18

Seabirds stretch their necks and call out high in the sky, calling to their friends.

The little petrel drifted on the sea, occasionally raising its head and chirping a few times.

It was unwilling to fly, and even refused to leave Zhong Yan, as if it were still a fledgling bird in need of protection.

Yesterday, Zhong Yan left Xiao Haiyan at the pottery studio for the whole day, which caused it to become a complete tagalong, even sleeping on Zhong Yan's pillow at night.

“Yesterday I showed it fighter jets for an hour, but it still didn’t want to fly,” Zhong Yan said.

Neither birds nor airplanes could arouse the little petrel's natural instincts.

Is flying considered part of a bird's nature?

Do they enjoy the freedom of flying high in the sky, or are they forced to leave the safe plains?

Zhong Yan's mind was filled with questions like these.

In any case, a flightless petrel cannot survive a severe storm.

Ji Feng's words brought Zhong Yan back to reality:

"At least it's a good swimmer, much better than you. If you kick your legs and don't paddle, you won't be able to move forward."

Zhong Yan, soaking in the water, said listlessly, "I think I've been paddling for about an hour."

"It's because your physical fitness is too poor. Swimming can also improve your lung capacity, which has many benefits."

Ji Feng used one arm across her shoulder and the other under her abdomen as a floatation board, constantly urging her to practice.

The training was very effective; Zhong Yan now needs crutches to get ashore.

Her legs were as weak as overcooked noodles; if Ji Feng hadn't been carrying her, she wouldn't have been able to walk five meters.

The two sat in the shade of a palm tree, drinking orange soda, watching people on the beach jump into the jewel-like sea one after another like dumplings being dropped into a pot. The blue waves rippled, and the colorful swimsuits and swimming rings looked like sprinkles on a cake.

Zhong Yan was so engrossed in watching that she lost track of time until Ji Feng, who was beside her, suddenly asked her, "How is the sea?"

Without hesitation, Zhong Yan exclaimed, "The sea is so beautiful."

The monsoon laughed heartily.

Zhong Yan was so startled she almost dropped the bottle, staring blankly at the person laughing to themselves.

Monsoon, in a moment of compassion, explained his point of humor, saying, "You said not long ago that you didn't like the sea."

Zhong Yan realized her mistake too late and couldn't help feeling ashamed.

People generally dislike change, let alone constantly changing their opinions and ideas, like a weather vane.

But Zhong Yan quickly realized, "You're bluffing me?"

With his hands behind his back, Ji Feng recited with deep emotion: "Looking at the deep sea, you will be afraid of it; gazing at the clear sea, you will fall in love with it."

Who wrote it?

"I made it up."

Zhong Yan paused for a moment, then said, "You can also write poetry."

Ji Feng lifted his hat, brushed aside his still-damp hair with his fingers, and said, "Doesn't it seem like it? I can fix refrigerators, but I can also write poetry."

Zhong Yan swayed back, imagining herself as a bottle of carbonated beverage that needed to bubble.

"So what else can you write?"

"Give me a topic," Ji Feng said generously.

Zhong Yan thought for a moment, "Life is existence, so what is the meaning of existence?"

A vague proposition, a proposition that leaves people confused.

Zhong Yan denied that she was deliberately making things difficult for Ji Feng, and she blinked gently.

Ji Feng smiled, glanced sideways at the flowerbed under the tree, then turned his head back and slowly said:

"A bee flies by, and the flower knows."

A flower blooms, and the wind knows.

A breeze blows, and your hair knows.

Just then, a gust of wind blew by, lifting Zhong Yan's half-dry hair, which danced between their lines of sight.

"It seems to be solved, but it also seems not to be."

That's what poetry is all about.

Zhong Yan said, "You're right."

The monsoon said, "You don't need to agree with my 'rightness,' you have to think it's 'right.'"

Zhong Yan asked, "Then... can I say that your poem is not good?"

"Of course, do you think I'm some kind of madly self-absorbed megalomaniac?"

Zhong Yan smiled, revealing shallow dimples on her cheeks. "Honestly, I think your poem is very good."

Monsoon proudly said, "Thank you."

