Return to the safe haven
Lu Ziyi carefully wrapped his scarf around Xu Yan's neck, buttoned his coat, and finally took his hand silently, all movements smooth and natural. He led Xu Yan to the underground parking lot, stopped in front of a black Mercedes-Benz, and opened the passenger door.
"Get in the car," he said softly.
However, Xu Yan looked at the exquisite leather chairs in the car, but his feet remained fixed on the spot, not moving.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Lu Ziyi looked down at him in confusion.
Xu Yan frowned slightly, a trace of embarrassment on his face, and his voice became softer:
"Carsick."
He added, his tone filled with a hint of helplessness towards his own failing body, "Especially... a car that's so well sealed."
Lu Ziyi was visibly stunned. This answer completely surprised him; it was a variable he hadn't considered in his plans. He was used to efficient, comfortable transportation; motion sickness... was a distant concept to him.
He looked at Xu Yan's slightly pale face, which didn't seem fake. Almost the next second, without the slightest hesitation, he slammed the door of the Mercedes-Benz, took Xu Yan's hand, and walked out.
"Where are you going?" Xu Yan was pulled by him, a little confused.
"transfer."
Lu Ziyi led him straight across the parking lot to an unassuming parking space in the corner. There, parked, was a dark green SUV that looked a bit old, with some minor scratches on the body that hadn't been taken care of, standing out from the sleek and shiny cars around it.
Lu Ziyi unlocked the car with his key and opened the door. Inside was a simple, even somewhat dated interior, but it looked clean and tidy. "The windows can be rolled down completely, so the ventilation is excellent." He looked at Xu Yan with a serious look, "Try this?"
Xu Yan looked at the car, which was completely inconsistent with Lu Ziyi's current status and temperament, and then saw the look of no reluctance in his eyes. Something in his heart was touched. He nodded, bent down and got in.
Lu Ziyi walked around to the driver's side and started the car. When the engine began to roar steadily, the first thing he did was to roll down the window on Xu Yan's side. A cool breeze instantly blew in, ruffling the strands of hair on Xu Yan's forehead.
The car drove smoothly out of the parking lot and merged into the traffic. Lu also drove very steadily, and from time to time he checked Xu Yan's condition through the rearview mirror.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked.
"Yeah," Xu Yan agreed, feeling the wind and sunlight streaming in from the window. He looked at the man beside him, focused on driving. The tightness in his chest and the nausea he felt were gone. He quietly relaxed, resting his head against the window frame and closing his eyes.
Lu Ziyi looked at his gradually relaxed profile and slowed down the car a little more.
For him, it doesn't matter what kind of car he rides in. What matters is who sits next to him and the place they are going to together, the place called "home".
The southern air still carried a familiar warmth and humidity. When Lu Ziyi's old, out-of-place SUV parked at the entrance of "Safe Haven," the afternoon sun lazily shone on the sign.
Pushing open the familiar wooden door, the sound of wind chimes rang. Lin Shuyin, wiping a glass behind the bar, subconsciously looked up and said, "Welcome." However, when she saw who had come in, her voice and movements froze.
The next second, before Xu Yan could even open his mouth, Lin Shuyin rushed out from behind the bar like a cannonball, bringing with her a gust of fragrant wind, and hugged him tightly and forcefully, her arms wrapped around him tightly, as if to confirm that he really existed.
"You still remember to come back!" Her voice was choked with sobs. She punched his back, then quickly hugged him tightly. "Asshole! It's been 5 days! 5 whole days! You scared us to death!"
Xu Yan was knocked back half a step by the huge impact. His face was stunned at first, but then it turned into a helpless, soft smile. He gently hugged her back and whispered, "Well, I'm back."
Lu Ziyi, standing beside Xu Yan, was stunned by the sight of this strange, beautiful woman who suddenly rushed out and hugged Xu Yan tightly. His body subconsciously tensed slightly, and his eyes flashed with a subtle confusion and...wariness? He was not sure about the situation.
Just then, another figure ran over from the booth.
It was Lin Wanqing. Her eyes instantly turned red when she saw Lu Ziyi. She ran up to him like a little rabbit, her voice tearful and incoherent with excitement: "Brother Ziyi! It's really you! You...you guys..." She looked at Xu Yan and Lu Ziyi standing side by side, tears streaming down her face. "Wow...seeing you two still together, I'm really touched..."
