"It should be in these few days," Yang Sijie asked, "You're not angry with me anymore. I know I used some tactics, but it was all for you..."
"Brother Sijie, I'm not angry with you," Gu Susu interrupted him. "Before you left, did you stop targeting the Aoxiang Group? I just hope you won't go after the people around me to reclaim the past we missed. It's useless."
Yang Sijie nodded. "I understand. I stopped targeting Aoxiang a long time ago. And I don't plan to develop in Lancheng anymore."
"But you don't have to do this. You don't need to be influenced by me. Just invest and do business normally. After all, there are more development opportunities in the country."
"You don't want me to leave?"
Gu Susu, across the table laden with delicacies, looked at Yang Sijie opposite her. Her heart was filled with emotion. "Of course. I've always treated you like family. We've finally reunited, and I didn't expect we'd still have to part."
Yang Sijie genuinely felt the urge to cry. He had lost her again, and would never be able to get their past back.
"Parting is always sad. Let's not talk about this. Let's talk about something happy," Yang Sijie said, maintaining his elegant smile. "If you have the chance, bring Xiao Xingxing to find me. I'll show you around."
"Okay, no problem." Gu Susu picked up her wine glass and raised it. "Kangxi and I both wish you a safe journey."
Yang Sijie also raised his glass to her. "Susu, I wish you happiness too."
Gu Susu drank it all in one go. It seemed Yang Sijie had truly let go and come to terms with things.
She was not only happy but also a little sad, and poured herself another glass of red wine.
Yang Sijie smiled very gently. "Don't just drink. It's bad for your stomach. Have some salad and steak."
"Okay, you too." Gu Susu picked up her knife and fork, relaxed, and ate the Western food with him, chatting and laughing.
The meal left them with a mix of the sadness of parting and the lightness of shedding their burdens.
Gu Susu felt she had eaten enough, and it was getting late. She spoke first. "Brother Sijie, thank you for your hospitality tonight. I'm done eating, and I should go."
"Okay, I'll take you back," Yang Sijie said, starting to get up to escort her.
Gu Susu didn't want to cause any more trouble and quickly waved her hand. "No need, I'll just take a taxi myself."
Yang Sijie didn't insist. "Alright, then you go back first. Be careful on the way."
Gu Susu thought about how jealous Qin Tianyi was, and that they would probably not have many opportunities to meet in the future. She said to him, "Then you take care of yourself."
"I will."
Gu Susu turned and walked towards the door. Yang Sijie remained seated, watching her leave with a smile.
Just as she was about to push open the private room door, she suddenly felt dizzy, not knowing what was happening to her. She shook her head forcefully.
But she didn't even have the strength to push the door open and could only lean against it, trying not to fall.
She couldn't hold on any longer. She managed to turn around and looked at Yang Sijie for help. "Brother Sijie, I'm suddenly feeling very dizzy. You should take me back."
Yang Sijie then got up and walked over. He gently lifted her chin and said, "I told you long ago to let me take you back, but you insisted on not letting me."
He also held her waist and lightly kissed her lips.
Gu Susu tried to open her eyes wide, suddenly realizing something was wrong, and asked, "What... what did you put in my drink?"
"Of course, it's something that can keep you," Yang Sijie gazed at her sincerely. "I didn't put anything in the wine, otherwise, why would I be fine after drinking it? It was in your wine glass."
Gu Susu's hand went behind her back in terror, trying to open the private room door. "Why are you doing this? I've already made myself clear."
Yang Sijie raised his hand and gently smoothed the stray hairs on her forehead. "Unless I die, I will never let you go in this life. Susu, you are mine, and no one will ever take you away from me again. I will treat you better, a hundred times better than that Qin Tianyi!"
Gu Susu wanted to break free and escape through the door, but she had no strength at all. Despairingly, she sank into a dark abyss, knowing nothing more.
...
Qin Tianyi arrived at the international terminal of the airport early with Xiao Xingxing. As the flight departure time drew closer, Gu Susu still hadn't appeared.
He had called Susu before leaving home, but the call went through, and no one answered.
He thought they had agreed to meet at the airport, and perhaps she was rushing on her way, so he kept calling her phone.
But international flights require check-in one and a half hours in advance. If she didn't come soon, she would miss the flight.
Qin Tianyi felt something was wrong. Waiting like this wouldn't do. He had to go to her place to find out what had happened.
"Dad, why isn't Mom here yet? Won't she be unable to come because of another business trip?" Xiao Xingxing tugged at Qin Tianyi's clothes, looking eagerly.
Qin Tianyi squatted down and comforted Xiao Xingxing. "Mom must have been delayed by something. Let's change our flight first, and go find Mom, okay?"
"Okay, let's go." Xiao Xingxing had been looking forward to his parents accompanying him on the trip. If his mother didn't go, he'd rather not go either.
Qin Tianyi was holding his phone, about to ask his secretary to change the flight, when someone suddenly sent him a message.
He saw the number was unfamiliar. Upon opening the message, he froze.
"Susu is with me. You don't need to wait for her. She won't go abroad with you."
Qin Tianyi immediately called the number, and the other party answered quickly.
"Who are you? What have you done to Susu? If you dare to hurt her, I won't let you go..."
"Qin Tianyi, no need to get angry. I am Yang Sijie." A gentle voice came from the phone.
"Yang Sijie! What do you want!"
Yang Sijie said with a laugh, "I should be asking you that. Did you really think Susu would change her mind and fall for you? She has always loved me from beginning to end."
"That's impossible! You're playing me!" Qin Tianyi said disbelievingly.
"Then let me tell you, she went to find you just because she argued with me, and was sulking, trying to provoke me with you," Yang Sijie explained casually. "She found out from somewhere that I had kept a female celebrity, so she got angry and had a big fight with me. But now she knows it was all a rumor, and she's returned to me. She won't leave with you anymore."
"You're talking nonsense! Let her answer the phone, let her tell me herself!"
"She was too tired last night and hasn't woken up yet. But I have something to show you. After you see it, you'll know how much she loves me." Yang Sijie smiled triumphantly and winked at Sasha beside him.
Sasha imitated Gu Susu's voice, as if in a sleepy murmur, "Brother Sijie, don't go, don't... don't leave me, okay..."
Yang Sijie's smile faded. "She's lying beside me. Every inch of her skin bears my mark."