The wind and snow grew fiercer. In the night, walking home through the residential complex past row after row of apartment buildings, the gale lashed snowflakes against his face. This neighborhood was built on a hillside. Reaching the central main road ascending the hill, the parking lot lay to his left below, its orange lights illuminating the plaza. Li Haojun turned right onto the main road and began climbing upward. Cold steel and concrete flanked him on both sides, with few lights visible through the windows. Behind him, the glow from the parking lot grew increasingly dim.
风雪更紧了,夜色中,沿着一栋栋住宅楼前,走在小区中回家的路上,狂风夹杂着雪片打在脸上.这是一个建在山坡上的小区,走到小区上山方向的中央主路,左前方停车场在山脚下,橙色的灯光照亮广场.李皓珺走上主路右转,沿着中央主路向上攀登,两侧是冰冷的钢筋水泥,鲜有灯光从窗口映出,而身后那停车场的灯光也越来越黯淡.
Continuing forward, they drew ever closer to the highest point of the small mountain ridge. The night grew darker, the wind and snow fiercer. Crossing the ridge, the residential buildings on the opposite slope seemed buried beneath the snow, their rooftops barely visible—at the very height of his own feet. Li Haojun stood atop one such roof, gazing beyond the mountain. No other residential buildings lay beyond; this was the last one. A door leading to the stairwell inside the building stood on the rooftop. He walked toward it, wanting to go home. But how to open this door...
继续向前,越来越接近小山岭的最高点.夜色沉暗,风雪也更紧,翻过山岭,山坡背面的住宅楼似乎已经被积雪埋没,只露出楼顶,就在自己脚下的高度.李皓珺站在楼顶,向山后望去,已经没有更多居民楼了,这是最后一栋.楼顶有一扇通往楼内楼梯道的门,他走过去,想要回家.但是怎样打开这扇门呢...
As the patter of raindrops against the window awoke Li Haojun from his slumber, he opened his eyes to find warm sunlight streaming through the curtains, illuminating the bedroom. Recalling the dream he'd just had—one that always featured the hillside neighborhood and the path leading up the mountain—he wondered if he had once lived there. Glancing over, he searched for Tan Wenjing and found her lying beside him, gazing at him tenderly.
伴随着窗外滴水的噼啪声,当李皓珺从沉睡中醒来,睁开眼睛,暖色调的阳光已经透过窗帘已经照亮卧室.回忆刚才的梦境,在自己的梦里总是有山坡上的小区和上山的路,难道自己曾经住在那里?他望向一边寻找覃文静,原来她就在身边深情凝望.
Li Haojun turned around and gently took her hand. At that moment, a smile appeared on her face, partially hidden by her hair.
李皓珺转过身,轻轻拉住她的手,此刻她那发丝遮蔽的脸庞露出了微笑,
"Did you sleep well?" Tan Wenjing asked softly.
"你睡好了?" 覃文静轻声问,
"Hmm," Li Haojun stroked her hand, feeling her tangible presence.
"嗯,"李皓珺抚摸着她的手,感受她切实的陪伴,
This feeling is a bit like going back to childhood, when Dad worked nights and wasn't home in the evenings. After I'd sleep through the night, he'd be right there waiting for me when I woke up in the morning. As she spoke, Qin Wenjing's face lit up with a smile brimming with sweet memories.
"这感觉,有点像回到了小时候,那时候爸爸上夜班,晚上他不在家,等我睡一觉,早上醒来,他就正好在家陪着我了."说着,覃文静的脸上都是饱含甜蜜回忆的笑容,
"I'm here with you now," Li Haojun said, pulling her into his arms.
"现在有我在陪伴你,"说着李皓珺把她搂入怀中,
After a long while, Qin Wenjing lifted her head from his embrace and looked up at Li Haojun, asking,
过了好一阵,覃文静仰起埋在他怀中的头,看着李皓珺问,
"Did your trip go smoothly?"
"这次出去工作顺利吗?"
"It's okay, I still need to handle a few things next week to wrap everything up," Li Haojun said, slightly surprised she'd brought up work at this moment. Did she have some thoughts after he brought Kesiya home last time? But it wasn't appropriate to ask directly, so he waited to see what else Tan Wenjing would say.
"还好,下周还需要去处理一下才能全部完成,"说着,李皓珺有点诧异她为什么在这时候提到了工作,是不是上次带凯西娅回家她有什么想法了,可是也不好直接问,便等覃文静看看她还说什么,
"How are you getting along with Kesiya?"
"和凯西娅相处的好吗?"
"Don't worry, we're just colleagues," Li Haojun hastened to explain.
