Bonfire

The night in Eagle Creek is serene and clear. As the last rays of the magnificent sunset are swallowed by the deep blue sky, billions of stars are scattered across the velvety night sky without any obstruction.

Far from the city's light pollution, the Milky Way here is as clear as a milky-colored river stretching across the sky, shimmering with diamond dust. The air is crisp, carrying the fragrance of burning pine and the scent of distant snow.

Behind the main house, on a specially cleared, flat open space, a huge campfire was burning brightly.

The dry Douglas fir and hemlock crackled in the flames, spitting out orange-red tongues of fire that licked at the deep night, casting flickering light on the faces of those around them.

The leaping firelight dispelled the chill of the night and brought a primal and warm sense of cohesion.

Around the campfire, several sturdy log benches formed a semicircle. Old Johnson occupied the main seat, holding a glass of amber bourbon whiskey, and was loudly recounting his thrilling experiences participating in the National Finals Rodeo when he was young. When he got excited, he even waved his arms to imitate the lasso motion, which drew agreement and laughter from the crowd (mainly Lü Yi and Tom).

Judy sat beside him, a blanket covering her lap, a gentle smile on her face. Occasionally, she would whisper a few words to Kong Xiang beside her, probably afraid that he wouldn't understand the cowboy jargon. Kong Xiang listened attentively, nodding from time to time, the firelight flickering on his glasses.

Lin Feng sat on the outer side, holding the same bourbon in his hand, but he didn't drink much, only taking occasional sips.

He leaned back in his chair, gazing at the flickering flames, seemingly enjoying the moment of tranquility, or perhaps contemplating something deeper.

K sat to his right, relaxed yet still upright, his cup almost full. His gaze was more of a calm sweep across the darkness at the edge of the firelight, maintaining his usual alertness.

Emily had been sitting next to her mother, but as Old Johnson began to tell the second story of "Taming the Wild Horse," she quietly stood up, took the cast-iron kettle warming by the fire, and refilled several empty cups with hot Apple.

She moved lightly, first serving her father and mother, then Tom and Kong Xiang. When it was Lin Feng's turn, she bent down slightly, approaching with a faint scent that mixed with the smell of campfire smoke and some fresh shower gel.

"Lin, should we add some more? Or how about trying this Apple? My mom made it herself using wild Apple she harvested in the fall; it's very sweet and not intoxicating."

Her voice sounded exceptionally clear and gentle against the backdrop of the crackling campfire and her father's narration. The firelight danced in her golden hair and azure eyes, as if enveloping her in a warm halo.

Lin Feng raised his eyes, his gaze meeting hers. Emily wore a natural and friendly smile, her eyes bright, looking directly at him without the slightest hint of evasion or shyness, only frank curiosity and... a subtle, even more intense light.

"Thank you, Apple will do." Lin Feng handed over the glass that still had a little bit of whiskey left.

Emily took the glass, her fingers inadvertently brushing against Lin Feng's hand before quickly separating. She deftly poured him a warm, amber-colored Apple, then handed the glass back. As she did so, her fingertips seemed to linger on the glass for an extra half-second.

"Try it, I hope you like it." She said softly, not leaving immediately, but naturally sitting down in the empty seat to Lin Feng's left, even closer than before, her knees almost touching Lin Feng's calves. She picked up her glass of Apple, took a small sip, but her gaze remained fixed on Lin Feng's face, as if waiting for his evaluation.

Lin Feng took a sip. The wine was smooth, with the natural sweet and sour taste of Apple and a rich aroma from fermentation; it was indeed quite good. "Very delicious. Mrs. Johnson's cooking is superb," he praised politely.

"Mom will be so happy to hear that." Emily smiled, turning slightly towards Lin Feng, a gesture that made her seem more focused on her conversation with Lin Feng than on the story her father was telling loudly over the campfire.

"Actually, I tried to learn how to ferment it from my mom when I was little, but I could never get the fermentation time right; it would either be too sour or tasteless."

