The system forced me to blow up the female lead's fishpond.

The candle wick sparked tiny flames, and Shen Zhizhi's fingertips curled up in her sleeve.

She gazed at the expectation gleaming in Chu Chou's crimson eyes, and suddenly remembered what Ya Dan had said to her when she left—

"Host, during the time you lost your memory, you and Zhang Jiali became the main characters of the original story, successfully writing the ending of this world."

Now that Zhang Jiali has sacrificed his life to restore your memories, I have reported the bug in this dimension to my superiors. Three days later, at midnight, you will return to the modern world.

Thinking of this, Shen Zhizhi paused for a moment, speechless.

If she's not mistaken, today is the last day.

After midnight tonight, she will leave this plane and return to the real world.

Before she could feel guilty under that gaze, Chu Chouchi looked away first and said in a relaxed tone, "Whether you answer or not, no matter where you go, I will come to find you."

He spoke with absolute certainty, as if his stubbornness alone could overcome all unknown obstacles.

Shen Zhizhi's heart skipped a beat, and she looked up in a daze.

She seemed to see his eyes filled with endless crimson as he turned away with feigned nonchalance.

My thoughts were instantly torn into a jumbled mess.

Just then, fireworks burst into flames outside the door, and dazzling light burst through the window without warning, casting dappled shadows inside the room.

Shen Zhizhi was lost in her thoughts when she was startled by the sudden light and instinctively looked up.

At the same time, the tightly closed door was suddenly pushed open by Chief Feng and Xiao Ling, their figures appearing somewhat anxious in the glow of the fireworks.

Chief Feng's originally crisp words became somewhat hesitant due to his haste: "Second Prince... no, Your Majesty, Miss Shen, come out and watch the fireworks!"

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Shen Zhizhi slowly got up and walked towards the door.

The moment Shen Zhizhi stepped out of the room, she was stunned by the scene before her.

The courtyard was filled with people, including Shen Chao, Qu Yuanye, and Chu Tu...

Every face clearly radiated a smile, yet it seemed to also conceal an unfathomable emotion.

Fireworks continued to explode in the night sky, illuminating the entire courtyard.

Before Shen Zhizhi could recover from the lively atmosphere, the crowd automatically parted to make way for her.

Xiao Hang was holding something that looked strange; only the candles stuck in it allowed Shen Zhizhi to guess that it was a birthday cake.

Chief Feng glanced at Shen Zhizhi's astonished expression and scratched his head awkwardly, "I told Xiao Ling that this is not how birthday cakes are made, but they insisted on making it this way."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ling instantly flew into a rage, turning to glare angrily, "What are you saying! This is clearly something you made by pointing fingers in the kitchen, and you even said you made it with Miss Shen."

The two chatted back and forth, their argument tinged with a touch of warmth.

Fireworks continued to bloom wildly in the sky, candlelight flickered gently before her eyes, and Shen Zhizhi's eyes welled up with tears.

She understood that this might be the last bit of warmth this world offered her.

She slowly walked to the unusual cake, a slight smile playing on her lips. "This is the best birthday gift I've ever received. Thank you."

Upon hearing this, the two who were still arguing stopped abruptly, their expressions becoming even more embarrassed.

Chief Feng chuckled twice, scratched the back of his head, and said, "Miss Shen, as long as you like it, that's fine. We were just trying to give you a surprise. If we didn't do a good job, please don't mind."

Xiao Ling quickly chimed in, a hint of embarrassment on her face: "Yes, yes, it took a long time to make this, although it looks a bit strange."

Shen Zhizhi's fingers tightened suddenly as she held the hot water bottle, her eyes welling up with tears of emotion.

Shen Chao stepped forward and pulled out an oil paper package from his pocket. "Yesterday, while on patrol, I saw that the First Restaurant had some new pastries, so I thought I'd buy them as a birthday gift for you..."

After speaking, Shen Chao paused for a moment before continuing with a smile, "These pastries are so greasy they'll give you a toothache. You should eat less of them in the future."

Shen Zhizhi bit her lip, took the still-warm pastry, and her already burning eyes began to mist over.

Shen Chao was the first family she encountered in this world, and she naturally felt reluctant to part with him.

Qu Yuanye stepped forward and took out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve, handing it to him. "I don't know what I'm giving you, but this bottle contains pills that take more than ten years to refine. They can protect the heart meridian of a dying person and give him a chance to live. I have no regrets if I can organize this birthday banquet for you in my lifetime."

She looked up at Qu Yuanye, her lips parted slightly, but she was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to express her reluctance.

