Chapter 192 Blade Protects the Cub
Three years passed in a flash.
The timid boy clutching the hem of his clothes back then has now grown to 5 feet 4 inches tall, his features losing their childishness and gaining a touch of handsomeness. However, his dependence on Lin Yan remains undiminished. Even after college, he waits for Lin Yan to pick him up every day after school, walking close to his elbow and whispering in his ear, a true clingy spirit who never grows up.
"Hey Sizhui, you're already eighteen, can you keep some distance from Lin Yan?" Lan Jingyi munched on a burger, looking at Lin Yan who was helping Sizhui adjust his scarf not far away, and complained sourly, "Last time we made an appointment to play basketball, you said Lin Yan was going to take you to a wood carving exhibition, and this time we made an appointment to go to the movies, and you said Lin Yan made sweet and sour fish..."
Jin Ling chimed in, "Exactly. It makes us seem redundant."
Si Zhui smiled sheepishly, his hand unconsciously rubbing the things in his pocket, and said softly: "I'll treat you to dinner after I'm done with this."
In his pocket was the recorder he'd used for three years. The shell had long since worn to a shine, and the buttons were a bit dysfunctional, but he treasured it dearly—it contained the sounds of the wind on the New York streets, the rustling of Lin Yan carving wood, and countless moments that had brought him peace of mind.
There were no classes that afternoon, so Si Zhui walked towards the school gate with his bag on his back. As soon as he turned into the familiar alley, he was stopped by several boys with dyed yellow hair.
"Hey, Lan Sizhui, right?" the leading boy asked, waving his baseball bat nonchalantly. "I heard you're pretty close to the beauty from the Computer Science Department?"
Si Zhui frowned: "I don't know you."
"I don't know him?" The boy scoffed, his eyes fixed on his bulging pockets. "I heard you have a precious recorder that you carry around all day. Do you have something shameful in it?"
This remark touched Sizhui's sore spot. He subconsciously covered his pocket, his eyes cold: "Get out of the way."
"So what if you don't let me?" Another boy reached out to grab his pocket, "Give it to us guys to listen to!"
Si Zhui dodged sideways and clenched his fists. He didn't want to cause trouble, but if anyone wanted to touch the things Lin Yan gave him, it would be impossible.
"If you don't accept my toast, you'll have to drink for it!" The leading boy waved his baseball bat and several people surrounded him in an instant.
Although Si Zhui had learned self-defense from Lan Wangji for several years, the other side was outnumbered and he was worried about the recorder in his pocket, so he was quickly at a disadvantage. He was punched in the face, the corner of his mouth was broken and bleeding, but he guarded his pocket tightly, as if it were a rare treasure.
"Hand it over!" One boy grabbed his arm and another reached into his pocket.
Si Zhui got anxious and broke free suddenly, punching the other person in the face. He turned around and tried to run, but was kicked from behind and fell heavily to the ground.
"Damn it! You dare to fight back!" The leading boy was furious and took out a folding knife from his waist. "Kill him!"
The blade flashed coldly in the sunset, stabbing straight at Sizhui's arm. Sizhui's pupils suddenly shrank, and he subconsciously closed his eyes, but the expected pain did not come.
He opened his eyes and saw a familiar figure standing in front of him. Lin Yan was tightly gripping the wrist holding the knife, his face so gloomy that it seemed like water was about to drip out.
"Lin...Brother Lin?" Si Zhui was stunned, his voice trembling with disbelief.
"Get out." Lin Yan's voice was as cold as ice, and the hostility in his eyes made the boys panic instantly.
"Who are you? Mind your own business!" the leading boy shouted in a timid tone.
Lin Yan said nothing, only exerting force with his hands. "Ah!" the boy cried out in pain, and the folding knife fell to the ground with a clang. Seeing this, the others dared not stay any longer. They picked up their companions and ran away, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
They were the only two people left in the alley. Lin Yan turned around and looked at Si Zhui, who had fallen to the ground. The corner of his mouth was broken and there were bruises on his face. His eyes suddenly became frighteningly cold.
"Get up." His voice was devoid of warmth.
Si Zhui bit his lip and slowly climbed to his feet, not daring to look him in the eye. He knew Lin Yan was angry, angry at him for fighting, angry at him for not taking care of himself.
Lin Yan said nothing more. He grabbed his wrist and walked out of the alley with such force that it almost broke his bones. Si Zhui stumbled a few steps and tried to explain, but the low pressure around him frightened him so much that he dared not speak.
Only after getting in the car did Lin Yan let go of his hand and slid into the back seat, closing his eyes and leaning back without even glancing at Si Zhui. The driver, Uncle Mo, glanced in the rearview mirror and saw that the wound on Lin Yan's arm was still bleeding. He was so frightened that he dared not breathe and silently started the car.
The atmosphere in the car was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe. Si Zhui looked at the wound on Lin Yan's arm - the cut he had made when he had just blocked the knife. Blood was dripping down his fair skin, staining the dark sleeve of his suit red.
"Brother Lin, your hand..." His voice trembled and he wanted to touch it, but Lin Yan dodged him.
Lin Yan opened his eyes, his gaze as cold as ice: "Lan Sizhui, you have become more capable."
Si Zhui's eyes instantly turned red, and his lips trembled: "No, they were the ones who stole my things first..."
"You're going to fight just to steal something?" Lin Yan's voice suddenly rose. "There are four or five of them, and they have knives. Are you looking for death?"
"That's the recorder you gave me..." Si Zhui's voice was filled with deep grievance, tears welling up in his eyes, "I can't let them take it away..."
Mentioning the recorder, Lin Yan paused, the anger in his eyes seemed to subside a little, but was quickly replaced by a deeper chill: "For a recorder, you don't even want your life?"
Si Zhui bit his lip and said nothing, tears streaming down his face. He knew he had been impulsive, but the recorder was more than just an object to him. It was the peace of mind Lin Yan had given him in New York, the companionship he had shared countless nights over the past three years. He couldn't let it go.
Lin Yan watched him cry, his heart aching with anger and pain, like being cut by a knife. He was angry at his impulsiveness, angry that he didn't take care of himself, but he was even more distressed by the scars on his face, and the fact that he was willing to fight for something he had given him.
He turned his head away, no longer looking at him, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes. The wound on his arm still hurt, but it was far less painful than the torment in his heart.
Why can't this child understand that to him, Sizhui's safety is more important than anything else.
The car drove forward in silence, the street scene outside the window quickly receding, just like the chaotic emotions of the two people at the moment. Si Zhui looked at the blood on Lin Yan's arm, and his tears fell even more fiercely. He had only one thought in his mind - Brother Lin, I'm sorry.
But he didn't know that in Lin Yan's closed eyes at this moment, there was also deep helplessness and fear.
The scene just now almost killed him. He couldn't bear to think about what would have happened if he had been a step later.
Over the past three years, he thought Sizhui had grown up and become sensible, but he forgot the stubbornness in the boy's bones and his dependence on him, which was so deep that he was willing to do anything for him.
It seems that he has protected him too well over the years, making him forget the dangers of this world.
Lin Yan opened his eyes and looked at the neon lights passing by outside the window, his eyes gradually becoming firm.
There are some lessons that he must learn personally. There are some truths that he must truly understand.
For example, his life is more important than anything else.
For example, he, Lin Yan, will never need Si Zhui to protect anything with his life.
Protecting him is my responsibility.
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