She stuck out her tongue and made a playful face, revealing a childlike side that seemed out of place with her healthy and mature appearance. "Do you usually drink? What kind do you like?"

"Occasionally. It depends on the occasion." Lin Feng's answer remained concise. He swirled the wooden cup in his hand, watching the liquid sloshing inside.

"An occasion like tonight's is perfect, isn't it?"

Emily answered quickly, her gaze sweeping over the burning campfire, the dazzling starry sky, and the people chatting and laughing around her, before finally settling back on Lin Feng's face, her tone carrying a sense of sharing the beauty of the moment.

"It's rare to see such clear stars and breathe such clean air in the city. Every time I come back, I feel like my soul has been recharged. Do you ever feel the same way? Coming from... from the east, are you adjusting to the environment here?"

She began to look for more common topics, transitioning from the weather and scenery to exploring the background of the Lin Feng, but she asked them very skillfully and without seeming abrupt.

"Each has its own unique characteristics," Lin Feng replied calmly. He neither excessively praised ranch life nor expressed weariness of the city; he was simply stating a fact.

Emily didn't seem to mind the brevity of his words; on the contrary, she found him even more composed and mysterious.

She began recounting some amusing anecdotes and challenges she encountered while working as an interior designer in Portland, complaining about the bizarre aesthetics of certain clients. Her words were vivid, her observations sharp, and she occasionally let out a crisp laugh.

As she spoke, her body unconsciously leaned more towards Lin Feng, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, as if he were her only listener. The flickering light of the campfire illuminated her delicate skin and focused expression.

After Old Johnson finished telling his cowboy story, he took a big gulp of his drink and glanced around the group of people by the campfire. He naturally noticed his daughter chatting and laughing with Lin Feng.

He exchanged a glance with his wife, Judy, Judy smiled gently and nodded slightly. Old Johnson grinned, picked up his glass, and deliberately raised his voice in a teasing tone, speaking towards Lin Feng and Emily:

"Hey, looks like our little expert (referring to Emily) has found someone who appreciates her 'design concepts'? Young people should chat more! Lin, don't mind her talking too much, this girl gets restless as soon as she gets home, and she'll talk nonstop when she meets someone she clicks with!"

His words elicited a hearty laugh from Tom. Lü Yi also chuckled, winking at Lin Feng, before Kong Xiang subtly tugged at her sleeve. Judy gave her husband a reproachful look. "Andy, what are you saying!"

Emily blushed slightly at her father's words, her beauty enhanced by the firelight. Instead of shyly turning away, she raised her chin and gave her father a dismissive "humph": "Dad! I'm talking to Mr. Lin about serious matters! You wouldn't understand the possibility of a fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics!"

"Alright, alright, I don't understand, but you do, you can continue!" Old Johnson laughed heartily, clearly in a very good mood. The fact that his daughter got along well with this potential buyer was undoubtedly a good sign in his eyes. It added a layer of gentle assurance to both the atmosphere of the transaction and the future "entrustment" of the land.

Lin Feng merely nodded slightly at Old Johnson's teasing, saying nothing more, his expression remaining calm. He listened as Emily continued to enthusiastically discuss the possibilities of colliding Nordic minimalism with China Dynasty furniture, occasionally responding with a word or two, but his gaze would sometimes sweep over the flickering flames and look across at the other side.

K sat there, still holding the almost untouched glass of wine. When Lin Feng's gaze inadvertently swept over him, K subtly pointed with the hand holding the glass to his left wrist—where he wore a watch, a gesture indicating the time.

Then, his gaze briefly met Lin Feng's, his eyes conveying a clear message: casual conversation is fine, but business comes first, especially the huge contract that is about to be involved.

Lin Feng blinked almost imperceptibly, indicating that he understood. He certainly understood K's reminder.

Emily's enthusiasm and Old Johnson's delight provided a warm backdrop to the deal, but they could not overshadow the extremely rigorous scrutiny of the contract terms themselves.

