Chapter 50 – The First Step Toward His Heart
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Ever since arriving in this world, Han Yan had unconsciously kept a distance from those around him.
Everything had happened too suddenly. He had spent these days focused on surviving, adapting, and dealing with one problem after another.
Without realizing it, that habit had also shaped the way he treated Lin Xin.
In his eyes, Lin Xin was still young.
When faced with troublesome matters, he had long grown accustomed to handling everything by himself.
As long as he could handle it himself, why make Lin Xin worry?
As long as he could endure it alone, why involve another person?
He had always believed that by bearing everything alone, he was protecting him.
It was only after hearing those words that Han Yan suddenly came to a realization.
Perhaps Lin Xin had never wanted that kind of protection in the first place.
The more Han Yan thought about it, the quieter he became.
Even if he had always thought it best to shoulder such burdens alone and spare him from unnecessary concerns, the truth remained that, in this world...
Lin Xin was after all his wife.
Not an outsider who needed to be kept at arm’s length.
No matter how timid or gentle he appeared, he was still a part of this family.
Yet whenever something important happened, he would instinctively handle it alone, never considering that Lin Xin might wish to stand beside him.
To Han Yan, it had simply been the most reasonable choice, one he made without hesitation.
But from Lin Xin’s perspective, was it truly the same?
His brows unconsciously furrowed.
If the person he really cared about constantly kept things from him, he would probably feel uneasy as well.
He would wonder if he was being deliberately excluded.
Wonder if he was not trusted enough.
Wonder if he was somehow incapable of helping.
For someone like Lin Xin, who had lived in the Han household and endured years of being ignored and pushed aside, such thoughts would likely weigh on him even more heavily.
Perhaps, whenever he chose to handle everything alone, Lin Xin would quietly worry that Han Yan did not truly see him as family, only someone who needed to be protected.
Or perhaps, even worse, that Han Yan did not care for him enough to share the troubles in his heart.
The more Han Yan thought about it, the more he understood where Lin Xin’s frustration had come from.
Then another thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Perhaps this was not the first time he had felt this way.
Han Yan’s gaze darkened slightly.
Although he had only inherited fragments of the original owner’s memories, one thing was clear.
The former Han Yan had never truly considered Lin Xin’s feelings.
He acted according to his own wishes, making decisions alone and rarely considering what Lin Xin truly thought.
To the original owner, Lin Xin was merely a ger who had been forced into the marriage.
Someone who happened to share the same courtyard.
Nothing more.
A trace of guilt rose within Han Yan’s heart.
Could it be that when Lin Xin saw him doing the same thing today, all those buried feelings had resurfaced at once?
After all, to Lin Xin, he was still the original Han Yan he had always known.
He had no way of knowing that a completely different person now occupied the same body.
Perhaps he had thought that things would be different after that small change in him, when he woke up and asked if he wished to leave the Han household.
Maybe he had finally begun to believe that he truly cared for him.
Only to discover that whenever something important happened, he would still choose to keep everything to himself.
If that were the case, then Lin Xin’s hurt was not caused solely by today’s matter.
It was the accumulation of countless disappointments buried deep within his heart.
The only difference was that this time, Lin Xin could no longer pretend those feelings did not exist.
The realization left Han Yan momentarily speechless.
Only now did he understand why Lin Xin had looked so hurt earlier.
Lin Xin was not angry because Han Yan had hidden a few things from him.
Nor was he upset because he wanted to pry into his affairs.
He was upset because he had never considered including him in the first place.
In Lin Xin’s heart and according to everything he had been taught, the two of them were already bound as husband and wife.
A married couple who should face hardships together.
If something good happened, they could share the joy.
If something bad happened, they could share the burden.
That was what family meant. That was what being married meant to him.
Yet he had unknowingly placed himself on one side and Lin Xin on the other.
When something happened, he would instinctively step forward alone, leaving Lin Xin standing behind him.
He had thought this was what it meant to be reliable.
But from Lin Xin’s perspective, it probably felt as though he had built an invisible wall between them.
An invisible wall that quietly reminded him that there were still matters he refused to reveal.
