"Oh, what a coincidence!" Earl Field lied with a straight face. "Where are you headed? Do you want me to give you a ride?"
Cici shook her head. "No, thank you. I'm waiting for someone here."
Earl Field's red eyes flickered as he knocked on the car door.
Immediately, someone got out of the car, respectfully opened the door, and helped Earl Field out.
After getting out, Earl Field stood beside Cici, lowering his head to look at her.
Cici felt inexplicably uneasy under Earl Field's gaze.
The stretch Hummer drove away.
It drove away...?
Cici stared at Earl Field, her expression full of shock.
He came here so early in the morning just to stand on the roadside with her?
She was waiting for someone, but what was he doing standing here?
"Suddenly, it doesn't seem so bad to settle down and start a family," Earl Field blurted out unexpectedly.
Huh? What does that even mean? Why is he getting all sentimental so early in the morning?
"Japan's climate really is humid," Earl Field said again, totally out of nowhere.
Cici was starting to think he was nuts.
"I heard you're heading to Hokkaido?" Earl Field finally got to the point.
Cici nodded and yawned again.
Getting dragged out of bed at the crack of dawn—it's just cruel!
Seeing Cici's sleepy, teary-eyed face, Earl Field actually felt a sense of accomplishment.
"Oh, then let's go together," Earl Field said breezily.
"Huh?" Cici looked completely lost.
"It's cold over there, so dress warmly," Earl Field said, then turned and walked away!
He just left?!
Cici was exhausted and couldn't be bothered to figure out what that crazy British earl was getting at. She kept checking the time, muttering curses at Charles Yin.
He made her get up so early, just so she could wait around here?
After Earl Field left, Cici couldn't stand the chilly air anymore. She ran back to the hotel and dozed off in the lobby, hugging her suitcase.
She had no idea how long she'd slept. When someone nudged her awake, she opened her bleary eyes and looked up.
The moment Cici saw who was standing in front of her, she exploded: "Hey, Charles Yin, what's your deal?! You called me at four in the morning and told me to wait downstairs! I've been waiting over three hours! Why are you only showing up now?"
Charles Yin found her angry, puffed-up look adorable, but he didn't ignore her complaint. "Hmm? I called you? Are you sure it was my number? All my phone numbers use a special prefix. Are you certain it was me?"
Cici was speechless. She pulled out her phone and checked carefully—the incoming number was... Whose number was that?
She'd been half-asleep at the time and hadn't even checked the number.
But there weren't many people who even knew she'd be going out today, right?
Who would pull a prank like this?
Seriously!
"Alright, you look exhausted. Get in the car and sleep some more," Charles Yin said, his eyes gentle as he ruffled Cici's fluffy hair.
Cici dragged herself to her feet, not even noticing that Charles Yin had his arm around her waist as they walked out together.
As for her suitcase, of course someone else carried it.
Charles Yin had a silver motorhome ready. As soon as Cici got in, she sprawled on the sofa and fell asleep clutching a pillow.
Charles Yin walked over with a cup of water and shook Cici gently. "Hey, hey, eat something before you sleep."
"Give me a break! I've been up since four!" Cici mumbled, half-asleep. "The banquet last night ran till midnight, then I had to get home, take off my makeup, and clean up—it was one o'clock by the time I finished! I only slept three hours! Three hours! You're so cruel, not letting me get any real sleep!"
Listening to Cici's complaints, Charles Yin couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He didn't tease her any further, just brought over a blanket and tucked her in, then sat nearby, smiling as he watched her sleep.
Cici slept deeply, so deeply that when Charles Yin traced her brows and eyes with his long, perfect fingers, she didn't even notice.
Charles Yin's movements were feather-light, barely brushing the corner of her lips.
"I can hardly wait anymore, Cici," Charles Yin sighed softly. "Have you been blaming me all this time for not looking for you during those three years? It's not that I didn't want to—it's that I couldn't!"
"Because of my recklessness, you nearly had a mental breakdown. I regretted it so much, you know? Those three years were a transition for your mental stability. I promised Max Mo I wouldn't look for you during that time—I swore you wouldn't see me. That was our agreement, and my promise to you. If Max Mo couldn't marry you in three years, he had to agree to one condition of mine. I paid a heavy price to break your engagement."
