Chapter 2123: Prepare to Leave
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Cousin Wan Wan, with this information, we can go ahead and deal with Chen Huang. However, you have to talk to your child first. After all ?she’s also a victim of these circumstances. You need to find out what she wants. She’s an adult now and can brave the storms with you,” Qiao Mei said.
“Thank you, Mei Mei. Thank you so much,” Xia Wan said, feeling touched.
After Xia Wan and Qiao Mei discussed the plans for the future, Xia Wan went back with the intention to start the divorce proceedings. Qiao Mei looked at Xia Zhe, who was playing with the children in the courtyard, and fell into deep thought. She did not know when he needed to return to Country M to continue with his work there. There were still many things waiting for him to settle over there.
“Why do you look so troubled? What happened?” Xia Zhe came to Qiao Mei’s side and asked tenderly.
“Have you bought your plane ticket? When are you going back?” Qiao Mei asked.
“Next Saturday. I originally planned to put in my application to return home and work here, but the higher-ups want me to stay there for a while longer and nurture a few more talents for the country. I’m sorry that I can’t accompany you for a longer period of time,” Xia Zhe said, looking troubled.
Qiao Mei did not have much of a reaction when she heard about Xia Zhe’s impending departure. After all, ever since she married Xia Zhe, there was only a very limited amount of time that he could spend with her and she was already used to it.
However, the children were not used to it. During this period of time, they had become very attached to Xia Zhe. Xia Xing hugged Xia Zhe’s leg aggrievedly and cried as she said, “Papa! Don’t go! I don’t want you to go! Papa, don’t leave me!”
“Papa, don’t you want us anymore!”
“Don’t go! I don’t want you to go! Papa! Can you not go!” 𝖋𝔯𝔢𝔢𝔴𝖊𝔟𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖑.𝔠𝔬𝔪
Hearing Xia Xing’s cries, Xia Fan and Xia Yue also started crying. The entire courtyard was filled with the children’s wailing, scaring Xu Lan and Feng Hua so much that they hurriedly ran over to take a look.
Xu Lan said reproachfully, “What nonsense did you say again! Why did you make the children cry!”
“I ?I was just talking to Mei Mei about when I’m going back to work and Xia Xing happened to hear me,” Xia Zhe said sadly.
The truth was that he could not bear to leave the children and Qiao Mei, but he had his responsibilities and missions to take care of. There were certain things that only he could do and he had no choice but to leave his family behind.
“Sigh ” When Xu Lan heard this, she sighed. She had experienced the same thing before. Back in the past, whenever Xia Mao went on a mission, he would be gone for more than half a year. Her three children would also cry non-stop and could not be coaxed at all, especially Xia He. When she heard that Xia Mao was leaving, she cried until she developed a fever.
During those years, she and the children had gone through tough times too. This was the typical life for the families of soldiers. Xia Wan and the other kids of their generation had also cried because of this when they were young. After experiencing it for a few times, they would get used to it and eventually stop crying.
“All of you, come here.” Qiao Mei waved at the children.
Xia Fan pulled Xia Xing and Xia Yue and went over to Qiao Mei obediently. The three children were still sobbing and their faces were covered in snot and tears.
Qiao Mei took a handkerchief and wiped the children’s faces as she said gently, “Have you forgotten what Mama said? Papa is a big hero and his work is to punish all the bad guys. There are so many bad guys in the world. If Papa doesn’t go and catch them, many children will get hurt. Do you want these children to be separated from their parents?”
Xia Fan quickly shook his head and said, “No! I don’t want other children to be abducted like what happened to me.”
Xia Zhe and Xu Lan looked at Xia Fan in surprise. It had been so many years since Xia Fan was abducted. At that time, Xia Fan was only a little more than eight months old, so how could he remember anything? Qiao Mei had never told Xia Fan and the other children anything about these things which happened when they were babies. Could it be that someone else had told the children about what happened then?
Qiao Mei was not surprised at all. She even suspected that these three children possessed even earlier memories.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s not as if Papa won’t come back. He’s just going out to work and will come back to visit us after a while,” Qiao Mei said.
“Then ?then how long will it take?” Xia Yue asked aggrievedly.
Qiao Mei gave Xia Zhe a look. It was up to Xia Zhe to think about how to coax the children. Xia Zhe picked Xia Yue up and said, “Papa doesn’t know how long it will take, but we can make a pact. Every day that Papa is away, I’ll save a piece of candy for you. When I come back, I’ll give you all the candy, alright?”