Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Clear and clean.
Due to scheduling conflicts, Xia Qingwan has no flight lessons these past few days.
She took this opportunity to move from the hotel to an apartment next door, firstly to save money and secondly so it would be more convenient to buy groceries and cook for herself.
After all, I'm going to be here for four months.
Her current flight training is still in the basic stage, with daily practice of simple maneuvers such as level flight and turns. The next step is to practice takeoff and landing, which will be more intense, and she needs to study some video courses in advance.
In addition, July is here, which is the perfect time to travel and track the African animal migration. She is looking at travel agencies to plan itineraries and plans to book in advance for a trip in late July.
A three-day safari should be enough.
Because the information online is often mixed, she carefully consulted Ruan Xu.
Ruan Xu recommended a travel agency to her and sent her a suitable route map for reference.
The night after she moved, she had just decided on a travel agency and a route map, and was about to wash her hands and cook when someone rang her doorbell.
She thought it was the apartment manager bringing her something, so she went to open the door.
Standing outside the door was Ye Peixiu.
He asked, "Why did you move here?"
"It's more convenient here."
Xia Qingwan invited him in and asked, "Have you had dinner?"
Ye Peixiu was expecting to be turned away, but to his surprise, she invited him in and asked if he had eaten.
He paused for a moment, then said, "...No."
"I'm just about to make it, do you want to eat some while you're at it?"
Their attitude made a complete 180-degree turn.
But at this critical juncture, Ye Peixiu dared not ask any more questions. He simply walked in and readily agreed, "Okay."
Xia Qingwan invited him to sit on the sofa.
He didn't sit down. "May I just look around?"
"good."
It's a one-bedroom, one-living room apartment, not a big space, with an open kitchen and a dining table that also serves as an island and desk, right in the middle of the L-shaped counter.
A computer and books were spread out on the dining table, and a printed document lay on the keyboard.
He picked it up and looked down at it. "...Are you going to watch the animal migration?"
"Um."
Xia Qingwan turned around and glanced at him from beside the desk.
Standing at 1.9 meters tall, dressed in white shirt and black pants, with a dashing figure and an extremely handsome face, he exudes a noble and composed demeanor in every gesture.
She turned her face back and bent down to chop vegetables.
My heart was pounding.
Even if she lost her memory and forgot him, she would probably fall in love with him again now.
After all, I just glanced at him from afar at the beginning.
At this time, Ye Peixiu said, "Let me do it."
Feeling him approaching, she moved aside, but his fragrance still invaded her nose for a moment.
He took the knife from her hand, and there was a slight touch between his fingertips.
"What do you need to do?"
"Fish-flavored shredded pork."
When did you start liking to eat this?
"...I just want the taste of Chinese food."
She put her hands behind her back.
Wanting to find something to do, she said, "You chop the vegetables, and I'll marinate the meat, okay?"
"good."
The counter was low, and he was tall, so he had to bend over to cut vegetables.
Xia Qingwan added ingredients to the bowl and glanced at him from time to time.
Saying you've forgotten it, saying it's all in the past, is all a lie.
There were still many things between them that they hadn't explained to each other, but just being in the same room with him and doing something together made her feel so happy she wanted to cry.
My heart is filled with waves of warm and sour emotions.
All the ingredients had to be shredded, which required skillful knife work. Ye Peixiu was a novice in this area, so he was very slow at first.
Suddenly, I sensed that she was making some kind of movement.
He tilted his head to look at her.
She was wearing gloves on both hands, holding the bowl with one hand and pinching the shredded meat with the other. A few strands of hair were scattered on her temples, and she was blowing away the annoying hair that fell on her nose.
Noticing that he was looking over, she quickly said, "It's nothing."
As she spoke, she raised her arms to cover her face and tried to wipe it away.
Ye Peixiu put down the knife and washed her hands. Just as she was about to take off her gloves, he gently pinched her wrist and pulled it away, whispering, "I'll do it."
She lowered her arms and looked up.
Perhaps because of what had just happened, there was a little starch on her nose bridge and forehead, and a thin tuft of hair slanted across her cheek and stuck to the tip of her nose.
Just look up at him, waiting for his help.
It's been so long since I've looked at her face so closely.
A pair of calm and clear eyes is like a deep and quiet pool.
A porcelain-white face and a pair of plump cherry-pink lips.
He lowered his gaze and stared at her face for a long time without making a move. Xia Qingwan tried to move, and then tried to take off her gloves. "I can do it myself."
Ye Peixiu turned around, took the wet tissue, gently held her head and turned her face back.
She didn't move anymore.
Quietly, almost holding her breath, with her eyelashes lowered, she felt the soft, damp tissue wipe across her forehead and the tip of her nose.
The taste was too painful, and she couldn't help but urge, "Are you done?"
He didn't answer.
She had to lift her eyelashes to look at him, so close.
When she woke up from her dreams at midnight or indulged in pleasure for a while, she could never see his face clearly.
Now, it was so clear, right before her eyes.
His eyebrows, eyes, and nose were three-dimensional and deep-set.
