Chapter 143 Just an Old Friend
The next day, Zou Lang took Lin Yu and Jiang Chuan to pay respects to their aunt. Lin Feng was a devout Buddhist, and her funeral arrangements were made at the temple she frequented.
Her photograph was framed in a vermilion wooden box in the urn, the frame wrapped with newly replaced off-white cotton thread. Zou Lang lit three incense sticks on the table, gently extinguished the flames, and handed them to Lin Yu.
Lin Yu swayed back and forth, then stood up and inserted the incense into the incense burner. Jiang Chuan stood beside her and casually brushed away a few specks of ash from her coat.
Zou Lang took out a wet wipe and carefully cleaned the offering table in front of the shrine, then placed the rice cakes he had brought from home on it. The three of them stood quietly in front of the shrine for a moment, then solemnly bowed three times.
As I stood up, a few rays of sunlight shone through the window and fell on the celadon bowls on the offering table.
Jiang Chuan silently tidied the offering table, picked up the empty bag, turned around and naturally took Lin Yu's hand. The warmth of his palm gently soothed her emotions.
As Lin Yu emerged from the temple, the red lanterns at the entrance swayed gently in the breeze, and the faint sound of firecrackers echoed in the distance. He instinctively looked up at Jiang Chuan, only to meet his intense, unwavering gaze.
He reached out and pulled up the zipper of her collar. The wind brushed past her temples, and the heavy emptiness in her heart seemed to be slowly filled by the warmth of his palm.
On the way back, Zou Lang suddenly announced some good news: he had passed the adult exam for upgrading from junior college to bachelor's degree and would be going to Linjiang to study for his bachelor's degree next March.
Lin Yu had never heard him mention this before, and looked at his younger brother in surprise.
Zou Lang felt a little embarrassed by his sister's glare, scratched his head and laughed, "I was afraid I wouldn't pass the exam and would disappoint you, so I waited until the results came out before telling you."
"What did you study?" Lin Yu reached out and brushed the remaining snow off his shoulder, her tone full of concern.
"Automation, which is hardware-oriented, is the same major I studied in college."
Lin Yu smiled with satisfaction after hearing this. "The chip industry has been booming these past few years. With this major, you definitely won't have to worry about finding a job in the future."
Have you decided where you'll go after graduation?
Zou Lang glanced at Jiang Chuan subconsciously, looking somewhat uneasy.
“I talked to Chen Guang about this before, and he said that after I graduate, he would introduce me to try my luck at the research institute under his friend’s company.”
"They also told me to put in more effort at school and make my report card look better."
Although he didn't notice it at first, as time went on, he gradually realized the unusual relationship between him and his sister. Now, mentioning another man related to his sister in front of his brother-in-law, Zou Lang couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable.
But Chen Guang had indeed helped him a lot during this time, and thinking about this, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
If he hadn't advised me not to waste time and encouraged me to take the exam to upgrade my associate degree to a bachelor's degree, and hadn't patiently helped me analyze my career plan and clarify my future direction step by step, I might still be wandering in confusion right now.
His mother's passing forced him to confront the unpredictability of life for the first time. He no longer wanted to drift along as before, but resolved to live a more meaningful life, both as an explanation to himself and as a way of making amends to Lin Feng.
After Lin Feng left, getting into university became his new life goal. It was this determination that helped him pull himself out of the grief of losing his mother and focus his attention back on tangible things.
Chen Guang's encouragement and guidance were like the final push, turning his vague desire to improve into concrete actions.
For Zou Lang, this is not only an improvement in his academic qualifications, but also a farewell to his past aimless self, allowing him to embrace a better life with a brand new identity.
Therefore, regardless of whether Chen Guang and his sister ultimately ended up together, Zou Lang was deeply grateful for Chen Guang's guidance and help, and wholeheartedly recognized him as a brother-like friend.
Upon hearing Chen Guang's name, Jiang Chuan lowered his eyes and smiled, his expression calm and without a trace of displeasure. Instead, he took the initiative to ask about Chen Guang's recent situation.
Zou Lang was surprised by his reaction and thought for a moment before saying, "He quit his job and went to Sichuan and Tibet alone."
"What?"
Even Lin Yu couldn't remain calm now. That was an organization countless people would kill to get into. Chen Guang had been there for seven years, reaching his current position, and now he was just giving it all up like that.
"And he went there on a motorcycle." Zou Lang observed his sister and brother-in-law's expressions, and after a while, he added another sentence.
"When did this happen?" Lin Yu hadn't been in contact with Chen Guang for a while and knew nothing about his recent situation, her tone revealing surprise.
“About two months ago,” Zou Lang recalled. “He would occasionally send me videos and photos of the journey. He had gotten quite tanned, but he seemed to be having a good time.”
Happy? Lin Yu repeated the question softly to herself. Yes, she suddenly understood that perhaps this life of following one's heart was the life Chen Guang had always longed for.
Qin Fei spent most of her life planning the best life for Chen Guang in her eyes, but in the end, she completely lost control of her son.
