We Don't Write Endings Like This

Jiang Xinyao

Qin Hao's body stiffened slightly, almost imperceptibly.

He slowly lowered his head and met Jiang Xinyao's crystal-clear eyes. In those eyes lay unreserved trust in him, along with a love that, though newly sprouted, was already deeply rooted.

Jiang Xinyao looked at Qin Hao full of expectation, waiting for a single promise from him to light up her entire starry sky.

However, after what happened with Liu Ruyan, how could Qin Hao dare to make promises to anyone else? This encounter, which began as a "rental," was ultimately going to end in a way Jiang Xinyao did not want to see.

Qin Hao did not answer; he only remained silent. He could not give her a promise, at least not right now.

But Qin Hao's silence made Jiang Xinyao panic more than any words could.

"Ye Hao..." Jiang Xinyao called him softly, her voice carrying an imperceptible tremble. The arms wrapped around Qin Hao's waist unconsciously tightened, as if he would disappear at any moment if she didn't hold on.

Qin Hao raised his hand. His movements were still gentle, but carried a hint of distant restraint. Gently embracing Jiang Xinyao's shoulders, Qin Hao spoke with a slightly hoarse voice:

"Xinyao, it has been a month."

Jiang Xinyao's heart sank heavily, as if she had instantly plunged into an ice cave.

"Our 'rental' contract..." Qin Hao avoided Jiang Xinyao's gaze and looked at the flowing galaxy in the distance, as if doing so could give him the courage to continue,

"expires tomorrow."

"You're leaving?" Jiang Xinyao's eyes widened, filled with disbelief and panic.

Looking at Jiang Xinyao's instantly pale face, Qin Hao's warm palm gently covered her slightly cool cheek, his thumb caressing her delicate skin:

"There is no never-ending banquet in this world."

Qin Hao gently pressed Jiang Xinyao's hands, trying to pry them apart, but found that she held on even tighter.

"Can't you stay? I can give you whatever you want. You go and act as a rented Dao companion for others just because you want providence, right? We can figure something out together. If worse comes to worst, I can share half of my providence with you."

Qin Hao shook his head gently, his gaze toward Jiang Xinyao so gentle it could drown someone: "Even if you are willing to share it, I couldn't bear to take it."

"Couldn't bear to? You can't bear to take my providence, but you can bear to leave me?" Jiang Xinyao's voice suddenly rose, laced with tears and anger.

"Ye Hao, look at me. Tell me, what am I to you? Just a mission? Were all those... were all those things fake?"

Tears began to burst from their dams. She had thought that cuddling under the starry sky was the beginning of eternity, but she never expected it to be the prelude to parting.

Qin Hao tried to make his tone sound relaxed: "I've been very happy this past month. Thank you. Because of you, I've seen many different landscapes."

"Stop talking!" Jiang Xinyao interrupted Qin Hao, turning around with her back to him, ignoring him.

"Xinyao..."

"Don't call my name!" Jiang Xinyao glared at Qin Hao with red eyes, stubbornly refusing to let her tears fall.

Jiang Xinyao took a deep breath, trying hard to make her voice sound calm and emotionless:

"Since the contract has expired, then just go. I, Jiang Xinyao, do not need anyone's charity or pity."

"From now on, we are even. You go your way, and I'll go mine!"

After saying that, Jiang Xinyao completely ignored Qin Hao.

Qin Hao wanted to comfort her, but every time he tried, Jiang Xinyao would dodge away suddenly like a frightened little rabbit.

[Ding! There is only one hour left until the rental period ends. Say a proper goodbye and let's begin our next journey.]

Hearing the electronic voice in his mind, Qin Hao couldn't help but curse inwardly: "Dog system, you make it sound so easy. The hardest thing to bear is the grace of a beautiful woman, and she is even the fiancee whose engagement I broke off. How are we supposed to meet in the future? It's awkward just thinking about it."

Qin Hao curled his lips and let out a faint sigh.

He glanced at Jiang Xinyao. She was crouching on the ground, curled up, looking like a pitiful little thing.

Qin Hao didn't speak either. He just silently moved closer to Jiang Xinyao, quietly accompanying her through the last hour of the rental period.

As the notification sound marking the end of the rental period rang in his mind, Qin Hao slowly stood up, opened his arms, and said to Jiang Xinyao:

"I'm leaving. Give me a hug."

Jiang Xinyao's body trembled, but she did not stand up.

Seeing this, Qin Hao spoke again: "I'm really leaving now."

"Hmph, who cares whether you leave or not," Jiang Xinyao gritted her teeth and said word by word.

Hearing this, Qin Hao smacked his lips, gave himself a big hug, and turned to leave.

Hearing the sounds of Qin Hao leaving, Jiang Xinyao couldn't hold back anymore. She abruptly stood up and chased after him.

"Can't you really stay?"

Qin Hao gently shook his head, then smiled and joked: "Don't make it look like we're parting forever in life or death. It's not like we won't see each other again."

Jiang Xinyao's eyes were red, and her voice was hoarse: "But I'm afraid that the next time we meet, the one snuggled in your arms will be another woman!"

Qin Hao was momentarily speechless. He really had no way to refute this.

Seeing that Qin Hao stopped talking, Jiang Xinyao's eyes gradually became determined:

"Ye Hao, you've told me so many stories. Today, I want to tell you that those are all other people's stories. We will not write an ending like that!"

"Between us, there is no Queen Mother to draw the Milky Way, and no Fahai to set up the Leifeng Pagoda."

"Even if there were..." Jiang Xinyao paused, her tone gaining a bit more certainty, "I would shatter the Milky Way and overturn the Leifeng Pagoda!"

Saying this, Jiang Xinyao grabbed Qin Hao's collar, stood on her tiptoes, and leaned in to kiss him.

When those soft lips, carrying the salty taste of tears and the unique fragrance of a young girl, clumsily but forcefully pressed against Qin Hao's lips, Qin Hao did not dodge. Instead, he tightened his arms, pulling her trembling, delicate body into his embrace.

"Ye Hao!" Jiang Xinyao called out Qin Hao's alias, every syllable incredibly solemn:

"The ending I want is not a meeting once a year, nor a reunion after a thousand years."

"It is every morning and evening, year after year."

"It is you by my side, seeing every landscape across the Three Realms and Nine Heavens, until we are both tired of seeing them!"

Looking at the intensely serious Jiang Xinyao in front of him, Qin Hao chuckled softly: "You should probably get my name right first."

After saying that, Qin Hao gently flicked Jiang Xinyao's forehead, gave her one last wave, and then activated his jade pendant to return to the Qin family estate.

At the top of the mountain, only Jiang Xinyao was left, standing frozen in place.

"What does he mean? Get his name right? His name isn't Ye Hao? Then what is his name?"

"Bastard!!! Do you think you can shake me off with a fake name? I already left a mark on you with the Nirvana Divine Fire. I will find you one day."

"You better behave yourself and not mess around with other women out there. Otherwise, even if I can't bear to lay a hand on you, do you think I can't bear to lay a hand on the women around you?"