When you feel that time passes quickly, when you feel that time starts to become urgent, when you start to be afraid of time moving forward, then it proves that you have grown up.
At some stage in their lives, most people will always feel confused, hesitant, and nervous because of something.
During that time, they didn't know which direction to go in, which was the right path.
Most of the time they can only move forward in one direction and never look back.
Because they don’t know which path was right or wrong when they look back.
Xia Mi walked on this road for many years and never looked back.
Because she knows better than anyone else that the old era behind her has come to an end.
That era was once bright and dazzling, and it once carried everything for them all.
But now, in that era buried in the wasteland, there is no longer her ferry.
In the new era, the ship she was waiting for has not yet arrived.
She is a person abandoned by the times.
All she could do was, like many others, to look for a direction and walk alone until the boat under her feet could dock at a suitable place and at a suitable time.
No one knows what the end point will be on the other side.
No one knows when it will stop either.
And many people disappeared on the road before they reached the other side.
It's midsummer again.
The cicadas in the yard were like pigs waiting to be slaughtered, chirping desperately.
When the wind blows, the leaves of the old branches rustle and mix with the chirping of the cicadas to form a unique song.
The light of the morning sun shines through the cracks in the leaves, from the window sill, into the bedroom, and also shines on the girl's delicate little face.
The strand of hair that clung to her delicate cheeks was tinged with a light golden luster.
The girl seemed to be sleeping soundly and defenseless.
Perhaps feeling the stimulation of light, the girl's slender eyelashes trembled slightly.
The hazy sleepy eyes opened, and the black jewel-like pupils were pure and bright, without a trace of impurities.
The bed was soft and covered with pure white plush blankets.
The girl lay quietly on the blanket, while the faint scent of lavender lingered.
She stared at the half-open window for a long time with her eyes open. Slowly, her blank thoughts gradually connected together.
She seemed to have had a long, long dream.
That dream was vague yet real, dreamy and magnificent.
However, in that dream, she was very tired, physically and mentally exhausted.
So, at the end of the dream, she was so sleepy that she fell into a deep sleep.
Putting away her thoughts, the girl got out of bed and came to the half-open window.
From here you can see the whole yard.
The yard remains unchanged.
The old trees are still strong and tall.
When the breeze blows, it also brings the freshness of the grass blades.
In the past many days and nights, Xia Mi stood in the same position and looked at it.
This unchanging angle was like the road she once walked on that had no end in sight or an end in sight.
Under the old tree, a boy was cleaning the fallen leaves in the yard with a broom.
Xia Mi quietly looked at the boy's back, watching him clean up the fallen leaves bit by bit.
She had never been so calm as she was today.
She just looked at the boy quietly, watching every bit of him, even his subtle movements.
Just looking at it like this, she felt surprisingly calm in her heart, and the peaceful feeling of years came to the bottom of her heart that she hadn't seen for a long time.
Perhaps sensing something, the boy turned back and looked upstairs.
"Ouch, who is this? Are you finally awake?" The boy looked at the girl and greeted her carelessly.
There was a slight smile in the boy's eyes.
I don't know why, but after hearing Lu Mingfei's calm and a bit unsatisfied words, Xia Mi's heart, which was originally as calm as a lake, suddenly felt a wave of waves.
That wave turned into a strong impulse.
Xia Mi has never been so impulsive.
The urge came so hard, so quickly.
Almost subconsciously, she grabbed the window edge with her little hands and jumped down towards the boy downstairs.
She was like a baby bird trying to soar, or like a kite, falling far away with open arms.
The hairband on her head was blown off by the wind, and the tied hair spread like ink behind her, fluttering.
The hem of the skirt is hunting, and the girl is like a piece of paper falling in the wind.
Her eyes were so clear, and everything in the yard was reflected in her pupils, as well as the boy's appearance.
"Oh shit, junior sister, you just escaped from death, and you can't think about it anymore? Could it be that your brain was damaged?" Lu Mingfei was shocked when he saw this, and quickly threw away the broom in his hand, and gently He caught Xia Mi who fell down.
"Junior sister, what's wrong with you? Do you still want to experience the feeling of a sleeping beauty under a world tree?" Lu Mingfei gently put Xia Mi down.
