9pm, Silver Ridge.
No. 29, Liangji Villa District.
Song Yecheng had just opened the door and put his hand on the light switch when he heard a mournful "meow" and then felt a sandbag hanging on his calf.
Song Yecheng chuckled, turned on the light, squatted down and poked Baimao's head: "Are you hungry?"
Baimao meowed again, looking up at him with his eyes rolling, as if blaming him for asking a question he already knew the answer to.
Song Yecheng looked up at the food box next to him and found that it was indeed empty. So he picked up Baimao and put it on his shoulder, supported it with one hand and stood up to get some food and water.
Baimao held Song Yecheng's head obediently. When water was added to the lunch box and food and drinks were in place, it immediately stopped clinging to him, jumped off his shoulder, and went over to enjoy its midnight snack.
Song Yecheng tutted, then sat down on the carpet next to it. He pinched its ears and condemned its behavior of being the mother of whoever feeds it: "You heartless little thing, you really just want to be fed, huh? Don't you even think about why someone else fed you today?"
His pretended serious tone did not scare Baimao at all. It tilted its neck impatiently to avoid his hand, and even looked back at him with squinted eyes, as if its eyes were saying: You are so pretentious.
"Hey?" Song Yecheng didn't expect that he would be disliked by a cat. Then he remembered what he had said seriously to Jiang Que before, "What if it goes on a hunger strike when you're not around?" He was suddenly angry and amused. He pressed the white-haired cat's head and snored a lot. Then he smiled and sighed helplessly, and lay on his back on the carpet next to him.
He is actually a little tired today.
After finishing the scene where Fang Zhi and his wife met at the cemetery at noon, the crew had a simple boxed lunch and then continued filming another scene in the afternoon, which also took place in the cemetery and was about the burial of Fang Qiao's ashes.
That scene actually happened earlier in the movie than the previous one, even earlier than the scene where Fang Zhi experienced a nightmare in his daughter's room, but it was filmed later because its emotions were more difficult to control than the previous ones.
Because human sadness is progressive.
When faced with a sudden disaster, people's first reaction is not grief, but a feeling of helplessness, disbelief, shock and confusion as they have not yet accepted the reality.
This state is more complicated and harder to express than simple sadness and hysterical crying, and the facts prove this - Xu Yi, who successfully finished the crying scene in the morning, made frequent mistakes in the afternoon scene and was unable to get into the state, so that the whole scene was NGed dozens of times before it was finally completed.
Although it was Xu Yi who had a NG, it was a scene where the two of them were in the same frame after all. Once Xu Yi had a NG, Song Yecheng would have to start over as well. Repeatedly entering and exiting the scene, repeatedly arousing emotions and then coming to an abrupt end was really tiring.
However, Song Yecheng did not show anything on the set, because he knew the difficulty of the scene. He also knew that for a newcomer like Xu Yi, even if his skills and talents were not bad, his lack of experience was a fatal flaw. This made it a hundred times more difficult to interpret complex and restrained emotions than extroverted and exaggerated ones, so it was normal for him to have a poor sense of proportion.
However, understanding is understanding, and tiredness is real tiredness. It is not physical hardship, but mental fatigue caused by repeated emotional mobilization and consumption.
It would be great if Jiang Que were here.
Song Yecheng thought.
At least coming back and chatting about anything can help relieve my fatigue.
He lay on the carpet and sighed, then reached into his pocket and took out his cell phone, intending to send a message to Jiang Que.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he raised the phone to his face, he saw a WeChat push notification on the lock screen:
Tang Yao: [Video]
Song Yecheng was stunned for a moment, unlocked his WeChat and saw that it was a video sent by Tang Yao at around six o'clock.
The video was nearly six minutes long, and the cover image was so dark that it was impossible to tell what was being filmed. Song Yecheng simply didn't think about it anymore and clicked on it to play.
The time below began to jump, the picture was still black, but the sound had already been heard.
That's the sound of a piano.
Two seconds later, the object blocking the camera was finally removed, and the screen suddenly lit up, revealing a room surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows.
The afterglow outside the floor-to-ceiling window gradually faded, while the inside of the window was gently shrouded in light. There was a grand piano in the middle of the room, and Song Yecheng recognized the back of the person sitting in front of the piano almost instantly.
It is Jiangque.
Jiang Que sat in front of the piano with his back to the camera, his hands on the keys, playing an unfamiliar song with full concentration.
