9
Typhoon warnings are displayed in the news, and the island's official WeChat account pops up new information every now and then.
"Jack is the fifth typhoon of the year," and "The first strong typhoon of the year will make landfall directly on Niling Island this afternoon!"
The morning wind was already quite destructive, overturning bamboo fences and wooden door frames, and leaving mobile food carts scattered and piled up at the end of the path.
Staff members drove a small car, with a loudspeaker overhead continuously broadcasting typhoon warnings.
Zhong Yan brought all the ceramic pots that had just been placed on the small balcony back into the house, called a hardware store to repair the loose windows, and went to a nearby supermarket to buy some food to prepare for this extreme weather.
Unfortunately, the small supermarket had already been looted, leaving behind only a row of red chili peppers and a row of green chili peppers.
Even the instant noodles on the shelves have been reduced to just mushroom and chicken stew.
Zhong Yan, who lacked life experience, was dumbfounded.
"Typhoons don't happen every year, why are these people hoarding so much?" A latecomer complained as he pushed his empty shopping cart.
The shop assistant smiled and said, "The waves at sea are too big, and the boat can't come across. We're out of fresh vegetables, but we're bringing some dry food from the warehouse."
Zhong Yan can eat dry food, but Xiao Haiyan needs to eat fresh fish every day. She regrets giving up on buying it last night because there was no discount. Now she will buy it even if it costs double.
Otherwise, Little Seagull would have gone hungry for who knows how many meals.
Zhong Yan decided to try her luck at a supermarket further away.
The wind was howling wildly, and her ponytail wouldn't listen to her either, getting in front of her eyes several times, forcing Zhong Yan to press it down with her fingers.
Her clear vision also allowed her to see what was in front of her.
By the roadside, Chen Baoran COCO was crouching down in front of the bushes.
Their hair color was so distinctive that they could be recognized even from fifty meters away.
In the past, Zhong Yan would have definitely turned around and taken another path before being discovered. But now, after much hesitation, she walked behind them.
The two girls were focused on the bushes and didn't notice that someone had appeared behind them.
After standing there for a while, Zhong Yan had no choice but to ask what the two of them were doing.
Her voice sounded like crumpled paper in the howling wind.
Coco turned around and said, "Ah, it's Xiaoyan. We're looking for the cat."
Zhong Yan bent down, supporting herself on her knees, and looked into the bushes as well. "Is that Grandma Chen's cat?"
Chen Baoran shook his head and said, "No, they are stray cats on the island."
There are many stray cats on Niling Island. Some were abandoned by locals, while others were brought to the island and released.
Chen Baoran and COCO would catch any stray cats they encountered and take them to a veterinary hospital for sterilization, and they would also frequently bring these cats food and water.
"This typhoon is too strong; they won't be able to withstand it outside."
Even before the typhoon officially made landfall, the wind had already become piercing, like demons and monsters opening their mouths close to the ground.
The timid wildcat huddled tightly in the bushes, too afraid to come out.
While they were using cat treats to lure stray cats, Zhong Yan whispered behind their backs, "My mom and her friends came to the island the day before yesterday. I'm sorry, they were commenting on your hair behind your backs."
COCO turned back again, "Hey, I saw you sitting there looking so wronged the other day. I thought you'd been kidnapped and I was about to rescue you when Ranran said you were on a blind date."
“Lots of people don’t like our hair,” Chen Baoran said, unconcerned. “Coco and I are happy with our hair, that’s all that matters. Are you putting on a long face because of this? Are you afraid Coco and I will ignore you?”
Zhong Yan pursed her lips shyly, "Mm."
Chen Baoran smiled and said, "Kid."
“I’m not much younger than you,” Zhong Yan defended herself.
Chen Baoran said, "If someone you know is that petty, then I advise you not to be friends with them. Friends like me and Coco are fine, okay?"
Coco patted her little belly and said, "Big belly, the kind that can hold a boat."
After saying that, the two of them laughed at the same time.
Zhong Yan smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay."
As Jifeng said, true friends make you feel relaxed and happy, rather than constantly worrying about hurting or offending you.
Zhong Yan put down the basket.
COCO also greeted the little seagull inside.
Zhong Yan has learned to share with her friends proactively.
