books44 Chapter 388 [Empire] Lin Hao
Chapter 388 [Empire] Lin Hao
Whenever I ran into Nightingale in the mission hall, I couldn't help but frown. He always had a stern demeanor, but his mouth was always sharp, always saying things that made people laugh or cry.
That day, he stood in the corner of the hall again, arms crossed, seemingly observing my conversation with Lin Hao. His eyes were indifferent, but a hint of sarcasm played at the corner of his mouth. As soon as he caught my eye, he walked towards me, smiled softly, and said in a deliberately low voice with a hint of teasing, "I didn't expect that so soon after breaking up, the kid would have already moved on to someone else. I, as her ex, am truly heartbroken."
I almost choked at his words, my mouth twitching as I glared at him angrily: "How dare you say that? I'm single now, and I'd only fall in love with you if I fell in love with someone else!"
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow. "It sounds like you're more than just single. It sounds like you've found a new playmate?"
The smile on his face grew more profound, and his eyes gleamed with amusement. I was speechless, almost wanting to pull out the task notice and slam it into his stern face.
"Nightingale, stop being so sarcastic." I couldn't help but roll my eyes and turned my head away, not wanting to pay any more attention to him. "Lin Hao and I are just mission partners. Stop talking nonsense."
He smiled, but his eyes revealed a complex emotion. Then he said slowly, "Mission partner, it sounds like you're quite satisfied with this new partner."
"Not bad," I replied casually, but something else was stirring inside me. No matter how he teased me, Nightingale's deep gaze always made me feel inexplicably heavy. Although I knew he was deliberately trying to stir up my emotions, the care he inadvertently showed made me unable to respond for a moment.
He seemed satisfied with my reaction and smiled even more deeply: "Well, as expected, the little one has become accustomed to fighting alongside others. It seems that I am no longer the protagonist in your life. Oh, the child has grown up."
I rubbed my hair irritably and was about to say something when Nightingale suddenly turned around, facing away from me and said calmly, "Remember, no matter what choice you make, don't forget who you were at the beginning. Change is not a bad thing, but don't forget why you started."
The moment these words were spoken, the air froze. I stared at his back, a mixture of emotions welling up inside me. Nightingale's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a seriousness I'd never heard before. It was as if his tone was reminding me of something, as if he'd already seen through some of my inner contradictions.
"I know." I responded softly, my voice a little low.
Nightingale said nothing more, merely smiled faintly, and turned to leave. As I watched him disappear down the hall, I suddenly realized that the emotions I'd been avoiding were already buried deep within me. Regardless, Nightingale's words still touched me. That seemingly wise reminder also made me question my past choices.
At this moment, I turned around and saw Lin Hao standing not far away, his eyes filled with curiosity and concern. I knew he might not have understood the conversation, but he looked at me with that innocent and expectant look, as if he was expecting me to give him an answer.
I patted Lin Hao's shoulder and said calmly, "Let's go on our mission."
He said "OK", seemingly not understanding the silence and complexity behind my words.
Perhaps he was in that stage of "ignorance," relaxed and natural, acting without excessive questioning. Meanwhile, I, over the years, with countless struggles and pains, have gradually smoothed my edges, learning to conceal everything more perfectly. No one could see that my farewell to Nightingale was filled with an unspoken sense of loss, and my acceptance of Lin Hao was merely a brief companionship.
The nightingale is my mentor and also my passer-by.
I will also be a passer-by in Lin Hao's life. Perhaps he will never know why I am just a hasty companion.
"Let's go," I said again, heading for the mission hall's exit, Lin Hao trailing behind me. Each step felt like treading on the echo of my heart, a heavy, undeniable echo. The road ahead was still familiar, and the mission list still contained those life-or-death battles. But in my heart, I no longer had much enthusiasm for speculating on the significance of each mission. I'd even begun to accept it all as a necessary way of life.
