Chapter 56: Stars

At night, Cen Ning returned to the small side building.

Before, when they were eating together, Yan Guofeng was mostly talking about the matter between her and Yan Xingzhi. Wei Pinfang said very little from the beginning to the end. Now returning to the place where there were only the mother and daughter, Cen Ning suddenly felt the need to have a good talk with Wei Pinfang.

When Cen Ning came out of her room, Wei Pinfang was boiling water in the kitchen. Her health had gotten worse recently, and she looked a little haggard.

“Mom.”

Wei Pinfang turned around. “What do you need?”

Cen Ning shook her head. “No… I, I just want to talk about the matter with me and Xingzhi Gege.”

“When did you two get together?”

“A few days ago, not long ago.”

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“Tl zkjlp usw y zsv?”

Uld Lkdt zsolale bla lulp. Fbl bye dlhla vyzjle ycswv vblpl rlapsdyz xyvvlap okvb Elk Vkdqydt, ps pbl oyp y zkvvzl yojoyae. “Tl valyvp xl hlau olzz.”

“Dkdtgbk kp hlau tsse,” Elk Vkdqydt pyke okvbswv lmralppksd. “Ebld usw yal okvb bkx, usw osd’v byhl vs osaau ycswv yduvbkdt kd vbl qwvwal.”

Uld Lkdt rywple. “Ysx, R’x okvb bkx clnywpl R alyzzu zkjl bkx. R yx yzps plakswp ycswv obyv R pyke clqsal. R okzz cl kdelrldeldv, yde R okzz pwrrsav usw cu xuplzq kd vbl qwvwal. Mblal’p dsvbkdt oasdt okvb xl clkdt okvb bkx, cwv R eked’v oydv vs byhl vs alzu sd bkx…”

Elk Vkdqydt nswtble y qlo vkxlp wdnsxqsavyczu yde pyke yqvla y zsdt elzyu. “Psd’v ts zssjkdt qsa vaswczl.”

“Rv’p dsv vaswczl, yde R esd’v vbkdj kv’p vaswczlpsxl.” Uld Lkdt pxkzle eauzu. “Ju vbl oyu, Ysx, R xlv xydu rasqlppksdyzp yv vbyv rbsvstayrbu rzynl, yde xu osajp okzz cl lmbkckvle yv vbl rbsvstayrbu lmbkckvksd yv vbl lde sq vbkp xsdvb. Zkd Nk’p lmbkckvksd kp yzps vblal, vblal okzz cl xydu rlsrzl nsxkdt vs pll—”

“Rq vblal kp dsvbkdt lzpl, ts cynj vs uswa assx yde pzllr. Rv’p tlvvkdt zyvl.” Elk Vkdqydt qasodle, nswtbkdt yde oyzjkdt cynj vs bla assx.

Uld Lkdt pxkzle ckvvlazu. Fwal ldswtb, pbl pvkzz eked’v zkjl rbsvstayrbu.

“Are you okay? Do you want some medicine?”

Wei Pinfang waved her hand and went back without saying a word.

It was late at night, and Cen Ning was still lying on the bed, thinking of Wei Pinfang. She felt a little aggrieved.

In her mother’s heart, was she considered a close family member of flesh and blood? If she is considered one, then was there such a mother in this world?

Hum——

Her phone vibrated suddenly. Cen Ning came back to her senses and swiped the screen to take a look.

Yan Xingzhi: [I asked you to come to my room tonight, it seems that you have taken my words like a breeze that blew across your ears] (TLN: saying that means that Cen Ning didn’t take his words seriously)

Cen Ning jumped up from the bed immediately. [Are there any matters…?]

[What do you think?]

Cen Ning: “…”

[I’m going to sleep! I’m not going!]

Cen Ning’s heart was beating like a drum. After the message was sent, she lay down on the bed and pretended to be dead, but after a short while, her phone rang.

Yan Xingzhi called directly. Cen Ning was in a dilemma, but she didn’t dare ignore the call.

The ringing continued, and Cen Ning pressed the button to answer: “Hello, Xingzhi Gege…”

“You’re so frightened that you won’t even answer the calls.”

