Time travel, quick transmigration

"Xiao Huanling, I have to leave before dawn. If you don't wake up soon, you won't see me again even if you do. If you don't wake up and talk to me before I leave, and if you ignore me, then I will take back what I said today about liking you, and I will also forget about the dance I specially choreographed for you..."

Xiao Huanling could no longer listen. How long had he waited for the person he loved to confess their feelings to him? If she liked him too, how could she just take it back like that? He didn't know where the strength came from, but he suddenly reached out and accurately grasped Shi Yan's soft hand, which was wiping his forehead and swaying back and forth in front of him.

"No, I won't allow it..."

Xiao Huanling stared intently at the woman whose eyes were moist, his eyes stinging with soreness and confusion. His heart ached slightly, and he asked her in a hoarse voice, despite his discomfort.

"Don't...don't cry, did I hurt you?"

Xiao Huanling loosened her grip and looked at Shi Yan with tenderness and focus.

Shi Yan couldn't hold back her tears, which fell in the blink of an eye. Seeing that the person who had been unresponsive and unconscious had finally woken up and was staring at her intently, she remembered what she had said earlier and hurriedly wiped her eyes and turned her head away to avoid looking at him.

"No, it wasn't your fault. I didn't cry either. It's good that you're awake. I... Well, you should rest well. I have to go."

Shi Yan was shy and didn't know how to face Xiao Huanling, so she decided to run away.

But Xiao Huanling was unwilling to let her leave like that. With a slight pull and a little force, he dragged Shi Yan down onto him, making her involuntarily fall face down.

"Don't go, don't leave, okay..."

Leaning against Xiao Huanling's chest, her cheek resting against his shoulder which exuded a cool, refreshing fragrance, Shi Yan's face flushed a hot red. She found herself unable to say no to Xiao Huanling.

"Okay, I won't leave, don't worry."

"Let me go first, okay?"

Xiao Huanling remained unmoved and showed no intention of letting go of her. He gently inhaled the faint fragrance of Shi Yan's hair and felt the sense of security and fulfillment she felt leaning on his shoulder. For a moment, he couldn't help but feel a little greedy.

"Xiao Huanling, let me go first, let's have a proper talk."

Shi Yan raised her hand and gently pushed Xiao Huanling.

Despite his reluctance, Xiao Huanling was still willing to listen to what his beloved had to say, so he released his arms from Shi Yan's embrace.

Shi Yan straightened up and sat back down on the low stool beside the couch, but she didn't look Xiao Huanling in the eye. Perhaps it was because Xiao Huanling's gaze was too intense and too present that Shi Yan couldn't keep avoiding it.

"Xiao Huanling, stop staring at me!"

Shi Yan pretended to be calm, but she was inwardly feeling awkward, and her tone was unfriendly. Her reproachful appearance, however, was seen as somewhat spoiled by Xiao Huanling, who loved every aspect of his beloved.

"Okay, I won't look at you. How about you look at me instead?"

Shi Yan was speechless at Xiao Huanling's response.

"I never knew Ah Ling had such a shameless side, you..."

Upon noticing Xiao Huanling's haggard face and pale lips, Shi Yan couldn't bear to speak harshly to him.

"Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? If you have any health problems, you mustn't hide them from me."

Seeing Shi Yan's undisguised concern, Xiao Huanling felt a warmth in his heart and a beautiful, satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

"I'm fine now, don't worry."

"I'm so happy that you came to see me."

Shi Yan looked at the gentle smile in Xiao Huanling's eyes and softly hummed in agreement.

"It'll be fine if you don't have anything to do."

Xiao Huanling gazed longingly at the quiet and beautiful woman before him, her eyes lowered and head bowed. Unable to suppress his desire any longer, he reached out and took the hand of the fair and delicate hand that he had long coveted and dreamed of holding and cherishing forever.

