Chapter 105 Bathroom

Illusion

Yun Zhan stared at the two roads, her throat tightening. The thought of survival surged within her, but the fear of the unknown prevented her from taking a step. Hesitation, like vines, coiled around her heart, tightening ever more.

Just then, a series of light, trembling footsteps came from behind, so light they seemed as if they might break at any moment.

Yun Zhan turned around abruptly and saw Wen Sixue supporting herself against the stone wall, walking towards her step by step with difficulty.

Her face was as pale as a sheet of paper, even her lips had lost their color and were dry and wrinkled. Her once bright eyes were now covered with a layer of weariness, but she still tried her best to keep them open and look in Yun Zhan's direction.

With each step she took, her body swayed involuntarily, as if she would collapse at any moment. Her thin clothes fluttered gently in the wind, making her appear even more pitifully weak.

"Wen Sixue? What are you doing here?" Yun Zhan quickly stepped forward, reached out to support her swaying body, and felt her arm when his fingertips touched it.

Wen Sixue leaned against Yun Zhan's chest, and it took her a while to catch her breath.

“I followed you up here… You have to choose a path… Take the heart, right?”

She raised her eyes, her gaze meeting Yun Zhan's, which held a glimmer of light. Even in her weakness, he couldn't hide his stubborn tenderness.

Yun Zhan's heart clenched slightly. Just as he was about to deny it, he saw Wen Sixue gently shake her head and continue, "Let me go first... I'll take one of the routes."

She paused, her breath growing weaker, but she still insisted on finishing her sentence, "If you make the right choice, I will take your heart back and take you out with me; if I don't come back for a very long time, then you should take another path and live a good life."

"No!" Yun Zhan immediately interrupted her, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of panic.

"It's too dangerous, I can't let you take that risk!"

Wen Sixue raised her head, a thin layer of moisture welling up in her eyes, but her tone was firm as she made the choice for her: "Yun Zhan! Listen to me... I can't live without you, you know that?"

These words struck Yun Zhan's heart like a stone.

Wen Sixue's voice was filled with grievance and dependence: "I used to have all sorts of wild thoughts, wondering if you would be with Pei Yanxi, or if you and Shi Mingyue would stay together... But I just couldn't bear to think about it, and I couldn't imagine how I would live without you."

Her body was still trembling slightly, but her eyes shone brightly, like stars in the dark night: "So, let me go. Even if... even if I really can't get out, as long as you live, that's enough."

Yun Zhan wanted to say something, but he saw Wen Sixue gently raise her hand, her fingertips surrounded by a faint, pale white halo. A sudden wave of drowsiness swept over him, Yun Zhan's vision went black, and his body went limp uncontrollably.

Wen Sixue used her last bit of strength to support Yun Zhan and gently placed her against the cold stone wall.

"They're even more resolute than I expected," Bai Jichen said, his voice carrying the languidness characteristic of a fox demon.

"Aren't you afraid I'll change my mind?"

Wen Sixue slowly turned around, her face even paler than before, and she was even a little unsteady on her feet: "Do we still stand by our word? I will choose the path for Yun Zhan, at the cost of one of my ears and fourteen years of my life."

Bai Jichen raised an eyebrow, his joking expression vanishing, and nodded gently: "I always keep my word."

Without the slightest hesitation, Wen Sixue turned around and looked at the two shadowy forks in the road.

As soon as she stepped into the fork in the road, the entrance behind her slammed shut, leaving her alone to walk through the endless darkness.

There were no candles on the stone wall, only the occasional faint light that shone through the cracks in the stone, barely illuminating the uneven ground underfoot.

She didn't know how long she had walked. At first, she could still count her steps, but later her consciousness began to blur. She felt as if her legs were filled with lead, and every step felt like stepping on a knife's edge.

"Did I choose the wrong one?"

When this thought first popped into her head, Wen Sixue paused, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

In the darkness, only her breathing and footsteps could be heard. Loneliness and fear overwhelmed her like a tide. She couldn't help but squat down, hug her knees, and her shoulders trembled violently.

She missed home, and even more so, she missed Yun Zhan.

If I die here, will Yun Zhan be sad because of me when he wakes up?

