"Why?"

　　Ji Yunshu looked at Wei Yi's upset face. "Wei Yi, it's safer for you to stay here than to follow me around." Wei Yi shook his head violently.

　　"First, we encountered bandits during the beginning of our journey. Then, we were ambushed by a.s.sa.s.sins. You were hurt every time and almost lost your life for me. I've promised your parents to do my best to keep you away from any harm, but you've been repeatedly involved in major and minor accidents throughout the journey. Initially, I was hesitant, not knowing if I should continue to keep you by my side or make you stay here. However, I made my decision just now when I saw that you can now recognize characters and recite poems. I am truly happy for you and I genuinely believe that you will get better in the future. Hence, you should stay here. Besides reading and writing, Uncle Fu will teach you about many other things. And everyone in the residence will always take care of you."

　　He continued to shake his head and said with teary eyes, "I don't know how to write. I don't know how to recite poems!" He grabbed the papers that were arranged neatly on the table and proceeded to tear the papers, one by one.

　　"Wei Yi, listen to me!" She grasped his hand and said, "You were the one who told me that everyone will eventually die. One may die from sickness or from making mistakes. I've promised that I'll stay with you forever and I'll always do. However, I do not want you to turn into a star. Wei Yi, I cannot live without you. Do you understand?" Her bloodshot eyes teared up, and eventually, tears fell off her cheeks as she could not hold them back anymore.

　　Wei Yi stared at Ji Yunshu with his clear eyes. For a long time, Wei Yi's lips were parted but there was no word from him. He reached out his hand to caress her face and gently wiped off the tears on her cheeks. Then, he pulled Ji Yunshu's thin body into his arms and softly rested his chin on her shoulder, "Don't cry, Shu'er. I promise I'll wait for your return right here."

　　He had given in. There was no more quarrels and tantrums. However, Wei Yi's reaction somehow pained Ji Yunshu's heart terribly.

　　Wei Yi held Ji Yunshu closer to himself. He was afraid that she would really leave once he released her from his embrace. After a long while, Ji Yunshu stepped out of the study.

　　Inside the study, Wei Yi returned to the table. He grabbed the brush on the table and resumed writing. He wrote diligently, with no intention to stop! When his eyes started tearing up and his hands would not stop trembling, he paused his action and released his grip on the brush. It fell onto the paper filled with the word, 'Shu'.

　　...

　　Ji Yunshu returned to the courtyard and saw Jing Rong standing under the green camphor tree. He rested his hands behind his back, looking up. When Ji Yunshu entered the courtyard, he threw a nonchalant glimpse at her. "You can't bear to leave?"