Sweet and sticky
After changing her clothes, Song Zixin went downstairs. At the end of her line of sight was Fang Chengyin, who was staring at a frozen image on the TV. He seemed to have lost weight again, and a layer of unfathomable gloom shrouded him.
Hearing footsteps, Fang Chengyin turned around, "Mom."
It was a very soft sound, yet it was mixed with longing and worry.
They hadn't seen each other for five years.
In her second year of high school, Song Zixin started looking for her husband. Although she would transfer 5,000 yuan to his card every month, he would always secretly send it back. Song Zixin must have found out, but she didn't say a word. She continued to send money every month, and on the 15th, she would send back a postcard to let him know she was safe.
Aside from that, the two have no other contact.
He learned about Song Zixin's comeback from entertainment news, but he didn't ask any questions. He just hoped to see her when he got home.
Friends jokingly called Fang Chengyin an invisible orphan, but he didn't get angry. Instead, he laughed and said, "Actually, I was born alone, but I'm healthy in body and mind, and I'm taking care of this broken earth as I grow up."
Fang Chengyin came into this world quietly. No one knows who his biological parents are, and his parents do not allow people to know about his existence.
Simply because my mother is the most dazzling flower in the entertainment industry.
Fortunately, Fang Chengyin is open-minded. Perhaps he inherited Song Zixin's independence and magnanimity, and he treats the monotonous daily life of an orphan as a trial.
Called softly, Song Zixin smiled faintly. Time had erased her youthful appearance, but her beautiful features remained, and her reddened eyes added to her delicate charm.
Fang Chengyin felt a pang of heartache. This was so different from the person he last saw five years ago. He wanted to say something, but he knew that a few words couldn't fill the void of those five years.
So he turned to look at the picture of the back view, and thought, "I feel like I recognize him."
“Like your father,” Song Zixin said.
They could empathize with him; he had been gone for five years, leaving behind his wife and children, whose whereabouts were unknown.
Song Zixin: "You changed your clothes, didn't you?"
Fang Chengyin was stunned for a moment. He did go back and change his clothes. They were no longer light summer clothes, but deep dark colors.
You changed it too.
Song Zixin didn't explain, "It's comfortable to wear this at home."
After Fang Chengyin was born, she temporarily left acting to become a housewife. Fang Bokang tried to persuade her for a long time, but she couldn't resist her desire to be with her husband and child. Even now, after her comeback ceremony and returning home, her subconscious hasn't been able to switch roles, and she's back to wearing casual clothes.
With that, the reminiscing came to an end.
Both of them felt a little awkward, and Fang Chengyin spoke again, "Mom, how about frying 'huanxi tou' (a type of fried tofu) for lunch?"
"Okay, I'll go help out."
Huanxitou is actually fried glutinous rice strips. Brown sugar is kneaded into glutinous rice flour and then fried in oil. They are crispy, sweet and fragrant, and symbolize good luck in dreary days.
When Fang Chengyin was little, he was playing with his kindergarten friends and broke his front tooth. He cried all the way home from school, and Fang Bokang made him a happy head to stop him. However, that day, the father and son were punished by Song Zixin to stand facing the wall in self-reflection because Fang's father, who couldn't cook, had made a mess of the kitchen.
Fang Chengyin started craving "Huanxi Tou" around that time.
This food seems to have a magical power, bridging the gaps between people and bringing them closer together.
The estranged mother and son relaxed considerably after frying up a plate of "Happy Head" (a type of fried tofu). Fang Chengyin recounted many interesting anecdotes from university, but made no mention of the exorbitant tuition fees. In fact, with his college entrance examination scores, he could have easily entered a tuition-free, targeted university, but after much hesitation, he chose Hongruisidu, a university known for its gathering of the upper class.
Unlike Song Zixin, he couldn't travel far and wide to find his relatives; he could only rely on connections. When he found out how to get into the Hongruisdu high-end club, Unicorn, his friend Zhong Qiqian gave him a compressed file—a video containing the experiences of superstar Chen Du.
Fang Chengyin was taken aback. He looked up at the top of the most expensive advertising area outside the window, Chen Du. It had only been three days since he and his mysterious lover caused a sensation by appearing at the Swiss Economic Forum gala.
Such a dazzling and beloved person...
Fang Chengyin: "If the club finds out you're helping me like this..."
Zhong Qiqian said, "The Unicorn Club has an unspoken rule—noble people don't actively seek out ordinary people unless the ordinary people come to them and pique their interest. They really like people like you who come with a purpose, and they're curious to see what you'll do to achieve it. Chengyin, finding people is no problem for them, but what can you give them in return? Chen Du only escaped a disaster because he met Jiang Chou, so who else can you meet? To put it bluntly, if you seek them out, you'll just end up becoming just like them."
