CHAPTER 137: CHAPTER 137: THE LONG-AWAITED AH YAN

After Sheng Qianchi left, Gu Jiayin maintained the same position, sitting there until noon. The bright sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the ground beneath her feet.

She looked up at the vast ceiling, suddenly feeling a wave of sadness.

Her body was now free, but her heart was trapped in a cage.

...

On the first day of her newfound freedom, she found herself with no desire to do anything, staring blankly in this palace-like house all day.

As night fell, she sat alone by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the stars in the ink-black sky.

Missing those she loved, missing family.

She missed her grandfather and brother who had gone to Heaven, her mother far away in a foreign land, and the Mo Qiyan she first met. Of course, she also missed Pei Nianchen.

If you asked her whether there were any joyful times in those bitter seven years, there indeed were.

Those were all brought to her by Mo Qiyan.

The Mo Qiyan she first met was sunny, handsome, gentle as jade, kind-hearted, and during those difficult times in a foreign country, he gave her much warmth.

But with his blindness, his mental world gradually fractured, bringing forth another personality. The original him frequently fell into deep slumber, and she was left facing a more violent and sinister Mo Qiyan.

They were originally one person but possessed two wills. Although the new Mo Qiyan was also kind to her, she knew his kindness was not pure; it felt more like a strong possessiveness. Because he grew suspicious and distrustful of everyone, only she could make him lower his guard.

In the past two years, the original Mo Qiyan had less and less waking time, with the new Mo Qiyan controlling the body more often, leading to a growing estrangement between them.

He grew increasingly sinister and deep, and she learned to be silent.

Before, she affectionately called him Ah Yan, now she called him Prince Qiyan.

She knew he was also in pain, troubled by his dual personalities, secretly seeing a doctor and taking mental suppressant medication—a bitterness that ordinary people couldn’t fathom.

This was a secret only she, his doctor, and his personal assistant knew.

She realized that Ah Yan had been unconscious for a long time, with that body being dominated by the ruthless Prince Qiyan.

In the silence, her phone screen lit up with a message.

Gu Jiayin lazily picked up the phone and swiped open the screen.

[Jiayin, have you forgotten me because I’ve been asleep for too long this time?]

[Jiayin, I had a long dream, where I saw us drifting apart, separated by the earthly world and Heaven. Despite the reluctance in the dream, I struggled to wake up.]

[Jiayin, now that I’m awake, not knowing when I’ll fall asleep again and hand this body over to the part of me you dislike, I suddenly want to end it all while I’m conscious, so that you’ll never be burdened by another me again.]

Mo Qiyan, the sunny and warm Ah Yan she first met!

Gu Jiayin jumped up in excitement, gripping the phone tightly as her trembling fingers dialed that all-too-familiar number.

The call was quickly answered, "Jiayin."

The voice on the other end was filled with joy, still smooth and calm but with a noticeably warmer tone, much like his naturally sunlit aura.

Whether he was Ah Yan or Prince Qiyan, Gu Jiayin could tell from the tone and the look in his eyes.

When she heard that long-lost voice again, her eyes filled with tears, "Ah Yan."

This time, he had been asleep for a whole six months. She had once thought that he would never return, while the ruthless side made her fearful yet constantly concerned because they shared the same body.

The Mo Qiyan on the other end chuckled softly, his voice thick and warm, like a fine piece of jade, "Jiayin, it’s so good to hear your voice again."

"Mm." Gu Jiayin wiped away her tears, "Ah Yan, don’t fall asleep again, I miss you so much."

The other side was silent. He also wished not to fall asleep again, but he couldn’t defeat that arrogant and ferocious self. At any unpredictable time, place, or event, he could awaken and forcibly take over his body.

After a brief silence, he spoke again, "Jiang Tong said he made you unhappy."

By ’he,’ he naturally referred to his other self. Jiang Tong was his personal assistant, who had accompanied him since childhood.

"It’s nothing, it’s just that he got jealous and wanted to kill an innocent person, which made me angry."

Mo Qiyan chuckled lightly; anyone could hear the loneliness in it, "Jiayin, I’m sorry."

Seven years ago, when he first met her, he was captivated by her beauty and felt pity for her life. He wanted to warm her, cherish her, and give her a lifetime of happiness. But who knew, in the end, he would become such a burden to her.

"It’s not your fault, don’t say that."

Gu Jiayin, although burdened, truly didn’t blame him. She felt sorry for him, because he was a patient.

She didn’t know that Ah Yan almost never woke up again. It was on the day she saved Sheng Qianchi, during her resolute words to the sinister Mo Qiyan, which led to his emotional instability, giving Ah Yan the chance to regain control over his body.

Mo Qiyan seemed to think for a moment before speaking again, "Didn’t you always tell me you’re going back to Licheng City to find Pei Nianchen? How did you end up entangled with Sheng Qianchi?"

Gu Jiayin didn’t know how to explain those winding past events to him, so she simply said four words, "Circumstances conspire."

"Jiayin, do you like Sheng Qianchi?"

Gu Jiayin was silent.

After a brief silence, he spoke, "Jiayin, have you fallen for him?"

Have you fallen for him?

Gu Jiayin dared not deny it, but didn’t dare confirm it, either.

After a long pause, she finally responded firmly with two words, "No, I haven’t."

Using those two words to end the two months of absurd entanglement with Sheng Qianchi.

Mo Qiyan was silent for a while, then, laughing lightly, said, "Jiayin, I too get jealous."

Whether it was his original self or his new self, both personalities loved Gu Jiayin deeply.

It’s just that Ah Yan never forced her and respected her choices, while Prince Qiyan expressed his possessiveness and forbade betrayal aggressively.

Gu Jiayin sighed softly, "Ah Yan, don’t say that."

"Mm," Mo Qiyan chuckled, "If you don’t like me, can’t I at least have the right to be jealous?"

Gu Jiayin remained silent. This kind of Mo Qiyan was truly heartbreaking. At this moment, her mind was filled with his image, smiling at her while standing in the sunlight.

It was like a long-awaited reunion. Although their hearts were close, there was always a sense of unfamiliarity. Conversations sometimes broke off, falling into silence now and then, but neither wanted to hang up the phone.

Because time was too precious, and they didn’t know when they would again be separated in vague waiting.

After another silence, Mo Qiyan said calmly, "Jiayin, if you can find happiness in Licheng City, don’t return to Suri. While I’m awake, I will find a way to send your mother to be reunited with you."

Gu Jiayin suddenly tightened her grip on the phone, overwhelmed by emotions, causing her voice to quiver with tension, "And then?"