You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

Chapter 579: Meeting Wang Lina again, tears welling up in my eyes
Chen Xiang gently stroked her short hair with a few strands of light brown highlights, revealing a helpless smile. The fine lines at the corners of her eyes revealed the tolerance and concern unique to elders.

"Oh, I'm so sorry..." Her voice was gentle and apologetic. "The child has grown up, and in this situation, I don't have any other options except nagging him a little more."

Tang Yin stood in a corner of the cafeteria, observing Chen Xiang's slightly exhausted expression, and thought to himself: This is probably the last bit of dignity a strict mother can muster. Adolescence and the rebellious period—this is truly a difficult question that can never be fully explained.

Xia Hui suddenly turned around, a sly glint in her dark eyes. She was wearing a beige cardigan, which softened her demeanor. "Tang Yin, come here," she waved.

Tang Yin walked over to Xia Hui and could smell the faint scent of gardenias on her. Xia Hui lowered her voice, but her eyes were filled with inquiry and vigilance. "Are you from the underworld? Are you fleeing here because someone is hunting you? If you are caught, will you be forced to cut off a limb as an apology?"

Tang Yin was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and lowered his voice to respond: "Oh, of course not. Cutting off fingers and such was just a joke. I won't cause trouble for everyone with such things."

"...That's good..." Xia Hui breathed a sigh of relief, but there was still some doubt in her eyes.

I'm suspected again.

Tang Yin sighed inwardly. It seemed he had to be more low-key. After all, he didn't come here to have fun.

It would be bad if I didn't find out anything and my freedom was restricted like in the last reincarnation.

"...Anyway, I can do any chores, just tell me what you want." Tang Yin bowed his head slightly, feigning respect. His hair covered his eyes, making it impossible for anyone to see the deep meaning in them.

Chen Xiang adjusted the beige windbreaker draped over the back of the chair and said softly, "Ah, well, it doesn't matter. Anyway, the matter has been decided above. But, have you arranged the accommodation?"

What? Tang Yin was shocked. He had originally thought that this matter had been properly arranged by them.

"Then I'll go say hello to everyone. Who should I ask about this matter?" Tang Yin asked tentatively.

"Basically, Granny Rong is in charge of all matters concerning the land..." Before Chen Xiang finished speaking, Xia Hui took over.

"It's the old lady we met just now. Her house is in a small house we passed by when we drove past." Xia Hui added, her slender finger pointing out the window.

Tang Yin recalled that the dormitory key was borrowed by Zhao Gang from Grandma Rong. It seemed that this old woman really had an extraordinary status in Wuyin Village, like a landlord.

"Could she be nearby? For example, visiting Hua Lu?" Tang Yin asked tentatively.

"Oh, what's wrong with Hualu?" Chen Xiang was shocked when she heard that.

"I accidentally fell on my head just now..." Xia Hui quickly explained.

Tang Yin felt that it would be better to let Xia Hui explain this matter, so he turned around and prepared to open the door of the village cafeteria to see what was happening outside the square.

Just as he reached out to touch the doorknob, the door was pulled open from the outside. The face standing outside made Tang Yin's heart skip a beat, and he almost blurted out the name that was engraved deep in his memory.

Wang Lina.

She was still the same as I remembered, with long black hair draped over her shoulders and fair skin that seemed almost transparent in the sunlight. But her eyes, which always held a smile, were now as calm as a pool of stagnant water, revealing no emotion.

Memories came flooding back like a tide, and the scene of that rainy night kept flashing back in Tang Yin's mind.

The incredible phenomenon of death reversal, was it this strange phenomenon that allowed them to reunite? Tang Yin didn't know whether he should think so, but his heart was restless.

Forcing himself to suppress his surging emotions, Tang Yin forced a proper smile and said, "Nice to meet you." He heard that his voice was very steady, as if he was really greeting a stranger.

however.

"that."

Wang Lina only uttered these three simple words, tears rolling down her cheeks like pearls from a broken string. She was wearing a light blue dress, the hem swaying gently with her slight trembling.

"Oh? Is there sand in your eyes?" She said in a tone that was calm and almost weird, but tears flowed out uncontrollably, sliding down her fair cheeks and gathering into crystal drops of water at her chin.

