HLnovel Chapter 727 Life lies in...
Chapter 727 Life lies in...
After the pleasant dinner ended and he handed over the cleanup to everyone, Lin Bufan wiped his hands and strolled alone to the railing on the second floor. The night breeze, carrying the coolness of the mountains, gently brushed against his cheeks. He looked up at the bright moon on the horizon, his hand on the wooden railing, lost in thought for a moment.
Not long after, soft footsteps sounded from behind. Xu Hongdou walked over, stopped beside Lin Bufan, leaned against the railing like him, and asked, "What are you thinking about, hiding here all by yourself?"
Lin Bufan didn't turn around, still gazing at the clear moonlight, his tone carrying a hint of feigned profundity: "Such a beautiful moment, look at that moon, so big and round, like...like a giant silver platter hanging in the sky! This scene has inspired me to write a poem!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Hongdou's eyes lit up slightly, and a look of surprise appeared on her face: "Oh? It's rare that you have such an interest. Then I'll be all ears."
Lin Bufan remained silent, gazing up at the bright moon, seemingly gathering his emotions.
As a result, the wait lasted a very long time!
Finally, Xu Hongdou couldn't wait any longer!
"Where's the poem? Great poet, I'm still waiting."
Lin Bufan turned his head and looked at Xu Hongdou, remaining silent for a long time.
Just as Xu Hongdou raised an eyebrow, preparing to ask again, Lin Bufan seemed to have finally organized his thoughts, and spoke with a hint of helpless honesty:
"Sigh, this wasn't the script I originally planned... My plan was to first take out my phone and search online for a couple of relevant ancient poems, and then, when you were almost up, I would just happen to hear you reciting them to the moon with deep feeling, thus putting on a show of being a cultured person and leaving you with a deep impression of being learned and talented."
Lin Bufan shrugged, pointing helplessly at Xu Hongdou: "But you... you came up way too fast! My search engine hasn't even opened yet, and you're already standing in front of me. The whole plan is ruined... Maybe..."
Why don't you go down for a quick stroll? Ten minutes, no, five minutes will do! I promise, I'll memorize it right away, and when you come back up, I'll give you a truly captivating recitation, guaranteed to impress you! How about that?"
Hearing this absurd suggestion, Xu Hongdou's eyes widened slightly in surprise. For a moment, she didn't know how to react and felt both amused and exasperated.
Seeing that Xu Hongdou didn't move, Lin Bufan added earnestly, his tone incredibly sincere: "Don't worry, it'll be quick! My speed in looking up and memorizing poems is absolutely top-notch, it won't take long! I guarantee it won't delay your enjoyment of the moonlight!"
Watching Lin Bufan solemnly discussing the "cheating" process, Xu Hongdou finally couldn't help but raise her hand to her forehead, shaking her head helplessly and laughing. Her clear laughter echoed in the quiet night. She was completely impressed by the person in front of her; he always managed to shatter all her expectations and assumptions in unexpected ways.
"Take your time to think it over. Once you've figured it out, recite it to Nanxing. She'll definitely love it." With that, Xu Hongdou turned and walked towards her room.
As she approached the door, she paused, turned back to look at Lin Bufan, who was still standing by the fence, and teased him with a smile, "By the way, thank you for the book, esteemed writer Lin. I will savor it carefully."
Lin Bufan immediately straightened his back, a smug look on his face, and said loudly, "Xu Hongdou, you have good taste! Those are all my painstaking works. Remember, after you finish reading each one, you have to write me a 5,000-word review, and tell me your thoughts and feelings!"
Xu Hongdou paused, her hand barely outstretched, and she stumbled, nearly bumping into the doorframe. She turned around, glared at Lin Bufan with a look of accusation that read, "Are you dreaming?", and then slammed the door shut, shutting out Lin Bufan's laughter.
……
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Lin Bufan was forcibly dragged out of bed by Chen Nanxing.
The two, with their messy hair and listless expressions, sat on stools in the first-floor kitchen, their heads resting on the windowsill. They waited for Nana to make breakfast while gazing unsteadily at Ma Qiushan, who was meditating with his eyes closed in the yard, clearly not fully awake yet.
Lin Bufan yawned widely, complaining in a muffled voice, "Weren't we here on vacation to relax? Why do we have to get up so early? I haven't had enough sleep yet..."
