A dead silence filled the mess hall, as if time itself had frozen, leaving only Xu Lin's steady voice echoing slowly in the air. He continued, "In a moment, I'll have a piece of paper handed to each of you. You can write whatever is on your mind—anything at all. Whether it's a blessing for me or your reasons for wanting to leave with me, feel free to write it down." The words had barely left his lips when Liu Feng walked over, carrying paper and pens. His steps were light, as though he feared disturbing the heavy atmosphere. Liu Feng moved along the tables, distributing the paper and pens to everyone one by one. The touch of the paper felt like a ferry ticket carrying the weight of everyone's destiny.
After half a year of prolonged and careful deliberation, everyone had long since made up their minds in their hearts. Without needing Xu Lin to say more, they picked up their pens one after another and began to write, the scratching sound filling the room. Complex emotions permeated the mess hall during this process. Some could not help weeping softly, their tears falling onto the paper and blurring the ink, each droplet like a silent plea of reluctance; others wore relaxed expressions, as if they had cast off all their burdens and stood resolute in their choices. Before long, everyone had finished writing. They silently handed the papers back to Xu Lin, each sheet feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds in that moment.
Xu Lin did not rush to look at them. He raised his head, sw…
Chapter 95