Chapter 331: Chapter 329: Choice
She restrained herself for half the day before she finally stopped.
Having just been discharged from the hospital a few days earlier, her body was still somewhat weak.
Seeing Ya Chen personally holding Jiayi’s hand, walking out under the umbrella held by the bodyguard, her heart gave a slight tug.
She had heard about Huo Shao’s sudden departure from S Country with someone else two days before.
Huo Shao staying in Nanga City was originally Chu Xinyue’s only hope to stop Ya Chen and Jiayi’s wedding.
But now that Huo Shao had left, that hope was completely gone.
Ya Chen and Jiayi’s wedding was about to take place.
Chu Xinyue felt a stabbing pain in her chest, but she immediately turned the steering wheel slightly, keeping a certain distance as she followed behind Ya Chen’s car.
——
Ten minutes later, S Country, private airport.
The car came to a stop in front of the airport gate, and the car door swung open with a "bang"!
The bodyguards’ car following behind also came to a stop.
The accompanying bodyguards snapped open their umbrellas, got out of the car, and walked to the front door, waiting for instructions from the people inside.
The rain showed no sign of easing, pattering on the ground, creating puddles, and giving the airport a foggy appearance.
The splashing water bounced back up from the ground, splashing onto the wool carpet inside the car, and Jiayi came back to her senses.
Next to her, Ya Chen’s composed voice rang out, devoid of emotion, indifferent as a bending spring:
"If you’re willing, go find him yourself and ask him in person. Didn’t he go to America? I’ll take you to America first, you can always find him. If you don’t want to go to America, I’ll send you back to China. You can wait for him in Huo Garden until he returns; either way, you’ll eventually meet him."
Jiayi was stunned for a moment, her eyelashes fluttered lightly as she looked outside.
In the distance, behind the wire fence, was a large apron with several private jets that were not traveling, including Boeing aircraft and light helicopters, all provided for the upper-class members of S Country society, such as government officials and Royal Family members to use for travel.
With just one signal from Ya Chen, the pilot would come out.
"Take Miss Chu there!"
Ya Chen issued the command without any hesitation.
The bodyguards hesitated for a moment, exchanging glances; after all, they all knew Miss Chu was about to have a wedding with the Crown Prince.
Now the Crown Prince was sending Miss Chu to meet another man...?
What kind of situation was this?
How would they explain it to Ya Qianhuai, how would they explain it to the Chu Family?
However, the bodyguards still dared not go against Ya Chen’s wishes; one of them held the umbrella over Jiayi’s head, supporting her arm, "Miss Chu, please."
Jiayi’s arm was supported by someone, half of her body out of the car, her feet touching the ground.
The wind and rain hit her face as if finally bringing her some clarity.
Go to America and look for him all over the streets?
Go to Huo Garden and stubbornly wait for his return?
Is it even necessary anymore?
He had already made his stance clear with his actions; did she really need to hear him say it out loud, to make it crystal clear like a fool?
Moreover, with her mother still missing, how could she leave?
Jiayi’s lips curled into a self-deprecating smile, her body stiff in mid-air, reluctant to get out of the car.
He had said more than once that she couldn’t escape his side unless he grew tired of her and decided to let her go.
Now, it seemed it was time for his game to end.
That night, when he came to her room, the surging pressure on his face—she had not failed to see it.
After all, this man has always carried the blood of A Country.
One of the reasons she had never dared to get too close to him was the fear that in the vast empire he ruled, she was too insignificant, just a disposable pawn, easily utilized and easily discarded.
Now, her premonition had finally come true.
Perhaps, for the sake of relations with A Country, for the sake of the Huo Family empire, under the persuasion of Boris and Huo Garden, he had finally succumbed to the pressure.
Ya Chen could feel the intense turmoil in her heart as she remained silent, with an indifferent expression, waiting for her decision.
Suddenly, Jiayi snatched an umbrella from the bodyguard, stepped through puddles, and rushed into the heavy rain, running towards the tarmac—
Feeling the back seat emptying, Ya Chen sensed that she had gotten out of the car, his expression slightly darkening.
To say there was no disappointment, how could that be possible... Yet, it was he who had brought her to the airport himself.
No matter what decision she made, he would support her.
"Crown Prince," a bodyguard couldn’t help but say, "Are you really just going to watch Miss Chu leave S Country? How will you explain to the Chu Family..."
Ya Chen gestured with his hand and took a deep breath of the damp mist, "Drive, let’s go back."
"Wait, wait a minute, Crown Prince—" a bodyguard seemed to see something, pointing in surprise.
Ya Chen, hearing the astonishment in the bodyguard’s voice, sat up straight, turning his face towards the direction Jiayi had run.
Jiayi, holding the umbrella, ran through the rain, stopping in front of the chain-link fence that was just a wall away from the tarmac!
The umbrella slipped from her palm, landing on the ground with a thud.
She let the rain drench her entirely, oblivious as if she had exhausted all her strength, she cried out against the gray sky, separated by the chain-link fence:
"Huo, go ahead! I won’t bother you anymore, won’t bother you ever again, from now on, we are nothing to each other, thank you for this year’s care, goodbye—"
Salty liquid, mixed with the cold rainwater, trickled down her lips into her mouth.
She shouted loudly, one phrase after another, as if saying farewell, until she was completely drained, and only then did she lean on the fence, slowly sliding down.
In the distance.
Within the car as dark as ink.
Ya Chen listened to the girl’s impassioned venting, his heart pounding like morning bells and evening drums, beating incessantly.
The girl was leaning on the fence, squatting on the ground, her fragile back heaving as she convulsed, sobbing, or perhaps it was just the storm that was too much, her whole body trembling on the verge of collapse.
The bodyguards breathed a sigh of relief—Miss Chu seemed to have made her decision, still staying in S Country—and then leaned over to the person in the car, "Crown Prince, the rain is pouring, should we persuade Miss Chu to come back..."
Although she hadn’t left, her heart might take a while to return.
She needed to vent on her own.
Persuade?
How could he persuade her?
He didn’t know what had happened between her and the young Huo in China this past year.
No matter whether they had any real feelings for each other.
But at this moment, her dependence on that man, and the helplessness following the sudden withdrawal, could not be faked.
She needed to heal herself.
This healing might take a long time.
However, as long as she was willing to take her time, he was willing to wait.
After a while, Ya Chen said firmly, "It’s okay, let Miss Chu be alone for a while, to have some peace. Don’t disturb her. Leave the car behind, and when she comes over, then take her back."
The bodyguard responded, "Yes, Crown Prince."
The car door closed, and they drove off in the heavy rain.
At the edge of the chain-link fence, Jiayi squatted and shivered until she finally stood up, wiping her wet cheeks with the back of her hand, picked up the umbrella from the ground and walked towards the car.
