Rebirth 03: Starting a Business After Giving Up a Secure Job

Chapter 137 My Heart's Desires Are Entrusted to Green Smoke

Everyone else had left, leaving only Lin Feng and Shen Jingyi strolling slowly.

Shen Jingyi only hoped that she could stay back for as long as possible, so that she could spend more time with Lin Feng.

"Brother Feng," Shen Jingyi suddenly said, "thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you—" She turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling under the streetlights, "You encouraged me to participate in Super Girl, something I never even dared to dream of."

Lin Feng looked at her: "I'm not just talking about Super Girl. I'll contact the teacher for you after the New Year, so you can focus on your preparations."

"Can I really do it?" Her voice was uncertain. "So many people want to go—"

"Why not?" Lin Feng stopped and looked at her. "What makes you inferior to them?"

Shen Jingyi turned to look at Lin Feng: "I didn't expect you would go to so much trouble for me."

"You have musical talent; you shouldn't be confined to the school stage." Lin Feng reached out and smoothed Shen Jingyi's hair behind her ear. "I will help you get the opportunities that are rightfully yours."

These words struck Shen Jingyi like a gently plucked string, causing a ripple of panic within her.

She had liked Lin Feng for a long time. From her freshman year when she joined the digital music club, she watched him stand on stage with an MP3 player talking about future hit songs, watched him organize digital music festivals, and watched him gradually expand his business from Chengdu to Shenzhen and then to the whole country.

Her admiration for Lin Feng began with worship and admiration, gradually accumulating.

Tonight's rendition of "Winter Rain in Chengdu" was filled with her heartfelt words, which she had kept hidden for half a year.

The day the ginkgo leaves fell, you returned to me from the south; in Chengdu, there was no snow in winter, only light rain falling on the eaves.

She waited for half a year, and he finally came back to her side.

"Brother Feng," Shen Jingyi said, her eyes bright, "Are you free tomorrow?"

I'm free tomorrow, it's the weekend.

"Then—would you come with me to Wenshu Monastery for a stroll?" she asked cautiously.

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you at the entrance of Hongguangyuan at 10:00 AM."

Shen Jingyi smiled with relief, her eyes curving into crescent moons: "Yes! I'll definitely be there on time!"

The two reached the fork in the road at the side gate of the school; it was time for her to go back to her dormitory. Shen Jingyi stopped and looked at Lin Feng.

"Then I'll head back. Get some rest and don't stay up too late."

"Okay." Lin Feng nodded with a smile.

Shen Jingyi suddenly stepped forward and hugged Lin Feng.

She buried her head in Lin Feng's chest, tilted her head back, and whispered to him in a sweet, affectionate voice, "Brother Feng, I've been waiting for you for so long. You're finally back."

Before Lin Feng could react, Shen Jingyi, her face flushed, turned and ran. After a few steps toward the school, she turned back and called out, "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

At 9:50 a.m. the next day, at the entrance of Hongguangyuan residential area.

Shen Jingyi was already waiting there, having changed into a light apricot dress with a beige short down jacket over it. Her hair was loosely tied in a half-updo, revealing her slender and clean neck.

She clutched a folding umbrella in her hand, her toes lightly touching the ground, glancing occasionally at the entrance of the residential area, her eyes filled with undisguised anticipation.

Lin Feng walked out of the residential area on time, wearing a dark casual coat and standing tall.

Shen Jingyi immediately went up to him: "Brother Feng."

"Let's go." Lin Feng gestured for her to walk to the side of the road together, and hailed a taxi.

Shen Jingyi lowered her head and crawled into the back seat of the car. After sitting down, she moved a little further in to make enough room for Lin Feng, and her shoulder gently touched his arm.

It takes nearly an hour for a taxi to reach Wenshu Monastery.

Shen Jingyi leaned against Lin Feng, glancing at him from time to time, and took the initiative to tell him about the interesting things in Wenshu Fang: "I've been here several times with my club classmates before. There are not only temples here, but also many handicraft shops and calligraphy and painting shops. The things they sell are very interesting, much more fun than shopping malls."

