I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

Gu Yan went around behind her and gave her a gentle push.

As the swing swung forward, her whole body tensed up, and her golden pupils widened.

When she swung back, she turned to look at Gu Yan, her expression carrying a very faint trace of panic.

Will it fall?

"Won't."

"I'll push you from behind, I won't let you fall."

Gu Yan said.

He pushed it a few more times.

The swing swung higher and higher, and Elena's long silver hair flew in the air like a flag being blown open by the wind.

Her white robe was rolled up at the hem, and the bells on her ankles kept ringing.

She suddenly burst out laughing.

The laughter was clear and light, like a string of wind chimes scattered by the wind.

Standing behind her, Gu Yan watched her back and suddenly felt a weight lift from her heart.

After playing on the swing, Elena dragged him to play on the seesaw.

She didn't know how to play, so she sat at one end, while Gu Yan sat at the other end, and the two of them swayed up and down like that.

Her expression was so serious, as if she were performing some important ceremony, and she would let out a very soft gasp each time she reached the highest point.

Then there's the slide.

She hesitated for a long time at the top of the slide, then closed her eyes and slid down, landing in Gu Yan's arms.

Her face was very close to his, her breath brushing against his chin.

She opened her eyes, her golden pupils filled with laughter.

"You humans really know how to have fun."

she says.

Gu Yan helped her stand up, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a smile.

"You're too easily satisfied."

"He's this happy just from a slide."

"Because I've never had that before."

Elena patted the water droplets off her robe, her tone devoid of regret, only a calm statement.

"I've been inside the seal since I can remember."

"Later, she got injured and turned into a swan, and followed you all the way."

"Later, I recuperated in Japan, where I read books and watched TV."

"I had no childhood and no playmates."

"You're the first person to play with me."

"So I'm very happy."

Gu Yan looked at her.

The rain has stopped, and a very faint sliver of light is visible on the horizon.

She stood on the damp grass, her long silver hair swaying gently in the wind, her golden pupils reflecting the light of the sky, shining brightly.

He suddenly couldn't speak.

Elena took a step forward and stood in front of him.

She looked up at him, her expression so serious it was heart-wrenching.

"Gu Yan".

"You've always been healing others."

"Lin Jinyu, Pei Yuran, Chiyomiya Yusheng, Pei Youyi..."

"You help them suppress their rampaging spiritual energy, help them get out of their pain, and help them believe in themselves again."

"But you also need to heal yourself occasionally."

You can't keep pushing yourself to the limit.

I'm very worried about you right now.

"It's not that I'm worried about a human as an angel, it's that I'm worried about Gu Yan as Elena."

Do you understand?

Gu Yan looked at her.

He slowly exhaled, a long breath, as if he were releasing something that had been building up in his chest for a long time.

"Thank you."

His voice was soft, but sincere.

"I can promise you that I'll take a break occasionally in the future."

"But I still want to become stronger."

I won't stop on this road.

"Only by becoming strong enough can I end all of this."

"Only then can we bring Youyi back, and bring Yuran back."

"Only then can everyone live."

Elena nodded.

"I know."

"I didn't tell you to stop."

"I just want you to remember that I'm here for you."

"If one day you can't hold on anymore, turn back."

"I've always been here."

Gu Yan looked into her eyes.

Those golden eyes held stars, light, and a gentleness that transcended millions of years.

He suddenly realized that perhaps he hadn't completely become that machine yet.

There's still a soft spot in his heart.

There are also places that will ache slightly because of a single word from these people.

It was already evening when he went to find Pei Yuran.

The sky was clean after the rain, and the setting sun bathed the entire camp in a golden-red hue.

Pei Yuran locked herself in an empty room at the westernmost part of the camp and hasn't left for three days.

On the steps outside the door sat her favorite matcha cake, untouched.

Gu Yan stood at the door and raised her hand to knock.

"Yu Ran".

"it's me."

There was no sound from inside the door.

Gu Yan stood outside the door for a long time before speaking.

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear.

"I know you don't want to see me right now."

"I'll just say a few words and then I'll leave."

"I like Sister Youyi."

"She's gone."

"This has nothing to do with whether I love you or not."

"I knew you before I knew her. When I shielded you from the wind blades in the secret realm, I thought, how can this girl be so stubborn? She won't say a word even when she's injured."

"Later, when I saw you in Santorini after you laid down the sword tassel before your coffin, it felt like my heart was being cut by a knife."

My feelings for you have always been genuine.

He paused, his throat tightening slightly.

"Sister Youyi said that she left so that you would have time and space."

"She asked me to look after the crabapple blossoms for her."

"I know you hate her, and you hate me too."

You can hate us however you want.

"But you can't lock yourself up like that."

"You have a sword to sharpen, a defense to hold, and me... and a bastard waiting for your forgiveness."

"Yu Ran, please come out."

It was quiet inside the door for a long time.

It took so long that Gu Yan thought she wouldn't open the door anymore.

Then the door hinges made a very soft click, and the door opened.

Pei Yuran stood behind the door.

Her face was very pale, and her eyes were very red, but there were no tears.

She was wearing a plain white dress, her hair was loose, and she looked like she had just woken up from a long dream.

"You still know to come."

Her voice was cold, but the last syllable trembled slightly.

Gu Yan took two steps forward and stood in front of her.

He reached out, wanting to touch her face, but his hand froze in mid-air.

Then he slowly put it down.

He knew he wasn't qualified.

"sorry."

He said.

Pei Yuran looked at him.

Her fingers clenched and unclenched at her sides.

Then she suddenly lunged at him and buried her head in his arms.

Her forehead pressed against his chest, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Her voice was muffled, coming from his arms, tinged with sobs and a sense of grievance that she refused to admit even in death.

"I know about your affairs."

"I already knew."

"But I still can't stand it."

"When I saw it with my own eyes, I felt like the sky had fallen."

"My mother and the person I like... Gu Yan, tell me, what should I do?"

Gu Yan hugged her.

Her body was very cold, like a piece of ice that had been soaked in the rain for a long time.

He rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice very soft.

"You don't need to do anything."

"Just stand there and wait for me to come back."

"Wait until I find Sister Youyi."

"You can handle your own affairs when the time comes."

"I'll stay right here, I'm not going anywhere."

Pei Yuran raised her head in his arms.

Her eyes were red, like two pieces of glass washed by rain.