He jumped until his sleeve was tugged, and with a slight pull...
Within Yu Chaoxian's familiar field of vision, there was no sign of Yu Tang. His gaze searched the crowd without finding a specific spot.
The clamor of the crowd vanished in an instant, and his gaze futilely swept across the throng of people. There was no familiar, slender figure in front of him, or around him. The world spun around him, and his heart felt as if it had been clenched and then suddenly stopped beating.
He lowered his head as his sleeve was tugged. Yu Tang, squatting beside the stall at his feet, looked up and pointed to a photo album, saying she wanted it.
Upon seeing Yu Tang, Yu Chaoxian's heart resumed beating, and the dizzying world finally returned to its starting point.
She clearly had a chance to escape just now.
But she didn't run away.
Thinking of this, Yu Chaoxian's heart suddenly raced. She didn't run away; she stayed. He squatted down beside her, watching her obedient appearance as she focused on flipping through the photo album. It was as if they had returned to the Yu residence in Taicheng, where she would concentrate on doing her homework beside him, completely dependent on him. She would follow him wherever he went and would never think of running away.
Almost six months had passed, nearly half a year. Yu Chaoxian thought that even if Yu Tang was heartless, she should soften her stance towards him.
After Yu Tang finished reading the book, she suddenly realized that Yu Chaoxian was still beside her; she had almost forgotten about him. She quickly turned her head and met the man's dark gaze.
Yu Chaoxian has been looking at her like this lately. Yu Tang can't describe what kind of look it is, but it's definitely not anger.
"Is this all you want?" Yu Chaoxian asked her.
Yu Tang nodded: "I'll take this one."
Yu Chaoxian confirmed once again that Yu Tang knew exactly what she wanted and would not let go of anything she liked.
As the sun was about to set, Yu Tang followed beside him, clutching the photo album in her arms. Yu Chao first took the things from her hands and held them for her, his large hand effortlessly enveloping hers.
"Where are we going?" She was led forward by Yu Chaoxian.
Yu Chao took her to eat pizza. Didn't she say she wanted to eat it last time?
Looking at him, Yu Tang realized that the thing she had seen most this year was Yu Chaoxian's back.
It seems I've gotten used to seeing it.
In the past, this figure brought her peace of mind. As long as he was there, she was safe and no one would dare to hurt her.
But now... with no outsiders around, the greatest harm she suffered was inflicted by him.
If she hadn't deliberately tried to please her nephew from the beginning, and had maintained a mutually disliked relationship with Yu Chaoxian, perhaps they could still have maintained a lukewarm aunt-nephew relationship.
None of this would have happened.
After spending three days in Shuangxili, Yu Tang suddenly suggested that she wanted to visit St. Peter's Church in the Vatican.
Yu Chaoxian naturally followed Yu Tang's wishes; as long as she was happy, he would be content.
He suddenly asked Yu Tang, "Would you like to go with me wherever I go?" But it seemed unnecessary to ask; he was determined to have her with him until death.
After the plane landed at the Vatican Airport, Yu Tang kept track of the time the whole way and finally arrived at St. Peter's Church just before evening.
Yu Chaoxian followed half a step behind Yu Tang. His presence was like a silent shadow, both protecting and encroaching.
The moment Yu Tang stepped into the church, she immediately felt her own insignificance. Everywhere she looked was a scene of unparalleled grandeur and magnificence. Huge columns rose from the ground, and vaulted ceilings soared high. Michelangelo's Pietà stood quietly in a corner, the Virgin Mary's lowered eyes filled with sorrow and love, as if she could forgive all the sins of the world.
It is so that anyone who gazes upon it, whether believer or not, can feel the peace of being forgiven in their own small tremor.
The Holy Doors of St. Peter's Basilica, which open only once every twenty-five years, are open today. Legend has it that those who come here today will have all their past mistakes wiped clean.
Although she is not a believer.
Yu Tang simply wanted to find a little peace of mind and a glimmer of hope to break free from the shackles of the past on this day blessed by legend, amidst the solemn atmosphere.
Yu Chaoxian reached out his hand to her. His hand was large and his fingers were well-defined; it was a hand that could control everything, including her fate.
He reached out his hand to her countless times, leaving no room for refusal.
Sunlight streamed through the high window, illuminating the dust motes in the air between them. Yu Tang gazed at him, and finally, she placed her hand in his palm.
The heat emanated from the point of contact, firm and scorching.
Whether or not to forgive is never decided by God, nor by her.
Sunlight streamed through the church's high windows, casting beams of light into the air thick with the scent of ancient incense. He led her step by step toward the door.
What Yu Tang fears is not the inability to see the future, but the fact that she has already seen the future and will be forever trapped by his side.