"What's going on? Aunt Chen Xiang! Excuse me, can you give me a handkerchief?" Wang Lina's voice was filled with confusion, as if puzzled by her sudden loss of control. Her slender fingers wiped her face helplessly, but she couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

Chen Xiang hurriedly rummaged through her bag, "Oh, what's wrong? Here's the handkerchief." She handed over a light pink handkerchief with concern in her eyes.

"I don't know either. There's no tear gas being boiled here, right?" Wang Lina took the handkerchief and tried to ease the awkward atmosphere with a joke.

"Could it be that the pickled animal meat prepared for the reporters has expired?" Chen Xiang said softly, following her joke.

"It's nothing, nothing, I was just joking! How should I put it, it's probably because I'm in menopause!" Wang Lina forced a smile, but that smile looked particularly bitter against the backdrop of tears.

"Haha, Wang Lina, you are still young." Chen Xiang said gently.

"Ahahaha...um, sorry for making you laugh." Wang Lina wiped her tears with a handkerchief. Her eyes were already red from crying, but her voice still maintained a cheerful and lively tone, as if the loss of composure just now was just an illusion.

"You're the guy who moved to Kirigakure today, right?" She addressed him as though he were a stranger, and Tang Yin's heart sank again. Why was she suddenly in tears? Did her body remember something too?

"Yeah. Do I look that scary?" Tang Yin said casually, trying to ease the subtle awkwardness in the air.

"No, no, no, no! You look very good! How should I put it, this should be a mysterious phenomenon." Wang Lina waved her hands repeatedly, her long hair swaying gently with her movements, shining softly in the sunlight.

"Ah, I'm Wang Lina, a student who's back home on vacation. My first impression of you may be a bit bad, so please give me your advice." She bowed deeply, her black hair falling like a waterfall.

Seeing her respectful expression, Tang Yin's heart sank. As expected, she had completely forgotten him. Those shared memories, those promises, those smiles and tears, he was the only one who remembered them.

Tang Yin stood on the mountain road, recalling his own death while lost on his bike, and the incredible phenomenon of retrospection. A cool mountain breeze brushed against his cheek, carrying the scent of damp earth. This real touch forced him to admit that, no matter how much it defied common sense, it had indeed happened.

He rubbed his temple, trying to sort out his chaotic thoughts. He couldn't come up with any reasonable explanation for this supernatural phenomenon. Perhaps the regression was triggered by his own death? In that case, it made sense that he was the only one who retained the memory of the last time...

But on second thought, can we really draw such a simple conclusion?

Tang Yin looked up at the darkening sky, his thoughts growing increasingly muddled. Even if the others also retained memories of last time, it made perfect sense. Besides, his own memory was fragmented, with many important things only suddenly coming to mind at crucial moments.

Perhaps, even though others have almost completely forgotten what happened, some subtle fragments of emotion still remain deep in their hearts? Just like the sudden tears that Wang Lina burst into when she saw him...

Tang Yin shook his head violently to stop himself from thinking about it any further.

The tragic ending hadn't yet occurred, yet he was still thinking of seeking her comfort. This was merely wishful thinking. If there truly was a destiny, it wouldn't be too late to pursue her again once everything was over. After all, a romance built on death, despair, and the drawbridge effect was best left to fiction.

After exchanging a few more casual pleasantries with Wang Lina, Tang Yin checked his watch and realized that time was running out and he needed to find a place to stay as soon as possible. Remembering his previous plan, he decided to go to Hua Lu's house first.

The dusk light filtered through the leaves of the trees, casting a shadow over the wooden hut. The entire house seemed quiet and empty. Tang Yin stood before the door, hesitating for a moment before gently knocking on it.

"Who?"

It was Xiaome's clear voice that came from inside the door. Tang Yin wasn't sure if she could understand him, but he tried to answer, "I'm the Tang Yin from before."

"Who was that just now?" Xiao Mee's innocent voice was filled with confusion.

"No, ah...um, I'm Tang Yin. Is mother-in-law here?"

"no longer."

