Acid rain dripped outside the window, knocking on the mottled glass windows of the café.
Zhou Xing sat in the corner, holding the steaming cup of coffee in his hand.
Lin Lan's craftsmanship is very good. The temperature of the coffee is just right, not hot or cold, with a hint of burnt bitterness in the mouth, but the aftertaste is sweet and mellow.
Just like ... Life itself.
"Your face doesn't look good." Lin Lan came over with a tray and sat down opposite Zhou Xing, "Are you tired lately?" "
Zhou Xing raised his head and looked at the girl in front of him.
Lin Lan wore a gray cotton apron today, and her hair was simply tied at the back of her head, without any signs of prosthetic modification. In this era where everyone pursues "upgrading", she is like a wildflower growing in the ruins of steel, fragile but tenacious.
"There is a little." Zhou Xing said, "But it's okay." "
"Is it for your sister's business?"
Zhou Xing was stunned for a moment: "How do you know?" "
"Last time you came, you mentioned it." Lin Lan smiled, "You said you wanted to save money to buy medicine for her." "
Zhou Xing was silent.
He did. It was three months ago, and he came to this café for the first time. At that time, he had just been blocked in the alley by usurers and beaten up, and his whole body was covered in injuries.
Lin Lan didn't ask him how the injury on his body came, but silently made him a cup of coffee and gave him an extra biscuit he made.
That was the first time he felt in this city... Purposeless goodwill.
"How is she now?" Lin Lan asked.
"It's better." Zhou Xing said, "I got some money and can buy real medicine." "
"That's good." Lin Lan nodded lightly, "Your sister is so lucky to have an older brother like you." "
"Lucky?" Zhou Xing smiled bitterly, "I'm just... I just don't want to lose her. "
"In this world, there is someone you want to protect, and that's a blessing in itself." Lin Lan's voice was very soft, but with a deep feeling, "Many people, not even this." "
Zhou Xing looked at her: "What about you? Do you have someone you want to protect? "
Lin Lan was silent for a while.
"There used to be." She said, "But now... Only this café remains. "
"This café?"
"Hmm." Lin Lan raised his head and looked around, "This is what my mother left behind." She said that no matter what the world becomes, there must be a place where people can stop and have a cup of coffee made by real people. "
"It's not the kind that is washed by a machine, it's cooked by people. With temperature, with thought, with ... Human touch. "
Zhou Xing looked at her side face.
In the dim light, Lin Lan's silhouette looks particularly soft. In her eyes, there is a vicissitudes that do not match her age, but more of ... A kind of stubbornness that refuses to compromise.
"Where's your mother?" He asked.
"Let's go." Lin Lan said, "Five years ago, there was a computing power leak accident. She was swept into it and her body was not found. "
Zhou Xing's heart tugged.
Hashrate leakage accident... It was one of the most terrible disasters of our time. When a node in the computing power network gets out of control, it unleashes a violent stream of data that tears all life around it to pieces.
"I'm sorry." He said.
"No need to be sorry." Lin Lan smiled, "It's all over." "
"And ...," she paused, "I think she's still here." In this café, in these beans, in every cup of coffee I make. "
"So I'm going to guard this place. This is ... The only thing she left me. "
Zhou Xing looked into her eyes.
The eyes were very clean, without any trace of prosthetic modification. In this era where even the pupils can be replaced with electronic screens, this "primitive" has become a luxury.
"You're strong." He said.
"You are also strong. Lin Lan looked back at him, "One person supports the lives of two people, and you have to face those ..."
She looked at the scar faintly visible under Zhou Xing's cuffs and didn't continue.
The two fell into a brief silence.
Outside the window, the acid rain is getting heavier and heavier. The raindrops hit the glass, making a monotonous and regular sound.
But in the café, there is a strange tranquility.
"Do you know?" Lin Lan suddenly spoke, "I think you have changed." "
"Has it changed?" Zhou Xing raised his eyebrows.
"Hmm." Lin Lan looked at him seriously, "The last time you came, there was a look in your eyes... There is a desperation, a feeling of desperation to the point of giving up. "
"But today, that desperation is gone. Instead, it is a ..."
She thought about it and couldn't seem to find the right words.
"A ... Calm determination? She said, "It's like, you've decided what to do, and ... You believe you can do it. "
Zhou Xing's heart moved.