“No, I just went to the bathroom.”

“I was just teasing you.”

“Huh?”

“Come to the window of your room.”

Cen Ning paused for a moment and hurriedly climbed down from the bed. She hurriedly pulled open the curtain, looked down, and saw a person standing there.

The small building only had two floors and was not high, so even though it was already night, Cen Ning could still clearly see Yan Xingzhi leaning casually on one side.

“Come down.” His voice came from the receiver, clear and cold, but she felt it was very warm.

“Immediately.”

Cen Ning hung up the phone, quickly changed her clothes, and sneaked out the door.

In the dead of night, when the moon was setting, and the stars were dimming (TLN: meaning that it was almost day), Cen Ning took advantage of the darkness to walk in front of Yan Xingzhi, her eyes were surprisingly bright. “It’s so late, what’s the matter?”

Who knew what Yan Xingzhi was doing? He just couldn’t sleep and went out for a walk. He walked here unknowingly and noticed that the light was still on in her window.

“Seeing that you haven’t turned off the lights, I came to see if you were sleeping.”

Cen Ning tilted her head. “But why did you come here in the middle of the night?”

Yan Xingzhi crossed his arms, he chuckled lightly. “Maybe because I miss you, little girl.”

Cen Ning was in a daze for a moment, and suddenly, those negative emotions that were suppressed in her heart tonight seemed to be caught off guard and burned out his words. Before, she felt sad because of Wei Pinfang, but it felt like it all got healed from Yan Xingzhi’s words.

“Gege…”

“Mhm?”

“Can I hug you here?”

Yan Xingzhi’s pupils tightened, and his hands that were casually wrapped around his chest were slowly lowered. “You…”

“Secret hug.” Before he could finish speaking, Cen Ning threw herself into his arms. She hugged his waist tightly and buried her face in his chest, feeling satisfied and touched.

Yan Xingzhi opened his mouth but didn’t say anything. After a while, he pressed his right hand on her shoulder so that she could get closer to him. “What’s wrong?”

Cen Ning shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Unhappy?”

“I wasn’t happy at first, but now I’m very happy.” After she finished speaking, Cen Ning said as if she suddenly remembered something, “Do you think we will always be like this forever?”

There was a smile on the lips of Yan Xingzhi. “This is a question that is asked by a child.”

“Then you won’t ever leave me?”

Yan Xingzhi felt that this was the little girl’s way of coquettish love, but when he lowered his eyes and saw the dead serious face of the person in his arms, he suddenly felt that this was a very important issue for her.

Not only regarding love but also trust and companionship.

Yan Xingzhi narrowed his eyes slightly. “Cen Ning, I will not abandon you.”

Never in this life.

**

At Eternal Camera Club, Cen Ning’s works were selected by Yin Li, so she was also one of the members preparing for the film festival.

She had been very busy during this time, but during this busy time, she was also full of fulfilment.

“Cen Ning, you will be responsible for the reception of the important figures who will be attending the film festival on the morning of June 3rd. Has their information been handed over to you by Da Bei?” Yin Li asked in the office area.

Cen Ning nodded. “Teacher Yin, don’t worry, I already memorized it.”

“Already memorized?”

“These distinguished guests are all famous in the photography industry. I have already heard of them before.”

“Mhm, not bad.” Yin Li looked at Cen Ning and felt very gratified. He had seen Cen Ning’s performance during this period of time. She may be young, but she was very cautious and responsible when doing things. It was easy for people to trust her.

“I heard from Da Bei that you are an English major.”

“Yes.”

“Then English communication should be no problem?”

Cen Ning answered honestly. “Basic communication is fine, but if there are too many professional words…”

“Haha no, as long as you can do basic communication,” Yin Li said, “You are an English major, but photography is your strong point. Have you been learning since you were a child?”

Embarrassed, Cen Ning said, “No, it’s just that I was influenced by my father when I was young, so I have a special love for photography.”

Yin Li was surprised. “Your father is also a photographer? Your father is…?”

“Ah, my father was a small photographer, and… he died in Tibet many years ago.”

Yin Li paused for a moment. “Tibet?”

