Chapter 285 The ending of an era (six)

“Mom, ask Lu Xuan to take care of Xueyun for me, ” An Xiulan said as she looked at her other brother who was sitting there with a look that said ‘don’t talk to me or I will burst into flames’.

“She is going to Shanghai, “Lu Xuan said through gritted teeth. “I’m going to Beijing. And even if we are going to the same place, I won’t take care of her for you.”

“Why? Are you still bitter?’ An Xiulan asked him with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m not talking to you, ” Lu Xuan snorted as he crossed his arms over his chest. “You threatened to break your relationship with me if I don’t attend my favourite university.”

Early in the morning, An Xiulan barged into his room and threatened him to go to his favourite university or she would break any ties between the two of them. Both of them knew that she would do no such thing but she came with a fruit knife that she pointed at his neck and he got startled seeing her so violent. After that, she went to her mom and uncle and asked them to drop them at their respective universities.

When the four of them were arguing or discussing, she asked the driver to take her to Song Xueyun’s house and she gave the girl a piece of mind along with a farewell hug and gift and went straight to Han Zixin’s house. Her morning was so busy but she felt good after so long.

‘It’s not my fault that home state university is not your favourite university, “An Xiulan stuffed more snacks inside her mouth and grumbled. After chewing and swallowing them, she approached him, “Little Xuan, hug Jiejie before leaving. Who knows when we will see each other again!”

Lu Xuan reluctantly hugged her. She buried her head in his chest and threatened him, “Don’t you dare turn into a delinquent when you are not at home. I will keep an eye on you.”

“Take care of yourself, okay?” Lu Xuan said and she smiled at him with a nod.

An Qinyan and Gu Yanxi shared a smile looking at them. The hug soon turned into a family hug.

The plan to go to university was sudden and so they had not booked a plane ticket. The private jet would first drop An Qinyan and Lu Xuan in Beijing and then Gu Yanxi and An Qinyan would accompany Gu Shangyan abroad and help him register at a foreign university after helping Lu Xuan.

“Dad is not coming with us?” Lu Xuan asked. He didn’t understand what was going on with his father. Lu Zhaolin frequently dropped by to check on An Xiulan but when asked to go with his son, he refused.

“Your dad is busy, ” An Qinyan said. She knew that Lu Zhaolin was angry at her but she couldn’t imagine that he was so angry that he refused to even go with her to Beijing to drop Lu Xuan off and help him register for University. The man was just hateful and she shouldn’t think about him at all. He and his mood swings.

“Mom, Uncle, I will drop Zixin at the airport and then go to meet my friends. They all are leaving soon and I want to meet them before leaving, “An Xiulan told them.

“I wonder how that boy agreed, ” Lu Xuan muttered. He knew that Han Zixin was not even afraid of threats that An Xiulan gave him because that bit was cocky enough to coax her back. He couldn’t understand how An Xiulan convinced Han Zixin to go to university and not repeat the year.

An Xiulan didn’t say anything.

“Bye, guys have a safe trip. “

With one last hug, they left. She stared at their backs until they sat in the car and drove away.

With every step, they were drifting far and further away from her. She just hoped that despite the physical distance, the gap between their hearts would never increase.

_____

“Zixin, are you angry at me?” An Xiulan asked. Throughout the ride to the airport, they didn’t say anything, just held each other’s hands tightly.

He shook his head. He hugged her as his flight number was announced. “I will miss you.”

“I will miss you too, ” She murmured, hugging her back.

“This is for you, ” An Xiulan said and put the watch on his wrist. “I have one of the sets. As long as our heart beats, the watches will work. See, this way we will always be together. You will know every time my heart beats.”

“Only you can do something like this, ” Han Zixin sadly said. It was such a silly way of being close to her but he agreed with her idea.

“You know I have no option.” An Xiulan said.

“I know. I don’t blame you, ” Han Zixin said. “Wait for me, okay?”

“Always.”

“This is not a goodbye, “An Xiulan said as it was time for him to go. “Our story is not on pause. We will quietly go through many phases. Our hearts will be together even though our bodies are thousands of miles away. We have a life ahead of her that we can only live if we leave our nests.”

“Don’t come to see me again, okay?” Han Zixin begged.

“Why?” She asked, sadly.

“Because the day I see you again. I will never be able to walk away from you again, ” Han Zixin said, staring deep into her dark eyes. “Also, no matter what, You are my universe. My Miss Universe.”

An Xiulan wiped her tears and nodded her head. With a final kiss on her forehead, he left. She saw his back getting lost in the swarm of people and just like this he was gone.

Like a hurricane, he came into her life and like a peaceful gust of wind, he left for his journey. She didn’t know what was written in their fates. But she hoped to meet him again only to complete the empty pages of the book that needed to witness their complete story.

Their story had yet to be completed.

That day she returned home and called her father, “Dad, I’m ready.”

Everything was going according to her plan.

Han Zixin wouldn’t have left if she wouldn’t have been leaving too.

“Missy, ” Meimei cried as she hugged her.

“Thank you for keeping it secret.” A Xiulan smiled. “This is the letter for mom And uncle. I suck at good at goodbyes and I would not be able to keep up my strong facade in front of them. Leaving quietly is easy.”

“Please, do not go, ” Meimei cried harder.

“Meimei, I don’t want to be the reason for my clipped wings. You will understand one day. Not now. Maybe, many years from now. You will understand why I took the decision that is killing me, ” An Xiulan whispered.

Her father’s car was waiting outside. This was the time she said goodbye to China and her house.

Three years ago, she came from America to China to start a new life and three years later, she was leaving China for America to start a new phase of the same life.

________

A/N: With tears, smiles and a lot of pride and heartache, I’m announcing that the first volume of the book is ending. I still remember how I started this book– I had a fracture and a depressing state of mind, I wanted to laugh but nothing was making me cry as I couldn’t go out and staying inside in winters was killing me.

I created An Xiulan who was a ball of sunshine and energy to make me laugh and smile. I wrote this book solely for me. I wrote this book on impulse because my foot isn’t working but my fingers and hands were.

Truth be honest, I never expected this book to receive so much response because with three not so popular books, I was depressed and didn’t want to expect anything.

But today, we are 2K top fans, 1.2M+ views, 6.5K collections and going, this is the power of An Xiulan and her family and friends.

You all enjoyed her youth and it’s time that we see her adulthood. Character development await everyone and I hope you guys will read her until the very end.

PS: The big note doesn’t cost coins.