CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 58: THE DIRECTION OF LIFE

Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Direction of Life

A moment later, Chen Nuo released the girl, but one hand still lingered around Sun Keke’s waist.

"You. You... You just kissed, kissed me..." The girl was unbearably shy, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum.

Chen Nuo gazed into Sun Keke’s eyes. "Yes, just now, that was me. Tonight, it was out of necessity, but it was also something I truly wanted to do."

After a pause, Chen Nuo spoke softly, "In this life, that was the first time I’ve ever kissed a girl."

"...I-I-I, me too... It was also my first time," the girl stammered, her voice trembling with anxiety.

"I know." Chen Nuo tenderly took Sun Keke’s hand and then let out a gentle sigh. "Alright, what I’m about to do... you may not understand it later, but I want you to know, it’s to protect you."

With that, Chen Nuo used a tone of gentleness rarely heard from him, whispering, "Keke, for me, this life has only just begun. I’ve told others before that I fell from the sky to help a few people, to drag them out of their nightmares.

But then, I met you.

So... I thought, aside from helping others dispel their nightmares, I should have some dreams of my own, shouldn’t I?

You don’t need to say anything. I know. I know everything.

Your simple life, your straightforward world, your plain days, your simple affections—they are all clear in your heart.

I will do everything in my power to protect these things."

The girl’s eyes filled with shyness, elation, and confusion. She stumbled over her words, unsure of what to say, only managing to murmur, "What you’re saying... I, I don’t understand..."

"You don’t need to understand. I don’t want these things to trouble you."

Chen Nuo thought for a moment, fumbled in his clothes, then produced something and placed it in his open palm before Sun Keke.

It was a small silver wind chime, the size of a jujube seed, very delicate and exquisite.

Chen Nuo had bought it on his first day in Kathmandu.

"It was originally meant to be your birthday gift. But after I ran off at midnight on your birthday... well, I was too embarrassed to attend your birthday party the next day."

Sun Keke couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle.

Chen Nuo gave a wry smile. "I had just smashed Old Sun’s glass; I really didn’t dare go to his daughter’s birthday feast after that. So, I never got the chance to give this to you."

As he spoke, Chen Nuo raised his hand and gave it a light shake. The small bell, tied to a thin string, dangled from his fingertip, emitting a quiet, crisp JINGLE.

Chen Nuo took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and said in a deep tone, "Keke, look at it."

His voice seemed to carry a magnetic quality—subtle and gentle, yet with an irresistible, bewitching power.

Sun Keke’s heart quivered; she instinctively focused her gaze on the little bell hanging from Chen Nuo’s hand.

Chen Nuo’s voice, at this moment, seemed to fluctuate in her ears, sometimes distant, sometimes near. It was clear, yet it always felt elusive.

"You’ll forget what happened tonight.

You’ll only remember that after school, you came to the auto shop to find me. Then we strolled here together and had barbecue.

I held your hand, took you for a ride on my motorcycle, and then, on the street corner, I kissed you.

You were shy, but very happy.

We drank together.

After drinking, you fell asleep.

That’s all that happened tonight...

When you wake up tomorrow morning, that’s all you’ll remember."

As Chen Nuo spoke, the wind chime swayed gently at his fingertips. His other hand quietly moved through the girl’s hair, gently caressing the back of her neck.

Sun Keke’s eyelids grew increasingly heavy. Finally, she closed her eyes and collapsed into Chen Nuo’s arms.

Chen Nuo caught Sun Keke and hung the wind chime around her neck. He stood up, left a banknote on the table, gently cradled the girl in his arms, and slowly walked away.

"I will do my best to protect that simple little world of yours."

「」

Old Sun looked up at the clock on the wall with some impatience.

It was almost half-past eight.

He had always set a rule for his daughter: even if she went out with classmates, she had to be home before nine o’clock at night.

Usually, his daughter was a well-behaved girl and seldom went out.

Lately, however, she had been going out more often. He didn’t need to ask; he knew that most of the time, she was going to meet that fellow, Chen Nuo.

Old Sun felt both annoyed and helpless.

He paced back and forth in the living room several times. It was now eight-forty.

Old Sun picked up the phone, about to call his daughter.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Opening it, he saw that young man, Chen Nuo, standing outside, supporting his daughter with one hand.

Old Sun’s expression changed slightly.

"What’s wrong with Keke?"

Chen Nuo helped Sun Keke over to Old Sun. This time, to Old Sun’s surprise, Chen Nuo spoke without any of his usual flippancy or lazy demeanor.

"After school, she went to Brother Lei’s place to see me, and we had dinner together. It’s my fault; I took her for barbecue, and then she had a glass of beer."

"Ah? She drank?" Old Sun was worried.

"She didn’t drink much, just one beer," Chen Nuo said earnestly. "I’m sorry. It was my fault for not being more considerate. My bad, my bad."

His attitude was surprisingly submissive.

Old Sun looked at his daughter, examining her closely. After confirming that her clothes were neat and tidy, he finally felt a sense of relief.

He gave Chen Nuo a deep look and said sternly, "Young people, even when you’re having fun together, you need to know your limits!"

"I understand," Chen Nuo nodded obediently.

After handing Sun Keke over to Old Sun, Chen Nuo didn’t linger and took his leave.

「」

Zhang Linsheng didn’t know how he made it home; he was completely out of sorts.

He didn’t even know what had actually happened tonight at the Wind Shelter Hall.

All he saw was Chen Nuo leaving with Sun Keke on his motorcycle, even waving at him.

Just like that... it was resolved?