Lin Feng listened intently, occasionally responding with a word, his gaze falling on her bright eyes. This girl genuinely wanted to tell him about everything she liked.

About an hour later, the taxi stopped under the Wenshu Monastery Archway.

A gray-blue antique-style archway stands at the street entrance, with upturned eaves carved with delicate patterns. Underfoot is a stone-paved road bearing the marks of time, and on both sides are buildings in the style of western Sichuan folk houses with white walls and black tiles. Red lanterns hang under the eaves, swaying gently in the wind.

The sweet aroma of candied fruit and glutinous rice balls wafts from the streets, mingling with the faint scent of ink, brushes, paper, and inkstones, creating an atmosphere that is both artistic and down-to-earth.

As soon as Shen Jingyi got out of the car, her steps became lighter. She took Lin Feng's arm and leaned her head slightly towards him: "I'll show you around from the beginning. There are all sorts of delicious food and fun things to do inside—"

Unlike at school, when the two went on a date alone, Shen Jingyi was not shy at all. Lin Feng glanced down at the delicate hand that was wrapped around his arm and let her lead him forward.

At the street corner, there is a handmade sugar painting stall. Golden syrup is boiling in a copper pot. The master craftsman holds a long spoon, and with a flick of his wrist, smooth lines are formed on the board, and in the blink of an eye, a lifelike little rabbit is drawn.

Shen Jingyi stopped and pulled Lin Feng closer to the stall: "Brother Feng, this was my favorite food when I was a kid."

"Want to give it a try?" Lin Feng said with a smile.

She released Lin Feng's arm and leaned forward. She bent down and spun the clock. The clock spun around once, finally landing on a butterfly.

The stall owner, a skilled craftsman, first poured out a butterfly with outstretched wings. The golden syrup quickly solidified on the white board, and he used a small spatula to scoop it up, attach it to a bamboo skewer, and hand it to her.

"Brother Feng, why don't you turn around too and see if you can turn to the dragon?"

Lin Feng reached out and flicked the pointer, which spun around a few times before finally stopping on the dragon.

The stall owner looked up at Lin Feng in surprise. Shen Jingyi had already cheered happily.

Then, the master craftsman poured syrup onto a golden dragon with its claws outstretched, the syrup flowing from the tip of the spoon in thin lines, the dragon's whiskers and horns all rendered in one smooth motion.

She held her butterfly up to her eyes and examined it in the light, then broke off a corner of its wing, put it in her mouth, and chewed it.

Lin Feng said the dragon was too big for him to finish by himself. So he handed the dragon over to her so she could have a taste.

Shen Jingyi didn't stand on ceremony and directly bit off a piece of dragon tail to taste. After chewing it, she commented that the dragon's tail was sweeter.

This made Lin Feng laugh.

Lin Feng looked at the sugar stains on the corner of her mouth, took out a tissue, and gently wiped them away for her. His movements were natural.

Shen Jingyi's cheeks flushed slightly, her heart sweeter than the sugar figurine in her mouth.

On her way to the main gate of Wenshu Monastery, she bought another bag of roasted chestnuts.

The freshly cooked chestnuts were so hot that she had to toss them back and forth between her hands. She peeled one and held it to Lin Feng's mouth; the chestnut meat was soft, sweet, and hot.

Lin Feng bent down to catch it, his lips brushing against her fingertips. She stuffed the paper bag into his hand, telling him to eat it while it was hot.

Walking along the stone-paved path, you'll find shops on both sides that exude an artistic vibe.

A Shu embroidery shop caught Shen Jingyi's attention. Embroidery products were displayed in the transparent window. Hibiscus flowers, koi fish and green bamboo came to life on the silk, with fine and exquisite stitches.

She pulled Lin Feng into the shop, her fingertips gently brushing against the handkerchief embroidered with orchids, and whispered, "Shu embroidery is a specialty of our Sichuan. I've always wanted to learn it, but it always pricks my hands."

