Chapter 27 Calmness, I look good in anything.
Chu Yanxi discovered that seven years had left its mark on her father. Compared to the passionate and innocent father she was at 20, her father was now more mature and composed.
He saw the darkness, yet chose to walk into it, not for honor, not for power, but out of a most basic sense of justice and responsibility.
No further words were needed. Chu Yanxi understood why her father had persisted on the path of a policeman. She didn't ask any more questions, but instead changed the subject: "Has anyone ever told you that you would face a life-or-death ordeal when you turn 40?"
Chu Tongyu paused, not answering her question, but instead frowning: "What do you mean?"
Chu Yanxi repeated what Qiao Zhaoran had said seven years ago: "I've studied a little physiognomy..."
Before she could finish speaking, Chu Tongyu turned and left.
Watching his retreating figure, Chu Yanxi raised her voice: "For the sake of your family, please make sure to wear a back brace on your 40th birthday, the winter solstice! Please remember that!"
Chu Tongyu's back stiffened for a moment, then he quickly left.
A hint of helplessness flashed in Chu Yanxi's eyes, but her resolve instantly hardened. Because she knew that in this parallel world, everything could be changed.
Before coming to find her father, Chu Yanxi went to Jiangcheng University to inquire about Qiao Zhaoran's situation.
Contrary to the book's account, Qiao Zhaoran did not go to prison for murder. Instead, she successfully returned to Jiangcheng University after being abducted to continue her studies. After graduation, she did not join the police force but chose to stay at the university, working in the school's Chemical Engineering Research Institute. The abduction experience was vague to her; she only remembered being abducted and then rescued by the police. As for Chu Yanxi's existence, her mind was blank.
It seems that Chu Yanxi's transmigration into the book was not into fragmented little worlds, but rather into parallel worlds that could continue and be changed.
The existence of the transmigrator is a secret to this parallel world. Once Chu Yanxi leaves, all memories of her will be erased. Qiao Zhaoran doesn't remember her, and neither does Chu Tongyu.
To be honest, seeing Chu Tongyu turn around without hesitation, Chu Yanxi felt somewhat defeated, but not discouraged.
Some words, if repeated again and again, will eventually make the other person take them seriously. Even if the father doesn't know of Chu Yanxi's existence, perhaps these words will leave some imprint in his mind.
If one reminder doesn't work, try two. If two don't work, try one more time!
Looking up at her father's receding figure, Chu Yanxi's lips moved slightly, and she softly said, "Dad, take care."
At that moment, Lu Zhe walked into a restaurant called "Hongxing" opposite the steel plant in Qingfeng District, Jiangcheng City. He sat down in a corner against the wall, the wooden chair creaking slightly. His gaze, as if drawn by an invisible thread, was fixed on a young figure not far away, head down, wiping a table.
Twenty-two-year-old Chen Jing's mother, now vividly and with the unique awkwardness and weariness of her age, was busy in front of him.
Her outdated blue polyester shirt was faded from washing, with frayed edges on the collar and cuffs, but it was exceptionally clean. She wiped the tables meticulously, almost too meticulously, and after cleaning each table, she would brush away a stray hair that had fallen to her cheek and tuck it behind her ear.
This small, somewhat helpless gesture, like a fine needle, gently pierced Lu Zhe's heart. Even in the most difficult years that followed, his mother always maintained this small gesture of smoothing her hair, as if it were her last act of defiance against the cruel reality.
"Comrade, what would you like to eat?" Lu Zhe finally saw her face clearly when his mother approached with the greasy menu.
At this moment, the 22-year-old mother looked younger than any of the faded old photos in Lu Zhe's album. Her skin was pale from long-term malnutrition and lack of sunlight, and her lips were bloodless. But her eyes—clear and gentle like those of the Jiangnan water towns—were filled with weariness and a hint of timidity, yet they had not yet been eroded by the endless bitterness and numbness that would follow.
Lu Zhe's heart skipped a beat; he almost drowned in this unfamiliar image of his mother's youth.
"I...I'm waiting for someone." He hurriedly lowered his eyes, avoiding the overly direct scrutiny, and took the menu with slightly stiff fingers, flipping through it haphazardly. "First, let me have a cup of tea."