Although it was undeniable, hearing these words was very uncomfortable, and Fang Chengyin said coldly, "And what about you?"
You are also one of the "noble" ones.
Zhong Qiqian laughed: "My family needs me to be close to them. I've been in cahoots with them since I was born, but you're different."
You are below the class, and although your quality of life is average, you live freely. "Cheng Yin, isn't it better to be a clear stream?"
In the end, Fang Chengyin did not enter the Unicorn, not only because of Zhong Qiqian's persuasion, but also because of his sudden realization after careful consideration that going in did not guarantee that he would find the person.
Song Zixin has yet to find a network of connections, so how could a group of spoiled brats possibly put their heart and soul into fulfilling a request they would only agree to in order to manipulate others?
So he changed his approach—working as an extra in different film crews.
·
"I heard you're an extra in a film crew. Do you enjoy acting?"
The mother and son sat facing each other at the dining table. The LCD TV on the wall was still playing the midday news. The volume of the news was very low, but for the two who were paying close attention to the missing persons case, every word of the broadcast was clear to their ears.
Fang Chengyin paused for a moment while picking up the "Happy Head" chopsticks. "Well, I tried it a few times with my college classmates when I was bored over the weekend, and I found it quite interesting."
Song Zixin naturally wouldn't expose him. Besides earning a living, she knew that Fang Chengyin was looking for his father.
"According to sources, the suspect in the kindergarten teacher's death case is Fang Bokang, the husband of famous actress Song Zixin."
The two men glanced at the hushed midday news broadcast, their faces showing little surprise. They were Fang Bokang's closest confidants, able to remember all his words and habits.
"Is that Dad?"
Fang Chengyin's gaze darted around, as if he were asking himself a question.
Song Zixin picked up a piece of "Happy Head" (a type of tofu) for him and asked, "Yeah, could it be him?"
Fang Chengyin composed himself. Song Zixin was already upset, and he shouldn't add fuel to the fire. He should always act like a composed adult.
Focusing back on Song Zixin's face, one realizes that her mother, who was heartbroken but pretended to be strong five years ago, has become much more resilient.
Fang Chengyin breathed a sigh of relief: "If it really is Dad, I think he will come to see us."
Song Zixin forced a smile. "Yinyin, if he really is your father, can you accept him like this?"
Fang Chengyin lowered his eyelids as he looked at the golden "happy head".
Song Zixin stood up. "Mom can't accept it either."
Fang Chengyin watched Song Zixin's thin figure go upstairs, feeling a pang of sadness. Over the years, Fang Bokang had given the two of them hope, only to dash it.
He was not a good father, but his disappearance was not his fault. They were so happy before he disappeared. Who would believe that he abandoned his family and vanished into thin air?
However, compared to a serial killer, they all hope that his disappearance is equivalent to death. Finding him and investigating whether he was antisocial is meaningless. No matter how many times he is torn to pieces, it will not be enough to comfort the dead.
But... they missed him so much.
Snap—
The sound of glass shattering.
Fang Chengyin turned around in shock, only to find the slightly ajar window of the living room's French windows shattered by a sharp object.
Someone has arrived, possibly more than one.
There was no movement on the second floor. Fang Chengyin felt relieved, put away the plates, straightened his clothes, walked out of the entrance hall, closed the door, and went into the yard.
There were hushed whispers outside the courtyard.
This place is secluded, and Song Zixin, as a celebrity, has lived here for many years without being discovered by her stalkers. Now, because of a news report about a "suspected husband of Song Zixin," she has been forced into the public eye, as if someone deliberately kicked her when she was down.
Fortunately, they don't know her. Her parents have protected her well, and no one knows that the famous actress has a precious son.
The ancient courtyard gate creaked heavily, and the flashing lights seemed to welcome a superstar, or perhaps to drag people into a dark, white-lit abyss.
Upon seeing Fang Chengyin, who was simply dressed and had a handsome appearance, they put down their cameras and looked at each other in disappointment.
Fang Chengyin's face darkened with displeasure. "Don't you all find it absurd to smash windows and gather a crowd to block the place in the middle of the day? Of course, I suppose I should thank you all for not trespassing on my private property?"
His sarcastic tone was very uncomfortable, but they brought it on themselves. Besides, most of them were entertainment reporters who could understand human language.
A tired-looking male reporter blurted out, "We didn't mean to bother you, but we received information that Ms. Song Zixin lives here, so we wanted to interview her."
Fang Chengyin said sternly, "This is my private residence."
"Are you sure you're not being kept?"
Someone whispered, a look of disdain on their face.
Some people echoed, but their voices were even lower, as if they were protecting the last vestiges of their worthless conscience.
