"Frightened, weren't you?" Yue Chengfeng pulled Yu Zixuan into his arms, kissing her forehead and patting her shoulder as he comforted her. "I'm sorry I wasn't by your side then, I'm so sorry..."
Yu Zixuan seemed to wake from a dream and immediately wrapped her arms around Yue Chengfeng, as if wanting to merge into his body, holding him tightly.
The fear, confusion, unease, and vulnerability—all the negative emotions turned into grievances, allowing her to vent them unrestrainedly in Yue Chengfeng's embrace.
"It's been so long... so long... why did you only come now..." Yu Zixuan asked Yue Chengfeng, yet it was also as if she were asking someone else who wasn't there.
She had endured so much alone, for so long...
If only she had grown up by her sister's side, everything would have been different.
If only she had known her sister was still alive, she would never have given up searching for her.
They had promised each other, they would never be separated again in this lifetime.
But...
What had she done?
She had almost taken her sister's life...
She didn't even know where her sister was now, or if she was still alive.
How could this have happened?
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Yue Chengfeng didn't know what else he could do besides apologize and stay with Yu Zixuan.
He could only be glad that his original plan for today was to visit Yu Zixuan and Xia Qingtian. By the time Xia Qingtian called him, he had already arrived at the airport in Z City.
At that time, he was still thinking of giving Yu Zixuan a surprise, never expecting that Yu Zixuan would give him a shock instead.
He didn't realize the public security in Z City was so poor. If Xia Qingtian hadn't told him, he wouldn't have believed that in this day and age, in a safe country like Z Country, Yu Zixuan would encounter a terrorist attack!
After Yu Zixuan finally released her emotions and regained a bit of her composure, Yue Chengfeng's custom-made suit and his classic Armani shirt were almost ruined.
"Y-You, how did you get here?" Yu Zixuan asked, rubbing her eyes and sobbing.
As Yue Chengfeng wiped away her tears, he told her about his itinerary and the phone call with Xia Qingtian.
"I'm so awful, I even made Qingtian worry about me, her little aunt..." Yu Zixuan felt quite embarrassed. Today's events had happened so suddenly that she was completely stunned.
Xia Qingtian must have been terrified to see her like this.
When the organization contacted her before, they had also said that Gou Weng's target this time was to kill her and Xia Qingtian.
The moment she thought of Gou Weng, Yu Zixuan felt a familiar sting in her nose, and her already warm eyes filled with tears again.
Fate was truly cruel.
"Good girl, don't cry anymore. Qingtian is fine," Yue Chengfeng continued to wipe Yu Zixuan's tears. "If you cry any more, you'll look like a little panda tomorrow, and Qingtian will worry even more when she sees you."
Only then did Yu Zixuan stop crying and give Yue Chengfeng a less-than-pleasant smile. "My makeup must be all messed up, right?"
"It's alright," Yue Chengfeng kissed Yu Zixuan's cheek. "It's a very beautiful mess."
"Annoying," Yu Zixuan knew Yue Chengfeng was trying to cheer her up. She glared at him playfully before tucking her head back into his chest, her eyes filled with confusion and hesitation. "Chengfeng, tell me... who am I, really?"
Over the years, her identity had changed one after another.
She had almost forgotten who she was.
"You are my wife," Yue Chengfeng said, holding Yu Zixuan. "The wife of me, Yue Chengfeng."
Hearing Yue Chengfeng's words, Yu Zixuan finally pursed her lips and gave a light smile, saying nothing more.
That night, Yue Chengfeng did not send Yu Zixuan back to the Xia family. Instead, he took her to the hotel he had booked in Z City.
Gentle whispers accompanied tender kisses, and after soothing her all night, they finally fell asleep in each other's arms, exhausted.
The next afternoon, Yue Chengfeng brought Yu Zixuan to meet Xia Qingtian.
Yu Zixuan had tried her best to apply delicate makeup, but it couldn't hide her swollen eyes from crying and the fatigue in her eyes.
Seeing her like this, and remembering Gou Weng slumped in the laboratory, Xia Qingtian could only sigh in her heart about the cruelty of fate.
With Yu Zixuan in this state, Yue Chengfeng would definitely not leave her alone in Z City. It was just that they hadn't decided whether to abandon their current project and return to Kyoto together, or for Yue Chengfeng to stay and accompany Yu Zixuan until the project concluded.
"Stay a few more days first," Xia Qingtian advised. "I've contacted Mrs. Camille, and she said you're welcome to visit again anytime, though they've moved."
After what had happened, Amiya and Mrs. Camille would certainly not remain in their previous location.
Yu Linwan was also furious. Not only did she fail to kill the target, but she also had to handle a lot of extra work at the last minute.
However, since she couldn't contact Gou Weng, she could only follow the contract and select a new work location for Mrs. Camille.
After this new location was chosen, Mrs. Camille and Amiya specifically went to inspect it beforehand. They also hired professionals to conduct safety checks. Only after confirming that there were no security loopholes did the two agree to continue their work.
"I'll send you Amiya's private account later. If you don't want to go there, you can easily communicate and stay in touch," Xia Qingtian still hoped that Yu Zixuan would marry Yue Chengfeng beautifully.
No matter who Yu Zixuan was, she knew that her little uncle loved this woman.
She wanted to protect her little uncle's happiness.
"Qingtian, thank you," Yu Zixuan said sincerely, looking at Xia Qingtian. "I've caused you trouble."
"It's nothing," Xia Qingtian smiled and shook her head.
"Those who escaped from that place before..." Yu Zixuan's gaze flickered. "Is there any news?"
If it were someone else, Yu Zixuan could have assigned her subordinates to investigate.
But that person was her sister, someone the organization wanted to eliminate.
Therefore, Yu Zixuan could not deploy her own people, nor could she let her actions attract the organization's attention.
Thus, she could only hope to find some clues from Xia Qingtian.
"I haven't heard anything from the police," Xia Qingtian said, seeing Yu Zixuan's worry. After a moment's hesitation, she added, "But I guess she probably managed to escape. Otherwise, if someone had died like that, it would have made the legal news."
"Is that so..." Yu Zixuan hesitated, then let out a long sigh.
Regardless, not hearing bad news was the best news.
"Don't let me find out who it is!" Yue Chengfeng's brow furrowed, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Otherwise..."
Seeing Yue Chengfeng like this, both Xia Qingtian and Yu Zixuan's expressions turned subtle, but neither of them said anything.
Finally, Xia Qingtian only asked Yue Chengfeng to take good care of Yu Zixuan and promised Yu Zixuan that she would inform her immediately if there was any news.
Yu Zixuan could only say thank you, unable to say anything else. With Yue Chengfeng by her side, she wouldn't feel so lonely and helpless, ushering in a brief period of peace.
It was also the calm before the storm.