"Sister, I've missed you terribly," Lin Chuan tightly hugged Tang Yumeng.

"Really?" Tang Yumeng giggled, "I didn't notice how much you've missed me!"

"A few days ago, you cried and made me so sad that I couldn't wait to come back," Lin Chuan sighed, "If I didn't return, I was afraid you'd run off with someone else."

"Oh, stop it." Tang Yumeng glared at him, "You've got such twisted thoughts, did you think I'm like you, running off with others? That's just too much."

"Haha..." Lin Chuan laughed heartily.

The two held hands as they drove back to Jiangbei City.

In the car.

"Sister, did something happen?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Nothing much," Tang Yumeng shook her head, "My dad fell gravely ill a few days ago, so I was worried. The pressure was too much, so I called you to cry it out, not expecting to alarm you back here."

"How could I not come back?" Lin Chuan smiled, "I thought someone bullied you."

"Who dares to bully me? I am, after all, the top official in Jiangbei City." Tang Yumeng gritted her teeth, like a little lioness.

"What's so special about being the top official?" Lin Chuan laughed, "Even being the top official didn't stop you from being bullied in the past."

"Oh, stop it, the past is the past, now is now," Tang Yumeng snorted lightly.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Lin Chuan nodded.

Tang Yumeng grinned, then said, "Let's go to my office first."

Upon arriving at the City Committee, the security guard at the gate was surprised to see Lin Chuan. They thought Lin Chuan had left Jiangbei City, not expecting him to show up again.

"Lin Chuan, you're back?" Xiao Xue looked at Lin Chuan in surprise.

"Xiao Xue, long time no see, have you gained a bit more in the chest?" Lin Chuan chuckled.

"Oh, stop it." Xiao Xue hurriedly covered her chest with both hands, then glared at Lin Chuan and said, "Where are your eyes looking?"

"Hehe..." Lin Chuan laughed, "Didn't you grow these for men to look at and touch? How come you're shy seeing me?"

"You... you jerk." Xiao Xue shyly ran off.

"Haha..." Lin Chuan burst out laughing.

Especially seeing Xiao Xue's shy demeanor, Lin Chuan felt even more smug and was quite arrogant. Tang Yumeng glared at him and said, "You're really bad, how could you even tease Xiao Xue?"

"That girl gets shy easily," Lin Chuan laughed, "it's fun to tease her."

"You might find it fun, but you humiliated Xiao Xue," Tang Yumeng glanced at Lin Chuan.

In the office. Tang Yumeng tossed the car keys on the desk, took off her coat, and hung it on the coat rack nearby. Lin Chuan sprawled on the sofa, crossed his legs nonchalantly, and lit a cigarette.

The office was quiet for a moment.

"Xiao Yu, what's your dad's illness?" Lin Chuan asked.

"I don't know," Tang Yumeng shook her head.

"You haven't been home?" Lin Chuan was slightly surprised.

"Yes," Tang Yumeng nodded, "I haven't gone back..."

At this point, Lin Chuan obviously felt Tang Yumeng's inner sadness. The pain showing on her face made Lin Chuan a bit worried and sad. He quickly placed his cigarette in the ashtray and walked over to gently hug Tang Yumeng.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Lin Chuan hugged her, Tang Yumeng started crying.

"Lin Chuan, do you think I'm unfilial?" Tang Yumeng held on to Lin Chuan tightly, tears streaming down.

"No, no, how could you be unfilial?" Lin Chuan gently held Tang Yumeng's head and comforted her in a soft voice, "Xiao Yu is the kindest, most filial, most responsible person in the world. If you're unfilial, then who in the world is?"

"But... I haven't been home for five years," Tang Yumeng bit her lip, "This time my dad is gravely ill, and I still didn't go back. I don't even know how he's doing now. I'm just an unfilial person, without responsibility or a sense of duty."

"I believe there must be a reason for you not going back," Lin Chuan said seriously, "or something must be stopping you. Right?"

Tang Yumeng took a deep breath and said, "No."

"Then what's the reason?" Lin Chuan asked.

"I've fallen out with my family," Tang Yumeng gritted her teeth, "or rather, I'm still holding a grudge."

