Chapter 109: The Disabled Duo (1) |
December 8th, 2012, Saturday.
Seven-fifty in the morning.
More than ten hours remained until "dawn."
Zhang Shutong parked his vehicle and first ducked into that small convenience store to buy a bottle of water, taking advantage of the air conditioning to warm up.
Although waiting for the girl to come down the mountain while leaning against the motorcycle would be pretty cool, right now staying alive was more important.
Perhaps due to his cold, he couldn't muster much enthusiasm today. In Greek mythology there's a story called "the Sword of Damocles," also known as "the hanging sword," meaning "an ever-present danger." He was now like the little person running around beneath that sword. Though he'd already dodged the range where the sword would fall, he still wanted to run a bit farther.
He hadn't expected this shop to open so early. This kind of place was probably an illegal structure from years past—shop in front, living quarters in back. Getting out of bed meant opening for business.
Zhang Shutong walked into the small store. Upon entering, he immediately saw the jar of bubble gum on the counter, the cracked cement floor beneath his feet, the fluorescent light overhead, and dust settling on the shelves. Everything was permeated with an air of obsolescence.
He'd gotten one thing wrong—here even Ice Dew cost two yuan, so how could the proprietress be willing to turn on the air conditioning in the early morning? Still, buying a bottle of water granted him "temporary residence rights," and the woman didn't chase him out.
By eight-ten, he was waiting drowsily, and still hadn't seen her.
Hadn't gotten up yet?
Or was there some kind of accident?
He wrapped his clothes tighter and left the small store, walking toward the mountain path, thinking that Lu Qinglian would actually stand him up. But just as he'd spoken a few critical words, he ran into her.
The girl was slowly walking down from the mountain path. Today she wore a very thick army greatcoat. Honestly, the style was a bit rustic, but beautiful people looked good in anything. Besides, the coat had a fluffy collar that could bury her pretty face inside—she was a pragmatist.
"Sorry, I'm the one who's late." Lu Qinglian said upon meeting, her voice carrying a faint weariness.
"It's fine. As long as it's not measured in hours, I can accept it." Zhang Shutong turned to go down the mountain, asking casually, "You didn't run into that fox halfway, did you, and then play with it for a while?"
"No. The injury on my foot is more serious than I imagined, so I walked slower than usual."
"Uh, sorry..."
Zhang Shutong looked back and only then discovered she'd fallen several steps behind him.
"I'm not blaming you." Lu Qinglian stated it like a fact, saying calmly, "There's no point in dwelling on something that happened a day ago. I'm just explaining my situation in advance. If it will affect subsequent arrangements, we can make adjustments ahead of time."
"Understood. You're saying today we can't run around everywhere like yesterday?"
"I can move around, but I can't do overly strenuous movements."
"I should have packed that bottle of medicated oil for you." Zhang Shutong sighed. "I also caught a cold today. How about you?"
"I'm alright."
Zhang Shutong wanted to ask if the cut on her face had healed. It seemed to have scabbed over, leaving a faint red line on her fair skin. Just as he was about to lean in for a closer look, Lu Qinglian expressionlessly covered her face:
"Fifth reminder..."
"Yes, yes, we're not close enough for that sort of thing, right?"
"You'd better remember that."
"Need help walking?"
She nodded her chin slightly and softly said thanks—it seemed she really did have difficulty moving.
Zhang Shutong extended his arm, and Lu Qinglian placed one hand on his upper arm. The two slowly walked down the mountain path.
"Lu Qinglian, you're cuter when you say thank you."
"Zhang Shutong, you have a lot of nonsense to say today. Is it because of your cold, or a broken heart?"
Zhang Shutong choked:
"Oh right, I went to the Forbidden Zone again last night."
"You were too impulsive." Lu Qinglian frowned.
"It wasn't really risking my life. I was riding the motorcycle, and basically didn't get off. Even if she'd discovered me, she couldn't have caught up."
"And the result? You didn't discover anything?"
"Mm, basically did useless work." Zhang Shutong sniffled. "Say, does the temple have any folk remedies for colds? Temple keepers should all have some ability to treat illnesses and save people, right?"
"There's no such thing." Lu Qinglian said with a slight headache.
The disabled duo came down the mountain path. He had Lu Qinglian wait at the entrance for a moment while he went to get the vehicle first, so she could walk fewer steps.
Soon after, the motorcycle rode up in front of Lu Qinglian with a buzzing sound. Zhang Shutong patted the back seat, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed:
"I forgot to bring you a helmet. It's windy today."
"I anticipated this." The girl decisively turned the collar of her army coat outward, almost wrapping it around her entire face.
