Chapter 26 (2/2)
”I-Imperial Brother…” Zhou Min called him using a saccharine voice. Her sweet call melted his heart. He pulled her into his embrace. ”Lan Min, don't leave me. It doesn't matter if you think I am evil, but don't leave me. Or… or I don't know what I might do. So, you have to stay by my side until death do we with parted. You don't need to love me, but leaving me is impossible… You hear me?”
His voice was sub-zero cold but very steady. Yet, his firm hug and his trembling hands betrayed his restlessness. Zhou Min didn't respond to him right away. In fact, she was busy calling 484 like crazy because she was exulted the female protagonist had died. With her opponent's death, she had already completed the main mission. Didn't that mean she could leave?
484 gave her a meaningful glance when it perceived her excitement. It was disappointed by her low IQ. ”Please refrain from thinking you're done with the mission. Take a look…” 484 opened her tasks page. On it, the tasks related to the female lead were marked complete. Under the section related to the male lead, there are two sub-categories. The first one is the progress bar of the male lead's affection which showed 100%. The second one is the progress bar for ”Harvested Energy” which showed only 30%!
Zhou Min imagined herself pointing a trembling finger at that incomplete progress bar. She looked at 484, not knowing how to react. She asked, ”I didn't think I would be like that!”
”You think, you think, you think! You still have a month or so to do it. If you can't fill the progress bar to 100, you won't have enough energy for a smooth transfer to the next world. I won't be able to help you with the mission next time. This is what happens when you slack off at the beginning and refused to hook up with the male lead as I had suggested. Tsk, tsk, tsk! 250, it's not too late. You better do it right and speed up the process this time. Your life is in your hands. You don't want your existence to be erased just like that, right?”
Meanwhile, Lan Ziyu was waiting for her answer which never came. He couldn't help letting out a pained laugh. He forced himself to smile as he let her go. Then, he tucked her under her quilt. ”You… Take a good rest. When you are better, I will come to see you again. During this time… take some time to think carefully about what I just told you…”
He turned around, ready to leave, but suddenly, he felt his clothes being tugged. His heart shuddered, but he didn't dare to look back. At that moment, Zhou Min had opened her eyes again and was clear on what to do. She only had at most a month to everything so she had to be a temptress, seducing him to her bed every day. She didn't believe she won't be able to reach 50% with this method.
”This is already the fourth time. Do you still want to abandon me again?” Zhou Min used an aggrieved and pained voice to appeal to him.
”What do you mean the fourth time?” He turned back abruptly and was. .h.i.t with the sight of her teary eyes. It made him feel sorry for her.
”The first time was when I was 10. You let me go. The second time was in Clear Jade hall. You did that to me, but the next day when I awoke, you were already gone. The third time was in your bedchamber. You also left silently after making a mess out of me for days. You threw me to the imperial physician. Now that you are back to my side, are you still planning to leave me? After leaving, when will you come again? Lan Ziyu, who do you take me for? Am I someone to be used to strengthened your hold on the harem and stabilized the court?”
The more she spoke, the more her tears fell. Every teardrop was like a knife shredding his heart painfully. He went back to her bedside and took her into his arms. She feigned struggling – pulling away from him and hammering his chest weakly. ”Evil! Brother, you are an evil man. How can treat me such way? When you remember about me, you will find me; Only to forget the next moment, leaving me hanging, alone… abandoned… You still forced me in that way regardless of my will. You never listen to me. Do you know how much it hurts? It hurts so much… sob…”
”Don't cry. Please don't cry. It's my fault. Everything is my fault. Min'er, don't cry anymore. Brother will not leave you again. I will protect you, okay?” He carried her on his laps, cuddling her like a child and coaxing her to dry her tears. However, Zhou Min continued to cry until her nose was red and her reddened eyes swollen before stopping.
When he saw her quiet and meek side cuddling in his arms like a rabbit, hope rose inside his heart again. ”Min'er, tell me. Are you going to leave me?”
”Brother, are you going to leave me again?” She replied with a rhetoric question.
”I won't. In this life, I will never leave you. You are the only one for me, forever by my side.” He swore with an overbearing att.i.tude while holding her tighter in his embrace.
”That's good. If Brother doesn't let go of my hand, I will forever stay by your side! I love you, my dear brother. I have always loved you. I love you very, very much!” She sketched out her hands and hugged his neck. Then, she pulled him down and offered her tempting red lips.