People say that time can erode a person's impression of a city.
Five years have passed. Logically speaking, S City should be quite unfamiliar to Lu Shizhen, who has settled in the capital and travels around all year round.
But when she heard Xiaoning say the name of the city, she paused for a moment.
If there is anything that can stand still in the passage of time, it is only deliberate action.
Over the years, Lu Shizhen has been intentionally or unintentionally avoiding the possibility of going to S City.
For her, S City was filled with unknown risks, and there was also... some people or things she didn't want to see.
Avoiding eye contact and gestures is like an unnoticed knife, carving itself into the bones, leaving a brand.
It's not that it stopped the passage of time from eroding things, but rather that the imprint is so deep that the passage of time cannot erase it.
Seeing Lu Shizhen's reaction, Xiaoning couldn't help but tentatively ask, "Teacher Sixteen, do you have some kind of unresolved issue with S City?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Shizhen lowered her gaze slightly, then looked up and smiled, "Why do you say that?"
“It’s just a feeling,” Xiaoning replied.
She was Lu Shizhen's first assistant and they were somewhat familiar with each other, so she didn't hold back in her speech: "Last time we talked about going to S City on a business trip, or sometimes when we brought up topics about S City, you weren't very enthusiastic about participating."
Upon hearing Xiaoning's words, Lu Shizhen paused once again.
She couldn't quite describe the feeling of being seen through. Lu Shizhen only felt her heart suddenly sink for a second. Then she smiled and admitted, half-jokingly, "So I was that obvious."
"Yes." Xiaoning nodded honestly, then, as if realizing something, asked, "So you're not going to S City this time, is that right?"
The little girl's voice was full of regret, and the hand that was stroking Qiuqiu slumped down.
She knew that this knot in her heart couldn't be cleared up in a short time, and she had no right to let Lu Shizhen attend the book signing event with this knot in her heart.
Before she could even share her regret in the work group chat, she heard a nod of approval: "Go ahead."
Lu Shizhen had already removed the plastic wrap from the outer packaging of the boiled pork slices. The sound of the sealed lid being pried open rang out along with her voice, both sounding so crisp: "These are all things of the past, and it seems there's nothing to worry about now."
"Really!" Xiaoning was overjoyed, her eyes lighting up. "That's great! I'll tell them right now and have them set it up. The posters can be printed!"
As she spoke, the little girl put Qiuqiu, whom she was holding, on the ground, and strode out, waving to Lu Shizhen as she said, "Then I'm leaving, Teacher Sixteen, see you for dinner!"
Watching the energetic young girl walk further and further away, Lu Shizhen couldn't help but be infected by her enthusiasm. She smiled and waved back, "See you at dinner."
The heavy door was opened and closed again, and the room, which had just been filled with conversations, fell silent.
Qiuqiu nimbly jumped from the floor onto the table, her round cat eyes staring at Lu Shizhen: "Host, are you really decided?"
"It's decided." Lu Shizhen nodded, her voice firm.
White porcelain chopsticks were stirred and stained with the red chili soup, while piles of bean sprouts were skillfully placed on top of the meat covering the surface.
Lu Shizhen's movements were very relaxed, and her tone was almost the same: "Going is fine, so what? So many years have passed, she's probably fine now. She's vented everything she needed to, how could she still be hung up on me?"
"It should be 'holding a grudge'," Qiuqiu mumbled, taking a piece of starch sausage with her mouth.
“Yes.” Lu Shizhen listened, then lowered her eyes thoughtfully. “She still holds a grudge.”
She repeated Qiuqiu's words softly, as if correcting her own mistake.
It's like correcting your own mistakes.
The plane swept across the sky, leaving a long, straight line in the azure expanse.
Springtime weather is always so nice, even the sunshine is so full of life. As Lu Shizhen walked out of the airport with her suitcase, she was greeted by the warm sunshine.
The book signing event in City B concluded successfully yesterday. Lu Shizhen, who has been used to traveling and exploring alone over the years, arrived in City S ahead of the rest of the group, just as usual.
Lu Shizhen still remembers the last time she came here, she took the airport to the Northeast.
It was winter then, and the flowerbeds outside the airport were covered with white snow. This time, she came out with her suitcase and saw a field of flowers. Tulips reflected gentle colors and swayed slightly in the wind.
A gentle spring breeze lifted the hem of her skirt, and the sun-drenched fabric brushed against Lu Shizhen's calves.
Feelings of emotion often arise when we sense changes in familiar things, as does unease.
This feeling is completely different from traveling to different cities or even countries in the past.
As Lu Shizhen gazed at the towering buildings that had sprung up in her memory not far away, she felt as if she had been transported to another world.
She felt that this place was neither completely unfamiliar nor entirely unfamiliar; she felt familiar with it, but not entirely so either.
Lu Shizhen gripped the suitcase in her hand, still feeling a bit hesitant, her eyes filled with a mixture of trepidation and longing for home.
Five years have passed, and the changes in this place are beyond description. I wonder if this place has abandoned her.
"Our city of S has many fun places to visit. Here's a travel guide for you. We hope you have a pleasant stay." After Lu Shizhen checked into the hotel, the receptionist handed her a travel guide.
Lu Shizhen knew more about the places worth visiting in this city than the guidebook suggested, but just as she was about to politely decline the receptionist's offer, she ended up saying, "Okay, thank you."
She had almost forgotten.
She wasn't from S City; she was a tourist or business visitor.
