After passing through a grove of paulownia trees, the view ahead opened up considerably.
However, the numerous security cameras along the road and the constant patrols by security guards demonstrate the manor's high level of secrecy.
The dark gate at the end of the road slowly opened, and the car entered the manor, where colorful lisianthus flowers and Chinese-style buildings came into view on both sides.
These are her and her mother's favorite bellflowers.
Shi Wan stared blankly at the scenery outside the window.
"What are you thinking about?" Lu Jingyan wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and pulled her into his embrace.
"What is this?" Shi Wan looked at Lu Jingyan in confusion.
“The Lu family developed in Country Y a long time ago, and their ancestors built houses here. Later, as the family business grew bigger and bigger, this land was bought and built into a Chinese-style manor.”
“My father loved to buy my mother all kinds of bellflowers. Some of these varieties were hard to find in Y country, but he would send her a bouquet every day without fail. Later we found out that my father had a secret laboratory where he cultivated bellflower seedlings specifically for my mother.”
"Hmm." Lu Jingyan gently stroked Shi Wan's hair as he listened quietly to her memories.
Suddenly, the little woman in his arms raised her head and said, "I want to go home and visit."
This is the home where she lived with her parents.
The place she once didn't have the courage to return to, now with Lu Jingyan by her side, seems less difficult to return to.
"Okay," Lu Jingyan replied in a low voice.
After having lunch at the manor, it was already evening when we arrived in the city.
Looking at the familiar streets, the two walked hand in hand on the sidewalk beside the road.
Several bodyguards followed a short distance behind them, keeping a certain distance.
Are you tired?
Lu Jingyan tightened his grip on Shi Wan's waist and asked in a low voice.
"You've been walking for so long, is your back hurting? You should have had a check-up at the manor before coming out."
Lu Jingyan stared at Shi Wan with self-reproach, while his hands kept massaging her lower back.
Shi Wan felt a little sorry for him and took the initiative to hug him. "Don't worry, if we had done the check-up just now, we still wouldn't be able to leave the house. Besides, under Mr. Lu's care, my body is getting stronger and stronger."
Lu Jingyan gently pressed on Shi Wan's lower back, while leaning down to kiss the corner of her eye.
Shi Wan tiptoed to get closer to her.
At that moment, a Maybach slowly drove past the two of them and stopped under a tree not far ahead.
Hidden by the dense shade of the trees on both sides of the road, Shi Wan did not notice the people in the car.
The two continued walking hand in hand. Right in front of a villa, Shi Wan pointed to a swing on a tree in front of the door, a slight smile playing on her lips.
“That was made by my father for my mother. He wouldn’t let me go up there, so I would always make a fuss with him. I’ll take you to see it.”
Lu Jingyan looked in the direction she was pointing and walked forward.
As they walked to the swing, Lu Jingyan suddenly spoke up, "But every time you manage to sneak up there and play for half a day."
Shi Wan: ?
How did you know?
Lu Jingyan gently tightened his grip on Shi Wan's hand.
“Every year on your birthday and on your performance day, I stand there waiting for you, or rather, I secretly watch you.”
After speaking, Lu Jingyan pointed to a corner not far behind him, a trace of melancholy flashing in his eyes, and the bitter smile on his lips stung Shi Wan's heart.
“Before I took over the Lu family business, I would come here every year. You were very young then, and I only dared to watch from afar. Later, Old Man Lu sent me to Germany for training, and I could only sneak out a few days before your birthday each year to stand there and wait for you.”
Lu Jingyan paused for a moment, "After things were over in Country D, I took over the Lu Group. The next day you had a performance in Country Y, and I rushed over to see you... Unfortunately, Feng Yunzhou was standing next to you at that time."
"When I learned that you were going back to China, even if it was with him, I was very happy that we were closer together."
“You had an accident on the way to the airport. My hands were shaking when I pulled you out from under the car. At that moment, I thought that if I lost you, I might not be able to survive.”