Zhang Shutong also told her where the motorcycle's footrests were hidden and which parts to grip when mounting for leverage. He felt himself becoming unconsciously long-winded. Lu Qinglian just nodded, then turned and mounted the bike with a smooth motion.
Zhang Shutong inexplicably felt that she'd look very dashing riding a motorcycle.
But right now he was the one taking her.
He just hadn't expected the first female to sit in back would be Lu Qinglian. Of course, Zhang Shutong had no other thoughts. His mood was mediocre today—couldn't say he was anxious, couldn't say he wasn't. He'd just gone to a place to pick someone up and would share a stretch of road with them.
The motorcycle rode leisurely across the vast snowfield, shaking a bit. His gear-changing movements were also somewhat rusty, but fortunately he could handle it.
Sometimes snow foam kicked up from the wheels would splash on their faces. In the rearview mirror he could see Lu Qinglian's long hair blown by the wind.
No one was wandering around at the mountain's base at this time. The surroundings were spacious—a silver snowfield, a sharp-looking motorcycle, two people who'd temporarily reached a cooperation, the road ahead unknown, everyone harboring their own purposes. So it wasn't particularly romantic, but time seemed to slow down.
The temple keeper girl had only injured her foot, but her agility remained. This assessment was based on the fact that she merely held onto the motorcycle's grab bar, yet her body could sit very steadily.
There was always a gap between the two of them. If not for seeing her hair flying, it would be hard to notice there was another person in back.
"Go to the Forbidden Zone first?"
"Okay."
Five words settled their upcoming itinerary. After a moment of silence, Zhang Shutong asked while keeping his eyes on the road:
"Oh right, so you actually have other clothes. I thought you only had that one robe."
"Do you wear the same clothes all year round?"
Lu Qinglian replied perfunctorily. She'd originally had her hair in a ponytail, but after getting on the bike she'd let it down—maybe this provided some warming effect? Zhang Shutong couldn't say for sure.
"Actually, I used to think that robe was a work uniform. Like, for example, when exercising the duties of a temple keeper, you must wear that green robe."
"That's correct." She thought for a moment and replied briefly.
"Then what about today?"
"Your judgment is built on your understanding of Lu Qinglian." Lu Qinglian said flatly.
"What do you mean?"
"What if I were someone else?"
Zhang Shutong froze and squeezed the brake. He turned his head, about to speak, when he saw Lu Qinglian use her hand to prop up against his back to steady herself, letting out a light sigh:
"Just kidding."
"You're fake?"
"What I just said was fake. Why would you believe it? Though I admit, I shouldn't have scared you."
Zhang Shutong knew this wasn't her conscience awakening, but rather that just now her body had also uncontrollably pitched forward, and the two of them had an intimate chest-to-back contact. She'd scared someone and ended up trapping herself.
"Instinctive reaction." Zhang Shutong said helplessly. "I'm in poor condition today, my brain's a bit frozen."
"Sorry, but that question of yours was just too... what do you mean by 'work uniform'? What exactly are you thinking?" Lu Qinglian couldn't even find an appropriate adjective for a moment. "Also, you'd better not take this opportunity to do the things boys this age like to do."
"You actually know about that?" Zhang Shutong was surprised. "Has someone else given you a ride before?"
"No. You really did burn your brain with that fever. Didn't I tell you I don't like physical contact with people?" Lu Qinglian recalled. "But I've heard others chatting about it before. Some people deliberately squeeze the brakes—a very childish behavior."
Zhang Shutong definitely wasn't that childish. He started discussing business:
"Now there are two inferences, right? First, she must have had a purpose for going to the Forbidden Zone. Second, I still believe I didn't see wrong—she and the person I saw that day shouldn't be the same person."
"But now all the leads have run cold."
"So you need to be mentally prepared for today's arrangements. We might spend the whole day running around for nothing."
Lu Qinglian nodded without saying anything more.
Zhang Shutong also knew today's activities would very likely be useless work, but right now he needed to find a goal to support himself. Otherwise, he should have stayed in bed nursing his illness this morning.
—As long as he could make it through tonight. Make it through tonight, catch the culprit, and finally he could be liberated. Perhaps reality wouldn't be so smooth, but sometimes he'd comfort himself with such nonsensical reasons.
He concentrated on riding, making a detour to the Base to grab the motorcycle helmet and folding stools, tossing one to Lu Qinglian. Only then did he remember that he hadn't raided that safe this time—there was a compressed biscuit hidden inside.
Zhang Shutong rarely reflected on himself, thinking that perhaps he shouldn't have brought Gu Qiumian to eat compressed biscuits last time.
But it was too late to say this now. He rode with Lu Qinglian toward the Forbidden Zone again.
