Chapter 66: This Journey Ends Here, Goodbye

He Miao chose to send a message instead of calling, indicating that the minor accident involving Zhang Yue wasn’t urgent.

Jiang Se called He Miao: “What happened?”

On the other end, He Miao’s voice still carried a trace of lingering fear: “Master has been feeling like someone’s been following her these past few days. Last night, when she got home, she heard footsteps stop outside her door and linger. She opened the door, shouted for help, and tried to snap a picture of the person. The man tried to grab her phone but got cut by the knife she was holding.”

Confirming Zhang Yue was unharmed, Jiang Se relaxed slightly: “Did you call the police? Was the guy caught?”

“I’m with Master at the police station now. He ran off after she slashed his clothes,” He Miao said. “The police think the guy might have been scoping the place out, planning a future burglary or robbery.”

“Did she get a look at what he looked like?”

“No, he was wearing a mask and a hat, coughing constantly. Master couldn’t see his face, and the surveillance cameras in the nearby alleys didn’t catch him either. The officer said he’s likely a repeat offender, targeting single women. Cases like this have happened around here before.”

Jiang Se fell silent.

Her mind flashed to the moment when Zhang Yue was on the phone with her, and Fu Yun had glanced at her phone.

Was it a coincidence?

Fu Yun didn’t know Zhang Yue existed, let alone that Zhao Zhicheng had killed two people for her.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have warned Zhang Yue not to let anyone know she was connected to him.

If it wasn’t a coincidence…

Tongcheng wasn’t just home to Zhang Yue. There was also Jiang Chuan and Yu Shiying.

Fu Yun had been to Fuchun Street and had visited “Wangchuan.”

Staring out at the bright spring light, Jiang Se said to He Miao, “Take Boss Zhang to your place and wait for me. I’m heading back to Tongcheng today.”

After the call, she sat on the edge of the bed, gripping her phone in silence.

Her phone screen was still open to her chat with Lu Huaiyan.

Their last exchange: he’d said he’d come over tonight.

She’d replied with a simple “Okay.”

Jiang Se set the phone down, not noticing that as the screen dimmed, the chat briefly showed “Typing…” next to his name.

Lu Huaiyan’s unsent message was interrupted.

Zhou Qing entered: “Young Master Lu, Old Master Lu just arrived at the hospital. He’s in Miss Guan’s room.”

Lu Huaiyan’s fingers paused. He locked his phone and said calmly, “Get the doctor to change Grandfather’s dressing.”

Zhou Qing nodded, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. “Would you like a coffee?”

Lu Huaiyan rubbed his temples. “Bring me a black tea and send two coffees to President Guan and Vice President Guan.”

He hadn’t slept all night—first half at the hospital, second half at the old residence, then back to the hospital before dawn.

Last night, a wage dispute at Beicheng Grand Theater turned violent. The suspect, armed with a kitchen knife and hammer, attacked his former boss.

He’d been seated right next to Old Master Lu. In the chaos, Guan Jiayi shielded Old Master Lu, but her foot was crushed.

The doctor said she wouldn’t dance for at least a year.

For a ballerina in the prime of her career, such a long hiatus was a devastating blow.

Guan Shaochong and Guan Shaoting had been silent since Guan Jiayi went into surgery.

Guan Shaochong had planned to take her back to Hong Kong for treatment, but Guan Jiayi insisted on staying in Beicheng.

Her parents and third brother were on their way from Hong Kong, and even Linda, from the UK, had boarded a flight to Beicheng.

Lu Huaiyan was halfway through his tea when Lu Xingqiu walked in.

“Jiayi’s parents are about to land at Beicheng International Airport. Go pick them up yourself,” Lu Xingqiu said. “That girl was injured saving me. The Lu family must show our sincerity, no matter what.”

Lu Huaiyan nodded slightly, composed. “Zhou Qing has already contacted top orthopedic specialists, domestic and international. Mia’s foot will heal. Once she’s recovered, I’ll ensure Beicheng Ballet supports her fully—her career won’t suffer the slightest setback. The Guan family will feel the Lu family’s gratitude.”

“Ah Yan—”

“As for the partnership between Lu Enterprises and the Guan family, I’ll concede an additional point,” Lu Huaiyan continued. “Rest assured, Lu Enterprises is the best partner for the Guan family. They won’t let one accident derail all our projects.”

“I’ve never worried about the partnership. Even if every project with the Guan family fell through, I wouldn’t care!” Lu Xingqiu sighed deeply. “Ah Yan, you can’t measure someone’s kindness with profits. If Jiayi loses her dreams because of an old man like me, I have to at least try to help her fulfill them.”

Last night at the old residence, Old Master Lu had brought this up.

