American comic book: I, with my abundant martial virtue, love to do good to others.

Chapter 195 Lily's Father

"I know you're interested in photography, so I specifically chose this place," Lynn explained, his eyes filled with anticipation, hoping Lily would like this surprise.

Lily looked around; each photograph captured a moment in the city—some bustling, some tranquil, some full of stories. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Lynn, you're so observant! This place is wonderful!"

The two lingered in the gallery, stopping every now and then to discuss the story behind a photograph or share their understanding of photography. Time seemed to stand still at that moment, leaving only their breaths and heartbeats resonating in this artistic space.

As they left the gallery, it was already dark, and the streetlights were lighting up, paving a path for their date. Lynn suggested a walk along the nearby river, and Lily readily agreed.

A gentle evening breeze blew along the riverbank, carrying a hint of coolness. The two walked side by side, occasionally a boat gliding by, leaving shimmering trails in its wake. Lily suddenly broke the silence: "Lynn, actually, I didn't have high expectations for this date."

Lynn paused slightly, then turned to look at her: "Why? Is it because of me?"

Lily shook her head, a bitter smile on her face: "It's not because of you, but because—I had a bad relationship before, which made me somewhat disillusioned with love."

Lynn's heart tightened; he hadn't expected Lily to have such a past. He stopped and looked at her earnestly: "Lily, everyone's past is unique, and it has shaped who we are today. But the future is something we can create together. I'm willing to be the one to walk with you into the future, if you're willing to give me that chance."

Lily's eyes reddened slightly; she had never imagined Lynn would express her feelings so directly. She took a deep breath, as if making an important decision: "Lynn, I—I'm willing to give you this chance, and give myself a chance too."

A warm feeling welled up in Lynn's heart. He gently took Lily's hand, and their hands clasped tightly in the night, as if announcing their beginning to the world.

The following morning, sunlight pierced through the thin mist, scattering across the lake's surface, making it shimmer like it was studded with countless dazzling diamonds. Lynn stood at the dock, a basket full of fishing gear in his hand, a look of anticipation on his face. He turned to look at Lily, who wore a light windbreaker, her hair gently blowing in the breeze, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement for the unknown journey ahead.

"Lily, are you ready? Today I'm going to show you my fishing skills." Lynn's words were full of confidence, but also contained a hint of nervousness. After all, this was the first time he had demonstrated this skill to Lily.

Lily smiled and nodded, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Of course, I can't wait to see you show off your skills. But don't blame me for laughing at you if you don't catch any fish!"

Lynn shrugged casually, "Don't worry, I'm a fishing expert. I'll show you what I'm made of today."

The two boarded a small fishing boat, and Lynn skillfully maneuvered the oars, the boat slowly gliding into the center of the lake. The scenery on the lake was picturesque, with distant mountains like dark eyebrows and nearby water shrouded in mist; everything seemed so peaceful and beautiful.

"Lynn, when did you learn to fish?" Lily asked curiously. She noticed that Lynn was exceptionally well-prepared for fishing, with everything from fishing rods and bait to fish baskets.

"When I was little, my father was a fishing enthusiast, and he often took me fishing by the lake. Back then, I would always sit patiently next to him, watching how he chose his spot, cast his line, and waited. Gradually, I learned the skill too." Lynn's words were filled with nostalgia for the past, and her eyes softened.

Lily nodded, her understanding of Lynn deepening. She discovered that this seemingly ordinary man actually possessed many untold stories and talents.

The boat came to rest on a seemingly calm but teeming stretch of water. Lynn picked up his fishing rod, skillfully baited it, and gently cast the line into the water. He stared intently at the bobber, as if the whole world had stood still.

Lily followed Lynn's example and prepared her fishing rod. However, she was clearly not as skilled as Lynn, and failed to cast the line accurately into the water after several attempts.

"Don't rush, take your time," Lynn patiently instructed. "Fishing requires patience and skill, not strength. You need to feel the wind direction, adjust your posture, and then cast gently and steadily."

With Lynn's guidance, Lily finally managed to cast the fishing line into the water. She looked at Lynn excitedly, her face beaming with pride: "Look, I did it!"

Lynn smiled and nodded: "Very good, now all we have to do is wait. Remember, fishing is not only a skill, but also a cultivation of the mind. It teaches us how to find tranquility in a noisy world, how to wait and cherish."

The two sat quietly on the boat, enjoying this rare tranquility. Occasionally, a fish would leap out of the water, creating ripples. Time seemed to slow down and stretch out at that moment.

However, at that moment, a sudden change shattered the tranquility. A strong wind blew by, and the waves on the lake suddenly became turbulent. The boat rocked violently in the waves, as if it were in danger of being capsized at any moment.

