Jiang Yuning scrambled for an explanation when he saw that she was quiet. “It’s not that I don’t care about you. It’s just that I have a duty and responsibility as a scientist. If I hand my work over, I’ll be doing more harm to a lot of people. So don’t be hurt. If you’re not around, I’ll join you over on the other side. I’ll never leave you alone.”
“Don’t say such things.” Nian Xi reached out to hold him. “I’m a police officer, after all. I understand the importance of the greater good, and I know that you’re doing the right thing. I just want to shoulder this together with you. Besides, will you be alright with leaving me? Won’t you be worried?”
“Your brother and father will protect you,” Jiang Yuning replied confidently. “Once I leave, Xu Gang will be arresting the people around here, and you’ll be safe after that. If you leave with me, you’ll be in more danger. You have to spare a thought for your family.”
Nian Xi understood that he was not going to bring her with him no matter what. “When are you coming back then? A few months? Half a year? …A year?”
Jiang Yuning bit his lips and stared at her for a while. He paused for a moment, before saying, “The longest I’ll have to stay there will be three years. I may be able to call you or text you.”
Nian Xi fell completely silent. She rubbed her hair in confusion and pushed his hands away.
She was about to go crazy. Her ex-boyfriend had left to serve for eight years, and now her current boyfriend was going to leave for three years again. He could not even text or call her; she was independent to that extent.
“Xixi, Xu Gang has asked me to break up with you, but I can’t bear to do that.” Jiang Yuning walked up to hug her, as he did not want to be further apart from her than he had to. “Your brother told me that we have to be honest with each other in a relationship. No matter what happens in the end, I have to respect and honor you. I don’t want to break up with you, but I’m terrified of losing you. I know I’m putting you in a difficult position, but this is the only solution I can think of right now.”
“The only solution…?” Nian Xi forcefully pushed him away, about to erupt in anger. “Jiang Yuning, I’m a human being and a woman! I’m giving you a choice. Either you bring me along and face our obstacles together, or we’re breaking up…”
Jiang Yuning could not answer her. How could he bring her along?
He was not even sure if he was going to come back alive.
However, if they broke up now, she might be married to someone else by the time he could return.
He was utterly despondent. What was the right thing to do?
Nian Xi was furious when she saw that he had gone quiet. She was on the verge of tears.
Three years — a long time indeed. Would he still love her the same way once he came back? Would things have changed by then?
She had been hurt once before, and she did not dare to go through that again.
However, she could not bear to give it up right now either. They had just gotten engaged, and they were deeply in love at this moment.
The living room was dead silent for a long time before Jiang Yuning abruptly stood up and walked to the door.
Thinking that he was about to leave her, Nian Xi grabbed an apple on the table and hurled it at him angrily with reddened, tear-stained eyes. “Jiang Yuning, I forbid you from leaving if you don’t make things clear right now!”
The apple hit his back, causing him to wince in pain. He turned to look at her pitifully. “I wasn’t going to leave, I was going to go get your brother to discuss things with him.”
“What do you mean? Are you going to ask my brother to push me? Of course, he’s not going to let me accompany you…” Nian Xi hated the fact that she was not able to walk now. Otherwise, she would drag him to the bed and teach him a lesson.
“Who said that I won’t let you go?” All of a sudden, Nian Junting walked in with Little Apple in his arms. “Nian Xi, I heard you screaming and shouting at the door. How can you treat Jiang Yuning so badly?”
Meanwhile, Luosang nearly tripped on the shoe cabinet while following behind him.