Chapter 32: Dear Traveler

Lin Fan finally finished the last cup of milk tea and let out a long sigh.

Beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, his chest rising and falling slightly. "Lin Chen, mission accomplished! One hundred cups of milk tea!"

Lin Chen smiled sweetly, her eyes curving into two crescent moons. "Not bad, Lin Fan, your performance is pretty good! I'll forgive you for this time."

As she spoke, she swept all the milk tea into her Storage Pouch, her face full of smug satisfaction.

Watching Lin Chen's smile, Lin Fan shook his head helplessly and dotingly. "Lin Chen, you didn't just make me busy for the sake of teasing me, did you? Can you really finish all this milk tea?"

Lin Chen giggled as she leaned closer to him, took out a handkerchief embroidered with small flowers, and gently wiped the sweat from Lin Fan's forehead. "Who told you to always bully me? Let's just consider today as making up for it!"

Her movements were gentle, and there was a hint of apology in her eyes.

Lin Fan's fatigue was swept away in that moment. He stared blankly at the pretty face in front of him, a wave of warmth flowing through his heart.

"Alright, the sweat is wiped clean!" Lin Chen gently patted Lin Fan's shoulder, then took his hand and said sweetly,

"Let's go, let's go watch the fireworks! I heard today's fireworks are especially beautiful!"

Lin Fan was led outside by Lin Chen, his lips curling up involuntarily. "Lin Chen, you're so proactive that I'm actually a bit flattered."

"Hmph, don't get cocky!" Lin Chen turned back and glared at him, but her cute appearance had no deterrent effect at all; instead, it looked like she was acting spoiled.

The two walked out of Leshan Pavilion one after the other. Su Wanqing and the others followed behind, watching this scene, and couldn't help but exchange a meaningful look.

"Lin Chen and Lin Fan's relationship is really getting closer and closer," Yin Miaoxue said with a smile.

Princess Hu Qinlan smiled lightly, "But this kind of Lin Chen seems even cuter."

Su Wanqing nodded, "Let's go, we should go watch the fireworks too. We can't miss today's party."

As night fell, the Nine Palaces and Sixteen Courtyards of the Xuanyin Qin Sect were surrounded by fireworks. Clusters of fireworks rose one after another, accompanied by deafening sounds, blooming in various dazzling colors.

Red like burning flames, gold like dancing stars, green like the tender shoots of spring, and purple like a mysterious dream in the night sky.

Some were as lingering as the strings of an ancient zither, while others outlined dancing cranes, dazzling to the eyes.

Lin Chen and Lin Fan found a spot with the best view in the crowd and stopped.

Holding a cup of milk tea, Lin Chen looked up at the night sky. The stars and fireworks were reflected in her light green eyes, so beautiful that one couldn't look away.

"Wow, so beautiful!" Lin Chen watched the fireworks intently, her tone full of surprise.

Lin Fan watched her profile, his lips curling up involuntarily.

Compared to the fireworks, he felt that Lin Chen's smile at this moment was the most beautiful scenery.

"As long as you like it," Lin Fan said in a low voice, his tone full of doting.

Lin Chen turned to look at him and said mischievously, "Why aren't you drinking milk tea? Didn't you just make it?"

Lin Fan scratched his head, and just as he was about to say something, there was another loud bang overhead.

A huge cluster of fireworks exploded in the sky, and the golden light bathed the earth, as bright as day.

Lin Chen was startled and trembled slightly, leaning towards Lin Fan by reflex.

Lin Fan took the opportunity to put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his embrace.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Lin Fan lowered his head and comforted her softly, his voice as gentle as a warm breeze.

Lin Chen looked up slightly, her cheeks flushed with a faint rosy hue from the light of the fireworks.

Their eyes met, and everything around them seemed to stand still, leaving only each other.

"Lin Fan…" Lin Chen called out softly.

Without thinking, Lin Fan lowered his head and leaned in, his warm breath gradually approaching Lin Chen's lips.

Lin Chen's eyes widened, her body tensing subconsciously, but she didn't pull away.

Just as the fireworks exploded again, Lin Fan's lips landed gently on Lin Chen's.

Lin Chen closed her eyes, her heart beating like a drum. By the time Lin Fan gently pulled away, her cheeks were as red as ripe apples.

"You… why did you steal a kiss from me!" Lin Chen gently punched Lin Fan's chest, but her tone had less annoyance and more shyness.

Lin Fan smiled with an innocent look, "Who told you to be so cute? I couldn't help it."

Lin Chen gave a soft hmph, but didn't say anything else, lowering her head to take a sip of milk tea to hide her shyness.

The two sat side by side on the soft grass dotted with wildflowers, looking up at the starry sky. The afterglow of the fireworks gently caressed the earth, and Lin Chen quietly leaned on Lin Fan's shoulder, immersed in this quiet warmth.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps approached from afar. Cuier came running over, panting, with an anxious look on her face.

"Senior Sister Lin Chen, I finally found you! The musical performance at Tianyin Square has already started, and it's almost time for your act!"