Lu Ziyi was somewhat at a loss as to what to do because of Lin Wanqing's tears. He could only stiffly raise his hand, gently pat her head, and whispered, "Don't cry."
For a moment, the area at the entrance of the bar was filled with excitement, tears and hugs of reunion after a long separation.
Behind the bar, Gu Yan, who was completely ignored, was still holding the cup he and Lin Shuyin had just wiped. He stood alone, watching the "two-on-two pairing" and emotional scene in front of him.
He blinked, and blinked again. For the first time, a clear emotion called "bewilderment" appeared on his face, which always wore a gentle smile. He looked at Lin Shuyin, who was holding Xu Yan tightly, and then looked at Lin Wanqing, who was crying to Lu Ziyi. Finally, he shrugged helplessly and muttered to the air in an extremely innocent and self-deprecating tone:
"Um... can anyone tell me if I should automatically turn invisible now, or just go out and take shelter?" He sighed, but a sincere smile appeared on his face. "Don't leave me here alone as a light bulb, friends."
This sentence was like a pebble thrown into the lake, instantly breaking the overly sentimental atmosphere.
Xu Yan couldn't help laughing and gently pushed Lin Shuyin. Lin Shuyin also burst into laughter and let go of Xu Yan, but still held his wrist tightly, as if afraid he would run away.
The corners of Lu Ziyi's mouth relaxed slightly, and he gave Gu Yan a look with a hint of apology.
The clamor of the reunion gradually died down. Everyone sat down in the booths, chatting about the things that had happened since they last met. But Xu Yan's eyes kept drifting to Lu Ziyi, who was sitting quietly beside him. He stood up and walked behind the bar.
"Let me do it today." He smiled at Gu Yan.
Gu Yan understood what he meant and gracefully made a "please" gesture, giving up the home court.
Xu Yan stood behind the familiar workbench, his expression focused and calm. His movements to remove the wine bottle were smooth and precise, and the shaker flew up and down in his hands, drawing a neat arc. The sound of ice cubes hitting each other was crisp and pleasant, like a unique rhythmic movement.
He specially mixed a drink for Lu Ziyi called "Dawn" - the base wine was the strong liquor he once feared, but it was blended with southern-style lime juice and a little sea salt, and finally topped with a wisp of mist from the jasmine, with rich layers, just like the bitter and sweet past between them.
He gently pushed the glass of wine, which was gradually turning dusk, in front of Lu Ziyi.
Lu Ziyi had been watching him quietly, his eyes focused as if he were enjoying a unique performance. He took the wine glass, but did not taste it immediately. Instead, he looked up at Xu Yan with deep eyes, and his tone was filled with undisguised admiration and a hint of subtle pride:
"Xu Yan."
He called his name, his voice low and serious.
"I had the pleasure of reading an interview with you in Drinker magazine. They called you... 'the poet of taste.'"
He paused slightly, and spoke clearly, word by word:
“Great bartender, well-deserved reputation.”
When these words came out, even Gu Yan beside him smiled in surprise and understanding. Lin Shuyin even whispered to Lin Wanqing, "Wow, Lu Ziyi is quite good at praising people..."
Lin Wanqing came over and said, "Of course!"
Xu Yan's heart felt like it had been gently nudged, and his ears felt slightly warm. He hadn't expected Lu Ziyi to see the magazine, let alone use such solemn words. He lowered his head, hiding the uncontrollable smile on his lips, his heart filled with a huge, recognized happiness.
However, a question that had been lingering in his mind for two years also quietly emerged at this moment. Taking advantage of this harmonious atmosphere, he raised his head, looked at Lu Ziyi, and asked the question that had puzzled him for a long time:
"Lu Ziyi, there's something I can't figure out." His voice softened. "These past two years... have been too quiet. Why haven't those creditors come looking for me again?"
He didn't believe that those people would disappear out of thin air.
Lu Ziyi paused, gripping his wine glass. The gentle smile on his face faded slightly, and he was silent for a moment. He looked into Xu Yan's clear, searching eyes, knowing it was time to give an answer.
He put down his wine glass, leaned forward slightly, his eyes calm and frank, and met Xu Yan's gaze directly. His tone was as flat as if he was talking about a trivial matter:
"Because I already took care of it for you two years ago after you left."
He paused, then added, his voice soft but weighty: "Everything."
These two words, so light and airy, instantly solved the biggest mystery in Xu Yan's heart. They were also like a huge rock thrown into the lake of his heart, stirring up huge waves.
