Introduction: Xiao Bai + Lei Wen
“Yan’er, don’t cry. In the previous life, you stayed by my side, and I gave you endless pain. But what I wanted to see was your smile when you were with Cang Lian. Yet at that time, you were stingy even with a hint of a smile. Yan’er, don’t cry! I think in this life I have achieved something; at least I have left a trace in your heart, right? Can I be greedy and ask you to grant me the next life, where I completely occupy Cang Lian’s position, where you belong only to me?”
“Yan’er, I don’t want to forcibly squeeze my shadow into your heart. In the previous life, you said I had responsibilities to the world so I couldn’t love you, but in this life I have already laid down my responsibilities, yet you still don’t love me. Perhaps for me, this is the best ending. You promised me the next life, you gave me hope, so my future days will have anticipation. If Yan’er cannot entrust her heart to me in this life, then let me leave! In the next life, if I am no longer the king of Cang Kingdom, if I no longer have responsibilities, will Yan’er finally love me?”
Chapter 1 Negotiation (1)
“Ah!” A piercing scream completely pulled me back from my dream. I struggled to open my tired eyes, trying to find the source of the sound.
I struggled to open my eyes, looking at the woman wailing before me.
I frowned, looking at her angrily, my dissatisfaction reaching its peak.
“Madam, please be quiet! I was organizing diplomatic materials until four in the morning yesterday. I finally could sleep for a few hours, and you’re howling like a ghost here? Can people even rest!”
The chicken-headed madam turned around sadly, softly saying: “Yan’er, when does your diplomatic schedule start?”
I raised an eyebrow in surprise: “One o’clock!” Without any pause, I lazily said, puzzled by her question.
The woman before me is my high school, college, and work best friend. Seeing her expression like a disappointed daughter-in-law, I felt inexplicable frustration, struggling to keep my fighting eyelids open.
“Xin, what’s wrong?” I said lazily, too lazy to even lift my eyelids.
One-thirty, the formal diplomatic conference officially began. In fact, I was quite curious about the president of Saint Kitts and Nevis, whose background from birth to assuming the presidential position has always been shrouded in mystery.
It is said he was predetermined to be president at three years old, with an absolutely excellent background, but was deposed at six.
Afterward, news about him continued to emerge, with both good and bad stories becoming world-shattering headlines. Later, he rose to power after resolving the economic crisis of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
This only raised everyone’s curiosity to the highest point. My originally minimal curiosity was gradually stripped away, and a spark of anger began to burn in my heart. His deliberate mysteriousness made me somewhat disdainful.
Bastelle was finally going to appear in the afternoon, with a level of mystery that was truly remarkable.
Waiting for Bastelle’s appearance was unbearable, but I never thought he would be the melancholy man from my dreams. Even though his skin color changed and his eye color changed, his facial features remained the same. That sorrowful face, the faint melancholy surrounding him, evoked sympathy.
I tried hard to control my inner shock, attempting to remain composed, but his face continuously intertwined in my mind.
Bastelle’s mysterious face looked at me with an especially intriguing expression, but only for an instant, making it impossible to determine whether it was imagination or reality.
The lengthy diplomatic proceedings ended unknowingly. In the conference hall, except for initial conversations, I simply stood beside Diluo, silently listening to his discussions. During this period, I continuously observed him but noticed nothing unusual.
Afterward, I finally dragged my exhausted self home – but that familiar face lingered in my heart. Was that face truly the one from my dream?
Chapter Two: Choice (1)
Everything seemed to pass like an episode without a trace. That familiar face never appeared again, as if it were all my ridiculous dream. Bastelle had not shown himself since that appearance, which indeed aligned with his mysterious nature.
Life continued as usual. Lazy as I am, I’m unwilling to consider too much. If we truly have a connection, even if separated by great distance, we will eventually meet again.
Chapter 2: Choice (2)
I was attracted by a storefront decorated with extreme elegance. A delicate sense of fashion radiated from the shop, truly possessing the ability to catch the eye. What caught my eye was the vibrant plum blossom painting at the entrance, with clearly visible veins, red petals falling like blood, breathtakingly beautiful.
I looked at the painting, an overwhelming sourness surging in my heart, pain spreading throughout my body. Drawn by something inexplicable, my consciousness seemed to have lost all reason, walking into the shop blankly, without any reaction. I probably never would have imagined that I would impulsively get a tattoo, but at this moment, I had no awareness, and I didn’t even have any memory of how it was completed.
When I came to my senses, I was already at the exit of Vilnius’s Chinatown, a burning pain radiating from my back. The intense pain made me clear-headed, telling me that everything I had just done was real, not a dream.
I couldn’t even confirm whether the images swirling in my mind and my recent actions were a dream or reality, my consciousness unable to fully concentrate. Instinctively looking at my chest, I found a pure white jade pendant hanging there at some point.
My consciousness was suddenly heavily impacted – this jade was the one that had shattered in my dream.
In the blur, I seemed to see a white horse galloping towards me. I laughed at the approaching horse, finding it somewhat amusing. My scattered consciousness, eyes glazed, smiled and watched the approaching carriage, standing motionless.
A sharp, piercing scream echoed as I stood dazed, laughing manically at the approaching carriage. A violent collision – finally understanding that everything was not a dream, everything was real, I had no consciousness.
I clearly understood that the shop definitely had issues. I wasn’t afraid of any possibility of death, knowing no one would grieve my passing. The only concern was whether I’d be abandoned in the wilderness.
I continued to smile, seemingly without fear of death. Perhaps Xin would be sad for a while, but everyone else probably wished me dead.
My body fell lightly, feeling no pain, not even sensing the impact of falling. The only sensation was a suffocating atmosphere surrounding me.
Before my eyes, the scenario that had entangled me for 26 years emerged again – familiar scenes, familiar plot, familiar feelings, all rushing to my heart.
Unconsciously, I gripped the jade tightly, as if holding it would provide an unprecedented sense of security. A familiar aura spread from the jade throughout my body.
Chapter 2: Choice (3)
“Yan’er—” A male voice from above,
“Yan’er—” A young woman’s voice.
“Yan’er—” An elderly voice.
“Yan’er—” A childlike call.
I tried to open my eyes, but I was too tired, truly exhausted. After 26 years of struggle, let me rest, stop calling. My final consciousness completely disappeared, everything falling into darkness.
Endless darkness, I wandered endlessly within it, unable to stop despite being extremely tired.
Chapter 3: Wandering (1)
Endless darkness continuously surrounded me, unable to stop despite wanting to.
A monotonous sound seemed to pass by my ears, flat and terrifying.