Although she is still called Lu Shizhen, there are at least ten people in this world with that name.
Lu Shizhen, who belonged to this city, died in the fire five years ago and was even reduced to ashes; there doesn't even seem to be a grave for her.
As if searching for a foothold for her present self, or as if searching for the point where the present and the past intersect, Lu Shizhen took a car to the bookstore where they were going to hold a book signing event a few days later, following her usual habit. It was also the place where she had previously bought study materials.
This place is as big as ever, just like when she first came here, dazzling to the eye.
Although the place was so large that it was easy to get lost, Lu Shizhen calmed down because of the memories in this corner that had not changed over time.
Periodicals and magazines are on the first floor, literary works are on the second floor, comics are on the third floor, and teaching materials are on the fourth floor.
Following this memory, Lu Shizhen took the elevator to the third floor and saw Lillian's life-size standee at the elevator entrance. Her comics were placed in the most conspicuous position, and all of them were the twelfth volume that she had just published at the beginning of this month.
The promotional illustration that Lu Shizhen had drawn herself not long ago stood to the side, with Lilylian stretching out her arms to her with the smile that she had drawn countless times.
This familiarity made Lu Shizhen feel inexplicably a little embarrassed. The corners of her lips were filled with an indescribable sense of accomplishment, like returning home in glory. But she was also cautious, afraid that she couldn't live up to the idiom.
It's truly rare to be able to dedicate one's entire life to doing what one loves.
Lu Shizhen thought to herself as she picked up a comic book.
On the cover, Lillie, who has just finished a battle, sits under the starry sky, holding her weapon. A large crescent moon occupies most of the cover, casting moonlight on her in an eerie yet gentle way.
She had just gone through a fierce battle and lost the companions she had met along the way, so the world also cast a rare light upon her.
Just like the thoughts that used to pop up from time to time.
A question suddenly popped into Lu Shizhen's head: I wonder how Xu Shiyue is doing now.
It's inexplicable.
Just like when Lu Shizhen gave herself this name, Sixteen.
Actually, she initially wanted to be called Sixty, since the first two characters of "Lu Shizhen" sound like "Sixty".
But for some reason, just as she was about to officially register the name, her hand inexplicably swapped the positions of the six and ten, turning it into sixteen.
Lu Shizhen didn't know why she suddenly changed her mind and insisted on reversing the name.
It's like how the meaning changes depending on whether you read it forwards or backwards.
But what's the difference?
baffling.
It's really inexplicable.
Lu Shizhen frowned slightly and casually put down the comic book she was holding.
In the blink of an eye, my interest in strolling around here vanished, and I turned and left.
Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, and the bright spring light was broken down and refracted into halos that fell on the highly recommended comic book booth.
A hand with distinct bones reached out from the side, across the incandescent light, and silently picked up the book that Lu Shizhen had just put down, "The Girl Who Stumbled into a Fantasy World".
Her long, smooth hair hung down over her satin shirt, and her beautiful features could be vaguely discerned.
It was as if light had been spilled onto her; the excessively bright sunlight made it impossible to see her expression.
Compared to the children sitting on the floor around him reading comics, the sound of this person turning the pages was extremely soft.
Black and white stand side by side, their stark contrast creating a striking juxtaposition of monotonous colors and vibrant, almost incongruous, effect, as if they've wandered into the wrong space.
More and more eyes were passing by, but Xu Shiyue didn't care.
She looked at the comic book in her hand, her calm gaze settling on the protagonist's face.
The tiny black mole was clearly visible, barely visible, amidst the wind-blown strands of her long hair.
Close the book and pay the bill.
Xu Shiyue walked out of the bookstore at a leisurely pace, while Li had already parked his car on the side of the street.
It seemed the world never gave her any time to rest. She had barely sat in her car when Lu Shi'en's message came through: 【Don't reply, don't reply, don't reply.】
Perhaps feeling her hints weren't enough, the young girl added, "I've already debugged it according to your instructions, but I must remind you that sending signals unilaterally to the unknown is meaningless."
Xu Shiyue looked at it and simply typed on the keyboard: 【Just do as I say.】
【I don’t know what you’re up to now.】Lu Shi’en muttered as he sent a message to Xu Shiyue.
She stared at the complex computer system she was controlling, and though she didn't understand it, she calmly said, "I will keep this looping signal within a controllable range. If there's even the slightest sign that the program is about to crash, I will stop this experiment without your permission."
【Um. 】
After a pause, Xu Shiyue added, "Thank you."
Although the huge city of S has changed a lot at first glance, the familiar places are still the same.
Lu Shizhen went to that night market again after five years. Although there was not much business during the day, there were still quite a few people coming to the food stalls for lunch.
Under the landlady's astonished gaze, which seemed to echo from yesterday, she once again carried two heavy bags back to the hotel.
She deftly spread the food out on the table, and was about to raise her hand to call Qiuqiu, who was used to cats, to come out for lunch, when she saw the Thai guy nimbly appear from somewhere and jump over in a few quick steps.
"I bought you five skewers of starch sausage, isn't that generous?" Lu Shizhen proudly introduced the delicious food to Qiuqiu, but Qiuqiu didn't seem very enthusiastic.
Lu Shizhen didn't know if real cats would also exhibit such human-like behavior. She watched as Qiuqiu suddenly sat up straight in front of her and said to her with a serious expression, "Host, Yuanzi's condition seems to be a little not good."
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