Seeing him revisit it now, Lu Huaiyan’s eyes betrayed weary indifference.

“Her kindness was toward you, not me. Her dreams have nothing to do with me,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “If you feel guilty, adopt her as your goddaughter or granddaughter, or gift her your shares in Lu Enterprises. Do what you want—you know you can’t force me.”

“Ah Yan, I’m not forcing you. I’m proposing a deal,” Lu Xingqiu said, his gaze clear and resolute. “Get engaged to Jiayi, and I’ll step down from the board, handing Lu Enterprises to you completely. The Guan family is powerful. A marriage alliance would ensure no board member opposes my decision.”

—

The heater hummed softly, sunlight streaming through the window, dust motes dancing in the beams.

A phone ring shattered the quiet.

Jiang Se’s lashes fluttered as she glanced at the screen.

It was Cen Li.

She answered, softly saying, “Brother.”

Cen Li was surprised by her quick response, his warm voice tinged with delight. “Thought you’d ignore me again. Did you see the message I just sent?”

Her phone had lit up earlier, but lost in thought, she hadn’t checked. Too lazy to look now, she asked, “What message?”

“Last night, Grandfather Lu and Guan Jiayi were caught in an incident at the Grand Theater. The girl injured her foot—don’t know how bad it is yet,” Cen Li said, pausing. “Guo Song said she got hurt protecting Grandfather Lu. If she can’t dance anymore, he might push Ah Yan to marry her. Se Se, be honest with me—what’s going on with you and Ah Yan?”

Jiang Se stared at the dust motes in the light. “Is Grandfather Lu hurt?”

“No, Guan Jiayi shielded him in time. He only has some shoulder abrasions from the fall—nothing serious,” Cen Li said. “I heard Grandfather Lu plans to step down as chairman after a Lu-Guan marriage, letting Ah Yan take over. Se Se, Guan Jiayi has the Guan family, but you have the Cen family. If you and Ah Yan…”

“I have nothing to do with Lu Huaiyan, and I don’t care about the Lu or Guan families,” Jiang Se interrupted calmly. “Brother, you don’t need to tell me about Lu Huaiyan. I’m not interested. I just want to ask—do you ever regret what happened seven years ago?”

Caught off guard by the mention of seven years ago, Cen Li’s voice faltered, bitter regret in his throat.

“How could I not? Se Se, the biggest regret of my life is not bringing you back myself. Give me a chance to make it up to you. Don’t be mad at me anymore, okay?”

Jiang Se opened a drawer, took out a wooden block from a tin box, and held it tightly.

“I’m not mad anymore.”

The earliest flight back to Tongcheng was at 7:15 p.m.

After booking her ticket, Jiang Se went to the closet to change. Passing the rightmost wardrobe, she paused, glancing over.

A row of neatly hung men’s shirts.

He always left his mark in her space, bold and unapologetic.

Making her used to his presence, ideally so she’d think of him with every blink.

A few days ago, Guo Qian had asked her where her journey with Lu Huaiyan would end.

This was it.

He’d never owed her anything. Jiang Se hated being in debt to others or having others owe her.

She didn’t need anyone sacrificing for her.

—

Lu Enterprises wasn’t fully his yet.

Nine years of solitary struggle to reach this point—just one marriage alliance with the Guan family, and he’d have complete control.

That marriage was a fair trade.

He’d walk his path to the end, and she’d walk hers.

Before leaving Xinhe Mansion, she sent Lu Huaiyan a message: [This journey ends here. Goodbye.]

After sending it, Jiang Se grabbed her luggage and headed to the airport.

Boarding was at 6:30 p.m. She entered the cabin right on time.

Fate between people can be strange.

The flight attendant greeting her at the door was the same striking woman from last September. This time, she didn’t glance toward first class, smiling warmly as Jiang Se stepped in. “Welcome aboard.”

Her eyes widened slightly upon seeing Jiang Se’s face, likely recognizing her.

Jiang Se’s seat was in the first row, left side. Booking last-minute, the system had assigned it randomly.

As she sat, she vaguely recalled that last year, Lu Huaiyan had been in this very seat, giving her a cold, distant glance.

The gate counter was announcing final boarding calls.

Outside the window, twilight shimmered, planes taking off on the runway.

Jiang Se checked her phone: 7:05 p.m.

Lu Huaiyan hadn’t replied.

Without much emotion, she opened her chat with He Miao and started typing.

Two words in, the light above her dimmed.

Her fingers paused, a thought flickering. Slowly, she lifted her gaze.

Her eyes met a pair of deep, shadowed ones.

In the narrow cabin aisle, the man stood in a crisp black suit, his backlit face sharp and unreadable, his tight jaw betraying a hint of tension.