Below that are thin lips. He's a good kisser.
Realizing what she was looking at, Xia Qingwan immediately shifted her gaze upwards, and this time, she happened to see that his gaze was also on her lips.
He looked like he was going to lean down and kiss her at any moment.
She knew she shouldn't be doing this; nothing had been explained yet. But she couldn't move her feet, couldn't turn her face away, and just stared blankly up at him.
Ye Peixiu whispered, "...It's fine now."
Xia Qingwan reacted, turned her face away quickly, and lowered her head to continue kneading the small piece of flesh.
After that, neither of them spoke again.
Quietly prepare ingredients and cook.
While cooking, Ye Peixiu cleared the table and asked her where everything should be put.
"I'll put the book on the bedside table and the computer on the sofa."
Ye Peixiu picked up the book, walked to the bedroom, placed it on the bedside table, and glanced at the spine of the book.
There are three books in total, namely the two volumes of "Dream of Red Mansions" and an English version of "Night Flight West".
"Night Flight West" seemed like the one he gave her three years ago.
There is a piece of paper in the middle, with a piece of it sticking out, which looks like it is serving as a bookmark.
He opened it and took out the paper bookmark.
The paper was originally a thin sheet, but now it was sealed with a thick, exquisite plastic film, as if it had been sealed when it was brand new. Therefore, through the plastic film, you could see that the paper inside was still neat and new, without any creases.
However, there was no signature or inscription on the paper, only one line of words:
"We have a whole day ahead of us, a whole world to hunt."
Ye Peixiu's eyes reddened, and he tilted his head back and blinked.
He put down "Night Voyage West" and took out the bookmark that was stuck in the second volume of "Dream of Red Mansions".
Same plastic wrap, same cleanliness as new.
Vertical writing, two rows of characters:
"To the evening of the Qing Dynasty:
"Let us be carefree and enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood."
She carried all the handwriting he had given her with her, all the way to Nairobi.
...
He walked out of the bedroom and Xia Qingwan happened to come looking for him, and they met head-on at the bedroom door.
She said, "It's time to cook."
"I'll do it."
One dish and two bowls of rice.
The meal was a little too small for two people, but the taste and presentation were excellent.
We didn't talk much while eating.
I don't know why, but everyone eats very slowly.
Their eyes always met.
After finishing the dish, Xia Qingwan said, "You cooked the dishes, I'll go wash them."
Ye Peixiu didn't stop her. He sat on the sofa and kept looking at her back.
After she washed the dishes, she returned to the sofa and got the computer.
Back to the table and continue watching the course.
"When are you going to play?"
He asked.
"Mid-July."
"Which travel agency?"
She gave a name.
"How far have you progressed in your flying lessons?"
"Still practicing level flight."
"That'll take a long time. How long do you plan to stay?"
Xia Qingwan caught the key words, "...Do you know a lot about it?"
"I have learned it," Ye Peixiu asked, "I took the test when I was studying in the United States."
"How come I never knew?"
Only after I said it did I realize something was wrong.
Ye Peixiu stared at her, "...We've been together for less than a year, so maybe we haven't had time to talk about this."
She gave a soft "hmm".
The apartment was too small. Even though he was on the sofa and she was at the dining table, they were still very close. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see his sagging, lean waist and long legs.
You said you wanted to see a world without walls.
He said, "Now that you're here, how are you feeling?"
"very good."
"lie."
Xia Qingwan looked up suddenly and said, "I didn't."
"There's the floor beneath your feet, and walls all around you. Especially, I'm less than two meters away from you, and less than two meters away from you is the bed. This situation is exactly the same as when you said you wanted to break up."
Ye Peixiu asked calmly, "How did you come to the conclusion that it's 'very good'?"
"Because I'm not in Beijing, I'm in Nairobi."
"As long as we're not in the capital, is that okay?"
She felt that his remarks were sophistry, so she ignored the facts and just retorted, "Yes, as long as we don't go to the capital."
"How about we live in Nairobi from now on?"
The topic changed so quickly that Xia Qingwan could hardly believe what she heard.
She looked up at him.
Ye Peixiu stared at her intently and said gently, "Come here."
Xia Qingwan shook her head.
"Let's talk."
He almost coaxed.
She composed herself and said, "I have something I want to tell you."
"You go first."
"..." She took a deep breath. "What I wanted to tell you was that our breakup was so sudden, and I've always wanted to express my gratitude to you. You were so good to me, and I'm very, very content. I hope..."
Having said this, she finally mustered up the courage to look at him, her voice almost trembling, "The mountains and clouds are vast, the rivers are mighty, I hope your life from now on will be as high as the mountains and as long as the rivers."
"Are you saying goodbye to me?"
“Yes,” Xia Qingwan said, “I hope you can live well and not give up anything for anyone.” She paused, lowered her eyes, “…those positions and respects that you have worked so hard for, and your family and clan. I don’t want you to be abandoned by everyone.”
"Who told you all this?"
"I already knew this before, no one told me."
