Death… and me

"Certainly not. I think Sister Xiao Miao is looking as beautiful as always. No one can look prettier than you," Gu Du Xing complimented in an excited tone.

"Don't talk such nonsense," Gu Miao Ling smiled as she replied. This young maiden had suffered all these years for Gu Du Xing's sake. However, her smile wasn't that of an abashed girl, but of an elder sister who was slightly annoyed with her little brother.

Her tender smile had seemingly dispersed the cold austerity which had frozen her body. Suddenly, the natural color of her cheeks began to give a sharp contrast to her frosty hair. This made her astonishingly beautiful to look at.

Gu Du Xing's mind was completely empty as he stared blankly at Gu Miao Ling while licking his lips. He said involuntarily, "Stunningly beautiful…"

"You little rascal!" Gu Miao Ling bashfully stomped her feet on the ground since she was unable to withstand the perverted look in Gu Du Xing's eyes. She then angrily looked at him. ​​"I'm your elder sister. How can you say something like that about me?"

Gu Du Xing wiped the drool off his mouth, and dashed towards her.

However, his body collided with the protective fence. A loud banging sound was issued. He fell backwards on the ground, and sprawled flat on his back with a bloody nose and a swollen face. Gu Miao Ling couldn't help but burst into giggles; it seemed as if this funny scene had momentarily washed away the pain in her heart. "You fool. Wouldn't I have come out to beat you up for saying such a thing about your elder sister if it were that easy to leave this place? Humph!"

Gu Du Xing stood-up, and began to pound on the fence in a furious manner. He shouted, "Let me go inside. Otherwise, I'll smash this."

"But, Young Master…" The guard looked at Gu Du Xing in a helpless manner. He then turned his face to look at Gu Miao Ling in an awkward manner.

"Don't be so unruly," Gu Miao Ling spoke softly as she stared at Gu Du Xing. Then, she asked in a gentle tone, "Little Brother, how have you been this entire time?"

'Little Brother, how have you been this entire time?' Gu Du Xing came close to bursting into tears as he heard this question. His Sister Xiao Miao had been kept imprisoned in this Dragon Prison Cave for such a long time. However, she was still worried about his well-being.

"I'm doing fine," Gu Du Xing replied in a hoarse voice.

"Oh, well! You aren't young anymore. Is there someone you like? You can ask Father to act as a matchmaker." Gu Miao Ling looked at him. "It may be too late if you don't look for one soon… "

"There's one girl I really like. It's just that…" Gu Du Xing expressed his feelings painfully.

"What is it?" Gu Miao Ling's complexion turned pale, and her lips began to tremble. Tears began to well-up in her eyes. She hastily turned to one side. She then asked with a fake smile, "So, there's a girl my little brother likes, ah?"

"Well, I've always adored her."

"Who is it?" Gu Miao Ling bit her lips. She managed to put-up a sweet smile on her face as she said, "Tell your elder sister about it. I can certainly be of use when it comes to giving advice about love. It's a pity that I might not get a chance to drink at your marriage-feast."

"She… is very nice, and has always been kind to me. I don't know how to repay her for all the things she has done for me. I've always thought that she was good to me, and I'm thankful for that. I've always respected her. But, I never realized that I loved her… that I would want her to be my wife…"

Gu Du Xing continued to speak with his head held low, "…until one day when she left… It was then that I finally realized that I've always liked her. I don't want to lose her. Sister Xiao Miao, I want her to be my wife."

Gu Miao Ling's body swayed. She nearly fell to the ground. A look of desperation flashed in her eyes as her lips curled into a jealous smile, [He likes her. No, he loves her… and wants her to be his wife.]

She pitied herself, [Gu Miao Ling, ah… you… you… you…]

She felt her heart breaking into pieces.

She had even started to hate herself; to the point where she was regretting coming out to see him. She had been imprisoned with no hint of hope left in her life. However, she still had her fantasies to hold on to. She would've continued to cherish those pleasant dreams if she hadn't come out. She would've continued to deceive herself. She would've used those lies to maintain her sanity in this place.

She would've cherished those wonderful dreams in her solitude even if she knew that her desires were completely detached from reality.

However, she hadn't been able to stop herself from jumping with joy when she had heard that Gu Du Xing had come to meet her. She had tried her best to dress-up properly. However, she could only manage to look slightly pleasing to the eye. Then, she had run outside like a storm even though she was aware that he might find her unattractive.

However, she had been caught off-guard by this piece of news. It had struck her as unpredictably as a thunderbolt from a clear sky.

[He has a sweetheart! He has a sweetheart!]

The grieving smile on her face was an indication that her dream had been shattered.

She was still in a trance when she heard Gu Du Xing asking in an anxious manner, "Sister Xiao Miao, tell me… will she say 'yes'?" A trace of fear was clearly audible in his voice.

"Sister Xiao Miao, tell me… will she accept me or not?"

