383: Chapter 381 Nostalgia for the Past

White Tiger stood at the door, its mechanical tail swaying gently behind it, its optical lens focused on Ye Ouyang's face.

"I have detected that your heart rate has increased by 23% compared to usual, and there are slight fluctuations in your blood pressure," it said. "Based on these indicators, you seem to be in a state of considerable excitement."

Ye Ouyang closed the door, leaned against it, and let out a breath.

"Yeah, of course I'm excited," he said, a smile he couldn't quite suppress still lingering at the corners of his mouth. "It's not like you don't know—back when that armor was being made—"

He suddenly stopped.

White Tiger looked at him, its optical lens flickering slightly.

"What do I know?" it asked.

Ye Ouyang fell silent.

He stared at White Tiger's mechanical face as images flashed through his mind—those voices, those words, the things he had thought White Tiger was saying at the time.

It was The Forger. The Forger had been speaking to him through White Tiger's body.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again.

"...Never mind." He waved a hand. "It's nothing, it doesn't matter."

He took a deep breath and started smiling again.

"Anyway, I'm just really excited," he said. "I think I'll soon be able to return that damn factor in my body to its normal state, and then I'll be able to transform. I can join the fight; I can protect others."

White Tiger's mechanical tail gave a gentle flick.

"I see." Its voice was steady, but a hint of softness could be detected if one listened closely. "That is a very good thing."

It paused.

"But don't get too excited. Excessive excitement leads to a decline in judgment, and too much adrenaline can place an extra burden on the body. If you really are going to participate in combat in the future, you must prioritize safety and avoid getting injured. You should warm up thoroughly before a fight, stay calm during it, and replenish your nutrients and rest afterward. Also, if you encounter an enemy you can't beat, don't force it; remember to retreat and call for backup. And—"

"I know, I know," Ye Ouyang interrupted, waving his hand in front of him. "Thanks, but don't be so... wordy."

White Tiger stopped, its optical lens fixed on him.

"From the perspective of human psychology," it suddenly changed the subject, "you don't actually have to fight for others. Fighting for yourself is also a perfectly valid choice."

Ye Ouyang was taken aback for a moment.

"But..." He thought about it. "Fighting for others is what I want to do."

White Tiger looked at him and remained silent for two seconds.

"Really?"

"Really."

"But..." White Tiger's mechanical tail flicked again, a small movement this time. "I thought it was because the Doctor's teachings back then left too deep an impression on your heart. Even after the Doctor's death, you still want to fulfill his legacy."

Ye Ouyang lowered his head and was silent for a while.

Then he looked up at White Tiger.

"It's more than that," he said, his voice low but clear. "I mean it. I truly want to fight for the happiness of others."

White Tiger looked at him, and the light in its optical lens seemed to soften a bit.

"Alright," it said.

It didn't pursue the topic further, instead tilting its head.

"So, what are you going to do now?"

Ye Ouyang scratched his head.

"I don't know," he said. "Right now, I'm just in a waiting phase—waiting for the workbench to finish making the item. How about... I go out for a stroll for a while?"

White Tiger nodded.

"Alright. I will wait here for your return."

Ye Ouyang walked to the door, then suddenly stopped and looked back.

"What should I go look at?"

White Tiger's mechanical tail swayed gently.

"I have some suggestions," it said. "In this situation, most humans would choose to buy something to eat—snacks, drinks, or a full meal. Some might buy a game console, manga, or other entertainment products. Others choose to just window shop, not buying anything, just walking around and looking. You can choose based on your preferences."

Ye Ouyang left the base and walked slowly down the street.

He didn't know where he was going; he was just wandering. He passed a convenience store, went in for a look, and bought nothing. He passed a snack stall that smelled delicious, checked his pocket, found he had enough money, bought a portion, and ate as he walked.

Then he saw that person.

The young man who had given him the bread was standing by the roadside, holding a cup of coffee as if he had just bought it and was about to leave. Ye Ouyang's eyes lit up, and he hurried over.

"Hello!"

The young man was startled. He turned his head, saw it was him, and was also surprised for a moment.

"Oh... it's you," he smiled. "Hello."

Ye Ouyang stood before him, still holding the snack he had just bought.

"Um," he said, "I had a question I wanted to ask you—why did you give me that bread back then?"

The young man was a bit surprised by the question. He thought about it and scratched his head.

"There wasn't any special reason," he said. "I just saw you sitting there by yourself, not doing anything, just spacing out. I felt... a bit sorry for you, I guess. You're still a kid, sitting alone by the road, and I just suddenly felt like giving you something."

After hearing this, Ye Ouyang nodded.

"You're a really kind person then," he said, then reached out his free hand. "My name is Ye Ouyang. What's yours?"

The young man was taken aback. He looked at the hand, then at Ye Ouyang's face, and then reached out to shake it.

"My name is..." He paused, his gaze drifting for a moment as if he were thinking of something, then he smiled. "My name is Lin Yuan. 'Lin' as in woods, 'Yuan' as in distance."

"Lin Yuan," Ye Ouyang repeated, nodding. "That's a good name."

Lin Yuan gave a small smile but didn't respond.

The two stood by the roadside in silence for a few seconds.

Lin Yuan looked at him and suddenly sighed.

"It's nice," he said.

"What is?"

"You," Lin Yuan said, his gaze falling on his face with an indefinable expression. "That vibrant feeling you have. Unlike me, whose edges have been worn down by life, without even a hint of my former sharpness."

Ye Ouyang was stunned for a moment, then he burst out laughing.

"Oh, I know that one," he said. "You've gone from being 'diverse' to having your edges worn down by life until you're just 'perverse'."

Lin Yuan was stunned for a second after hearing that, then couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"You kid..." He shook his head with a smile. "You're pretty good at playing along."

Ye Ouyang chuckled, his face carrying the carefree optimism typical of a youth.

"Cheer up, don't always be like this," he said. "That's life; you've always got to look forward."

Lin Yuan looked at him, the corners of his mouth curving up.

"Alright, I'll cheer up then."

He smiled—a genuine smile. Although it wasn't deep, it was much more vivid than his previous sentimental look.

"Man, I really envy you," he said. "To be able to be this happy."

Ye Ouyang tilted his head.

"I'm the one who envies you," he said. "Being able to live like this every day without having to worry about all that crazy stuff."

Lin Yuan was taken aback, then he laughed, this time with a touch of helplessness.

"I have plenty to worry about," he said, counting on his fingers. "Mortgage, car loan, whether tomorrow's salary is enough to spend, where to eat for lunch, what I can have for dinner..."

Ye Ouyang blinked as he listened.

"...Well," he said, "aside from the mortgage and car loan, I'm still pretty envious of the rest."

"Envious of what?"

"Envious that you have to think about what to eat every day," Ye Ouyang said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "That's a wonderful kind of freedom, isn't it?"

Lin Yuan was stunned by his words, then slowly nodded.

"Yeah, freedom," he repeated softly, his gaze drifting as if looking at something far away. "But I want something more... an exciting life."

Ye Ouyang looked at him and said nothing.

Lin Yuan shook his head.

"Never mind, it's nothing," he said, his voice dropping a bit. "I'm an adult; I can't keep going on like this."

He paused.

"I miss the past... but then I suddenly realized there wasn't much worth missing. It was too mundane."