Chapter 29. Jing Yitong takes pictures of him every day, but...
Seeing Fang Xin's smile return, Jing Yitong casually patted his head twice: "How come you become more confident when the comparison is with me?"
Fang Xingu, with her hair disheveled by him, poked his arm hard: "You should have some self-awareness."
Jing Yitong feigned a hurt feeling: "Is that why you dislike me?"
Fang Xingu smiled and said, "Next time I write a children's song, I will definitely invite you to be my piano accompanist."
"Is this within your business scope...? No, are you making fun of me?"
The two laughed and joked all the way back to their room, creating a rare harmonious atmosphere. Even after Fang Xingu finished showering and lay down on the bed, he still found it somewhat unbelievable that he could now get along with Jing Yitong so naturally... or rather, quite naturally, right?
Judging from Jing Yitong's reaction, he certainly didn't see through the deception.
Fang Xingu turned over, recalling the rare time he spent alone with Jing Yitong today. His suggestion, which he proposed to arrange the instrumental accompaniment himself, kept popping into his mind. Was it really feasible?
Of course, "Silence Has a Voice" is out of the question. The arrangement of that song is complex. He could record a demo, but he can only play the tunes of many instruments, which is definitely not up to the professional level required for a recording studio. However, the arrangement he plans for another song will be simpler, so maybe he can actually give it a try...
Fang Xingu thought about it and found it quite funny that he was actually disturbed by the nonsense of Jing Yitong, an outsider.
He shook his head, picked up his phone which he had forgotten about for a long time, and discovered that his mother had sent him a message a few hours earlier, followed by a notification that the message had been retracted:
"Xin Gu, are you free now?"
"Mom retracted a message."
Fang Xin counted the days and figured Ying Zhen should be in France for an exchange program these days. According to the time difference, it's about 2 a.m. in France now, so Ying Zhen should already be asleep.
Fang Xingu doesn't usually contact his family very frequently, and Ying Zhen has been quite busy abroad recently, so the two haven't spoken for a long time. However, seeing that Ying Zhen sent him a private message instead of posting it in their family group chat, it seems that Ying Zhen must have something to ask him, but judging from the tone, it doesn't seem to be urgent. So Fang Xingu didn't call back, but just sent a message.
Fang Xin Gu: Mom, I didn't see the message just now. Call me when you wake up if you need anything.
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More than four hours ago, in Paris.
Recently, Ying Zhen was invited to take several students to Paris for an exchange program. They also collaborated with a local symphony orchestra. One of the orchestra members was Shi Xueyan, a Chinese cellist who was an old acquaintance of Ying Zhen. As soon as the performance ended, Shi Xueyan approached Ying Zhen and they reminisced.
It was naturally a pleasure to see an old friend again. Shi Xueyan took Ying Zhen's arm and said, "It's rare for you to come to Paris. Stay at my place tonight, and we'll have a good chat."
Ying Zhen glanced at the students around her, who were clearly itching to sneak out and play, and felt a headache coming on: "Let me settle them down first. Sigh, a bunch of troublesome kids. I should have known better than to go to school to teach. I should have just enjoyed my retirement earlier."
As a renowned violinist, Ying Zhen toured the world with the world's top symphony orchestras in her early years and was well-known internationally. However, as she grew older, she gradually felt that she was not up to the task and left the orchestra a few years ago. She returned to China and accepted a position at the country's top music academy, where she now teaches music performance and mentors a group of students.
Shi Xueyan teased her, "You're a teacher, but you're not this attentive when you're taking care of your own child, are you?"
Ying Zhen glanced at her and said, "Are you being sarcastic? I really didn't take care of Xin Gu much when he was little."
Shi Xueyan laughed and said, "I think Xin Gu is quite good-looking even without you taking care of him. I saw a video of him on that variety show a couple of days ago. It's been so many years since I've seen him. He doesn't look as much like you as he did when he was a kid."
Ying Zhen rubbed her temples, realizing she wasn't a very good mother: "Is it a travel variety show? What's it called again... I'm so busy I'm completely out of it. I was planning to watch the live broadcast, but I got so caught up in my work that I forgot."
Shi Xueyan patted her shoulder to comfort her: "The child is so big now, why do you need to worry about him? Besides, isn't there the Jing family's child with him?"
"You mean Xiao Tong?" Ying Zhen nodded. "I didn't expect him to go with Xin Gu. It was quite a surprise."
“Speaking of which,” Shi Xueyan recalled something, “I remember that Xin Gu and the Jing family’s kid used to have a good relationship, but recently I’ve seen online that their relationship is particularly bad, and they often give each other the cold shoulder on TV shows, and there are even rumors that they’ve fought?”
