Chapter 42
The day of departure finally arrived, like a trial that could not be postponed.
The night before his departure, Ling Yao lay on Su Rui's small bed, eyes wide open until dawn. After his anger and resolute feelings faded, the cold reality gradually set in. He had practically left the house empty-handed, taking nothing with him except a few pieces of clothing and his passport.
He glanced at the expensive mechanical watch on his wrist. It was a gift from his mother for his birthday last year, and he had once loved it. Now, it seemed like a glaring label. He sat up abruptly and carefully took the watch off. He held it in his hand, the cold metal rubbing against his palm.
The next morning, he excused himself to go shopping and went to a well-known secondhand luxury goods resale shop in the city center. The clerk evaluated, quoted, and transferred the money, all in a skilled yet indifferent manner. Looking at the considerable increase in his account, Ling Yao felt no sense of relief. Instead, he felt a sense of emptiness, as if he had personally sold a part of his past.
He returned to Su Rui's house, counted out half of the money, a thick stack, stuffed it into an envelope, and then forcefully thrust it into Su Rui's hand.
"Here." His tone brooked no refusal, even carrying a hint of commanding authority. However, his eyes betrayed a subtle anxiety and uneasiness. "While I'm away, use it sparingly. Don't be silly and go out to work again. Go to school and study hard. Do you understand?"
Su Rui looked at the thick envelope, as if holding a burning coal, and immediately wanted to push it back: "No, Ling Yao, I can't take it! You need money everywhere you go, I..."
"Just take it if I tell you to!" Ling Yao interrupted him, grabbed his wrist, and forced the envelope into his palm, squeezing him so hard it almost hurt. "I'll have a company to look after me over there, so I won't starve to death. I'm worried about you staying here."
He looked away, his voice lowered. Beneath that toughness was worry and reluctance. He understood Su Rui's situation better than anyone else. If he left, he feared Su Rui would return to her past, helpless and struggling. This money was the only thing he could hold onto to ensure Su Rui could live a slightly easier life.
Su Rui looked at his tense profile, understanding his unspoken concern. Her nose felt sore, and her hand, which had been trying to resist, finally dropped in weakness. He clutched the heavy envelope tightly, feeling the warmth of Ling Yao's watch still lingering on it, and the weight of a promise that weighed heavily on his heart.
On the way to the airport, they were both silent. The taxi was filled with a near-frozen sadness. Ling Yao held Su Rui's hand tightly, his knuckles turning white, as if the person before him would disappear if he let go.
The airport hall was brightly lit, people were coming and going, flight information was constantly broadcast on the radio, and every voice was urging departure.
After checking in and standing at the security checkpoint, the final moment finally approached. The hustle and bustle around us seemed to fade into a blurry background, leaving only the clear, yet receding figure in each other's eyes.
"Ling Yao..." Su Rui raised her head, her eyes reddened, but she tried hard not to let the tears fall. Her voice was choked with sobs, but she was extremely firm. "Take good care of yourself. Don't worry about me... I will wait for you. I will be with you for a long, long time."
This simple and unadorned promise, devoid of any flowery rhetoric, was like the warmest light, instantly striking the softest and most uneasy corner of Ling Yao's heart. He suddenly pulled Su Rui into his arms, tightly wrapping her arms around him, wanting to take Su Rui with him.
"Su Rui," he buried his face in the familiar crook of her neck, which smelled faintly of soap. His voice was muffled, carrying an almost paranoid dependence and command, "Remember what you said. Don't forget me, don't like anyone else, don't... leave me. I hope you will never leave me."
This was the first time he had so openly revealed his almost pathological possessiveness and the huge insecurity deep within his heart. He was not going to fly, he was going to fight in an unfamiliar battlefield, and he needed Su Rui as his only stable rear support.
——"Attention passengers on flight CZ** bound for Country J, please board the aircraft via Gate 17 as soon as possible..."
The cold female voice on the radio sounded mercilessly, urging again and again, like a final ultimatum.
Ling Yao's body stiffened, and he had to loosen his embrace. He looked deeply at Su Rui, as if he wanted to carve his current appearance into her mind. Then, he lowered his head, and his warm, resolute lips solemnly pressed against Su Rui's smooth forehead.
This kiss was not like the impulsive kiss on Jeju Island that tasted of the salty sea breeze. It was lighter, yet heavier, carrying too many unspeakable emotions—reluctance, dependence, orders, and a faint hint of prayer.
"Let's go." After the kiss, Ling Yao turned around abruptly, pulled up his suitcase, and never looked back. He walked quickly towards the security check passage with a resolute back, as if he was afraid that if he was a step slower, he would lose all the courage to leave.
Su Rui stood there blankly, the brief warmth on his forehead still burning. He watched the familiar figure disappear around the corner of the security checkpoint as it receded further and further away.
Ling Yao's luggage was empty, just a few changes of clothes and a photo of the two of them on Jeju Island. In his heart, there was only a huge, roaring void and a promise that echoed over and over again:
I will stay with you for a long, long time.
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