"I wouldn't have done that before, and I won't do it again," Ye Peixiu said. "I'm the only one my family raised. If they don't use me, who else can they use?"
These words sounded too light; the truth behind them was far more brutal and sinister. However, he didn't want her to overthink it.
“But I saw the wound on your forehead with my own eyes, and you never told me,” Xia Qingwan’s eyes reddened. The thought of his wound made her anxious and pained, and she even stood up involuntarily. “…Was it your grandfather who hit you?”
“The old man was so angry that he dropped things and his hands were shaking, which accidentally hurt me. He raised me all these years, and I made him so angry that he got sick, so it is indeed my fault.”
Ye Peixiu said, "At that time, the situation was indeed very passive. Without absolute certainty, I could not act rashly."
"However, the promise I made to you was true."
"But now, things aren't so bad."
As Ye Peixiu spoke, he also stood up.
The space is narrow, and with the two of them standing like this, they almost fill the entire open space in the living room.
He walked around to stand in front of her, one hand in his pocket, and lowered his voice, "...Qingwan."
Xia Qingwan didn't look at him and tried to back away a little, but there was no space. Turning left or right, she was within his arm's reach.
He gently grasped her wrist, pulled her closer, and called her softly, "Qingwan."
They're so close.
His tall body enveloped her, and his warmth almost penetrated her body.
Her breathing was a little erratic, and she didn't know where to look.
"If I were to say that since I met you, my life has no longer been just a period of asceticism, but also filled with the joy of brewing wine and tea, joking and bickering, sweet talk, and intimate moments... with you, all mundane things have become flavorful and vibrant."
"If I were to say that I haven't forgotten you for a moment, even after three years, my heart remains as clear and pure as it was back then."
"If you'd like, I can tell you everything that happened in these past three years."
Ye Peixiu spoke softly and slowly, pouring out his heart in sweet words, "...After hearing all this, would you be willing to change what you just said, 'I am very content,' and give me a chance?"
"I haven't had enough yet."
Xia Qingwan felt her vision blurring.
Sometimes I really think this man is difficult to deal with. Why does he have to say such heartfelt words to her at a time like this? Like back in Ye Garden, after that impulsive kiss, he earnestly confessed his love to her.
But could she? Could she get him back so easily? She didn't dare.
Just like when she was punished for not handing over a priceless treasure she found, this time she dared not ask for it again.
Ye Peixiu raised his hand and gently smoothed the loose black hair at her temple. "Don't rush to answer me. Think about it carefully, okay?"
She nodded.
"I ate your meal today, could I treat you to a meal sometime?"
She still nodded.
-
In late July, Xia Qingwan embarked on a Safari trip with a local tour group.
First, head to the Masai Mara National Reserve, then to the Serengeti National Park, and finally, arrive at Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli National Park.
At the end of July, Xia Qingwan, who was almost dizzy after a bumpy ride for several hours with a guide, witnessed the spectacular wildebeest crossing the river for the first time in her life.
On the vast, seemingly endless African savanna, under the blazing sun, wildebeest herds gradually gather, a dense, dark mass resembling a looming black cloud.
The wildebeest herd kicked up clouds of dust, a vast and mighty procession.
As the first wildebeest leaped into the Mara River, the second followed closely behind, and they all jumped into the river like beans being poured out.
The smell of earth, the smell of wild animals, the fresh scent of grass and trees...
A rich tapestry of scents mingles, a wild and expansive Africa, its unrestrained vitality almost overwhelming all of one's senses.
The crocodile waiting in the water suddenly lunged out, tearing at the neck of a wildebeest and dragging it into the water.
Exclamations of surprise rose from the surrounding tourists.
The struggle for life, the instinctive desire to survive—all of this is so vivid, so vivid that it borders on cruel.
Xia Qingwan raised her hand to wipe away her tears.
A world without walls is a battle between natures.
As long as you live, you must fight.
In Amboseli National Park.
The vast grasslands stretch endlessly, and in the distance, the mountainside of Kilimanjaro is shrouded in mist, with scattered trees dotting the grasslands.
As the sun sets, a gentle, golden sunset envelops the earth, and a massive herd of elephants strolls leisurely by, with the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro standing behind them.
That magnificent silhouette, so gentle and so vast, brought tears to my eyes.
Facing the sunset, in the corner of my eye, I see baby elephants frolicking and jumping around the feet of the herd, swinging their trunks. The mother elephant in front stops and gently nudges its side with her trunk.
The elephant family gradually moved away, heading towards a place where the water and grass were fresher and more abundant.
In that instant, Xia Qingwan suddenly realized: seeing all the scenery was not about escaping the mundane world.
Embrace the poetic beauty of a sunset over Kilimanjaro, plunge headlong into the mundane world, fight and struggle, and even the clash of swords can be a source of poetic beauty.
Sometimes, being honest about your desires and accepting the consequences is not greed, but courage.
She wanted to be brave again.
It wasn't just for Ye Peixiu, but for the vibrant and fulfilling mundane life she and he once shared.
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