Chapter 84

Chapter 84

The afternoon sun was warm and cozy, making one feel incredibly comfortable.

Lin Yi lay on the recliner, so relaxed that he didn't even want to move.

Beside him, Huo Mianmian continued playing with the two blades of grass until he heard some rustling sounds coming from the kitchen behind him.

Huo Mianmian: "..."

Huh?

Could there be a mouse?

He turned his head to look in the direction of the kitchen.

However, he was too short, and even after tilting his little head up, he still couldn't see into the kitchen through the window.

Soon, the rustling sounds grew louder.

After all, wooden houses were not soundproof; even the slightest noise could be heard.

Huo Mianmian looked at the kitchen direction, somewhat bewildered, then turned to Lin Yi. "Dad, there seems to be a mouse in the kitchen."

Lin Yi was resting with his eyes closed but opened them upon hearing Huo Mianmian's words.

He listened carefully and indeed heard some movement in the kitchen.

But it was broad daylight; could there really be a mouse?

Lin Yi sat up straight on the recliner and said, "I'll go check."

Then he got up and walked towards the kitchen.

Huo Mianmian also followed, holding the two blades of grass, taking small steps.

Because he wanted to protect his dad!

Thinking this, Huo Mianmian waved the blades of grass in his hand as if they were weapons.

"Hahaha, Mianmian is my source of joy."

"Mianmian is so intimidating right now, especially with those blades of grass, scared me (dog emoji)."

"I was scared too!! (funny emoji)."

"Of course, our Mianmian is a little warrior."

"Hahaha, everyone is so cute."

Lin Yi followed the sound to the kitchen, only to find no mice but caught two people sneaking food instead.

In the kitchen, Zhuang Che was stealthily rummaging for something to eat, but since he had never been in this kitchen before, he couldn't find anything after searching for a while.

When he turned around and saw Lin Yi, he was so frightened that he fell to the ground, stammering, "I-I-I... I didn't do anything."

Lin Yi: "..."

Huo Mianmian tilted his head to look at the fallen Zhuang Che, finding the adult quite strange.

Zhuang Che looked pitiful, with a big bump on his forehead, made redder and swollen by the brown ointment he had applied.

Most importantly, he looked extremely hungry, with his stomach growling occasionally.

The scene fell silent for a moment.

After realizing there were no mice, Lin Yi left with Huo Mianmian.

At this moment, Zhuang Che on the floor held back his tears, watching as Lin Yi was about to leave the kitchen. Finally, he couldn't help but call out, "Is there any food? I'm starving."

His eyes welled up with tears, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

Lin Yi: "..."

He had never seen someone cry so easily.

Lin Yi stopped, leaned casually against the door frame, and nodded towards Zhuang Che, indicating, "Stand up first, then open the fridge on your left."

Zhuang Che sniffled and obediently replied, "...Okay."

Then he got up and opened the fridge.

Lin Yi continued calmly directing, "Do you see the bowl of spicy hotpot on the top shelf of the fridge? Take it out and heat it up."

This was something he had cooked extra for lunch and hadn't eaten yet. He thought he might have it for dinner, but now he would give it to Zhuang Che.

Zhuang Che obediently took out the spicy hotpot from the fridge.

The spicy hotpot had been in the fridge for a while and was completely cold, needing to be heated up.

The problem was, Zhuang Che had no idea how to heat food.

Growing up, he had always been pampered, never having to cook or do anything himself.

So, Zhuang Che decisively turned to Lin Yi with the spicy hotpot, "Can you heat it up for me?"

After all, everything he couldn't do was usually done by others, a habit he had grown accustomed to.

Lin Yi leaned lazily against the door frame, raising an eyebrow, "Do you think that's possible?"

Zhuang Che: "……"

He pouted, on the verge of tears again.

Lin Yi threatened him calmly, "If you cry, I'll make you put the spicy hot pot back and not eat it."

