My childhood friend is in her mature, sophisticated form again today. - Chapter 38

“Good morning. Where’s Chengran?”

“Upstairs. They’re up too.”

Lin Jiqiu walked to the sofa and sat down. Ahua jumped down from the windowsill, rubbed against her leg, and then jumped onto the sofa and curled up next to her. She reached out and scratched Ahua’s chin, and Ahua made a gurgling sound and squinted her eyes.

Ah You brought out a bowl of porridge and placed it on the coffee table. “Century egg and lean pork porridge. The century egg hasn’t melted, and neither has the lean pork.”

Lin Jiqiu picked up the spoon and took a sip. It hadn’t dissolved; it tasted quite good. “Ayou, while we’re away for the next few days, the firm will be in your and Azuo’s hands.”

“Don’t worry, boss.” Ayou smiled, but there was a hint of forcedness in his smile—he wasn’t used to Lin Jiqiu being away for so long. Last time, he went to the beach and was gone for more than ten days. Every day at home, he would ask Azuo, “When is the boss coming back?” He asked again this time, but less often.

Cheng Ran came downstairs, wearing a dark-colored light jacket and carrying a black backpack. He walked to the sofa and sat down. Ayou served him a bowl of porridge. He took it, said nothing, and slowly drank it.

“The car is ready.” A-Zuo walked out from behind the counter. “The gas tank is full, and the tires have been checked. It will take about ten hours to drive, and we’ll stop whenever we need to rest.”

Lin Jiqiu nodded. “Let’s set off after breakfast.”

The four of them sat around a small table, drinking porridge. Ah You ate quickly, Ah Zuo ate slowly, Ah Hua squatted beside them waiting to be fed, and Ah Ju peeked out from the kitchen doorway. Ah Mo appeared out of nowhere and perched on top of the bookshelf, his golden eyes half-open and half-closed.

Lin Jiqiu finished her porridge and put the bowl down. “Ayou, take good care of Ahua and the others these next few days.”

Yes, it will.

“Azuo, have you finished organizing the files at the firm?”

“There’s a little left. We’ll definitely finish it before you get back.”

Lin Jiqiu stood up. “Let’s go, Chengran.”

Cheng Ran finished the last mouthful of porridge in his bowl, stood up, and picked up his backpack. The two walked to the door, and Lin Jiqiu opened it, the wind chimes tinkling. She glanced back—A Zuo was standing behind the counter, A You was standing at the kitchen doorway, A Hua was squatting on the sofa, A Ju was peeking out from the kitchen, and A Mo was on top of the bookshelf. A slight smile curved her lips as she walked out.

They got into the car. A-Zuo sat in the driver’s seat, Cheng Ran in the passenger seat, and Lin Jiqiu in the back. The car started and drove off the street. The florist was watering the flowers and waved as her car passed by. The cafe staff were moving tables and chairs. Everything seemed ordinary, but Lin Jiqiu knew that this outing wouldn’t be so ordinary.

The car entered the highway and picked up speed. The scenery outside the window changed from the city to the suburbs, and from the suburbs to farmland. Lin Jiqiu leaned back in her seat, looking out the window, her mind filled with Chen Weisong’s photo—an elderly man with gray hair, wearing glasses, a kind face, looking like an ordinary retired cadre. But his past was anything but ordinary. He was the head of that deep-sea exploration project, Lin Xiao’s superior, and a friend of her father. Perhaps also her father’s… She didn’t think any further.

“Cheng Ran”.

“Um.”

Does Chen Weisong live alone now?

Cheng Ran flipped through the tablet. “His wife passed away five years ago, and his son lives abroad, only coming back once a year. He usually lives alone and occasionally goes fishing at the beach.”

How is his health?

“There are no health records in his file. But judging from his recent activities, he seems to be doing well. He goes to the farmers’ market at least twice a week and occasionally goes for a walk in the park.”

Lin Jiqiu was silent for a few seconds. “Does he know we’re going to see him?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to alarm him beforehand. If he knows someone is coming to see him, he might be on guard.”

“They might have just run away.”

“He won’t run away. He’s been retired for several years. If he really wanted to run away, he would have done it long ago.” Cheng Ran paused. “Besides, he might be waiting.”

“Wait for what?”

“Wait until someone comes to ask him.”

Lin Jiqiu didn’t reply. She closed her eyes, and the car drove steadily on the highway. It was a ten-hour drive; she planned to take a nap.

