Chapter 63 His gaze at the bottom of the box
Summer night.
It's late at night and everyone is asleep.
The air conditioner in the room was blowing out cold air, making a slight sound.
Yan Ning sat at the desk. Although she spread out her study materials on the table as usual, she didn't write a single word and couldn't even read a single sentence.
The only thing she could do was to prick up her ears and listen to the movement outside the door——
Finally, I heard the sound of a door closing.
There was no more noise outside.
Mom has gone to bed, so there shouldn't be anyone knocking on her door again.
So Yan Ning immediately ran to the door quietly, turned the knob gently and slowly, and after a "click", the door was locked.
Still unsure, she turned the doorknob again.
After making sure the door is locked securely.
Yan Ning couldn't wait to run back to the desk. Then, she carefully zipped up her schoolbag. The little dolphin hanging on the zipper was the birthday gift that Lu Chen gave her at this time last year.
And the little dolphin's round black eyes, a pair of them.
She couldn't help but think of his last sentence:
"Be good."
Even though the cold air from the air conditioner was blowing directly on Yan Ning's cheeks because he was standing, it was of no use.
Her face turned red again.
It's obviously a phrase to coax a child.
But, coming from Lu Chen's mouth...
Let her hear from the person she loves...
When Yan Ning recalls that moment now, he still can't help but feel shy and helpless, and feels hopelessly moved.
In fact, this kind of heartbeat is spreading, and I don’t know when it will end...
My heart is pounding.
Yan Ning was lost in thought for a long time before he came back to his senses.
Then, she quickly suppressed the corners of her lips that had curled up without her knowing when, and focused her attention on the inside of the schoolbag that had been fully opened long ago.
Using both hands, she carefully took out the heavy little box that was placed on top.
Because of Lu Chen's suggestive words:
"Open it when no one else is around."
Yan Ning knew that this was definitely more than just an ordinary box of sticky notes.
Because he didn't want to damage the outer packaging, Yan Ning sat down on the chair and used the same extreme concentration and meticulousness as when he did chemical experiments in the science building. He slowly and slowly opened the box, and in the process, did not let any corners be damaged.
After the box is opened.
The first thing that catches your eye is a stack of light blue sticky notes that fill the inner wall of the box.
Yan Ning turned it upside down and took it out. Then, several stacks of sticky notes of different colors were poured out, but the number didn't seem right.
All of these sticky notes together are only about half the size of the box.
And at a glance, there are no marks or fonts on these papers.
Yan Ning put them aside and turned to look inside the box.
Then I saw——
A piece of white hard cardboard was stuck in the middle of the box, and there was an arc-shaped notch cut out on the four edges of the cardboard, which made it easy to take out and revealed a little light blue background underneath.
Yan Ning breathed out lightly, thinking that something was better than nothing. After easing his increasingly tense mood, he carefully took out the white card.
What appeared underneath was a light blue sticky note, the same kind that had appeared when she first opened the cardboard box.
And above.
A little more——
In that familiar, sharp handwriting, it read:
This is a small gift. I hope you like it. (Simple drawing of a smiling face)
And once again.
Happy birthday to you.
I also wish you to be free and happy forever, without worries.
In the place of signature, there is a picture of a little dolphin jumping out of the water and shaking its tail.
When Yan Ning reached out to take out the sticky note, his nervousness reached its peak in an instant, and his heart was pounding like a percussion instrument playing at a very fast rhythm.
Then, the next moment, she finally saw—
The lower half of the box contained several stacked color films.
The film is cut, and each sheet is covered with a protective film clip. There is also a layer of foam board around it that is completely flush with the height of the film and perfectly matches the thickness. This not only further protects the film, but also prevents the film from shaking and making noise in the box.
Just by looking at the neat cuts on the foam board, it’s easy to imagine how much time and effort the person who prepared it spent.
She said that her heart, at this moment, was not touched.
Of course that's fake.
But, although, I don't even want to destroy this structure that looks like a work of art.
But the films were stacked together, making it difficult to see what was filmed on them. So Yan Ning had to be more focused, careful and serious, and gently and slowly pulled out the foam board along with the film.
The more films Yan Ning took out, the more she realized that these films were different from the old-fashioned black and white films she remembered from her childhood, which required professional equipment to calibrate the colors before they could be clearly displayed and viewed.
