Chapter 215: Charging Recklessly, As If Not Afraid of Death
Lian Li hailed a taxi to New Taipei Jiufen at random. Li Ye saw her into the car, noted the license plate number, and returned to the hotel.
Inside the luxuriously decorated suite, the man stood by the window, holding his mobile phone, his gaze sweeping over the most prosperous part of the city below.
Li Ye placed his hands respectfully in front of him, glanced at the tall, upright figure, and waited in place.
He couldn’t tell what was being said on the other end of the phone, only hearing Jin Shi Yue respond occasionally with a calm and unhurried tone, his demeanor cool and relaxed.
When the call ended, Li Ye stepped forward at the opportune moment: “Miss Lian went to New Taipei Jiufen alone by taxi.”
Without him needing to say it, Jin Shi Yue knew Lian Li had refused an escort when he caught sight of Li Ye out of the corner of his eye.
Lian Li used a strategic retreat, proactively sharing her location with him, leaving Li Ye with no reason to follow her.
“Miss Lian said she appreciates your kindness, and if you have other business to attend to, you can leave first; she doesn’t need company,” Li Ye said, his gaze lowered, unable to see Jin Shi Yue’s expression, but he could sense the surrounding atmosphere had become considerably more oppressive.
Lian Li had a valid reason: she had traveled to many places alone and was fully capable of protecting herself in unfamiliar environments; Jin Shi Yue was busy with official duties, and the Jin Family in the Capital City might be looking for him.
If Jin Shi Yue left, Lian Li would take a bus directly to Coastal Village in two days, without needing to consider him, the pampered Eldest Young Master, or specifically reserve time for a date with him.
She could probably return to the Capital City early to pack, head to the United States sooner, resolve any issues with adjusting to the new environment, and have an easier time when school started.
That day, Jiufen was shrouded in thick fog all day. At sunset, the fog suddenly dissipated, and the winding coastline in the distance was faintly visible.
The area is surrounded by mountains and sea, with Keelung Mountain and the Yin Yang Sea nearby. Climbing Keelung Mountain offers a panoramic view of Jiufen and the magnificent mountain and sea scenery.
The architecture of the old street is mostly ancient and quaint, built along the mountainside, densely packed together, giving it a unique character.
Lian Li slowly ascended the slope. The journey of over an hour made her a bit hungry, so she bought a portion of A-Lan Grass Jelly Cake.
She hadn’t brought a camera, so she casually took a few scenic photos with her mobile phone and sent them to Xue Shufan.
At night, red lanterns illuminated the entire ancient street, which was narrow yet full of life, lined with tea houses, handicraft shops, and other establishments.
Lian Li wandered aimlessly for a while, planning to visit the Japanese-style A-Mei Tea House. However, the tea house was crowded, so she postponed her visit and decided to look around elsewhere.
Lian Li saw someone selling sky lanterns by the roadside and suddenly remembered that Shifen Old Street in Pingxi District is a place where one can release sky lanterns for blessings.
It was still early, so Lian Li took a taxi to Shifen Old Street.
The entire Shifen Old Street was filled with shops selling sky lanterns. She randomly chose one, and the owner was a kind and amiable grandmother.
The grandmother recommended the four-color lantern, saying it was the best-selling and most popular.
“Are you alone, pretty girl?”
“Yes,” Lian Li replied with a smile, taking the brush pen and contemplating what blessings to write.
“One person can pray for many blessings,” the grandmother joked with her. “For those in groups of three or four, each person can only write on a small section.”
With four sides to the sky lantern, Lian Li could write wishes on all of them. The grandmother was worried she might not have enough wishes.
She was beautiful, so she wouldn’t lack romantic attention; her attire and demeanor were excellent, so she wouldn’t lack money; her conversation was polite and intelligent, so she wouldn’t lack intelligence quotient. It was truly hard to see what troubles she had.
At this time, there were few customers in the shop, so the grandmother chatted with Lian Li, helping her steady the sky lantern while she prepared to write.
Lian Li once had only one wish: to find her Mother.
Now that she had found her, that wish was no longer a wish.
She picked up the brush pen and wrote her first blessing: 【May my Senior Sister have a glorious life forever】
“My Senior Sister likes excitement and often goes to dangerous areas for scientific research, spending all her money on it, and frequently has no money to eat,” Lian Li said, her eyes curving slightly, a faint smile in her pupils. “She’s like a female general from ancient times on the battlefield, bound to conquer places that haven’t been studied by scientific research teams.”
“She sounds like a very interesting girl,” the grandmother said with a kind smile. “I believe your Senior Sister will indeed have a glorious life forever.”
Lian Li moved to the second side, pondered for a few seconds, and then wrote: 【May Mother be safe and sound every year】
She didn’t speak, looking at these six characters, and her lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
Even without a mother-daughter bond, she hoped her Mother would be well.
The grandmother didn’t say anything, as many people prayed for their families; it was normal.
By the third side, Lian Li began to struggle. She held the brush pen, paused for a long time, and then wrote: 【World peace, national prosperity, and people’s well-being】
For the last side of the sky lantern, the grandmother expected her to ponder for a long time like before. Unexpectedly, Lian Li bent down and swiftly picked up the brush.
