Chapter 54 Moving
The next day, Xie Lin held Lin Mianmian's hand and stood on the bustling street.
Behind them were two simple suitcases, which contained all their belongings.
Without the aura of being the heir of the Xie family, without the servants surrounding him, and without the luxury car worth millions—Xie Lin left the car in the villa's garage.
He only took one bank card with him.
"Where are we going now?" Lin Mianmian gripped his fingers, her fingertips slightly cold, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible unease.
Xie Lin turned his head and looked at the unease in her eyes. He then gripped her hand even tighter, his fingertips tracing the back of her hand, and said firmly, "Find a house."
The two walked along the street for more than half an hour and visited three real estate agencies.
At first, the agent greeted him warmly, but his smile froze the moment he heard Xie Lin's name.
They stammered and said there were "no suitable properties available," and wouldn't even let them in the door.
The last real estate agency owner's wife even went so far as to turn hostile, waving her hand like she was shooing away flies: "Go away! We don't do business with you here!"
Lin Mianmian's face flushed red instantly, and she gripped Xie Lin's hand, her fingertips trembling.
She could tell that these people weren't lacking housing options; they simply didn't dare to rent to them.
With a single sentence from Xie Mingcheng, they cut off their path to finding a place to stay in this city.
Xie Lin's face was as dark as ink, and the air pressure around him was frighteningly low.
He stared intently at the real estate agent's back, his knuckles turning white from the force.
Lin Mianmian, fearing he might act impulsively, quickly tugged at his arm: "Forget it, Xie Lin, let's stop looking."
Xie Lin turned his head and saw her reddened eyes. The fierceness in his eyes instantly disappeared, leaving only heartache.
He raised his hand and gently ruffled her hair, his voice hoarse: "I'm sorry you had to go through this."
"I'm not wronged." Lin Mianmian shook her head, stood on tiptoe, and pressed her forehead against his chest, her voice soft, "As long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter where we live."
A gentle evening breeze blew by, ruffling the stray hairs on Lin Mianmian's forehead and dispelling the gloom in Xie Lin's heart.
He lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head, the faint fragrance of her hair lingering around his nose—a scent more pleasant than any of the Xie family's most precious perfumes.
Just then, Lin Mianmian seemed to suddenly remember something, and she abruptly raised her head, her eyes sparkling.
"Xie Lin, let's go to Grandma's house! Grandma was hospitalized a few days ago, and no one is home. It's just empty."
Grandma's house is in an alley in the old town. It's an old-fashioned residential building with a small courtyard, where Lin Mianmian grew up.
It was also the warmest harbor in her heart.
Xie Lin paused for a moment, then nodded: "Okay. We'll go to the hospital to see Grandma tomorrow."
He had never been to Lin Mianmian's house, but he had heard her mention that her grandmother was a very kind old woman and that the yard was full of roses.
The taxi made several turns before finally stopping at the entrance of a small alley paved with bluestone slabs.
The alley is narrow, lined with old houses, their walls covered with lush green ivy. The setting sun filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
The alleyway was filled with the aroma of food, the sounds of elderly people chatting, and the laughter of children chasing and playing—everything exuded a warm, homey atmosphere.
Xie Lin took Lin Mianmian's hand and slowly walked inside.
His custom-made leather shoes made a crisp "clack-clack" sound on the bluestone slabs, which seemed out of place with the surrounding environment.
He subconsciously straightened his back, and for the first time, he felt a little awkward.
He was used to frequenting upscale clubs and walking on smooth marble floors. This alley, full of life, felt like another world to him.
Reaching a small building deep in the alley, Lin Mianmian stopped, took out a rusty key from her bag, inserted it into the lock, and gently turned it.
With a click, the mottled wooden door opened.
The yard wasn't big, but it was kept very clean.
Several rose bushes were planted in the corner of the wall, blooming brightly in red, pink and yellow, like clusters of burning flames. The petals were still covered with evening dew, shimmering in the setting sun.
In the center of the courtyard stood a stone table and several bamboo chairs, with strings of dried chili peppers and garlic hanging to dry beside it, bathed in warm sunlight.
Because Grandma was hospitalized, the courtyard was less lively than usual, but it still exuded a reassuring atmosphere.
The furnishings inside were simple: an old fabric sofa sat in the living room, with a faded knitted blanket draped over the armrest, a small television set on the TV cabinet, and several balls of yarn knitted by Grandma next to it.
