Chapter Nine, Secrets

Chen Zhiyu nodded without speaking

The dark clouds hang low, the river runs dry, the gray stone bridge stands, and Su Nan is standing by the bridge

A man downstairs is gravely ill, while a family next door is playing a gramophone; across the street, children are playing. Two people upstairs are laughing uproariously; there are also sounds of card games. On a boat in the river, a woman is crying for her deceased mother. The sorrows and joys of humanity do not resonate with one another; I only feel that they are noisy.

... ...

"Ning Ning is still at home, so small, how can you leave her alone..." She quickly crouched down, using the motion to sniffle hard, picked up the bag that was stained with mud, and handed a clean bottle of dishwashing liquid to Su Jing, saying, "You should go back, I am going home..."

The figure seemed not to have heard, walking away with an air of escape.

He nonchalantly uttered a sound of "mm".

His body temperature, his breath carrying a hint of woody fragrance, the moisture clinging to his clothes

Some are increasingly perplexed, while others are becoming clearer

Five minutes, he is not her teacher, and she is not his student

Under the bridge, the riverbed exposed mud, revealing a hint of earthy smell

Taking a step closer, I reached out and grasped her slender wrist, pulling her nearer. My fingers brushed against her swollen cheek, "What I am asking is not about this..."

Is that an art museum, can you see it

The breath gradually became steady, the tightly clenched coat was also loosened, and the person in his arms took a half step back, thanking him in a muffled voice.

A piece of coal burned in her throat, rendering her voiceless; she wished she could either become mute or simply evaporate on the spot

Her stubbornness, her tendency to endure adversity with resignation, and her ability to find joy amidst suffering, combined with her profound and reclusive personality, have finally begun to reveal some clues.

The body in his arms was tense, but after a moment, it gradually relaxed. The edge of the coat was tightly clenched, with five fingers gripping so hard that the knuckles turned white. Breathing was rapid and uneven, each suppressed sob striking his ears one after another

Su Jing was a bit dazed for a moment, stepping back while holding Su Nan's arm, "Sister, I... I didn't mean to..."

Su Nan lowered his head, not looking at anyone, passing by Su Jing, passing by Chen Zhiyu, quickly stepping forward on the dirty snow.

He had not smoked for a while, and a long ash hung from the cigarette, blown away by the approaching wind. He extinguished the cigarette with a firm pinch, as if he wanted to sever the embrace that had just occurred in a moment of impulse, along with all that had arisen from it.

Su Nan was scolded by Su Jing for being cold-hearted and unfeeling during her countless attempts to persuade her to get a divorce. Su Jing always had a myriad of retorts, as if a single rational piece of advice from Su Nan placed her in the same camp as the "bitch".

In his childhood, he had a strict upbringing. His father, Chen Zhen, was a traditional Chinese father who disliked his son's restless and unruly behavior. On one occasion, he went camping in the mountains with his classmates and brought back a squirrel to keep as a pet. Unfortunately, the squirrel died within a week. Chen Zhen punished him by making him kneel for half a day in front of the squirrel's corpse

He grasped her wrist and pulled her into his embrace

Forget it? Why should I forget it? This is his home, and there is Ning Ning, Ning Ning is his daughter..." She suddenly seemed unable to hold on any longer, her throat choking with sobs, her rough, reddened fingers still gripping the man's sleeve tightly, "You can't leave. If you take even one step towards that wretched woman, I will..." Her gaze wandered, landing on the car at the end of the alley, which, despite its age, still gleamed brightly, "...I will throw myself in front of that car!"

I have never opposed your keeping pets. The Pekingese from last year was kept for three months and then given to your uncle. The cat from Linqing two years ago was kept for a month and is now being taken care of by your mother. Have you inquired about whether this squirrel can adapt to city life, what it usually eats, drinks, and where it lives? If you can no longer keep it this time, who do you plan to give it to, me?

After everything has settled and fermented

Teacher Chen, please hurry to the exhibition hall, as it closes at 4:30

Shame, embarrassment, palpitations

- Lu Xun

Adults who are not coerced or nagged also have moments of helplessness

Whose call was she answering at that time? What was she thinking about?

In the sound of the wind, both individuals remained silent for too long

Only those who have tasted the marrow know the flavor of despair

October 17, 2015, S University

The man seized the opportunity to tug at his sleeve, cast a sidelong glance at Su Jing, adjusted his collar, and swaggered away

The surrounding buildings have changed beyond recognition, yet the road remains the same one I used to walk as a child

His palm slowly and somewhat hesitantly pressed against her back

five minutes

He reached into his pocket for a cigarette, took a puff, and only then did he feel a slight alleviation of the anxiety that had been pressing down on him like a gourd floating up after being pressed.

A slap, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind, landed hard on the face

In the red house, next to the white architectural model, there stands a brief introduction of the architect and designer

That figure quickly raised a hand, wiped their eyes, and spoke in a muffled tone, "... ... I apologize for the embarrassment."

I said with a low sigh, "How foolish you are; how many people must have bullied you as you grew up?"

Biting down on his molars, he reached out to embrace Su Jing's waist, pulling her forcefully backward. The bag in his hand was knocked by Su Jing, and with a "bang," it fell into the muddy water

It was designed by my friend

Su Nan shook his head, "Not needed..."