"I hope everyone can leave immediately. The person who smashed the window also hopes to send a bill to my mailbox when they get home. I know it's not easy for you to pursue the truth, but please don't disrupt the lives of ordinary people. Making a scene and going to court will only lead to heartbreak, exhaustion, and mutual destruction. Why bother?"
Fang Chengyin politely nodded slightly to everyone, then turned and grasped the doorknob.
Do you believe Fang Bokang is a criminal suspect?
Fang Chengyin was stunned.
This moment of surprise made the reporters, who were watching his every move like jackals, light up and instinctively point their cameras at him.
Fang Chengyin turned around, calm and composed, "Why don't you ask me—don't you believe Fang Bokang is a criminal suspect?"
The group of people were stunned.
Fang Cheng laughed: "My silence does not mean I admit anything or feel guilty. Rather, it is because you always try to use this kind of cleverness to guide public opinion. Everyone here knows whether they have any substantial evidence. Is it really necessary to trigger a media trial for a case involving a celebrity? As an ordinary citizen of Yanyang City, I feel deeply sorry for such a tragic event, but that is not a reason for my residence to be doxxed and published online."
They persisted, hoping for someone like the one who had charged forward to ask questions, but they also knew they were insecure, so Fang Chengyin gained the upper hand.
"To be honest, I don't have the spare money to sue you all. Whether you believe me or not is your business, and how you fabricate stories when you get back is also your business. But you came here secretly, so isn't it normal to leave empty-handed? Are you afraid of the backlash if you report false information just to keep your jobs?"
Several people turned away angrily; they hated being told what to do.
The familiar voice rang out again: "Are you the person from the news this afternoon? I am very grateful for your efforts in pursuing the suspect, but could you explain why you happened to be near the kindergarten?"
He added, "I don't think this issue infringes on your rights; the citizens of Yanyang have the right to know."
He was practically asking, "Is it to go see Song Zixin's press conference?" The others, sensing the news, all turned their attention to him.
“You haven’t offended me, but this violates the police information sharing regulations. I gave a statement at the police station. If you want to know, you should go to the police station with your press pass to investigate, instead of making me repeat myself. I think the officers at the Yanyang Criminal Investigation Bureau don’t want to hear another version of my story.”
He deliberately dragged out the word "explanation".
The reporter knew he was in the wrong, but still made it clear, "I don't think the information we received was wrong; we were simply defeated by your eloquence."
Fang Chengyin blurted out unconsciously, "So this is what an entertainment reporter is like."
What was said unintentionally was remembered by a reporter, who gave Fang Chengyin a deep look as he left.
He is Yang Yuzan's assistant, Ou Tingzhou.
Fang Chengyin breathed a sigh of relief. This was the first time he had faced so many ambitious cameras. It was terrifying, but it also made him feel at ease.
Fang Bokang once told him that Song Zixin both liked and hated the camera, which he couldn't understand at the time. Later, he went online and suddenly realized that his parents had only ever shown him the filtered, dazzling side of his mother. They kept the things that were slandered and insulted about her, the things that were down on her luck, hidden away and swallowed by themselves.
Fang Chengyin drew back the living room curtains and picked up a broom to sweep up the shattered glass scattered on the floor outside the window. The glass shards were sharp, but thankfully he was wearing rubber gloves. In the five years since Song Zixin left, he had learned many life skills and was afraid of hurting himself and hurting her.
He then wrapped the glass shards in insulating paper before putting them into the trash bag, afraid that the elderly people searching through the cardboard boxes would hurt their hands.
After throwing away the trash, he went to the vegetable garden next to the garden to pick vegetables. All kinds of vegetables were growing very well, which is why he often comes home to visit.
After picking a basket of fresh vegetables, he also cut a few roses, which were colorful, delicate and beautiful, with petals that resembled layers of clouds.
Song Zixin put the roses into the vase just as she finished her lunch break and came downstairs.
Neither of them mentioned the midday farce.
Fang Chengyin picked up some plastic wrap and packed it into vegetables. "I'd like to take some back to school. What do you think?"
Song Zixin examined it closely: "It's grown very well, fresher than the ones at the market."
She was a housewife for over ten years, learning a lot of bargaining skills from the uncles and aunties at the market, and how to identify unscrupulous merchants. She even made headlines several times because of this.
She is the most qualified person to judge the quality of vegetables.
"Can we cook our own meals in the dorm?" she asked again.
Having not set foot on campus for many years, she was unaware that university campuses had undergone tremendous changes.
"When you have time, I'll take you sightseeing."
Song Zixin smiled and said, "Okay."
She grabbed a glass of milk from the refrigerator and then walked to the study in her slippers.
"Mom," Fang Chengyin called out to her.
Song Zixin turned around.
Fang Cheng smiled and said, "I have class tonight, I'll be back Friday night."
Today is Monday, and he has two more economics and trade classes tonight.
Song Zixin hummed in agreement, and the study door closed gently.
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