"Are you going to stay in the country for a long time? Brother Ah Du, don’t worry about me; I’ll be fine on my own here." Qin Du, however, laughed and said, "Do you think I’m staying in the country because of you?" "You really think too much. Dad is planning to expand the domestic market and needs someone reliable to oversee it. Naturally, that person is me. Although I’d like to take care of you, my work will be very busy from now on, and I probably won’t have as much time to spend with you." So that was it, Yun Ya breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. Qin Du turned his head to glance at Yun Ya and sighed inwardly. "Dad is coming back to the country next week; we should find some time to get together then." Yun Ya also missed Uncle Qin dearly. Over the years, he had devoted all his time and energy to work, hardly having any free time. It had always been Brother Ah Du who had taken care of her and Miaomiao like both a father and a mother. In fact, both she and Uncle Qin had chosen to return to the country at this time, their intentions unspoken. "What time are you returning to Jiangzhou tomorrow? I’ll drive you there." "There’s no need to trouble yourself; I’ve already bought my plane ticket, and Aunt Die will be going back with me. Brother Ah Du, go about your business." The hand Qin Du had on the steering wheel tightened slightly. Ten years had passed, and though they had grown up together like childhood sweethearts, he realized he could never truly get close to Yun Ya’s heart. He really wanted to shake her shoulders and ask her, what else does he have to do? But he couldn’t ask, because by taking that step, not only would he lose any semblance of brotherly affection with Yun Ya, they wouldn’t even be able to remain friends. He thought, let it be. She’s still young. Although she’s smart, she has no experience with love and doesn’t understand the matters between men and women. Maybe when she’s older, it should be okay... In her life for the past ten years, there had been only one man—him. He automatically excluded Miaomiao from consideration. Although she regarded him as her brother, the fact that they weren’t related by blood meant there were endless possibilities. "Hm, with Aunt Die around, I can rest a bit easier knowing someone is there to look after your daily life." Yun Ya might have a high IQ, but she’s practically a klutz at life: she could set the kitchen on fire trying to cook, and ruin clothes attempting to do laundry. The thought of her living alone was unimaginable. But isn’t that just how a princess should be? Have you ever seen a princess doing her own cooking and laundry? You are my princess. The day will come when you’ve grown accustomed to my presence, and then nothing in this world will have the power to separate me from your side. If ten years aren’t enough, there’s always the next ten years. "I’ll take you to the station tomorrow." With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Qin Du spoke again. This time, Yun Ya did not refuse and simply nodded her head. Watching Yun Ya and Ji Die disappear at the ticket check, Qin Du felt a touch of melancholy. He was overcome by an impulse to buy a ticket and chase after them, but he quickly suppressed it. Sometimes being too clingy can backfire, especially with someone like Yun Ya. She doesn’t like to feel confined, so he gave her freedom. If he had known what people Yun Ya would meet, what would happen upon her departure, he would have chased after her without a moment’s hesitation. The saddest words in this world are "if only," filled with helplessness and regret over the unpredictability of life. If we had known it would come to this, why did we ever begin? Before boarding the plane, Yun Ya sent out a text message, which was promptly replied to. Yun Ya hooked her lips into a smile and turned off her phone. Carrying her luggage, Ji Die saw Yun Ya smiling and couldn’t help asking, "What’s going on?" Yun Ya put her phone in her bag, turned to glance at Ji Die, and saw the wrinkles at the corners of her aunt’s eyes—a sign of how much she had aged over the last ten years. "An old acquaintance. Once the plane lands, Aunt Die, you’ll be able to meet him." After that brief explanation, she quickly walked towards the boarding gate. Ji Die was momentarily stunned. An old acquaintance? Touching down on the land of Jiangzhou. The source of thɪs content is novel(ꜰ)ire.net The endless azure sky, the air tinged with the salty scent of wetness, everything was so familiar. This was the place she had dreamed of, the home that gave her life and sustenance. More importantly, it was here that she would find her sworn enemy, whom she hated to her very bones. Ten years had not diluted that hatred; rather, it had fermented with time, becoming even more intense. She was, in fact, somewhat eager to begin.