"What? How could this be?"
Ying Zhen frowned. She was too busy and hadn't paid much attention to the variety show Fang Xingu was recording. She was obviously unaware of the rumors circulating online about Fang Xingu and Jing Yitong.
Hearing Shi Xueyan say this, she immediately picked up her phone and searched online. Sure enough, she saw many rumors about the discord between Fang Xingu and Jing Yitong, accompanied by various screenshots, which seemed quite convincing.
In the past, Yingzhen would have thought that netizens were just spreading rumors. After all, the two children were so close when they were young that they were inseparable and never got tired of each other. How could there be any discord between them?
But now they've all grown up and have their own worries. Plus, there's the matter of a marriage alliance in the past... Ying Zhen's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Jing Yitong told Fang Xingu about the marriage alliance, and Fang Xingu was unwilling but had to compromise out of consideration for face, so she also took it out on Jing Yitong?
Yingzhen became increasingly flustered as she thought about it, suspecting that she had guessed the truth, and suddenly became anxious.
Yingzhen and Fang Xingu's father, Fang Zhiheng, also married out of necessity in their early years. In the first few years, their relationship was so-so, and they were both busy with their own work, so they didn't spend much time with Fang Xingu. Yingzhen always felt guilty about this, so she was always happy that Fang Xingu had a brother like Jing Yitong who was the same age by her side. At least when their parents were not around, Jing Yitong could keep Fang Xingu company.
Things have been going as she expected. The two children have grown up together, so she doesn't want Fang Xingu and Jing Yitong to have a falling out because of family matters. After all, a sincere relationship is always precious, especially since they have been together for twenty years. How many twenty years does one have in a lifetime?
Ying Zhen felt a tightness in her chest and took out her phone to talk to Fang Xingu.
"Xin Gu, are you free now?"
But after waiting for half an hour without receiving a reply from Fang Xingu, Ying Zhen assumed that Fang Xingu was busy. After careful consideration, she sent Fang Xingu a message.
"Xin Gu, I don't know how you view the marriage alliance with the Jing family. If you are not opposed and are willing to agree, then consider it our family doing the Jing family a favor, and they will owe us a favor. But if you disagree, don't feel like you are being morally blackmailed. This concerns your lifelong happiness. If you have even the slightest unwillingness, you must speak up. Don't compromise because of past feelings. Everything should be based on your own thoughts."
Of course, regardless of how this marriage ultimately unfolds, I don't want it to damage your relationship with Xiaotong. When you were little, your father and I were both too busy with work, and our relationship wasn't great. We had limited time to spend with you. In fact, Xiaotong probably spent more time with you than we, his incompetent parents, combined. So even if you don't want the marriage, don't hold a grudge against Xiaotong. He just wants to help his family with their problems.
If there are things you don't want to talk to us about, then talk to your brother properly. Mom wants you to be happy.
In Yingzhen's previous conversations with Fang Xin, she had never spoken such a long and heartfelt speech. Neither she nor her son were particularly outgoing or cheerful, and they rarely saw each other throughout the year, sometimes feeling like strangers living under the same roof.
Therefore, after sending this message, Yingzhen felt that something was off.
Is she right to say that?
Will this provoke Fang Xingu's rebellious attitude and make him dislike her? For example, will Fang Xingu feel that she didn't teach him anything when he was a child, but now she wants to be an educator, and that she doesn't need to teach him these things?
Besides, Fang Xingu and Jing Yitong have a bond of affection formed over more than 20 years of companionship. Do they deserve her interference in their relationship? Even if they are arguing, do they need her to mediate?
In fact, Fang Xingu's relationship with Jing Yitong is probably much better than his relationship with her, his mother.
For a long time, Yingzhen even felt sourly that Fang Xingu and Jing Yitong were the real family, while she was just an outsider.
Although Yingzhen was not a competent mother, she was clearly a very self-aware mother. The more she thought about it, the more she felt like she was meddling in other people's business. After hesitating, she withdrew the short essay she had just posted.
Forget it, let's just pretend nothing happened.
Whatever the future holds, let these two children walk their own path.
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The next morning, the Affogato was still struggling to cross the Drake Passage.
When Fang Xingu woke up, he thought of the message Ying Zhen had sent him last night. He was wondering why his mother hadn't called him this morning when he checked his phone and found that she had sent him a message out of the blue: "Nothing, you get some rest."
Fang Xingu found it increasingly strange. What was wrong with his mother?
He stared at the message Ying Zhen had retracted last night, feeling that the answer was hidden in that retraction. Unfortunately, he was watching "Polar Messenger" with Jing Yitong last night, and his phone was on Do Not Disturb mode, so he didn't receive Ying Zhen's message immediately.
