Chapter 38

Lu Wen had already concluded that Qu Yanting's relationship with Ye Shan and Ye Xiaowu was more than just that between a creator and his characters. Which parts were adaptations, and which were personal experiences? He was itching to find out.

But he couldn't ask. Qu Yanting's tightly shut heart was an old wound that had scarred over with time. As an observer, regardless of whether it was intentional or not, any act of prying would be like tearing open the other's wound—a cruel act without any sense of propriety.

Accidentally touching Qu Yanting's sore spot today and causing such a situation was the biggest lesson.

Lu Wen couldn't tell which was greater, the self-blame or the heartache. He was also uncertain if he could wait for the day Qu Yanting was willing to open his heart.

Lu Wen only knew that Qu Yanting was leaving tomorrow.

His palm stroked down Qu Yanting's back, transmitting warmth through the thin shirt. Lu Wen wasn't coaxing him; he was speaking from the heart: "Teacher Qu, I appeared in your life a little late. Whether you see me as a friend or a younger brother, just let me play my part a little longer."

The body under his palm moved slightly. Qu Yanting slowly raised his head. His face was clean, his eyes moist and red. Despite losing control, he had still held back from crying.

"You're leaving soon. Our only connection is just a phone number," Lu Wen said, calm and serious. "Don't delete me, don't block me, and don't hide your unimportant Moments from me."

Qu Yanting said hoarsely, "Okay."

Lu Wen wrapped his arms tighter, sliding them down from Qu Yanting's shoulders to encircle the pair of hands warming his abdomen. "I won't bother you, and I'll never make you sad like I did today again."

Qu Yanting agreed once more, "Okay."

"You blame me for showing up late," Lu Wen said in a low voice, "so don't let us just be passing strangers."

Qu Yanting looked stunned and slow to react. The third "Okay" was stuck in his throat.

Not getting a response, Lu Wen neither pressed nor changed his words. He waited quietly for a moment, then lifted the loose sleeve to turn the page, saying, "Your sleeve is wet again."

The Huangjuelan flower on his wrist had also suffered, its petals scattered. Qu Yanting took it off and wrapped it in a tissue. This was a parting gift; he wouldn't discard it easily.

Lu Wen still had a scene to film, in 302. Qu Yanting told him to go prepare.

"It was my fault today. I shouldn't have asked you to come." Lu Wen was very apologetic. Guessing that Qu Yanting was about to leave, he said, "Go back to the hotel and get some good rest."

Having lost his composure, vented his emotions, and found comfort against a shoulder, Qu Yanting lowered his brow, rolled up the damp part of his sleeve, and when he looked up again, he wore a calm expression.

"I'll come over later," he said. "See you in a bit."

Aside from the interlude in the middle, today wasn't much different from usual. They wrapped up after dark, and the Porsche and the nanny van drove back to the hotel, one after the other.

The wall vase by the doorframe had a new arrangement: a white cyclamen and four ginkgo branches. The bright yellow ginkgo leaves made the white flower look even more pure. As he approached, Qu Yanting greedily took a couple of glances.

They each opened their doors. Lu Wen spoke first, "Teacher Qu, go to bed early."

"Mm," Qu Yanting said. "Good night."

On his last night in Chongqing, after packing his suitcase, Qu Yanting stood by the window, gazing one last time at the fishing boats on the river.

Are there duckweeds in the water? Will they meet in the turbulent currents, becoming inseparably entangled?

An idea stirred in his mind. He washed and dried Lu Wen's shirt, folded it neatly, and placed it on the bench at the foot of the bed.

The night seemed long, but it passed before a pleasant dream could even finish. Qu Yanting got everything in order and departed punctually at eight. Ruan Feng's nanny van was waiting in the hotel's parking lot.

Across the hallway, Lu Wen was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He was fully dressed, his long legs crossed in front of him. As the door to 6206 opened, he pulled one hand from his arms and waved. "Hey."

Qu Yanting asked in surprise, "Why are you standing out here?"

"Waiting for you," Lu Wen came over and took the suitcase from him. "To take you to the airport."

