Chapter 154 It's impossible for him and Yan Yu to be together in this lifetime.

Shen Jin had never been to this place before. It had all sorts of scenery he had never seen before, completely different from that in big cities. He liked it very much and felt that living here carefree seemed like a good choice.

Although the people here live a simple and monotonous life, without the hustle and bustle of big cities or advanced technology, they are incredibly comfortable here.

A simple life, yet happy.

Sometimes Shen Jin felt that maybe he was getting old. After experiencing too many messy things, his mindset had changed. He no longer had as much passion as before, and everything had become very bland.

"Big brother, where are you going?" A child's voice rang in his ears. When Shen Jin turned around, he found that it was a little boy of about ten years old. He was pretty, innocent and cute.

Shen Jin has been able to get out of bed and move around for half a month now. During this time, he either spends time talking to the motionless Yan Yu or goes out to find some fun.

Anyway, this place, nestled between mountains and water, is enough for him to wander around in.

In the past two weeks, he has become quite familiar with the place. Occasionally, when he sees others busy, he thinks of helping out, but everyone thinks he is not well yet and does not need his help.

Therefore, when Shen Jin wandered around aimlessly every day, he gradually got to know the children here. They all liked him very much and played around with him, which made them happy.

Having eaten and drunk his fill today and having nothing else to do, Shen Jin planned to go fishing in the big river in the mountains, but unexpectedly he ran into those children.

"You're going fishing?" A little girl poked her head out, her big, round eyes twinkling with a smile. "I want to go fishing too! I'll catch a big fish to take home for my mom to cook! We'll have fish soup today!"

"Me too! I want to go fishing to make fish cakes for my mom!" a boy chimed in, glancing at Chen Jin with a smug look. "They're so delicious! I'll bring some over and share with you!"

"That sounds like so much fun! I want to go fishing too!" another child chimed in, just wanting to join in the fun. He also called out to the others, "Let's go, everyone! Hurry up and catch up!"

Standing silently to the side, listening to their incessant chatter, Shen Jin was speechless. He couldn't help but smile helplessly, thinking, "What kind of nonsense is this? Why do I feel like I've become a little brat..."

However, this was not his imagination; it was indeed the case.

The children here are used to living in the mountains and don't know much about the outside world. Now, hearing their parents say that their clansmen rescued two people from outside is very interesting to them and makes them curious.

Shen Jin was a gentle and kind person. He would answer the children's questions simply and kindly, and gradually, the children treated him like a king.

Just thinking about an adult leading a group of children to go fishing, shouting and yelling, made Shen Jin's face burn with embarrassment.

"Big brother, is your injury completely healed?" A little boy sat on the bank, holding a fishing rod, looking at him with wide eyes. "Does it still hurt?"

"It's all better now, it doesn't hurt anymore." Shen Jin smiled, holding a fishing rod and waiting for a fish to bite. He glanced at the children beside him; many of them were standing nearby watching. Shen Jin didn't dare let them get too close, lest they fall in.

"Oh, okay," the little boy who asked the question gave a sweet smile, then asked curiously, "What about the other big brother? Why isn't he okay yet?"

Shen Jin paused slightly, then pursed his lips: "It should be almost done by now... It's been too long."

"Oh, I see," the little boy nodded, then couldn't help but ask, "Will you leave here after the other older brother is better?"

This question instantly stumped Shen Jin. The thing he had deliberately avoided thinking about was brought up like this, leaving him speechless for a moment. He could only stare blankly at the rippling water with his eyes underwater.

From the old lady, he learned that he and Yan Yu had been bedridden for several months, and now almost half a year had passed. He had no idea what the situation was like outside.

But he knew his family must be going crazy, desperately trying to find them, but to no avail, until finally despair set in. Perhaps the police's final course of action was to assume they were already gone...

But what if they suddenly went back? Could they accept someone who was already "dead"... being "resurrected" and forced back into their world?

Every time Shen Jin thought about these things, he felt heavy-hearted. After all, it had been more than half a year, and many things had changed. He was stuck in the deep mountains, unable to contact the outside world and unaware of what was happening there.

"Big brother? Big brother! What's wrong?"

While Shen Jin was lost in thought, a child waved in front of him and asked blankly, "Why are you staring at the water for so long? You didn't answer my question, humph! You're not happy!"

