American comics: Only I know the plot

Chapter 146 Warmth

After the hustle and bustle of the funeral subsided, the Gotham sunlight became exceptionally gentle.

Li Wei left Wayne Manor with Catwoman, having already changed his tattered clothes into clean and comfortable casual wear. The soft cotton fabric against his skin brought him a sense of peace he had never felt in the days of fighting.

The two walked side by side down the street in the early morning, the aroma of coffee and bread wafting from the breakfast shop mingling in the cool air.

The tranquility that followed life and death was more precious to Li Wei than any treasure.

Catwoman suddenly stopped and turned to look at Li Wei, her eyes filled with a smile and a mischievous teasing. She lightly tugged at his sleeve with her fingertips.

"Hero, from now on, you belong to me."

Her voice carried a hint of coquettishness, yet also held an irresistible tenderness.

"I'm going to show you the real Gotham, which isn't just about darkness and battle."

Looking into the tiny glimmers of light in her eyes, like crushed morning light, Li Wei felt a surge of warmth in his heart and nodded gently.

His gaze fell on the catwoman's profile, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and even the surrounding atmosphere seemed to soften.

On the first day, just as dawn was breaking, Catwoman brought Levi to Gotham Harbor.

The silence of the night faded from the dock as fishing boats returned to port one after another. The sounds of motors, nets being dragged, and fishermen's shouts mingled together, shattering Gotham's usual deathly stillness.

The damp stone path, glistening with morning dew, creaked softly underfoot, and a cool sensation crept up from the soles of your feet, refreshing and invigorating.

The fish that had just been unloaded by the roadside were still jumping around, their silvery bodies splashing water onto the two men's trouser legs, adding to their freshness.

The two sat on a bench at the very edge of the pier. The bench was mottled from the sea breeze, but it remained sturdy.

The vibrations of the waves crashing against the embankment traveled through the chair and were clearly felt by Li Wei.

Catwoman didn't deliberately keep her distance; she naturally leaned on Li Wei's shoulder, her hair lightly brushing against his neck, bringing a tingling, itchy sensation.

The faint scent of gardenias emanating from her mingled with the salty sea breeze created a unique atmosphere that completely calmed Li Wei's chaotic mind.

"I used to come here often when I was a child."

Catwoman's voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing the tranquility before her. She gently rested her head on Li Wei's shoulder, making her appear even more tender.

Li Wei turned his head to look at her and could see her long eyelashes casting a light shadow under her eyelids, her eyes shimmering with the soft light of memories.

He didn't interrupt, but simply relaxed his shoulders slightly to make her more comfortable leaning against him.

"The food at the orphanage was bad back then, so I would come to the dock to collect small fish that fishermen had discarded and secretly grill them to eat."

Catwoman's fingertips lightly brushed across her knee, as if tracing the way she used to pick up fish back then.

"Once I stole the biggest cod from a fisherman's net, and he chased me around the pier three times."

She chuckled softly, her voice clear and crisp like a bell, and the corners of her eyes curved into a beautiful arc.

Li Wei's lips unconsciously curved upwards, his gaze gently falling on her face as he listened to her past.

"Finally, I hid in the warehouse where the fish baskets were stored. He couldn't find me and left cursing."

As the catwoman spoke, she lightly tapped the back of Li Wei's hand with her fingertip, a hint of smugness in her expression.

"I ate that fish twice; it was the most delicious thing I ever ate when I was a child."

A smile always graced her lips, and the gentleness in her eyes was something Li Wei had never seen before.

Li Wei's fingertips curled slightly as he wanted to raise his hand to rub her hair, but in the end he only clenched his fist gently, afraid of breaking this beautiful moment.

Catwoman lowered her voice, lowered her head even further, and her nose was almost touching Li Wei's shoulder.

"I would curl up in the innermost corner and listen to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore."

She paused, her fingertips gently hooking the hem of Li Wei's clothes, "And the sound of raindrops hitting the roof, that way I won't feel lonely."

She turned to look at Li Wei, her eyes honest and soft, as if she had stripped away all her defenses and was revealing her most vulnerable side to him.

"Back then, I would always stare at the cargo ships in the distance, imagining that they would take me to a place without darkness or strife."

Catwoman's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible bitterness, "There's endless food there, a warm bed, and people who won't abandon me."

Li Wei felt a slight pang in his heart, a bittersweet ache.

He reached out and took her hand, which was resting on her knee. Her fingertips were slightly cool, and her fingertips had calluses from years of using her claws, rough but real.

The moment their palms touched, their fingertips trembled slightly.

