Chapter 162

Of the few sisters, Sang Li was undoubtedly the quietest. She was someone whose emotions were rarely revealed, someone who always maintained composure and elegance - even when drunk, she would not make a loud fuss.

It was just that, at this moment, those suppressed emotions could no longer be controlled.

She did not make any noise or fuss, just leaned against the bedside and silently shed tears.

Gu Zhi squatted in front of her and held her hands with eyes brimming red, also too heartbroken to breathe.

"Sis... don't be like this, okay?"

Sang Li's unfocused eyes moved slightly, her gaze falling on Gu Zhi's face. She slowly reached out and touched his face.

"Are you... Zhi Zhi?"

"It's me, sis. I'm sorry... it's me who made you so sad and heartbroken. But I really can't accept that you had my child and then left me... In the future, you'll raise our child alone and suffer who knows how much gossip. I don't want that. I don't want you to live alone with our child for the second half of your life..."

In her dazed state, Sang Li didn't hear clearly what Gu Zhi was saying at all. She just shed tears and mumbled to herself, "Why didn't you agree to me? Why..."

"Sis..."

Gu Zhi buried his head in her lap, also feeling terrible inside. He had already found it unbearable for Sang Li to leave; how could he then accept her leaving with their child?

"I shouldn't have got emotionally involved here... Why did I fail to maintain a cold and unfeeling heart..."

"Sis, stop talking..." Gu Zhi got up and hugged her tightly.

Held in his arms, Sang Li's tears wet his clothes.

As if by instinct, Sang Li also put her arms around him.

A silent embrace seemed even more affectionate than a kiss.

Just that Sang Li was feeling somewhat uncomfortable from the heat and dryness in her throat.

"Water..." Sang Li murmured weakly.

Hearing her voice, Gu Zhi let her go, carefully wiped the tears off her face, "I'll pour you a glass right away."

Gu Zhi went to pour her a glass of water and fed it to her.

After drinking the water, Sang Li felt a little better. She obediently lay on the bed and closed her eyes.

Gu Zhi put down the cup and squatted by the bed, looking at the tears flowing down her eyes. He carefully reached out and wiped them for her.

"Sis... I really want to stay by your side for the rest of my life."

Holding her hand, Gu Zhi kissed it with immense affection.

He closed his eyes, a teardrop sliding from the corner.

Two people in love, why must they face eternal separation?

Perhaps they could both understand the other's pain, yet were completely helpless - such powerlessness was truly suffocating.

...

In the yard, the four men were also drinking together.

"When did you guys find out about their matter?" Gu Zhi asked.

"Not too long ago. I knew two months back!" After drinking some wine, Hua Wuyou said to Gu Zhi, "What's up between you and Sang Li? You guys have such little time left together, yet you're fighting?"

Gu Zhi paused, downed a mouthful of wine, and recounted what happened between him and Sang Li.

Upon hearing Gu Zhi's words, the others fell silent.

Wu Ying already knew about this matter beforehand so he wasn't surprised, but the other two were quite shocked. "If this happened to me, I wouldn't agree either!" said Hua Wuyou.

"Me neither," Xiao Zimo chimed in.

"But my little bunny would never make such a request," Hua Wuyou smiled. "We agreed to cherish the remaining time we have."

Gu Zhi looked at him, "Aren't you reluctant?"

"What's the point in worrying about this unchangeable outcome? It'd be better to treasure the present."

"Indeed, can everything go as one wishes in life?" Xiao Zimo sighed lightly.

He looked at Wu Ying who hadn't spoken, "Wu Ying, what are your plans ahead?"

Wu Ying paused before replying, "I'll be leaving Lianhua Village for the Dark Cabinet tomorrow morning. The last treasure map is still in the Leader's hands. I must obtain it within these two months."

The three looked at him - "Forgiveness for traitors is unlikely in your Dark Cabinet."

Wu Ying remained silent.

Seeing Wu Ying's situation, it seemed they understood he was worse off than them.

At least they could still spend the final two months with their beloved, whereas for Wu Ying... this upcoming farewell, with unknown odds of seeing Su Mo alive again...

"Having met her in this life, I'm already... perfectly content." Wu Ying picked up his sword and strode off into the night.

...

The next morning, the sisters woke up still feeling muddled-headed.

Stepping out and seeing each other's disheveled states in the yard, they couldn't help frowning.

"Didn't seem like we drank that much last night? How did we end up like this?" Su Mo rubbed her temples. "That Wu Ying actually dared to knock me out! See if I don't fix him later!"

"Miao Miao, what's up with the marks on your neck?" Xiao Han suddenly noticed some red marks on Xia Miaomiao's neck.

Su Mo took a look and blurted out, "Love bites!"

Xia Miaomiao quickly touched her neck, "Really? Are there?"

