Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?

Time flies, unknowingly, night falls again.

"It's time to eat." Meizi holds a bowl of food, taking big bites.

"Dad, do you want to eat?"

Meizi looks up at Lu Jiawei beside her.

"I've already eaten. You go ahead."

"You've already eaten? →_→, you ate secretly without calling me?" Meizi glances at him.

Her little expression is truly endearing.

"Next time I'll call you, hurry up and eat. Afterward, Dad will set off fireworks with you."

The fireworks were bought by Lu Changzhen this afternoon, small handheld ones suitable for the courtyard.

Upon hearing, Meizi immediately buries her head in the food.

But next to her, Lu Changzhen and his wife have no appetite at all because as it gets darker, they know the time for Lu Jiawei to leave is getting closer.

They are so reluctant, yet there's no way to stop it.

"Dad, Mom, don't be sad, this is actually a good thing. Meeting the Qiong Province Governor is a huge blessing." Lu Jiawei thinks for a moment to console.

Lu Changzhen and his wife find it reasonable, but still feel sad and sorrowful.

"What are you talking about?" Meizi suddenly looks up, full of curiosity.

"Talking about adult things, which you wouldn't understand." Zhang Guifang quickly says.

Meizi is noticeably unhappy upon hearing this, "Then why do you talk about things that children don't understand?"

Zhang Guifang was about to answer, but Lu Jiawei takes the turn.

"When you grow up, you'll understand."

"Hmph, that's going to take a long time. Why don't you become children, then I'd understand?"

Lu Changzhen, who has remained silent, smiles at this.

"Children grow into adults, not the other way around; it's like walking, once the path is taken, it's in the past…"

"Then why not turn around and walk back?" Meizi asks.

Lu Jiawei: …

"Great idea, but life's path doesn't turn back, like you now turning into your last year's self." Lu Jiawei says.

Meizi looks down at her shoes, showing a look of realization.

"That's true."

Then she goes back to her food.

"Sigh~"

Lu Changzhen sighs deeply, looking at Lu Jiawei with a profound gaze.

Lu Jiawei understands Lu Changzhen's meaning, that the happiness Meizi feels now will turn into equal sadness later.

Lu Changzhen isn't planning to secretly leave after Meizi falls asleep but will say goodbye to her properly, leaving in front of her.

Because only then will Meizi know where he's gone and can put her mind at ease, which is beneficial for her future growth.

"Dad, when I was home this afternoon, I wrote a letter and left it on your room's desk. Once Meizi grows up, you show her the letter." Lu Jiawei whispers close to Lu Changzhen.

But turning his head, he sees Meizi holding a bowl and eavesdropping energetically.

"You little thing, quickly eat your meal." Lu Jiawei says with some amusement.

"I've finished eating."

Meizi holds up her bowl, turning it upside down to show it's completely eaten.

Unexpectedly, the bowl wasn't scraped clean, and some grains fall onto her nose.

"Oh~"

She doesn't wipe them with her hand but stretches her tongue to try and lick them.

But her tongue is too short, as she stretches her neck, putting all effort, then falls backward.

Startled, Meizi then feels a big hand support her from behind.

"Hey, Dad…"

Meizi looks back at Lu Jiawei, smiling sheepishly.

"Are you full?" Lu Jiawei pinches the rice grains from her nose and puts them in her mouth.

"Mm-hmm~" Meizi nods repeatedly.

"Then take the bowl to the kitchen, and set off fireworks with me."

Upon hearing, Meizi immediately rushes to the kitchen with the bowl, shouting while running, "Wait for me, don't sneak away…"

Listening to her joyful voice, watching her little figure, Lu Jiawei feels his chest tightening, his eyes fill with tears, longing for a good cry.

How can he let go, he really can't…

-----------------

"Meizi, don't be afraid, just be brave, hold the end, it won't hurt you."

Lu Jiawei hands the sparkler to the eager Meizi beside him.

"I'm not afraid, I'm very brave."

Meizi reaches out, encouraging herself.

Lu Jiawei stands staunchly, looking at Meizi; her little face flickers under the fireworks, but always remains bright.

"Dad, why do you look at me like that?" Meizi asks curiously.

"Because Dad wants to remember Meizi's look." Lu Jiawei smiles.

Meizi then becomes shocked and throws the fireworks to the ground.

"I don't want to play anymore."

Previously excited, Meizi's mood suddenly turns exceptionally downcast.

"Why?"

Lu Jiawei hurriedly bends down and picks her up.

Meizi looks at him, voice choking, saying, "Dad, are you leaving too?"

Upon hearing, Lu Jiawei remains silent, he doesn't want to deceive Meizi.

"Mom said the same, then she never came back…" Meizi whispers.

Lu Jiawei says nothing, just holding her tightly in his arms.

"Can...you not go?" Meizi's voice quivers with crying.

Lu Jiawei gently pats her back, without answering.

Meizi wraps her arms around his neck and begins to sob softly.

From childhood to adulthood, life has always been happy, Dad cares, Mom loves, entirely growing up like in a honey jar.

But one day, Dad disappeared, never returning.

And Mom left her at Grandma and Grandpa's house, never seen again.

She totally doesn't understand what happened, did she misbehave, angering Mom and Dad?

Or are they too busy with work, lacking time to come back.

She doesn't need new clothes, new toys, or lots of treats, so can they stop being busy and come back to accompany her?

But she's just a child, no one listens to her.

She really wants to grow up, dreaming of becoming an adult, so they'd listen to her properly.

...

Meizi wipes her tears, choking with grievance and sadness.

"Meizi, do you remember what I told you before?"

"Hm?" Meizi looks at him with tearful eyes.

"Dad has already died, the dead leave only a soul, then reincarnate, becoming a child again. I met an immortal because I missed you so much, I begged the immortal to let me come back to see you… so I came back, saw my Meizi, saw you, I'm very happy, very happy..."

As Lu Jiawei speaks, tears wet his cheeks, he kisses Meizi's face, kisses her forehead…

"But I must go back, return to reincarnation..." Lu Jiawei's voice is full of sorrow.

Lu Changzhen and his wife already cry uncontrollably on the side.

"Become a child?"

"What?"

"You will become a child?"

"Yes."

"Then can I meet the child you?" Meizi looks at him with hopeful eyes.

Seeing his daughter's hopeful gaze, Lu Jiawei nods affirmatively.

"Of course, we will definitely meet again."

"What if I can't recognize you when you become a child?" Meizi worries.

Lu Jiawei thinks, raises his wrist, pointing to a birthmark there: "See if there's a mark like this on the wrist, if there is, then it's definitely me, Dad."

Upon hearing, Meizi raises her wrist, aligning with Lu Jiawei's wrist, as she has a similar little birthmark on her wrist, almost identical in position and shape.

"Hey~, this is our cute mark." The previously sad Meizi becomes happy again.

And the cute mark she refers to is a pattern on ponies in the cartoon My Little Pony.

"Yes, this is our cute mark together." Lu Jiawei says.

"Great, now I feel at ease."

Meizi takes a deep breath like a little adult.