After Escaping Marriage - Chapter 139
Chapter 139
Cheng Zhanxi looked at Yu Qingtang's right hand. Yu Qingtang followed her gaze, lowered her head, and tucked her hand into her jacket pocket.
Cheng Zhanxi: "..."
In the walk-in closet, Cheng Zhanxi tried to be tactful, saying, "Maybe we shouldn't go out for lunch?"
Yu Qingtang said calmly, "It's much better than when I woke up this morning. It should fully recover later."
Her exercises weren't without effect; last night, she had persisted for a full three hours, though not continuously using it.
Hearing her answer, Cheng Zhanxi's mood became even more complicated.
If her hand was trembling this much now, what must it have been like when she first woke up?
Had she been too excessive? Cheng Zhanxi deeply reflected on herself.
Yu Qingtang felt extremely uncomfortable inside, but her face remained impassive as she skipped the topic. "What do you want to wear? I'll get it for you."
Cheng Zhanxi pointed to an outfit. "The mint green one."
In the garage, Yu Qingtang still stubbornly wanted to drive but was stopped by Cheng Zhanxi. "Let me."
Yu Qingtang obediently sat in the passenger seat.
The two arrived at the restaurant together, where Dad Cheng, Mom Cheng, and Brother Cheng were already seated.
Yu Qingtang held the spoon in her left hand, scooping the rich, white crucian carp soup from her bowl.
Song Qingrou said caringly, "Qingtang, why are you only drinking soup? Eat more dishes. You're too thin; you need to put on some weight to be healthy."
Saying so, she used the serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of drunken chicken for her.
Yu Qingtang said, "Thank you, Aunt Song."
Song Qingrou turned to Cheng Zhanxi and gently chided, "You should also serve your wife more food, instead of just focusing on eating yourself."
Cheng Zhanxi smiled, taking the blame. "My mistake."
Yu Qingtang glanced at Cheng Zhanxi and lowered her head.
The meal concluded in an overall pleasant atmosphere, aside from Song Qingrou occasionally teasing Cheng Zhanxi for not being considerate enough.
After the meal, on their way back, Yu Qingtang looked self-reproachful.
Cheng Zhanxi patted Yu Qingtang's head and said, "If we really have to assign blame, it's my fault your hand is like this. I'm the one who kept pestering you."
Yu Qingtang looked up and disagreed, "Clearly, it was me who was blinded by lust."
Cheng Zhanxi's eyes lit up. "You what?"
"What what?"
"That phrase you used."
"Blinded by lust."
Cheng Zhanxi sighed contentedly. "I like the way you're infatuated with me."
That's why last night, when she saw Yu Qingtang leaning over her, her expression captivated, with occasional flashes of wildness, sweat trickling down her forehead, she had caressed Yu Qingtang's sweat-dampened face and wouldn't let her leave. Love is mutual, and so is sex. From body to heart, they were the ones most perfectly suited to each other.
Yu Qingtang said firmly, "I will continue to exercise."
If one month isn't enough, then three months. If three months aren't enough, then a year. Sooner or later, she would be able to get rid of the hand tremors.
If Cheng Zhanxi knew her thoughts, she would definitely say, "Such lofty ambitions."
The next day was the engagement banquet. The two went to bed very early that night, woke up early in the morning to have a makeup artist apply delicate, light makeup, changed into well-tailored long dresses, and set off for the hotel.
The long red carpet seemed endless. Yu Qingtang, arm in arm with Cheng Zhanxi, walked in from the entrance. The guests in the banquet hall, holding champagne glasses, paused their conversations and stopped to look.
Cheng Zhanxi wore a one-shoulder black formal dress, looking composed and elegant, with an added touch of cool beauty.
Yu Qingtang, on the other hand, wore a white, waist-cinching long dress that accentuated her tall figure and gave her an ethereal aura. Her right shoulder featured an ingenious black ribbon design, making her an even more perfect match for Cheng Zhanxi beside her.
Cheng Yi and the other two stood to the left at the end of the red carpet. Wei Tingyu, despite his illness, also stood on the right.
Regardless of the process, he had achieved his goal. To safeguard this outcome, he had to appear today.
Cheng Zhanxi's and Yu Qingtang's hands were placed in the palms of their respective fathers.