"……"

Zhuang Che held back his tears that were about to fall and couldn't help but accuse Lin Yi, "Are you heartless or what!"

He was almost starving, yet Lin Yi was threatening him.

Zhuang Che thought that after saying this, Lin Yi would feel a bit guilty.

But Lin Yi remained unperturbed, "Yeah, so what?"

Zhuang Che: "……"

Now he really wanted to cry.

"Holy crap, isn't Lin Yi too cool?"

"Hahaha, Lin Yi is teaching Young Master Zhuang a lesson."

"You know what? After being disciplined by Lin Yi, Zhuang Che might become more likable."

"I want to send my own naughty kid to Lin Yi for education; he'd surely straighten them out."

Threatened by Lin Yi, Zhuang Che wanted to put the spicy hot pot back but couldn't bear to do it, as the dish looked truly delicious even though it had cooled down, still emitting a tantalizing aroma.

Zhuang Che had no choice but to lower his head and say to Lin Yi, "B-but I don't know how to heat it up myself."

Lin Yi said calmly, "Just follow my instructions. First, pour the spicy hot pot into the pot, then see that gas stove over there? Turn the knob, and the fire will ignite."

Zhuang Che followed Lin Yi's instructions, but when he turned on the gas stove, the flame suddenly shot up, scaring him back like a startled fawn.

Lin Yi: "……"

How did this young master survive until today?

After some effort, Zhuang Che finally managed to reheat the spicy hot pot and some rice.

Looking at the food he had prepared, he was filled with disbelief.

This was the first time he had cooked a meal on his own, and it felt like something worth celebrating with fireworks.

However, he was already famished, so he didn't waste time in admiration and immediately called the child he had brought along to have lunch together.

When Zhuang Che picked up a piece of spicy hot pot and put it in his mouth, he was instantly stunned by its deliciousness.

He couldn't help but take several more bites and exclaimed to Lin Yi, "Is this spicy hot pot you made? It's too good!"

Lin Yi said calmly, "Do you know what hot pot base is?"

No matter what ingredients you add, just a little hot pot base makes it hard not to be delicious.

Zhuang Che knew what hot pot base was, but he still marveled at how Lin Yi could make such delicious food. As he stuffed his mouth, he said to Lin Yi, "I want to eat with you every day from now on."

Lin Yi didn't expect Zhuang Che to change his mind so quickly and reminded him, "Didn't you just call me heartless?"

Zhuang Che had a habit of forgetting things quickly, so even though Lin Yi mentioned it, he showed no shame and said matter-of-factly, "What I said earlier doesn't count."

He was acting like a child.

Lin Yi couldn't help but ask Zhuang Che, "How old are you this year?"

Zhuang Che didn't pick up on the tone in Lin Yi's voice and proudly reported, "Twenty-three."

Lin Yi: "……"

How can he seem less mature than a three-year-old?

Meanwhile, outside the courtyard.

Shen Feng and the others returned.

After two hours of moving work, they were all exhausted.

But Shen Feng didn't look tired at all; instead, he seemed energetic.

He rolled up his jacket sleeves and started looking for Lin Yi.

The reason he was looking for Lin Yi was simple: after physical labor, his muscles were full of blood, making their lines smoother and more attractive.

He was eager to show off like a peacock in front of Lin Yi.

However, when he found Lin Yi, his mood dropped.

Because he saw Lin Yi chatting warmly with the new guest.

Shen Feng: "……"

Indeed, he was no longer the only one around Lin Yi, right?

Pfft, he wasn't a dog!

Wait, the key issue was why Lin Yi was chatting with someone else and not with him?

Shen Feng got angry.

He stormed forward, ready to confront Lin Yi.

But with just one look from Lin Yi, he deflated.

Lin Yi glanced at him and casually said, "You're back, huh?"

As Shen Feng pulled off his sleeve, he pouted, "Yeah, I've been back for a while now. You only just noticed?"