Pleasant notes flowed out from between his fingers, spreading lightly and permeating every corner of the room. Through the screen and across thousands of mountains and rivers, it easily pulled people into his artistic conception.
Song Yecheng quietly looked at the figure on the screen and listened to the soothing and flowing melody between his fingers. He felt that his tired body and mind were unconsciously soothed and washed away by the gentleness.
Just listening to it, it was like being baptized by a trickle of water. Even after the last note fell, Song Yecheng still felt a little unsatisfied.
However, at this moment, Jiang Que in the picture suddenly raised his eyes and looked at the camera through the reflection of the floor-to-ceiling window——
The next second, the picture suddenly stopped and the video ended.
Song Yecheng was stunned for a moment, then he recalled the stunned look and surprise in Jiang Que's eyes when he last looked at the camera, and he reacted in a flash - this video was secretly filmed, and Jiang Que was not aware of it.
After realizing this, Song Yecheng couldn't help but laugh.
The person he sent a message to during the day asking "Is he in the company?" was none other than Tang Yao. However, he actually just asked Tang Yao to take care of Jiang Que in the company to prevent him from being accidentally surrounded and blocked again. Unexpectedly, Tang Yao actually went to take a video of Jiang Que, and it was a candid video.
Judging from Jiang Que's final reaction in the video, he had obviously discovered Tang Yao's existence. Song Yecheng couldn't help but feel curious about what happened afterwards.
Thinking about it, he sent a message to Tang Yao:
[Song Yecheng: Did he say anything?]
The other party did not reply immediately, but Song Yecheng did not sit there and wait. He saved the video to his local album, then opened it again and watched it from the beginning.
Frankly speaking, when Song Yecheng first learned that Jiang Que was self-taught in piano playing, he thought his piano skills were probably just at the level of "knowing how to play". However, it was not until he saw this video that he realized that his misunderstanding was outrageous, because even by the standards of professional appreciation, Jiang Que's level is absolutely outstanding.
Thinking about his extraordinary spirituality in writing and outstanding comprehension in painting, Song Yecheng couldn't help but sigh: If art, inspiration and talent all come from the gifts of Muses, then Jiang Que must be the one favored by all the Muses, right?
He was just daydreaming about this when suddenly, the video playing on his phone was interrupted and the screen was occupied by an incoming call.
Song Yecheng subconsciously thought that Tang Yao had seen the message and called him, but when he saw the name on the caller ID, he was surprised for a moment.
Lei Zi?
Although this name is not unfamiliar, it is far from familiar, because if the relationship between the two people must be summarized in seven words: No one comes to visit you for no reason.
This was the case with Song Yecheng and the other party as well. Apart from "business dealings", the two of them had almost no personal relationship. They were the type who would never contact each other when they had nothing to do. The last time they spoke to each other was... more than two months ago.
Song Yecheng sat up from the carpet and answered the phone: "Hello?"
"Hey, Brother Cheng?" The other side answered quickly, the voice sounding very lively. "I'm Lei Zi. Are you asleep?"
"No," Song Yecheng said, "What's wrong?"
Lei Zi chuckled twice and said, "Well, I have something to tell you. Do you still remember the person you asked me to check?"
Yes, their last call two months ago was because Song Yecheng asked him to help check someone - at that time, Song Yecheng had just met Jiang Que for the first time, and was fooled by his "traveling in a book" nonsense. He almost lost his temper and called Lei Zi as soon as he came out of Jiang Que's house, asking him to help check this person.
This is exactly Lei Zi’s “business scope”.
His profession is similar to that of a private detective, but because current domestic laws do not recognize the existence of this profession, he does not actually have any formal qualifications. He simply relies on superb information collection skills and a strong network of personal connections to undertake business. He is the type of person who does not break the law but cannot be made public. He has been wandering in the gray area for a long time, skirting the red line and playing on the edge.
Hearing Lei Zi's words at this time, Song Yecheng almost had the illusion of traveling through time, because the incident had happened too long ago, and he and Jiang Que were no longer in the antagonistic relationship they were before. He even almost forgot that he had entrusted such a matter to him.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel speechless and amused. "...No, buddy, your efficiency is too touching, isn't it? You're only now responding to something that happened two months ago? Did you go into hibernation?"
