Until Next Time - Yizhan

Chapter Eighteen

At that very moment, Zhan made a decision.

"I-I'm going to marry you, Wangyin," he said in a quivering voice.

No! A voice echoed at the back of his mind.

Wangyin lifted Zhan off the ground and wrapped him in a tight embrace. He was torn between letting go of Tang San for Lan Xie Yun, but he couldn't bear to lose the one he truly loved. Tang San was his everything and no one else could ever take that place.

He might be a bit selfish for wanting to keep Tang San despite knowing that Tang San's heart belongs to another man. But the consolation is that Tang San made his own decision and maybe Tang San will end up loving him back someday. After a while, Zhan finally broke free from Wangyin's embrace.

"W-wait for a moment, I-I have something to give back to him, Wanyin.." Wangyin nodded, but a tight knot of fear twisted in his chest at the thought of Tang San changing his mind, but he couldn't stop him.

Zhan almost ran down the stairs, but he paused just a few steps from the bottom when he spotted Wen Qing standing there.

"You didn't listen to me," she said. "I told you not to mess with fire because it'll burn you... And I wasn't mistaken when I said it's not only your heart that could get hurt. You hurt of them, Tang San..."

Zhan felt a pang of bitterness as he hurried down the stairs and ran to Lan Xie Yun's room. All Lan Xie Yun's stuff was packed up, and he was clearly about to leave. And Zhan wanted to die when he saw the anger and pain in Lan Xie Yun's eyes.

"X-Xie Yun..."

"Go back upstairs, San," Lan Xie Yun's tone is cold and devoid of emotion.

Zhan held back his tears. "I-I'm not for you, Xie Yun..." Lan Xie Yun nodded bitterly. "I saw and heard it myself, didn't I?"

"Wangyin isn't the only reason," Zhan said as he wiped his tears. "Look at me carefully, Xie Yun..."

"Let me go, San. There's really no point in talking anymore..." Lan Xie Yun said angrily.

"Look at me, am I still the Tang San you met when you first arrived here?"

"Why do you have to make my suffering worse? Haven't you already caused me enough pain?"

"Xie Yun, I-I'm not Wu... I'm-Oh, god!" Zhan sobbed helplessly. "How can I explain this to you..."

"Why bother explaining? You've already made up your mind, haven't you?" Lan Xie Yun shot back, his voice sharp.

Zhan sniffled and wiped his eyes again. "Yes," Zhan whispered.

Zhan felt drained and numb, yet he couldn't stop his tears from falling. What is there to explain? Is there enough explanation to ease the pain he inflicted upon everyone?

"Perhaps this was fated to happen." Zhan took the ring off his finger, reached out Lan Xie Yun's hand and placed it in his palm. "This ring is worthy of being given to someone, Xie Yun. N-not to me... n-not at this time."

With his jaw clenched, Lan Xie Yun held the ring tightly in his hand. And Zhan saw the tears forming in Lan Xie Yun's eyes despite the anger and intense pain.

"Goodbye, San..." Lan Xie Yun said, quickly turning his back. "Xie Yun..." Zhan called after him.

Lan Xie Yun turned, hope gleaming in his eyes. Zhan battled fiercely against the desire to pull Lan Xie Yun into an embrace. If he is trapped in Lan Xie Yun's arms, he might waver in his decision.