"You are... Jiang Zhijing."

No one can replace him; it is an unspeakable secret in his heart.

She paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, her body swaying as she said, "Sickly fellow, are you drunk?"

Yan Jue's lips moved slightly, and then she gave a muffled "hmm".

The two sat on the ground, very close together. Jiang Zhijing suddenly leaned in, her breath carrying the scent of alcohol and her fragrance, which entwined and entwined with him.

Her eyes were pure black and clear white, wide open as if trying to see him clearly: "Sickly fellow, I suddenly realize you're actually quite good-looking."

"Hmm?" He looked up and met her gaze, his deep eyes seeming to be filled with a layer of damp mist.

Jiang Zhijing squinted slightly, and with great interest, lifted his chin with her fingertips: "No, I should say... handsome."

Yan Jue chuckled softly, his voice low and seductive: "Then do you want to kiss me?"

"Kiss...where?" She stammered, probably startled, her eyes filled with a blank look, utterly innocent.

He didn't speak again, just stared straight at her, the mist in his eyes rippling and rising, the slightly upturned corners of his eyes like hooks, possessing a captivating beauty.

Her consciousness was already somewhat clouded, but a vague thought flashed through her mind:

He seemed to be seducing her.

And she was indeed tempted.

Jiang Zhijing likes beautiful things; pleasing beauty is always something people prefer, like... Yan Jue's eyes.

She had always acted recklessly, so she followed her heart, grabbed his collar and kissed his eyes.

His long eyelashes fluttered and brushed against her, tickling her slightly. While she was still in a daze, his wrist was grabbed, and he pressed her down, taking the initiative.

But he didn't act immediately. Instead, he hovered a few steps away from her, slowly scrutinizing her: "Who am I?"

The faint medicinal fragrance made her weak all over, and she couldn't help but groan, "Sickly girl."

He seemed satisfied and kissed her lips.

Jiang Zhijing thought to herself in a daze that Yan Jue was so weak, yet his kiss was somewhat forceful and fierce, making her unable to resist.

Yan Jue looked at Jiang Zhijing, who was nestled quietly in his arms. She had fallen asleep, her hand still clutching his clothes, tears welling in her eyes, her cheeks flushed, and she looked completely at his mercy.

He could have taken advantage of the situation.

But he simply bent down and gently licked away the tear.

It's rare for a wicked person to be merciful. He suddenly thought that if he died one day, how heartbroken this little girl would be.

He selfishly wanted to leave a mark on her life, that's true, but in the end, he couldn't bear to let her be trapped here, unable to move forward.

She deserves a more brilliant life.

...

Jiang Zhijing was hiding from Yan Jue.

Even Liu Yifu realized it.

What are you doing here?

Jiang Zhijing's tone was a bit fierce, and somewhat flustered: "Don't ask!"

Well, Liu Yifu isn't exactly a very curious person.

But he shut his mouth, and she couldn't help herself. She lowered her voice furtively, looking embarrassed, and said, "What if you have a friend who accidentally got drunk and molested another friend of yours..."

Liu Yifu suddenly realized: "You took advantage of his drunkenness to assault him?"

"..."

"You don't want to take responsibility?"

"…………"

Jiang Zhijing, her face flushed, said woodenly, "Alright, stop talking!"

He carefully chose his words and slowly asked, "Have you ever considered that if he doesn't want to, you could sexually assault him?"

Who knows who's getting the better deal?

Jiang Zhijing's breath hitched: "You mean..."

He likes you.

This news is no less damaging than the fact that she sexually assaulted Yan Jue.

My best friend actually has a crush on me.

Jiang Zhijing was unsure how to treat Yan Jue, and she hadn't figured out what her feelings for Yan Jue really were.

Before this, she truly considered him her best friend.

But would good friends do that?

For the first time, Jiang Zhijing felt that she was quite a beast.

...

Yan Jue never mentioned that incident, and the two of them spent the next six months in this awkward silence.

With Yan Jue's birthday fast approaching, Jiang Zhijing planned to take this opportunity to reconcile past grievances and made serious preparations for the celebration.

Yan Jue doesn't like crowds, so she doesn't plan to hold a big event; she'll just have a gathering of familiar people.

Yan Jue was very accommodating, but his expression remained sour when he saw Liu Yifu.

After finishing his meal, Liu Yifu tactfully left.

Now that only the two of them were left, Jiang Zhijing sensed the awkward atmosphere and slowly asked, picking at her fingernails, "Um... what did you wish for just now?"

Yan Jue looked directly at her: "Will a wish come true if I make one?"

Jiang Zhijing replied instinctively, "Of course!"

Even if she can't, she will try her best to help him achieve it!

A slight smile played on his lips: "Perhaps."

He had no wishes, except that he hoped she would always remember him.

Jiang Zhijing also put her hands together with a serious expression, and said in a very devout tone, "I hope Yan Jue lives to be a hundred years old."

Yan Jue turned her head to look over, her eyes sparkling, and teased, "It won't work if you say it out loud."

