One by one, Tang Ning approached each family member. First, she hugged Aunt Lin tightly. "I'll miss you, Aunt Lin."
Aunt Lin face lit up with a warm chuckle, brushing a strand of hair away from Tang Ning's face. "And I'll miss you too, Little Ning'er. You'll come back for the holidays, won't you?"
Tang Ning nodded, her smile widening. "Of course!"
Next, she hugged Uncle Gu and each of the Gu sisters, each offering her words of encouragement and promises to play again soon. Finally, she stood before Old Master Gu, her eyes filling with warmth.
"Grandpa Gu," she said quietly, her arms wrapping around him in a tight hug. "Thank you for everything."
Old Master Gu patted her back gently, his eyes softening. "It was our pleasure, Little Ning'er. Come back soon, and we'll have more fun."
"I'll miss you, Grandpa Gu," she said.
Old Master Gu patted her back. "You'll come back soon, won't you? Holidays will be here before you know it."
Tang Ning smiled, nodding.
With a last smile, Tang Ning turned toward Gu Yan, who had been watching quietly from the side. She approached him with a slight shyness in her step, but her eyes sparkled as she held out her pinky finger.
"Pinky promise you'll wait for me to visit every holiday?" she asked, her voice soft but determined.
Gu Yan's usual calm demeanor softened, and with a quiet smile, he hooked his pinky around hers. "Pinky promise."
With that, Tang Ning stepped back, looking over the gathered family one last time. Her heart felt full, yet there was a tinge of sadness that this time had to come to an end.
"Come along, little ning," Grandpa Tang called, standing up from his seat.
She turned toward him, nodding. "Coming, Grandpa."
Together, they walked toward the car waiting by the entrance. Just before she climbed inside, Tang Ning ran back one last time to give Old Master Gu one final hug.
"Thank you," she whispered again, squeezing him tightly.
As she pulled away and climbed into the vehicle beside her grandfather, she waved through the window, watching the Gu family wave back. The car slowly pulled away from the estate, the morning sun rising higher, casting a golden glow over the scene.
Tang Ning leaned back in her seat, glancing up at Grandpa Tang. "I'll miss them, Grandpa."
Grandpa Tang smiled warmly at her, patting her hand. "And they'll miss you, too, my dear. But there will always be more time together."
With that, they drove away, the Gu residence fading in the distance as Tang Ning's heart filled with the promise of future reunions.