Chapter 128 Extra Chapter (Song Zhiyi and Huo Yanli): 3. Like Charging
In early winter in New York, the chill seeped into her bones along the East River wind. Song Zhiyi threw herself back into her work at the United Nations, facing the immediate challenges of her new role as "Climate and Conflict Prevention Coordinator." The first few weeks were filled with intensive work: familiarizing herself with procedures, building a core team, and establishing connections with various relevant agencies—she was practically living in the office.
Huo Yanli's schedule also entered a new phase. The cooperation between the Huo Group and several technology and new energy companies in North America entered a critical stage, and the foundation needed to deepen its connections with several international organizations. As a result, he traveled between China and the United States more frequently, and New York became a regular stop on his itinerary.
He didn't try to interfere with Song Zhiyi's work schedule, nor did he even ask to meet her every time she came to New York. Only shortly after she arrived and settled in New York did he send her an address and a message: "West of Central Park, not far from your headquarters. It's a combination lock; the initial password is your birthday. You can visit it when you have time; it'll give me a place to stay in New York."
The address pointed to a well-secured, unassuming apartment building in a quiet neighborhood near Central Park, about a 20-minute walk from the United Nations headquarters. Song Zhiyi took some time to visit. The apartment was small, a one-bedroom unit with a simple, modern decor.
She noticed some details: the refrigerator contained her usual brand of bottled water, and even several boxes of a particular flavor of Chinese instant noodles that she had mentioned once saying were "hard to find in New York." In the bedroom closet hung several of his shirts and suits, with half the space next to them empty, as if deliberately left out. In the bathroom, besides his toiletries, there were neatly arranged unopened travel sets of women's skincare products, from her favorite brand.
This was clearly not a spur-of-the-moment arrangement. Safety, convenience, privacy, and these seemingly unintentional yet precisely tailored details gave the apartment a quiet sense of comfort.
Over the weekend, Huo Yanli flew to New York. That evening, the two of them ate a simple home-cooked meal together in the apartment. Huo Yanli cooked scrambled eggs with tomatoes and stir-fried broccoli, served with congee. The taste was surprisingly authentic.
After the meal, Huo Yanli took a key from the drawer with a small Chinese knot engraved with the word "peace" on it and placed it on the coffee table in front of Song Zhiyi.
"A spare key," he said casually. "I can hang something on it so it's easy to find."
Song Zhiyi picked up the key, the tassels of the Chinese knot brushing against her palm, causing a slight tickle. She looked up at him: "So well prepared?"
Huo Yanli smiled, his gaze falling on the scattered lights of the park outside the window: "It's nothing. At most, it's... an upgraded branch of the 'supply point' in New York. Didn't you say that the supply point needs to be reliable, timely, and have the right supplies?"
Song Zhiyi felt a lump in her throat. She carefully put the key into the inner pocket of her wallet, her fingertips brushing against the small "peace" knot.
"Thank you, Station Chief Huo," she said softly, a faint smile in her eyes.
"You're welcome, Team Member Song," he replied with a smile, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, a gesture as natural as if he had done it countless times.
A few days later, Song Zhiyi had a rare relatively free afternoon. Huo Yanli happened to be in New York, so she asked him, "Want to go inside the United Nations? From the perspective of the staff, not tourists."
Huo Yanli readily agreed. She helped him obtain a temporary visitor pass and led him through the staff entrance. Instead of going to the lobby where tourists gathered, she led him through the slightly noisy office area, pointed out her own office, introduced her colleagues, and even took him to the terrace where she usually drank coffee and relaxed, where she could see the East River and Queens across the river.
“That’s the Security Council meeting room,” she said, pointing to a heavy door in the distance. “Sometimes a meeting goes on from morning till night, and when you come out, your mind is completely blank, and you only survive on coffee.”
"What's the most troublesome thing?" Huo Yanli asked, his gaze falling on her slightly furrowed brows.
“Documents.” Song Zhiyi said without hesitation, “Endless documents. Position papers, background reports, meeting minutes, draft resolutions… in various languages, in various revised versions. Sometimes, we can argue back and forth for days over a single word.” As she spoke, she laughed to herself, her hair swaying slightly as she shook her head. “Sounds boring, doesn’t it?”
“No.” Huo Yanli shook his head and reached out to naturally straighten the collar of her coat that had been ruffled by the wind. “It’s similar to negotiating contract terms and scrutinizing project details with us, except that you’re betting a much bigger stake: people’s hearts and peace.”
