Still Frame Chapter 61
byChapter 61: The Budding
“So, because of an accident, you and Wen Jin got married?”
Unconsciously, Zhang Liuxin had recounted the general circumstances of how it all began. He omitted some details about signing the agreement, but Da Ping seemed able to guess.
“Yes, that car accident definitely affected me greatly.”
He felt nervous saying this, unsure how Da Ping would view their situation, but Da Ping’s expression remained calm. He told him, “Not everything happens like in an idol drama. As long as you like each other now, that’s what matters.”
“You even know about idol dramas,” Zhang Liuxin smiled, his eyes curving.
Da Ping jutted his chin toward the balcony. “It’s all because she likes watching them.”
“Then perhaps this accident is an opportunity for you two? Here, you don’t have your identities from Yinzhou, or even communication devices. You should be able to learn more about each other.”
Zhang Liuxin nodded. “That’s true. Wen Jin is very different here compared to Yinzhou. But honestly, I’m really grateful for this accident. It gave me a chance to spend time with him like this, especially since Wen Jin doesn’t speak Bernlinian. This is the first time I’ve felt my husband rely on me.”
After speaking, he felt a little sentimental and looked at Da Ping apologetically, but Da Ping raised an eyebrow in appreciation. “That’s perfectly normal. Partners should rely on each other, expose their weaknesses, and then be accepting.”
“Thank you for being willing to listen to me,” Zhang Liuxin lowered his eyes. “In Yinzhou, I wouldn’t be able to tell anyone.”
“It’s nothing. Look at me, in this condition, I usually have to stay home most of the time. Many people think I’m just a strange old man. Not many people are willing to talk to me this much,” Da Ping laughed heartily.
“Oh, I have a question that might be a bit presumptuous,” a rare hesitation appeared on Da Ping’s face.
“Please ask.”
“Well, since you liked journalism so much, why did you ultimately choose to become a host? Of course, that program is very meaningful. I found an old episode from years ago, and your scriptwriting was excellent.”
At the mention of this, a trace of disappointment flashed in Zhang Liuxin’s eyes, hidden by his long lashes. After a moment, he spoke. “It was due to family arrangements. They needed a public figure with exposure. Also, the condition of my leg makes it unsuitable for fieldwork.”
Da Ping expressed understanding. “Indeed. But speaking of fieldwork, you wouldn’t believe the reporter I met in Saiglant.”
“What?”
“She was from Weitingzhou. Due to an accident when she was young, her right arm was amputated. She told me that many people around her advised her to give up, go to a school for the disabled, and learn a trade. But she refused to accept her fate. She got into a media college herself and later went to Saiglant to become a war correspondent.”
Zhang Liuxin’s eyes widened slightly, feeling an invisible shock and surge of emotion within him.
“It’s a pity that although we exchanged contact information, I haven’t been able to reach her for a long time. The conflict in Saiglant is escalating, and reports are becoming scarcer. So I don’t know how she is now.”
Da Ping sounded melancholic, perhaps thinking of the colleagues he fought alongside, the injuries he sustained there, or the war-torn city itself.
“How old is she?”
Da Ping thought for a moment. “Around thirty-five.”
Zhang Liuxin was silent for a while, then suddenly asked, “How long would it take to get to Saiglant from here?”
Da Ping looked at him, finding his expression serious, not joking. A faint suspicion arose in his heart.
“Saiglant is very far, and there are no direct flights. You have to first pass through Doguin Town to Serin, take a plane to Oba, and then transfer to a train. The trains there are very slow, so that takes two days. Finally, at the Saiglant border, you have to find one of those motorcycle-riding vendors who transport supplies to get inside.”
Just then, Aunt Mo and Duofi returned from the balcony. Duofi nestled up to Zhang Liuxin, tugging his sleeve. “Liuxin, let’s go back.”
Da Ping smiled and asked her, “What’s wrong, Feifei? Is it not fun here? Grandpa will play with you, okay? Where did we leave off on the little bird puzzle last time?”
“Grandpa, that one is too hard,” Duofi pouted, then turned to Zhang Liuxin. “Liuxin, will you help me put it together?”
“Of course, I’ll help you,” Zhang Liuxin stood up, holding Duofi’s hand, and told the elderly couple, “Then we’ll head back now. Sister Hui and the others are waiting for us for dinner.”
As they reached the entrance, Da Ping wheeled himself over and said earnestly to Zhang Liuxin, “Liuxin, don’t be impulsive.”
Zhang Liuxin paused before realizing what he meant. He smiled at him. “I won’t. I still have to finish that puzzle. I’ll show it to you when I’m done.”
Da Ping nodded. “Good.”
Back at the shop, he didn’t see Wen Jin immediately. When he asked, he learned Wen Jin was in the back room. Zhang Liuxin had a premonition. Sure enough, when he pushed the door open, he saw Wen Jin just putting down the phone.
He couldn’t describe the feeling in that instant. Zhang Liuxin took a breath and asked, “Was that Colonel Duan calling?”
Wen Jin nodded. He first asked why Zhang Liuxin had been gone so long and if his leg still hurt.
Zhang Liuxin wanted to curve his lips to reassure him, but his heart felt like it was tied to a boulder sinking downwards. He slowly walked closer and asked softly, “What did Colonel Duan say?”
Under Zhang Liuxin’s slightly anxious gaze, Wen Jin spoke. “He said he’s coming to pick us up in four days.”
Just as expected, they finally had a confirmed time to return to Yinzhou, yet Zhang Liuxin found it hard to smile. He turned his head away unnaturally. “Four days? Have things in Yinzhou been handled? I mean, your second paternal uncle—have they found the evidence?”