Lin Jiqiu was woken up by A Zuo. “Boss, we’re almost at the service area. Want to take a break?”

She rubbed her eyes and sat up. “Okay.”

The car pulled into the service area and stopped. The three of them got out. Lin Jiqiu stretched and loosened her stiff neck. The service area wasn’t large, with several large trucks and private cars parked there. She went into the convenience store, bought a bottle of water, and when she came out, Cheng Ran was standing at the door, holding two meat buns.

Here you go. While it’s hot.

Lin Jiqiu took it and took a bite. The meat filling was very fragrant, and the dough was soft. “Delicious.”

“The steamed buns at the service area are far worse than those made by Ayou.”

“Ah You’s cooking is delicious. But this is good too.”

Cheng Ran didn’t reply. The two stood at the convenience store entrance eating steamed buns. The sun was shining brightly; the autumn sun wasn’t harsh, and it felt warm and comforting. In the distance, a young couple was walking with their child. The child was running very fast, and the young mother was chasing after him.

“Cheng Ran”.

“Um.”

Did your parents take you out to play when you were a child?

Cheng Ran’s finger paused on the steamed bun wrapper. “Rarely. They’re very busy. They occasionally go out on weekends, usually to the park near their home.”

“My parents rarely took me out either. My mom wasn’t in good health, and my dad was busy with work.” Lin Jiqiu took a bite of her steamed bun. “After my mom passed away, it happened even less.”

Cheng Ran looked at her. “Do you remember your dad taking you out?”

Lin Jiqiu thought for a moment. “I remember once. We went to the beach. It wasn’t the kind of sea in the south, it was the north. The water was very cold, and there were many seashells on the beach. My dad picked up the biggest one and gave it to me, saying, ‘This is a gift from the sea to you.’ Later, I don’t know where that seashell went, I can’t find it.”

Cheng Ran was silent for a few seconds. “Your dad isn’t uncaring. He just doesn’t know how to express it.”

“Maybe.”

The two finished their steamed buns. A-Zuo came out of the restroom, and the three of them got into the car and continued their journey.

In the afternoon, the car exited the highway and turned onto a road along the coastline. The road was narrow, lined with palm trees on both sides, and the sea appeared and disappeared through the gaps in the trees. Sunlight shone on the water, making it sparkle.

“We’re almost there,” A-Zuo said.

Lin Jiqiu looked out the window. The sea here was different from the one in the town—bluer, calmer, and with a gentler coastline. People were strolling on the distant beach, some flying kites. It looked very peaceful.

Chen Weisong lived in an old residential area. It was a six-story building with no elevator; the exterior walls were painted a beige color, with some peeling paint. Downstairs was a small garden with several unidentified trees, and under the trees was a stone table and a few stone chairs. An elderly man with gray hair, wearing glasses, sat on one of the chairs, holding a newspaper.

Lin Jiqiu stood at the entrance of the residential compound, looking at the old man. Chen Weisong. He looked a little older than in the photo, but his features hadn’t changed. She took a deep breath and walked over.

“Chen Weisong?”

The old man looked up at her. His eyes behind his glasses narrowed slightly, and he put down his newspaper. “Who are you?”

“Lin Jiqiu. Lin Yuanzhou’s daughter.”

The old man’s finger paused on the newspaper. He looked at her for several seconds, his lips moved, and he uttered a very soft sound. “Yuanzhou’s daughter…you’ve grown up so much.”

“I want to ask you something. About my father, about that project.”

Chen Weisong remained silent for a long time before standing up. “Let’s talk upstairs.”

The three people followed him upstairs. Chen Weisong lived on the fourth floor in a small two-bedroom apartment with old but clean furniture. A photograph hung on the living room wall—a picture of him and his wife, both smiling.

“Sit down.” Chen Weisong gestured to the sofa, then went to the kitchen to pour three glasses of water and brought them over. “Did you drive for a long time?”

“Ten hours.” Lin Jiqiu took the water glass. “Mr. Chen, I’ll be frank. I know you and my father were involved in a deep-sea exploration project. The project involved contact with some technologies that shouldn’t exist in this world. My father later had an accident during the follow-up research of that project. I want to know the truth.”

Chen Weisong held his water glass in silence for a long time. He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out, his back to her. “Your father was a good man. That project—we didn’t know where the technology came from, or what the consequences would be if we brought it back. We just thought it was amazing, that it could change the world.”