However, just in case, Fang Xin still called Ying Zhen back.
"Mom, what do you want to see me about?"
Ying Zhen thought about yesterday's short essay and felt a little confused. She started rambling, "Can't I come to you for no reason?"
Fang Xingu thought Ying Zhen was joking with him, so he laughed and said, "Okay, okay."
Ying Zhen calmly replied, "I saw someone online saying that you and Xiao Tong had a fight or something, and I was thinking of asking you what happened."
Fang Xingu was a little surprised. For two days in a row, both mothers came to ask her if she and Jing Yitong had quarreled, and what kind of rumors were circulating about their relationship.
Fang Xingu replied, "Of course not, don't overthink it."
His tone was so natural that Ying Zhen couldn't discern his emotions and could only reply, "Yes, it's good that you're alright."
Fang Xingu then asked, "You've been in Paris lately, haven't you? How's it going there?"
"It's pretty good, there are a few nice restaurants, it's just that some students are too noisy..."
Neither the mother nor the son grasped the other's main point. After exchanging a few casual words, they quickly hung up the phone and went about their own business.
Fang Xin was busy with the album for a while, and in the afternoon, a group chat of the seven regular members of "The World Is So Big" popped up on his phone. Everyone was obviously still looking like they were seriously seasick.
Li Wenyu: I've been vomiting all day [tears]. If I vomit again, there will only be juice left.
Rhoda: I can't take it anymore either [vomiting]
Leung said: Wasn't Brother Tat fine yesterday morning?
Rhoda: Things haven't been going well since last night. We got into trouble because of the Drake Passage.
Jing Yitong suggested a solution: If all else fails, just sleep. You'll feel much better once you're asleep.
Meng Hui asked weakly, "Here's the problem: how can I fall asleep? The waves are making me feel dizzy, but I can't sleep."
Wang Peiyang: If all else fails, take a sleeping pill?
Li Wenyu: I'm so hungry but I don't dare to eat anything, I'm afraid I'll keep throwing up, sob sob sob.
Fang Xin kindly reminded everyone to stay hydrated, otherwise you might get dehydrated. Does anyone need electrolyte water? I'll bring it over later.
Regardless of whether they actually needed it, everyone agreed. Li Wenyu even pitifully asked, "Senior brother, could you give me some of your chili sauce? I want to whet my appetite."
Fang Xin Gu: ...Okay, I'll bring it to you later.
Li Wenyu was on the verge of tears: I'm so envious of you and Brother Jing right now. How come you two are acting like nothing happened?
Jing Yitong laughed at them: "You should have Director Yan edit the final cut and compare your grand ambitions before you set off with how you are now."
Luo Da: ? I've discovered that our teacher Jing is also a sly devil.
Li Wenyu: The city is full of traps; if I had known, I would have gone back home to farm. [crying]
Meng Hui pondered the sentence for a while, then suddenly replied: "Hey, does this question violate our tourism declaration?"
Luo Da immediately kicked Li Wenyu without holding back: I think it should count!
Li Wenyu: Brother Da, what's wrong?
Wang Peiyang: I guess so!
Li Wenyu: Little Pei, what's wrong with you?
Li Wenyu: That's not what I meant at all. Is it too late for me to take it back now...?
Meng Hui: Too late!
Meng Hui had finally caught someone who had broken the rules just like herself, so how could she let them go so easily? At least now someone would be there to share the final punishment with her.
Li Wenyu hurriedly tried to pull the person out of the water. She thought that Jing Yitong and Fang Xingu had been sulking before, so this must also be considered a violation of the declaration!
But thinking of Jing Yitong and Fang Xin, she nervously swallowed, and her remaining rationality ultimately kept her mouth shut. She dared not tell the truth and could only honestly accept the punishment.
After the chat ended, Fang Xin acted as a diligent little bee special envoy, delivering supplies to everyone one by one. Just as he was about to return to his room, he ran into Jing Yitong, who was carrying a DSLR camera, in the corridor.
Seeing him standing there motionless, Fang Xingu asked, "What are you doing standing here?"
Jing Yitong: "There's a photography lecture on the ship later, I'm planning to go listen to it, do you want to come along?"
Fang Xin had been busy with album-related matters all day and felt it was time to clear his head, so he nodded and went with Jing Yitong.
When the two sat down together in the small classroom, Fang Xingu found it a little funny. They were supposed to be a group of people recording a program, but with the help of the devil's westerly winds, everyone else fell down and were deprived of their freedom of movement, leaving only the two of them who could move around, which gave them some time alone.
