Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

The yacht continued westward. When passing through Vietnam, they made a special stop for a day to visit the famous Ha Long Bay. The strangely shaped limestone islands, like giant stalagmites, rose from the calm sea. Some looked like elephants, some like monkeys, some like fairies... each with its own unique shape and lifelike appearance, as if they were natural sculptures sculpted by nature's masterful hand.

Standing on the deck, Chen Xueru gazed at the rocks that had stood at sea for millions of years, her heart filled with awe. She suddenly turned to He Damin and asked, "Brother Damin, how many years do you think these rocks have been standing here?"

He Damin gazed at the silent islands and thought for a moment: "It must have been hundreds of millions of years ago."

"Hundreds of millions of years..." Chen Xueru sighed softly, "Back then, let alone us, even humans didn't know where they were."

"Yes," He Damin held her hand, "In the future, we will also become history. But perhaps, our children, and our children's children, will come here again and see these stones."

Chen Xueru paused for a moment, then a gentle smile appeared on her face: "You, you can't stop talking about the child."

"What's wrong?" He Damin raised an eyebrow, teasing her deliberately, "Don't you like it?"

"It's nothing." She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled but filled with anticipation, "I want...our child too."

He Damin felt a warmth in his heart, hugged her tightly, rested his chin on her head, and was filled with anticipation.

About ten days later, the "Xue Ru" arrived in Italy. They docked at the port of Genoa, where a black Maserati was already waiting. He Damin drove, with Chen Xue Ru in the passenger seat, as they drove south along the picturesque Mediterranean coastline. The Mediterranean sun was even hotter than in Hong Kong, streaming through the car windows and warming them comfortably, creating a languid and pleasant atmosphere. The olive trees along the roadside were lush and green, laden with unripe olives, swaying gently in the sea breeze, filling the air with a faint, sweet olive fragrance.

"Brother Damin, where are we going first?" Chen Xueru asked curiously, looking at the exotic scenery rushing past the window.

"Let's go to Florence first." He Damin gripped the steering wheel, looking straight ahead. "Let's see those old medieval houses and churches. Haven't you always been interested in art? The Uffizi Gallery is there; it's full of treasures."

Chen Xueru's eyes lit up: "How do you know everything? I only mentioned it to you casually once."

"Because you're my wife, of course I have to remember your preferences." He Damin turned to look at her, his eyes gentle.

They spent three days in Florence. The city was like a giant open-air museum, with ancient buildings and exquisite sculptures everywhere. They visited the Uffizi Gallery and saw Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus," whose colors and lines captivated Chen Xueru. They also saw Michelangelo's David, whose perfect proportions and muscular lines left Chen Xueru in awe. Standing beneath the massive red dome of the Florence Cathedral, Chen Xueru looked up at the intricate and beautiful frescoes inside, speechless for a long time.

"Brother Damin," she said softly, "tell me, hundreds of years ago, without computers or advanced machines, how did they manage to build such magnificent structures and sculpt such exquisite statues with just their bare hands?"

He Damin gazed at the towering dome, thought for a moment, and said, "Perhaps it's because they have plenty of time and patience. They dedicate their entire lives to doing one thing, without distraction, and do it to the extreme. Just like those who cultivate themselves, they can achieve something only after decades of consistent effort."

Chen Xueru nodded thoughtfully: "Just like your cultivation."

He Damin laughed: "It's somewhat similar. Come on, you must be hungry after walking around all morning. I'll take you to eat authentic Italian pasta."

He led Chen Xueru through a maze of streets until they found an inconspicuous little restaurant in a quiet alley. The shop was tiny, with only a few tables, and the walls were covered with old photos of the owner and his family, as well as some rather dated football posters. The owner, a plump Italian man with a gray beard, greeted them warmly as they entered. Hearing they were from China, the old man was overjoyed, speaking and gesturing with great enthusiasm, and even personally cooked them a table of authentic Italian dishes.