He looked like a little puppy eager for attention but had been ignored by its owner.

Lin Yi sensed something was off in Shen Feng's tone and asked, "What's wrong?"

Shen Feng glanced at Zhuang Che, who was eating inside, then back at Lin Yi, and huffed, "Lin Yi, how can you be so fickle?"

Lin Yi: "? ?"

He raised an eyebrow and asked Shen Feng, "Are you running a fever?"

Shen Feng replied, puzzled, "No, why?"

Lin Yi calmly said, "Then why are you talking nonsense?"

Shen Feng: "..."

He instantly bristled.

Lin Yi was the fickle one, yet he had the nerve to call him delirious?

"Hahaha, Shen Feng fighting for attention is hilarious."

"Lin Yi sure is popular."

"No kidding, if I were on this show, I'd fight for Lin Yi too."

Shen Feng took a heavy blow and dejectedly returned to the courtyard.

Zhao Jin, resting in the courtyard, silently watched the whole scene and comforted Shen Feng, "Don't worry, no matter how many new people come, you'll always be the main consort."

If this had happened before, Shen Feng would have flipped out.

But now, he didn't get angry; instead, he felt oddly proud.

Always the main consort? That was good news.

"Hahahaha!"

"What's with that priceless smile, Shen Feng?"

"Who remembers Shen Feng's arrogant demeanor from before?"

"Probably never going back to those days."

After a short break, the guests welcomed their first afternoon activity.

They were going to visit a place where lanterns were made and learn how to make one.

From their residence, they walked leisurely for about twenty minutes to reach the lantern-making place.

Upon entering, they were stunned by the sight.

The entire room was filled with all sorts of lanterns, each more beautiful than the last.

Several artisans were currently crafting lanterns.

These lanterns were all handmade, exquisite and durable.

Soon, the guests began learning how to make lanterns.

They could choose any design they wanted, as long as they could make it.

Lin Yi led Huo Mianmian to a table and sat down.

The table was covered with materials for making lanterns and some instructions showing common designs.

Lin Yi picked up the instructions, flipped through them, and chose a simpler design to save time and effort.

But Huo Mianmian had other ideas. He wanted to challenge a difficult design and asked Lin Yi, "Dad, can I make a rabbit lantern?"

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, "Our Mianmian aims high, huh? But give it a try."

Huo Mianmian immediately started with great enthusiasm.

But he ran into trouble right from the start.

How exactly do you make a rabbit lantern?

"Hahaha, reminds me of when I set big goals but have no idea how to start."

"Mianmian, go for it! I believe in you."

Lin Yi began making his own lantern.

He picked a lotus-shaped lantern from the instructions and started with the first step, gathering the materials.

Huo Mianmian, on the other hand, sat there, chin in hands, deep in thought.

How do you make a rabbit lantern?

There weren't even examples in the instructions.

He sat on a small stool, thinking for a while, and decided to give up making lanterns for now and do something simpler instead.

So, he picked up the materials and started fiddling with them.

For a moment, all the guests were engrossed in making their lanterns, creating a bustling scene of industrious activity.

However, this scene was soon disrupted.

Zhuang Che let out a scream and ran frantically toward Lin Yi, muttering, "Oh no, oh no, Lin Yi, look at me!"

Lin Yi stopped what he was doing and looked at Zhuang Che. "What's wrong?"

Zhuang Che held out his left hand, almost on the verge of tears: "My hand is stuck with glue."

His thumb and index finger were glued together, apparently from an accidental mishap while working.

Lin Yi: "..."

How long had they even started, and already there was trouble.

At this point, Zhuang Che was still panicking, asking Lin Yi, "What should I do? What should I do?!"

Lin Yi calmly replied, "Don't worry, you won't die."

Zhuang Che: "..."

Is it really that serious?

Zhuang Che panicked even more, treating Lin Yi as his savior: "What should I do? My hand isn't going to be useless, is it?!"