Qu Yanting said, "Xiao Feng will take me."

Lu Wen knew, which was why he hadn't notified his driver and was planning to tag along. "Can't I go too? You treat me as a younger brother, so you should be fair to all your younger brothers, right?"

Unable to refute him, Qu Yanting agreed. Before leaving, he returned the shirt to Lu Wen, which he had originally planned to have the housekeeper pass on. Lu Wen swiped his key card to open the door and casually placed the shirt on the entryway cabinet.

After checking out, they took the elevator down to the parking lot. The elevator doors were like mirrors. Lu Wen turned his back and yawned. Only then did it dawn on Qu Yanting, who asked, "How long were you waiting in the hallway?"

Lu Wen answered perfunctorily, "Ten minutes."

Qu Yanting didn't believe him. After a short pause, he said, "It rained this morning, did you know?"

"Impossible, when I woke up at four—"

Lu Wen stopped mid-sentence, realizing he had fallen into Qu Yanting's trap. He licked his lips, trying to find a way to save face. "Hey, is that bag you're carrying a Phantom? It's super hard to buy."

"Lu Wen." Qu Yanting called his name. It sounded like a joke, but his tone was so serious. "You, as a person, are super hard to find."

It wasn't until the elevator doors slid open and the cold air of the underground parking lot rushed in that Lu Wen snapped out of his daze from Qu Yanting's precious compliment.

They found the nanny van. Ruan Feng and Qu Yanting sat in the first row, and Lu Wen sat in the second. The driver had no connection to the film crew; he was one of Ruan Feng's trusted people who he knew well.

"Brother Lu Wen, you came too."

Facing the real younger brother, Lu Wen, this unofficial "illegitimate younger brother," felt a bit guilty. Protesting his innocence too much, he said, "I'm just joining in... Teacher Qu taught me a lot and helped me greatly, so I wanted to see him off."

"Why are you being so formal?" Ruan Feng giggled. "I heard everything you two argued about in the living room that night."

Lu Wen's face flushed. "Damn, didn't you go to your room to sleep?"

Ruan Feng replied, "I'm picky about my pillows, I couldn't sleep."

As the engine started, Lu Wen sank into immense shame and silence, sticking to the back of the second-row seat like wallpaper. The two fluffy heads in front, the magnetic field of real brothers, drew together before they even reached the intersection.

Ruan Feng wrapped his arm around Qu Yanting. "Brother, can't you just stay for a couple more days?"

"I've already delayed too many things," Qu Yanting said. "I was supposed to leave yesterday."

Ruan Feng's eyes darted around. "Then you didn't postpone for me. I heard you went to watch Group A's filming yesterday. Who was it you were so worried about?"

Qu Yanting answered candidly, "The one in the back."

Lu Wen broke into a cold sweat, his mind filled with doubt. Why was it that even though their relationship had been clarified and everything was out in the open, he still had the illusion of being caught in a romantic entanglement?

Ruan Feng said, "Brother, after I wrap up filming, I'll come stay with you for a few days."

Qu Yanting said, "Okay, I'll cook something delicious for you."

Ruan Feng asked, "Should I bring some hot pot base back?"

"Up to you." Qu Yanting instructed, "It's getting cold, so stay warm. Don't stay up late unless it's for a night shoot, eat your three meals on time, and be good and finish your filming well."

Lu Wen listened from the back. Qu Yanting's concern for Ruan Feng was that of an older brother, but also a substitute for their parents—thoughtful, thorough, and intimate. It made him feel the sourness that only an outsider would feel.

Suddenly, Qu Yanting turned his head and said to him, "You too."

A large sugar cube was dropped into that sourness, and it unexpectedly turned sweet. Lu Wen was stunned. Before he could form a response, Qu Yanting had already turned back around.

As they neared the airport, Ruan Feng said, "Brother, I don't want you to go."

This was him acting spoiled. Lu Wen leaned forward to piggyback on the sentiment, "Me too."

Qu Yanting ignored them. The car pulled over and slowed down. He opened his bag to check his documents and said without looking up, "Just drop me here. The airport is crowded, it's better not to be recognized if you get out."

