Chapter 250: Apprehensive Homecoming
The two of them desperately wanted to break down and cry, but there were other things to attend to.
They scrolled down and saw a picture of their old room.
"This was our room. I can't believe Dad kept it after all these years! And it hasn't changed a bit!"
Lin Feng nodded, his heart filled with immense guilt.
Besides Lin Chuyue, the person he felt most guilty toward was Lin Aoshan.
He hadn't returned for Lin Chuyue's safety, but that meant Lin Aoshan was also forced to be separated from his son!
If the Lin Family hadn't been so large and prosperous, and if Lin Aoshan hadn't had other sons, he never would have been able to leave!
The woman beside him, his wife and Lin Chuyue's mother, Jian Qiuyan, was also deeply moved.
"You're right, it hasn't changed at all."
"We've let Dad down so badly."
Scrolling further, they saw photos of Lin Chuyue.
There was a selfie and a full-body picture.
Jian Qiuyan couldn't hold back any longer. Tears streamed down her face. "It's our Chuyue!"
"Look, she looks so much like us! I knew it the moment I saw her. She has to be our Chuyue!"
"I want to see her!"
But Lin Feng was still hesitant. "But what if meeting her rashly puts her in danger?"
"Let's keep looking."
After they finished with the phone, they turned to the documents.
The files detailed the recent troubles the Lin Family had faced. It was all true; a simple online search would confirm it.
There was also information about the Xiao Family of the Imperial City.
After reading, Jian Qiuyan was swayed. "Look, this Xiao Ye is so capable, and the Xiao Family is one of the most prominent in the entire Dragon Country."
"Do you think… we can really go home now? That we don't have to worry about Chuyue being in danger anymore?"
But Lin Feng was still hesitant. "But it's better to be safe than sorry. We've been in hiding for twenty years. What if all our efforts go to waste…"
"But no matter how powerful that person is, they can't be stronger than the Xiao Family, right?"
"Alright, I'll have someone look into it."
The information he was about to investigate was, of course, exactly what Xiao Ye had arranged to be released.
He had to show Lin Chuyue's parents just how capable the Xiao Family truly was.
Whatever they were worried about, they wouldn't have to be afraid anymore.
Three days passed with no news.
Lin Chuyue grew extremely anxious.
"What should we do? We still haven't heard from them. Do you think they don't want to see us?"
"They will," Xiao Ye comforted her. "I gave them two choices."
"The first was to return home for a full reunion. The second was to meet with us secretly first. I promised I could guarantee no one would find out. Once they understand the Xiao Family's capabilities, they will definitely choose the second option."
Lin Chuyue trusted Xiao Ye's abilities, but she couldn't control her own anxiety.
They waited two more days.
Finally, after five long days,
news arrived!
They had agreed to meet with Lin Chuyue!
However, it had to be at a location they specified, and only Lin Chuyue and Xiao Ye could go. The meeting had to be kept strictly confidential, and they couldn't tell anyone.
Not even Lin Aoshan!
Lin Chuyue burst into tears of joy and hugged Xiao Ye tightly. "This is wonderful! They agreed to see me!"
"What should I wear? Should I take off this jewelry?"
"This watch is a little expensive; I shouldn't wear it. I don't want them to think I'm extravagant."
"Oh, right! I should prepare a gift. What would be good?"
Lin Chuyue was as anxious as an ant on a hot griddle, completely unable to settle down.
Xiao Ye immediately had his men arrange everything.
"Don't worry, I'll prepare something they're sure to like. You just focus on composing yourself."
Another day passed.
A woman arrived with an address. "You are to go here. The Young Master and Young Madam will be waiting for you."
After she spoke, she looked at Lin Chuyue, her eyes welling with tears. "The Young Master and Young Madam have suffered so much. Please, don't blame them!"
"They wouldn't be doing this if they had any other choice."
The woman was Lin Feng's trusted nanny. She knew a great deal and had even left with them all those years ago.
However, she didn't know the exact reason why Lin Feng and his wife couldn't return home—only that someone wanted to harm Lin Chuyue.
If they were to meet, it would only make things worse.
That was why they had hidden away for over twenty years.
But they had never truly stopped thinking about Lin Chuyue, even having the couple they'd hired—the ones who'd had plastic surgery—continuously gather information for them.
If they hadn't been too afraid to set foot in Jiangcheng themselves or to conduct a conspicuous search, they probably would have found out a lot more.
The meeting place was a forest park in the northern part of the city.
The park was situated on a mountainside, and since it was cold out, there was hardly anyone around.
The meeting was also set for the evening. Given how familiar Lin Feng and his wife were with the area, if anything went wrong, they could make a quick escape.
Xiao Ye and Lin Chuyue arrived at a rest area in the park. There were benches and lampposts.
Lin Chuyue was bundled in a down jacket, her cheeks flushed red from the cold.
But she didn't feel the cold at all. In fact, she was so excited that she felt hot all over.
Her breath plumed white in the air. "Xiao Ye, in a minute…"
Before she could finish, two figures appeared ahead of them.
Lin Chuyue fell silent.
But as the shadows drew near, she saw it was just an ordinary couple. They weren't her parents; they didn't look anything like them.
Before she could ask, the woman spoke. "Follow this path up. Once you're in the woods, you'll find a small cabin where a forest ranger used to live."
"Someone is waiting for you there."
Lin Chuyue thanked them and immediately pulled Xiao Ye toward the path.
After walking for about twenty minutes, they saw a small wooden cabin, just as described.
A light was on inside, and they could faintly make out the silhouettes of two people sitting within.
A wave of nervous apprehension washed over her.
Lin Chuyue took a deep breath, trying to calm her wildly pounding heart.
Xiao Ye squeezed her hand, giving her strength.
When they reached the door, Lin Chuyue pushed it open.
The room inside wasn't large. There was a bed, a table, and a stove in the center.
Flames flickered in the stove, heating a kettle of water on top.
On small stools on either side of it sat two people.
They were wearing face masks, but from their eyes and brows, Lin Chuyue could see a strong resemblance to the people in the photographs.
Lin Chuyue's breath hitched. "You're…"
"Come in and talk," Lin Feng said, his voice relatively calm. He and his wife had arranged for the other couple to meet them.
Only after confirming that it was indeed Xiao Ye and Lin Chuyue did they reveal the cabin's location.
Xiao Ye gently guided Lin Chuyue inside and closed the door, shutting out the cold wind. The room instantly felt much warmer.
Lin Chuyue, her words caught in her throat, sat down opposite them.
Xiao Ye sat down beside her.
Jian Qiuyan, her face hidden by a mask, could no longer contain her emotions, and her eyes welled up with tears.