Lin Yi, annoyed by the noise, nodded toward the faucet: "See that tap over there? Turn it on and rinse your hand."

"Oh, okay!" Zhuang Che scrambled off to rinse his hand.

Lin Yi: "..."

Ignoring Zhuang Che, he continued working on his lantern.

After a while, Zhuang Che returned. After rinsing under the water, his fingers had separated.

In just half a day, Zhuang Che had already been helped twice by Lin Yi.

Like a chick imprinting, he squatted beside Lin Yi and said, "Lin Yi, you're such a good person."

Lin Yi, while making the lantern, glanced at him coolly: "This makes me a good person?"

They had only known each other for how long, and he was already making such judgments.

It seemed like someone like Zhuang Che would be easily fooled if he walked down the street.

Zhuang Che, intimidated by Lin Yi's question, dared not continue speaking. Lin Yi exuded a powerful aura, even with a casual glance.

"Looks like Lin Yi is about to gain a fan."

"Actually, despite being a bit silly sometimes, Zhuang Che is generally okay and can be quite entertaining."

"I personally like Zhuang Che's silly demeanor. Even though he calls himself a 'foolish beauty,' he sometimes really does act like one."

Over here.

Shen Feng stopped making his lantern and stared intently at Lin Yi and Zhuang Che.

What was going on? Why was Zhuang Che sticking to Lin Yi again?

Determined to maintain his position, Shen Feng took his partially made lantern and walked over to sit on the other side of Lin Yi.

Lin Yi, seeing Shen Feng suddenly beside him, asked curiously, "Why did you come over here?"

Now he had Zhuang Che on one side and Shen Feng on the other, making things very cramped.

Shen Feng, acting haughtily, said, "I came because I wanted to."

Everyone else could come, so why couldn't he?

Lin Yi: "...But it's really crowded now, and I can't move around freely."

Shen Feng: "..."

Was Lin Yi really rejecting him?!

"Hahaha, Shen Feng just took a massive hit."

"Why are they both vying for attention? Let go of Lin Yi, let me have a turn!"

"Then I'll sneak away with Mianmian when you're not looking."

"No way, Mianmian is mine!"

In the end, Lin Yi managed to send both Shen Feng and Zhuang Che away.

Once again, the table was just him and Huo Mianmian, and the air felt much fresher.

At this moment, Huo Mianmian finally completed his work.

Using various materials, he successfully made a rabbit mask.

The rabbit mask was incredibly cute, with two upright white ears and a chubby face. The eyes, nose, and mouth were vividly depicted, making it lifelike.

Then Huo Mianmian put the rabbit mask on his face, and his round little face fit perfectly with the mask.

For a moment, it seemed as if a real cute rabbit had appeared.

After putting on the mask, Huo Mianmian excitedly called out to Lin Yi: "Dad, look at me!"

Lin Yi lifted his gaze and saw a cute, adorable rabbit.

He didn't expect Huo Mianmian to be so skilled with his hands, and he was quite amazed.

He deliberately asked, "Who are you?"

Huo Mianmian answered in a soft, childlike voice: "I'm a rabbit."

Lin Yi smiled and said, "Is that so? Then where's Mianmian?"

Huo Mianmian replied, "I don't know. Let me help you find him."

Lin Yi held back his laughter and said, "Okay, thank you."

Next, Huo Mianmian really pretended to search for a while with the rabbit mask on, then he said to Lin Yi, "I found him! I'll bring him out now."

Lin Yi responded, "Okay."

In the next moment, Huo Mianmian took off the mask and looked at Lin Yi with a smile: "Dad, it's me, I'm back!"

Lin Yi played along: "Wow, it really is Mianmian. Did the rabbit find you?"

Huo Mianmian nodded: "Yes."

Lin Yi praised, "The rabbit is really amazing."

Huo Mianmian said, "Now it's time for the rabbit to appear again!"

