12

Why is the monsoon so difficult to understand?

Zhong Yan had no idea what he really wanted to say.

She had something that he didn't.

Is it a problem?

Zhong Yan believes that no one wants to create trouble for themselves.

This is not the correct answer.

But how could she possibly guess what Ji Feng was thinking?

Unable to find a solution, Zhong Yan gave up further research on monsoons and focused all her energy on aircraft.

After nearly ten hours of assembly, Zhong Yan's "Mama Yan" aircraft finally took shape.

It still needs to be tested before it can be launched.

Zhong Yan crammed a lot more knowledge into her head.

When Chen Baoran heard that they were making a navigation boat for Little Seagull, he was quite interested and invited Zhong Yan to draw and sketch on draft paper together to design a rough painting.

Once the test flight is successful, they will be able to paint the aircraft.

Sister Yang from next door sent them a new drink—rose petal milk tea.

As Zhong Yan sipped her rose milk tea, she suddenly remembered the rose she had given away. Her gaze had barely drifted towards Ji Feng when he noticed.

"It's on my bedroom windowsill."

bedroom?

Zhong Yan wondered if she was being too sensitive.

Ji Feng didn't need to describe it in such detail; he could simply say it was on the windowsill, and she would understand that the flowers she had sent out were still properly kept.

But he said it was on the windowsill in the bedroom.

It's as if he cherishes this one rose.

"What's on the bedroom windowsill?" Coco heard this from behind and curiously came closer.

Without hesitation, Ji Feng said, "A gecko."

COCO frowned. "Geckos are so scary. The ecosystem where you live is too good."

Ji Feng asked, "Is Grandma Chen feeling any better?"

COCO sighed, "The doctor wants her to be hospitalized for observation. She's very worried about the cats and dogs she's adopted. Ranran and I plan to go check on them this afternoon."

Ji Feng said, "I think I saw Fatty Ding when I picked up my takeout yesterday. He just passed by in a flash. I wonder if he slipped out of the Chen family's courtyard."

COCO exclaimed in surprise, "Really? Could it be that Grandpa and the others released it?"

Zhong Yan learned that this Granny Chen was an animal lover on the island who usually adopted many stray cats and dogs and used her meager retirement pension to buy cat and dog food and take them to the vet.

However, her family felt that raising these things was troublesome and a waste of money, and it was also a burden on her health. They repeatedly told her to throw them away, but Grandma Chen refused. This time when she was sick, her family even refused to accompany her to the hospital out of spite. If it weren't for Coco and Chen Baoran's help, the old lady would have faced many difficulties in accessing medical care.

COCO said, "It's really difficult when your family doesn't support you."

Chen Baoran sighed, "But Grandma Chen likes it. She often says she feels ten years younger."

Not everyone lives in a harmonious family with full support; many people struggle to maintain what they love amidst conflict.

"People in their sixties or seventies, what's wrong with having hobbies? They can live a few more years and enjoy them as much as they want."

COCO and Chen Baoran took turns speaking out, both feeling indignant on behalf of Grandma Chen.

The aircraft was tested and ready, and Ji Feng took Zhong Yan to a spacious, sparsely populated square for a test flight.

Zhong Yan had never played games before, and naturally had never even touched a gamepad. Looking helplessly at the various joysticks and buttons on the remote control, she could only gaze at Ji Feng.

She had watched the videos and taken notes, but now her mind was as empty as a emptied fruit can.

Without a second thought, Ji Feng picked it up and began to introduce it.

This is a 16-channel remote controller. The most important functions are the throttle and directional sticks, followed by the ailerons, landing gear, etc. Through different operating areas on the remote controller, you can control the aircraft to taxi, take off, turn, and land.

Zhong Yan tested the aircraft's control stick, ailerons, steering, and landing gear one by one. All functions were in good working order and the aircraft was easy to control.

The square has a straight bike path, which can be used as a runway for aircraft. Ji Feng positioned the aircraft and had Zhong Yan put on her flight goggles to control it for a test flight.

The engine was turned on, and the aircraft began to hum and vibrate, the thrust propelling it forward along the "runway".

"Go on the gas!" said the monsoon.

Zhong Yan increased the throttle a little more, and the aircraft sped up, almost veering off the road.

“Pull it up,” Ji Feng judged.

Zhong Yan pulled the stick, raising the front of the aircraft like a real airplane, its tires rubbing against the ground, and then—it took off.

Zhong Yan couldn't help but let out a cheer: "It's flying!"

Wearing flight goggles, she could only see the view shared by the aircraft and couldn't see Ji Feng's expression beside her, but she could hear the confident breathy sound he was humming through his nose.

Zhong Yan's heart was bubbling with excitement, like a bottle of carbonated drink that had been opened, with countless molecules of joy surging out and filling her heart.

Bushes, groves, houses, and small islands were all in her field of vision.

The aircraft steadily carried her glasses, hovering high in the sky.