"Yesterday, Jifeng and I took the swallow mother flying in the air with the aircraft, and it can now fly outdoors."
"Wow, that's amazing, Little Seagull, you're so great!" Coco and Chen Baoran both praised Little Seagull.
Chen Baoran even fed it cat treats, saying, "They were cod-flavored."
When the little wildcat saw that its food had been taken by the bird, it finally panicked and darted out, only to be caught red-handed by Chen Baoran, who shoved it into the airline crate.
After the stray cats were collected, Chen Baoran suddenly remembered something and asked, "Hey, Xiao Yan, isn't your home over there? How did you end up here?"
Zhong Yan then remembered that she had something important to do. "The small supermarket near my home is out of fresh small fish. I plan to go to a bigger supermarket there."
COCO said, "Then you're still too late. You have no idea how strong the old lady over there is."
Zhong Yan was surprised, "So amazing."
Chen Baoran said, "Why don't you go and take a look near Ji Feng's house? It's in a remote area with few people living there. I think there's a supermarket called Hongqi Store there."
COCO leaned on Chen Baoran's shoulder and said, "I suggest you ask Jifeng to go out and buy some things for you right now."
This suggestion is very helpful.
Zhong Yan carried the little seagull and hurried over there while calling Ji Feng.
As soon as Ji Feng received the call, he rushed out to grab food for the little seagull.
"Just the small fish? I took two boxes. What about you? What do you want to eat?"
“I still have some biscuits at home. I heard the typhoon is very strong, so I think it will pass in one night,” Zhong Yan said.
"I bought some beef rolls and cabbage. Do you want some eggs? Zhong Yan?... Hello?"
"...Monsoon, hey, Monsoon, I saw some kittens, could you find a box to put them in?"
The typhoon arrived faster than anyone expected. Tree trunks were already broken along the roadside, and dangerous items were constantly being blown to the ground. Pedestrians wrapped themselves tightly in their clothes and hurried away.
Zhong Yan dared not put the kittens into Xiao Haiyan's basket, so she could only use her body to block the wind and prevent the wet little creatures from being blown away.
No one knows where their mother went; she left behind only these kittens, who are about a month old.
Fourteen minutes later, Jifeng appeared carrying something.
The two of them worked together to put the kittens into a large cardboard box.
"It's too windy, come to my house to take shelter first."
It takes twenty minutes to walk back to Zhong Yan's place from here, not to mention that a torrential downpour started while the two were talking.
Without saying a word, Jifeng tucked the cardboard box containing the cat under his elbow, picked up Xiaohaiyan's basket and the vegetable bag in his hands, and ran towards home.
Zhong Yan could only keep up with him.
The two covered their heads and ran to the Ji family's courtyard. Along the way, they could see many animals running around in panic, all of which were terrified by the strong wind and heavy rain.
They ran under the eaves, and the two of them were not only soaked, but the cardboard box was also soaked and mushy, almost ready to be scrapped.
At this point, Zhong Yan dared not brave the wind and rain to rush home. She was glad that she had locked the doors and windows before leaving home, so she didn't have to worry about the rain splashing into her house.
"Come in, I'll find you... a change of clothes."
Zhong Yan stood in the entryway for a short while, leaving a water stain on the floor. It wasn't her first time here, but she suddenly felt nervous.
Perhaps it was because the wind was too strong and the rain was too heavy outside.
Or perhaps it's because this room is too cozy, comfortable, and safe.
Ji Feng cleared out the basket of watermelons by the door, first catching the three eager kittens ready to explore, then leading Zhong Yan into the living room.
This is a two-story residential house. The interior has been renovated, and all the bedrooms have been moved to the second floor. The downstairs bathroom does not have a shower, so Ji Feng can only ask her if she minds using his.
If the host doesn't mind, the guests won't be picky either.
Moreover, if she doesn't take a hot shower soon, she'll probably start shivering from the cold.
Ji Feng prepared a set of school anniversary clothes for her, a loose T-shirt and shorts.
Zhong Yan quickly warmed her chilled body under the showerhead. The wind outside violently pounded against the overhead window in the bathroom, making a constant clanging sound as if a savage giant was pounding on it, trying to break in.
