Chapter 154 What Will Be, Will Be

Xu Shu did not turn back. She stood quietly behind me, frightened yet composed.

I squatted down and gently stroked the grass on the ground, saying, "Jingjing and I have been to this place twice. It holds quite a significant meaning for us. Back then, it was truly amusing. We couldn't stand the sight of each other, constantly plotting and scheming, turning everything completely upside down. Thinking back on it now, it feels so surreal. Who would have thought that two people who started off on such wrong terms would end up falling so deeply and madly in love?"

Recalling the past, a smile spread across my face, and I seemed to catch a glimpse of Hua Jingjing back then—exasperated, anxious, angry, annoyed, and blushing all at once. Xu Shu walked over to my side, reached out to ruffle my hair, and said nothing, letting out only a long, heavy sigh.

I stood there deep in thought for a long time before finally rising to my feet with a slight smile. "With old man Hua pulling a stunt like this, things have actually become simpler. Since he would never agree to let me be with Jingjing anyway, I am done waiting out those three years. Tomorrow, I will handle the paperwork and fly straight to the United States to bring Jingjing back. The moment Jingjing is willing, I will marry her immediately, and I won't care about her father's objections anymore. If that old scoundrel dares to make a move, I will fight him to the bitter end!"

Xu Shu was silent for a moment before she asked, "What if Jingjing isn't willing to have a falling out with her father?"

I pondered for a moment and replied, "A person always has to make choices. If Jingjing chooses her family and parents, then I have nothing more to say; I'll just come back. But I believe Jingjing won't do that. She loves me so much, how could she ever be unwilling to stay with me?"

Xu Shu sighed and said, "Very well! As long as Jingjing chooses to stay with you, if Hua Qiming dares to stand in your way, I will spare no resource and use all my strength to help you fight that stubborn old fool to the bitter end!"

I looked at her with gratitude. "Xu Shu, thank you!"

Xu Shu murmured a response. "Since you've made up your mind, let's head back. This place is rather eerie."

I smiled. "Alright, I'll drive you home."

My mind was made up, and the heaviness in my chest instantly vanished. The thought of being able to see Jingjing again soon re-energized my spirit. I drove Xu Shu home first, and then turned the car around, heading back to the parking lot beneath my apartment building.

I locked the car doors with the remote key and turned toward the stairwell. Suddenly, I sensed someone quietly approaching from behind. Then, a pair of ice-cold little hands covered my eyes from behind, and a voice etched deep into my soul chuckled softly, "Tang Qian, guess who I am?"

My hand trembled, and the car keys instantly slipped from my grip onto the ground. In disbelief, I spun around to see Hua Jingjing smiling at me, her eyes shimmering with tears of happiness.

I blinked hard, terrified that it was merely an illusion, only to find Jingjing still standing right before me. With trembling hands, I caressed her face, feeling her undeniable reality. Overwhelmed to the point of tears, I cried out, "Darling, is it really you?"

Tears streamed down Jingjing's face as well, and she nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

Joy bloomed in my chest so intensely that it felt as though it might burst. This overwhelming ecstasy nearly took my breath away. I pulled her fiercely into my arms and cried out, "Darling..." Unable to find any more words, I simply let my tears fall continuously.

Jingjing wrapped her arms tightly around me as well, sobbing, "Tang Qian, I've missed you so much!"

I held her with all my might, terrified that she might suddenly vanish into thin air. I murmured dazedly, "Have you really come back? Is this real? Heavens, am I dreaming?"

In my arms, Jingjing caught her breath and urged urgently, "Tang Qian, you're going to squeeze the life out of me!"

I hurriedly loosened my grip, though I kept my hands firmly around her waist. Gazing at the person I had yearned for day and night, my happiness became completely uncontrollable. Hua Jingjing reached out to wipe away my tears, smiling as she said, "Tang Qian, you've lost weight!"

The tears I had just managed to check welled up once more, but my face beamed with radiant joy. "Darling, I'm just too happy! How did you get back? I was literally about to go to the US to look for you!"

Hua Jingjing smiled. "I know, so I came back directly instead, saving you the trouble of making the trip."

I pulled her back into my embrace. "As long as you're back, we're never parting again. No matter who it is, nothing will ever separate us!"

Hua Jingjing murmured an assent and said, "Never again. We'll be together forever."

We held each other in a long, silent embrace, too overwhelmed to speak another word. After a long while, as my mind cleared somewhat, a sense of curiosity arose. Stroking her hair, I asked, "Darling, did you come back this time determined to make a complete break with your father and never see him again?"

The Jingjing in my arms let out a soft chuckle. "Why on earth would I want to make a complete break and never see him again?"

Puzzled, I released her slightly and asked, "Then you aren't willing to fall out with your father?"

Jingjing smiled. "He's my dad! We're bound by blood and family, why would I want to fall out with him?"

A sinking feeling crept into my heart, and I asked with a quiver in my voice, "Really? Not even for my sake?"

Jingjing said softly, "Tang Qian, I would do anything for you. The reason I came back this time is to resolve the conflict between you and my dad. For my sake, are you willing to forgive the way my dad treated you back then?"