Xia Mi didn't say anything, just hugged Lu Mingfei.
"I think I might be able to stop." After a long time, she said softly, her forehead pressed against Lu Mingfei's chest.
No matter how far you go, there will always be an end.
She thought, this should be the other shore that she has never reached.
Lu Mingfei lowered his head slightly, feeling the faint fragrance of the girl's hair.
"In this new era, everyone should have a ferry of their own." The boy's hand fell on the girl's shiny black hair and said softly.
Perhaps it was because of the joy of waking up after a long sleep, or perhaps because he had reached the other shore that he had wanted to go to. Xia Mi seemed particularly interested today. He was in a state of excitement from the moment he woke up. .
She took Lu Mingfei to many places.
Amusement halls, memorial halls, museums.
After visiting the museum, it was already dark, but she didn't give up. She seemed to have endless energy in her body, so she took Lu Mingfei to watch a movie.
She was like an excited little girl who was interested in everything.
See and listen with your heart.
She had obviously seen and touched these things countless times before, but she still felt like she was immersed in them.
At that moment, Lu Mingfei felt that the girl seemed to be enjoying herself.
Enjoy this hard-won everything and enjoy this long-lost peace.
Even though there were huge crowds and noisy crowds, her heart was at peace.
After the movie ended, when Lu Mingfei found Xia Mi with the coffee he bought, the girl was standing on the glass walkway of the mall, looking down at the crowded crowd below.
The ponytail that was simply raised up with a hair tie swayed gently behind her. The light green horse skirt and white ladies' shirt made her look like she had stepped out of a painting.
She seemed to be observing everyone below, observing their movements, expressions, and their words and deeds.
"What's wrong? You seem to like observing people." Lu Mingfei came to the side and handed over a cup of coffee.
"I have observed many people, with all kinds of personalities." Xia Mi took the coffee and said softly, "But I have never looked at them with the mentality I have today."
"What's the mentality? Is there any difference?" Lu Mingfei asked slightly curiously.
Xia Mi said, "Try to see them as equals."
"Then what was your mentality before?" Lu Mingfei asked.
Xia Mi just smiled, sipped the coffee gently, and said nothing.
Dragons have always been a proud species.
No matter how they cover it up or pretend it, the arrogant and aloof mentality in their hearts is engraved in their bones and genes.
Many times, they look at humans as if they were ants on the ground.
Except for Eri, of course.
Because in her eyes, dragons and ants are the same. There is no distinction between high and low, only living and dead, dangerous and not dangerous, and likes and dislikes.
Xia Mi and Lu Mingfei went home.
They did not go back by car, but walked back along the road.
The empty bottles on the road were kicked by the two of them, and they were kicked back and forth.
"The dignified executive principal of Kassel, he doesn't look serious at all, he looks like a gangster, how can he be decent? It's really embarrassing for Kassel."
"I see Teacher Xia is having a lot of fun!"
"You still know that I am a teacher. I am struggling for my life under the World Tree, but you go around saying that I am dead. Are you worthy of me fighting for my life?"
"Slander, this is slander!" Lu Mingfei said righteously.
"Don't think I don't know, the Night Watch Forum is planning to hold a memorial service for me!" Xia Mi said angrily.
"Then I have to compensate you well." Lu Mingfei said.
Hearing this, Xia Mi couldn't help but stop, turned his head and looked towards him, curiously asking? "And compensation? What compensation?"
Lu Mingfei raised his fingers at her with a serious expression.
Seeing this, Xia Mi frowned and said in disgust, "It's still mysterious."
As she spoke, she moved her head closer. Before she could speak, Lu Mingfei reached out and pinched the baby-like flesh on Xia Mi's face.
"It's so soft and really elastic." Lu Mingfei commented.
Xia Mi was obviously stunned for a moment.
She obviously didn't expect Lu Mingfei to pinch her face.
She looked at the serious Lu Mingfei while pinching and commenting, his beautiful eyebrows curved like crescent moons, and said with a smile, "Doesn't it feel good in hand?"
However, there was a dangerous light in her narrowed eyes.