She opened her mouth in surprise, then said with unusual urgency, "Then pretend you didn't hear that!"

He paused slightly, then slowly replied, "Okay."

Suddenly, he called out to her, "Could you go inside and get me a cloak? It's a bit cold outside."

This kind of thing could be done by servants, but Jiang Zhijing did not refuse. She turned around and went inside, complaining that he didn't care about her.

She turned her back, and Yan Jue frowned slightly, quickly taking out a handkerchief and covering her lips.

The white handkerchief was stained with bright red blood. He glanced at it quietly with his eyes down, then casually stuffed it back in.

...

A few days later, the news of Yan Jue's serious illness could no longer be kept secret.

When Jiang Zhijing saw him, her fingers were trembling. Yan Jue was sitting in a wheelchair. Even though it was still early before winter, he was wrapped up tightly, which made his face look even paler and thinner.

Those dark eyes looked at her, and she almost choked back tears as she questioned, "Why didn't you tell me sooner? How long were you planning to keep it from me?"

Yan Jue even chuckled softly, "Now you can't hide it anymore, can you?"

Jiang Zhijing quickly stepped forward, raised her hand as if to punch him, but she couldn't bring herself to do it to his face.

When did he get so thin?

Even the veins under his skin were clearly visible; he was so thin that his bones were protruding.

She knelt down in front of him calmly: "There must be a way. I will search the world for the best doctors to cure you..."

"Azhi," he called softly, his eyes unusually calm, yet tinged with helplessness, "It's no use."

"Shut up!" She suddenly became agitated, glaring at him fiercely through gritted teeth. "There are so many doctors in the world, someone can cure you! If ten don't work, try a hundred; if a hundred don't work, try a thousand!"

Her voice suddenly trembled slightly, "Please don't... don't give up on yourself."

Yan Jue watched as her eyes suddenly reddened, just like a long time ago when the girl glanced at him casually:

"Why do you want to die? Your enemy is still alive, what right do you have to die?"

"Running away is the act of a coward. If I were you, I would live a magnificent life and make those who hurt me pay the price! I would let them know that I am not someone to be trifled with!"

Yan Jue raised her finger and wiped the corner of her reddened eyes, sighing almost inaudibly: "But this time it's not that I want to give up."

He had a premonition that his life was coming to an end.

He was barely clinging to life, but he was willing to live a few more years because of this person.

But in the end... I was still unwilling to accept it.

Jiang Zhijing's eyelashes trembled rapidly, and a layer of mist covered her eyes, instantly wetting her dark lashes. She forcefully suppressed her tears and stood up coldly:

"I'll summon all the imperial physicians. Even if it means going to the King of Hell, I'll bring you back!"

"Don't waste your time..." His voice was so weak it was carried away by the wind. She didn't want to hear these discouraging words, so she turned and took a few steps, but soon realized something was wrong.

She turned around abruptly and saw Yan Jue vomiting blood. The bright red blood stained his snow-white cloak, a shocking sight at first glance.

Forget about her appearance, she ran back in a disheveled state: "Sickly boy! What happened to you?"

Her heart skipped a beat, and she roared coldly, "Imperial Physician! Quickly, fetch the Imperial Physician!"

Yan Jue gripped her wrist, struggled to lift his eyes, and slowly forced a smile: "I don't want you to see me in such a disheveled state."

"At a time like this, who cares about his disheveled appearance!" Her voice almost cracked, tears welling up in her eyes, and panic inevitably surfaced in them. "Yan Jue, don't..."

Yan Jue wanted to wipe away her tears, but his hands were covered in blood, so he could only use his relatively clean sleeve to wipe her face.

Jiang Zhijing wanted to stop him from moving, but seeing his trembling hands, she couldn't speak. She could only try to get her face as close to his to make it easier for him to move.

"Let's wait for the imperial physician to arrive."

She grasped his hand, almost pleading, "Please?"

Yan Jue gazed at her intently, wanting to etch her image into his mind.

The scene he had longed for countless times, where she only had eyes for him and couldn't tolerate anyone else, was unexpectedly revealed under these circumstances.

He smiled and shook his head gently: "Don't cry, go live your own life."

"Then can't you come with me?" She sensed the hidden meaning in his words; they sounded exactly like a damned last will and testament!

She felt a sense of helplessness, as if something was slipping through her fingers.

Yan Jue simply looked at her tenderly: "I'm already very content to have accompanied you this far."

That's a lie. He was actually very unwilling to accept it, unwilling to stop here, and unwilling to accept that she would fall in love with someone else in the future.

But what can you do if you're unwilling to accept it?

He couldn't selfishly keep her trapped here.

Jiang Zhijing stumbled up and kissed him: "I don't want to hear it..."

He widened his eyes slightly, his gaze showing surprise as well as relief.

With his last breath, he tenderly responded to his lover.

When the imperial physician rushed over, this was the scene he found—

The young empress sat slumped at the man's feet, her forehead resting on his knee, her eyes somewhat vacant.

After a long while, she raised her hand to cover her face and burst into tears.

"Didn't we agree... to live to be a hundred years old?"