Chapter 1

Three years after breaking up with Peter, Kim went to the Alpine Mountain Range.

But an avalanche buried her forever at the foot of the Alps.

As her consciousness faded, the Grim Reaper's voice echoed in her ear.

"Kim Lee, you died far from home and can't enter the cycle of rebirth. I grant you three days for Returning to Roots."

When Kim opened her eyes, she found herself back in the car, her own lifeless body beside her.

...

Kim understood the Grim Reaper's gift meant arranging her own funeral affairs.

Watching snowflakes dance in the wind, she buried her last photo with Peter in the snowdrift.

"Peter, I came to see the Alps. But you broke your promise."

She opened the trunk, placed her corpse inside the suitcase, and packed it with crushed ice and heavy snow.

After finishing, she called Metropolitan Funeral Services.

"Hello, I'd like to schedule burial services for three days from now."

"The deceased's name is Kim Lee."

Since the Grim Reaper demanded Returning to Roots, she'd drive back to Philadelphia to prepare her own dignified funeral.

With everything arranged, Kim drove slowly along the icy mountain road.

After several turns, she spotted a stranded vehicle ahead.

A woman in a white down coat waved desperately from the road, forcing Kim to stop.

As the window rolled down, the woman removed her mask, revealing a delicate, pale face.

"Samantha?"

Kim gasped in surprise.

Her high school deskmate—unseen since graduation—appeared here of all places.

Samantha's eyes lit up upon recognizing Kim.

"Kim! Thank heavens we found you!"

"My boyfriend's car broke down. The tow truck won't come till tomorrow. Can we ride with you?"

Kim hesitated. Transporting living passengers felt wrong for a corpse.

But perhaps the Grim Reaper would reward this good deed in Hell.

She agreed to take them.

Samantha waved toward a snow-trapped Maybach. A man in a black trench coat approached.

One glance froze Kim where she sat.

For three years, she'd imagined countless reunions with Peter.

Never had she pictured meeting him after death—as another woman's boyfriend.

As Peter neared, Kim's trembling heart made her look away.

Samantha linked arms with him, beaming. "Peter, this is my high school classmate Kim Lee. What luck! She'll drive us back to Philadelphia."

Hearing the introduction, a storm of emotions churned within Kim.

She watched the man before her—now shedding the boyish innocence for grown steadiness. "Long time no see" stuck in her throat, unspoken.

Just as she gathered courage, Peter extended a bank card toward her.

"Ms. Lu, for the fare. My girlfriend gets carsick. Please ride in the back."

His icy tone choked Kim's response. She didn't take the card.

"Sorry, I drive alone. You'll sit in the rear."

As the door slammed, she overheard Samantha whispering to Peter.

"Kim kindly gave us a ride home. How can you be so overbearing, as if you knew each other before?"

Peter’s dark eyes were deep and somber: "Don’t know."

Those three simple words made Kim’s heart tighten again and again.

She drove calmly, not letting her emotions show.

Yes, things had changed long ago, and whether they knew each other or not didn’t matter anymore.

On the way, Samantha suddenly spoke: "Kim, why did you come to Alpine Resort?"

Kim’s hands on the steering wheel tightened: "It’s a place I promised to meet my ex-boyfriend three years ago, so I wanted to come."

After a while, Peter’s deep voice sounded: "Miss Kim, don’t get distracted while driving. You can’t afford to pay for anyone’s life."

The sharp words suddenly stung Kim’s long-frozen heart and instantly brought her back to her senses.

Yes, she was already dead. What was the use of bringing up the three-year promise with Peter?

Samantha glared at Peter: "Kim, don’t mind him. He’s been acting weird today, like he’s eaten gunpowder."

"But Kim, after we leave Alpine Resort, where are you planning to go?

Want to go together?"

Kim looked secretly at the man she had missed in countless midnight dreams through the rearview mirror, and said hoarsely.

"No, when the car arrives in Philadelphia, I’m going to a funeral home to attend a funeral."

Chapter 2

The atmosphere in the car suddenly grew heavier. Samantha also composed herself.

"We'll ride with you back to Philadelphia to pay our respects. After all, the departed deserves honor."

Kim glanced at Peter, who remained silent, her knuckles whitening on the steering wheel.

She had no family. No friends.

Perhaps having someone attend her own funeral meant she wouldn't be alone when she left.

"Thank you."

Kim kept driving at a steady pace.

Snow chains clanked rhythmically against the icy road as endless white swallowed the path ahead.