As Zhong Yan washed her hair, she kept an eye on the window, worried that it would be damaged by the wind.
A familiar fragrance wafted and spread through the warm air.
It smells like gardenia.
Zhong Yan glanced at the shampoo she had just used. It was a different brand than the one she used, but it also had a gardenia scent.
Do boys use floral-scented shampoos?
After leaving the bathroom, Zhong Yan quickly glanced around the bedroom.
Ji Feng's bedroom was a bit tidier than his studio, but there were still small messy spots everywhere, such as the marks left by the blankets, a white T-shirt draped over the back of his gaming chair, and even more impressive was an entire wall of hats...
Zhong Yan also saw the roses on the windowsill.
It leaned against the headboard, its head drooping, its beautiful, vibrant petals having lost their original luster.
It's as if a dancer has already reached the climax and is gradually heading towards the end.
Zhong Yan swore this was the fastest shower she had ever taken, but when she went downstairs she found that Ji Feng had already settled the kitten and the little seagull, and there was even a shivering little yellow dog in the entryway.
The little yellow dog, like the monsoon, was dripping water.
Zhong Yan quickly said, "Go take a shower, don't catch a cold."
Jifeng carried the dog up to the second floor.
Zhong Yan first went to check on the condition of the baby seagull.
Its basket is hung on the wall, at a certain height from the ground, so there's no need to worry about the playful kitten coming out to bother it. Right now, it has already eaten the small fish it just bought and is contentedly nestled in its nest.
It was the only thing that didn't get wet in this sudden downpour; the little seabird's feathers were exceptionally waterproof.
Ji Feng mixed raw meat with raw eggs for the kittens, but they didn't appreciate it much, busy playing with their brothers and sisters and refusing to eat.
Their fur was half wet and half dry, and they all looked very disheveled. Zhong Yan wiped the kittens with a tissue.
The monsoon has already turned on the air conditioning and heating, so there's no need to worry about them catching a cold or getting sick.
While Ji Feng was taking a shower upstairs, Zhong Yan mopped up the water on the floor in the entryway.
The wind outside was so strong it was frightening.
Tiles cracked, cars roared, leaves rustled wildly...
In just half an hour, it was as dark as midnight outside. Close to the floor-to-ceiling windows, dark clouds covered the sky, with only a sliver of light on the horizon.
The apocalypse in science fiction movies is nothing more than this.
But the small house still steadfastly shone in the darkness, giving Zhong Yan an unparalleled sense of security.
Ji Feng went downstairs as soon as he hung up his mother's phone.
"What's wrong?" The boy had a towel draped over his hair, holding a hat in one hand and a half-dry yellow dog in the other.
Although Zhong Yan was feeling down, she almost burst out laughing when she saw this comical scene.
"I just called my mom."
The estrangement and conflict between the mother and daughter have not yet been resolved, but Ms. Wang has a new topic to discuss today.
She believes that Zhong Yan deliberately argued with her and acted out, refusing to come back with them. Now that the typhoon has made landfall on Niling Island, she is alone on the island, which makes her family uneasy.
Typhoons are like human emotions; they are unpredictable.
It moves up and down, left and right, and just when you think it won't come, it suddenly turns around and attacks you.
"Oh, didn't you tell her it's safe here?"
“I told her, but she thought the windows in my room were very fragile.”
The monsoon responded with an "oh".
It's hard to say for sure whether she's currently in a boy's room.
Ji Feng put the dog in the entryway. "Are you hungry? I'll make you something to eat."
In this weather, delivery drivers would be blown away; there's no way they could possibly order food.
Zhong Yan followed him to the kitchen. "Don't you know how to cook?"
The monsoon said, "It's all in one pot."
Cabbage, beef slices, eggs, and tofu were all placed into the enamel pot.
Zhong Yan asked, "Don't you need to cut the cabbage? It seems like it's too big."
Ji Feng took the cabbage out of the pot, piled it up and cut it into three sections, and Zhong Yan also put the washed shiitake mushrooms in.
As the water boiled, the meat quickly shrank and changed color, and the cabbage became soft and wrinkled, swaying with the bubbling hot water.
The aroma wafted up, and both of them were hungry.
Ji Feng first scooped some beef, cabbage, and eggs from the pot, and Zhong Yan took them over to feed the little yellow dog.
