Chapter 67: Journey to Nanjing (3)

  As the night grew darker, the painted barge docked at the villa's shore. Lin Ruolan lazily whispered: "I don't want to go back yet."

  A warm light kiss fell on her forehead, and Jin Huan smiled and said: "You didn't eat much for dinner, just making a fuss about going out to visit the lake. You must be hungry now."

  He said that Lin Ruo Lan only felt her stomach growling, she turned her body arbitrarily: "Not going back either!"

  "We're not going back." Jin Huan's dark eyes had a hint of helplessness, "I've asked someone to prepare some local snacks and have them delivered to the boat. We can eat while we tour, how about that?"

  "Great, that's so much fun, I've always dreamed of this." Lin Ruolan was delighted and suddenly sat up from Jin Huan's arms.

  Jin Huang waved to Old Yang waiting on the shore, and immediately all kinds of Nanjing snacks were brought onto the painting boat and placed on a small table at the bow: crab roe xiaolongbao with overflowing fragrance, mushroom steamed dumplings; hot duck blood noodle soup; crispy outside and tender inside beef potstickers; salted duck with white skin and tender meat that's not greasy; sweet osmanthus honey rice cakes; delicious assorted tofu dishes. Lin Ruolan's fingers were itching to eat, and she automatically sat down at the table edge. Before the boat even started moving, she was already devouring the food.

  Jin Hao's mouth curved into a smile, his eyes filled with doting affection as he gazed at her. He adored her gentle and elegant demeanor, clever and quick-witted ladylike manner, and even more so, the genuine and playful nature she only revealed when they were alone together. Her soft and subtle smile was like a serene landscape painting, warm and delicate - making him want to hold her in his arms and pamper her every moment.

  There is always someone in this world that once you meet, you can't let go of, it's just that most people never get to meet them in their lifetime, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

  That day, the moment she opened the door of her home, he seemed to hear God say in his ear: Look, Jin Huang, this is the rib I took from you back then.

  The painted barge sailed again towards the Xuanwu Lake, two people savoring the delicious food under the moonlight, admiring the lake view, with infinite joy in their hearts...

  It was very late at night, Lin Ruolan curled up on the thin blanket of the painting boat, half asleep and half awake, and there was no sound on the lake surface.

  In a daze, she felt the boat lightly shake, and then her body was lifted off the ground as Jin Huan scooped her up in his arms. His warm yet powerful strength wrapped around her like a cozy blanket. As she breathed in the fresh, pleasant scent from his body, her eyelids fluttered open, "Mmm, Jin Huan, I don't want to go back." Her soft voice was filled with thick sleepiness, followed by a big yawn.

  "Okay, it's too late at night, sleeping here will make you sick." Jin Huan replied softly, his deep and mellow voice was like a lullaby, making her feel an inexplicable comfort. Sleepiness surged up, she couldn't help but let out another yawn.

  Jin Hao carried her ashore, looked down at her tired appearance and said softly: "Go back to your room and have a good sleep. We'll play again tomorrow."

  "Mm." She murmured vaguely, her small face rubbing back and forth on his solid, broad chest.

  Jin Huang gently smiled, carrying her back to the room and placing her on the bed, lightly patting: "Go to sleep, little lazy cat." He leaned in close to her ear, his tone soft as the gentlest feather brushing against.

  After yawning for the third time, she fell into a deep sleep.

  When the first ray of morning light just pierced through the thin fog, Xuanwu Lake welcomed another clear morning. When the thin fog was still shrouded in a thin gauze over the clear lake water, the dawn had already poured itself into the lake without waiting. The rising sun cast its radiance on the lake surface, and with the sudden rise of a gentle breeze, ripples surged, stirring up the golden fragments all over the lake, and from afar, the scales shone brightly, like millions of fish swimming.

  The gentle breeze subsided, and the lake's surface returned to calmness, reflecting the white clouds in the sky and the wonders on the shore. The mountains, sky, and water merged into a crystal whole. That piece of serene blue water and sky was not disturbed by even a speck of dust or a stray thread. A few white swans came swimming from afar, calling out "ga ga", adding to the tranquility of the lake's surface and the clarity of the water.

