Chapter 001
In the chilly March air, petals fluttered in the Chinese courtyard filled with cherry blossoms.
Xu Yirou, sitting in a wheelchair in the corridor, was wrapped tightly in a blanket. Her nose was pink from the cold, her lips were pale, and she wore a soft, fluffy hat, which made her already thin face look even more gaunt.
After more than six months of chemotherapy, Xu Yirou was terribly thin, and her thick, shiny black hair had all fallen out, leaving her head completely bald under her hat.
Today is her birthday, and because she didn't want to spend it in the hospital, the children specially picked her up and took her home.
After midnight tonight, Xu Yirou will be 45 years old. She has three children, all of whom are now adults.
Her eldest son was an abandoned baby found on the roadside, whom she picked up and raised. Her second son and youngest daughter are twins, a boy and a girl, born to her and her husband.
Five years ago, her husband died in a car accident. Perhaps due to the great blow, Xu Yirou has suffered from a series of minor health problems since then. Until a year ago, she was diagnosed with cancer. Now she is barely hanging on, and her terminal cancer could kill her at any time.
The courtyard where she was standing at that moment was the first house she and her husband bought after starting their business, and it held all the beautiful memories of their family of five.
"Mom, dinner is ready. Let me push you in."
Steady footsteps approached from afar, and soon a clear and gentle voice followed behind her.
Xu Yirou gently raised her head, and her eyes fell upon a tall and slender figure. The man had incomparably handsome features, a cool and aloof temperament, and a pair of narrow black eyes filled with affection and respect for her.
—This is her eldest son, Xu Qingyan.
“Ayan.”
Xu Yirou smiled faintly, her eyes clear as a spring, but her voice betrayed an undeniable weakness:
"When I visit my mother every spring, I remember to bring her a bouquet of cherry blossoms."
Cherry blossoms have a very faint, non-pungent scent and are highly ornamental, making them one of the few flowers she likes.
Xu Qingyan's face stiffened slightly, his lips tightened involuntarily, and after a long while, he placed his hands on the armrests of his wheelchair and slowly lowered his eyes:
"Okay, Mom."
"Let's go."
The wheelchair rolled over the wooden floor, making a dull thud.
In the small living room, the dazzling crystal chandelier emitted a soft white light, illuminating two young men and women with different expressions around the round table with exceptional clarity.
The moment the girl on the left saw Xu Yirou, she immediately stood up and ran over to her, obediently squatting down beside her.
The girl smiled happily and said sweetly, "Mom, I made a new cake with your favorite taro paste and fruit in it. Let me show it to you first, and you have to praise me."
"Mommy will eat whatever my sweetie makes."
Xu Yirou wanted to raise her hand and rub her daughter's head as usual, but she forgot that she was suffering from illness and didn't even have the strength to raise her hand.
The youngest daughter, Xu Niancheng, smiled and took her hand, placing her fluffy curly hair against her palm, spinning her head like a top.
"The happiest thing is to stick my nose in my mom's mouth."
Her round, almond-shaped eyes sparkled like a tender little lamb.
Xu Yirou was amused and gently stroked Xu Niancheng's head with her slender fingers: "When my sweetie is happy, Mommy is happy."
Her gentle expression brought life to her pale face.
Xu Niancheng forcefully suppressed the soreness welling up in her throat. She made an excuse to get the cake, then turned back and bit her lip, silently holding back her tears.
The aroma of food filled the room, interspersed with the strong fragrance of chili peppers.
Xu Yirou's long-dormant cravings were awakened, and her empty stomach rumbled twice. She blushed with embarrassment.
She was a fisherwoman who loved spicy food, but after falling ill, her stomach became weak and her diet had to be mainly bland. Usually, there was not a single chili pepper in her dishes, and she ate like chewing wax.
She visibly grew thinner day by day throughout the year.
Hearing the sounds coming from their mother's belly, the three siblings perked up and carefully pushed Xu Yirou to the dining table, serving her rice and looking at her expectantly.