"I can't give up now. As long as I'm alive, this path might not be wrong..."

Wen Sixue wiped away her tears and slowly stood up. Her feet were already swollen, and every step she took was excruciatingly painful, but she still gritted her teeth and continued to walk forward.

She didn't know how long she had walked, but just when she felt she was about to give up, a faint red light suddenly appeared ahead.

Wen Sixue's eyes lit up, and she ran over with her last bit of strength. She saw that the red light came from a heart that was suspended in mid-air.

She reached out with trembling hands, clutching her heart tightly to her chest, and tears welled up again, this time with joy and relief.

...

When she woke up again, Wen Sixue had already been taken to her small home by Bai Jichen.

Despite her weakened state, she gently placed Yun Zhan's heart back into her body and carried her to her own bed. After doing all this, she couldn't resist any longer and fell asleep beside Yun Zhan.

Her clothes were still soaked and covered in palace dust. Her face was still wet with tears. She was so thin that she looked terrible. One of her ears had lost all feeling, but she still clung tightly to Yun Zhan, as if afraid that he would disappear.

When Yun Zhan woke up, the first thing he smelled in the room was the familiar, faint sandalwood scent, which was the fragrance that Wen Sixue used to scent her costumes.

She slowly opened her eyes, and what came into view was the familiar floral bed curtains, and Wen Sixue lying next to her.

Wen Sixue lowered her head, her pale cheeks still bearing traces of tears, her soaked clothes clinging to her thin body, outlining her skeletal shoulders.

She didn't need to guess to know what kind of sacrifice was behind this.

Wen Sixue must have braved that perilous path for her, in exchange for her heart and her life.

Yun Zhan's mind went blank for a moment, all her thoughts froze. She had always avoided this feeling before, always thinking about the transmigrator's mission and that she might leave one day, but she never thought that someone would risk everything for her.

The word "heavy" was truly etched into Yun Zhan's heart at this moment.

That wasn't just simple liking; it was a deep affection that Wen Sixue had built up with the courage of someone who had faced death countless times—an affection that she couldn't bear but had to accept.

My previous "hesitation" and "avoidance" seem so pale and powerless in the face of this dedication.

Tears silently streamed down her face, dripping onto her soft, snow-white hair.

Yun Zhan reached out and gently brushed her fingertips across Wen Sixue's swollen ankle. The movement was as gentle as if she were touching a fragile treasure, but the trembling of her fingertips betrayed the turmoil in her heart.

"21." Yun Zhan whispered in his heart, his voice filled with no hesitation, only unprecedented determination.

"I'm abandoning the mission."

A mechanical notification from System 21 echoed in my mind: "Abandoning the mission will permanently disable your time travel privileges. You will be permanently trapped in the current world and unable to return to your original world. Have you thought it through?"

"Confirmed. I will stay by Wen Sixue's side for the rest of my life."

Late at night, Wen Sixue was awakened by a warm touch.

Her consciousness felt as if it were wrapped in soft cotton, and it took a long time for her to gradually return to normal. She slowly opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was the warm yellow light of the bathroom. The misty steam filled the air, carrying a faint fragrance of shower gel.

She moved her fingers and realized she was soaking in a warm bathtub, the water gently rippling over her skin, bringing a comfortable warmth.

But the next second, she froze.

She was completely naked, immersed in the water, her hair damp and clinging to her neck and shoulders.

"woke up?"

A gentle voice sounded in my ear, carrying the unique moisture of water vapor.

Wen Sixue's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked up, her gaze meeting a pair of eyes filled with tenderness.

Yun Zhan sat by the bathtub, wearing a loose, plain-colored bathrobe with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing his fair wrists.

She held a soft bath sponge in her hand, her arms wrapped around Wen Sixue's chest, and was applying shower gel to her.

"Sweetie, raise your hand a little, I'll give you a bath."

With that face she had been longing for so close, Wen Sixue realized that Yun Zhan was giving her a bath. Her cheeks instantly burned as if they were on fire, turning red from her ears to her neck, and even her earlobes felt hot.

"Yun Zhan...you..."

