"Don’t cry anymore, and don’t allow yourself to think that way. If he needs to drink blood, let him drink mine. I will repay the debt you owe him." How could he possibly allow Qin Qin to offer her own blood to Qi Shangyi.
"If he doesn’t drink, it’s because I told him not to. Now that things have turned out , is it all my fault?"
"No, it isn’t your fault. Qi Shangyi doesn’t belong to the human world; he doesn’t belong here at all. Sooner or later, he will leave this place. You should’ve understood that long ago."
Gripping Qin Qin’s shoulders, Mo Yunchen said to her. Qin Qin looked at Mo Yunchen, closed her eyes, and masked her complex emotions.
"I know, I’ve known all along, which is why I’ve always wanted to repay what I owe him. But..."
"No crying now, you’re tired from the day. Go rest properly." Mo Yunchen forcefully carried Qin Qin to the large bed, keeping her company as she rested.
Deep into the night, Mo Sheng, holding a bowl full of blood with a pungent smell, walked up to Mo Yunchen, "President Mo."
Mo Yunchen nodded and entered Qi Shangyi’s room.
Qi Shangyi, who had his eyes closed, opened them. Those phoenix eyes were still devoid of any spirit, empty and lifeless.
"Who’s there? Mo Yunchen!"
Hearing the footsteps, Qi Shangyi hesitantly said, "What are you doing here?"
Suddenly, his expression changed, and desire flitted across his phoenix eyes, "Take it away, take the blood away; I won’t drink it."
His pale, cold complexion turned a restrained shade of red, a sign of the overwhelming desire for blood.
"Drink it. Just this one bowl, do you think it will make much of a difference to you? If you don’t drink it, I fear you won’t last till tomorrow morning. Don’t you still want to see the sunrise with her?"
Mo Yunchen prodded Qi Shangyi, who turned away with his lifeless phoenix eyes glaring at Mo Yunchen.
Mo Sheng walked up to Qi Shangyi, who remained silent for a long while, then took the bowl from Mo Sheng and drained it in one gulp.
Mo Yunchen glanced at Qi Shangyi and then stepped out of the room.
After a while, Qi Shangyi’s vision began to clear slightly. He could gradually see clearly again, although not as well as before, but he could make out his surroundings. His skin seemed to be slowly recovering too, going from the withered appearance of someone in their seventies or eighties to that of someone in their fifties or sixties.
Qi Shangyi looked out of the window at the dark sky and smiled. Surviving the night to see tomorrow’s sunrise was satisfaction enough for him.
The next day, at five in the morning, Qin Qin and Qi Shangyi sat side by side on the rooftop of Mo Yunchen’s villa. The winter sunrise came later, and the two sat in silence, looking into the distance.
"Qingqing, if there is a next life, would you fall in love with me?"
After some time, Qi Shangyi asked in a deep voice, looking toward the slowly brightening sky.
"...I can’t answer that question, I’m sorry Qi Shangyi."
Qi Shangyi smiled bitterly and curved his lips. She wouldn’t even give him hope for consideration.
"You’ve always been , never changing."
After saying that, Qi Shangyi took out a round, dim bead from his pocket, "This Spiritual Pearl is for you."
Qi Shangyi forced the bead into Qin Qin’s hand, refusing to allow her to reject it.
"This bead is magical. Thanks to it, I’ve been able to live for so long, but I don’t need it anymore. Keep it safe; perhaps one day it will be of use to you."
"Don’t refuse. You know I won’t let you refuse."
Qi Shangyi gazed deeply at Qin Qin, "This face may not be as exquisite as before, but it’s still not bad. I’ll remember it."
"...Has he been good to you?"
He didn’t need her to say it; he could clearly see that over this period, Mo Yunchen had been indulgent and doting toward Qin Qin. He asked simply to hear her answer, so he could give up.
"Yes, very good!" Mo Yunchen truly treated her well.
"Good, that’s good. Qingqing, remember to take good care of yourself. You must be happy, understand?"
Qi Shangyi spoke softly. As the sun slowly rose, although it wasn’t as stunning as the sunrise seen by the sea, Qi Shangyi couldn’t take his eyes off it.
The faint golden color spread across the sky, filled with colorful clouds as the sun shyly rose...
Their faces were touched with the golden light, watching the beautiful sunrise in the distance with serene expressions.
Eventually, as the sun rose, Qi Shangyi embraced Qin Qin abruptly, "Let me hold you for a while, just a little while."
Qin Qin was about to struggle, but upon hearing Qi Shangyi’s words, she stopped and quietly let him hold her.
"Qingqing, you must be happy."
Qi Shangyi curved his lips into a smile, seeing Mo Yunchen’s figure not far away. He had been watching them all along, feeling jealous deep inside, yet helpless. Seeing Mo Yunchen , Qi Shangyi felt it was quite nice despite the short time. He longed for Qingqing to be his, but whether in the past, now, or the future, she belonged to someone else. His jealousy was pointless.