“But wind can’t be considered life,” Zhong Yan retorted, finding fault with the argument.

"Wind doesn't count, but the bacteria, viruses, and microorganisms in the wind do."

Zhong Yan smoothed her hair and frowned. "Let's not go into details."

The monsoon laughed heartily.

Zhong Yan laughed along, and the little seagull flapped its wings, wanting to join in their joy.

Lin Yuhang had just woken up at lunchtime and was shouting on the phone that he wanted to go eat seafood.

The monsoon led them to a food stall on the island, but it was the off-season for fishing, so the variety of seafood was very limited.

They ordered stir-fried clams with basil, deep-fried freshwater prawns, steamed scallops with vermicelli, garlic oysters, pan-fried sand bream, and a pot of seafood congee.

Zhong Yan couldn't eat much, and it was thanks to Lin Yuhang, the big eater, that no food was wasted.

After lunch, Lin Yuhang said, "Want to go see a movie? The theater on the island is re-showing The Wandering Earth 2. I've watched it three times already! It's so cool!"

"The projection equipment on the island is very basic," Ji Feng said, pouring cold water on the idea.

Lin Yuhang remained unmoved and insisted, "Anyway, I have nothing to do. In this heat, only air conditioning can save my life."

Ji Feng tilted his head again and asked, "Are you going?"

Zhong Yan said, "I haven't seen it in the cinema yet."

The three had no objections, but Xiao Haiyan wanted to find a daycare center again.

Chen Baoran spends twelve hours a day in the pottery studio. When there are guests, she entertains them; when there are no guests, she makes her own works. She also loves the little seagull and bought a batch of small fish online to put in the fish tank as a reserve food for the seagull.

She was more than happy to be Xiao Haiyan's nanny.

The only unhappy one was the little petrel.

Chen Baoran said it only wanted to stick to Zhong Yan and was a mama's boy, but it wasn't happy about that and jumped up and flapped its wings.

The three of them took a minibus to the island's movie theater.

It's called a movie theater, but it used to be a venue for cultural and artistic performances. It was converted into a small theater for the development of tourism on the island.

Sometimes we hold traditional cultural activities, and at other times we will show movies from time to time.

Lin Yuhang was lucky enough to buy one of the last three tickets.

The young man next to him was a step too late. When he saw the "sold out" sign, he wailed. His friend laughed at him for being slow. He turned around and saw Zhong Yan and her group with the three tickets in their hands, and he couldn't help but feel resentful.

"Girls wouldn't understand these anyway, it's a waste."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for Zhong Yan to hear.

Just as the long-standing theory of men being responsible for external affairs and women for internal affairs has influenced all aspects of life, many people feel from the bottom of their hearts that women should engage in jobs that are more suitable for women.

For example, teachers, nurses, and housewives.

Why?

Because it's more suitable.

For example, the common words "葡" and "葡萄" are perfectly normal, but "葡" and "蕉" are confusing.

“Oh, it would be a waste to show this to girls, but it’s not a waste to show it to you.” Ji Feng leaned against the shady awning. “The first native Chinese to win a Nobel Prize in the natural sciences was a woman; the pioneer and founder of semiconductor physics was a woman; the core designer of the structural system of the first domestically designed jet airliner was also a woman; and the person who mastered the high-temperature welding technology of titanium alloys was a woman. May I ask what achievements you plan to make in the future?”

The young man was speechless for a long time before finally blurting out, "It's just watching a movie, is it really that big of a deal?"

"Well said, you're the epitome of a master of double standards." Ji Feng raised his hand and clapped twice.

Lin Yuhang leaned close to Zhong Yan's ear and said, "There's a reason this kid doesn't have a girlfriend; he could poison himself by licking his own lips."

“But… he makes a lot of sense,” Zhong Yan said softly.

What are you whispering about?

After Ji Feng dealt with the young man, he raised an eyebrow and looked at the two of them.

"I'm talking badly about you," Lin Yuhang said with a smile.

Zhong Yan couldn't refute Lin Yuhang's words in front of him, so she could only look at Ji Feng's face and smile embarrassedly.

Ji Feng glanced at Lin Yuhang and said, "You're setting a bad example for the kids."