"Ah," Shen Jin came back to his senses, blinked blankly, and then said softly with a faint smile on his lips, "I don't know yet, the other big brother hasn't woken up yet."

"Oh, is that so?" Another little girl chimed in, shuffling over from behind and sitting down next to Shen Jin. She asked, puzzled, "If that big brother doesn't wake up, will you have to stay here forever?"

The little girl was no more than ten years old. Children don't think that much. The reason she asked that question was just to answer Shen Jin's previous question.

What was said unintentionally may have been taken to heart by the listener.

If Yan Yu just stays in bed and doesn't wake up, does that mean he's going to stay in these mountains and never go anywhere?

A lifetime... is that even possible?

Although he liked this place very much, it didn't mean the same thing as the little girl's unintentional remark about "a lifetime".

Shen Jin suppressed his smile, his gaze drifting calmly to the clear water, and uttered two words: "No."

He wouldn't stay in one place for Yan Yu's entire life, nor would he wait for him forever.

If he doesn't wake up... then he'll leave alone.

It's fine if we don't go back to the capital; it doesn't matter where we go.

...Anyway, it's impossible for him and Yan Yu to be together in this lifetime.

"Huh?" The little girl who asked the question was taken aback by his answer, seemingly surprised, and couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "How could you do that? You didn't wait for him and just went ahead by yourself? That's so mean..."

"Hmm, that's going too far." Shen Jin smiled faintly, feeling that he shouldn't show too many negative emotions in front of these children.

Children speak without thinking, and the little girl said angrily, "That poor little boy you abandoned must be so scared being all alone in a strange place!"

"He's not pitiful, and I won't pity him either," Shen Jin replied calmly, his gaze still fixed on the water, somewhat lost in thought, and distant.

The little girl was taken aback: "Huh?"

"It's alright, don't think too much about it," Shen Jin glanced at her, reached out and patted her head, revealing a gentle smile, "Why do you worry about so many things when you're just a child?"

The girl was unconvinced and wanted to say something more, but Shen Jin didn't want to continue the topic. He quickly pointed to another little boy fishing and said with a smile, "Look, he caught a fish."

Although the conversation ended, it lingered in Shen Jin's mind, unable to be shaken off, and he couldn't pretend that nothing had happened.

He caught several big fish in the river, led the children back safely, and then went back alone to the old lady and Xiaoqing's wooden house.

The old lady and Xiaoqing depended on each other for survival. Their house had many rooms and a large space, so after Shen Jin woke up, he continued to live in the old lady's house. Usually, many villagers would bring them various fruits and grains.

As soon as he got back, he heard the old lady's voice coming from the swing, asking him, "Little Jin, where did you go today?"

Shen Jin lifted the fish up and shook them a few times, then gave her a bright smile: "I went fishing in the river with those kids. Look, we caught some big fish. We can make fish soup tonight."

"Why are you always hanging out with those kids? You're such a grown-up." The old lady smiled. Although she talked a lot, she was a very kind and easy-going person.

"Where's Xiaoqing?" Shen Jin asked. Having lived here for a while, he had naturally become familiar with the girl.

"Of course she went up the mountain to gather herbs," the old woman said, then suddenly remembered something and quickly slapped her forehead. "Oh dear, what a terrible memory I have! Never mind her, he... he had a reaction not long ago, you should go up and check on him!"

Shen Jin knew she was referring to Yan Yu and was momentarily stunned.

The conversation he had with the little girl on the riverbank not long ago resurfaced, throwing his thoughts into disarray.

If Yan Yu wakes up, he will naturally be happy, but his mood will also be heavy.

When he pushed open the door and went in, Yan Yu, who was lying on the bed, was still motionless. He tried to say a few words to him, but there was no response.

Shen Jin let out a soft breath, rubbed his face, stared at Yan Yu's face which was gradually regaining some color, and muttered to himself, "Although his body is reacting a bit, and his fingers are moving, he's still not fully awake..."

He bent down slightly and pulled the quilt up over Yan Yu's body. After covering him with the quilt, he was about to turn around and leave when his hand accidentally touched Yan Yu's fingers, which felt a little cool.

Shen Jin didn't care at first, after all, he had touched it before during this time, but those fingers touched him lightly, as if a feather was gently brushing against him.

Then Shen Jin heard a faint, intermittent voice behind him: "Don't...don't...go..."