Any seemingly attractive "additional conditions" or "personal connections" can become a deadly trap in the face of cold legal provisions and huge sums of money. K's reminder was to warn him not to let the warmth by the campfire and the girl's bright smile cloud his judgment.

Emily seemed to notice Lin Feng's momentary distraction. She stopped explaining about "spatial fluidity," glanced in the direction of Lin Feng's gaze, and only saw K's profile as he quietly drank.

She blinked, then suddenly lowered her voice, asking in a volume only the two of them could hear:

"Your colleague... Mr. K, he always seems very serious and doesn't talk much. Is he in charge of something very important?"

"He's responsible for ensuring things go smoothly," Lin Feng replied casually, lightly changing the subject. "The case you just mentioned was quite interesting."

Emily was smart; she didn't press the matter and continued the conversation along with Lin Feng's train of thought, but she sat up a little straighter, no longer so close to Lin Feng that they were practically touching.

She was still all smiles and bright-eyed, but her overly proactive approach, which was clearly probing and intimate, seemed to have softened a bit, becoming more natural and casual.

The campfire continued to burn, the firewood crackling steadily and reassuringly. Old Johnson resumed his discussion with Lü Yi and Tom about some new ranch machinery. Kong Xiang was asking Judy for the secret to making Apple. K remained as silent as a shadow.

Emily and Lin Feng's conversation continued, ranging from design to travel, and then from travel to their vague ideas about the future.

She no longer deliberately pried into Lin Feng's private life, but instead shared her own experiences and thoughts, occasionally cleverly posing an open-ended question to guide Lin Feng's expression of his views. Her intelligence, eloquence, and appropriate enthusiasm made it difficult to feel any ill will towards her.

As night deepened, the flames of the campfire began to wane, and the firelight grew less intense, but the embers still radiated warmth. Old Johnson glanced at the sky and added two more thick pieces of firewood, causing the flames to leap higher once more.

"Lin," Old Johnson rubbed his hands together, looking at the leaping firelight, his tone more sincere than before, but his shrewd landlord nature was also clearly revealed.

"After seeing everything today, you should have a good idea of what Eagle Creek is really like. I'm not exaggerating, it's worth the price."

He quoted a figure that was far higher than the average price in the current Washington State land market, but not entirely outrageous considering the ranch's overall condition, history, output, and potential.

His eyes gleamed in the firelight as he stared intently at Lin Feng. "I know this price isn't low. But it embodies 120 years of the Johnson Family's hard work, the nurturing of every inch of land, the management of every tree, and the care of every cow. It's not a commodity that can be sold off piecemeal; it's a living, healthy, and enduring business. I believe those who can see its true value will understand what this price means."

He didn't mention his daughter's affection, nor the warmth of the campfire; he only spoke of the value of the land and the family's heritage. This was his trump card, and also his pride.

Lin Feng met his gaze, his face remaining expressionless. He showed neither surprise at the high price nor eagerness to haggle. He paused for a few seconds, as if processing the figure or weighing other factors. Then, he spoke slowly, his voice steady:

"I see the value in Eagle Creek, Andy. I also understand your feelings for it and your pricing considerations."

He neither accepted nor rejected the offer. But his statement was undoubtedly a positive sign, indicating that the deal could proceed further.

Old Johnson's smile widened as he raised his glass, "To Eagle Creek, and to a future where we both find something we're happy with, cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses again. Emily looked at Lin Feng, her eyes sparkling in the firelight, a smile playing on her lips, and also raised her glass.

The campfire crackled, reflecting the diverse expressions on everyone's faces. Under the night sky, the Milky Way shimmered, serene and profound.

A warm campfire, lively conversation, unspoken understanding, and hidden beneath smiles and the flickering glasses, a silent game and calculation about land, wealth, and the future.

That night, Eagle Creek Ranch was warm.

But some things, too, quietly grow or solidify under the warm glow.