Chapter 17: He himself was a beautiful scenery

"Cultivate oneself through tranquility; nurture virtue through simplicity."

"If a person can maintain clarity and tranquility, all under Heaven returns to harmony."

The boy quietly murmured these words.

The ancient sages were right.

After spending time in this peaceful environment, surrounded by the tranquility and beauty of nature, listening to the birds sing and watching the evening breeze rustle through the leaves as he bid farewell to the day, all of Lin Feng’s troubles seemed to fade away.

In her previous life, Madam Lin still had to concern herself with household affairs as the matriarch of the family. Even during the most peaceful moments of the day, when she was at her most relaxed, she had never been as carefree and at peace as Lin Feng was now.

"When one quietly observes all things, each reveals its own truth."

"One movement is not as good as one moment of stillness."

He continued to chant softly.

After arriving in this world, Lin Feng had been unable to recover in time. He had been distressed by the fact that he had awakened as a man, unable to see what was good about being transported to this world.

Then Lin Feng had encountered his former husband, Hou Yizhen.

His already turbulent emotions had been thrown into even greater chaos, as if he could no longer think clearly and had even begun behaving improperly.

Now that everything was over and Lin Feng had begun spending his days in solitude, the chaos in his mind had finally stilled, and clarity had returned.

Did Lin Feng still love Hou Yizhen?

The answer was yes; he still loved this man.

Would he still actively force his affections onto Hou Yizhen despite the latter’s unwillingness?

No, Lin Feng still retained a basic sense of self-esteem.

Not to mention, perhaps due to the influence of his previous life, he could not help but consider Hou Yizhen’s feelings and thoughts his priority.

Lin Feng did not even know if he would be able to free himself from this state anytime soon, but he would do his best to try.

Habits were truly not easy to change.

If...

Just if, by some miraculous chance, Hou Yizhen happened to fall for Lin Feng in the future, would Lin Feng be willing to accept the man’s affection?

Lin Feng thought about it long and hard.

He wanted to say no.

They were both men, and this society would never accept it.

No, because it went against the standards of this world.

Besides, he was Uncle Hou, considered an elder, although he was clearly still quite young...

Yet, in this moment of clarity and stillness, while gazing at the peaceful valleys and mountains, Lin Feng could not deny what he truly felt.

If Hou Yizhen were to approach him, he definitely could not refuse the man’s advances.

Hou Yizhen’s attraction to Lin Feng was almost deadly—irrevocable and fatal.

Hou Yizhen was like poisoned wine to an alcoholic who had been deprived of alcohol for far too long.

Lin Feng thought, ’By today’s standards, I’m what people would call a simp, wouldn’t they?’

But denying the truth was nothing more than fooling himself.

He needed to face the truth so that he could take his first step toward moving on.

The world was so beautiful.

Now, Lin Feng was no longer the old Madam Lin, who was restricted by the times, unable to step outside the house by herself, and unable to even walk properly because of her bound feet.

What was stopping Lin Feng from exploring the world and finding ways to improve himself?

Lin Feng stood up and walked outside the house, stopping just beyond the villa’s door.

Soon, it would be sunset.

The sky would soon be painted in beautiful shades of red, pink, violet, and indigo.

He suddenly felt the urge to step outside the homestead’s yard, cross the grounds, and stroll through the streets of this tranquil village.

"Uncle Yang," the boy said softly, without turning his head as he gazed at the clouds. "I would like to step out of the yard and see the scenery outside."

It was not a question, Housekeeping Yang noted.

He bowed slightly and signaled to a nearby servant holding a soft, knitted beige scarf large enough for Lin Feng to wrap around his shoulders.

"Certainly, Young Master Lin Feng. Sunset will be coming soon, and the view outside will be much more beautiful than it is here. Please take your time. Although, I hope you do not mind the bodyguards watching over you from a certain distance."

Lin Feng finally turned his head and gave the concerned elder a soft smile. His eyes were smiling as well.

"Of course I don’t mind. I am very thankful to everyone for always taking care of me."

The usually serious face of the housekeeper softened at the sight of the boy’s warm smile.

Wearing a pair of plain brown canvas shoes, Lin Feng walked across the vast grounds of the homestead. The guards at the gate respectfully opened the doors, and Lin Feng took his first step outside.

