Chapter 548: Reunion After Eight Years
Ye Shikai's body trembled. This voice was so foreign yet familiar, it was also the voice he had been desperately searching for. Now that it suddenly appeared behind him, he didn't dare to turn around. He was excited, eager, yet somewhat uneasy and fearful.
"Is it you?" The voice in his mind slowly overlaid with the woman in front of him. It really was her.
Ye Shikai quickly walked up, embracing the woman tightly in his arms, his hands firmly clasped around her slender waist, unwilling to let go. He was afraid that once he did, she would disappear again.
"It's been eight years, Kai, I'm sorry." The woman whispered into Ye Shikai's ear with a tone filled with hope and guilt, her arms wrapped around his neck as they leaned on each other.
"Xin, is it really you? I..." Ye Shikai excitedly looked at the woman before him. Her beauty was like that of a woman from a painting. Eight years ago, she was an innocent high school student. Eight years later, her appearance was still the same, but she exuded an aura of dignified elegance that seemed to emanate from her very soul...
"It's me." Chen Yuxin gently caressed Ye Shikai's chiseled, angular face. Even though he was just a young man in his twenties, he had a mature and stable demeanor that sparked curiosity to uncover everything about this man.
"Where have you been these eight years? Do you know how long I've been looking for you?" Thousands of words welled up in Ye Shikai's heart, but when they reached his lips, he couldn't voice a single one. Yes, there were too many questions. The answers Ye Shikai had been desperately seeking were now in front of him, but he didn't know which to ask first.
"Family Head, I shall take my leave now." Chen Ruoya said softly, bowing before she left.
"Family Head... Xin, what exactly is going on? Why did she call you Family Head?" Ye Shikai was somewhat shocked as he suddenly realized something.
"Kai, don't worry, let me explain slowly." Chen Yuxin said with a faint smile, gently pressing on Ye Shikai's shoulder, getting him to sit down on the sofa.
...
"Eight years ago, my parents were adamant about sending me abroad, I'm sorry, I... left without saying goodbye." Chen Yuxin said, a look of guilt flashed across her face, and she weakly leaned into Ye Shikai's embrace. What she didn't know was that her sudden departure had almost driven Ye Shikai to the brink of collapse for a long time, and he had later decisively joined the military, largely because of this.
"Can you tell me... why?" Ye Shikai's complexion slowly calmed down. In reality, this question was a scar for both of them. No one wanted to tear it open, but some issues had to be faced and couldn't be avoided. Especially this question—it had always been the hurdle in Ye Shikai's heart.
"Kai, I... I'm really sorry."
"I didn't want to."
Tears fell from Chen Yuxin's eyes, her voice choking up, and Ye Shikai felt distressed. She was once the person he loved most; even after eight years, he still cared for her with the same devotion as before.
"I'm sorry... I didn't have the courage... to say goodbye to you." Chen Yuxin buried her head in Ye Shikai's chest, her tears soaking his shirt. Ye Shikai continuously patted her back, gently comforting her.
"Kai, it's been eight years, and we've finally met again." After a while, their emotions gradually stabilized. Forgetting the bitterness and sorrow of the past, both were still very excited and filled with anticipation for their reunion.
"Xin, what have you been through these years?" Ye Shikai poured a cup of tea for them both and inquired about the past.
"After leaving you, I was restless day and night, Kai, I'm sorry, at that time because of my parents, I couldn't contact you, making you worry for so long."
"It's alright, it's all in the past now," Ye Shikai repeatedly consoled.
"Later I began to study business, then took over the family's industries."
"Right, Chen Ruoya mentioned before, you are now... the Family Head, is that true?" Ye Shikai asked somewhat in shock.
"Um." Chen Yuxin nodded gently, a faint smile revealing itself at the corners of her mouth.
"Xin, these years, it must have been really tough for you." Ye Shikai gently embraced the woman in front of him. To become the Family Head of the great Chen family as a young woman, Ye Shikai knew the hardship it entailed. With Chen Yuxin standing in such a high position, bearing responsibilities that shouldn't belong to a woman her age, Ye Shikai had once blamed her, but now, he had completely let it go.
One must look forward; from joining the military to the overseas Underworld, had Ye Shikai suffered any less? Each time wasn't he skirting on the edge of Death God's blade, Holy Mountain, Atlantis, wasn't each an escape from death? But back in Yanjing, didn't Ye Shikai always laugh it off?
"Kai, can you forgive me?" Chen Yuxin's eyes were beautiful, tearful, softening Ye Shikai's heart.
"Of course, it wasn't your fault, and we've met again now, haven't we?" Ye Shikai flicked Chen Yuxin's forehead gently, smiling slightly.
"Hehe." Chen Yuxin showed a shallow smile, and Ye Shikai was somehow mesmerized. Watching Chen Yuxin smile, Ye Shikai felt as if he was completely indulged.
"Kai," Chen Yuxin murmured softly, slowly lifting her head and involuntarily moving closer to Ye Shikai.
Their faces drew closer and closer; Chen Yuxin slowly leaned on Ye Shikai, gently pushing him down onto the sofa.
"Kai, can we be like before," Chen Yuxin's voice was soft and tender, Ye Shikai feeling as if he had sunk into a pile of cotton or leaped into the clouds.
Slowly, their lips touched, everything was so natural, Ye Shikai closed his eyes, it was just like eight years ago, he savored the sweetness in his mouth, the two kissing passionately...
Suddenly, Ye Shikai's eyes snapped open, he shook his head vigorously, quickly regaining his senses, and hurriedly pushed Chen Yuxin away.
"Kai, what's wrong, are you feeling unwell?" Chen Yuxin's eyes showed a hint of disappointment, she got up, poured a glass of water, and handed it to Ye Shikai.
"No, we can't do this," Ye Shikai held his head in his hands, muttering to himself, cheeks turning crimson.
"Right, Xin, why did the Chen Group terminate the contract?" Ye Shikai suddenly asked urgently, "You're the Chairman of the Chen Group, right? Can you restore the contract?"
"Are you pleading with me for her sake?" Chen Yuxin said coldly, her hands gently waving to push Ye Shikai away, tears swirling in her eyes as if they could fall at any moment.
"Xin, don't be like that, Qingyu is now my wife, and moreover, Tianya Group is her painstaking effort, can you not help a little?"