Hearing this answer, Tang Yin sighed. It seemed like this trip had been in vain. "I understand. Goodbye then." He turned and prepared to leave.

"Well, ah, that... Brother, Brother Tang Yin?" Xiao Me suddenly called him again, but the address was still not right.

At this moment, a timid voice sounded: "Please, please wait."

Tang Yin turned around and saw Hua Lu standing at the door. She was wearing a lavender dress, and her slender figure looked particularly fragile in the twilight. The sunlight flowed on her long light brown hair, giving her a gentle halo.

Since we have encountered Hualu, let's wait and see.

……

The wooden door creaked open, and in the twilight, Hua Lu's delicate figure appeared at the doorway. Her head lowered, her long hair half obscuring her face, her voice so soft it seemed almost carried away by the mountain breeze: "...Sorry to have kept you waiting. May I ask what may be the best for you?"

Tang Yin noticed that her fingers were unconsciously tugging at the hem of her skirt; she seemed easily nervous. He softened his tone and said, "I'm here to look for Granny Rong. From what I saw just now, I thought she came here to see you."

Hualu raised her head, revealing a pair of clear eyes: "I haven't met her yet."

"It seems so. I'll take my leave now." Tang Yin turned around and was about to leave.

"No, um, what do you want to talk to Grandma Rong about?" Hua Lu suddenly raised her voice, and then shrank her shoulders as if frightened by her own voice.

"Oh, nothing. I'm going to live here, but I haven't found a place to live yet." Tang Yin answered truthfully.

"Live here?" Hualu's eyes widened slightly.

"...Yeah, so I want to discuss this with her."

"Oh oh oh." Hua Lu responded repeatedly, with some elusive meaning in her tone.

Tang Yin was just wondering what her reaction meant when she continued, "But you don't have a place to live, so this won't work."

"Ah."

Hualu's expression suddenly grew serious: "Because, when the evening mist rises, a wild feast is about to begin."

Her voice trembled slightly. "For the people of Baifeng Village, fog is a very ominous sign. According to local customs, when fog appears, one must wash oneself clean, stay indoors, and sleep until dawn."

褉, 物忌, 梦垫...these words flashed through Tang Yin's mind.

"...What an interesting custom!" Tang Yin forced a smile. If he hadn't known about the tragedy that was about to happen, perhaps he would have actually developed an interest in these ancient customs.

"...Well, I don't know if it's considered meddling in other people's business, but I know the location of an empty room." Hua Lu suddenly said, with a hint of hesitation in her voice.

"Hey." Before Tang Yin could ask in detail, Hua Lu turned around and shouted into the house, "Xiao Mei, go play by yourself."

Then she walked quickly into the room and took out an old key with a patina. Without waiting for Tang Yin to ask or refuse, she was the first to leave the room.

Tang Yin had no choice but to follow her.

The setting sun stretched their shadows very long. Hualu walked in front, her long hair swaying gently with her steps. She crossed the cobblestone square and walked down the hillside.

Suddenly, her foot slipped and she fell forward. Tang Yin subconsciously reached out to help her, but was still a step too late.

"It hurts so much..." Hualu rubbed her knees and stood up, with some mud on the hem of her skirt.

"Indeed..." Tang Yin looked at her with some worry.

Not long after walking, Hualu stumbled again. She seemed accustomed to this situation: "...I often fall and hurt my head. I'm used to the pain and so on."

"That won't do. You'd better not go out on the grass when you're dressed like this." Tang Yin looked at her thin dress and couldn't help but remind her.

This girl is more reckless than I thought.

"This is also the responsibility of the Hua family." Her tone was flat, as if she was stating a very ordinary fact.

"Is that so?" Tang Yin asked curiously, tilting his head.

"Spider is the maid in the bedroom." Hualu suddenly said this.

"..."

Tang Yin was stunned. This was the first time he had heard of this term. A "bedroom maid"...meaning a maid in the bedroom? The term had a certain ambiguous connotation to it.

After all, this is a closed mountain village that is not so affected by outside civilization. Could it really have some crude customs?

He shook his head, trying to get rid of the inappropriate associations in his mind.

(End of this chapter)