His body could not help but tense slightly, his hands tightening around the large scarf draped over his shoulders. Other people might have found it strange, but Lin Feng still felt nervous without a maid by his side.

He took another step, then a few more, until his steps slowly became steady. His shoulders gradually relaxed, and his nerves finally settled.

It turned out that stepping out into the world was not as frightening as he had thought it would be.

The boy stepping into the new world for the first time—or rather, the soul of an ancient woman who had finally stepped into this new world with an open heart—could not help but feel curious about everything he saw.

Lin Feng took a deep breath.

The scent of the earth awakening from its slumber drifted through the surroundings, gently tickling his nose.

The residential area where the villa was located was, in fact, separate from the village’s actual residential area. The locals lived farther down the streets, closer to the farmland, where the houses stood much closer together.

The area where Lin Feng was staying could be considered a more upscale part of the village, with only a few villas scattered throughout the spacious grounds, each surrounded by large yards.

After reaching a certain crossroads that was neatly paved, with one road leading further into the villa area and the other leading down the streets toward the farmlands, Lin Feng hesitated for a moment, unsure of which way to go.

In the end, he felt more curious about how the locals lived, and he also wanted to see the farmland he could faintly make out from the higher ground of his attic.

Soon, after walking down the street, he saw the roofs of traditional courtyards peeking through the trees, their branches still bearing only sparse leaves in the early spring.

Then, Lin Feng saw stretches of farmland spreading across the low hills and valleys, with rows of courtyards interspersed neatly, blending perfectly with nature without being too abrupt.

Mountains surrounded the valley, and their peaks were covered in white frost, while wispy ribbons of fog lingered around the mountains.

With the scarf comfortably wrapped around him for warmth, Lin Feng tilted his chin and looked up at the sky, savoring the cool breeze tousling his hair.

The golden glow of the sunset fell over him, making his light, fluffy hair appear as if it was made of gold. His amber eyes glistened and reflected the vibrant colors of the sunset. His skin glowed with a jade-like luster, almost shining.

On the horizon, the sun had begun to sink behind the mountains.

It was still quite early. The blue sky had only just begun to turn golden, while the clouds had started to take on a beautiful pink hue.

"What a beautiful view," Lin Feng murmured.

The sunset over the mountains and farmland was a breathtaking sight to Lin Feng.

However, he himself was unaware that, at that very moment, he had also become a beautiful sight to others.

A tall figure holding a pair of binoculars was standing on the balcony of one of the villas back in the uptown area. He paused in his sweeping motion, returning his focus to the beautiful scene he had just glimpsed.

The tall figure was a rather muscular man with a buzz cut, wearing a tightly fitted black T-shirt that displayed the strong muscles on his body. One hand held the binoculars, while the other was in his pocket.

At the same time, a group of elderly and middle-aged locals had just finished working in the farmland and were walking down the street toward their homes when they caught sight of the breathtaking figure standing before them.

This young man was someone they had never seen before in their village.

Their eyes immediately brightened.

Could this be that famous young man from the rumors—the wealthy, noble young master from Beijing’s elite inner circle, who was also said to be a famous superstar as beautiful as an immortal?

This... this rumor seemed to be surprisingly accurate for once.

Even though the locals quickly lowered their voices while admiring the beautiful sight before them, Lin Feng still heard the distant voices.

Turning his head, Lin Feng saw a group of elderly and middle-aged villagers watching him. They were dressed in old work clothes, boots, and gloves, with straw hats resting on their heads.

He was now standing on a street that intersected with the path he had taken earlier. This street ran alongside the farmland, and many of the locals would likely pass through here when traveling to different parts of the village.

A little surprised by the unexpected encounter with a group of strangers, Lin Feng quickly recovered. He gave the approaching group a gentle smile and nodded politely.

Lin Feng thought that was the end of it.

However, he had underestimated the courage and proactiveness of the local elders.

Soon, he saw the group approaching him, their hands raised to their faces as they called out to him, clearly intending to come over and talk.

For a moment, Lin Feng panicked and wanted to leave.

But he stopped himself.

Lin Feng’s purpose in stepping outside the house was to explore the world, change his old ways, and learn how to properly interact with the people of this new world.

So, he simply stood where he was and watched as the group of farmers quickly crossed the distance between them, reaching him within a few seconds.