Still Frame Chapter 44
byChapter 44 Under the Rain
The work of plant monitoring was not as simple as it sounded. Before they left, Tu Yier had mentioned it would rain today and told them to finish their work early and return.
The path through the woods was difficult for Zhang Liuxin. Before they set off, Tu Yier gave him a hiking pole. Big Brother Tu, despite being a burly man, was quite thoughtful; worried that Zhang Liuxin might overthink it, he proactively explained that the pole would be much more convenient in case the path became slippery from the rain.
Finally reaching the first monitoring point, Zhang Liuxin opened the register. Wen Jin was responsible for observing the survival and growth status of the plants and articulating his findings simply. They worked together seamlessly. Zhang Liuxin felt like he was back in college, completing reporting assignments with Wen Jin.
“I didn’t expect what we learned in college to be useful now,” Zhang Liuxin carefully recorded the growth status of the rare plant, capped his pen, and took a deep breath, savoring the unique, fresh scent of the vegetation.
“Liuxin,” Wen Jin suddenly called out from ahead, “come here.”
“What is it?”
Zhang Liuxin followed him. There was a moss-covered rock in front of them. Wen Jin noticed it, used a tool to scrape the moss away, and then extended his hand to Zhang Liuxin, helping him climb a small slope.
“Jade Vine…”
In this secluded spot, a cluster of Jade Vine was hidden like a green sprite. Its flower buds, resembling a green waterfall, hung gracefully, like vibrant butterflies, radiating a deep jade color. As the breeze blew, the buds swayed gently, creating a strange, flowing wave.
This looked more vibrant and beautiful than the one in Luopu Mountain Botanical Garden. Zhang Liuxin carefully touched the petals and said, “It’s so beautiful, like turquoise. The last time I saw a Jade Vine was at Luopu Mountain.”
“That one was introduced by He Qing. It took a lot of effort to get it to survive. He left for school in another state before it even bloomed.”
“Was that entire botanical garden Mr. He’s?”
Speaking of He Qing, Zhang Liuxin felt a mix of emotions. Wen Jin didn’t have many close friends—besides his cousin Duan Chengzhi and Lü Zixia, there was He Qing. The wedding attire He Qing designed was still carefully preserved at Wenfeitai, and Zhang Liuxin remained very grateful to him.
However, the few times he had seen He Qing recently, the man looked melancholic, his beautiful eyes always holding a watery sadness. Zhang Liuxin didn’t know why.
“Yes, it was land his stepfather gave him. He likes studying these things, but since he wasn’t in Yinzhou during college, he left it to his brother and Zixia to manage.”
He Qing came from a blended family and had a stepbrother. Zhang Liuxin and Wen Jin had attended that young master’s wedding. The bride was a quiet, elegant university professor, and the event had been quite a sensation at the time.
Unconsciously, they drifted back to talking about their college days. After recording the details of the Jade Vine, the two continued toward the next monitoring point. On the way, Zhang Liuxin asked Wen Jin, “Do you also enjoy studying these plants?”
“Moderately.”
“Then why did you agree to your advisor’s request to join the Plant Society back then?”
Wen Jin glanced at him and countered, “Are you very concerned about this?”
This was the second time Zhang Liuxin had asked about the society. He didn’t know why he cared so much. When he looked up through the gaps in the leaves and saw layers of dark clouds, he realized it might be because he still couldn’t let go of their first meeting on the university campus. Downstairs from the Academy of Sciences building, Wen Jin’s gaze had been cold, something that had always bothered him.
“Because that society had something that interested me,” Wen Jin said. “And I didn’t have anything else going on at the time.”
Zhang Liuxin whispered, “You only showed up a few times, though.”
“Later, I got busy—doing experiments, traveling for work, attending seminars all the time,” Wen Jin remembered many details, not just Zhang Liuxin. “I bought some things for you all.”
It was more than just ‘some things.’ Zhang Liuxin smiled. “That’s why everyone missed you so much.”
After recording the pest and disease situation, the sky was already covered in dark clouds, so they decided to head back early. The return path was not easy. The wind was fierce, violently shaking the tree branches. Zhang Liuxin’s unease intensified. He tugged on Wen Jin’s sleeve and asked, “Can we make it back in time?”
“Hard to say. Let’s see if there’s a place to shelter from the rain along the way. The rain this season usually isn’t heavy.”
