Chapter 381: Parting Gift and Promise
Chapter 381: Chapter 381: Parting Gift and Promise
If he didn’t work hard, wasn’t ambitious, and didn’t aggressively strive to get ahead, what awaited him was his family’s ruin, the loss of his wife and children, and a lifetime of regret. One could say that their current life—everything they had—was earned through sheer, unrelenting effort.
"Alright. Depart at once. I’ve already prepared your entourage. Take them with you. Before you leave, go see Nuanyue and explain everything to her. When I have time, I will apologize to her personally." Gu Qingyu spoke with the utmost respect, treating his subordinate as a valued equal. "Don’t worry about things here in Jincheng City. I’m here. The Hua family and Nuanyue’s three siblings will be perfectly safe!"
Hua Yusen nodded and said gratefully, "Thank you, Elder Gu. I’ll leave right away."
Hua Yusen led his men straight to the courtyard house by Qingya Lake where Zhao Nuanyue lived. He tightly gripped a small wooden box in his hand.
He had brought the small wooden box with him when he left home after receiving Elder Gu’s notice. He had already anticipated that he would be sent on a mission and that his wedding to Zhao Nuanyue could not be held as scheduled.
He had originally planned to present this meticulously chosen item—his wedding keepsake—on their wedding day, after reciting his vows in front of their friends and family.
But that was impossible now. Still, he had to give this gift, this token of his heart, to Zhao Nuanyue.
His heart heavy with guilt, Hua Yusen arrived at Zhao Nuanyue’s house. Not wanting to disturb the neighbors, he vaulted over the wall instead of knocking.
To ensure her family’s safety, Little Red Carp had placed a Barrier around the courtyard. If any outsider were to enter at night, she would know immediately.
The moment Hua Yusen entered, Little Red Carp’s eyes snapped open. She sat up in bed at once, carefully probing the area with her Divine Sense.
"Little Red Carp, what’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?" Zhao Nuanyue asked urgently. She had never seen Little Red Carp look so alarmed and serious.
After observing with her Divine Sense, Little Red Carp realized the intruder was actually her future brother-in-law. She was completely baffled. ’They’re about to get married, do they really need to sneak over for a date in the middle of the night?’
"Someone broke into our yard. I checked, and it’s your fiancé. Get dressed quickly and go ask him what he’s doing here in the middle of the night!" Little Red Carp said with a frown. ’I hope it’s nothing bad.’ Never before had she so desperately wished that Hua Yusen had only come because he missed her sister.
"What?" Zhao Nuanyue was stunned. "What is he doing here so late at night?"
Zhao Nuanyue scrambled to get dressed, her mind racing. ’On the one hand, I hope he just missed me and came to visit. On the other... I’m terrified that something terrible has happened again.’
With a heart full of trepidation, Zhao Nuanyue finished dressing and hurried to open her door. Hua Yusen was already standing right outside.
The door’s sudden opening startled Hua Yusen. But when he saw his beloved, her hair slightly disheveled, he took two quick steps forward, wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her delicate frame into a tight embrace.
"Nuanyue, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry," Hua Yusen’s voice, thick with guilt, whispered in her ear. ’She’s suffered so much for me, endured so many hardships. She deserved a proper wedding, and now... now there’s nothing.’
"What is it? Yu Sen, what happened? Tell me. Don’t be upset. There’s always a solution to every problem!" Zhao Nuanyue was frantic, but she tried her best to keep the urgency out of her voice. "No matter what’s happened, I’ll be by your side. I’ll be with you. So don’t be afraid. You still have me. You have me!"
"I know," Hua Yusen choked out. ’What have I ever done to deserve the love of a woman like this? What have I done to be treated with such devotion?’
"Okay, can you tell me now?" Zhao Nuanyue asked softly, gently patting his back. "Whatever it is, we’ll solve it together. It’s not the end of the world. We’ve faced life and death together. What could possibly be scarier than that?"
Zhao Nuanyue’s gentle tone and big-hearted acceptance were her way of encouraging and comforting him.
"Liu Zhongjun, way out in Lu State, has gone back on his word," Hua Yusen explained succinctly. "He’s a ruthless, cunning, and incredibly difficult man to deal with. Elder Gu doesn’t trust anyone else, so he’s sending me to handle it. Because I have to go on this mission, our wedding can’t be held as planned."
Hearing this, Zhao Nuanyue’s face filled with worry. "Do you have to be the one to go? Is it dangerous?"
Hua Yusen was deeply moved once again. The first thing she asked about was his safety, not the wedding. ’My Nuanyue... she always puts me first. In her heart, I’m the most important thing.’
"If I go, I can guarantee the mission will be completed. There might be danger, but I can handle it." Hua Yusen didn’t want to make her worry. ’I’ve already let her down by not being able to marry her on time. If I make her anxious and fearful on top of that, I’ll only feel more guilty.’
Even though Hua Yusen said he could avoid and overcome any danger, Zhao Nuanyue was still terribly worried. She knew, however, that Gu Qingyu had given the order. Hua Yusen had no choice but to go.
"I know you feel guilty about not being able to have the wedding on time, but you know I don’t care about external things like that. The only thing I care about is you," Zhao Nuanyue said, her voice full of love. "I don’t need a wedding. I don’t need anything. But you have to come back safely, because I’ll be right here, waiting for you."
"Nuanyue!" This time, Hua Yusen couldn’t hold it in any longer. Tears streamed down his face.
Hua Yusen was a strong man, the kind who would bleed and sweat but never cry. Yet this time, Zhao Nuanyue’s words had moved him to tears.
"There, there. As long as I know you love me, that’s all that matters. I mean it. I’m not blaming you in the slightest. Given your position and your family, you can’t be too particular about certain things. We have to look ahead. If we want a peaceful and happy life in the future, it requires struggle and hard work now," Zhao Nuanyue said, full of understanding. "Go on, don’t worry. I’ll be here. I’ll visit your parents often to keep them company."
"Yeah." Hua Yusen had never felt such happiness in his heart. He loosened his tight embrace and pulled a small wooden box from his pocket. Opening it, he took out a silver ring with a quaint, classic design. It was set with a crescent moon-shaped piece of Red Jade, encircled by what looked like tiny, twinkling stars.
The moment Zhao Nuanyue saw the ring, her eyes lit up. It was so beautiful, you couldn’t help but fall in love with it at first sight.