The little yellow dog was tied up at the door, bored out of its mind. When it saw the food, it excitedly stood up and wagged its tail wildly.
While it was eating, Zhong Yan patted its little head.
Jifeng was still adding seasonings in the kitchen.
Do you eat spicy food?
"Eat a little."
Ji Feng scooped in a spoonful of chili sauce, and Zhong Yan picked up the soy sauce and asked, "Should we add soy sauce?"
Monsoon said, "Add a little?"
Zhong Yan carefully poured out a spoonful.
The monsoon asked, "How much salt should we add?"
“This salt seems to be expired,” Zhong Yan said, noticing the production date on the back of the bag.
Ji Feng turned around and glanced at it, then asked in confusion, "Salt can expire? Can it still be eaten six months after it expires?"
"It should be okay, right?" Zhong Yan wasn't sure either.
Ji Feng shook the bag and sprinkled salt into it; the salt powder, like snowflakes, quickly melted into the hot soup.
Ji Feng stirred the mixture with a large spoon and let Zhong Yan taste it. Zhong Yan said it was too salty, so Ji Feng added two more bowls of water to the pot. After the water boiled, he finally threw in two handfuls of noodles.
Ji Feng filled a bowl for Zhong Yan, then ate from the pot himself.
Adding seasonings back and forth took up time, the meat was overcooked, and the eggs were as hard as plastic. Fortunately, the cabbage, tofu, and mushrooms were very flavorful.
The heavy rain pounded against the windows, pattering and crashing like countless bullets attacking their safe haven.
When Chen Baoran heard that they had rescued several cats and dogs, he added Zhong Yan to a group called "Happy Animal Island".
The group owner is Dr. Bai from a pet hospital.
Dr. Bai said: [Thank you everyone for taking in the animals. If you have any questions about caring for them, please ask in the group.]
Several group members commented below, some asking what to do if the puppy keeps moving, others asking if anyone's parrot is lost and wanting to be claimed, and still others asking if kittens eat ham sausages.
Zhong Yan saw that the person who asked the cat had a picture of a small shop and a name named Zhang Yong.
Chen Baoran and COCO had previously visited his shop when they were looking for a cat.
The shop owner acted as if he really disliked cats and said a lot of unpleasant things.
Zhong Yan was quite angry with him at that time.
Unexpectedly, he would also take in stray cats and even inquire about how the kittens were being fed.
After listening to Zhong Yan's words, Ji Feng said, "Actually, many people only need a little bit of light to be illuminated."
COCO in the group said: "Did Jack bring all the seawater from the North Atlantic? It feels like the island is going to be washed away!"
Someone replied: "He might be looking for his rose."
Someone else said: "[It's raining heavily outside, perfect for watching a movie while drinking Coke. Anyone have any recommendations?]"
Chen Baoran said: "Let's watch Titanic to fit the occasion."
At this moment, Ji Feng asked Zhong Yan, "Want to see a movie?"
"What are you looking at?"
Ji Feng laughed: "Titanic is fitting for the occasion."
Although it's a world-renowned classic film, Zhong Yan had never seen it before, only heard its melodious theme song, "My Heart Will Go On."
"To film Titanic, Cameron went to the seabed in a submersible to find and witness the wreckage of the Titanic. The images above are all real footage of the shipwreck."
"Wow, that's amazing." Zhong Yan sat cross-legged on the carpet, her eyes wide. "Why is such an old movie still in such high definition?"
"Because the film was shot using the most advanced cinematography technology available at the time, they even restored the original film when it was re-released 13 years ago."
Ji Feng cut half a watermelon for her.
They each took half a watermelon, sat in front of the large-screen TV, and watched the movie intently.
The protagonist, Rose, is left with a mountain of debt after her father's death. Her mother, desperate for a wealthy son-in-law to maintain the family's affluent lifestyle, chooses to marry her off to Carl.
Rose loves collecting paintings, which Karl criticizes as a waste of money. Rose doesn't love her fiancé, but she can't escape her mother's control. Day after day, she repeats the same monotonous banquets and boring balls, suppressing her feelings and suffering, with no one caring about her.
As Zhong Yan listened to the female lead's monologue, her heart sank.
