Chapter 63, Chapter 52: Hertzian Humpback Whale
Chapter 63
The last rays of the setting sun shone softly on the lush green lawn. The professional dog trainer at the resort was leading Lele in an obstacle course. The puppy's long, golden fur, freshly washed and blown open that afternoon, swayed smoothly in the air, its excitement palpable.
When Xia Zhiyu first came to Beicheng to pursue her master's degree, Jiang Zhiyan's work wasn't too busy. He was busy during the week, and the two of them had more important things to do at home in the evenings. On weekends, they would spend most of their time playing around Beicheng. If the mood struck, Jiang Zhiyan would skip work on Fridays and the two of them would fly to the beach.
Living together was full of novelty and happiness. As the two of them spent more time together, their love grew stronger and stronger, like brewing wine.
Several lovely little houses are scattered around the lawn, two of which are glass houses, so that the owners can enjoy a drink while watching their dogs. Further out, there is a fairly large swimming pool, in which the blue sky and the shadows of the trees are reflected. No pet-owning family can resist such a temptation.
Xia Zhiyu was familiar with these wooden houses, including the row of her favorite white wines on the shelves, as well as seven or eight small wine jars of various shapes and hand-woven wicker baskets. Each item was chosen by her and Jiang Zhiyan together. Sitting at the dining table, she could see the dog playing happily through the window. A skylight in the roof allowed a few rays of light to quietly stream in through the translucent glass, reflecting on the fresh flower arrangements still covered with dew.
Even if new objects are added to an old place, the traces left in memory will still be awakened the moment they are seen, creating a comforting sense of familiarity.
"I've been here so many times before, but I never knew there was such a big lawn here."
Xia Zhiyu held the orange mulled wine that Jiang Zhiyan handed her, glanced at the man, and said in a light tone, "Could this also be a 'change' from some people after they found out I have a dog?"
The intonation can be emphasized on the word "change".
Jiang Zhiyan readily admitted, "It's not just that. I imported the best lawn from abroad, hired the most professional dog trainers, and even asked the dog food brand you work with to recommend this dog park to you. In the end, you still only take Lele to that little park in front of your house."
The man's tone held a hint of helplessness, and the warm breeze still carrying the lingering heat of the day blowing in through the window ruffled a few tufts of short hair at his temples.
“I even airlifted back the little boat and stairs that you liked when I traveled to Russia. I advertised at the pet store near your house for half a month, but the shop assistant said that you always agreed to come and see me next time, but I never saw you even once.”
"Little liar."
The waiter knocked on the door and entered the room, bringing several dishes, all of which were Xia Zhiyu's favorite flavors. The white ribbonfish that had lured her here lay in the middle of the plate, emitting an enticing aroma.
"Golf is the same. I got cards at every course in the North City that you might go back to, but when I saw you that day, I realized that you always had to go halfway around the city to the course that was furthest from you."
Jiang Zhiyan's tone even carried a hint of complaint.
Xia Zhiyu took a sip of wine, the sweet aroma spreading between her lips and teeth. She lowered her eyes and stopped looking at Jiang Zhiyan. "Because that was the first place you took me."
She paused, then added, "I'm very familiar with the players and coaches, so I'm too lazy to change them."
The implication in his words was too obvious. Jiang Zhiyan raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes. He was about to ask further questions.
Suddenly, the puppy outside the window barked excitedly several times. Xia Zhiyu's gaze was immediately drawn to the window. It turned out that a rabbit had darted out of the bushes around the grass, and Lele excitedly pounced on it.
Lele sometimes acts recklessly, so Xia Zhiyu quickly got up to ask if she needed help disciplining her. The dog trainer hurriedly followed after her, waving to indicate that everything was alright.
Jiang Zhiyan watched her slender figure standing by the window, gazing at the puppy. A strange burning sensation suddenly rose in his fingertips. He clenched his fingers tightly, his brows and eyes drooping.
We loved each other so much; as we part, we should peacefully watch each other's figures fade into the distance.
In the cold winter wind, Xia Zhiyu quietly gazed at him and said.
Countless nights after their separation, he would always be jolted awake by this sentence when he was in a light sleep. So much so that the moment he saw Xia Zhiyu's back, those dark desires that had settled in the dead of night boiled and clamored like a swamp, wanting to hold onto Xia Zhiyu tightly.
He grabbed her ankles, wrapped his arms around her lower back, and pressed her urgently for an answer: Who could do such a thing? Who could stand by and watch their beloved walk away?
As the sun set, the last rays of the setting sun gently enveloped Xia Zhiyu through the skylight. Her figure was slender, and her fingertips, which were taut and pale with worry, rested on the window frame. The two jade bracelets jingled softly against each other.
These rings were also familiar to Jiang Zhiyan. He had acquired them from an old collector in Hong Kong. Xia Zhiyu liked them very much and wore them on her wrist for several years. She had gotten used to wearing them and didn't even take them off when they broke up and severed ties.
There isn't one now.
Jiang Zhiyan's gaze lingered on her wrist for a long time, a hint of pent-up frustration surfacing in his eyes.
She has everything now: wealth, status, and adorable cats and dogs that happily circle around her feet the moment she enters the house.
In the four years without him, Xia Zhiyu's life got back on track.
And what about him?
When will his life get back on track?
Love makes people suspicious and hesitant. Jiang Zhiyan dared not think about why Xia Zhiyu still kept the gift he gave her, nor did he want to think about what kind of mystery was hidden under the soft fingertips that touched his hair just now.