With their parting imminent, Ruan Feng rambled on, not talking about things like daily necessities, which he didn't have to worry about, but choosing only heartwarming and comforting words. He had been coaxing his emotionally reserved older brother like this since they were children.

Finally, Ruan Feng ran out of things to say. "Say hi to Commander Huang for me."

Lu Wen was confused. "Who's Commander Huang?"

"My cat." A plump, arrogant orange tabby. Qu Yanting let out a short, deep sound, responding on behalf of Commander Huang, "Meow."

Half of Lu Wen's body felt tingly, as if he'd been scratched by a cat's paw.

He wasn't good at acting spoiled, nor was he particularly thoughtful, and he certainly didn't know the details of Qu Yanting's life. He could only do things his own way. He opened the door, got out of the car first, and said forcefully to Qu Yanting, "Nobody knows me. I'm taking you inside."

The familiar Jiangbei Airport, the place where they had met.

If time could turn back to that day, if Qu Yanting hadn't kicked Lu Wen out of the car, if Lu Wen had known who he was, what track would everything have followed after that?

The terminal was as busy as it had been for the past decade. After getting the boarding pass, Lu Wen accompanied Qu Yanting to a less crowded spot. There was no thousand-li farewell, but the time for parting had finally come.

"Um, are you wearing enough?" Lu Wen became clumsy. "It's windy and getting cold up north. Don't get a fever again."

Qu Yanting said, "It's enough."

Lu Wen asked, "Did you have breakfast? Are you hungry?"

Qu Yanting urged him gently, "Are you going to ask about every single aspect of my life? You have ten minutes. Stick to the main points."

Lu Wen didn't know what the main points were; he felt that every aspect was a main point. After pondering for a few seconds, he said, "The upcoming scenes are really hard to act. If you leave, who will explain the scenes to me?"

There were so many people in the directing team. Lu Wen was feigning ignorance. He was like a clever primary school student confessing his feelings to his favorite teacher. The subtext was—'I need you the most'.

How could Qu Yanting not understand? But he didn't expose him. Instead, he asked, "Do you want to act well in this film?"

Lu Wen nodded vigorously. He really wanted to. At first, it was for his own career path. Later, it was for the efforts of everyone in the crew, for Ye Shan and Ye Xiaowu. Now, it was for the person who wrote this story.

And Qu Yanting was also thinking of him. "Acting well is your job. Cast aside all pressure that's unrelated to your duty. With your talent, just focus and calm down. The future results won't let you down."

Lu Wen nodded. "Teacher Qu, I'll remember your words."

Qu Yanting hadn't revealed this to anyone. Now, he told Lu Wen softly, "This script was finished many years ago. It's my true debut work. Having it invested in and filmed is a memento I'm leaving for myself."

Lu Wen felt incredibly lucky. He had gotten to know Qu Yanting through this drama, and in the future, his shadow would also be a part of Qu Yanting's memento.

The flight information broadcast echoed through the building, making one's heart race. Qu Yanting looked at his watch. It was about time to go. Adults didn't need to have lingering, sentimental goodbyes. He smiled slightly and patted Lu Wen's shoulder one last time.

Lu Wen suddenly said anxiously, "I have something important I haven't said!"

His gently curved eyes furrowed. Qu Yanting squeezed out a sliver of patience. "One minute."

Lu Wen took a deep breath. In the bustling Jiangbei Airport, he confessed the truth, speaking with full-chested vigor, "Teacher Qu, I don't have a girlfriend at all!"

Qu Yanting's face flushed with embarrassment. "What are you shouting about..."

Lu Wen desperately seized this one minute. "I don't have anyone I'm dating either, and I didn't ask that nurse for her phone number! The 'baby' who called me that night was my childhood friend, and we had a falling out right after that call!"

The contrast in their volumes was stark. Qu Yanting said, "Then Jiefangbei..."

"It's just a monument!" Lu Wen replied. "I don't have enough ex-es to circle Jiefangbei three times over with, and no current partner either. I was just bragging."