Lei Zi knew he was in the wrong, and once again chuckled awkwardly, trying to smooth things over: "Well! Isn't it mainly because you didn't tell me you were in a hurry? I just happened to have a few urgent orders coming in at the time, so I rushed over to deal with them. But when I came back after finishing them, I saw, hey? My brother Cheng didn't push me either? So I thought to myself, you must not care much about this matter, so isn't that a more Buddhist approach to the investigation?"
This passage actually has only one theme - I forgot.
But Lei Zi is worthy of being a person who has been in all kinds of circles for a long time. He has a very deep skill in speaking eloquently. He can make out three points even if there is no reason, and his words sound quite reasonable.
Song Yecheng listened to his idle talk with amusement, but did not really bother with him. After all, for him now, this matter was no longer important. In fact, out of respect for Jiang Que, even if Lei Zi really found out something, he did not intend to investigate further.
However, before he could even open his mouth to "cancel the order," Lei Zi on the other side of the room had already taken over: "Tsk, are you getting a bit off topic? Well, I actually heard something just now when I was having dinner with a friend. It just happened to be related to the address you gave me earlier, so I wanted to tell you about it."
address?
Song Yecheng was stunned for a moment, then he remembered the tube-shaped building where Jiang Que rented a house with no property management or security, and the public security was worrying. He immediately asked with some concern: "What's going on over there? Is there anything wrong?"
Lei Zi didn't quite understand why his tone suddenly became wary, and quickly explained, "Oh, that's not the case. Isn't that area a demolition area? My friend said that construction had been delayed because of a few stubborn tenants who couldn't reach an agreement, but now they've reached an agreement, and the building will officially start in a few days."
Hearing this, Song Yecheng first breathed a sigh of relief, and then slowly realized the implication of this statement - if the building is officially demolished, does that mean that it can no longer be lived in?
After thinking for a moment, he didn't know what he was thinking about. His expression became a little subtle. He blinked and said to the phone: "Okay, I got it. Thanks, buddy."
At the same time, thousands of miles away.
"Then I'll be leaving first?"
In the corridor of the tube building, Sister Liu turned around in front of the Jiangque gate and sighed with an apologetic smile, "Alas, I thought it would be demolished for at least a few months. I didn't expect it to be demolished so easily. I really troubled you. I'll refund the remaining rent to you in the next two days and transfer it to your card."
"It's okay." Jiang Que said with understanding, "Take care."
Sister Liu smiled awkwardly and nodded, waved to him and left.
Jiang Que watched her figure disappear around the corner of the corridor, holding the door frame with one hand, and stood for a moment in the slanting cold moonlight.
This area of tube-shaped buildings is going to be demolished soon.
This was somewhat different from what he had imagined when he first rented the property.
He originally thought that he could live here for a full year, right until the countdown ended, but unexpectedly things did not go as he wished, and he had to find a new place in less than half a year.
So... where to move?
Jiang Que had no idea what to do for a moment, so he had to reach out to close the door, turn off the lights in the living room, and return to the room.
After sitting back on the bed, he looked around.
He actually has very few things. All the furniture, home appliances, and even the computer in the room come with the house. The only things that truly belong to him are a few pieces of clothes in the closet, a few sets of bedding, and the old wooden box under the bed.
He Jingsheng once said that he was as simple as an ascetic monk, and was also puzzled by his behavior of donating all his income, complaining that he did not leave himself a way out and lived like "today but not tomorrow".
However, only Jiang Que himself knew that he really had no tomorrow - the countdown on his watch reminded him every moment that the bell of the end was about to ring.
Jiang Que looked quietly ahead, staring blankly for a long time in the dim light of the bedside lamp. He seemed to be thinking a lot, but also seemed to be thinking of nothing.
Suddenly, a vibration came from my pocket.
Jiang Que suddenly came back to his senses and took out his phone. He saw a very familiar caller ID on the screen:
【Song Yecheng】
Without much hesitation, Jiang Que swiped the screen and answered the call: "Hello?"
Because the room was so quiet, his voice naturally became much softer. Song Yecheng, who was standing opposite him, thought he had fallen asleep and couldn't help but lower his voice: "Asleep?"
Jiang Que then realized that his voice was too soft, and immediately cleared his throat, raising his voice slightly: "No, I'm staying in the room."
Song Yecheng said "Oh" and without further ado, he asked directly, "Is your house going to be demolished?"
