Chapter 53 Departure

The hotel suite door opened again.

Everyone in the hall looked over. They didn't think that with Lian Yi personally taking charge, there was any possibility that the matter couldn't be resolved. However, they didn't expect that instead of being told to come downstairs, they would hear that Lian Yi and the others had returned.

Who knew that when they looked at the wide-open doorway, they would see someone who, though subtly changed, was still so familiar that they could never forget him.

"Damn, Jiang Yu?"

Someone exclaimed in surprise, and then everyone's eyes turned to Gu Xin.

"..."

"Why are you looking at me!" Gu Xin's expression froze. Feeling equally shocked, she quickly understood the meaning behind her friends' gazes.

'Didn't they say he died out there?'

yes!

If he hadn't died of illness while he was away, why would he have remained silent for two years without making a fuss?

Gu Xin immediately met Pei Tu'an's gaze behind Lian Yi and Jiang Yu. She kept her expression restrained, but her eyes were frantically sending out telegrams.

"Hmm?" Lian Suning didn't have as many inner monologues as the others. She was slightly surprised when she saw Jiang Yu, then frowned and pondered for a moment, "Is it... Jiang Yu who used to play with Yi Yi a lot?"

"Yes, hello, elder sister." Jiang Yu smiled politely, nodded slightly to her, and then looked around at everyone in the hall with a warm gaze.

"I'm sorry, I came in a hurry without asking for your opinions beforehand. Will you all mind?"

They have not yet responded.

Lian Yi frowned slightly. "What's there to mind? We've all known each other for so long, and Cong Jingyun's yacht can fit one more person... Don't you want to hang out with Jiang Yu?"

"..."

"No, no, how could that be? Hahahaha."

"Yes! But how is Brother Jiang Yu's health? It's quite cold outside, I'm worried you might catch a cold at sea."

"Xiaoyi, why are you talking like that? We're really looking forward to Jiang Yu's arrival. It's just that we haven't seen him in so long, so this is a bit surprising!"

After a moment of silence, everyone spoke enthusiastically, one sentence after another.

Xiao Haiyang, standing behind them, couldn't help but rub his arms together.

Someone nearby chuckled and whispered, "Doesn't it feel familiar again?"

"Shut up!" Xiao Haiyang said angrily. "If you're so tough, speak louder!"

The man coughed lightly, made a shushing gesture, and unconsciously suppressed his smile.

"...See? Everyone still welcomes you." Lian Yi smiled at Jiang Yu.

"Hmm." Jiang Yu lowered his eyes to meet her gaze, the corners of his eyes slightly upturned. "With you here, I never worry about that."

"What do you mean? Are you implying that I'm domineering and authoritarian?" Lian Yi's round eyes widened slightly as she figured out what he meant, and she nudged him.

Jiang Yu simply smiled at her without resisting.

Lian Suning didn't notice that Xu Qingyao beside her was twisting a handkerchief into pieces, her gentle eyes revealing a hint of surprise and curious inquiry.

The smile on her lips carried an increasingly delightful quality as she watched the two of them begin to talk as if no one else was around. The smile on her face seemed to even seep into her eyes.

Looking at Jiang Yu now, his gaze was no longer the polite and gentle one he usually showed to everyone.

"Shall we set off now, or sit down and rest for a bit?" Lian Suning stood up and asked with a friendly smile.

Jiang Yu looked at Lian Yi, his gentle face calm with a faint smile, as if she were in charge.

"Let's not waste any more time. We'll have plenty of time to rest once we're on the yacht." Lian Yi waved her hand. "Let's go, friends?"

At her command, everyone sprang into action, regardless of their inner thoughts. They scattered and moved about the hall, some carrying bags, some asking for help, and others taking the opportunity to touch up their makeup and change clothes. In just a few minutes, they were transformed and ready to leave, scattered throughout the hall waiting.

Pei Tuan glanced at Jiang Yu and saw that he was still exactly the same as before. Apart from standing quietly beside and behind Lian Yi, he seemed to have no other presence.

Unable to resist, he twitched his lips, then clapped his hands and said, "Everyone be careful later, okay? We just ran into an idiot, what if we run into another one later..."

"Get him!"

"Well, that's not what I meant." Thinking of how Qian Tai'an had been kneed by Lian Yi, Pei Tu'an raised his hand and touched his nose. "Don't let people like that spoil our fun. If we run into them, as long as they behave themselves, we shouldn't provoke them."

He didn't mind, but Lian Yi had gone too far just now, and there was really no need to make a big fuss about it.

Otherwise, all of this would eventually fall on Lian Yi's shoulders. As a friend, Pei Tu'an, knowing this, kept a close eye on things and gave her a friendly reminder.

"Okay!" came a few scattered replies.

As Pei Tu'an called out and turned around, the crowd surged out of the door like children on a spring outing.

Lian Yi, with her hands in her pockets, walked out with a carefree air.

She had only taken a couple of steps when she suddenly turned around to look behind her. Her eldest sister, Lian Suning, Jiang Yu, and Xu Qingyao were following behind her, and they all looked puzzled when they saw her turn around.

“…It’s nothing!” Lian Yi turned her face back, her thoughts drifting.