"你放心,我和她只是工作关系," 李皓珺连忙解释,
"I have nothing to worry about. Haven't you noticed that most of the colleagues and field staff you interact with at the company are women?"
"我没有什么不放心的,你没发现你在公司里接触的同事和外勤多数都是女性吗?"
"Yeah, I thought it was an industry thing."
"是啊,我以为是行业原因,"
"No, this is company policy—to retain core employees, most of their supporting staff are of the opposite sex," Tan Wenjing explained.
"不是,这是公司策略,为了稳定核心员工,他周边配合的多数就是异性," 覃文静解释道,
"Oh, I see."
"哦,原来是这样,"
"So it's been like this all these years. You've come through it all and stayed by my side. What could I possibly worry about?"
"所以这么多年来都是这样,你都过来了,依然在我身边,我有什么不放心的,"
Hearing Qin Wenjing say this, Li Haojun couldn't help but feel moved. Having Qin Wenjing by his side throughout his journey, he reached out and brushed her bangs aside, clearing the strands from her eyes to reveal her deeply affectionate gaze.
听覃文静这么说,李皓珺也不由感慨,自己有覃文静这一路走来的相伴,伸手撩起她的刘海,不让发丝遮挡她深情的目光,
Qin Wenjing then went on to explain,
覃文静则接着讲述,
"Before, it was always mature female staff or field agents. You'd gradually get to know them through work, and then more tasks would be assigned to you. They'd take you further away from me, and then who knows what they'd lead you into... heh," Qin Wenjing paused for a moment before continuing,
"以前都是成熟女子职员,或者外勤,你会逐步在工作中与她们熟悉,然后就会有更多任务安排给你们,她们会带着你离开我更远,然后就不知道她们会带着你去做什么,呵呵,"停顿了一会,覃文静又接着说,
But this time it's a young girl, and honestly, I'm quite relieved—she's not likely to drag you into any risky business.
"但是这一次是一个小姑娘,其实我挺放心的,她不太可能去拉着你做一些冒险的事情."
Li Haojun listened silently, gently caressing Tan Wenjing's arm, shoulder, and neck.
李皓珺默默听着,一边抚摸覃文静的胳膊,肩膀,脖颈,
"Perhaps you're getting too old for adventures," Qin Wenjing added.
"也许是你年纪大了,不再适合冒险了吧,"覃文静又补充说,
"Alright, I'll accompany you then," Li Haojun replied without hesitation, his hand caressing the person who had been on his mind.
"好啊,那我就陪着你,"李皓珺一边抚摸着这个让他惦念的人,一边不假思索地答对着,
I'm just a little curious where this Kesiya will lead you this time.
"我就是有些好奇,这次的凯西娅会把你带到哪个方向,"
The first time Li Haojun heard Qin Wenjing speak of these things, he recalled the sense of insecurity he felt upon waking, and the fear of being separated from her once more. Now, that icy dread seemed to be slowly melting away—melted by the warmth of being with Qin Wenjing, the youthful radiance of Kasiya, and the innocent charm of Malaya. Was he finally adjusting to this new life?
第一次听覃文静谈到这些,李皓珺想起来自己刚刚醒来时那种缺乏安全感的感觉,和害怕再次与覃文静被分开.而如今,这种冰冷的恐惧如已经被慢慢融化了,被与覃文静的厮守,凯西娅那青春的光芒,玛莱雅的清纯稚气.是自己正在适应这一切新的生活吗?
"What are you thinking about?" Seeing Li Haojun didn't respond, Qin Wenjing asked softly.
"在想什么?"看李皓珺不说话,覃文静便轻声问,
"Nothing."
"没什么,"
"Are you thinking about how you've been getting along with her these past few days?"
"是在想这几天与她的相处吗?"
"No, no," Li Haojun hastily denied, then continued,
"不是不是,"李皓珺急忙否认,紧接着说,
"Actually, I miss you too."
"其实我也挺想你的,"
"Hmph," Qin Wenjing gave a seemingly contemptuous laugh.
"呵呵,"覃文静貌似轻蔑一笑,
"You mean, also, right?"
"你说的是,也,吗?"
"Oh, no, I mean, I missed you when I was in Boise, and I know you missed me too."
"啊不是,我是说我在博伊西的时候我也想你,我知道你会想我的,"
Qin Wenjing just wanted to see him scrambling to explain, then she smiled as she placed her hand on his chest, slipping it through the gap between his shirt buttons to caress his skin.
