Yue Feather lay on the hospital bed. Before opening his eyes, the sharp sting of antiseptic filled his nose.

He slowly blinked awake. Someone had changed him into a patient gown. A nurse in a mask was hanging a fresh IV bag.

"You’re finally awake," she sighed in relief. "You’ve been unconscious for two whole days and nights."

"Huh? That long…?" Yue Feather scratched his head. "What happened to me?"

"Don’t you remember?"

"It’s all blurry…"

"You ran into the ER wearing women’s clothes. Then collapsed right at the entrance."

"Oh… I see." Yue Feather nodded, disappointment weighing his voice.

"Rest up. Oh—and do you have money? Pay the medical fees later."

"Alipay okay?"

"Sure."

The nurse left. Yue Feather sank back onto the pillow. Empty beds flanked him. The silent room felt unbearably lonely.

"So it was all just an illusion after all…" He chuckled bitterly, memories flooding back.

In that phantom dream, he’d carried a feverish Silver Bell into this very hospital. In reality? He’d merely dressed as her.

For one fleeting second—when he’d collapsed in the ER—he’d truly believed Silver Bell had stepped out of fantasy into flesh and blood. Truly believed she was real.

But…

"Hah… HAHAHA!" Yue Feather burst into wild laughter. His whole body shook, rattling the IV stand. Salty tears leaked from his eyes. "Illusions becoming real? Impossible… Hah… So ridiculous. Laughable!"

His laughter choked into sobs. He tried masking tears with smiles, twisting his face into something broken.

"Even if… even if it’s fake… just stay by my side… okay?"

"What’s wrong? Why are you crying so hard?"

Silver Bell’s voice cut through the air. Yue Feather whipped his head around. There she was—leaning over his bedside, rubbing sleep from her eyes. As if she’d simply been napping all along.

"You’re still here…"

"Of course I am! What’s wrong?" Silver Bell pressed her cool palm to his forehead. Her touch melted his anxiety like warm honey.

"Nothing… Are you feeling better?"

"I’m fine! You’re the one who needs rest."

"Mm!"

Once his fever broke, the doctor gave routine advice and prescriptions. Yue Feather paid and left.

He’d rushed to the hospital with only his wallet three days ago. His belongings—left on the beach—were surely washed away by now.

Before, he’d have panicked. Now? Nothing mattered more than Silver Bell still being here.

"Yu~ What’re you thinking about?" On the bus home, Silver Bell nestled against him, voice soft.

"Hm? Nothing. Why?"

"Hmph! Didn’t you hear me?"

"Eh?"

"Mmmph…" Silver Bell’s face flushed crimson. She buried her face in his chest. "I… I want to wear a wedding dress too…"

Yue Feather followed her gaze out the window. A bride posed for photos, assistants fluttering around her like sparrows.

Wedding dresses were expensive. He knew that. Even cheap ones cost over a thousand yuan. Proper ones? Tens of thousands.

But if Silver Bell wanted it—he’d buy it.

He’d move mountains for her.

"Okay!" he said.

His bank balance was healthy—but that was survival money. Spending it all meant hunger.

Love made fools of everyone. For Silver Bell, Yue Feather would give his life.

"There’s an abandoned chapel at the foot of Bailiu Mountain," he mused, stroking his chin. "We could take wedding photos there."

"W-Wedding photos…?" Silver Bell stammered, face burning. She thumped his chest with tiny fists. "Yue Feather, you idiot! Idiot Yue Feather!"

"Huh? What’d I do?"

"Hmph!" She turned away, cheeks aflame. "Nothing!"

"Aww, don’t be mad. I’ll treat you to curry beef rice later!"

"Hmph!" She pretended to pout—but melted back into his arms, shyly.

Yue Feather smiled. This Silver Bell was unbearably cute.

They reached home quickly.

Unwashed for days, Yue Feather itched head to toe. He dashed straight for a cold shower.

"Hot water?" Silver Bell called from outside the bathroom.

"It’s scorching out—why hot water?"

"Hmph! I get cold—"

"Eh? Fine… I’ll turn on the heater."

"Mm! Yu’s the best!"

"Heh…" Yue Feather scratched his hair, flustered. Every word from her plucked his heartstrings.

Alone on the bed, he listened to the shower’s steady patter. Peace washed over him.

But a voice hissed in his skull: *This is all fake. Stop hiding. Face reality.*

"Shut up…" He clamped hands over his ears. Useless. The voice only grew louder.

"Enough! What’s real or fake? Happiness is enough! Joy is enough! This feeling is enough!" He shouted—not to the voice, but to himself. Making excuses. Building escape routes.

"But you must wake up eventually… This happiness? Fake. All fake…"

"SHUT UP! If life’s pointless anyway, why not die now? At least these feelings are real—that’s enough!"

"But someday—" The voice droned on, relentless.

"Deal with it WHEN IT COMES!" Yue Feather hurled his pillow across the room.

"Yu? What’s wrong?" Silver Bell stepped out of the bathroom in an oversized shirt, hair dripping.

"Nothing…" His gloom vanished the moment he saw her. She was his cure-all.

"Stay happy every day, okay?" Silver Bell beamed. "Oh—and can you braid my hair?"

"Braid it?" He recalled her usual single ponytail. "I… don’t know how."

"I’ll teach you!"

"Uh… okay."

Yue Feather took the hair tie and comb she offered. He stood behind her.

"How…?" he fumbled.

"First—comb my hair smooth~"

He clumsily dragged the comb through her ink-black strands. Truth was, her hair needed no combing. Even loose, it flowed like liquid silk—flawless as a goddess’s gift.

"Giggle—" Silver Bell’s laugh chimed like actual bells. "Tickles! Stop already. Just gather it up and tie it."

"A-ah… right." He fumbled to bundle her hair. It slipped through his fingers—too smooth to grip. He feared hurting her if he held too tight.

Silver Bell stifled giggles as he struggled. Finally, he looped the tie twice.

"Done… Is this okay?"

"Let me see~" She touched the ponytail. The tie slid off instantly. Her hair cascaded down like spilled night.

Yue Feather’s breath caught. No mythic goddess could rival her.

True beauty lived in every gesture—every angle, every heartbeat—stealing his soul.

"I really love you…" he murmured, fingers tangled in her hair.

"Hm?"

"Nothing… I mean… you look beautiful with it down. No need to tie it."

"Really?"

"Absolutely."

"Hehe~ Then I’ll keep it like this." Silver Bell swept her hair back, smiling.

Yue Feather stared, heart twisting with sudden pain. He blurted: "Silver Bell…"

"Hm?"

"Can we… stay together forever?"

"Of course."

Silver Bell smiled faintly. Her smile was lovely, with two tiny dimples that looked sweet and warmed the heart. "Forever~"

"F-forever together...?" Yue Feather licked his dry lips and smiled bitterly. "Forever... how far is forever?"

"Very, very far."

"Very, very far... but how far is that?"

"That's forever—the kind with no end in sight."

"Then... how far is that endless forever?"

Silver Bell smiled again. Suddenly facing Yue Feather, she rose on her tiptoes and gently cupped his cheeks with both hands. In a soft, crystal-clear voice, she said—

"Forever is every single moment spent with you..."