Yu Qingtang's body temperature was naturally low, and touching Wei Tingyu's palm still felt chilling. She lifted her eyelids to look at the man before her, who seemed utterly unfamiliar. To improve his complexion, Wei Tingyu had a professional apply makeup for him; his face was like jade, his eyes like bright stars, faintly revealing the dashing charm of his youth.
Wei Tingyu didn't look at her. He exchanged a glance with Cheng Yi, and each led their daughter onto the stage.
The two parents spoke separately, talking about their own child, praising the other's child, and entrusting their child to the other. Cheng Yi was sincere and heartfelt, while Wei Tingyu also acted convincingly.
Yu Qingtang listened beside him in a daze.
If nothing unexpected happened, this should be the first and last time in her life she would hear these words from Wei Tingyu.
He was going to die.
The arm holding hers suddenly tightened. Wei Tingyu's fluent speech paused for half a second, then he nonchalantly continued, "My daughter, I hope she will be happy and carefree for her entire life..."
After stepping down from the stage, Wei Tingyu glanced down at Yu Qingtang's hand, then looked at Yu Qingtang.
Although Wei Tingyu was terminally ill, his pupils were still dark and clear. Time had taken away his youth, but not the look in his eyes.
Yu Qingtang released her hand and stood beside him without speaking.
Cheng Zhanxi looked over with concern.
Yu Qingtang met her gaze and gave her a reassuring look.
The engagement banquet proceeded smoothly. Wei Tingyu, citing his failing health, excused himself and went back to rest. After Wei Tingyu left, several of her uncles, eager to curry favor, vied to act as Yu Qingtang's guardians.
Cheng Zhanxi and Yu Qingtang mingled throughout the venue. Except for the first glass, which was wine, Yu Qingtang's glass was subsequently filled with plain water.
Sitting in the back seat of the car, Cheng Zhanxi took Yu Qingtang's hand, placed it next to her own left hand, and looked at their matching engagement rings, her eyes curving into a smile involuntarily.
A step further than girlfriend; now she was her fiancée.
Cheng Zhanxi turned on the light in the back seat, raised her phone, and said, "I'm taking a picture."
She posted the picture of their intertwined hands on her Moments. Friends quickly commented, "Burp, I'm full," "Run away!" and "She's here, she's here, she's coming with fresh dog food."
Cheng Zhanxi opened her WeChat profile picture; it was two diamond rings. She had once put three diamond rings together and set it as her profile picture, wanting to commemorate and show off the unique proposal. However, after receiving more than one private message asking why there were three diamond rings, Cheng Zhanxi, though she loved to show off, didn't want the trouble of explaining to everyone individually, so she changed it back to two.
Before returning to Sicheng, the two first mailed a large package filled with wedding candies.
Each teacher in the office received a share, as did the dean of teaching, the two young ladies at the front desk on the first floor who worked in shifts, the community gatekeeper, and Yu Qingtang's neighbors in the old district... The ones who absolutely couldn't be missed were the students of Class Seven. Tong Feifei was called to the office after Yu Qingtang returned from her leave.
Tong Feifei knocked on the office door. "Teacher Yu."
Yu Qingtang said, "Come in."
Tong Feifei wasn't a class cadre, hadn't made any mistakes, and her grades were stable, so she was a bit bewildered to be there.
She watched Yu Qingtang put down her pen and drag out a woven plastic sack from behind the desk.
"?" Tong Feifei pointed to herself.
Yu Qingtang nodded and said calmly, "Take this back with you."
Tong Feifei lifted it. Whoa, it was quite heavy.
Did this mean she was being told to pack up and go home?
Tong Feifei: "Can I open it and take a look?"
Yu Qingtang's tone was still calm as she said, "You may."
Tong Feifei pulled the zipper, looked inside, and her features instantly lit up, her face beaming with a smile.
Tong Feifei: "Whoa! What's this?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
"Wedding candies," Yu Qingtang said with a smile. "Take them back and distribute them to the students of Class Seven. You know which classes they're in now, right?"
Tong Feifei patted her chest and assured, "Of course, I know! I'll go right now!" She bent down and picked up the woven sack.
Yu Qingtang said, "If you can't carry it, go back and ask Xiang Tianyou to help you. You can leave the bag here for now."
Tong Feifei said, "No need, I'm as strong as an ox!"
