Still Frame Chapter 87
byChapter 87 The Blunt Knife
Wen Jin finally felt a sense of calm as he recalled Da Ping’s veiled metaphor, and he closed his eyes. The person he deeply loved had left him, and he should have felt pain, but he also knew clearly that by leaving his lover, his lover had gained freedom and a new life. He should be proud of that.
So, when he landed, the last trace of melancholy completely faded from Wen Jin’s face. It was eleven o’clock at night when he returned to the Wen Estate. He hadn’t wanted to come back, but his parents had matters to discuss with him.
Yue Yun had been restless for the past few days. Ever since she learned that her husband, son, and beloved nephew had orchestrated an incident behind her back, leaving Wen Jin and Zhang Liuxin stranded in another state with nothing for so long, she had taken the rare step of losing her temper with her husband. She had even paused some of her work, urging them to bring Wen Jin and the others back immediately.
Now that she finally saw her son, she hurried over, touching his slightly sunken cheek. “A-Zhuo, there’s red date hasma soup still warm in the kitchen. Have some, you’ve lost so much weight.”
Wen Jin patted his mother’s hand. “It’s alright, Mom, I’m fine.”
Wen Huaichuan sat on the sofa. Though it was late, he was still wearing his usual clothes, exuding an air of authority without needing to raise his voice. Yue Yun pulled her son down to sit and gave her husband a look. Wen Huaichuan cleared his throat. “You’ve lost weight. It’s been a hard time.”
Wen Jin nodded, accepting the hasma soup presented by a servant, and symbolically took two sips.
“We agreed that once this matter was resolved, I would give you a long vacation. You won’t have to worry about the Group’s affairs. You can go back to being a professor at the university, or travel to relax if you have the time.”
It was rare for Wen Huaichuan to speak to Wen Jin like this. Previously, he had always been dissatisfied with Wen Jin’s pursuit of scientific research, constantly talking about the heir and pushing Group business onto his son. He knew Wen Jin wasn’t interested, but he also knew Wen Jin was clear that this was his duty, so anything entrusted to him was always completed well.
Unexpectedly, Wen Jin refused, saying, “There’s no need.”
Yue Yun said, “Why no need? A-Zhuo, don’t overwork yourself. Take it easy at the university for a while. I’ll have Aunt Lin prepare some nourishing food for you.”
Wen Jin set down the porcelain bowl and simply said, “It’s unnecessary.”
He had chosen to agree with his father, even proactively suggesting taking Zhang Liuxin along, all in an effort to repair his relationship with the husband who wanted a divorce. Now that Zhang Liuxin had left without saying goodbye, there was naturally no need for a vacation. On the contrary, he decided to take over the Group’s expansion business to keep himself busy and prevent himself from thinking about other things.
Yue Yun had already learned about Zhang Liuxin’s departure from Duan Chengzhi. As a mother, even if Wen Jin appeared cold, she knew where her son’s abundant emotions lay. She had specifically asked Wen Jin to come tonight because she was worried about his emotional state. Yet, Wen Jin seemed perfectly fine, maintaining his usual detached demeanor.
Yue Yun tentatively asked, “Then Liuxin…”
“Mom, Dad, I’m going back now.” Wen Jin abruptly stood up.
Wen Huaichuan frowned. “Sit down. Who taught you to interrupt your elders?”
“Huaichuan, don’t speak yet,” Yue Yun gently patted Wen Jin’s back. “It’s too late now, and Wenfei Terrace is so far. Don’t go back yet. Why don’t you sleep here tonight and have breakfast with your parents tomorrow morning before heading back?”
Wen Jin lowered his eyes, meeting his mother’s concerned gaze. He nodded slightly and said, “Alright.”
Then he went upstairs.
Once his figure completely disappeared into the stairwell, Wen Huaichuan let out a cold snort. “No manners.”
As the head of the Wen family, he was always perceived by outsiders as dignified and powerful. Only at home would he occasionally show signs of impatience, mostly worrying about his only child.
“Don’t criticize him. Liuxin left, he’s upset too,” Yue Yun frowned. She had sprouted a few more white hairs recently, neatly combed back, adding a touch of weariness and helplessness to her usually elegant demeanor.
Yue Yun hadn’t expected that after a trip away, the docile Zhang Liuxin would do something so outrageous—leaving everything behind and running off to a distant place without telling anyone.
“The useless thing,” Wen Huaichuan muttered, though it was unclear who he was scolding, as he irritably unbuttoned a shirt button. “Treating marriage like a game. It’s only because Wen Jin spoiled him. Good, we’ll take care of the Zhang family situation soon, and then propose dissolving the marriage. Wen Jin is young. Once this period passes, he can just remarry.”
