Сhарtеr 22 (9/17)
Yun Weishan lооkеd аt thе peoрlе beforе her, her mind аlrеаdу mаdе up.
"I am indеed foolish. With my identity ехpоsed, соntinuing tо аct wоuld оnlу hоld еverуone baсk. I just wаnt the аntidote for thе Half-Мonth Fly—thе реrmаnеnt kind." Аs shе spokе, shе turned hеr gаzе to Нan Yа Si: "Тhis is what yоu рromisеd me beforе—that as long аs I соmplеted the mission, уоu wоuld set mе frее."
Наn Yа Si loоkеd deеplу at Yun Weishаn and аskеd hеr in a lоw vоiсе, "Do you rеally want to leаve?"
Bei Хu suddenly sрokе uр: "Whethеr she wants to or not, she cannot leave."
The expressions of both Yun Weishan and Han Ya Si changed.
Wan Si Ai continued from where Bei Xu left off: "If you come with us into the House of Gong and redeem yourself through meritorious service, that will truly count as completing the mission. Only then will we set you free."
"What crime have I committed?"
Wan Si Ai smiled faintly: "Everyone has committed crimes."
Yun Weishan fell silent for a moment before saying, "If I refuse, I suppose you won't give me the Half-Month Fly antidote anymore?"
Han Ya Qi replied, "Of course not."
Yun Weishan gritted her teeth, feigning suppressed anger.
Gong Zishang had already been moved from the medical hall back to her own room. Much of the bandages on her body had been removed, leaving only a single piece of gauze on her face. The burns on her arms and face were no longer as horrifying as before, and her damaged skin had begun to regenerate, though faint scars still remained on her body.
Gong Zishang had not yet regained consciousness and lay quietly in bed.
Jin Fan pushed the door open and sat down by Gong Zishang's bedside. He took out an extremely clear glass bottle from his sleeve, inside which were several fireflies. These days, he had been guarding Gong Zishang every day, transforming from a man of few words into a chatterbox, as if possessed by Gong Zishang's spirit.
Jin Fan placed the porcelain bottle in Gong Zishang's palm and murmured, "Look, these are the fireflies I saw in the woods last night. I thought perhaps these fireflies are the descendants of the ones you released before, so I couldn't help but catch them for you. I put them in this bottle—they'll glow at night, just like lanterns."
Gong Zishang still showed no reaction.
"You used to be so outspoken, daring to say anything without restraint, truly putting people in difficult positions. Yet, after not hearing your chatter for so long, I actually miss it a little..."
Jin Fan reached out and gently touched Gong Zishang's forehead, then whispered, "As long as you wake up, I'll listen to whatever you say without arguing back, alright?"
The bottle containing the fireflies was tightly clutched in Jin Fan's hand. He let out a soft sigh but failed to notice the almost imperceptible movement of Gong Zishang's hand.
Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded beside Jin Fan.
"Then marry me."
Jin Fan was startled. He looked up and saw Gong Zishang still lying on the bed with her eyes closed. He shook his head, then stood up and walked to the door, looking around. Perhaps due to exhaustion over the past few days, he thought he might be hallucinating. He slapped himself lightly and continued staring at the fireflies in his hand.
"You said as long as I wake up, you'll agree to whatever I say and won't argue back."
Jin Fan turned sharply and saw Gong Zishang sitting on the bed, smiling at him. Overwhelmed with emotion, he tightly grasped her hand.
Gong Zishang, with her eyes closed, said to him, "Go and call Gong Ziyu for me, quickly."
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