The next day, Yu Chaoxian took Yu Tang back to the island. After returning, Yu Tang slept for a whole day, and it wasn't until 2 p.m. that Yu Chaoxian woke her up.
After dinner, the two watched TV on the sofa, which was originally Yu Tang's habit, but now it was Yu Chaoxian's too.
News reports indicate that the Americas are in complete chaos. The fear of terrorist attacks has not yet subsided, and people are filled with anxiety. The government's refusal to subsidize rescue workers has further chilled the hearts of the people, and the streets are now filled with various protests and demonstrations against the government.
Yu Chaoxian was too lazy to read these news articles, but the person in his arms had been quite concerned lately. Let him read them; it's better than seeing those pretty boys.
"Then... is California this chaotic too?" Yu Tang asked Yu Chaoxian.
Yu Chaoxian rested his head on her lap, burying his face in her lower abdomen: "Where do you want to go?"
Yu Tang's eyes darted around, seemingly lost in thought, before she hummed in agreement and said, "California is quite beautiful."
Yu Chaoxian naturally recalled the scene of watching the sunset with her in California, and he hugged her tightly: "Let's go together in a while."
Yu Tang fell silent.
Their time together was always interrupted, and Mickey's call came at a very inopportune time. The moment the call connected, Yu Chaoxian's displeasure was palpable even through the phone, and Mickey instinctively felt he might have ruined his boss's plans.
Actually, Mickey called at the right time. Based on his understanding of the boss and Miss Yu's schedule, the two of them usually slept until 10 o'clock in the morning and did not return to their room until after 10 o'clock at night.
It was only a little before eight o'clock, and Mickey figured he definitely wouldn't disturb the boss and Miss Yu while they were doing their work.
Yu Tang didn't like being around Yu Chaoxian when he was on the phone, because he couldn't talk or watch TV. Whenever Yu Tang saw him answering the phone, she would leave him and go upstairs.
Yu Chaoxian lay down where Yu Tang had been sitting, raised his hand, hooked her arm, and pulled her into his arms.
She was hugging a cushion, and he was hugging her.
"Boss?"
"explain."
Mickey quickly said, "Boss, do you remember Commander Berenson? He was in the same unit as me, but was forced to retire due to mental health issues."
“Hmm.” Yu Chaoxian had an impression of people with strong abilities. Berenson was particularly outstanding. During a counter-terrorism operation, he discovered that the police were collaborating with local warlords to sell drugs. Berenson reported this multiple times to no avail, and was eventually framed by his superiors for mental problems and forced to retire.
"I received news that after retiring, Berenson did not receive the medal and subsidies from the government. Now, his son has developed lung cancer from dust inhalation while rescuing people trapped in Freedom Tower, and the government still has not provided any subsidies. He plans to gather the people from our team to retaliate against the American government. He plans to set up a poison gas X9 missile in the abandoned hospital on Shutter Island and prepare to launch it towards the American capital in order to get money from the government. He also plans to intercept a school bus and take people hostage."
The X9 missile is a persistent nerve agent that inhibits acetylcholinesterase, leading to continuous nerve signal transmission and respiratory failure. Even a single drop through the skin or a trace amount inhaled can be fatal. Furthermore, a single missile carrying the toxic gas can cover approximately 1-2 square kilometers upon launch, resulting in a mortality rate of over 90% for unprotected personnel.
This is truly a case of the barefoot not fearing those wearing shoes; to deal with thugs, you have to use thug methods. It seems these people are determined to fight the American government to the death.
Yu Chaoxian glanced at the person in his arms who was so bored that she was yawning, and effortlessly lifted her up a little. He kissed her on the lips and said, "I'm not getting involved in this mess."
Even though Yu Tang pretends well because she's afraid of Yu Chaoxian, she still has the temperament of a brat deep down, and occasionally she can't help but let it show.
Yu Chao frowned after kissing her; it tasted terribly sour. Yu Tang also tasted terribly sour; she had just eaten a piece of an orange that was incredibly sour.
Seeing that Yu Chaoxian was busy answering the phone, she took advantage of his open lips and stuffed the rest of the orange into his mouth, then ran away.
They dare to provoke but not admit it.
Yu Chaoxian's refusal was unexpected for Mickey. He had assumed his boss would be interested, especially since the boss knew the most about chemical missiles. The boss's last mission to rescue the president was in the abandoned hospital. He was also the one who disarmed the chemical missile on the president. However, right after the president was rescued, a traitor leaked the location of the boss's team.
"We'll talk about the rest tomorrow when I get back to base." Yu Chao hung up the phone and went to make the arrest.
Sharing an orange segment between two people is seen as romantic by Yu Chaoxian, but by Yu Tang, it's seen as revenge. She was jealous of him, so he wanted to get back at her.