She opened her mouth, but her voice was choked up, stuttering and unable to utter a complete sentence.

Her fingers curled up unconsciously, gently pressing against the edge of the bathtub, trying to hide her embarrassment. But her entire body was exposed to Yun Zhan's gaze, and this honesty made her heart pound so hard it felt like it would burst out of her chest.

She subconsciously bit her lower lip, leaving a faint red mark on her soft lips from her teeth.

A thought suddenly flashed through her mind—this was the first time they had ever been so open with each other.

There were no barriers of clothing, no distance separating them, only the warmth of each other's breath and the clarity of their gazes meeting.

Looking at her shy appearance, Yun Zhan's eyes softened even more: "You walked in the maze for too long and got covered in dust. I was worried you would feel uncomfortable after I woke up, so I brought you here to take a bath."

She paused, noticing Wen Sixue's tense body, and added, "Don't be afraid, I'll be very gentle, I won't hurt you."

As he spoke, Yun Zhan squeezed out a small amount of mild shower gel, gently rubbed it to create a fine lather, and then carefully reached into the bathtub, avoiding Wen Sixue's injured ear, and gently wiped her arm.

When my fingertips touched Wen Sixue's warm skin, I could clearly feel her body tremble slightly, like a startled little rabbit.

Why are you trembling like a little rabbit?

"I...Yun Zhan, please stop touching me..."

Wen Sixue bit her lower lip, her whole body trembling.

If it were her, she certainly wouldn't have reacted so strongly, but she liked Yun Zhan...

She couldn't refuse Yun Zhan's touch; her body felt like it had been electrocuted, tingling and numb, filled with an indescribable sense of shame.

Wen Sixue lowered her eyes, not daring to look at Yun Zhan anymore. Her gaze fell on the foamy surface of the bathtub, but her heart was beating faster and faster. Yet, hidden within the shyness in her heart was a trace of indescribable excitement.

"My...my ears..."

Wen Sixue suddenly remembered the ear she had lost sensation in, and her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible grievance, as well as a touch of unease at the fear of being disliked.

"What happened to your ears? Are there bubbles?" Yun Zhan carefully wiped the foam from her ears.

Wen Sixue choked up for a moment, swallowing back the words that were about to come out of her mouth.

No... I can't let Yun Zhan know.

She didn't want Yun Zhan to feel guilty.

"fine...."

"Hmm? Stand up, I'll wash your genitals."

"ah...."

A shy feeling lingered in her heart like vines, and Wen Sixue was somewhat at a loss when Yun Zhan spoke so bluntly.

What exactly is her relationship with Yun Zhan now?

I'm not Yun Zhan's girlfriend...

Thinking of this, Wen Sixue's longing for "status" struck her heart like a drumbeat, giving her all the courage she needed in her life.

She slowly raised her hand, her fingertips first gently touching Yun Zhan's fingertips. After sensing that he did not flinch, she carefully and gently grasped his hand, which was still covered in foam, in her palm.

Yun Zhan paused, looking down at their clasped hands. Wen Sixue's hands were small, with her fingertips tinged with red, trembling slightly with nervousness, yet gripping them tightly.

"You gave me a bath... and you've already seen me naked."

Wen Sixue's voice was as light as water vapor, yet every word clearly reached Yun Zhan's ears. She slowly raised her eyes, her eyes filled with tiny sparkles, as if she were carrying an uneasy yet burning heart.

"What is our relationship now?"

When she asked that question, Wen Sixue's heart nearly leaped out of her chest.

She stared into Yun Zhan's eyes, afraid of seeing even a hint of hesitation or evasion.

She was terrified, afraid that Yun Zhan would gently push away her feelings like before, afraid that all her efforts would not yield a clear answer.

Before Yun Zhan could answer, Wen Sixue took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind to fight a desperate battle.

She took Yun Zhan's hand and slowly moved it upwards, finally placing it gently on her chest. Through their warm skin, Yun Zhan could clearly feel her rapid heartbeat, like a drumbeat that made his fingertips go numb.

"Yun Zhan, I'm a traditional girl." Wen Sixue's voice was tinged with a barely perceptible sob, and her eyes gradually welled up with tears.