With that, he put the mask back on.

Lin Yi continued to play along: "Wow, it's really the rabbit again."

Huo Mianmian laughed happily, and even through the mask, one could feel his joy.

Next, father and son played together happily for a while.

Especially when Huo Mianmian wore the mask and shook his little head joyfully, it was enough to melt anyone's heart.

"Ahhhh, how can someone be so cute?!"

"Can you share some of your cuteness with me?"

"I wish I could hug both of them right now."

"Who gets to have such an adorable father-son duo? I'm about to go crazy with envy."

By a little past five in the afternoon, all the guests had finished making their lanterns. Some barely managed to stick the pieces together, but it was better than nothing.

Among them, Shen Feng's lantern was the biggest.

It was so large that he couldn't hold it with both hands; he had to carry it.

Zhao Jin, standing beside him, voiced everyone's curiosity: "Why did you make such a big lantern?"

Shen Feng confidently replied, "The bigger my lantern, the more likely my wish will come true."

Zhao Jin was surprised: "Didn't think you believed in this stuff."

Usually, Shen Feng gave off an air of doing whatever he wanted, fearless and carefree, but he never expected him to be into superstition.

Shen Feng proudly said, "Of course. If I'm going to make a wish, it has to be the most effective one."

As he spoke, he glanced subconsciously at Lin Yi.

To become lifelong friends with Lin Yi, he would make sure his wish was perfect.

"Oh, talking about wishes, why look at Lin Yi?"

"It's simple, Shen Feng's wish must be related to Lin Yi."

"Got it, shipping!"

The guests were to take their lanterns to a designated body of water chosen by the show's producers.

Lin Yi's lantern was simple, shaped like a lotus flower, which he could hold with one hand. He just needed to place a candle inside later to complete it.

Huo Mianmian couldn't make a rabbit lantern, but the owner of the shop gave him a lantern-shaped one because he was so cute.

At that moment, he carefully held the lantern and followed everyone else forward.

He also had a wish to make, a big one.

Soon, they arrived at the water's edge.

When night fell, they could release the lanterns.

As the last light of day disappeared, Lin Yi squatted down and placed his lantern in the water.

The lotus lantern, with a lit candle inside, illuminated the entire flower, making it breathtakingly beautiful, as if a real lotus was floating on the river.

Huo Mianmian also squatted down and carefully placed his lantern in the water.

Then he began to make his wish: "I hope that I and..."

At that moment, Lin Yi reminded him, "Mianmian, if you say your wish out loud, it won't come true."

Huo Mianmian immediately covered his small mouth with his hand and blinked innocently.

Lin Yi smiled and said, "You can make a wish silently in your heart."

Huo Mianmian nodded, then released his hand and began to make a wish in his heart.

He hoped that he and his little dad could always be together.

Oh, and include his dad as well.

While making his wish, Huo Mianmian closed his eyes, looking very sincere.

"Ah, I really want to know what wish Mianmian made."

"I bet it's definitely about his little dad; he’s always so considerate of him."

"How envious! I wish I had a child like that too."

The next day, the production team planned a new itinerary for the guests.

It was said that there was a scenic spot not far from here, located in the mountains, where few tourists usually went. This made it perfect for their show without the need to clear the area.

After breakfast in the morning, everyone set off in the production team's vehicle.

An hour later, they arrived at the foot of the mountain.

There were no roads in this scenic area, so cars couldn’t enter; they could only go on foot.

So the group started climbing the mountain.

For convenience, Lin Yi wore a tracksuit today.

Huo Mianmian also wore a light and convenient short-sleeved outfit with a pair of small sneakers on his feet.

Father and son admired the beautiful scenery in the mountains while slowly climbing up.

The trees in the mountain were tall and lush, and the vegetation was abundant, with greenery everywhere, making the air very fresh.

There were also some birds chirping.

As they climbed, Huo Mianmian said to Lin Yi, "Little Dad, the birds are cheering us on."