“And then what?”

“Later, the higher-ups ordered the project to be shelved, and everyone signed a confidentiality agreement. Your father was unwilling to accept this; he felt that those technologies could benefit humanity and shouldn’t be locked away in a warehouse. He secretly contacted a few core members and continued the research.”

“Including Lin Xiao?”

Chen Weisong turned to look at her. “You know Lin Xiao?”

“I know. He was imprisoned for three years and was just rescued.”

Chen Weisong’s face paled. “He’s been locked up?”

“You don’t know?”

“I don’t know. I lost contact with them after I retired.” His hands were trembling. “Are they still investigating people who participated in the project back then?”

“Perhaps. Lin Xiao’s arrest might be related to you and my father.” Lin Jiqiu put down his water glass. “How did my father get into trouble?”

Chen Weisong walked back and sat down. “An experimental accident. The equipment exploded, and your father was killed on the spot…” He didn’t finish his sentence.

Were you present at the time?

“Yes, I was there. Lin Xiao was there too. The three of us were together.” Chen Weisong lowered his head. “After the explosion, Lin Xiao and I were taken to the hospital. Your father couldn’t be saved.”

Why did the equipment explode?

“I don’t know. The investigation team concluded that the equipment was old. But I doubt it.” Chen Weisong looked up at her. “A few days before your father’s accident, someone spoke with him.”

“who?”

“The project’s investor representative. A young man, around thirty years old, I forgot his last name. He talked to your father for a long time. When your father came back, he didn’t look well. I asked him what was wrong, and he said nothing was wrong. But I felt something was wrong.”

Do you remember what that young man looked like?

Chen Weisong thought for a moment. “Tall, thin, wears glasses. His voice isn’t loud, but it’s very intimidating.”

Cheng Ran spoke up from the side. “Is there a scar on your left eyebrow bone?”

Chen Weisong was taken aback. “How did you know?”

Cheng Ran didn’t answer. He and Lin Jiqiu exchanged a glance, and Cheng Ran already knew who it was.

“Who is that person?” Lin Jiqiu asked.

“A stargazer. Code name ‘Telescope’.”

Chen Weisong looked at them. “Stargazers?”

“A multinational organization. They might be the real funders of that project.” Lin Jiqiu stood up. “Thank you for telling me this.”

Chen Weisong also stood up. “I’ve always felt guilty about what happened to your father. If I had stopped him from entering the lab that day—”

“It’s not your fault.”

Lin Jiqiu walked to the door and stopped. “Mr. Chen, are you still safe? Has anyone been looking for you?”

Chen Weisong thought for a moment. “No. No one has contacted me since I retired. Maybe they think I no longer pose a threat.”

“Not necessarily. Lin Xiao was also imprisoned for three years, and he thought no one would contact him anymore.” Lin Jiqiu took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to him. “If anything happens, call this number.”

Chen Weisong took the business card, glanced at it, and put it in his pocket. “Are you leaving?”

“Yes. There are still things to investigate.”

Chen Weisong nodded. “If your father knew you had become this kind of person, he would be proud.”

Lin Jiqiu didn’t say anything, opened the door and went out.

After leaving the residential area, the three got into the car. A-Zuo started the car.

“Telescope.” Cheng Ran read the code name aloud. “I met him when I was with the Stargazer. He was the chief’s direct subordinate, in charge of ‘fieldwork’.”

What kind of field work?

“Observe the target, make contact with the target, and if the target is uncooperative—” Cheng Ran paused, “take action.”

Lin Jiqiu’s fingers tightened slightly on his knee. “So it was he who spoke to my father back then. Shortly after, my father had his accident.”

“Maybe. Or maybe he didn’t do it himself, but arranged it.”

Lin Jiqiu looked out the window. The sea had turned a dark gold in the setting sun, and the beach in the distance was deserted, with only a few children collecting seashells.

“Cheng Ran”.

“Um.”

Are telescopes still used by stargazers?

“Yes. His codename is still active. At least until I left.”

Lin Jiqiu was silent for a few seconds. “Will he know we’re looking for him?”

“Perhaps. The Stargazers’ intelligence network is very advanced. If they are still monitoring Chen Weisong, then our meeting today has already been recorded.”

“Then they will come looking for us.”

“possible.”

Lin Jiqiu leaned back in his seat, watching the sea rushing past the window. “Then let them come.”