“Yes, my parents have started dealing with the matter and submitted the evidence to the police department.”
Zhang Liuxin remembered that the Yue family had people in the State Police Department. It seemed his second paternal uncle would truly be unable to escape this time.
“That’s good, that’s good,” Zhang Liuxin nodded nervously. “What about Zhang Jiming? Has he done anything else to threaten your family?”
Wen Jin took his hand and frowned. “He’s only been spreading false rumors. Now that my parents are back, he probably won’t dare to act rashly. Why are your hands so cold? Was it windy and cold outside?”
Zhang Liuxin shook his head. “No, it’s not cold. Since the return date is set, can we call Yinzhou now?”
“Who do you want to call?”
Whether it was Zhang Liuxin’s imagination or not, Wen Jin’s expression was surprisingly cautious, and his grip on Zhang Liuxin’s hand tightened.
“My assistant, Levi. I’m still worried about the TV station and want to ask him.”
Wen Jin’s expression softened slightly. “Go ahead and call.”
He stayed rooted to the spot. Zhang Liuxin actually wanted him to leave, but seeing his expression, he didn’t know how to ask, especially since Wen Jin never avoided him when making calls.
In the end, he steeled himself and dialed Levi’s number. Just as he pressed the call button, Wen Jin asked, not too heavily, “I didn’t expect you to still remember your assistant’s number.”
The tension in Zhang Liuxin’s heart eased. He caught a subtle emotion on Wen Jin’s face and couldn’t help but smile.
“He’s my only assistant. He handles everything, big and small. How could I forget his number?”
Wen Jin averted his gaze, seemingly reluctantly accepting his explanation.
The call connected after a moment, and a slightly hoarse male voice came through. “Hello?”
“Levi, it’s me, Liuxin.”
The other end went silent. Zhang Liuxin thought the signal was poor and asked doubtfully, “Can you hear me?”
“Wait,” Levi shooed the others out of the office. “Zhang Liuxin?”
Zhang Liuxin rarely heard Levi use this tone. He smiled. “Yes.”
“Why can you call now? Where are you? Where is Young Master Wen?”
“I’m in Bernlin. Wen Jin is with me. Since he said Colonel Duan will send someone to pick us up in a few days, calling now shouldn’t be monitored by the Security Bureau.”
Levi took a moment to process this. “Right, that makes sense. Zhong Zhu told me the same thing, she’s the one who told me not to contact you during this time.”
“How has Yinzhou been recently? Has the news of our disappearance spread?”
“Only a few people in the inner circle know. Your program being suspended was explained as you and Young Master Wen going for treatment together. No one at the TV station has said anything.”
“That’s good. By the way, how is the Zhang family… lately?”
He grew nervous at the mention of this, silently clenching his hand at his side.
“Company stocks are normal. It’s just that Zhang Qiannan woke up.”
Zhang Qiannan woke up.
Zhang Liuxin felt a ringing in his ears. His brain, like an old information processor, couldn’t immediately grasp the meaning of that sentence.
“He woke up yesterday, but after lying down for so long, his consciousness and physical functions haven’t fully caught up. He can’t speak yet, only blink.”
Zhang Liuxin felt his throat constrict, unable to make a sound, but fearing Wen Jin would notice something amiss, he forced himself to remain calm. “The Zhang family must be quite lively now.”
Levi said, “Not lively, exactly. It’s just that the relatives on Madam’s side have come over, so things are a bit chaotic. But the news hasn’t spread yet. CEO Zhang is suppressing it.”
Zhang Liuxin roughly understood Zhang Jiming’s thinking. Originally, his miraculously awakened son would have been the best evidence in his hand to destroy the marriage between Wen and Zhang. If he told the public that Wen Jin immediately abandoned his fiancé for his older brother after the car accident, Wen Jin and the Wen family’s reputation would be severely damaged.
But now, the Wen family had started taking action, and the second paternal uncle who provided Zhang Jiming protection might not even be able to save himself. So, Zhang Jiming had to keep a low profile and conceal the news of Zhang Qiannan’s awakening for now.
However, Zhang Liuxin despised Zhang Jiming’s attitude, even after his biological son, who had been a vegetable for seven years, miraculously woke up.
“There’s nothing to worry about in Yinzhou. With the Wen and Yue families holding the fort, things won’t get too messy. Oh, did you hear what Carter said when he came back? What kind of kidnappers would spare the life of a small assistant?”
“Yes, I know. Colonel Duan mentioned it when he called.”
“What kind of secret does the Wen family have? Is it just about you and Wen Jin getting married? After all these years, the fake marriage could have become real. What secret is there? They must be bluffing.”
Hearing the phrase “fake marriage becoming real,” Zhang Liuxin unclenched his fist slightly.
“Do you remember anything unusual on the plane that day? That kid Carter was so scared he almost had a nervous breakdown. I asked him, and he said nothing special happened on the plane.”
“I don’t remember either. I didn’t feel anything abnormal. You know I get airsick and tend to get sleepy on planes. Carter brought me some plums. I chewed a few, and then I inexplicably lost consciousness.”
Levi said, “That’s a bit strange. Could there have been something in the plums? But Carter said Young Master Wen prepared those plums, and Young Master Wen knows you get airsick.”
Zhang Liuxin’s breathing hitched, his expression freezing for a moment. He slowly looked at Wen Jin beside him. Wen Jin was watching him intently. Seeing Zhang Liuxin look over, he tilted his head slightly, his eyes asking what was wrong.