Lu Lin packed up the first-aid kit. "There aren't many things that can make me obsessed. According to the sample, so far, they are."
He pulled out a bottle of hand sanitizer, pumped it a few times, rubbed his hands together, and then held it out to Yan Heqing's hand, saying, "Wash your hands."
Yan Heqing opened his palm, and cool foam fell from it, carrying the scent of cedarwood. He rubbed his hands together, his gaze distant. "So, you won't be so obsessed anymore?"
With a crisp rustling sound, Lu Lin took something else out of his fishing bag and stuffed it into Yan Heqing's hand. "I don't get easily addicted, but if I choose to be, it's hard not to."
In his palm was a packet of dried pineapple. After a moment—actually only two or three seconds— Yan Heqing tore open the package, ate the dried pineapple, and then spoke, "Did you pass by that lake I sent you? Perhaps it holds many unexpected things."
"I've fished in similar lakes before," Lu Lin said casually, "And I did catch something unexpected."
"What?"
"A pearl." Lu Lin pulled up his fishing bag, picked up his watch, and stood up. He was too tall, and the cave was low, so he hunched over slightly. "You carry the bag."
Yan Heqing was still pondering the previous question, "Wild river mussel pearls?" when he took the fishing bag and slung it over his shoulder.
Lu Lin suddenly laughed, "Yes, it's the first river clam I caught, and the pearl is big and round."
He then handed over the watch, saying, "Keep an eye out for the path." He naturally turned his back and squatted down, his meaning clear: he intended to carry Yan Heqing on his back. "The cave paths are very complicated; you'll get lost if you take a few wrong steps."
Yan Heqing could walk slowly, and looking at the back in front of him, he still climbed up.
Yan Heqing drew closer, and only then did Lu Lin smell the familiar scent of cedarwood. It wasn't the ointment; it came from the boy. His breathing became slightly heavier. "Did you use that bath product?"
He put his arm around Yan Heqing's thigh. The space was cramped, and it was a little awkward to get up. Yan Heqing's fishing bag was not light, but he carried it with ease, and they returned the way they came.
Yan Heqing held up his watch for reference, "Hmm, I used it yesterday."
The camp had a simple shower room, and he took a quick shower last night.
Lu Lin's neck veins bulged slightly, and his voice was very deep, "The favor I need from you is to teach—"
Clang, clang.
Footsteps suddenly sounded ahead, accompanied by a clear, youthful male voice, " Yan Heqing?"
*
Lu Lin carried Yan Heqing on his back and walked ahead.
Gu Xingye followed behind.
He got lost for a while and isn't suitable to lead the way.
Gu Xingye felt that Lu Lin looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before, but he couldn't figure it out for the moment. He didn't have time to search his memory bank right now, and his gaze was casually observing what was in front of him.
Yan Heqing injured his foot, but not to the point that he couldn't walk or needed to be carried.
Besides, judging from the Yan Heqing he knew, he wasn't the type to accept such overly intimate behavior.
Is he a relative of Yan Heqing?
Gu Xingye speculated.
Neither Lu Lin nor Yan Heqing spoke again. Lu Lin focused on finding his way. He wasn't exaggerating when he said the path was confusing; this cave did indeed have many intersections, and one wrong step could lead to getting lost.
Yan Heqing remained quiet, as if he were asleep.
The only sound was footsteps. After about half an hour, the sound of the waterfall could be faintly heard. We were almost at the cave entrance.
Lu Lin quickened his pace and had just stepped out of the cave when the boy, whom he thought was asleep, spoke in a clear and resonant voice, "There are plum blossoms at 32 degrees to the left."
Lu Lin glanced sideways, and Gu Xingye also shone his flashlight over.
From a 32-degree angle to the left of the cave entrance, behind the waterfall, on a rock wall, No. 1 Primary School plum blossom has sprouted from a crevice between two intersecting rocks.
Only one branch, and only one white plum blossom. The temperature and terrain in the mountains are different. In the city, plum blossoms have long since withered, but this one tree blooms brilliantly all by itself.
Gu Xingye was very surprised.
When they entered the cave, they didn't notice the white plum tree at all.
It's not that my eyesight is bad; it's just that this plum tree is so well hidden. Not only is it nestled in the crevices of the cliff, but it's also blocked by the waterfall. Only in this No. 1 Primary School area can you catch a glimpse of this unexpected spring scenery if you look carefully.
When did Yan Heqing discover this plum blossom?
Now?
Was it during their cave exploration?
Gu Xingye's gaze fell back on Yan Heqing, only seeing his profile, calm and indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Gu Xingye felt a bit irritated.
He was born a prodigy and rarely felt this way.
Once he was outside the cave, he decided to go down down first.
Yan Heqing discovered it early on.
He even took a picture to send to Lu Lin when he had a signal, but now he doesn't need to, because Lu Lin saw it with his own eyes.
"It's truly amazing," Yan Heqing said softly. "Even in such harsh conditions, it struggles to absorb nutrients and blooms beautiful flowers."
Lu Lin withdrew his gaze and silently carried Yan Heqing down the last stretch of the rugged mountain path. Before Zhou Wuyou and Zhan Pingting rushed up, he seemed to say, "There's someone, just as magical as it."
--
When they reached a place with a signal, everyone was exhausted. Lu Lin put Yan Heqing down to rest on the spot, Gu Xingye went to the side to contact the counselor, omitting the part about going cave exploration and making up an excuse to return late.
Apart from Lu Lin and Yan Heqing, the rest were young students with no life experience, sitting cross-legged on the ground, looking at each other or stealing glances at Lu Lin.
Lu Lin is starting a fire.
After starting the fire, he threw in a few more small sweet potatoes.
Through the flickering firelight, Zhan Pingting would occasionally whisper to Zhou Wuyou, "Holy crap! Yan Heqing's brother is so damn handsome!!!!"
She thought Lu Lin was Yan Heqing's brother. Well, Gu Xingye was outstanding among boys—handsome, from a good family, academically excellent, and a great ice hockey player—but compared to Lu Lin, he was still too green, like a green cucumber.
Zhou Wuyou kept her lips tightly closed. She was somewhat downcast, and her gaze kept shifting between Lu Lin and Yan Heqing. She had a strange feeling, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She just felt that they weren't brothers, and the aura between them was indescribably subtle.
Zhao Yong was also stealing glances at Lu Lin, but his focus was different; he was looking at Lu Lin's watch.
He usually enjoys studying watches and immediately recognized that Lu Lin's watch was a custom-made piece, with top-quality materials and workmanship. He couldn't estimate the price, but it would definitely not be less than seven figures.