He's going back to base tomorrow and won't be back for three or four days, so naturally he wants to spend some time with Yu Tang before he leaves. This time, Yu Tang doesn't struggle much at all; compared to before, she's quite cooperative.
Yu Chaoxian always liked to do things in unusual places, and this time it was on the glass floor.
"I saw it all!" Yu Tang cried, her eyes and nose red.
Her skin was fair, and even a little redness was very noticeable. She looked so pitiful crying like that. Just one look made Yu Chaoxian feel like his blood was rushing to his head.
"Tangtang, no one will see," Yu Chaoxian coaxed her to cooperate, but his actions didn't stop for a moment.
Yu Tang was pressed to the side by him, their eyes meeting through the glass and the shark's eyes underwater.
“It’s the fish that’s looking.” Yu Tang pointed to the fish under the glass.
Yu Chaoxian casually tossed the clothes over to cover her, then picked up Yu Tang and sat her on his lap: "This way you won't be able to see."
Yu Tang rested her head on his shoulder, her arms naturally wrapping around his neck.
Warmth enveloped the man's shoulders, just as if she had taken the initiative to embrace him. Yu Chaoxian kissed her passionately and unconsciously, with utmost tenderness, wanting only to be immersed in this unreserved closeness with her forever.
The scenery was enchanting under the moonlight.
Yu Chaoxian woke up in the middle of the night and found that Yu Tang was no longer beside him, but when he opened his eyes he saw someone quietly looking at the moon in front of him.
The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly across the glass floor, outlining a silvery tranquility. The girl sat on the blanket, her back to him, her slender figure enveloped in the halo of light.
She tilted her head slightly, her black hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall. The straps of her nightgown slipped down to her arms, revealing a large expanse of her snow-white back, which shimmered like fine porcelain in the moonlight.
However, his marks were still visible on her porcelain-white skin.
The man remained silent, simply watching the scene unfold. Moonlight cast dappled shadows on her eyelashes, trembling gently with each blink. The night breeze lifted the gauze curtains, blurring Yu Tang's silhouette, making Yu Chaoxian feel as if he were still dreaming.
With a warm, soft blanket draped over her shoulders, Yu Tang finally turned around, and moonlight instantly bathed her face. Her eyes shone brighter than the moonlight, filled with emotions he couldn't decipher.
What is she thinking?
Yu Chaoxian didn't know, but later he would often think back to Yu Tang that night, wondering what Yu Tang was thinking at that time.
Later, Yu Chaoxian figured it out. He didn't know what she was thinking, but every time he thought about this moment, he was thinking about her.
If she didn't sleep at night, Yu Tang naturally wouldn't wake up in the morning. Yu Chaoxian was already dressed and leaned down to kiss her lips repeatedly. Yu Tang was awakened by his kisses, but she was too sleepy to wake up properly, so she kicked him with her foot.
"Are you angry? Who didn't sleep last night?" Yu Chaoxian kissed her ankle as well.
Yu Tang turned over and fell asleep again. Yu Chaoxian leaned down and kissed her, along with the necklace that was warm from Yu Tang's body heat.
The sound of the helicopter rotors outside had stopped for a while. Yu Chaoxian tucked her in before turning around and leaving the room.
If I take Yu Tang to the base, she'll definitely throw a tantrum if I wake her up. I'll just leave her on the island.
Actually, there's another point. When Yu Tang returns to Taicheng, she inevitably recalls some past events, and no matter who she thinks of, Yu Chaoxian is not happy about it.
The sound of the helicopter faded into the distance. Yu Tang suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze clear and bright.
Today is not only the day Yu Chaoxian left, but also the day Auntie came to deliver fruits and vegetables.
She had been waiting for this opportunity. The moment the piggy bank was smashed, Yu Tang felt as if a cage had finally been broken in her heart.
Yu Chaoxian was very generous; the cash he had given her was enough for her to catch her breath in her new place. She was going to start a new academic year and a new life elsewhere.
She wanted to take many things, but in the end, Yu Tang left them all behind. She only took her bag, stuffing all her money and documents inside. The ID card was the one Yu Chaoxian had given her for exam registration information last time. She deliberately tossed it on the table, pretending not to care. Yu Chaoxian seemed to have forgotten about it and didn't take it back. Whether Yu Chaoxian trusted her or genuinely forgot, the documents were now in her hands.
She then went to the study, laid out the blankets, and put the largest shark plush toy inside, creating the scene of her sleeping in the study.
In short, delay as long as possible.
Even when her aunt came over, Yu Tang called Yu Chaoxian on her phone to tell him that her aunt had brought her some donuts.
Yu Chao raised an eyebrow as he answered the phone. He had only been gone for half a day, and Yu Tang had already taken the initiative to call him. It seemed that the six months of spending time together had been effective; she just missed him.
Yu Tang heard him say on the phone, "Okay, I'll be back in three days, and then I'll take you out to play."