"A grudge?" Lin Chuan hesitated for a moment, "Why do you say that?"

"I didn't follow the family's arrangements, didn't adhere to their wishes," Tang Yumeng said seriously.

Lin Chuan curiously asked, "Then… what does your family want you to do?"

"They..." Tang Yumeng shifted her tone, "Anyway, in their eyes, I'm just a rebellious woman, disobedient. Five years ago, I had a falling out with them, so I haven't gone back since. It was my mom who told me about my dad's illness this time. She asked me to go see him, but... but I can't swallow my pride!"

"Silly girl, why can't you swallow your pride with your own dad?" Lin Chuan asked, "After all, he's your own father, right?"

"Yes," Tang Yumeng nodded, "but I always remember him hitting me, and saying in front of everyone in the family that he's cutting off ties with me as father and daughter. So, I haven't wanted to go back. I'm afraid he'll say something hurtful again."

"Fool!" Lin Chuan smiled and said, "What's there to be afraid of, he's your father, you're the apple of his eye. I believe he only said those things out of momentary anger. If you go back this time, he'll definitely forgive you."

"I..." Tang Yumeng hesitated for a moment.

"Go back. I'll go with you," Lin Chuan said seriously.

"Really?" Tang Yumeng asked.

"Yes!" Lin Chuan nodded, "I'll go with you, how about that?"

"But..." Tang Yumeng was still a bit worried.

"What's wrong?" Lin Chuan asked curiously, "Are you worried about something?"

"I..." Tang Yumeng took a deep breath, "I'm afraid it might be inconvenient for you."

"What's inconvenient?" Lin Chuan asked curiously, "What haven't I encountered before?"

"It's not that..." Tang Yumeng hesitated a bit, "Okay, since we've already established a relationship, it's not unreasonable to bring you back. However, this time going back, I might face pressure to get married, and taking you along can offer an explanation to my parents and the family."

"Oh?" Lin Chuan was even more curious.

He was very curious about what kind of family Tang Yumeng had. From Lin Chuan's understanding, the larger the family, the stricter the control over the members' marriages and life decisions. From Tang Yumeng's behavior, it seemed her family interfered a lot in her life, which piqued Lin Chuan's curiosity.

Lin Chuan asked with a chuckle, "So... where is your family?"

"In... Beijing!" Tang Yumeng replied.

"Beijing?" Lin Chuan was taken aback, "A big family in Beijing?"

"Yes!" Tang Yumeng nodded slightly, "Lin Chuan, think it over, do you really want to go home with me?"

"Yes!" Lin Chuan nodded.

"Alright, tomorrow we'll head to Beijing!" Tang Yumeng had a radiant smile.

Less than a day after returning to Jiangbei City, Lin Chuan was on his way to Beijing with Tang Yumeng the next day.

Beforehand, Tang Yumeng had called her mother, informing her of their return. Mrs. Tang was instantly joyful and relieved. No matter what, after five years, her daughter was finally returning, which made her very happy.

On the plane, Tang Yumeng clung tightly to Lin Chuan's arm.

"Lin Chuan, are you scared?" Tang Yumeng asked.

"Why would I be scared?" Lin Chuan smiled, "Accompanying you, I'd brave any danger. You get that?"

"Yes!" Tang Yumeng nodded, feeling that Lin Chuan had touched a soft spot in her heart. She was very happy, holding his arm and leaning her head gently on his shoulder, looking like a loving couple.

Lin Chuan embraced Tang Yumeng, though he did feel a bit nervous deep down. After all, this was his first time visiting her home. In a way, it felt like proposing. With no parents of his own, he had to handle everything himself.

Arriving in Beijing, the city was still chilly at the end of March. Stepping off the plane, a gust of wind made people shrink their necks. Many hurriedly bundled up and quickly boarded the airport shuttle bus.

Just as Lin Chuan and Tang Yumeng were about to board the bus.

"Yumeng." A voice called out not far away.

Lin Chuan and Tang Yumeng turned their heads in unison, and from a distance, a man approached. He was well-dressed, giving off a neat and handsome vibe, about 6-foot-1. He wore a warm smile. But seeing him made Lin Chuan uncomfortable, perhaps sensing the presence of a rival.

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