American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 381 After a False Alarm

[Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA, Day 13 of the voyage, 10:00 AM]

The pungent smell of disinfectant and the suppressed chatter of the surrounding crowd completely pulled Lin Yu'an and Ruiwen back from the primitive and wild dream of the Caribbean Sea to the modern civilized world.

Twenty-eight hours had passed since they escaped from the temple cave in the Dominican Republic.

Those twenty-eight hours felt like an eternity to them.

From a race through the jungle at dawn to a desperate drive on the rugged mountain roads of Samana; from an emergency boarding at Santo Domingo airport to a two-hour flight across the deep blue strait…

Their bodies and minds are constantly on edge, gripped by a string called "fear".

It wasn't until they rushed into Jackson Memorial Hospital, one of the top comprehensive hospitals in the United States, for the highest level of emergency isolation and testing procedures, that tension finally eased amidst their endless exhaustion.

At this moment, they are sitting in a bright and clean private ward, and they have changed into loose and comfortable hospital gowns.

They underwent a comprehensive series of medical examinations—from full-body CT scans and radioactive isotope analysis of blood and urine samples to analysis of chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes.

Every examination and every wait for the results is a silent ordeal.

"Miss Raven Montgomery, Mr. Lin Yu'an." A white doctor in a white coat walked into the ward carrying a thick report folder.

His name is David Stein, and he is the director of nuclear medicine and radiation oncology at this hospital.

Raven instinctively grabbed Lin Yu'an's hand; her palms were cold but sweaty.

Dr. Stein adjusted his glasses and gave a professional yet reassuring smile.

“First of all, congratulations to you both,” he announced the final verdict in a relaxed tone, “all the test results are in.”

“No abnormal radioactive residues were detected in your blood and urine samples, and the chromosome analysis of your lymphocytes was also completely normal.”

Raven felt her heart, which had been teetering on the edge of a precipice, finally settle back down.

An immense, indescribable sense of ecstasy and liberation, like a flood bursting its banks, instantly overwhelmed all her psychological defenses.

She turned around and hugged Lin Yu'an tightly, as if she wanted to convey all her excitement and gratitude through her beating heart.

Lin Yu'an also breathed a long sigh of relief, hugging Raven as she thanked Dr. Stein, "Thank you, doctor. The result is much better than we expected."

“Yes, you are very lucky.” Dr. Stein opened the report and asked in a slightly curious tone.

"Based on your statement in the emergency room, you found an old oil drum with a 'radioactive' warning sign on it. You were concerned about the risk of a radioactive leak."

This was the flawless cover story that Lin Yu'an and Ruiwen had repeatedly rehearsed on their way to the hospital.

It could reasonably explain why they came to inspect in such a panic, without revealing any core secrets.

"Yes, doctor," Lin Yu'an replied with lingering fear. "That place was very remote. We didn't know what the oil drum was used for, and we didn't dare get too close."

"But just seeing that sign was enough to terrify us. We were thinking of calling the police if we found something bad, but it seems like it was a false alarm."

Raven wiped away her tears, her tone light and self-deprecating, "It was probably just a discarded movie prop, or a child's prank. We...we might have overreacted."

“No, your reaction was not excessive at all.” Dr. Stein’s expression turned serious. “On the contrary, you responded in a textbook-perfect manner.”

"If you encounter any unidentified object with radioactive markings, you should stay away immediately and seek professional testing."

“Your caution has averted a huge potential risk for yourselves and for everyone who has come into contact with you. I admire your caution.”

He closed the folder, a smile returning to his face. "As for the fatigue and headaches you're experiencing, these are typical 'acute stress reactions,' and have nothing to do with radiation."

"So... can we leave now?" Raven asked impatiently.

“Of course,” Dr. Stein chuckled. “What you need now is a hotel with a great view, a delicious meal, and at least twelve hours of undisturbed deep sleep.”

"Definitely," Lin Yu'an replied with a smile.

Half an hour later, when the two changed into clean clothes and were bathed in the dazzling Miami sun again, they both felt as if they had been in another world.

Just a day earlier, they were fleeing for their lives in an underground temple filled with the specter of the Cold War and the shadow of death.

But now, they found themselves standing in a modern urban jungle of sports cars, bikinis, and luxury stores. This stark contrast made them feel utterly surreal.

"I...I need to call my dad!" Raven snapped out of her daze and immediately pulled out her phone.

She dialed that familiar satellite phone number, and after a few busy tones, the call was connected.

Mike's anxious and weary voice came through the receiver: "Raven? Is that you, sweetheart?!"

“Dad! It’s me!” Raven’s voice choked with emotion. “We’re alright! The doctor said we’re fine! Completely safe! It was a false alarm!”

On the other end of the phone, Raven could hear her father's heavy, relieved breathing.

“That’s great…” Mike’s voice was incredibly hoarse, “That’s great… I knew… I knew you guys would be alright…”

The father and daughter, separated by thousands of kilometers of ocean, shared their joy of surviving the ordeal through radio waves.