The boundless and vast天地 (heaven and earth) are all before my eyes.

Zhong Yan recalled the lines from ancient poems: "I will climb to the top of the mountain and look down on all the mountains below," or "The tower is a hundred feet high, and you can pluck the stars with your hand."

Then she recalled what Ji Feng had said.

"Only by looking down from the sky can you clearly know what you want and what you can become."

Her heart was pounding faster and faster, as if she were overjoyed.

"Monsoon, I think I like this feeling."

"How can you be sure you like him?" Ji Feng asked rhetorically.

“I know, just like you said, I’m overjoyed,” Zhong Yan said with a smile.

Monsoon said, "Hmm."

Zhong Yan's face was half-covered by aviator glasses, so her smiling eyes, upturned lips, and dimples were gone.

"Even though you're going to be a teacher, this can also be a hobby."

Zhong Yan's lips curled into a smile.

"I don't want to be a teacher."

"Would you retake the exam?"

The question about monsoons immediately silenced Zhong Yan.

The answer was already in her heart, but she dared not say it aloud.

She didn't want to appear weak, cowardly, or incompetent in front of the monsoon.

She also wanted to become a brave, ambitious person, radiating light.

Monsoon didn't press further, only saying, "Lower the landing gear, slowly adjust the aircraft's angle, and recover it."

After the aircraft landed, it slowly glided to the feet of the two people.

Monsoon picked up the aircraft and said, "We can paint it when we get back, and then try to see if we can take off with Little Petrel."

Zhong Yan took off her aviator goggles and nodded.

Her phone suddenly vibrated; a text message had arrived. Zhong Yan quickly took out her phone, not caring whether it was spam or not; all she wanted to do now was escape Ji Feng for a while.

The voice message was sent by my younger sister.

Sister, I have some great news to tell you!

Before Zhong Yan could even process the "good news" her sister had told her, a phone call came in—it was her mother.

The person on the other end greeted him first, "Hey, Yan Yan."

"Yes, Mom."

Ji Feng glanced at her and then consciously walked a few steps away.

"Tomorrow?...No, I don't have anything urgent to do, but why did you come here to play?...Grandma, oh...I see...Yes, I will, goodbye."

Although he had walked a few steps away, it didn't stop him from hearing Zhong Yan's voice on the phone.

"Is your mother going to Niling Island tomorrow?"

Zhong Yan frowned slightly. "Yes, she also has my sister and her stepfather's family."

Monsoon, holding up the aircraft, said, "It sounds like you're going to be very busy tomorrow."

Zhong Yan forced a smile. "Can I leave Xiao Haiyan at your house for the time being?"

This time, the monsoon season readily agreed.

After packing up their aircraft, the two went together to Zhong Yan's place to retrieve Xiao Haiyan's belongings.

Little Seagull was no stranger to Ji Feng and did not object to going with him.

Zhong Yan was the only one who wasn't used to it.

Every night, she would play with Xiao Haiyan for a while. Sometimes they would watch movies together. Xiao Haiyan especially liked watching movies about animals. Zhong Yan was often moved by the touching scenes between people and animals, and she would hug Xiao Haiyan and cry uncontrollably. Anyway, no one knew.

But tonight, the only sound in the room was her breathing.

Without the sound of the little petrel, the small house seemed to grow dozens of times larger out of thin air, so empty it was frightening.

Reason told her she should get up and tidy up the house.

My mother has high standards for cleanliness, perhaps because her childhood was filled with darkness, dirt, and crowding. She increasingly wants to change all of that and completely remove it from her life and soul.

Although her grandmother was illiterate, as a mother herself, she understood her stubborn and headstrong daughter. She would always tell Zhong Yan to understand her mother's mindset because she was incapable of providing her daughter with a good environment to grow up in.

Zhong Yan has always tried her best to meet her mother's various demands.

She didn't want to let her mother down, nor did she want to upset or disappoint her.

But that night, she was extremely disheartened, and the image of the sea from that night kept replaying in her mind.

So cold, so turbulent.

—Just like her final destination.

Her phone vibrated on the table, and she slowly lifted her face from her knees.

In the darkness, a glimmer of light shone onto the ceiling, illuminating half of the room.

She picked up her phone to check the messages.

WIND: [What will Little Seagull eat tonight?]

Zhong Yan then realized that she hadn't given the small fish she had put in the refrigerator to Ji Feng.

Cage: [It wanted to eat small fresh fish, but I forgot to take it down.]

WIND: [It's okay, I can go out and buy it. What are you having for dinner?]

Zhong Yan hadn't considered this issue; she was currently experiencing severe stomach discomfort.

Cage: [I don't know yet, I'm not hungry right now.]

WIND: [Good]

Zhong Yan stopped touching the phone and quietly waited for it to die, like a flame that had finally burned to its end.

/

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

My emotions seem to have no on/off switch; they are so wild, fluctuating wildly and uncontrollably.

They are more willful and freer than me.