Dependency scale
In the late summer afternoon, with a hint of nascent, barely perceptible weariness, the sunlight was no longer as intense as in the height of summer, but had become gentle and mellow. In Anping Lane, the edges of the plane tree leaves had already been quietly tinged with a very faint, weary yellow.
Lu Shixu sat at his workbench, focused intently on an intricately designed French gilded fireplace clock. This time, the problem was rather tricky: a deeply hidden gear shaft had developed a minute crack, requiring extremely careful removal and replacement. The slightest mistake could cause irreversible damage to the surrounding delicate enamel decorations. His brow furrowed slightly, all his senses concentrated on that tiny detail at his fingertips.
Lin Zhiyi was tidying up some old books and notes that Grandpa Lu Qingming had recently sent over. She sorted these precious materials into categories, labeled them, and moved slowly, careful not to disturb his work.
Just then, Lu Shixu needed a specially angled mirror to inspect the damage inside the tenon. That mirror was usually kept in a specific drawer under the workbench. Normally, he would simply bend down to retrieve it. But at this moment, his entire focus and steady hand movements were concentrated on that fragile tenon; any unnecessary movement could ruin everything.
His movements paused, his gaze still fixed on the inside of the clock, his lips moved slightly, and almost unconsciously, he murmured:
"Understand the meaning."
His voice was very soft, with the focus of someone working, and he didn't even look up.
Upon hearing the sound, Lin Zhiyi, who was organizing books, almost immediately stopped what she was doing. She didn't ask "What's wrong?", but quickly and silently walked to the workbench, her gaze following his direction, and immediately understood his need. She bent down, accurately retrieved the small mirror from the drawer, and handed it to him.
Lu Shixu took it with remarkable ease and immediately aimed it at the position he needed to observe. The whole process was so smooth that there was not a moment of hesitation, and his attention never left the clock.
With the problem solved, he breathed a sigh of relief and continued with his meticulous work.
Lin Zhiyi returned to her original spot and continued tidying the books, a faint yet incredibly warm smile involuntarily appearing on her face. Her heart felt gently filled with something.
This wasn't the first time she'd handed him something, but this time the feeling was completely different. Before, it was more of a thoughtful gesture after she'd observed him, or a request he'd explicitly made. But just now, that natural, almost instinctive call signified a deeper level of integration and dependence.
He had grown accustomed to her presence, accustomed to her being a part of his work and even his life rhythm. This dependence was not weakness, but a complete trust and surrender, a tacit understanding of entrusting one's back to the other for protection.
She recalled the Lu Shixu she had first met, aloof and cold, silently bearing everything. Back then, he was like a lonely island, unique in its scenery, yet always carrying a hint of unapproachable loneliness. But now, this island had opened its harbor to her, allowing her ship to dock, and even naturally signaling for him to come ashore when needed.
This feeling of being needed and deeply trusted made her feel more grounded and happy than any sweet words.
After a while, Lu Shixu finally managed to remove the cracked tenon. He put down his tools and stretched his stiff neck. Only then did he seem to completely detach himself from that highly focused world and look up at Lin Zhiyi.
His gaze fell on the lingering, gentle smile on her face, and he paused for a moment, then seemed to understand something. A faint blush crept into his ears, and a hint of embarrassment flashed in his eyes, but more than anything, there was a sense of peace at being understood.
He didn't say anything, but simply picked up the tea that she had refilled for him at the perfect temperature and took a sip.
Lin Zhiyi didn't point it out, but simply smiled and asked, "Was it smooth?"
"Hmm." He nodded and showed her the tiny tenon he had removed, placing it on the velvet cloth. "It was a little more troublesome than I expected, but it's solved."
The sunlight shifted, stretching their shadows longer, which intertwined on the ground covered with tools and books.
The air was filled with the aroma of tea, the scent of old paper and ink, and a warm, silent yet unbreakable feeling called "dependence".
Some changes happen in minute ways, with precise measurements, yet carry immense weight.
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