Zehn Jahre bis für immer

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Chapter One: End or Beginning?

I thought I could arrange this trip quietly, but I was brought here as soon as I left the airport. From then on, everything was arranged for me, leaving me no space at all.

-Song Qing

Song Qing never imagined that he would one day return to Linchuan.

It's the height of summer, and as soon as she stepped out of the airport, she already missed the humidity of Preston.

A sweet, gentle voice came from the airport loudspeaker, sounding somewhat distant and unreal as a puff of hot air rushed over.

Dragging her small suitcase, Song Qing felt a little sluggish. As she bent down to look for her sunglasses in her bag, a bright red sports car screeched to a halt right beside her.

She straightened up, then took a few steps back, and the car door opened with a click. The person who entered wore round sunglasses that covered most of her face, and looked around cautiously. She quickly waved to Song Qing, "Sister, get in the car!"

Song Qing frowned. Seeing that a long line had formed behind Song Ning's car, he decided not to cause any more trouble and quickly got into the car.

The scenery outside the window rushed past, and Song Qing, who was already quite unfamiliar with Linchuan, could no longer find anything familiar at this moment.

"Sister, you haven't come back for so many years without even letting me know. If I hadn't asked Xunan, I wouldn't have known you would be taking this flight." Song Ning's delicate face revealed a charming but somewhat awkward smile beneath her small nose.

"I want to settle down before going back. How's everything at home?"

The sports car had only enough seats for two, making it quite spacious, but Song Qing still felt tense, her whole body seemingly extremely strained, her eyes fixed on the car window directly ahead. Passersby rushed past under the blazing sun, leaving behind faces that looked withered and pale.

"Yes, the same as always. Dad has always wanted you to come back. You know, Dad has never trusted me when it comes to business matters."

Two sharp honks of the horn, and the car smoothly made a wide turn, exiting the airport expressway.

Song Qing glanced at Song Ning, who was incredibly stylish; no one would believe they were sisters. They had never been close since childhood, and their personalities were too different.

"You can't sit still." Song Qing said calmly. Song Ning had always loved to play since she was a child, and was more restless than her.

A string of silvery laughter rang out and didn't stop for a while.

"That's right. Dad has always had a good eye. He assigned us tasks from a young age."

Song Qing smiled, tilted her head back, and gently exhaled.

"You've come back at just the right time. Dad hasn't been feeling well lately, and it's time for you to come back and take over the company's affairs."

"What's wrong with Dad?" Song Qing's face darkened, and she straightened up.

Song Ning pursed her lips, gently lifted one hand from the steering wheel, shrugged, and said, "It's still the same old problem, a lingering effect from my research days. Over the years, as my business has grown bigger and bigger, I naturally haven't been able to get a proper rest."

This is an old ailment; Song Jingmo has been coughing frequently ever since Song Qing became aware of things.

When Song Jingmo was young, he was too competitive and ambitious. While conducting research on dynamics, he inhaled too much unknown powder toxin. He couldn't recover from it, but it shouldn't have had a major impact on his body. Therefore, he didn't take it too seriously at the time. After all, it was unknown when and how those powder toxins would erupt in his body.

But she still wanted to go back to Preston, that small English town, where she had accumulated too many habits and feelings. Her aunt had already handed over the restaurant in town to her, and this trip back was originally just to explain things to her father before she planned to stay there permanently.

Linchuan brought her too much pain, and although it is now far away, it remains a vivid memory.

Her father had high expectations for her from a young age, and her education and growth were all geared towards the needs of the company's future successor. It was at that time that she decided to give up many prestigious universities in the UK and go to Preston, where her aunt lived.

"Sister, let's go home. This is a task Dad gave me."

Song Ning broke the silence, turned her head and smiled at Song Qing, her charm captivating. Her choice to become a star was indeed a perfect fit.

Song Qing lowered her eyelids. "Okay."

What's meant to happen will happen.

"Dad has arranged a grand banquet to welcome you back, and invited many guests. Don't worry, they are all familiar family friends. Sister, let me take you to buy a dress first, since you probably haven't prepared one yet." As soon as she finished speaking, Song Qing found that the car had already stopped at the largest luxury shopping mall in Linchuan.

Song Qing gave a wry smile. She had thought she could make arrangements quietly this time, but unexpectedly, she was brought here as soon as she left the airport. From then on, everything was arranged for her, leaving her no room to herself.

"Shen Xing?" Song Qing looked up and saw a huge sign hanging at the top of the shopping mall, surrounded by dazzling red roses. Under the blazing sun, the flowers were so bright they made it hard to open one's eyes. When did this place change its name?

"Hehe, yes, you just got back and there are still many things you don't know. Come in first, and I'll tell you slowly." Song Ning got out of the car gracefully. She had put on a large round hat and pulled her sunglasses down even lower. Her simple attire made her very low-key.

She shrugged helplessly at Song Qing, then leaned over and took Song Qing's hand, and they walked into the mall together.

This time, the two sisters were reunited after a long separation, and they didn't talk about family matters anymore. Song Ning even focused on helping Song Qing choose her dress for tonight.

Song Qing has never had a knack for choosing clothes, while Song Ning is naturally gifted at it, though she also knows her sister is aloof and stubborn. She chose a silver-white floor-length dress, simple yet exquisitely crafted, perfectly showcasing Song Qing's slender figure. In terms of figure alone, both sisters are excellent clothes hangers.

"Sis, it looks good with your hair long and straight like this. I have some hair clips that match your outfit."

The two had a very fruitful day, and now they were both exhausted and collapsed in the car, the seats reclined, as they rested, panting.

From the outside, their somewhat similar faces give the illusion that the two sisters have a very close relationship! Little do people know that they have never slept in the same bed since they were born.

"Okay, you handle it." Song Qing sat up first.

As the car approached the area of her own villa, a faint sense of tension and unease welled up in Song Qing's heart; she felt a mix of trepidation and anticipation for her new home.

Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. When he decided to study abroad, he was only fifteen years old, and his heart was filled with sadness and distress that were not commensurate with his age. Song Qing thought about it, and it seemed that it was the same time of year, the same season, and just as hot.

The housekeeper, Wang Ma, had been eagerly waiting at the door. Upon seeing her from afar, she beamed and called out, then hurried over. Song Qing was worried that she might fall, given her age, but seeing that kind and familiar face filled her with warmth.

Just as Song Qing was about to open the car door, Song Ning said from behind, "Sister, Xu Nan will be coming tonight too."

Her heart skipped a beat, and the intense pain swept over her again, but only for a few seconds. She took a few breaths of the hot air outside, calmly got out of the car, turned back and smiled faintly, "I understand."

Chapter Two: Ten Years of Misunderstanding

His daughter's temper was still the same as it had been years ago, inherited from him, but it still greatly displeased him. The business empire he had painstakingly built deserved his daughter's attention.