8. The Love of Potato Pancakes
Who are you? Where do you come from? Where are you going?
The question that needs to be asked immediately when meeting someone of the opposite sex is not very important to Fang Kaixuan at this moment.
She was very realistic about this. Even if he deliberately tried to gain her trust for some reason, she was unwilling to expose him.
Their lives were originally unrelated. The beautiful dream was short-lived; soon she would be thrown back into the most mundane daily routine, dealing with the people and things she had to deal with.
At this time, in this place, under these circumstances, she was merely taking advantage of the situation to possess him briefly.
He was not only handsome, but also must have been intelligent. Otherwise, even with skillful deception, he wouldn't have been able to so perfectly match her preferences. What's even stranger is that when they were alone, he never made any unwanted advances, as if he had endless patience.
But in reality, they don't have much time left to spend together.
Fang Kaixuan sighed softly to himself.
Sunlight swept swiftly across the foothills of the snow-capped mountains, the temperature visibly dropping little by little, the air quickly becoming icy cold, so cold that ice crystals condensed on her eyelashes. Fang Kaixuan was too lazy to reach out and brush them away, she simply shook her head and blinked. The ice crystals didn't fall down, but instead added a filter to the world before her eyes, revealing secrets to her from within the hexagonal ice flowers.
A gust of north wind whipped up snow, and he opened his arms to shield her head and face, while Fang Kaixuan curled her neck in return. The two of them were separated by thick, windproof, and waterproof coats, making the action anything but ambiguous; it conveyed only a sense of mutual dependence and openness.
"What would you like to do next time we meet?" he asked earnestly.
"I want to eat McDonald's breakfast." She's been tired of the hotel breakfasts lately; they're all the same everywhere.
"I agree. McDonald's hash browns are one of the greatest inventions in human history, just like Coca-Cola. Want to eat McDonald's together tomorrow?"
Fang Kaixuan smiled sincerely in the cold wind. McDonald's was a favorite dating spot with her boyfriend in middle school. For an adult man to take a woman to McDonald's was something that would be posted on social media and ridiculed.
But this invitation was a luxury she could hardly fulfill right now, because she was leaving tomorrow.
Leave this place, leave the snow-capped mountains. Leave behind all the unreal illusions, return to the most familiar place, and become an ordinary person with an indistinct face.
*
That evening, the grand event ended, and the crowd gradually dispersed. No matter how lively the gathering, at this moment it all seemed dejected, deserted, and a mess. It seems that everything is like this: the most beautiful moment is always before it begins. At that time, the audience had just entered and filled the seats, chatting in twos and threes, the curtain was still closed, and the actors' eyes were shining, ready to put on a great show.
In the end, dust to dust, ashes to ashes, the gods to their places, and even bandits A and B must return to reality.
Fang Kaixuan was one of the bandits.
On the way to the airport the next day, she had no interest in appreciating the scenery; she was preoccupied and couldn't bring herself to speak to her boss. Having worked there for so long, she had never made any extra requests and was more diligent and humble than most subordinates. Even though everyone thought she received preferential treatment, she knew she was a truly good employee.
This was the first time she had ever wanted to ask for something.
When he got to the check-in counter, there weren't many people in line ahead of him. He knew he would have to hand over his passport if he didn't speak up soon, so Fang Kaixuan finally made up his mind.
“Sam,” she stopped and unconsciously pursed her lips, “Could I ask for two days off?”
The boss raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised.
She forced herself to continue, "I have a friend here, and I... I'd like to see if there's a chance to meet them."
The boss nodded. Of course, he would be unhappy if it were someone else; giving last-minute notice is a major taboo in the workplace, especially when it's done to the boss.
Fang Kaixuan has always been a dutiful person, and it's rare for her to make an extra request, so she must have her reasons.
Those who wield great power can easily give others the opportunity to act willfully, which can be a kind of happiness.
“Of course,” he said gently. “You’ve had a hard time these past few days.”
"It's not hard work."
Fireworks lit up Fang Kaixuan's heart. It didn't matter how hard it was; at least she'd met the male lead in her own short drama of life.
Unfortunately, it's just a short drama, not the kind of long drama that can go on for seventy or eighty episodes without ending.
When she was little, her family always played "Men of the Bath House" and "Soonpoong Clinic." A group of people were chatting, laughing, and playing around, and it seemed like the show would never end. Back then, she didn't like watching it; she thought it was too bland. Now, she so wished that the show would never end.
Before parting, the boss turned back and instructed, "Tell my secretary to help you with the plane ticket."
"Ah, no, no, it's a personal matter," Fang Kaixuan quickly explained.
“Triumphant return,” he smiled magnanimously, “you don’t need to be so careful. It’s all for work, not some extra perk for you. If you’re embarrassed, I’ll let you know.”
