CHAPTER 281: CHAPTER 282: THE LAST FAREWELL

This only earned Li Tingmo an even more impatient look. He stared at Tang Yuwei with a bizarre expression, coldly saying, "Are you mad? Do you know what you’re saying? With my current status and position, leaving Xiangjiang would really mean losing everything!"

"But what can you change by staying here?" Tang Yuwei shook her head; she pointedly said, "Shiheng is no longer here; the Li Family has long been scattered to the winds. With the current public opinion in turmoil, Tingmo, you no longer have a chance to turn things around."

"I don’t want to hear this! If you just came here to persuade me to leave, then you can go now! Tang Yuwei, we’re already divorced, I never asked you to do anything for me!" Li Tingmo pointed towards the direction of the hospital room door, "Go!"

Tang Yuwei’s feelings for Li Tingmo were a mix of love and disappointment. Although they were divorced, Tang Yuwei didn’t want to watch him walk towards a dead end with her eyes wide open.

Her tears wouldn’t stop as she shook her head and said with a trembling voice, "Tingmo... How can you not understand, your era has passed, people need to learn to face reality..."

"Even if my era has passed, I refuse to be a coward, to leave Xiangjiang like a loser!" Li Tingmo’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression revealing a hint of madness as he gritted his teeth and said, "I want to be above others, I am forever above others in Xiangjiang!"

Tang Yuwei knew that she ultimately couldn’t persuade Li Tingmo.

She looked at him with disappointment, and after a long while, she slowly stood up, took a deep breath and said, "If that’s the case, this will be the last time I come to see you. I’ve already booked a flight abroad, take care of yourself from now on."

Li Tingmo’s face showed a moment of shock, as if he had something to say but couldn’t, yet in the end, he just watched Tang Yuwei leave without uttering a single word.

At this point, many things were at a dead end, and he simply had no chance to step down.

He is the last dignity of the Li Family; if he leaves, it will be the final acknowledgment of defeat...

Bian Shu went to see Bian Yue in the night.

The lights at Bian Group shone brightly; Bian Yue had just come out of the meeting room, finalizing a partnership agreement with Bai Xu.

"Although Mr. K is a new face from overseas, he is very powerful. In just half a year, he has firmly established himself abroad. His cooperation with the Bian Group is greatly beneficial to our expansion into the M country’s business arena," Bai Xu spoke succinctly as he handed over a document to Bian Yue. He turned his gaze discreetly away from Bian Shu, who was sitting in the office, and said, "President Bian, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave."

Bian Yue took the document, nodding her head and saying, "I will look through it. I’ll give you an answer by tomorrow."

Once Bai Xu left, Bian Yue moved towards Bian Shu, saying helplessly, "Sister, you’re not well. Why did you come all this way so late at night?"

"I just wanted to see you," Bian Shu took Bian Yue’s hand and motioned for her to sit.

Bian Yue sat down as she was told and said with slight guilt, "I’ll be quite busy these days. Once things settle down, I’ll take you out to relax. Is there somewhere you’d like to go, sister?"

Bian Shu’s smile faded slightly, then the next moment, she gripped Bian Yue’s hand even tighter, deepening her smile, and said, "There is, but I want to go alone."

Hearing this, Bian Yue thought her sister simply wanted some alone time, not giving it further thought but instead smiling and saying, "Sure, when you go out, remember to take lots of photos for me."

"Understood," Bian Shu looked at Bian Yue with a complex expression.

She raised her hand, gently touching Bian Yue’s hair, her eyes showing tenderness, "Do you remember when you were little, always following behind me like a little tail? Uncle and Auntie used to say how much you liked me."

Bian Yue laughed, wrapping her arm around Bian Shu’s, and leaning her head on her shoulder, she drew out her words, "Of course, I love my sister. You’re the only sister I have."

Bian Shu’s smile deepened, as she looked at Bian Yue and said, "Yueyue, actually, these past few days, I’ve been very happy."

"Is it because..." Bian Yue hesitated, then tentatively asked, "Is it because Ji Anshen’s affairs have been settled?"

The truth was laid bare for all to see, and Ji Anshen’s last wishes had finally seen the light of day.

Now, everything was moving in a positive direction.

But Bian Shu shook her head and said, "Actually, I’m a very selfish person. I have no interest in fulfilling Ji Anshen’s wishes. He is no longer here, and those wishes, to me, they feel more like a burden."

Bian Yue’s eyes flickered, and with a hint of unease, she slowly straightened up and looked at Bian Shu.

While Bian Shu kept smiling and continued, "It’s just that something inside me keeps telling me, since he is no longer here, then someone should fulfill his wishes, and that someone is me, better than any outsider. And now, I feel like I can face him."

"Sister..." Bian Yue turned pale, her anxiety causing her to grip Bian Shu’s arm tightly, "Don’t say such things."

"It’s alright, I’m just being sentimental," Bian Shu patted Bian Yue’s hand, saying, "Yueyue, actually, I’ve been barely holding on for many years now. It was the thought of investigating everything from the past that kept me going."

"But now, you have me, right..." Bian Yue’s eyes were red-rimmed, and her voice shook, "I can also be the reason for my sister to live, right?"

Bian Shu didn’t speak; her gaze at Bian Yue became even more complex.

Bian Yue, under such a calm gaze, felt a deep fear.

Eventually, Bian Shu said, "Yueyue, I can’t bear to leave you."

In those words, Bian Yue found comfort.

Could not bear to leave; does that imply that she wouldn’t be abandoned?

Bian Yue thought as such, hugging Bian Shu, tears falling uncontrollably, "Sister... I can’t bear to leave you either, I hope to see you every day in the future."

Bian Shu paused, then lightly patted Bian Yue’s head and sighed with a smile, "So naive."

The night was deep, and as usual, Bian Shu returned to the villa that Bian Yue had prepared for her.

The air outside smelled of moisture, blowing in through the half-open window, like an invisible giant net, trapping the person inside.

Bian Shu’s life had been about using schemes and calculations since the day her parents passed.

Children who lose their parents too early often mature too soon.

Bian Kai was a very good parent, impartial to both her and Bian Yue, but deep in Bian Shu’s heart, a corner remained uncontrollably empty.

Her unease wasn’t filled by the favoritism of these elders.

Later on, she met Ji Anshen. This man was like a gentle breeze, seemingly harmless, but in fact, completely out of her control. He had his own direction; he could stay for her, but would not change for her.