She dared not take a single step forward, afraid this was a dream born of her longing day and night, and that the moment she drew near, the man before her would dissolve like bubbles.
The man stood in the doorway, his figure taller and steadier than when he had left years ago. The youthful immaturity had faded from his features, yet he still looked just as she had engraved him in her heart.
He strode toward her, his voice carrying its distinctive warmth and depth. "It's me. I'm back, and I'm never leaving again."
As Gu Yan watched him draw closer, her scalding tears finally spilled. She covered her mouth, but still could not suppress the sobs in her throat.
Lin Heng reached out and gently gathered her into his arms. Feeling her shoulders trembling against him, he lowered his head and softly kissed the crown of her head.
"I'm sorry, Yan'er. Sorry for making you wait so long. You've suffered."
Gu Yan buried herself in his embrace, clutching his shirt tightly. Only after crying for a long time did she raise her head and study him through tear-blurred eyes.
"Where on earth have you been all these years? There wasn't a single word from you. I thought... I thought you really weren't coming back."
"It's a long story." Lin Heng raised his hand to wipe the tears from her face, his fingertips gently stroking her cold cheek.
"I arranged what happened to the Yan Family. No one will dare trouble the Gu Family again. From now on, I'll handle everything."
At his words, the last of Gu Yan's doubts instantly vanished. She had known it could not possibly have been that beast of a younger brother of hers.
So all of this had been the work of her