Why Did You Still Leave

Three years later, Lin Chen finished his meditation as usual. Just as he opened his eyes, he felt something hanging around his neck.

At that moment, a soft knock sounded at the door. Ya Li walked in, her tone tinged with sorrow: "Lin Chen, come to the living room."

Suppressing the complex emotions in his heart, Lin Chen rose and followed her to the living room.

On the table in the center of the room sat a letter, written in a clear, elegant hand—it was Na'er's unique handwriting.

Ya Li picked up the letter and placed it in Lin Chen's hands, her expression filled with complexity and regret: "This is what Na'er left behind. She has gone."

Lin Chen's fingertips paused. He slowly unfolded the envelope, and lines of familiar handwriting came into view.

"Brother Lin Chen, Uncle Yun Ming, Aunt Ya Li, Na'er is leaving. Thank you for your meticulous care over these years. I have gradually remembered who I am, and my family has come to collect me. Na'er is reluctant to leave you all."

"Na'er will always remember how kind Brother Lin Chen was to me. I will keep wearing the bracelet you made for me."

Looking at the note, Lin Chen's expression was complicated, and a wave of grief surged in his heart. Just like in the original story, Na'er had left.

Forcing down the bitterness welling up inside, he carefully tucked the letter away. After reporting to Ya Li, he headed toward that familiar snack street.

The street was as bustling as ever, filled with various aromas. This had once been Na'er's favorite place. In the past, she would always tug on his sleeve, looking at him with eyes full of anticipation, begging him to buy sweet, soft pastries and all sorts of steaming hot snacks.

Lin Chen walked slowly past every shop, his gaze carefully searching the crowd, his fingertips subconsciously stroking the necklace at his neck.

Most of the street vendors knew them. Seeing Lin Chen arrive alone, they asked, "Lin Chen, why are you here by yourself today? Where is Na'er? Why didn't she come with you?"

Hearing this, Lin Chen shook his head slightly, a flash of desolation crossing his azure-glass eyes, but he said nothing.

He checked every shop, walking through every stall Na'er loved, yet he never saw that familiar figure.

Past memories surfaced in his mind. He walked to a corner of the street and sat down, tears falling as he murmured, "Na'er, didn't you say you wouldn't leave me? I believed you. Why did you still leave?"

The noisy snack street was full of people coming and going; a few noticed Lin Chen sitting in the corner. Lin Chen hung his head, his tears splashing onto the stone bricks as images of his time with Na'er played on a loop in his mind.

In the shadows of an alleyway he couldn't see, a slender, silver-haired figure watched him silently.

She covered her mouth tightly, forcing herself not to let her tears fall. Watching the boy weep alone, her heart felt as if it were being torn apart, so painful she could barely breathe.

She wanted nothing more than to rush out, throw herself into his arms, and tell him she couldn't bear to leave, that she never wanted to go.

But she carried an unfulfilled mission on her shoulders. She could only hide in the dark, watching him again and again, engraving the boy's image deep into her heart, swallowing all her reluctance and heartache.

Until Lin Chen slowly stood up, wiped away his tears, turned, and left the snack street, heading toward home.

"My Lord... it is time to go." A melodious female voice sounded from behind Na'er.

Na'er—or rather, Gu Yuena—should be her name now.

Gu Yuena composed herself and replied, "Let's go, Bi Ji."

After searching for several days, Lin Chen still could not find Na'er.

Zhuo Shi and Feng Wuyu even joined the search personally, scouring every street corner and hidden alley in Shrek City. Yet, no matter how hard they searched, the information they gathered remained a blank slate.

It was as if the silver-haired girl who loved to laugh and eat, who was always clinging to Lin Chen's side, had never appeared on this land at all, vanishing completely without a trace.

That evening, everyone gathered at their residence.

Feng Wuyu sighed and patted Lin Chen on the shoulder: "Little Lin Chen, we have searched everywhere we could."

Zhuo Shi nodded in silence.

Lin Chen lowered his eyes, his fingertips gripping the Silver Dragon Scale Necklace at his neck tightly. After a long silence, he finally raised his head, the sadness in his azure-glass eyes settling into determination.

At this point, he had no choice but to gamble. He had made up his mind to head to Eastsea City.

Lin Chen turned around, his gaze returning to its usual calm as he looked at Ya Li: "Mom, take me to Dad."

Ya Li didn't ask for the reason; she knew this child had already made up his mind.

Zhuo Shi and Feng Wuyu exchanged a look, understanding his intent. Without further hesitation, the group set off immediately toward the Sea God Pavilion.

Upon reaching the Sea God Pavilion, Lin Chen spoke: "Dad, I want to go to Eastsea City."

Yun Ming gazed at Lin Chen quietly. After a moment of silence, he took an ancient, dark-gold token from his sleeve and slowly handed it to the boy.

"This token seals one strike of my Sky-Piercing Sun-Shooting." His voice was steady, carrying unquestionable power, and he instructed with a serious gaze: "If you encounter a force you cannot contend with, crush it. No one below the level of a Super Douluo can withstand this strike."

Lin Chen solemnly accepted the token. It felt cold and heavy in his hand, and he could clearly sense the terrifying power contained within. He bowed deeply: "Thank you, Dad."

Ya Li stood to the side, her eyes slightly red. She stepped forward and gently patted his arm, filled with reluctance: "You must protect yourself out there, and remember to call home often."

Zhuo Shi and Feng Wuyu also stepped forward one after another to pat his shoulder.

The next day, just as dawn broke, it was the opening day for Eastsea Academy.

Lin Chen had already contacted Tang Wulin the previous night and finished packing his luggage.

Before his departure, Ya Li urged him repeatedly: "Take this card. Three million Federal Credits will be deposited into it on time every month. Don't mistreat yourself out there. If it's not enough, send me a message anytime, and I'll transfer more."

At the train station, Lin Chen looked back at Shrek City. The Silver Dragon Scale Necklace at his neck felt slightly warm. He took a deep breath, turned, and stepped onto the soul guidance train bound for Eastsea City.

The train started slowly, and the familiar scenery outside the window gradually receded. The boy looked into the distance, thinking to himself: "Na'er, will you be at Eastsea Academy?"

The soul guidance train slowly pulled into the Eastsea City platform. The shrill whistle died down, and the doors opened slowly.

Lin Chen stepped off the train, his gaze subconsciously scanning the crowd, still holding a faint glimmer of hope in his heart.

A familiar figure immediately waved at him vigorously. The boy raised his arm high, his voice crisp and loud: "Brother Lin Chen, over here!"

It was Tang Wulin, who had been waiting there for quite some time.

Three years had passed, and Tang Wulin had grown significantly taller. His brows carried a newfound sense of determination, and while he still looked slightly youthful, his clear eyes remained as pure as ever.

Lin Chen's cyan-glazed eyes were clear and profound, his nose bridge high and straight, and his lip line clean and sharp. His entire face was handsome in just the right way, possessing less of a youth's callowness and more of a composed, noble air; both his appearance and temperament were a cut above Tang Wulin's.

Lin Chen stepped forward slowly, a faint smile rippling through his cyan-glazed eyes: "Wulin, long time no see."

Tang Wulin's tone was exceptionally enthusiastic: "Brother Lin Chen, I've been waiting for you for ages. Let's go, school is about to start."

He then looked Lin Chen up and down, sighing with genuine admiration: "Brother Lin Chen, it's been a few years, you've grown up to be way too good-looking."

"Alright, let's not delay the start of school."