Their colors and images, as visible to the naked eye, are consistent with the scenes that were filmed at the time.
And now, from those overlapping and indistinguishable film images.
Yan Ning seemed to suddenly realize something.
She kept pulling the foam board at the same speed, but her heart was getting more and more nervous...
Finally, she took out the film, and at the same time, she also took out another light blue sticky note that was stuck on the outside of the bottom of the foam board.
On it, there was still Lu Chen's handwriting.
This time, he spoke in a long paragraph, telling her that this was a reversal film, which could retain more details of the picture and the colors were closer to the real scene. Moreover, if properly preserved, it would not be distorted for decades. He also attached some tips on keeping it away from light and in a dry place.
The second half introduces two simple methods for viewing films:
First, adjust the phone screen to a completely white background and then place the film on it.
Second, you can also use a desk lamp, cover the light source with a white cloth or paper, and then place the film on it to check.
In order to make it more intuitive, he even drew a flowchart of using a mobile phone and a desk lamp next to these two methods with simple drawings, and also noted below that these two methods are more effective after turning off other light sources in the room.
Yan Ning lowered his eyes and stared at the two simple drawing flowcharts, stunned for a while.
Although her parents still do not restrict her use of mobile phone, in order to facilitate self-discipline, Yan Ning still keeps her mobile phone in the cabinet in the living room except on weekends or when she really needs to use it.
In fact, she had never told Lu Chen this.
But the checking method he provided included a backup option for when the phone was not available.
so.
Look.
This person.
All about her.
He is always so considerate and meticulous, even gentle.
How could I let her not like it...
The focus of attention is concentrated.
Anyway, Yan Ning was thinking, her heartbeat and blushing never stopped, so she simply let herself go and immersed herself in this feeling.
She placed the second note neatly on the table along with the first, and then prepared to review the film.
The cell phone was still in the living room, but Yan Ning didn't plan to get it. Instead, he directly chose the desk lamp option.
The desk lamp on her desk is a very ordinary study lamp. The lampshade is conical, has a flat luminous surface, and the angle of the lampshade can be adjusted at will.
Yan Ning grabbed the desk lamp, laid it down, adjusted the angle of the lampshade, cut the blank A4 paper into the appropriate size, and finally stuck it to the bottom of the lampshade. He turned on the desk lamp and made a simple film viewer according to the instructions on the sticky note.
I don’t know why.
After just following these simple steps, Yan Ning realized that he couldn't suppress his happiness.
After admiring the results for a few seconds.
Yan Ning stood up and turned off the ceiling light in the room.
The moment the lights went out, Yan Ning squinted her eyes. After briefly adapting to the change in brightness, she turned her gaze to the only light source in the room.
The desk lamp that emits soft light.
Yan Ning couldn't help but become even more nervous.
She walked back and sat down.
However, when she raised her hand again and took out the first reversal film from the surrounding foam board, her palms felt like they were sweating, and her heart, which had not been quiet all night, was beating so fast that it almost burst out of her chest.
Yan Ning closed his eyes and was quiet for a moment.
Finally, he mustered up his courage and quickly and lightly placed the film on the light source.
The next moment.
The image recorded on the square film, which was estimated to be about 6 or 7 centimeters in size, appeared before Yan Ning's eyes with incredible clarity.
Sunshine, white clouds, and colorful bubbles flying all over the sky.
And, in the center of the picture, among the crowd of people happily celebrating and enjoying the festive atmosphere, there is the only girl who is looking straight towards the camera.
This was the moment when the countdown for the Easter egg ended on the day of the school anniversary and she turned her head to look at Lu Chen.
Although Yan Ning had already vaguely anticipated from the colors showing through the overlapping films that the scenes captured above might be scenes from the school anniversary.
But, the moment she herself appeared on the film.
A huge surprise still came to her.
Moreover, she didn't expect that the surprises were far more than that——
The second, the third, the fourth, the fifth.
The reversal films were taken out one by one and placed on the light source, showing one picture after another, with her at the center of all the pictures.
Moreover, the camera moves forward little by little.
In the film, the girl was slightly surprised when she first became aware of the camera, and she subconsciously lowered her eyes to avoid it. Then she raised her hand and gathered the loose hair on her forehead. At the same time, she seemed to muster up the courage, raised her eyes, and looked at the camera again.
To the last one.