A simple plate of spaghetti bolognese was served. Chen Xueru picked up her fork, rolled up a small portion, and put it in her mouth. The rich tomato flavor, the aroma of the meat sauce, and the creaminess of the cheese melted in her mouth, the taste so delicious that her eyes lit up. "Delicious! So delicious!" she couldn't help but exclaim, taking another big bite.

He Damin watched her eat with sauce all over her mouth, like a child who had just received candy, and couldn't help but laugh: "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you. We'll order more if you're not full."

Chen Xueru glared at him, but said, "No way, I'm going to eat more, otherwise I'll be letting down these delicious noodles."

They traveled from Italy to Switzerland. Upon entering Switzerland, the scenery changed dramatically. The rolling Alps came into view, their peaks capped with snow, shimmering silver in the sunlight. At the foot of the mountains stretched vast, verdant alpine meadows, like enormous green carpets dotted with colorful wildflowers—red, yellow, and purple—a truly beautiful sight. Occasionally, they could see black and white cows grazing peacefully, the bells around their necks jingling sweetly.

Chen Xueru stood on the observation deck of Jungfraujoch, gazing at the endless snow-capped mountains in the distance, and took a deep breath. The air was so fresh, carrying the scent of snow and pine, that it was truly invigorating.

"So beautiful," she exclaimed sincerely, her voice trembling slightly.

He Damin gently hugged her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head, feeling her body tremble slightly with excitement: "Do you like it here? From now on, let's come here once a year, okay?"

"Really?" Chen Xueru turned around in surprise, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him like a child longing for candy.

"Of course it's true." He Damin gently pinched her nose. "When we have children in the future, we'll bring them here so they can see these snow-capped mountains and feel this clean air."

Chen Xueru blushed again and gave him a reproachful look: "Here we go again. Why do you always talk about the child?" Although she said that, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, and she felt sweet inside.

Starting from Switzerland, they traveled westward to France. Autumn in Paris had a unique charm; the plane tree leaves lining the streets had turned yellow, and a gust of wind would send the golden leaves fluttering like butterflies, rustling softly underfoot. They strolled slowly along the Seine, its waters flowing gently, with tourist boats occasionally passing by. Along the riverbanks, many painters were drawing portraits of visitors, and street performers entertained the crowds; the melodious sounds of accordions and lively guitars mingled together, creating a romantic atmosphere.

Chen Xueru stopped in front of a painting. It was an oil painting, depicting Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. It was painted very vividly, and even the outline of Victoria Peak was clearly visible.

"Brother Damin, look!" she said excitedly, pointing to the painting. "Doesn't it look like the view from our balcony?"

He Damin leaned over to take a look, then smiled and said, "It really does look like it. Do you like it? Let's buy it and hang it in the living room of our yacht."

Chen Xueru shook her head, a hint of longing in her eyes: "No need. We can see the real thing every day at home, it's much better than the painting. Besides, the Hong Kong in the painting seems to be missing something."

He Damin knew she was homesick. He took her hand and whispered, "After we finish this walk, we'll go home."

They went to the Louvre and lingered for a long time before Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile. Chen Xueru stared at the painting, as if trying to discern some secret in the eyes of the person depicted.

"What's wrong? You're so engrossed in reading," He Damin asked her softly.

"It's nothing," Chen Xueru said softly, her eyes somewhat unfocused. "It's just that I feel these paintings, these works of art, can be passed down for hundreds, even thousands of years, appreciated by generation after generation. What about us? What can we leave behind?"

He Damin gripped her hand tightly, his eyes resolute: "We can leave behind a lot too. Our careers, our children, and the love between us. And don't forget, we are cultivators, with a lifespan of five hundred years at the Golden Core stage. Five hundred years from now, we can still be like this, enjoying the scenery together and discussing these paintings."

Chen Xueru looked at him, her eyes regaining their light: "Really? Five hundred years?"

"Really." He Damin nodded. "As long as you cultivate diligently, we can stay together and watch the world change."