The next day, Fang went to school while Syaoran stayed home doing his usual work. Suddenly, he heard a strange sound coming from the forest. Curious, he followed it. As he approached a tall tree, time suddenly stopped—everything froze. Standing before the tree was Langshen, her back facing him.
Syaoran walked toward her and shouted, "Who are you?"
Langshen slowly turned around, revealing her face. Syaoran's eyes widened in shock, and he bowed respectfully.
"It's time for you to return to your world," Langshen said softly.
His hands trembled. "W-When?" he asked, panicking.
Langshen gave a gentle smile. "It will take time. Don't be sad. But before I can tell you when, you must promise me one thing."
Syaoran frowned. "What is it?"
"You must take my heart from your chest and place it inside Fang."
Syaoran's expression turned serious. "Why? That stone belongs to our clan. She's an outsider. She shouldn't be involved."
Langshen laughed. "She became involved the moment she carried my heart. She is one of us now. She's the only one who can help you when war breaks out between you and Lucian. He's a cunning man. If he finds out you're missing, he'll make his move and attack the clan."
"Then I should return immediately," Syaoran said. "Why are you stopping me?"
"It's no longer in my control. Only you and Fang can open the gate," she replied. With a chilling laugh, she added, "Only she can open it. Don't forget what I told you—place my heart inside her. Only then will your clan be safe."
And with that, Langshen vanished.
Syaoran stood frozen, placing his hand on the tree for support. "How could she be the key… to both my return and my people's fate?"
That night, Fang prepared dinner and invited Syaoran to eat, but he remained silent. She walked over and gently tapped his shoulder.
"I made your favorite meal," she said softly. "Come eat."
But he didn't respond. Her happy expression faded into sadness.
After finishing dinner alone, Fang looked back at him with tears in her eyes and quietly went to her room.
As soon as she disappeared, Syaoran broke down. His tears fell uncontrollably—he was doing this because he knew he would be leaving her soon.
Steeling himself, he walked into Fang's room and sat beside her. Stroking her head gently, he made up his mind. With trembling hands, he removed the violet stone from his chest. It rose into the air, absorbing the moonlight, and slowly drifted toward Fang. She floated upward as well, and the stone entered her body.
Her small frame trembled in pain—her body wasn't used to containing the stone anymore. Syaoran quickly transferred some of his energy to her. Gradually, she calmed down and collapsed into his lap.
His heart ached seeing her like this. She has to bear such a heavy burden… in such a small body.
Time passed. For nearly five years, they lived like strangers. Fang tried to talk to him every day, but Syaoran stayed distant, never replying.
Eventually, Fang grew into a beautiful young woman and got admitted into a top university. One day, she returned home excitedly.
"Syaoran, I got in!" she announced, placing grilled meat and cake—his favorites—on the table. "I'll be living in the dorms now, it's more convenient for studying. I'll visit you when I get a break… maybe on my birthday. I want to celebrate it with you, just like I promised on my 12th birthday."
She smiled through tears. "I've left some money for you too. Don't be lazy and starve yourself. Buy something when you're hungry, okay?"
Then she turned and left.
Syaoran stood frozen, holding back tears. Slowly, he approached the table. When he saw the food she had brought and her note, he dropped to the floor, hands trembling. Picking up her admission letter, he hugged it tightly and whispered:
"Fang… I'm sorry for not speaking to you all these years. I know it was hard. But this was the only way I could make you strong… for when I have to leave."
Fang began her life in college. It was the end of her first semester, and the next day would be her holiday break. That night, she stood by her dorm window, gazing at the moon.
"I want to see Syaoran again… and meet his family. Where does he really live?" she whispered before drifting off to sleep.
Meanwhile, back on the mountain, Syaoran sat under the tree, staring up at the same moon. Suddenly, time froze once again. A soft voice echoed in his ears:
"It's time, Your Majesty… you must return to your clan."
A chilling laugh followed.
"No… not yet," Syaoran begged. "Please. Let me wait until Fang visits me—just once."
But nature didn't obey his wishes.
The moonlight pulled him upward as he pleaded. "Please… let me see her once. Just once!"
But before he could resist again, Syaoran vanished.
The next day, Fang returned home with his favorite meat, calling out, "Syaoran!"
There was no reply.
She placed the food on the table and searched the house. Still nothing.
Panic rose in her chest. She ran to the forest, calling his name—but he was nowhere to be found.
With trembling hands and tears running down her cheeks, she whispered, "He'll be back tomorrow. He promised… he said he'd celebrate my birthday with me. He wouldn't break that promise…"
But he didn't come the next day either.
Fang sat under the moon, waiting and pleading for him to return. As midnight came and went, she lit a candle, brought her birthday cake, and waited… and waited.
By 2 or 3 a.m., her patience shattered. She hurled the cake aside and screamed through her tears, "Liar! You said you'd be here for my birthday! Where are you?!"
She sat in that same spot for days.
Eventually, the truth hit her—he had gone. He had returned to his world.
Desperate, she ran down the mountain, searching everywhere. But she never found him.
—
Far away, in another realm, Syaoran opened his eyes.
He was no longer in the mountain he had grown used to. He looked around and found himself back in his own world.
His hands trembled. There was no house. No Fang.
It's real… I've returned.
A soldier on patrol spotted him and howled to alert the others.
He rushed forward, knelt down, and said, "Your Majesty, you've returned."
Syaoran lifted his gaze. "Where… is this place?"
"This is the Lycan Clan, Your Majesty," the soldier replied. "Are you alright?"
The Queen and his grandfather came running, joy shining in their eyes.
The Queen embraced him tightly—then slapped his arm.
"Where have you been all these years?!"
Overwhelmed, Syaoran collapsed into her arms.