Xu Yirou was both amused and exasperated, yet she felt a warm sensation in her chest and her icy limbs gradually warming up.
The brightly colored hometown dishes on the table made her mouth water. She didn't need to pick up any food herself; her two sons sitting next to her were like professional food servers, accurately picking up the dishes she wanted and putting them into her bowl as soon as she looked at them.
"This stir-fried pork dish was made by Ali, wasn't it?"
Ali is the nickname of Xu Yirou's second son; his full name is He Nianzhu.
"I made it, Mom."
He Nianzhu, wearing a black hoodie on the right, curled her lips into a proud smile, like a peacock, her light brown eyes bright: "Mom, my cooking skills haven't gotten worse, have they?"
Xu Yirou: "Of course not, Ah Li has even improved."
"Did you hear that? Mom said I've improved." He Nianzhu became even more proud, raising her eyebrows triumphantly at her younger sister Xu Niancheng and holding out her hand: "A bet is a bet, here you go."
“You’re cheating. Mom has always been lenient with us.” Xu Niancheng gave her brother a disdainful look. “Besides, you’re a big star, how can you have the nerve to spend your sister’s money?”
"Sorry, I earn money through my own abilities."
Xu Niancheng gritted her teeth, picked up her phone and typed in a few numbers, muttering, "Here you go, take it. I'll let your fans see your true colors and how greedy their idol is, spending his sister's money without a second thought."
Upon receiving the 888 yuan transfer from her sister, He Nianzhu was like a kitten that had successfully stolen some fish, its tail practically wagging in the air, looking utterly deserving of a beating.
"Mom, look at how smug my second brother is. He doesn't act like a proper older brother at all."
Xu Niancheng, still angry, turned around and pitifully went to complain to Xu Yirou. Before she could speak, He Nianzhu also chimed in, preemptively saying:
"Tsk, Xu Niancheng, how old are you? Still trying to play the trick of cheating? I'm just taking a little money from you, do you think you're that little rich girl?"
The brother and sister chattered away, making a huge fuss.
Xu Yirou looked at the two lively children with a smile, knowing perfectly well that the siblings were deliberately making a scene for her.
During the more than half a year of hospitalization, they rarely made a ruckus like this, afraid that the noise would make her uncomfortable, and they unknowingly became more mature and steady.
For Xu Yirou, who is suffering from a terminal illness, life is rapidly counting down. She would rather see more of her children's lively and playful side than leave with regrets.
Xu Yirou forced down half a bowl of rice before stopping. Looking around, she saw that the children had barely eaten any of the dishes they had worked so hard to prepare all afternoon, and she couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
Given her appetite in her youth, finishing this meal would be a piece of cake.
After dinner came the birthday cake cutting. Every year at this time, Xu Yirou would cut off the parts that her children liked for them.
But this year it won't work.
Her pale hands were covered with needle marks, her whole body was weak and limp, and her bones ached. What was as simple as raising her arm to drink water for an ordinary person was as difficult as climbing to heaven for her.
A cheerful birthday song played inside the house, creating a relaxed and warm atmosphere as Xu Niancheng slowly pushed out a large cake she had made herself from the kitchen.
The cake is decorated with a ring of pink buttercream frosting, adorned with a few ruby-like cherries, and sprinkled with a few round, snow-white pearl sugars around the edge. Inside, it is sandwiched between layers of chocolate and taro paste.
The most eye-catching feature is the five adorable little figures with distinct expressions inserted in the middle, representing the family of five.
Xu Niancheng skipped over to her side: "Mom, come and make a wish."
The warm orange candlelight flickered, not so dazzling, but like a quietly ignited flame of life, reflecting their fervent desire for life.
Xu Yirou, who had long since accepted her fate with equanimity, was deeply moved by the emotions of her children, causing ripples to spread across her otherwise stagnant mind.
