Friends

Su Qianxue walked into the living room and looked around.

The villa's interior was simple yet elegant. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lay green mountains and clear waters. Sunlight streamed inside, making the entire space bright and airy.

"Settling in all right?" she asked casually.

Lin Jin nodded.

"It's fine. Have a seat!"

Su Qianxue sat on the sofa and opened the insulated food container.

Inside were several carefully prepared home-cooked dishes: braised pork ribs, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a serving of corn and pork rib soup.

"I didn't know what you'd like, so I just made a few things," she said, handing him a pair of chopsticks.

Lin Jin took them and picked up a piece of rib.

Su Qianxue watched him expectantly.

"How is it?"

Lin Jin chewed slowly, then nodded.

"Good."

"I never would've guessed that a daughter of the main line of a top-tier clan would be such a good cook."

"Of course. I'm not some pampered young lady." A smile appeared on Su Qianxue's face.

Zhou Yan watched longingly from the side.

"Group Leader Su, is there any for me?"

Su Qianxue paused, then looked a little embarrassed.

"Well... I didn't bring much..."

Zhou Yan understood at once.

"Got it, got it! I'll eat out! You two take your time talking!"

Go for it, Little Lin!

He shot Lin Jin an encouraging look, then dashed out the door.

Only Lin Jin and Su Qianxue remained in the living room.

The room fell quiet for a few seconds.

Su Qianxue spoke first.

"Has anyone caused you trouble these past few days?"

Lin Jin shook his head. "No."

Su Qianxue breathed a sigh of relief.

Su Qianxue breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. But you still need to be careful. Dark Moon won't let this go. And there are other factions..."

Lin Jin glanced up at her.

"Oh."

Su Qianxue couldn't help smiling at his unruffled manner.

"You don't seem to care about anything."

Lin Jin picked up some vegetables.

"Would caring help? What's coming will come."

Su Qianxue paused.

Then she nodded. "True."

The two ate quietly for a while.

Su Qianxue suddenly asked, "Lin Jin, what's your dream?"

Lin Jin stilled his chopsticks.

A dream?

In the Hokage World, his dream had been to survive, grow stronger, and protect what he wanted to protect.

In the end, he had succeeded, and he had lost things too.

What about now?

He fell silent for a few seconds. "To get stronger, I suppose."

Su Qianxue looked at him. "And after that?"

Lin Jin thought for a moment and gave his answer.

"To do whatever I want."

Su Qianxue smiled.

"That's a good dream."

She paused, then said softly, "My dream is to control my own destiny. Not to have my life arranged by my clan, not to become a bargaining chip in a marriage alliance, and to freely choose the life I want."

Lin Jin looked at her.

Those eyes held stubbornness, longing, and uncertainty.

He recalled the many people he had seen in the Hokage World.

Those manipulated by fate, those who fought desperately against it, and those who ultimately yielded.

"I believe you'll achieve it," he said.

Su Qianxue paused and asked, "Why do you say that?"

Lin Jin raised his head and gazed quietly at her for a long moment. "Because you're stubborn enough."

Su Qianxue froze for several seconds, then burst out laughing.

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

Lin Jin didn't answer.

When Su Qianxue finished laughing, she looked at him with a gentle gaze.

"Lin Jin, thank you."

"For what?"

"Ever since I was little, I've been surrounded by nothing but clan interests and flattery. I've never had anyone I could speak my heart to. You're the first."

Lin Jin was silent for a second after hearing that.

"Mm."

The villa instantly fell quiet. The two sat facing each other, eating in silence.

Outside the villa, Zhou Yan crouched by the door, counting ants out of sheer boredom.

Suddenly, he felt someone's gaze fall on him.

He jerked his head up and looked around, but there was nothing there.

There was only the rustle of leaves in the wind.

Zhou Yan scratched his head. "Was I imagining it?"

He lowered his head and went back to counting ants.

In a distant tree, a young figure quietly vanished from sight.

Blood Twelve withdrew his gaze, a hint of contemplation flashing through his eyes.

That Lin Jin was younger than he had imagined.

And that aura...

He grew increasingly certain that this man was no ordinary person.

He needed to stay in Jiangcheng a while longer and observe him carefully.

The sun sank in the west, its golden afterglow spilling into the villa's living room.

Su Qianxue glanced out the window and stood.

"It's getting late. I should head back."

Lin Jin stood as well.

"I'll walk you out."

Su Qianxue paused, then smiled.

"Well, that's rare. Someone like you actually offering to walk someone out."

"Don't get the wrong idea. You fed me for free. I ought to show some manners, shouldn't I?" Lin Jin picked up his jacket and headed outside.

The two walked out of the villa side by side.

A faint fragrance drifted from the osmanthus tree in the courtyard. Su Qianxue walked very slowly, as though enjoying this rare peace.

"Lin Jin."

"Hmm?"

"Do you think I'd have an easier life if I weren't part of the Su Clan, just a girl from an ordinary family?"

Lin Jin glanced at her.

"With your family background, you were practically born with a silver spoon in your mouth. So many people can only envy you."

Su Qianxue smiled bitterly.

"Maybe. But I'd rather have been born into an ordinary family. At least I could do what I wanted."

Lin Jin was silent for a second.

"If you don't want others controlling your destiny, make yourself stronger."

Su Qianxue turned to look at him.

Those black eyes were as calm as still water, yet somehow reassuring.

She nodded.

"Mm."

When they reached the entrance to the residential community, Su Qianxue stopped.

Lin Jin nodded.

Su Qianxue looked at him, hesitated, then spoke softly.

"Are we... friends?"

Lin Jin looked at her.

Her face was slightly flushed, but her eyes were bright, holding a hint of anticipation.

"Mm."

Su Qianxue smiled, her eyes curving.

"I'll be off, then. See you next time."

She turned and walked briskly away.

After a few steps, she looked back.

Lin Jin was still standing there, his hands in his pockets, watching her leave.

She waved, then disappeared around the street corner.

Lin Jin stayed where he was, looking in that direction in silence for a few seconds.

"Friends..."

In such a short time, he had gained another friend in this world that was both familiar and unfamiliar.

He turned and walked back.

Back at the villa, he had barely pushed the door open when he saw Zhou Yan's face, just begging to be punched.

"Ooh, you're back?" Zhou Yan lounged on the sofa, his tone teasing. "That took quite a while. Were you whispering sweet nothings?"

Lin Jin ignored him and walked straight toward the kitchen.

Zhou Yan followed and leaned against the kitchen doorway.

"Little Lin, how far have things gone between you and Group Leader Su? Did you hold hands? Did you, you know?"

Lin Jin opened the refrigerator and glanced at him.

"Didn't you go out to eat?"

"I finished!" Zhou Yan said without a trace of shame. "After eating, shouldn't I come back and check on my buddy's love life?"

He leaned closer, his face full of nosy curiosity.

"You still haven't answered me!"

"Well? You were alone together for so long. Did anything happen? Did you hold hands? Did you..."

Lin Jin ignored him and headed upstairs.

Zhou Yan followed behind, chattering away.

"Little Lin, don't go! Tell me! Group Leader Su took the initiative to bring you food. How much clearer could the signal be? If you still don't make a move, you really don't understand romance!"

Lin Jin stopped and looked back at him.

"Got nothing to do? Want a little after-dinner spar?"

Zhou Yan ducked his head.

"No, no! I'm very busy! I'm going to train right now!"

He dashed back to his room.