Unexpectedly, a single dose was no longer enough to maintain his physical state.
The setting sun hid behind the western mountains, trading shifts with the crescent moon.
The wind picked up slightly, bringing more chill.
Qi Zhimu took the opportunity to temporarily leave, urgently increased his dosage, then put on a White Coat and brought an outer garment for Clarice.
Clarice didn't think much of it.
Wrapping herself in the jacket Qi Zhimu had brought, Clarice greedily inhaled the lingering, comforting scent on the garment.
In the eyes of others, she was an unusual young girl.
As a child, she always loved asking adults strange questions, which often led to her being mocked by peers and gradually isolated.
For example: Where do people come from? Who created humanity? How did this world begin?
She also tirelessly sought out stories belonging to the past, referred to as "what once was."
Her father passed away early, and besides her mother, no one understood why a child was so obsessed with these things.
It wasn't until she met Mr. Qi that there was one more person in the world who understood and tolerated her.
No matter what kind of question she asked, regardless of whether it was absurd or had a standard answer, Mr. Qi would treat her with sincerity.
The five years she had known Mr. Qi were the most relaxed and wonderful time of her life.
It was also the only warmth she could touch in the world, aside from the haven of her home.
In his deep brown eyes flowed a tenderness sufficient to make anyone fall captive.
Yet, the young girl faintly had the illusion that deep within that tenderness, a hint of detachment and loneliness seemed to hide.
Whenever she tried to get closer to Mr. Qi's inner self, she always had a sense of hitting a transparent wall.
Clarice wasn't sure if this feeling she had for Mr. Qi counted as liking him, or perhaps love.
Perhaps it did?
Her mother once said that if one could feel an unprecedented sense of peace when within that person's world, perhaps that was one form of love.
"Mr. Qi, Mother's condition is still getting worse, right?" The girl stopped daydreaming.
"Yes."
"Is there really no way to completely cure it..."
"Of course there is." Qi Zhimu smiled gently, giving Clarice peace of mind.
The girl's eyes immediately lit up, and she looked at him full of anticipation.
"In another two months, I will definitely be able to completely cure Ms. Durand's amnesia and return a healthy mother to you."
"Mr. Qi is so amazing~!"
The girl was pleasantly surprised and couldn't help but cheer. Her eyes, reflecting the mingling of sunset and night sky, looked sparkling and very charming.
She had absolute faith in Mr. Qi's abilities.
"By then, you can return to your Neighboring Star Homeland and won't need to bring Ms. Durand frequently to this remote mountain forest of mine."
"..."
Hearing this, the joy and excitement on Clarice's pretty face froze momentarily.
Home... there was nothing left there worth missing.
She didn't want to go back; otherwise, seeing Mr. Qi wouldn't be as easy as it was now.
She decided—
After her mother's amnesia was completely cured, she would find a chance to express her feelings to Mr. Qi.
They might be naive and innocent.
But they were full of purity.
Her mother had said that endless waiting might eventually lead to regret.
She didn't want to leave any regrets.
"Let's not talk about that for now, Mr. Qi. I want to tell your fortune. It's very accurate, you know."
Saying this, Clarice took out a set of Tarot Cards.
"How accurate?" Qi Zhimu chuckled.
"Accurate enough that five years ago, I roughly divined the area where Mr. Qi's Bamboo House was located."
"Oh? That's quite impressive. Let's try it then, but I know nothing about Tarot Cards, is that okay?"
"It's fine. What kind of fortune telling would Mr. Qi like? How about we try love and marriage first?" Clarice suppressed the nervousness in her heart, afraid of being rejected.
"Heh... alright. What do I need to do?"
"Let's keep it simple. Mr. Qi just needs to draw three cards from the deck, and no peeking~"
Qi Zhimu didn't hesitate or think, casually drew the cards, and smiled, signaling the girl to proceed.
Clarice couldn't wait to turn over the first card.
The moment she saw the card face, the smile on her face froze.
It was the three of swords... a bad start.
She continued and turned over the second card.
ten of swords!!
Her small face faintly turned pale, and Clarice's fingers trembled slightly as she turned over the last card.
reversed star... "What's wrong? Did I draw a very unlucky combination?" Seeing her poor complexion, Qi Zhimu asked softly.
"No, no! It's very, very auspicious! I'm just shocked that such a rare combination of cards was drawn..."
Clarice quickly shook her head, secretly gritted her teeth, skipped the complex analysis, and stated a conclusion completely different from the card's meaning.
"Mr. Qi will partner with his deeply loved one in the future, and you will become each other's spiritual refuge. Simply put, it means eternal love."
"I see... Then I shall accept the auspicious words of the great fortune teller, Miss Clarice."
Taking in Qi Zhimu's trusting smile, Clarice couldn't help but clench her left hand under the table.
The true meaning of this card combination was profound heartbreak leading to the end of a relationship, bringing unforgettable despair.
Ultimately, the beautiful future she had envisioned lost all possibility of becoming reality.
Fortune telling is not omnipotent, nor is its accuracy one hundred percent.
But... this was the first time Clarice had fallen into such deep self-doubt.
Mr. Qi only ever charged a symbolic, small consultation fee for treating patients, no matter how serious the illness.
Over the past five years, the Credits spent treating her mother's amnesia were less than one-tenth of the cost of taking a spaceship from her home planet to this one.
How could someone so kind, who treated life so gently, face such a future?
...It couldn't possibly be... because of herself, could it?
No, no, how could she possibly harm Mr. Qi?!
This divination was likely inaccurate.
Nevertheless, the flame of Clarice's hopes for the future was temporarily extinguished because of this.
The girl's thoughts were simple, and Qi Zhimu keenly noticed her quietly sinking mood.
He did not expose her, as it was the girl's well-intentioned lie.
He figured the divination result was completely opposite to what she claimed.
How could he, who was about to die, partner with a loved one, and where would he find eternity?
Dying quietly of old age, alone, was the destined ending he had chosen.
It was just that... even a complete life could not avoid leaving behind some regrets.
His Teacher likely wouldn't change his mind about that research.
He couldn't persuade him.
Deep night fell.
Clarice, burdened by heavy thoughts, fell asleep wearily, leaning on the table.
Qi Zhimu gently picked her up, moved her onto the Bamboo Couch layered with a soft sleeping mat, and covered her with a fleece blanket.
After confirming that Ms. Durand in the Medical Pod was fine, he entered the folded space to continue his unfinished work.
Looking at the cold components on the Alloy Workbench, Qi Zhimu put on his Goggles and proceeded methodically to the next step... The warm sun pierced through the lush branches, forming dappled golden light that scattered across the scattered dry leaves on the ground.
Clarice's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
She got up and scanned her surroundings blankly, stopping at the handsome profile of the man sitting on the windowsill, gazing into the distance.
The morning glow draped him in a layer of golden amber, making him seem dreamlike and ethereal.
For a moment, Clarice gradually lost herself in a daze.