Night fell. After tidying up, Lan Yan lay on her bed, legs crossed. Chewing on dried peaches, she asked, "System, can you think of a way for me to leave this building?"
Jun Yelan's past was not here, which meant she didn't know him well enough.
System: "Host, if I had this ability, I wouldn't need to bind you as a host. You should find a way yourself."
Lan Yan felt a pang of annoyance at its words. She realized she truly disliked the system at times. "Hmph, only I would be willing to take you, you unreliable thing. We're both as bad as each other."
The system wanted to retort but conceded that Lan Yan was speaking the truth. "Host, you don't need to worry. You'll find an opportunity to leave this building sooner or later."
"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you last time, the original host of this body was part of an organization. It seems to be an intelligence agency. In any case, be extra careful."
"What!" Lan Yan immediately stopped eating her dried fruit and sat up, looking around the room. No wonder she always felt something was amiss; it was too cold and desolate. "The original host lived in this building for at least five years, but there's no sign of life."
She lay down again. "Whatever. I don't know this organization anyway. We'll deal with it if it shows up." She truly had no idea how to contact any organization, nor did she know what it did.
The system only had basic information. For detailed matters, she had to rely on herself. But she had already searched the entire room. Aside from a few clothes and accessories, the original host had left nothing behind.
"I won't think about it anymore. Sleep."
The system had no choice but to go offline, having grown increasingly accustomed to its host.
The next morning, Lan Yan was busy practicing a new song. It was her turn to perform tonight. Jun Yelan was already disguised as a Taoist exorcist, and she couldn't continue her pretense.
Consequently, she didn't have a chance to see Jun Yelan all day. It wasn't until after her performance that night that she returned to her room. She sat at the dressing table to remove her makeup when a sound came from the window.
Curiosity piqued, she approached the window, opened it, and was surprised to see Jun Yelan. "Why are you here?"
Jun Yelan leaped in casually, landing steadily in the room. He pulled out a paper-wrapped package from behind him and said, "For you."
Lan Yan was even more astonished. What was special about today that Jun Yelan would proactively bring her something? She took the package and opened it, seeing the osmanthus cakes inside. She couldn't help but smile. "These are my favorites."
A slight curve appeared on Jun Yelan's lips. Having spent time with Lan Yan these past few days, he was getting to know her preferences better; she loved sweets. He had gone out searching that evening and paused when he passed by the osmanthus cakes.
A thought surfaced in his mind: Lan Yan would surely like these.
Lan Yan eagerly began to eat. She was starving and grateful to Jun Yelan for bringing her food.
"There's more," Jun Yelan said, thinking that it was Lan Yan's birthday, so she shouldn't just have one thing. He had bought everything nearby.
Lan Yan stared at the table laden with food, dumbfounded. Could she possibly eat all of this?
She sat down, opened all the paper packages, and slowly started eating. After eating until she was stuffed, she finally asked, "Jun Yelan, what's going on today? You suddenly brought me all this."
Jun Yelan gazed into Lan Yan's clear eyes and said, "Today is your birthday."
"Mine?" Lan Yan finally realized it was her birthday. Having spent so long in the transmigration world, she had almost forgotten. She couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Jun Yelan, for preparing all this for me."
In her own world, she always spent her birthdays alone, with no one remembering. But since arriving here, someone always remembered.
Jun Yelan was slightly taken aback. He had only ever heard Lan Yan say thank you. "Do you have any birthday wishes?"
"I actually do," Lan Yan said with a smile, her voice laced with mystery. "Take me to the rooftop, and I'll tell you."
Jun Yelan nodded. With a sweep of his long arm, he scooped Lan Yan into his embrace. He carried her to the rooftop, and with the crowd below behind them, he gently placed her on the roof.
Lan Yan sat down with a smile, clasping her hands together. "I hope that in the future, I will have the people close to me by my side on my birthdays." She closed her eyes, making a sincere wish.
Jun Yelan's pupils trembled. He gripped his sword, staring at the person beside him. He was an assassin, with no fixed abode and no future; he couldn't make any promises.
This time, as he looked at Lan Yan's sparkling eyes, he felt a sense of loss born from the depths of his heart. If he stayed any longer, he would only end up harming another person, and it would be the person he least wanted to harm.
He took a box from his pocket and said, "Birthday gift."
Lan Yan turned to look at Jun Yelan and accepted it with emotion. "Jun Yelan, you really prepared so much." She opened it and found a necklace with a round pendant in the center.
"If you ever encounter danger, open the pendant. And the poisoned needles I gave you, keep them safe too," Jun Yelan instructed, his palms tightening with each word.
Lan Yan found him a bit strange. "Jun Yelan, you seem odd, not like your usual self."
Jun Yelan suppressed the emotions in his eyes and ultimately said nothing. His injuries had healed, and his mission still needed to be completed, or he would be hunted by the Assassin's Pavilion.
At that point, not only he, but also those around him, would be implicated.
Lan Yan reached out and tugged at Jun Yelan's sleeve. "Don't just think about me; think about yourself too. Since it's my birthday today, I'll give you a wish as well."
She stood up and called out, "I wish Jun Yelan can live the life he desires, be safe and sound, and not get hurt."
Jun Yelan sat beside her, completely stunned. His heart trembled violently, trembling for the person beside him.
He thought that if he were still alive one day, he would definitely return. Just seeing her one more time would be enough.
He also stood up, standing beside Lan Yan, his left hand near Lan Yan's right. At the closest possible distance, he stopped, not wanting Lan Yan to be tainted by his blood. Then, he accompanied her, watching the starry sky together.
Lan Yan, feeling the presence of the person beside her, her face alight with a smile. She thought she would always remember this birthday.
The two stayed for a long time before going down. Jun Yelan carried Lan Yan back to her room. Looking at the sleeping face in his arms, he gently placed her on the bed.
Lan Yan was sound asleep, still holding the box Jun Yelan had given her, with the necklace from the box around her neck.
Jun Yelan stayed by the bedside, watching Lan Yan for an hour, his eyes filled with immense reluctance. He lowered the bed curtain, extinguished the candle, and stood by the dark window, whispering, "Take care."
The window opened slightly, and a gust of wind blew past. The person by the window disappeared.
The person on the bed slept soundly, still murmuring a name, "Jun Yelan."