She deeply empathized with the protagonist's helplessness and understood her pain.
She was hurting herself in order not to let her mother down.
He was covered in wounds where no one noticed.
The camera then cuts to Rose running out in a disheveled state, her hair in disarray.
Like a lone, brave, and sorrowful little beast.
As the long shot zooms in, Rose runs all the way to the stern of the ship, past Jack, tears streaming down her face as she gazes at the boundless and magnificent sea.
She carefully climbed over the railing, looking down at the sea below, feeling both wanting to be swallowed by it and fearing its danger.
Zhong Yan lowered her head and pretended to be seriously digging out the watermelon, only keeping her ears open to listen to the lines from the movie.
Rose asked, "How cold?"
JACK said, "Freezing."
Jifeng added from the side, "The seawater is really cold at night, bone-chillingly cold. Jumping into the sea to commit suicide is not a good idea."
Zhong Yan felt her cheeks burning. How long would it take for Ji Feng to completely stop mentioning this matter?
She argued, "No death is comfortable."
Ji Feng said, "Yes, the best way to die is to lie in bed, fall into a deep sleep, be unaware of anything, and experience no pain."
In the movie, the male and female protagonists are from vastly different social classes and are from completely different worlds, yet they develop a deep connection through their interactions.
As the classic melody plays under the setting sun, the iconic shot of hands clasped together and the bow of a boat catching the wind appears, the ambiguous atmosphere foreshadowing the male and female protagonists falling in love.
The two then grew increasingly close.
When the male lead was sketching the female lead, Ji Feng got up and threw a watermelon.
When the male and female leads were kissing, Ji Feng helped her throw a watermelon.
When the male and female protagonists were chased to the ship's parking garage, Ji Feng went to the restroom.
Zhong Yan smiled secretly.
She understood that Ji Feng was afraid they would feel awkward sitting there watching such an "intimate" scene, but his timing was too perfect, as if he had a radar installed.
Beautiful times pass quickly. Just as the love between the male and female protagonists was growing stronger, the Titanic encountered the biggest obstacle of its life—an iceberg.
Zhong Yan's heart clenched.
In the face of disaster, the panic and struggle of humanity are deeply moving.
The gentleman pushed aside his life jacket and walked towards the crowd.
The white-haired captain locked himself in the leaking wheelhouse.
After the first-class band finished playing their last piece and said goodbye to each other, one violinist did not choose to leave and escape. He stayed where he was, thought for a moment, and then slowly played a melodious tune. His companions stopped, looked back, and walked back to continue playing their last piece together.
Shipbuilder Mr. Andrew set the clock to the moment he predicted the ship would sink, and calmly awaited the sinking of the Titanic, which he was building.
An elderly couple embraced in bed as the mother finished telling her two children her last fairy tale...
Finally, Rose and Jack met at the stern of the ship where they first met, and the Titanic sank into the Atlantic Ocean.
After falling into the water, Jack found Rose a door panel, and the two huddled together, heads close in the frigid Atlantic.
Their chances of survival here are slim.
But Jack continued to encourage Rose, envisioning a bright future for her and urging her to live on, making her promise that she would definitely live.
Rose was so cold that her hair and flesh were frozen, and her soul was leaving with her breath.
But she still agreed to Jack's offer.
The last kind-hearted crew member piloted the only returning lifeboat to search for survivors. Rose, carrying her lover's last wish, used her whistle to bring life back.
After being rescued, Rose lived a long and eventful life surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
At the end of the movie, Ji Feng handed Zhong Yan a tissue for the umpteenth time, jokingly saying, "If only we had watched 'Jack and the Beanstalk' instead."
Zhong Yan looked at him with red eyes, her face full of disapproval.
Ji Feng then asked her, "Did you like this movie?"
"I like it." Zhong Yan nodded. "It's just a pity it doesn't have any Easter eggs."
"Easter eggs only became a regular feature in commercial films in 2008. Do you know what the purpose of Easter eggs is?"
"Why?"
"As the name suggests, it's to give the world a pleasant surprise."
Zhong Yan said thoughtfully, "Titanic is a complete tragedy, so there won't be any surprise Easter eggs unless some miracle happens and Jack is brought back to life."
