Chapter 92 Is a life where new love and old friends gather together a happy one? Or...?
The group arrived safely at Jing Yuan's private residence aboard his private starship.
The mansion was built by the lake, with white walls and black tiles, and a deep courtyard. The night rain had just stopped, and fine water droplets were still dripping from the eaves, falling to the ground like the lingering melody of a song. Chen Mi looked up and saw only a corner of the dark eaves peeking out. Before the whole mansion could be seen, her heart was already shaken.
She then belatedly realized that Jingyuan's family background seemed to be much more affluent than she had imagined.
—How much would a mansion like this cost?
She couldn't help but mutter to herself that Jing Yuan's net worth was far, far higher than she had imagined.
Jing Yuan seemed to notice her gaze, turned his head, and smiled faintly: "What, are you calculating how much I'm worth?"
Shen Mi was stunned for a moment. He felt embarrassed that his thoughts had been seen through and quickly waved his hand to deny it: "I, I was just thinking about it casually."
"Don't worry." Jing Yuan chuckled, seemingly already used to her little schemes. He stepped forward, his toes darting around the puddles in the courtyard, his tone still light and easygoing, "This house was only recently renovated, it's not extravagant. Besides, it's just sitting empty anyway, might as well keep it to entertain old friends."
As he spoke, he reached out and pushed open the vermilion gate. The hinges clicked softly, and a warm lamp was lit in the courtyard. Soft light spilled from under the eaves, reflecting on the damp bluestone ground, as if silently welcoming their arrival.
Jing Yuan turned around, his eyes and brows full of smiles: "Welcome back."
Welcome back?
Shen Mi was slightly taken aback. This place had absolutely no connection to her, yet the moment those words were spoken, the lamplight and the courtyard brought a long-lost sense of peace to her heart. Seeing the three people beside her felt like someone who had wandered for a long time had finally found someone important and a place to rest after the storm.
Jing Yuan turned around and led the way, his steps leisurely yet composed. Ren, on the other hand, showed no sign of restraint, leaping across the threshold without any sense of obligation to follow the host's lead.
Only Danheng remained frozen in place after hearing "Welcome back," his steps halting at the door.
He looked up at the lights deep in the courtyard, his expression momentarily dazed. In that instant, memories of the past surged like a tide, and in his reverie, he seemed to see the house before it was renovated—the mottled walls and eaves, the old courtyard, intertwined and overlapping with the new scene before him, like a fleeting afterimage of a dream.
In the scene, some people raise their glasses, some laugh heartily, and amidst the clinking of glasses, lively laughter surrounds them. He can't tell if that figure is him or "another him" from the past. As the lens of memory slowly zooms in, the once-familiar face gradually becomes clear, like dust being brushed away from an ancient painting, freezing the beautiful moment in time.
Even the figure of the blade was so vivid and bright, as if it had never been consumed by pain and obsession.
Dan Heng was lost in the scene, unable to come to his senses for a long time, as if this gentle scenery was completely out of place for him. The night breeze brushed against his clothes, but he still stood straight, as calm and composed as a pine tree that remained unmoved.
"Danheng?"
A cheerful call suddenly came. Shen Mi stood not far away, turned around and looked at him, a smile in her eyes, like a lamp that was lit unintentionally, pulling him out of the tide of memories.
Shen Mi walked behind, and when she saw that he hadn't caught up, she stopped. She turned around, her eyes slightly curved, a faint smile playing on her lips, and said in a light tone, "Danheng, what are you thinking about? Come in quickly."
Upon hearing this, Dan Heng's gaze shifted slightly, as if he had been pulled back to reality from the depths of his memory. Shen Mi's eyes sparkled with a subtle smile and starlight, as bright as ever, giving off a warm and natural feeling.
"Okay." He replied softly, loosening his clenched hand, revealing several clear red marks on his palm, like crescent moons. Dan Heng remained expressionless, as if unwilling to let anyone notice his earlier lapse in composure, and simply said casually, "I'm coming right now."
"Hurry up, hurry up!" Shen Mi couldn't wait to go inside and explore, constantly urging Dan Heng on. Seeing that he was still walking slowly, she simply turned around, grabbed the slow-moving Dan Heng, and ran forward.
"Hurry up, hurry up!" Shen Mi pulled Dan Heng forward, almost dragging him across the threshold.
As soon as she landed, she stopped abruptly, stunned by the sight before her.
The house wasn't the empty, cold, and dreary dwelling she remembered; instead, it resembled a meticulously maintained garden, brimming with warmth. Warm yellow lights illuminated the center of the path on both sides, and the dark cobblestone path gleamed with a smooth, lustrous surface. Bamboo swayed in the breeze on either side, glistening raindrops clinging to its branches and leaves, their gentle swaying creating a shimmering effect of tiny, sparkling lights.
A few steps ahead lies a small, exquisite pond. Raindrops splash and ripple, spreading outwards to reflect the distant lights hanging from the eaves. A curved stone bridge spans the center of the pond, like a white ribbon lying on the water. Beside the bridge are several craggy rocks, each with a unique shape, their reflections shimmering in the water, creating a play of reality and illusion.
Above the pond stands a small pavilion, where a snow-white old plum tree, leaning precariously, meanders from the corner of the wall, its branches half-embracing the pavilion, as if trying to bend down and peer inside. The old plum stands quietly, its branches gnarled and twisted, its blossoms abundant and its leaves lush. Scattered petals fall onto the warm wooden floor, tempting one to walk barefoot on them. Beneath the plum blossoms, a long wooden table is set with books and tea sets, suggesting that someone often lingers here, perhaps reading or drinking tea.
