Choice
Zhu Xun felt very uncomfortable. He rarely saw You Youju struggling with certain emotions. He waited anxiously for You Youju to say what to say next.
How do I feel right now?
Are you on edge?
If this person were alive, would You Youju's gaze still be fixed on him? Would he not mind what happened in the illusion?
But should we let someone die because of this? Is that right?
You Youju unconsciously bit her lip, but still told the truth: "He has lost too much of his vital energy and won't live for more than a few days."
Zhu Xun secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but felt inexplicably ashamed of his lucky escape.
"Cough cough!" A faint cough signaled that Ah Yi had woken up.
He swallowed, his eyes slightly opened, his gaze wandering aimlessly in the air before settling on You Youju. He reached out and scratched his head, moving his dry lips: "Huai...Huaizhi?"
You Ju was clearly momentarily distracted.
Zhu Xun reacted quickly, grabbing A Yi's hand and smiling, "Don't worry, you're out of the illusion now."
Upon hearing this, A-Yi's eyes widened slightly. He stared at the silent You Youju for a long time, then quickly glanced at Zhu Xun, his lips trembling but no words came out.
Zhu Xun felt a strange sense of pleasure. Just now, A-Yi's eyes showed surprise, sudden realization, disappointment, and a hint of blame.
Zhu Xun immediately felt much better.
"How...how are you feeling?" You Youju asked.
A tear rolled down Ah Yi's cheek: "Thank you for saving me, I feel much better now."
He was lying; his hair, fluttering in the autumn wind, made him, withered as a fragile leaf about to fall.
"Your life force has been drained by the maple tree spirit, and I'm afraid your days are numbered. Do you have any wishes left?" Zhu Xun's tone was full of concern.
A's eyes were filled with shock. The handsome young man in front of him seemed harmless, with bright and clear eyes, but he felt a chill in his bones, just like in a hallucination.
Ah-Yi turned his gaze to You Youju, as if seeking confirmation.
You Youju shifted her gaze and nodded silently.
A-Yi trembled and cried. Apart from Yao Guang rubbing against him, neither Zhu Xun nor You Youju made a move. He was even startled by Yao Guang.
The three of them remained locked in this stalemate amidst their sobs.
After a long while, he raised his head. His body, weakened by crying, made him speak weakly and haltingly: "Can I... stay... stay... by your side? I only hope... that after I die... I can be buried by you myself."
Zhu Xun's temples twitched, her face twitched, and she could barely maintain her expression.
You Youju opened his mouth, his eyes unreadable, and that familiar feeling stirred his compassion.
"Please...please...for the sake of Lan Yu..."
Zhu Xun gritted his teeth, his voice low and threatening: "I'll say it again! That's an illusion!"
You Youju turned her back, her feelings extremely complicated, but she still chose to compromise, leaving only a desolate figure blown by the autumn wind: "Okay."
Upon hearing the satisfactory answer, Ah-yi fainted again, as if his wish had finally been fulfilled.
"Uncle!" Zhu Xun didn't understand why he called out like that, it sounded like an accusation. He was angry, and even more aggrieved.
You Youju didn't turn around. He was now in a dilemma, feeling inexplicably ashamed for violating morality.
"Let Yaoguang carry him down the mountain."
The wind shook a small orange tree by the roadside, almost causing it to fall over, but a pair of hands held it up, and with a flick of the sleeve, it no longer had to fear the fierce wind's ravages.
They didn't speak until they were sitting on the bed in the inn.
To avoid attracting too much attention, Yao Guang was put into the Wanbao Bag. After leaving the clinic, A Yi was dragged back by Zhu Xun because he didn't want his uncle to carry him.
A-Yi was on the bed opposite, You Youju was changing clothes, and Zhu Xun was sitting at the table drinking tea with a sullen face.
He felt upset. Did the two of them have to stay apart for so long because of an outsider?
Just as Zhu Xun was about to say something, You Youju collapsed to the ground.
Zhu Xun hurriedly caught it, only to see that You Youju's forehead was covered in sweat, and her clothes hadn't even been closed yet.
"Could he be injured?"
Zhu Xun helped You Youju, who was half a head taller than him, onto the bed. Just as he was about to pull open You's clothes to check, a pair of large hands stopped him.
"Uncle is alright...don't be angry..."
Zhu Xun reflexively withdrew her hand, her ears turning bright red, and asked awkwardly, "Where is Uncle hurt?"
You Youju raised his hand to cover his eyes, his brows furrowed tightly: "No, I need to rest, just like before."
Then, peeking out an eye through his fingers, he couldn't stop smiling, looking more like a dashing gentleman than usual: "Don't try to save me money like you did the first time."
Zhu Xun turned her face away, her ear tips turning red: "How long will it take this time?"
He was still very disappointed and upset, but he tried his best to make his tone sound more mature.
You Youju's fingertips were icy cold as she gently flicked Zhu Xun's earlobe: "Oh, so you know how to be embarrassed now. Don't worry, I won't keep you waiting too long."