Chen Nanxing rubbed his eyes and replied weakly, "How would I know? I was forced to turn on by Hongdou. She dragged me out of bed early in the morning, saying that the air is better in the morning."
Lin Bufan turned his head and looked at Chen Nanxing in disbelief: "No, Hongdou won't let you sleep, so you come and bother me? Shouldn't we settle our score?"
Chen Nanxing raised an eyebrow and said matter-of-factly, "Otherwise what? Your Dou'er has caused so much trouble, who else will pay for it if not you? I can't be the only one suffering."
Lin Bufan was speechless for a moment after hearing this, and could only roll his eyes at the green plants in the yard.
Just then, light footsteps came from the stairs, and Xu Hongdou, dressed in a refreshing tracksuit, came down from the second floor.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she bumped into Xie Xiaochun, who was just entering the courtyard. Xie Xiaochun greeted her with a smile, "Hongdou, are you getting ready to exercise?"
Xu Hongdou nodded, a bright smile on her face: "That's right, I'm going for a run, after all, life is about movement."
As soon as Xu Hongdou finished speaking, Ma Qiushan, who was sitting in meditation with his eyes closed in the courtyard, slowly interjected: "Wrong! Life lies in stillness."
Xu Hongdou and Xie Xiaochun both looked at Ma Qiushan, who was meditating with his eyes closed. After exchanging a glance, they both shrugged helplessly and didn't say anything.
Chen Nanxing, who was leaning on the windowsill, naturally heard Xu Hongdou and Master Ma's conversation. She gently nudged Lin Bufan, who was still sleepy beside her, with her elbow and whispered, "Hey, Lin Bufan, what do you think life is about? Movement or stillness?"
Lin Bufan struggled to open his eyelids, glanced weakly at Chen Nanxing, and muttered, "Is that even a question? Life is about living, of course. If you're dead, what's the point of discussing movement or stillness? You're just lying flat on your back."
Chen Nanxing rolled her eyes at Lin Bufan, annoyed: "Isn't what you're saying obvious? Everyone knows they have to live, but who can escape death?"
“Yes, everyone dies, that’s true.” Lin Bufan perked up a little and propped his chin up with his hand. “But can someone who lives to 160 be the same as someone who only lives to 80? Those extra 80 years can be used for exercise or stillness, and they have plenty of time to slowly contemplate the meaning of life. They can do whatever they want!”
"Tch—isn't that just nonsense?" Chen Nanxing curled his lip in disdain: "But who can live to 160? Do you think you're an old tortoise? You're just spouting unrealistic things."
Upon hearing this, Lin Bufan finally opened his eyes fully, glancing sideways at Chen Nanxing with a disdainful expression that said, "You're so ignorant." He scoffed, "Tch—you have absolutely no knowledge. Don't you know about the reverse clock I invented?"
“I know,” Chen Nanxing nodded, “but didn’t you say on the show that the most ideal effect of that thing is to make people live to around 120 years old? It’s still far from the 160 you mentioned.”
“120 years old is true, but that’s the first generation product!” Lin Bufan straightened up slightly, his tone carrying the persistence and vision unique to researchers: “After I conduct further research and develop the second and third generations, let alone 160 years old, even 610 years old is not impossible!”
"610 years old?!" Chen Nanxing exclaimed in shock, turning his head sharply to stare at Lin Bufan in disbelief, his voice rising several decibels: "Are you kidding me? Over six hundred years old?! That's an old monster!"
"Don't worry," Lin Bufan assured sincerely, "With me here, even if you live to be 610 or 6100, I guarantee you'll still be that bouncy, beautiful fairy."
Chen Nanxing's eyes lit up instantly. She grabbed Lin Bufan's arm, leaned forward involuntarily, and her face was full of anticipation and disbelief: "Really? You mean it? Even... even if she's over six hundred years old, can she really still be such a beautiful fairy like this?"
"Of course it's true!" Lin Bufan grasped Chen Nanxing's soft hand. "My word is my bond! I always keep my promises!"
"Really?" Chen Nanxing blinked, as if wanting to confirm it again.
"real!"
"Really?"
"really!"
"Really, really, really?"