"Dad, how are things on your end? Is the boat alright?" Raven asked with concern.

“Don’t worry, everything is fine.” Mike’s voice sounded somewhat more alert. “The North Star is as safe as a bank vault.”

Ruiwen and Lin Yu'an exchanged a glance. On their way out of the hospital, they had already discussed their next plan.

Abandoning the voyage? Abandoning Cuba? That's definitely not their style. This incident, though perilous, was more like a severe test. Now that the test has been passed, the voyage must continue.

“Dad, we…” Raven glanced at Lin Yu’an, received an affirmative answer from his eyes, and then spoke into the phone.

"We booked the earliest flight back to Santo Domingo for tomorrow. The doctor advised us to get a good night's rest. Once we get back to Samana, we'll leave immediately to continue our plans to Havana!"

"What?" Mike on the other end of the phone was clearly shocked by his daughter's bold decision. "Sweetheart, you just escaped from a place like that! Shouldn't you rest for a while first?"

“No,” Raven’s voice was unusually firm, full of the newfound strength that comes with surviving a close call, “we’re okay, Dad. And we can’t leave you there alone, we’re a team.”

She handed the phone to Lin Yu'an.

“Mike,” Lin Yu’an’s voice was calm and firm, “Raven is right. We only made a necessary emergency medical stop. The alert is off now, and the expedition can continue.”

He paused, then said with a smile, “Get your rum and cigars ready. Once we get back and have our supplies ready, we’ll set sail immediately. The mojitos in Havana are waiting for us.”

Lin Yu-an's relaxed and confident words completely dispelled Mike's last worries.

He admired the two young men for not being defeated by the terrifying experience, but instead becoming more resilient and decisive as a result.

"Okay! Okay!" Mike laughed loudly on the other end of the phone, his voice once again filled with the confidence and pride of the old captain.

"Then I'll be at the dock, with fine wine ready, waiting for my captain and first mate to return in triumph! Then, together, we'll conquer Cuba!"

After hanging up the phone, Raven could no longer hold back and turned around to hug Lin Yu'an tightly.

This embrace was unlike any before. There was no panic in the cave, no dependence in the face of death.

It is a pure, heartfelt gratitude, joy, and... boundless anticipation for the journey that is about to begin again.

She buried her face deeply in Lin Yu'an's broad chest, feeling his strong heartbeat and the reassuring scent of his body, a blend of faint sea breeze and sunshine.

"Thank you, Lin," she said quietly. "Thank you... for staying with me all this way."

Lin Yu'an then reached out and gently patted her back.

“We are a team,” he said again, “and our adventure has only just begun.”

[Miami South Beach, Fontainebleau Hotel, Rooftop Ocean View Suite]

When the waiter pushed open the heavy double doors, a dazzlingly luxurious world was revealed.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows stretches the boundless, flowing blue Atlantic Ocean.

Inside the room, modern artworks, stylish furniture, and chilled champagne created a luxurious and tranquil atmosphere that was completely different from the primitive environment they had just experienced.

"Sir, Madam, we wish you a pleasant stay." The waiter smiled, bowed, and withdrew, considerately closing the door behind him.

"Click."

The soft click of the door lock closing was like a signal.

Lin Yu'an was gazing intently at the sea outside the window when Raven suddenly stood on tiptoe, tilted her head back, and pressed her warm lips against his in an almost biting motion!
This kiss was full of wildness and catharsis. It lacked any skill or tenderness, and it wasn't a demand, but a confirmation—confirming the real existence of the man before her, confirming that she was still alive, confirming that this wasn't a nightmare.

Her teeth even grazed his lips, causing a slight pain and a metallic taste.

Her hands gripped his collar tightly and forcefully, as if she had grasped a piece of driftwood that could save her life in a raging storm.

For a moment, Lin Yu'an's mind went blank.

He could clearly feel her body trembling, her heart pounding like a storm, and... her hot breath.

The brain, like the most sophisticated computer, completes the analysis of the current situation in 2 seconds and arrives at a result—the "suspension bridge effect".

Lin Yu-an is all too familiar with this psychological phenomenon: when a person, especially a woman, experiences a dangerous or stimulating situation with another person, where their heart rate increases and their adrenaline surges.

For example, when walking across a swaying suspension bridge, skydiving, or bungee jumping, the brain may mistakenly interpret the physiological excitement caused by fear as attraction or love from the person in front of you.

This is a typical example of "emotional attribution error under stress".

Reason told him that Raven's impulsiveness at this moment did not stem from well-thought-out love, but rather from an emotional shift in a state of extreme stress.

This was simply the result of her brain releasing dopamine and oxytocin to cope with the immense fear that had just torn her apart.

This is a survival instinct, a primal urge to seek shelter and affirmation from the only strong person around her who can give her absolute security.

He should act like a gentleman, gently pushing her away and telling her, "We're both too tired, you need to rest," using reason and distance to help her calm this chaotic emotional storm.

But when his palm touched her back, which was slightly tense from exertion, his rationality was melted by a more primal and irresistible emotion.

