341: Chapter 341 Different Bodies, Different Feelings

Qin Lin walked over and lay down beside her; the two were face-to-face, very close to each other.

Qing He reached out, her fingers slowly tracing across his face—from his forehead to his eyebrows, from his eyebrows to the Bridge of his nose, and from the Bridge of his nose to his lips.

Her fingers were cool and light, like a leaf falling onto the surface of water.

Qin Lin did not move, letting her touch him.

Qing He's fingers paused on his lips for a moment, then she withdrew her hand and closed her eyes.

"Qin Lin."

"Hmm."

"Do you know why I am called Qing He?"

"I don't know."

"Green seedlings. Seedlings are crops; green seedlings are crops that haven't grown up yet."

"Master gave me this name hoping that I would be like a crop, growing year by year, living year by year. Just living is enough; I ask for nothing else."

She opened her eyes and looked at Qin Lin. "After the apocalypse came, I thought I wouldn't survive, but I did. Now, I thought I wouldn't survive again, but you came."

Qin Lin reached out and pulled her into his arms.

Qing He pressed her face against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"Qin Lin."

"Hmm."

"Thank you."

Qin Lin held her tighter, resting his chin on the top of her head.

Her hair smelled lovely—not like perfume, but like shampoo, faint and light, like a spring breeze.

That night, Qin Lin stayed in Qing He's room until very late.

They did everything they were supposed to do.

Qing He's skin was different from Qing Yue's and Hong Yao's; her skin was thinner, thin enough to see the pale blue veins beneath.

When Qin Lin's fingers gently traced her arm, those veins would pulse slightly, like small, startled fish.

Qing He did not cry, did not feel nervous, and did not laugh.

She just lay there quietly, feeling Qin Lin's hands roaming over her body, occasionally closing her eyes, and occasionally opening them to look at him.

Her eyes were very bright in the darkness, like two distant stars.

Qin Lin asked her if it felt good; she thought for a moment and said, "It's okay." Qin Lin asked her if it hurt; she said it didn't hurt.

Qin Lin asked her if he should stop; she said no. Qin Lin didn't ask again.

He rarely encountered a woman like this—not expressing, not demanding, not refusing, simply accepting.

Like the earth, like the ocean, like this boundless darkness; whatever you cast into it, it accepts, without returning anything to you.

Qin Lin held her for who knows how long; Qing He's breathing became steady, and she fell asleep.

Her hand was still clutching the corner of his clothes, gripping it tightly, like a child afraid of getting lost.

The next morning, the System notification sound echoed in every corner of The Ark.

It wasn't an alarm, nor a mission alert, but a long, horn-like melody.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Passenger 015, Qing Yue, has successfully established a bond!]

[Milestone: First batch of Cultivation World passenger bonds achieved (1/3)]

[Reward: blessing points +5]

[Current blessing points: 4100]

[Passenger information updated—]

[Name: Qing Yue, Age: 22, comprehensive rating: 91]

[Status: Bond established, Next step: "Many Children, Many Blessings"]

Immediately following was the second notification.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Passenger 016, Hong Yao, has successfully established a bond!]

[Reward: blessing points +5]

[Passenger information: Hong Yao, 24, comprehensive rating 90]

The third one.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Passenger 017, Qing He, has successfully established a bond!]

[Reward: blessing points +5]

[Passenger information: Qing He, 30, comprehensive rating 93]

Three notifications popped up in succession, the golden light on the holographic screen merging into one.

Everyone in the living room saw it. Han Yurou walked out of the kitchen holding a rice bowl, glanced at the screen, then glanced at Qin Lin, snorted, and said nothing.

Li Ying leaned back in the massage chair, eyes closed, her fingers tapping gently on the armrest, one by one, unhurriedly.

Su Yuran held Qin An, looked at Qin Lin, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly, then lowered her head to continue feeding Qin An.

Han Qing poked her head out of the Medical Room, took a look at the screen, and then retreated back inside.

Qin Lin stood on the Bridge, looking at those three lines of text.

Qing Yue, Hong Yao, and Qing He—the three women's information flashed across the screen one by one.

He stared at the line for Qing He for a long time.

He turned off the screen and walked out of the Bridge.

In the hallway, Qing Yue was just coming out of her room, wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt and white shorts. Her hair was loose, and though she wasn't wearing makeup, her complexion was very good.

Seeing Qin Lin, she didn't stop her pace, saying "Good morning" as she walked past him.

Then she walked away, her steps steady, as if nothing had happened.

Hong Yao poked her head out of her room, saw Qin Lin, and her face turned red instantly; she closed the door again.

Standing in the hallway, Qin Lin heard Hong Yao's voice from behind the door: "What do I do, what do I do? He's standing outside!"

Qing He's voice: "Then you go out."

Hong Yao's voice: "I don't dare!"

Qing He's voice: "Then I'm going out."

The door opened, and Qing He walked out, wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts, her hair tied in a low ponytail, barefoot.

She saw Qin Lin and nodded: "Good morning." Then she walked away.

Qin Lin stood in the hallway, listening to the footsteps of the three: one to the left, one to the right, one forward.

Li Ying walked over from the living room, stood beside Qin Lin, and watched Qing He's receding figure.

"Brother Qin Lin, you worked hard last night." It was impossible to tell if Li Ying's tone was teasing or mocking.

Qin Lin looked at her: "It was fine."

Li Ying snorted and turned to leave. After two steps, she stopped without looking back: "The dark circles under your eyes—cover them up."

Qin Lin touched his eyes and said nothing.

He really hadn't slept much last night; he'd spent a few hours in Qing Yue's room, a few hours in Hong Yao's room, and a few hours in Qing He's room.

It wasn't that he didn't want to sleep, but he simply couldn't stop.

He couldn't describe that feeling.

Qing Yue's body was like jade: warm, delicate, and smooth.

When his hands touched her, Qin Lin felt that he wasn't touching a person, but an exquisitely carved work of art.

Every inch of her skin was perfect, not an ounce of excess fat, not a bit less elasticity.

When spiritual energy flowed through her body, she would glow slightly; that light wasn't from a lamp, but emanated from within her bones.

When Qin Lin placed his hand on her waist, he could feel the spiritual energy flowing beneath her skin, like a warm river.

Hong Yao was different from Qing Yue; her body was hotter and softer.

The spiritual energy inside her didn't flow steadily, but pulsed like flames, sometimes strong, sometimes weak.

When Qin Lin's fingers touched her, she would react—not by dodging, but by leaning into it, like a flower growing toward the sun.

Qing He was the most special. Her skin was very cool, thin to the point of being almost transparent.

When spiritual energy flowed through her body, her veins would pulse along with it, like countless tiny snakes slithering beneath her skin.

When Qin Lin's fingers slowly traced her arm, he could feel the pulsing of her veins, one beat after another, like a heartbeat.

That sensation wasn't touching; it was listening.

Three completely different bodies, three completely different sensations.