Spoiled by Eight Uncles (Lily)
Chapter 598 Goodbye, Uncle Cloud

Chapter 598 Goodbye, Uncle Cloud

When it came to a journey, someone was bound to get off at some point and say goodbye.

When it was time for Cloud to go back, everyone sent him off at the airport.

Cloud held Lilly in his arms, a backpack on his back.

That was all he had on him. Two sets of clothes and a bottle of water, as he rushed off to wherever he had to be.

Cloud did not want to let go of Lilly, nagging at her before he left. "Lilly, be good and listen to Grandma! I'm not home all the time, please take care of her for me..." Lilly nodded. "Mmhmm! Don't worry, Uncle Cloud!"

Cloud wanted to tell her to remember to call him, but found that he could not bring himself to do such a simple thing.

The nature of his job made it impossible for him to pick up the phone if his family called. Sometimes, he would even need to cut his family off entirely if his job required it. Other people could call home to talk to their parents if they got homesick.

If he got homesick, all he could do was look at the moon... the one thing that was constant wherever he was.

"Take care." Blake stroked Lilly's head, his heart aching. "You might be all grown up the next time I see you."

It was one of his regrets, not being able to grow up with her.

"Don't forget Uncle Cloud, alright?" Cloud said half-jokingly.

Lilly nodded. "Don't worry, Uncle Cloud. I won't forget you. You can pass on in peace... no, I mean, you can leave in peace!"

Cloud was speechless.why did it feel like changing the phrasing didn't really do much?

He let out a chuckle, stroking Lilly's head adoringly. "You and that brain of yours."

Lilly held onto Cloud's neck, pecking him on the cheek. "I wish Uncle Cloud the best of health, wealth, prosperity, luck, hopes, love, and dreams!" Cloud took out an envelope of money...

Oh, he hadn't brought an envelope. Cloud felt around his pockets, taking out two hundred bucks and handing it to Lilly. "Alright, my darling girl."

Lilly broke out into a dazzling beam.

Everyone else said, " ??

Then it was time to say goodbye, to everyone's reluctance.

Bettany had a bag of food in her hand. "Alright, off you go, or you'll be late... I made these tea-brewed eggs for you, as well as your favorite dumplings, steamed crab roe and shrimp noodles. This box has chicken feet in it, you can snack on them. I've vacuum-sealed everything so you can take it all onto the plane."

"You can't take drinks with you of course, so just get the air hostesses to get you a drink if you're thirsty..."

A lump formed in Cloud's throat, and he whispered, "Mom, take care of yourself."

Bettany nodded, gesturing at him to go. "Go on."

Cloud turned to leave, his reddened eyes full of reluctance.

It was hard to be patriotic and filial at the same time. Cloud had known from the second he had decided to serve his country that he would not be able to see his parents much anymore.

It was good that he had seven brothers, though. His brother was the head of the Crawford Holdings and was thus at home all the time, his second and fifth brother worked in construction and also lived at home. His third and fourth brothers had busy schedules, but were still able to make it home every festive season for a visit.

His sixth brother had a harder time coming home, but could call home whenever he was free. Gilbert was a doctor, and still lived at home despite his busy life.

Thinking of things that way made it easier to leave. Cloud would be filled with regret if his aging parents had no one by their side.

Cloud got through the checkpoint, turning to wave at everyone else.

Yet there was no one in the departure hall anymore.

Everyone was already at the airport entrance. Lilly was riding on Blake's shoulders, chatting away happily.

Cloud was speechless.

He finally teared up.

A long while later, he chuckled and shook his head before turning to leave.

Outside the airport, everyone had gotten into the car. Blake was at the wheel, but he did not drive yet.

Bettany pretended to thoughtlessly cast a glance at a plane taking off not too far away.

She let out a barely-audible sigh. All the yearning and worry she felt was held back, at the bottom of her heart.

Lilly lay by the window, waving towards the plane.

"Let's go!" She sat back down in her seat. "Off to Bondee Beach!"

The original plan had been to drive, but that would take four hours. The plan changed to taking the train.

The family sat in a business class carriage, which looked about the same as a first class cabin on a plane. There were only three seats in a row, and the entire carriage only contained three rows of seats that could be adjusted to a 180 degree angle for lying down.

Every seat was equipped with a screen and reading light, slippers and snacks. It was spacious and luxurious.

The spontaneous trip consisted of Hugh, Bettany, Blake, Lilly and Margaret. There were five people in total.

They booked five spots, not wanting to waste resources by taking up an entire carriage.

"Lilly, you can't be running around on the train or making too much noise, or you'll be disturbing others."

Lilly had always traveled using the Crawfords' personal vehicles, be it by car or plane. This was her first time on a train.

She nodded. "I've got it, Grandma. Can I make a little bit of noise, if I whisper?"

She lowered her voice, speaking softly.

Bettany was amused, chuckling at her. "Of course you can. Not disturbing anyone doesn't mean you can't do anything at all."

Lill nodded. She had learnt something new again!

This was her first time on a train, and she sat down on her seat with excitement and curiosity. She felt around her, adjusting her seat to recline fully before having it come back up.

Her eyes were full of shock and surprise.

Pablo floated next to her, smiling as he watched over her while reading.

The view on the way was nothing but flowers and the beautiful sky.

Bettany and Hugh were having their own free and easy time. Lilly was even freer, her kindergarten classes having turned outdoors. Blake was the only one feeling not so free.

On the train, Blake got a call. He lowered his voice. "A meeting? I haven't got any time."

Another half an hour later, he got another call. "No, I've resigned. I'm not in charge of that anymore."

Another half an hour. "You can ask Layton."

Another half an hour... his phone vibrated again.

Blake put his phone on silent altogether.

(The leaders from the other side of the phone said, " Refusing to pick up the phone and sounding all annoyed? What happened to the ghost-catching teams??)

Blake did not pick up the phone, but another woman's voice rang behind him full of annoyance said, "

"So we can't even rest now? You've been taking calls the entire way over here, do you think you own this train?"

Blake frowned.

Lilly turned to look behind her, and saw a fashionably-dressed woman taking off her sunglasses to reveal an angry expression.

She frowned. "Ma'am, my Dad put his phone on vibrate. I couldn't even hear it sitting next to him! He even lowered his voice when he was speaking, Grandma was sleeping next to him but didn't even wake up. My Dad only took three calls, and spoke one sentence every time! I don't think he was disturbing anyone."

It was important to say sorry when you messed up, but her dad clearly hadn't done anything wrong this time.

Lilly was hell bent on protecting her Dad.

The woman smirked. "Do you know I've got heightened senses? I'll wake up at the slightest noise!"

Lilly said earnestly, "No, I don't. I don't know you! How would I know that you had heightened senses?"

"You don't own this train, either. You can sleep, so I can make calls too."

Lilly's grandma had told her before getting on the train that making noise or running around would disrupt other people getting rest, but it was alright to do your own thing.

The woman was properly angered.

They were all in the same carriage, and she thought that the family in front of her was just some regular wealthy family.

The kid in front had seemed like she had hardly seen much of the world judging from how shocked she was at the reclining chairs. It was probably their first time in business class.

What peasants. She, on the other hand, was a self-made millionaire who dared to stand up for herself and all the injustices in the world.

"How low-class! This is a public space, not your house! Making a call every few minutes and speaking so loudly, and even talking back when confronted! I really am down on my luck to run into you people!"

"And you, you can't even be a good role model with a kid around! The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree. I truly feel bad for this kid of yours. God knows what kind of terrible person she'll grow up to be!" Lilly was speechless.