Chapter 256 The Last Bit of Torture
If at some point he had made a different choice.
For example, that night on the overpass, he pulled her aside and told her the whole truth.
For example, instead of accompanying her onto the helicopter to the port city, they blocked any possibility of her going to the port city.
For example, discovering her secrets earlier, and sharing those secrets with her sooner.
Even at their first meeting in Crane Village, he told her that he was Xu Chi, not Xu Chi.
...
Will the outcome be better than it is now?
It should get better.
At least not like now, where every assumption feels like a shackle, binding his throat and heart.
Xu Chi remained silent for a long time.
"……never mind."
Tu Chaoxi tilted her head back, closed her eyes briefly, and took a step back.
"never mind."
He can't blame anyone.
...The port city is indeed incompatible with their family.
"Nan Ke, Lin Yue, are gone."
This place is no good, I'll never come here again.
That evening, the helicopter landed in Yanjing.
Before landing, Tu Chaoxi had already fallen into a deep sleep.
Looking at the dark night view outside the window, Lin Yue asked, "Second Brother, where are we going back to?"
"...Are you going to see Grandma?"
Nan Ke lowered her eyes and held the small white bag tightly.
He couldn't answer.
The most agonizing moments were spent in the port city, and the most difficult thing to face... is now.
Lin Yue was still looking out the window, then a sudden glint appeared in his eyes, and his tone became cryptic:
"...Second Brother, it's Uncle Liqing."
The helicopter landed in the wide square, and Jiang Liqing stood straight, looking at them from a distance of a few meters.
Nan Ke was momentarily unable to move.
Jiang Liqing slowly walked over.
The wind was strong at night, and as he looked at the small bag in Nan Ke's hand, a faint moisture welled up in his eyes.
His voice remained refined: "...It was the Grand Madam who sent me."
"Jiang Peng's test results were normal, and a lawsuit has been filed against him."
"The Cheng family and Xu family also contacted us, preparing to join forces to settle accounts with the Bai family."
"The legal team has just departed for the port city."
He reported the information word by word, not missing a single piece of information from the port city over the past two weeks.
Finally, he said slowly, "The medical team is already in the garden."
"...Come home with me."
Nan Ke hastily looked away.
After a long pause, he said softly, "There are still some things to take care of. Please take my brother back first."
Late at night, Nan Ke and Lin Yue arrived at the residential area.
Tu Xiaomao's luggage is all in this small house.
Upon entering the foyer, a large oil painting still hangs on the wall.
The smiling face that greeted him made Nan Ke momentarily dazed.
He hurriedly lowered his head, then reluctantly looked up again.
Tu Yao only stayed here for a few months, but she left behind quite a few things.
A bright red dress, two boxes of colorful candies, a massage device for Tu Chaoxi, a concert CD for Nan Ke, and various kinds of ointments prepared for Lin Yue.
He picked out the dress and the candy.
"These will be sent to Crane Village."
Lin Yue took it and subconsciously asked, "Second Brother, what do you mean?"
Nan Ke was also suddenly confused.
Yes, how should I put it?
How should I put it?
They brought people out of Crane Village, but they couldn't bring them back.
"Just say..."
He stroked the two books filled with writing.
"Just say you're going to study."
...
"Off to school?"
Big Fatty stood there blankly, holding two large boxes of candy.
"But Tu Xiaomao doesn't like studying."
When Lin Yue first saw Ding Dapang on camera, he was a short, round guy, just as his name suggested.
Like Tu Yao, she is very outgoing and always has something to say.
"You're also Tu Xiaomao's brother!"
"I'm Tu Xiaomao's friend and his follower, you know that?"
Lin Yue nodded stiffly, his voice hesitant: "...I know."
"I know you are my best friends."
Big Fatty smiled happily.
"Right! We're best friends!"
"When is Tu Xiaomao coming back? Winter vacation is coming soon, will she come back?"
He looked over expectantly.
Naïve and immature.