We walked into the mission hall, and the mercenaries around us were still coming and going. Everyone seemed to be wearing the same mask, silent or noisy, like images swallowed by war. Behind these images, no one could truly understand the loneliness and exhaustion in another person's heart.
I stopped looking back at Lin Hao, because I knew he wouldn't understand my silence. Perhaps one day he would understand that being someone else's "passerby" isn't always a choice, but an inevitable fate. And perhaps, at some point, I, too, will be just a passing guest in Nightingale's past, a blurry figure in some future story of Lin Hao's.
The atmosphere in the mission hall began to grow tense. The dispatcher handed Lin Hao and me a new mission—this time, the goal was to confront a group of high-risk alien beasts. The mission details were not elaborate, but the reward was tempting enough.
"Let's go, Lin Hao." I handed him the task list. Seeing him carefully take it, I suddenly felt a pang of pity. I couldn't remember the last time I faced a task with such enthusiasm. Perhaps true passion vanished the moment I lost my direction.
Lin Hao nodded, his eyes gleaming with anticipation and determination. Perhaps he was using this mission to prove himself, perhaps he needed it to regain his confidence. And I simply continued to walk silently beside him, like a bystander, like a grain of sand blown by the wind, ready to be scattered in this endless battle.
As we stepped out of the hall and into the mission area, the surrounding landscape once again became desolate and dangerous. The air was thick with smoke and dust, and the scent of battle was already pervasive. I didn't give myself too much time to think, but calmly analyzed the risks of the mission and walked into the unknown darkness with Lin Hao.
"Let's go, Lin Hao." I said softly, with firm steps.
Lin Hao's changes gradually became apparent. His life was no longer as difficult as before. The little girl who was often pale and skinny was no longer a bother in his eyes, but became a part of the happiness in his life.
As time went by, he not only gradually saved some money, but he was even able to take his sister to the market to buy some fresh ingredients. Every time he returned to the dormitory, the girl would excitedly run to tell me about the few new dishes she had learned to make. Yes, she moved in with Lin Hao.
I could also see that Lin Hao was slowly growing up, no longer the mercenary boy who could only afford porridge. The food on the second floor of the cafeteria was simpler and more diverse than before. Every time we went together, Lin Hao would always order a slightly more expensive dish, while I would just order whatever I liked, occasionally stealing a few bites from his plate. This behavior seemed to have become a habit for him, and he would remind me with a smile, "Don't eat too much. I haven't eaten yet."
He's eating better now, his life is more stable, and he's become more energetic. His once frail face has gradually grown stronger, and his eyes are more confident. My sister's health has also improved a lot, her smile is brighter, and she looks full of life. Whenever I see her standing beside Lin Hao, her face full of peace, I can't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
He no longer felt nervous about every meal like before, nor did he look worried because he couldn't afford food. Every time he picked up food for me, he seemed to have an unconscious sense of pride, as if it was a reward for his own efforts, and also like gratitude for my companionship in the past.
"As you wish, try this." Lin Hao always placed fresh dishes in my bowl, as if hoping I'd like them. His cautiousness was completely different from the reservedness I'd experienced when I first met him. Although he would occasionally look at me with that somewhat innocent gaze, as if asking if I'd done well enough, I knew that his sincerity and dedication were the best gift he could offer.
I never told him why I accepted these changes so easily. I just quietly enjoyed this quiet and simple time. Life was not so turbulent, as if everything had found its proper rhythm in this ordinary cafeteria.
Occasionally, I'd pick out a bite or two of something I liked from his plate. He'd look at me and smile, "You always like these."
I also smiled and shook my head: "It's just a habit."
Lin Hao's life gradually became more fulfilling. No longer the lonely and struggling teenager he once was, he was able to create a stable little world for himself and his sister. And I, still silently watching over them, like a quiet cloud, drifting in the wind, silent but never leaving.
I never ask too much about his future because I know that life will give him the answer.