A short while later, the boss's secretary sent an email, businesslike yet unusually enthusiastic, booking a return ticket for Fang Kaixuan that could be changed at any time. Since the boss was doing a favor, the secretary understood and wanted to do it properly.
But none of that mattered to Fang Kaixuan. She had already hurriedly set off from the airport back to the city to meet the people she was supposed to eat hash browns with.
When they said goodbye in the town, the two had to exchange contact information, but they still verbally agreed to meet at McDonald's on Bahnhofstrasse.
What if someone can't make it? Then they can't. That's the norm in reality; promises change, people are absent. Fortunately, the freshly made hash browns are always there.
Fang Kaixuan was determined to go. Even if it meant having to muster the courage to ask his boss, he was going, even if the other party might not show up at all.
She had to eat hash browns that day. Hash browns that, even if the heavens and earth were to collapse, would still allow her to feel the essence of human civilization.
These hash browns offer unparalleled quality. Arrive at the restaurant before 10:30 AM for crispy, melt-in-your-mouth hash browns. Hash browns that taste the same everywhere in the world.
It is more reliable than people. More reliable than changeable weather, and more reliable than fickle human hearts.
That day, Zurich was shrouded in dark clouds and swirling snow, a sight that filled one with worry. Yet, Fang Kaixuan felt as if she were under the bright spring sun, simply light and joyful. This was probably the last time they would see each other, she thought.
All good things must come to an end. No matter how reluctant we are to part, there will always be a final time.
Satisfied with their empty stomachs, the two stepped outside into the gloomy, snowy landscape. The north wind howled, and Fang Kaixuan couldn't help but grasp his hand. He stopped, and the two stood facing each other. Fine snowflakes stung their faces, but neither of them sought shelter.
In past relationships, men often played the role of the one who was eager for sex, while women were expected to maneuver and shift the focus, or to retreat in order to advance, as if that was the proper way to go.
It was only after meeting him that Fang Kaixuan realized her lustful side. She often criticized men for being shallow and only caring about women's appearance, but she never imagined that it was just because she hadn't met a truly handsome man.
Her hand unconsciously moved upwards, gently stroking his cheek. The slight stubble added a touch of ruggedness, yet also a great deal of sensuality. Her fingers slid across his ear, touching something cool behind it.
The coldness didn't come from her hands being frozen by the cold air.
Seeing her puzzled look, he explained, "I was too naughty when I was little, and I broke my skull while playing once. Luckily, I met a good doctor. It's a metal-like substance that can be used to repair it."
"Does it hurt?" Her only reaction was that she was worried that the little boy from more than ten years ago would be in unbearable pain.
“I don’t feel anything at all, but,” he shook his head, as if carefully choosing his words, but after hesitating for a long time, he still didn’t say anything, only gently pressing her fingers there with his own hand.
It's clear that he thoroughly enjoyed it.
"Everyone in the meeting has left, why aren't you going home yet?" she couldn't help but ask. Even though she desperately wanted to be a carefree woman who seemed completely indifferent to him.
"Go back where?"
Siberia?
"Oh right, I'll be staying at Lake Baikal for a month next."
Geographically, Lake Baikal is not far from Beijing. Chinese people are familiar with this place because of singer Li Jian's song "By the Lake Baikal," which somehow became a nationwide hit.
However, the song was clearly not about winter scenery.
"There, the spring breeze is intoxicating, the grass is lush and green, and the moonlight sprinkles love across the lake."
It is neither the world's deepest lake, where temperatures can drop to minus thirty degrees Celsius, nor the barren land where Su Wu herded sheep in history.
"Do you want to come?"
Do you want to come?
The world's deepest freshwater lake, the world's most beautiful blue ice, and perhaps the most captivating man in the world. Do you want to come?
This seems like a question that requires no hesitation.
Fang Kaixuan thought about it for a long time. In her daze, she was already on the plane back to Beijing.
A day in the mountains can feel like a day in a world that has changed so much. Those few days felt like a dream, and now I'm back to a heavy burden of responsibilities and countless things on my to-do list.
The first thing I did when I got home was to rush to Xiaoju's house to pick up the cat. Xiaoju, wrapped in a thick cotton coat, delivered the cat carrier to the entrance of the community. Seeing that Fang Kaixuan looked exhausted and hadn't recovered, she scolded, "I told you there was no need to rush. You should have rested first."
"Guazi is so pitiful. It was kicked out at such a young age. I will take it back as soon as possible so that it can adapt to the environment quickly. It is timid."
"He even bullies cats, this Chen Zhilun is really a scoundrel."
Fang Kaixuan gave a weak laugh, a mocking expression creeping onto his face.
Just a year ago, Chen Zhilun was her perfect husband.
///
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