"Sister Wanwan, Brother Duan, have a safe journey!" Hua Jinyue waved her little hands vigorously, her eyes a little red.
Ye Qingliu also raised his hand and waved gently: "Take care."
Duan Shuce put his arm around Ning Xiwan's shoulders and nodded to the brother and sister.
Ning Xiwan's gaze swept across Ye Qingliu's calm eyes and Hua Jinyue's slightly red eyes, and finally looked at the backs of the two brothers who were joining the crowd in different directions, her eyes calm and distant.
"Let's go." Duan Shuce's low voice sounded in his ears, carrying a soothing force.
Ning Xiwan withdrew her gaze, hummed softly, let him hug her, turned and walked towards the quiet boarding gate leading to the southern hemisphere.
The plane roared into the sky, passing through the thick cloud layer. Inside the cabin, Ning Xiwan leaned against the window, watching the clouds rolling like a sea outside. The familiar outline of the city below became smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared from sight.
The nerves that had been tense for too long finally relaxed a little by a little with the steady roar of the engine.
She slowly closed her eyes, her thick eyelashes casting a faint shadow under her eyelids.
Duan Shuce gently covered her with a blanket and held her hand.
A dozen hours later, the plane landed in Christchurch, on New Zealand's South Island. The air was as clear as crystal, carrying the scent of green grass and distant snow-capped mountains, instantly cleansing my lungs of the lingering urban dust and bloody atmosphere.
Duan Shuce had already arranged everything. A simple and spacious SUV took them out of the city and headed towards Queenstown, further south.
There are endless grasslands on both sides of the road, and herds of cattle and sheep are eating grass leisurely like pearls scattered on the green carpet.
In the distance, the Southern Alps stretch out in a continuous line, their peaks covered with snow that never melts all year round, shining with holy light under the pure blue sky.
The huge Lake Wakatipu is like a sapphire inlaid in the valley. The water is crystal clear and reflects the snow-capped mountains and white clouds.
Finally, the car stopped on a hillside with its back against the forest and facing the lake. A log cabin stood quietly, with a spacious terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Behind the house are tall beech and fir trees, and in front of the door is a neatly trimmed lawn that stretches all the way to the sparkling lake.
A few fat sheep were moving slowly on the distant hillside, and the bells around their necks made clear and distant jingling sounds.
"We're home." Duan Shuce parked the car, walked around to the passenger seat, opened the door for Ning Xiwan, and stretched out his hand.
Ning Xiwan stepped out of the car and took a deep breath of the cool air, which was scented with the fragrance of grass and trees. The vast and magnificent scenery before her was like a huge, tranquil oil painting, instantly filling her somewhat empty vision.
Duan Shuce was not in a hurry to take her into the house. He just stood quietly beside her and watched the beautiful scenery of lake and mountains with her.
"Do you like it?" he asked in a low voice, his voice sounding particularly gentle in the silent valley.
Ning Xiwan didn't answer, but reached out and gently held his hand.
Her gaze remained fixed on the towering snow-capped mountains in the distance, the sunlight falling on her long eyelashes, casting fine shadows. The wind blew the strands of hair on her cheek, brushing past the pale pink scar.
Here, the scar no longer seems to be a mark of pain, but just a part of past experience, embraced by this vast world.
Duan Shuce turned his hand and completely wrapped her slightly cold hand in his warm palm.
The sun was shining brightly and the wind passed without a trace, leaving only the fragrance of the grass leaves and the soft sound of the water lapping against the shore.
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