How could such a matter be delayed?!
Tong Feifei hoisted the woven sack and rushed to Class 5 of the second year. With some time still before class, she first distributed some to Li Lan from Class Four and Lian Yabing from Class Six nearby, then dashed back to her classroom.
Her woven sack had been seen by curious classmates, and she herself was not one to be low-key. News of Yu Qingtang's engagement and distribution of wedding candies spread throughout Class Five.
Tong Feifei began to worry for Yu Qingtang.
Was it not good to only give them to Class Seven and not Class Five? After all, Yu Qingtang was now Class Five's homeroom teacher.
The students didn't say anything out loud, rationally stating that Class Seven were the ones who witnessed the "divine love story," so it was normal for them not to receive wedding candies. However, inwardly, they had some complaints and also felt a sense of being neglected and treated differently.
Yu Qingtang had taught Class Five for two months, and the students had developed an affection for her. The class collective, under Xiang Tianyou's leadership, was also becoming more united. Last month's autumn sports meet had greatly enhanced their collective cohesion. As a result, the atmosphere in the class temporarily became subdued.
But during the break after the next class, Xiang Tianyou was called to Yu Qingtang's office.
He also returned carrying a woven sack.
With Yu Qingtang's personality, how could she only give to Class Seven and neglect her current class? As for Cheng Zhanxi, she hoped to receive blessings from as many people as possible.
The students of Class Five also received a share of wedding candies each. Those who were originally in Class Seven and were now in Class Five received two shares, garnering countless envious and jealous glances.
Meanwhile, students from other classes envied the "divine class" and the "divine teacher."
Which teacher getting married would give so many wedding candies to their students? This was a unique case.
Yu Qingtang's fame at school expanded significantly. Without Cheng Zhanxi, the former top figure of No. 1 Middle School, competing with her, she became unparalleled in the teaching circle.
After distributing the two sacks of wedding candies, Yu Qingtang tidied her desk, taking everything out of the drawers to reorganize. In the very back, she found a comic book with a very suggestive cover.
Yu Qingtang casually flipped through a page or two, then closed it with an outwardly calm expression, but her heart was pounding.
Last year, she had confiscated a yuri manga from Shi Keyu. Because its content was too explicit and extremely unsuitable for teenagers, Yu Qingtang returned everything else to the students at the end of the semester, but she kept this book.
Yu Qingtang deliberately waited until the evening self-study session, when the office was empty, took out the manga, couldn't resist reading a few pages, and then, blushing with a racing heart, put it into her bag.
As soon as she entered the door, Cheng Zhanxi, who was sitting on the sofa, turned to look at her.
"Why is your face so red?"
Yu Qingtang raised her hand and touched her cheek with the cool back of her hand; it was burning hot. She lied brazenly, "Is it?"
Cheng Zhanxi said, "Yes, it is."
She stood up, walked over, cupped Yu Qingtang's face with both hands, looked into her eyes, and asked, "What are you thinking about? Hmm?"
Yu Qingtang stared straight at her and said, "I'm hungry."
Cheng Zhanxi lowered her hands, walked towards the kitchen, and said, "I'll go make you a late-night snack."
Yu Qingtang grabbed her wrist.
Cheng Zhanxi looked at her eyes and gradually understood something.
What was this little white rabbit turning into a big bad wolf act? She loved it, okay?
Cheng Zhanxi hooked her chin and said, "Shall we go to the room?"
Yu Qingtang said, "I want to do it on the sofa."
Cheng Zhanxi had no chance to reply before Yu Qingtang pushed her down onto the sofa.
The television was on, the volume turned down very low, but it was never turned off. At first, the characters' dialogue on TV could still be heard, but gradually it became indistinct, and in the end, it was completely drowned out by Cheng Zhanxi's voice.
Cheng Zhanxi almost got a leg cramp from Yu Qingtang's actions.
After Yu Qingtang stopped, Cheng Zhanxi's calf twitched involuntarily. Yu Qingtang moved it onto her own lap and gently massaged it for her.
Cheng Zhanxi gripped the two corners of a cushion with both hands, her knuckles white to the point of turning bluish, and looked up at Yu Qingtang illuminated by the living room light.
Yu Qingtang's lips were glistening, her nose bridge elegant. The way she gently lowered her eyes while attending to her made her seem like a completely different person from moments ago.
