When I awoke from the dream once again, Serena Jing was already by my side. It finally dawned on me that everything in the past was connected to this prophetic dream of mine. During the days when Basil Bertram interacted with us, I could always see Serena Jing's figure, and she always seemed to resent the way I was with Zhang Qingyuan.
Now I finally understand everything. Because I went directly to Basil Bertram instead of Serena Jing, I didn't let her change the predetermined outcome. Over the years, Basil Bertram must have also been comforting Serena Jing, urging her not to dwell on this matter.
"I'm sorry, Miss Jing, I can't do it. And... I think I still have to respect Basil Bertram's wishes."
After I got out of bed, I kept my head down. I didn't know what to say to those present. Yun Mei had already left. Mona Ouyang had told me in a dream that when I woke up, there would still be no news of Basil Bertram, just like before. Yun Mei had returned to her own primal space, seemingly to try some remedial measures.
"Since what's done is done, I have nothing more to say. I will tell Madam everything that has happened over the years, as well as all the retainers of Timbercrest Hall."
Serena Jing stood up as if she was about to leave, a hint of desolation in her eyes. All these years, Serena Jing had always stayed by Basil Bertram's side. To her, Basil Bertram seemed more like a father. I could see that. I didn't know what to say. Then, surprised, I pushed open the window and saw many reddish-purple flower buds appearing among the hydrangeas outside. I was astonished.
"It'll probably be tonight. Basil Bertram will return here briefly. Aren't you going to stay and watch when the flowers bloom?"
"No, I can't bear any of this, nor do I want to see any of it."
Serena Jing turned into a streak of green light and instantly vanished into the distant sky. I could feel the grief and anger in her heart.
At that moment, I heard footsteps coming upstairs. I looked at Leah King in surprise as she happily grabbed my hand.
"It's rare to see the flowers bloom. Do you want to watch together tonight?"
I let out a surprised sound as Leah King glanced at me sideways.
"Are you still half asleep, Roxie? I told you when we came here—the climate in this place is better, so the hydrangeas bloom earlier than elsewhere. Did you forget?"
I immediately slapped my forehead and laughed, but Leah King still saw the bitterness behind my smile.
"What's wrong, Roxie? You..."
I took a deep breath and then hugged Leah King tightly.
"It's fine. Tonight, we'll watch the flowers bloom together."
I've already made up my mind, even though I don't really want to witness a true farewell between life and death. But it's inevitable now. I have a duty to see Basil Bertram off one last time. Maybe this prophetic dream he gave me was meant to tell me something, or perhaps just to say thank you.
Mona Ouyang quietly watched me, sorrow in her eyes. She sighed.
"Maybe if John Chou were here..."
But soon Mona Ouyang shook her head, sighed helplessly, and walked to the window, staring blankly at the withered tree on the small hill outside.
I asked Leah King to go play with the children for a while. I wanted to dress up and get ready.
"I've known that guy for many years. He really is like a tree—able to shield people from wind and rain, offering shade and comfort. But now, sadly, that tree has fallen."
I leaned against Mona Ouyang's side.
"I didn't expect you to be quite..."
"How could that be? Do you really think we Ghost Sovereigns are cold-blooded? We met in the Living World, and as rivals we often fought fiercely. But over so many years, we also emerged from hell together. Even if we were enemies, I couldn't feel indifferent. I'd call him a friend, I suppose. At a time like this, what use is any of it?"
I bowed my head, not knowing what to say, because I was powerless to change anything before me. Maybe even John Chou couldn't help now.
"I'm sorry, Rachel Lan—I can't help you."
For a moment, my eyes widened as the voice of Coexistence echoed in my mind. I stared in amazement into the distance. It seemed Coexistence sensed the sorrow in my heart. To trade hundreds of years for an ordinary person's few decades of life—was it worth it?
Maybe to many people it wouldn't seem worth it. But I don't think so. Even though Leah King has forgotten so many memories from the past, I know quite a few. From the moment she first took the stage, Basil Bertram was always by her side, never missing a single event, movie, or concert. He always quietly accompanied her. That alone is enough.
Even though many things are just matters of texture and feeling, maybe all these years, despite losing her parents young, Leah King still received love in another way.
Thinking back to all those past disputes, Basil Bertram would just quietly watch from the side. He never took sides or interfered—occasionally he'd step in to stop things. He was like a tree, quietly observing. Sigh, if Zhang Qingyuan were still here, maybe...
At that moment, Mona Ouyang's expression suddenly changed, and she smiled, then turned to look at me.
"Where there's a will, there's a way. I'll try to think of something."
