Chapter 66: Private Thoughts

**Chapter 66: Private Thoughts

"The weather today isn't very good…" Gu Qianli said, holding an umbrella as the world outside was shrouded in drizzle.

The rain-soaked world seemed to be filtered, giving a translucent and ethereal quality to Lin Qingshan and Gu Qianli as they walked in the rain.

"I actually think it's quite nice," Lin Qingshan said with a smile. "It's so hot, a bit of rain to cool things down is perfect."

"Woof woof!" Pochita, as usual, barked in agreement.

It was still August, the time when the Republic was sweltering everywhere. Of course, this was a generalization; the Republic's vast territory included high-altitude areas with perpetual snow.

"By the way, aren't you supposed to start school in half a month?" Lin Qingshan scratched his head, curious. "Why are you back so early?"

"Just bored at home…"

Gu Qianli was often alone at home since her parents were high-ranking executives or CEOs of major corporations. Especially recently, her father, Gu Hongxiao, and mother, Weng Shengxue, were busy with summit preparations.

Gu Qianli had grown accustomed to this solitary lifestyle over the years. As an adult, she didn't need to be as fragile as a child.

So returning to Magic City early or coming back just before school started didn't make much difference.

However…

Gu Qianli had another reason for coming back early.

She paused, looking at Lin Qingshan. "Actually, I came back early to ask you something…"

Lin Qingshan blinked, but his steps suddenly halted.

They had arrived home.

Lin Qingshan's home.

Before they could enter, a strong burnt smell, like a piece of charcoal, wafted out from inside.

"Oh no! My chicken stew with porcini mushrooms!"

Lin Qingshan was horrified, panicking.

Instead of using his keys, he quickly ran to a nearby rental house, leaping through the window with the agility of a dog jumping through a hoop. The entire sequence was executed flawlessly, indicating it was something he did often.

In no time, he had "broken in" and was inside the rental house.

His skillful actions suggested that he was quite familiar with this process!

Moments later, Lin Qingshan's anguished cries echoed from the rental house. "Ah ah ah ah ah ah—My chicken stew with porcini mushrooms! My pot!!!!"

Pochita, upon hearing Lin Qingshan's cries, also barked loudly and, mirroring Lin Qingshan's actions, leaped through the window.

Leaving Gu Qianli standing there, dumbfounded.

But then, the door to Lin Qingshan's house was opened.

"Woof woof!"

Pochita pushed the door open with its head, signaling Gu Qianli to come in.

Gu Qianli hesitated but then entered, finding Lin Qingshan in the kitchen with a tearful expression.

On the gas stove was a charred, unidentifiable mass that exuded the burnt smell. The pot containing the substance had also broken into several pieces.

"I specially bought tender chicken! And porcini mushrooms I paid eight hundred bucks for!"

Lin Qingshan looked at the scene, his eyes red, as if mourning the loss of a dear friend.

"Why must love be so painful, when chicken stew with mushrooms is ruined—Waaah—"

He was heartbroken, even pounding his chest in grief, loudly weeping.

Well, it seemed more like he was mourning the death of his parents rather than just a dear friend…

Gu Qianli, seeing this, was silent, unsure of how to console Lin Qingshan.

Should she say that the ruined dish couldn't be salvaged and express her condolences?

Yet Lin Qingshan seemed unable to move past the loss. He finally bit the bullet and tasted a piece of the burnt mess, but it was inedible.

He resigned himself and gave the burnt mess to Pochita for lunch. However, Pochita refused to touch it, causing Lin Qingshan to feel even more regretful.

"Alright then…"

Lin Qingshan reluctantly poured the "food" from Pochita's bowl into the trash can. "Pochita, you could have at least tried it… After all, despite being burnt, it still had the nutrients you need."

"Woof woof woof woof—!"

Pochita seemed to bark angrily at Lin Qingshan.

"Alright, alright…"

Lin Qingshan shrank back, muttering, "If you don't want to eat it, fine… No need to be so fierce."

Gu Qianli watched Lin Qingshan with a mix of resignation and amusement. It seemed that his mental state was as stable as ever.

Indeed, who says that persistent madness isn't a form of stability?

"It's such a shame, Qianli. Today's chicken stew with porcini mushrooms is gone. I wanted you to try it."

Lin Qingshan expressed his regret. "But we can still have a meal; I made soup and ginger stir-fried meat. It's still quite tasty!"

[Translator: sauron]

Gu Qianli smiled softly. "That's fine then…"

At the dining table, Lin Qingshan and Gu Qianli sat across from each other. The simple home-cooked meal seemed to encapsulate the essence of everyday life.

As Gu Qianli watched Lin Qingshan eat heartily, her thoughts wandered.

If Lin Qingshan, as Lin Youan said, was once a prodigy, he must have endured great pain to become the person he is now.

Was he truly forgetting the past, or was he merely unwilling to remember and thus putting on this facade?

Gu Qianli observed Lin Qingshan's clear, carefree eyes and wondered if it was better to let him live without recalling past sufferings.

Living a carefree life like this might be happiness enough.

Was it really necessary to remind him of past pains and take away his current happiness?

"Qianli? What's wrong? Eat up."

Lin Qingshan's voice broke her reverie.

"Nothing… nothing at all…"

Gu Qianli quickly replied.

"You should try this piece."

Lin Qingshan picked up the serving chopsticks and placed a piece of stir-fried meat in Gu Qianli's bowl. The meat was lean and just the kind she liked.

Gu Qianli felt warmth in her heart as she ate the meat, touched that Lin Qingshan remembered her preferences.

"By the way, Qianli, you mentioned earlier that you wanted to ask me something. What was it?"

Lin Qingshan suddenly recalled Gu Qianli's words and asked with curiosity.

"It's nothing."

Gu Qianli's eyes curled into a faint smile as she responded.

This time, she placed a piece of meat in Lin Qingshan's bowl without using serving chopsticks.

Watching Lin Qingshan eat happily without a care in the world, she allowed her private feelings to take over.

She hoped that Lin Qingshan would always remain the person she knew—happy, painting, eating, and being with her.

And not…

**(End of Chapter)**