Naturally, Qin Menglu chose to return to Beijing with Xiao Yufan, bringing the matter in Chenghai to a close. Xiao Yufan no longer had any reason to stay.
“I know you don’t want to talk to your dad right now, but there are some things I still need to tell you. Maybe I was a bit selfish, giving far more time to the company than to you, but I only wanted to make your life better!”
“What I need is a father, not money or power, and you’ll never understand that!”
At the moment of departure, Qin Menglu leaned tightly against Xiao Yufan. Tears slid down her breathtaking face. She had thought she wouldn’t feel sad anymore, but seeing her father’s suddenly aged expression, she couldn’t control her emotions.
“Yes, I’ll never understand…” Her father’s body trembled slightly, his face growing paler, a bitter smile forming on his lips. Seeing this, even Xiao Yufan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
Qin Menglu was already sobbing uncontrollably. She buried her face deeply into Xiao Yufan’s arms, fearing that if she softened even slightly, she wouldn’t want to leave Chenghai. Despite her father’s previous unacceptable behavior, how could she not understand that he still loved her?
Finally, Qin Menglu boarded the bullet train. Compared to her first trip to Beijing, her heart felt heavier, lacking her usual cheerfulness. No matter how hard Xiao Yufan tried to cheer her up, her eyes remained hollow.
Unconsciously, emotionally and physically exhausted, Qin Menglu slowly leaned against Xiao Yufan’s shoulder. Traces of tears still lingered on her stunning face. Looking at her peaceful, angelic expression, Xiao Yufan couldn’t help but smile.
Naturally, Qin Menglu chose to follow Xiao Yufan back to Beijing. The matters in Chenghai had come to an end, and there was no longer any reason for Xiao Yufan to stay…
“I know you don’t want to talk to your father right now, but there are some things I still need to tell you. Perhaps I’ve been too selfish, spending far more time on the company than on you. But I just wanted to make your life better!”
“What I need is a father, not money or power. This is something you’ll never understand!”
As they were about to part, Qin Menglu clung tightly to Xiao Yufan, tears streaming down her beautiful face. She thought she wouldn’t be sad anymore, but upon seeing her father’s suddenly aged appearance, she couldn’t hold back her emotions.
“Yes, I’ll never understand…” Her father’s body trembled, his face turning even paler. He let out a bitter smile, a sight that even made Xiao Yufan’s heart ache.
Qin Menglu was now sobbing uncontrollably, burying herself in Xiao Yufan’s embrace, afraid that if she softened, she wouldn’t want to leave Chenghai. Even though her father’s past actions had been excessive, how could she not understand that he still loved her?
Finally, Qin Menglu boarded the high-speed train. Compared to her first trip to Beijing, her heart felt much heavier. Gone was her usual cheerfulness, and no matter how much Xiao Yufan tried to amuse her, her eyes remained hollow.
Unconsciously, the exhausted Qin Menglu leaned heavily on Xiao Yufan’s shoulder, her stunning face still marked by tear stains. Seeing her serene, angelic appearance, Xiao Yufan couldn’t help but smile…
Xiao Yufan sighed, thinking that sometimes fate quietly draws closer in the most unexpected ways. That unhurried, unmissable feeling was like a beautiful fairy tale.
It was on this very train that the two had first met. Xiao Yufan had never imagined that two completely different life paths could truly intersect.
Although Xiao Yufan still didn’t know how to face what lay ahead, at least he had a clear conscience. At least he hadn’t missed this beautiful twist of fate. The outcome no longer mattered.
Witnessing the scene of Qin Menglu parting with her father today, Xiao Yufan felt an inexplicable sadness. The bond of blood and family was always the most heart-wrenching. And as for him, knowing his own origins only made him feel more alone.
“Perhaps this is the fate of someone born under the extreme yin sign—destined for loneliness from the start. In the end, I’ll always be alone…”
A self-mocking smile appeared on Xiao Yufan’s lips as he gazed at the fleeting shadows outside the window. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of bitterness. For so long, he had pretended to be strong, but in the end, he had succumbed to reality. He wasn’t as invincible as he thought.
In his hand, he tightly clutched the jade pendant left by his grandfather. It was the only thing he could turn to for comfort whenever he thought of his birth parents. The pendant emitted a faint, mysterious blue glow.
“Young man, could I take a look at that jade pendant in your hand…”
At that moment, a slightly portly middle-aged man sitting nearby glanced at the pendant, his eyes gleaming with interest, and then spoke up.
“You can look, but give it back immediately. No nonsense!”
Xiao Yufan’s tone was somewhat arrogant, causing many to glance his way. However, more people looked at him with disdain, thinking he was just showing off. After all, what could someone who could only afford to ride a high-speed train possibly have of value?