Several photos of Lin Mianmian as a child are hanging on the wall. Some of them have pigtails, and some are wearing school uniforms. Their smiles are so bright they're dazzling.
The floor is made of old-fashioned wooden planks, which make a slight "creaking" sound when you step on them, but they also give off a sense of reassuring security.
Compared to the Xie family's cold, luxurious, and maze-like villa, this place is incredibly simple, yet it exudes a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Lin Mianmian put down her suitcase and went to the kitchen to find a kettle, saying, "Sit down for a while, I'll pour you a glass of water. No one has lived here for a long time, so it might be a bit dusty."
Xie Lin didn't move, but stood in the center of the living room, his gaze slowly sweeping over every corner.
He had seen countless luxurious mansions, adorned with gold and jade, and extravagantly luxurious, but never had a place that made him feel as at ease as this one.
The photo shows Lin Mianmian's smiling face, the knitted blanket on the sofa, the roses in the corner, and even the faint smell of dust in the air.
They all carried a comforting warmth, gradually soothing the anger and weariness in his heart.
Lin Mianmian came out carrying two glasses of warm water. Seeing him standing there in a daze, she scratched her head a little embarrassedly: "Isn't it small? Isn't it simple?"
Xie Lin turned his head, looked at her flushed cheeks, quickly stepped forward, and hugged her tightly.
His chin rested on the top of her head, his voice low and husky, filled with deep longing: "No, it's fine here."
It's a thousand times, ten thousand times better than that cold villa.
Because here, there is her presence, her warmth, her past, and all the human warmth he desires.
Dinner was made by Lin Mianmian: a bowl of tomato and egg noodles and two fried eggs.
The kitchen range hood was a bit old and hummed, but it couldn't stop the aroma that filled the room.
Xie Lin ate with great relish; it was the most satisfying meal he had ever had in his life.
After dinner, the two tidied up the house together.
Lin Mianmian found clean sheets and blankets, while Xie Lin clumsily tried to mop the floor, his movements awkward yet earnest.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but he didn't feel tired at all.
As night deepened, the roses in the courtyard emitted a faint fragrance.
Lin Mianmian's single bed was very small; when the two of them lay down, they were almost pressed tightly together.
Xie Lin lay on his side, holding her in his arms, his chin resting on her shoulder, his breath brushing against her neck, warm and ticklish.
Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a thin, silvery glow on the floor.
"The bed is too small, I'm sorry you had to make do." Lin Mianmian nestled in his arms, her voice soft and tinged with apology.
She knew that Xie Lin used to sleep on a large leather bed, and had never experienced such cramped conditions.
Xie Lin tightened his arms, holding her even closer, his nose brushing against the top of her head, his voice so gentle it could melt your heart: "Don't feel wronged, this is fine."
He liked this distance, liked her faint fragrance, and liked listening to her steady breathing.
I love feeling her heartbeat, each beat sync with my own.
Gone are the infighting within the Xie family, gone is Xie Mingcheng's relentless pressure, gone are those illusory riches and honors.
Only he and she slept in each other's arms in this small room.
Lin Mianmian turned around to face him, her nose almost touching his chin.
She raised her hand and gently stroked his eyebrows and eyes, her fingertips tracing the bridge of his high nose before landing on his lips.
"Xie Lin, do you regret it?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with trepidation.
He regretted giving up his position as the heir of the Xie family, and he regretted living in this simple little room with her.
Xie Lin took her hand, placed it to his lips, and gently kissed her fingertips, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.
No regrets.
Three words, each one resounding.
As long as he could be with her, he would be happy even if he had to live in a thatched hut.
Lin Mianmian's eyes instantly reddened. She stood on tiptoe and took the initiative to kiss his lips.
The kiss was light and soft, carrying a faint scent of moonlight.
Xie Lin's breath hitched, but he quickly took the initiative and deepened the kiss.
Between their lips and teeth lies a deep affection and tenderness.
The cicadas outside the window have completely fallen silent; only the moonlight flows quietly.
Lin Mianmian leaned against Xie Lin's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and a relieved smile appeared on her lips.
She knew that the road ahead might be difficult, Xie Mingcheng might cause them more trouble, and they might suffer a lot.
But she wasn't afraid.
Because he was by her side.
Xie Lin looked down at the little woman sleeping soundly in his arms, the tenderness in his eyes almost melting her.
He gently kissed her forehead and whispered in her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear.
He whispered, "Mianmian, home is wherever you are."
The moonlight was gentle, and the night was serene. A sense of happiness permeated the simple little room.
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