"Little Lin, I finished my call. Huh, where did that woman go?"
Ren Lan asked Lin Jichen curiously upon her return.
Lin Jichen adjusted his mindset and replied, "She had something to take care of and left."
"Oh, Little Lin, I need to go home for a bit. My dad called just now and said my mom caught a cold. I need to check on her. I might not be back until the day after tomorrow," Ren Lan said.
"Alright," Lin Jichen nodded.
Feeling reassured, Ren Lan returned to her sect and logged off the game . Lin Jichen, also not in the mood to play, decided to log off as well.
Ren Lan packed some things, slung her bag over her shoulder, and headed out.
Lin Jichen walked her to the gate of the community. Before getting into a cab, Ren Lan reminded him, "Don't slack off while I'm gone. Make sure to exercise every day, got it? If I find out you were lazy, I'll drill you to death when I get back!"
Lin Jichen smiled and nodded, "Don't worry, I will."
"Good," Ren Lan felt relieved and got into the cab.
Watching the cab drive away, a sense of loneliness suddenly washed over Lin Jichen.
Perhaps it was the unpleasant encounter with Jiang Luoyu earlier that left him feeling down.
Not wanting to go home just yet, Lin Jichen decided to take a walk along the streets.
Under the streetlights, his shadow stretched long as he wandered aimlessly through the night in Jiangling.
He stopped by a park lake, found a bench, and bought some barbecue and beer.
As he ate and drank, looking out over the lake, his mood gradually lifted.
Reflecting on what had happened earlier, he realized there was nothing worth feeling sad about.
It was just the end of a fleeting, unformed emotional connection. He might have hurt a girl's feelings, which made him feel a bit guilty and sad.
But more than that, he didn't want to see her waste time on him.
Compared to the pain and betrayal he experienced in his past life, this was nothing.
Back then, he was truly in despair, living each day in utter hopelessness, gravely injured, waiting for death to come.
That feeling was still vivid in his memory.
Having gone through such highs and lows, this minor setback was nothing.
He had burned away all his childishness and impulsiveness with his persistence. Now, his heart was a barren land, grown over with rationality and indifference.
He knew that the most important thing for him now was to focus on improving his strength, not wasting time on someone he barely knew.
Hadn't the lessons from his past life been enough?
Though it seemed extreme and overly sensitive, this was all Lin Jichen could do.
In terms of relationships, aside from Gu Qiuxue and Ren Lan, he actually trusted Leng Feiyan and Nangong Yue more.
Understanding this, his mood improved.
A voice called out, and Lin Jichen turned to see Qin Xiaowei standing in front of him with a guitar on her back.
"Sister Xiaowei, what are you doing here?" Lin Jichen asked in surprise.
Qin Xiaowei explained, "I just finished recording and was heading home. When I saw you send Ren Lan off and then walk here alone, you seemed upset. I was worried you might do something foolish, so I followed you."
Lin Jichen chuckled, "Sister Xiaowei, you underestimate me. I'm not a kid anymore. What foolish thing could I possibly do?"
"Don't be so sure. People your age can be quite impulsive. Just the other day, I read about a girl your age who drank a bottle of herbicide after a fight with her boyfriend. Such a pity," Qin Xiaowei said.
Lin Jichen smiled wryly, "I was just feeling cooped up at home and came out for a walk and some late-night snacks."
"That's good. Quite mature of you," Qin Xiaowei teased.
Lin Jichen smiled and invited, "Sister Xiaowei, would you like to join me for some snacks? You probably haven't eaten since you got back."
Qin Xiaowei hesitated for a moment but then sat down. She was indeed a bit hungry.
"I saw Ren Lan leave. Did you two have a fight?"
"No, you misunderstood. Her mom is sick, so she rushed home to check on her. I just saw her off," Lin Jichen explained.
"That can't be it. You looked more than just cooped up. Something unpleasant must have happened," Qin Xiaowei insisted, confident in her judgment. Lin Jichen had looked genuinely down, or as they said twenty years ago, he was "emo."
Unable to lie any further, Lin Jichen confessed, "I can't hide anything from you, Sister Xiaowei. I said something blunt to a friend in the game and hurt her feelings."
"A girl, right?" Qin Xiaowei guessed immediately.
"Yes," Lin Jichen nodded.
"So you rejected her?"
Qin Xiaowei smiled, having guessed correctly.
"Do you like her?" Qin Xiaowei asked.
Lin Jichen hesitated for a second, then shook his head, "Not really. I just enjoyed her company. She helped me a few times, and I helped her too. We're friends."
"I see. More than friends, but not quite lovers, right?"
Lin Jichen took a sip of beer and smiled awkwardly, "Sister Xiaowei, you're overthinking it. At my age, I just want to focus on my career."
"Oh, come on. You're still so young. This is the time to enjoy love and romance," Qin Xiaowei teased. "Besides, you're so handsome. It's normal for girls to like you. Don't be embarrassed."
"Let me ask you, do you like your game friend more, or Ren Lan?"
"Of course, Ren Lan," Lin Jichen answered without hesitation.
"Then there you go. Telling the other girl your true feelings now will save her from deeper heartbreak later. It's a good thing. I admire you for that," Qin Xiaowei praised.
Her words resonated with Lin Jichen. That's exactly what he thought.
"Let me sing you a song. It might cheer you up. It's a new one I wrote."
"Sure," Lin Jichen agreed eagerly.
Qin Xiaowei took out her guitar and started tuning it. Soon, a light, cheerful melody accompanied her clear, melodious voice.
"You once passed by under the scorching sun."
"Silent and unnoticed, like a gentle breeze."
"The cicadas' song in midsummer seemed like a song written for you."
"The fireflies in the woods are still flickering."
"Listening to the cicadas' leisurely singing of the rainbow's song."
"I suddenly fell into a sweet dream, at a loss."
"Watching flowers, rain, clouds, and you."
"My heartbeat and breath so clear."
Qin Xiaowei's voice was crisp and bright yet soft and gentle. It was like a babbling brook, the wind rustling through willows.
Listening closely, it felt like the vast sky and calm sea, instantly lifting Lin Jichen's spirits.
Her voice seemed to have a magical quality. Lin Jichen closed his eyes, leaning back on the bench, savoring the moment.
As she sang, Qin Xiaowei watched Lin Jichen, a smile on her face.
She loved singing for Lin Jichen, watching him enjoy and immerse himself in the music. It gave her immense satisfaction.
It was something no one else could give her.