Autumnal melancholy is a guest

With a loud crash, Youju was startled awake from her sleep.

I realized it was already daylight.

Chao Lan called out, "Master? Are you awake?"

You Youju agreed and asked, "What's wrong?"

Chao Lan replied, "I was playing around with Zhu Xun and accidentally broke the mirror. We're cleaning it up now. Master, please don't get out of bed yet, be careful of the broken pieces."

You Youju chuckled: "Why are you two making noise in my room?"

Zhu Xun opened the door and came in: "It's all because Cen Chaolan wants to compete with me in everything."

The two were extremely peaceful and divided the tasks. Zhu Xun helped You Youju tie her hair, while Chao Lan helped You Youju wipe her face.

You Youju was flattered: "What trouble have you gotten yourself into now? Why are you two being so attentive?"

Chao Lan said gently, "Master, are you saying this because we haven't been paying attention to you?"

You Youju waved her hand hurriedly, turned her head and smiled brightly at them.

Both of them were stunned. Zhu Xun immediately turned his head and lied that he had forgotten something and went outside to take a look.

You Youju blinked and asked Chaolan, "What's wrong? Have I become ugly?"

Chao Lan lowered her head and pecked You Youju's lips, her face full of tenderness: "Your beauty is unparalleled, there is no one like you in the world."

Chao Lan accompanied You Youju to the door, and You Youju asked in confusion, "Aren't you going to work today?"

Chao Lan held You Youju's hand and pressed it against her cheek, her eyes reluctant to look away: "Today is a day off for us. We've been busy for so long, it's time to spend some quality time with Master."

You Youju touched her face again, wondering if she had gotten two more wrinkles. But Chao Lan's affectionate look didn't seem to match.

Chao Lan led him out of the mansion, talking incessantly about all sorts of interesting things. You Youju listened all the way and noticed that there wasn't much water left in the pond. You Youju went forward to check: "Oh dear, where are my fish?"

Chao Lan held on tightly. "A few fish died a few days ago, probably from an illness. I sent someone to change the water today, and the fish are all fine. Don't worry, Master."

You Youju said "Oh," and the two of them walked as if taking a stroll.

As I approached the door, a breeze blew, carrying the scent of flowers—the roses were fading, releasing their last fragrance.

Chao Lan stood outside the door, with a bamboo forest behind her, lush, vibrant, and full of life.

"Stop dawdling! Why did it take you so long to bring my uncle out? The sand is getting into my eyes."

Chao Lan retorted, "You were the one who put Master to sleep yesterday, and today I'm complaining so much just because Master and I took a short walk?"

Youyouju patted Chaolan's hand and saw that Zhuxun's eyes were indeed very red, it seemed that sand in his eyes had brought out the tears.

As he had done many times before, he reached out to straighten Zhu Xun's face, wanting to blow away the sand from his eyes.

Zhu Xun's eyebrows drooped, and tears welled up in his eyes. He turned his head away and said, "It's alright, Uncle. Just blink and the tears will come out."

You Youju nodded helplessly and asked where they were going. The two said that the weather was fine today and they wanted to go to the mountaintop to see the stars.

We brewed tea and ate snacks along the way and arrived.

A mountain breeze rustled through the trees, and in the center stood a sturdy pear tree, which You Youju recognized as the place where Ah Yi had been buried.

He was surprised and subconsciously glanced at Chao Lan. Chao Lan smiled gently and nodded at him.

The three sat under the tree, the two brothers remaining silent for a long time.

You Youju suddenly remembered some things from their childhood and began to tell them excitedly.

Zhu Xun had a stern face, and You Youju thought he was unhappy: "Okay, okay, Uncle, I won't talk anymore, okay? Smile?"

Zhu Xun forced a smile.

Chao Lan stretched out her long arm and slapped Zhu Xun on the back of the head: "Can't it be funny, you stingy person."

Zhu Xun immediately adopted a poised and ready expression, glaring fiercely at Chao Lan.

"Haha, such a great atmosphere! You two are not allowed to fight anymore!"

Seeing You Youju smile, Zhu Xun's expression softened again.

You Youju took Zhu Xun's hand and placed it under her palm, then took Chao Lan's hand and placed it in her own: "You are a family, and we are a family too. The three of us will always be together, and you will always be the two most important people to me."

Chao Lan smiled beautifully, her eyes sparkling, and the pear tree behind her seemed to be in full bloom.

"Yes, Master."

Zhu Xun stared at You Youju with a strange expression. After a moment of hesitation, he also let out a trembling sound.

"Yes, Uncle."

You Youju looked at the three intertwined hands and felt extremely gratified and happy.

