Chapter 154 Parting
In the departure hall of Seaside City Airport, Leopold had arrived two hours early.
Caroline came out of the restroom and stopped by a beverage shop to buy a cup of coffee before coming back.
Leopold took the coffee and said, "Eat the vegetables in the fridge as soon as possible."
"Okay."
"There's also a bag of pizza I made in the freezer, don't leave it too long."
"I won't, I'll finish it before you come back."
Leopold held the coffee with both hands, "Oh, right, the ribs I bought yesterday, cook them tonight."
"Okay."
"You don't need to clean the room, the cleaning lady comes every other day."
"Okay."
"Visit Mom and Dad more often."
"Got it."
"It's rainy season in July. Last time it rained, you brought the umbrella from the car back home. I have an umbrella in my closet, keep it in the car just in case."
"Okay."
"You don't need to rush the renovation progress on the new house. I've talked to Maddox about it. He knows more about this than we do and is familiar with the construction companies. He'll help keep an eye on the progress. Just focus on work."
"Okay."
Leopold frowned, as if there were still many things he hadn't finished saying. Just as he was about to speak, Caroline said with a smile:
"If you don't drink it soon, the coffee will get cold."
Only then did Leopold look down and remember the coffee in his hands. He curved his lips slightly, "Think I'm being too naggy?"
"No," Caroline propped her chin on the armrest, quietly looking at Leopold. "In the past, I definitely wouldn't have understood why the current me would choose you."
Leopold raised his eyebrows, puzzled.
Caroline said, "Do you know what my criteria for choosing a partner used to be?"
Leopold shook his head.
"The first requirement was someone working in the government system."
Leopold took a sip of coffee with lingering fear and said awkwardly, "The first criterion already eliminated me."
At that moment, a plane took off outside the huge floor-to-ceiling window. She watched the plane leap into the clouds.
"But now you are my criteria for choosing a partner." She held out her hand, counting his good points. "You're thoughtful, considerate, you spoil me, understand me, and get me. You're funny, good-looking, have a great body, and have some money. So what you call being naggy, I see as being thoughtful, considerate, and spoiling me. How could I find it naggy?"
Leopold clicked his tongue and raised his eyebrows, "You're praising me so early in the morning, it's a bit sudden."
Caroline took the coffee from his hand, stared into his eyes, and slowly drank, her gaze seductive, her throat swallowing slowly. Most people understand this kind of sexual hint.
Leopold smiled mischievously and tapped her forehead lightly, "Stop it."
Caroline gave him back the coffee, her rosy tongue tip licking the corner of her mouth in a small motion, smiling even more slyly than him.
"Not anxious anymore, right?"
After she said this, Leopold suddenly realized that his detailed instructions earlier were indeed because he felt anxious about leaving.
Some people entered marriage like rain after a long drought, while others signed a long-term, unpaid employment contract. The former were loved, the latter unloved.
Leopold and Caroline were the former. They loved each other and were both immersed in this relationship.
He glanced at his watch. Caroline asked, "What time did you tell them?"
Leopold said, "I told them to come at nine-thirty."
The LED screen showed eight forty-five.
Caroline felt a bit down, "We still have forty-five minutes before we part."
Leopold corrected her, "It means you can still keep me company for forty-five more minutes."
From the moment she knew he was going on a business trip, Caroline hadn't shown any opposition. She even considerately avoided him when he took his ex-girlfriend's call, so as not to burden him.
This overseas trip wasn't short, and she had maintained stable emotions throughout. Leopold really thought she wouldn't be sad.
Now it seemed she was just putting on a brave front.
Leopold held her hand, "I'll come back as soon as I can."
Caroline felt reluctant inside but had to act like nothing was wrong on the surface, "You've already said that. I'm fine, you don't need to comfort me."
Her response was straightforward and carefree, but Leopold couldn't convince himself to take it at face value.
Because she was Caroline. She was rational and clear-headed, knew what to do at what time. His difficulties, his struggles, the career he was about to build—she supported it all with everything she had.
They said women who acted cute have good lives, but clear-headed women also need to be cherished.
Compared to those delicate women, he preferred resilient women. Just like their relationship—you were strong, I was not weak either. Meeting at the peak.
After replying to a few work messages, he saw Caroline standing in front of a bookshelf, selecting a book, and coming back.
"Bought a book?"
Caroline pulled it out of her bag. It was a classic novel.
"What made you want to read?" He asked.
Caroline said, "Thought the summary was good. Something to pass the time when you're not home."
Leopold looked behind her, "They're here."
Caroline turned around and looked in the direction of his gaze. She saw Allegra walking toward them with her team.
When they got close, they greeted each other.
Allegra took out her documents from her bag and had her assistant go exchange them for boarding passes, asking Leopold, "Where are your documents? Let my assistant take them together."
Leopold said, "I've already exchanged mine."
Allegra's gaze moved between the two of them, "Need some more time to say goodbye?"
"No need," Caroline tucked the book into her bag and said to Leopold, "Go on in."
Leopold hugged Caroline, kissing the top of her head again and again, "I'm leaving. Be careful on your own, don't make me worry."
Caroline smiled, "I'll take care of myself."
Leopold reluctantly let go, releasing her, "I'm going."
Caroline waved, "Go on in."
She watched several people walk toward the security checkpoint until their figures disappeared from view, then turned and walked out of the terminal.
Outside the airport entrance, traffic flowed constantly, and people came and went. Every day, this place staged farewells and reunions, over and over again.
A roar came from overhead. Caroline looked back at another plane flying into the sky. Her heart ached, but she couldn't stand at the airport entrance and cry. She quickened her pace to the parking lot, and the moment she sat in the car, the corners of her eyes itched, as if something was trying to come out. She quickly grabbed a few tissues and pressed them to her eyes.
After a while, the tissue was wet in one spot. She started the car with red-rimmed eyes.
Turns out, her emotions weren't that stable after all.
At that moment, Leopold was sitting in his seat, and coincidentally, Allegra was next to him.
The two made eye contact. Leopold asked, "Should I switch seats with your assistant?"
Allegra said, "My assistant's seat is in economy class, and it's an aisle seat. She actually prefers sitting by the window."
Leopold fell silent. He didn't want to sit on the outside either.
The plane took off. Allegra called the flight attendant to bring a blanket. She took out an eye mask and put it on, saying to the person next to her:
"Leopold," Allegra realized something was wrong and quickly corrected herself, "Mr. Wipere, if someone comes to serve meals later, could you take mine for me? I've been a bit tired these past few days and want to sleep more. Thank you."
Leopold said, "Sure."