The definition of useless work was just like this—there was no one in the Forbidden Zone, yet they hadn't made any new discoveries, so they sat on stools waiting. After all, Lu Qinglian was also injured—might as well treat it as resting.
After all, today's focus was on "tonight."
The two of them sat down by the lakeside. Zhang Shutong propped his chin up watching the water's surface. Once a person quieted down, they wanted to make some small talk:
"Thank you for these past few days. You've helped me so much."
"I've said this before—no need to thank me. I'm helping myself."
"But the fact is you've helped me a great deal. Otherwise I wouldn't have known how to deal with that person. Plus, without you, I'd be sitting here alone."
Zhang Shutong had sat in the Forbidden Zone before, sitting for several hours at a time, and knew the experience wasn't pleasant:
"Even if we gain nothing, actually chatting isn't bad. I don't know if you can understand, but there are some things I can't tell my friends, can't tell teachers, and can't tell my parents. Even Gu Qiumian herself can't know. After a long time... it might feel a bit suffocating. Having someone who can listen to me pour my heart out—I'm really grateful."
"I don't deny that statement."
"So I still need to thank you. At least we can chat a bit..."
"Sorry, I don't like your type of boy." Lu Qinglian interrupted.
"Who's confessing to you?" Zhang Shutong was speechless. "Besides, I don't like your type of girl either."
She said, puzzled:
"Isn't that it? Usually at school when boys talk to me like this, it's a precursor to a confession."
Zhang Shutong fell silent, then saw Lu Qinglian's half-smile.
"You did that on purpose just now?"
"On purpose." She admitted it readily.
"Why?"
"You were getting a bit noisy."
"Want some water? There's some in the saddlebag."
Lu Qinglian shook her head.
The two of them chatted on and off, both falling silent when cold winds blew past. Sometimes Zhang Shutong would pick up his phone to exchange a message with Gu Qiumian, but it was nothing more than repeating past confirmations.
"How is it?"
"All safe."
Zhang Shutong turned off his phone, murmuring:
"Do you think this matter might just be over?"
He couldn't say whether he was talking to himself or really asking something.
"Depends on your purpose." Lu Qinglian said casually. "If it's to protect your deskmate, then her personal safety is already guaranteed. If it's to find the truth, then it's not over yet. So for me, this matter isn't finished."
"The truth, huh..." Zhang Shutong sighed. "The former is manageable, but the latter really has no leads. Ever since that day when I saw you climb out of that pit, I've been thinking—since you said that person's skills are about the same as yours, is it possible they could just jump straight across?"
"I don't know." Lu Qinglian provided a quality answer. She thought for a moment, then added: "Jumping straight across might have a very small probability, but like climbing a tree, it's possible."
"You mean like in movies, right? Feet planted on the surface, a few swift movements and they're up..." Zhang Shutong fell silent for a while. "I might be about to give up on this truth thing. I really don't have that kind of energy."
He continued:
"Of course, I don't mean giving up completely, but temporarily shelving it. At least for tonight through tomorrow night, my only goal is to prevent Gu Qiumian's death. As for who that person I saw that day was, my current thinking is this—if we can find them along the way, that's best. But if we can't, in a few days when the snow melts, your snakes can move normally. That's better than us aimlessly searching for people."
Lu Qinglian unusually didn't warn him not to mention snakes again:
"So you already have a goal, don't you? Why are you still asking me?"
"Because actually making a decision is difficult. Even though you think your current choice is fine and you've really done your best, you still can't help but wonder whether you can truly bear that responsibility..."
"Why should you bear that responsibility?" Lu Qinglian asked back.
"I haven't finished speaking. I used to think that way, but now I've realized I was wrong. Actually, a friend of mine reminded me before that trying to shoulder everything alone is actually a manifestation of arrogance. At the time I thought he was speaking without understanding the difficulties, but he had good intentions, so I didn't feel right saying anything.
"But now I've realized he was right after all. Thinking 'only I can do this'—that kind of thinking really is arrogant. Hasn't it been proven now? Her father came back, and what I considered a difficult problem he could solve with a wave of his hand, and even more excellently.
"I'm not saying this to feel sorry for myself, like some resentful woman thinking my previous efforts were wasted and blaming someone. I just think that I really was wrong before. There's nothing that absolutely requires me. Instead, I ended up putting tremendous pressure on myself."
He spoke for a very, very long time, exhaling a breath before realizing it was a bit embarrassing. Actually, Zhang Shutong generally didn't voice such thoughts. He glanced at Lu Qinglian—she seemed to be listening seriously. After a long moment she said:
"Zhang Shutong, you're a bit fragile today."