Lin Yi smiled and said, "Yes, so Mianmian, keep going."

"Okay!"

Huo Mianmian climbed even more enthusiastically.

A small child, striving to climb over mountains and hills, looked quite capable.

"Mianmian is amazing! If I were in that situation, I might not even be able to keep going."

"Same here; I'm just a homebody."

"Watching this makes me want to go hiking."

However, not all the guests had such a smooth ascent.

Zhuang Che had always been like a flower in a greenhouse, never enduring any hardship. Now, making him climb for so long was practically a death sentence for him.

He got exhausted after climbing only a short distance, then stood there throwing a tantrum, refusing to move.

The staff of the show couldn't do much about it.

After all, his family owned a film and television company, and his status in the industry was unquestionable. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to join the parenting show on a whim.

The staff were in a difficult position. Then, one of them, being more resourceful, approached Lin Yi: "Teacher Lin Yi, could you act as a temporary team leader and get everyone up the mountain?"

She could tell that Lin Yi was the backbone of the group, capable of leading everyone. Asking him was definitely the right choice.

Initially, Lin Yi was somewhat puzzled by the staff's request.

Until he saw Zhuang Che lagging behind, throwing a tantrum and refusing to move.

The staff member made a "please" gesture at the right moment.

Lin Yi understood and said, "You don't need to persuade him. If Zhuang Che wants to stay here, it's fine. If wild beasts come, we'll just run faster than him, and he'll be the one in trouble."

When Lin Yi said this, he didn't lower his voice.

It reached Zhuang Che's ears, and he instantly stopped complaining, his eyes filled with fear. "W-wild beasts? Are there wild beasts here?"

He looked at Lin Yi, hoping for a definite answer.

Unfortunately, Lin Yi didn't respond and continued walking forward with Huo Mianmian.

This ambiguity was the most terrifying.

Zhuang Che's heart raced.

He knew that if wild beasts really came, his weak body wouldn't stand a chance.

Thinking this, he hurriedly sped up, no longer daring to say he wouldn't move.

"Haha, good job, Lin Yi."

"As I've said before, Lin Yi handles all kinds of defiance."

"My wife, Lin Yi, is truly charming. How can every aspect of her personality hit me right in the heart?"

They walked for what seemed like an eternity before finally arriving at the scenic spot.

Actually, calling it a scenic spot isn't quite accurate; it's just an ancient ruin. Some companies thought they could make a profit here and developed it for a while, but when the project didn't show much promise, they paused it and only hired a few people to guard the area.

Thus, this place has both ancient ruins and some newly constructed buildings, surrounded by lush mountains and verdant greenery.

However, it must be said that this place is serene and tranquil, making it an excellent spot for relaxation.

The guests' base camp was set up in the newly built houses.

Originally, the production team planned for the guests to explore the ruins and then take a walk through the forest.

But the weather did not cooperate.

As soon as they arrived, it started to drizzle, and the rain showed signs of getting heavier.

With no choice, the production team had to suspend outdoor activities and instead have the guests film indoors.

Initially, everyone thought the rain would stop soon, so they leisurely wandered around the house.

But as the rain grew heavier, turning into a torrential downpour, puddles began to form on the ground.

Someone worriedly said, "What should we do? The rain is too heavy. We might lose signal."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi turned to look outside at the rain.

At that moment, the rain was dense and urgent, a massive downpour.

Lin Yi went to a spot out of the camera's view and sent a message to Huo Jihan about the situation.

He wasn't worried about anything else; he just feared that if they lost signal, Huo Jihan wouldn't be able to contact them and would worry unnecessarily.

Besides, he had a little one with him.

After sending the message, Lin Yi went to the window and continued watching the rain.

In the time it took to send the message, the rain had intensified even more.

The rain was so heavy that the trees in the courtyard were barely visible.

The comments section was filled with fear.