The shop owner, a middle-aged woman, smiled and said, "If the young lady is interested, she can come and take a few lessons. It's very simple."

Shen Jingyi turned to Lin Feng and said, "Brother Feng, do you think this handkerchief looks good? I think it goes perfectly with your coat."

Before Lin Feng could speak, she had already bought the plain orchid handkerchief from the shopkeeper, carefully folded it, and stuffed it into Lin Feng's pocket: "This is for you. You can use it to wipe your hands and sweat in the future."

She moved swiftly and spoke frankly, but the hidden thoughts in her eyes were laid bare.

Lin Feng touched the handkerchief in his pocket; the fabric was soft, and he didn't refuse.

Further along, there is a calligraphy and painting shop, with various brushes, Xuan paper, and inkstones on the shelves, and ink paintings by local artists hanging on the walls.

There are traditional Sichuan-style houses, the Wuhou Temple, and ginkgo trees in winter, all rendered with elegant brushstrokes and full of the charm of western Sichuan.

Shen Jingyi walked to the brush holder, picked up a small wolf-hair calligraphy brush, turned around and handed it to Lin Feng: "Brother Feng, you write well, would you like to pick one out? You can use it to sign documents."

Lin Feng couldn't help but laugh: "Who signs documents with a calligraphy brush?"

However, when Lin Feng took the brush, he found that the handle was warm and smooth, and the tip was crisp; it was indeed a fine brush.

Seeing that he liked it, Shen Jingyi immediately had the shopkeeper wrap it up and paid for it first, saying, "It's a gift for you."

After saying that, she looked away, pretending to look at the calligraphy and paintings on the wall, but the tips of her ears were still red.

She never offered sentimental words of thanks; instead, she used her actions to present him with everything she felt was good.

When passing by a handmade leather goods shop, Shen Jingyi was completely captivated.

The shop is filled with handmade card holders, keychains, and belts, each piece displaying the exquisite craftsmanship of handmade items. On the walls, there are also semi-finished products made by customers.

She pulled Lin Feng into the shop and pointed to the keychain materials on the counter: "Brother Feng, let's make a keychain together. It'll be meaningful if we sew it ourselves."

The shop owner handed over two simple sets of cowhide materials. Shen Jingyi chose the light brown one and handed the dark brown one to Lin Feng. She sat down at the worktable and carefully threaded the needle.

Her fingers were slender, and she was a little clumsy when threading a needle, the thread always going astray. The way she bit her lip and focused on it was especially cute.

Seeing her struggling for a while, Lin Feng reached out and took the needle and leather from her hand, helped her thread the needle, and then taught her the needlework: "The thread should be pulled tight and the stitches should be straight, that's how you make it look nice."

His hand covered the back of her hand, and as she felt the touch, Shen Jingyi obediently followed his movements, her heart beating faster without her realizing it.

She turned her head to look at Lin Feng's focused profile. Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on his eyelashes and casting soft shadows. She couldn't help but feel a surge of affection.

More than half an hour later, the two simple leather keychains were completed.

Shen Jingyi secretly engraved a tiny "Jing" character on her keychain and secretly engraved a musical note pattern on the inside of Lin Feng's keychain; these were her unique little thoughts.

She handed the keychain with the musical notes engraved on it to Lin Feng: "Every time you see it in the future, you'll remember that I made it."

Lin Feng took the keychain, his fingertips touching the small musical note. He understood immediately and put it in his pocket: "It's pretty useful."

As they strolled along, Shen Jingyi held Lin Feng's arm the whole time. Sometimes they would stop to watch folk singers perform on the street, sometimes they would go into niche cultural and creative shops to pick out small ornaments, and sometimes she would point out old buildings to him and tell him about the characteristics of traditional houses in western Sichuan.

She acted like a little tour guide, showing Lin Feng all the art and life of Wenshu Fang, with their intimate little gestures constantly going on.

It was nearly noon when we arrived at the gate of Wenshu Monastery.