“Of course, of course…” The man carefully took the pendant, his eyes filled with greed. He had studied ancient jade for many years and had a keen eye. This was the first time he had seen such an exceptionally rare piece of jade.
“One point eight million—how about selling this pendant to me?”
The middle-aged man ignored Xiao Yufan’s warning, as the pendant held an irresistible allure for him. Moreover, he believed that someone dressed so plainly wouldn’t recognize the true value of the jade.
“Enough! Give it back now, or I can’t guarantee your safety!”
Xiao Yufan frowned, his expression turning icy. Although he was surprised by the pendant’s staggering value, he would never part with something left by his birth parents. His words left no room for negotiation.
“Think about it again. If it’s not enough, I can offer more…” The man still refused to let go, assuming Xiao Yufan was just holding out for a higher price, so he immediately considered raising his offer.
“I’ll say it one more time—put the pendant down and get out of my sight. Don’t push me!”
As he heard a faint murmur from the sleeping beauty in his arms, Xiao Yufan’s gaze turned sharp. The middle-aged man felt a sudden chill down his spine, cursed under his breath, and gently placed the pendant down. Under the astonished gazes of the onlookers, he walked toward the back of the train.
This time, it was the others’ turn to be surprised. Although they hadn’t caught the entire conversation, they had heard the figure of one point eight million, and now they regarded Xiao Yufan with newfound respect.
But for Xiao Yufan, this was just a minor episode. Just as he was about to close his eyes and rest, he suddenly noticed an elderly man in the aisle to his right, who stood up and took a seat across from him…
They had met on this very train. Xiao Yufan had never imagined that two lives with completely different paths could actually intersect.
Although Xiao Yufan didn’t yet know how to face what was coming next, at least he could say he had no regrets, and most importantly, he hadn’t missed this beautiful connection. As for what the future held, it no longer seemed important.
Witnessing the emotional farewell between Qin Menglu and her father today, Xiao Yufan felt a strange sense of sorrow. That blood-related bond was always the most touching and heart-wrenching. As for himself, knowing his own origins had only made him feel even lonelier.
“Perhaps this is the fate of someone born under such an inauspicious sign—an inevitable loneliness from the very beginning. In the end, I will always be alone…”
A self-mocking smile flickered across his lips as he gazed out the window at the fleeting scenery, his heart filled with bitterness. For so long, he had pretended to be strong, but in the end, he had still been defeated by reality—he wasn’t as unbreakable as he seemed.
Clutching the jade pendant his grandfather had left him, Xiao Yufan held the only object that could bring him comfort whenever he thought of his birth parents. The pendant shimmered faintly with a bluish glow, exuding an air of mystery.
“Excuse me, young man, could I have a look at that jade pendant of yours?”
At that moment, a slightly overweight middle-aged man sitting nearby looked at the pendant with a gleam in his eyes and spoke up.
“You can look, but return it immediately after. No unnecessary talk!”
Xiao Yufan’s tone was sharp and arrogant. Many passengers glanced at him disapprovingly, while others looked at him with disdain, thinking he was just showing off—after all, someone who could only afford a train seat probably didn’t own anything valuable.
“Of course, of course…” The man carefully took the pendant, his eyes gleaming with greed. Having studied ancient jades for many years, his eyes were sharp. Even he had never seen such an extremely rare and precious emerald jade before.
“How about 1.8 million? Sell it to me!”
Ignoring Xiao Yufan’s warning, the man persisted. The pendant held an irresistible allure for him, and he assumed that someone dressed so simply wouldn’t recognize the true value of such a rare gem.
“Enough nonsense. Return it now, or I can’t guarantee your safety!”
Frowning slightly, Xiao Yufan’s expression turned icy. Though he was slightly surprised at the pendant’s high value, he had no intention of handing over something left by his birth parents to anyone else. His tone allowed for no compromise.
“Think about it again. If that’s not enough, I can raise the price…” The man still refused to give up, assuming Xiao Yufan simply wanted more money, so he immediately thought of increasing his offer.
“I’ll say this one last time: put down the pendant, and leave my sight immediately. Don’t force me to lose my temper!”
Looking down at the sleeping, softly murmuring beauty nestled in his arms, Xiao Yufan’s gaze turned sharp. A chill suddenly ran down the middle-aged man’s spine. Muttering a curse, he gently placed the pendant back and, under the surprised gazes of the other passengers, walked toward the back of the train car.
This time, it was the others’ turn to be shocked. Although they hadn’t heard the entire conversation, they had caught the figure of 1.8 million. Instantly, their view of Xiao Yufan changed.
But for Xiao Yufan, this was merely a minor incident. As he was about to close his eyes for a brief rest, he suddenly noticed an elderly man sitting on the right aisle getting up and moving to the seat directly opposite him…
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