The Blossom of Fate

As I woke up, the world around me slowly came into focus, the faint scent of medicinal herbs filling the air. The first thing I saw was Wei Xiaotian, sitting by my side, his hand firmly holding mine. His face, though calm, was etched with worry, his lips parting as if he were about to say something.

But before he could speak, I sat up and threw my arms around him, pulling him close. My voice trembled as I clung to him, tears spilling freely down my cheeks.

"Never leave me alone, Wei Xiaotian," I cried, my words breaking with the weight of my emotions.

Wei Xiaotian stiffened for a moment, caught off guard, but then his arms enveloped me, holding me as if anchoring me to the world. His voice was gentle, yet filled with a quiet intensity.

"Yu Hengtian," he whispered, "I am here. I will always be here. Even if the heavens collapse, I will never leave your side."

As Yu Hengtian's last words lingered in my mind, they echoed like a melody I couldn't forget

The weight of his sacrifice settled in my heart, bittersweet and profound. I closed my eyes, leaning into Wei Xiaotian's embrace, the warmth of his arms grounding me in a way I hadn't felt since waking in this foreign world.

As I held Wei Xiaotian's hand, the warmth of his touch contrasted with the trembling of mine, my emotions raw and unfiltered. My eyes, still wet with tears, refused to hide the vulnerability I felt in that moment.

"I want you to guide me through this," I said, my voice unsteady but filled with determination. "Together. So that I can become your Yu Hengtian and give you what you want me to."

My heart spoke faster than my mind, blurting out words I hadn't planned. "I may have forgotten everything, but I still love you. You should know that, okay?"

Panic surged within me, my grip on his hands tightening as if I feared he might let go. My hands trembled, betraying the storm of doubt and hope swirling in my chest.

Wei Xiaotian's eyes softened, his gaze locking onto mine as though searching for something unspoken. His lips parted, and his voice, steady and soothing, broke through the haze of my emotions.

"I never needed you to be perfect," he said gently. "I just need you to be here—with me. That's enough."

As he hugged me again, his warmth enveloped me, offering a strange sense of comfort amidst the storm of emotions. I held on tightly, my heart heavy with the weight of Yu Hengtian's sacrifice.

I won't let their love die down, I promised silently. The sacrifice Yu Hengtian made won't go to waste. I'll uphold his wishes. I'll protect Wei Xiaotian. I'll live as Yu Hengtian.

But even as these thoughts solidified, a quiet doubt stirred within me. Was this truly my decision? Was this what I, Zhen Wu, wanted?

The truth burned like an ember in the back of my mind. I wasn't in love—not the way Yu Hengtian had been. My actions weren't driven by passion, nor the deep bond of two souls yearning for one another. This wasn't love; it was obligation.

I was doing this not out of desire but as a form of repayment—for the sacrifice Yu Hengtian had made, for the life he had entrusted to me. I wasn't stepping into this role to fulfill my own destiny; I was stepping into his shoes, taking the chance he left for me.

It was a debt, not devotion.

I closed my eyes, pushing the thought away, but it lingered like a shadow. What happens when the debt is repaid? What happens when Wei Xiaotian looks into my eyes and sees the difference?

As the room settled into silence, Wei Xiaotian finally broke it. "Yu Hengtian," he began, his tone soft yet curious, "it's been more than 10 minutes. Hmm... I know." He studied me closely, concern shadowing his eyes. "Are you okay now? What happened outside? What went wrong?"

I shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze as my mind scrambled for an answer. "I... I don't know," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. Before he could press further, I blurted out, "Cake!"

Wei Xiaotian furrowed his brows, momentarily thrown off. "What?"

"I want cake," I declared firmly, folding my arms. "Osmanthus cake, spirulina cake, green tea cake, and also berry cake."

He blinked at me, his face caught between confusion and disbelief. "Yu..."

I pouted, tilting my head and pressing my palms together in mock pleading. "Please? Pretty please?"

His expression softened with a resigned chuckle. "Oh, alright. Whatever sir wants, sir gets. I'll go tell the kitchen." He paused, raising an eyebrow. "Anything else?"

"Milk," I added with a hint of triumph.

"Okay, okay. I'll be back in a few moments. I'll tell Lin Yuhai " he said, already heading toward the door.

As soon as he left, the playful mask I wore slipped away, leaving me with the hollow weight of reality. My eyes drifted to the grand decor around me, 

As I stood up, my fingers grazed over the items in the drawers, searching for something—anything—to hold onto. The room felt strangely unfamiliar, even though I had spent so much time in this place. My thoughts were scattered, but my eyes focused on the clutter, trying to make sense of the things around me.

I was just about to give up when I found something—a letter. The paper felt heavy in my hand, and the words on the surface seemed to blur with the weight of unanswered questions. I quickly hid it away, not wanting Wei Xiaotian to see it, not yet.

Just as I tucked the letter into my sleeve, I heard his voice. "Yu, why did you get off your bed?"

I froze for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest. I turned toward him, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "Oh, nothing," I said quickly, brushing my hair out of my face. "I was just looking around."

Wei Xiaotian stepped closer, his eyes searching mine with that same concern he always carried. But I couldn't let him in, not right now. "You shouldn't push yourself, especially after everything that's happened," he said softly, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.

I nodded absently, still clutching the letter in my hand, feeling the weight of Yu Hengtian's past, my past, pressing down on me. "I'll be fine," I replied