There was none of the earth-shattering, dramatic showdown he had imagined. Everything in the Wind Shelter Hall seemed peaceful.

When Zhang Linsheng got home, he was scolded by his father for being late, but his mother quickly pulled him away.

The teenager had no desire to talk back. The events of the night had been overwhelming; just managing to act out that part with courage had been an overachievement for him.

Back home, lying in bed, he felt his entire body go limp.

Half of it was lingering fear, and the other half... discomfort.

The five hundred thousand, Li Qingshan, the demand for a hand... such places, such scenes, such people, and such events...

This experience felt so far removed from Brother Haonan’s life and world at No. 8 Middle School.

So distant, it was like a story from a movie.

And then there was Chen Nuo’s final appearance, his casual and effortless demeanor.

It was as if that guy was too far away, too far above him.

So high that he had to strain his neck with all his might just to glimpse him.

Sun Keke...

He sighed.

Thinking about these things now seemed pointless.

Zhang Linsheng didn’t know what to make of his own feelings.

There was a touch of wistful sadness, mixed with a sense of relief, as if he had survived a catastrophe.

Feeling down, Zhang Linsheng flipped through several cassette tapes on his shelf. After a long search, he couldn’t find a single song that could express his mood at that moment.

Frustrated, he tossed the tapes aside and lay back down on the bed.

Just then, CLICK. The window latch sounded.

Zhang Linsheng sat up. As if he had a premonition, he saw Chen Nuo outside the windowsill, looking at him with a smile.

Startled, Zhang Linsheng quickly jumped up, ran to the window, and opened it, letting Chen Nuo climb in.

"You... how did you find my house?" Zhang Linsheng was a little scared.

"It wasn’t easy. I had to ask two classmates before I found out where you live," Chen Nuo glanced at the room door.

It was closed.

"You... what do you want with me? I..." Zhang Linsheng’s heart suddenly stirred. "I won’t tell anyone about what happened tonight."

Chen Nuo’s expression was amiable. No matter how one looked at it, everything Zhang Linsheng had done tonight had been helpful.

"I feel the same way. Just pretend tonight never happened... forget about it."

"You can count on me, I won’t tell! You... what kind of person are you really... Ah, forget it, forget it. I won’t ask... It’s not my place to ask."

Chen Nuo patted Zhang Linsheng’s shoulder. "Forget it. Trust me. After you sleep and wake up, you won’t remember anything about tonight."

"Hmm... Huh? What did you say?" Zhang Linsheng nodded, then looked up at Chen Nuo again.

He saw the smile at the corner of Chen Nuo’s mouth, carrying a hint of mischief.

A few seconds later, Zhang Linsheng collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Chen Nuo silently climbed out of the window, which closed quietly behind him.

All was silent.

「」

Britain, London.

Westminster School.

Outside the window, Westminster Abbey was visible. The slightly lazy afternoon sun shone in, adding to the somber and dull atmosphere of this ancient, castle-like building, which was part of the historic parish.

Niveer sat in the corridor, waiting quietly. Then the door opened, and a stern-looking middle-aged woman in a blue sweater walked out.

"Alright, you may go in now."

Niveer stood up and nodded. "Thank you, Mrs. Lorraine."

She wore the distinctive dark suit uniform of Westminster School. As per tradition, the ladies’ suit was edged in rose pink—a tribute to the school’s founder, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I.

Walking through the heavy wooden door, Niveer found the room inside was not very spacious, even a little cramped. This was likely because the sturdy, dignified, old English-style bookcases took up too much space.

After entering, Niveer bowed steadily, then walked to the desk.

"Good afternoon, Headmaster."

"Miss Devonshire, good afternoon."

The Headmaster looked at the girl before him and then sighed. "So, you’ve decided to withdraw from school?"

"Yes."

"Although I don’t believe this is the right choice... After all, you were only on a leave of absence before, and now you’ve chosen to withdraw. Hmm, may I ask why?"

Niveer thought for a moment. "I feel that continuing to stay in school will not lead me to the direction I wish my life to take."

The Headmaster pondered for a moment, looking at the young girl. "Your condition had just stabilized. I originally thought you would return to school to complete your studies... Niveer, your grandfather and I were good friends, and your father is an alumnus of this school. I truly do not want the Devonshire family to have a student who withdraws from Westminster School."

"But in my view, pursuing the direction of one’s life is more important than anything," Niveer shook her head. "Please, do not try to persuade me any further."

"Very well." The Headmaster sighed, then the old man seemed to offer a faint smile. "Regardless, it’s always a good thing that you’ve been able to walk back into the sunlight. By the way, have you already found the direction of your life? Since it’s not in school, then it is..."

"It is where it’s meant to be," Niveer replied with a slight smile.

The Headmaster was silent for a moment, then nodded. "May God bless you."

A few minutes later, Niveer left the Headmaster’s office. She moved through the corridors but did not immediately leave. Instead, she stepped into a washroom.

Standing before the washbasin, Niveer turned on the brass tap, splashed water on her face with both hands, and then let out a long breath.

Niveer looked at her reflection in the mirror. The ancient dark suit she wore—she disliked it more and more with each passing moment. Loosening the first button at her neckline, the young girl finally felt a little relieved.

"I’ve never liked this uniform," Niveer muttered to herself, watching her reflection.

Seconds later, a voice, decidedly different and mocking, seemed to come from her.

"Don’t forget, our entire family has worn this school’s uniform... My... sister!"

Niveer gave her reflection a cold glance, took a deep breath, and said, "We agreed. The daytime is my time."

"Alright, as you wish, my dear little pumpkin."

The Niveer in the mirror winked at her.