Lan Yan frantically searched every tree. As she looked at the bare branches, her face grew increasingly panicked, her eyes welling up with mist.
"Yan'er, stop looking," Jun Yelan approached, supporting himself as he took Lan Yan's reddened fingers in his hand.
He took off his gloves and put them on Lan Yan, forcing a smile. "Yan'er, how about we enjoy the snow together?"
Lan Yan bit her lip, nodded, and struggled to hold back her tears. She supported Jun Yelan, leaning against a nearby large tree, and said dejectedly, "Yelan, there's still a chance, right?"
"Of course," Jun Yelan reached out, brushing the snow from Lan Yan's hair, his pale face breaking into a smile. "Yan'er, when I wanted to give up before, it was you who supported me. Now it's my turn to support you."
Lan Yan was startled. Recalling her words from before, she couldn't help but smile. "I understand you now. Every choice is difficult. You must have thought a lot and hesitated a lot back then."
Jun Yelan curved his lips. "Actually, I didn't think that much; all I thought about was your well-being. Yan'er, we've come this far, we've reached the summit, and that's enough."
"I have no regrets in this life, except that I didn't meet you sooner." He reached out and touched Lan Yan's cheek, wiping away the falling tears. "Yan'er, you don't usually cry."
Lan Yan was never one to cry easily, but the tears just wouldn't stop. She was unwilling; she had done so much, yet she still couldn't save Jun Yelan.
She had now met the minimum requirement, so even if Jun Yelan met with an accident, she would be fine. But she couldn't bear it; she wanted to spend a few more years with Jun Yelan, to let him enjoy life for a little longer.
Seeing Lan Yan's distressed expression made Jun Yelan feel sad too, though he still maintained a smile. He didn't want Lan Yan's last memory of him to be sadness, but happiness.
"Yan'er, can you smile for me? I was originally a weapon of destruction; I wouldn't smile. You taught me how. Now you've forgotten."
Lan Yan suddenly felt a bitter smile, her tears receding, her lips turning up slightly. "Okay, I won't cry anymore. It's not over yet." She would not give up.
Seeing Lan Yan regain her spirit, Jun Yelan was relieved. He stopped coughing, his eyelids drooping. He knew his condition and, leaning against the tree, murmured, "Yan'er, look how beautiful the snow is."
"If you ever come to see the snow again, don't come alone; it's dangerous. Remember to wear a cloak and gloves, and don't let yourself freeze."
Lan Yan sat beside Jun Yelan, biting her lip, silent.
She listened quietly, praying in her heart, "Let me see the fruit, please! I really can't bear to part with Jun Yelan."
Jun Yelan tightly grasped Lan Yan's hand, wanting to hold on a little longer. He didn't want to leave Lan Yan like this; he was too worried. But his body had grown heavy, and his eyelids gradually closed.
Lan Yan no longer heard Jun Yelan's voice. Turning, she saw how weak he was and cried out in panic, "Yelan! No, you can't leave!"
She rested Jun Yelan's head against the tree, stood up, and ran towards the thicket they had just passed. The snow was too deep, and she fell, immediately getting up and searching the bushes.
Her fingers had gone numb, her cheeks had lost all sensation, but her hands never stopped moving. She didn't believe in fate, didn't believe she couldn't find it, and searched even more meticulously.
After an unknown period, her vision blurred. Suddenly, she saw a speck of red. She thought it was an illusion, rubbed her eyes, and it really was a red fruit.
She immediately smiled, ran to pick the fruit, and then ran back.
At this moment, Jun Yelan was covered in snow, looking like a corpse.
Lan Yan didn't overthink. She gave Jun Yelan the fruit and then knelt beside him, rubbing his hands to warm them. "Yelan, I found the fruit. You'll be alright. Please open your eyes."
She kept breathing onto his hands, making them gradually regain warmth.
Meanwhile, Jun Yelan, with his eyes closed, seemed to have entered a dream. He saw seven fragments revolving around him.
He walked over, and through the fragments, he saw scenes of himself and Lan Yan.
He saw their first meeting at the brothel, then their arrival at the village, their pretense of being a couple at the inn, and finally being taken back to the organization.
After that, they reunited once more, and he, severely wounded, came to the snowy mountain with Lan Yan.
He saw Lan Yan crying alone, which tore at his heart, making him desperately want to find an exit and return to her side.
The fragments suddenly began to shake violently and lunged towards him.
He had no time to defend himself. A light appeared before him, and he saw Lan Yan throwing herself onto him. "Yan'er."
Lan Yan looked up, saw Jun Yelan's rosy cheeks, and smiled tearfully. "Yelan, I knew it. You wouldn't abandon me."
Jun Yelan stroked Lan Yan's back, a smile on his lips. "I couldn't bear to leave you. I worried you wouldn't be able to descend the mountain alone, worried you'd forget to bring things, worried you'd eat too much."
He thought that perhaps it was these thoughts that allowed him to awaken and see Lan Yan again. "Yan'er, I won't have any more problems from now on; I'll stay with you always."
"Good," Lan Yan finally felt at ease, believing her efforts hadn't been in vain, and her mood lifted considerably.
Jun Yelan stood up, moved his wrists, and finally felt strength return to his body, though he still couldn't use martial arts. He looked at the snowy mountain, knowing they couldn't stay long, and said, "Yan'er, let's descend quickly."
Lan Yan nodded and walked forward, her ankle hurting. She looked at her right foot, injured when she fell while frantically searching for the fruit.
She tried to support herself, but Jun Yelan suddenly picked her up, startling her. "Yelan."
Jun Yelan chuckled, "Yan'er, I'm all better now; it's my turn to take care of you. After we get down the mountain, you need to eat well." He carried Lan Yan, walking step by step down the mountain.
Lan Yan no longer refused and smiled, "I want to eat a lot of things: osmanthus cakes, walnut cookies, mille-feuille pastries. And meat soup, roasted chicken. Oh, right, shouldn't we go back to the village? I wonder how those children are doing."
"Don't worry, I've already sent them away; they're safe." Jun Yelan said, "The most important task now is to find food for you down the mountain and get all of this for you."
Lan Yan smiled and nodded, her eyes filled with joy. Lying on Jun Yelan's back, she felt that everything was perfect now. "Yelan, I can't eat that much; you'll have to help me."
"Alright," Jun Yelan replied indulgently.
Having been given a second chance at life, he only wanted Lan Yan to be happy and free from her past troubles. He had already planned to accompany Lan Yan on a culinary tour of various delicacies.
However, at the foot of the mountain, Pavilion Master Bai was already waiting with his men.
He had been nursing his injuries because of Jun Yelan and how could he possibly let this go? "Jun Yelan, you're going to die!"