lovenovelstory Chapter 592 Parting is always sad
Chapter 592 Parting is always sad
In the evening at Dongshan Villa, it was so quiet that you could hear the sound of osmanthus blossoms falling on the bluestone slabs.
Lin Chen lay on a recliner in the yard, legs crossed, squinting at the sunset, like a retired old man sunbathing in the yard.
He had actually been in this position for almost two hours, only getting up to drink some tea in between, and then continuing to lie there.
Liu Ruyan sat next to him, holding a teacup in her hand, her fingertips slowly rubbing the rim of the cup. She sat there quietly, occasionally glancing at Lin Chen.
Zhao Lingyang sat next to Liu Ruyan, holding a piece of osmanthus in his hand, turning it over and over, looking at it from all angles, seemingly lost in thought.
Zhao Mingyue sat next to Zhao Lingyang, her posture upright, every smile and gesture perfectly executed, her royal etiquette deeply ingrained.
Then came Chu Yueyao, Qin Shuyan, Xiao Yulou, Wen Ruoxi, Ye Qingying, Murong Xue, Su Xiaoxiao, Lan Fenghuang, Liu Shengxue, Yao Yao, Ling Bo...
Fourteen women, some sitting, some standing, some leaning against the pillars, some sitting directly on the steps, and some with their arms crossed against the wall.
No one spoke, and everyone's gaze kept falling on Lin Chen, their meaning unclear.
Lin Nian'er stood under the eaves, leaning against a pillar, holding a cup of tea in her hand.
She wasn't looking at the sunset; she was looking at Lin Chen's back.
Lin Chen suddenly spoke up, "I'm going into seclusion."
Liu Ruyan paused for a moment, not particularly surprised, and was the first to answer, "How long this time?"
"I don't know," Lin Chen answered honestly.
Zhao Lingyang finally put down the osmanthus blossoms and asked, "Is it dangerous?"
She is no longer a powerful empress, but a worried woman who cares about her husband.
Lin Chen paused for a moment, then said, "A little."
Refining the will of heaven and earth into an incarnation is to break the laws governing the universe, and naturally carries certain dangers.
Xiao Yulou was very direct, her tone firm: "Is it absolutely necessary to go?"
"I absolutely have to go." Lin Chen nodded.
Chu Yueyao didn't say anything, but stood up and walked to Lin Chen, straightening his collar.
His hand paused on Lin Chen's shoulder for a moment, just that one moment, but it was more effective than saying "Be careful" a hundred times.
"Be careful," she said anyway.
Lin Chen took her hand: "Okay."
Wen Ruoxi pulled an account book out of her sleeve and shoved it into Lin Chen's hand with a "thud".
"Keep the accounts of the family businesses."
Lin Chen looked down and saw a thick book with the words "Lin Family Property Record" written on the cover. Every stroke was neat and tidy, all in Wen Ruoxi's handwriting.
"I'm going into seclusion, not running away." Lin Chen was somewhat speechless.
Wen Ruoxi glared at him: "Take it."
"Alright, alright, take it." Lin Chen stuffed the ledger into his pocket and patted it.
Ye Qingying walked over, took off a jade pendant from her neck, and tiptoed to hang it around Lin Chen's neck.
The jade pendant was warm to the touch, covered with densely packed runes that shimmered faintly in the setting sun.
Its surface is very smooth and shiny, clearly indicating that it has been handled frequently.
"For protection." After saying that, Ye Qingying stepped back and turned her face to the side.
Lin Chen touched the jade pendant, didn't ask any further questions, and nodded: "Okay."
Murong Xue and Su Xiaoxiao came together, each holding one of Lin Chen's hands, palm to palm.
Murong Xue's palms were slightly cool, while Su Xiaoxiao's palms were warm. The two of them, one on each side, looked like two clingy kittens.
"Come back soon," Murong Xue said.
"We're waiting for you at home," Su Xiaoxiao said.
Lin Chen squeezed both of their hands: "Yes."
Qin Shuyan didn't say anything, but hugged him directly, resting her chin on Lin Chen's shoulder, her breath falling on his neck.
Lin Chen could feel her eyelashes trembling, like butterfly wings fluttering. He reached out and wrapped his arms around Qin Shuyan's back, not letting go immediately.
The two hugged for a while, neither of them letting go first.
Zhao Mingyue, holding a cup of tea, said calmly, "Go ahead, we'll take care of things at home."
His tone was calm, but his hand holding the teacup was clenched so tightly it turned white.
Yao Yao was the last to pounce on him, hanging on Lin Chen with her arms around his neck, her chin resting on his chest, looking up at him.
"Come back soon! I'll miss you!"
Lin Chen patted her on the back: "Okay, okay, I'll definitely be there soon."
Lingbo stood at the very back, leaning against a pillar without moving, her white robes gently ruffled by the evening breeze.
Her gaze never left Lin Chen, remaining steadily fixed on him.
Lin Chen nodded to her, and Ling Bo nodded back, the gesture so small it was almost imperceptible.
The courtyard fell silent again.
Lin Nian'er walked over from the corridor and stood in front of Lin Chen.
She's no longer the little girl with two pigtails chasing butterflies.
She had grown up and taller, standing steadily in front of Lin Chen, like a sapling that had taken root.
A breeze blew by, and the hem of her skirt swayed gently.
"Father," she called out.
Lin Chen looked at her and asked, "Hmm?"
Lin Nian'er smiled and said, "Come back soon."
Just four words, no more instructions, no more emotion, completely different from the little dumpling who used to cling to his leg and wouldn't let him leave.
Lin Chen reached out and ruffled her hair: "Okay."
Then he turned and walked towards the courtyard gate, but stopped after taking two steps and looked back at the people in the courtyard.
The golden-red glow of the setting sun fell on Lin Chen's face, making his expression difficult to discern, but the corners of his mouth were turned up.
"You're gone."
Lin Chen waved his hand, took a step, and disappeared without a trace.
The courtyard was quiet for a while.
Liu Ruyan lowered her head and took a sip of tea, while Zhao Lingyang put the osmanthus petal she had just picked back on the table.
Chu Yueyao sat back on the stone bench, and Wen Ruoxi took out another account book and started flipping through it, but her mind was not on it.
The old matriarch stood at the doorway, looked around, and sighed.
"Stop standing around, go do what you're supposed to be doing." She added after saying that.
"He will come back."
Su Wanqing sat in the room, holding the embroidery hoop in her hand for a long time without moving it, before finally starting to thread the needle.
Only then did the sun in the west dare to slowly set.