Chapter 122: If I Marry An Muxi in the Future

The three of them returned from the lighthouse to the statue of Uncle Caibo. Lin Shenlu used his telephoto lens to capture several shots, framing the distant piers, residential houses, ships traversing the sea, floating buoys, and anglers perched on the reefs. These scenes were pure and beautiful, as if time had paused here, allowing the moments to settle and crystallize.

"Let's go," Lin Shenlu said. "I'll take you for a stroll through Daodou Street."

As they returned to Dongji Stone by sightseeing cart, Lin Shenlu added that Daodou Street was nearby. Soon, they arrived before a stretch of vibrant, hand-painted walls. True to its name, the street was a steep incline, housing nearly every type of shop one could imagine—service centers, milk tea shops, gift boutiques, museums, and galleries for fishermen’s art. The walls on both sides of the road were adorned with hand-painted murals, and even the utility poles along the roadside featured painted animals, overflowing with artistic flair.

"Lu-wazi, what... is this?" Su Baoer asked, curiously inspecting a utility pole.

Lin Shenlu laughed when he saw it. The pole was truly filled with childlike wonder. It was painted white from top to bottom, with irregular yellow shapes scattered across the surface—clearly mimicking the pattern of a giraffe. At the height of a two-story building, a metal plate protruded from the pole, painted with the head of a giraffe. Lin Shenlu couldn't help but admire the painter's ingenuity; the pole was tall, the giraffe was tall, and together, they were the tallest of all.

Passing a milk tea shop, Lin Shenlu slowed his pace. "Everything will be alright, even if it's not today," An Muxi read softly, looking at the words written in blue chalk on the shop's wall. This was the "Worry-Free Milk Tea Shop." Every street and almost every shop here was imbued with such charming artistry.

"Ahead is the Dongji Freedom Theater, the filming location for *The Continent*," Lin Shenlu said with a smile. "It’s a very unique theater." The reason it was so special was that the entrance featured a bar on the left and a cinema on the right—one side modern, the other vintage. Lin Shenlu ordered three coffees to take a break. The theater was dimly lit, with a film playing on the screen. The surrounding walls, weathered by time, looked a bit worn, and the concrete floor and overall decor exuded a nostalgic 1980s vibe.

"Do you know why I kept leading you further uphill?" Lin Shenlu asked An Muxi once they had rested.

An Muxi shook her head.

"Because if you keep walking into the small alleys, you reach the fishermen's residences. They are all houses built of stone, and at the very top is the only bar on the island," Lin Shenlu explained with a smile. Having stayed in Lishui for so long, he truly hadn't been to a bar in ages. The bar was situated quite high, requiring a climb to reach.

Along the way, they passed a youth hostel: the Dongji Youth Hostel. Four large ceramic urns topped with colorful, painted iron spheres depicted Doraemon and Hello Kitty. The urns themselves were painted with dolphins, lighthouses, and other maritime motifs. Four large characters were inscribed at the opening: Dongji Youth Hostel. If he were traveling alone, Lin Shenlu wouldn't mind staying there; youth hostels were always quite interesting.

"So... you just wanted a drink," An Muxi said with a smile.

The bar at the summit was spacious, constructed entirely of red brick without any extra adornment—an industrial, minimalist style. It was decorated with wire mesh and strings of star-shaped lights, reminiscent of the "Heartbreak Utopia" set built by the character Tong Dawei in the drama *Struggle*. The wine cabinet was well-stocked, and a blackboard listed various craft beers and cocktails. At this hour, the bar was still quiet.

What caught Lin Shenlu’s eye was the wall. It turned out the stories he had heard were true. Beyond coffee and spirits, the bar’s walls were covered in a vast collection of postcards; visitors would write messages and pin them there. Lin Shenlu stepped closer to take a look. The foremost postcard was a *The Continent* souvenir. It bore several lines:

*As we grow older, we become more timid. When young, we should experience more, feel more, and be more unrestrained. Life is too short, and the world is too vast. If you want to do something, don’t wait until you’ve missed the chance. Admire the scenery you want to see before you grow old and regret it. The scenery remains, but that young, wild heart will eventually fade away.*
— Vampire Who Loves Laba Garlic, September 26, 2019

It was a postcard left years ago by a traveler. It was pinned to the wall with a red thumbtack, buried beneath hundreds, perhaps thousands, of other postcards, each bearing different words. Looking around, Lin Shenlu realized many people had left deeply heartfelt notes:

*Life is short—how can we make it bright and sparkling?* — A Little Red Flower
*There are always shadows on the road, but if you look up, you can always see the sun.* — Youzhi
*Whether you gain or lose, nothing is better than a peaceful heart.* — The Sleazy Little Foot
*Sautéing and simmering are both ways to become delicious, and so is working hard.* — Ningmeng

...

Lin Shenlu felt inspired. He asked the owner for a few postcards and handed them to An Muxi and Su Baoer. "Don't come in vain. You can take memories with you, but you leave emotions behind," he said, smiling as he handed a pen to An Muxi.

Lin Shenlu walked to a corner and began to write on his own postcard: "If I marry a girl named An Muxi in the future, any friend who sees this postcard will receive wedding candy. No matter how far away, I will send it..." He thought for a moment and added his QQ number. — Mr. Deer.

Glancing at An Muxi, who was still writing her postcard in the distance, Lin Shenlu smiled slightly and pinned his card to the wall. At that moment, Su Baoer came over to pin hers as well.

"Lu-wazi... what did you write?" Su Baoer asked curiously.

Lin Shenlu read it to her softly.

"Hmm... Lu-wazi... if you don't marry Sister An in the future... then I won't eat your wedding candy..." Su Baoer looked at him earnestly.

Lin Shenlu remained silent.

Su Baoer was illiterate and could not write. She had simply used her pen to draw a lighthouse and three small figures on the card—the scene that had left the deepest impression on her. Yet, she had delivered the most piercing words to Lin Shenlu.

Would there really be such a day?

Su Baoer gently pinned her postcard next to Lin Shenlu’s. "Lu-wazi... look... right now, the three of us... when you marry Sister An... we’ll all be together just like this..." she said, staring blankly at Lin Shenlu.

Just as Lin Shenlu was about to speak, he noticed An Muxi had finished her postcard and was coming over to pin it up. Fearing she might see his message, he quickly pulled Su Baoer toward her.

"What did you write, Muxi?" Lin Shenlu asked.