The next morning, Lu Fan slowly woke up, his consciousness still hovering on the edge of chaos.
The sound of rain outside the window was like gentle drumbeats, one after another, lightly tapping on his gradually awakening senses.
He shifted slightly, his arm accidentally brushing against An Lan beside him.
An Lan, still half asleep, instinctively snuggled closer to him, a gentle smile playing on her lips, like the first peach blossom blooming in spring, serene and beautiful.
Lu Fan held his breath instantly, his movements becoming even gentler as he carefully sat up, afraid of disturbing An Lan's sweet dream.
He walked barefoot on the cool floor, step by step toward the window, as if afraid of breaking the tranquility of the room.
The moment I drew back the curtains, fine raindrops came into view.
The rain was pouring down, with large raindrops pounding against the window before quickly sliding off, leaving irregular streaks of water that resembled mysterious symbols created spontaneously by nature.
The outside world was shrouded in this rain curtain, as if gently wrapped in a thin veil, hazy and dreamlike.
The distant mountains and trees, appearing and disappearing in the rain and mist, resemble a watercolor painting soaked in water, exuding a unique poetic charm.
He raised his hand and rubbed his temples. The hangover was still lingering, and his head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, making him dizzy and lightheaded.
He glanced at the clock on the wall; the hour hand had just passed six, still a long time before his usual wake-up time.
In the quiet morning, he was at a loss for what to do. His gaze slowly swept around the room and finally landed on the bookshelf.
He strolled over, casually picked out a book, returned to the window, and sat down on the soft sofa chair.
As Lu Fan turned the pages, his gaze began to wander among the words.
At first, he was able to immerse himself in the world of the book, but as the sound of rain outside the window became more and more intense, his thoughts gradually drifted away.
Suddenly, he noticed a quote in the book.
“Once upon a time, Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly, fluttering about happily, feeling quite content, unaware that he was Zhuangzi. Suddenly he awoke, and there he was Zhuangzi again. He didn’t know whether he was Zhuangzi dreaming he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi. There must be a distinction between Zhuangzi and the butterfly. This is called the transformation of things.”
His movements suddenly froze, his gaze fixed on those few lines of text, remaining fixed for a long time.
"Did Zhou dream he was a butterfly, or did the butterfly dream he was Zhou?"
He murmured softly, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet room, like a question emanating from the depths of his soul.
These past few days, similar confusion has often lingered in his mind.
In my mind, certain images are appearing more and more frequently. These images are so real that they are almost terrifying. Every blade of grass, every tree, every frown and smile is clearly discernible, as if I had personally experienced them.
Conversely, those once incredibly familiar and warm memories have become blurred and indistinct, as if eroded by the relentless flow of time, like looking through frosted glass, impossible to grasp.
He had a vague premonition that these scenes were no accident and that there might be a secret hidden behind them.
That immersive sense of realism affected his emotions more than once.
Sometimes, just a fleeting image can keep him restless all day.
But he dared not show the slightest abnormality in front of An Lan.
He knew that An Lan was a sensitive person, and if she noticed his unease, she would definitely be worried.
Thinking this, Lu Fan simply put down the book in his hand, stood up, and walked to the window again.
He rested his hands on the windowsill, gazing silently at the world outside.
The rain continued to fall, showing no signs of stopping. Raindrops pounded on the ground, splashing up tiny water droplets, like a gentle dialogue between the earth and the sky.
The whole world seemed to be washed clean by the rain, making it exceptionally peaceful, but his heart was in turmoil.
For the first time, he genuinely doubted himself and his so-called past life.
Those past memories, those once-firm beliefs, now seem to be crumbling.
"Could all of this really just be a dream?" he murmured to himself, his voice filled with confusion and bewilderment, just like the world in the rain, hazy and ethereal.
Just as his emotions were gradually overwhelmed by these boundless thoughts, a pair of soft arms gently wrapped around his waist from behind.
An Lan's slightly languid voice rang in his ear: "Why are you up so early?"
An Lan pressed her face against his back, feeling his steady heartbeat, like a lazy kitten seeking warmth and comfort.
Lu Fan was slightly taken aback, then the corners of his mouth turned up, revealing a gentle smile.
He turned around, gently cupped Anlan's face, placed a kiss on her forehead, and asked softly, "Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"
He deliberately ignored the concern in An Lan's eyes, carefully concealing the turmoil in his heart, not wanting his sorrow to disturb the beauty before him.
An Lan slowly woke up, raised her hand to rub her sleepy eyes, her hazy appearance just like a lazy kitten that had just woken up.
She mumbled softly, her voice still carrying a hint of drowsiness: "I slept well. I guess I drank a little last night. I slept really well. When I opened my eyes, I saw you standing here watching the rain. You seemed to have something on your mind."
As she spoke, she playfully stretched out her hand and waved it in front of Lu Fan's eyes, trying to dispel the melancholy in his eyes.
"What's wrong? Are you still drunk?" An Lan asked with concern, blinking her bright eyes.
Lu Fan couldn't help but laugh out loud at her series of cute and thoughtful words. He reached out and gently pinched An Lan's nose, his gesture full of affection, and said, "I just got up early to see the rain, and who knew I would get so engrossed in it."
An Lan's eyes darted around like a cunning little elf. She pretended to be serious and said, "I think you've gotten waterlogged from all this rain. What are you worrying about so early in the morning?"
"Huh, how did you know I was feeling melancholy?" Lu Fan raised an eyebrow slightly, asking with a mix of amusement and curiosity on his face.
An Lan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a gentle smile. She raised her hand and gently cupped Lu Fan's face, her eyes filled with love and tenderness. She said softly, "Of course I know whether my little boy is in a good mood or not, because he has a pair of expressive eyes that can't hide any emotions."
After hearing An Lan's words, Lu Fan felt that the chaotic thoughts in his heart instantly cleared up.
Yes, at least the person in front of me is real, tangible, and comforting.
"Then, Teacher An, could you give me a comforting kiss?" Lu Fan tilted his head slightly, his eyes filled with a hint of coquettish expectation, and asked with a smile.
Seeing the sorrow in Lu Fan's eyes gradually fade away, An Lan's mood also brightened. Like a joyful little deer, she laughed and jumped onto Lu Fan, wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave him a deep, loving kiss.
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