"Okay, please wait a moment." She replied softly, with a slight accent, and turned to get the large teapot wrapped in an old cloth cover from the stove.
Lu Zhe took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He watched her slightly slender figure carefully move between the tables and chairs, her chest hunched slightly as she walked, as if trying to minimize her presence. This detail made Lu Zhe's throat tighten.
In Lu Zhe's memory, his mother always seemed to maintain this posture, like a frightened bird, always preparing to curl up and avoid the possible storms.
The tea was made from cheap jasmine tea leaves, and it had a slightly astringent taste. Lu Zhe held the warm, rough porcelain cup in both hands, the warmth slightly dispelling the coldness from his fingertips.
Lu Zhe couldn't bear to make her wait any longer, so he pointed to a few signature dishes on the menu and said, "Let's have these two dishes and a soup."
Calmly noting down the dishes he ordered, she said softly, "Okay, please wait a moment."
Seeing that Chen Jing was about to leave, Lu Zhe called out to her, "Um... you're not that old, why aren't you continuing your studies?"
A forced, wary smile appeared on her calm face: "My family isn't well-off, and I have younger siblings to feed." She spoke casually, but Lu Zhe noticed that her hand, hanging by her side, unconsciously gripped the greasy edge of her apron, her knuckles turning slightly white.
Lu Zhe knew about that complicated blended family.
After her maternal grandmother remarried, she had three more children. Naturally, she, as the "burden," became the one most easily overlooked and the first to be pushed out to share the burden of the family.
Because she had been neglected for so long, the mother desperately craved attention and recognition.
Just then, the creaking wooden door of the restaurant was pushed open rather roughly, slamming against the wall behind it with a loud bang. A figure staggered in, bringing with it a gust of hot air and the noise from outside.
It's Lu Dakun.
Twenty-seven-year-old Lu Dakun wore a trendy floral shirt with an exaggerated coconut tree pattern, the collar open to reveal a small portion of a cheap imitation gold chain. He wore baggy flared trousers and gleaming leather shoes. His hair was excessively slicked back with hair oil and styled in the fashionable "pompadour" hairstyle of the time, and his face glowed with a mixture of alcohol and excitement.
His shoulders shrugged with each step he walked, his eyes scanning the store with an undisguised, almost arrogant possessiveness.
Lu Zhe's blood rushed to his head, and his fingers gripping the teacup tightened abruptly. This man… his biological father, the source of his mother's lifelong tragedy. At this moment, he was entering his field of vision in such a vivid and jarring way.
Lu Dakun's gaze quickly locked onto Shen Jing. He grinned, revealing teeth slightly yellowed from smoking, and strode over, completely ignoring the curious or disgusted looks from the other diners in the restaurant.
"Jingjing!" His voice was loud and warm, with an air of familiarity. He naturally put his arm around Jingjing's thin shoulder and pulled her closer to him. "How's it going? Off work yet? I got two insider tickets for 'Red Sorghum,' starring Gong Li. It's really good! Come on, I'll take you to see it!"
Chen Jing was caught off guard by his sudden intimate gesture. Her body stiffened instantly, and her face flushed crimson, all the way to her ears. She instinctively struggled, trying to free herself from the hand gripping her shoulder, her voice urgent and shy, barely a whisper: "Brother Lu, you...you shouldn't do this. I'm still at work. What will it look like if people see us..."
"Go to work? Go to work my ass!" Lu Dakun laughed nonchalantly, tightening his arms around her, almost half-embracing her. He waved his other hand as if trying to dispel some trivial worry. "Just tell your boss, that'll be fine. Watching the movie is the priority. Let me tell you, these tickets were hard to come by. If it weren't for you, I would have gone with my buddies already!"
His words were filled with a certain unwavering confidence, as if his invitation were a tremendous favor that could not be refused. This domineering attitude was a completely foreign experience to Chen Jing, who had grown up in neglect and repression. It was rude, even somewhat impolite, yet strangely possessed a strong sense of novelty and attraction.
Lu Zhe clearly saw a fleeting, almost imperceptible glint in the depths of Shen Jing's embarrassed and flustered eyes. It was a subtle stirring that arose when one is so forcefully and openly needed and valued.
