14 [END]

 "You're crazy," Jiang Nian said.

"I've been crazy for a long time," Jiang Qiunian replied calmly.

Jiang Qiunian stood up, walked to the only exit of the birdcage, and unlocked the door with his key. He took off his leather shoes, stepped onto the carpet, and approached Jiang Nian step by step.

Light shone on his tall figure, casting a shadow that enveloped Jiang Nian's entire body.

Jiang Nian felt somewhat uncomfortable. He avoided Jiang Qiunian's direct gaze, his hair gently brushing against his face, obscuring most of his cheeks, his red lips faintly visible.

Jiang Qiunian grabbed Jiang Nian's slender wrist and pulled him up. Jiang Nian stumbled, his shoulders gripped by Jiang Qiunian, who forcefully forced him to look at him.

Jiang Qiunian said, "Does Mom know she was wrong?"

Jiang Nian didn't react, asking in confusion, "Wrong about what?"

Jiang Qiunian's eyes narrowed slightly, a strange sense of oppression emanating from him. He stared at Jiang Nian for a long, long time, then released him, watching him fall onto the soft carpet.

Confirming that Jiang Nian didn't show any pain, Jiang Qiunian finally spoke, "It seems Mom still doesn't understand. I won't let you leave here until you admit your mistake."

Jiang Nian watched Jiang Qiunian leave and said, "Jiang Qiunian, there's no need to be so persistent."

The progress bar was almost complete; if Jiang Qiunian continued to be so persistent, he would only suffer more.

Jiang Qiunian paused, but still left.

Afterwards, Jiang Qiunian would often come to keep Jiang Nian company, feeding her, waiting for her to wash up, and taking care of her bodily needs, but he wouldn't say a word to her, unmoved by her cold words.

Occasionally, Zhou Gebai would also appear, which surprised Jiang Nian. He thought that before he left this world, he wouldn't see anyone except Jiang Qiunian. However, Jiang Qiunian's career was indeed developing very well; now even Zhou Gebai was making way for him.

Zhou Gebai didn't care; in fact, he was happy to be free. He would run to Jiang Nian whenever he had the chance. Jiang Nian asked Zhou Gebai to let him out, but he ignored her, making her so angry that she hit him several times. Zhou Gebai then kissed her tenderly for a long time.

He gently coaxed his darling, "Wife, our son is growing up and has his own ideas. He'll understand soon enough. Don't get angry and hurt yourself."

The only response was the back of Jiang Nian's head.

Jiang Nian was too lazy to pay him any attention.

Today, Zhou Gebai didn't come; Jiang Qiunian drove instead. They arrived at different times, and neither of them seemed to care about the other. Jiang Qiunian hugged his mother, who was playing a handheld game console, and rested his head on her shoulder, saying his first words in a long time, "You just knew I couldn't do anything with you."

Jiang Nian was controlling a pixelated character fighting a boss and didn't have time to pay attention to Jiang Qiunian.

Jiang Qiunian paused for a moment, then continued.

"You're always making me angry, you never love me."

"Mom, are you happy? I brought Father in to keep you company. If you want, another Father can come too."

"You can be with anyone, but you can't abandon me, absolutely not, understand, Mom?"

The pixelated character failed, and the dragon-shaped boss laughed arrogantly. Jiang Nian threw the game console on the ground, pushed Jiang Qiu Nian's head away, and said angrily, "It's all your fault! I finally got here."

Jiang Qiu Nian smiled, picked up the game console, placed it on Jiang Nian's phone, and covered it with his palm. The game started again, and this time he won. Jiang Qiu Nian said, "Mom, whatever you want, I'll give you."

"Love me."

Jiang Qiu Nian wasn't lying. Perhaps because he learned something he shouldn't have learned during the year he ran away with Jiang Nian, he mastered everything much faster than in the original story. With this kind of speed, even if Jiang Nian said she wanted the stars in the sky, he might try his best to get a smile from his mother.

So Jiang Nian's mission was completed.

Just like in the first world, the sound of fireworks filled his mind, followed by the system's sincere congratulations, "Baby! Congratulations on completing another mission. Do you wish to leave this world?"

Jiang Nian agreed.

Before leaving, just like in the first world, he said goodbye to everyone he had ever interacted with. After Jiang Qiu Nian gave in, he returned Jiang Nian's phone to him.

The moment he sent the text message

, the door to his room opened, revealing Jiang Qiu Nian rushing over. But by then, Jiang Nian had already taken the sharp knife the system had given him.

The system had also completely blocked Jiang Nian's sense of pain. The system no longer addressed Jiang Nian as "host," and it couldn't bear to see Jiang Nian suffer.

Seeing Jiang Nian point the blade at him, Jiang Qiu Nian was in unbearable pain. He rushed over, dropping his keys, kicking the lock to pieces, and strode to Jiang Nian, forcefully knocking the knife from his hand.

The knife fell silently onto the carpet, which was changed daily. Jiang Qiunian immediately knelt on the carpet, his face filled with lingering fear and tears streaming down his face without him even realizing it.