  Lin Ruo Lan woke up on this early autumn morning, standing on the balcony facing the lake, taking in the beautiful view. She stretched her waist lazily and for a moment almost doubted that she was still dreaming.

  The door was gently pushed open, and the person who came in was Jin Huang. He walked up to the balcony and stretched out his hand from behind Lin Ruolan's back, embracing her into his chest. He leaned down and affectionately pecked at her earlobe: "You got up so early, aren't you tired?"

  Lin Ruo Lan leaned against his sturdy physique and whispered: "I don't want to waste such a beautiful view."

  Jin Hao raised an eyebrow, gently stroking her hair with his hand and rubbing his chin against her head: "If you like it, we can come here to live for a while every year."

  "No." Lin Ruolan turned around and threw herself into his arms, her head rubbing back and forth in his chest, "This is someone else's home, I'm grateful to be able to stay for a few days, I'm not that greedy."

  Jin Hao smiled and wrapped her in his warm arms, gently stroking her cheek with his hand, his gaze wandering over her face: "My Lan, always so calm and serene." He carried her horizontally into the bathroom, "Hurry up and wash up, after breakfast we'll go to the academy and take care of business."

  The whole morning was spent at the Lu Institute. From the president to the ordinary instructors, everyone seemed to have a good relationship with Jin Huan. On the way in, people kept greeting him and chatting with him for a few sentences, even the serious department head put down all his work to accompany him.

  The instructor, Mr. Yang, a thin and unassuming middle-aged man, took out the teaching materials and drew out some key content for Lin Ruolan, giving a detailed explanation. After finishing the key points, he thought for a moment and said: "Each student in the class has their own main direction of study, you can choose one too."

  Lin Ruolan looked at Jin Huang and chose Network Information Science as her major with Jin Huang's help.

  Jin Huan chatted with several instructors from all over the country for a while, and was about to get up and bid farewell. The principal came, insisting on inviting Jin Huan to dinner, but he tactfully declined, "It's not that I don't give you face, it's just that I really have something to do today!" He raised his hand and pulled Lin Ruolan to his side, "This little girl loves watching stars the most, tonight there is a meteor shower in Orion, if we go late, we won't be able to see it."

  In an instant, everyone was secretly sizing up Lin Ruolan, quietly speculating about her identity in their hearts. The information revealed in the eyes of the people present was complex and multifaceted, but ultimately converged into a single expression: incredulity. This Jin Huang was still the same as ever, just like Mr. Jin Yong had described in one of his works - the more others looked down on something or didn't dare to do it or couldn't do it, the more enthusiastically he would do it, completely disregarding the feelings of onlookers.

  The principal was stunned, and it wasn't until a long time later that he regained his smile: "Ah——, right, right, you young people understand romance, so I won't interfere." He smiled and looked up and down at Lin Ruolan with a kind expression: "If there's anything you don't understand in your studies after going back, just call your instructor to ask, and strive for good grades on the final exams."

  "I will, thank you for your concern, Chief." In an instant, she became the focus of attention from everyone. Lin Ruolan responded with a somewhat uncomfortable tone and quietly pulled Jin Huan's sleeve, hinting that he should leave quickly.

  Seeing Jin Hao and Lin Ruolan's off-road vehicle disappear into the distance, the dean, with a spryness unbecoming of someone his age, quickly walked back to his office, shut the door, and immediately grabbed the phone on his desk: "Old Chief, I just saw Xiao Huang and his girlfriend."

  Jin Hao drove the car, his eyes fixed on the road, his dark pupils unfathomable, a cold smile playing on his lips, and a chilling aura of murder emanating from the corners of his eyes and eyebrows, it was unknown what he was thinking.

  Lin Ruo Lan lightly bit her lower lip, looking at his expression. This excellent man who was full of murderous aura and unfathomable depth, was he still the same Jin Huan who doted on her and poked her nose? She couldn't help but shiver with a chill.

