I Only Choked on Noodles, Why Am I Here?! [BL]-Chapter 36 – Long-Buried Memories Awakened

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Han Yan shook his head lightly, forcing a small, reassuring smile, though inwardly he felt a trace of warmth at the care in Lin Xin’s manner.

The cat, utterly unconcerned with human affairs, yawned and stretched lazily across the bed, its sharp golden eyes gleaming with a mischievous satisfaction at the commotion it had wrought.

Lin Xin finally relaxed slightly, reassured that Han Yan was truly okay, his delicate features softening as the tension in his shoulders eased.

He let out a small, quiet sigh before his eyes shifted to the bed, where the arrogant cat lounged lazily, tail flicking with indifferent arrogance. His brows furrowed in mild confusion as he looked back at Han Yan.

"Why... why is that cat in our room?" he asked softly, surprise flickering in his eyes as he stared at the cat laying comfortably on their bed, its small body stretched out as though it belonged there.

For a brief moment, he simply stood still, taking in the unexpected sight, the contrast between the usually neat, untouched space and the quiet presence of the unfamiliar animal making the scene feel oddly unreal.

Han Yan glanced at the cat for a moment his expression unreadable, before bending down and carefully lifting it into his arms. The small weight settled against his chest "Lin Xin, go and sleep first. I’ll be back," he said in a low, steady voice.

Lin Xin nodded instinctively, then seemed to realize something paused and asked "Where are you taking it to?"

Han Yan paused at the door and glanced back at him lips curved into a faint smile. "I’m going to put him somewhere comfortable. It won’t take long."

Lin Xin considered his words for a brief moment, then relaxed. "Okay" he said quietly. "Don’t stay out too long" His eyes followed Han Yan as he turned and stepped out into the hallway, the cat still nestled in his arms.

Han Yan didn’t respond, only giving a slight nod before walking out. A second later, the door closed with a gentle click behind him, leaving the room quiet once more and Lin Xin alone with his thoughts as he slowly settled down to rest.

"Where does this mere mortal presume to carry this ancestor?" it snapped, its ears flattening lightly against its head as a sharp hiss slipped from its throat. "This ancestor intends to rest upon the bed. Tch set this ancestor down at once!"

Its body twisted and writhed in Han Yan’s arms, claws raking lightly against his sleeve as it struggled to leap free. Eyes blazing with indignation, ears pressed flat, and tail lashing furiously, it was clear the very notion of being moved from its chosen resting place was an insult beyond measure.

Even in the subtlest movement, it proclaimed its disdain how could a mere mortal presume to decide where this ancestor should reside?

Han Yan remained silent, his steps unhurried and his hold firm but careful. No matter how much the cat protested, he didn’t loosen his grip.

He carried it to the side of the room, where a bamboo basket sat neatly placed. It was simple in appearance, clearly handmade, but inside were layers of soft cloth and dried herbs arranged with quiet thoughtfulness, enough to keep the space warm and comfortable.

He lowered the cat into the basket without ceremony. The cat stiffened at first, then slowly looked around, taking in its surroundings. After a brief pause, it lifted its head and shot Han Yan a sharp, disdainful look, tail flicking in annoyance.

"Hmph" it snorted, tail flicking with displeasure as it curled in the basket. "Such paltry accommodations... truly beneath this ancestor."

Han Yan’s steps faltered for the briefest moment, and his expression shifted ever so slightly as he caught the cat’s sharp words a flicker of surprise, or perhaps disbelief, passing over his usually calm features.

Yet he said nothing, lips pressing into a thin line, before they curved into a faint smile. Casting one last glance at the haughty feline, he murmured, "Since you are so... exalted, let us strive together to amass wealth."

With that, Han Yan straightened his robes then turned away, leaving the cat to settle reluctantly into the bamboo basket on its own.

It grumbled softly, tail flicking in irritation as it circled and nudged at the soft lining, clearly displeased with its new perch, while the room gradually returned to its usual quiet, the faint rustle of the herbs in the basket was the only sound.

