Chapter 442: This City

“You don’t understand,” said Yan Huan, swirling the milk in her glass. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder. A relationship grows stale if you are always with each other. I don’t get to go to Serene City every day, and I plan to take a few days off just to relax. It’s a nice place with splendid scenery.”

“I guess you have a point,” agreed Luo Lin. “I would love to stay there for a while if not for work.” After calculating, she realized she didn’t have enough time for a vacation. Yan Huan had left her many things to deal with, and she would have to rush back to Sea City as soon as possible.

“Are you fine being by yourself?” asked Luo Lin. She didn’t like the idea of Yan Huan staying there alone; she was a public figure, and things might happen to her.

“Don’t worry, I’m not a kid. I’ll be fine,” said Yan Huan, holding the glass to her lips. Beneath her long lashes hid things that were left unsaid, but Luo Lin failed to notice.

Fine then. Luo Lin gave up on trying to convince her. Not like she can in the first place. She was an adult, so getting lost was hardly a concern. And Luo Lin really didn’t have time to dally with her. She went back by flight at the earliest instance, leaving Yan Huan to her own shenanigans.

Colors of the night crept across the sky, in the middle of which rested a perfect crescent—it lacked the holy beauty of a full moon, but inarguably had its own charm. The arc, the curves, the indescribable hazy moonlight that sprinkled a layer of blue frost on the ground.

Looking further, she could see sparse stars below the twilight sky.

This wasn’t a good time to watch stars, nor was it a good night to count stars. She remembered the times when her mother would teach her how to read the stars as she rested on her lap. Until now, the only one she recognized was the Big Dapper.

She closed the curtains. A sleepless night awaited her. Every time she shut her eyes, nightmares startled her awake. And who would have known that a strong magnitude would hit Serene City a day later? The exact location where she was would be the epicenter of the earthquake, an earthquake that nearly destroyed the entire Serene City and decimated its population.

And one of the victims was Lu Jin—Lu Yi’s father. On his way to a military exercise, he had been residing in a hotel in Serene City when the earthquake hit. He never escaped, his skull shattered by debris and leaving him an incomplete body.

Yan Huan switched on the light, sat up, and poured a glass of water for herself. She stood on the balcony looking at the stars afar. She knew what was coming. She knew many were about to die. Yet there was little she could do.

She couldn’t say it, but she left a post using an anonymous ID, which was soon deleted. If fate permitted, some might see it and believe it and survive the disaster. But everyone had their own fates, perhaps you may call it destiny. There wasn’t much she could do to change the future, but she did what she could. But there was a limit to what one person could do.

All she could do was wait right here, admiring the last of the serene and beautiful city that would turn into rubble a day later.

Who knows how many bodies would lie beneath the rubble?

Suddenly, she leaned against the balcony railings, her frail shoulders trembling nonstop. She was afraid. Afraid of what to do. Afraid of failing to save Lu Jin. Afraid of them both dying, and leaving the ones closest to them a pain that would never subside.

Suddenly, her phone in the hotel room rang. She walked over and picked it up.

It was from Lu Yi. She sniffed and wiped her tears dry, telling herself not to cry. Lu Yi was smart. He would realize.

She answered the call and held the phone to her ear, still leaning against the balcony as the Serene City wind fondled her face. There was a metallic smell in the air for some reason. The smell of death.

“What made you stay longer than planned?” asked Lu Yi. He sounded like he was in a good mood.

Must have just gotten home.

“The scenery, of course,” said Yan Huan. “Serene City is wonderfully beautiful at night. It’s a clean city too. There are many souvenirs to be bought too! I don’t get to come here every day, so I’m going to stay awhile longer and buy more stuff for you.”

“Which do you prefer? Serene City or Sea City?” asked Lu Yi as he placed the milk into the microwave.

“Each has its own merits,” said Yan Huan, reaching out as though she wanted to grab the wind. In the end, she couldn’t grasp a thing. “Everyone sees a different Sea City in their eyes, and the same applies to Serene City. Anyone who loves their hometown would find it the most beautiful.”

“Wise words,” said Lu Yi, opening the microwave and retrieving the bottles of milk, which he poured into a glass. The milk was still being delivered on a daily basis, and Yan Huan had ordered him to drink two cups every day. Breakfast and dinner were made by the nanny, and he ate lunch at the Procuratorate, so there weren’t any chances for him to starve.

“Speaking of which,” remembered Lu Yi. “Dad’s going to Serene City tomorrow too. What a coincidence.”

“Really?” Yan Huan forced a bit of excitement into her voice, yet her eyes reddened. “I have to ask Dad to treat me to dinner then! The food here is great.”

“Sure,” chuckled Lu Yi. “Eat more. Don’t come back with an empty stomach.”

He raised the glass to his mouth and drank a mouthful of milk. The thick fragrance from the milk exploded in his mouth, melting his heart and tugging at his heartstrings.

His heart skipped a beat.

Yan Huan took a few deep breaths, breathing in the metallic-smelling air. The corner of her eyes hurt, as though something had sliced through them.

“Hubby…” she said with a smile, her tears falling where he couldn’t see.

“Is something the matter?” asked Lu Yi. He could tell something was wrong from her voice.

Yan Huan drooped her eyelashes, teardrops pooling on her fingers. Sorrow found its way up her rosy lips.

“I love you, hubby.”

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