Zhan Xiaojun endured the stinging in her eyes.
She fought back tears.
"She entered a brand-new world, facing countless things she'd never understood, and met many new friends."
She suddenly stopped, unable to continue.
Because the next sentence would have been about her meeting him too.
Ning Yecheng realized what was happening, and the hand stroking her hair stilled.
Both fell silent for a moment.
The car stopped.
They had arrived.
The story she'd just told had been long, spanning several tens of minutes.
They got out of the car and silently entered the villa.
The villa was brightly lit.
Everything was just as it had been when they left.
Time seemed to have stood still here.
Zhan Xiaojun felt an increasing pain in her wrist. She had a distinct feeling that her soul was about to leave her body.
Her eyes were slightly red.
She turned.
She threw her arms around Ning Yecheng.
Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed him on the lips.
Ning Yecheng was slightly surprised. He wrapped his arms around her waist, deepening the kiss.
Zhan Xiaojun was lost in the intimacy with him.
Her free hand, she began to unbutton his shirt, loosening his belt.
She even unbuttoned her own clothes, one by one...
She wanted to give herself to him.
She feared they might never have another chance to be so close, to possess each other.
Ning Yecheng held Zhan Xiaojun tightly, their kiss growing deeper.
From the sofa to the bedroom.
Step by step, they moved towards each other.
Leaving their marks upon each other.
From morning to noon, noon to night.
Nothing else mattered.
Only they...
...
Zhan Xiaojun awoke from a wave of pain.
Her body felt like it had been shattered.
As the blanket slid down, she saw the marks all over her body.
Recalling their repeated intimacy, her face flushed instantly.
She looked at Ning Yecheng, lying beside her.
On his exposed shoulder were the teeth marks she'd left in her unbearable moments.
These bite marks were like a brand she'd left on him.
Her face grew even redder.
As she was about to get out of bed, a sharp, unbearable pain shot through her wrist. She raised her hand.
She saw blood continuously flowing from her wrist.
Looking down again, she saw the pristine white sheets of the bed covered in her bright red blood.
An indescribable fear washed over her.
Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.
She cried silently.
She gazed at Ning Yecheng before her with lingering affection.
She raised her hand and pressed his acupoints, making him sleep a little longer.
Then she took her phone from the bedside table.
She tapped to start recording.
She offered the phone her brightest, most radiant smile.
But her eyes were a little red.
Tears shimmered within them.
After taking a few deep breaths, she slowly began to speak.
"Ning Yecheng, I have to say goodbye. When you see me covered in blood, please don't be afraid. I was never from this world. I just lived in it for a while, in her stead. I was truly happy to have known and loved you. It's just a pity we cannot be together forever. I knew days ago that I would have to leave, but I didn't expect it to be so soon."
Her voice choked for a moment.
She composed herself.
And then, still smiling, she continued, "After I'm gone, please take good care of yourself. The password for my phone has been changed to the date of our engagement. Inside, you'll find many medicinal recipes that can help cure you, as well as acupuncture methods. Have Zhou Ye learn them well. It's such a shame, I thought I could wait until after our engagement to leave, but it turned out to be so soon."
"Ning Yecheng, I can't bear to leave you."
"Even if we are separated by two worlds from now on, you will always be in my heart. I truly hope you find happiness. If it's possible... forget me!"
"This is the end of the story I told you today."
"Goodbye, I love you."
...
The pattering sound of rain seemed to reach her ears from a dream.
Zhan Xiaojun felt utterly exhausted.
She tried to move her fingers slightly.
They felt heavy.
Despite exerting great effort, she could only manage a slight twitch of her fingertips.
Her eyelids felt even heavier.
She could clearly feel the blood draining from her body.
And she could clearly feel the pain.
However, why did it feel like so much time had passed?
So long that...
She suddenly opened her eyes.
The light, not too harsh, still caused a momentary sting in her eyes, and she quickly closed them again.
Her throat felt like it was burning, dry and aching terribly.
Suddenly.
Her entire body stiffened.
Her mind roared.
What she had seen when she opened her eyes was...
The roof of a bamboo house?
Not the exquisite chandelier of Jade Bay Villa?
She...
She opened her eyes again.
This time, her gaze met Yun Xiaojing's.
Yun Xiaojing blinked, then rubbed his eyes vigorously. "Am I seeing things? Am I really seeing this? Xiaojun, you're awake?"
Zhan Xiaojun endured the dryness in her throat and weakly let out a hum.
But.
Her tears flowed uncontrollably.
She was back.
She had returned from that world.
She... would never see Ning Yecheng again.
"Ah! Why are you crying? Don't cry, don't cry. Are you scared? Third Brother knows you faced so many assassins alone; you must have been terrified. Don't worry, your elder brother and second brother have avenged you! The mastermind behind the attack and those killers, we've dealt with them all! With us here, no one will harm you again! Don't cry!"
Yun Xiaojing became flustered.
He hadn't even recovered from the shock of his sister waking up!
And now Xiaojun was crying.
She was crying so pitifully.
Zhan Xiaojun couldn't help it. She should be happy to be back. She was happy to see her parents, brothers, and maternal grandfather.
But, but, in that world, there was someone she couldn't bear to leave.
Yun Xiaojing, in his anxiety, shouted outside, "Grandfather, Father, Mother, hurry! Xiaojun is awake! She's awake!"
As soon as his voice fell.
Several figures rushed in quickly.
Completely disregarding the heavy rain outside.
The first to enter were Yun Shu and Zhan Tianye.
They had been napping.
Yun Shu came in and went to the bedside, looking tenderly at Zhan Xiaojun. "Don't cry, don't be afraid. Mother and Father are here. We are all here."
Zhan Tianye stood by, his eyes filled with worry and heartache. His daughter's continuous tears indicated her fear.
One could only imagine the danger she had endured before falling into a coma with severe injuries!
"Xiaojun, don't be afraid, rest easy." His voice was steady, possessing a calming power.
"My Xiaojun! You're finally awake! Grandfather was so scared. Why are you crying? Don't cry, don't cry. When you cry, Grandfather's heart aches." Yun Changfeng had just rushed in and saw his granddaughter, whom he cherished and doted on, crying. His heart ached immediately.
Zhan Xiaoli and Zhan Xiaofeng couldn't get close and could only watch from the side.
Both were naturally stoic and didn't easily reveal their thoughts, but seeing their sister cry, their eyes were filled with ferocity. Those damned people!