Traveling through thousands of years, I only love you

After Li Lingyuan left, Xiao Yi didn't give up his pursuit. He meticulously planned a grand fireworks display, choosing the beach where they'd once watched the sunset together. As night fell, the crowds gathered. Xiao Yi stood in the middle of the beach, surrounded by neatly arranged candles forming the shape of Li Lingyuan's name. He clutched a microphone, his eyes filled with affection and anticipation.

As the fireworks bloomed brilliantly in the night sky and the crowd exclaimed in amazement, Xiao Yi slowly spoke into the microphone: "Lingyuan, you once said that fireworks are the most splendid dream in the night sky. Today, I created this dream for you, and I hope you can come back to me." His voice spread throughout the beach through the speakers, and many people were moved by his deep affection.

Yet, in a corner of the crowd, Li Lingyuan watched silently. She felt a mixture of emotions. On the one hand, she was moved by Xiao Yi's persistence, but on the other, painful memories flooded back. She recalled the frantic paparazzi siege, the abhorrent online abuse, and the career crisis Xiao Yi had faced because of her. She knew that if she returned to Xiao Yi, all of this would likely happen again.

Xiao Yi waited for a long time at the beach, but he still didn't see Li Lingyuan. His heart sank to the bottom, but he still didn't want to believe that Li Lingyuan would not show up.

Later, Xiao Yi rented a massive electronic display in the city's central square. Every day, it played sweet videos of him and Li Lingyuan on a loop: their focused expressions as they flipped through ancient books together in an antique bookshop, their laughter as they played in the kitchen, and their heartwarming moments of cuddling together while admiring the beautiful scenery during travels. At the end of the videos, Xiao Yi appeared in person, his eyes filled with sincerity as he said, "Lingyuan, I love you. This love spans millennia and will not fade despite any hardship. Please come back to me."

As Li Lingyuan passed by the square, she saw the content on the display. She stopped in her tracks, tears welling up in her eyes. A fierce struggle was brewing within her: she loved Xiao Yi so much, yet a deep fear prevented her from taking that step.

Xiao Yi also mobilized all their friends to send Li Lingyuan letters and gifts filled with blessings and memories. Friends persuaded Li Lingyuan, telling her about Xiao Yi's pain and haggardness after she left, and urged her to cherish this hard-earned love.

But after countless inner struggles, Li Lingyuan knew she couldn't bear the pressure. She found Xiao Yi, looked into his eyes filled with expectation, and spoke with difficulty, "Xiao Yi, I know you've done a lot for me, and I'm deeply moved. But I really can't face the public opinion and pressure anymore. Let's break up. This time, it's really over."

Xiao Yi was struck by lightning when he heard this. His body trembled slightly, his eyes filled with pain and disbelief. "Ling Yuan, how could you give up on our love so easily? We've been through so much together, doesn't it all count?"

Li Lingyuan turned her head away, not daring to meet his gaze, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Those memories are beautiful, but I don't want to live in fear anymore. I hope you can respect my decision."

With that, Li Lingyuan turned and left, leaving Xiao Yi standing there alone. He watched Li Lingyuan's retreating figure, feeling as if his entire world had collapsed. His heart was filled with anger, pain, and resentment. He couldn't understand why their love was so fragile in the face of the pressures of modern society.

In the days that followed, Xiao Yi locked himself in his room, drinking to drown his sorrows. He looked at the belongings that once belonged to Li Lingyuan, recalling their memories, and the pain in his heart grew stronger. He began to wonder if their thousand-year bond was just an illusory dream, so fragile in the face of reality. Li Lingyuan, after leaving Xiao Yi, felt no relief either. She often cried alone at night, her heart filled with longing for Xiao Yi and guilt. She knew she had hurt Xiao Yi, but she felt she had no choice but to move on in pain, trying to forget this unforgettable love.

In endless pain, Xiao Yi gradually sank into a deep state of self-isolation. He stopped participating in social activities, turned down all job offers, and even gradually distanced himself from those who had once been close friends. He often sat in a dark room, staring blankly at the wall, his mind constantly replaying memories of his time with Li Lingyuan. Every smile, every hug, was like a sharp blade, repeatedly cutting his heart.

He began to try to express his inner pain through songwriting. He wrote song after song about their love, lyrics filled with longing for Li Lingyuan, questioning his fate, and despair over the loss of love. His voice was low and hoarse, and every note was like blood flowing from his broken heart, filled with endless pain.

Once, drunk, he found himself wandering downstairs to the apartment building where they had once lived together. He looked up at that familiar window, recalling the sunrises and sunsets they had watched together there. The pain in his heart surged like a surging tide. He sat on a bench downstairs all night, letting the cold wind blow, as if only this chill could slightly ease the searing pain in his heart.

Li Lingyuan, on the other hand, moved to an unfamiliar city, attempting to start anew in a new environment. She found a simple job and lived a dull, nine-to-five life. She tried to keep herself busy, hoping to numb her emotions through work. However, in the quiet of the night, she would always think of Xiao Yi and their former love. She would look at the photos of them saved on her phone, tears silently soaking her pillow. She knew that although she had left Xiao Yi, she would never forget him; that love was deeply engraved in her soul.

In this unfamiliar city, Li Lingyuan occasionally encountered suitors. They would send her flowers, treat her to meals, and try to win her heart. But Li Lingyuan always rejected them without hesitation. She knew that her heart was already filled with Xiao Yi, and there was no room for anyone else. Although she was filled with fear of love, she also understood that her love with Xiao Yi was unique and irreplaceable.

As time passed, Xiao Yi's pain showed no sign of abating. He remained consumed by the longing for Li Lingyuan and the pain of lost love. His body grew weaker and weaker from his long-term alcoholism and mental torture. His friends were deeply concerned, yet they didn't know how to help him. They tried to persuade Xiao Yi to cheer up, but he remained unmoved.

Li Lingyuan, despite striving to survive in her new city, was plagued by inner conflict and pain. She wondered if her decision was the right one, or whether she should return to Xiao Yi. She struggled between longing and fear, trapped in a spiral from which she could not escape. She often wondered: If I had bravely faced the pressure and persevered with Xiao Yi, would the outcome have been different? But she would never find the answer to this question.