Chapter 141 - 3.37

That was the beauty of their souls, the owner of two tragic threads of fate that just couldn't be straightened out. Even though they were so perfect with each other, even though they were a match made in heaven, there were just some things that wouldn't work out for them.

[..What good would come out if they had to suffer for years in exchange for small bits of happiness?] The System thought.

He had been hiding away ever since Xie Yongrui came to interrupt his Host because he was afraid that that being's soul would catch waves of what he had been doing over the course of all this time.

To avoid getting disrupted, he hid himself away and observed as the two clearly already felt something for each other. Beyond love, akin to a spiritual bond too sacred to separate.

The lovers were once a pair that everyone envied. The two 'perfect' beings who fell in love with each other and shared an unbreakable bond.

But it was all for naught. Fate didn't agree to them being together. They wanted to insist, and fought their fates. As payment for both of their stubborn attitudes, look at where they are right now?

The state they were in. Not even able to recall their divinity. Even though it was so clearly present within themselves, even to this very moment.

[Host..] The System lamented as sympathy and pity drowned him.

He should've known better. If he realized it earlier, he would've killed off Qin Zicheng right then and there the moment he sensed the other soul. But now, even Xu Jiaqi's soul began to feel the changes that the other being brought to her.

_______

Xie Yongrui and Xu Jiaqi stayed cozily as time passed and the day changed. They idled around, from drinking hot tea, walking through the snowy paths, or even paying a visit to the other chambers just to look around. They found solace within each other, and it was no wonder that they found it hard to separate.

Though, everything must have an end.

"My lord, please wait for me. I won't take long. When I come back.. Let's see, will you have a surprise for me?" Xu Jiaqi spoke up.

By that, she was confirming that her ultimate decision would really be to go out of Xian Ruo and depart with He Yiyuan. It was a rather dangerous gamble. Knowing that He Yiyuan held an interest in Xu Jiaqi, and his tendencies to madly desire what he set his sights upon.

Xie Yongrui could only hope that the gamble was on their favor, that Xu Jiaqi would be safe until the end of the agreement's period, and that He Yiyuan would be wise enough to not try any tricks on Xu Jiaqi. 

"A surprise.. That's rare, coming from you. Knowing our Qiqi.. Are you going to make a request to me? Or do you sincerely want me to pull a surprise on you?"

"It's both, my lord." Xu Jiaqi grinned.

She did have a request she wanted him to fulfill, but she also wanted Xie Yongrui to come up with something that would make her surprised when she came back.

"How honest of you." Xie Yongrui pulled the girl down for a kiss on the forehead, finding Xu Jiaqi so lovable with her cheeky expression. "Do you have something to desire? To the point that you would ask me like this? In the past year you've worked for me, you've never asked anything form me directly apart from things for work. Don't tell me, this time too? More work-related things?"

Xu Jiaqi sighed in contentment. "No, my lord."

"Then, what is it? Tell me slowly, I will listen to you."

"... Before that, I suppose I shall tell you about my goal in life. I.. do find my work fun, but to be honest, the reason I'm doing all of this isn't for Xian Ruo, nor is it because I like working. I'm doing this for myself, and I wish for this to end quickly. Then, I want to try living life. Like a normal lady, perhaps. I want to live an unfettered life.. a great one that I won't regret. I've had so many regrets in my short life, and I think it's time for me to reform everything up."

"To fulfill that, are you going to leave me? After building everything up, will you.. abandon me?" Xie Yongrui's volume got smaller as he questioned. His eyes contained uncertainty. "Qiqi, I will say this right now. I won't be able to stand that. I will definitely leave with you if you planned to run away."

Bits of anxiousness was thoroughly mixed in his voice, which was starting to wobble and vibrate all over.

"But you have to be the Emperor. Who would run the power if not for you? Xian Ruo needs you." Xu Jiaqi sighed in worry.

"..If I really had no choice, if you want me to be the Emperor, I'll do it if my one and only condition is granted."

"Oh? My lord also has a condition? What is it?"

"Qiqi.. Tell me, what if I said that I wanted you in the Empress' seat?" Xie Yongrui proclaimed, his heartbeat quickening as he waited for the other to react.

Xu Jiaqi's large doe eyes blinked. A surprised look on her face, presumably because of his sudden words.

'This can be counted as a confession, right?' Xu Jiaqi thought.

"..My lord, do you know what my goal is? The one goal that I want to finish before retreating to the back. It's a very important matter to me, so I won't give up until I finish it. Only then can I be satisfied and live the life I told you about."

She did not refuse or object to Xie Yongrui's words right away, which ignited a flame of hope inside Xie Yongrui. That Xu Jiaqi would accept him and his desperateness.

He gulped, treading carefully to answer this question.