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Han held Xiao Zhan's hand tightly.
His palm had grown coldā
as if the truth he was about to reveal
would change everything between them.
Han:
"Zhanā¦ what I'm about to tell you is heavy.
But you need to know it.
Because nowā¦ you're part of this story."
Xiao Zhan's breath caught in his throat.
He whispered:
Xiao Zhan:
"Hanā¦ please. Tell me the truth."
Han closed his eyes, as if the memories were slicing him open.
Three years ago
Lian, Yibo, and Han were a team.
Monster hunting, cursed spiritsā¦
that was their world.
Han's voice trembled.
Han:
"Lianā¦ wasn't just Yibo's teammate.
She was Yibo's weakness.
His heart."
Xiao Zhan's pulse quickened.
Xiao Zhan:
"So heā¦ loved her?"
Han nodded slightly.
Han:
"Yes. But that's not all."
ā” The Forbidden Mission
That night, there was a missionā
a spirit that fed on human emotions, growing stronger with every fear it absorbed.
Everyone warned them it was dangerous.
Butā
Han:
"Yibo insisted.
He said, 'If we don't goā¦ someone else will die.'
And Lian went with him because she trusted him."
But in the middle of the missionā
Han's voice dropped.
Han:
"Yibo made a mistake."
Xiao Zhan leaned forward, tense.
Xiao Zhan:
"Whatā¦ what mistake?"
Guilt darkened Han's eyes.
Han:
"Lian was performing a ritualā¦
and Yibo was supposed to stop her.
Insteadā¦ he pushed her forward."
Xiao Zhan frowned, confused.
Xiao Zhan:
"Meaningā¦?"
Han swallowed hard.
Han:
"The spirit grabbed her.
Lian became the sacrificeā
in the exact place where Yibo was meant to stand."
Xiao Zhan froze.
No sound came out of him.
š©ø "There was no hero that night."
Han stared at the empty wallā
reliving that night all over again.
Han:
"And the worst part, Zhan?
Even while dyingā¦ Lian reached out to Yibo.
She looked into his eyes and saidā"
He inhaled shakily.
"'It's not your fault.'"
Tears rolled down Xiao Zhan's cheeks.
Han continued, his voice low.
Han:
"But Zhanā¦ Lian was wrong.
It was Yibo's fault.
And he refuses to tell anyone.
Because if the world found outā¦
Yibo would break."
Xiao Zhan's voice trembled.
Xiao Zhan:
"And Lian's spirit?"
Han looked straight into Zhan's eyes.
Han:
"Lian doesn't want revenge.
She wants the truth.
She wants Yibo to accept itā
so she can finally be free."
Xiao Zhan felt the ground vanish beneath him.
Xiao Zhan:
"Soā¦ that's why she comes into my dreams?"
Han nodded.
Han:
"Yes. Because you're the only one
Yibo can't lie to."
The air grew heavy.
Silenceāsharp and suffocating.
Han squeezed Zhan's hand tighter.
Han:
"And nowā¦
you have a choice to make.
Will you protect Yiboā¦
or give Lian the peace she deserves?"
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