Chapter 65: He Has Truly Left
Chapter 65: He Has Really Gone
Wang Guocheng saw that Fan Xiaoyao’s emotions were rising again and hurriedly pressed her shoulders, “Xiaoyao, calm down. You can’t get too agitated in your current condition. You’re prone to fainting.”
Fan Xiaoyao gazed at Wang Guocheng through misty tears, helplessly pleading, “Guocheng, I just want to see him. I want to say goodbye one last time.”
Wang Guocheng reached out to wipe the tears from her face, speaking gently, “Xiaoyao, you should rest tonight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to see him, okay?”
Fan Xiaoyao looked at the darkness outside the hospital window, recalling the moments before she lost consciousness. She nodded to Wang Guocheng, gripping his hand. “Guocheng, thank you for understanding and for your patience.”
The next morning, Fan Xiaoyao rose early and stood before the window. She watched the distant Fu River, barely visible in the morning mist, and her thoughts drifted back to the day she first met Tim.
Back then, Xiaoyao had just graduated, still naive and working as a telephone customer service agent. By chance, she met Tim, who was then the general manager of GLT.
They connected over the same zodiac sign, similar ages, shared interests, and so much more. Their journey went from strangers to acquaintances, from acquaintances to lovers, and from love to…
That love was bittersweet and innocent. Throughout her relationship with Tim, Sun Yanzi’s songs became the soundtrack, right up until it quietly ended.
Tim had once held Xiaoyao tightly, choking back tears, “Xiaoyao, let’s break up.”
Those words were not because he no longer loved her, but because he could no longer love her.
Xiaoyao had merely curled her lips in mockery, “I never thought our love would end like a soap opera—severed by a wealthy marriage alliance?”
She vividly remembered Tim’s words: “Xiaoyao, I love you. If you’re willing, we could be lovers for a lifetime.”
She had slapped him then. “I’d rather have nothing than expensive love. I won’t be someone’s mistress. ‘Mistress?’ You’re desecrating my love for you, and your love for me!”
Recalling all this, tears once again blurred Xiaoyao’s vision. If the memories had once brought a trace of sweetness, now they brought only pain and regret.
When Wang Guocheng woke up, he saw Xiaoyao standing by the window, her shoulders trembling, knowing she had cried again.
He sighed softly, picked up his suit jacket from the bedside, and quietly draped it over her shoulders. “Why are you up so early?”
Fan Xiaoyao turned, seeing Wang Guocheng place his jacket around her, and quickly wiped away her tears. “You’re awake?”
Wang Guocheng drew her into his arms, gently kissing the tear marks at the corner of her eyes. “Still thinking about him?”
Xiaoyao looked at Guocheng with some guilt. “Guocheng, I’m sorry. Please give me time to let go.”
Wang Guocheng ruffled her hair indulgently, “It’s alright. I don’t mind. You loved each other, after all. I can’t force you not to think about him.”
Xiaoyao was moved by Guocheng’s understanding. She lifted herself on tiptoe and pressed a light kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, Guocheng.”
Wang Guocheng was quietly elated at her initiative. Deep down, he resolved never to let Tim’s kindness go to waste. He would give Xiaoyao the best life.
He wanted her to be the second happiest person in the world, because he would be the first. If he was happy, Xiaoyao would be happy too.
After breakfast at the hospital and another examination, Wang Guocheng arranged for Xiaoyao’s discharge, and the two left together.
He drove the same car as yesterday. As soon as Xiaoyao sat in the passenger seat, she eagerly called Wu Yang. “Wu Yang, I want to see Tim one last time!”
Wu Yang replied regretfully, “Miss Fan, I’m sorry. Mr. Tim’s body was flown back to R Country on the earliest flight today.”
Hearing that Tim’s body had been sent back, Xiaoyao understood.
“Wu Yang, was it arranged by his family?”
Wu Yang had promised Tim to keep his secret, so he lied to Xiaoyao on the phone. To make Tim’s death seem more convincing, Wu Yang had already contacted the local media last night at Tim’s request, drafting the news that the GLT manager had died in a car accident.
He replied helplessly, “Miss Fan, please accept my condolences.”
After hanging up, Wu Yang looked bitterly at Tim, who sat in a wheelchair. “Do we really have to hide it like this?”
Tim’s misty eyes watched the planes coming and going on the airport tarmac, and he murmured, “It’s for the best. Let’s go.”
A word of farewell—Wu Yang sent Tim off, accompanied by several GLT executives from R Country.
A sigh—Fan Xiaoyao hung up the call with Wu Yang just as the car radio began to broadcast:
“According to the latest reports, GLT Company’s manager Tim was killed in a car accident last night, at the age of thirty-three…”
Xiaoyao’s tears fell again. She murmured, “He’s gone. He’s really gone. So young, with so many dreams, so much ambition…”
Wang Guocheng leaned over and embraced her, “Don’t cry. You still have me. I will love you twice as much, and you can finish the journey he couldn’t… I’ll be by your side all the way.”
Sniffling, Xiaoyao looked at Guocheng, “Guocheng, can you take me to the airport?”
Wang Guocheng’s eyes darkened, a sourness rising in his heart. He nodded gently, “Alright, I’ll go with you.”
“Cloudy evening, outside the car window…”
The phone rang—it was Yang Yeye.
Yang Yeye had seen the news early that morning and, upon learning of Tim’s accident, immediately feared Xiaoyao might do something reckless.
“Xiaoyao, where are you? Is Guocheng with you? Are you alright? Please, don’t do anything foolish. My condolences.”
Xiaoyao could barely speak through her sobs. “Yeye, he’s gone. I didn’t even get the chance to say goodbye! I said so many hurtful things to him, I regret it so much… If he hadn’t gone back, if I hadn’t met him again, if…
Yeye, I feel so terrible. Every time I close my eyes, I see myself scolding him, blaming him.
I wouldn’t even let him explain. I feel so awful, my heart hurts…
He was so young. He had so much ambition left unfulfilled, but… but he’s gone. He’s really gone.”