Chapter 42
On the seventh day after the submarine docked, Yu Chen followed the seal engraver back to his penthouse apartment in the old port.
As soon as the door opened, a man stood in front of the living room's floor-to-ceiling window—
He was a head taller than the engraver, his shoulders and back cutting the sunset in two, one light and one dark. The cuffs of his smoky gray hoodie were rolled up to his forearms, his muscle lines resembling rocks polished by waves.
He turned around, his short hair slightly curled, his jawline sharp, yet he wore a lazy smile: "You're back?"
The voice was low and magnetic, with a long, drawn-out ending, like adding a subwoofer to the sea breeze.
Yu Chen paused for half a second, her bright red hair peeking out from under her hat, and blurted out:
"Holy crap, so you... had this kind of gem hidden in your house?"
The engraver placed the aluminum alloy suitcase on the ground and, with dark circles under his eyes, began to introduce:
"My boyfriend, Lu Ye."
Lu Ye nodded, smiling casually: "I've heard him mention that red-haired little madman. Meeting him today—"
He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over the box in Yu Chen's hand, and added, "He really does look good when he's crazy."
Yu Chen raised an eyebrow, turned to the seal engraving, and spoke in a low but clear voice:
"If I may ask—are you up or down?"
The living room fell silent instantly, with only the sound of waves crashing against the breakwater, like a rhythm to the awkward silence.
Ke Zhang's ears instantly turned red. He pushed up his black-rimmed glasses and spoke in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible:
"...the one above."
The last syllable of his voice faltered guiltily.
Lu Ye chuckled softly, his shoulders trembling slightly like a sail billowing in the sea breeze, but considerately refrained from exposing him.
Nighttime, on the balcony.
As Ke Zhang was coding on his laptop, Lu Ye came over with two cups of hot cocoa, placing one cup beside him, the sides of the cups clinking together with a very soft "tinkling".
Yu Chen leaned against the railing, taking in the scene—
Lu Ye casually rubbed the back of the seal's neck, the movement as natural as stroking a cat with its fur standing on end;
Despite his verbal complaints, he instinctively snuggled into the other person's arms, a spoiled smile hidden in his dark circles.
Yu Chen whistled, his voice so low it was barely a whisper:
"So the one up there is Lu Ye."
The woman, who was about to explode with anger, was immediately pulled into the arms of her tall and strong boyfriend.
Lu Ye lowered his head and nuzzled the top of his head with his chin, his voice low and magnetic yet full of affection:
"Don't stay up late, I can't bear to."
He muttered under his breath as he carved the seal, but stopped struggling. His ears turned as red as if the setting sun had painted them anew.
Yu Chen smiled and turned to look at the distant sea.
There, the lighthouse shines, like the first white light illuminating the rest of one's life after returning to the box.
Her voice was so soft it was almost a whisper, yet it carried a sweet, teasing tone:
"Okay, Lu Ye upstairs,"
The seal below,
The single guy in the middle—me.
Wishing you a long and happy marriage, and please stop showing off your love.
IV. The Sweetness After Returning to the Box
The balcony door was closed, but the waves continued to crash, like a rhythmic accompaniment to the sweetness.
Yu Chen held the aluminum alloy suitcase in his arms, as if he were holding a gun with its fuse removed, but he was no longer afraid of it exploding.
The waves continued to crash, like a pre-announced tolling bell—
This time, no one will seek revenge.
No one is hiding anymore.
Only the land above,
The seal below,
And the single people in the middle who were touched by the sweetness—
On the high seas, they quietly returned to their boxes.
On the third night after returning to the box, only one floor lamp was turned on in the living room.
Lu Ye was heating cocoa in the kitchen, his back view as tall as a warm wall.
He sat cross-legged on the carpet, a laptop on his lap, the code finished running, and the gossip started.
He pushed up his black-rimmed glasses and suddenly leaned forward:
"Hey, Yu Chen, you... haven't you ever had a boyfriend before?"
The sound wasn't loud, but it was enough to make Lu Ye in the kitchen prick up his ears.
Yu Chen was hugging her knees and looking at the sea when she heard this. She raised her eyebrows, and a little bit of her bright red hair peeked out from under her hat brim, like a fire that had accidentally been exposed.
"Boyfriend?" She chuckled, drawing out the last syllable. "I don't have a boyfriend, but I have a dozen enemies."
Engrossed in the seal-carving, he pressed on, "And what about your girlfriend?"
Yu Chen shrugged, his voice so low it was barely a whisper: "I don't even have a girlfriend, just an unfinished analysis."
Lu Ye walked over carrying three cups of hot cocoa, the cups clinking together with a crisp "ding".
Ke Zhang took the seal and, seizing the opportunity, escalated the gossip: "So when are you going to cut your hair short and dye it red again? Your long, straight black hair is beautiful, but I always feel like it's missing something."
He gestured, his fingertips resting on his collarbone, "Cut it here, then dye it back bright red, it'll be absolutely stunning."
Yu Chen looked down at her waist-length black hair—
Those were layers of ink applied over four years, meant for infiltration, for concealment, and for not being recognized by enemies.
She ran her fingertips through her hair, her voice soft yet bright: "I'll cut it once Viktor's eyes are completely closed."
"How much should I cut?" the engraver pressed.
“Cut it here.” She gestured to below her ear, “Then dye it back to bright red, like reigniting a fire.”
Lu Ye handed her the hot cocoa, his voice low and gentle: "I'll be with you when you get your hair cut. My skills are alright; I studied hairstyling in college."
The seal engraver's eyes widened: "When did you fix this? I didn't know!"
Lu Ye laughed and ruffled his hair: "There are many things you don't know."
Watching the two interact, Yu Chen's eyes curved into a sweet smile, yet tinged with a hint of spoiled teasing:
"Okay, on the day of the haircut, I'll sit in the middle, and you two will sit on either side of me. Give me some courage."
The lights continue to warm, and the sea continues to lap.
The engraver placed the empty cup on the table, the sound low yet clear.
"Then it's settled—"
"Weiqi closed her eyes, Yu Chen cut her hair, Lu Ye did the styling, and I was in charge of taking pictures."
Yu Chen pulled his hat brim down as low as possible, but couldn't hide the upturned corners of his lips:
"After I cut the first strand, I'll treat you to the strongest liquor."
Lu Ye wrapped the carved seal close to his chest, his voice carried on the sea breeze:
"After we cut the last strand, we'll go with you to see the lighthouse."
At four o'clock in the morning, the lights finally went out.
Yu Chen held the aluminum alloy suitcase in his arms, as if he were holding a gun with its fuse removed, but he was no longer afraid of it exploding.
Her voice was so soft it was almost a whisper, yet it shone like a lighthouse:
"Once Viktor closes his eyes, I'll cut my hair and dye it back to bright red."
Then—become Yu Chen again.
The sea continued to be photographed, like a preemptively tolling bell—
This time, no one will seek revenge.
No one is hiding anymore.
Only black hair waiting to be cut.
And the bright red that is about to reignite,
On the high seas, they quietly returned to their boxes.
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