Chapter 383: I Have Something to Announce
Hanging up the phone, Lin Chuyue covered her face and couldn't help but sob quietly.
'Jin Mingzhu was right. I really have brought danger to Xiao Ye!'
Suddenly, her phone rang.
Lin Chuyue quickly stifled her sobs and answered. Lin Aoshan's voice came from the other end.
"Chuyue, what are you doing? The butler told me you seemed a little upset."
"It's nothing, Grandpa. I'm perfectly fine, you don't need to worry."
Lin Aoshan sighed. "Chuyue, I know... it's because of Chuxing that you're acting this way."
"But... Chuyue, don't take these things with Chuxing to heart. You're family. Sooner or later, she'll come to understand you."
Lin Chuyue couldn't hide the loneliness in her voice. "I know, Grandpa. I've never blamed her. In fact, I'm very happy she's back."
"Chuyue, you should get in touch with your parents more often. Once things settle down with Chuxing, they'll go and be with you."
'That's what he said, but they've never come.'
Besides, every time Lin Chuyue called, Lin Feng and Jian Qiuyan would just try to get her to patch things up with Lin Chuxing.
But the moment Lin Chuxing knew it was her, she would make a fuss and hang up.
After a while, she stopped wanting to contact them at all.
'As for my parents... I'll just let them make it up to my sister. Besides, I've always had Grandpa doting on me.'
Having come to this realization, Lin Chuyue suddenly felt that it wouldn't matter much if she left.
'The Lin Group doesn't need me now that it's been given to Lin Chuxing.'
'My parents have Lin Chuxing.'
'As for Grandpa, his health is poor. It's better for him to stay in the Imperial City, which has the best medical facilities.'
'Thinking about it this way, my leaving is actually for the best.'
'As long as I leave, Lin Chuxing will surely be happy, and the whole Lin Family will be at peace.'
With her mind made up, Lin Chuyue took a deep breath and started packing her luggage.
'Since I've decided to leave, I should do it quickly, before I have any second thoughts.'
She quickly packed her things. 'As for the rest, I can just buy it when I get abroad.'
Lin Chuyue took out her phone, looked up flights, and booked a ticket for three days from now.
'I should go to the Imperial City one last time before I leave. Not to see Xiao Ye...'
'...but to see Lin Aoshan and my parents.'
「The next morning.」
Lin Chuyue arrived in the Imperial City with a small suitcase.
She didn't dare go to the Xiao Family residence. Instead, she found a quiet restaurant and called Jian Qiuyan.
"Mom... I'm in the Imperial City right now. Could you please bring Dad and Grandpa to meet me? As for my sister... just don't tell her."
'If Lin Chuxing finds out, the whole thing will end in a huge fight.'
'It's better if we don't see each other. Once I'm gone, she'll be happy anyway. She won't care about something so small.'
"Alright, I'll get them and we'll head over."
After hanging up, Jian Qiuyan hurried to get the other two. As it happened, Lin Chuxing wasn't home, so the three of them didn't have to sneak out. They left the Xiao Family residence openly.
「In the restaurant.」
Lin Chuyue sat nervously.
Just as she was wondering what to say, the door to their private room swung open.
Jian Qiuyan walked in, supporting Lin Aoshan. "Chuyue, why did you come so suddenly? You didn't even give us a heads-up."
"I..." Lin Chuyue was suddenly at a loss for words, a lump forming in her throat.
After a moment, she composed herself. "Mom, Dad, Grandpa, I asked you all to come here because I have something to announce."
"I'm planning to go abroad to clear my head. If I stay here... I just won't be happy."
She decided to be frank. "My heart is still with Xiao Ye, and I can't run the Lin Group anymore, so there's nothing for me to do here."
"I might as well take this rare chance to get away and see the world. Maybe then I'll be able to move on."
When Lin Aoshan first heard this, he wanted to object. He didn't want Lin Chuyue to leave.
'No matter how great other countries are, they can't compare to home.'
But after hearing the rest of what Lin Chuyue had to say, he fell silent.
"Chuyue... as long as you've thought it through, I agree. You should go and clear your head." Lin Aoshan was old; he couldn't control so many things.
He certainly couldn't control Xiao Ye, and he couldn't just drag the man back to Lin Chuyue.
'It's better for her to have a change of scenery than to let her wallow in sorrow.'
"But Chuyue, you can go, but you have to let us know you're safe. And it would be best if you came back to visit once a year."
Lin Chuyue's eyes reddened. "I will, Grandpa."
A pang of guilt hit Jian Qiuyan. She gently hugged Lin Chuyue. "It's my fault. I'm so sorry. After I came back, I didn't have a chance to look after you."
"I know I haven't been a good mother. Please don't blame me, okay? Once things settle down with Chuxing, I'll come find you abroad!"
Lin Feng nodded in agreement. "That's right, Chuyue... your father is sorry too."
"I understand. You have nothing to apologize for." Lin Chuyue understood. 'It was my arrival that led to them losing their other child and being unable to return home.'
'It's a blessing they don't resent me.'
"Let's eat. I'm just going abroad to clear my head. It's not like I'm never coming back."
No one was in a good mood, but they forced themselves to liven up the atmosphere.
After the meal, Lin Chuyue didn't linger and went straight to the airport.
'Now that I've seen my family, I have no more regrets.'
She went to the counter and changed her ticket to a flight leaving today.
There were still five hours until her flight to Country Y.
Lin Chuyue sat silently in a chair. Country Y had once been the place she most longed to visit, but now, she had no desire to go at all.
She glanced at the time, then got up and headed for the restroom.
The moment she walked in, a hand suddenly clamped over her mouth and nose, and a pungent odor filled her senses.
In an instant, her world went dark.
Two women walked out supporting Lin Chuyue, drawing no attention from anyone.
Outside the airport, the door to a luxury car swung open.
Lin Chuyue was thrown into the back seat, and the car sped away.
The car finally stopped in front of a traditional courtyard home filled with old-world charm.
Lin Chuyue was helped inside and laid on a bed in one of the rooms.
CREAK.
The door opened.
A man walked in. He looked at the woman before him with a wide, satisfied smile. "As expected of the woman Xiao Ye fancies. A real prize. A face like this is a rare find indeed."
He glanced at the maid behind him. "Wake her up."
"Yes, sir!"
The maid stepped forward, took out a small bottle, and held it under Lin Chuyue's nose.
A moment later, Lin Chuyue groggily came to.
Her blurry vision slowly sharpened, and she instantly saw the man by the bed. The color drained from her face in terror.
'I remember now! I was kidnapped in the airport restroom!'
'But this man... why does he look so familiar?'
"Linton! You're Mr. Linton!"