Shen Mi couldn't help but marvel at how the Immortal Ship's climate was simulated, allowing the scenery of all four seasons to appear simultaneously, which was quite elegant. The light shining from the depths of the courtyard was reflected by the wind chimes under the eaves, making them tinkle, which, combined with the tranquility of the night and the damp air after the rain, created a somewhat poetic atmosphere.
Looking further in, the artificial hills twisted and turned, the corridors meandered, and there seemed to be pavilions in the depths. For a moment, Chen Mi even felt as if he had not entered an ancient house, but rather stumbled into some secluded garden.
She lowered her voice and exclaimed to Danheng, "...This place is so big!"
Dan Heng nodded in agreement, as if it were his "first time" here.
Ren was not surprised by this, but after hearing Shen Mi's words, a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes. He glanced at Jing Yuan in front of him, then slowly turned his head and smiled at Shen Mi, "We've known each other for so long, and he has never brought you here before?"
Jing Yuan paused slightly, subconsciously glancing at Chen Mi. She saw that Chen Mi completely ignored Ren's words, even secretly making a face at him as if in protest.
Seeing Shen Mi deliberately making herself look ugly, Jing Yuan's lips curled into a faint smile, and his heart calmed down because of her little gesture. He glanced helplessly at Ren, raised his hand to push aside a drooping bamboo branch, and said in a leisurely tone with a hint of joke, "What you said makes sense. It just so happens that everyone is here today. Flowers bloom in their time, but good times are hard to come by again. Perhaps this is destiny."
Before they knew it, they had walked through the corridor and arrived at their destination.
Walking at the back, Chen Mi paused slightly, looking left and right, trying to peer over the three tall men to get a feel for the interior of the house. The two small lions at the rivet-studded gate were exquisite and interesting, and the exterior of the courtyard was also unique, stirring a sense of curiosity and surprise in her heart, and making her even more eager to see the interior design of the house.
The owner of the house, Jing Yuan, began to greet the guests: "This place is usually cleaned. I have already asked someone to buy the food, and the rooms have been cleaned. Please take a shower and then come over for dinner."
Shen Mi followed slowly, his eyes darting around.
The interior of the house is elegant and refined: the wooden beams and pillars are a deep brown and glossy, and the eaves are carved with delicate patterns, yet not overly elaborate; several ink landscape paintings hang on the walls, their ink tones light and elegant, with distant mountain peaks appearing and disappearing as if carrying the coolness of the morning mist. The window frames are inlaid with lattice patterns, and the shadows of bamboo sway gently in the night breeze outside the windows, with dappled light and shadow falling on the sandalwood floor, as if beckoning.
A few sprigs of green bamboo and small bonsai trees are scattered in the corner of the hall, their lush greenery complementing the warm yellow light, creating a sense of coolness and vitality in the air. On the table, various shaped porcelain cats and lion figurines are exquisite and whimsical, their delicate carvings revealing a charming side to the owner's personality. The neatly arranged ancient books on the bookshelf exude a faint scent of paper and ink, inviting one to reach out and gently touch them.
Shen Mi sighed inwardly. The style of this house was almost identical to the Jingyuan residence she had seen in the city. While the city houses were convenient, their decorations and furnishings lacked the harmony of this place. Every corner of the old house exuded the care and warmth of its inhabitants. Here, one could glean insights into the owner's personality and taste from the various decorations. It was a place filled with cherished items, truly a space where one could relax and immerse oneself.
It's not surprising that Jingyuan didn't bring her earlier. If it were him, it wouldn't be easy to completely open his heart to someone in such a short time.
After a brief tour of the house, Shen Mi felt that there was an odor around him that didn't suit the place.
She lowered her head and sniffed her own body, already faintly smelling a foul odor. The thought of how close she had been to Danheng and Jingyuan made her feel that she had caused them harm.
Jingyuan, Danheng! I'm so sorry, I've made your noses suffer!
I'm going to take a nice shower now, and then I'll come and pamper you all one by one.
"I'm going to take a shower now!" Shen Mi was about to push open a door when she heard Jing Yuan call out to her in a somewhat flustered tone.
He pointed towards the second floor and said to her, "It seems the housekeeper left your change of clothes upstairs."
The implication is that your room is upstairs.
Shen Mi quickly responded twice, smiling awkwardly, "Oh, okay!" But inwardly she was cursing herself for almost barging into someone else's room, feeling a little embarrassed.
Jing Yuan smiled slightly and nodded in acknowledgment. Actually, the room she had almost pushed away was his own. Jing Yuan, who disliked others touching his belongings, always cleaned his bedroom himself, and the large bed was piled high with clothes because of his laziness.
Fortunately, I managed to stop the damage in time, preventing Shen Mi from discovering my negative side.
After thinking it over, he remembered there were two other people in the house. To prevent any further accidents, Jing Yuan decided to take them there. Just as he was about to lead them there, he saw Ren walk straight towards a room on the first floor, saying as he walked, "I remember."
Jing Yuan nodded, his gaze shifting to Dan Heng. He wondered to himself if Dan Heng still remembered the location of his room. Should he change his room, since Dan Feng's old things were still in that room?
Danheng—”
Just as Jing Yuan was pondering, Dan Heng had already arrived at the door of the old house that belonged to "him" before the renovation.
Jing Yuan tentatively asked, "Would you like me to change your room?"
Dan Heng neither nodded nor shook his head, his hand hovering over the doorknob, seemingly hesitant to push it open. After a while, he smiled slightly and said softly to Jing Yuan, "Thank you."
Finally, he pressed the handle and slowly pushed the door open.
"I want to give it a try."
Try to break free from Danfeng's influence on you.
Jing Yuan nodded, his tone calm: "There are still empty rooms upstairs, all cleaned up. You can stay here without worry if you need them."
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Author's Note: Here I am, here I am, my drafts are running low... [crying][crying][crying] Don't go! My drafts!!!
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