Chapter 158
Xiao Han and Xiao Zimo's wedding day was set for five days later.
Since Lianhua Village was considered Xiao Zimo's hometown, he wanted to marry Xiao Han here. Also, the Xiao family was his only family.
The wedding was naturally held at the Xiao family's home, simple in every way.
But Older Xiao still decorated elaborately. Everyone in the village came to help.
Although it was in the village and not as fancy as a wealthy household in the city, Lianhua Village was festooned with red lanterns and joy abounded.
The night before the wedding, Xiao Han looked at the wedding dress on the table, still feeling a bit unreal.
"I never thought I, Xiao Han, would get married one day! It's just like a dream!"
Xia Miaomiao, who was arranging the hair ornaments next to her, paused and said, "Do you think...everything that happened here might really just be a dream? When we wake up, it will all be gone."
Su Mo was hanging ribbons and lanterns from the ceiling beam, "This dream is too real!"
Miaomiao turned and asked Sang Li, who was cutting paper, "Sister Li, are you pregnant with Gu Zhi's child?"
Sang Li's paper cutting hand paused, "I'm not too sure. Since coming here, my period has always been irregular."
Just then, Wu Ying knocked on the door.
"Wu Ying?" Su Mo jumped down from the ceiling beam.
"Mo Mo, I need to talk to you all about something."
Seeing his serious demeanor, Su Mo asked in confusion, “What is it?”
Wu Ying walked in. “It’s about the treasure map.”
They gathered around. "What happened? Did something happen to the map in the hidden chamber?"
"No, it's just...I still haven't found where the Chamber Lord put it." Wu Ying looked at Su Mo, "Mo Mo, I need to take the other three maps back first, then lure him to take out that treasure map."
Su Mo was stunned, and looked at Sang Li. They had given Sang Li the treasure maps for safekeeping.
"Are you sure you can do it?" Sang Li asked directly. "Yes, trust me. Before your time is up, I will definitely get the four maps back to you." Wu Ying said categorically.
Sang Li took out two of the treasure maps from a package. "If Mo Mo trusts you, then we trust you too."
Wu Ying looked at Su Mo.
"Of course I trust you!" Su Mo stuffed the treasure maps into Wu Ying's hands and said earnestly, "Wu Ying, we only have two days left. It doesn't matter if I live or die, but this concerns the life and death of my sisters too. I hope you keep your word."
"Mo Mo..." Wu Ying looked at her, his gaze deep, "I won't let you die."
"There is also a map with Xiao Zimo. After the wedding tomorrow he will give it to me, and I’ll give it to you." Xiao Han said.
"Okay." Wu Ying responded. He looked at Sang Li, "Miss Sang, forgive my presumptuousness, but not telling Gu Zhi the truth is not a good strategy. He was just asking me about the treasure maps, which means he is already suspicious. If you really are pregnant with his child, then disappear from his world, do you think he can accept that?”
Wu Ying wasn't usually one to meddle, but he and Gu Zhi were acquainted for some time now, and they would all face this cruel reality in the future.
"Gu Zhi? Why are you standing at the door? Why don't you go in?" Hua Wuyou's voice suddenly came from outside.
Everyone was stunned, all looking towards the door.
Gu Zhi walked from the doorframe to the front door, his dark eyes fixed on Sang Li.
He had just asked Wu Ying and was already very suspicious, which was why he had followed Wu Ying here. He didn't expect to hear such a big secret from them.
His sister had been hiding this from him all this time, deceiving him!
Previously Sang Li had wanted a child very much, and he was very happy about it. Now...
Everyone suddenly felt the atmosphere was wrong.
"Um...you talk, we'll go out first." Su Mo pulled Wu Ying and ran out.
Xia Miaomiao also pulled Hua Wuyou out. Xiao Han ran out too, of course.
Sang Li went to the door. She really felt guilty towards Gu Zhi about this matter.
But she really wanted to get pregnant with Gu Zhi's child. If Gu Zhi knew the truth, he definitely wouldn't agree.
"Zhi..." Sang Li tried to take his hand, but Gu Zhi avoided it.
Sang Li's hand paused. She said, "I'm sorry..."
Hearing this, tears instantly came to Gu Zhi's eyes. He questioned angrily, "Why are you apologizing? Because you want to get pregnant with my child, then abandon me and leave me?!"
Sang Li's heart felt stabbed. How could she not be upset?
Tears slid down her face. Looking at him, her heart ached intensely. "Zhi, I don't belong to your world. If I don't go back, I will eventually disappear forever." "Then why didn't you tell me earlier? Why did Wu Ying and everyone else know, but I didn't?" Gu Zhi uncontrollably grabbed her shoulders. "Sister, what do you take Gu Zhi for? A tool to have children?"
"No...it's not like that...Zhi, I just hoped our relationship could bear fruit." Sang Li felt panic for the first time.
"But that's not the outcome I want! Did you ever ask for my opinion?"
Sang Li closed her eyes. Tears streamed down her face like a broken thread. "I knew you wouldn't agree, which is why I didn't tell you."
"You knew I wouldn't agree, but you still did this without hesitation. Sister, you are so selfish! Did you ever think of how I would feel? Did you think about me losing my wife and child at the same time, which is tantamount to taking my life away!"
Gu Zhi released her shoulders and turned to leave.
Sang Li hurriedly grabbed him. "Zhi, where are you going?"
Gu Zhi said mercilessly, "Since you’re destined to leave, let's part now!"
"No...don't go, Zhi!" Sang Li rushed forward and hugged his waist.
Before she developed feelings for someone, she could be hardhearted, but once she opened her heart, it was like roots grew there. Trying to dig it all up would only stop if her heart stopped beating.
"I'm sorry, I know I’m very selfish, but I really want to have your child. Even if we’re worlds apart in the future, there will still be an indelible bond between us. Zhi, grant me this wish, okay?"
It was the first time Sang Li had pleaded so humbly. She wanted to conceive the child of the man she loved most, not just a dream.
Tears slid down Gu Zhi's face. How could he let his sister get pregnant? How could he let her raise a child alone?
If they were destined to part ways, how could he use a child to shackle her for the next half of her life?
"Sister..." Gu Zhi said hoarsely, "I cannot agree."
Sang Li let go of his waist in despair. "Can you understand now why I rejected you again and again at first?"
Gu Zhi froze as he thought back to Sang Li’s attitude towards him in the past. It was like he suddenly understood.
He choked out, "Sister...except for the child, I can agree to anything you ask."
"But your child is all I want!"
"Sister, I'm sorry...I really...can't agree to this."
Gu Zhi turned and left. Sang Li’s body went limp as she leaned on the door frame for support, strengthless.
The outcome she desired didn’t happen in the end.
What meaning was there then in her and Gu Zhi’s relationship?
In the end it was nothing but a dream...
Sang Li slowly slid down the door frame. Tears streamed ceaselessly down her face.