"I...don't want anyone other than my lover to see my body naked."

"If you don't want me to be your girlfriend, then I... don't want to show it to you."

She was terrified of Yun Zhan's silence, terrified of that familiar evasiveness reappearing. Words poured out like beads from a broken string: "You've seen me... I like you too, I'm really good! I'll take good care of you, I can learn to cook your favorite dishes, I can take care of you when you're tired, I'll do whatever you want, will you marry me?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Wen Sixue's face turned bright red, from her cheeks all the way to her ears, and even her neck was flushed.

Wen Sixue bit her lower lip hard, her lips turning white from her teeth, tears welling up in her eyes, almost falling.

She was truly going all out, laying bare her true feelings before Yun Zhan, and betting all her courage.

Yun Zhan didn't speak, but stared intently into Wen Sixue's eyes. The next second, she slowly raised her other hand, gently put her arm around Wen Sixue's shoulder, and gently brushed her fingertips against her reddened earlobe. Then, she gently pulled Wen Sixue closer to her.

"Wen Sixue, I want to kiss you, let me kiss you for a while first."

Before Wen Sixue could react, she felt Yun Zhan sit up and his warm lips unexpectedly cover hers.

The kiss came unexpectedly, yet it was exceptionally passionate. Yun Zhan's unprecedented eagerness and certainty were all contained in this kiss.

Wen Sixue's body stiffened instantly, followed by a series of shivers. She loosened her grip on Yun Zhan's hand, her fingertips gently touching her chest, feeling her equally rapid heartbeat.

Yun Zhan held her tightly, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones and not let anyone separate them.

The temperature between her lips and teeth rose higher and higher, mixed with the steam in the bathroom and the faint fragrance of shower gel, making Wen Sixue's mind go blank, leaving only the touch on her lips and the warmth in her arms.

She gradually relaxed, closed her eyes, and gently responded to the kiss, tears finally streaming down her face...

"You're not my girlfriend."

Wen Sixue's heart tightened suddenly. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Yun Zhan continue, "You are my wife. We will get married after graduation."

Wen Sixue rubbed her eyes. Her eyes, which had been crying, were like almonds soaked in water, with a faint redness at the corners. Even her long eyelashes were still covered with tiny water droplets, trembling gently. She looked just like a fluffy rabbit that had been wronged but had finally been comforted, so obedient that one couldn't help but want to hug her.

She gazed at Yun Zhan's face, so close to hers, the courage she had mustered in her desperate battle earlier still lingering, now replaced by a bewildered impulse...

She wanted to reciprocate this tenderness and let Yun Zhan know how happy she was.

Wen Sixue tilted her head slightly and moved a little closer, her nose lightly brushing against Yun Zhan's nose, with a hint of tentative timidity.

Then, she mustered her courage, stuck out her pink tongue, and gently licked Yun Zhan's lips.

The movements were light and awkward, like a kitten touching something it liked for the first time, with a cautious clumsiness, and even the tip of its tongue trembled slightly due to nervousness.

She didn't know if what she was doing was right, nor did she know if Yun Zhan would like it; she simply responded directly based on the purest feelings in her heart.

After doing this, Wen Sixue's face turned bright red again. She quickly lowered her head, not daring to look into Yun Zhan's eyes. She only dared to steal glances at her out of the corner of her eye, her ear tips burning as if they were about to catch fire.

Yun Zhan was deeply moved by this sudden, awkward action.

This Wen Sixue, even her initiative carries a bewildered obedience. She doesn't know what to do, yet she's willing to approach her clumsily, following her heart. This purity and sincerity are more touching than any deliberate flirting.

Yun Zhan couldn't help but chuckle softly, reaching out to gently pinch Wen Sixue's chin and tenderly lift her face.

Looking at the panic and shyness in her eyes, and at her nervous expression as she bit her lip.

"Miss Wen is being so proactive?"

Wen Sixue became even more nervous under her gaze, her eyes darting away, but she still mumbled softly, "I...I just wanted to...respond to you..."

"Yun Zhan, I like you very much too, and I want to... marry you."

Her voice was barely audible, yet exceptionally earnest.