This sense of loneliness and emptiness didn't subside until Nan Yu came back at night.
Even though she didn't return until two o'clock in the morning.
When he held her in his arms at night, Tan Linyuan finally felt that the empty void in his heart was filled.
The inner demon that had robbed him of his sanity was finally appeased.
He didn't tell her that today was the anniversary of his grandfather and elder brother's deaths.
It was also his birthday.
Holding her soft body, he was like a drowning man clutching a floating log, his last faint hope of survival.
He thought he was the only one who felt this way.
...
Early the next morning, Tan Linyuan went into the study to do his morning lessons and chant scriptures.
In this regard, Nan Yu greatly admired his self - control.
No matter how late he stayed up the previous day, or whether he was sick or not, Tan Linyuan would surely go to the study early to chant scriptures and meditate.
Unlike her, who, after staying up until two o'clock the previous day, could sleep straight through until lunchtime.
She was woken up by the ringing of her phone.
Mr. Wu was urging her about the new tune. She mumbled sleepily that she was putting the finishing touches on it.
After chatting with Mr. Wu about the progress of her composition, she was half - awake and couldn't fall back asleep.
She tidied up her pajamas, got up, walked to the bedroom door, opened it, and looked downstairs.
Tan Linyuan was busy in the kitchen. The smell of cooking oil filled the air.
She yawned and realized she wasn't wearing her slippers. She turned around, went back into the bedroom to put them on, and then went to the kitchen to find Tan Linyuan.
"Awake?" Tan Linyuan heard the shuffling of slippers behind him and knew she was awake. "The meal will be ready soon."
Nan Yu nodded, tied her hair into a messy bun with a hair tie, and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.
When she came out, there were two plates of fried rice and a stir - fried green vegetable on the table.
"Uncle Tan actually cooked by himself."
"You just slept too late."
Since Nan Yu moved in, the two of them had an unspoken understanding that she would take care of the meals.
According to Nan Yu's theory, since she didn't have to pay rent or utilities, she might as well do some housework.
Tan Linyuan didn't hire a nanny, so Nan Yu voluntarily took on the task of cleaning the house.
But she was also puzzled: Why did the rooms always stay clean as if they had just been cleaned, even though she didn't clean them very often?
It wasn't until one day when she ran into the housekeeper that she found out that Tan Linyuan didn't hire a live - in nanny but did hire a housekeeper regularly.
"Do you want something to drink?"
"I'd like some coffee."
After staying up all night, her head was muddled. Wu Xiaxian had asked her to finish the new tune this week, and she needed to get her brain working quickly.
Tan Linyuan nodded, turned around, walked back to the bar in the kitchen, made a cup of coffee with the coffee maker, and brought it to the table.
"Thank you, Uncle Tan." Nan Yu thanked him with a smile and took a sip from the cup.
The two of them sat opposite each other, eating what was hard to tell if it was breakfast or lunch.
The atmosphere was very peaceful.
Halfway through the meal, Nan Yu seemed to remember something and suddenly said, "Wait for me a moment."
Tan Linyuan watched as she pushed her chair back, ran to the entrance, took her coat off the hanger, and fished out a box from the pocket.
She walked back and pushed it in front of him. "It's for you."
"What is it?"
"A gift for you."
Seeing him frown and about to say something, Nan Yu quickly explained, "I know you don't celebrate your birthday. This isn't a birthday gift."
She simply opened the box for him. Inside was a light - green amulet.
Nan Yu said seriously, "Stretch out your hand."
Tan Linyuan obediently held out his hand.
Nan Yu placed the amulet wrapped in red string in his palm. "I just happened to think of it and got it for you."
Actually, it wasn't by chance.
She remembered the coldness and desolation on Tan Linyuan's face that day, and she secretly decided to get an amulet for his safety.
When she said she wished him a long life that day, she meant it.
Tan Linyuan lowered his eyes and looked at the amulet in the color of a green sprout in his palm. He asked with a smile, "Why is it green?"
Normally, amulets are mostly red or gold, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.
Green ones are really rare.
"Because green represents life." Nan Yu had her own theory. "Vibrancy, vitality, and a strong life..."
"Tan Linyuan, you must live well." She clasped her hands together and sincerely wished.
She didn't wish for him to be rich and powerful or to have a prominent reputation.
She only wished for him to live a long life.
Seeing her serious look, Tan Linyuan couldn't help but laugh. "Are you so afraid of me dying?"
"Yes." Nan Yu answered honestly. "If something happens to you, how can we bring down the Shen family?"
"If we don't bring down the Shen family, how can I get back what belongs to my parents?" She reasoned clearly. "Didn't you say you'd be my backer? A backer should live a long life..."
She rambled on, but Tan Linyuan didn't hear a single word.
All he heard was that she hoped he could live well.
After hearing countless words wishing for his death, this was the first time he heard someone so sincerely wishing for him to live.
There was someone who hoped he could live on.
Tan Linyuan looked at her with deep eyes and said in a low voice, "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Nan Yu smiled and helped him put on the amulet, then carefully tucked it inside his shirt.
After doing all this, she suddenly asked in a soft voice, "Are you in a better mood today?"
When she leaned in to ask, the fragrance on her body wafted over, carrying a refreshing jasmine scent.
Nan Yu loved jasmine, and she had replaced all the bath products in the bathroom with jasmine - scented ones.
Suddenly, Tan Linyuan reached out and grabbed her arm.
Then he pressed on her back and brought her face close to his chest.
She listened to the beating of his heart in his chest.
It was getting louder and louder.
She was quite content.
...
After lunch, both of them felt sleepy again, so they simply went to bed for an afternoon nap.
When they woke up again, they were still lying in bed. Tan Linyuan asked her what her plans were.
"I originally planned to go to the record store today." Nan Yu glanced at the time. "But it's already four o'clock. If I go now, I don't know when I'll be done."
"Are you still busy writing tunes recently?" Tan Linyuan asked.
Nan Yu turned over to face him and answered seriously, "Sort of. I'm looking for inspiration."
Tan Linyuan glanced at her. "Have you found any inspiration?"
"... Inspiration doesn't come just because you want it to." Nan Yu was a bit speechless. "Inspiration comes from experiencing life, not from brooding."
Tan Linyuan's eyes were full of meaning. "What kind of experience?"
Nan Yu: "..."
Before Tan Linyuan could misunderstand, she quickly continued to explain, "It refers to the experience of daily life, like shopping, traveling, taking a walk, and so on."
"Anyway, you have to go out and experience to have different insights." She thought for a while. "Or it should be called 'collecting inspiration', which is more accurate."
Tan Linyuan lowered his eyes to look at her and asked, "How about I take you out for a stroll?"
"Where to?"
Tan Linyuan squinted his eyes and said lazily, "I'll take you to find inspiration."