The fleeting beauty of the Epiphyllum cactus flower is not something easily obtained.
In the video, it appeared to be a long duration compressed into a short time, creating a sense of continuity.
Chu Qianli had explained this to Lan Qing, fearing he would lose patience and leave if he had to wait too long.
However, Lan Qing paid her no mind, sitting quietly not far from the flower bud, watching it.
As time ticked by, Chu Qianli couldn't help but yawn.
She had been awake for two consecutive days and nights, and this was the second night.
She was extremely sleepy.
"Is there any way to record the moment the flower blooms?"
Lan Qing turned to look at her, seemingly convinced she could find a solution.
Chu Qianli retrieved a mobile phone from the system.
Although there was no signal, taking pictures was no problem at all.
"How do I use it?" Lan Qing took the phone, flipping through it.
"I'll teach you."
Lan Qing was very adept at learning new things. Not only did he quickly master the phone's camera function, but he also thoroughly explored its recording and video capabilities.
Chu Qianli kept yawning, watching his back as he fiddled with the phone. She thought she had to keep an eye on him, fearing he might run off.
But she was truly exhausted.
So tired she could barely keep her eyes open.
At some point, a faint voice seemed to drift from the heavens, "Sleep for a while."
And she did, falling into a deep sleep, utterly unable to resist.
She slept until almost dawn.
"National Preceptor!" Chu Qianli's eyes snapped open.
Her first instinct upon waking was to find Lan Qing.
She was most afraid he would leave before her.
Opening her eyes, she saw Lan Qing sitting not far away, ...eating the Epiphyllum.
"Is it beautiful?" Chu Qianli rubbed her temples, feeling a sliver of cruelty at that moment.
It was so beautiful, yet he could eat it.
"Mm," Lan Qing seemed to have eaten his fill.
Looking at the remaining few flowers, they had already withered.
The Epiphyllum's bloom was fleeting, its beauty vanishing in an instant. As dawn approached, that moment of beauty could only be etched in memory.
Perhaps, it could also be imprinted on this object.
"How about you give me this?" he asked, looking at the phone in his hand.
For the first time in his life, he felt such a strong liking for something.
"Is this an artifact from your era?" He became even more curious about her world.
At this moment, a hint of joy flickered in Lan Qing's eyes.
In his entire life, he had never cared so much about a single event.
But now, he truly, desperately wanted to see Chu Qianli's world.
"Help me find my father, and I will do my best to give you whatever you desire."
Perhaps there was nothing left to cherish in this Nanming.
But she felt, increasingly, that her father was getting closer.
And Long Xiyue claiming to be her mother, what did that mean?
Was it just an ephemeral dream, or did it truly signify something?
She was growing more expectant, and more nervous.
"Alright, tomorrow at the ice pool, we'll perform the spell to extract your blood."
"My blood?"
"That's right. We'll infuse your blood into the ice pool, and I'll try to cast a spell to show you your father's appearance in the ice pool, but..."
Lan Qing turned back and smiled at her.
That smile was so captivating it could shake the heavens and earth: "The success rate is unknown; it depends on whether you and your father have fate."
"Why tomorrow?" Couldn't it be now?
Lan Qing glanced at her, the smile on his lips vanishing: "Are there not many things today that await my resolution?"