Li Wei gently stroked her fingertips with his thumb, trying to smooth out the thin callus and also to soothe her past pain.

"And now?" Levi's voice was low and gentle, his gaze fixed intently on her eyes. "Still want to leave Gotham?"

Catwoman shook her head, then gripped his hand tightly with a gentle yet firm touch, the warmth of their palms mingling.

"No."

She looked up at him, her eyes shining brightly and passionately, reflecting the morning sun and Li Wei's figure.

"There are things I want to protect here, and people I care about here."

"Moreover, I discovered that gentle flowers can grow even in the darkness; one doesn't necessarily have to go far away to seek the light."

Catwoman gently stroked Li Wei's palm with her fingertips, her tone earnest.

Li Wei's heart felt filled with warmth, his thumb still gently brushing against the back of her hand, feeling the warmth of each other's palms and the beating of their pulses.

The distant laughter of fishermen sorting their catch drifted over, mingling with the sound of the waves, becoming the gentlest background noise.

A white seagull landed on the railing in front of them, tilted its head to look at the two of them, and let out a clear cry.

Catwoman took a small piece of bread out of her pocket, broke it into crumbs, and carefully handed it to the seagull with gentle movements.

The seagull glanced at her warily, then quickly snatched up the breadcrumbs and flapped its wings to fly into the sky.

After circling once, it flew towards the rising sun, its wings flashing with golden light.

"Look, even the seagulls know that there is warmth here that is worth staying in."

Catwoman laughed, her smile brighter than the rising sun, and as she turned, her gaze met Li Wei's.

Looking at her smile, Li Wei felt a surge of happiness and leaned forward slightly, slowly getting closer.

He gently placed a kiss on her forehead, the movement tender and precious, his lips touching her slightly cool forehead, carrying the scent of gardenias.

Catwoman's body stiffened slightly, her eyelashes trembled, and a faint blush rose on her cheeks, spreading from the tips of her ears to her neck.

She didn't flinch, but leaned even closer to Li Wei's shoulder, her arms gently encircling his, her smile growing even sweeter.

A gentle sea breeze blew, carrying a salty, damp scent and a faint fragrance of gardenias, surrounding the two of them.

The sunlight shone on the two of them, casting long shadows that intertwined as if they would never be separated.

At noon, Catwoman took Li Wei to a small restaurant in the old town.

The restaurant was small, but clean and tidy. The wooden tables and chairs were polished to a shine, and the warm yellow lights illuminated the interior, making it exceptionally cozy.

The owners were an elderly couple. Upon seeing the catwoman, they immediately smiled kindly, clearly already familiar with her.

The catwoman whispered something to the elderly couple, her smile barely concealed, and she would occasionally turn her head to glance at Li Wei.

The proprietress served steaming hot seafood pasta and vegetable soup, the rich aroma wafting over, the taste simple yet heartwarming.

"Serena, is this your boyfriend? He's a handsome young man."

The proprietress smiled and joked, her eyes sweeping over the two people's tightly clasped hands.

Catwoman's cheeks flushed slightly as she stirred her pasta, the redness on her ear tips impossible to hide, yet a smile played at the corners of her lips; she did not deny it.

Li Wei felt a warmth in his heart and took her hand that was on the table. The moment their fingertips touched, he felt a warm sensation.

The two looked at each other, their eyes conveying tenderness and smiles, which were understood without words.

This handshake allowed the silent emotions to quietly warm up in each other's hearts.

Lunch ended in a warm atmosphere, and the owners insisted on not accepting payment, saying it was a tribute to the heroes.

In the afternoon, Catwoman took Levi to the Gotham Botanical Garden.

This place was spared from the ravages of war, and now it is lush with greenery, with colorful flowers blooming in abundance, and the fresh scent of grass and trees filling the air.

The two strolled along the stone path, passing through a rose-lined corridor, where the fragrance of roses was rich yet not cloying.

Passing through the archway covered in vines, the vine branches and leaves drooped down, gently brushing against their shoulders with a slightly cool touch.

The catwoman, like a child, pointed at the little birds on the branch and chirped softly, her eyes full of innocence.

She would reach out and gently touch the petals on the branch, and a look of surprise would appear on her face the moment her fingertips touched the petals.

Li Wei followed behind her, his gaze always fixed on her graceful figure. Watching her move among the flowers, he felt a sense of peace.

He had never seen a catwoman like this before, without the fierceness and defensiveness she displayed in battle, only gentleness and ease after she shed her disguise.

As I walked to the pavilion by the lake, a gentle breeze rippled across the water, carrying the fragrance of lotus leaves.