Holding Xiao Huanling's warm, strong, well-defined, and beautiful hand, Shi Yan was momentarily stunned. She realized that she was filled with deep affection for Xiao Huanling, and her beautiful, captivating eyes made it impossible for her to pull her hand away.

Seeing that Shi Yan did not refuse to let him hold her hand, Xiao Huanling's smile deepened, and it was a very charming smile.

"I heard everything you said."

Shi Yan was stunned for a moment before realizing the meaning behind Xiao Huanling's words, and immediately spoke incoherently.

"You were unconscious, what could you hear? You must be hallucinating. I didn't say anything..."

When Xiao Huanling saw that Shi Yan was blatantly cheating, he immediately became anxious, fearing that Shi Yan would deny it and go back on her word.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Xiao Huanling coughed incessantly, and his face turned deathly pale.

“I heard it clearly, how could it be a hallucination? You said you liked me too, you even said… cough…”

Seeing that Xiao Huanling was coughing incessantly, and his complexion, which had just improved, suddenly turned as white as paper, Shi Yan quickly got up and gently patted his back, her eyes filled with anxious concern and comfort.

"Xiao Huanling, don't scare me. What's wrong with you...?"

"Wait for me, I'll go outside and call someone. I'll have Xiao Jiang go and find a doctor for you."

He was about to leave when Xiao Huanling grabbed him and made him fall back onto the couch.

"Don't go, don't leave me alone. Cough, cough..."

Xiao Huanling seemed to exert a great deal of effort, holding her hand tightly, looking at her pleadingly while coughing a few times.

Seeing Xiao Huanling's fragile and pitiful appearance, Shi Yan felt a pang of heartache.

"Okay, okay, okay, I promise you, I won't leave, I won't go anywhere, how could I bear to leave you alone."

"It's my fault, I shouldn't have made you worry. You heard me right, everything I said is true, I'm not lying to you. I'll stay here and watch over you."

Xiao Huanling smiled after hearing her words, and gradually calmed down and stopped coughing so badly.

"So you like me."

Shi Yan, suppressing her shyness, looked into Xiao Huanling's eyes and nodded.

"You choreographed a dance for me, didn't you? I'll see it later."

Shi Yan nodded again.

A dazzling and brilliant light shone in Xiao Huanling's eyes, extremely bright.

"I will wait for you, until everything you said has settled down."

Seeing that Xiao Huanling's face had regained some color and that he looked happy, Shi Yan felt a little better.

Now that things were out in the open, she didn't want to be coy anymore.

"Once everything is settled, we'll leave Chang'an together and go to a beautiful place to live in seclusion."

Xiao Huanling smiled and said, "Okay."

He eagerly anticipated the future when he and his loved ones could leave Chang'an to live a secluded life, and have a home of their own.

"Are you really alright? You were coughing so badly just now."

Shi Yan looked Xiao Huanling over with concern, still glancing at him with some worry.

Xiao Huanling felt a lump in his throat and couldn't help but feel a little guilty. But at the time, he didn't have time to think much and pretended to cough incessantly just to make Shi Yan feel sorry for him. Now he couldn't tell her the truth, so he could only clear his throat and say.

"I feel much better. I think I was just anxious and that's why I kept coughing.

Shi Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good. You really scared me just now. I was afraid something might have happened to you."

Xiao Huanling felt a pang of guilt and self-reproach.

"I'm sorry, I made you worry."

Shi Yan shook her head, seemingly unconcerned.

"No need to apologize, I'm just glad you're okay. Your well-being is the most important thing."

As she spoke, she turned to look at the sky outside, then turned back to Xiao Huanling and hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Ah Ling, I’m relieved to see you’re awake. I really have to go. I’m avoiding everyone in the palace this time. I promised Shen Zhi that I would return to the palace as soon as possible after seeing you. I can’t leave the palace without permission, and I can’t stay outside the palace for too long. If people find out I’m not here, some people will be implicated. I can’t hurt them.”