Chapter 92: Reluctance to Part

Part 1 of 3

Chapter 92: Reluctance

Time spent together always seems so long, yet the hour of parting always feels far too brief.

That night after the fireworks had ended, while the two were still wrapped in the sweetness of their affection, Wang Guocheng held Fan Xiaoyou in his arms and said with apology,

"Xiaoyou, I’ve already promised my parents that I’ll return to Border City. I’ve bought the plane ticket back there. I’ll go back, handle my affairs, and then come back to be with you. By then, I’ll stay by your side for good."

Fan Xiaoyou had not expected Wang Guocheng to leave her so soon and return to Border City. In these days, she realized, she had already grown accustomed to his companionship.

She sniffled. "I’ll see you off."

Wang Guocheng wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "All right."

News of Wang Guocheng’s return to Border City spread through the Rong household in no time. On the eve of his departure, Rong Fenghua deliberately sought him out for a long, sleepless conversation through the night.

Wang Guocheng took Rong Fenghua’s instructions to heart.

Since Rong Shaoting had already told Rong Fenghua his true identity, Rong Fenghua said he believed he was a responsible man. Since he had chosen love, he must bravely face whatever storms lay ahead.

The sky was overcast, and the heavy, rolling black clouds on the horizon were much like Fan Xiaoyou’s mood.

How she wanted to say to Wang Guocheng, "Could you not leave?"

But the words would not come.

Because she knew Wang Guocheng still had his own matters to settle in Border City, and this brief separation was for the sake of a long reunion to come.

Standing by the car, Rong Fenghua watched the two of them lingering behind, unable to bring themselves to part. He gave a soft sigh and said to Wu Jing,

"Let’s get in the car first. Give the young lovers a little more time."

Wu Jing looked toward Fan Xiaoyou and Wang Guocheng with aching sympathy. Fan Xiaoyou’s eyes were red, as if she had been crying.

"Fenghua, that girl Xiaoyou has truly fallen for Guocheng, hasn’t she? I wonder, when she learns his true identity someday, will she be able to face it calmly?"

Rong Fenghua smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor denying it. "They’ll have to face those questions themselves. If they can’t even get past these hurdles, how can anyone feel at ease about a marriage later on?"

Behind them, Fan Xiaoyou tugged at the hem of Wang Guocheng’s shirt.

"Guocheng, I... I can’t bear to lose you. Those days... I wasn’t good to you. I... only now do I realize I had already fallen deeply in love with you..."

Part 2 of 3

Wang Guocheng gathered Fan Xiaoyou into his arms and held her tightly.

"I know, silly girl. I love you too. I can’t bear to leave you either. But this short parting is for our long reunion in the days ahead.

I must go back to Border City and settle my own affairs first, and only then can we truly be together without worries, do you understand?"

"When you get to Border City, you have to call me every day... no, every hour... I..." Fan Xiaoyou wanted to say more, but the words dissolved into a choking sob.

Wang Guocheng touched her face with tender affection.

"I won’t just call you every hour. I’ll think of you every minute, every second.

Xiaoyou, promise me that while I’m away, you’ll eat your three meals on time, not stay up too late writing your novel, and not drink cold water first thing in the morning..."

Once again, Fan Xiaoyou threw herself at him with tears and mucus alike, weeping freely in his arms.

"Wah... wah... why are you so good to me! Now I can’t bring myself to leave you at all..."

Wang Guocheng lowered his head and kissed away every tear on Fan Xiaoyou’s face. With each tear he kissed, he said to her with deep feeling, "I love you."

Fan Xiaoyou rose onto her toes and could no longer restrain her emotions. She lifted herself to kiss Wang Guocheng’s lips, lingering there with all her longing.

"Guocheng, I love you. I love you!"

Wu Jing leaned back to look at the pair unable to part from each other behind the car, her eyes growing moist. "How touching."

Rong Fenghua, however, frowned with some displeasure, because he saw his niece kissing Wang Guocheng openly in the street.

After all, this was Yongnan Town in Kang City. The town was not large, but gossip had a sharp tongue.

Rong Fenghua pressed the horn to urge them on. Beep... beep...

Seeing him honk impatiently, Fan Xiaoyou quickly broke from Wang Guocheng’s lips and, cheeks flushed, looked at him.

"Let’s go. Uncle is urging us."

After Fan Xiaoyou and Wang Guocheng got into the car, Rong Fenghua started it up at once and drove away from Yongnan Town swiftly, before too many onlookers gathered.

Watching the scenery passing by outside, Wang Guocheng felt a deep reluctance in his heart.

He truly liked the comfort and peace of Yongnan Town, and most of all, it was the place where the woman he loved had been born.

Inside the car, Fan Xiaoyou leaned in Wang Guocheng’s arms and remained silently still. Wang Guocheng held her as well, no longer speaking.

In that silence there was more than speech; their hearts pressed close, so close that they could hear each other’s heartbeat.

Part 3 of 3

The distance from Kang City to Tong City was nearly three hundred kilometers, and the highway made the journey smooth enough.

Seeing the two of them silent in the back seat, Wu Jing felt even more heartache.

She had once been young too, and she had once parted from Rong Fenghua. Unless one had experienced the pain of separation, it could not truly be understood.

Looking at the pair before her, Wu Jing could not help but remember the first time she and Rong Fenghua had ever said farewell many years ago.

That day, she too had been held quietly in Rong Fenghua’s arms, while he stood nearby in silence.

Fan Xiaoyou looked at the roiling dark clouds outside the window and felt even gloomier inside.

Perhaps heaven knew how she felt today, and so had arranged such a brooding backdrop.

She stared sorrowfully out the window, full of reluctance toward Wang Guocheng.

Seeing her purse her lips, Wang Guocheng hurriedly asked, "What is it?"

Fan Xiaoyou pointed toward the sky beyond the glass.

"Look. It seems even the heavens know what I feel today, and gave me a great overcast sky as the background."

Wang Guocheng lowered his head and kissed her hair.

"Xiaoyou, I’ll be back very soon."

A single word of farewell, and a thousand words seemed stuck in the throat. At Tong City International Airport, Wang Guocheng pushed his suitcase with one hand and held Fan Xiaoyou close with the other, kissing her deeply.

"Don’t be sad. I’ll send you messages and call you every day, as though I were right beside you."

Fan Xiaoyou clung to his neck and would not let go for a long time. Just as it was nearly time to collect the boarding pass, Wang Guocheng endured the pain in his heart and pried her hands away.

"Xiaoyou, be good. I’ll come back."

Pushing his luggage, Wang Guocheng said farewell to Rong Fenghua and Wu Jing.

"Uncle, Aunt, I’m leaving first. Please take good care of Xiaoyou for me. After I return to Border City, I’ll deal with my matters as quickly as possible and hurry back to Kang City to reunite with Xiaoyou."

With that, Wang Guocheng squeezed into the airport waiting hall with the crowd.

At that moment, tears slid down Fan Xiaoyou’s chest as she cried out loudly,

"Wang Guocheng, I love you! I’ll wait for you!"