Bian Yue was completely unaffected, she smiled and looked at Shen Jinci, saying, "Jinci, I want to listen to you read for a while." "Okay, wait for me downstairs, I’ll go get it," Shen Jinci said. "Is it the same collection of essays as last time?" Bian Yue nodded and replied, "Yeah, it’s hypnotic." The smile in Shen Jinci’s eyes grew deeper, his voice gentle and unhurried, "Alright, I’ll go get it." Their interactions were always warm and gentle, like a quiet stream that made it seem impossible for outsiders to step in, not even the slightest bit. Li Sihe silently observed and finally heard that sigh in his heart, that voice saying: Li Sihe, it’s time for you to let go. Actually, he should have let go long ago. Later, his inner demons prevailed, but the outcome was already determined—there was indeed no chance of retrieving even half a star. These past few days, Li Sihe had finally come to terms with what he had missed out on. What he had been demanding all along was always unattainable. Li Sihe admitted it to himself. He lowered his brow and eyes, concealing the complexity in his gaze. He spoke up, calling Bian Yue’s name, "Bian Yue." The person in question turned around to look at him, without speaking. Li Sihe paused, then approached Bian Yue, and in her slightly surprised gaze, he smiled and softly said, "Yueyue, have a safe journey." Bian Yue’s startled expression turned into a smile, her eyes sincere as she softly said, "Take good care of yourself, Li Sihe." On the day Bian Yue and Shen Jinci left, the incessant snow on the island finally ceased for a while. Li Sihe didn’t go to see Bian Yue off; he had Bai Xu go on his behalf, and everyone said their goodbyes calmly and peacefully. Shen Jinci draped a coat over Bian Yue, asking if there was anything she had forgotten, anything she needed to take with her. Bian Yue stood in the snow, her slightly cold hands firmly grasping Shen Jinci’s, her gaze resolute as she said, "Having you with me is enough." Oblivious to those around, she was strikingly direct. Bai Xu’s smile remained, and as he watched this scene, he genuinely wished for Bian Yue’s lifelong safety, so he sincerely said, "Miss Bian, Mr. Shen, have a smooth journey." Bian Yue nodded with a smile, and before leaving, she looked up in the direction of the second-floor room belonging to Li Sihe. Indeed, it was best for their story to end without seeing each other again. "Let’s go, Yueyue," Shen Jinci said as he gently stroked her hair, "You’re carrying weight; standing too long will make you tired." Bian Yue felt a sweetness in her heart, waved to Bai Xu, and then turned to leave. With Shen Jinci’s support, Bian Yue boarded the plane, sitting by the window, watching as the plane slowly left the ground. The once boundless ancient castle estate had shrunk to a negligible point in her view. Bian Yue withdrew her gaze, smiling at Shen Jinci, and beckoned with her fingers, "Come closer." Shen Jinci chuckled, moving closer to Bian Yue, leisurely asking, "What’s up?" Bian Yue raised her hand and pinched Shen Jinci’s face, "Nothing, just happy looking at you." The nonchalance in Shen Jinci’s eyes faded away; he gazed at Bian Yue earnestly, his voice soft and husky, "Yueyue, I will take good care of you from now on." He had said this many times before, each time very earnestly. Bian Yue had always been a strong person and still was, but she would still feel a sourness in her nose at such promises. Her smile deepened, but her tone was somewhat choked up, "I know." And Bai Xu returned to the room, looking at Li Shiheng who was sitting there, he softly said, "Mr. Li, they have already left." The curtains of the bedroom were tightly closed, the scent of tobacco lingering in the air. Li Shiheng stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, his face shrouded in darkness, inscrutable. One could only hear his voice, eerily calm, he said, "Understood." Everyone’s life had gotten back on track. As if all the past deviations had never happened. Everyone was on their destined path, and those who had once vividly appeared in their lives might have been just that—passing presences. What couldn’t be obtained remained unattainable, and what destiny held for one was bound to be had. The climate in Xiangjiang remained as dry as ever, the air carrying a cold sharpness. For several months, Bian Yue started her homebound pregnancy care. Shen Jinci was very concerned about her safety; her pregnancy was advanced, and any bump or knock could be serious. Shen Jinci became very busy; he took on multiple roles alone. Apart from Lixing’s affairs, the Bian Group was also under his management. Despite the persistent criticism from the board, Shen Jinci’s tactics were even stronger than before, not a hint of weakness was revealed. He just got home very late, sometimes after Bian Yue had fallen asleep. But no matter what, Bian Yue’s three meals were always prepared by Shen Jinci when he could spare the time. And it was during those fragmented moments that Shen Jinci would hold Bian Yue, feeling the baby’s movements in her womb. Shen Jinci had never been a father, nor had he ever considered fatherhood as an option in his life. But then Bian Yue appeared, and with her, the option of fatherhood naturally arose. Shen Jinci would always remember how moved he felt the first time he sensed the baby moving. A person, the closest to both him and Bian Yue, was about to be born into this world. Shen Jinci thought, he should spare no effort to give the best of everything to this child. Because the child’s mother was the person he loved most. That day, after having dinner with Bian Yue, Shen Jinci mentioned he had some trivial matters to attend to at the group and suggested that Bian Yue go to sleep early. At the dinner table, Bian Yue blinked her eyes, looking innocently at Shen Jinci with a drawn-out, clearly coquettish tone, "But I get scared sleeping alone! I’m even more scared than I was yesterday." A smile flickered in Shen Jinci’s eyes as he approached Bian Yue and gently bent down, tenderly kissing her beautiful brows and eyes, softly saying, "I’m sorry, I’ll stay at home with you all day tomorrow." Bian Yue knew that Shen Jinci was genuinely busy. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ noᴠelfire.net The words she had just said were just a joke. "It’s okay, Wen Jiao has been free recently and keeps coming over to see me. I’ll just chat with Wen Jiao," Bian Yue said with a smile: "As for Mr. Shen, just focus on your work! Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of myself at home too." Shen Jinci pinched Bian Yue’s face, the apology in his eyes deepening, "After these busy days, I will spend all the remaining time with you. Yueyue’s due date is approaching; I remember it well." Hearing the words "due date," Bian Yue started to feel a bit scared. Now in front of Shen Jinci, she hardly concealed her emotions, so all her expressions were vivid as she said, "Shen Jinci, I’m a bit nervous." "Don’t be afraid, I will be with you throughout," Shen Jinci said, "By the time, I will have made all the preparations with the doctors in advance." Bian Yue shook her head, looking very troubled, "But I’ve heard that childbirth is very bloody." Shen Jinci’s eyes suddenly became moist, covering the sorrow in them, he softly said, "My Yueyue, you have worked hard."