The vermilion gate is solemn and ancient, and the three golden characters "Wenshu Monastery" on the plaque are vigorous and powerful. Ancient cypress trees reach the sky inside the monastery, and incense smoke curls up. It is completely different from the bustling city outside the gate. Just one wall away is the boundary between tranquility and noise.

Shen Jingyi pulled Lin Feng through the mountain gate, her tone softening: "Let's go inside and take a look around, it's very quiet here."

The two first strolled slowly along the temple's corridors. The vermilion pillars were mottled and ancient, and the walls were inlaid with stone-carved scriptures, exuding a profound cultural atmosphere.

Shen Jingyi slowed her pace and softly recited the Zen sayings under the corridor, her voice gentle and blending into the atmosphere of the temple.

Passing by the calligraphy and painting corridor, she saw calligraphy and paintings by monks and lay Buddhists hanging on the walls, full of Zen spirit. She stopped to take a closer look and occasionally whispered a few comments to Lin Feng, showing the artistic literacy of a music student.

In the bonsai garden on the west side of the temple, various bonsai are displayed. Pine, bamboo and plum trees are elegant and graceful, and they are paired with simple purple clay pots, which fully express the artistic conception of mountains and rivers in a small space.

Shen Jingyi walked to a potted wintersweet and took a deep breath: "It smells so good. Wintersweet smells the best in winter."

She tilted her head slightly, bringing her nose close to the flower branch, closing her eyes to enjoy the fragrance. Her hair fell over her shoulders, and sunlight filtered through the leaves onto her face, making her look as gentle as a painting.

After exploring all the sights of the temple, the two finally arrived at the incense burner in front of the main hall.

Shen Jingyi bought two bundles of incense from the incense stand at the entrance, handed one bundle to Lin Feng, and then held the incense herself and went to the candlestick to light it.

As the smoke rose, she held incense in both hands, bowed her head and closed her eyes, her expression extremely devout. Her long eyelashes drooped, concealing the thoughts in her eyes, and her lips moved slightly as she silently made a wish.

Lin Feng lit the incense, bowed briefly, and placed it in the incense burner. He then turned around and saw Shen Jingyi still praying with her hands clasped together.

She slowly opened her eyes and withdrew her clasped hands.

Lin Feng asked, "What did you wish for?"

Shen Jingyi's cheeks instantly turned bright red, as if her secret had been exposed, and she whispered, "It won't work if I say it out loud."

Lin Feng looked at her face, which was flushed red to the roots of her neck, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. He did not ask any further questions.

Seeing that he wasn't pressing her for answers, Shen Jingyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She took the initiative to link arms with him again, gently resting her head on his upper arm: "Let's go to the vegetarian restaurant. The vegetarian noodles here are super delicious. I have to eat a bowl every time I come."

She smoothly changed the subject, hiding her innermost thoughts once again.

The vegetarian restaurant was not crowded and had a quiet and elegant environment. Shen Jingyi ordered two bowls of vegetarian noodles, a plate of cold black fungus salad, and a plate of orchid beans, all of which were characteristic vegetarian dishes from the temple.

The noodles were served, the soup was clear and flavorful, the side dishes were refreshing and not greasy at all. Shen Jingyi picked up her chopsticks and put a piece of gluten on Lin Feng's plate: "Brother Feng, try this, it's made as delicious as meat."

She took care of Lin Feng the whole time, adding tea and handing him tissues. She was meticulous and considerate, and every move she made showed her concern.

After finishing their meal, the two slowly walked out of Wenshu Monastery and returned to the bustling Wenshufang neighborhood.

The two strolled around, finding much to enjoy and feeling very grateful.

As the sun began to set, Shen Jingyi, arm in arm with Lin Feng, looked up at him with eyes full of reluctance: "Today went by so fast, I haven't had enough of shopping yet."

L

"I'll come with you again next time I have time," Lin Feng said with a smile.

Shen Jingyi's eyes crinkled into crescent moons with laughter.