The minute was up. After speaking, Lu Wen consciously took a step back. He didn't need Qu Yanting to respond; in fact, he was afraid Qu Yanting would ask him why he was explaining.

Lu Wen waved, his mouth tightly shut, not saying "goodbye."

If they were meant to meet again, Qu Yanting wouldn't have swallowed that "Okay" when he had asked not to be just passing strangers.

"Teacher Qu, have a safe trip."

"Stop waving. Open your hand."

Qu Yanting commanded. As Lu Wen hesitantly opened his hand, he took two quick steps, rushed over, and raised his arms to hug the tall figure.

Rubbing his head would make him dumber. He gently rubbed the back of Lu Wen's smooth neck.

The stories a screenwriter writes are just fantasies made of words. Qu Yanting turned his head to the side, his lips close to Lu Wen's ear, and said, "Thank you for making my fantasy real."

His arms went from full to empty. Lu Wen's hands were slightly open. The warmth lingered on the back of his neck, the soft words had yet to fade from his ear, but Qu Yanting had stepped back, moved away, and turned to disappear into the flowing sea of people.

Lu Wen remained for a long, long time, until he could no longer catch even a trace of Qu Yanting. A plane streaked across the sky and was swallowed by the clouds, as if the memories of these past days had been cast far away along with it.

Outside the terminal, the sky was high and the road was long, leaving one with a feeling of emptiness.

On the way back, Lu Wen and Ruan Feng sat side by side in the first row, shoulder to shoulder, head to head, leaning on each other like a pair of forsaken wanderers abandoned at the ends of the earth.

Lu Wen took out his phone, logged into Weibo, and after what felt like five hundred years, finally followed Ruan Feng back and added him on WeChat.

Ruan Feng asked, "Brother Lu Wen, are you going to the set?"

Tonight was a night shoot, and work wouldn't start until evening. Lu Wen had to go back to the hotel first. Having woken up at four in the morning, he needed to catch up on sleep.

After getting out of the car at the hotel, Lu Wen slowly took the elevator up to the 62nd floor. The door to 6206 was open; the housekeeper was leading the cleaning crew to tidy up. Once a person leaves, the tea grows cold. Soon, a new guest would check in.

Closing his door, Lu Wen inserted the key card and changed into slippers. The shirt was resting on the entryway cabinet, smelling faintly of laundry fragrance, neatly folded with the collar facing up.

He cradled it in his palm and walked into the walk-in closet. The shirt needed to be hung up to avoid wrinkles. He pinched the shoulder seams and shook it out, and the hem and sleeves unfurled from their folded state.

A splash of golden yellow fluttered down.

"Hm?" Lu Wen bent down to pick it up.

It was a piece of white paper that had been hidden in the shirt, palm-sized, with a richly colored ginkgo leaf stuck to the bottom right corner.

Lu Wen picked it up. His heart, which had been lifeless since leaving the airport, began to beat faster. In black ink on white paper, in Qu Yanting's beautiful handwriting, was a short poem by Nabokov—

Golden ginkgo leaves

Muscat grapes

Shaped like wings half-spread

Butterflies of old

Lu Wen clutched the paper, reading it over and over. Surprise, panic, a chaotic mess of thoughts he couldn't sort out. He was someone who could misinterpret plain speech in a thousand convoluted ways, and Qu Yanting had actually left him a poem!

Lu Wen rushed out of the walk-in closet to find his phone. He needed to look up the meaning of this poem. He paced around the room, and the breeze he created gently lifted a corner of the white paper.

Revealing two lines of text on the back.

Lu Wen froze. He carefully flipped the paper over. It was still Qu Yanting's handwriting, but written with restraint and reserve, each stroke hiding an unknown strength.

As if he had expected it, the first line read: Fool, you can't understand it, can you?

When he wrote it, Qu Yanting was facing the boundless night outside the window, gazing at the surging whirlpools of the Jialing River. In his mind was the phrase, "Don't let us just be passing strangers."

Lu Wen couldn't tear his eyes away.

The next line was Qu Yanting's belated answer—

When we meet again, I'll explain it to you.