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CHAPTER 238

"What?"

Ye Cheng's first calm and serious face suddenly contorted into a frown as his eyes widened in shear surprise. "Li Jing, what do you mean by that?"

She took in a deep breath while closing her eyes as her chest rose and fell, matching her uneven breathing.

"Li Jing, speak to me. What is going on?" N ot waiting for her reply, Ye Cheng stood up as well and went to where she stood. "Come on." His eyes darted to and fro in hers, searching for the real truth behind her words and hoping it was all a joke.

'Please no, not you too, Li Jing. Tell me it is a joke. It is a prank. Anything. I would believe it.' Ye Cheng thought to himself.

"I am sorry, Ye Cheng but this is beyond me."

"What do you mean it is beyond you?" Ye Cheng half yelled. "Li Jing…" No longer was his eyes filled with warmth and calm. All that remained was a look of danger as they reddened.

She could see the pain flash before hius eyes but as quickly as they came he masked it, weari8ng his domineering cold look. "Why?" Ye Cheng asked more calmly now.

"Because… You should have seen it coming Ye Cheng and you know it from your heart. You know that this was what it entailed by accepting him. I am the only heir and hope he has to take over the company. I must leave."

"But you said you wouldn't leave me too. You said you would stay and be by my side."

"I know and that is why I am very sorry that I would have to break that promise. Ye Cheng, you know it is what is right. You know he needs me and I also need to figure out where I am from, where I belong and find out the one question that has bothered my life my entire life."

His eyes gave him away but his facial expression remained unchanging. Li Jing took note of this and started to explain further.

"Of who I am and who my parents are?"

"I thought you are already one step closer. You have met your grandfather and you know your mother."

"Yes but that does not define my origin well enough. Grandfather has still not yet told me who she is very much and I do not know my father. He may not know as well but something tells me that there is more to it than meets the eye and I cannot find out much about them or if they are still alive being here."

"LI Jing."

She raised her hand to stop him from speaking and closed her eyes, a silent way of telling him not to speak, just listen.

"I cannot do that by being here, Ye Cheng. I need to find my place of origin and go back to where it all began and trace things. I have found a new mission in my life and that is finding out what happened to my parents. I just hope you would understand me."

"I do understand you Li Jing. You can go and come back. We would search your parents together."

A small smile broke out on her face. "Ye Cheng, thank you but this is something I must do on my own. It doesn't affect you and I did not want to drag you into my problem."

"I am already involved in it, Li Jing. I am too involved."

"No you are not, Ye Cheng. No one is. I must do this and for me to, I need to carry on my mother's legacy and take that company forward. This is business, dear."

"To you yes, to me it is more than that. I do not want to lose a trusted friend, Li Jing. I only have few left. Just you, Wang Lei and Long Lei are the ones I am close to."

"You are not losing me, Ye Cheng. I am not going too far."

"You'll still be gone, Li Jing."

"Not as you think. I promise to keep in touch with you. We would still get to see when we can. In fact, take it as though I am going for studies. It is just for some time."

"Really?" Ye Cheng's eyes brimmed with sheer delight that she was going to come back only for Li Jing to burst the bubble again and be a killjoy.

"No. I mean maybe, yes. I just do not know what the future holds but this is promise you, I would always be there for you when you need me."

"I need you now, Li Jing. I need you by my side."

'You have Yi Wang Lei and Long Lei. You can stand on your own just like you did before you met me."

"Li Jing." He took two steps forward, breaching the gap between them and held both of her hands in his. "Li Jing," he called her name softly this time. His eyes held his pain. He refused to hide it from her like he usually did.

He hoped that if she saw his sincerity in wanting her to stay, she would. Little did he know that Li Jing wasn't moved too much by it. Her mind was made up already.

"Please."

"I am not leaving immediately, although I would need to leave on the 6th so that I can prepare and attend my introductory party. Grandfather wants to announce me to his business partners and welcome me back to the family but I promise that right after which, I would return here and leave at February."

Her words felt like a stab at his heart and he shut his eyes from it. He felt all the pains again. He had lost them all and now she was going?

'Not again! No not another one, please.' Ye Cheng mentally pleaded in his mind for her not to leave.

He knew once she was gone it would e die hard difficult to see her. That was something he did not want.