The way home
The beeping of the satellite phone still seemed to echo in his ears, intertwining with Shen Zhiyan's words, "Information you would never have imagined," casting a new pebble into the calm lake of his heart. His father's trial, the origin of the claw marks... these words, like unsolved equations, hung suspended at the starting point of his journey home.
On the flight back home, the lights in first class were dimmed. Jiang Mo leaned against the window, but couldn't fall asleep. Outside the window, a sea of clouds flowed, mirroring their chaotic thoughts. Shen Zhiyan sat beside her, his eyes closed, but his slightly trembling eyelashes revealed he wasn't asleep. His hand on the armrest had slightly curled knuckles, betraying his inner turmoil.
Jiang Mo gently reached out and placed her hand on the back of his. His hand was cold. He gripped hers tightly, as if drawing strength from her. Neither of them spoke, simply holding hands silently, sharing their innermost thoughts and weight in the silence of the high altitude.
As the plane landed in Beijing, the familiar air rushed in, carrying the dryness and chill of a northern autumn. Linda came to pick them up herself, and seeing that the two of them, though tired, were safe and sound, she visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
“I’ve made arrangements for my aunt and uncle, increased security, and informed the community.” Linda reported quickly as she drove. “The media coverage is going well, and public opinion is currently in our favor. It’s just…” She glanced at Shen Zhiyan through the rearview mirror, “…the situation with Professor Shen’s father is a bit special.”
Shen Zhiyan nodded, indicating that he understood. He looked out the window at the rapidly receding street scene and suddenly said, "Let's not go back to the lab or the apartment. Let's go to the 'Rational Entertainment' studio."
Jiang Mo was slightly taken aback. "Rational Entertainment" was the name they had conceived for their studio long before going to Vienna, aiming to spread scientific ideas in a more accessible way. Linda had already found a venue for them and completed the initial basic renovations, but the interior was still empty; they had planned to officially launch it after returning from the forum. At this moment, it was indeed the least conspicuous and most private location.
“Okay.” Linda understood and turned the steering wheel toward the cultural and creative park. “There is only basic security there at the moment, and we haven’t bought anything yet, but it’s quiet.”
The studio is located in a quiet cultural and creative park, converted from an old factory building. It retains the rugged industrial style while incorporating a minimalist modern design. Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows is a small courtyard, where a few newly transplanted bamboo plants have not yet fully stretched out.
Upon entering the still-unsigned studio, Shen Zhiyan went straight to the makeshift core data area to check the network environment and the basic server status—an instinctive move to ensure the security of their location. Jiang Mo and Linda found a temporary folding table in the spacious open-plan office area and sat down. Linda briefly reported on the progress of the studio's license application and the initial contact with several potential partners.
As evening fell, Ms. Lin Jing arrived. She wore a dark cashmere coat and still stood tall, but her brows betrayed an undeniable weariness. She first nodded to Jiang Mo, her gaze lingering between Jiang Mo and Shen Zhiyan for a moment, revealing a complex, almost gratified emotion, before finally looking at her son.
"He requested to see you before his final statement," Lin Jing said calmly, as if recounting something unrelated to her. "His lawyer relayed the following words: 'Tell Zhiyan that the claw marks he's investigating, the nest, are not in the direction he imagined. If you want a complete resolution, come see me.'"
Nest Xue wasn't in the direction she imagined... Jiang Mo's heart stirred, and she looked at Shen Zhiyan. He stood beside the server rack, the light and shadow cutting out a boundary between light and dark on his face, making it impossible to see his expression.
"How credible do you think his words are?" Shen Zhiyan asked.
“When someone is at their wit’s end, the truth of their words is no longer important. What matters is what they hold onto,” Lin Jing analyzed calmly. “He might be trying to get a reduced sentence, or… he might just want to see you one last time, in the only way he can still control.” She paused, then added, “Whether you see him or not is your decision. I won’t interfere, nor will I offer any advice.”
Shen Zhiyan remained silent for a long time. Only the low hum of the server could be heard in the studio. Finally, he raised his head, his gaze piercing through the empty space and landing on Jiang Mo, as if seeking some kind of confirmation, or as if reaffirming his own determination.
“I see,” he said.
After Lin Jing left, only the two of them remained in the studio. Night streamed in through the large glass windows, bathing the room in a soft, dark blue light.
Shen Zhiyan stopped working and walked to the window, gazing at the bamboo shadows swaying gently in the evening breeze in the courtyard. Jiang Mo walked over and stood beside him.
"Do you need me to come with you?" she asked softly.
“No.” He refused decisively, then realized his tone was too harsh and softened his voice to explain, “That’s not a place for you. And… I need to face this alone.”
Jiang Mo nodded in understanding. Some battlefields can only be fought by one person.
“Whatever you hear or see,” she said firmly, looking at his tense profile, “remember I’m here waiting for you.”
Shen Zhiyan turned to face her. In the darkness, his eyes shone brightly. He didn't speak, but simply reached out and gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek. His fingertips were cool to the touch, yet the movement was as gentle as a feather. This simple gesture expressed his complex emotions more clearly than any rational analysis he could muster.
He lowered his head, gently pressing his forehead against hers, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Their breaths mingled, like two boats temporarily moored and leaning on each other in the quiet night.
In this quiet moment, the studio's unused access control system suddenly beeped, indicating that someone had rung the visitor bell outside.
The two men were startled at the same time, and looked warily at the monitor screen. A man in a deliveryman's uniform was standing at the door, holding a cardboard box of medium size.
Shen Zhiyan frowned: "We haven't booked any deliveries."
Jiang Mo looked at the deliveryman with his head down on the screen and felt a strange unease rise in her heart: "He seems... to know we're here."
Shen Zhiyan immediately operated the tablet, bringing up a wider-angle surveillance video of the area outside. She saw the "deliveryman" place the cardboard box at the door, not waiting for a signature, but quickly turning and disappearing into the night of the cultural and creative park. In the surveillance footage, the cardboard box at the door resembled a silent Pandora's box, waiting to be opened.
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