In mid-August, as the summer heat gradually subsided, Li Haojun and Qin Wenjing sat on a bench in the solar farm during the afternoon. Though the sunlight remained intense, filtering through the leaves of plants and trees, casting patterns of light and shadow that outlined the walls and created a crisp, contrasting summer world, a gentle breeze carried a hint of coolness—as if summer's footsteps were slowly retreating into the distance.
八月中旬里,暑气渐消,李皓珺和覃文静坐在午后的太阳能农场长椅上.虽然日照依然强烈,光线穿透草木叶子,光影勾勒墙垣轮廓,营造了一个对比分明的剔透夏日世界,但是清风已有丝丝凉意,似乎渐行渐远的盛夏脚步.
Qin Wenjing wore a long, round-necked silk robe in an antique style, her hair tied into two neat buns. Her lips, outlined in bright red, contrasted with the pale green silk, lending her a fresh and serene aura as she sat beside Li Haojun.
覃文静穿了一件古风圆领长款罗衫,绑了个清爽的双丸子头,正红勾边的嘴唇,对比淡绿罗衣,以一种清新淡然的气息陪坐在李皓珺身边,
The pale blue, crystal-clear afternoon sky held white clouds that rolled and rose ceaselessly under the sunlight, shifting shapes without warning, never repeating themselves—like fleeting moments of time and the hazy passage of life. Gazing at them for a long while, one could almost see the brilliant flashes of pale gold in the clouds' heights, while their bases held a deep, rich darkness tinged with a hint of quiet indigo.
午后淡蓝清澈的天空,白云在阳光的照耀下不停地翻滚上升,不断变换着形状,不可捉摸,亦不会重复,宛如飞逝的时间与恍惚的人生瞬间.久久注视,似乎可见那云端的灿烂闪烁着淡金色与云底的厚重暗含几分幽兰.
A silent breeze carried the chirping of insects from the nearby grass, singing the final aria of midsummer. In this rare moment of leisure, Tan Wenjing tugged at Li Haojun's hand and asked,
无声无息的清风送来不远处草丛里的虫鸣,吟唱着盛夏最后的咏叹调.难得的清闲时光,覃文静拉了拉李皓珺的手,问,
"Is it okay to stay like this forever?"
"永远这样好吗?"
"Alright," Li Haojun replied with just one word, silently gazing at Qin Wenjing's face turned toward her. A faint smile played at the corners of her lips, strands of hair brushing her temples in the breeze, and a profound depth shimmered within her pupils.
"好,"李皓珺只回答了一个字,默默地看着覃文静面向自己的脸,她嘴角轻轻的微笑,耳鬓随风的发丝,眼睛瞳孔里的深沉.
After a long, long while, Tan Wenjing pouted her little mouth, then turned her head to gaze at the scenery before her. As if in casual conversation, she asked,
良久良久,覃文静小嘴儿一撅,又扭过头看着眼前的风光,然后闲聊一般地问,
"How's this new phase been going with the promotion and your new assistant?" he asked, then turned to look at Li Haojun.
"新的升职和新的助手,这一阶段下来感觉怎么样?"问完又扭头看着李皓珺,
"Nothing, heh," Li Haojun seemed to realize something, smiling at her before adding,
"没什么,呵,"李皓珺似乎意识到了什么,微笑看着她,接着补充道,
This morning I dreamt of that little girl again. This time I saw her face—she looked about seven or eight years old. She wrapped her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. I held her waist, cradling her bottom as we sat on the bench in front of the school gate, waiting to pick up her daughter after school. Isn't that a bit strange?
"今天早上我又梦到那个小女孩儿,这次我看见了她的相貌,这次她是七八岁的样子.她双手搂着我的脖子,腿盘在我腰上,我搂着她的腰,兜着她的屁股坐在学校大门前的长椅上,接她的女儿放学,是不是有点奇怪?"
"Hmm," Qin Wenjing nodded thoughtfully as she listened, but said nothing.
"嗯,"覃文静听着点了点头,若有所思,但是没说什么,
"Is that you? Do you have any childhood photos?" Li Haojun asked with a smile.
"是你吗?你有没有小时候的照片?" 李皓珺笑着问,
"Why does it have to be me? Maybe that was your daughter from a past life—who knows?" Tan Wenjing shifted her gaze to the side, paused to think, then turned back to Li Haojun and said,
"怎么非得是我啊?也许那是你上辈子的女儿也未必啊," 覃文静又移开眼光,往一边看去,想了想又扭回头对李皓珺说,
If you truly want to, I don't mind you treating them like your own daughters. As long as you're happy.
