Chapter 175 The closest love letter to eternity on this blue planet
He Wu stared at him, anxious, impatient, with a fire burning in her eyes. Alas, she should have noticed it earlier. It turned out that this guy was heartbroken. In her memory, his most despairing time was the first five years after he immigrated to the UK. Since then, it seemed as if nothing and no one in the world could defeat him. His emotional stability was so shocking that she knew he had girlfriends, but she had never seen them, nor had she seen him heartbroken. She had a feeling that even after breaking up, he would never be heartbroken.
"Mom!" Seeing that she didn't answer, he couldn't help but call out again, "Okay, I admit that a little thing did happen in China."
"What little thing?"
He hesitated for a second: "I have a crush on a colleague, but she's in a relationship. It's nothing now."
"Oh," she replied. "Is this colleague Qin Tian? The girl who recently discovered Chunjun's tomb?"
Tong Zhongyuan looked at her blankly: "Did you really call her? What did you say to her?"
She had called yesterday, but not to Qin Yizhang. Old Qin's phone hadn't been working since the last time she called. And with Tong Zhongyuan's change, she thought about it and decided to call Ming Yuanxing.
During that phone call, she learned that Old Qin had Alzheimer's, that his daughter had changed her name to Qin Tian, and that her son had a close relationship with her. They'd gone to Jingdezhen together to make porcelain, and then returned to Tokyo with him, bringing back a Tianmu (a type of porcelain sculpture). He was truly an outstanding employee of the Shanghai Museum. The only thing she didn't know was how he'd suddenly returned. Could it be that what she'd said back then was the cause? If so, how could she remain indifferent?
"I didn't call you now. I called you before you came back. I was originally calling Lao Qin to check on him, but I didn't expect it to be Qin Yizhang who answered the phone. At the time, I didn't know Lao Qin had Alzheimer's disease, so I said a lot of nonsense..."
He Wu's voice gradually became softer, and he guessed something from Tong Zhongyuan's momentary blank face.
"It seems you don't know about her father's illness either."
"You said...what are these?"
He Wu was silent for a moment, then replied, "You told me that Lao Qin was ill, so I came to ask after her. Thank her for taking care of you during this time. I hope you haven't affected her life. When you come back, ask her to bring her father to England and you can treat them to a meal."
Tong Zhongyuan stood up, walked to the kitchen in a daze, looked around without focus, and walked back.
"When did you call? Landline or cell phone?"
"Just before you come back, on the landline."
"I want the specific time, what month, what day, and what hour."
"I don't remember that."
Tong Zhongyuan squatted down in front of her: "Think carefully about what you did before and after that day? Did you contact anyone with your phone?"
He Wu remembered that she had wished Qin Yizhang a happy new year in advance that day.
"It was before New Year's. The week between Christmas and New Year's. Not Christmas Day, probably around the 26th or 27th."
He half-knelt on the ground in a daze and closed his eyes.
No, no, no, don't let your imagination run wild. Even if it were so, it wouldn't prove she's into you. It's not enough, not even close. Don't cling to baseless hopes; they're just illusions, wishful thinking.
He Wu looked at his pale face and unfocused eyes, and defended himself guiltily: "Who told you not to tell me anything? How would I know your little thoughts..."
"What did she say then?" he interrupted her.
"She didn't say anything. She just said that when you come back, she'll bring her dad over to play."
He slowly stood up from the ground and sank into the sofa, his eyes filled with a deep sense of disillusionment.
"Zhongyuan," He Wu sat down beside him and took his hand. She still remembered the day he was born, when she examined his tiny hands and feet. Those hands, once small and fleshy, were now broad, slender, and strong, covered in calluses. "Go to China and restore the Yuan blue and white porcelain. You have to see things through to the end. China is the holy land of cultural relic restoration."
He withdrew his hand and covered his face without saying a word.
The phone kept vibrating on the coffee table, and He Wu picked it up and took a look.
"Are you not going to answer the call from China?"
Tong Zhongyuan took the phone and it was an unfamiliar number.
"Teacher Tong?" A familiar female voice sounded the moment the call was connected.
Tong Zhongyuan remembered who she was, his half-disciple.
"Um... I'm really sorry. I sent you many WeChat messages and several emails, but you didn't reply, so I called you. I hope I didn't disturb you."
He deleted his WeChat account the day he returned home, and the email address he left for Song Suiyang was one he rarely used. He wasn't in the habit of checking it daily. His desire to help her was genuine, but so was his desire to avoid further contact with the relevant personnel.
"Got it. I'll check my email and reply to you later."
"Slow down! Teacher Tong, this is not a professional issue!"
Song Suiyang called him urgently. She had already sent the message Tang Zhixu had asked her to a week ago, using various methods. But there was no reply on WeChat, and the email showed as unread.
She hadn't thought much of it at first; it was just a message, and whether it was read or not was beyond her control. But for some reason, that inexplicable message seemed so important to her. She tossed and turned in bed late at night, unable to sleep, and finally decided to make the abrupt decision to call and convey the message.
"It was Tang Zhixu who asked me to pass on a message. He said he wanted you to go and take a look at Nüshu."
When Tong Zhongyuan heard this name, he felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
"What women's books? Why?"
"He didn't say why, he just said..." Song Suiyang stammered, "He said you suffered because of your lack of education."
The silence on the other end of the phone made her feel uneasy. She hurriedly said, "That's all. I'll hang up first. Teacher Tong, I wish you good health and all your wishes come true."
He Wu unpacked his shopping bags and prepared to cook dinner for his son. He casually asked, "Was the call just now about Nüshu?"
Tong Zhongyuan frowned and asked, "What is Nüshu?"
