Chapter 269: Golden Sunflower Sea

On the second day after returning to the Western Hills Safe Zone, Lu Ran took A Nian out.

He held a cloth bag in his hand, containing mutant sunflower seeds brought back from the icefield, as well as a few bags of fertilizer collected from the logistics group.

A Nian followed behind him, holding a small hoe in her hand, skipping and jumping, occasionally bending down to pick up small stones on the ground.

Lu Ran chose an open space in the southeast corner of the safe zone, where the sunlight was sufficient,

and the soil was relatively fertile. He put down the cloth bag, rolled up his sleeves, picked up a hoe, and began to turn the soil. A Nian also learned his appearance, digging small pits in the side with a small hoe,

her movements clumsy yet very serious. Lin Chen and Xia Nuan passed by here, saw them, and didn't step forward to disturb them, just standing in the distance to watch for a while, then turned and left.

Team members saw Lu Ran turning the soil and took the initiative to come over to help one after another.

Some carried shovels, some carried water buckets, some helped scatter seeds,

and some helped bury the soil. Everyone knew Chu Yao liked mutant sunflowers the most, and Lu Ran was fulfilling Chu Yao's wish. No one spoke,

only the sound of hoes and shovels colliding with the ground echoing in the empty space.

Lu Ran placed the seed brought back from the icefield separately to one side.

He carefully dug a deeper pit in the center of the open space, then placed the seed inside,

and covered it with a layer of soil mixed with fertilizer, finally watering it. His movements were very gentle,

as if he were caring for a rare treasure. A Nian crouched beside and watched, asking in a small voice: "Captain Lu, is this seed different from the others?"

Lu Ran nodded, not speaking. He looked at that small soil pit,

thinking of Chu Yao in his heart, thinking of the funeral on the icefield, thinking of that sentence "When spring comes, it will sprout."

In the days that followed, Lu Ran would come here every day.

He watered the soil, fertilized, weeded, and drove away insects, taking meticulous care of those seeds. A Nian also followed him every day, helping him hand over water and fertilizer,

sometimes sitting on the ridge of the field, talking to those seeds, telling stories about her and Sister Chu Yao.

Team members of the safe zone would also come over to help from time to time. They looked at those tender shoots breaking through the soil,

their hearts full of anticipation. Days passed one by one, the tender shoots gradually grew taller,

grew round leaves, then drew out flower discs, and slowly bloomed with golden petals.

A sea of golden sunflowers spread out in the southeast corner of the safe zone just like that.

Whenever the wind blew, the petals swayed gently, like a golden wave, shining in the sunlight. Team members passing by here would stop their footsteps,

looking at those sunflowers, their faces revealing long-lost smiles.

Lu Ran stood in the center of the sunflower sea, looking at those blooming sunflowers, his eyes full of gentleness.

He walked to the sunflower in the center of the open space and stopped. This sunflower was different from the others; its stem was thicker, its leaves were greener,

its petals were more golden, and from the day it bloomed, it had never withered, always maintaining the appearance of being in full bloom.

This was the sunflower grown from the seed brought back from the icefield, a golden sunflower that would never wither.

A Nian ran over, stood beside Lu Ran, looking up at this sunflower,

her eyes shining: "Captain Lu, this sunflower is so beautiful; it seems to always be facing the direction of the sun."

Lu Ran nodded, reached out, and gently stroked the golden petals.

The touch of the petals was very soft, carrying a trace of warm breath, like Chu Yao's hand. He thought of Chu Yao's smile, thought of Chu Yao's voice,

thought of that seed ring Chu Yao placed in his palm.

Team members walked over one after another, looking at this golden sunflower that would never wither,

their eyes full of amazement. Xia Nuan took out her phone, took a photo of the sunflower,

and then saved the photo into her album. Lin Chen stood beside Lu Ran and patted him on the shoulder, not speaking.

Lu Ran looked at that golden sunflower, then looked at A Nian beside him, looked at the team members around him, looked at that sea of golden sunflowers.

He knew Chu Yao hadn't left; she was in this sunflower sea, in this sunflower that would never wither, and in his heart.

A Nian reached out and held Lu Ran's hand, saying in a small voice: "Captain Lu, Sister Chu Yao would be very happy to see these sunflowers."

Lu Ran lowered his head, looked at A Nian, and revealed the first smile since he returned. He gave a light "hmm," then held A Nian's hand,

and slowly walked toward the outside of the sunflower sea. The wind blew, the golden petals swayed gently,

making a "rustle, rustle" sound, as if Chu Yao were responding to their words.

The horn of training came from the safe zone's broadcast, and the team members turned around one after another,

walking toward the direction of the training ground. Lu Ran held A Nian's hand, walking in the golden sunflower sea, his footsteps steady and firm. That golden sunflower that would never wither,

blooming with dazzling light in the sunlight, illuminated the entire southeast corner of the safe zone. ===== CHAPTER 270 =====