Chapter 3586

Sun Jie's words lifted her spirits entirely.

If everything is predestined, then heaven arranging for Lin Wanan to linger at seventeen or eighteen for so long must have its reason—it feels like she's been waiting in place for the right person to appear.

And over these past few centuries, Lin Wanan has not taken the next step in life despite her age, showing even she unconsciously awaits that person's arrival.

Thus, she excitedly said: "Madam, your words have suddenly filled my heart with great anticipation……Lin Senior, truly a peerless marvel in this world; if the Young Master could one day walk hand in hand with her, it would be the divine couple depicted in wuxia novels—oh no, not even wuxia novels have ever portrayed a pair as miraculous as them, a perfect match made in heaven!"

An Chengxi raised his head to gaze at the dazzling eastern dawn, speaking wistfully: "What she waits for is a companion to grow old with her, or one to share eternal life with her. If Chen'er's cultivation cannot achieve a greater breakthrough, then he is the one to grow old with Lin Wanan; if Chen'er's cultivation achieves a major breakthrough, even finding the method to refine the Eternal Verdant Pill and the Hundred Reversals Thousand Returns Pill, then Lin Wanan could accompany Chen'er for six hundred years—no matter how you look, he and Lin Wanan are a perfect match made in heaven."

Sun Jie cautiously asked: "Madam didn't used to favor Miss Ito, but now she has attained the Dao—perhaps she too has a chance to share eternal life with the Young Master."

An Chengxi smiled: "Speaking from the heart, I also like Cai Cai Zi, and Nannan—both are dear to my heart."

Sun Jie couldn't help but laugh awkwardly, then after a moment said: "These girls are truly one in a million; in my view, they're all top-notch excellence—truly hard to choose."

An Chengxi self-mockingly smiled: "If I keep going on, I'll become a feudal-era wicked mother-in-law—never mind, Chen'er's life should be decided by Chen'er himself."

As she spoke, she involuntarily let out a soft sigh, whispering: "It's just that Lin Wanan's life over these many years has surely been extremely hard—unlike other girls who mostly grew up in fine clothes and jade food, so my heart leans more toward her."

Sun Jie couldn't stop nodding repeatedly; she actually understood An Chengxi's feelings deeply, even empathizing.

Lin Wanan's life can be described as vast and tumultuous, or as arduous and outstanding—inspiring yet pitiable.

……

At this moment, Ye Chen on the plane had no idea his mother was busy playing matchmaker for him.

In the cabin, after the royal staff served meals to the few, they all withdrew to the crew rest area on standby. He gazed out at the morning sun, silently vowing: "Churan, no matter where you are now, please wait for me there—after I clear all dangers, I will personally come fetch you back and tell you everything."

Beside him, Lin Wanan was silently reading an ancient text; on the other side, Yun Ru Ge and Song Ru Yu, like Ye Chen, silently gazed out the window.

Their hearts were quite complex—leaving Jin Ling, leaving Huaxia, for them felt like entering an unknown black hole, utterly unable to guess what fate awaited them.

Yet both knew in their hearts: if the worst came to pass, they might never return to Jin Ling.

Today might very well be their farewell to Jin Ling.

After ten hours of flight, the plane arrived at the Nordic capital Asu City, where it was currently ten o'clock in the morning.

By then, Helena had already arrived ahead of time at the royal family's polar holiday villa; she had set out early, bringing not only a large quantity of daily necessities but also the royal cleaning and maintenance crew, hoping to tidy the house to perfection before Ye Chen's arrival, then dismiss all staff to avoid disturbing him.

After Ye Chen and his companions disembarked, they similarly avoided Nordic customs, directly accompanied by royal staff, boarding a vehicle to depart Asu City and head straight for the northern polar region.

March in the Nordic lands had already warmed somewhat; even as the vehicle traveled north, the temperature remained cold but not harsh.

The sky now was much longer than during their previous visit.

Last time, even after noon the sky began to darken; this time, the convoy drove until four in the afternoon, arriving at the Ling En royal holiday villa while the sky remained bright.

Ye Chen began to faintly worry: such weather, even if the aurora could still be seen, would likely make it rare.

Lin Wanan seemed to sense his concern, whispering beside him: "Young Master need not worry—if a major aurora band appears, it can stretch over a thousand kilometers; we only need to catch up to one segment to verify our earlier guess."

Ye Chen nodded slightly, saying: "Having come, we shall make the best of it—let's wait until tonight to see; it should be getting dark soon."

The convoy arrived at the mountain-midway holiday villa before nightfall; royal staff, following Helena's instructions, escorted the four to the villa's main gate, then respectfully said: "Mr. Ye, Her Majesty the Empress has ordered that no one may enter—please proceed inside yourselves."

Seeing it was Helena's arrangement, Ye Chen lightly nodded.

The four stepped out of the vehicle, and the convoy immediately began retreating down the mountain, daring not to delay.

At that moment, Helena received a report from her subordinates and immediately came out of the villa to greet them.

Today, Helena wore a pure white knee-length fur robe over her upper body; her delicate calves were bare, exposed to the cold air.

She wore white fur-integrated short snow boots, trudging through the snow, the thick snow beneath her feet emitting a crisp squeak-squeak, very pleasant to hear.

Thanks to prior reports from her subordinates, upon seeing Ye Chen accompanied by three beauties, she felt no surprise and quickly recognized the most lovely young lady—the same one who had come with Ye Chen last time.

The other two women were naturally also very beautiful, each exuding full Eastern charm, though Helena sensed Yun Ru Ge and Song Ru Yu carried a faint, hard-to-approach aloofness.

Seeing this peerlessly beautiful empress come running toward them, Yun Ru Ge and Song Ru Yu were shocked and couldn't help but exchange a glance.

As women, they could see Helena's joy barely concealed—like a maiden in first love, almost utterly unreserved.

Moreover, they usually paid some attention to international affairs, knowing this empress had been very active and highly praised on the global stage recently; seeing the Nordic empress rush toward Ye Chen like a lovesick maiden, they were so stunned they could not speak.

On her own soil, in her own temporary palace, Helena cared nothing for court etiquette, so she happily approached Ye Chen, still catching her breath, and gazed at him, softly saying: "Mr. Ye, you've labored on your journey—thank you for your hardship."

Song Ru Yu silently sighed: "Well, we came four people, but in the Nordic empress's eyes, it seems only Mr. Ye exists—the rest feel like mere air..."

Helena in her white robe, paired with her graceful figure, golden long hair, azure eyes, and the surrounding snowy white landscape, made Ye Chen glance at her with mild surprise—in this fairy-tale Nordic scene, she blended perfectly with her surroundings, radiant and dazzling, as if stepped out of a fairy tale as a princess.

But he quickly composed himself, smiling: "Helena, you're too polite—we've come to disturb you, and still trouble you to prepare in advance; I should be the one thanking you for your hardship."

Helena sweetly smiled: "Mr. Ye, what's ours and yours between us? As long as I'm here, the Nordic lands are your second homeland—coming here isn't like returning home; this is your home."

Upon hearing this, the three surrounding women froze.

Good heavens, the dignified Nordic empress, so direct and unrestrained? Just met, and already asserting sovereignty?