"如果你真的那么想要,我不介意你把她们当女儿对待,你觉得幸福就好."
"What are you talking about?" Li Haojun said, taking her hand in one arm while wrapping the other around her waist. The two of them sat closer together.
"你说什么啊,"说着,李皓珺一手拉着她的手,一手搂着她的腰,两个人坐着靠得更紧了,
I'm just curious why I'd have such a dream, and why I feel this sense of losing a child. It's strange where this feeling comes from.
"我就是好奇自己为什么会做这样的梦,和有这样失去孩子的感觉,很奇怪哪来的这样的情结."
"Mhm," she replied softly, leaning against Li Haojun. Her gaze fixed ahead, she tilted her head slightly to catch the breeze, squinting her eyes and smiling as she silently took in the scenery before her. Strands of hair danced lightly in the air, the cool wind carrying a hint of chill, while the sun continued to spread its warmth.
"嗯,"答应着,覃文静靠着李皓珺,目视前方,头颈轻轻偏转,迎着微风,眯起双眼,面带微笑,默默欣赏着眼前的景色.发丝轻飘,清风微凉,阳光依旧布撒着温暖.
Just then, a new message notification broke the afternoon's tranquility. The two rose and slowly made their way back. The sight of the blue sky, white clouds, warm sunshine, and gentle breeze left them feeling a touch reluctant to leave. Li Haojun grumbled,
这时收到了新消息通知,打破了这午后的宁静,两个人起身慢慢往回走.眼前的蓝天白云与煦日和风,还有几分不舍.李皓珺抱怨道,
If only I didn't have to work.
"要是可以不用工作就好了,"
"Are you planning to spend all your time on me?" Qin Wenjing turned around with her hands behind her back, leaning forward slightly as she asked in a playful tone.
"你是要把所有时间都用在我的身上吗?" 覃文静背着手,回身一望,身体微微前倾,用调皮的语气问,
"Is that not good?" Li Haojun gazed into her eyes, as if through their mutual gaze he could feel the bonds of countless lifetimes between them.
"不好吗?"李皓珺看着她的眼睛,仿佛透过相视的眼光,可以感受到彼此间累世岁月的牵绊,
"Sure," Qin Wenjing said, facing Li Haojun as she walked backward in front of him, her face beaming with a smile. She then added,
"好啊,"覃文静面对着李皓珺,倒后地走在他面前,脸上洋溢着笑容,接着又补充道,
But then I might not be able to get younger, and you might never meet me again. We might end up living in ordinary residential communities, or in public housing on government welfare. Though we wouldn't have to serve, we'd still have to deal with all kinds of people and neighbors. Would you still say that then?
"可是那样我也许就没办法变年轻了,你也可能不会再遇到我,还有我们也许各自生活在普通公民社区,或者住在居民区吃政府福利,虽然不用听差,但是也要接触和应对形形色色的人和邻居,那时你还会这么说吗?"
"Yeah, people are never satisfied..." After a moment's hesitation, Li Haojun flashed a mischievous grin and exclaimed, "Right, right, right!"
"是啊,人总是贪心不足..." 迟疑了一下,李皓珺露出了坏笑,嚷着说,"对对对,"I'm just greedy for more—come give me a kiss," Li Haojun said, then pretended to chase after Qin Wenjing to tease her.
是我贪心不足,快来给我亲亲,"说完,李皓珺做出追赶覃文静的样子逗她,
Qin Wenjing played along, shouting, "Oh no, I won't let you kiss me!" as she skipped along the path, running with great flair.
覃文静也很配合,一边喊着,"哎呀,我才不要给你亲,"一边踏着甬路蹦蹦跳跳,很张扬地跑,
Finally, in the backyard, Li Haojun caught up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. The lilac leaves rustled softly in the breeze beside them. The strands of hair at her nape trembled slightly in the rhythm of Li Haojun's slightly hurried breaths.
终于,在后院李皓珺抓住了她,在背后搂着她的腰,身边的丁香叶随风轻摇,她脖颈的发丝在李皓珺的略急促的气息里微颤,
In the frozen moment, time seemed to stand still, where only the sound of their heartbeats and breaths could be heard. Li Haojun held her waist, gently cupping her face with one hand as he slowly turned her to face him. Lost in the gaze, he softly kissed her red lips.
