Qi Wendong to visit the entire museum.

At least he still had the chance to look at him more and accompany him more before Qi Wendong left, instead of not seeing him for a full half year like back then, only to be separated by death as soon as Qi Wendong returned and they hurriedly met.

The car stopped in the hospital’s underground parking lot.

The butler rushed forward, saw Qi Wendong, and was shocked: “Young Master Xiuyi! Master Wendong, he…”

Qi Xiuyi put his index finger to his lips and shushed him, stopping the butler’s words.

He signaled the butler to help him lift Qi Wendong onto his back, then carried Qi Wendong step by step back to the ward.

Influenced by memory, in the following days, Qi Xiuyi dared not leave Qi Wendong for a single step.

Even though it was actually only December now, more than half a month away from January when Qi Wendong left back then.

But facts proved that doing it again wouldn’t be worse than the first time.

So, December passed.

January passed, February passed, winter passed.

Winter went and spring came, snow and ice melted.

Outside the hospital, amidst clusters of flowers, the doctor finally found him privately, apologized to him with guilt, and told him that Qi Wendong might only have these few days left.

Qi Xiuyi thought that since it wasn’t his first time experiencing this, he might be able to act more maturely than the first time.

But when everything happened again, Qi Xiuyi found that he had overestimated himself.

So that morning, he rarely found an excuse to leave the hospital and stayed outside for a whole day. Only after the redness and swelling of his eyes completely subsided did he finally return to the hospital.

When he returned to the hospital, Qi Wendong was sitting against the headboard quietly reading a book.

Qi Wendong liked reading very much.

Especially when there was nothing interesting to do in the hospital, he was either sleeping or reading every day.

He tiptoed back into the ward, but still disturbed Qi Wendong.

Hearing the movement, Qi Wendong looked up at him.

Qi Wendong asked: “Where did you go this morning?”

Qi Xiuyi: “…Didn’t I tell you this morning?”

Qi Xiuyi poured warm water, brought it to Qi Wendong, and sat on the edge of the bed. He said: “Spring has started. I went out to see the spring in the Imperial Capital and found a very nice view. If you want to go sometime, I’ll take you.”

“Oh?” Hearing this, Qi Wendong got interested.

He closed the book and smiled slightly: “Then take me tomorrow.”

Qi Xiuyi’s fingers trembled, and the water in the cup shook slightly.

Qi Xiuyi said reluctantly: “Tomorrow? No need to be in such a rush. You haven’t been in good spirits these two days, better to stay in the hospital for treatment a bit longer…”

Qi Wendong interrupted him calmly: “But I don’t want to be treated anymore, Qi Xiuyi. Treatment is so tiring. Just right, I haven’t been home for a long time… Qi Xiuyi, I want to go home. Take me back.”

Qi Xiuyi looked at Qi Wendong in a trance. When Qi Wendong said this, he was calm.

His mind involuntarily recalled that sentence Qi Wendong said to him when he suddenly returned to the country back then, “It’s over, too tired, came back to rest.”

Back then…

Did Qi Wendong make this choice so calmly like this too?

Qi Xiuyi was silent for a full five minutes.

In these five minutes, Qi Wendong had slowly finished drinking the water.

Finally, Qi Xiuyi whispered: “…Okay.”

Qi Xiuyi lowered his eyes and said: “Then… Qi Wendong, I’ll take you home tomorrow. Coming home this time… you are not allowed to steal my room again.”

Leaning against the headboard, Qi Wendong smiled lazily: “It’s not like there isn’t my room at home, why would I steal yours? Forget tomorrow, let’s go today. Look how good the sun is today… Go out for a trip, then go home. What do you think?”

Qi Xiuyi nodded reluctantly.

So, he took Qi Wendong out to see the spring, took Qi Wendong home, and in the following days, he took Qi Wendong out every day.

He didn’t let Qi Wendong miss a single place he wanted to go.

“…Qi Xiuyi.”

“Hmm?”

“I remember you told me about a dream before. You said you dreamed of me in another world.”

“…Why suddenly bring this up?”

This day, spring was in full swing.

Qi Xiuyi took Qi Wendong to their family’s private garden.

In the garden, flowers clustered, a riot of colors.

Qi Wendong couldn’t walk after less than five minutes, so he carried Qi Wendong on his back, slowly passing through the flowers.

Lying on his back, Qi Wendong’s hands draped in front occasionally poked the passing flowers, and sometimes when in the mood, he would hold a flower stem, shake the flower, and tickle him with petals.