She seems to have maintained her status as a wealthy heiress quite well.

The configuration is quite complete.

A handsome childhood friend I've known since I was little.

The older sister who was bullied by her.

There's also a timid, subservient follower.

And in front of me, a group of fox and dog friends, laughing and joking around.

"Tsk, no wonder she's managed this so meticulously for so many years," Lian Yi thought with a relaxed and happy mood.

When the group appeared in the lobby, they attracted a lot of attention. After all, what had just happened was still fresh in people's minds. They looked at them curiously for a while before turning their attention away.

But it's normal for a bunch of rich kids to cause trouble.

It didn't even escalate to a fight, so there's really nothing to worry about.

"I heard you've been recuperating elsewhere for the past two years?" Lian Suning suddenly asked. Seeing Jiang Yu looking over, she chuckled and said, "I was just a little curious."

"After all, communication is so advanced these days. You can get in touch with someone with just a phone call, or at the very least, a text message. But it seems like you and Yi Yi haven't been in touch for the past two years?"

Xu Qingyao stood beside her, using her body as cover, her expression one of strong agreement and indignation.

"It was just a casual question, it's okay if you don't want to answer." Lian Suning glanced gently at Lian Yi, who was walking casually ahead, seemingly unconcerned about whether the person behind her could keep up, and then said nothing more.

"The sanatoriums... are almost deserted."

Jiang Yu chuckled softly, slowly lowered his eyes, and spoke in a calm tone that revealed nothing. "I also thought about finding an opportunity to contact Yi Yi, but in the end, I didn't want to give up all my efforts."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Fortunately, I returned in time."

Jiang Yu had no intention of explaining too much to them. He didn't care what others thought, but it seemed that Lian Suning held a certain place in Lian Yi's heart. Therefore, he didn't mind giving her some explanations she wanted.

How credible this explanation was to them was not within Jiang Yu's consideration.

Outsiders have no right to know what happened during those two years.

And Lianyi.

It's not that he doesn't want to talk, it's that he can't.

Jiang Yu didn't want those things filled with darkness and negativity to taint Lian Yi in the slightest.

All she needs to do is be happy, and even if it makes him angry, he's willing to keep coaxing her until she calms down.

But Yi Yi seemed to know this even better than he did, displaying a familiarity that was no different from the past, as if she had no curiosity whatsoever about what had happened in the past two years.

"Do you know that Miss Lian Yi recently met a boy, her classmate, who is very handsome and outstanding?" Xu Qingyao suddenly added, "And..."

"Miss Lian Yi plans to take him to Old Master Lian's birthday banquet."

Xu Qingyao's impression of Jiang Yu contained a certain inexplicable sense of awe, and she didn't know why she felt this way.

However, his past attempts to 'compete for favor' with Lian Yi had all ended in failure, which made her subconsciously wary of Jiang Yu and unable to resist the urge to stir things up.

"Your name is Xie Ling, right?" Jiang Yu chuckled softly, his warm, dark eyes looking at her.

Despite his seemingly friendly and smiling demeanor, Xu Qingyao felt a chill run down her spine from that glance, and frowned: "You know?"

"Yes, I heard about it on the way back. After all, I'm a little bothered by what I missed these past two years of being away from Yi-yi." Jiang Yu's attitude was very frank.

He lowered his eyes slightly, "It's a good thing that Yi likes lively atmospheres and is willing to make new friends. I also trust Yi's judgment of people; this Xie Ling must have some outstanding qualities."

It was just a pastime she found when he wasn't around, and as long as she was having fun, Jiang Yu naturally wouldn't care.

Things that are only for temporary entertainment will eventually become tiresome; it's just a matter of sooner or later, isn't it?

His smiling eyes and calm demeanor made his words extremely persuasive.

Xu Qingyao couldn't help but purse her lips, becoming wary of him instead.

It doesn't seem like she's treating a love rival at all; she's just overthinking it.

"I believe the reason why Yi Yi has always regarded you as a good friend since childhood is your magnanimity."

Lian Suning, however, felt that this seemingly gentle and harmless young man, who was also strangely beautiful, was not as simple as he appeared.

Her slightly scrutinizing gaze gradually returned to normal.

"But no matter what, we still welcome you back. Yi-Yi cares a lot about everyone around her, and I believe she will be very happy to see you so healthy."

Lian Suning sighed almost imperceptibly, "It's been a long time since I've seen her smile so happily."

"Hmm." Jiang Yu was able to respond to every word with unwavering composure, but for some reason, upon hearing this sentence, his mind, which was intricately interwoven with countless thoughts, seemed to become blocked.

He looked at Lian Yi's relaxed and casual back, and after a moment, his gentle voice was as light as a feather.

"I hope she can be this happy every day from now on."

May you have peace, prosperity, and lasting joy.

As Jiang Yu silently reflected on the turbulent and secretive struggles of the past two years, he repeatedly offered his distant blessings to Lian Yi.

"What are you talking about? Hurry up, the car is waiting for us!"

The figure in front suddenly turned around, smiling but urging impatiently. Her pretty face was somewhat cute because of the fierce expression with her eyebrows furrowed.

"Hurry up, run! Run!"