The three brothers eventually drifted apart.

The funeral is over.

Yun Lian went to see the abandoned factory again, but all traces of the past had long since disappeared.

There was just one more soul trying to jump off the edge of the roof.

Song Zhu and Zhang Guanglong's souls were almost transparent, yet they continued to jump off the building repeatedly.

Yun Lian took out an ancient bell, shook it gently twice, and the two ghosts vanished instantly.

Huo Yuan hesitated for a moment, but eventually pushed Yun Lian's wheelchair back to her ward.

When Yun Lian arrived at the ward, Song Zhu was officially pronounced dead.

It was only then that Yun Lian learned that the nanny she had unexpectedly hired was Song Zhu's mother.

The Songzhu police siren was permanently retired after being restarted three times.

Song Zhu's mother's hair turned almost white overnight.

It was only at this moment that Yun Lian learned about the Song Zhu family lineage, which had three generations serving in the military, each generation harboring deep resentment.

Yun Lian and Song Zhu's mother handled the funeral arrangements.

When relatives and friends came to pay their respects, Song Zhu's mother did not seem sad, but she could always hear sobbing late at night.

Yun Lian was afraid that she might do something rash, so she lived with her in the villa.

"Miss Yun, you don't need to worry about me. I'm not as fragile as you think."

"Auntie, please accept my condolences. Song Zhu's life was full of merit and virtue. May she have a peaceful and prosperous next life."

She will definitely ensure that Song Zhuping will live a peaceful and safe life from now on.

"Thank you, Miss Yun. I want to go back to my hometown. You should find someone else when you have time."

She lived in this city for 12 years, but it was also in this city that she saw off three of her closest and dearest loved ones.

"Okay, Auntie, can I have a month before I leave?"

Song's mother knew that she and her son had once been in a relationship, which made her son have fewer regrets in this life.

After thinking for a moment, Song's mother agreed.

The system asked in bewilderment, "Host, why don't you just erase her memories?"

Forget all that, she can start over. Isn't that a good ending?

Yun Lian shook her head: "If she loses her memories after losing someone important to her, then she is too pitiful. We have no right to make decisions for her."

Yun Lian and Song's mother had a simple lunch together, and then Huo Ye, the third person, arrived.

"Yun Lian, let's talk."

Although Huo Ye had recovered from his serious illness, he still looked sickly and extremely fragile.

"good."

Yun Lian went upstairs with him.

Huo Ye stood at the top of the stairs, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his face full of worry.

“They kept telling me not to contact you, but I think there are some things we need to clarify, otherwise it will hurt both of us.”

Yun Lian stopped and stared into his eyes.

"Tell me, I'll listen."

Huo Ye asked solemnly, "Will we have another chance in the future? This is the last time I'll ask you this."

Yun Lian moved closer to Huo Ye so that he could see her expression clearly.

"Huo Ye, you know very well that there is no possibility between us anymore."

Huo Ye recalled the scene of her risking her life to save Song Zhu, and he already had the answer in his heart, but he still insisted on hearing her say it to him in person.

"Then can we be friends from now on?"

Yun Lian crossed her arms, wearing the same warm smile she had when they first met.

"Of course we can. It's undeniable that we both hold a special place in each other's hearts, so we can definitely stay in touch."

Tears streamed down Huo Ye's face, but he quickly wiped them away with his hand.

"Can I have a hug, stepmother?"

Yun Lian looked at him in surprise, then smiled sweetly.

Why not?

Yun Lian gently embraced Huo Ye.

Huo Ye leaned carefully on her shoulder.

"Stepmother, Huo Xi said that the deceased person you took them to pay respects to was the older brother who always protected him when he was a child."

"Stepmother, he's your apprentice and also Huo Xi's brother. Did you already know Huo Xi?"

Yun Lian did not give a clear response, but reached out and gently patted Huo Ye's back.

"Huo Ye, there's no need to compare yourself to them in your heart. You were born different from others, so there's no need to think of yourself as bad."

Huo Ye almost blurted it out.

Why does she pay so much more attention to everyone else than to him?

But some things are better left unsaid.

"Stepmother, if I were in danger, would you risk your life for me like you did to save Song Zhu?"

"Of course I will."

Huo Ye couldn't help but hug her even tighter.

Why is it that even though I can clearly hear her breathing and heartbeat, she seems to be sometimes close and sometimes far away, as if she might leave me if I'm not careful?

Huo Ye felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if shackles were being squeezed into his flesh, just thinking that she wouldn't be in his world.

"Huo Ye, how about you start a new life? I hope to see you find your own happiness."

Huo Ye vaguely recalled that a long time ago, she had asked him what kind of life he considered to be happy.

Huo Ye's voice was hoarse, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Okay, I promise you."

Downstairs, Huo Xi came running up, her voice clear and bright.

"Stepmother, Auntie wants you to come down for dinner."

The group sat down and ate in such a quiet manner that you could hear a pin drop.

Since Song Zhu left, Yun Lian has become increasingly taciturn.

All three brothers could sense her low spirits.

Yun Lian ate her meal in silence, but chatted with the system.

"Chief, have the rewards been issued yet?"

"Host, I'll urge them again!"

"How long do I have to maintain this tragic persona? It's so painful and depressing."

"Host, we should maintain this for a few more days. I will remind you once those surveillance eyes behind us disappear."

Yun Lian sighed.

"Why can't I just take them all out?"

The host secretly concealed the disdain in his eyes and obediently replied, "The mission is about to be completed. I suppose the main system also doesn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble, so please bear with me for now."

It only obeyed the main system's instructions to maintain the tragic persona because it was worried that the host would die. Otherwise, with her fragile body and eagle-like heart, she would be in danger.

There's never enough for her to spend.

"All right."

Yun Lian finished her breakfast quickly, and Huo Yuan also took his leave.

"Stepmom, I have to go back to training camp. Next time we meet, I'll be on the championship stage. You have to come then!"

Yun Lian looked up and asked.

"How long will you be training? When is the competition?"

Unlike the original world, Huo Yuan's life was not ruined. He could still play games, and because he had experienced so many ups and downs, his mentality in games became more stable.

"After four months of intensive training, there will be rehearsals and qualifying rounds. It will be six months before you get to be on stage. Six months will be gone in the blink of an eye, so stepmother, you have to promise me!"

Yun Lian nodded: "Then you have to work hard. When you become a world champion, I want to take your medal out to show off."

She is also curious to see how far the little guy can go on his e-sports journey.

Of course, that's assuming she was still alive at that time.

"good!"

Seeing that his second brother had successfully arranged a meeting with his stepmother, Huo Xi was not to be outdone.

"Mom, when school's out for break, will you come with me to go out and clear my head?"

He felt uneasy seeing his stepmother cooped up at home every day.

Yun Lian knew exactly what he was thinking. She knew he was worried about her, but everything she was doing now was paving the way for her death. How could she dare to get too close to them?