  Her small movements were immediately noticed by Jin Huang, his eyebrows slowly raised, and he asked in a calm tone: "What's wrong? Are you cold?"

  "It's nothing." She replied in a low voice that even she couldn't be sure of.

  The car stopped by the side of the road, and Jin Huan suddenly reached out to pull her into his own world, using his forehead to lean against hers, letting out a soft laugh. "Don't be afraid of me." The familiar masculine scent quickly enveloped her.

  "No." Lin Ruolan said so with her mouth, but in her heart, she still had a hint of fear.

  "As time goes by, you will understand what kind of person I am. I'm still the same me as before, and I didn't pretend to be someone else in front of you back then, nor will I do so in the future." Jin Huan said abruptly.

  "You... how did you know what I was thinking..." Lin Ruolan's eyes widened in shock as she stared at him.

  "Your face can't hide your worries." He looked at her gently.

  ……

  Zijin Mountain is located in the eastern suburbs of Nanjing and is the highest peak in the Nanjing area, with beautiful scenery. The pines and cypresses are lush and green, stretching continuously, like a huge green carpet, making people feel relaxed and happy.

  The off-road vehicle had just entered the parking lot, and two staff members who had been waiting there for a long time came forward to greet them. After checking the license plate number, one of them said: "Mr. Jin, everything is arranged, please follow me."

  Lin Ruo Lan looked at Jin Huang with a hint of surprise, vaguely remembering that he had made a phone call earlier in the morning before they set off, seemingly to arrange his schedule for the day.

  Orionid meteor shower - one of the world's seven major meteor showers. Lin Ruo Lan stood guard in front of the astronomical telescope, quietly waiting for this legendary beautiful feast. The night was silent, even the sound of the gurgling spring water on the distant high mountain could be heard. The stars twinkled with clear light in the far sky. The clear light was like water, carrying unspoken warmth.

  "Do you know? There's an ancient legend: every shooting star that turns to dust means a soul is sent to heaven..." She leaned her head on Jin Huang's shoulder, gazing blankly at the night sky.

  Jin Hao didn't answer, he just grasped her hand and pressed it tightly against his chest.

  Waiting, the meteor shower arrived as promised, drawing across the vast sky with dazzling rays of light, like a celestial maiden scattering colorful pearls to the mortal world, or like a heavenly dream drifting in the mortal realm - before falling, it couldn't be found anywhere, and when it suddenly streaked across the sky, there wasn't even time for a close look, in an instant, it had vanished without a trace, plummeting into the unknown, leaving behind only the beauty of that moment, lingering in the heart, dwelling in the mind.

  The ancient sky, like a long and winding river of history, life is like a meteor, fleeting in an instant, all the struggles of a lifetime seem to be just for accumulating a brilliant flash.

  On this enchanting night, a pair of lovers stood side by side, lost in thought, gazing up at a beautiful meteor shower...

  At the same time, on a quiet mountain ridge where the Cheetah Squad was stationed, Chen Jianfeng was also gazing up at the night sky. He had just hung up his father's phone call, and his ears still echoed with his father's obviously aged voice: "Feng'er, now that you're thirty and established in your career, it's time to find a suitable girl to settle down with, don't set your sights too high."

  "How did I answer? 'I don't have time to waste on emotions! I must keep up with Jin Hwan's pace at all times, not daring to slack off even a bit, because I don't want...to be left far behind and no longer be able to be partners on the same level!'"

  He smiled wryly, is this really the excuse that has seen a ghost? He couldn't help but softly hum: "Plucking flowers in a hurry, lazy to look back, half for the Tao and half for you."

  The twinkling stars in the night sky transformed into those beautiful, clever eyes that were mischievously winking at him. In this life, she was his missed Qinghai Lake and Wushan Clouds, so he severed all worldly connections! He'd rather just gaze at her from afar, quietly protecting her, staying by her side as an elder brother; it's good enough, satisfying enough...