【Hope he lives happily】
The grandmother noticed there was a line of small text at the bottom: 【P.S.: Preferably the happiest person in the world】
The pronoun “he” usually refers to someone one cannot openly speak about, someone deeply hidden in one’s heart.
The grandmother smiled at Lian Li and said, “He must be very important to you, whoever he is.”
Facing a stranger with whom she had a fated encounter, Lian Li didn’t hide much.
“He’s quite important.”
She thought of her interactions with Jin Shi Yue, lowered her eyelashes, and said softly, “He understands me very well, can read my thoughts, and protects my self-esteem. When I’m indecisive, he not only gives me strength and pulls me forward but also clears away all obstacles on the path, allowing me to proceed smoothly. I feel very relaxed around him and have always been myself.”
“He always seems to put me first in everything, and I can continuously feel his affection for me.”
“From your description, are you lovers?” the grandmother asked.
Lian Li nodded: “Temporarily.”
“Are you planning to break up?” The grandmother, as someone with experience, was quite perceptive in this regard.
“Not yet, but soon,” Lian Li said. “When he no longer likes me, we’ll probably break up.”
When one truly likes someone, possessiveness can trigger the worst in human nature, fearing the pain of loss, leading to loss of control and negative emotions.
Being too stubborn in a relationship hurts both parties. When it’s time to leave, one should leave, being able to let go.
Lian Jingcheng also understood this principle, but he held on too much, loved too deeply, and couldn’t let go.
Lian Li could let go easily because she held on lightly.
Perhaps she was a coward in love, but what did it matter if she was a coward?
Whether timid or brave, whether retreating or advancing, Lian Li could unconditionally like Lian Li.
“Do you like him because he likes you?” the grandmother asked thoughtfully, her voice gentle. “Because he’s always walking towards you, you’re willing to glance at him?”
His not liking her and then breaking up seemed to imply that their relationship was solely because he liked her.
Lian Li shook her head, her hair brushing against her face, and she answered unhurriedly.
“Even if he didn’t like me, I think I would still like him.”
“I know he’s pampered, critical and sharp-tongued, jealous and suspicious, demanding, and occasionally childish, but…”
It seemed that as long as it was Jin Shi Yue, she would like him.
The sound of a train rumbling in the distance pulled Lian Li’s thoughts back.
The grandmother kindly helped her move the sky lantern to the designated spot for release.
The four-color sky lantern was lit and, carried by the wind, slowly ascended into the sky, like free birds.
As night fell, the lantern shone blindingly, as if burning a hole in the sky.
Lian Li looked up at the sky, faintly able to see the blessings written on the sky lantern. The simple drawing of a heart was fiery red, burning ever brighter.
Beside her was a mother and daughter releasing a sky lantern. The mother said to her daughter, “The world is unfolding before you. You can go anywhere, do anything, and become anyone.”
The daughter exclaimed excitedly, “Then I want to meet Li Ziwei!”
Lian Li remembered Li Ziwei was a character from the Taiwanese drama 《Someday or One Day》. Shang Lingyu had posted many stills from the drama on her Moments, enthusiastically recommending it.
Her thoughts drifted for two seconds. When she looked up at the sky again, the lantern had already disappeared.
Lian Li reached up to her neck, fiddled with the red-marrow jade prayer beads, and gazed into the distance thoughtfully.
Many things in the world, once lost, never reappear.
All the waters in the world would reunite, the Arctic Ocean and the Nile would merge in the clouds, but she and Jin Shi Yue were not water.
Once separated, a reunion would be difficult.
To her, Jin Shi Yue was not just the omnipresent wind but also the fire that lit the sky lantern.
In an instant, all her worries and fears vanished.
Love was only a small part of her life, but Jin Shi Yue was an indispensable presence in it.
Realizing this, an anxious, burning voice instantly surged to Lian Li’s nerve endings.
Her feelings for Jin Shi Yue crackled and churned restlessly, like a drop of sugar on hot coals.
Everything hidden was released, all her reserve was torn away, and she desperately missed him, eager to see him.
Lian Li immediately turned and ran towards the street, weaving through the lively and bustling crowd, stepping over the ancient old street of her homeland. She accidentally bumped into people along the way, apologizing quickly:
“Excuse me!”
The beautiful girl ran forward recklessly, as if she didn’t care about her life. Some people, worried about her safety, kindly asked if she needed help.
Lian Li smiled: “I’m going to see someone!”
After saying this, she wasn’t paying attention and suddenly collided head-on with someone approaching. The person was tall and strong, which stunned her a bit.
“Sorry.”
Lian Li was in a hurry. After apologizing, she immediately stepped forward, ready to continue running, not wanting to waste a single second.
Unexpectedly, the person grabbed her arm and forcefully pulled her back, very domineeringly.
Lian Li struggled with all her might, looked up, and before she could clearly see the person’s face, a familiar voice suddenly came to her ear:
“Junior Sister, take it easy.”