I said, "You probably don't know yet, do you? Just a moment ago, your father tracked me down and despicably used you as a bargaining chip, trying to force me to do something that violates my conscience and morality. We had a huge falling out again, and he threatened that I'd never get to be with you for the rest of my life!" (I admit I was wrong just now; it turns out there was a reason behind it all.)

Hua Jingjing smiled faintly. "I know! I was hiding in a private booth the entire time and heard everything!"

Taken aback, I blurted out, "What?"

Hua Jingjing happily stroked my face and smiled. "Luckily you didn't give in to my father, otherwise I wouldn't even have had the chance to come see you."

Still bewildered and confused, I asked, "I don't understand. What actually happened?"

Hua Jingjing pouted playfully. "You've seen me for so long, and you haven't even kissed me yet! I want you to kiss me right now before I tell you!"

I smiled, pulling her closer. "Are you afraid I won't kiss you later? I'll kiss you day and night, twenty-four hours a day..." Leaning in closer and closer, I finally pressed my lips against hers and kissed her deeply.

After a long kiss, she could no longer hold out, broke into a giggle, and pushed me away while catching her breath. "Alright, you've drovered all over me three times, it's so gross!"

I caught her hand and said, "Jingjing, come inside my place and tell me all about it properly. You can say hello to my parents while you're at it."

Hua Jingjing flushed brightly. "No way! I'm not prepared at all. Wait, is this your car? What kind of piece-of-junk car is this?" She turned around to inspect my Hainan Mazda.

Understanding her intention, I picked up the dropped car keys, unlocked the doors, and said, "Then let's talk inside the car. Well, you're much thinner than before, I need to check how much weight you've lost!"

Hua Jingjing rolled her eyes at me and scolded playfully, "Annoying!"

Smiling happily, I opened the door and climbed inside. Jingjing hesitated for a moment by the doorway, blushing as she said, "I'm here to talk about serious things with you, you know. If you try any funny business, I'm not coming in."

I reached out a hand and smiled. "I love you far too much to pull any funny business. Get in here!"

Only then did Hua Jingjing step inside. I reached out, pulled her close, and settled her right onto my lap. Jingjing closed her eyes, seemingly resigning to her fate. I simply held her, overflowing with tenderness as I murmured, "Jingjing, do you know how bitterly I've missed you? I honestly don't know how I survived the days without you!"

Jingjing raised her head and said, "Me too. In the days without you, I thought I was going crazy with missing you!" I reached out to stroke her delicate face, turned on the overhead dome light, and gazed at her affectionately and adoringly in the soft glow.

She had indeed lost a lot of weight, her small face lacking its former roundness, but she remained just as exquisite and pure, heartbreakingly beautiful. Overwhelmed with tenderness, I lowered my head to kiss her lips once more. Suddenly, Jingjing's expression shifted. She raised a hand to block me and said, "Wait a minute, what is that on your lip? Is that... a tooth mark?"

My head spun, and I inwardly wailed, *Oh no, how did I forget about this again? Whose bloody prank is this? How am I ever going to clear my name now?*

Breaking out in a cold sweat, I pleaded anxiously, "Darling, let me explain..."

Hua Jingjing demanded angrily, "I'm not listening. I just want to ask you, is this a tooth mark or not?"

With a crying face, I stammered, "I'm not really sure either. Judging by the shape, I suppose it is!"

Hua Jingjing sneered, "Either it is or it isn't! What do you mean by 'I suppose it is'?"

Cold sweat poured down my back as I hastily straightened my expression. "Jingjing, whether you believe me or not, I truly have no idea how this thing got there. I got drunk last night, and when I woke up this morning, there was a mark on my lip. I am genuinely innocent!"

Hua Jingjing laughed in exasperation. "Do me a favor and come up with a more believable lie. Do you honestly expect me to believe such a ridiculous excuse?"

I sighed. "If you won't believe me, there's nothing I can do, but that's simply the truth!"

Hua Jingjing pressed on, "Fine then, let me ask you: who were you with last night?"

*Good grief!* Why did all the coincidences in the world have to happen at once? I hadn't seen Qiu Jieqin in over half a year, and the moment I met her last night, trouble immediately followed. Heavens! Are you trying to drive me to my grave? Seeing the nervous tension on my face made Hua Jingjing even more suspicious. She gritted her teeth with a smile and said, "What? Can't even remember?"

What will be, will be; what must come, cannot be avoided. I decided to make a clean breast of it. "I was with Qiu Jieqin last night, but I swear on my life, we didn't do anything!"

"Qiu Jieqin?" Hua Jingjing's smile turned terrifying. "Didn't you tell me ages ago that you two had broken up?"

Just as I was about to answer, the phone in my pocket suddenly rang. Startled out of my wits, I frantically reached out to silence it, but Hua Jingjing blocked my hand with a cold sneer. "Hand me the phone. I want to see who's calling."

Sweating profusely, I pulled the phone from my pocket, silently praying it wasn't Qiu Jieqin. A glance at the caller ID made the sweat pour down even faster. Oh, my god—it was actually the little witch calling!