BSS - Chapter 96

Chapter 96

The Little Friend was staring intently, not yet having had her fill, when Xu Wei noticed her reddened earlobes and asked with concern, "Are you cold?" She reached out to touch them and, contrary to what she expected, the skin beneath her hand was remarkably warm in the cold wind.

Her fingers paused on the earlobe. Xu Wei immediately saw the way Deng Chuan was staring at her. She blushed, let out a slightly embarrassed and annoyed "tsk," and tugged on Deng Chuan's sleeve. "...Don't just stand there like a fool, let's go inside and have a look," she said, as if to change the subject.

Entering the cathedral required a reservation in advance, but fortunately, Deng Chuan was someone who always took care of these things beforehand. The two of them smoothly joined the line and went inside. It wasn't crowded; people were strolling slowly, looking at the paintings on the walls or the glass display cases. The tour guide's voice seemed like a kind of background noise embedded in the building itself. Everything was quiet.

Deng Chuan held her camera. It had been too cold outside, but now she could finally take it out. She looked up and photographed the cathedral's dark green dome. Perhaps because there was no sunlight, the dark green was a deeper, more serene shade than it had been outside.

Xu Wei also watched with great interest. Although she didn't follow architectural art, standing before such beauty and serenity, no one could avoid being captivated by this crystallization of human aesthetics and labor.

Moreover, the Little Friend beside her was watching with such focus. Xu Wei's eyes reflected the person at her side. Deng Chuan's equally serene face was cast in the room's indistinct light, and even the shifting light and shadow at the corners of her eyes and brows were beautiful.

Deng Chuan, her mind full of composition and light, had no idea that she had also become scenery in Xu Wei's eyes. If a camera's existence was for preserving beautiful moments, then the human eye must be the most perfect camera in the world. Xu Wei thought that her eyes were not objective; she always subconsciously added a great deal of favoritism to the moment before her, like a gluttonous cat licking cream, completely unaware that the cream all over its face was obscuring its vision.

When she recalled this moment in the future, it would be filled entirely with the sweetness of cream.

This is precisely why memories are so beautiful.

The two of them wandered around, and time slipped away unnoticed. The sun climbed higher, and the room gradually brightened. Through the glass windows, several columns of light, divided by the window frames, projected inward. Dust motes danced in these columns of light, like butterflies in their final, fleeting moments.

Since the lighting conditions were so good, Deng Chuan simply stood opposite a column of light and took pictures of Xu Wei. Facing the light, Xu Wei's fair face took on a translucent, jade-like quality in the sunlight. Her eyes, glistening with moisture, smiled brightly at Deng Chuan—the kind of smile that showed her white teeth. Perhaps that description wasn't accurate. When Xu Wei smiled at her, Deng Chuan's mind was instantly filled with the image of the school's red flag swaying in the spring rain and mist, its bold color even more vivid in the haze. But it wasn't flying freely in the wind as usual; instead, it hung down, damp, enveloping her with its customary gentleness.

A gentleness as light as goose down.

Deng Chuan pressed the shutter again and again. The Xu Wei in the lens displayed more poses than just a smile: serene, frowning, thoughtful, shyly reproachful… but always gentle.

If such gentleness were to grow vines, it could bind fast everything it faced. Naturally, Deng Chuan's heart was also bound fast. In the fragrance of Xu Wei leaning close, her fingertips trembled slightly without her realizing it. She looked through the photos they had just taken with her, her ears turning red from the rewarding kiss Xu Wei planted by her ear. Yet, amidst this happiness, her heart cried out in solitude, if only everything could stop at this moment… it wouldn't matter if she died in a foreign land.

Happiness is the chaotic dance of a robin. Each with her own thoughts, yet taking different paths to the same destination, the two of them left the cathedral. The cold wind outside blew their minds exceptionally clear. They carefully skirted a flock of pigeons that had gathered to beg for food and walked out, against the flow of incoming tourists.

Deng Chuan put Xu Wei's hand into her coat pocket, which had been warmed by her own body heat. While figuring out the way, she spoke to her, "Are you tired after walking so much? What do you want to eat for lunch?"

Yesterday, Xu Wei had mentioned her legs were sore. Considering that her job often required her to stand for long periods, which was very tiring, Deng Chuan had revised their travel plans, removing some itineraries that required a lot of walking and queuing.

Xu Wei turned her head, glanced at her, then looked away at the road ahead and said nonchalantly, "A little tired… we got up too early. Can we go back and rest at noon?"

Deng Chuan turned her head and stared at her with concern. "Are your legs sore?"

Being looked at by Deng Chuan with such a gaze, Xu Wei's hesitant words died on her lips, and she could only respond with an honest, "A little bit."

"We'll soak your feet when we get back," the Little Friend said, leaving no room for argument. She then checked for nearby pharmacies. "Do they sell any medicinal herbs for foot soaks…" Seeing Xu Wei's somewhat blank expression, she smiled sheepishly. "I don't really know much about it, but don't they say it can relieve fatigue…"

Xu Wei couldn't help but laugh. "It's not that serious… I'll be fine after a rest."

She touched the Little Friend's face, and after confirming it wasn't too cold, she leaned over to look at the map navigation on Deng Chuan's phone. "I want to eat pickled cabbage stewed with bones. See if there's any nearby."