"Three years felt like forever to me. Every day I could only look at your photos and feel your joy, anger, sadness, and happiness." Charles Yin's voice was hoarse, his eyes even glistening with tears. "It was so hard to hold back, but I did it. For the sake of our future decades together, what's three years? I know you belong to me. No matter where you are, we'll be together, right?"
"Cici, do you believe in past lives? I never used to, thought it was ridiculous! But now, I want to believe it's real. Because I want... to have you, forever and ever!" Charles Yin cupped Cici's cheeks in his hands and gently kissed her forehead. "Three years ago, in the ancestral hall at Yuanshan Village, the moment I saw Zara Yun's portrait, my heart hurt for no reason. I didn't understand why, until... I had a dream that day—a dream of my past, a dream of you!"
"I've already contacted Madam Yun. Your grandmother really is an amazing astrologer! Some things I didn't want to believe, but I have to now." Charles Yin sighed softly. "I lost you in a past life—this time, I won't let go!"
This chapter isn't over yet ^.^—click next page to keep reading!
"There are a lot of things I can't explain, can't say. Because it's a promise." Charles Yin held Cici's hand to his chest, letting her feel his heartbeat. "But you're here, always here. No one can replace you."
"Whoever you want to protect, I'll protect them for you. Whatever you want to do, I'll do it for you. If you want to protect Miles Gu, then he's my son too. If you want to restore the Yun Family, then I'll help you soar to the skies!" Charles Yin closed his eyes, his face full of resolve. "I just want you by my side, don't leave me. A lifetime is long—we'll face many challenges together. But it's also short, just a few decades. I don't want to walk to the end alone. With you here, nothing else matters. But without you, everything loses its meaning."
"Promise me, remember soon. You're still Cici, still my wife." As Charles Yin finished, his heart raced.
He'd been holding these words in for three whole years.
Three entire years!
He finally said it all!
Cici, please remember soon, please come back soon!
Cici slept for a long, long time—and slept soundly.
When she finally opened her eyes, she saw a sky full of sparkling stars.
Cici was stunned, then snapped back to reality.
Wasn't she supposed to be in the car? Wasn't she... on the way to Hokkaido with Charles Yin?
Where was this place?
Cici sat up straight, realizing she was lying on a big white bed.
The whole room was black and white—over fifty square meters, simply furnished but very stylish.
A floor-to-ceiling glass window gave her a clear view of the gorgeous outside world.
Stars everywhere, waves crashing—the view was breathtaking.
Cici couldn't help but get out of bed and walk over to the window, staring in amazement at everything before her.
This was... just too beautiful!
Just then, someone knocked on the door. A young woman outside asked in Japanese, "Madam, are you awake?"
"Yes, come in," Cici replied in Japanese.
The door opened and a young woman dressed as a maid walked in. She greeted Cici respectfully: "Madam, sir instructed that when you wake, you should come to the dining room. Dinner is ready."
Cici's eyes flickered, and she couldn't help but ask, "Where is this place?"
"This is already Hokkaido," the maid replied respectfully.
Hokkaido? So this is Hokkaido!
She must be by the seaside now, right? No wonder people from all over the world want to come here—it's truly beautiful!
"Got it. I'll change and head over." Cici nodded.
The maid backed away respectfully before turning to leave.
Cici turned and opened the wardrobe—it was already filled with clothes.
The wardrobe was divided into two sections: one for men's clothes, one for women's.
Cici blushed. Did this mean she'd be living with Charles Yin in Hokkaido for the next few days?
Even though she was ready to regain her memories, she wasn't quite ready to sleep with him yet... Although, she really couldn't resist his good looks...
If it's him... maybe it's okay?
The thought popped into her head out of nowhere, making her ears burn red.
Cici didn't dare linger in the room. She grabbed an outfit at random, changed quickly, and headed out.
As soon as she stepped out, a maid was waiting to guide her.
Cici followed the maid, walking slowly. The soft carpet underfoot, the luxurious architecture, and the exquisite furniture all made it feel like a dream.
She'd woken up and found herself in Hokkaido.
It just didn't feel real!
The villa wasn't Japanese-style—everything here was Western.
That's why Cici felt like she'd traveled through time.
The dining room was so far from the bedroom that Cici walked for ten whole minutes before she got there.
As soon as she entered, Cici saw Charles Yin walking over in a bathrobe, towel in hand, drying his hair.
Huh? What was he up to?