In the backseat, Samantha nestled against Peter and couldn't resist probing Kim's romantic past.

"Kim, why did you break up with your boyfriend back then?

I remember you were crazy about him—your social media feed was filled with love notes for him."

Kim paused briefly. "His friend called me his lapdog. He didn't deny it. I just... lost interest."

Three years ago at graduation, Kim had pulled two all-nighters designing Peter's professional portfolio.

Just as she was about to hand it to him, she overheard his friends mocking her.

Their words were vicious, yet Peter merely swirled his wine glass, offering no defense.

Worse—he seemed faintly amused.

That was the moment everything felt hollow.

Samantha abruptly sat up straight.

"That's just wrong! How awful!"

"But then again, you can tell a man by the company he keeps. Good riddance, Kim."

Kim gave a noncommittal hum to Samantha's indignant outburst.

"Mm."

Peter's voice cut through the silence like ice.

"Relationships are private matters. That seems a flimsy reason to end things, Ms. Lee."

Kim stayed silent, but Samantha bristled beside him.

"What do you know? Some men sabotage their own relationships!"

"Peter, if your friends ever badmouth me, you better defend me. Or else."

Peter's jaw tightened. After a long pause, he ground out, "Fine."

Outside, snow fell thicker, frosting the windshield into a white haze.

With visibility dropping, Kim turned on the AC defroster.

Samantha rubbed her hands together, breath misting in the backseat.

"It's freezing in here! Kim, turn on the heat."

Remembering the body in the trunk, Kim handed Samantha several hand warmers from her bag instead.

"Heat makes the air stuffy. Use these."

When their fingers brushed, Samantha gasped at Kim's frosty touch.

"You're ice-cold! You'll catch your death without heat!"

Kim hesitated. Of course she had no living warmth—she was dead.

But how to explain?

Suddenly, Peter leaned forward and flicked on the heater.

"Highland flu can be life-threatening, Ms. Lee. Since we're in your car, our safety is your responsibility."

Hearing his trademark commanding tone, Kim sighed inwardly and stayed quiet.

Only the crunch of tires compacting snow filled the silence.

After an unknown length of time, they finally drove out of the snow-packed road and reached the town at the mountain's base.

Peter looked at the darkening sky outside the window and said, "It's too late. We'll stay here tonight."

Kim frowned. "No, I must get back to Philadelphia within three days. I can't stay overnight here."

Samantha pointed at the thick snow outside, her face full of disapproval.

"It's dark with heavy snow. Driving at night isn't safe—we can't prioritize speed over our lives!"

Kim's gaze swept over the rear of the car before deciding, "I'll keep driving. You two stay in town and book flights back tomorrow."

The tires made a muffled thud in the snow as the car stopped before a guesthouse.

Kim unlocked the doors and gestured for them to exit.

But Peter pressed the ignition button to cut the engine and yanked out the keys.

"The blizzard shut down the city. All trains and flights are canceled."

"Miss Kim, you promised to travel together with us. A person should honor their word."

He got out, opened the driver's door, and motioned for Kim to step out.

"Relax, just one night. It won't delay the funeral you need to attend."

Samantha added, "Fatigued driving is deadly. We're accompanying you to Philadelphia for the funeral—no risks allowed."

Kim had no choice but to follow them into the guesthouse.

Freezing temperatures and scarce rooms left them with only one twin room.

Kim considered sleeping in the car but thought, "If Peter isn't awkward, why should I be?"

Inside the room, Samantha headed straight for the shower.

Kim and Peter each sat on a bed with their phones, a clear boundary between them.

Water splashed loudly in the bathroom when Peter suddenly looked at her.

"It's been three years. Still not unblocking me?"

Kim paused slightly: "Since we've separated, there's no need to cross paths again."

Peter's expression turned cold: "You're right. An ex should be as good as dead."

His words were barbed, especially the word 'dead', which made Kim uncomfortable again.

"Peter, if you can't speak properly, there's no need to travel together."

Now she just wanted to take her own body 'Returning to Roots' and properly end her life.

Meeting them halfway was an accident, and she would keep her promise to give them a ride.

But she didn't want Peter to affect her emotions right before death.

Perhaps her tone was too blunt, because Peter looked a bit awkward.

"I'll transfer the fare to you. It's not too late to block you on Facebook once we're back in Philadelphia."

Kim hesitated for a moment, then opened the block list on Facebook.

Looking at the only user profile picture inside, her fingers trembled slightly as she unblocked Peter.