It turns out that the two years of peace he'd thought he'd earned through his own struggles had been the result of this person silently supporting him. When he decided to leave, when he thought they were even, Lu Ziyi, unseen, had cleared all his worries for him.
Xu Yan stared at him blankly, his nose suddenly sore and his vision blurred. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that his throat seemed to be blocked by something, and no sound came out.
Lu Ziyi finished his words, waiting for Xu Yan's follow-up questions, or perhaps silence. He anticipated any calm reaction, but the one thing he hadn't anticipated was tears.
He saw Xu Yan standing there in a daze, his eyes turning red at a speed visible to the naked eye. Those eyes, which always showed stubbornness or calmness, were like ice that suddenly cracked, and surging tears burst out without warning, sliding hotly down his cheeks.
Lu Ziyi was stunned for a moment, his heart clenched tightly as if by an invisible hand, a sharp pain surging through him. In his memory, Xu Yan was resilient, someone who would grit his teeth and persevere even when pushed to the brink of despair. He had rarely seen Xu Yan shed such silent yet turbulent tears.
The next second, a huge panic swept over him.
"Xu Yan?"
He rose from his stool almost immediately, so quickly that he didn't even notice it tipping over. He took a single step to Xu Yan's side, a rare look of bewilderment crossing his usually calm and composed face. He reached out, wanting to hug him like he had last night, but he was afraid to be abrupt. His fingertips paused in mid-air for a moment, and in the end, he carefully wiped the tears from his face with his fingertips. The tears were so hot that they burned his fingertips, causing them to tremble.
"Don't cry..." His voice was very hoarse, and it contained a pleading tone that he himself didn't even realize was there. "Did I say something wrong?" His mind quickly reviewed his previous words, wondering if they were too direct and brought back painful memories.
Xu Yan just shook her head, tears falling even harder, but she still looked at him stubbornly, with too many complex emotions in her eyes that Lu Yi couldn't fully interpret at the moment.
At this moment, Lu Zi suddenly understood.
These tears were not of grievance, resentment, or even simple gratitude. They were a heavy, well-protected afterthought.
It was the huge shock of realizing he wasn't fighting alone for two years. It was finally realizing that the connection he thought he had long since severed had actually always existed in the most silent and solid way.
It turns out that all his peace of mind was built on the other person's silent protection.
After realizing this, Lu Ziyi's panic was instantly replaced by a deeper, more bitter heartache. He no longer hesitated and reached out to gently pull Xu Yan into his arms, one arm around his waist and the other firmly pressing the back of his head, letting him lean on his shoulder.
"Okay, it's okay..." He coaxed softly, as if soothing a frightened little animal, his palm gently patting his back, "It's all over."
He felt Xu Yan's body trembling slightly in his arms, and warm tears soaked the fabric on his shoulders. Lu Ziyi didn't say anything else, but just hugged him tighter, telling him with her body temperature and heartbeat -
You don't need to be thankful or feel guilty.
If there is any real gratitude, it should be mine.
Because everything I do for you is never a transaction. It is because I love you, so protecting you from the wind and rain is my instinct.
On the other side of the bar, Lin Shuyin subconsciously wanted to move forward, but was gently pulled back by Gu Yan. Gu Yan shook his head at her, motioning to leave space for the two people.
The lights were gentle, the aroma of wine was thick, and the "safe haven" had its moment of peace and tranquility.
Xu Yan, he finally accepted the person in front of him.
When Lu Ziyi carefully wiped away his tears and held him in her arms, those sharp fragments that lay across the years - exploitation, control, and those unforgettable injuries - seemed to be quietly smoothed out by a more powerful force at that moment.
He once thought that he would always remember the pain and would forever build a high wall of hatred. But it was not until this moment that he realized that hatred requires strength, while forgiveness sometimes only requires a look, a figure that chooses to walk towards you after seeing through all the pain.
He couldn't care anymore.
The past, like an old account book filled with mistakes, he chose not to revisit. Perhaps, in the eyes of others, his love for Lu Ziyi was against common sense, a symptom of Stockholm, a despicable compromise with past pain.
But he didn't care.
Morality, theory, the eyes of others... How can these frivolous things be compared with a person who silently cut off the pursuers behind him when he fell into the abyss, and when he thought he had gained freedom, he found out that freedom was a secret gift from him?
Love is inherently unreasonable. It's born in ruins, grows amidst thorns, receives no blessings, and isn't even understood by the world. But so what?
He grabbed this hand and would not let go.
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