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The light blinded me, and I couldn't help but close my eyes. Just then, Xu Lie's urgent voice rang out: "Galan!"

I opened my eyes and looked at him. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Yufei thread all the amethysts onto the silver wire, but before tying a knot, he threaded it through his own bracelet. I didn't understand what Yufei was doing; I only felt that as the silver wire pierced through the crystals, it was as if it pierced directly through my soul.

I was still looking at Xu Lie. His handsome brows were tightly furrowed, and there was a hint of pain and fear in his eyes, but the joy from just a few hours ago was gone. I felt a pang of pity and wanted to turn my head away. But he spoke in a hoarse voice: "Galan, I love you."

Before hundreds of people, in the auditorium where everyone stared in astonishment, Xu Lie, no more than a hundred meters from the altar, slowly but solemnly said, "Galan, I truly love you. Please don't leave..."

Yu Fei looked up at Xu Lie, a silent sigh clearly written on his face, but he did not waver in the slightest. He tied the silver thread to my hand and quickly made a knot.

Our hands were linked together like handcuffs. The silver threads of the bracelet hurt my eyes, but I couldn't bear to pull away. It was as if some emotion, higher than the sky and deeper than the sea, was poured into this place, making me linger.

Yu Fei squeezed my hand, looked up at Xu Lie, his fair face almost transparent, clear as crystal under the bright light, but his brown eyes were as deep as the sea: "Xu Lie, you have to admit that sometimes, when it comes to feelings, if you miss them, it's for a lifetime."

Xu Lie trembled violently as if struck by lightning, but Yu Fei pulled hard at that moment, and our hands suddenly tore apart like ripped cloth, making a piercing cracking sound, followed by the sound of something falling to the ground.

I looked down blankly, trying to see the things scattered on the ground. The transparent crystals reflected a blinding light that pierced my eyes, hurting so much that tears almost welled up. I wanted to raise my hand to cover my aching eyes, but suddenly I covered my head instead.

"Ahhhhhhh!!" I screamed and collapsed. Xu Lie caught me and shouted in my ear, but I couldn't even hear his voice. Something was yelling and rushing into my brain, and something was surging up from my chest, as if it was going to explode my head.

This feeling was so familiar, so familiar that I could feel every inch of memory being torn and kneaded, so familiar that I could foresee when the pain would stop… The only difference was that the emotions that accompanied the memories had transformed from a trickle into a raging torrent, roaring and swirling, engulfing me. Tears streamed down my face.

Forever is one day longer than the young master's life.

"Because he only gave himself five years to wait. Once those five years are up, he will give up all hope, from life... to death."

It's cold, the wind is cold, you fool! Utterly fool! Lin Yu is dead, the young master you swore to protect died five years ago, why do you still cling to your promise of eternity?

So cold...so cold! I used my last strength to say I love you, I desperately held your hand, wanting only to say I love you. Now, how could I possibly forget? No matter where I am, how could I forget you, etched in my life!

Yihan, Yihan… I was in Xu Lie's arms, tears streaming down my face, and slowly lowered my head to kiss the increasingly deep purple crystal bracelet on my wrist, “Yihan, I love you…”

I kissed the water chain strung with the hair of my beloved again and again, and scalding tears fell, burning everything: "Yihan, I love you so much... Can you hear me? I love you so much..."

"Lanlan, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Mom asked anxiously.

Mr. and Mrs. Xu were right behind them, their faces pale and filled with panic. But when Mrs. Xu spoke, she still said, "Lanlan, if you can't handle it, we'll postpone the wedding."

The chatter in the auditorium grew louder and louder. How many people were watching Xu Lie's family with gloating expressions, and how many were anxious and worried about my loss of composure?

The aunt supported Yufei, who was still swaying precariously, her brows furrowed, her tone filled with reproach: "Fei'er, what are you thinking? The Xu family is your savior, how could you cause trouble at their wedding?"

I looked up and saw Yufei—no, Zimo—raising an eyebrow and smiling at me, a smile that held a secret only we could understand.