In the end, all he could say was, "Thank you, Father."

Qu Yuanye's usually composed face now showed a hint of undisguised loneliness.

At that moment, Shen Zhizhi suddenly felt a darkness before her eyes, as if something was rushing towards her.

She instinctively reached out and caught it, then looked closely.

She then realized it was a plain-colored cloak, the cloud pattern inlaid with gold thread shimmering in the candlelight, making her squint.

Without even looking up, she knew who had designed the cloak.

"This was embroidered by a woman in a daze. It's too small for me to wear. It would be a waste to throw it away, so I'll give it to you." Chu Tu raised his peach blossom eyes slightly, his tone extremely arrogant.

Chief Feng's lips twitched violently. What time is it? Why does the Third Prince's mouth still look like it's been poisoned?

In his opinion, the Third Prince didn't need to concoct poisons; his mouth alone was already the king of poisons.

Thinking of this, Chief Feng quickly reached out and shoved his own prince, saying plaintively, "Third Prince!"

Chu Tu pursed his lips and glanced sideways, looking slightly embarrassed after being bumped into.

Then, under everyone's expectant gaze, she spoke slowly, "Nanzhao ice silkworm silk is the best for keeping warm. You always wear so little. You should learn to add more clothes in the future."

Shen Zhizhi reached out and stroked the plain-colored cloak, then looked up at Chu Tu, "Thank you, Your Highness, I really like this cloak."

Chu Tu turned his head slightly away, his peach blossom eyes covered with an ink thicker than the night.

After everyone presented their gifts, they took their seats, and the courtyard immediately erupted in noise as everyone raised their glasses in celebration.

As snowflakes fell softly onto the vermilion corridor, Chu Tu leaned against the carved sandalwood window, lost in thought.

"Third Prince," Shen Zhizhi suddenly looked up as she drank, her breath obscuring the emotions in her eyes, "from now on, you shouldn't be so stubborn with people."

Chu Tu pouted and used his sleeve to sweep the snow off the window frame.

Moonlight brushed across his brow bone, casting a fan-shaped shadow at the corner of his eye. "You only say such stupid things when you're drunk..."

Shen Zhizhi tiptoed and broke off a red plum blossom, handed it to him, and chuckled, "Your Highness's heart is clearly as fiery as this red plum blossom, so why show it with indifference? I'm afraid that if Your Highness continues like this, you will be lonely in the future."

"You're the most meddlesome person in the entire Nanliyue Star City." Chu Tu lowered his eyes, his corners suddenly turning red. "Stop trying to fool me with these flowery words..."

"Alright, alright, I won't say anything more." Shen Zhizhi stuck out her tongue and wisely kept quiet.

She looked up and glanced around, but didn't see the familiar figure in black. Confused, she asked, "Strange, where did the Second Prince go?"

Chu Tu's eyes darkened, a deep sorrow rising within them. "Perhaps it's in the inner palace."

Shen Zhizhi blinked and nodded, "Then I'll go call him!"

The copper bells on the eaves jingled in the night breeze as Shen Zhizhi, carrying a lotus lantern, headed towards the inner hall.

"Shen Zhizhi!"

Hearing the call, she turned around in surprise and saw Chu Tu standing there, his eyes filled with turbulent emotions.

"The Third Prince just summoned me?" Shen Zhizhi raised the lantern higher, but saw his Adam's apple bob twice in the candlelight.

Chu Tu's fingers, which were hanging inside his wide sleeves, suddenly curled up. The words he wanted to say were once again stuck in his throat.

Seeing the confusion in her eyes, his thin lips trembled slightly, and he finally spoke.

"Shen Zhizhi, I love you..."

Fireworks shot into the night sky at that very moment!

Thousands of golden and silver threads exploded in the inky sky!

All of Chu Tu's voices were thus blended into the roar.

"What did Your Highness say?" Shen Zhizhi tiptoed closer, the subtle fragrance of her hair brushing against his chin.

As Chu Tu gazed into her star-filled eyes, he felt his fingernails digging deep into his palms, searing him painfully.

Yes, I'm afraid even Heaven doesn't want him to speak his mind.

"You're so stupid!" Chu Tu chuckled, raising his hand to brush the snowflakes from her head. He paused as his fingertips brushed her earlobe. "You didn't even notice when the lantern went out."

Shen Zhizhi lowered her head, staring at the dark lantern, and suddenly laughed out loud, but missed the shattered light in the other person's eyes as they looked at her smile.

As the last burst of fireworks turned into golden rain and fell, no one saw that delicate hand brushing away the tear stains from the corner of Peach Blossom's eyes.