Cheng Zhanxi lay there for a good while before her mind and body recovered from the recent passion. She sat up, and Yu Qingtang brought her water from the coffee table.
Cheng Zhanxi took a sip and said, "I just saw the Tathagata Buddha."
Yu Qingtang: "?"
Cheng Zhanxi smiled. "I felt like you made my soul leave my body."
Yu Qingtang smiled shyly.
Cheng Zhanxi asked, "Did you secretly take some extra lessons? What were you doing at school during the day?"
In the past, Yu Qingtang would usually work silently and diligently, at most murmuring a few sweet nothings like "I love you" or "Baby" when deeply moved. Today, she had evolved to actual dirty talk, the kind that would be censored on Jinjiang.
Cheng Zhanxi felt her whole body burn and her bones soften listening to it, completely forgetting how wild she herself had been.
Yu Qingtang said slyly, "I won't tell you."
Cheng Zhanxi hmphed softly, put her legs down, then pulled Yu Qingtang's waist towards her, looking at her with a meaningful smile.
Yu Qingtang: "?"
Less than ten minutes later, Cheng Zhanxi returned everything Yu Qingtang had done to her in full.
Yu Qingtang was carried back to the room by her, limp and with tears in her eyes, her lips parting and closing silently a few times.
Cheng Zhanxi leaned close to her lips and heard her aggrieved, tearful voice, "You're bullying me..."
Cheng Zhanxi gently kissed the woman's lips and said even more gently, "Be good, and keep up your training."
Recently, Yu Qingtang's extracurricular reading outside of work had become that manga. She applied the same dedication she used for studying mathematics to experimenting on Cheng Zhanxi. Although Cheng Zhanxi would experiment back on her each time, with doubled effect, it didn't affect her determination to learn.
The sea of learning is boundless; there is no end to learning. Yu Qingtang's greatest strength was her ability to study with a calm mind; she had patience.
The two were living a life enviable even to mandarin ducks, not to immortals, when they received news from the Capital City.
Old Master Wei had passed away.
Old Master Wei would have celebrated his ninetieth birthday next year. In traditional Chinese customs, if someone passes away at the age of eighty or older, having lived a full life with good fortune, longevity, and many descendants, it can be called a "joyful passing" (喜喪), so the descendants wouldn't be so sorrowful. The Wei family met all these criteria, but they also had no time for sorrow. With Old Master Wei's death, the Wei family completely descended into chaos.
Old Master Wei's will stipulated that the company would go to his eldest son, Wei Tingzhi, according to primogeniture. However, the second branch of the family had grown powerful in recent years, placing many of their own people in the company, and had long been estranged from Wei Tingzhi, making countless underhanded moves. Wei Tingyu received stock dividends, several properties, and two small companies; Old Master Wei had doted on him during his lifetime, and this inheritance alone was not to be underestimated. The most overlooked fourth son, Wei Tingshu, only received a tiny bit of material compensation. He used to follow his older brothers and get the scraps; now that his two brothers were fighting, he didn't know whose side to take.
Yu Qingtang returned to the Capital City for the funeral.
This grandfather was a complete stranger to her; she didn't even remember what he looked like. She offered three incense sticks, kowtowed once, and left. The Wei family members wore mourning clothes, kneeling in the mourning hall. Wei Tingzhi and Wei Tinglan cried their hearts out, while their children wiped their tears and tried to console them. The guests who came to offer condolences all wore sorrowful expressions and offered their sympathies to the family.
Outside the mourning hall, Wei Tingzhi and Wei Tinglan had forgotten their father and were fighting tooth and nail over the company. The guests watched, waiting to see when this struggle would end, ready to seize the opportunity to take a big bite.
The Wei family was so large; who wouldn't be tempted?
Wei Tingzhi and Wei Tinglan reached a stalemate and coincidentally turned their attention to Cheng Yi, their new in-law through marriage, offering him generous terms to help them.
If they continued to fight like this, others would reap the benefits. In that case, it was better to pick someone agreeable; the sooner it ended, the smaller the losses. The Cheng family was large and influential, and they were in-laws. They could consider it sacrificing a little benefit to build a relationship with the Cheng family, and also the Song family behind them. If they could truly get on the same boat, they wouldn't lose out; they would actually profit.