Catwoman suddenly turned around, threw herself into Li Wei's arms, hugged his waist tightly, and pressed her cheek against his chest.

She gently nuzzled him, her voice muffled and choked with emotion: "Li Wei, thank you."

"Thank you for not really leaving."

Li Wei gently hugged her back, his hand stroking her back tenderly, patting her gently as if comforting a wronged child.

His chin rested gently on the top of her head, feeling her trembling, the scent of her hair lingering around his nose.

"I promised I would stay in Gotham and stay by your side."

His voice was deep and resolute, reaching Catwoman's ears and resonating in both of their hearts.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the two figures as they embraced.

At this moment, there are no villains, no crisis, only the clear heartbeats and warm breaths of each other.

The lotus flowers on the lake swayed gently, and occasionally a fish would leap out of the water, splashing up tiny droplets. Everything was so beautiful it was almost unbelievable.

The next day, the two went to the Gotham Library.

This century-old building suffered only minor damage during the war and still retains its rustic charm, with wooden bookshelves gleaming with the patina of time.

The huge bookshelves reached the ceiling, filled with yellowed books, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of paper and ink, creating a quiet and soothing atmosphere.

Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, falling on the pages of the book and creating dappled patterns of light.

Catwoman pulled Levi's hand and quickly walked to the comic book section. Her fingertips traced across the bookshelves before she finally pulled out an early Batman comic.

She flipped open the comic book, her eyes crinkling with laughter, unable to hide the joy in them, and handed the comic book to Li Wei.

"Look at Bruce when he was young, how green he was."

Her tone was full of teasing as she pointed her finger at the slightly clumsy Batman in the comics.

Li Wei leaned over for a look and couldn't help but laugh. The Batman in the comics moved stiffly, completely different from the Dark Knight of today.

He reached out and put his arm around Catwoman's waist, letting her lean against him. The two of them flipped through comics together, their heads close together, their breaths mingling.

They occasionally chatted in hushed tones, talking about amusing things from comics, keeping their voices very low so as not to break the quiet of the library.

Time passed especially pleasantly as the pages of the book were turned.

In the afternoon, they went to the rooftop of Gotham.

Catwoman held Li Wei's hand and led him through the high-rise buildings. The two figures were like two black shadows, light and agile.

She would stop at the edge of the rooftop, wait for Li Wei to catch up, then reach out and take his hand, a sly smile in her eyes.

The wind blew through their hair, tangling it together before scattering it again, carrying the unique scent of the city.

Standing atop Gotham's tallest building, Levi looked down at the entire city, where streets bustled with traffic and pedestrians hurried by.

Having survived a devastating crisis, this city now exudes a tenacious vitality, with the warmth of everyday life permeating every corner.

Catwoman spreads her arms wide, facing the wind, her hair flying in the wind, exuding a carefree and unrestrained spirit.

"Look, this is the city I've been protecting." Her voice was filled with pride, yet also tenderness.

Li Wei walked to her side and stood beside her, gently putting his arm around her shoulder so that she could lean against him.

He recalled the chaos and darkness of his early days in Gotham, the days and nights he fought alongside Bruce, and the resolute determination that followed the nuclear explosion.

All the hardships of the past have become mere prelude to the present opportunities.

Now, all of that is in the past, and Gotham is full of hope.

In the evening, the two watched the sunset from the rooftop.

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky orange-red, and the clouds were edged with gold, layer upon layer, breathtakingly beautiful.

The orange-red light shone on the two of them, dyeing their figures a warm color.

Catwoman leaned against Li Wei's chest, and Li Wei put his arm around her shoulder, gently stroking her arm with his palm.

The two remained silent, yet their understanding was unspoken; they simply watched the sunset and felt each other's warmth.

As night fell and the city lights came on, they twinkled like stars in the Gotham night.

The orange-red sunset gradually faded, replaced by a deep navy blue. The evening breeze grew cool, and Catwoman snuggled closer to Li Wei.

The two reluctantly left the rooftop, hand in hand, and walked down the quiet alley, their shadows intertwined under the lamplight.

On the third day, Catwoman took Levi to a vintage record store in Gotham.

The shop was filled with old records and record players. The vinyl records had a retro sheen, and the metal parts of the record players were polished to a shine.

The shop owner was an elderly man with white hair, wearing reading glasses, sitting behind the counter wiping records with gentle movements.

The store is dimly lit, with warm yellow lights reflecting off the shelves full of records, creating a unique atmosphere.

Catwoman walked to the corner with practiced ease, ran her fingertips across the records, and finally pulled out a jazz record, handing it to the shopkeeper.