Chapter 153: A Familiar Back (Seeking Subscriptions)

This time, Lin Fan did not consciously hold back; he kissed the woman in his arms with a mad, desperate passion. He had no idea what the future held, but he knew that amidst a sea of countless beauties, she was the only one he truly loved!

Before they knew it, the Ferris wheel had slowly descended to the ground. Lin Fan released Zhao Ying, steadying her by the shoulders, and lightly bit his lower lip before speaking softly, "Ying'er, from this day forward, with me here, no matter what dangers come your way, never be afraid, because I will always be right by your side!"

It sounded like a simple, understated remark, yet it was heavy with Lin Fan's deep affection for Zhao Ying. Little did he imagine that in the not-too-distant future, these words would truly come to pass. It was precisely this promise that would give Zhao Ying the unwavering will to survive when she found herself plunged into the darkest despair.

Zhao Ying's eyes turned red, and tears welled up, threatening to spill over. She knew that Lin Fan rarely expressed his innermost feelings; just hearing him say such things was more than enough for her.

"What is this? Are you moved by my words?" Lin Fan's expression shifted in an instant. A mischievous, wicked grin spread across his face as he stared at her with a mock-lecherous gaze.

A sudden giggle broke through Zhao Ying's tears. She clearly hadn't expected his mood to pivot so dramatically, yet she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he had been completely sincere just moments before. "I'm a bit cold. Take me home," she murmured, looking up at him with eyes brimming with adoration.

"Alright!" Lin Fan nodded, pulling her tighter into his embrace, hoping to melt the chill away with the warmth of his own body.

Love! It remains the eternal theme of this world. No matter how time shifts and flows on, love stands unchanging from beginning to end!

Lin Fan genuinely wanted nothing more than to hold Zhao Ying quietly like this. Whenever he was with this girl, his heart felt an extraordinary peace, as if all strife had vanished, leaving behind only the profound serenity and warmth of being together with her.

Yet Lin Fan's life was destined to be anything but peaceful. At that moment, a man and a woman passed silently by them. To anyone else, there was nothing remarkable about the pair, but a casual glance from Lin Fan made his expression alter drastically. Instinctively, he loosened his hold on Zhao Ying, helped adjust the wrap draped over her shoulders, and said, "Wait here for me, Ying'er. I'll be right back."

There was an unprecedented seriousness and urgency in Lin Fan's eyes. Zhao Ying saw it clearly. Though she had no idea what he intended to do, she knew he must have encountered something urgent, so she asked no questions and simply gave a slight, instinctive nod.

Giving Zhao Ying one last tight embrace, Lin Fan bolted in the direction the man and woman had just walked. It was still relatively early, and numerous young couples were strolling about the vicinity. Moving at lightning speed, Lin Fan seemed desperately eager to catch a glimpse of their faces. He had only seen their backs earlier, but that woman's back—it had looked far too familiar to him.

Having spent so much time with Ling Xue, how could Lin Fan possibly mistake her? Yet without seeing her face, he dared not believe that the woman was truly Ling Xue. After all, a mere silhouette proved very little; perhaps his eyes had simply played tricks on him. But was that really the case? Lin Fan realized that the area was suffocatingly crowded with couples deep in the throes of romance. Trying to locate the two people who had "accidentally" passed by him moments ago was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

"Damn it," Lin Fan cursed furiously to himself as a sudden realization struck him. How could he have been so careless? His impulsive reaction just now had been thoroughly reckless, entirely unforgivable. He had actually compromised Ying'er's safety by leaving her behind alone. What if the other party was using a diversionary tactic, deliberately using those two to draw his attention away so they could strike at Ying'er? If that were the case... Lin Fan didn't dare imagine the consequences, and he broke into a frantic sprint back toward Zhao Ying.

Why was he acting like this? She was merely a woman, and moreover, she was already dead. Why did he still care so deeply? Lin Fan simply could not comprehend why he had chased after them. Even if that woman truly was Ling Xue, what could he possibly do? Kill her? Demand to know why she betrayed Dragon Soul? Ask her if her love for him back then was genuine? Or perhaps...

In truth, Lin Fan knew that if Ling Xue were to actually stand before him right now, his personality would prevent him from doing anything harsh. Kill her? He knew he couldn't do it—at least not yet. Everyone in Star Soul knew that Lin Fan was irresolute when it came to matters of the heart. Those who loved too deeply inevitably ended up wounded by love. Yet it was precisely this man of iron and tenderness whose devotion to his brothers defied description, which was why countless brothers of life and death had rallied around him.

As he ran, Lin Fan silently prayed that Zhao Ying remained safe and sound. With so many hidden enemies surrounding him, and Yu Weihua having broken out of prison, if any harm came to Zhao Ying because of his rash impulse today, he would never forgive himself for as long as he lived.

Catching sight of Zhao Ying standing unharmed near the bridge, Lin Fan finally let out a breath of relief, his expression gradually returning to normal. Zhao Ying seemed unaware of his return and continued glancing around anxiously. Lin Fan could tell the girl wasn't scanning the crowd for handsome men; she was looking for him.

Covering the remaining distance in a few quick strides, Lin Fan bypassed polite small talk and pulled her straight into his arms with a somewhat panicked strength. Though the movement lacked gentleness and bordered on roughness, the profound worry etched in his eyes was unmistakable. For Lin Fan, only by holding Zhao Ying solidly in his embrace, feeling her heartbeat, sensing the warmth of her body, and stroking her hair could he truly know she was safe!

Caught off guard by Lin Fan's sudden action, Zhao Ying found herself cocooned within his arms before she could even react. Perhaps guided by feminine intuition, she sensed that Lin Fan was holding her tighter than ever before, as if he feared she might suddenly vanish into thin air.

Though she had no idea why a brief dash away had left him in this state, Zhao Ying deeply cherished his embrace. She longed for him to hold her like this forever, because within that solid, expansive chest, it wasn't just warm—it filled her heart with a profound sense of grounded reality and absolute security...

After a long while, Lin Fan slowly loosened his grip. "Ying'er, did any suspicious characters come near you while I was gone? Just... you know." Since Zhao Ying was unharmed, Lin Fan didn't quite know how to phrase it, but he trusted that as a police officer, she would understand his underlying meaning.