Still Frame Chapter 25
byChapter 25: Drowned Ideals (2)
Finally, a card fell to the floor.
Wen Jin picked it up. It was a press pass, wrinkled and worn as if it had been soaked in water, looking ancient and having clearly seen a lot of life.
“This is my last press pass,” Uncle Da said, a nostalgic look on his face. “It survived an air raid with me. I lived, and the pass didn’t get lost. It’s my lucky charm.”
When he mentioned the air raid that nearly took his life, Uncle Da looked regretful, but Zhang Liuxin couldn’t detect any self-pity in the deep lines on his face, only a profound, deeper sorrow.
“I didn’t know you were caught in an air raid later on…”
Zhang Liuxin’s voice trailed off. In truth, ever since his car accident shattered his dream of being a reporter and his family forced him into a host position at Silver Mirror Terrace, he rarely paid attention to the journalism industry. Sometimes, he even deliberately avoided current events.
“I was very lucky. Our director and cameraman were left behind forever in Saiglant.”
“The Saiglant in the far north?”
It was a city where turmoil had almost never ceased. Zhang Liuxin had only heard of it, seen it in the corners of documentaries and newspapers, and knew that many people had lost their lives there.
“Yes, it’s terribly cold there in the winter. Colder than any city I’ve ever been to.”
Zhang Liuxin had never been. He asked Wen Jin, who traveled frequently, “Have you been there?”
Wen Jin shook his head.
It made sense. How could a city that couldn’t even accommodate a quiet desk for study have any need for academic exchange?
“What are you two chatting about, getting all teary-eyed?” Aunt Mo came out of the kitchen. “Did you take your medicine? Do I have to remind you again?”
“Didn’t forget, didn’t forget,” Uncle Da told them in Silver State dialect. “She’s just nagging.”
Aunt Mo was displeased. “What are you muttering about? Taking advantage of the fact that I don’t understand Silver State dialect, are you?”
Then she turned to Zhang Liuxin. “His back has been hurting terribly these past two days. He won’t take his medicine unless I remind him, then he’s in too much pain to sleep at night. I told him he brought it on himself, but he still argues with me.”
Uncle Da had already poured out the pills, taken the glass of water Aunt Mo handed him, and swallowed the medicine quickly.
“I can’t help it. Who knew the aftereffects would be so severe? Losing two legs is one thing, but my back is shot too,” Uncle Da sighed helplessly.
“Pah, that’s because you don’t take your medicine on time.”
As the old couple bickered, Zhang Liuxin looked from Uncle Da’s wheelchair to his own exoskeleton, lost in thought for a moment. He touched his knee, pressing down inadvertently, a fingernail sinking into his skin, causing a dull ache.
“Liuxin.”
A beautiful, slender hand covered the back of his own. Palm and back of the hand pressed together without a gap. Then Wen Jin’s hand naturally turned, linking fingers with his, pulling him up. “Time to eat.”
Duo Fei was already sitting at the dining table, her mouth covered in cream from eating a cream biscuit. Tu Huisha was helping her wipe the cream off her clothes with a look of resignation, saying, “Feifei, eat slowly. No one is going to steal it from you.”
Uncle Da maneuvered his wheelchair into the kitchen to help Aunt Mo bring out the dishes, setting them out one by one. Aunt Mo gave a slight huff. “At least you’re being sensible today.”
Everything was warm and peaceful.
Wen Jin still wasn’t used to Bernlin cuisine. He ate every bite very slowly. Zhang Liuxin also noticed that when others spoke, he would deliberately pause his chopsticks to listen, looking very serious, though Zhang Liuxin suspected he was just trying to reduce the frequency of eating.
So Wen Jin had so many vivid details, Zhang Liuxin thought. He used to feel that Wen Jin was too distant, unattainable even in their student days. Even living under the same roof, he hadn’t felt any closeness.
Uncle Da said to them, “I actually miss Silver State a bit. It was the most prosperous place I’ve ever been, and the Silver State food is delicious.”
Zhang Liuxin said, “Silver State is very developed now. You could go visit.”
Uncle Da waved his hand. “My wife and I are old, and I’m disabled. It’s inconvenient everywhere.”
Zhang Liuxin wanted to argue, to say, Don’t think that way, to say that Silver State’s accessibility facilities are very comprehensive, but he understood Uncle Da’s feelings perfectly, as he felt the same way.
Wen Jin put a piece of food on Zhang Liuxin’s plate, but his words were directed at Uncle Da. “There will be a chance.”
Uncle Da still smiled and shook his head.
After dinner, Uncle Da brought an orange box from the inner room and handed it to Duo Fei. “Feifei, this is a new puzzle. When you finish it, it will be a little bird.”
Tu Huisha explained, “Uncle Da loves puzzles and woodworking. He makes puzzles himself to give to Feifei, and Feifei loves playing with them. It’s good for training her observation skills.”
“Thank you, Grandpa,” Duo Fei hugged Uncle Da. “Grandpa, you must take your medicine on time and take care of your body.”
Aunt Mo said, “Look at Feifei. She’s more sensible than you.”
Uncle Da’s eyes crinkled with laughter as he repeatedly said, “Good, good.”
“So you like puzzles too.” Zhang Liuxin felt that fate was somewhat miraculous.