"Lynn, what do we do?!" Lily gripped the gunwale nervously, her face pale.

Lynn quickly calmed down, gripping the oars tightly and trying to stabilize the boat: "Don't be afraid, Lily, come with me. We need to row the boat to shore."

Under Lynn's direction, the two rowed together. Despite the rough seas, they managed to bring the boat close to the shore.

When the boat came to a safe stop at the shore, the two of them breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was too dangerous, Lynn, thank you." Lily looked at Lynn gratefully, her eyes filled with lingering fear and relief.

Lynn smiled and shook his head: "Don't mention it, Lily. It's just a little incident, it won't affect our fishing trip."

However, after this ordeal, Lily was clearly still shaken. Looking at the rolling waves on the lake, she hesitated, "Lynn, should we... should we continue fishing?"

Lynn noticed Lily's worry and gently patted the back of her hand. "Lily, fishing isn't just about catching fish; it's about enjoying the process. We've just had a little adventure, so we should cherish this peace now. Besides, I have faith in my skills, and I believe we can overcome any difficulty."

With Lynn's encouragement, Lily regained her confidence. The two returned to the boat and continued their fishing trip. This time, they cherished their companionship and the hard-won peace even more.

As time passed and the sun rose higher, the scenery on the lake became even more enchanting. Lynn's fishing rod finally stirred.

He quickly lifted the fishing rod, and a plump fish leaped out of the water along with the fishing line.

"Look, Lily, I caught a fish!" Lynn shouted excitedly, his face beaming with a childlike smile.

Lily was also happy for him: "That's great, Lynn! You're a real fishing expert!"

The two shared their joy, as if the fish was not only Lynn's victory but also the result of their joint efforts. In the following days, Lily gradually got the hang of fishing, and she even successfully caught a small fish.

As the sun began to slowly sink, casting a golden glow across the lake, the two packed up their fishing gear and prepared to head back. Their baskets were full of fish, and their hearts were filled with satisfaction and happiness.

"Lynn, I've had such a wonderful day," Lily said softly, her eyes sparkling with gratitude and tenderness. "Thank you for letting me experience all of this."

Lynn smiled and shook his head: "Lily, I should be thanking you. You gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills, and you also let me experience the joy of sharing with others."

The last rays of the setting sun dappled through the French windows, casting a golden glow on Lily and Lynn. They sat in Lily's living room, the atmosphere warm and peaceful, but a complex, indescribable emotion flickered in Lily's eyes.

"Lynn, there's something I've always wanted to tell you." Lily's voice was soft yet firm. She took a deep breath, as if making a decision. "Actually, my father is also an FBI agent."

Lynn was stunned. He looked at Lily in surprise, as if he couldn't process the information for a moment. The FBI, that mysterious and awe-inspiring organization, actually had such a deep connection with Lily. He couldn't help but ask, "Lily, is this true? Is your father still in the FBI?"

Lily shook her head, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes: "No, he's retired. But he dedicated his life to the FBI, where he has countless memories and stories."

Lynn was silent for a moment, quickly processing this sudden information in his mind. He knew that Lily's family background was far more complicated than he had imagined. But he also understood that this wouldn't change his feelings for Lily. He held Lily's hand and said gently, "Lily, no matter what your family background is, my feelings for you will never change. You are the one I love, and that's enough."

Lily looked at Lynn gratefully, tears welling in her eyes. "Thank you, Lynn. Actually, I've always wanted to introduce you to him, to let him see you. He may be strict, but he has a very kind heart, and I believe he will like you."

Lynn smiled, sensing Lily's sincerity and anticipation: "Of course, I'd love to meet him and hear his story. After all, he's your father, and a hero in my eyes."

So, the two agreed to meet one weekend to travel together to Lily's father's house in the suburbs. On the way, Lily was both nervous and excited, constantly recounting to Lynn her father's heroic deeds in his youth and his legendary experiences with the FBI. Lynn listened with rapt attention, filled with respect and curiosity for Lily's father.

Finally, the car stopped in front of a slightly old but charming house. Lily took a deep breath and turned to Lynn: "Ready? We're here."

Lynn nodded, holding Lily's hand tightly, as if transferring strength to her. The two walked into the house side by side, where they saw an elderly but spirited man sitting on the sofa in the living room. His eyes were sharp and deep, as if he could see into people's hearts.

"Daddy, we're back," Lily said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

The old man looked up, his gaze falling on Lily and Lynn, a barely perceptible tenderness flashing in his eyes: "Lily, you're back. And this is..."