凝固的身影,凝固的时间里,似乎只听到两人的心跳和气息.李皓珺搂着她的腰,一手轻轻拂起她的脸庞慢慢转回头来,凝视中,轻轻亲吻她的红唇.
There's a new notice requiring me to go to Sacramento on official business.
原来有新的通知,需要去萨克拉门托有公务,
"Is it with your two new assistants again?" Tan Wenjing asked from the side.
"又是和你的两个新助手吗?" 覃文静在一旁问,
"This time it really isn't," Li Haojun replied while reviewing the specific mission details. "It's about... meeting up with Lily Brent in Rocklin first."
"这次还真不是," 李皓珺一边看具体任务内容一边回答,"是与...莉莉·布伦特,先到罗克林与她会合."
Qin Wenjing also leaned in to look at the screen and said,
覃文静也凑了过来看着屏幕上的内容说,
She's a field agent. That's odd—they assigned you a new field agent. Maybe it's based on regional assignments.
"她是外勤,奇怪了,给你派了新的外勤,也许是按区域划分的吧."
"Well, this time we're also sending over some of our products, and I'll need to provide relevant training to the users. However, John and I aren't scheduled to accompany the shipment this time—I'm only being dispatched to conduct the training."
"嗯,这次同样是送我们的一些产品过去,然后需要我给用户人员做一些相关培训,但是这次没有安排约翰和我随身携带,而只是安排我出勤去做培训."
Li Haojun reviewed the mission briefing while explaining it to Qin Wenjing.
李皓珺一边看任务简报一边向覃文静介绍,
"But this client has a military background."
"但是这次的客户,有军方背景",
Oh? Molecular Dynamics? Well, look at Lily Brent... her forehead is rather broad—no, no, no, it's more like she has a full forehead. Compared to the mission details, Qin Wenjing was more concerned about the travel companion the company had arranged for Li Haojun.
"哦?分子动力学公司?唉你看,莉莉·布伦特...,她的额头比较宽,不不不,应该说是天庭饱满,",相比于任务内容,覃文静更在意公司给李皓珺安排的旅伴,
"Well, it's square and round," Li Haojun teased.
"嗯,还地阁方圆呢," 李皓珺取笑道,
"Oh, look—see what I mean? Notice how her cheekbones blend smoothly into her jawline, which is wider and more rounded."
"唉你看,不是吗?你看她脸颊轮廓,到下颌的过渡,比较圆滑,下颌骨较宽," Qin Wenjing took another careful look and added,
覃文静又仔细看了看,补充道,
"Oh my, look at her—still that omega chin," Qin Wenjing said before bursting into laughter herself.
"唉,你看你看,她还是,欧米伽下巴," 覃文静说完自己扑哧笑了,
"What are you laughing at?" Li Haojun asked, a bit puzzled.
"你笑什么?" 李皓珺有点不解地问,
Qin Wenjing smiled hesitantly for a moment, then shook her head smugly and said,
覃文静微笑着迟疑了一下,然后摇着脑袋得意地说,
"As a woman, having a dimpled chin makes you look too strong-willed. Heh, not your type, is it?"
"作为女子,长了个美人沟的下巴,看起来过于刚毅,呵呵,不是你喜欢的类型,",After speaking, she tilted her head back and gazed out the window with a satisfied smile.
说完扬着头看着窗外得意地微笑,
"Yes, yes, you're right. I just love how you're such a sweet, clingy little thing," Li Haojun said before leaning in. He cupped her face, gently turned her head, and kissed her lips. Yet after just a few days together, parting was already upon them. A wave of sadness washed over him, and he felt terribly guilty toward her.
"对对对,你说得对,我就喜欢你这样小鸟依人的小女子," 李皓珺说完主动凑过去,又扶着她的脸庞,轻轻转过脸来,亲吻她的嘴唇.然而几天的小聚,转眼又要分离,不由心中几番酸楚,觉得对不住她.
I wonder if Tan Wenjing felt the same way inside. The gentle kisses gradually turned into passionate ones, accompanied by caresses and embraces. It seemed only through skin-to-skin contact could they feel each other's presence, and only through a tight embrace could they experience their loving hearts becoming one.
也不知覃文静内心是不是也如此感受,轻轻的亲吻逐渐演变成热吻和抚摸与拥抱,似乎只有肌肤的接触才能感受对方的陪伴,只有紧密地拥抱才能体会相爱的心合二而一.
When all was calm once more, as their eyes met, each saw deep affection in the other's gaze.
当一切再度归于平静,对视中,两人都在对方的眼中看到了深深的依恋.