“Let’s talk,” Lu Huaiyan said, staring at her, his tone deliberate. “Here, or outside?”

Jiang Se pressed her lips together. “Lu Huaiyan, I’m going back to Tongcheng. The plane’s about to take off.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed slowly. “Two options: we talk here, and you leave after, or we talk outside, and I’ll get a private jet to take you. Pick one.”

It was past 7:10 p.m.

The gate’s broadcast shifted from final boarding to a delayed takeoff.

The once-noisy cabin fell silent after he boarded.

A dozen pairs of eyes watched them—some curious, some shocked.

His stance was unusually firm.

After a brief standoff, Jiang Se pocketed her phone and stood. “Outside. I’ll take the next flight.”

They left the cabin under the flight attendant’s stunned gaze. She remembered the man—Young Master Lu of Lu Enterprises. Every first-class crew knew him. She remembered the girl, too—her striking looks and aura were hard to forget.

Last year, they’d been strangers on the same flight. Who’d have thought, six months later, he’d chase her into the cabin to stop her from leaving?

The car was parked outside the terminal. Seeing Lu Huaiyan actually bring her back, Zhou Qing hopped out, opened the back door, and closed it gently after they got in, then waited by the hood.

Lu Huaiyan held Jiang Se’s wrist. She tugged a few times, but couldn’t break free. Frowning, she said, “Lu Huaiyan, let go.”

He ignored her, his grip tightening.

“Explain what you meant by ‘this journey ends here,’” he said coldly. “What’s this about goodbye?”

Jiang Se looked out the window. “Exactly what it sounds like. We agreed we’d only share this journey for a while. Now it’s over, and so are we.”

Her words barely landed before a sharp force yanked her wrist. Her waist was pulled, and she was pressed onto his lap.

His dark gaze bore into her, voice icy. “You need a reason to throw out trash. Tell me, what did I do to make you end this?”

The backseat partition was up, the tinted windows blocking most light, making the cabin dim and claustrophobic.

His arms pinned her, their bodies pressed close, heartbeats almost audible.

His presence was overwhelming.

Jiang Se struggled to get off, but the strength gap was too wide. Lu Huaiyan, face hard, pinned her hands behind her back, unyielding.

“Let me go!”

“Talk first.”

Her temper flared. She took a deep breath, flashed a polite smile, and said, “I don’t touch what belongs to someone else, and I don’t waste time on pointless entanglements. I want us to part on good terms. Clear enough?”

“Belongs to someone else?” Lu Huaiyan laughed, as if he’d heard a joke, his teeth gritted. “Tell me, whose house was I living in? Whose bed was I sleeping in? Who was I with every day?”

His lips brushed her ear, each word deliberate: “Wasn’t it all you, Jiang Se? The mark from your bite is still on my shoulder. What, you don’t even touch what’s yours now?”

His breath was hot, his voice restrained but laced with brewing anger.

Her mention of the bite mark brought back the memory of that night—the bloodied mark on his shoulder, the music they played, and his words as he approached: “I’ll be your left hand.”

The sharp edge in her softened, her anger dissolving.

She stopped struggling.

Her lashes lowered, her voice calm. “I won’t marry you, and you’ll have to marry someday. We agreed: if one of us gets engaged, finds someone else, or wants out, it’s over.”

The car fell silent.

After a moment, Lu Huaiyan said, “Who told you about me and the Guan family? Cen Li? Guo Qian? Or your aunt?”

He scoffed. “Jiang Se, you know better than anyone whether I’ve ever considered marrying Guan Jiayi.”

“If not the Guan family, it’ll be another. Now’s the best time to end this—for both of us. I’m done. Isn’t parting amicably better?” Jiang Se said softly. “I need to go. Let go.”

She spoke so lightly, ending a relationship as effortlessly as plucking a leaf.

Lu Huaiyan’s chest ached.

Knowing she responded to softness, not force, he closed his eyes, took a few breaths, and opened them again. Leaning his forehead against hers, he said slowly, “Don’t rush to end this. Let’s both cool off. When you’re back in Beicheng, we’ll talk properly.”

He loosened his grip, releasing her.

Jiang Se didn’t respond. She slid off his lap and reached for the door.

Dim light spilled through the crack as she opened it, stepping out without hesitation. Her wrist was caught again.

A gentle touch.

His familiar, slightly rough fingers rested lightly on her pulse.

Jiang Se stiffened, thinking he’d pull her back.

But he only held her briefly before letting go.

“The jet’s ready. Zhou Qing will take you. I can’t leave Grandfather right now. Let me know when you’re back in Beicheng—I’ll come find you.”

Previous

Next