Chapter 266: The last time

Two days later.

The day arrived for Rodey's hearing, and everyone had gathered in the court. Ying Yue was already seated in the court with her mother, Ying Lan.

The cops brought Rodey, his hands locked in cuffs. She immediately got up and rushed up to him.

"Yue!"

Rodey chuckled as he saw her coming. "Yo, babe. You seem to be in a rush."

Ying Yue stared at him as tears burned her irises. After their time in the hospital, she never left his side for the remainder of the time they had. Rodey even shamelessly called Xin Lei and asked her to bring some clothes for Ying Yue since he had completely shredded them into pieces, after which she was hardly away from him.

Her shoulders trembled as she thought of what was going to happen.

Rodey rolled his eyes. "Chill, babe. I am not dying. It's just jail. It waited a long time for me. I want to sort out between us in this 'relationship' before I make you mine."

She burst into a sad chuckle.

Xin Nianzu, adorned in his lawyer robe, walked up to them.

He gently smiled at her. "Don't worry, dear. Everything will be fine."

He looked at Rodey. "It's time."

The judge arrived in the court, and the silence was presumed.

Ying Lan held her arm. "Come, dear."

As everybody took their seats, the session started. The prosecutor said his side while Xin Nianzu put forth his own and presented his case.

After a long back and forth discussion, the judge nodded at Xin Nianzu.

She adjusted her spectacles and said, "I agree with Mr. Xin's argument."

He bowed. "Thank you, Your Honor."

"Yes. Hence, this court has decided to reduce Rodey's punishment. Since he changed for the better and, in the end, fought against his gang and helped for good, this court finds that Rodey deserves a lighter punishment. In the light of his crimes, this court cannot completely forgive your sentence, but this court has decided to give him ten years of imprisonment."

Ying Yue sadly smiled and lowered his head. Tears plopped from her eyes onto her hands. The most dreaded moment she wanted to run away from finally came.

Ten years…Ten years…

She clenched her dress hard and silently gasped. Ying Lab's heart ached to see her daughter like that. She patted her hand. "Don't worry, dear. Time flies by so fast, right? Ten years will pass in the blink of an eye, haha…"

"But Mom...even a day feels like years when somebody so close to you leaves your side."

She pursed her lips.

Rodey's gaze shifted at her, and he shook hard. A tightness enveloped his chest, and he became uneasy about seeing her crying. He silently cursed himself.

What a jerk I am.

The hearing got over, and the officers took him out. Xin Nianzu said, "Please give a few minutes with him."

They nodded.

Xin Nianzu patted Ying Yue's head and smiled. "I will be outside." He looked back at Rodey. "Call me when you are done talking to her."

He raised his brow and shrugged.

Ying Lan wiped her tears and promptly left them alone.

Silence as only the two of them were present.

Ying Yue tried to control herself, but her shoulders violently trembled, and she burst into tears as she hopped in his arms. "Rodey...Rodey... please don't go... please stay with me...I don't want to live without you."

Rodey trembled. Her cries shook his heart. This was the first time that Ying Yue was crying and speaking so desperately. She was always soft-spoken, but now she was wailing like when a baby loudly cries.

She hit his chest with her soft hands that didn't even itch him. "You…don't go please... don't go...ten years is long…"

Rodey wrapped his arms around her and hugged her hard. He said nothing. He felt he could say nothing to soothe her at this moment.

After what seemed like a long time, the only words he could say were, "I am sorry."

She shook even harder and sobbed. He pulled her face and leaned his lips. He gently placed his lips on her own. Compared to all the other kisses they shared, this was the most soft and gentle kiss. It simply expressed his love and his guilt for leaving her alone.

He pulled back and hesitantly wiped her tears. "Hey, stop shedding this river already. I am not good at these things, and you know it. Don't blame me for being insensitive later."

"I won't. Rodey."

"Hm?"

"I will come to meet you every day."

He sneered. "Oh? Don't bore me with your face every single day."

Ying Yue frowned and hit his chest again. 

He narrowed his eyes. "I will not be there, but you have to make sure that you take care of yourself. If I come to know you missed your meals and lost weight again, I will kill you."

She gently nodded. 

"Also, don't dare flirt with other men, or I will kill you."

"I don't know how to flirt."

Rodey sneered. "The way you pestered me all this time counts as flirting. You don't know it yourself, but you are quite a flirt. Keep distance from other men."

She looked up at him. "You keep your distance from the female prisoners too."

Rodey widened his eyes and laughed. "Hmm..fair enough."

He pinched her chin. "Don't let other men approach you either. Gauge their eyes out if they hit on you."

She laughed with tears in her eyes.

"And don't worry about that bitch Aunt and cousin. I have told that lawyer to take care of them with all they did against you and your mother. They will face their own punishment too, so you are free from them now."

Ying Yue was surprised, but then she softly smiled. "En."

"And."

Their gazes met.

Rodey slightly parted his lips and kissed her forehead. "Wait for me."

Ying Yue trembled. Her eyes teared up again, and her voice choked. "Yes...I will wait for you."

*****

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