"A little girl?" Lin Yuhang stepped forward, hooked his arm around Ji Feng's neck, and whispered in his ear, "You're kidding me. Are you trying to fool her like a little girl?"

"Have you ever seen how I soothe children? This is how I do it."

"Oh, oh, oh! You admit you were trying to coax me? I've never seen you treat anyone this well..."

"Have I been unkind to you? Then why are you still coming to me?"

"Am I being self-destructive?"

The two walked ahead, bickering, with Zhong Yan following behind.

The sunlight was blinding, but Zhong Yan didn't feel uncomfortable.

Although it was a re-release, the small theater didn't have many seats, so it quickly filled up.

The movie started.

As soon as the dragon emblem was displayed, the surrounding voices quieted down.

Zhong Yan rarely went to the cinema; before this, she was first and foremost a student.

The student's main task is to study and get a good score that will satisfy his mother.

Entertainment activities like watching movies are unnecessary, and Mom wouldn't let her buy tickets to waste time at the cinema.

She secretly watched it on her phone in bits and pieces, using several of her relaxation and rest periods.

She was actually familiar with the movie's plot, but when the protagonist first rode the space elevator, the perspective widened and the view expanded.

A massive, towering, and awe-inspiring building slowly appeared on the screen, accompanied by rousing and rhythmic music, allowing viewers to fully appreciate the technologically advanced space elevator from a god-like perspective.

Zhong Yan was also filled with excitement.

She stared intently at the intricate machinery on the large screen, each component linked to the next, which was truly astonishing, giving her goosebumps.

It's so beautiful.

The beauty of machinery is completely different from the beauty of nature, but it can be just as soul-stirring.

Why can't girls like you?

If she likes it, does that mean she's not a girl?

When the space station crashed, the flames bursting out from the billowing smoke and dust made Zhong Yan's heart ache.

This is the result of generations of research and countless human and material resources to create such a magnificent building, and it has been destroyed in an instant.

"You cried?"

Suddenly, Ji Feng, who was next to her, asked her in a low voice.

Zhong Yan subconsciously touched her eyes, but there was no moisture. "I didn't cry."

"Your eyes were so bright, I thought they were tears."

"I... I was excited."

Ji Feng chuckled softly, only a whisper.

Zhong Yan looked back into Ji Feng's eyes, "Your eyes are very bright too."

"Oh, that's from the screen light."

Zhong Yan said, "They are notorious for their double standards."

The monsoon smiled again.

Zhong Yan also curved her lips into a smile.

Making people laugh can really improve your own mood.

Although Ji Feng often laughs, Zhong Yan can tell that his laughter is not a happy one.

He clearly has everything, yet he doesn't seem to be that happy?

His happy smiles were always fleeting, like a flash in the pan.

"Monsoon".

Ji Feng leaned back against Zhong Yan's side. "Hmm?"

The movie is playing in the darkness.

The speaker's voice was soft, so they had to get even closer, until their body temperature and breath were touching.

Are you unhappy?

"Um."

Zhong Yan's breathing became lighter.

Ji Feng's face was brightened by the light from the screen. He continued, "The space station exploded. I'm not happy. How much money did that cost?"

He started joking.

Zhong Yan did not ask any further questions.

Everyone was extremely engrossed in the nearly three-hour movie.

Although it's a science fiction film, what's truly moving is the human emotion within it.

Scientists, engineers, pilots...

In the face of disaster, they used their respective abilities in their fields to compose a hymn to life.

Earth survived the disaster, and humanity survived the crisis.

Zhong Yan couldn't help but look at Ji Feng.

Given time, he will surely be able to realize his dream, and the dream he realizes may become a new hope.

Then, at the end of the movie, we see Earth powered by thousands of planetary engines.

Those bright trails of light swayed in the dark Milky Way.

Suddenly, she also wanted to become a hero.

Perhaps one day, at some moment, I will make a great contribution to some people.

/

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

I suddenly had a very unrealistic and ridiculous idea because of a movie, but if I told Ji Feng about it, he definitely wouldn't laugh at me.

I don't know why, but I'm just so sure.