Seeing Castorice's tear-filled eyes, Oliver also felt uneasy.
But there was nothing he could do; he had to leave the script eventually.
He opened his arms and embraced Castorice, comforting her softly: "You haven't done anything wrong, but I have important matters to attend to and must leave for a period of time. I will definitely return in the future, do you believe me?"
Castorice buried her head in Oliver's chest, nodding softly, then shaking her head.
Oliver laughed: "Are you saying you believe me or not?"
"I believe you!"
Castorice didn't lift her head, seemingly not wanting Oliver to see her shedding 'little pearls'. "Then how long will you be gone?"
"A few years, perhaps. I will try my best to return early."
Oliver gently lifted Castorice's face, meeting her eyes, and then moved his thumb to wipe away her tears.
"So, come back to the Underworld with me. You also need to say goodbye to Xiao Qian."
"Mhm."
The two returned to the Underworld together.
In the depths of the Underworld, there was no change of seasons, nor the clamor of daylight.
Here, there was only eternal twilight, a haze gently steeped in starlight, and a silently swaying sea of flowers that stretched to the end of the world.
These strange flowers were not mundane objects; every petal seemed to condense deep blue stardust, emitting a soft glimmer capable of penetrating the soul.
In the center of the flower sea, three figures moved slowly.
Oliver walked in the middle, his figure appearing slightly blurred in the deep blue halo cast by the flowers.
Polyxenia nestled closely to his left side, her fair fingers tightly clasped with his, knuckles slightly pale, as if she wanted to merge her bones and blood into his palm.
Her light purple short hair flowed with a honey-like sheen under the stardust glimmer. Her profile rested against his shoulder, and her open beautiful eyes held nothing but bottomless devotion and tranquility.
Castorice was positioned slightly behind and to Oliver's right, like a faint shadow that might dissipate in the wind at any moment.
"Truly... can't you stay for me and my sister?"
Polyxenia's voice broke the silence, carrying a trace of imperceptible hoarseness, as if soaked by dew on a flower stem.
She raised her head and gazed into the depths of Oliver's eyes, which were filled with the tenderness she knew, yet also held an unshakable resolve.
Oliver stopped walking and turned around. His left hand was still firmly held by Polyxenia. His right hand naturally lifted, gently stroking Polyxenia's cheek, his fingertip softly wiping away a trace of moisture from the corner of her eye.
"Then are you willing to wait for me for a thousand years?"
"We are willing!"
Castorice and Polyxenia replied in unison.
Once that sentence was spoken, they were certain that Oliver's departure was inevitable.
Just then,
Polyxenia suddenly released Oliver's tightly grasped hand.
The movement was swift and decisive, carrying a sudden resoluteness.
She lightly stepped forward, moving behind Castorice.
Castorice didn't even have time to react, feeling only an irresistible force coming from behind her, gentle yet carrying a firm pushing momentum.
Castorice gasped, her body completely losing control and tilting forward, unexpectedly crashing into a warm, solid embrace.
The familiar scent instantly enveloped her completely.
"Sister!"
"If you don't say it now, you really won't have another chance!"
Polyxenia's voice sounded just inches away, filled with an almost scorching urgency and encouragement: "Are you going to watch him leave with regrets? Are you going to let yourself regret this?"
The urging was so direct and unavoidable, like a red-hot branding iron, instantly burning through all of Castorice's protective shells used for disguise.
"I..."
Castorice suddenly raised her head, all her blood seeming to rush to her cheeks, burning intensely hot.
Her gaze unexpectedly collided with Oliver's deep eyes. "Will you accept my love?"
Oliver nodded and smiled. "Of course, because I love you too."
Upon hearing those words, Castorice felt as if her body had been hollowed out.
Her entire body felt numb and tingling, as if she were about to collapse.
Suddenly.
Polyxenia, who had been watching from the side, leaned in, bypassed her sister, and kissed Oliver directly.
Castorice was instantly dumbfounded. What was the meaning of this? What was she doing?
Polyxenia smiled and teased, "Sister, you were one step slower than me again."
"Don't tell me you two have already—"
Castorice felt like she had been struck by lightning, burnt on the outside and tender on the inside.
How could her quiet, reserved little sister act like this?
Of course, she wasn't jealous of her sister sharing Oliver; she just felt that her sister's behavior didn't match the personality she knew—in fact, it was completely opposite!
When did this start? She hadn't noticed a thing!
Oliver was speechless.
Holding the older sister in his arms, was it perhaps a little uncouth for the younger sister to demand a kiss right in front of her?
Oliver looked down and saw Castorice in his arms staring at Polyxenia with a strange look.
Fortunately, it was a request—a plea for him to treat them equally.
Oliver didn't ask; he simply covered her slightly trembling lips directly.
All sounds, all chaotic thoughts, all panic about parting, and all uncertainty about the future were forcefully sealed away in that instant.
"Now Sister must be satisfied too."
Polyxenia laughed, then grabbed Oliver's arm. "Then, before you leave, play 'Overbearing Emanator' with me one more time."
Oliver naturally knew what she meant: she wanted some rough action.
Castorice didn't know, though. She looked at the two of them in confusion. "Play what?"
Polyxenia shook her head and said mysteriously, "Sister, you definitely wouldn't dare to play. Don't ask; time is precious, and I want to play a few more times."
"No, I want to participate too! As long as Oliver is here, I dare to do anything!"
Castorice declared confidently.
Polyxenia gave Oliver a look of successful plotting, then turned to Castorice. "Alright then, I'll teach you."
She guided Oliver's hand, letting it slide down the gentle curve of Castorice's back with a heart-pounding, irresistible intention, finally resting firmly and possessively on her slender lower back.
The wind of the underworld seemed to soften at this moment, gently sweeping over the sea of flowers, causing countless dark blue petals to silently sway and whirl.
Her vision began to spin and blur; the blue flowers, twinkling like starlight, seemed to transform into flowing ribbons of light, weaving and intertwining at the edges of her hazy sight.
Castorice felt herself being gently yet irresistibly drawn into this vortex; her body grew softer and softer, her consciousness hazier and hazier, as if she were floating above a sea of stars.
Just then, a warm breath carrying a familiar voice laced with a hint of mischievous amusement brushed lightly against her earlobe, like a feather tickling, yet clearly piercing through the veil of haze:
"Don't be afraid... Sister..."
It was Polyxenia.
Her voice was extremely close, carrying a soothing power, yet also containing a hidden, encouraging heat.
"I'll push you."