Gu Du Xing was still immersed in the memories of his past. He despised himself for being ignorant. [Why didn't I discover her true feelings for me sooner?]

[Why did I have to wait until she ended-up being imprisoned in the Dragon Prison Cave for my sake… until she suffered?]

[Her body is so delicate… how has she been able to bear this for so long?]

[Why did she have to endure this?]

[I'm so stupid!]

Gu Miao Ling bit her lower lip as she returned to her reality. She then said with a mournful smile on her face, "She'll certainly agree to marry you. My little brother is so amazing. He isn't only skilled, but also dashing. He's young, and has a promising future. It's impossible for anyone to refuse marrying you."

"Really?" Gu Du Xing was pleasantly surprised as he raised his head.

"That's right. Be brave. Go and tell her that you like her. Tell her that you wish to marry her. I'm so happy for you, Little Brother." Gu Miao Ling looked deathly pale. "You'll definitely succeed since you have your Sister Xiao Miao's heartfelt blessings."

[When you go… I'll certainly die in this cave.]

[I no longer have my dream… my dream is dead.]

Gu Miao Ling lowered her face. Two streams of tears quietly slid down her face. She tried her best to not burst into tears. She then said with an astringent smile on her face, "Du Xing, girls are always very reserved. They may like someone, but they won't let it appear on their faces. So, you must take the initiative if you really like someone. You should confess your feelings to her. Life is unpredictable. So, the best time to act is 'now'. You may not get another chance if you miss this opportunity. Those who fail to act at the right time are only left with regrets. You must strive, Little Brother. Now, go quickly, and relay your true feelings to her. Mark my words – you'll be successful. She will certainly say 'yes'!"

Her broken heart was singing a similar tune, [If only I hadn't been so reserved all this time… if only I had been open about my feelings towards him… if only I had confessed to him earlier. Perhaps, the outcome would've been different.]

[If I tell him now… he might…]

[Hey! What are you doing? You can't think along these lines. He wants a wife. And, I'm sentenced to life-time imprisonment. My life is already finished. I shouldn't bother him with my troubles and sadness.]

[I must bury these feelings in the depths of my heart.]

"Sister Xiao Miao, thank you so much for agreeing to my proposal," Gu Du Xing exclaimed. "I… I'm so happy right now that I might just faint."

"I agreed? What are you saying?" Gu Miao Ling could distinctly feel the pain of her bleeding heart. However, her mind flustered as she heard the weird words coming out of Gu Du Xing's mouth.

"You said 'yes'!" Gu Du Xing threw himself at the fence and shouted. "You said 'yes'!"

"What are you talking about? What did I agree to?" Gu Miao Ling stared blankly as she asked.

"You promised to be my wife," Gu Du Xing blushed. He somersaulted out of excitement, and shouted, "You just agreed to be my wife!"

Gu Miao Ling was dumbstruck. She stared intently at him, and stuttered, "You, you… don't you… don't you already like a girl?"

"Yes! I like a girl," he replied joyfully. "But, the girl I like is none other than you. How could there be someone else in my life? You're the only one for me."

Then, he looked at Gu Miao Ling in a puzzled manner. [Why is she behaving like this? Does she really believe that I like someone else?]

[This is absurd!]

"You, you… like… me," Gu Miao Ling looked at him for a long time in amazement. She didn't say anything. In fact, she couldn't speak. Two streams of tears rolled down her face in response to his declaration.

Then, she squatted down on the ground, and burst into tears. The tragic sound of her wails spread in all directions. However, she continued to pour out her resentment. Her bitter tears fell on her clothes, and faded away into the air as mist; they were an outcome of the severe pain and suffering that she had been forced to endure. It seemed as if all those grievances had found an outlet.

The bitterness of her heart had seemingly melted away in her tears. But, she realized that her heart was even more bitter and dejected now.

She had finally realized her long-awaited dream; the feeling was indescribably beautiful. She had been longing to hear these words for such a long time. They gave strength to her spirit and her will to live-on.

Now, she would no longer feel cold and uncomfortable — even in a place like this. Her heart would fill-up with love every time she would fantasize about this scene.

[I can't possibly have all this. I shouldn't be having all this. I don't deserve…]

She found herself stuck in a loop of regrets and self-deprecation.

A woman's heart is always filled with contradictions.

She had been unwilling to let go of her dream of love. However, she was ready to let her love go to the arms of another person… for his sake… even if she lost the meaning of her life in the process.

Gu Miao Ling had found what she had always wished for. However, her heart welled-up with regrets, [I'm going to stay here imprisoned for my entire life. Wouldn't Gu Du Xing's life be ruined if he dedicates it to me?]

[He's still young. He mustn't spend his life in solitude.]

"This won't do. This is simply out of the question." Gu Miao Ling frantically shook her head. She sobbed, and was choked with emotions. "My life is already done for. I can't get out of this prison. But, you have excellent future prospects, Little Brother. How can you waste your time and future on someone like me? This is simply out of question."