"Okay, I'll wait for you." After hanging up the phone, Yu Tang put it back in its place without much hesitation.
This phone only made this one call, and it was also the last call it ever made. Yu Tang wouldn't take this phone; having learned her lesson, she wouldn't make the same mistake again with a phone.
There were only a butler and a cook on the island. The butler was very discreet and didn't keep an eye on her all the time.
Seeing that they had finished carrying the vegetables and fruits, Yu Tang took the initiative to walk over to the housekeeper and the housekeeper and said, "Thank you for your hard work. I made some juice. Would you like to try it?"
Faced with Yu Tang's enthusiasm, the housekeeper and the maid felt embarrassed to refuse her. The housekeeper led the maid to the main building's living room.
The journey takes about ten minutes. Let alone ten minutes, even three minutes would be enough for Yu Tang.
As the butler turned and took two steps away, Yu Tang looked at the speedboat, her heart pounding. As mentioned before, Yu Chaoxian had taught her a lot, such as how to drive a speedboat.
"Oh, right." The butler suddenly stopped.
Yu Tang gripped her clothes tightly, her nails digging into her palms without her noticing. "What's wrong?"
The butler turned to Yu Tang and asked, "What would you like for lunch, Miss?"
Yu Tang's expression remained unchanged as she tried to suppress the tremor in her voice. She covered the small bag behind her with her loose coat. "Dumplings, please?"
The butler readily agreed, then asked, "Isn't Miss going in?"
Yu Tang smiled calmly and said, "I want to take a walk."
The housekeeper noticed that Yu Tang was wearing a coat, and the weather wasn't too cold, so he didn't say anything more. He bowed slightly to Yu Tang and then turned around to continue leading the auntie around.
The moment the housekeeper and maid entered the living room and disappeared from sight, Yu Tang didn't linger for a second longer.
The speedboat left a trail of waves on the azure sea, and Yu Tang gripped the steering wheel tightly.
wind.
She had never felt such a wind before—without his warmth, without his scent, a pure and violent sea wind whipped at her clothes. Salty mist clung to her face, indistinguishable between spray and tears.
Yu Tang knew very well that Yu Chaoxian's threats to her were only effective when she was by his side; if she wasn't there, he couldn't threaten her with anyone else.
Since he can't find her, how can he threaten her?
The speedboat sped along in the sunset, the golden sunlight casting a halo around her silhouette.
The dashboard needle swung to the right, but Yu Tang didn't slow down at all; she went faster and faster. The speedboat sped precisely along the zigzag route he had taught her, each sharp turn perfectly replicating Yu Chaoxian's instruction. She even remembered to turn off the AIS automatic identification system.
AIS is a tracking system that the International Maritime Organization mandates for ships to install. It can automatically exchange ship position information via the VHF radio band.
This was also taught to her by Yu Chaoxian.
The glass villa that had always imprisoned her was now just a black dot in the distance, gradually disappearing on the horizon and eventually being swallowed by the waves.
After landing, Yu Tang carried her bag containing all her belongings, pondering how to get to her destination. She couldn't take a plane, she didn't have her passport, and the unlicensed taxis nearby were definitely out of the question—it wasn't safe.
After thinking it over, Yu Tang noticed a line of college students queuing up in an orderly fashion to board the bus and buy tickets.
This is the car!
Being surrounded by students of similar age, Yu Tang felt much more at ease. Full of anticipation, she boarded the bus and sat down next to a brown-haired girl, completely relaxed.
There is no such thing as a sudden departure between people; she only comes after she has thought things through, and she only leaves after she has thought things through.
So no one but herself would know where she went.
The deserted island was eerily silent in the twilight, broken only by the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. Yu Chaoxian rushed back to the island close to dawn, where the housekeeper and maid stood frozen in panic. No one had imagined that they had only gone for a drink of juice, less than fifteen minutes in total, and when they returned, the people were gone, and the speedboat was gone too.
The bedroom's French windows were smashed, and none of the toys on the bed were taken. The man came out and looked at the messy footprints on the beach. They were left by Yu Tang as she ran towards the speedboat, varying in depth, eventually disappearing into the damp tide line.
He bent down and picked up the abandoned shark toy, rubbing it between his fingertips, and suddenly chuckled softly.
Yu Chaoxian's pupils contracted slightly in the darkness, a long-lost sense of excitement rising up his spine. He slowly unbuttoned his cuffs, letting the unrestrained sea breeze fill his shirt.
She never knew what submission was; even after being imprisoned for so long, she still had a backbone. He still remembered teaching her how to use a speedboat on the sea, when she trembled in his arms, clutching his hand tightly.
Yu Chaoxian, who had long been devoid of this desire for conquest, suddenly let out a cold laugh.
Yu Tang, can you escape?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