As they walked and talked, they encountered Peter, the senior consultant from Norway who worked on Song Zhiyi's team, in a relatively quiet corridor. Peter raised an eyebrow when he saw Huo Yanli next to Song Zhiyi and joked in English, "Song, is this handsome gentleman your 'special consultant'? I've never seen him before."
Song Zhiyi introduced them in a graceful manner: "Peter, this is Huo Yanli, my friend. Yanli, this is Peter, our team's climate policy expert."
Huo Yanli shook hands with Peter, his attitude humble. Peter blinked and said to Song Zhiyi, "'Friends'? I think it's more than that?"
Song Zhiyi rarely showed a hint of embarrassment, her ears turned slightly red, and she glared at Peter. Huo Yanli smiled and took half a step forward, his arm loosely protecting her side, and said frankly, "I'm sorry for causing her trouble. I'll be more careful next time and try not to take up the valuable public resources of the UN corridor."
Peter chuckled, patted Huo Yanli on the shoulder, and said, "Welcome to visit anytime. Song needs to rest more. I won't bother you any longer!" He then waved and left.
After Peter left, Huo Yanli looked down at her with a mischievous smile in his eyes: "Ms. Song, it seems I've affected your professional image?"
Song Zhiyi gently nudged him with her elbow, without using any force, but the corners of her mouth curved up: "It's good that you know."
That Saturday, both of them were unusually free of urgent matters. Song Zhiyi suggested going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see a special exhibition on ancient Middle Eastern civilization, and Huo Yanli readily agreed. Like countless New York couples, they strolled slowly through the museum, occasionally exchanging their opinions on a particular artifact in hushed tones. Passing a mural depicting an ancient caravan crossing the desert, Song Zhiyi paused for a long time. Huo Yanli stood beside her, following her gaze.
"What came to mind?" he asked softly.
“Thinking about how there are still places where people migrate for water and livelihoods, it’s not much different from thousands of years ago,” Song Zhiyi said softly. “Technology is changing, but some fundamental survival challenges and conflict logics seem to have remained unchanged.”
Huo Yanli was silent for a moment, then gently touched the back of her hand with his fingers before firmly grasping it, his dry, warm palm enveloping her slightly cool hand. “That’s why your work is more meaningful,” he said. “At least now, on their migration route, there might be schools and wells built by us, instead of just yellow sand and looting.”
Song Zhiyi's heart skipped a beat. She gripped his hand in return and nodded firmly. At that moment, standing before the artifacts that had stood for a thousand years, their hands clasped as if they were also grasping a resonance and promise that transcended time and space.
In the afternoon, they went to see an experimental play off-Broadway. The content was somewhat obscure, but the stage design was exquisite. In the darkness, Huo Yanli's hand rested gently on the back of her chair, forming a protective gesture. When they came across a certain obscure metaphor, Song Zhiyi tilted her head slightly, her lips almost touching his ear, and asked in a whisper, "Did you understand it?" Huo Yanli turned his head, his nose lightly brushing against her forehead, and lowered his voice as well, "No, but seeing you frowning in thought was more interesting than the play." Song Zhiyi smiled silently in the darkness, and gently bumped his shoulder against his.
After the event, the two strolled to Chinatown and found a tea restaurant that looked quite old. The restaurant was bustling with people, filled with the sounds of ordering in Cantonese and Mandarin, and the air was filled with the greasy yet comforting aroma of food. They squeezed into a small table in the corner and shared a bowl of wonton noodles, a plate of char siu, and two cups of iced milk tea.
Song Zhiyi, biting her straw, looked out the window at the neon signs and bustling crowds, and suddenly said, "It seems like... I haven't 'wasted time' so purely in many years."
Huo Yanli placed a piece of the leanest char siu into her bowl: "How does it feel?"
Song Zhiyi thought for a moment, the curve of her lips gentle and genuine: "Not bad. In fact... very good." She looked up at him, her eyes shining brightly in the warm yellow light of the tea restaurant, "Like recharging."
Looking at the rare relaxation and warmth in her eyes, Huo Yanli felt the corner of his heart that had always been hanging over her seem to be soothed and warmed by this ordinary, everyday warmth. He reached out and gently wiped away a bit of sauce that had accidentally gotten on the corner of her mouth with his fingertips, the action natural and affectionate. "Then charge it a little longer," he whispered, "Only when it's fully charged can you go further."
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