Xia Zhiyu suddenly rushed out the door. Jiang Zhiyan subconsciously thought something had happened, and the stool made a screeching sound as it scraped the floor.
It came to an abrupt end.
Jiang Zhiyan watched as Xia Zhiyu returned, carrying a well-packaged cake box. She quickly closed the door, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
Happy birthday, Zhiyan.
Even the air seemed to fall silent for a moment. Jiang Zhiyan's fingertips unconsciously gripped the edge of the table. He was stunned for a while before he swallowed hard and thanked them.
Xia Zhiyu mysteriously gestured for him to be quiet, indicating that he should close the window.
"Don't let Lele see it. It doesn't know it can't eat cake. Every time I give it to the child, it makes its mouth water for miles."
While Jiang Zhiyan closed the window, Xia Zhiyu unwrapped the packaging box layer by layer. She had ordered the currently popular black swan-shaped cake, its fondant wings shimmering with a sweet luster. As she unwrapped it, she smiled and said...
“When I first saw this cake, I thought it would suit you perfectly. I didn’t expect to be able to get it for you so quickly. They also have a swan design that’s very popular, but I don’t think it’s as pretty as this one. We’re lucky, though. When I checked the day before yesterday, there were only two left. Luckily, I made a reservation quickly, otherwise we would have had to eat a regular cake today.”
"This isn't a cake that can be ordered on short notice."
Her tone carried a subtle hint of pride, like a victorious kitten proudly raising its head, its tail wagging high in excitement.
Xia Zhiyu is a person with a great attitude towards life. She has different things to celebrate every day, every week, and every month, from big events like holidays, celebrations, birthdays, and anniversaries to small things like buying a small cake when the forsythia blooms by the roadside or downstairs.
Every little thing in life brings Xia Zhiyu joy, and she never hesitates to share this joy with others, just like a perpetually enthusiastic protagonist in a movie or TV series, a dazzling little sun that makes people love her so much that they just want to give her the best of everything in the world.
He once had such a strong desire to share, but who has he shared it with in the past four years?
In the dark corners where the sun doesn't reach, anxiety slowly breeds and spreads.
Jiang Zhiyan's eyes darkened. He saw a strand of her tied-up long hair slip out and brush against her neck, but Xia Zhiyu was busy with her hands and could only subconsciously tilt her neck.
He twitched his fingertips slightly a few times, then restrained himself and remained still.
Xia Zhiyu placed the cake in the center of the table, lit the candles, and the bright candlelight danced in her eyes. As she tilted her head to brush aside a stray lock of hair, her smile towards him was bright and pure. Xia Zhiyu urged him again.
"Make a wish quickly, make a wish quickly."
Jiang Zhiyan shook his head, "My wish has already come true, any more won't work."
"One shouldn't be too greedy. Being able to celebrate my birthday with you today is enough to fulfill my wish."
Xia Zhiyu understood; when playing a pure and innocent character, one can't appear too greedy. She nodded vigorously, holding up her phone screen and waiting for Jiang Zhiyan to smash the fondant with a spoon.
Fortunately, the cake broke beautifully, and the video turned out beautifully. Xia Zhiyu was very satisfied and sent it to Fang Xinle.
He clearly didn't take Jiang Zhiyan's words to heart.
He also clearly seemed to know Jiang Zhiyan exceptionally well.
The man chuckled.
Indeed, he wouldn't make any wishes. The person he wanted was right in front of him; what need was there for him to make wishes?
Jiang Zhiyan cut a piece of cake and handed it to Xia Zhiyu, "Besides walking the dog and playing golf, where else do you usually go in Beicheng? Watch movies, go hiking?"
“No, I’m either walking the dog or working. I rarely go golfing,” Xia Zhiyu complained, biting the handle of her spoon. “Yu Xia has only been starting out for the past two years. I’m so busy every day that I wish I could conjure up eight hundred clones like Sun Wukong. I’m not like you big capitalists.”
"It's not as free as you think. There are meetings, business trips, and one job after another. Occasionally I have some free time to read a book, and sometimes I have to see a psychologist to make sure I can still function normally."
Jiang Zhiyan casually swirled the dark red wine in his wine glass, his smile revealing nonchalance. "The doctor advised me to look in the mirror more often."
"Does it make you happy to think you're handsome?"
As soon as she said it, Xia Zhiyu laughed at herself.
“No,” Jiang Zhiyan said, relaxing his brows and leaning back in his chair. “I’ll see how ugly my smile looks, and adjust it little by little until I look like a normal person.”
The relaxed young man smiled slightly at her as if to cover up his true feelings, his eyebrows curving slightly, and in an instant he seemed like a completely different person.
The man said gently, "Like this."
As darkness completely fell, the smart skylight quietly closed, leaving only the flickering candlelight on the cake in the center of the dining table and the warm yellow wall lamp reflecting on his profile. Jiang Zhiyan's smile remained unchanged, but a dull and astringent feeling unconsciously crept into his eyes and brows, like the seemingly calm waves at dawn, with a turbulent and suppressed bitterness beneath the dark surface.
Xia Zhiyu suddenly remembered the 52-hertz humpback whale that lived in the Atlantic Ocean.
A lonely voice echoes in the deep sea.
He was truly pitiful.
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Author's note: If you didn't get to eat it, you'll get to eat it in the next chapter!
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