Main Story Ch. 3-19 (NIGHT END) - The Seawaters and The Flames (海水与火焰) | Light and Night 光与夜之恋

Previously on 3-16... (Read it here, or read the LIGHT END here)

Osborn: That's because you have yet to realize how dangerous I am. 

He suddenly leaned a little closer, opened my palm, placed a bunch sweet on it, turned around and suavely walked away.

Osborn: They are all yours.

I look at his figure gradually drifting away, and held onto the lemon-flavored sweets in my palms tightly.

The clouds with the colors of flames are now covered with the half-blue veil of the skies, night is coming.

Wen Wan: Wait for me a little at the entrance, I'll drive the car over.

You: Ok, sorry to bother you.

I took my gaze away from the distant skies, and looked towards the tattered shop, and for one moment I thought it looked like a background screen full of holes on the stage play of destiny. Groups of dragonflies flew past me lowly, and the sky is darkening. 

"Drip."

I can feel a drop of water fell onto my lashes.

You: It's raining?

The thunder sounded, followed by the crashing rain droplets. I quickly hid towards the eaves.

You: Why isn't Wen Wan back yet...

I was hesitating if I should look for him under the rain, but suddenly I noticed something bright-colored lying on the floor not far away from me.

That is an orange paper butterfly, just that the sides have been burnt.

I picked it up. At this moment, great sadness has almost drowned me. A grand parting has happened in my body, as if all of the regrets have turned into eternity at this very moment. I think, I will have this feeling carved into my mind forever.

At this moment, a footstep that is in no hurry could be heard from behind. I thought it's Wen Wan that have returned, but as soon as I turned around, something cold has covered my back.

Click clack, the sound of bullet being loaded could be heard.

You: !

I paused my breath, and when I was feeling at a loss, a familiar voice could be heard.

Evan: Close your eyes.

I'm now dragged into a wide embrace.

Until I'm surrounded with the familiar scent of silvery wormwood*, only by then I've realized that I've been trembling all over.

*T/N: The plant that Evan smells like is 苦艾草, or silvery wormwood. It's of the the Artemisia genus, usually found in east Asia. It has a little tint of spicy smell, and blooms in summer with little yellow flowers. The leaves has a scent of lemon. It's also said that if you place the leaves into the pillows it'll help you to sleep, as well as improve blood circulation.

Evan: Don't be afraid.

My vision is covered by Evan's palm, and everything before me is pitch black. I have no idea what happened, and I could only hear the sounds of metals colliding towards the floor.

After a moment, when the surroundings have turned completely quiet, the expected sounds of gunshots wasn't heard. Only then, Evan let go of me. He held an umbrella up, with a flash of scarlet in his eyes that he didn't manage to keep in time. 

Evan: Sorry, I'm late. Are you alright?

You: ... Why are you here?

Evan: I knew you are in danger, so I came.

You: How did you know?

He doesn't seem like he wanted to continue on this topic, putting on a look of resistance, but I don't know how I should understand this response.

You: No matter what it is, thank you.

Evan smiled, and his gaze fell onto the paper butterfly in my hand.

Evan: Is this yours?

You: No, it belongs to someone I know.

I carefully placed the paper butterfly into my pocket. Perhaps it's my instincts, perhaps it was just my wishful thinking, but I think that there will be a day I can meet Lin Yao again, and pass this to her.

Evan: That person seemed to really treasure this butterfly, the edges looked like it has been rubbed many times.

You: Yes, he treasures it very much. This butterfly... You can say that it gave him the strength to live on.

Evan have been quietly listening to me with a serious expression.

You: Do you not believe it?

He hesitated for a moment, and shook his head.

Evan: No, I believe it.

The rainwaters dripped onto the umbrella, and the sounds are gradually louder.

You: I kept feeling that there's another half of the sentence that you've left unsaid. 

Evan: The other half of the sentence may not be music to your ears.

You: It's alright, I'm just really curious.

Evan: I just think that the strength came more from imagination, rather than real feelings. Let's go, I'll send you home.