The realization left a complicated feeling in Han Yan’s chest and a bitter taste in his mouth.
Then Lin Xin’s earlier words surfaced in his mind once more.
"We are family."
The simple sentence lingered in his heart for a long time.
In his previous world, he had thought that he would never experience such a feeling again.
Yet now, for some unknown reason, his chest felt faintly warm.
He still did not understand what kind of feelings he held toward Lin Xin.
Apart from wanting to protect him, he could not clearly define anything else right now.
But the invisible wall he had unknowingly built around his heart began to crack little by little.
Slowly, it started to crumble.
After a long moment, Han Yan finally revealed a bright smile.
It was no longer the helpless smile from before, nor the smile he used to reassure others, but a sincere smile that came from his heart.
Han Yan let out a soft sigh, yet this time, it was light and cheerful.
His shoulders relaxed slightly, and the corners of his lips lifted into a gentle smile. The faint warmth in his eyes showed that his heart had finally become much lighter.
"Alright."
His voice was gentle.
"I promise."
Lin Xin immediately raised his head, his eyes widening slightly in shock.
He had thought that Han Yan would be displeased with him, perhaps thinking that he was an ungrateful person for daring to question him.
Yet the words he heard were completely different from what he had expected.
For a moment, he could only stare blankly, as if he was trying to confirm that he had not misunderstood.
His fingers unconsciously tightened around his clothes, and a trace of hesitation appeared on his delicate face.
After a long moment, he finally opened his mouth and asked in a soft, timid voice.
"Really?"
Han Yan nodded in all seriousness.
"Really."
"If something important happens in the future, you will be the first person I tell. We can discuss it together and decide what should be done."
Only after hearing those words did the last traces of tension disappear from his face.
The corners of Lin Xin’s lips slowly curved upward. The worry that had clouded his delicate features gradually faded, leaving behind a gentle smile filled with relief.
Seeing that smile, Han Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Dong Hai, who had been quietly watching the scene from the side, finally stepped forward after seeing the worry on Lin Xin’s face gradually disappear and a smile return to his expression.
He secretly let out a sigh of relief as well.
At the same time, he glanced at Han Yan and noticed that the older brother’s expression looked as though he had just survived a great disaster.
It seemed that if Lin Xin’s brows had furrowed even a little more, Han Yan might have truly collapsed.
Feeling that he should do something, Dong Hai quickly stepped forward.
His small hand gently tugged on the corner of Lin Xin’s robe, causing Lin Xin to lower his head and look at him.
"Brother Xin" Dong Hai said with a serious expression, "are you satisfied with Big Brother Han’s answer?"
Lin Xin was stunned for a moment before a soft chuckle escaped his lips.
The little boy’s serious expression made him look as if he was handling an important matter, and the sight was simply too adorable.
"En, I am very satisfied" Lin Xin replied, his eyes carrying a trace of amusement. "I have to admit... Yan’ge’s answer was quite good."
The moment he heard Lin Xin softly call his name, Han Yan immediately turned his gaze toward him.
"En?"
The quick response made Lin Xin pause before he covered his lips and laughed softly.
Han Yan did not realize how amusing his reaction was. The moment he heard Lin Xin mention him, he immediately responded as if afraid he would miss something important.
Seeing this, Han Yan could only sigh inwardly.
It seems I have truly become too nervous about his feelings.
However, this feeling was not unpleasant.
After the small misunderstanding was resolved, the atmosphere between them became much lighter.
Lin Xin looked around the courtyard and lightly clapped his hands.
The movement was gentle and carried a hint of the ease he had regained.
At that moment, a soft breeze passed through the courtyard, causing his long hair to sway slightly. A few strands brushed against his delicate features before gently falling back into place.
The sunlight shone down from above. It was warm but not too bright, casting a soft glow over his figure. The faint light reflected against his hair, making it appear even more radiant and adding a touch of gentleness to his appearance.
Han Yan’s gaze unconsciously fell on him and lingered for a moment longer than it should have.
Unaware of Han Yan’s thoughts, Lin Xin turned around and smiled softly.
"Alright, since everything has been settled, let’s move the things into the house first."
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