Cheng Yi waited for the highest bid, then made an exorbitant demand.
The eldest, Wei Tingzhi, was hesitant.
But the second eldest, Wei Tinglan, made a decision on the spot: "I agree!"
Cheng Yi concealed his inner surprise, poured a cup of tea for Wei Tinglan opposite him, and said with a calm smile, "In-law, this is half of the Wei family. Are you willing to part with it?"
Wei Tinglan laughed heartily. "Willing, willing! One must give to gain. Like a brave warrior cutting off his own wrist, what's half the Wei family? I can still live for a few more years, and my children are still young. In the future, they might even be able to create another Wei family."
Cheng Yi raised his cup. "In-law, your magnanimity is admirable. I, Cheng, feel ashamed of my own inadequacy."
Wei Tinglan clinked glasses with him.
When Cheng Yi returned home, he took off his suit jacket and handed it to a servant. While unfastening his cufflinks, he walked over and said, "Wei Tinglan is quite a character."
Song Qingrou asked, "What's wrong?"
Song Qingrou didn't understand business matters, but Cheng Yi had a habit of sharing everything with her.
Cheng Yi told her about the agreement with Wei Tinglan.
Song Qingrou: "This..."
Cheng Yi said, "Just his decisiveness alone puts him leagues above Wei Tingzhi. No wonder he raised a daughter like Wei Zhiling."
In these years, it wasn't that few dared to offend the Cheng family privately, but rather there were none at all. Wei Zhiling's sudden appearance made everyone in the Cheng family remember her. The last time Song Qingrou went home, she even complained about it to her father, Commander Song, and coincidentally, her brothers were all there that day. Wei Zhiling reached the most glorious moment of her life without even knowing it.
Song Qingrou still didn't understand. "What exactly does he want to do?"
Cheng Yi said, "To crush Wei Tingzhi, ensuring he never has a chance to interfere with the Wei family again, to completely eliminate him."
Song Qingrou: "And then?"
Cheng Yi said, "Then the Wei family will be his Wei family."
Cheng Yi gently and patiently explained to her that the Wei family had long been plagued by deep-rooted problems, and its decline was only a matter of time. Instead of dragging it out and slowly heading towards ruin, it was better to make a clean break and stage a comeback.
Song Qingrou nodded.
The reason Cheng Yi mentioned was only one part; the second part, only Wei Tinglan himself knew.
He was fed up with the Wei family's internal strife and kin turning against each other. He, his son, and his daughter had all grown up in such an environment. There were few normal people in the Wei family; it should have perished long ago. Like Wei Tingyu, he hated the blood flowing in his veins. He was willing to give up not just half the Wei family, but the entire Wei family.
Wei Tinglan tucked the blanket corner for his sleeping little daughter, bent down to kiss the little girl's forehead, a genuine smile gracing his lips.
Little Twelve would grow up in a loving family.
Wei Tinglan tiptoed out and closed the door.
Wei Jinglan was standing outside the door. Wei Jinglan said softly, "Dad."
Wei Tinglan asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Wei Jinglan said, "I was about to sleep. I saw the light on in my sister's room, so I came to check."
Wei Tinglan said lovingly, "Make sure to rest."
Wei Jinglan said, "You too."
Wei Tinglan nodded and walked back to his bedroom with his hands behind his back.
As they passed each other, Wei Jinglan noticed large patches of silver-white at the roots of Wei Tinglan's hair.
Wei Jinglan's eyes stung, and she said, "Father."
Wei Tinglan turned back.
Wei Jinglan looked at him seriously and said, "Take care of your health."
Wei Tinglan smiled and nodded.
"For your sakes, I will also take care of my health. I still have to take Little Twelve out to play."
Wei Jinglan watched Wei Tinglan return to his room, then turned and went into the study.
Inside, Wei Jingfeng looked up. "Is Dad asleep?"
"Just went to sleep." Wei Jinglan sat on the other side of the desk, picked up the cold coffee, took a sip, and opened the file in front of her.
Staying up late, it was better to let the young ones do it.
This year, the snow in Sicheng arrived a bit earlier than last year. The Winter Solstice of 2019 fell on a Sunday. The two had gone to bed late the day before and woke up around noon.
The automatic curtains opened, revealing a world of silver-white. Snowflakes were still drifting down from the sky.