He lingered his gaze for a couple more seconds, then stretched out his hand, examined it carefully, and then hid it back in his sleeve.

He turned his head to kiss Zhu Xun, then kissed Chao Lan.

The three sat very close together, with You Ju leaning against them. The warm breeze made the tourists feel intoxicated. They waited for the sunset and the stars in this open field.

Zhu Xun suddenly spoke up and told me about a dream: "In the six months after my uncle left, I had a dream. In the dream, I was squatting by the stream that comes out of Red Leaf Mountain, and a monk was leading a cow to drink water."

You Youju's face showed a hint of weariness: "And then?"

Zhu Xun paused for several seconds before saying, "He seemed to want to say something to me, but I chased him away... Why should I listen to that bald monk?"

Youyouju smiled, and the sky darkened. Before the last rays of sunlight faded, a few stars appeared.

The smoky purple hue faded until the full moon's radiance blanketed the ground like scattered silver, the world was serene and cold, and the stars suddenly appeared, shining brilliantly.

Zhu Xun gripped You Youju's hand even tighter, his hand trembling involuntarily. He didn't want to reveal any flaws, but he was terrified, and the more afraid he was, the more he trembled.

Youyouju held his hand tightly, not letting go, and took over Zhuxun's emotions.

Chao Lan, on the other hand, was gentle. Both of them had come from under the Tree of Cause and Effect, and their hands were peacefully clasped together.

I gazed at the stars, silently.

You Youju sensed Zhu Xun trembling. He turned his head and said slowly, "Zhu Xun, why aren't you looking at the sky?"

Zhu Xun turned his face away, unable to answer.

A star slid down You Youju's cheek.

You Youju said to herself, "Xun'er, when you are looking at me, there are countless stars inside you looking at me too."

"Of course, in the end we will all turn to dust."

Zhu Xun shook her head, her sobs becoming quite obvious.

You Youju raised his clasped hands, pointed to the sky, and gestured for Chao Lan to look in the direction he was pointing: "We'll meet on that star then."

Zhu Xun could no longer hold back. She hugged You Youju and buried her face in his shoulder, crying like a child throwing a tantrum.

"Youju, please don't go. I don't want to see you on that star! I'll go wherever you go, I really can't, I really can't, I really can't be separated from you. Please, Youju, I beg you. I'll do anything, I'll go anywhere, as long as I'm by your side... just by your side. I don't want to wait anymore, that feeling is so terrible, so desperate. I can't live a single day without you."

You Youju had a dream last night; it was about that little fairy with white hair and a youthful face from back then.

“Gui Chen,” she called.

You Youju turned her head, hesitated for two steps, unsure whether she should respond.

“Guichen, it’s time to go,” she said.

You Youju didn't want to leave, so he ran. He ran and ran, from You Youju with a full head of black hair to You Youju with completely white hair and beard. His steps were light and quick, yet he walked with a staggering gait.

The fairy stood in front of him, squatted down, and looked at him with a puzzled expression: "You are the most unambitious person I have ever met."

"You were given the opportunity to transcend, you were given the chance to escape this mundane world, yet you suffered greatly and still stubbornly remained stagnant."

There was a tangerine that wanted to climb away.

"You've dragged two people down with you. They were already undergoing tribulation, but they cut off their own opportunities because of you. Now they're caught in the endless cycle of suffering. I should have known better than to let you meet."

You Youju did not answer. Despite being emaciated and withered, he still wanted to leave.

"One will cut out your heart to extract your elixir, the other will gouge out your eyes to prolong your life."

But you really don't have a chance anymore.

You Youju was stunned, then burst into tears, burying her face in her hands. Her voice was old and dry. He wouldn't leave.

"If I leave, will they go back to how they were before?"

The fairy smiled: "You always want too much, and you can never sever your worldly ties, so you don't have many opportunities."

Then the mirror shattered.

Youyouju was held by Zhuxun and by Chaolan.

The night wind tousled the three people's hair, and even Ju's last strand of black hair turned pure white.

He said, "I'm sorry."

"I love you all."

The night was quiet, and the three of them were on one bed.

You Youju had grown completely old. Zhu Xun had cried herself to sleep. Chao Lan stared at You Youju for a long time, refusing to close her eyes.

Youju kissed his eyelids and coaxed him to sleep.

He said, "Go to sleep. Your master will get up tomorrow morning to cook for you."

He kissed the two of them one last time. The fragrance of roses was scattered by the night wind, and after this last scent entered the bedroom, everything was reshuffled and returned to its proper course.

Inside the blue and white hospital ward, the original hospital bed has been replaced with a new name tag.

You Youju did not have a funeral; her ashes were collected by Dr. Xu and buried in an ordinary grave.