Hearing this, Lin Chen suddenly sat up from Lin Fan's embrace, her expression changing immediately. "Oh no, I almost forgot! How is it my turn so soon?"

Cuier nodded hurriedly, "Yes, let's go, everyone is waiting for you!"

Lin Chen hurriedly shoved the milk tea in her hand into Lin Fan's hand. "Lin Fan, you go find a seat first, watch my performance later, and remember to applaud!"

Lin Fan couldn't help but laugh. Watching her flustered appearance, he dotingly rubbed her head. "Alright, I'll wait to see you shine."

"Hmph, just wait!" Lin Chen glared at him, pouting, then waved at Cuier, "Lead the way quickly!"

Cuier pulled Lin Chen and ran towards Tianyin Square. Lin Chen jogged all the way, not forgetting to turn back and wave at Lin Fan.

Lin Fan stood in place, watching her figure disappear into the night illuminated by the fireworks, a faint smile on his lips.

He looked down at the milk tea in his hand and shook his head helplessly, "What a little scatterbrain."

Meanwhile, above the stage at Tianyin Square, fireworks and spiritual light shone together.

The fireworks in the night sky gradually subsided, and the surrounding noise slowly died down.

A soft beam of light shone on the center of the stage, and Lin Chen, in a light blue dress, slowly walked into view.

Her skirt swayed slightly with the light breeze, and her gentle smile was as soft as moonlight.

Lin Chen gently plucked the strings, and a warm song, "Dear Traveler," slowly flowed out.

Lin Chen lifted her face slightly, her light green eyes shining with starlike radiance. She parted her lips slightly, and a heavenly singing voice slowly drifted out:

"Let's say goodbye here, the train on the water is about to arrive at the station. On the road to the future, no one will return…"

Just the opening line made the whole audience hold their breath.

The zither music and singing voice intertwined, like a breeze carrying the scent of flowers passing through everyone's hearts.

All the noise in the square seemed to be melted by this gentle melody, and the audience gradually immersed themselves in this dreamlike music.

"Say goodbye, even if you are reluctant, don't look back. On the other side of the sea…"

Lin Chen's voice seemed to soothe every tired Soul.

Her hands danced gracefully on the strings, every pluck like a spring breeze brushing across the fields, bringing hope and warmth.

Accompanied by the music, the soft light on the stage spread out, like gentle waves on the sea, swaying slowly with the melody.

Lin Chen raised her eyes, looking into the distance, her voice filled with a hint of expectation for the future:

"There must be a misty shore, where the gentlest dreams are made, filled with the hustle and bustle of the world…"

At this moment, the audience below the stage fell silent. They seemed to have been taken on a distant journey, with the scene of waves hitting the shore appearing before their eyes, and the tenderness in Lin Chen's singing echoing in their ears.

"In the vast space-time, among millions of people, listen to the voice of the heart…"

"Constantly losing along the way, constantly witnessing throughout life. Having seen so much scenery, the eyes remain as clear as before…"

Lin Chen closed her eyes, as if telling everyone's story with her song.

Lin Fan below the stage clenched his fists involuntarily. His gaze was gentle and deep as he watched her on stage, his heart filled with emotions.

"Dear traveler, there is no road without wind and waves. There will be loneliness, there will be sadness, but there will also be endless hope…"

Lin Chen's singing was sometimes low, sometimes bright, as if taking people into different stages of life.

The zither music accompanied the singing, as if confiding: Although the journey has suffering, that hope always exists.

"Dear traveler, this journey will be short yet long, and everything will eventually converge into the most fulfilling scene…"

She sang softly to the end, the tone gradually leveling off, her voice becoming increasingly gentle yet more penetrating, as if providing solace to everyone's heart.

As Lin Chen slowly hummed the final melody, "Lalalalala, Lululululu…"

The notes extended out like a trickling stream, carrying endless warmth and expectation, leading the audience into boundless tranquility and hope.

The whole audience was silent, and a moment later, applause sounded like a rising tide.

Lin Chen slowly stood up, bowed slightly, with a sweet smile on her face.

The audience below had moist eyes; they were deeply moved by this performance that was as gentle as a spring breeze.

Someone sighed in a low voice, "This is not just music, but a power that soothes the heart."

Lin Chen walked off the stage, and Lin Fan was already waiting for her below.

With a smile in his eyes, he said softly: "Lin Chen, you were amazing."

Lin Chen scratched her hair a bit embarrassedly, pursed her red lips slightly, and revealed a sly smile,

"Hehe, this is still a song stolen from your home, otherwise how would I have any inspiration!"

Lin Fan was stunned, then laughed, reaching out to rub the top of her head. "So that's how it is, no wonder it sounded so familiar."

Lin Chen swatted Lin Fan's hand away, and said with a coquettish pout: "Don't mess with my hair, I just fixed it, and you messed it up again. Watch out or I'll beat you!"

It seemed fierce, but in that tone of mock anger, sweet affection was almost overflowing.