362: Chapter 362 You Are Different

"Auntie Wan."

"Hm."

"Have you ever grown Spiritual Plants before?"

Murong Wan's fingers paused on the page. "I have. The Murong Family had a Spiritual Plant garden in the back courtyard, where many Spiritual Plants and flowers were planted. My favorite was the Moonflower Grass; it would glow at night, blue and very beautiful."

Qin Lin watched her; there was a light in her eyes—not nostalgia, but gentleness.

He remembered the chinese roses Li Ran grew—red, pink, yellow, and white—crowding and climbing all over the entire fence wall.

"The Ark also has a Plantation area; you can go take a look tomorrow."

Murong Wan looked at him, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.

"Okay."

On the fourth day, Qin Lin took Murong Wan to see the Plantation.

Li Ran was watering the plants. Seeing Qin Lin and Murong Wan walk over, the watering can in her hand paused for a moment.

She had never seen Qin Lin bring any woman to the Flower Garden, except for Su Yuling.

Murong Wan stood in front of the Flower Garden, looked at those chinese roses, and squatted down to smell them.

"So fragrant," she said softly.

Li Ran stood to the side, watching her without speaking. Murong Wan looked up at Li Ran, the corners of her mouth curling slightly.

"Did you grow these?"

Li Ran nodded.

Qin Lin watched the two women, feeling that there was an indescribable tacit understanding between them.

Perhaps it was because they both grew flowers, perhaps because they were both mothers, or perhaps because they both knew why he had brought Murong Wan here.

On the fifth day, Qin Lin ran into Murong Xue in the hallway.

Murong Xue was wearing a light blue short-sleeved shirt and white shorts, her hair tied in a high ponytail. She held a short sword in her hand, having just returned from Cultivating.

She saw Qin Lin and her pace slowed.

"You've been going to see my mother a lot lately?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but her tone carried a "what are you up to" kind of question.

Qin Lin nodded.

"Dr. Han asked me to check on her Recovery status."

Murong Xue looked at him; there was a light in her eyes—not suspicion, but curiosity.

"Dr. Han? Why don't you call her Aunt Qing anymore? Would she even let you go?"

Qin Lin's heart skipped a beat. He didn't know why he called Han Qing "Dr. Han" in front of this mother-daughter pair; perhaps he was trying to hide something.

But he responded with a straight face.

"Hm."

Murong Xue was silent for a moment, then added, "My mother has been in a very good mood lately and smiles more than before. She says it's because The Ark is safe, there is food and drink, and she doesn't have to run for her life anymore."

Qin Lin nodded.

"That's good."

Murong Xue looked at him, wanting to say something but stopping herself, then turned and left.

Qin Lin watched her back and reached out to touch the white crystal stone in his pocket; it was warm and not glowing.

On the sixth day, Qin Lin went to find Murong Wan again.

This time, he didn't bring milk, didn't bring books, and had no excuses.

He walked into her room, sat down opposite her, and looked at her.

"Auntie Wan."

"Hm."

"You know why I come to see you every day."

This was not a question, but a statement.

Murong Wan looked at him, silent for a long time. Her eyes held a light—not anger, not shame, but a realization of "you finally said it."

"I know."

Qin Lin watched her, his heart beating fast.

He had been with many women—Qing Yue, Hong Yao, Qing He, Shen Qingyi, Murong Xue—each with a different body, different skin, and different temperament.

But Murong Wan was different; she was the matriarch of the Murong Family, one of the most noble women in the Central Region, and Murong Xue's mother. Her status made everything different.

"Are you willing?" Qin Lin asked.

Murong Wan looked at him; there was a light in his eyes—not greed, but expectation.

Murong Wan was silent for a long time, then she spoke, her voice very soft.

"Qin Lin, I've said that I will also do the tasks on The Ark; you don't need to be like this."

"That is different."

Murong Wan looked at him, her eyes filled with struggle. She was the matriarch of the Murong Family, taught from a young age to be dignified, reserved, and to maintain her decorum. Now, she was in front of a man twenty years her junior, his eyes filled entirely with her, and her heart was beating fast.

"Qin Lin, give me some time." Murong Wan's voice was very soft. Although she was willing to do the tasks, she also knew Qin Lin's goal; Qin Lin didn't just want her body, he also wanted her heart.

Qin Lin looked at her and nodded.

"Okay."

He stood up and left.

Murong Wan sat in the chair, watching his back disappear around the corner of the hallway.

She reached out to touch her face; it was hot.

...

Murong Wan began to take initiative in finding things to do on The Ark.

She went to the Medical Room to help Han Qing organize medicine. Han Qing discovered that she had a strong ability to identify medicinal materials; she could recognize the names and effects of many Spiritual Plants from the Cultivation World at a glance.

Han Qing asked her if she wanted to learn how to operate The Ark's medical System, and she said yes.

She went to the Ecological Plantation to help Xu Xue take care of the spiritual trees. Xu Xue's spiritual saplings had grown into small trees. Murong Wan squatted down to touch the leaves and said, "This tree needs more water."

Xu Xue did as she said, and the leaves indeed turned greener.

She went to the Flower Garden to help Li Ran grow flowers. Li Ran had planted a new chinese rose, and Murong Wan helped her loosen the soil, water, and fertilize.

The two squatted beside the Flower Garden; neither spoke, but they worked with tacit understanding.

Li Ran looked at Murong Wan's profile, feeling an indescribable sensation in her heart.

She remembered the look in Qin Lin's eyes when he looked at Murong Wan—a look she had seen when he looked at Han Qing, when he looked at Li Ran, when he looked at Shen Qingyi, and when he looked at Murong Xue.

The meaning of that look was "I want you."

"Murong Wan."

Murong Wan turned her head to look at her.

"What is it?"

Li Ran was silent for a moment, then said, "Be careful. That guy, Qin Lin, is not a good person."

Murong Wan was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"Then I'll have to be careful."

Li Ran said nothing and continued watering.

On the seventh day, Qin Lin went to find Murong Wan again.

This time, he didn't sit opposite her but stood behind her.

Murong Wan stood by the window, looking at the starry sky outside. Moonlight spilled down from the projection System, landing on her.

Qin Lin walked over and stood beside her.

"Auntie Wan."

"Hm."

"Have you thought it over?"

Murong Wan did not look at him; her gaze remained on the sea of stars outside the window.

Qin Lin watched her; her profile was very cold in the moonlight.

"Qin Lin, I am not being coy with you. I have already agreed to do the tasks with you; why do you still come to see me?"

Qin Lin looked at her, silent for a moment, then spoke.

"Because you are different."

"I..."

"Take your time considering; I'm not in a rush."

He left.

Murong Wan stood by the window, watching his back disappear around the corner of the hallway.