覃文静就想看他着急解释的样子,然后微笑着把手放在他的胸前,从衬衫纽扣缝隙伸进去,抚摸他的肌肤,
Seeing she wasn't angry but grinning at him, Li Haojun finally realized Tan Wenjing was teasing him. He pulled her waist tightly around him in retaliation, letting out a self-deprecating laugh.
见她没有生气,笑嘻嘻地看着自己,李皓珺这才意识到覃文静在逗自己,一边用力搂过她的腰报复一下,一边自嘲地笑了.
The sun was high in the sky, melting the snow on the rooftops as water dripped onto the square paving stones below. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting the shadow of the window frame onto the bed and upon the two people lying there. In this rare moment of cozy togetherness, neither wanted to disturb it, so they simply lay facing each other.
太阳已经很高了,融化了屋顶的积雪,水滴滴答答地掉落在地面方砖.阳光透过窗帘把窗框的影子映照在床上,也落在两个人身上.难得这温馨小聚的时光,没有人想打破它,就这样两人面对面躺着.
"Do you like her?" Tan Wenjing unbuttoned Li Haojun's shirt with her right hand, tracing circles on his chest with her fingernails as she asked nonchalantly. Her eyes avoided his, as if she didn't care whether his answer deceived her. She merely watched her fingers glide across his chest, idly playing.
"你喜欢她吗?"覃文静用右手解开李皓珺的衬衫纽扣,一边用指甲在他的胸前画着圈圈,一边若无其事地问,她的眼睛没有看李皓珺的眼睛,似乎她不在乎他的回答是不是欺骗自己,只是看着自己的手指在他胸前滑动,无聊地玩耍.
Li Haojun gently stroked Qin Wenjing's cheek, wondering what she looked like during the days he wasn't by her side, and casually replied,
李皓珺轻抚覃文静的脸颊,想着不在她身边的日子里,她是怎样的容颜,随口回答,
"I don't know."
"我不知道,"
"She must like you—I can see it in the way she looks at you."
"她应该是喜欢你,我能看到她看你时候的眼神,"
"I don't know either. I feel differently about her than you do. After all, she's so young, and we haven't known each other long."
"我也不知道,我对她的感觉和你不一样,毕竟她那么年轻,接触时间也短."
Qin Wenjing glanced up at him and gently nudged Li Haojun.
覃文静抬眼看了看他,轻轻推了一把李皓珺,
"You've got some conscience after all. Spill it—what do you really feel about me?"
"算你有良心,说说吧,你对我是什么感觉,"
Li Haojun wrapped his left arm around Qin Wenjing's lower back, caressing her waist and hips through the soft silk.
李皓珺左手搂着覃文静的后腰,隔着柔软的丝绸,抚摸她的腰胯,
"I'm not quite sure either, but it's like I can't live without you," he said, lifting the hem of her nightgown to feel the skin of her thighs and buttocks—round and smooth.
"我也不太清楚,就是不能没有你的感觉,"说着撩起她的睡衣衣襟,感受她大腿与臀部的肌肤,圆润平滑,
"Do you love me?"
"你爱我吗?"
Love, but not the kind that's fiery and passionate. It feels like an inseparable part of life, like family.
"爱,但是不是那种很热烈的,好像是生命中不可分割的,好像亲人,"
Listening to Li Haojun speak, Qin Wenjing remained calm. Her hands had already undone the buttons of his shirt, resting on his waist as she explored, then asked softly,
听李皓珺说着,覃文静很平和,手已经解开了他衬衫的纽扣,搭在他的腰间,摸索着,又轻声问,
"So what do you feel about her?"
"那你对她什么感觉啊,"
At first, I only felt sympathy for their circumstances, with no improper thoughts—seeing her all alone...
"开始只是同情她们的身世,没有什么非分之想,看她孤孤单单的..."
Qin Wenjing listened quietly, saying nothing, only occasionally glancing up at Li Haojun's eyes and face while playfully running her right hand over his body.
覃文静倾听着,静静地不说话,只是时而抬眼看看李皓珺的眼睛和脸庞,用自己的右手顽皮地在他身上摸索,
After a long while, she lifted her eyes to meet Li Haojun's gaze, staring intently for a moment before asking,
过了好一阵,她抬眼看着李皓珺的眼睛,凝视许久,问,
"Do you want to know how you used to respond to me?"
"你想知道你以前是怎么回答我的吗?"
Li Haojun was a bit curious about her mention of the past. Seeing she didn't respond, he simply slipped his hand inside her nightgown and wrapped it around her waist.
李皓珺有些好奇她提到了从前,看着她没有回答,只是把手伸进她的睡衣里面搂着她的腰,
"You used to say the same thing to me."