He threw the knife far away, looked at the bewildered Jiang Nian, and said bitterly, "Does Mom hate me that much? Hate me so much that she punishes herself like this?"

Jiang Nian shook her head. "I didn't."

"...How did you get here so quickly?"

Jiang Qiunian had installed cameras everywhere in the room, checking them before going to work and before going to sleep to feel at ease. But he didn't say anything. He simply pulled his mother into his arms, his tears soaking Jiang Nian's nightgown and clinging to her skin.

Jiang Qiunian calmly went mad.

He no longer locked Jiang Nian up, but he wouldn't let her out of his sight for even a second. When he couldn't bear it anymore, Zhou Gebai would watch over Jiang Nian in his place.

They wouldn't let Jiang Nian have another chance to hurt herself.

But besides this method, the system had other means. Jiang Nian's body was visibly thinning.

Jiang Qiunian and Zhou Gebai panicked, desperately searching for doctors—from skilled private physicians to highly respected top-tier doctors, and even internationally renowned physicians.

But it was all in vain.

Jiang Qiunian even brought Jiang Kehong, Jiang Nian's most beloved son, to visit him, and You Xingwen also had a chance to be with Jiang Nian. However, Jiang Nian gradually lost her vitality, like a withering rose. This

heart-wrenching scene filled everyone with a profound, overwhelming fear of helplessness.

The doctor issued the final ultimatum, "Only one day left for the patient's life."

The men who loved Jiang Nian most were no longer so impulsive. They had made their plans. They had tried everything, gone to great lengths, and on this last day, they took Jiang Nian out of the ward and into a room filled with flowers.

You Xingwen carried Jiang Nian to the center of the flower field and gently placed her on the blossoms. Even with her pale face, Jiang Nian was breathtakingly beautiful. You Xingwen kissed Jiang Nian's lips with restrained tenderness.

She whispered, "I love you, baby."

Zhou Gebai, who was standing next to her, kissed Jiang Nian's fingertip and said, "I love you very much, Nian Nian."

Jiang Qiunian, who was standing furthest away, spoke up at this moment: "You can go out for a bit. I want to talk to my mother alone."

"...I won't break what we agreed on."

"Just a few words."

You Xingwen and Zhou Gebai exchanged a glance, said nothing, and turned to leave the room, leaving Jiang Qiunian looking at Jiang Nian's half-closed eyes.

Jiang Qiunian approached, pulling out the knife Jiang Nian had used that day. He placed the hilt into Jiang Nian's right hand, gripping the back of her hand himself, and with a forceful thrust, the blade plunged into her chest. The sharp edge sliced ​​through flesh, causing unmistakable pain, but Jiang Qiunian could only weep incessantly. He called Jiang Nian's name again and again, pleading, "Mom... Mom, if you must leave me, then I hope you can take me with you before you go."

"Without you, I cannot live."

Jiang Nian, who had been motionless, suddenly opened her eyes. Her green eyes, like a silent forest, soothed the pain in Jiang Qiunian's heart. Jiang Nian looked lovingly at the tall Jiang Qiunian, her left hand suddenly rising and resting on the blade. Her

bloodless fingertips instantly turned a pale crimson, stinging Jiang Qiunian's eyes. His hand loosened, and the knife fell again.

Jiang Nian's voice was weak, yet incredibly firm. He said to Jiang Qiu Nian, "Qiu Nian, your life doesn't revolve around me."

"No... Mom, it's not like that."

"Qiu Nian! Listen to me, you're not allowed to die. Your future is bright, believe me." Jiang Nian knew these words wouldn't stop Jiang Qiu Nian, so he continued, "I know you're not my biological child."

"I'm just an insignificant adoptive mother. You should go find someone better, not waste your time on me."

"...Mom, so you knew all along." Jiang Qiu Nian couldn't explain the shock he felt. Everything had become clear, but it didn't matter anymore.

Jiang Nian stroked Jiang Qiu Nian's sharply defined profile and said sincerely, "Qiu Nian, you're a good child, a very excellent child. I don't hate you... Mom loves you very much, so promise Mom, okay?"

"Live happily."

Jiang Qiu Nian couldn't lie; he didn't reply.

Next, the You brothers came in. Jiang Nian was about to leave this world as well, so he said some very kind words.

Before leaving completely, the three remained silent. Jiang Nian felt they must have heeded her words, so she followed the system to the next world with peace of mind.

Thirteen years later.

Jiang Kehong entered an old manor. The manor had been undisturbed for over a decade. Its main buildings had once been bought by a famous businessman, but a shocking murder occurred there, leaving only its current dilapidated state.

The houses were lifeless, filled with signs of decay. Jiang Kehong walked straight into the central room.

There lay the person he missed most.

Suddenly, Jiang Kehong's shoe kicked something. He bent down to pick it up and found it was a knife.

The blade was covered in vivid, striking blood, staining the entire knife without a single blank spot. Thirteen years had passed, yet it remained exactly as it was, eerily unsettling. But Jiang Kehong's expression

changed for the first time since entering this place.

He felt it; this was the only thing his mother had left him.

"Mother…"

Jiang Kehong cried out in his heart. "

Where have you gone?"

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