I tried to maintain a smile, trying to preserve my composure. But ultimately, pain spread throughout my body, so intense that I could no longer speak.
Before I could respond, she spoke again: “Cang, no matter how much I once hated you, I still say—thank you! I love Cang Lian. Even knowing I’ll lose everything, I would still choose to leave, because in this life, I am destined to regret!” Her soft voice carried an indescribable determination, her heartbreaking face flashing with a stubbornness others could never understand.
Yan’er remained facing away from me, probably because she didn’t want to see my face filled with apology and sorrow. She murmured softly: “Cang… I’m sorry!” It took her a long time to complete the sentence.
I looked up at her back, bitterly smiling, with blood continuously spilling from the corners of my mouth, struggling to maintain my already unsteady body.
I thought my face must be pale without a trace of blood. With all my remaining strength, I moved to stand in front of her, seeing her face covered in tears, yet feeling happy deep down. Even if she hated me, seeing me die, she would still cry; at least these five years were not in vain.
I stretched out my fingertips to gently touch her face, smiling at her with a faint smile. My already weak and powerless hand softly wiped away the tears on her cheeks: “Yan’er, don’t cry. In the past, because you stayed by my side, I gave you endless pain. But I always only wanted to see your smile. When you were with him, you always had a brilliant smile. Yet when you were by my side, you were stingy even with a hint of a smile. But now that I’m dying is good; at least I’ve left a trace in your heart, right? Can I be greedy and ask you for the next life? In the next life, let me completely occupy the position in your heart. In the next life you’ll belong only to me, okay!”