Qi Xiuyi was annoyed to death by these flowers!

Qi Wendong chuckled and replied: “Of course I’m curious, how long did the you in the dream cry after I left? …Hey, little crybaby, don’t tell me you cried for a long, long time?”

Qi Xiuyi: “?”

Qi Xiuyi pursed his lips tightly and asked eerily: “Why do you call me little crybaby? Have I cried? Qi Wendong, don’t slander me!”

Qi Wendong sneered lightly: “Please, back then I just wanted to go abroad for two days to see a doctor, and you cried like that… Isn’t that being a crybaby?”

Qi Xiuyi ground his teeth and said: “Qi Wendong, keep slandering me! When you anger me to death, you’ll be happy, right!”

Qi Wendong said airily and perfunctorily: “No, no, wouldn’t dare… So, did you cry or not?”

Red-eyed, Qi Xiuyi turned back and glared at him: “Qi Wendong! Isn’t it enough to laugh at me, you want to laugh at the me in the dream too?”

Qi Wendong beamed: “Laughing at jokes, of course, you can never get enough.”

Qi Xiuyi was annoyed: “…Qi Wendong, just laugh!!”

Qi Wendong asked this question and didn’t stop.

Then, he asked if he lived happily later in the dream, asked about his grades, what he did after graduation, if he had enough friends, asked if he was satisfied with his life later.

Qi Xiuyi didn’t want to answer a single one.

But he was afraid he wouldn’t have a second chance to answer Qi Wendong.

So, he had to answer one by one.

His stamina now was much improved compared to before; he could carry Qi Wendong for an hour in one go!

But an hour was his limit.

When he reached his limit, he had to stop and rest.

He gently placed Qi Wendong among the flowers and lay down beside him.

The weather today was excellent, sunny and bright, clouds floating, colorful flowers blooming grandly on both sides, their fragrance filling the nose.

They lay together among the flowers, chatting idly.

It was unknown how long they chatted.

Maybe ten minutes, maybe twenty.

Qi Wendong got a bit sleepy from chatting.

His voice gradually weakened, and his eyelids struggled to stay open.

Qi Wendong suddenly said: “Qi Xiuyi… I’m a bit sleepy, I want to sleep for a while.”

Qi Xiuyi’s body stiffened.

He subconsciously propped himself up halfway, supporting himself with his elbows, staring tightly at Qi Wendong, saying: “You’re sleepy? Then I’ll take you home to rest.”

Qi Wendong shook his head.

Qi Wendong’s gaze turned to the flowers beside him. Among many bright and grand expensive flowers, a small wild flower hid lowly.

Qi Wendong gently raised his hand, his fingertip landing gently on a small wild flower, touching it lightly.

Qi Wendong shook his head slowly and said: “Not going back. The flowers here are beautiful, I want to sleep here.”

Qi Xiuyi seemed to have a premonition, his trembling hand grasping Qi Wendong’s.

Qi Xiuyi’s voice trembled too: “Qi Wendong, you… you wait, hold on a bit longer, just a bit, okay?”

Qi Wendong’s gaze slowly turned back.

The color in Qi Wendong’s eyes was gentle. It was a gentleness that would have given him goosebumps back then. But now, he hoped this gentleness could last longer, a bit longer, even if it lasted until the end of his life, it didn’t matter.

Qi Wendong whispered: “But, I’m so sleepy, I want to sleep, Qi Xiuyi.”

Qi Xiuyi closed his eyes heavily.

His chest heaved violently three times before he opened his eyes again. He lowered his eyes and answered hoarsely: “…Okay.”

Qi Wendong smiled at him: “Qi Xiuyi, you have to live happily.”

Qi Xiuyi choked with sobs and answered: “Okay.”

Qi Wendong sighed lightly: “You… Sigh, forget it, won’t mock you today.”

The spring breeze brushed gently.

Qi Wendong’s voice became weaker and weaker, his eyelids gradually unable to hold up.

In the end, his gaze slowly fell on the sky. The sun was brilliant, the breeze gentle.

“Today… the weather is so nice.”

The words were very light.

Light enough that a casual breeze could blow them completely away.

And indeed, they were blown away.

Trembling, Qi Xiuyi covered Qi Wendong’s eyes, tears streaming down his face unknowingly.

He picked a light blue flower and gently tucked it into Qi Wendong’s hair.

Then he reached out, carefully lifted Qi Wendong onto his back, and carried him step by step back home.