"你以前对我也是这么说的,"
"Oh," Li Haojun replied, seeming a bit awkward.
"哦,"李皓珺答应着,似乎有些尴尬,
Qin Wenjing lifted her shirt, skin touching skin, leaning against his chest. She buried her head in Li Haojun's shoulder and neck, whispering softly,
覃文静撩开她的衬衫,肌肤相亲,靠在他胸前,把自己的头埋在李皓珺的肩颈,轻声说,
"Perhaps one day you'll feel toward her as you would toward family," Qin Wenjing said, wrapping her right arm tightly around Li Haojun's back as she continued,
"也许有一天你对她的感觉也会像亲人一样,"说着覃文静用自己的右臂搂紧李皓珺的后背,接着说,
"I just wonder what place I'll hold in your heart by then," Tan Wenjing said, turning her head to reveal half her face as she glanced at Li Haojun.
"只是不知道那个时候,我在你心里会是什么位置,"说着覃文静扭头露出半边脸,看了李皓珺一眼,
"Rest assured, you're the only one in my heart," Li Haojun reassured Qin Wenjing, though deep down he felt uneasy. He didn't know how far his feelings for Kasiya might go. The only thing he was still somewhat confident about was knowing he wasn't the type to tire of the new and chase the novel.
"你放心,我的心里只有你,"安慰着覃文静,李皓珺的内心却有些惶恐,他也不知道自己对凯西娅的情感这样下去会发展到什么程度,唯一还对自己有些信心的方面就是了解自己不是那种喜新厌旧的人,
"No," Qin Wenjing replied in a pouty voice.
"不要,"覃文静娇嗔地回答,
"Why?" Li Haojun was a bit taken aback, unsure whether she genuinely felt that way or was deliberately testing him.
"为什么?"李皓珺有些诧异,不知道她是真的这么想还是在故意考验自己,
"I hope you have some freedom, otherwise..." Qin Wenjing trailed off.
"我希望你有些自由,不然就会..."覃文静欲言又止,
"What will happen?" Li Haojun pressed, puzzled.
"会怎么样?"李皓珺不解地追问,
Qin Wenjing glanced at Li Haojun, her eyes flickering.
覃文静看了李皓珺一眼,眼神闪烁,
"What would happen? Tell me," Li Haojun asked, gently rocking her body as he spoke.
"会怎么样?你告诉我,"一边问着,李皓珺一边轻摇她的身体,
Like fine sand in your palm—squeeze it too tightly, and it slips through your fingers," Tan Wenjing said, turning her head away. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtain fabric, its rounded shape almost visible, its flickering glow illuminating the darkness that had settled in her heart these past days.
"好比,手中的细沙,握得紧了,便会从手指缝隙里流逝,"说完,覃文静把头扭向一边.阳光透过窗帘布料的空隙,似乎可以看见太阳圆润的形状,闪烁的光亮照亮这几天以来内心的幽暗.
Li Haojun didn't quite grasp the reason or intent behind her words, nor did he wish to press her against her will. He simply tucked the strands of hair that had fallen across her cheeks behind her ears, wrapping one arm around her waist and the other around her back. As he gently entered her body, he softly kissed the cheek exposed by the hair he'd just gathered.
李皓珺不是很理解她这么说的缘由和用意,也不想违背她的意愿追问,只是拢起她散落脸颊的发丝到耳后,一手搂住她的腰,一手搂着她的背,一边轻轻进入她的身体,一边轻轻亲吻刚才拢起发丝露出来的脸颊,
Qin Wenjing parted her lips slightly, drew in a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, her breathing returning to calm. Her eyes remained fixed on the direction of the sunlight, the pattern of the curtains cast by the rays across her face, bathing her in brilliant light.
覃文静略微张开嘴,深深地吸了一口气,然后缓缓呼出,恢复了平静的呼吸,眼睛依旧看着阳光的方向,窗帘的花纹被阳光投射到脸上,沐浴着绚烂,
"You've twisted your neck," Li Haojun whispered softly into her ear as he gently laid her flat on the bed.
"别扭了脖子," 李皓珺趴在她耳边一边轻声说着,一边放平她的身体在床上,
Qin Wenjing merely turned her head slightly, gave Li Haojun a sidelong glance with a smile, said nothing, and then closed her eyes.
覃文静只是把头略微回转,斜眼微笑看了一眼李皓珺,没说话,便合上了她的眼睛,
Soft sunlight filtering through the curtains illuminated her cheeks, hair, and the nape of her neck. Against her dark green silk nightgown, it accentuated her fair skin.
