Chapter 2 His voice softened slightly, the lingering tone like soft vines wrapping around him.
Lan once asked the mountain spirit—
Why give him such a name?
The other party said that it was because March is the time when orchids are in full bloom.
"I have never seen a real orchid, only some poems describing orchids, and my intuition is that they must be extremely beautiful."
The mountain spirit answered in this way.
This mountain has no common flowers, trees and grasses, only towering giant trees and scattered green vines.
This should be quite unusual.
Even if Lan had never seen the world outside the mountains with her own eyes, she would still think so.
Because it's so quiet here.
There were no chirping insects, no flying birds, only the rustling of branches and leaves sprouting—Lan always felt that the vines were alive.
Although he had never witnessed them moving on their own.
However, there are often situations where, in the short time it takes to turn your back, the vines that were originally creeping at your feet have already wrapped around and climbed up a horizontal branch, and even that branch seems to have appeared suddenly.
Lan has basically concluded that the vines are alive.
This is not surprising at all. After all, from a certain perspective, aren't we the same as them?
The difference is that they have no hands and feet, so they can move freely without any additional assistance.
Unlike them...
People thrive when they move, but trees die when they are moved.
Perhaps for this reason, the mountain spirit had never seen an orchid.
Because the mountain spirit cannot leave this place, and any living creature from the outside world that enters this place will almost certainly die.
Besides them—Lan and that boy.
As the only two living beings besides the mountain spirit.
Lan was able to survive because she received a gift from the mountain spirit.
Shanling didn't say what it was, so Lan didn't ask.
In his view, it doesn't matter what it is.
In any case, from the moment she opened her eyes and saw him for the first time, Lan made up her mind to follow the young man for the rest of her life, regardless of life or death.
If needed, I can take my life back at any time.
Lan wouldn't have any complaints. In fact, she thought it would be a good ending.
This is what it means to have a good beginning and a good end.
"Hmph, only an idiot would have such a stupid idea."
The boy with his arms crossed looked disdainful upon hearing this.
Mountain spirits often need to patrol the mountains and forests.
The so-called patrol is to ensure that no lost humans or other creatures wander into this place.
Lan was picked up by the mountain spirit during one of its patrols, along with a boy named Xiao.
Lan wasn't sure if that was the boy's real name.
The mountain spirit addressed the young man as A-Xiao, and the latter did not object.
Both were taken in, but Xiao always acted as if he were the master, finding fault with Lan, the newcomer.
—Is it because of jealousy?
The jealous young man turned his attention to Lan, the newcomer.
That doesn't seem to be entirely true.
Because Xiao also seems to have many grievances against the youth, he would leave the mountain at the slightest disagreement and disappear or something.
When Lan first saw the boy's confident and aggressive demeanor, she thought he really wasn't coming back.
It would be fine if they didn't come back.
But……
Lan couldn't help but secretly observe the young man's expression, somewhat worried that he might feel sad because of it.
In fact, the young man's expression remained calm and normal, as if nothing had happened.
He showed no sadness or joy, remaining as calm and composed as ever, even smiling slightly at Lan Wei, who looked bewildered.
That smile was exactly the same as the one Lan had seen when they first met.
Lan's heart stirred slightly as she suddenly recalled the few words she had overheard before the boy stormed off, repeatedly saying that the other person was heartless.
As the saying goes, plants and trees have no heart.
So, does the spirit born from this mindless thing also lack a heart and be incapable of feeling?
If so—
Lan thought to herself, then got up and walked to the young man, to the spot where Xiao had stood before leaving, and gently took one of his hands.
Then, under the questioning gaze of the other party, she blinked innocently.
"It's a bit cold," he said.
Upon hearing this, the young man stopped trying to find out anything and simply let Lan hold his hand.
The young man's palms were soft, but not as warm as Lan's.
The young man seemed oblivious, and Lan didn't point it out.
Just holding it quietly feels like a warmth rising from the bottom of my heart, spreading little by little until it reaches every part of my body.
Lan looked up at the young man who seemed to be in a daze.
Young people often remain silent and still. They are quiet and out of place, as if nothing in the world can enter their field of vision.
Lan liked looking at young people like this.
In fact, Lan likes him no matter what kind of person he is.
But that's not enough.
Lan then spoke softly and gently, "We haven't finished talking about that book from last time..."
His voice wasn't loud, so naturally we had to stand closer.
Then he saw the young man turn his head as if waking from a dream, unaware that the distance between them was a little too close. He just stared at the child beside him with his eyes wide open, looking somewhat bewildered.
"What?" he asked.
"The last book wasn't finished yet."
Lan repeated herself slowly and deliberately, then paused, as if she had just remembered something, and lowered her eyelashes in shame.
"I'm sorry, I don't know if I should have brought this up now..."
His voice softened, the lingering tone like a soft vine wrapping around.
There was a rustling, rustling sound.
"That's not true."
As expected, the young man said something to stop her: "Lan doesn't need to blame herself. It's my fault. I promised you before."
After saying this, the young man got up to find a book.
Seeing this, Lan silently took out a book and handed it over.
The young man wasn't too surprised that Lan always carried the book with her—after all, Lan was a studious child.
As for those who are so engrossed in listening that they have to get close, there's nothing that can be done about it.
It's not surprising that when you get tired of studying, you might fall asleep leaning against something.
He's just a child, after all.
What bad intentions could a child possibly have?
Since they have no relatives or friends with the person who adopted them, it's reasonable for them to feel closer to the person who took them in.
Lan closed her eyes and felt the other person gently drape a robe over her shoulders; the soft fabric still carried the fresh scent of herbs and trees.
Then, seemingly unintentionally, she turned over and pressed down on a corner of the young man's clothes.
Just as the young man frowned helplessly, he took the other man's arm.
Feeling the body in her arms relax from tense to relaxed, and hearing a barely audible sigh from above, Lan knew that the other person would not leave.
—It's not so bad that plants and trees have no heart.
At least, Lan doesn't have to worry about the other party developing any unnecessary concerns.
Even if others leave, I will stay by the young man's side.
Being alone is enough.
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