"My goodness, why is it suddenly raining so heavily?"

"So scary, everyone needs to stay safe."

"Praying for the rain to stop soon."

As if on cue, the signal was indeed lost, and the production team had to pause filming.

At this moment, the director stepped forward: "Everyone, don't panic. It's just a bit of rain. We're safe inside these buildings."

Although he said this, he was still somewhat worried, fearing potential flash floods, which would be a significant problem.

Lin Yi was the one who remained truly calm. He had seen countless major events and wouldn't be fazed by a mere rainstorm.

However, he was concerned that Huo Mianmian might be scared, so he squatted down and comforted him: "Mianmian, do you know why it's raining so heavily?"

Huo Mianmian shook his head and asked curiously, "Why?"

Lin Yi teased him: "It's because the clouds are working too hard. They brought a lot of water from other places and are pouring it all over us."

Huo Mianmian immediately stopped being afraid of the heavy rain and exclaimed, "Wow, the clouds are really amazing! They can carry so much water."

Lin Yi nodded: "Yes, so the clouds are our good friends. They work hard to sprinkle water everywhere, which helps us live normally."

Huo Mianmian nodded vigorously: "Yeah, without water, we couldn't live."

Father and son continued their cute conversation.

The others in the room couldn't help but chuckle, and their worries gradually faded away.

Especially Zhuang Che, who had been trembling with fear, now found himself distracted by the father-son dialogue and felt less scared.

The rain kept falling nonstop from day into evening.

It seemed unlikely to stop anytime soon.

However, around six in the evening, the rain slightly eased up.

Lin Yi carried a cup of hot water and went outside.

He sat on a stool under the eaves, watching the continuous raindrops fall.

To be honest, he rarely saw such heavy rain, feeling as if the entire world was enveloped in a curtain of rain, with the sound of pattering drops filling his ears.

He took out his phone and checked, finding that there was still no signal.

Something must have gone wrong with the lines somewhere.

Without signal, the phone was not very useful.

He locked the screen and put it back in his pocket, then continued staring at the rain, lost in thought.

Until a moment later, Lin Yi's eyes widened slightly.

On such a rainy day, there are actually people walking outside?

At the end of the small path, several dark figures gradually approached him.

The person walking at the front held a black umbrella, with a straight posture and steady, determined steps.

Following behind him were several bodyguards.

At that moment, the sky was gray and gloomy, making it hard to see clearly.

It wasn't until Lin Yi recognized who the person at the front was that he put down his cup and stood up in a daze.

As dusk fell, the heavy rain made it even darker than usual.

Only a faint light from the horizon illuminated the earth.

Huo Jihan walked toward Lin Yi against the light, holding a black umbrella, step by step, as if a deity descending from the heavens.

Lin Yi stared at Huo Jihan, transfixed, until Huo Jihan came right up to him, and then he smelled the unique scent of Huo Jihan's cologne mixed with the smell of rain, an aroma that could be etched deep into one's soul.

They stood less than a meter apart.

Lin Yi finally found his voice: "Why are you here?"

Huo Jihan's voice was low: "I couldn't reach you, so I was worried."

Lin Yi disagreed: "But this heavy rain is so dangerous..."

Before Lin Yi could finish his sentence, he was pulled into a warm, broad embrace.

Huo Jihan held him tightly, whispering in his ear: "Thankfully, you're alright."

Each word carried endless affection.

It was clear that before seeing Lin Yi with his own eyes, he had endured great torment.

Lin Yi was slightly stunned but allowed Huo Jihan to hold him.

At that moment, the world was dim and cold, with rain pouring down as if something significant was about to happen.

However, the embrace was warm and strong, providing a sense of security.

The sound of the rain drowned out everything else, leaving only the two of them in the world.

Lin Yi leaned into Huo Jihan's embrace, feeling the warmth and heartbeat from Huo Jihan's body.

He lifted his hand and then...

hugged Huo Jihan back.