“But…” Chen Jing was still trying in vain to break free, her eyes pleadingly glancing at the boss behind the counter who was busy calculating accounts but seemed oblivious to her situation. “I haven’t finished my work yet. And, this outfit of mine…”
"What's wrong with the clothes? They look great!" Lu Dakun interrupted her, his gaze sweeping over her with undisguised admiration. "Jingjing looks good in anything, no less than that actress in the movie! Come on, let's go, stop dawdling, or we'll miss the start."
As he spoke, he began to half-forcefully pull her outside.
The customers at the surrounding tables were clearly acquaintances of Lu Dakun. Seeing this, they chuckled knowingly, and one of them teased, "Brother Kun, you're something else! You even managed to snag the prettiest girl in our restaurant. When are you going to invite us to your wedding?"
Lu Dakun raised his chin smugly and pulled Chen Jing closer, saying, "You won't be left out!"
This scene made Chen Jing feel even more ashamed. Her eyes instantly reddened, tears welled up in them, and she struggled a little harder: "Brother Dakun, let go, I really won't go."
Seeing that Chen Jing was about to be forcibly dragged away, Lu Zhe could no longer suppress the anger in his chest. The anger, which was a mixture of hatred for his father's past actions, heartache for his mother's current situation, and a protective desire that transcended time and space, erupted like a volcano.
Lu Zhe suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the cement floor with a sharp noise, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
He strode over in a few steps, his movements incredibly fast, and grabbed Lu Dakun's wrist, which was tightly wrapped around Chen Jing's arm, his five fingers gripping it like iron clamps.
"Let go!" Lu Zhe's voice was low with extreme anger, yet it carried a chilling coldness, each word like it was being quenched with ice. "She said she didn't want to, didn't you hear her?"
Caught off guard, Lu Dakun winced in pain, hissing as he gasped for breath and instinctively released Chen Jing. He staggered back a step, turning to glare at the stranger who had suddenly appeared and dared to meddle in his business. Alcohol and anger surged to his face: "Who the hell are you? Who do you think you are? I'm talking to my girlfriend, what's it to you! Get lost!" His spittle almost landed on Lu Zhe's face.
"Partner?" Lu Zhe sneered. Instead of backing down, he stepped forward, completely shielding the terrified and trembling Shen Jing behind him, and stared sharply at Lu Dakun.
"In broad daylight, forcibly pulling and shoving a female comrade, using frivolous language, behaving improperly—this isn't dating, it's harassment! I'm a reporter from the Provincial Writers Association!" He suddenly pulled out a red badge from his pocket and flashed it in front of Lu Dakun. "I've noted down your organization and name. If you continue to cause trouble, I'll go to the police station immediately to report this and see if the police will take it seriously!"
The identity of a "reporter" and the threat of "reporting to the police" were like a bucket of cold water poured over Lu Dakun's alcohol-fueled head. His arrogant demeanor froze instantly, and a barely perceptible hint of panic flashed in his eyes.
Lu Dakun wasn't stupid. Having been in the underworld, he knew best which kind of people were not to be trifled with. The man before him, though young, had sharp eyes and an imposing aura. Moreover, given his status as a reporter, if things really escalated, a fabricated article could be enough to give him a hard time. He pointed at Lu Zhe with a trembling mouth, his voice trembling, "You…you stop trying to scare me! Report it? Go ahead and report it! I'm not afraid of you!" But his feet unconsciously took a step back.
The onlookers quieted down, and the atmosphere became subtle.
Lu Dakun looked around, feeling humiliated, but dared not actually make a move. He glared at Lu Zhe, then glanced at Chen Jing, who was hiding behind him with his head down, with a complicated look in his eyes, and said harshly, "Fine! You've got guts, just you wait! You ruined my plans, you'll see."
After saying that, in an attempt to save face, he spat heavily before slamming the door shut and leaving, cursing under his breath.
An eerie silence fell over the restaurant.
Lu Zhe slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, only then feeling his heart pounding wildly in his chest. He turned around and looked at the silence behind him.