Today's lecturer is a professional photographer who has visited Antarctica many times for photography. He is very familiar with the weather changes and lighting conditions here, and naturally knows what parameters to adjust in different weather conditions to take better photos.
The teacher's explanation was very technical, and Jing Yitong listened very attentively, constantly trying to adjust the camera parameters following the teacher's guidance.
Fang Xin, sitting next to Jing Yitong, yawned several times. He leaned back casually in his chair, without even a camera in his hand. It was unclear what he was listening to, but he would occasionally move closer to Jing Yitong. It was hard to tell whether he was looking at Jing Yitong's hands or at his practical operation.
The problem is that this guy not only slacked off, but he also kept reaching over to press the settings buttons on Jing Yitong's camera, and he didn't press any of them correctly. It's obvious that he was just there to cause trouble.
Jing Yitong slapped away his outstretched, mischievous hand and said with amusement, "Aren't you annoying?"
Fang Xin reluctantly withdrew his hand: "Isn't it you who called me here?"
"Are you blaming me? If you're bored, go back to your room," Jing Yitong nudged him and whispered, "I heard the deck will reopen when the waves calm down. Want to take some pictures? Test what you've learned."
Fang Xingu stared at him blankly, pointing at himself in confusion, "My learning achievements? Did I learn anything? Didn't I come here to cause trouble?"
Seeing Jing Yi give him a thumbs up without saying a word, Fang Xingu patted him on the shoulder and said, "Let me test your learning results."
"Okay, then you'll be my model?"
After the professional photography class, the two went to a restaurant for a late-night snack. By this time, the waves in the surrounding sea had obviously subsided. After the storm, the dark clouds dispersed, revealing the vast blue sky hidden behind them, and also showing the true face of the sun that was slowly setting.
Fang Xin and Jing Yi came to the deck together. The world where the sea and sky met opened up their vision. The sun hung at the junction of the sea and the sky, dyeing the surrounding clouds in a splendid color. The distant sky was dyed pinkish-purple, and fiery red sunset clouds spread across the sky, as if to ignite everything around them. Even the sea was dyed golden-red.
Fang Xin was amazed by the beautiful scenery before him, and even his movements became more subtle, as if he was afraid that the slightest movement of his would disturb such a miraculous view. He only had his eyes to look deeply at the profound sunset, wanting to engrave it in his mind forever.
Just as Fang Xin was engrossed in watching, Jing Yitong suddenly called out to him from behind.
"New and old".
Fang Xingu subconsciously turned around, and the instant he turned, Jing Yitong, who was already prepared, pressed the shutter and used the camera to record Fang Xingu bathed in the golden light of the setting sun.
Fang Xingu was stunned for a moment, not expecting Jing Yitong to take a picture of him without warning. He was caught on camera before he was ready.
He was a little worried that his facial expressions weren't well-controlled and would ruin the overall effect of the photo, so he asked Jing Yitong, "How did it turn out?"
Jing Yitong looked at the finished product with a smile, clearly very pleased with his masterpiece. He handed the camera to Fang Xingu like a treasure: "Teacher Fang, take a look for yourself."
Fang Xin took the camera and realized that the photos were indeed exceptionally well taken. Under the fiery sunset, his hair was dyed chestnut brown, and as he turned his head, the flying strands of hair were edged with gold. In the photos, he had a perfectly appropriate look of bewilderment, and the light and shadow created by the afterglow of the sunset made his face look very soft. The whole photo looked natural and beautiful.
Fang Xingu was satisfied with the look, but insisted, "It's just average."
Jing Yitong punched him: "Can't you say something I want to hear?"
Fang Xin couldn't help but chuckle: "Okay, actually it's pretty good..."
Before Fang Xingu could finish speaking, Jing Yitong's phone rang, interrupting their conversation. After hesitating for a moment, Jing Yitong handed the camera to Fang Xingu first: "You take a look first, I'll take this call from my agent."
Jing Yitong answered the phone after speaking, while Fang Xingu flipped through the photos in his camera by himself.
Jing Yitong had just taken a lot of photos, each frame slightly different, which together perfectly captured the entire process of Fang Xingu turning around to look at him.
Fang Xingu flipped through the photos one by one, but as he did, he suddenly realized that something seemed off about them—
Why are there so many photos of him in Jing Yitong's camera?
Not just now, but also yesterday, the day before yesterday... Jing Yitong has been filming him every day since the recording of "The World Is So Big", but he was completely unaware.
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Author's Note: Fang Xingu: There's a pervert here! [frightened]
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I revised it several times because I was afraid people would think secretly taking photos was too perverted, lol.
The photos of us stacking nails were taken while we were working, but we both really enjoyed it... it was a kind of fun.
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