"Is that what you think?" Ji Feng's words immediately revealed that he held a different opinion from hers.
"For Rose, she got the life she wanted, a brave life, a free life, so it's not a tragedy in the full sense."
Zhong Yan's eyes widened. "But Jack is gone."
"Love isn't everything," Ji Feng chuckled. "You've never even been in a relationship, so how come you're so obsessed with love?"
Zhong Yan retorted, unconvinced, "You've been in a relationship? You seem to know a lot about these things."
"I'm just precocious."
Zhong Yan asked, "You've never been in a relationship?"
No.
After a while, Zhong Yan asked again, "You've never liked anyone?"
Ji Feng paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "No."
boom--
Suddenly, the outside light blazed brightly, and the flashes of lightning pierced the room, illuminating Zhong Yan's face.
The kitchen light made two "buzzing" sounds, then suddenly went out as if it had stopped breathing, leaving only darkness in the room.
It was as if they were making room for lightning to perform.
Thunder rumbled and rolled, and a terrifying beast lay prostrate above their heads, breathing heavily.
One after another, bolts of lightning appeared, blinding the world with their various angles and brightness.
The sounds of cats meowing, dogs howling, and birds chirping startled Zhong Yan.
Ji Feng suddenly chuckled softly.
Zhong Yan didn't know what he was laughing at, but he was probably laughing at her fear, so she pushed him and said, "Still laughing? You must have been struck by lightning for lying."
"What lie did I tell you?" His expression was hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to see clearly.
"that is……"
The only thing Zhong Yan could see clearly was Ji Feng's eyes; a ray of light reflected from the metal cabinet seemed to tear open a corner of the secret for her.
Another piece of onion skin has been peeled off.
"You admit you lied?"
"Then what do you really think it is?" Ji Feng asked her in return.
Zhong Yan gripped the carpet, the soft fibers tickling her palms, making her heart itch as well. She lowered her eyes and muttered, "How...how would I know?"
"You don't know, yet you accuse me of lying?"
Zhong Yan pursed her lips, her voice tense, "I... I just don't know if the correct answer is the same as what I think. Tell me, and I'll see if it's the same."
Who taught you to be cunning?
"The student surpasses the teacher."
"You're trying to trick me and then belittle me. I've never taken on a disciple like that."
"Whether you tell me or not is up to you, it has nothing to do with me anyway..."
Zhong Yan stood up, but Ji Feng suddenly grabbed her wrist. She turned her head and couldn't help but curl her lips slightly.
Ji Feng looked at her and said with a smile, "Listen to me first, then we'll see if it has anything to do with you..."
His voice stopped abruptly, as if a string had suddenly snapped.
The room was black, and the lightning was white.
To Zhong Yan, it was like a black and white painting, with Ji Feng's face contorted in pain at the center.
Zhong Yan caught Ji Feng just as he collapsed.
Another flash of lightning illuminated the room. Ji Feng covered his head with his hands, curled up, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat.
"Monsoon! Monsoon?"
Zhong Yan had never seen anything like this before. Despite her panic, she knew in her heart that Ji Feng must have suddenly fallen ill, and she needed to take him to the hospital.
But where is the phone?
She seemed to have received a few messages before watching the movie, but because she disliked the screen's brightness, she put her phone away.
At the dining table? In the entryway cabinet?
Zhong Yan, panting heavily, comforted Ji Feng before groping her way to the kitchen in the dark. She tripped over something and nearly fell to her knees in pain. Dragging her injured foot, she reached the dining table and searched around for her phone, but it wasn't there. She then groped her way towards the entrance.
Fortunately, her phone screen lit up, guiding her to the correct location. Zhong Yan immediately ran over, turned on the phone, and shakily dialed 120.
The wait was incredibly long, but thankfully, after a dozen or so rings, the dispatcher finally answered.
However, the dispatch function of 120 was limited. Due to the severe typhoon, ambulances could not be dispatched from Niling Island. The emergency doctor comforted the anxious Zhong Yan while asking for the patient's name and age.
He then said he had another doctor call.
Zhong Yan waited anxiously for four minutes when a call came in from an unknown number. When she answered, she heard the doctor on the other end say, "I used to be Ji Feng's attending physician."
/
Saturday, August 22, 2025
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