The pair of eyes printed in the photo, when they gaze at you earnestly, makes you feel as if the flowers of the entire world have bloomed

She seemed to have just come to her senses at this very moment, as if she had just emerged from that embrace which had been torn apart and crushed, leaving no trace of romantic thoughts, and then, in a daze, began to recall various details.

Above the introduction, there is a color half-length photograph, which is somewhat distorted in print, but it is still evident that she is a remarkably beautiful young woman

Over time, Su Nan no longer dared to utter a word. The slight sympathy in his heart, like sand slipping through his fingers, gradually vanished as he squeezed it tighter, leaving behind only the annoyance and numbness that gripped his flesh and blood

Su Jing refuses to divorce, clinging to the already lost self-respect and affection, determined to confront the man who has betrayed her to the end

The man shoved Su Jing aside and said, "I've given you the house to live in, I've left you the money! What the hell are you still making a fuss about! Making a fuss over nothing!"

On the heart

In 1999, awarded the Anderson International Architectural Design Award, Silver Medal

Bright eyes and charming gaze

The S University Art Museum, designed with the theme "Children return home early from school, busy taking advantage of the east wind to fly kites," features a dome that is as light and graceful as a kite. This is the last work co-designed by Mr. Zhou Guanyuan, a renowned architectural designer and professor at the School of Architecture in Chongcheng, and Professor Chen Zhiyu from the School of Journalism and Communication at Chongcheng University, during Yang Luo's lifetime. It is a treasure of S University and a gem in the entire history of human architecture

The plastic bag rustled in the cold wind, and as I took a step forward, I found myself holding Su Jing's arm, "Sister... just forget it."

He buried the squirrel, and thereafter he never brought home any kittens, puppies, or little birds.

Su Nan!" Su Jing lunged at the man again, clinging to him tightly, "Su Nan! Please help persuade your brother-in-law! The New Year is approaching!"

On Su Nan's face, Su Jing drew out five red marks

Crossing the bridge, after passing through a series of small stalls and shops that encompass everything from baby formula and diapers to funeral supplies, covering the entire spectrum of life and death, I traversed a path lined with dismantled bicycles, flower pots fused with the earth, and old sneakers that had been around for thirty years... Finally, I arrived at the narrow alley, which was piled high and cramped, leading to my own doorstep

Many thoughts arise and extinguish, rise and fall

Su Nan! Who are you helping?

Southern Jiangsu

The sorrows and joys of humanity do not resonate with one another; I only find them noisy

Su Nan stood at the door, but did not go in

As soon as Su Jing spotted Su Nan, it was as if she had encountered a savior, raising her voice: "Su Nan! Su Nan, persuade your brother-in-law! The New Year is almost here! How can one run off to someone else's house during the New Year..."

Still putting on a brave front

Chen Zhiyu took a step forward, extending his arm, yet he was at a loss as to what he could do, awkwardly frozen in place.

Maple City... the autumn there is quite pleasant, with a month of rain, making it suitable to find a place to drink and enjoy the maple leaves

On October 17, 2002, he tragically passed away in a car accident at the age of 23

As she brushed past, tears welled up in her lowered eyes

"No, it is just you..." The voice trembled like a taut string.

Southern Jiangsu

I know one or two lawyers who specialize in divorce cases

Does it hurt

Tick-tock

At the age of twenty-four, a time of brightness and exuberance, one can always see a glaring sense of detachment and loneliness in her eyes. Sometimes, nothing is discernible, only a vast desert, with snow and wind swirling around.

The view here is excellent; from this vantage point, the shape of the museum's roof resembles a kite.

What is there to smile about

In 1997, with outstanding results ranking first in the entire district, I was admitted to the Department of Architecture at Chongcheng University

That day, he stood under the eaves and asked her: "Can you sing another song?"

On the bridge, the two parted ways, each heading in opposite directions. Chen Zhiyu went towards the red house, while Su Nan headed towards his home on the other side in the distance

Chen Zhiyu pulled out the key, slammed the car door, and quickly rushed forward

Sister

However

It does not hurt

Water is dripping from upstairs, and the cement floor at the entrance has long been soaked by years of rain, resulting in a deep, dark green hue, resembling moss

At this moment, she realized that she was indeed cold-hearted and unfeeling, and a phrase filled with twelve parts resentment, "Then you might as well die," was on the tip of her tongue, almost bursting forth word by word.

He recalled that day, returning from the People's Hospital, and when he turned back to look, he saw that frail figure, as if burdened by something on its shoulders

Su Nan was stunned and embarrassed, and immediately his thoughts became like the snow-covered ground that had been trampled to the point of exhaustion, a chaotic patchwork of disorder, leaving behind a blank remnant.

Yang Luo, 1979 - 2002, a native of Qinghe District, Qicheng.

Please feel free to contact me directly when needed

If you cannot take responsibility, then do not take on the task

The damp eyelashes trembled abruptly.

Her hair was blown up by the wind, and her eyes, which had just cried, were clean and clear, yet still held lingering emotions that could not be dispelled, gazing at nothing but sorrow and an even deeper sorrow