Seeing that something was wrong, Lu Mingfei let go of his hand and walked forward quickly, walking faster and faster, "Junior sister, senior brother just wants to help you check your physical condition, there is absolutely no other intention!"
He had actually wanted to pinch Xia Mi's little face for a long time, but he never found the opportunity. Tonight, he fulfilled a small wish in his heart.
Looking at Lu Mingfei who was about to run, Xia Mi felt itchy with hatred and hurriedly chased after Lu Mingfei, "Then don't run. We don't want to check. There are still many places that haven't been checked!"
"Oh, my heart hurts, my stomach hurts, and my legs hurt. Why don't you check me out?"
Listening to Xia Mi's gloomy words behind him, Lu Mingfei didn't even look back.
When they returned to the yard, both of them were panting.
Xia Mi kicked Lu Mingfei's butt and cursed angrily, "You bitch, you're going to die if you run so fast. I'm so hot."
Lu Mingfei sat down on the threshold and looked up at Xia Mi, "It seems like you didn't leave any sequelae."
"If you had come later, I might have become a part of the World Tree forever." Xia Mi rolled his eyes.
"It stinks like hell, go take a shower quickly." Xia Mi drove Lu Mingfei to the bathroom in disgust.
"Okay, okay, how about we come together?" Lu Mingfei invited enthusiastically.
"Go away, you are so shameless, who wants to be with you!" Xia Mi bared his two little tiger teeth and glared at him fiercely.
Seeing that Xia Mi did not have any sequelae, Lu Mingfei breathed a sigh of relief and entered the bathroom.
In the bathroom, mist is steaming.
"Junior sister, I'm ready, it's your turn." After a long time, Lu Mingfei shouted while wiping his hair with a towel.
The living room was quiet.
Lu Mingfei went upstairs strangely and glanced at Xia Mi's bedroom, but saw no one.
"Junior sister?" Lu Mingfei called again.
Xia Mi still didn't respond.
Lu Mingfei finally saw Xia Mi when he walked to the balcony on the second floor.
The girl was standing under the old tree in the yard.
The cool moonlight shines through the cracks in the leaves, casting mottled light and shadow.
The girl quietly looked up at the decades-old tree, her eyes clear and bright.
For a moment, Lu Mingfei seemed to feel that Xia Mi was like a devout believer.
Her eyes were so sincere, sincerity that Lu Mingfei had never seen before.
When the night wind blows, the hem of the light green horse-faced skirt ripples like water waves. Against the backdrop of the moonlight, the area where the girl is located seems to have turned into her country.
Under the witness of the moonlight, the girl took off the hairband on her head, and then tied the hairband on the branches of the old tree.
The red hairband swayed gently in the night wind.
"It represents my first wish in the new era. This wish belongs to this small courtyard and starts from this small courtyard." Xia Mi said softly.
"I'm different from you."
"Our journey has always been lonely."
"That kind of loneliness can't be erased or thrown away."
"Because it was a sign of the times."
"I walked many, many roads, and walked for a long, long time, before I got here."
"Although I have met many, many people, experienced many, many things, seen the brilliance of the old era, and witnessed the rising sun of the new era, it cannot change that we come from the ending era and are rejected by the new era. external facts.”
She has gone through the years, the vicissitudes of life, and the changes in things and people, so she finally arrived here.
"I think I can stop here." Xia Mi turned around and looked at Lu Mingfei.
The night wind blew by, and her long hair spread out behind her like an elf dancing in the night.
Many people like her who were abandoned by the old era always dreamed of rebuilding the glory of the past, but in the end they were burned to ashes under the sunshine of the new era.
Their bones still retain the proud glory of the old era, and they do not want to accept the arrival of the new era, nor do they want to accept the things of the new era.
But at this moment, facing the night wind, Xia Mi thought that maybe it would be good to open his arms and try to embrace this new era.
Because here, the ferry carrying her has been waiting for her.
Just like what Lu Mingfei said to her in the Kingdom of Death.
He said that one day, we will finally stand upright under the sun of the new era.
Xia Mi thought, maybe, starting from today.
"Welcome to the new era, my king." Lu Mingfei said to the proud girl. (End of chapter)
