Lan Yan froze on the spot, thinking she was dreaming. She even pinched her cheek. "Hiss," she felt pain, then laughed like a child, "It's real!"
She leaped from the window and directly onto Jun Yelan, tears streaming down her face.
Jun Yelan was also stunned. Feeling the warmth of the person in his embrace, he realized this scene was more real than reality. He raised his still-aching arm and placed it on Lan Yan's back, a faint smile gracing his lips.
His mind was still unclear, all he knew was that his task now was to comfort Lan Yan. Lan Yan was his most important task and person!
Lan Yan cried until Jun Yelan's chest was soaked. She looked up at him, her nose still sniffling. "Jun Yelan, you're actually smiling. I was so worried."
She wanted to hit Jun Yelan, but considering he was injured, she hid her hands.
Jun Yelan said, "I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing at myself. I'm so happy to see you again, to touch you again." Though his lips were smiling, tears welled in his eyes.
The choice he once thought best was to distance himself from Lan Yan, so he could protect her safely.
But he had walked through hell, and countless scenes flashed in his mind, leaving him with only one thought: never let the people by his side leave.
He painstakingly moved his hand, covering Lan Yan's. He murmured, "I'm not afraid of the eighteen levels of hell, only that I'll never see you again."
Lan Yan, who had been a little angry, was now captivated by Jun Yelan's intense gaze and heartfelt confession. She no longer cared about his past actions.
She fixed her eyes on Jun Yelan and said solemnly, "This time, I'm not forcing you to say it, you must remember it. Also, you need to properly recover from your injuries and forget all your missions."
She imperiously helped Jun Yelan lie down and turned to get medicine.
Jun Yelan grabbed her hand, "Can you stay with me?"
Lan Yan was surprised. Jun Yelan was very fragile now, and with that sentence, anyone would be moved.
She sat down, tucked Jun Yelan's hand under the covers, "Alright, sleep well."
Jun Yelan nodded, his lips curving upward, but he didn't close his eyes, his gaze fixed on Lan Yan. He remembered being buried in the ruins, a voice constantly echoing in his ears, urging him to persevere.
He held on with that last breath, and as if seeing light, he thought it was an illusion. It turned out Lan Yan had come to save him. He held Lan Yan's hand, feeling the roughness of her palm, his eyes filled with heartache.
"Lan Yan, you saved me again. My life is no longer enough to repay you. From now on, my life is yours. If there is a next life, it will be yours too, alright?"
For the assassin Jun Yelan, he had nothing. The only thing of value was the life he used to kill.
Lan Yan shook her head. Seeing Jun Yelan's eyes dim, she smiled, "What do I want your life for? I want other things."
Jun Yelan's eyes brightened, and he looked back at Lan Yan.
"First, from now on, you must tell me anything that happens, and you cannot leave my side without permission. Also, no excuses, you must listen to me. And then... I can't think of anything else for now." Lan Yan mused, tapping her chin.
Jun Yelan smiled, "Okay." He would agree to any request Lan Yan made.
In the ruins, the Jun Yelan who had only been a killing weapon had died. The one alive now was someone living for Lan Yan.
Lan Yan was amused. She leaned forward slightly towards Jun Yelan. "Seeing how well-behaved you are today, I forgive you for everything in the past. I'll go make you something to eat to help you recover."
"Good." Jun Yelan finally released Lan Yan's hand reluctantly, his gaze following her every move.
Lan Yan walked out of the room and saw the children eavesdropping. She cleared her throat, "You all go back." She ran shyly towards the kitchen. Now everyone knew.
The children didn't listen. Instead, they pushed open the door, all looking at Jun Yelan. "Brother Jun, are you really all better?"
Jun Yelan nodded, "It was my fault this time, I must have scared you all."
Xiao Hua said, "Brother Jun, we're fine, but Sister Lan really tired herself out. She drove the carriage alone to find you, brought you back after a few hours, and then immediately treated your injuries without getting any rest."
"And your medicine was also bought by her from the city, which was very dangerous." They all exaggerated, feeling that Sister Lan had worked very hard.
Jun Yelan didn't know what had happened during this period. Hearing it now, his heart felt even more unsettled. He clenched his fist and made up his mind to do as Lan Yan had said.
He thought about this incident and decided to find a way to escape the Assassin's Pavilion, so Lan Yan would have no worries. He had been wrong before, thinking that leaving was the best choice for Lan Yan.
But in reality, from the moment he approached Lan Yan, everything had changed. It was he who had asked Lan Yan to stay by his side, and it was he who had caused Lan Yan to experience these things.
If he couldn't plan everything for Lan Yan, what right did he have to stay by her side!
Seeing that Jun Yelan was silent and seemed to be thinking, Xiao Hua and Xiao Yue decided not to disturb him and left with the children. They wanted to find Sister Lan, help her cook, and eat delicious food.
Jun Yelan was left alone in the room. He took out the list he had in his embrace. He thought about what had happened at the Lin residence. This list was related to the Flower Pavilion and was something that Pavilion Master Bai desperately desired.
He needed to use it well and make a deal with Pavilion Master Bai. There was a commotion at the door. He carefully hid the list and looked at Lan Yan at the door with a smile.
Lan Yan was a little perplexed, but couldn't quite articulate why. She came in with the food. "You just woke up, so you probably can't eat much. I made some light dishes, tofu pudding, green vegetables, and steamed radish. Eat a little."
She made what Jun Yelan loved.
Jun Yelan smiled, "I'll eat everything you make." He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.
Lan Yan watched him, resting her chin on her hand. She felt that the atmosphere between her and Jun Yelan had changed. Before, when they were in the brothel, they were two people who relied on each other.
But now, they trusted each other more, willing to have each other's backs. "Jun Yelan, I like it like this."
Jun Yelan was taken aback, then turned and smiled, "I like it too." He would ensure these days continued, no matter the cost.
Lan Yan smiled even more brightly, putting food on Jun Yelan's plate, unaware that Jun Yelan had already made up his mind. For Jun Yelan, in this world, no one, not even Pavilion Master Bai who had confined him since childhood, could stop him from staying by Lan Yan's side!