Uncle Da raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You like them too?”
Wen Jin added from the side, “He’s an avid enthusiast.”
Zhang Liuxin rubbed his nose and mumbled, “It’s not that big a deal.”
It was only enough to nearly fill a room.
However, both he and Wen Jin had their quirks, so Wen Jin didn’t criticize him. Instead, Zhong Sixun often helped him collect niche puzzles from various states when she had free time.
“Then we truly have a connection,” Uncle Da patted the back of his hand. “Wait here. I’ll get you a bigger one. It took me a long time to make.”
While Uncle Da went inside to fetch the item, Aunt Mo said to them, “Thank you so much. My old man hasn’t been this spirited in a long time. Come visit often.”
Uncle Da came out with a large black box and told Zhang Liuxin, “This is a galaxy map. It has many constellations. If you know a bit about astronomy, it might be a little easier.”
Zhang Liuxin took it. It was indeed a heavy box, and when completed, it would be a sizable picture. “Thank you.”
He paused, then said in Bernlin language, “My husband happens to be very good at astronomy.”
Wen Jin looked over, taking the large box of puzzles from him, unsure why he had suddenly switched languages.
Uncle Da looked at him, then at Wen Jin, and after a moment, he also smiled and replied in Bernlin language, “Good. I think he’ll be very happy to accompany you.”
When they left Aunt Mo and Uncle Da’s house, the sky outside had turned a hazy blue-black. Duo Fei was sleepy, her eyelids drooping. Wen Jin carried her on his back, walking a little slower.
“This child, she was restless all last night and didn’t nap today, so now she can barely keep her eyes open.”
“She’s a child. It’s normal. Feifei is so cute,” Zhang Liuxin said.
“She is cute, but she’s also naughty,” Tu Huisha said, her gaze soft and doting as it fell upon her daughter.
Duo Fei only woke up groggily when they reached the bottom of Tu Huisha’s building. She waved her hand weakly and mumbled, “Good night, big brother and uncle. See you tomorrow.”
“Good night.”
For the remaining half of the journey, it was just the two of them. Zhang Liuxin touched the puzzle box, already anticipating the image inside.
“Is it that precious?” Wen Jin reached out to take it, but Zhang Liuxin avoided him.
Zhang Liuxin said, “You just carried a child.”
They walked down the main street, much more at ease now. Zhang Liuxin couldn’t help but sigh, “Why does it feel like I’ve only been here a few days, but I’m already becoming a local?”
“That’s because you have heritage from here.”
“How much did you eat tonight?”
Wen Jin fell silent.
Zhang Liuxin felt a little smug and whispered, “Serves you right for not knowing how to cook, and you won’t eat my cooking either.”
“I had something to do that day. A student in my group had an issue, so I went back to the academy.”
It took Zhang Liuxin a moment to realize he was explaining why he had left halfway through dinner that day.
“I got home very late, and I didn’t see any food.”
Zhang Liuxin hadn’t expected that. At the time, seeing that Wen Jin hadn’t returned, he assumed the other man wouldn’t be staying home that night, and he figured Wen Jin wouldn’t eat leftovers anyway. So he had dumped all the remaining food, feeling regretful for a while.
Under a streetlamp, Wen Jin said, “You really admire Uncle Da.”
He looked at Zhang Liuxin’s soft profile, illuminated by the light. There were a few small, light brown moles beneath his eye, like a unique mark, a pattern supporting an emerald.
“Yes,” Zhang Liuxin said. “In a way, he’s my idol.”
“Since university?”
“Yes, since university.”
It sounded a little odd for a thirty-year-old to use the word “idol,” but it was true. To be precise, famous reporters from various states were his idols.
Wen Jin slowed his pace slightly. “You never told me. Were you unhappy working at Silver Mirror Terrace later on?”
For Wen Jin, the word “happy” also sounded a bit out of place.
Zhang Liuxin hadn’t expected him to say that, nor did he understand why Wen Jin would ask such a question. Was their relationship in university one where they could freely discuss life ideals?
He avoided the core issue, replying, “I was happy. Having my own show at Silver Mirror Terrace at such a young age—it would be hard for anyone to be unhappy.”
He didn’t understand the significance of Wen Jin asking this question.
“You’re lying,” Wen Jin exposed him mercilessly. “Zhang Liuxin, you never told me what you wanted to do.”
Did telling him matter? Zhang Liuxin almost blurted the question out. His job wasn’t something he could decide, and what he had wanted since childhood had never come true.
He continued to evade the question, turning it back to Wen Jin. “What about you? What do you want to do?”
Two people who had stirred up waves in Silver State were discussing such a profound question on the street of a strange small town, but the deeper implications were hidden by the night.
“What I’m doing now is what I want to do,” Wen Jin said. “I’m satisfied with everything now.”
Zhang Liuxin couldn’t help but scoff, like any ordinary person addressing a favored child of heaven. “You probably never encountered anything you weren’t satisfied with since you were a child.”
Then, he kicked a small stone on the roadside. The stone rolled many times before finally resting safely in the grass.
His voice gradually softened. “I think things are good enough now.”
At least he could walk like a normal person and had a husband who would actively smile at him.
But why was there still an empty spot somewhere in his heart?