The 1 AM train, then an early morning flight from Linjiang to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, a five-hour layover, followed by a connecting flight to Bogotá, Colombia’s capital—the entire journey would take forty hours.
Miao Jing’s travel expenses were covered by the company, while Chen Yi’s train and plane tickets were paid for by Miao Jing. The nearly 40,000 yuan in travel costs had depleted her last savings, leaving her penniless as she forced Chen Yi onto the train.
They held each other in a long, quiet embrace, their bodies swaying slightly with the high-speed train’s motion, creating a subtle sense of dizziness and turbulence. Chen Yi showed rare tenderness as he stroked Miao Jing’s hair and shoulders, his nose and forehead gently nuzzling her cheeks and ears. All his tender feelings erupted at this moment—his eyes burning and aching, his chest churning with surging emotions, feelings that were both bitter and suddenly sweet. Apart from his vague “wanting to have” at nineteen, he hadn’t had any thoughts of “possessing” in the years since—this was Miao Jing, the stubborn, serious, and proudly aloof Miao Jing, who said she would one day go very high and far, completely different from him.
What thoughts filled that long silence in the train carriage corner? Wanting to carefully cup her face and kiss her, wanting to respond awkwardly or casually or coolly with an “I love you too,” wanting to endure the pain of staying with her forever…
Before Chen Yi could sort out his thoughts for the next move, Miao Jing abruptly pushed him away, cleared her dry throat, and thrust something in front of him, her mind clear and fresh: “While we still have time, take care of your affairs.”
???
Houses, cars, the pool hall, personal assets, various miscellaneous tasks, people, and matters requiring farewells—everything had to be settled at once while others slept soundly. Miao Jing had directly prepared a task list for him. Before Chen Yi could extract himself from his complex emotions, he heard Miao Jing’s most urgent instruction to first prepare the money in his bank cards.
Miao Jing had already arranged for the house, deciding who would keep the keys, what to do with the car—whether to sell or transfer it—the pool hall’s fire insurance and subsequent handling, hospital payment arrangements, and some personal relationships…
Chen Yi: …
The more he thought about it, the more something felt off. He turned to look at her with furrowed brows, his expression strange and asked about where his passport and visa came from. Miao Jing calmly explained that she had asked Zhou Kang’an for help, and now Chen Yi didn’t need to do anything else. In such a dangerous situation, they should use the green channel, and the farther and faster he went with her, the better.
Chen Yi’s lips twitched, his expression as varied as a spilled seasoning box—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty, and astringent, quite spectacular indeed.
So… she had made up her mind… was confident… knew he would come after her…
She said she loved him, wanted to be with him, returned to Teng City just for him, wanted to take him away…
This damn…
Miao Jing!!!
It felt like a sharp blade piercing straight from his throat into his chest, blood splashing everywhere, flowing throughout his body, all scalding hot, making him tremble and unable to cry.
“Just come with me to wander the world, make everywhere our home.” Miao Jing lowered her head, typing rapidly on her phone, her voice composed. Suddenly, a large palm landed on her head, cupping it and roughly [censored], then tightly embracing her and pulling her into his chest. His expression was complex as he spoke hoarsely, almost choking through gritted teeth: “Miao Jing… Miao Jing…”
Miao Jing stopped moving, her expression showing a somewhat peculiar stiffness and blankness, as if unable to adapt to the clingy, unexpressed emotions of the man beside her. She just blankly allowed Chen Yi to hold her for a while, then noticed him quickly suppressing his emotions, taking a steady breath. Then, stiffly embracing her, their eyes met steadily, each filled with countless emotions. Seeing the hint of redness in his eyes and the surging feelings drowning in them, she suddenly understood clearly in that moment. She could clearly understand her feelings for him, but how he felt about her—they had known each other for so many years, forming deep bonds both physically and mentally, and she was destined to become an indelible experience and color in his heart.
Besides, with him in her hands, how could he escape?
The forty-hour journey was bumpy, from the early morning train to various transfers at airports. The foreign journey of thousands of miles was long but meaningful. The exceptionally calm one was Miao Jing, who fully understood how her future would unfold. Meanwhile, the man who had hurriedly left the hospital beside her suppressed his emotions on the train, his actions and words subtly trembling with deep calmness. Then, standing in the bright and spacious international airport, that moment of lost and bewildered expression on his handsome face—Miao Jing held his hand while busy making phone calls to handle matters, like leading a large, docile dog. They checked in luggage, went through security, and entered the waiting hall, watching the warm winter sun gradually leap up from the horizon. The dazzling dawn glow printed in their pupils suddenly lit up the colors in their eyes, the vitality of new life and aspirations for the future. In the extremely quiet waiting hall, Chen Yi saw Miao Jing’s gentle smile, and his heart suddenly brightened with joy.
She stood on tiptoe and reached out, and he embraced her again tenderly, letting out an extremely light sigh, his handsome brows, and eyes also tinged with the rippling light of dawn.
“Like that time.”
“What time?”
His voice was soft and hoarse: “One year, when you came out of the train station, I pulled you onto my motorcycle, took you up the mountain to race… then we sat on the hillside watching the scenery and feeling the wind, you fell asleep curled up beside me after crying, I woke you up, you got on the motorcycle, and we went home together…”
“I remember, after graduating from junior high, about ten years ago, you said to let me stay for three more years.”
Chen Yi’s lips carefully touched her forehead.
Like soft steel and hard iron.
The plane flew west, they were always traveling under the brilliant morning sun and through thick clouds, also like the future and new life. During the long journey, Miao Jing had quietly fallen asleep, nestled in his arms with eyes tightly closed. He gazed at her sleeping face, repeatedly weighing and pondering in his daze and bewilderment, Chen Yi hadn’t fully recovered from the too-sudden impact.
They arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport in the afternoon.
Chen Yi didn’t feel intimidated at all among the tall, blonde, and blue-eyed foreigners, but he couldn’t communicate at all. Looking at the airport signs and the chatting passengers around, he coolly put his hands in his pockets, furrowed his thick brows, and pretended to be profound as he lifted his cold chin.
Never mind French, he only knew some English words now. He had studied English for three years in junior high and still had some impression. He remembered his science subjects were good, and humanities subjects were actually passable and not too poor. He had a good brain and good memory, but his spoken language was completely rustic, only able to stammer out “Hello, nice to meet you,” standing in the airport guessing without much of a clue.
It was also Miao Jing’s first time in Europe, but she had already prepared airport transfer strategies in advance. After a little consideration, she knew what to do next. Chen Yi followed beside her, watching her talk to airport staff leisurely and languidly, looking confused while trying to appear composed. When suddenly face to face with Miao Jing again, she smiled and asked if he was hungry, suggesting they eat something nearby.
He gave a faint “mm” in response, straightening his shoulders and back following behind Miao Jing, his bearing not at all like a follower. After thinking for a moment, he found some international topics: “Back when I was in the Golden Triangle, I knew several foreigners, there was a French guy, he was an expert in underground gambling…”
Miao Jing pressed her lips together to suppress a smile.
Of course, they would walk side by side in the bright and clean public space, similar in age, well-matched in appearance, and perfectly in sync. Holding hands or embracing should be natural, every glance cast their way was of goodwill and admiration, standing upright and dignified in broad daylight, abandoning all past fetters and constraints, heading towards freedom and new life.
Chen Yi indeed vaguely felt a sense of light seeping through his body, like when he turned eighteen and became an adult. He graduated from vocational high school and stepped into the dazzling world of pleasure, ambitious and spirited, with unlimited visions of the future.
His heart was filled with mixed emotions, not knowing how he should face her for a moment.
Flying again from Paris to Bogotá was a long dusk, the vast Atlantic Ocean swallowing the remaining light of sunset. Passengers on the plane dozed off under blankets, but the two of them were wide awake from jet lag, shoulders pressed close together, chatting softly on and off.
“After we land, the company has arranged a driver to pick me up. After arriving, I’ll first meet the project manager, and then prepare for a few days before starting work. The company has employee dormitories, you can stay with me in the dorm, or rent a place outside, but I heard Bogotá’s public security isn’t very good, try to stay in tourist areas and wealthy districts, carry fewer valuables, the local currency is peso, we’ll first exchange some cash at the bank, after getting to the company, let colleagues take us to CASA DE CAMBIO to exchange money.”
“There aren’t many Chinese people locally, English isn’t widespread, daily life communication is mainly in Spanish, after we get there, we both need to learn some language.”
“Bogotá is in the highlands, spring-like all year round, big temperature differences between morning and evening, not as hot and humid as Teng City, food is mainly potatoes, corn, various grilled meats, lots of tropical fruits…”
Miao Jing explained Colombia’s climate and cultural customs to Chen Yi, quickly helping him understand the environment he would face in his sudden bewilderment. Chen Yi slightly knitted his brows, his hands alternately lightly and heavily massaging her slender wrist bones, listening lazily and casually, his eyes as dark and silent as the night sea. Their gazes occasionally collided, his look when watching her slightly flickering, faintly hiding bits of sparks.
“When you work, what can I do over there?” He sprawled his long legs openly, occupying her space, rubbing his rough chin, “Wash your clothes, cook, do housework?”
Hearing him say this, Miao Jing raised her elegant eyebrows, and pondered for a few seconds before decisively concluding: “Of course you can.”
Thinking deeply about it, there was even a hint of subtle anticipation.
Chen Yi imagined a few scenes himself, and found it uniquely interesting, curling his lips in a laugh: “Well, that’s not impossible.”
This little brat’s wings have hardened, her belly full of schemes all targeting him, roundabout and painstakingly tricking him to South America, still gloriously claiming to love him and protect him, letting him float in the sky for dozens of hours—what’s wrong with him living off her, men living off women doesn’t hurt the waist, besides his dog waist is quite capable, he’ll just serve her, clothes reaching hands and food reaching mouth, treating her like a deity.
Thinking this way, Chen Yi felt comfortable in his heart, his whole body energetic, finding a comfortable position, pulling Miao Jing’s shoulders to lean in his arms: “I can do anything. Sleep first, when we get to that place I’ll see, what kind of broken place it is.”
They nestled together to sleep, opening their eyes upon landing at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá. Though the airport was large, it wasn’t very busy at this time. Going through customs for routine inspection, the Colombian customs officials saw two young Asian faces, enthusiastically chatting up the beautiful girl, praising Miao Jing’s beauty, elegance, and youthful loveliness, asking where she came from, whether she was coming to Colombia for tourism or work, a string of questions.
They say Latin American men are handsome and passionate, from ten to eighty years old all are masters at flirting. Chen Yi stood beside them, listening to their endless chatter, his face showing slight impatience after enduring more than forty hours. Miao Jing smiled and chatted with them, temporarily ignoring the man beside her, after one question quickly glancing at Chen Yi, smiled and said: “He is my family.”
“Husband?”
Miao Jing was startled, lightly pressed her cherry lips, cheeks slightly warm, uncertain how to respond, her tone hesitant and drawn out: “ye…”
The Eastern man beside her, who was impatiently craving a cigarette, instantly straightened his shoulders, his bloodshot eyes suddenly bright, like suddenly reuniting with stars and moon, brilliant and shining.