Yue Yun’s reaction to this was surprisingly strong. Mindful of Wen Jin upstairs, she lowered her voice, looking at Wen Huaichuan with fury. “What are you saying? Wen Huaichuan, A-Zhuo and Liuxin have been married for so many years and have deep feelings. Now that Liuxin is gone, instead of comforting your son, you’re planning to arrange a new marriage for him?”
Wen Huaichuan hadn’t expected his wife to react so strongly. He averted his gaze, his voice low. “What feelings could they have? It was a contractual marriage. Now that the matter with Wen Yishan is being handled, the Zhang family is weak. Announcing the dissolution of the marriage won’t have much impact.”
Yue Yun shook her head in disappointment, her usually calm eyes welling up with moisture. “You’re still thinking about these things even now. In your eyes, besides this family and the Group, your son means nothing.”
“Xiao Yun, don’t say things in anger,” Wen Huaichuan poured his wife a cup of tea. “If Wen Jin didn’t want it, fine. He has defied my wishes countless times since childhood—refusing to join the Group headquarters to pursue scientific research, and rejecting all the talented young people I selected for him, insisting on a disabled person. Didn’t I let him have his way?”
“You know A-Zhuo wanted Liuxin. Can’t you see that our son truly likes him?” Yue Yun’s voice trembled, and she unceremoniously pushed Wen Huaichuan’s hand away. “A-Zhuo and Liuxin are different from us. In the future, don’t say such things in front of him that insult his feelings and his lover.”
Treated so disrespectfully, Wen Huaichuan’s expression darkened. He wanted to say something, but only saw his wife’s retreating back, carrying an indescribable sense of loneliness and isolation.
He set down the teacup, looking at the vast and lifeless Wen Estate, his gaze deepening as if merging into the night, making his inner thoughts impossible to discern.
The next day, Wen Jin woke up early, but his parents were nowhere to be seen in the dining room. His mother, who had insisted he have breakfast with them, had the housekeeper inform him that she had official business and had flown to a neighboring city. She promised they would talk properly when she returned. His father had left no message.
This had happened many times before. Wen Jin didn’t even lift his eyes, sitting down at the table and having a simple breakfast.
The housekeeper prepared the car and asked where he was going. Wen Jin simply said, “I’ll drive myself today.”
He drove out again in the black car with the conspicuous license plate. After getting married, his official duties became heavier, and the number of times he drove himself was few and far between. Most of the time, he and Zhang Liuxin sat in the back seat, separated by two fists’ distance—he reading documents, Zhang Liuxin listening to podcasts with headphones.
Arriving at the Inter-State University School of Science, Wen Jin parked the car. Instead of taking the elevator, he walked up the stairs to the first floor and entered through the main entrance of the school building. It was class time, and a few hurried students passed by. Seeing him, they widened their eyes in surprise and stiffly called out, “Professor Wen, hello.”
Wen Jin nodded. “Hello.”
He returned to the office floor. Instead of rushing to his own office, he first went to Professor Lin’s office. He knocked twice on the door, and a steady “Come in” sounded from inside. He stepped in.
“Signed so quickly? Zhang is in the cabinet, stamp it yourself…”
“Professor.”
Professor Lin paused, looking up to see Wen Jin, whom he hadn’t seen for half a month, standing before him. Wen Jin was dressed casually, looking detached. Professor Lin was pleasantly surprised. He put down his pen and sat with Wen Jin on the nearby sofa. “Wen Jin! When did you get back? I saw online that you were kidnapped. What happened? Are you hurt?”
“Landed last night. No injuries, just some family disputes.”
This implied he didn’t want to elaborate. Professor Lin noticed Wen Jin’s skin was slightly pale, making his brow and eye contours deeper, giving him a chiseled, cold look. He asked the school assistant to brew a pot of calming tea.
“No need to trouble yourself. I came today to cancel my leave. I’ll leave after visiting Administration.”
“Why the rush? Let’s have lunch together. I’ll call Old Wang and the others. You wouldn’t believe it, during the days you were gone, your students kept asking when you’d return. The school also dumped some promotional lectures on us old guys, but who wants to watch when the poster is full of fifty-something old men?”
After half a month, Professor Lin was still so talkative. A smile also appeared in Wen Jin’s eyes. “They’ve caused you trouble.”
Just then, the assistant knocked and entered, pouring them two cups of tea. He smiled at Wen Jin. “Professor Wen is back.”
“Yes,” Wen Jin stopped him. “Xiao Li, is the academic exchange program with other states still available?”
“Our school doesn’t have any spots left. I think the School of Economics still does. Why, Professor Wen?”
“Could you please help me ask? I have a younger relative from my hometown, a Bernlin native, who is about to start university. She wants to come and see. If possible, email me, and I’ll send you her information.”