Jiang Que was stunned for a moment, and reflexively looked at his phone, thinking that he had just received the news, how come he knew about it even though he was thousands of miles away?
Song Yecheng on the other end of the phone seemed to have the ability to read minds. Before he could ask, he explained, "I heard it from a friend. He just happened to hear the news."
Jiang Que didn't doubt the truth of this, but just blinked, thinking that his friend was really well-informed, and then replied, "Yes, it's going to be demolished."
"Where are you going to live?" Song Yecheng asked.
Jiang Que thought about it and said frankly: "I haven't decided yet. Let's look for it tomorrow."
Hearing this, Song Yecheng was secretly happy, but he didn't show it at all. Instead, he said seriously: "Oh, then you have to remember to consider one thing."
Jiang Que asked in confusion, "What's the problem?"
Song Yecheng coaxed him: "Think about it, you will have to stay in the crew for at least two or three months, right?"
Jiang Que hummed, and Song Yecheng continued, "So even if you rent a house, you can't live here, right?"
Jiang Que could feel that he seemed to be laying the groundwork for something, but he couldn't figure it out for a moment, so he could only say "um" again to signal him to continue.
Song Yecheng said: "So when you look for a house now, it's actually just like looking for a place to store your things, right? But even if the house is idle, you still have to pay the rent for these few months. Isn't that a waste?"
There was indeed nothing wrong with what he said, but Jiang Que still didn't get the point after listening to it: "...So?"
"So why not just stop looking," Song Yecheng said matter-of-factly. "My house happens to have a lot of vacant space. Why don't you move there first?"
Jiang Que didn't expect him to say that. His mind went blank for a moment. After he came to his senses, he subconsciously said, "But..."
However, he was stuck for a long time and couldn't come up with any "but". Song Yecheng on the other end of the phone wanted to laugh when he heard it - he had already prepared this set of rhetoric in his mind before calling, and even he was convinced. He thought his logic was impeccable, so he guessed that Jiang Que would not be able to find an excuse for a while.
But he didn't brag for too long. He immediately struck while the iron was hot and said, "Don't worry about it. At worst, you can just wait until the filming is finished and then find a house. There's no rush anyway."
This was both a delaying tactic and a way out for Jiang Que, leaving him with no reason to refuse.
Song Yecheng listened to the silence on the other end of the phone and counted three seconds in his mind. After three seconds, he decisively accepted the decision and said, "Okay, it's settled then. I'll send you the address later. Do you have a lot of stuff? Do you want me to arrange a move for you?"
This time Jiang Que was able to get a word in, and immediately said, "...No need."
"Okay," Song Yecheng said quickly, "Then go to bed early. Good night."
After he finished speaking, he hung up the phone without waiting for Jiang Que to respond.
Jiang Que brought the phone in front of him and stared in astonishment at the screen which had jumped back to the main interface. He was completely confused by Song Yecheng's series of operations that left him no time to react.
Two seconds later, new message arrived——
[Songyecheng: Tianyu Luming Villa A8, Nanhu District, access code DSRUDHNFM, courtyard gate code 301086, front gate code 301086. To use the garage, go through the back door. The spare key is in the bamboo tube under the swing chair on the right side of the yard.]
Jiang Que: ???
How is it possible to type out such a long string in two seconds?
He recalled Song Yecheng's remarks that seemed to have been rehearsed and progressed layer by layer. After thinking about it for a while, he finally guessed the truth with an epiphany - this message and those words were probably not a spur-of-the-moment idea, but were prepared by Song Yecheng before making the call.
Jiang Que blinked in a daze. After a while, he leaned back on the bed, threw his phone aside, and looked at the ceiling.
He felt mixed emotions for a moment.
If he had tried to approach Song Yecheng in the beginning just to have the faint hope of touching a touch of warm fingertips in the isolated and helpless snow and ice, then what he has gained so far is far more than that.
Song Yecheng's attentiveness, eagerness, and unconcealed sincerity are like a continuous warm current that flows through glaciers and snowy areas and cold valleys, gently melting the ice and snow along the way and creating a mirage-like hot spring.
Yes, a mirage-like hot spring.
It's so ethereal and hazy, so hard to stay and so easy to disperse, yet it constantly exudes an incomparable and fatal attraction. Even though people know it's illusory and they know they shouldn't sink into it, they can't help but want to abandon all worries and indulge in it, without regard for the consequences...
Completely addicted to it.
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