Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1060

The summer wind of June lashed the suitcase, sweltering in the heat. Parasol tree catkins swirled in the air like shredded clouds. A playful piece of white fluff drifted down, clinging to the second button of Lin Shen's white shirt, which had shimmered with sweat. Su Wan tilted her head back, the sunlight filtering through the leaves dappled across her face. She stood on tiptoe, her fingertips gently brushing the collar of Lin Shen's shirt, grasping the parasol tree catkin with pinpoint precision. Her fingertips inadvertently brushed against his prominent Adam's apple, like touching a taut string. Lin Shen's Adam's apple rolled subconsciously, and a low, youthful chuckle rippled from his chest, the clearness of a young man's voice. "Don't move," Su Wan's voice was soft and tender, with a hint of coquettishness. She stared intently at the button, her eyelashes like two small fans casting a faint shadow beneath her lids. Lin Shen stood obediently, his eyes fixed on her serious profile. The faint scent of shampoo from her hair lingered on his nose. It was the kind of cheap lemon scent, but it made him feel extremely at ease. "We've arrived at Beijing South Railway Station." The mechanical voice of the subway announcer suddenly sounded, like a blunt knife, unexpectedly shattering the lingering atmosphere between the two. Lin Shen suddenly came to his senses and looked down at the two suitcases tightly held in his hands. They were covered with colorful checked-in labels, like a fancy coat. The wheels rolled over the smooth tiles, making a dull "gurgling" sound, which was particularly clear in the empty subway station. Su Wan also straightened up and patted the canvas bag on her back. The canvas bag was a bit old, and the fabric at the corners had been worn to the point of frayed edges. It swayed slightly with her movements. The bag contained the movie ticket stubs she'd saved for four years, from the terrible movie they saw on their first date to the last midnight screening before graduation. Each one had been carefully smoothed and neatly arranged in chronological order. At the bottom of the canvas bag lay two wrinkled rental contracts for their first stop in this unfamiliar city. As they exited the subway station, a wave of heat instantly enveloped them. Su Wan instinctively shrank back. Lin Shen, sensing her discomfort, reached out and pulled her closer, shielding her from the sun with his own shadow. "Are you sweltering? Just bear with it, we'll be at the rental soon." Following the navigation system, they meandered through the streets until they entered a narrow, old alley. The walls on either side were creaky, with a few stubborn weeds sprouting from the tops, swaying in the wind. The air was thick with a complex aroma: the fumes from the restaurant next door, the distinct dampness of the old house, and the faint, sour odor of the garbage dump in the corner. The rental apartment was on the seventh floor of an old residential building. The hallway was dimly lit, its walls covered in children's graffiti and the remnants of various flyers. They walked to the elevator and pressed the button. The old elevator creaked and slowly descended from the upper floor. The moment the elevator door opened, a whiff of rust mixed with dust filled the air. The paint on the interior of the cabin had peeled off in large flakes, revealing the dull metal inside. Unidentified stains were piled in the corners. When the elevator door closed with a clang, the only sound in the small space was the two people's breathing. Lin Shen suddenly reached out and pressed Su Wan against the cool metal wall. Su Wan started, and just as she was about to speak, Lin Shen kissed her. His kiss was filled with the eagerness and passion of a young man, like a sudden thunderstorm on a summer day. Su Wan's hand rested on his chest, and she could clearly feel the strong beating of his heart. She gradually relaxed, closed her eyes, and let herself be swept away by this kiss, which was a bit domineering. Lin Shen's scent lingered on her nose, a scent of cheap laundry detergent mixed with sunshine, clean and warm, much like the sheets drying on the balcony of a university dorm, exuding a reassuring aroma after a day in the sun. The elevator slowly ascended. The "7" on the number key had long since worn away, its original shape barely visible, leaving only a blurry outline. "Next month, I'll get a room with a balcony." Lin Shen rested his hand against her forehead, breathing slightly. His warm palm gently pressed against the back of her neck, as if offering her strength. "The game company I applied to offered me a permanent position as an intern. The salary isn't high, but it's enough for the two of us to make ends meet. Have you heard from the writing studio you applied to?" Su Wan nodded, her hair brushing against Lin Shen's wrist as she moved, causing a slight tickle. Her gaze fell on the peeling paint on the elevator number key, and a subtle hint of trepidation lingered in her voice. "They said I could start as an assistant, learning from the seniors, although... although there's no base salary." "That's enough," Lin Shen interrupted, squeezing her fingers. His fingertips were rough, with thin calluses from years of typing code, and they gently stroked the thick calluses on her knuckles from years of holding a pen. "My salary is enough to pay for rent and food. You don't have to worry about anything, just write your story." His eyes were extremely firm, like a beacon in the dark night, giving Su Wan great courage. The elevator "ding" arrived at the seventh floor and the door slowly opened. Lin Shen walked out first, carrying two heavy suitcases. Su Wan followed behind him, looking at his broad back, her heart seemed to be filled with something warm. The rental house was small, with one bedroom and one living room, only about 7 square meters. The walls were a simple white, yellowed in some places, revealing the dark wall underneath. The floor was an old wooden floor, which made a "creaking" sound when stepped on. But the windows were large, allowing sunlight to pour in unimpeded, casting bright spots of light on the floor. Lin Shen placed his suitcase in the corner, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said to Su Wan with a smile, "How is it? Not bad, right? I picked this one specially for the good lighting." Su Wan looked around the small space. Although it was simple, it gave her an inexplicable sense of belonging. She walked to the window and opened it. Outside was a dense network of buildings, and in the distance, the shadows of several tall buildings could be vaguely seen. "Yeah, it's pretty good." She turned and gave Lin Shen a bright smile, like a sunflower blooming in summer. Dinner on the first day of moving was rice balls that Lin Shen bought at the convenience store downstairs. The two of them squeezed together on the small bay window, and the sunset outside was slowly setting, dyeing the sky a warm orange. Su Wan held a tuna rice ball in her hand and nibbled it, but her eyes kept looking at the building opposite. The balcony of the building opposite was covered with all kinds of clothes, colorful, like small flags.