One person: Go talk to my Rumble-Rumble Fruit!

It was as if there still stood that figure, just as old as him, just as ruthless, just as burdened by the weight of his family's millennia-long legacy, a figure that haunted him like a ghost.

That usually gloomy and mean old face, in his blurred vision at this moment, actually showed a hint of inexplicable...closeness?

“Old man…” A very low, hoarse mutter, almost audible only to himself, squeezed out from between his cracked lips, carrying a hint of resentment or something else that was hard to define, “…died…in peace.”

He slowly put down the already hot phone, his withered fingers seemingly losing their last bit of strength, letting the heavy old-fashioned flip phone slide onto the cold, hard blue brick floor with a "thud".

The screen flickered a few times and then went completely black.

Lu Ci took a deep, deep breath.

Outside the window, a withered yellow sycamore leaf was swept up by the autumn wind, swirling and drifting down, gently bumping against the tightly closed window frame.

*Thud*...

"Sigh, I'm getting old too..."

"Old friends are passing away one after another, like leaves falling in the wind..."

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Chapter 108 Being Loved

Meanwhile, on the other side.

In Beijing, Lin Shen also learned that Wang had joined the Quanxing sect.

This made Lin Shen want to laugh.

No matter where he joins, Wang will never pose a threat to Lin Shen.

It should be noted that Lin Shenyuan is much stronger than Wang Bing.

Now, Lin Shen has discovered.

Three of the four madmen of Quanxing are related to him.

Wang Bing, Jia Zhengyu.

And... Xia He.

Thinking of Xia He, Lin Shen felt that he hadn't seen Xia He in a long time.

Lin Shen decided to go and see Xia He.

Xia He did not live in the large single-level apartment where Lin Shen had lived before.

Instead, they lived in a traditional courtyard house.

........

The afternoon sun pierced through the sparse branches and leaves of the old locust tree in the courtyard, casting dappled, shimmering spots of light on the blue brick ground.

Lin Shen pushed open the familiar, slightly mottled vermilion courtyard gate, which creaked open, startling two sparrows that were dozing under the eaves.

The courtyard was quiet, with only the faint sound of goldfish swishing their tails in the small earthenware jar and the soft rustling of white shirts on the clothesline in the wind.

He had just put down his simple luggage when he heard the curtain of the west wing room being gently lifted by a pale white hand.

Xia He stood there.

She seemed to have just woken up from a nap. Her long, dark hair, with a lazy curl, was loosely draped over her shoulders. She wore a soft, off-white linen dress and walked barefoot on the cool stone slabs.

The sunlight outlined her delicate profile and illuminated the light that instantly welled up in her eyes, almost overflowing. That light contained surprise and disbelief, which was then quickly overwhelmed by a huge, pure joy, like a frozen river suddenly thawing in early spring.

She didn't speak, but just stared at him, her eyes unblinking, as if afraid that if she blinked, his figure would disappear like a dewdrop in the sunlight.

The thunder of Longhu Mountain, the turmoil of the world, the downfall of the Wang family... all those breathtaking torrents seemed to be kept out of this small courtyard.

At this moment, only he stood here, weary from his journey, standing before her, radiating the warmth of the autumn sun and... the feeling of home.

Lin Shen didn't say anything, he just strode over.

He reached out, his dry, warm palm gently brushing across her slightly cool cheek, wiping away a strand of hair that had been blown to her lips by the wind.

The moment his fingertips touched her delicate skin, Xia He's body trembled almost imperceptibly. Then, as if all her strength had been drained, she softly leaned into his arms, burying her face deeply in his shoulder, which smelled of dust and sunshine.

He pulled his arms around her, holding her slender body tightly, his chin resting on the top of her soft hair.

Only the rustling of the wind through the leaves and the steady beat of two heartbeats gradually syncing in the courtyard remained.

The evening breeze carried the coolness of early autumn, dispelling the daytime heat.

Lin Shen took Xia He's hand and walked out of the alley, merging into the gradually rising smoke and bustle of Wangfujing.

Xia He changed into a simple light blue dress, loosely draped with Lin Shen's oversized dark sports jacket, the sleeves rolled up several times to reveal her wrists.

Like a bird finally released from its cage, she moved with light steps, her eyes sparkling as she surveyed the long-lost bustling street scene, a quiet and contented smile playing on her lips.

"What do you want to eat?" Lin Shen asked, turning his head to her side, his fingers naturally smoothing her wind-blown hair.

Xia He sniffed, the various aromas of food filling the air making her eyes light up even more. Almost without hesitation, she pointed to a bustling, old shop with a bright red sign not far away: "That one! It smells so good!"

It's an authentic copper hot pot restaurant. As soon as you enter, the aroma of hot steam mixed with the rich scent of sesame sauce, chive blossoms, fermented bean curd, and fresh beef and mutton hits you and instantly envelops you.

The place was bustling with activity, the copper pot bubbling and steaming merrily, diners clinking glasses and laughing. Xia He was infected by this vibrant, lively atmosphere, and her smile brightened as well.

They found a corner seat by the window and sat down.

Lin Shen expertly ordered hand-cut fresh mutton, mutton brain, frozen tofu, cabbage, vermicelli, as well as Xia He's favorite pickled garlic and fried sesame cakes.

In the boiling clear broth copper pot, Lin Shen picked up a slice of bright red mutton as thin as a cicada's wing, and gently dipped it in the bubbling broth. The slice of meat instantly curled up and changed color, gleaming with an enticing sheen.

With a deft flick of his wrist, he placed the perfect piece of mutton steadily into the sesame sauce bowl in front of Xia He.

"Be careful, it's hot," he whispered, his voice standing out clearly against the noisy background.