Han Yan stepped back into the room and paused for a moment, his gaze falling on Lin Xin, who was already deep in slumber.

The soft rise and fall of his chest, the peaceful expression on his face, brought a rare, gentle warmth to Han Yan’s heart. He moved quietly, careful not to disturb the sleeping boy as he closed the door with a gentle click.

After draping his outer robe neatly over his shoulders, he slid onto his side of the bed, letting the calm of the night settle over him.

Thoughts drifted through his mind plans, worries, fleeting reflections on the day but slowly, the weight of fatigue claimed him, and he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep as the night stretched on.

Hours later, in the stillness of the deep night, Lin Xin stirred. His eyes opened to the dim light filtering in, and he gazed at Han Yan for a long moment, watching the steady rhythm of his breathing.

In the deep silence of the night, Lin Xin rose with utmost care, unwilling to disturb Han Yan’s slumber.

His steps were light and measured, like a breeze rustling through bamboo leaves, barely stirring a sound. He opened the door gently, so softly that it made no more than a whisper, then closed it just as delicately.

His path led him to the corner where the bamboo basket rested. Lowering himself slightly, he stared into it, his expression strangely unreadable.

Lin Xin’s voice cut softly through the stillness of the night. "Zhi Zun..." he called out, the single name falling from his lips with an almost reverent quiet.

The cat froze, ears twitching, its golden eyes widening as they met Lin Xin’s gaze. Those eyes, usually so sharp and imperious, reflected the delicate calm of Lin Xin’s face, pale in the dim moonlight, yet carrying an unfamiliar weight something strange and unsettling, as though the gentleness in him had been replaced with something... different.

For a long moment, the room was silent. Even the faint rustle of the bamboo basket seemed to hold its breath. Zhi Zun’s tail flicked once hesitantly, as if trying to process the sight before him. Then in a tone tinged with disbelief and faint indignation, the cat’s voice broke the quiet night "You... remember me?"

Lin Xin’s eyes remained fixed on the feline, unblinking, his expression still calm yet unreadable, as though recalling a memory long buried yet undeniable.

The tension in his stance, subtle but unmistakable, made the cat’s golden gaze sharpen, the air between them thick with something unspoken an ancient familiarity, a bond that neither time nor circumstance had managed to erase.

Lin Xin’s gaze did not waver from the cat as he inclined his head slightly, the faintest trace of a smile touching his lips.

"Yes" he said softly, his voice calm yet carrying a weight of quiet certainty. "You followed Han Yan because... you smelled my scent right."

Lin Xin’s tone was neither boastful nor accusatory; it was simply a statement of fact, delivered with the confidence of one who had long known the truth.

The cat’s golden eyes narrowed slightly, as if weighing this revelation against its own memories, the air between them thickening with an invisible tension.

"It’s been long... Lan Xin" the cat said, its voice soft and gentle, a rare tenderness threading through its usual haughtiness. For the first time, the golden-eyed feline seemed almost delicate, as though the weight of countless years had eased for this single confession.

Lin Xin’s eyes softened as he laughed slightly. "Lan Xin..." he repeated, the name lingering on his lips. A faint smile curved his lips as he murmured.

"It’s been a long time since I last heard that name." His tone carried a quiet warmth, tinged with familiarity, as though the name itself stirred long-buried memories deep within him, brushing against fragments of the past he had thought forgotten, awakening feelings both tender and faintly bittersweet.

The silence that followed was heavy with meaning, filled with an unspoken understanding between them.

Even the gentle sway of the bamboo basket and the subtle flick of the cat’s tail seemed to honor the quiet intimacy of the moment, as though the night itself had hushed to witness it.

"W-what happened? How... how did you end up in the Lower Realm?"

The cat’s golden eyes widened, its voice sharp yet laced with disbelief.

"This ancestor clearly saw you perish while saving me. And yet your memories still remain? I cannot comprehend it... How can you still be standing here, alive?"

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