"What? It's Jiang Shang again!" Gu Liyan blurted out angrily, "That guy, he always manages to ruin my plans!"

Su Xian'er was stunned. She released Gu Liyan's hand and looked at him as he took several steps back in terror. "So, so you really want to hurt me...?"

Gu Liyan's hand froze, and he hurriedly said, "No, Xian'er, Jiang Shang is wrong. The spell I cast on you only allows me to find you quickly, and besides..."

Before Gu Liyan could finish speaking, Su Xian'er interrupted him, "Then how do you explain the you in my dream?"

Gu Liyan was puzzled. "In a dream? What dream? You dreamt about me?"

"Grand Tutor Jiang said that it was your magic that caused me to be unable to wake up for several days," Su Xian'er said, pouting.

"What? You've fallen into an illusion? This, how is this possible?" Gu Liyan hurriedly tried to explain.

"Then... do you know about Ice City?" Su Xian'er asked.

"Ice City? You, you dreamed of Li City?" Gu Liyan was slightly taken aback.

"It really is related to you! Who else but you would know about that Ice City!" Su Xian'er shouted in a panic.

Seeing Su Xian'er shout, Gu Liyan hurriedly whispered, "Xian'er, please believe me, I really didn't do that! I just left a mark on you. I just wanted to be able to find you as soon as we separated. I really didn't use any other magic on you!"

"Enough! You wicked fox spirit! I will never give you another chance to harm my family!" Su Xian'er's innocent and adorable face, now brimming with mature stubbornness, declared proudly, "If you want to harm my Su family, then kill me!"

Gu Liyan couldn't help but tremble. "Xian'er, you—"

Su Xian'er raised her head, closed her eyes, and puffed out her chest, looking pitiful.

Seeing Su Xian'er like this, Gu Liyan couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

In this peaceful and prosperous era, I always hoped that you would be a woman from an ordinary family...

You can be spoiled, you can be vulnerable, you can rely on me for the rest of your life...

Gu Liyan never expected that Su Xian'er, despite her young age, would be so stubborn.

Finally, he reluctantly reached out and pulled Su Xian'er into his arms. Before Su Xian'er could resist, Gu Liyan placed the peach blossom-shaped jade hairpin he had bought from the shop earlier into her hair...

Gu Liyan reached out and gently patted her head, smiling as he said, "Silly girl, how could I possibly hurt you? Whether you were the once frail Hua Baixian or the now stubborn and intelligent Su Xian'er, you are the person I want to protect for the rest of my life..."

Su Xian'er stared blankly at Gu Liyan, unsure how to respond.

"Since you've forgotten our past, I won't force you to stay by my side. You have your own life to live. As long as you're happy in this life, I'll be content..." Gu Liyan smiled slightly, his clear eyes misty with tears. "Goodnight, Xian'er..."

Bye now--

With that, he turned and pushed open the door to leave.

Su Xian'er stared at Gu Liyan for a long while before snapping out of her daze. "Wait!—"

Su Xian'er chased after him outside the door, calling out, "Don't go! What's your name? Tell me!"

Gu Liyan stood there, stunned: So, you've even forgotten my name? To you, am I just a stranger you met briefly, then forgotten in the blink of an eye...?

Tick-tock—

Gu Liyan's tears fell to the ground, glistening like crystal.

“It doesn’t matter anymore…” Gu Liyan turned his head and smiled at Su Xian’er, “Because… we will never see each other again!”

After saying that, Gu Liyan's figure flashed and disappeared into the night.

Su Xian'er stood there, stunned. "Why...why is he crying?"

Why is he crying...?

——

Dawn

Xiao Linzi dragged his weary body back to the snow cave, only to find empty bottles scattered everywhere. He paused for a moment, then looked at Shen Wei, who was unconscious in a corner clutching a bottle, and Gu Liyan, who seemed to be drunk. He asked curiously:

"What...what's wrong with you guys? Why did you drink so much?"

"Oh...it's Xiao Linzi..." Gu Liyan looked up, a wicked smile revealing an arrogance unlike his usual demeanor, and asked, "Want to have a drink together?"

"Brother Gu, it's one thing for Shen Wei to drink, but your injuries haven't fully healed yet. How can you drink so much?" Xiao Linzi frowned and asked worriedly.

"Injury? Oh, right...yes, I'm injured..." Gu Liyan patted his chest and said, "Here! I'm injured here!"

Xiao Linzi was startled by what he saw and blurted out, "Gu Liyan, you bastard—"

"Huh? What did you call me?" Gu Liyan looked up at Xiao Linzi.

"I...I'll call you Brother Gu..."

"No! You called me Gu Liyan!" Gu Liyan suddenly stood up. "You know my name! Why did you say you didn't!"

"I... I've always known." Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on Xiaolinzi's forehead.

"You know...you know?" Gu Liyan frowned, his eyes suddenly welling up with tears. "Why do you know that she doesn't! I clearly told her! Why..."

"Perhaps, perhaps she has forgotten..."

"Impossible! She won't forget! She won't..." Gu Liyan slumped to the ground, sobbing, "Anyone can forget me, but she... can't forget me!"

As he spoke, he picked up the wine and poured it on the wound on his chest, and the blood seeping from the wound immediately stained his white clothes red.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" Xiao Linzi rushed forward and snatched the bottle back. "Gu Liyan! Are you fucking crazy?"

Gu Liyan said with a wry smile, "I can't quite tell where it hurts..."

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