"My dear wife Lingyu, consider this letter as though we were face-to-face."
"For certain reasons, I cannot remain by your side, as my presence would only bring you danger."
"Once I have dealt with these matters, I shall return to spend the rest of our lives together."
Early the next morning, Xie Lingyu awoke to find Zhao Xuan gone, leaving only the handwritten letter. She felt an aching void in her heart, and two lines of clear tears rolled slowly down her cheeks.
The little one in the crib seemed to sense his mother’s distress, stretching out his tiny arms, waving them about while cooing, "Ya, ya, ya."
Chapter 317