No sooner had he spoken than a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, and a few drops of water fell.
Wen Jin muttered something under his breath. It didn’t sound like a curse word, but Zhang Liuxin could sense his annoyance.
“We won’t make it back running. Let’s take shelter over there for a bit.”
The two ducked under a rock face covered in vines, their clothes marked with varying shades of dampness. Wen Jin stuffed his backpack deep into the shelter and had Zhang Liuxin sit behind him.
“The plot is repeating itself,” Zhang Liuxin said. Outside, the rain was pouring down, like two different worlds.
“Wen Jin, move closer. You’re getting wet.”
The wind was blowing the rain in, but because Wen Jin was blocking him, Zhang Liuxin remained dry.
“It’s fine.”
Wen Jin took off his jacket and placed it on Zhang Liuxin’s knees. He adjusted his posture, turning his side toward the outside of the rock face. Zhang Liuxin noticed his eyelashes fluttering faster and his thin lips slightly pursed.
“Are you cold?” He grabbed Wen Jin’s hand. Thankfully, Wen Jin’s body temperature was normal.
“No.” Wen Jin continued to stare intently at the continuous curtain of rain outside. Zhang Liuxin suspected that his soul was already soaked, even though his body remained beside him.
Zhang Liuxin imitated Wen Jin, squeezing his palm with a little force to draw Wen Jin’s attention back to himself. “The rain is too heavy. Don’t go out.”
Wen Jin chuckled, finally focusing his gaze on him. “Zhang Liuxin, do you take me for an idiot?”
His voice was low, partially drowned out by the rain outside. Zhang Liuxin couldn’t hear clearly, so he leaned in closer. Wen Jin didn’t push him away by pressing his forehead against his, as he had during their last rain shelter. Instead, he leaned down slightly, his lips brushing Zhang Liuxin’s earlobe. “I won’t.”
His voice seemed to be laced with rainwater, hazy, and it came through along with his warm breath. Zhang Liuxin felt like he, too, was drenched.
Wen Jin liked the sea, marine life, swimming, and rainy days. But beyond that, Zhang Liuxin knew he also really liked getting caught in the rain.
Getting caught in the rain. It sounded like something messy and chaotic, yet it was one of Wen Jin’s lesser-known preferences. Of course, he was usually very restrained; he wouldn’t rush into the rain like a madman.
“Your prediction failed today. This rain is heavier than you expected,” Zhang Liuxin said, leaning close to his ear.
“Hmm, climate issues,” Wen Jin admitted. “The rain here is stifling.”
Only Professor Wen, perhaps, would study rain with such dedication.
Raindrops drifted in from outside. Zhang Liuxin couldn’t help but shiver. Wen Jin wrapped his jacket around him, abruptly closing the distance between them. In the narrow rock shelter, they were almost nose-to-nose.
At this proximity, Zhang Liuxin could clearly see his own reflection in Wen Jin’s pupils—a little blurry, a little damp in the rain that was falling in Wen Jin’s eyes.
That uncontrollable feeling welled up from deep within his heart again. Zhang Liuxin wanted to say something to distract himself. The moment he opened his mouth, his lips were sealed by Wen Jin’s.
Wen Jin’s lips were cool, but mostly soft. Zhang Liuxin felt his heart pound harder. His jaw instinctively relaxed, and Wen Jin’s tongue slipped inside, followed by an urgent exploration, grinding and twisting, carrying a sense of loss of control. Although the rain outside was so loud, Zhang Liuxin could clearly hear the embarrassing sound of wetness, amplified infinitely in his senses. He unconsciously moved backward, his spine hitting the rock face, which hurt a little. But soon, a more noticeable pain came from his tongue tip. Wen Jin frowned, his eyes showing displeasure at the interruption.
The kiss was too sudden, too intense, like the downpour raging outside. Zhang Liuxin’s eyes lost focus, staring blankly at Wen Jin.
Wen Jin seemed to sigh, a very soft sound. He reached out and smoothed Zhang Liuxin’s clothes. After a long moment, he spoke again in that low voice, blended with the dampness of the rain. “What should we do? The rain hasn’t stopped yet.”