The first snow, and they made love for the first time that Sunday.
Only when their stomachs rumbled loudly in protest from hunger did the two lazily get out of bed and put on thick cotton pajamas.
Cheng Zhanxi wasn't used to the air conditioner blowing hot air; it made her feel drowsy, then listless and sleepy, leaving her without inspiration for the whole day. In the cold winter, she routinely complained about why there was no heating, brushed her teeth and washed her face shoulder to shoulder with Yu Qingtang, then went to the kitchen to cook two bowls of dumplings. Yu Qingtang liked dried shrimp, so she added a little extra to the soup base of Yu Qingtang's bowl.
She brought the bowls to the dining table, set out the chopsticks and spoons, but Yu Qingtang was nowhere to be seen in the living room.
Cheng Zhanxi looked in the bedroom. Yu Qingtang was standing by the window, having just put down the phone in her hand, staring blankly outside.
"Yu Qingtang?" Cheng Zhanxi called out tentatively.
Yu Qingtang turned around, her expression vacant.
Cheng Zhanxi stepped forward and asked gently, "What's wrong?" She looked at the phone in Yu Qingtang's palm. Yu Qingtang also lowered her head, opened her call history, and glanced at it, as if confirming whether what just happened was an illusion.
Yu Qingtang looked up. After a long moment, she said slowly, "The Wei family just called. They said... Wei Tingyu is not going to make it."
Cheng Zhanxi hummed softly in acknowledgment.
"He's dying," Yu Qingtang said, as if to herself.
Cheng Zhanxi raised her hand and gently pulled her into an embrace.
Yu Qingtang buried her cheek in the warm crook of Cheng Zhanxi's neck.
Cheng Zhanxi felt a slight warmth. Yu Qingtang, her voice choked with sobs, said in her ear, "But I still want to see him one last time."
Cheng Zhanxi gently patted her back and said, "I'll go back with you."
She knew Yu Qingtang wanted an answer. Even though she had told herself countless times in her heart, she still wanted to hear him say it with his own mouth before Wei Tingyu died. Otherwise, she would never be able to truly let go in this lifetime.
Cheng Zhanxi bought two high-speed rail tickets. They arrived in the Capital City at midnight.
The hospital corridor was brightly lit. Outside the ward stood many members of the Wei family. Whether they were acting or sincere, as soon as Yu Qingtang arrived, Wei Jinglan opened the ward door and let her in.
Cheng Zhanxi and Cheng Yi and his wife, who arrived later, remained outside.
Wei Tingyu lay quietly on the snow-white hospital bed. His complexion was whiter than anything in the room; even though he was emaciated to skin and bones, he resembled an exquisite jade carving.
Yu Qingtang sat by the bed and hesitantly reached out to hold the man's abnormally cold hand.
Wei Tingyu's eyelashes trembled, and he opened his eyes. His chest heaved, he let out a breath, and said calmly, "You're here."
Yu Qingtang held his hand and asked the question that had lingered in her heart for over twenty years, tormenting her.
"Did you ever love me?" For the first time in her life, Yu Qingtang called him, "Dad."
Wei Tingyu looked at her and shook his head.
"No, I only loved your mother. Even if she hates me and resents me in the afterlife, in this world, besides her, I will not love anyone else, even if you are my daughter," Wei Tingyu said. "I was the one who brought you into this world. I'm sorry."
Wei Tingyu had been holding onto his last breath, just waiting for her to come. After he finished speaking, the breath that held his spirit together dissipated, and his pupils began to lose focus.
Ripples spread like water; the features of the Yu Qingtang before him softened, the mole at the corner of her eye gone, as she gently called him—
Tingyu.
His life flashed before his eyes, like a fleeting glance at flowers from horseback—just a few short years, too rushed, not even enough to reminisce about in his final moments.
Wei Tingyu reached out to the woman in the white light. The woman smiled softly and took his hand, just like in those days.
Yu Ci...
A smile lifted the corners of Wei Tingyu's lips, forever frozen on his handsome, jade-like face.
The hand Yu Qingtang was holding fell limply.
Yu Qingtang opened the door. The person on the hospital bed was covered with a white cloth. The doctor came out and said to the waiting family members, "My condolences."
Wails of grief echoed inside and outside the corridor.
Comments
Post a Comment