For some reason, she instinctively clicked into the Social Media Feed and checked the man's updates.

She discovered that Peter, who never used to post about his life, now updated daily.

The latest update was a photo of him and Samantha holding hands and embracing, taken from behind at Alpine Mountain Range.

[Golden Mountain Sunrise, I found her at Alpine]

The update was posted at 6:33 AM on March 22nd.

That was the exact moment Kim was buried in the Alps and died.

Kim scrolled down slowly, seeing every update in Peter's Social Media Feed was about his loving moments with Samantha.

They watched the aurora in Iceland, dived to see fish in Bali, and saw the lavender fields in Provence...

Every place Kim never got to visit with Peter, he took Samantha.

For a moment, her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

After transferring the money to Kim, Peter leaned back on the sofa and looked at his phone.

"Didn't you used to post three times a day? Why haven't you updated your Social Media Feed at all?"

Kim stiffened.

Her own Social Media Feed had been frozen since the day they broke up, never updated again.

"I don't want to post anymore."

Kim couldn't help asking him: "What about you?

Didn't you used to dislike posting on Social Media Feed?

Why have you posted so much these past two years?"

Peter looked up at her: "People change. You know that better than I do."

Kim dug her nails into her palm, the sharp pain helping her maintain her calm.

Yes, people change.

When they were together, she tried countless ways to get Peter to post an Official Announcement on Social Media Feed.

But Peter refused, saying: "Happiness is between two people. There's no need for everyone to know."

Yet now, for Samantha, he posted every day.

Some people had moved on a long way, while she was still stuck in place...

Just then, Samantha came out of the bathroom and coquettishly asked Peter to blow-dry her hair.

The buzzing of the hairdryer blew the steam from the room straight into Kim's heart.

She went into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and stood there blankly.

She couldn't tell if the water was cold or hot, as if ever since her 'Near-Death Experience and Rebirth'.

she could no longer feel the temperature of this world.

That night, Samantha and Kim shared one bed while Peter slept in another.

But past midnight, Samantha slipped out and crossed to the opposite bed.

Kim heard rustling sounds, followed by soft moans and gasps.

"...Be gentle, don't wake Kim..."

As Samantha spoke, the wooden bed's creaking only grew more frantic.

Sleepless night.

By morning when Kim woke, Peter and Samantha had already left the room.

Snowflakes drifted again outside the window, painting the world in white.

Kim eyed the SUV in the carport, worrying the ice in the trunk might melt after a day with the heater on.

She asked the innkeeper for a bucket of crushed ice and shoveled fresh snow outside, intending to reinforce the ice around her... cargo.

But just as she stepped out with the ice bucket, she saw Samantha and Peter standing by the rear bumper, holding a large bag.

Fumbling to open the trunk.

"Kim, just need to stash something back here."

Kim's heart sank as she instinctively blocked them: "Don't open it!"

Too late.

With a metallic snap, the trunk sprang open—revealing a black suitcase to all three pairs of eyes.

Kim Lee quickly staggered over and pressed the trunk release.

"Put that up front. The trunk's packed full."

Samantha Wright eyed the black suitcase and muttered, "Bursting at the seams. You sure brought a lot..."

She placed her bag on the back seat, brushing snowflakes from her gloves.

"Kim, let's grab breakfast."

Kim Lee shook her head. "You two go ahead. I need to reorganize my luggage."

Samantha nodded, looping her arm through Peter Jackson's as they walked off.

Once alone, Kim reopened the trunk.

She packed loose snow around the suitcase, then pressed another layer over the top.

Finished, she gently brushed her palm across the case's surface—like caressing her own body.

"Sleep now. Just a little longer... we're almost home..."

After returning the bucket to the lodge front desk, she headed back to the car.

Peter and Samantha approached shoulder-to-shoulder.

"Kim! You never came. I brought you soybean drink and steamed pork buns. Eat them while they're hot."

Hesitating at the offered breakfast, Kim hesitated. Though solid now, she remained fundamentally dead—no breath, no heartbeat, no sense of temperature. Could she even consume this?

As she wavered, Peter's voice cut through, low and firm.

"Samantha scalded her hand getting that for you. Don't waste her kindness."

Kim looked up, meeting Peter's stern expression.

Samantha flushed with embarrassment.

"Since being with Peter, he's handled every meal. This is my first time buying breakfast myself."

Her sincerity left Kim speechless.

"Thanks."

Kim accepted the food softly but ultimately didn't eat.

Back behind the wheel, Kim continued south.