As she spoke, Mona Ouyang disappeared. I let out a sigh.
I spent the whole day with Leah King, never showing any sadness. But when bad news suddenly arrives, especially the kind that hits out of nowhere, maybe no one can accept it right away. Still, grieving won't bring anything back. Even though someone so close has already left, Leah King, unaware, keeps smiling. But that's right—it's the love she should carry into the decades ahead.
Maybe Leah King will never truly know, but that love has already been planted in her heart, growing little by little over the years. Now, it has taken root and sprouted. That's why, despite her lows, Leah King is still so happy now.
Night fell. Lin Yuan turned on all the lights in the back hills, and joined us as we led some children up the mountain at nine o'clock. We watched the flower buds, many of which had already begun to open. The blooming process was slow, lasting all night. By morning, the mountains would be covered in reddish-purple hydrangeas—a stunning sight.
As ten o'clock approached, some flowers had already bloomed. Even in the cold night, it was exciting. By half past ten, Lin Yuan took the children down the mountain. Many of them were very happy, but my face was somber, and Leah King was about to leave as well.
Suddenly, I grabbed Leah King's hand.
"Can we wait until the flowers finish blooming? I want to see it."
Leah King agreed without asking why. She could tell I was in a bad mood. I sat quietly across from the withered tree, watching the hydrangeas beside me as more buds slowly opened.
The cold night air was biting. Leah King and I moved around to stay warm. As time passed, more and more hydrangeas bloomed. I quietly took it all in.
At midnight, a gentle breeze brushed past my ear. I caught the faint scent of sandalwood, elegant and subtle like morning dew wine. Suddenly, I looked over and my eyes widened—Basil Bertram, his whole body transparent, was sitting by the withered tree, smiling faintly. There was a trace of bitterness at the corner of his mouth, but overall he seemed relaxed and at ease. I glanced at Leah King—she was still crouched in front of a flower, happily smiling and taking photos with her phone. As expected, she couldn't see him.
A whooshing sound echoed. I stared in astonishment as streaks of green light shot across the sky like meteors, gathering more and more in this spot.
"After all these years, you never told me. Were you afraid of hurting my heart, Ziran?"
A soft, magnetic female voice sounded in my ear. I looked over and saw a woman with her hair in a bun, stunning and elegant as a painting—Serena Jing was right behind her. All around me, the Sheqing Ghosts appeared; they were all Basil Bertram's retainers.
Everyone stared at Basil Bertram, who didn't seem able to see us or speak to us. It seemed he was just a briefly lingering remnant of consciousness.
"It's freezing, Roxie—what's going on? Why is it suddenly so cold?"
I swallowed, unsure what to say. Leah King couldn't see any of these ghosts. At that moment, Basil Bertram's wife turned to me and bowed slowly.
"Thank you, young lady—and your husband Zhang Qingyuan. I'm sorry."
I pressed my lips together and shook my head, unsure what to say. Leah King slowly walked up to a fully bloomed flower and sniffed it.
"Smells like the wine from my house. My fans once told me that kind of wine is brewed on nights like this, under the moon. Clearly, they were lying to me."
I made a surprised sound, tilting my head up to look at the moon. Suddenly, I sensed a greater disturbance—Ji Yuner and Redhair landed on the ground one after another. Redhair glared angrily at Basil Bertram, then sat down with a thud and started drinking from a jug. Ji Yuner kept her head down; everyone was silent.
Yun Mei and Lord Shenyen arrived a moment later. Only John Chou and Mona Ouyang hadn't come. Leah King was still taking photos. Everyone watched the flowers bloom in silence. Many of the Sheqing Ghosts wore sad expressions. Serena Jing was already sitting opposite Basil Bertram, pressing her forehead and crying.
Then, everyone was stunned—Basil Bertram actually moved. With a cracking sound, though Leah King couldn't hear it, we all saw it: the withered tree began to split with countless cracks, and Basil Bertram himself started to resemble the tree, his body covered in fissures. We watched as he quietly walked behind Leah King, who was crouched at the flowerbed, and gently placed a hand on her head.
A breeze swept by, and tears began to stream uncontrollably from my eyes. All over the mountain, the hydrangeas burst into bloom. Leah King jumped in fright as the withered tree split apart, collapsing piece by piece.
"What's wrong, Roxie? Why are you...?"
I looked up.
"It's beautiful."
The last trace of sandalwood fragrance brushed across my nose as I turned around.
At that moment, all four Ghost Sovereigns raised a glass of wine, placing them before the withered tree. Lord Shenyen picked up a piece of broken wood and tucked it into his robe.