She remained frozen in place, her face as pale as paper, her thin body trembling slightly. Tears finally streamed down her face, but she bit her lower lip tightly, refusing to cry out.
"It's alright." Lu Zhe tried to make his voice sound gentle as he took out a clean tissue from his pocket and handed it to him. "Wipe yourself off. It's better to stay away from people like that."
Shen Jing didn't immediately take the tissue. Instead, she raised her teary eyes and quickly glanced at Lu Zhe. Her eyes were filled with panic, shame, and a hint of... indescribable mixed emotions.
She lowered her head, her voice choked with emotion, "Thank you. He's not usually like this. He probably drank too much today, that's why..." She seemed to be trying to find a reasonable explanation for Lu Dakun's behavior, or rather, trying to convince herself.
Lu Zhe's heart sank. He realized that Shen Jing didn't completely dislike Lu Dakun; in fact... there might even be a hint of affection and protectiveness that she herself wasn't aware of. This realization left Lu Zhe feeling a profound sense of powerlessness.
He could drive Lu Dakun away once on impulse and because of his identity as a reporter, but could he sever the secret longing in his quiet heart for that kind of strong attention and passionate pursuit? For a young girl who has lived on the margins for a long time and is extremely lacking in love and affirmation, Lu Dakun's reckless confidence and his arrogance without regard for anything else constitute a dangerous yet charming attraction.
“A person who truly cares for you and respects you,” Lu Zhe carefully chose his words, his tone heavy, “would never force you when you don’t want to, much less embarrass you in front of others. Girls, you must first learn to love and value yourselves.”
She calmly raised her head, and this time, she looked at Lu Zhe seriously for several seconds.
Lu Zhe could almost see the intense struggle in her eyes—a battle between a longing for warmth and attention and the fear of the humiliating experience she had just endured. Finally, the light in her eyes dimmed, she lowered her head, and said in a voice barely audible, "I...I understand. Thank you."
She took the tissue, clutched it tightly in her hand, but didn't wipe her tears. She turned and walked quickly toward the kitchen. Her slender figure looked particularly fragile and helpless in the dim light.
Lu Zhe stood there, staring at the swaying curtain, his heart filled with a tremendous sense of frustration and powerlessness.
It's easy to drive Lu Dakun away, but he can't stay in this world for long. Can we drive him away every time? We must make our mother stand up for herself and learn to clearly refuse in order to prevent future troubles.
But how can we help my mother build genuine self-confidence and dignity? How can we make her understand that she has intrinsic value and deserves to be treated gently, instead of needing to rely on others' false sense of importance to confirm her existence?
Lu Zhe knew that empty preaching was meaningless; what he needed was real, continuous affirmation and support, and to see a broader world and more possibilities.
He needs to find a way to make her realize her own value.
However, just as he was in a state of confusion, thinking about how to intervene and guide more effectively, a very familiar and irresistible feeling of dizziness suddenly struck him.
The surrounding scenery—greasy tables, noisy diners, dim lighting—began to distort, blur, and sway like reflections in water. The restaurant's noise seemed to recede rapidly, becoming unreal, as if muffled by a thick pane of glass.
Is this another time travel? At this crucial moment? A strong sense of unwillingness and anxiety welled up in Lu Zhe's heart.
He subconsciously looked at the curtain that had silently disappeared. He hadn't had a chance to truly help her, hadn't had a chance to leave a mark on her life, hadn't had a chance to truly change his mother's tragic fate... He hadn't even been able to look at her properly, hadn't been able to tell her how difficult the future would be, as Chu Yanxi had instructed, and hadn't told her to stay away from that man named Lu Dakun.
In the final moments of consciousness, an endless darkness engulfed everything. The restaurant's noise, lights, and smells receded rapidly like the receding tide, leaving only a sense of weightlessness and a feeling of being forcibly ripped from one's soul.
At the same time, Chu Yanxi, standing by the river watching Chu Tongyu's departing figure, also felt that familiar, irresistible dizziness. The warmth of the sunset still lingered on her, and her father's upright figure had not yet completely disappeared at the end of the street, but the outline of the world had begun to blur and distort.
I'm about to travel through time again. I wonder what awaits me in the next world.
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