That reason, as hard as steel, suddenly developed a crack.

Through that thin layer of clothing, he could clearly feel the warmth of her skin, and even more so, he could feel... the unreserved dependence she was conveying to him.

Lin Yu'an's memories, like those of a high-speed camera, began to uncontrollably replay countless moments they had spent together in the past.

He recalled her anxious concern and unwavering trust when they encountered a squall line on their first voyage.

He remembered her blue eyes, wide with nervousness yet still choosing to trust him, when they faced a venomous snake in the mangrove waterway.

He remembered how, in that cold underground temple, the always strong and independent Raven had placed all her fears and hopes on him without reservation.

He remembered the way her blue eyes were filled with a little girl's helplessness and her sole dependence on him when she asked him, trembling, "Will we die?"

He remembered that when he issued that almost absurd "naked disinfection" order, she didn't question it at all, but simply chose to believe him unconditionally.

They went through life and death together, sharing each other's most vulnerable and unreserved sides.

Their relationship had long surpassed that of ordinary friends and simple ambiguity.

It is a unique bond forged in extreme circumstances, nurtured with life and trust.

At this moment, rejection becomes a form of cruelty.

"The suspension bridge effect?" Perhaps.

But was the tacit understanding and trust built up in the face of life and death also fake? Was the entrustment of one's back to the other person just a physiological illusion?
For the first time, Lin Yu'an's heart was violently shaken.

He was about to push her hand away, but slowly and hesitantly, he finally embraced her gently and firmly, holding her slender and trembling body tightly in his arms.

This action, like a signal, instantly shattered Raven's last line of defense.

Her passionate kisses gradually softened, becoming tender and lingering, filled with exploration and dependence.

"Lin..." she whispered his name, her eyes filled with an intense and unwavering affection.

Lin Yu'an looked at her, at her cheeks that were slightly flushed with nervousness and excitement, and at her lips that were a little swollen from kissing. Her gaze was bold and direct.

She tightened her arms around his neck, her large blue eyes showing no sign of backing down, but rather a hint of provocation, sending a clear message: she wanted more, and he shouldn't stop.

Lin Yu'an knew that some things, once started, could never be undone.

He didn't speak again, but slowly lowered his head and gently kissed her lips with a gesture full of tenderness and affection.

This time, it wasn't about venting, but about comforting.

Outside the window, Miami's never-ending hustle and bustle unfolds.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows allow bright sunlight and ocean views to flood the room, giving this luxurious space a dreamlike glow.

Clothes are like the cocoons that butterflies shed.

A body brimming with youthful energy and a healthy glow unfolds for the first time without reservation, capturing a fleeting moment of shyness and nervousness.

His body, honed through years of sailing and diving, is free of any excess fat, with smooth and beautiful lines.

Her skin is a healthy wheat color, with parts that are barely visible to the sun, yet still retaining a milky white hue.

You could feel her body trembling slightly; this was the first time she had fully revealed herself.

"Don't be afraid."

She heard a whisper in her ear, and Raven's tension completely relaxed.

She raised her arms and tightly wrapped them around her neck, responding silently with her actions.

……

(FBI warning)

……

She weakly pressed her forehead against Lin Yu'an's chest, letting out suppressed, soft sobs.

"I thought... I thought we were really going to die there..."

Only now did she truly feel the fear that followed.

Lin Yu'an remained silent, then reached out and gently, clumsily, stroked her long golden hair.

He lowered his head, his lips close to her ear, his voice hoarse yet gentle: "It's alright, we're safe now."

These simple words, like the warmest spell, made Raven forget her fear once again.

Those blue eyes, washed clean by tears, shone like two purest sapphires in the dim light of the room, reflecting the figure before them.

Then, like a butterfly fluttering in the wind, it tumbled and took the lead, making Lin Yu'an's breath catch in his throat.
(Network 404)

After an unknown amount of time, Raven seemed to have finally exhausted her strength.

When everything calmed down, the sky outside the window had turned orange.

Raven, like a tired cat, curled up in the blankets and fell into a deep sleep.

The fear and exhaustion that had been on her face were gone, replaced by an unprecedented, baby-like peace and contentment.

A single, glistening tear clung to the corner of her eye, whether from pain or release, it was hard to tell.

Lin Yu'an, however, felt no sleepiness whatsoever.

He gazed quietly at the sleeping girl in his arms, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He reached out and gently brushed a strand of golden hair from her cheek, feeling a delicate and warm touch on his fingertips.

He knew that from this moment on, this girl, and everything she represented, had formed an inseparable and profound connection with him.

This is both sweet and a responsibility far heavier than any treasure.

As the adrenaline slowly subsided, it was replaced by a weariness from the depths of his soul, and... that collection of poems he had hidden deep within his space, like a black hole, constantly drawing his entire mind.

He carefully pulled his arm out from under Raven's neck and covered her with the blanket.

Then he quietly got up and walked to the desk in the suite...

(End of this chapter)