Xiao Li nodded. “Alright.”
“Which part of your hometown is Bernlin…” Professor Lin didn’t react at first, but then suddenly realized. “It’s Liuxin, isn’t it? Where is Liuxin? Why didn’t you bring him along?”
Wen Jin said flatly, “He’s resting lately.”
Was it because he was frightened by the kidnapping? Professor Lin inwardly regretted his slip of the tongue and quickly changed the subject, mentioning that he had some auction-grade lingzhi mushrooms gifted by a former student. He offered to send them to Wenfei Terrace, but Wen Jin politely refused, saying he was fine and didn’t need them for now.
The two discussed the recent status of the school and projects. Professor Lin brought up a recent longitudinal project and asked if he was interested. This was mostly a formality; after Wen Jin’s promotion, he rarely took on large projects, given his special family background and the need to care for his husband. He mostly only attended important seminars.
Unexpectedly, Wen Jin agreed. “Yes, send me the email. I’ll review it tonight.”
“This project won’t be finished in less than two years.”
“I know.” Wen Jin drank half a cup of the calming tea, his expression unchanged.
“Oh, right, someone has been coming to the school building looking for you these past few days. A young woman, she said she was a friend of Liuxin’s.”
“Surname Jiang?”
“Yes, she’s also a graduate of our university. She looked quite anxious, perhaps unable to contact Liuxin. I asked her to leave a phone number,” Professor Lin tore a sticky note from the pen holder. “See if you want to contact her.”
“Alright,” Wen Jin glanced at the time and reminded him, “You should be heading to class.”
Professor Lin smiled. “You have the best memory. Why don’t you wait here for me? We’ll go out for a meal after class.”
“I’ll walk around the campus for a bit. I’ll order food at Pingshan Garden and wait for you all.”
“Okay.”
Before leaving, Professor Lin felt a bit puzzled, wondering why Wen Jin suddenly had the leisure to wander around campus. Wen Jin had completed his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees at Inter-State University and had been there for over ten years, making him older than the new laboratory building.
Wen Jin went to the Administration office to handle some paperwork, then returned to his office to process a new funding application submitted by a student. He glanced at the string of numbers on the sticky note but didn’t dial it before leaving the school building.
He wasn’t lying about wanting to walk around campus. It was class time, so the school was much quieter. He walked along the campus avenue, occasionally encountering one or two students. Most students at Inter-State University recognized him but rarely saw him on campus, so most were excited.
Wen Jin greeted the students warmly and gradually walked toward the library.
He stood at the bottom of the steps, looking at the nearly century-old building. Zhang Liuxin’s image flashed through his mind again. The rain had been too heavy that day, and Zhang Liuxin had leaned slightly closer to him, yet still rigidly maintaining a distance, as if Wen Jin were some kind of monster.
Thinking of this, Wen Jin curved his lips. Having no intention of entering the library, he walked around it and somehow ended up at the entrance of the School of Journalism.
“The soul of journalism is the public.”
Wen Jin stood at the entrance, gazing at the line of text. His eyes gradually shifted from the neat characters to the students passing by. Students from the School of Journalism seemed to possess an extra degree of resilience. Wen Jin watched them, wondering if Zhang Liuxin was influenced by this line of text, leading him to resolutely leave and go to a dangerous distant place.
He was too noticeable. Before long, the School Secretary personally came down to greet him. Upon seeing him, the Secretary immediately brought up the other person without needing to think. “Professor Wen is back. You have time to visit our school today. Where is Liuxin? Didn’t he come with you? I haven’t seen him in a long time.”
“He’s busy lately.”
The Secretary wanted to exchange more pleasantries, but Wen Jin had already spoken, saying he had a dinner appointment with his own school and had to leave.
On his way back to the School of Science, he received a call from Lu Zixia. As soon as he answered, Lu Shao’s perpetually frivolous voice came through.
“Brother Zhuo, where are you busy?”
“Inter-State University.”
“I just invested in a new bar. Come over tonight. I’ll call A-Qing and Brother Duan. It’ll be a welcome party for you.”
“A bar for a welcome party?”
Lu Zixia chuckled twice. “Bars are lively.”
“I need to go back to Wenfei Terrace tonight to organize some things. Let’s meet tomorrow night.”
“Can do. I’ll send you the address later. See you tomorrow night at nine.”
Hanging up the phone, Wen Jin returned to the School of Science. It was still early. He had planned to return to his office to prepare some lessons, but someone called out to him downstairs. “Professor Wen?”
Wen Jin followed the voice. A casually dressed woman with delicate features walked toward him, introducing herself with a somewhat anxious look. “Hello, I’m Jiang You, Zhang Liuxin’s friend.”