“Mhm, in an accident.”

Yin Li: “What’s your father’s name?”

Cen Ning looked at Yin Li’s weird expression, and said slowly, “Cen Rui…”

“Cen, Rui…”

“Teacher Yin, Teacher Yin?”

Yin Li seemed to come back to his senses suddenly. “Mhm?”

Cen Ning asked, confused, “What’s wrong? It couldn’t be that… you know my father?”

Yin Li raised his eyebrows, smiled clearly, and his expression returned to normal. “No, I just think it sounds familiar. Maybe your father was very skilful before, and I heard his name somewhere.”

“Teacher, you are joking.”

“Okay, you can go do your work. I still have something to do, so I’ll go first.”

“Mhm, take care.”

The film festival started on a weekend ten days later, and the schedule was very tight. Cen Ning, Da Bei and the others were very serious about arranging the affairs of the film festival. It was already ten o’clock at night by the time they came out of the Eternal Camera Club.

Cen Ning calculated the time that would be spent on the road and knew that she would not be able to get back to school in time. Thus, she took a taxi directly and returned to the apartment.

On the way there, Cen Ning called Yan Xingzhi, but his phone was turned off.

After returning to the apartment, Cen Ning found that the apartment was also empty.

Did he go back to Yan house today?

Cen Ning turned on the light and sat down on the sofa.

She wanted to send a message to Aunt Chen to ask, but suddenly saw a note on the coffee table held down by a glass. Cen Ning stretched out her hand to pull it out, only to see written: Emergency matter, return date is uncertain, take care of yourself.

He was gone?

Cen Ning’s mind went blank for a moment, and she suddenly realized that Yan Xingzhi’s injury had long since healed. Now he must go back to the place where he needed to do what he needed to do.

But was it still as dangerous as before?

She didn’t worry much about him before, and she didn’t know what kind of situation he was in all the time until she experienced it with him. What if something happened to him like last time?

Cen Ning looked at the words on the note and suddenly fidgeted with worry.

Although the words on the note were clear, it was obvious that it was an emergency. It was probably because he was at home, but then he was suddenly called away, so he didn’t even have time to see her.

**

In the next few days, Cen Ning went to school, as usual, to prepare for the film festival, but compared to her calmness before, she was more restless and impatient.

Sometimes she comforted herself that nothing would happen to a person like Yan Xingzhi. It was merely an accident in Tibet last time. But after comforting herself, she began to worry again, what if an accident occurred…?

“Eh? Ningning!” Zhang Ziyi patted the back of Cen Ning’s hand, “I’m asking you something, Song Ci and I will arrive at two o’clock tomorrow, are you going to be there?”

Cen Ning came back to her senses: “Huh? Of course, I’m there, I’ll be there all day long.”

“That’s fine, tsk, you’re different now,” Zhang Ziyi bumped into Song Ci, “Our cute little Cen Ning is about to become a well-known photographer.”

Song Ci took a sip of coffee: “Yes, it’s even at Yin Li’s film festival.”

Cen Ning: “Okay, okay, you two, don’t tease me anymore. I still know how much I weigh.” (TLN: saying that means that she knows how good her skills are and it’s not at the level Zhang Ziyi and Yin Li are praising her off)

“We are telling the truth, hey, why don’t you take a few more photos of Song Ci and me? What if your future photos are worth thousands of dollars?”

Cen Ning glanced at her: “If that’s the case, of course I can’t take the pictures, so as not to reduce the quality of my photos.”

“Eh? What are you talking about? I’m lowering the quality of your photos!?” Zhang Ziyi exclaimed in surprise, “Song Ci, do you see that our always well-behaved Cen Ning has now even said such things to anger me? She really has grown!”

Song Ci followed suit with a smile: “Okay, Cen Ning isn’t wrong.”

Zhang Ziyi: “???”

The two began to argue with each other, one sentence rapidly after another.  Cen Ning looked at the two arguing, seemingly relaxed and casual, but in fact, she was worriedly thinking of someone in her heart.

When he was home last time, he promised that he would definitely come to her first film festival.

However, he may not be able to fulfil his promise anymore.