It's a close-up of the girl's face.
Most of the surrounding background is omitted, leaving only the girl's fair face, looking directly at the camera, or rather, looking directly at the person behind the camera. She smiles naturally from the heart.
A little shy, but brave enough.
At this moment, Yan Ning and his image on the film met eyes across time and space.
Those, at that time.
All the doubts, speculations, and anxieties about whether Lu Chen was actually filming her faded away.
Only left.
Another voice.
It echoed in her mind again—
At such an important moment, his camera focused only on her.
Can it be proved?
She is important enough to him, is she different?
Just like.
Just like, at that moment, she didn't even think about it, and couldn't help but cast her eyes on him across the noisy crowd...
The air conditioner in the room seemed to have completely lost its cooling effect.
A feeling of heat instantly swept over Yan Ning's whole body. A thin layer of sweat soon appeared on his back. Even his breathing seemed to become hot.
She was still staring at the film, her mind in a mess.
However, what I can’t suppress even more is my happiness.
because.
Behind that layer of window paper, the things that were originally vague and blurry seemed to have been turned on by the light at this moment. The shadows were projected over, and the outlines began to become clear, even predictable and guessable.
It's still early tonight.
Yan Ning also forgot about his study plan as he used his birthday privileges for the first time.
So, she still has plenty of time to enjoy and savor this special birthday gift.
It’s like I can’t see enough.
Yan Ning watched these five reversal films one by one many times, until the scenes, the light and shadow details were almost imprinted in her mind.
But it still feels not enough.
She thought about it again, and suddenly remembered an item that had been put away in the cabinet.
The room was dim, with only a small light coming from the desk.
Yan Ning couldn't wait any longer, and ran over quickly against the light, opened the cabinet, took out the transparent gift box, gently opened it, and took out -
The little bear in a black tuxedo.
Before, though, it was a gift from a good friend, and she liked it very much too.
But, because, as soon as she saw it, she could easily think of Lu Chen who was wearing a teddy bear costume, gave her a gentleman's salute, and wished her "Happy Birthday" last year.
This little bear is like a smaller version of Lu Chen.
It didn't seem appropriate to place it in the bedroom, anywhere outside where she could see it, so she put it in the cabinet.
But now, she has changed her mind.
Yan Ning cleared out a small space on the bookshelf, and after putting the teddy bear on it, it fit perfectly, as if it had always belonged there.
Yan Ning sat back in his chair.
Her cheeks flushed, she lowered her head to look at the film on the table, then raised her eyes to look at the little bear on the bookshelf.
I am very satisfied with this.
Yan Ning couldn't help but hold his cheeks with both hands and began to think again.
Before she knew the secret in the box, she had thought about making full use of it and taking out the sticky notes inside to use.
But now.
She completely dismissed the idea.
She will not touch any of the sticky notes in this box and plans to keep them as a treasure.
Then, think again.
She didn't seem to have seen this kind of sticky notes packaging in the school supermarket.
After she thought about it, she would go and confirm again. If there was really no such thing, she would wait until she went out shopping and then look for it. After finding it, she would buy a few more boxes and put them on the table and fill the drawer next to the desk.
so.
This most special little box would not look out of place when placed next to her.
But, soon.
Yan Ning shook his head again in denial.
Still no use, put it in the innermost part of the drawer.
After all, there's dust outside, and if the cardboard box and the film inside get dirty, it's hard to clean, so it's safer to put it away...
Time passes by unknowingly.
When Yan Ning finally came to her senses, her facial muscles feeling a little sore from the ever-increasing corners of her lips, she glanced at the electronic clock on the table and saw that it was already late.
Her seventeenth birthday was about to end.
But all the surprises and beauty of this day, as well as the gifts she received, will be treasured in her heart.
certainly.
The one on the table in front of her must also be kept carefully.
Besides, I have to go to school tomorrow and can’t waste any more time.
Yan Ning carefully put the five reversal films back into the foam board in their original order. The two light blue sticky notes, one above and one below, were also restored to their original positions. Finally, the dozen sticky notes of various colors on the top were also neatly arranged.
After all this is completed.
Yan Ning picked up the cardboard box and prepared to put these things back one by one according to their previous appearance.
But something unexpected happened.
It happened at this moment - Yan Ning originally just wanted to tidy up the cardboard box, but when her fingers reached into the box and touched the edge of the white hard cardboard at the bottom.