This girl... It's really accurate.
Her eyes, although not modified in any way, are sharper than any electronic prosthetic eye.
"Maybe it's because ..." Zhou Xing considered the words, "I found a ... New road. "
"New road?"
"Hmm." Zhou Xing nodded, "One... The way to make me stronger. "
"What about after becoming stronger?"
"After becoming stronger..." Zhou Xing looked out the window, where a huge silver ring loomed in the rain, "I want to change something." "
"What to change?"
"Change this... A world where good people can't live. "
Lin Lan was stunned.
She looked at Zhou Xing, at the young man sitting across from her. His face was still a little childish, but his eyes were already like a warrior who had experienced countless storms.
That's a kind of ... It does not belong to the maturity of his age.
"This sounds ... It's hard. She said.
"I know." Zhou Xing smiled, "But someone always has to do it, doesn't it?" "
Lin Lan was silent for a long time.
Then, she stood up, walked behind the bar, and took out a small box from the cabinet.
"This is for you." She put the box in front of Zhou Xing.
"What is this?"
"Open it and take a look."
Zhou Xing opened the box and found a small badge inside.
The shape of the coat of arms is simple, a bird with outstretched wings, carved in a lost craft, warm to the hand, with an ancient air.
"This is ..."
"My mother's relics." Lin Lan said, "She said that this bird is called 'Phoenix', which is a divine bird in ancient legends. It burns in flames and then respawns, becoming even more powerful than before. "
"I think... It suits you. "
Zhou Xing looked at the badge in his hand, and a warm current surged in his heart.
"This is too expensive." He said, "I can't accept it." "
"Of course you can." Lin Lan smiled, "Because you also gave me a gift." "
"What gift?"
"Hope." Lin Lan said, "You let me see that there are really people... Willing to fight to change the world. "
"So, please take it. Just think of it as ... My support for you. "
Zhou Xing looked into her eyes.
Those eyes flashed with sincerity, without any hypocrisy or artifice.
"Okay." He said, "I accepted it." "
He pinned the badge to his collar and stood up.
"I'm leaving." "There is still a lot to do," he said. "
"Hmm." Lin Lan nodded, "Take care." "
"You too."
Zhou Xing walked to the door and stopped suddenly.
"Lin Lan."
"Huh?"
"If ... I mean if. He turned around and looked into her eyes, "One day, I need your help, will you do it?" "
Lin Lan was stunned for a moment, and then smiled.
"Of course." She said, "Always welcome. "
"And ...," she paused, "more than just help. If that day really comes, I think ... Fight alongside you. "
Zhou Xing looked at her, and a complicated emotion welled up in his heart.
This girl is obviously just an ordinary café owner, but she is willing to gamble everything for his words.
"Okay." He said, "That's it. "
He pushed open the door and walked into the rain.
Behind him, the lights of the café shine through the glass windows, creating a warm halo in the rain.
It's like ... A beacon, in the dark.
On the way back to the apartment, Zhou Xing's pace was much brisker than when he came.
"That girl... It's not simple. Shen Cangsheng suddenly spoke.
"I know." Zhou Xing said.
"Don't you think it's strange? In this era when everyone is in danger, why is she so good to you? "
"Because she's just like me." Zhou Xing said, "It's all ... Those who do not want to bow to this world. "
Shen Cangsheng was silent.
After a long time, he sighed: "Boy, you have to be careful." In this world, feelings are the most dangerous thing. "
"I know." Zhou Xing said, "But it is precisely because of the danger that it is more worth cherishing." "
"And ..."
He touched the badge on his collar and smiled at the corner of his mouth.
"Someone wants to believe in you, and that's a power in itself."
Shen Cangsheng stopped talking.
Perhaps, he is right.
In this cold world, maybe some ... is really needed. Warm stuff.
Downstairs in the apartment, Zhou Xing stopped.
He looked up at the dilapidated building, and the window that belonged to him was faintly lit.
That was his last concern in this world.
"Xiaoyu, brother is back." He muttered in his heart.
Then, he stepped into the corridor.
Behind him, acid rain is still there.
But Zhou Xing's heart already had a flame.
That was the flame of hope.
It is the fire of rebirth.
Yes... Phoenix fire.
(Chapter 10 End)