He Wu took out tomatoes and potatoes and said, "Nu Shu is a written language used by ethnic minorities in China. It is the only written language in the world specifically for women. It originated in the Han Dynasty and is a boudoir language passed down only to women, not men."
Tong Zhongyuan frowned and searched for pictures of Nüshu on his phone.
He Wu raised his head and asked, "Who wants to learn about Nüshu?"
A figure flashed before his eyes, and Tong Zhongyuan rushed up the stairs in two steps. There were hurried footsteps and the sound of a door being pushed open.
He opened a drawer and pulled the seal from the small box. He had always thought the circle of patterns was just decoration. He pulled a piece of paper from the desk and pressed the seal firmly on it for the nth time.
The fiery red seal pressed against the white paper, the damp ink reflecting a vibrant luster. He took out his phone, took a photo of the writing, and uploaded it. After a slow rotation, the answer popped up: Nüshu. This circle of patterns was Nüshu.
He quickly flipped open his computer, opened the translation software, and chatted with the AI, feeding it the pattern. The translation software flatly told it it couldn't recognize it. The AI spun around, its hand gripping the mouse stiff with tension. Finally, the AI spouted a lengthy introduction to Nüshu. He quickly skimmed through it; it was all nonsense.
He Wu leaned against the door, looking meaningfully at his son trying to use modern technology to find ancient answers.
After the third AI spewed out a long stream of nonsense, Tong Zhongyuan grabbed his hair and leaned back in his chair. He Wu couldn't help but chuckle.
He sat up straight and turned to his mocking mother: "Can you read women's books?"
He Wu walked in slowly: "I almost forgot."
Tong Zhongyuan stood up and held the paper with the Nüshu script printed on it under her nose. He Wu pushed the paper away with disdain.
"You asked me to embroider. How can I read such small words?"
She slowly took out her reading glasses and put them on, then opened his computer screen to look at the pictures he had uploaded.
Tong Zhongyuan clenched his fists behind his chair, his palms sweating.
A few minutes later, He Wu took off his glasses and looked back at him.
"Was this seal engraved by Yi Zhang?"
His lips moved, and he finally said clearly, "Yes."
He Wu stared at his face. Her son, the child she was so proud of. She still remembered his first cry, the first time he called her "Mom." Being a mother and son simply meant that your fate with him was to watch his back as he walked away, for the rest of your life. His back silently told you: No need to chase.
"Silly son, go find her in China."
The flowers on the windowsill were blooming. After a long, cold winter, spring came, and on the morning of the early summer breeze, a small bud gave birth to a velvety red rose.
"Dad, something good will happen today."
Qin Tian wiped his face and combed his hair with some water. Qin Yunjie sat quietly, his clear eyes shining like a child.
She put the plate in front of him, cracked the egg, and peeled it.
"You know what? The authentic gilded plate is truly stunning. It overturns our previous definition of Han Dynasty artifacts. It turns out there were women in palace sacrifices. The most amazing thing is that Chunjun is actually Caucasian! I guess she's a beauty with strong genes, and after two thousand years, she hasn't been covered by ugly genes. That's why my mother and I are so beautiful."
A gentle laugh escaped Qin Yunjie's lips. His eyes turned to her, and there was a momentary glimmer of wisdom.
"No wonder I said your mother looked like a foreigner, it turns out she really is."
The red roses on the balcony swayed in the breeze, their rich, elegant fragrance filling her heart. She hugged her father tightly. In this moment, she had no regrets.
After lunch, the nanny tucked Qin Yunjie into her room for a nap. She untied her ponytail, washed her hair, and blew it half-dry before going downstairs for a walk. This was her weekend break.
There was a small green area between the two buildings. Sunlight filtered through the leaves onto a bench, creating dappled shadows that swayed gently in the breeze. The grass was a faint golden hue, and a few sparrows hopped around, pecking at the grass seeds on the ground.
She sat on the bench and looked up at the sky. She liked this seat because she could see her flowers and the stars.
The phone vibrated and an instant bank spending reminder popped up.
Tenpay - Shanghai Volkswagen Taxi Company 289 yuan.
The bank card with the last number 9556 was used for payment at 14:05.
The wind started to blow. It blew from ten thousand kilometers away, crossing the strait and the border of the forest, causing the sycamore trees to surge.
At the end of the road, the green plane trees flow like waves. A blurry figure walks in the afternoon sun, and each step becomes clearer.
She could hear nothing but the wind. She stood up amidst the blinding shards of sunlight. Her nails dug into her palms. Don't cry, don't hug him. The precious time of shining is over. Act like an adult.
He dragged his luggage and stopped in front of her.
She took a deep breath, pretending he couldn't hear the tremor in her voice.
"Why are you here?"
She was reflected in his deep eyes.
“I’m here for cultural exchange.”
“How long will the communication last?”
“Communicate until we have culture.”
The sunlight shone on his white shirt, casting a gentle, dazzling light. He held out his hand, and in his palm lay a bloody seal.
"I cracked your password."
The wind that shook the trees enveloped them, and the magnificent heartbeat was awakening.
He pulled her into his arms, and the resonance of their chests merged into one.
"Qin Yizhang, don't bully me for being uneducated anymore."
In the warm embrace and familiar breath, she looked up at the sky, but her vision was blurry. Circles of light were cast in the air, like a dream.
He cupped her face in his hands, resting his forehead against hers. The voice he hadn't forgotten in his dreams pleaded with her on the wind.
"Qin Tian, I'm going home, let me stay."
The words engraved on the bamboo slips have traveled through two thousand years to narrate the ancient love; the words engraved on the jade can withstand the vicissitudes of life.
Tong Zhongyuan My heart follows you wherever you go
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