"This is Lynn, my boyfriend," Lily introduced proudly, snuggling close to Lynn as if announcing their relationship to the world.

The old man looked Lynn up and down, then slowly nodded: "Hmm, not bad. Seems like a reliable young man."

Lynn sensed the old man's scrutiny, but he didn't feel uneasy. He respectfully extended his hand: "Hello, Uncle, I am Lynn."

It's a pleasure to finally have the opportunity to meet you.

The old man grasped Lynn's hand, his grip strong, as if he still retained the strength of his youth: "Lynn, welcome. Lily often mentions you, saying you've been very kind to her."

After the three sat down, the old man began to recount his experiences at the FBI. His words were calm and profound, yet every word revealed his love and dedication to that job. Lynn listened intently, as if he were seeing a world completely different from Lily's, a world full of excitement and danger.

However, as the old man spoke, Lily gradually fell silent. Her eyes flickered with complex emotions—reminiscence, reverence, and a hint of indescribable sadness. Lynn sensed Lily's change; he gently took her hand, offering her silent support.

Finally, the old man finished his story. He looked at Lily and Lynn, his eyes filled with expectation: "Lily, Lynn, I know you both have your own dreams and pursuits. But remember, wherever you go, always maintain your commitment to justice and your love for life. This is the most important thing I learned in the FBI."

Lily nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "Daddy, I understand. I will always remember what you said."

Lynn was also deeply moved. He held Lily's hand tightly and said, "Uncle, thank you for your teachings. I will always be there for Lily, support her, and protect her. No matter what difficulties and challenges we encounter in the future, we will face them together."

The old man smiled with relief: "I'm relieved to hear you say that. Lily, you've found a good man. Cherish each other."

As night fell, Lynn and Lily bid farewell to the old man and began their journey home. Outside the car window, the city lights twinkled, as if cheering on their love. Lily leaned on Lynn's shoulder, her heart filled with warmth and peace. She knew that no matter what storms the future held, as long as Lynn was by her side, she would have enough courage and strength.

"Lynn, thank you for coming with me to see Dad today," Lily said softly, her voice filled with gratitude.

Lynn smiled and gently stroked Lily's hair. "Lily, it's what I should do. Your family is my family."

I will always be by your side.

The two looked at each other and smiled, their eyes filled with anticipation and longing for the future.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, dappling Lynn's desk, but failing to dispel the oppressive atmosphere in the room. Lynn pushed open the door, his eyes still carrying a trace of lingering fatigue, but more so, a focused and determined concentration on his work. He went straight to his desk, ready to begin his new day's work.

However, when he opened the folder on the table, a report about Mexicans committing crimes in Manhattan caught his eye. The report's title was striking and jarring, like a bolt from the blue, instantly striking Lynn's heart.

"What's going on?" Lynn frowned, quickly scanning the report. His expression grew increasingly grave. "A Mexican committing murder in Manhattan? How is that possible?"

He looked up at his colleague Jack sitting across from him, his tone tinged with disbelief: "Jack, is this report real? Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

Jack looked up, his eyes also flashing with shock and confusion: "Lynn, I also hope this is false. But the report came directly from the scene, eyewitness testimonies, surveillance footage—all the evidence points to the Mexican. This incident is probably not simple."

Lynn remained silent for a moment, his mind racing, trying to find a plausible explanation for the incident. He knew there had always been a delicate balance between Mexicans and Manhattan, but never had such a heinous act of violence occurred. There must be a deeper secret hidden behind it.

"We need more information," Lynn said in a deep voice. He picked up the phone, preparing to contact the relevant departments to obtain more detailed information. "This matter must be investigated thoroughly; there can be no omissions."

The operator's voice on the other end of the line was calm and professional: "Hello, this is the Manhattan Police Department. What kind of information do you need?"

Lynn quickly explained the situation, and the operator said they would send the relevant information as soon as possible. After hanging up, Lynn looked at Jack: "Jack, let's split up. You investigate the Mexicans' recent movements, and I'll interview the witnesses to see if we can find any more clues."

The two split up, with Lynn driving to the crime scene. His heart was heavy the entire way. He knew this incident not only concerned the relationship between the two groups but could also trigger a series of unpredictable consequences. He had to find the truth as soon as possible and prevent the situation from escalating further.

Upon arriving at the scene, Lynn saw the blood-stained ground and the horrified looks on the faces of the people around him. He took a deep breath.

Trying to calm myself down, I approached an elderly man who appeared to be a witness.

"Hello, this is Lynn from the FBI." Lynn showed his badge, his tone gentle yet firm. "I'd like to know what happened last night. Could you tell me?"