Billionaire's Long Journey of Chasing His Love
Chapter 216 - 206: Do You Ever Feel Embarrassed? (First Update)

Chapter 216: Chapter 206: Do You Ever Feel Embarrassed? (First Update)

Tong Airui’s movements were a bit abrupt, and he accidentally bumped into Yi Luowa’s injured leg.

Yi Luowa let out a soft groan of pain.

The sound was like a thunderous jolt, instantly snapping Tong Airui awake. He carefully climbed up, "Did I hurt your wound?"

"It’s fine, just a little pain." Yi Luowa endured the pain and held his hand, saying, "Lie down and talk with me."

This time, Tong Airui didn’t listen to her and lifted the blanket to check.

"Fourth brother, don’t worry, I’m fine." Yi Luowa feared he wouldn’t believe her and even moved her injured leg a bit. "See, I can move by myself."

Tong Airui hesitated for a moment and lay back down.

Yi Luowa smiled and snuggled closer into his arms, "Fourth brother, you came back so quickly, what about Haotian’s side?"

"I left everything to Yuan Hang. He should be able to handle it on his own now," Tong Airui chuckled. "I heard Dad got you a personal bodyguard at the base?"

"You already know?" Yi Luowa chuckled, pursing her lips. "I didn’t keep your men. You’re not mad, are you?"

"Why would I be mad?" Tong Airui pinched her little nose playfully, smiling. "The people from the base are trained since childhood—clean and loyal. Once they’re assigned to you, it’s for life. But I felt embarrassed asking Dad, so instead, I transferred two experts from Shen Ying for you."

"You feel embarrassed? That’s rare," Yi Luowa teased him.

"The base belongs to Dad. It’s awkward to ask my old man for people when I already have subordinates of my own." Tong Airui gently patted her shoulder. "Let me take off my clothes; lying here like this is uncomfortable."

Yi Luowa looked at him, "Fourth brother, this is the eldest brother’s house. Isn’t it inappropriate for us to share a room?"

"What’s inappropriate? We’re not doing anything."

Yi Luowa pouted, "Even so, it’s not proper. Just lie here for a while, then find another room to rest."

"Not going." Tong Airui removed his clothes and lay down beside her.

Yi Luowa rolled her eyes at him.

Tong Airui pulled her into his arms with a grin.

Yi Luowa pushed him away and scooted back a bit.

Tong Airui immediately inched closer. "Why are you staying so far away from me?"

"I want to look at you."

Tong Airui lowered his gaze to her. "If you’re closer, you can see more clearly."

Yi Luowa lightly swatted his hand. "Fourth brother, stop messing around. You probably haven’t rested well these past few days. Let’s sleep early!"

"If you’re tired, you sleep first. I want to look at you a little longer."

Yi Luowa chuckled and nudged his chin with her head. "I was thinking of watching you after you fell asleep. Fourth brother, you’ve lost weight in just these few days."

Tong Airui’s eyes were full of warmth as he gazed at her. "I’ve been missing you; that’s why I’ve lost weight! Let’s just stare at each other. Whoever gets sleepy first, sleeps first."

Tong Airui said it casually, but the truth was, missing his girlfriend was indeed part of it. However, the real reason he’d lost weight was that during these past few days, he’d been working nonstop, day and night, with barely a few hours of sleep in total. It’d be strange if he didn’t lose weight.

Yi Luowa tilted her head up to look at him. The more she looked, the more she couldn’t get enough. Tong Airui laughed and rubbed her hair, "Silly girl, doesn’t your neck hurt from staring like that? Lie a bit higher, so you can look straight ahead without straining."

"If I lie any higher, I’ll crush your arm. Then your arm will go numb."

"It’s fine." Seeing how considerate his girlfriend was, Tong Airui smiled and tugged her up a bit.

"Fourth brother, do you know Lan Ji?" Yi Luowa blinked her fluffy eyes as she asked.

"Lan Ji? Who’s that?" For a moment, Tong Airui didn’t make the connection.

"She’s the girl aunt wants to introduce to third brother."

Tong Airui thought for a moment. "Oh, I remember now. She’s the daughter of the Lan family’s earl. I don’t recall her face. Why?"

"Aunt invited her over as a guest here. After third brother came back, the two went for a walk. At dinner, Lan Ji came back alone, and there was no sight of the third brother. Aunt asked, ’Where’s Shuoshuo?’ Guess what Lan Ji said?"

"No idea," Tong Airui chuckled, shaking his head.

