Fu Xingyi’s heartache was numbing.

She had changed.

Changed so much, she truly no longer liked him.

He thought that as long as he tried a little harder, spent a little more time with her, she would return to his side.

He said, "An Ning, do you know how I got here?"

An Ning looked at him.

Suddenly, she didn’t want to know.

Sometimes she preferred self-deception.

But she didn’t refuse.

She thought that since everything was being laid bare now, might as well have it all out in the open.

"As a senior researcher, I’m prohibited from soul-crossing. I still need to continue my research, and leaving would be a loss of talent. So, no matter how I pleaded with my mentor, he chose to refuse. The only way was, like you, to die."

An Ning felt a sharp pain in her chest.

"So, I intentionally let the zombie bite through my neck."

An Ning looked at Fu Xingyi.

"Thinking, my mentor surely wouldn’t want me to die in vain. He couldn’t bear it, and would use your method to bring me to your place." Fu Xingyi chuckled lightly, tears in his eyes.

An Ning bit her lips tightly, unable to say a word at that moment.

So.

Fu Xingyi used his own life to reunite with her.

And at that time, he didn’t even know if she truly lived here.

Yet he chose to take the risk.

Moreover.

He didn’t know if he would succeed, or perhaps dying would truly mean dying.

An Ning’s body trembled slightly.

She never wanted to hurt Fu Xingyi so much.

She wondered if Fu Xingyi, risking death to see her, had ever thought she had changed her heart.

But now faced with her coldness and rejection.

How much pain he must be in.

An Ning’s tears fell from her eyes.

No sadness, it was all a lie.

The feelings she once had for Fu Xingyi weren’t fake either.

She never imagined there would be a day when she would be so conflicted between two men.

She always sneered at feelings of infidelity.

She believed in her life she could never love two people at once, she only had one heart, it couldn’t be divided into two.

Yet at this moment.

She felt, for the first time, the agony in her heart.

For the first time, she felt that whatever choice she made, it would be painful.

It was unfair to them.

Was Heaven playing with her?

When she loved Fu Xingyi with all her heart, Fu Xingyi "died".

When she completely let go of Fu Xingyi and finally accepted Xiao Jinxing, Fu Xingyi appeared.

Is it meant for her, no matter who she chose, to live in pain and guilt?!

"I didn’t expect to make things so difficult for you." Fu Xingyi said, watching An Ning’s suffering with a face full of regret.

An Ning bit her lips until they turned white.

She knew what kind of person Fu Xingyi was.

He wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.

He only said such words because he loved her too much, loved her enough to fear losing her.

That’s why he resorted to even pity tactics to bring her back to his side.

"Now, will you leave me?" Fu Xingyi asked her.

He asked her with deep affection.

An Ning shook her head.

She didn’t know, she didn’t know how to act, how to choose.

Her determined resolve was only swayed by Fu Xingyi’s sacrifice for her.

If she left.

If she left with Youyou and Luming, would Fu Xingyi be left all alone?

And she didn’t even know if Fu Xingyi would ever love another woman...

She really feared he would grow old alone.

But she couldn’t imagine truly returning to Fu Xingyi’s side, truly letting go of her feelings to be with Fu Xingyi again; she instinctively rejected the thought, not wanting to even consider it.

Fu Xingyi saw her indecision and silence.

He truly didn’t want An Ning to suffer like this.

But feelings are truly selfish.

He couldn’t accept An Ning leaving, to be embraced by another man.

Even if it was despicable, he wanted to fight for himself this one time.

He said, "Xiao Ning, give me a chance, okay?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

An Ning, her eyes blurred with tears, looked at Fu Xingyi.

She wanted to refuse.

But truly facing his face, seeing the anticipation in his eyes, the words caught in her throat wouldn’t come out.

"Give us another chance, don’t be so quick to decide, okay?" Fu Xingyi held her hand.

He grasped her cold little hand tightly in his palm.

"Half a year. If after half a year you still choose to leave, if after half a year I still cannot help you find our past love, I will let go, and let you leave." Fu Xingyi said every word, his voice pleading.

He feared she would reject.

An Ning lowered her eyes.

Her tears fell from her eyes.

Suddenly, she remembered Xiao Jinxing from those years.

Xiao Jinxing was the same, asking for time to let her stay.

Back then, she never imagined she would stay for Xiao Jinxing.

If only Fu Xingyi had returned then, how good it would have been...

"Alright." An Ning agreed.

Because, she truly couldn’t say the words of rejection.

Perhaps she should also take some time to properly settle the feelings between the three of them, rather than making such a selfish decision.

"Thank you." Fu Xingyi’s tears fell onto An Ning’s cheek.

An Ning’s heart ached unbearably.

Clearly, she was the one who wronged him.

Yet he was thanking.

Fu Xingyi hugged An Ning tightly in his arms.

An Ning did not resist.

Fu Xingyi said, "Xiao Ning, during this half year, don’t see him, okay?"

An Ning’s heart skipped.

Fu Xingyi held her tighter.

"If it’s possible..." Fu Xingyi cautiously added.

Not daring to force her.

Always feeling that if he overstepped even a little, she would resent him.

An Ning nodded, she said, "Okay."

This was out of respect for Fu Xingyi.

Half a year of respect, it could also be considered compensation for the guilt she felt towards Fu Xingyi.

Fu Xingyi’s lips curved up.

He took An Ning’s hand and walked directly into the Imperial Palace.

An Ning still looked back once.

Seeing behind her that Lin Zichan was already gone.

Perhaps feeling a sense of loss in her heart, yet also allowing herself to be relieved.

He left, which was good.

Better than watching her entangled with another man.

An Ning followed Fu Xingyi away.

At the palace gates.

Ultimately, Lin Zichan chose to stay.

Maybe...

Maybe.

Lin Zichan stood there all the while.

Under the night sky.

All around, it was silent.

The guards too, didn’t utter a word.

Just watched him standing at the palace gates, like a tree, motionless.

The night grew deeper.

The guards changed in three shifts.

Everyone glanced at him, but due to their duties, none asked him anything.

Just took him in with curiosity.

Until.

The dawn broke.

A ray of sunlight fell on the palace.

Lin Zichan left.

He should have left long ago.

The night was so cold, if she was going to come out, she should have come out earlier.

If she didn’t.

She wouldn’t come out.

...

Fengqi Palace.

An Ning actually didn’t sleep well the entire night.

Tossing and turning, her mind a chaotic mess.

Upon waking in the morning, bearing a pair of enormous dark circles, An Ning was startled by her reflection in the mirror.

Yet she had no heart to tidy herself.

She did a simple wash and had breakfast.

While eating, she suddenly addressed the palace attendant, "Prepare pen and ink for me."

"Yes, Your Highness."

An Ning couldn’t eat anymore, she went straight to the inkwell and wrote a letter.

After writing, she put it in an envelope, handed it to the palace attendant, "Send someone to deliver it to Lin Zichan."

To her.

Her half year was also his half year.

She felt that, even out of courtesy, he wouldn’t refuse.