There was a hint of coquettishness in Xu Wei's tone, which made the corners of Deng Chuan's lips curl up involuntarily. The two huddled together and quickly found an old, established restaurant nearby that specialized in jar-braised pork and also sold pickled cabbage stewed with bones. They hailed a taxi and rushed over.

The weather was still great. It was lunchtime, and as soon as the driver heard their destination, he knew what they were going for. While pulling down the sun visor, he cheerfully struck up a conversation with them. "You're going to the right place for pickled cabbage stewed with bones."

Deng Chuan said, "Really? Could you recommend some other dishes?" She had only been in the Northeast for two days, but her accent had already changed slightly without her noticing. It was a strange mix that made Xu Wei want to laugh.

"We have an old saying in the Northeast, I don't know if you've heard it." They stopped at a red light, and the driver, in a talkative mood, pulled the handbrake and began to ramble on. "Catfish stewed with eggplant, so delicious it could kill an old man. That flavor is second to none. But the two of you probably can't finish it…"

He thought for a moment, then said reluctantly, "How about a plate of braised pork intestines with eggplant? That's not bad either. It could also kill an old man with its deliciousness. Add a serving of jar-braised pork and a bowl of rice, and that should be about right."

Xu Wei had been quiet the whole time, so he happily chatted with Deng Chuan. "Have you guys seen the ice lanterns? Beautiful, right? We locals don't go there often, we usually just play in the parks. It snowed heavily last night, so I took my son to build a snowman. The park was crowded, it was so much fun. If you have time, you should try it too."

The journey wasn't long, and they arrived while still chatting. Deng Chuan paid the fare and got out of the car, letting Xu Wei eagerly pull her into the restaurant.

Xu Wei really seemed to have been made hungry by the driver's words. She ordered two bowls of pickled cabbage soup, a serving of braised pork intestines with eggplant, a serving of stir-fried shredded potatoes, and two bowls of rice. Neither of them was fond of fatty meat, so they didn't order the signature pork knuckle or jar-braised pork.

Deng Chuan wiped the table for Xu Wei and took a sip of the tea Xu Wei handed her. "Not having a drink? It'll help you sleep better at noon."

Xu Wei gave her a slow look. "How does drinking beer help you sleep better?"

Then she lectured her, "Don't always be thinking about drinking at such a young age."

Deng Chuan listened obediently, touching her own stomach. "I don't have a beer belly." Then she went to touch Xu Wei's. "You don't either." Her hand naughtily tried to slip under her clothes but was slapped on the back by Xu Wei. The slap wasn't hard, but the sound was quite loud. "…Does it hurt?"

"It hurts." They were in a private room, and Deng Chuan's courage, which had been building all morning, grew bolder. She scooted closer to her. "Touch it again."

Xu Wei grabbed the hand she pushed forward, caressing it while looking down and lecturing her, "You've gotten bold, haven't you…"

Deng Chuan rested her head on Xu Wei's shoulder and spoke, her voice very soft, "What kind of bold?"

Deng Chuan whispered something in her ear, and Xu Wei's ears and neck turned completely red. "Get up." She tried to put on a serious face. "There's a security camera."

It was true there was a camera. Deng Chuan knew this in her heart, so she hadn't done anything too out of line, just said a few things. Hearing Xu Wei say this, she remained leaning on her, unfazed. "It's fine, they can't see us…"

Xu Wei was also just saying it for show. When Deng Chuan didn't get up, she just lowered her eyes and stroked the back of Deng Chuan's hand intermittently, listening to the Little Friend's nonsensical chatter. "Did you hear what that driver said?"

"What?"

"Catfish stewed with eggplant, so delicious it could kill an old man."

"What about it?"

"Braised pork intestines with eggplant, also so delicious it could kill an old man."

"…" Xu Wei was silent for a moment, but couldn't help asking again, "So?"

"I just looked it up online. There's also potato stewed with eggplant, green bean stewed with eggplant, and gaya fish stewed with eggplant. They're all so delicious they could kill an old man." Deng Chuan laughed, her body shaking on Xu Wei's shoulder. "Northeasterners are so interesting."

Just as she was speaking, the door to the private room was pushed open, and a waiter came in with their food. Xu Wei patted Deng Chuan, who was still lazing on her shoulder, glanced at the oblivious waiter, and couldn't help but smile as well.

The pickled cabbage soup was very appetizing, and the braised pork intestines with eggplant was indeed delicious. Paired with the Northeastern rice, even Xu Wei, who usually disliked greasy food, ate a few extra bites. They hadn't ordered a large amount for lunch, which allowed Deng Chuan to solidly finish everything.

After their meal, the two of them slowly walked out. When they returned to the hotel, the front desk clerk also seemed a bit drowsy, propping their head up and looking at their phone as if dozing off.

Sleepiness is contagious. Seeing the clerk, Deng Chuan felt a bit sleepy too. Once in the room, she didn't forget to run hot water for Xu Wei to soak her feet. The rising steam made her whole face damp. After filling the bathtub halfway, Deng Chuan reached in to test the water temperature. Just as she was about to call Xu Wei in, her phone rang.

The caller ID showed Lao Deng. Deng Chuan answered casually, "Hello, Dad."

Xu Wei came in from the doorway. She had already changed into her pajamas and was barefoot, her pant legs rolled up to her knees, revealing her slender calves.

Deng Chuan pointed to the prepared bathtub and leaned against the wall to take the call.

On the phone, Lao Deng asked her, "Are you in Harbin right now?"

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