NOVPUBMother Xu touched Yao Mingyue's cheek with affection, having tacitly consented to the intimate gesture between the two just now.
Liu Rushuang looked at her daughter's slightly reddened eyes and sighed silently to herself; they were childhood friends whom both families wished to see together.
But now, even getting a bit too close had to be avoided for propriety's sake…
"Now boarding for the flight to Shanghai East Station, please have your tickets ready for inspection and board the plane in time…"
The announcement echoed.
It was time to leave.
"Have a safe trip, and we await your good news upon return."
Liu Rushuang waved her hand; Yao Mingyue bit her lip, watching Xu Musen's retreating figure. She reached out, but then withdrew her hand…
She knew that after this parting, some things would truly be unchangeable. She felt her heart constricting, her breathing becoming hurried; heartache and unwillingness overwhelmed her, yet she was powerless to change it.
She knew that with her current state of health, perhaps this outcome was for the best.
He and Nuannuan were engaged; even without her, he could still be happy…
But reason is reason, and yet the pain in her heart was still so unbearably real.
She waited until his figure had vanished, then Yao Mingyue closed her eyes, tears blurring her vision.
She'd become more and more of a coward, not even embracing him boldly for one last time…
"Xiao Sen, why have you come back?"
Liu Rushuang's voice called out.
Lowering her gaze, Yao Mingyue saw familiar shoes and felt a familiar presence before her,
"Xu Musen, you…"
Just as Yao Mingyue looked up, she felt herself enveloped in a warm embrace.
This time Xu Musen held her tightly, uncaring of his parents behind him, heedless of Liu Rushuang's complicated gaze beside them.
This moment, they were locked in an embrace.
After a long half-minute, Xu Musen slowly let go, looking into Girl's misty eyes. He cradled her face, gazing into her eyes, "Wait for me to come back, okay?"
Just that short sentence.
Yet the tender indulgence in his voice turned the heartache she carried into sweetness, as if she'd fallen into a jar of honey.
But facing the looks from Father Xu, Mother Xu, and her own mother, she only felt weak at the knees, holding each other close... Childhood friends, this was normal, wasn't it.
"Mm…" she silently agreed in her heart, nodding her head.
Xu Musen smiled; he suddenly lowered his head and kissed her forehead in front of everyone.
At that moment, Yao Mingyue stiffened.
Father Xu and Mother Xu's mouths fell open in surprise.
Liu Rushuang was startled for a moment, but then she gently smiled, with only a tender maternal chuckle showing on her face.
"Mom, we'll be back soon!"
Xu Musen let go of Yao Mingyue with a smile, waved to Liu Rushuang, and turned to leave.
For a long time…
Yao Mingyue stood still, under the bright sky, planes soaring one after another, then after a while, she touched her forehead and her lips curled into a complex smile.
"What a jerk…"
On the drive back, Liu Rushuang watched Yao Mingyue gaze at the sky from the passenger seat, staring at each plane that passed by.
"Who would have thought, that cheeky kid is quite bold…"
Liu Rushuang couldn't help but chuckle to herself, remembering Xu Musen's kiss to her daughter. Young love, truly romantic. She turned to look at her daughter but suddenly stopped speaking.
Yao Mingyue was leaning against the car window, a smile still on her lips. She reached up to touch her kissed forehead, smiling foolishly.
But as she smiled, tears began to fall down her cheeks.
"Ming Yue, what's wrong?" Liu Rushuang pulled the car over to the side of the road in a hurry.
"Mom, he's really going to be with another girl, he's really going to marry another girl…"
Yao Mingyue's smile gave way to bitter tears. The sweetness of their parting may only transform into a more profound bitterness, and the nicer Xu Musen was to her now, the more reluctant and unwilling she felt.
She clutched her chest, her breathing erratic.
"Cough, cough…"
A violent cough shook her, and when she opened her hand, there were even traces of blood!
Actually, Yao Mingyue's health had been failing for several days already. She had been holding on just to see Xu Musen leave; she didn't want to cause any more trouble for them because of her.
She had been selfish all her life, and just this once, she wished to be generous…
Xu Musen's departure today was like pulling away the last breath she had been desperately holding onto. Finally, she could no longer hold on and collapsed.
Her complexion grew deathly pale, each bout of coughing bringing up streaks of blood.
"Ming Yue! Hang in there, Mom's going to take you to the hospital right now!"
Liu Rushuang's heart bled with agony and she turned the car around, heading for the hospital.
"Mom... Don't tell uncle, auntie, or him… I... I'm okay…"
Yao Mingyue was so weak that she could barely muster any energy, her pale cheeks and the blood on her lips made Liu Rushuang's tears fall uncontrollably.
"Silly girl, don't talk, Mom's here for you! You'll be okay!"
Liu Rushuang drove as fast as she could towards the hospital.
Raising her pallid face, Yao Mingyue touched her lips, which like a red rose blooming in the snow, she looked up at the sky, a plane crossed overhead heading in the direction of Shanghai, her eyesight growing blurry, a smile on her lips.
"Brother Musen… I... cough, I really wish I could wait for your return…"
