CHAPTER 424: CHAPTER 424 SEEKING ANSWERS

The two of them chatted for a while. Ji Yu understood that if they continued talking like this, it would definitely attract attention from others, so she decided to return and take a look.

Lin Zhiyuan suddenly began to yearn for Ji Yu’s life. Watching her, he realized that if he had a life like hers, perhaps he could also be this happy.

"Ji Yu, what exactly is the world outside like? I’ve never been outside, so I’d love to hear your description. If the outside world is truly as wonderful as you say, I might long for it even more."

Deep down, he still felt a glimmer of hope, but he was trapped here because of his family.

Now, finally, there was someone from the outside who wasn’t afraid to interact with him. So, he eagerly anticipated her sharing stories of the outside world.

Looking at his expression, Ji Yu felt a twinge of sadness, understanding how he had never left these mountains in his life, though his heart always yearned for faraway places.

"The outside world may not necessarily be better than here. You’re accustomed to the tranquil mountains and waters, as well as the life here. If you were to go outside, you might struggle to adapt to the fast-paced lifestyle."

But outside, he could make more friends, learn to make contributions, and even secure a better job.

"You have the ability. If you go out, I’m certain you’ll find a good job. Then you’d be able to support your family. I truly believe in you."

Through their occasional conversations, they gained insights into each other’s personalities.

Over time, Ji Yu learned about all his habits and realized how unfortunate it was for someone like him to be trapped here.

"Miss Ji, you really know how to comfort me."

He didn’t want to hear all the stories at once. Instead, every time Ji Yu shared a little, he could savor it afterward, as if he were experiencing the outside world bit by bit.

Each time Ji Yu saw him like this, she felt a pang in her heart. But at this moment, as someone who could barely protect herself, she clearly had no way to take him out to experience the world.

"When I have the chance, I promise I’ll take you out. Even if I can’t take you out, I’ll leave you something to remember. When you see those things, you’ll understand what the outside world is like."

"Alright." Lin Zhiyuan was already very grateful to Ji Yu. During this time, he had come to understand many things—yet more than anything, he felt regret. If the two of them could truly be together, wouldn’t that be wonderful?

When Ji Yu returned to the small house, she found the old lady smiling at her, seemingly more and more pleased with her.

"I just knew that you young people would have endless things to talk about. See, once you’re together, you can chat so cheerfully! That boy usually gets so shy around girls, but with you, he can talk for hours."

As a mother, she naturally hoped her child could live happily. But she also understood her son’s personality very well, and a girl he could get along with like this was certainly a good thing.

"Granny, I’ve always been curious. Have you people never left this place before?"

When Ji Yu said this, it carried a probing tone, given how secretive their activities were.

The old lady wasn’t surprised to hear this. She knew that any smart person could sense something off about their circumstances.

"Yu, I know you must be very curious about what we’re doing here. I can tell you that life here is really monotonous and boring."

As she spoke, there was a trace of helplessness. Over the years, everything she had done was nothing but a repetitive cycle, day after day, year after year.

"If you’re with Zhiyuan, you could surely find some joy. But if you’re alone here, it would definitely be incredibly dull."

Yet, in this world, the most unpredictable things are life and death. So now, with only herself left, her only concern was her son.

Ji Yu didn’t ask her whether she wanted to leave this place. But seeing her expression, Ji Yu thought she must be struggling inside.

"If you ever feel like going out for a walk, you can. Just have Zhiyuan take you around, and you can see the nearby sights. The only advantage of this area is probably its beautiful scenery."

Saying this, the old lady still harbored some hope that these two young people could truly end up together.

Ji Yu understood that, yet again, this would only lead to disappointment. But such disappointment was something the old lady had likely felt many times before.

"Yu, you really are a wonderful girl. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even think about wanting you as my daughter-in-law."

Upon seeing her, the old lady already knew that Ji Yu was a good person. But some things truly required drastic measures to ensure she stayed.

Ji Yu didn’t say much, merely storing all these thoughts in her heart.

The next day, prompted by the old lady’s words, Ji Yu went for a walk with Lin Zhiyuan. She could sense just how intricate the surrounding area was.

"You must have seen it yourself, right? The nearby roads are difficult to navigate. If you stay here, you might face many dangers."

There was no way she could leave here alone. The paths were so rugged and complex that to her, an outsider, it was like an enormous maze.

"I understand, Brother Lin. I know you mean well. But right now, I just want to try it for myself."

If she didn’t try herself, she would never know if she could truly leave. If she could do it on her own, then she wouldn’t need to trouble Lin Zhiyuan.

"Once you cross these mountain paths, you can see the road out of here. Of course, if you truly want to leave, you might need to pay a small price."

Ji Yu took one look at the mountain paths and immediately understood what he meant.

"That’s a price I can’t afford to pay. And now all I want is to leave here safely." She laughed and joked, but her heart carried a hint of unease.

"Miss Ji, things aren’t as complicated as you think. Helping you leave is my wish—consider it as sending another version of myself out of here."

He didn’t have the chance to leave, so this was the only way he could fulfill that dream.