Xiao Han nodded, "Very noticeable!" Recalling last night's events, Xia Miaomiao wished she could dig a hole and hide. How embarrassing!

Xiao Han wasn't much better off either. When she woke up this morning, she realized her top was only covered by a bodice!

Trying to recall yesterday's happenings, unsure if reality or dream, she had to find Xiao Zimo and get to the bottom of this!

"Li Sis, your eyes are so swollen, what happened?" Xia Miaomiao asked suddenly.

Sang Li closed her eyes, rubbed them, "It's nothing... didn't rest well last night. Let's all go freshen up."

They then went to wash up and change.

After putting on fresh clothes and coming out, breakfast was already laid out by the Xiao family.

Wu Ying and the rest also returned from outside.

"Everyone's here, dig in quickly!" Xiao Lao smiled, "Pardon my inadequate hospitality."

"What are you saying, Elder Xiao? It is us who have inconvenienced you."

"We're all family, no need to stand on ceremony. Go ahead and eat."

Xiao Lao took his leave. Everyone sat down.

"Little bunny, why are you wearing that around your neck?" Hua Wuyou looked puzzled at the gauze around Xia Miaomiao's neck.

Xia Miaomiao glared at him, "Whose fault do you think?"

"Mine? What did I do?"

"Don't pretend you don't know what you did last night!" Xia Miaomiao turned her head away, refusing to pay him any more attention.

...

Gu Zhi served Sang Li a bowl of congee, "Sis, have some congee." Looking at the congee before her, Sang Li eventually picked up her spoon and took a sip.

Gu Zhi heaved a sigh of relief, helping her place some side dishes.

"Sis, I'm sorry about that night... I went overboard." Gu Zhi apologized.

Sang Li froze for a second, then looked at him, "You did nothing wrong, no need to apologize to me. It is I who clung on too deeply."

Su Mo grabbed Wu Ying and pulled him outside, "Wu Ying, come out with me for a second!"

Before Wu Ying could react, Su Mo's fist came hurtling towards him.

Wu Ying reflexively dodged aside, seizing her fist, "Mo Mo, what's the meaning of this?"

"Hmph! Wu Ying, quite an impressive move to knock me unconscious just to avoid consummating our marriage!"

...

Su Mo exchanged a few moves with Wu Ying before being locked in his embrace.

"So you're this desperate to consummate our marriage with me?" Wu Ying whispered by her ear.

"Humph! I don't want to think about it now! I want to find another man to consummate our marriage!" Su Mo said deliberately.

Wu Ying's eyes turned cold, and he leaned down to capture her lips.

"Mmm..."

Su Mo had wanted to struggle at first, but after struggling for a bit, she was immersed in Wu Ying's kiss, instinctively responding to him.

Alright, she admitted that she only wanted to consummate their marriage with Wu Ying.

Sensing Su Mo's response, Wu Ying knew that she was not actually angry.

After a long time, Wu Ying finally released her, his eyes full of reluctance, "Mo Mo, I have to go."

"What? You're leaving again?"

"Yes, I don't have much time left. I have to go back for the treasure map."

Su Mo immediately hugged his waist and pleaded coquettishly, "But I'll miss you... Why don't I go with you? Would that be okay? Anyway, my sisters all have boyfriends now to protect them."

Wu Ying held her tightly, also full of reluctance in his heart, "No, it's too dangerous. The Leader thinks you're dead already. He can't know you're still alive. Be good and wait for me here."

Su Mo looked up at him, "Then you have to come back soon!"

"I promise."

At this time, the others had finished eating and came out.

Wu Ying released Su Mo and walked up to Xiao Zimo, "Xiao Zimo, give me the treasure map."

Xiao Zimo looked at Xiao Han. Xiao Han nodded at him, so Xiao Zimo took out the treasure map and gave it to Wu Ying.

"I'm going back to the Dark Cabinet. Where are you guys planning to go next?" Wu Ying asked.

"We discussed it inside and decided to return to Lan City," Sang Li said.

"Okay. I'll come find you guys in Lan City after I get the treasure map."

"Sounds good."

"Then I'll get going first!"

Just as Wu Ying was about to leave, Su Mo grabbed him. "Wait! Let's take a group photo first?"

"Wonderful idea! It's rare we're all together, let's take a group photo to commemorate this!" Xiao Han immediately responded enthusiastically.

"Then who's going to take the photo for us?"

As soon as Xia Miaomiao finished asking, they saw Liu Yan and Yuan Zhan arriving at the Xiao family.

After teaching Liu Yan and Yuan Zhan how to take photos, they let them use the phones to take several group photos of the eight people.

This moment and scene were frozen, and memory preserved.

After taking the photos, Wu Ying had to leave.

He turned around, reluctantly patting Su Mo's head. "Mo Mo, take care..."