Cai Murong put away her little notebook, got up happily, and walked with Chen Zheng toward the outskirts of the village.

Upon arriving at the parking lot, her eyes practically popped out of their sockets.

"Oh my goodness! Is this your car? It's so impressive, way better looking than Wang Yu's car from earlier!"

Like an excited child, she hopped and jumped around Chen Zheng's Ferrari, touching its sleek surface.

"This isn't mine. I'm not from the Magic Capital, so a friend just lent it to me to get around," Chen Zheng said with a smile, waving his hand dismissively.

"Wow! You must be a remarkable person yourself. Otherwise, why would your friend lend you such an incredible car!" Cai Murong said, her voice filled with astonishment.

Chen Zheng chuckled. "Alright, hurry up and get in, or you might not complete your bucket list today. I might not have time tomorrow!"

Cai Murong nodded quickly, then hurried to open the passenger door and settled in.

"Let's go, let's go! I've never ridden in such a nice car before!"

Chen Zheng got into the driver's seat and started the engine. Before long, the car left the parking lot and sped toward the amusement park.

While riding the Ferris wheel, Cai Murong was incredibly excited, just like a small child on the verge of shouting with joy. Afterward, the two took a cruise along the Yangtze River. Perhaps from all the excitement, Cai Murong was quite dizzy when she got off the boat; if Chen Zheng hadn't been there to steady her, she might have collapsed.

Finally, Chen Zheng took Cai Murong to the highest point of the Pearl Tower. It was only three in the afternoon, and the two of them sat looking out the window, enjoying the cool air conditioning.

At that moment, Cai Murong suddenly laughed and said, "Chen Zheng, I'm changing my bucket list. I don't want to watch the sunset from here anymore. I want to go climb a mountain and watch it from the top!"

Chen Zheng looked at her with a smile. "Are you serious? Climbing a mountain is very tiring, you know."

Cai Murong shook her head. "I'm not afraid!"

"Okay, then!" Since he was helping her fulfill her bucket list, he would follow her lead.

Chen Zheng drove Cai Murong to the foot of a mountain. The two of them climbed the stone steps, heading toward the summit. By the time they reached the top, Cai Murong was completely exhausted, but Chen Zheng was perfectly fine. He was a Grandmaster; he probably wouldn't have felt tired even if he had somersaulted his way to the top.

The mountain was crowded with people, all there to watch the sunset. They all held up their phones, but Cai Murong simply stood at the edge, silently watching with her own eyes. A glint of tears seemed to flash in her gaze, as if her eyes were a camera lens trying to burn the image into her memory.

"Aren't you going to take pictures?" Chen Zheng asked curiously.

"No! Scenery this beautiful shouldn't be seen through a lens. It has to be witnessed with your own eyes… Only then can you feel that you're truly alive!"

Cai Murong spoke in a very even tone, like a poet. Chen Zheng stood to the side and shrugged.

This young girl, for someone her age, sure says some somber things. What's the deal? Are young people really into this whole depressing vibe now?!

He didn't dwell on it, simply assuming the girl was having a bout of seasonal melancholy.

Before long, the sun had completely set, and the sky turned dark. They followed the crowd down the mountain.

Once they were in the car, Chen Zheng asked for Cai Murong's address, preparing to drive her home. It wasn't rush hour yet, so the drive was smooth. Neither of them spoke, the silence broken only by the occasional roar of the engine. Chen Zheng figured Cai Murong was just tired, so he didn't try to start a conversation.

However, Cai Murong suddenly broke the silence with a laugh. "Thank you, Chen Zheng!"

She turned to him. "Thank you for helping me complete my bucket list before I leave this world. I'm so glad I met you. I guess I'm pretty lucky!"

Chen Zheng froze for a second. "Hmm?"

That sounded a little too bleak, didn't it?

Just then, a song began to play on the car radio, adding a layer of sadness to the already heavy atmosphere.

"If I weren't me, if fish could also sing…

I would surely stay by your side, and keep your sorrow away…

If I weren't me, if trees could also fly…

I would surely stay by your side, and keep you from all harm…

Don't be sad, my dear girl…

Don't let my world grow dark…

I want so badly for you to lean on my shoulder, but I can't do that…"

Cai Murong pursed her lips, glanced at Chen Zheng, and gently dabbed the corner of her eye. Then, as if she'd made a firm decision, she took a deep breath, leaned in quickly, and planted a kiss on his cheek before immediately returning to her seat.

Sensing his gaze on her, she began to explain in a flustered ramble, "Chen Zheng… well… Sorry, the atmosphere just got so intense, it felt weird not to do something… I've never kissed anyone before, haha… It feels… pretty good…"

She didn't really know what she was saying, gesticulating with her hands and feet as if trying to dance to the music. Except this song, and this dance, were far too sad.

Chen Zheng forced a grin, trying to dispel the strange mood with a deliberately risqué joke. "In that case, why don't you come over and give me a couple more? It'll probably feel even better!"

"Hmph! I knew you were a big pervert!" Cai Murong pouted, her cheeks flushing a cute shade of red.

Another stretch of silence followed. Chen Zheng seemed to sense something, his brow furrowing deeper as a sense of agitation grew within him.

It was then that Cai Murong, her head lowered, spoke in a small voice. "Um, Chen Zheng…"

"I have cancer. It's terminal."

"Heh, today was probably my last time out having fun. I'm really so lucky I met you!"

Hearing those words, the unease that Chen Zheng had been suppressing finally erupted. He slammed his hand on the steering wheel but immediately caught himself, afraid she would read too much into it. He could only clench his jaw tightly.

I should have realized it… After all, the last item on her bucket list was to scatter her ashes into the sea!

Chen Zheng remained silent as Cai Murong opened up completely.

"I think I'm quite fortunate. Even though I'm an orphan, my severe illness is ninety percent covered by the state. If it weren't for the country's help, I wouldn't have even lived this long! And, at the very end of my life, I got to meet you… heh, a hero saving the damsel in distress. It's like a fairy tale, isn't it?"

Chen Zheng continued his silence. He had no idea what to say.

She was just a stranger he had helped on a whim, someone he had known for only a single day.

But the wave of grief that hit him was immense and overwhelming.

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