Even if you know that making a wish is just for psychological comfort, who knows, it might actually come true?
Let's just try our luck, let's just give it a shot.
With this faint hope, Xu Yirou cast aside all distracting thoughts, closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and made a sincere wish.
[If there truly are gods, I implore you to have mercy and restore my health.]
[If this life isn't possible, then I hope my next life will be as healthy, happy, and carefree as a child's.]
[If I am fortunate enough to receive your favor, I am willing to build a temple for you, so that my descendants may worship you for generations to come, with incense burning continuously.]
Xu Yirou is a staunch materialist who does not believe in supernatural forces. After recalling lines from movies and TV dramas and making a wish, she opened her eyes.
The instant he opened his eyes, a bright white light flashed before his eyes, accompanied by the clang of a blade being drawn.
Xu Yirou was startled and subconsciously rubbed her eyes, thinking that her condition had worsened and affected her vision.
"What's wrong, Mom?"
"Mom, does your eye hurt?"
Her every move made the boys extremely nervous.
Xu Yi gently shook her head. Apart from the familiar feeling of being top-heavy, she felt no additional discomfort. The white light and strange noise from before seemed to be just an illusion.
No problems is the best outcome. Treat Xu Yirou as a minor incident and don't take it to heart.
Xu Niancheng's eyes were slightly red as she held her mother's hand and said, "Mom, you don't have to bear with it if you're not feeling well. I can push you back to your room to rest."
"Sweetie." Xu Yirou couldn't bear to waste her daughter's good intentions. "Mom hasn't even had a taste of the cake you made yet."
"Mom, can I cut the cake with you?"
Her eldest son, Xu Qingyan, suddenly squatted down, turned his head slightly, and looked at her at eye level with respect.
The chaebol heir, who always kept his emotions hidden in front of outsiders, had a barely perceptible worry and sadness hidden between his cold brows.
Xu Yirou had no reason to refuse.
Xu Qingyan's long, warm hand covered her icy fingertips. "Mom's fingers are so cold," Xu Qingyan's eyes darkened slightly, and he involuntarily tightened his grip on her hand, trying to transfer more warmth to her.
With his help, Xu Yirou successfully completed the cake-cutting activity.
After distributing the cakes to the children, Xu Yirou's stubbornness deflated instantly, like a punctured balloon.
She had been trying to stay awake since being discharged from the hospital this morning, but now she couldn't hold on any longer. Her eyelids felt as heavy as lead, her mind was a complete mess, and she couldn't see or hear anything.
...
I slept without any dreams.
The morning air was slightly damp, and the sunlight was as soft as a thin veil, gently illuminating the large bed through the French windows. After a while, a small, round, and white hand, resembling a lotus root, emerged from under the covers.
The little hill on the bed swelled up.
Xu Yirou, who had a good sleep, slowly woke up. She opened her eyes groggily, blinked twice, and her vision was so clear that it was as if she had turned on HD. She could even see the antennae of the little flying insect that was pretending to be dead on the ceiling!
Xu Yirou was slow to react and paused for a moment. Without thinking too much, she sat up, preparing to lift the covers and get out of bed to wash up, but her chest felt heavy.
Ah, the blanket is so heavy, I can't lift it.
Xu Yirou felt a pang of panic. Had her body become so weak that she couldn't even take care of herself? She couldn't even lift the blanket...
Thinking about it, she became a little anxious. In order to prove that she was still capable of taking care of herself, she stood up abruptly as if in a contest.
The expected blackout did not occur; instead, another strange phenomenon appeared.
Xu Yirou was stunned and shocked after visually assessing the distance between herself and the blanket, which was less than a meter away, and the enlarged bed.
She... seems to have gotten shorter?
She's not very tall, only 1.62 meters, but this distance is definitely not normal.
Upon closer inspection, Xu Yirou's pupils dilated in shock. What was going on? Why had her hands and feet become so short and small?!
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