LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 195: Departure
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But he quickly realized that there was no trace of Chen Zihan at the airport.
"Xiao Han, what on earth are you looking for?" Li Dapang asked anxiously.
"I'm looking for Chen Zihan," Xiao Han said, turning his head. "Help me look for her too."
"Isn't Chen Zihan in SH?" Li Dapang asked, completely bewildered.
"She came back long ago, this morning, she's flying to SH," Xiao Han said hastily.
"Damn, isn't this woman too heartless? She came back and didn't even say a word?" Upon hearing this, Li Dapang said, "I'll help you look for her. When we find her, you should give her a good questioning. Ask her why she didn't come find you, why she didn't say a word to you?"
Li Dapang hurriedly ran off. Li Dapang was definitely a good and loyal friend. During Xiao Han's most down-and-out times, when he was being bullied by others, Li Dapang still stood by him without hesitation, and now, though Xiao Han had achieved some success in his career and his studies, Li Dapang was still steadfastly by his side.
Xiao Han's mind was filled with thoughts of Chen Zihan. Never before had he missed Chen Zihan as intensely as today.
However, after a full circle around the airport terminal, he couldn't find any trace of her.
"Nothing!" Li Dapang said, panting. "Could it be a misinformation?"
"Impossible!" Xiao Han shook his head, then said, "It absolutely can't be. Yang Xiaoyan wouldn't lie to me."
"Ah?" Li Dapang was surprised, he hadn't expected that this news came from Yang Xiaoyan.
Just as he was about to speak, Xiao Han suddenly shouted, "Chen Zihan!"
Not far from the entrance, Chen Zihan was wearing a long dress, her hair pulled up high, sporting a cute head scarf, and around her neck hung a strand of crystal necklace. Following behind her were her parents. The three of them had just walked in when they immediately spotted Xiao Han.
"Xiao Han!" Chen Zihan was startled, covering her red lips, seemingly unable to believe that she could actually see Xiao Han here.
"Don't go over there!" her mother immediately scolded from behind.
"Don't stop me, or I won't leave today!" Chen Zihan turned her head and glared at her mother angrily. To her, this might be the last time she would see Xiao Han—perhaps for several years, perhaps for the next four years of college, maybe even for a lifetime!
Aunt Chen was taken aback and was just about to retort when Father Chen spoke up, "Let it be, the child has grown up, let her meet him."
"But…" Aunt Chen was somewhat downcast.
At this moment, Chen Zihan was already sprinting towards Xiao Han. The two embraced each other tightly.
"Why didn't you tell me from the start?" Xiao Han asked.
"Because I didn't want to distract you," Chen Zihan shook her head helplessly, "I was afraid it would make you unhappy, and I feared that it would affect your college entrance exams. Do you understand?"
Xiao Han was taken aback for a moment. He hugged Chen Zihan tightly and said, "Why did you have to do that? A relationship is about two people—why should you have to suffer alone?"
This must have been hard for Chen Zihan too, but she never told him any news, let alone any truth. Instead, she chose to bear it all silently by herself. Xiao Han felt extremely sad and unwilling. But that was fate, that was reality. If anyone was to blame, it was for his family's poor circumstances; if any blame could be laid, it was because his family didn't have money.
"Xiao Han, you promised me, even if we were miles apart, you would still love me," Chen Zihan said with tearful eyes as she looked at Xiao Han. "Right? You'll never forget your promise, will you?"
"Yes!" Xiao Han nodded. "I'll definitely not forget my promise."
"Then good," Chen Zihan nodded, "I'll be in the United States for four years, and after four years, I'll return, and then we'll get married, okay?"
"Okay!" Xiao Han looked at Chen Zihan earnestly. "I'll definitely wait for you to come back."
Chen Zihan hugged Xiao Han tightly and said, "Thank you, Xiao Han, for your understanding, for your love. I will always love you. Until forever!"
"Zi Han…" Xiao Han fought hard to keep his inner pain at bay. He knew that he couldn't stop Chen Zihan from leaving today; rather than resisting angrily, it was better to let things take their course. Instead of arguing fiercely with her parents, a perfect turn was better. In many years to come, maybe they would regret it!
"Don't talk," Chen Zihan shook her head, "Let's just embrace quietly. I want to hold you a little longer."
Not far away, Chen Zihan's mother couldn't bear to watch any longer. She wanted to step forward and separate the two but was held back by her husband.
"Look at the two of them, hugging in front of so many people. What would people think?" Aunt Chen said angrily.
"Ah, but it's just for a moment, right?" Father Chen smiled and then said, "At most it's only for ten minutes. Believe me, we don't have to separate them. Time will naturally test their feelings. Four years is enough to destroy any strong relationship."
"Hmm, you make sense!" Aunt Chen quickly nodded in agreement.