Xia He carefully blew on the mutton, then put the mutton, coated in a rich sauce, into her mouth. The freshness, tenderness, and aroma exploded on her tongue, making her squint slightly from the heat, and she let out a satisfied sigh. She imitated Lin Shen, clumsily picking up a piece of mutton to cook in the broth. Sometimes the meat was overcooked and tough, and sometimes it fell into the pot, splashing small droplets of water that made her gasp softly, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Lin Shen simply watched, a indulgent smile in his eyes that he himself was unaware of, and calmly scooped the "failed" slices of meat into his own bowl, then rinsed them perfectly and handed them over.

He picked up the serving chopsticks, carefully broke the soft, juicy frozen tofu into small pieces, and placed them in her bowl to cool.

Seeing that her nose was sweating and her lips were red from the spicy soup, I quietly pushed a chilled bottle of Arctic Ocean soda to her side.

Seeing her adorable expression as she wrinkled her nose slightly from the sourness of the pickled garlic but couldn't resist taking another bite, the curve of his lips deepened.

"Eat slowly," Lin Shen said, gently patting her back as she choked on a small piece of sesame seed cake, and handed her a warm cup of soy milk. "No one's going to take it from you."

Xia He took the soy milk, sipped it, and looked up at him. The steam from the hot pot blurred the neon lights outside the window, casting a soft glow on his sharply defined profile.

The surroundings were bustling with noise and laughter, a world of clamor and activity.

But in this corner, under his focused and calm gaze, under his silent care, time seemed to be slowed down, leaving only the gentle bubbling of the soup in the copper pot, and his occasional whispered reminders such as "This is ready" and "Be careful, it's hot."

A subtle yet comforting warmth rose from my stomach, slowly spreading to every part of my body, soothing every nerve that had been shivering from the hardships of the past.

She lowered her head, poking at the soft, glutinous frozen tofu in the bowl with her chopsticks, her long eyelashes drooping down, concealing the subtle moisture welling up in her eyes.

So this is what it feels like to have your tastes so casually and meticulously remembered, and to be cared for so clumsily. It's like a traveler who has been trekking for too long and is parched, finally touching a spring of clear water, so sweet and refreshing that it brings tears to your eyes.

The amusement park's neon lights shone brightly against the deep blue sky, resembling a giant, dazzling crystal palace.

The cheerful jingling of the carousel, the excited screams from the roller coaster, the sweet aroma of cotton candy, the rumbling of the popcorn machine... all kinds of sounds and smells intertwine to create a sea of ​​joy.

Xia He was like a child entering a fairyland for the first time, being led by the hand by Lin Shen as they wandered through it.

Her gaze was drawn to the colorful spinning teacups, illuminated by the dreamy castle light show, and captivated by the towering, slowly rotating giant Ferris wheel in the distance.

"Would you like to sit on that?" Lin Shen asked softly, following her gaze.

Xia He nodded vigorously, her eyes reflecting the dazzling halo of the Ferris wheel, filled with pure longing.

As their cabins slowly lifted off the ground and rose smoothly, the noise of the amusement park receded like the tide.

Beneath my feet are miniature, star-studded lights of countless homes, while in the distance lies the hazy yet magnificent outline of Beijing.

The cabin was quiet, with only the faint sounds of mechanical operation and the two people's shallow breathing.

Xia He lay face down in front of the clean glass window, her nose almost touching the cold glass, greedily watching the river of light flowing at her feet and the car lights moving like a swarm of glowing ants on the road in the distance.

Lin Shen sat quietly on the soft chair beside her, his gaze fixed on her profile reflected in the glass.

The neon lights danced across her face, outlining soft lines, and her eyes, which always carried a hint of confusion or detachment, were now filled with childlike curiosity and wonder.

The cabin rose silently, getting closer and closer to the silvery full moon that seemed within reach.

The lights spread out like an endless star carpet beneath our feet, and the veins of Beijing breathe gently in the night.

When the cockpit finally reached that highest point, the whole world seemed to float quietly beneath our feet, and time itself seemed to hold its breath.

Xia He continued to gaze out the window, the small cabin suspended in the silent night sky, with a starry river woven from the vast mortal world beneath her feet.

The huge glass window reflected her own shadow, as well as the quiet silhouette of Lin Shen beside her.

He did nothing, just sat there, his gaze calmly fixed on her, like a silent mountain, steadily supporting this small space.

An indescribable sour feeling rushed to the tip of my nose without warning and quickly spread to my eyes.

Caught off guard, a warm tear suddenly broke free and rolled down her smooth cheek, landing softly on the back of her hand resting on her knee with a "plop," leaving a small, dark stain.

Then, even more tears welled up and fell silently like beads from a broken string.

Lin Shen was slightly taken aback. Almost immediately, he leaned closer and, with calloused fingertips, gently and almost instinctively touched her cheek, carefully wiping away the hot, damp stains.

His movements were somewhat clumsy, carrying a gentleness unaccustomed to someone who practices martial arts. His brows furrowed slightly as he asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? Are you afraid of heights? Or are you feeling unwell?" His voice sounded particularly deep and clear in the confined space.

Xia He shook her head vigorously, but the tears flowed even more fiercely. She grabbed his hand that was wiping her tears, holding it tightly as if it were the only piece of driftwood.

She raised her tear-blurred face and looked into Lin Shen's deep, dark eyes, her voice choked with emotion and thick with nasal tone, yet each word was as clear as jade falling to the ground:

"No...none of those..."

"I just... I just suddenly felt..."

She sniffed, trying to see herself clearly in his eyes, but tears blurred her vision.

"Lin Shen...this is the first time...that I've felt it so clearly..."

"I think... I really am being... loved by someone."

........

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