Snowfall thinned. Long-absent sunlight broke through clouds, warming her from within.

Four hours later, a navigation alert chimed: "Fatigue driving detected. Rest recommended."

Kim parked in an open lot near a Mountain Cultural Village.

Samantha's eyes lit up at the clustered storefronts. Tucking herself against Peter, she slid out.

"Kim! Peter and I will explore. Back in thirty."

Peter's gaze swept over Kim before clasping Samantha's hand.

Alone, Kim noticed a Traditional Photo Studio nearby.

Remembering she lacked a funeral portrait, she drifted inside.

The owner eagerly promoted ethnic costumes.

"With your looks, you'd shine in a Tibetan Robe photo shoot."

Kim shook her head. "Just a simple seated portrait. No costume needed."

Her request was straightforward. The photographer finished quickly.

Studying the color image onscreen, Kim spoke softly.

"Could you make it black and white?"

The owner blinked. "Black-and-white? That's... rather unlucky. Why—"

A bitter smile touched Kim's lips. "For my funeral portrait."

Before the words faded, a hand yanked her backward.

Kim turned, meeting Peter's blazing eyes.

"What funeral portrait?"

Kim never expected Peter to show up at this moment. She withdrew her hand without a trace of emotion.

"It's my own funeral portrait."

Peter's expression froze, mockery nearly spilling from his eyes.

"What's the point of lying like this?"

Kim hadn't imagined her honest admission would be dismissed as deception by Peter.

Whether believed or not, it hardly mattered anymore.

She tucked wind-tousled hair behind her ear, her voice fading like mist.

"Just joking. It's my friend's funeral portrait."

Turning to the photographer, she asked: "Is the color adjustment done?"

The photographer glanced between them, puzzled, before looking at his screen.

"How did it get overexposed suddenly... Ma'am, we'll need reshoots."

Kim approached the computer. The once-clear portrait had blurred inexplicably,

as if veiled by some force, rendering the subject unrecognizable.

She gazed at her own faintly translucent hand and offered a bitter smile. "Never mind. This will do."

Being dead, a thousand reshoots wouldn't capture her clearly.

As Kim moved toward the car, Peter blocked her path.

"Samantha wants snowy wedding shots here. You'll wait until we're done."

Chapter 5

Hearing this, Kim completely frowned.

They'd clearly agreed to rest half an hour before setting off, so why suddenly take wedding photos now?

"I need to get back to Philadelphia ASAP. No time for delays."

Peter slightly furrowed his brow: "Taking wedding photos is a big deal for Samantha and me. How is that a delay?"

Seeing his tone, Kim grew angry.

"Peter, your life events are none of my business!"

"But this funeral is the most important thing in my life. I must get back in time!"

"It's just your friend's funeral. Is it really that urgent?

We'll take the highway back later."

Peter sounded impatient.

As tension hung in the air, Samantha approached in pure white bridal gown.

"Kim, don't be mad. We'll just take one snowy wedding set. We'll change and leave right after. Won't take long."

Seeing her pleading eyes, Kim still refused, suggesting they rent a car locally to travel at leisure.

Marriage defines a woman's life, wedding photos last her lifetime.

But if she couldn't even complete her own funeral after death, what was the point of the Grim Reaper's grace period?

Besides, she knew Peter's hand was behind this.

After years together, she knew his vengeful nature.

But why should she, already dead, compromise for this man!

Due to Kim's insistence on leaving, Samantha changed clothes.

Mentioning they'd already taken several snowy wedding sets at Alpine Mountain Range, skipping this location.

Tension lingered as they returned to the car.

Yawning repeatedly, Samantha wanted to rest alone in the backseat, so Peter took the passenger seat.

Silence filled the white SUV heading toward Philadelphia on the highway.

Outside, snow had stopped. Fine rain mixed with cold wind slapped the windshield, leaving watery trails.

Kim focused on driving when Samantha stretched and sat up in the back.

Seeing the navigation nearing Philadelphia, she suddenly spoke.

"Kim, meeting you along the way was wonderful. Otherwise, Peter and I would still be trapped in the Alps."

"You must attend our wedding later."

Kim's grip tightened on the steering wheel.

"Let's talk after we get back."

But Samantha missed the polite refusal, making new plans.

"Be my maid of honor!"

As she spoke, Kim and Peter shouted together: "No!"

Simultaneously, the car jolted violently, crashing into the guardrail.

"BANG—"

Kim wrenched the wheel, barely stopping on the shoulder.

