"No, I'm not going." Lu Lin put down his coffee cup. "I just need to go out for a bit later."
Hearing that he still wanted to go out, a look of disappointment flashed across Yan Heqing's face.
A smile spread across Lu Lin's eyes. "I'll be back soon. I'll definitely have hot pot with you at noon."
Chapter 113
Inside the private room, the man who had once helped with the fire at the Yan Family recalled, "In my memory, the sofa was the worst-burned part. It was a fabric sofa, and the burning materials included sofa covers, cushions, and other flammable items, as well as floor outlets."
The assistant was good at finding people. The fire at the Yan Family was this firefighter's first mission, and he encountered two people who died in the fire. He had a particularly deep memory of this fire.
"A charred lighter and incense ash-like residue were also found under the sofa."
"Based on my experience, it's highly likely that the fire started on flammable materials like the tassels of the sofa cover. These burn slowly and quietly, so the family was asleep and didn't notice in time. By the time the fire reached the floor socket, it was already burning and smoking very quickly. Given the summer heat and their sleep, the chances of escape were extremely slim. Most fire victims die instantly from smoke inhalation and suffocation, then are burned to death..."
"It's a miracle, isn't it? The woman of the house managed to save her children before she died... two boys, I think. Sigh..." the man lamented. "I remember one child clung to the woman's body and wouldn't let go. Even our captain couldn't separate him. One of them, whether from shock or his young age, I don't know, didn't cry but just trembled."
Lu Lin had found his answer.
If the fire had been caused by normal reasons, Yan Heqing would not be in the same state as yesterday.
Causes of abnormal fires--
Lin Fengzhi.
Lu Lin clenched his fingers. This answer was too tragic for Yan Heqing, and he desperately hoped that he was just overthinking things.
The assistant was at the door. Lu Lin came out and gave him a few instructions, then asked the assistant, "Did you convey my message?"
The assistant nodded, "Don't worry, I've made all the arrangements for the people Old Master Lu sent. They won't bother Student Yan."
Lu Lin then left.
After he left, the assistant knocked on the door of the private room and politely placed a thick, bulging red envelope on the floor. "Thank you for taking the time to come today. This is a small token of my boss's appreciation."
The man immediately refused, "No, no, you're too kind. I didn't do anything."
The assistant smiled, "My boss said you did it 13 years ago, this is what you deserve."
It was still raining heavily outside. Lu Lin stopped in front of the door, watched the rain for a while, and then got into the car and instructed the driver, "Go to the market."
The driver thought he had misheard.
Lu Lin repeated himself, and the driver quickly navigated to the nearest farmers' market.
After Yan Heqing finished reviewing cell biology, a notification popped up on his phone— WeChat from Lin Fengzhi.
Yan Heqing didn't read it and deleted it directly.
Not long after I put down my phone, Lu Lin returned.
Lu Lin bought beef bones, beef marrow, hand-hammered beef balls, slices of beef from different cuts, a bag of hot pot ingredients, and a bag of fruit.
Yan Heqing closed his book and went to help. Lu Lin didn't stop him. Yan Heqing went into the kitchen and opened the groceries bag. There were all kinds of fruits, vegetables and green leafy vegetables, but none of them had been processed. He thought about it for a moment and guessed the reason.
Lu Lin went to the farmers' market.
Yan Heqing has been to the supermarket downstairs a few times; it's full of pre-processed, clean vegetables that can be cooked directly.
Lu Lin went to the market specifically to buy groceries, hoping that he would have something to do and not have time to think about upsetting things.
Yan Heqing put the bag in the sink, took out a white radish, peeled it, cut off a piece, and after a while, he turned around, holding a lifelike rose carving, and handed it to Lu Lin, "Eat."
Lu Lin observed his expression, then took the radish flower. "It's so beautiful, it's a shame to eat it."
Yan Heqing smiled, a slight but no longer hollow smile. "Eat as much as you want, I'll carve as much as you eat."
He was smiling, but Lu Lin felt even more heartache. He wanted to tell Yan Heqing that he didn't need to be so strong in front of him, but the words felt too weak to say.
The world is full of malice towards Yan Heqing. To protect himself, the first thing he has to learn is to be strong.
Lu Lin gave up. He took a bite of the radish carving; it tasted sweet, yet inexplicably bitter.
The rain was still pouring down, but the kitchen was steaming. Lu Lin had made a sweet and sour vegetable salad, Yan Heqing had prepared a fragrant clear beef soup.
Amidst the rising smoke and cooking fumes, Yan Heqing unexpectedly became more talkative.
He talked about some kind people he met while working, as well as some unfriendly ones. Lu Lin listened patiently as the food on his plate dwindled. Yan Heqing ate two bowls of rice this time.
Finally, Yan Heqing scooped out and cleaned up the remaining ingredients in the soup.
He was trying to reassure Lu Lin that he was alright.
After dinner, Yan Heqing started reviewing again, while Lu Lin worked on documents beside him. The rain outside the window was getting heavier and heavier, and inside the room, there were only occasional rustling sounds of pens falling and pages turning. The two of them were quietly doing their own things, creating a unique kind of warmth.
The rain stopped by evening, but a phone call broke the tranquility of the room.
The incoming call is flashing 3.3.
Yan Heqing remained calm, picked up the phone, and said, "I'll take this call," before heading to the terrace.
Through the floor-to-ceiling window, Lu Lin watched Yan Heqing's back as he answered the phone, then picked up his phone and dialed Lu Muchi's number.
"Hello, the number you dialed is currently busy."
Lu Lin hung up the phone.
At the same time, Lu Muchi coughed a few times on the phone, "My company has been too busy these past few days, I haven't had time to contact you."
Yan Heqing did not reply.
The original text states that Lu Muchi could abandon his employees halfway through a meeting to go find Lin Fengzhi, so the possibility that he disappeared for several days for work is close to zero.
But it shouldn't be an injury; Lu Muchi's injuries should have healed long ago, unless he was beaten again.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Lu Muchi really wanted to hear Yan Heqing's voice. He had just had his bandages removed and was in excruciating pain. His grandfather had given him a severe beating this time.
"Nothing to say." After confirming that Lin Fengzhi hadn't gone to see Lu Muchi last night, Yan Heqing was about to hang up.
Lu Muchi choked, then couldn't help but laugh, "Then let me mention a topic you'll definitely have something to say: Cheng Jian sued me and lost the case."