I couldn't help but smile, feeling a warm and peaceful sensation in my heart, as if I had found a reliable lone boat on the shore.

The hand that was holding me loosened inch by inch, going from burning hot to icy cold. Xu Lie looked at me with despair in his eyes, a despair tinged with pleading, begging me to hold onto the hand he was about to let go of. But of course I couldn't.

Love is essential in life, but it's not everything. I can choose my own path, but I have no right to subject so many people who love me and whom I love to humiliation.

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Volume Four, Part Two: The Fragrance Lingers on the Sleeves When the Weary Birds Return

Chapter 31 Return (Part 2)

I smiled at Xu's mother, my voice distant and calm: "It's nothing, Yufei was just joking with me."

Zi Mo seemed taken aback, looking at me with some surprise. I gave him an OK sign, my palms, still sweaty, were icy cold. I gently lifted the hem of my wedding dress, turned gracefully, and gave everyone present a perfect, impeccable bow: "Sorry to keep you all waiting. Lie and I are simply passionate about the twists and turns of life. Now..."

I took a deep breath. How many people were watching coldly today? How many were waiting for Xu Tian's downfall? Today, I abandoned Xu Lie, which was certainly exhilarating, and we would have no further connection. But how would my parents face the Xu family from now on? How would Xu's already heartbroken parents deal with the newspapers and media? And how would Xu Lie, who was publicly dumped, bear it?

Xu Tian's stock market performance, the Xu family's dignity, my parents' conscience—all of these weighed heavily on my mind. Even if this wedding was Xu Lie's design, a result of amnesia, I was still the one walking down the aisle, and Xu Lie and I were destined to be responsible for our actions.

I turned around and stated a fact to everyone present in a clear voice: "Lie, can the wedding continue?"

Xu Lie stared at me blankly, his eyes flashing with unbelievable ecstasy and shock, his hands even trembling slightly. However, all his emotions vanished upon seeing my calm smile, turning into a deathly silence more hollow than despair.

I walked step by step to Xu's father and took his hand. My lowered eyes revealed the shimmering amethyst on his wrist. Xu Lie understood; he finally understood. Marriage is not a shackle, and a marriage without love is nothing at all.

Even though he understood, he still insisted on going through with the wedding. This was the bitter fruit of my mistake, and the price of his willfulness. The path of life isn't one you can simply walk out of by turning your back on the church. There are too many heavy burdens there.

Xu Lie and I once shared such a close connection, yet ultimately lost our way at our respective crossroads. Hidden within the water chain lies another world, a place that gave me the courage and hope for rebirth during my most lost and lonely times. Perhaps it's unreal, perhaps it's unbelievable, but even forgetting everything cannot sever the bond between us.

Descending into the world in the golden dawn

Soaring through the raging waves

Reborn from the flames

This is Chifei, the son of the goddess Ishtar, born under the combined light of the sun and moon.

I seem to hear that familiar call again, in that distant land where I grew up, countless voices calling to me again and again, calling to the soul that is fused within me...

Chifei... Son of the goddess Ishuel, come back, come back...

Yes, I will go back. I will definitely return to that familiar land and settle all grudges and grievances.

In the moment of my hazy consciousness, I suddenly regained my senses. It may sound strange, but it is true. As Ling Jialan's body sank into sleep, my soul awoke in the vast white mist.

A blinding red light drifted and separated from my transparent soul body, its wisps of light perfectly reflecting Chi Fei's unhurried, carefree smile.

But I knew that was just a facade: "Chifei, thank you," I said.

Chi Fei raised an eyebrow-like expression: "Thank me for what?"

I pondered for a moment before smiling and saying, "First, thank you for bringing Zimo back to life; second, thank you for not abandoning me, who is insignificant; third... thank you for giving me a chance to choose again."

Chi Fei's expression and eyes remained unchanged as he lazily looked at me: "That's only because I haven't encountered such an interesting plaything as you in thousands of years, so I'm just giving you a little something."