Chapter 357: Lin Nuo and Loneliness

Chapter 357: Lin Nuo and Loneliness

The cool breeze blew as the sweet girl held Lin Nuo’s hand, lightly laughing as she said to him: “Now it means something.”

It was as if to say that with you, the seaside finally had significance.

How heart-stirring those words were! If it were the Lin Nuo of his past life, he would have remembered them for a lifetime.

Holding hands with a lovely girl by the sea, a heartfelt line paired with a passionate kiss—that’s the romantic ideal yearned for by countless people.

However…

For someone whose heart had grown cold long ago, there was no longer any feeling to be stirred.

In his current state, he was merely playing a part, risking his life as a companion to her whim.

He had walked by the seaside before, sitting on the shore, stupidly gazing into the far-off horizon where the sea and sky blended seamlessly.

Only the sound of waves filled the air—no human voices, just a lonely figure.

Having grown accustomed to solitude, he no longer yearned for companionship.

In fact, he felt more at ease when he was alone.

【This sea is nice; one day I’ll bring Meat Floss Cake and some Chilling Water and spend a day here.】

He thought, and sometimes his joys were just that simple.

Responding to Mu Yiting’s words, Lin Nuo replied:

“If the young master wants to come to the seaside in the future, I can accompany you.”

“I heard that; you can’t go back on your word.”

“I won’t.”

At this point, Lin Nuo’s tone turned icy, and he didn’t even look Mu Yiting in the eye, instead staring out at the distant sea horizon.

Noticing Lin Nuo’s demeanor, Mu Yiting understood she wasn’t just any spoiled young master; she wanted him to face her and enthusiastically say “I won’t.”

But forcing it would be useless and could backfire.

“Do you have something on your mind?”

Mu Yiting gently asked, lifting her other hand and lightly waving it in front of him.

Lin Nuo snapped back to reality and said:

“No.”

“You definitely have something on your mind; your eyes have betrayed you.”

“I can’t even understand my own eyes; it’s impressive that you can read them, young master.”

“If you have worries, you can share them; perhaps I can help.”

“Really nothing, young master.”

Lin Nuo declined, just like any villain accustomed to darkness, he rarely confided his innermost feelings to others.

Even if he did speak, Mu Yiting wouldn’t possibly understand.

How could she comprehend the things of his previous life?

That villain’s dark existence—how could she understand?

Don’t make me laugh.

“Young master, should we keep walking?”

“Why don’t we sit down?”

“Okay.”

Lin Nuo sat down with Mu Yiting, who longed for a happily shared moment as equals. However, Lin Nuo felt more like a compliant attendant, devoid of emotional connection.

She could tell he had a heart’s knot.

An important heart’s knot she knew nothing about.

Was it related to his past?

Thinking back, his past indeed seemed quite awful.

Previously, she thought of him just as a little boy who would be giddy for hours after speaking a couple of sentences with her.

But just a few months ago, everything changed dramatically.

He had transformed into someone else—cool, profound, and impossible to figure out.

Moreover, he was young and appeared to have experienced the vicissitudes of many lifetimes, knowing things even some elders were unaware of.

Thus, he was a remarkable and mysterious figure.

Surely, he had gone through something.

Yet, it remained an enigma.

“Have you seen the sea before?” Mu Yiting asked Lin Nuo softly.

“I have.” Lin Nuo replied blandly.

“Can you tell me who you saw it with?”

“By myself.”

“Alone… Watching alone, doesn’t that feel lonely?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

Lin Nuo fixated on the distant sea, speaking plainly.

“Oh…”

Mu Yiting’s voice dropped, suddenly lacking confidence.

“You wouldn’t understand”—those three words formed an invisible wall, isolating them even as they held hands.

Ever since Lin Nuo had seen the ocean, he no longer treated her as politely as before.

He had revealed his true self, and that self was solitude.

“Have you considered finding someone to see the sea with?” Mu Yiting asked.

“No need.”

“Why not?”

She pressed on, eager to uncover his thoughts and past through her inquiries.

Lin Nuo paused, silent for a moment.

He turned his eye back and replied:

“Because in the end, it’s still just me.”

After saying that, he turned back to gaze at the distant sea horizon.

They fell silent again.

Mu Yiting, hearing that short statement, read his loneliness.

She wanted to say: I’ll be with you.

But the words wouldn’t come out.

Because without any confidence, saying that without understanding his inner thoughts might incur his resentment.

He had just said she didn’t understand; she truly didn’t.

But how could she understand when he wouldn’t speak?

Sigh.

She even sighed deeply, but Lin Nuo didn’t care, and they both fell into silence once more.

She thought sitting there looking at the sea wouldn’t solve anything; the mood had gone cold, and she worried it would be awkward.

Spotting a fisherman rowing his boat towards them, Mu Yiting got an idea.

She tugged at Lin Nuo’s sleeve and said:

“Master Ni, can you row a boat?”

Lin Nuo turned to look, nodding:

“I can.”

“Shall we go row a boat then? Is that okay?” Mu Yiting continued.

“Sure.” Lin Nuo agreed.

Then Mu Yiting waved her hand to signal the fisherman, who quickly understood and rowed over.

He was just a fisherman, not acquainted with the higher-ups of Helong Hall, and had no idea about Mu Yiting and Lin Nuo’s identities.

“Miss, young master, may I assist you with something?”

“Uncle, can we rent a boat? Just near the shore will do.”

“Of course, miss.”

The fisherman grinned, bringing the boat to shore, securing it, and then stepping aboard.

“Please follow me.”

The fisherman led them to find a boat; all the boats were of good quality, and since they intended to row nearby, a small boat would suffice. Mu Yiting chose a nice little boat, and they both boarded.

“This boat is stable; besides, nearby are my companions, so you don’t need to worry.” said the fisherman.

“Great, thank you, Uncle.”

Mu Yiting smiled and took the oars.

“Master Ni, it’s all up to you.”

“Got it.”

Lin Nuo took the oars and began rowing, the little boat gliding along the water.

Mu Yiting felt wonderful; sitting together in the small vessel had a unique charm.

Lin Nuo rowed near the shore, while fishermen cast their nets in the outer sea. Waves lightly lapped against them, causing mild ripples, but it was nothing significant.

Mu Yiting wanted to row a bit further, so Lin Nuo complied with her wishes and rowed closer to the fishermen outside.

Everything seemed peaceful.

However…

Suddenly, a surge of turbulent waves reared up, crashing towards their boat.

“What is?!”

Mu Yiting exclaimed, but at that moment, Lin Nuo had already dropped the oars and wrapped his arms around her.

“Let’s go.”

He moved like the wind, using his exceptional lightness skill to soar above the water back to the shore.

Furrowing his brows, he sensed something amiss in the tide.