Peter ripped off his seatbelt, rushing to check on Samantha.

"Samantha, are you hurt anywhere?"

Shaken, Samantha shook her head: "I'm fine, but my stomach hurts... feels like my period's coming..."

Peter immediately grabbed a hand warmer.

Kim stepped out to inspect the car, finding only the front bumper damaged.

Relieved, she turned toward the driver's seat as Peter blocked the door.

“You're not mentally tough enough, easily distracted. I'll drive the rest of the way.”

This time, Kim didn't refuse.

The closer they got to Philadelphia, the more ethereal her soul became.

Worried she couldn't handle the final stretch, she had to leave it to Peter.

Kim moved toward the back seat, but Peter directed her to the front.

"Samantha's on her period and needs space to rest."

Kim paused briefly before silently taking the passenger seat.

Raindrops pattered against the windows, blurring the outside view.

Once Peter steadied the car, Samantha revived their earlier conversation.

"Peter, why won't you let Kim be bridesmaid?"

Peter's eyes darkened momentarily, but he stayed silent.

Kim remembered their awkward history as exes.

Her voice turned hoarse as she thought of her fading body.

"The fortune-teller said I'm ill-fated. Bad luck for bridesmaids."

Samantha looked shocked and disapproving.

"That's superstition! You're wonderful—how could your fortune be bad?"

"Kim, trust me!"

"My judgment never fails. Your future boyfriend will be as good as you, and you'll be as happy as me."

The car jolted slightly. Kim instinctively glanced at Peter—veins bulged on his steering-wheel grip.

Her pale lips moved faintly. "Maybe."

But happiness belonged to another lifetime.

Her current life had frozen at twenty-six.

There would be no more tomorrows.

Chapter 6

The highway scenery flew past, the sign showing only 1 kilometer left to Philadelphia.

As she zoned out, Kim's phone received a border-crossing text from Philadelphia.

【A city of mountains and lakes, Philadelphia welcomes you home!

We are at your service.】

Kim held her breath, feeling like a ball of fire inside her.

The heat crawled up her chest, burning so much her fingertips trembled.

Peter noticed something wrong and turned to look at her.

“What's wrong?

You look so pale?”

Kim bit her lower lip hard, shaking her head weakly: “I'm fine.”

Seeing her body trembling uncontrollably, Peter reached out his right hand to touch her forehead: “Why so cold?”

After saying that, he turned on the car heater, warm air rushing in.

Kim thought of the corpse in the trunk and reached to turn it off.

“I don't need the heater...”

Peter swatted her hand away, turned the steering wheel, and drove straight into the highway rest area.

“You're freezing like this, not turning on the heater—do you want to catch a cold?”

Samantha's comforting voice came from the back seat.

“Yes, Kim, women should treat themselves better, let's rest at the service area.”

After saying that, she got out to go to the restroom once the car stopped.

Peter walked to the passenger side and opened the door.

“I'll take you to the service area for some hot water, then find a clinic to see a doctor.”

Kim shook her head, unwilling to get out: “No need, I know my own body.”

Peter grabbed her hand without a word, trying to pull her out, but his expression changed drastically when he touched her wrist.

“Why no pulse?”

Kim remembered Peter used to be a med student and quickly pulled her hand back.

“It's just the cold, the pulse isn't clear.”

She explained instinctively, not wanting Peter to see more clues.

The phone rang.

Kim picked it up and saw it was a call from the funeral home.

She avoided Peter and walked to the rear of the car to answer.

“Hello, we need to issue a cremation certificate, could you confirm the deceased's name again?”

Kim gently touched the trunk, her voice hoarse: “Kim.”

“Okay, the funeral requires a family member to receive the coffin in the chapel and hold the funeral portrait. Is that you...”

Hearing the staff's question, Kim blurted out: “I can't come, I have something to do.”

The other end hesitated: “If you're not coming, who will deliver the body?

And which family member should we arrange?”

Snow began to fall sparsely from the sky.

Kim reached out to catch a snowflake, looking at Peter who was also on the phone nearby.

“The body will be delivered by her friend Peter, in the SUV's trunk.”

“As for the funeral service process, he'll handle it all.”

Putting down the phone, Kim felt her body become much lighter.

Peter, this time, let it be our real farewell...

She sat back in the passenger seat, quietly waiting for Samantha to return before leaving.

But after hanging up, Peter walked straight to the driver's seat.

He got in the car and started the engine directly.