Perhaps it was because they had just kissed, but Wen Jin’s voice carried a hint of desire. Zhang Liuxin felt himself losing balance and reason, perhaps more, but he couldn’t focus on anything else. He stared at Wen Jin with a gaze that was almost obsessive—he didn’t know if Wen Jin noticed—and followed his lead. “When will it stop?”
“I don’t know.” The wise Professor Wen blurted out the answer without much thought.
As soon as he finished speaking, the professor covered Zhang Liuxin’s lips again, drawing something from him with an intensity fiercer than the storm.
Wen Jin wasn’t a saint; he needed an emotional release, Zhang Liuxin thought. And getting caught in the rain here would lead to a cold, which would be inconvenient.
So, he wrapped his arms around Wen Jin’s shoulders and accepted the kiss submissively.
The rain lasted for a long time, only easing slightly when the sky outside began to darken. Wen Jin draped his jacket over Zhang Liuxin’s head and said, “Let’s go.”
Zhang Liuxin still felt a little oxygen-deprived, like a marine creature out of water, or perhaps a mermaid who had exchanged something for the ability to walk on the tips of knives. Stepping onto the muddy ground, he clearly felt weak. Seeing Wen Jin’s completely soaked hair and clothes, he gritted his teeth and continued walking forward.
When he finally saw the light of the wooden cabin, Zhang Liuxin felt his left leg aching, sore, and incredibly heavy. Tu Yier looked relieved to see them return. “I’m glad you’re back. The rain was so heavy just now, I was worried something might have happened to you on the way. Hurry and take a shower, you must be cold after getting wet.”
“Okay,” Wen Jin said, noticing Zhang Liuxin’s pale face, his tone becoming urgent. “Liuxin, what’s wrong?”
Zhang Liuxin shook his head. “I’m a little cold. Let’s shower first.”
The bathroom was cramped. Wen Jin faced him and took off his wet shirt. Zhang Liuxin belatedly reached out to push his chest. “Why don’t you go first?”
Wen Jin poured some hot water over him, watching as color returned to his face. He couldn’t resist reaching out to touch him, his fingers brushing against damp skin. He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. “Just like this. Take off your clothes.”
His tone was almost a command, very firm. Zhang Liuxin felt a little unsteady, but at such close quarters with Wen Jin, he couldn’t make any other movements.
It had been a long time since he and Wen Jin had been so exposed to each other, but today, more than just that had happened. As his body gradually warmed up, his chin brushed against Wen Jin’s shoulder. Zhang Liuxin realized they had just shared one—no, several very long kisses—and now they were squeezed into the bathroom showering. The calluses on Wen Jin’s writing hand scraped against him, making his body tremble and his mind spin. Unconsciously, just like during the kiss, he draped his arm over Wen Jin’s shoulder. Wen Jin paused, pinched his waist, and said something, but Zhang Liuxin couldn’t hear clearly, feeling exhausted by the steam in the bathroom. He just wanted to hold on to something to keep himself standing.
He was barely conscious of how they finished showering, only remembering snatching the towel from Wen Jin’s hand and insisting on drying himself.
“Liuxin?” Wen Jin gently patted his face. Zhang Liuxin vaguely heard him talking to someone, saying he had a fever. “Don’t sleep yet. Take the medicine.”
Why was his body still so hot after the shower? Hotter than when Wen Jin had been kissing him earlier.
“Mhm.” He swallowed the pill, and a water cup touched his lips. He felt a hand supporting his chin, and then a cool liquid slid down his throat.
The hand on his forehead must be Wen Jin’s. Zhang Liuxin opened his eyes and struggled to call out, “Senior…”
Then he heard a few words in Bernlin, Tu Yier’s voice. “Chen, you have a fever. Get some sleep.”
“Mhm.”
The door opened and closed. After a moment, Wen Jin said, “I love you.”
Now he finally realized he couldn’t even withstand a simple rain shower, having developed a fever so quickly. This “I love you” came at a dangerous time, as he suspected his chaotic brain would process it as a confession because of the kiss today.
“Wen Jin, just say ‘I’m sorry.’ Don’t say that again,” he reminded, pulling at the corner of his chapped lips.
“I shouldn’t have let you get wet.” Wen Jin replaced the towel on his forehead with a fresh one. Zhang Liuxin felt the coolness and became slightly clearer.
“No,” his consciousness drifted far back in time, and he murmured, “Isn’t this our secret?”