透过窗帘柔和的阳光照亮照的脸颊和发丝,肩颈,对比她那件墨绿色丝绸睡衣,凸显了她白皙的皮肤,
Admiring the beauty of his woman in this moment, Li Haojun felt he could explore her heart more fully and deeply. He wrapped his left arm around her waist while his right hand reached around to embrace her shoulders. As he drew closer, he kissed her neck and collarbone.
欣赏着此刻自己女人的美丽,李皓珺感到自己可以更加充盈深入地探访她的心里,便左手搂着她的腰,右手伸到她背后搂着她的肩头,一边更加深入,一边亲吻她的脖颈,锁骨,
Qin Wenjing tilted her head to one side, slowly turning it back as Li Haojun gradually tightened his embrace around her waist. Her lips parted slightly, her head tilting back ever so slightly. Li Haojun, striving to satisfy her more deeply while admiring her bashful expression, leaned down to gently kiss her slightly parted lips.
覃文静偏向一边的头,慢慢回转,随着李皓珺把她的腰背逐渐搂紧,嘴唇微张,头微微后仰,李皓珺一边试着更深入地满足她,一边欣赏着她娇羞的面容,俯身轻吻她微张的嘴唇,
As they kissed, Qin Wenjing couldn't help but wrap her arms around Li Haojun's waist, gently swaying her body to meet his deep embrace that soothed her hollow heart.
亲吻间,覃文静也不由得把双手搭在李皓珺腰背,轻轻扭动身体,配合他深入的安抚自己虚空的心.
Kisses and caresses—the dance of their bodies—lasted only a few moments before they clung tightly to each other. Amid heavy breathing, Li Haojun whispered softly into Qin Wenjing's ear.
吻和伸,两人躯体的舞蹈,只是几个回合,就已紧紧搂抱.沉重的呼吸声中,李皓珺趴在覃文静耳边细语,
"Miss me?"
"想我了吗,"
"Yeah, I do."
"嗯,想,"
"I miss you too."
"我也想你,"
"Hmm,"
"嗯,"
Qin Wenjing's voice and breath captivated him, urging him to caress her more deeply. She gripped him tighter in return, and their rhythmic interplay seemed to wash away all barriers of separation and the bitterness of longing.
覃文静的声音与气息,让他着迷,还想给她更深的爱抚,覃文静对他也握持也更加紧致,铿锵交互之中似乎荡平了所有分别的隔阂与思念的苦楚.
Gradually, Qin Wenjing furrowed her brows, her slightly parted lips panting softly against Li Haojun's ear as she emitted faint moans. Her hands clasped tightly around his hips, craving him completely.
渐渐地,覃文静皱紧双眉,微张的小嘴儿在李皓珺的耳边喘息着发出嘤嘤的呻吟,双手搂紧李皓珺的臀部想要他的全部.
When Li Haojun could no longer resist her passionate embrace, his love surged forth, pouring into the deepest recesses of her heart. Both clung tightly to each other—Li Haojun held her body close, while Qin Wenjing held his heart—neither willing to part, savoring every millisecond of their union. And in that very instant when Li Haojun's love surged beyond his control, he felt profoundly vulnerable before Tan Wenjing. The softest part of his heart was crushed and held tight by her.
当李皓珺再也无法抗拒她的热力盛情,自己对她的爱意奔流而出,送入她内心最深处,两人都同时拉紧对方,李皓珺拉紧她的身,覃文静拉紧他的心,二人都不肯分离,体会彼此交融时刻的每一毫秒.而就在李皓珺刚刚不能自已爱意奔流那一刻,他深深感到自己在覃文静的面前的那一刻是那么的柔弱,自己内心最柔软的那一部分,被她碾压般紧握.
When all was calm once more, Li Haojun slowly released Qin Wenjing from his embrace. He found her gazing at him with half-closed eyes and a smile, warm sunlight bathing her face, her smile dotted with brilliance.
当一切再度归于平静,李皓珺慢慢从怀抱中释放覃文静,发现覃文静正眯着双眼,微笑望着他,温暖的阳光洒在她的脸上,笑容里点缀着灿烂.
Li Haojun asked curiously,
李皓珺好奇地问,
"What are you laughing at?"
"你笑什么?"
Qin Wenjing deliberately fluttered her eyes, glanced around, and then said playfully,
覃文静故意眼眸飞舞,环顾四下,然后俏皮地说,
"I'm not telling you."
"我不告诉你,"
Yet all the love Li Haojun had reserved for her had already been stored away in her heart.
然而李皓珺为她保留的全部爱意,已经收藏于她的心间.