Lu Jingyan tightened his grip on Shi Wan's arm, rested his chin on her forehead, and sighed.
"Thankfully, you're still here. I'm so glad my wait was worth it."
He once thought that if Wanwan loved Feng Yunzhou, he could let go.
A single glance from afar is enough.
He hated his own cowardice and regretted his useless arrogance.
But he was also afraid that his ruthless methods would hurt Shi Wan. Yet, the way Shi Wan looked at Feng Yunzhou was so clear, bright, and full of love.
It makes it impossible for me to resort to any means necessary.
At that moment, he knew he might have lost forever.
Lu Jingyan always glosses over the past, but now, hearing these details that she didn't even know, she is quite surprised.
Her heart ached as if it were being torn apart, and the stinging in her eyes stung her very soul.
Unbeknownst to her, while she was preoccupied with thoughts of Feng Yunzhou, there was someone nearby who had always been watching over her and loving her.
The tears welled up in her eyes, trying to hide them from him as she cried.
Shi Wan buried her head in his chest and whispered, "Silly boy!"
How could Lu Jingyan not sense her emotions? He hugged Shi Wan tightly and laughed, "If I weren't so silly, I would be holding that cold pillow at home right now. With you by my side, even being silly is worth it."
"Ayan, I'm sorry..."
"I shouldn't have kept you waiting so long."
How painful it must have been for him to watch the girl he loved become someone else's all these years.
If only she could have seen Feng Yunzhou sooner, or noticed Lu Jingyan standing not far away earlier.
That way he can suffer less.
Shi Wan leaned against Lu Jingyan's chest and apologized repeatedly, her tears soaking the man's collar.
Lu Jingyan gently kissed the corner of her eye until the tear stains dried.
"Wanwan, I'm telling you this not to make you feel guilty, but just to make you cherish your husband more."
Lu Jingyan stared at Shi Wan with a pitiful look on his face. Shi Wan didn't say anything, but silently hugged Lu Jingyan's waist and leaned against him.
Just when the two were reluctant to part.
Inside the black sedan parked under the shade of the trees ahead, Feng Yunzhou sat in the back seat, staring at the couple embracing not far away.
The emotions surging in his eyes could no longer be suppressed; his hands clenched into fists as if he wanted to draw blood.
Sitting in the front row, Chen Xing turned to look at his boss, and the forest in Feng Yunzhou's eyes made him shiver.
"Open the window," he whispered to Chen Xing.
All he wanted to do at that moment was to look at Shi Wan one more time and hear her voice.
He hadn't heard her voice in a long time, and even through countless trees and traffic, he could almost still hear her laughter.
Feng Yunzhou closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.
He had walked this road countless times, and in his memory, that lively and happy little girl would always be waiting for him by the roadside.
Back then, whenever his car stopped, she would excitedly jump onto him.
At that time, the little girl's heart and eyes were filled with him.
Her love for him was unconditional, and her smile was always so bright.
But what did he do?
His purpose in going abroad each time was simply to find his fiancée and, incidentally, to catch a glimpse of Shi Wan.
In his eyes, Shi Wan was just a passerby, perhaps only there to alleviate the sense of loss that his fiancée had brought him.
After a long time.
Feng Yunzhou opened his eyes and looked at the spot he had just been in.
Only the empty swing remained, swaying back and forth under the tree.
There's no going back; we made a mistake from the very beginning.
No one will stand still and wait for you, especially someone who has hurt you so badly.
Chen Xing glanced at Feng Yunzhou in the rearview mirror, his tone somewhat reluctant, "Boss, shall we wait?"
The air pressure inside the car had dropped to its lowest point, making even breathing difficult.
Feng Yunzhou slowly closed the car window.
Let's go.
His voice was filled with unbearable bitterness as he watched helplessly as the girl he once loved was embraced by Lu Jingyan.
At this moment, he seemed to understand Lu Jingyan's feelings back then.
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