It wasn't long before the broadcasting system started announcing: "Dear passengers, the flight CH5236 from LJ City to SH will start boarding shortly. Please make sure you board on time."
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"Alright, let's go," Aunt Chen immediately said, "There isn't much time left, and we still have to go through security."
"Xiao Han, I'm sorry, I broke my promise," Chen Zihan suddenly stood on tiptoes and kissed Xiao Han on the lips.
After she said this, she turned around and walked away.
Xiao Han watched Chen Zihan's retreating figure, while Li Dapang hurriedly said, "Xiao Han, are you really going to let her leave just like that?" Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire
"What can I do?" Xiao Han asked.
"Damn it, go chase her back," Li Dapang said urgently.
"What's the use?" Xiao Han replied helplessly, then said, "After I chase her back, what then? Her parents still won't allow us to be together. The result will be the same."
"Then be honest with them," Li Dapang said annoyed, "If you really like Chen Zihan, why not tell them the truth? Tell her parents that you are the hidden boss behind Hanmen, that you are already worth millions."
"So what?" Xiao Han said with a faint smile, "Compared to Meida Group, Hanmen is but a weak ant. It's me the parents have in mind as the golden bachelor."
"What?!" Li Dapang was taken aback and said, "Really?"
"Of course it's true!" Xiao Han nodded, and then said, "That's the honest truth."
"Damn, isn't that just too pragmatic?" Li Dapang laughed, "They actually fancy that slicked-back pretty boy Jiang Xiaoliang?"
"They are just interested in their money," Xiao Han replied with disdain.
Chen Zihan's heart was in agony. She would rather never see Xiao Han again. Seeing Xiao Han this time only intensified the pain and entanglement in her heart. She didn't want to leave, yet her parents behind her were forcing her to move forward.
Love, sometimes, is a crime.
It causes you pain; it strips you of your freedom; it leaves you without a self.
After passing through security, the family stood at the boarding gate. Boarding hadn't started yet, but the airport broadcast had turned literary, and it began reciting an essay: "In our verdant youth, we've all been willful, we've all been proud. Next, we will present this year's perfect-score high school exam essay 'The Happiness You Owe Me,' authored by Xiao Han!"
Chen Zihan, who had been blank-minded until then, suddenly felt dazed!
"Xiao Han?!" Chen Zihan was astonished.
"Zhang Wuji gave up the realm of Jianghu and the throne; he gave his happiness to Zhao Min; his worry to Xiao Zhao; his wanderlust to Zhu Er; his regret and resentment to Zhi Ruo..." The airport broadcast, with a gentle female voice like drizzle delicately caressing, recited Xiao Han's high school essay with emotion.
"Hey, isn't this your essay?" Li Dapang said in surprise, "It was on a lot of newspapers this morning. You're pretty famous now; I bet there'll be plenty of reporters coming to interview you soon."
Xiao Han was expressionless; he wanted to peek through the airport corridor to see Chen Zihan's back one more time. Alas, no matter how much he stretched his neck or stood on his toes, it was no use.
Chen Zihan felt as if she had been struck by lightning, the broadcast's recitation seeming to unleash a powerful force within her.
The voice from the broadcast was very soft, tinged with sadness, "Ji Mi said: When you liked me, I didn't like you. When you fell in love with me, I started liking you. When you left me, I fell in love with you. Did you leave too quickly, or could I not keep up with your pace? We missed Noah's Ark, we missed the Titanic, we missed all the danger and the lack thereof, we continue to miss.
But please, allow me to say this selfish thing.
In many years,
if I am still unwed,
and you are still unmarried,
then...
can we be together?
Remember the happiness you owe me!"
"Xiao Han!" After hearing the last line, Chen Zihan suddenly burst into tears, squatting down, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Silly child, what's wrong?" Father Chen asked worriedly.
"I'm sad!" Chen Zihan then threw herself into her father's arms and burst into loud tears.
"Silly child, life isn't always smooth sailing," Father Chen said with a smile, then continued, "How can one see a rainbow without a little rain? Besides, you'll meet countless people in life, all kinds of people. Perhaps, Xiao Han is just the first person in your emotional world. Maybe he's just a passerby in your emotional world.
The outside world is colorful; you will meet many more outstanding men. Maybe, looking back on today in the future, it will just be a starting point in your life."
Chen Zihan wiped her tears and said, "Dad, thank you."
After speaking, Chen Zihan emotionlessly pulled her luggage and boarded the plane, her parents following behind her with their luggage in tow. This time, Aunt Chen was personally accompanying her daughter to the United States.
Chen Zihan's admission notice had already arrived, so they were flying to the US ahead of time for her mother to help her daughter adapt to the American environment and circumstances. This would allow for a smoother registration process come September.