There is a slight bounce and subtle touch.
She was stunned.
Yan Ning subconsciously lowered his eyes and took another look into the box.
This piece of cardboard has neat edges and looks like it came with the bottom of the box.
But when she looked at it carefully again and again, she suddenly found that the position of the cardboard seemed to be a little higher than the bottom of the outside.
Just like...
It seems like there is something hidden underneath.
As soon as this guess came out, Yan Ning's heart, which had just calmed down a little, suddenly became nervous again.
To verify, she reached out carefully and slowly took out the cardboard.
Wait until the view is unobstructed.
Yan Ning leaned over to take a look.
See you.
What was placed there was actually——
besides.
The sixth film.
When she took the film out from the dark bottom of the box and placed it near a light source that was still on, the image on it suddenly became clear.
The moment you see clearly.
Yan Ning felt as if his computer had crashed, and his heart was empty for a moment.
Immediately, the heavy, rapid and urgent heartbeat filled the entire chest.
Because she was staring blankly at the sixth slide film—
The young man raised the camera and pointed it at himself, but only his clear dark eyes were revealed.
He didn't look at the camera, but his gaze was filled with a smile, directed behind him, above his other hand that was making a backhanded "V" sign, or at the very center of the screen.
And there, standing.
As always, it was the girl with the bun.
It’s Yan Ning.
Yes, herself.
But the time when the film was shot is no longer the moment when the celebration egg bubble flew into the sky.
Those memories of the school anniversary not long ago came flooding back like a tide.
Yan Ning was still in a daze.
But her brain couldn't help but work quickly and recall, and then, soon, she understood -
This should have happened shortly after she and her parents arrived at the playground. At that time, there were quite a few people in the audience area, and the open space the family of three found was not in the front row.
Just like, at this moment, on the film, there are quite a few people in front of her position.
Lu Chen should be located not far from the side of the stage.
turn out to be.
Before she knew it.
His gaze.
He had already looked at her.
Even through the unpredictable crowds of people, he spent who knows how long it took to record this moment...
This was like the last Easter egg of the night. It appeared suddenly, making her so surprised, shocked, and even a little confused that she didn't know what to feel.
However, there is more to it than that.
Now, at the bottom of the box, on the foam board with the sixth film, there is also the third light blue sticky note.
My brain is almost shutting down.
Yan Ning reached out and took it off almost instinctively.
After turning it over, I found out——
There was also a simple drawing and a short paragraph of words on it.
The painting shows a room and a stick figure sitting on a simple sofa, facing a huge screen. For some reason, the figure looks serious and solemn.
Below the painting.
There are a few more lines.
It was still Lu Chen's handwriting, but compared to his usual slightly casual style, this paragraph was written particularly neatly, as if he had carefully considered and written each stroke with care.
He said—
【actually.
There is a place and a set of equipment that can present these reversal films more clearly.
One year later.
Would you like to come? 】
This time, in the lower right corner of the note, he signed, “L.”
Why.
It must be limited to one year later.
Yan Ning's mind was spinning mechanically, and slowly and automatically emerged -
That night.
The young man is behind the shadow of the tree.
When she rejected another suitor, she emphasized, "I don't plan to have a relationship in high school."
Yan Ning's fingertips unconsciously clenched the blue sticky note in his hand.
Realize that—
One year later, she and Lu Chen finished the college entrance examination and graduated from high school...
This moment.
All was silent.
But again.
All things come back to life.
Through the thin window paper, the girl blushed and could clearly hear the boy's clear, laughing voice asking:
"Will you come?"
Yan Ning temporarily suppressed the intense emotions surging in his heart, and the strong urge to throw himself onto the bed and roll around.
She couldn't help but touch the matchstick man's cheek with her fingertips.
then.
Restrained and solemn.
Late at night on the first day of her seventeenth year, she answered softly:
"I do."
Not only that, there are all kinds of emotions called excitement, joy, happiness...intertwined.
The future is so worth looking forward to.
In the quiet night.
Yan Ning's heartbeat was as loud as a gong and drum.
But I couldn't help but think——
Wait until this time next year.
Perhaps she should tell him once again, in front of Lu Chen, like she did today, that she is willing...
The air is thin.
Her cheeks burned even more than the midday sun in midsummer.
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