Lin Yue felt as if he were seeing Tu Yao from the past.
He slowly shook his head, struggling to find the right words: "She... will be studying for a long time."
Big Fatty was taken aback, the smile slowly fading from his face, and he asked dejectedly, "...Aren't you coming back?"
Lin Yue: "...Yes."
Big Fatty stopped talking.
After a while, he nodded: "Okay."
"Then I'll definitely be back next year. I'll wait for you next year."
Lin Yue was unable to speak again.
He looked ahead; the path leading to the market that Tu Yao had walked countless times at the village entrance was gone.
Instead, a wide and long road was built.
Three cars can drive side by side.
At the end of the road, Luo Meili hurried over.
Lin Yue couldn't help but take a step back.
As Luo Meili walked, she glanced around, but seeing no one, her smile faded slightly.
Just like Big Fatty, he immediately asked, "Where's Little Mao?"
"You're Xiao Mao's third brother, right? Where are her eldest and second brothers? Why aren't they here?"
Seeing the identical expectant looks in Luo Meili's and Da Pang's eyes, Lin Yue slowly spoke:
"My brother has officially terminated his contract with his original management company and is now preparing a new song."
"After graduating, my second brother will join Uncle Cormier on a concert tour, and later he will organize his own solo concerts."
"Tu Xiaomao..."
Luo Meili and Da Pang stared at him without moving.
Lin Yue paused for a few seconds before continuing, "Tu Xiaomao found a buyer and planned the transportation route, so I came."
Although it wasn't explicitly stated, they consciously took on the responsibility of maintaining that 90% progress bar.
Whatever the nature of that fortune, it was ultimately something that Tu Yao had diligently and painstakingly maintained.
Lin Yue paused for a few seconds, then continued, "Tu Xiaomao... she's too busy."
"I can't come."
"This is the dress she bought for you, and she asked me to bring it over."
Lin Yue lowered his eyes and, word by word, spoke with difficulty the lie that he was least skilled at, a lie that was obvious at a glance.
Koro Meili only paused for a moment, then appeared to be in a normal state.
She looked up and stared at the two cuts on Lin Yue's face caused by the glass.
After a long pause, he nodded, as if he believed it.
She took the dress and examined it carefully for a while.
"...Did Xiao Mao buy it?"
"It's my favorite color. Xiao Mao knows how to pick colors."
She gathered her skirt and asked, "So, are you planning to stay for a few days, or are you leaving soon?"
His tone was warm and natural.
Lin Yue swallowed hard, his throat dry.
"I'll stay here until the route is finalized."
"Okay, I'll prepare a room for you."
After saying that, Luo Meili pulled Da Pang and walked back quickly.
Big Fatty was clearly reluctant; he still had many questions to ask.
Has Xiao Mao gained or lost weight? Is he eating well? Does he miss him?
But just as she was about to speak, Luo Meili pulled her forcefully.
The fat man was dejected and had no choice but to walk beside her, complaining all the while.
"Mom, Brother Xiao Mao said that Xiao Mao will be studying for a long time."
"Mom, doesn't Xiao Mao hate studying the most?"
"Oh no, am I going to be the only idiot left in the village?"
As he was talking, a drop of water suddenly fell on his face.
Big Fatty reached out and touched it, asking in confusion, "Mom, is it raining?"
Luo Meili did not reply to him for a long time.
Big Fatty quickly looked up, but the moment he did, Luo Meili covered his eyes with her hand.
"...Mom! I can't see!"
Still, no one answered him.
Big Fatty panicked: "Mom!"
Luo Meili suppressed the sob that welled up in her throat.
"...Don't yell, you brat!"
Big Fatty was stunned: "Mom..."
"Don't shout..."
On the wide road, a plump woman held her child in one arm and clutched her skirt tightly with the other, tears dripping onto the red hem of her skirt as she walked forward with her head down.
The surrounding area is filled with rows of mushroom houses, which have survived the cold winter and are waiting for spring planting.
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