Seeing him about to leave, Kim quickly said: “Samantha isn't back yet.”

“Samantha isn't coming with us, a driver will pick her up later.”

After saying that, he fastened his seatbelt.

Kim's phone received a Facebook message from Samantha.

"Kim, my mom says it's disrespectful to the deceased for a girl to visit a funeral home during her period. So Peter will go as my representative to accompany you. Let's meet up another day."

She replied with an 'Okay', her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Peter was already driving on the highway.

The car was quiet, and they could clearly hear each other's breathing.

Kim slightly curled her palm and turned to look out the window.

Suddenly, Peter's question came to her ears: "After the funeral, where are you planning to go?"

Kim paused, not knowing how to answer.

After the funeral, she would disappear from this world completely.

Where she would go afterward depended on the Grim Reaper's arrangement.

"I don't know."

She said honestly.

But Peter gripped the steering wheel tightly, his dark eyes surging with emotion.

"Kim, don't you have any plans for your life? Have you just been living day by day all these years?"

Kim lowered her eyes, her voice very soft: "I guess so."

After all, her life had already ended, and every minute and second now was a gift from the Grim Reaper.

Thinking of Peter and Samantha about to enter the marriage hall.

She thought about it and still spoke the heartfelt blessing from the bottom of her heart.

"Peter, I'd like to wish you and Samantha a happy marriage and lasting happiness in advance."

Chapter 7

The car suddenly jolted, Peter's jaw tightening.

"Kim, what's your problem?

You never cared about my life when we were together!"

"Now that we've broken up, you're giving me fake blessings?!"

Kim hadn't expected such intensity, momentarily confused.

"Didn't you want my blessing for your new relationship?"

Peter slammed the accelerator, the speedometer hitting 80 mph.

"Now I'm sure – you never truly loved me."

Scenery blurred outside as the white SUV raced through sunset hues.

Kim clutched the seatbelt, struggling to breathe.

The suffocating silence left her speechless.

Had she loved him?

If not, why had she remained stuck for three years, traveling alone to the Alps...

But now, what did it matter?

She was dead. He was getting married. Right?

Hours later, they exited Philadelphia's toll gate.

A funeral home hearse stood roadside, its driver waving them down.

Peter stopped and lowered his window.

An official flashed his badge:

"Mr. Jackson?

Please sign this memorial service roster from Metropolitan Funeral Services."

Peter frowned. "Why me?"

"Ms. Kim Lee's specific request."

Peter glanced at Kim resting in the passenger seat, silently signing the form.

Following the hearse toward the funeral home, Kim felt her body lightening.

Drowsiness, long absent, seeped through her bones.

Time was running out.

Through the window, she memorized the world:

Rush-hour crossroads, skyscrapers piercing sunset-painted clouds...

Every detail etched into her soul.

At the funeral home, Peter parked. Kim stepped into amber twilight.

Sunset rays warmed her translucent hands fading irreversibly.

Boom, boom, boom—

A distant station clock struck thrice as the Grim Reaper's voice echoed:

"Kim Lee, you've achieved Returning to Roots. Any regrets?"

She watched workers hand her funeral portrait to Peter. Shook her head gently.

No family remained. Her last tether now held her image, bidding farewell.

This life felt complete.

"None."

Closing her eyes, her vanished form dissolved into golden specks scattering on the wind...

Simultaneously, Peter's chest seized with sharp pain.

He stared at the black-draped portrait.

"Why give this to me?"

The worker answered plainly:

"Mr. Jackson, it was Ms. Kim Lee's dying wish."

Peter froze completely:

"Kim Lee?

Dying wish?"

He looked toward the car, only to find the passenger seat empty—Kim was gone.

Staff stood solemnly in two rows as others wheeled a flower-covered transparent crystal casket beside the white SUV.

"Silence, please. Receive the casket—"

Someone approached the rear and opened the trunk.

A massive black suitcase came into view, surrounded by half-melted ice and snow.

Peter's heart raced uncontrollably, panic spreading wildly through him like unchecked weeds.

Seeing no trace of that slender figure anywhere,

he instinctively stepped forward, blocking the staff member lifting the suitcase.

"This is Kim Lee's luggage. Don't touch it."

The staff member responded gravely, "Mr. Jackson, we appreciate you accompanying the deceased on this journey. On Ms. Lee's behalf, we thank you for your final companionship."

With white-gloved hands, he slowly unzipped the suitcase.

As the black lid lifted, a curled form lay directly before Peter's eyes amidst the melting frost—