Chen Guang finally realized that his repeated compromises with his mother in the past had not only caused him to lose love but also ruined his dreams, turning him into someone he didn't even recognize.
Qin Fei's controlling nature may have originated from love, but this heavy and twisted emotion has always been accompanied by invisible harm.
Perhaps he will never become the son his mother wanted, the perfect illusion created under her strong will.
It wasn't until his reunion with Lin Yu that the regrets of the past and the repression of the present allowed him to truly see himself and no longer be willing to be an obedient puppet. Instead, he chose to use the method his mother most opposed to personally break free of his shackles and regain control of his life.
Although doing so might mean losing stability and having no way out, Chen Guang knew that only by taking this step could he completely break free from his mother's influence and find his repressed self.
Lin Yu then realized that Chen Guang had never lost his original edge and passion; he just lacked the courage to start over.
Zou Lang walked ahead, while Jiang Chuan and Lin Yu followed slowly behind, hand in hand. Jiang Chuan noticed Lin Yu's expression, gently brushed his thumb against her fingertip, and asked softly, "If you're worried, just make a call and ask."
Lin Yu turned her head to look at him, her eyes probing, trying to see a ripple of emotion beneath his calm expression. "You don't mind?"
"Should I mind?" Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile, "He's just an old friend."
"Not bad." Lin Yu reached out and touched Jiang Chuan's cheek, gently pinching it until a crack appeared in his calm expression before withdrawing her hand. "My boyfriend is getting more and more confident. Keep it up."
In the end, Lin Yu didn't make the call. After all, they were just ordinary friends now, and Chen Guang probably had many people around him who cared about him more than she did; he didn't need her simple greeting.
Unexpectedly, on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, two days before they were to return to Shanghai, Lin Yu received a call from Chen Guang. At that time, she was packing her luggage for the return trip. When she saw the call, she got up and went to the balcony to answer it.
The winds of western Sichuan, carrying the scent of the wilderness, whistled past Lin Yu's ears through the radio waves, followed by Chen Guang's cheerful voice. "Hey... Happy New Year, Banban!"
He made no mention of past regrets, as if he were simply treating Lin Yu as an old friend who had witnessed his rebirth. His tone was relaxed and even a little amused.
"I'm in Basu right now. I just crossed a mountain pass. The wind is really strong and the signal isn't very good."
"Looking at the mountains and clouds by the roadside just now, I suddenly remembered that I haven't wished you a Happy New Year yet. How are you doing there?"
Lin Yu listened quietly, without mentioning his resignation or asking about his future plans. "I'm fine, Chen Guang."
The sound of the wind grew clearer in her ears, and she unconsciously raised her voice, carefully reminding him: "You must be careful on the road. The temperature difference between day and night is large there, so remember to wear more clothes."
"I'll send you photos from the trip when I get back," Chen Guang said, his voice filled with joy. "You really should come here; the feeling here... is so liberating."
Lin Yu could hear the undisguised joy in his tone and was sincerely gratified that he had finally found his true self. He smiled and replied, "Okay, when you come back, tell me about your experiences on the road."
On the day of their return trip, even though Lin Yu repeatedly reminded them of the limited baggage allowance, Liu Wenbin still filled their trunk to the brim, saying as he did so, "These are all local specialties from our hometown. You can't buy them outside. We'll bring them back and share them with Qi Sheng and the others."
While helping Liu Wenbin organize the miscellaneous items in the trunk, Lin Yu casually complained, "Qi Sheng has been elusive lately; we can't find him anywhere."
Liu Wenbin had just finished packing when he poked his head out of the trunk, clapped his hands, and laughed, "This kid must be dating someone, right? I'll ask your uncle about it later."
"It's okay to ask, but be discreet." Lin Yu smiled, pressed down the trunk door, and turned to look at Jiang Chuan. "With my brother's mouth, it's not easy for him to find a girlfriend. Don't scare her away."
Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.
Lin Min was very concerned about her daughter's health. Before getting into the car, she pulled Lin Yu aside and repeatedly told her not to overwork herself because of the company's affairs. She said that there was never enough work to be done, and she also specifically asked Jiang Chuan to keep an eye on her.
As the car slowly drove out of the alleyway downstairs, Lin Yu looked in the rearview mirror at his mother and stepfather who were still standing there, and his eyes involuntarily reddened.
She silently marveled at how fortunate she was, always having her family protecting her. It was this support that allowed her to overcome obstacles at every crossroads in her life and make choices that truly aligned with her heart without hesitation.
Looking at Jiang Chuan beside him, who was gripping the steering wheel tightly and concentrating on driving, Lin Yu suddenly felt an irresistible urge to give him even more of the love that was about to overflow.
She wanted him to understand that from now on, he was no longer alone. Her family would love him as much as they loved her. Their relationship had long since transcended the boundaries of two people; it had become a bond between the entire family.
She hopes that Jiang Chuan can not only find love in this relationship, but also rediscover the sense of security that comes from being surrounded by family affection.
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