32 18 - End of Eternity

"Haha~ And here I thought it was something serious. Lin~ Why don't you quickly say the real thing you wanted to tell us now~?" said Yang Xin dismissively as soon as Fang Lin finished his explanation. Ye Ziyun on the other had a shocked face before putting on a thoughtful one as if recalling something from memory.

Fang Lin on the other hand kept his mouth shut the while staring straight into her eyes as if to convey his seriousness. After a tense staring contest, Yang Xin finally accepted that Fang Lin was indeed serious in his claims and sighed as if giving up before wrapping her arms around herself in a way that emphasizes her busts.

"What you just said... about this 'System' and how you came to Glory City... into this world... everything you said is true?" asked Yang Xin once again as if wanting to Fang Lin to rebuke his own statement at the last minute. Fang Lin however only nodded in confirmation against all her wishes. Not getting the answer that she'd hoped, Yang Xin frowned a bit before turning silent and seriously giving more thoughts about the sudden revelation.

"And what about you, Yun'er? How do you feel about this revelation?" asked Fang Lin as he switched his gaze from Yang Xin to Ye Ziyun. He expected many different types of reactions and this is one of them. He couldn't help but feel extremely nervous however as he wait for both girls to come to their own conclusions. Sensing Fang Lin's distress, Ning'er wordlessly held hand while Xiao Bai jumped up to his shoulder and took her usual spot. 'We'll be with you no matter what happens' - The message was clear...

"I... to be honest, I already picked up some hint from what Ning'er had told me before. I just didn't think that the whole truth would be... something like ...'this'. But it made more sense now how Ning'er became so much stronger and more mature in such a short period of time." said Ziyun with a downcast expression. (Picked up some hints...? The heck were Yun'er and Ning'er talking about?) thought Fang Lin in a bit of confusion as he couldn't help but raise an eye brow at that knowledge.

After saying her piece... silence and a sense of awkwardness now enveloped the whole group with no one willing to be the first to pick up the conversation again. Fang Lin had also took it as giving the girls more time to let everything sink in with all that entails and what this knowledge insinuate. After what felt like an eternity, Yang Xin was the first to speak.

"Why? Why tell us this now? I honestly am happy that you shared us such a great secret but... even if you hadn't, it still wouldn't really have changed anything. Or... will it?" asked Yang Xin in the most serious tone Fang Lin had seen since his interactions with her starting 2 months ago. Ye Ziyun in turn looked towards Fang Lin as she also curious of the reason for the need to tell them this now. Sure the content of the news were shocking, but there has to be more to it than Fang Lin just wanting to tell them more about himself.

Hearing what Yang Xin said and asked, he closed his eyes momentarily to compose himself.

"Sigh, to be honest, I never wanted to tell any of this to anyone in this world... Once my business here is finished, my time in Glory City, this world, would also come to an end after all..." said Fang Lin after a while. Hearing what Fang Lin said, Yang Xin and Ye Ziyun let out shocked gasps.

Unable to help but recall their night of confession and passion just a night ago, Yang Xin couldn't help but grip her fists hard as she repeated the words Fang Lin said in her mind. As for Ziyun, her eyes started to become misty as like Yang Xin, was most likely also jumping to conclusion.

"I say... can you girls not jump to conclusions so quickly...? Let me finish." quickly said Fang Lin as noticed the situation going downhill. Being suddenly interrupted by Fang Lin, Yang Xin closed her mouth back up and stared at him. Ziyun was also paying rapt attention to Fang Lin and waited for him to properly explain himself. Both now sported looks of anxiety and waited with baited breath.

"At first... I truly had no intention to get closer to anyone than necessary as my stop was only temporary. For Xin'er... I know that all she ever wanted was to do her all and contribute to Glory City as an alchemist. Responding to your growing feelings each day wasn't really an option for me since I knew that when the time comes, I would have no choice but to leave. I didn't want to do something like that to you...ever. It's just that... I couldn't help myself but be drawn closer and closer towards you as time passes." explained Fang emotionally as he looked into Yang Xin's eyes.

Hearing his words, Yang Xin grew incredibly happy and sad at the same time. What is the point after all, since he would still leave in the end?

"As for Yun'er..." said Fang Lin as he looked at Ziyun this time. Suddenly being addressed, Ziyun couldn't help but become slightly more tense. Knowing that he'd fully captured her attention, Fang Lin continued to spill his guts.

"For you... I couldn't help but feel guilt towards you the moment I showed up in this world. From my identity, to our engagement, everything about our relationship was really very fake from the beginning. Just because I existed... your situation was twisted into something very different from the original path. And... I couldn't help but hate myself more and more every time we grew closer. Our relationship was built upon lies after all and... I was the one that facilitated it even if not intentionally."

Deciding to give the girls some times to process what he just confessed, Fang Lin decided to pause for a bit. This is also for himself as the more Fang Lin talked, the more nervous he got. He couldn't help but mentally slap himself for not doing this one on one instead as it would've been a lot easier. Their combined stares brought on a lot of pressure and for some god damned reason, 'Serene Mind' is not working! Why!? Not to mention, it still would have been a very hard conversational subject...

"Even still, I..." said Fang Lin slowly and regained both their attention once more. "..the more we interacted, the more I fell for the both of you. You may hate me... and scorn me... for doing this to you. Even so, there is one thing I want to ask of you, Yun'er and Xin'er." Both girls were now more tense than ever as they waited for Fang Lin's words. After taking a deep breath...

"Are you, Yang Xin and Ye Ziyun, willing to leave behind the thing you love, Glory City and its people, in order to follow I, Fang Lin, in my journey and be together until the End of Eternity?"

*DING!*

Finally hearing what Fang Lin wanted to say... ask of them, both girls were stunned. So much so in fact that they almost missed the system window appearing in front of them.