Zhu Xun shuddered involuntarily, bit her lip, and turned her head to say something, only to find that You Youju had already fallen asleep.
He frowned as he tucked the blanket around You Youju, brushed away the stray hairs, looked at that jade-carved face, reached out and touched the corner of his uncle's lips, then quickly withdrew his hand as if he had been burned.
He stared intently for a while, then walked behind the screen and looked at the bed opposite with a cold expression.
Ah Yi's face is almost completely unremarkable, so how come he looks exactly the same as me in my dream?
How lucky I am to have fainted along with my immortal.
At this moment, Zhu Xun was burning with jealousy and couldn't help but worry that the two of them might be having the same dream.
Zhu Xun grew angrier and angrier, and shook A-Yi awake: "You're not allowed to sleep anymore!"
Ah Yi groggily opened his eyes and instinctively asked, "Brother?"
Zhu Xun punched A-Yi on the pillow next to his ear, which immediately sobered A-Yi up a lot, and fear appeared on his face.
"If you dare to mention anything about the illusion again, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Completely different from his previous fake smile, his eyes were practically bloodshot, as if he had endured to the extreme.
Ah Yi trembled involuntarily, his eyes searching for something inside the room.
Zhu Xun pinched his chin, forcing him to look at her: "Don't look too much, don't sleep, and don't talk to me casually."
After saying this, Zhu Xun went downstairs and instructed the waiter to bring up some dishes and water.
As soon as the door opened, they found Ah Yi squatting by You Youju's bedside, looking at her with longing.
Zhu Xun took a few steps forward and shoved him aside, growling, "You touched him?! Get away!"
I never expected this person to completely disregard my words. Does he really think he's still the Crown Prince?!
Ah Yi fell to the ground, somewhat flustered: "I'm sorry, I didn't... I..."
Zhu Xun lowered the bed curtains, completely covering You Youju, and said harshly, "This is the last time! If you want peace and quiet, stay in bed and don't covet him!"
A-Yi trembled slightly from Zhu Xun's scolding. Just then, the waiter brought the dishes up, and the knocking on the door interrupted Zhu Xun's anger. Zhu Xun took a deep breath and composed herself: "Let's go eat."
Ah Yi then opened the door with weak legs and sat quietly at the table in the hall to eat. She secretly peeked into the room and saw Zhu Xun taking a cotton handkerchief into the curtain to wipe You Youju.
The autumn night was chilly, and the rain that started at dusk had continued until now. The whole world was filled with the sound of rain, with occasional claps of thunder that flashed brightly. Zhu Xun sat motionless by the window, which made him appear somewhat eerie.
Ah Yi sat on the bed, his head was dizzy, he was trying to stay awake, and he felt very weak and tired. He must have been lacking "vital energy".
He shook his head to clear his mind, then glanced outside. Zhu Xun was still sitting in the chair in a meditative posture. Apart from Yao Guang having returned and lying at his feet pretending to sleep, everything was the same as it had been two hours ago.
Ah Yi couldn't hold on any longer. He felt like the whole room was spinning, and he couldn't hold on any longer. He collapsed onto the bed and passed out.
Hearing a muffled thud, Zhu Xun opened his eyes, glanced at A-Yi's bed, and then closed his eyes again as if nothing had happened.
…………
"Huai Zhi... Huai Zhi... Huai Zhi..." Soft, fragmented moans came from A-Yi's bed.
Zhu Xun stared coldly at A-Yi, who was struggling in his sleep. He clenched his fists, and undisguised ferocity emanated from his eyes. Unconsciously, his hand was already on A-Yi's neck, such a thin neck, as if it would break with a single pinch.
Are you going to kill him?
A clap of thunder suddenly lit up the entire room, and raindrops began to pelt down relentlessly.
Zhu Xun suddenly turned his head. The room was silent and pitch black, as if what he had just heard was just a hallucination.
"Uncle... Uncle." Zhu Xun panicked.
Another clap of thunder illuminated You Youju's face. His superior facial features, like towering mountain peaks, created a clear distinction between light and shadow. He frowned, but a sarcastic smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Zhu Xun swallowed hard, his palms already sweating.
The room was eerily quiet, with only the sound of their breathing.
"I..." Zhu Xun was clearly at a loss. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and You Youju's silence made his heart sink. Every hair on his body stood on end, and every pore was struggling to cry for help.
Is Uncle angry...?
You Youju bypassed You Youju, who was standing still, and went up to check A-Yi's pulse. He was having a nightmare.
He gently touched A-Yi's brow with two fingers, but helplessly, he still managed to channel some spiritual energy into it to ease A-Yi's pain.
Ah Yi gradually calmed down, and the knot between his brows untied.
You Youju took Zhu Xun's hand and pulled him forward.
Zhu Xun panicked and instinctively tried to pull his arm back.
He was afraid that Youyou would be disappointed.
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