The next morning, Lan Yan received a letter from her elder brother stating that there was a slight issue with his business and asking when she would return. She had originally planned to stay and accompany Jun Yelan until the results of the imperial examinations were announced, but now she couldn't.
Jun Yelan said, "Yan'er, I'll be fine on my own. Be careful when you go back." He arranged for the escort agency to accompany Lan Yan on her return journey, but he couldn't help but worry.
Lan Yan nodded, "Yelan, no matter the outcome, you must come back soon." She trusted Jun Yelan, but she still worried about unforeseen accidents.
"Alright." Jun Yelan saw Lan Yan onto the carriage before turning back to the inn.
Lan Yan waved goodbye to him and left the imperial city with the escort agency, successfully returning home.
As it turned out, the business issue had already been resolved. Lan Chuo and the others were just preparing to send her a letter when Lan Yan arrived.
Lan Yan: "..." Fine, she would just wait for news at home.
After her return, she visited the shop and workshop; there were no problems. Her cooperation with the Pei family was improving, and the younger siblings were becoming increasingly skilled.
There was nothing for her to worry about, and her days were filled with making new pastries.
One day, Lin Yun entered the shop and said, "I don't know what's happening outside, but it's very lively. Lan Yan, aren't you going to take a look?"
Jun Yelan hadn't returned yet, and Lan Yan had lost interest in lively events. She was still dragged along by Lin Yun. As they reached the town entrance, they saw a festive procession passing by.
The people around them were discussing, "Incredible! Our town has produced a top scholar. I heard this scholar comes from a humble background and was even a child groom."
"So what? Since ancient times, heroes are not judged by their origins."
Lan Yan was startled. Were they talking about Jun Yelan? She looked towards the procession ahead, but too many people blocked her view. As she grew anxious, a figure dressed in red stopped in front of her.
She smiled sweetly and called out, "Yelan."
Jun Yelan, dressed in red and wearing a hat, was handsome and distinguished, exuding the same aura of coldness and pride. He curved his lips upwards, his eyes lifting, and took Lan Yan's hand.
"Yan'er, you are now the Zhuangyuan's wife."
Lan Yan realized that Jun Yelan had indeed passed the exam! She lunged into his arms and exclaimed with a smile, "Yelan, you're amazing."
Jun Yelan held Lan Yan and said with a gentle smile, "Because of you, I was able to achieve all this." He had never imagined such a day, as simply surviving had been a struggle before.
But Lan Yan's appearance had changed everything, giving him something to look forward to, leading to his present achievements. "I have already requested an imperial decree to serve as the county magistrate here, so I can stay with you from now on."
This was where he was born, and where he and Lan Yan lived. He wanted to manage it well.
Lan Yan nodded, "Yelan, I support your decision because I know you've already thought it through." She squeezed Jun Yelan's hand, a smile gracing her face, "Let's go home for a feast."
"Alright." Jun Yelan looked at the person before him with doting affection, and they returned together.
The remaining procession watched this scene, somewhat bewildered. The top scholar had eloped with his wife!
Lin Yun and Lan Chuo leaned against each other, genuinely happy for them.
In the days that followed, Jun Yelan handled official duties at the county office during the day, while Lan Yan worked at the shop.
In the evenings, they would return home together, have dinner with the family, and then rest in the courtyard.
This routine continued until ten years later...
Lan Yan was tidying the counter at the shop when she suddenly fainted, startling Lin Yun. She knew her time had come; it was time to leave.
After seeing a doctor, she went home to lie down.
Hurried footsteps echoed from the doorway. Jun Yelan rushed in, his face etched with worry, and came to her bedside. "Yan'er, how are you?"
Lan Yan reached out and smoothed the worry from Jun Yelan's brow, shaking her head. "I'm alright, just a bit sleepy. Yelan, I want to sleep now." Her eyelids drooped.
Jun Yelan clenched his fists, then loosened them, helping Lan Yan lie down. He held her hand, gazing intently at her pale face, feeling as if she might vanish at any moment.
"Yan'er, please don't sleep, alright? I still have so much I want to say to you, so many things I want to do with you."
Lan Yan didn't want to sleep either, but she couldn't control it. Her hand moved to caress Jun Yelan's cheek, and she tried her best to smile. "Yelan, I'm not sleeping, I'm staying with you."
She worried that Jun Yelan wouldn't take good care of himself and wouldn't eat on time.
Jun Yelan's eyes welled up with tears. Seeing Lan Yan's tired appearance, he choked out, "Yan'er, sleep. I'll be here watching over you." He held the hand against his cheek, a bitter smile touching his lips.
Lan Yan longed to say more to Jun Yelan, but her eyelids kept closing, and her hand fell.
In an instant, Jun Yelan caught her hand, placing it back on his face, letting tears stream down his cheeks. After a long time, he burst into tears, realizing that the person who had been best to him in this world was gone.
His Yan'er would never return.
He didn't know how long he stayed by her bedside. After handling Lan Yan's funeral arrangements, he returned to the county office. Then, he worked day and night, eventually collapsing onto his desk.
The wind blew a piece of paper on the desk, which read, "In the next life, can we meet again."
Concurrently, a shard floated into the air.
At this moment, Lan Yan had returned to the interface. For some reason, she could now see Jun Yelan's ending. She desperately wanted to rush in and comfort Jun Yelan, but she was powerless.
The system looked at her with a sigh and asked, "I'm sorry, host. Do you want to enter the next world?"
"Yes." Lan Yan straightened up, her eyes filled with determination. "I want to meet him again."
She wouldn't let Jun Yelan wait for her alone. She said to the system, "Proceed directly to the next world."
"World initiation in progress..." The system watched Lan Yan gradually disappear and murmured, "Host, good luck."
As the words fell, its screen turned completely black. "Oh no, I can't contact the host anymore."
At this moment, Lan Yan opened her eyes and looked down at the bustling street below, a look of bewilderment on her face. Then she suddenly realized she was standing on a tall building; if she leaned forward slightly, she would fall!