AWB Chapter 153 The Shadow of the Family
Chapter 153 The Shadow of the Family
It was late at night, the dew heavy. Ye Wan and Xie Linchuan sat side by side outside the camp. All around them was quiet, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the breeze. She glanced at him gently, hesitated for a moment, and finally mustered the courage to ask, "Linchuan, sometimes I can tell you that you seem to be carrying a lot... Can you tell me a little about your past?"
Xie Linchuan's figure appeared remarkably calm in the dim light. His expression froze slightly, a hint of defensiveness and hesitation in his eyes. He remained silent for a long time, seemingly debating whether to open up a little. However, when he met Ye Wan's clear and sincere gaze, his defenses softened slightly. He sighed softly, his gaze drifting off into the distance, as if glimpsing his own hazy past through the night.
"My family has a unique 'history,'" he began in a low voice, a hint of helplessness and desolation in his voice. "Ever since I was very young, my life has been constrained by a certain... mission and responsibility." He spoke slowly, as if uncovering a long-sealed wound. Though his words were soft, Ye Wan felt a deep pain in them.
"Has your family...always been like this?" Ye Wan asked cautiously. She didn't want him to think that she was prying into secrets, but rather out of genuine concern.
Xie Linchuan nodded slightly, a wry smile on his face. "Yes. My family has long ago shouldered certain inescapable responsibilities. These responsibilities are considered honorable, but they are also like shackles, binding every member of the family." His voice was low, and deep sorrow was in his eyes. "For all these years, I have been forced to be separated from my original life and hometown, wandering far and wide."
Ye Wan listened quietly, not interrupting him. She sensed an invisible sadness in his words, the feeling of losing her freedom and being forced to shoulder her family's mission filled her heart with a pang of sorrow.
"Then... have you ever regretted it?" Ye Wan asked in a low voice, with a hint of pity in her voice.
Xie Linchuan raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a bitter smile, and shook his head gently: "Do you regret it? To be honest, maybe I have. But this is not something I can choose. Our family's mission is deeply rooted. Everyone has been told since childhood that for the honor and future of the family, we must obey. This bondage has become a part of our blood." His voice gradually became low, as if with a kind of helplessness that saw through everything.
Ye Wan felt a pang of heartache. She looked at Xie Linchuan, her resolve to protect him growing stronger. She knew he had never revealed his past to anyone, but today, at her request, he had opened up a little. She gently held his hand, saying softly but firmly, "No matter what your past holds, I will always be by your side. You don't have to endure it all alone."
Xie Linchuan looked at her, his eyes filled with surprise and emotion. He had never imagined that someone would be so selfless and willing to listen to his past, let alone commit to his companionship. In the past, he had always felt that these family responsibilities were a fate he had to shoulder alone, but Ye Wan's presence brought him a sense of warmth and comfort.
He gently held her hand back, his eyes softening as he whispered, "Thank you, Ye Wan. Perhaps with you here, my future won't be as heavy as it was in the past."
Ye Wan's eyes were filled with determination. She knew that no matter how complicated his family was, no matter what burdens he carried, she would support him unreservedly. This man had too much loneliness and pain deep in his heart, and she was willing to be his safe haven, accompanying him to face the future storms.