At the boarding gate for the flight to Jinling, after embracing Xiao Churan, Ye Chen watched her walk away, turning back every few steps.
In that moment, Ye Chen felt no sorrow, only a sense of melancholy.
He reflected that this was the true essence of a marital bond. After crossing that intimate threshold, everything had undergone a profound transformation. Xiao Churan was no longer the poised woman who always maintained her reserve; she had become a delicate bird nestling in his arms, a endearing figure who showed intense reluctance even at a brief parting, to the point of nearly bursting into tears.
However, he was still unaware that what he believed to be the full truth was, in fact, shrouded in hidden circumstances.
The instant Xiao Churan turned and stepped into the jet bridge, she could no longer hold back her tears, which flowed like rain.
Yet she dared not wipe them, fearing that Ye Chen might see from behind and sense something amiss.
When she rounded the corner ahead and descended the slope into the jet bridge, with the aircraft door mere steps away, she lost all control over her emotions. She shuffled forward like a walking corpse, weeping with tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain.
The cabin chief stewardess and two flight attendants were stationed at the door, greeting the priority-boarding business-class passengers. They already had details on every business-class traveller. This narrow-body jet had only eight business-class seats in total, and five had been sold for this flight, including two women: one was Xiao Churan, the other a six-year-old girl.
Thus, by process of elimination, the attendants deduced that the tear-streaked woman approaching must be Xiao Churan.
The chief stewardess hurried forward at once, asking with concern, “Ms Xiao, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell? Shall we liaise with airport staff?”
Xiao Churan hastily wiped away her tears and shook her head repeatedly, “No need, thank you.”
The chief stewardess said no more and guided her to her seat, then asked, “Ms Xiao, would you like something to drink? We have tea, coffee, or juice.”
Xiao Churan shook her head, “Nothing, thank you.”
The chief stewardess nodded and added, “If you need anything at all, just call me.”
Xiao Churan settled into her seat, forcing herself to compose her feelings. She then picked up her phone and contacted Tang Sihai, telling him, “I’m already on the plane back to Jinling. Can you arrange for me to leave with my parents?”
Tang Sihai replied, “No problem at all, Mrs Ye. We have contingency plans in place. Once you land in Jinling, our people will take you home. Then you and your family can pack up, and barring any unforeseen issues, we can set off tonight.”
Ye Chen’s flight with Hong Wu and Chen Zekai would depart two and a half hours later. Once it was confirmed that Ye Chen had boarded smoothly, he would be confined to that aircraft for the next ten hours. Arranging for Xiao Churan’s family to depart in the evening would then proceed seamlessly.
Xiao Churan had long since steeled her resolve, so she replied immediately, “Alright. I’ll go home and tell my parents that we’re leaving the country tonight.”
“Very good, Mrs Ye. Our people will be waiting at the airport for you; you’ll spot them as soon as you arrive.”
…
Meanwhile, after leaving Terminal T2, Ye Chen headed straight for T3.
The flight to Melbourne was departing from T3.
Once Xiao Churan’s plane had taken off, Chen Zekai rushed to the airport.
Upon seeing Ye Chen, he voiced his lingering doubt, “Young Master, how did you track down Butler Tang’s whereabouts? Wasn’t he missing?”
Ye Chen said, “A friend of my wife’s is in Australia and happened to forward a news item about a Chinese national being attacked there. It turned out to be Butler Tang.”
Chen Zekai was utterly baffled, “Butler Tang went to Australia? That’s utterly inconceivable. He vanished without a trace back then, so why on earth would he suddenly turn up in Australia?”
