He took a while to respond. ‘I’ve always been concerned about the child-preventing wine. I know you like children, but—there’s no antidote. I was afraid you would leave me because of this, so…’
‘I know.’ My heart ached, and I squeezed his hand tighter. ‘I like children, but compared to you, nothing else matters. Brother Jin, having you is enough. No one can replace you.’
‘A Yao…’ His voice was choked.
‘Brother Jin, I’ve thought it through. Without our own children, I’ll adopt one from the clan. When the child turns sixteen, I’ll pass the throne to him, and we’ll return to the Xiao family to live with Mom and Dad. What do you think?’
‘…Okay…’ His breathing became irregular. ‘If only I had explained earlier.’
‘It’s not too late now. Once we get out, we’ll start over, everything will be like before, okay?’
‘Okay.’ After a while, he suddenly asked, ‘A Yao, if I weren’t here, would you marry someone else?’
I laughed, which aggravated my chest injury, causing me to grimace in pain. After recovering, I replied, ‘Are you mimicking my previous question?’
‘Would you?’
‘Yes.’ I answered without hesitation.”
I can rest assured.” His voice grew weaker. “Even if you marry someone else, you must always think of me.”
I pushed him playfully. “Yes, yes, I’ll think of you.”
He fell silent. Anxious, I shook his hand, and he continued, “I can’t let you marry someone else.”
“You—” I was amused and exasperated.
“If you marry someone else and think of me, you’ll be unhappy. But if someone can make you forget me, then marry him.”
“What nonsense is this? Stop talking nonsense.”
He mumbled, “A Yao. I’m tired; I’ll sleep for a while.”
I realized something and reached out to touch him. The slippery, sticky sensation made me panic.
“Don’t sleep!” I shook him lightly. “Brother Jin, please… What injury did you suffer? Why is there so much blood?”
He didn’t answer. I cautiously brought my hand near his nose.
Fortunately, he was still breathing, though very weakly. I dared not move him forcefully and, in a panic, tore off my clothing to bandage him, praying for rescuers to arrive soon.
In the darkness, time seemed to have stopped.
