Tan Linyuan looked at her for a while and said softly, "You're unhappy."
It wasn't a question but a statement.
He easily caught her subtle mood, as well as her inexpressible sadness and loneliness.
Nan Yu didn't respond to this. "Due to the lighting, from our position, we can clearly see the swimming pool. But those at the pool have no idea that there are two people sitting here."
"Even though it's less than a hundred meters away, we can see them, but they can't see us."
Tan Linyuan raised his eyebrows. "So?"
Nan Yu bit her lower lip. After hesitating for just a second, she turned around, pressed her hand on his shirt, and pushed him backward.
Tan Linyuan was directly pushed onto the lawn. He stared blankly at the deep - black sky. Soon, another face leaned over him.
He thought she was going to be bold enough to do something outdoors, but she just rested her head on his chest, tightly clutching his shirt with her fingers, listening to the beating of his heart.
Regardless of other reasons, she just wanted someone to lean on.
"What's wrong?" Tan Linyuan still lay there, his tone flat. "Are you sad because your fiancé left you here alone?"
It was no wonder Tan Linyuan analyzed it this way. When he drove up just now, he happened to pass Shen Yanche's car.
Nan Yu sat up silently, straddling Tan Linyuan.
Tan Linyuan felt the weight on his waist.
She stared down at him. After a moment, she softly said, "Can you... take me down the mountain?"
Right now, he was the only person she knew in the entire manor, and he was the only one she could turn to.
Tan Linyuan lifted his eyelids and looked at her. "Straddling someone while making a request. Is this how Miss Nan asks for help?"
Before Nan Yu could answer, Tan Linyuan exerted a little strength, pressed his hand on her waist, and sat up. Then he pushed her shoulder.
Everything spun around. Now it was Nan Yu lying on the lawn.
Nan Yu: …
Tan Linyuan stood up, casually dusted off his clothes. "Miss Nan's attitude of asking for help is not sincere. I'm afraid I can't agree."
After saying that, Tan Linyuan was about to walk towards the lit area.
Nan Yu raised her head and took a deep breath.
"Whatever it takes. Please."
She heard her own voice, pleading with extreme humility. "Take me down the mountain. Please."
The man in front slowed down his steps slightly but didn't stop.
Just one step away from walking into the light, he slowly turned around and looked at her against the light.
At that moment, he was truly a merciful Buddha.
He said, "Let's go."
...
Nan Yu wasn't sure if it was just her illusion, but she felt that Tan Linyuan was driving much faster than usual.
Although driving in the mountains at night was risky, he drove fast and steadily. Nan Yu was surprised and couldn't help but remind him, "Uncle Tan doesn't need to drive so fast. Safety first."
"Are you worried about me having an accident?" Tan Linyuan asked her back.
"Of course I'm worried." Nan Yu answered seriously. "I hope more than anyone else that Uncle Tan can drive smoothly and safely all the way."
Of course, if she wasn't in the car, the answer would be different.
Tan Linyuan glanced at her and roughly guessed what she was thinking. "Nan Yu, I said I'd take you down the mountain, but I don't necessarily have to take you home."
"I didn't say I wanted to go home either." Nan Yu lowered her head, flipping through the navigation on her phone repeatedly. Finally, she marked the destination.
It was Jiangcheng Cemetery.
Nan Yu held her phone and tried to sound calm. "Today is the first anniversary of my parents' death. I thought I should go there no matter what."
"Going to the cemetery so late. Aren't you afraid of ghosts?" Tan Linyuan didn't deny her request. He just said casually, "There are many lonely ghosts at night. Those with weak willpower are easily possessed by ghosts."
Nan Yu smiled. "With a living Buddha sitting beside me, what do I have to be afraid of?"
Tan Linyuan curled his lips in response.
After a while, Nan Yu murmured to herself softly, "I'm not afraid at all. My parents will definitely protect me."
She lowered her head, and tears rolled down.
Tan Linyuan averted his gaze.
When they got off the mountain and reached the speed bump, he casually picked up a tissue and handed it to her.
—
It was just 9 p.m. when the car drove back into the city.
Nan Yu looked at the shops on the roadside. Some were already preparing to close. She was worried. She wondered if there were any flower shops still open at this late hour.
While she was thinking about this, Tan Linyuan parked the car in front of a flower shop.
"Wait in the car."
The curtain of the flower shop was half - closed, but the lights inside were still on. Tan Linyuan bent down and slipped through the half - closed door.
A few minutes later, he came back with a bunch of white flowers.
Nan Yu stared blankly at him. She watched blankly as he got back in the car and placed the flowers in her lap. "Hold them well."
Then he started the car again.
He didn't need the navigation, and Nan Yu didn't need to ask him.
His direction was the cemetery.
"The dead rest in peace. It's been a year. It's time to take you to console the souls of your relatives. Saving others is also saving oneself. It's the way of Buddhism."
He spoke calmly, as if explaining why he was helping her.
It wasn't because of personal feelings, nor was it because he felt pity for her.
If it had to be called pity, it should be pity for all things in the world, for all sentient beings.
Even a flower or a blade of grass could receive the favor and pity of this great Buddha.
So he helped her.
He even prepared a bunch of flowers for her, such a small thing.
At this moment, Nan Yu felt that the praise and reverence spread in Jiangcheng about him were so real.
At certain moments, Tan Linyuan's Buddha - nature was so obvious, full of an otherworldly aura that was hard to fathom.
It took her a while before she whispered, "Thank you, Uncle Tan."
...
When the car drove to the cemetery entrance, the guard stopped them and said the cemetery was already closed and they couldn't enter.
Tan Linyuan walked over and said a few words to the security guard. The security guard nodded and immediately let them in.
Nan Yu was a little surprised. She hugged the flowers and trotted to catch up, looking excited. "Is Uncle Tan's face like a universal card that can be used everywhere?"
Tan Linyuan turned his head and looked at her speechlessly. "I made a mistake just now."
"What?"
"My Buddha doesn't save the stupid."
"…"
The security guard was very kind. When he let them in, he even stuffed a flashlight into Tan Linyuan's hand for him to use in the cemetery.
At first, Nan Yu scoffed at it, but after entering, she found that it was really useful.
Because the light in the cemetery was very dim, and it was impossible to see the road clearly at night.
Tan Linyuan held the flashlight and walked in front, while Nan Yu followed behind.
As they were walking, Tan Linyuan suddenly stopped.
This time, Nan Yu braked in time, or she would have bumped into his back again.
"We're here."