……
Their childish conversation, oblivious to everyone else, reached Xu Hongdou's ears without a word being missed. She leaned against the window frame, arms crossed, watching the two "childish devils" arguing endlessly about the "six-hundred-year-old fairy," and finally couldn't help but speak up:
"Excuse me, young lady who is over six hundred years old, would you be interested in going for a run together and stretching out your old arms and legs?"
Chen Nanxing was startled by Xu Hongdou's sudden voice, her cheeks flushing bright red. The playful, eagerness she'd shown moments before vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of embarrassment and annoyance. She abruptly released Lin Bufan's hand, retorting defiantly, "You're the one with old bones! I'm a genuine fairy, what fairy has old bones?"
Xu Hongdou suppressed a laugh, raised an eyebrow and nodded, her tone somewhat indulgent: "Alright, alright, you're a fairy, I misspoke." She paused, then steered the conversation back: "Then, may I ask this fairy, would you like to go for a run together and get some fresh air?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Nanxing's embarrassment and annoyance faded somewhat, and a smug smile appeared on her lips. She deliberately dragged out her words, "Although I'm quite happy that you call me 'little fairy,' I... I'm not going!"
Xu Hongdou had anticipated Chen Nanxing's reaction. She shook her head helplessly, a gentle smile spreading across her lips. "Alright, I'll go by myself then." With that, she straightened up and turned to walk out of the courtyard.
Just then, Lin Bufan suddenly called out to her, his tone carrying a hint of deliberate "dissatisfaction": "Hey, hey, Xu Hongdou, what's wrong with you? Why do you only ask if the little fairy is going or not, and not even ask me? Are you looking down on me?"
Xu Hongdou paused, turned around, and looked at Lin Bufan's serious "nitpicking" expression. Helplessly, she asked, "So, Lin Bufan, would you like to go for a run together?"
Lin Bufan was quite satisfied with Xu Hongdou's "sensible" attitude, so he grinned and said, "You're right to look down on me, I'm not going!"
Xu Hongdou: “…”
In the end, Xu Hongdou left alone and embarked on a solo journey to improve her health!
……
Xu Hongdou returned from her morning run, carrying the fresh scent of morning dew as she entered the courtyard. The courtyard was quiet; only Grandpa Ma remained in his usual spot, meditating with his eyes closed, like a statue in deep meditation. She tiptoed, intending to go straight to her room, but her gaze was drawn to something on the stove in the communal kitchen.
A small steamer sat on the stove, with a sticky note underneath. She walked over, picked it up, and saw Lin Bufan's slightly unruly yet surprisingly clear and legible handwriting:
"Dou'er, running must be tiring. I left you some breakfast in the pot. If it gets cold, just heat it up. If you feel lonely eating alone, you can let me know. I offer a home-cooked feeding service—Love, Lin!"
Xu Hongdou picked up the note from the stove, looking at Lin Bufan's bold and legible handwriting, especially the last sentence "Love you, Lin," and couldn't help but smile helplessly and shake her head. She casually put the note aside, and was about to open the pot lid to see what was inside, but her movements paused slightly. Her gaze fell on the note again, she hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took it back, carefully folding it along the original creases, and put it in her coat pocket before lifting the pot lid.
A warm steam mingled with the simple aroma of food wafted through the air. A bowl of perfectly cooked white porridge sat warm in the pot, next to a small dish of peeled hard-boiled egg and a small plate of crisp, delicious-looking pickles. Simple, yet thoughtfully prepared. Xu Hongdou's lips unconsciously curved into a smile. She took the food out and sat alone at the small table in the kitchen, quietly enjoying this special "meal left for her."
……
Time flew by and it was noon. After the three of them had a simple lunch of noodles in the kitchen of the courtyard, Chen Nanxing leaned back lazily in his chair, rubbing his slightly full stomach, and looked at Lin Bufan: "What are we doing this afternoon, Lin, the great talent? Any plans?"
Lin Bufan was picking his teeth with a toothpick, not at all dignified. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I'm going to that wood carving workshop."
"A wood carving workshop?" Chen Nanxing sat up straight, a puzzled look on his face. "Didn't we visit it yesterday? Why are we going again today?"
Xu Hongdou also cast a curious glance at her.
Lin Bufan tossed the toothpick into the trash can, clapped his hands, and looked interested. "I think that wood carving is quite interesting. I'm planning to take this opportunity to learn how to make it!"