"Lan Ji said, ’How would I know where your son went?’ Dad was so angry after that, he didn’t even eat dinner."

Tong Airui frowned slightly. "What did Aunt say?"

"Aunt said Lan Ji has always been like this—frank and straightforward, says whatever comes to mind, doesn’t beat around the bush, but she’s not a bad person."

"If Aunt says that, it means she still likes Lan Ji quite a bit."

"Mm, I think so too."

"Let third brother handle his own matters." Tong Airui rhythmically patted her back. "Tell me, what’ve you been up to these past few days while I wasn’t here?"

"Other than missing you, nothing much. I wanted to revisit some old places, but then I got kidnapped by bad guys."

"I’m sorry for what you went through." Tong Airui kissed her forehead tenderly, his heart aching.

Yi Luowa playfully pinched his jaw, "Why are you apologizing to me? I’m your girlfriend. Sharing happiness and hardships with you—I’m prepared for that."

Tong Airui asked guiltily, "When they captured you, were you scared? Maybe I should take you to a therapist to make sure there’s no lingering trauma."

"Don’t exaggerate. I didn’t even have time to be scared. When they grabbed me, all I could think was that both Old Eight and I couldn’t get into trouble. Later, I figured out that they were after me, so I told them, ’Let my driver go, and I’ll go with you. Otherwise, all you’ll get is my corpse. If I die, you won’t even make it out of the Bastu Tribe alive.’

The big shot among them scoffed and said, ’We were going to take your corpse anyway!’ So I told him he was stupid. Why not use me as a hostage, wait till after leaving Xiawu safely, then kill me? Unexpectedly, the fool agreed.

Once in the car, I thought, my family will definitely come save me. But I couldn’t just sit and wait; I needed to find a way to escape. In the end, I did manage to escape, though if it weren’t for Dapeng showing up, I probably wouldn’t have run fast enough and would’ve been caught again.

Oh, right, fourth brother, it was me who told Dapeng not to inform you about my injury. I didn’t want you to worry. Please don’t punish him. And as for Old Eight, don’t give him the cold shoulder either. Aunt and uncle already gave him a beating, but to be honest, it wasn’t really his fault. Everything happened so suddenly."

"Good! Why not just break his legs while they were at it?" Tong Airui said, feeling somewhat vindicated.

"You promised, no punishing anyone!" Yi Luowa grabbed his hand and shook it persistently.

"Fine, I’ll listen to you." Tong Airui relented with a resigned sigh.

"Oh, I also have something funny to tell you..."

"Luowa, can Mom come in?" Tong Yao’s voice came from outside the door.

Tong Airui smiled and replied, "Mom, please rest early. I’ll come greet you and Dad tomorrow morning."

Tong Yao was momentarily stunned. Her son’s back! When did he get back, and how did she not hear a word about it?

"Go see Mom; otherwise, she’ll be upset," Yi Luowa nudged him.

Tong Airui whispered, "It’s fine. Mom won’t be upset."

"Alright then. Rest early, you two. No need to wake up too early tomorrow," Tong Yao smiled as she headed back to her room.

Long Che turned his head, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "What’d you see to make you so happy?"

"Hmph," Tong Yao snorted, pulling the blanket over herself to climb into bed. "Didn’t you go to sleep already?"

"As soon as you got out of bed, I woke up. Got shut out from the room next door, did you?" Long Che asked, clearly amused.

"Who said that! I chose not to go in. My son’s back!" Tong Yao’s face lit up with joy at the mere mention of her son.

"Your son comes back, and you’re this happy?" Long Che huffed.

Tong Yao gave him a push, "Do you think Rui’er sneaked back on his own?"

"He asked for permission from both me and Muta."

Tong Yao glared at him, "You knew and didn’t tell me?"

"Your son told me not to. Why would I invite trouble for myself!"

Annoyed, Tong Yao smacked him before breaking into a smile again. "Long Che, do you think those two are officially together yet?"

"You’ll have to ask your son about that."

"Doesn’t seem like it," Tong Yao sighed softly. "Maybe you should find a time to give Rui’er a lesson or two."

Long Che snickered, "That’s something you just figure out on your own. No need for lessons."

In the room next door, the young couple chatted until two in the morning before Yi Luowa finally fell asleep. Once she was sound asleep, Tong Airui carefully withdrew his arm and sat up.

He couldn’t rest easy without checking her wound. But as he unwrapped the bandage layer by layer, taking in the sight of the injury, it felt as if an invisible hand grasped his heart, making it ache and catch his breath.