The Silent World And Him - Chapter 38
Pu Chen had been losing sleep for two consecutive nights, worrying about her aunt’s project.
That afternoon after class, she asked Zhuo Xuan to bring her a sandwich as she was heading back to the dormitory for a nap.
Zhuo Xuan noticed her severe dark circles and couldn’t help asking, « Is there anything I can help with? »
Pu Chen smiled: [You’ve already helped by bringing bread. I’m fine, just stayed up late scrolling through my phone these past two nights. I’m exhausted—I’ll go back and catch up on sleep.]
Zhuo Xuan: « How can you just eat bread for lunch? I… »
Her words were cut off by the vibration of Pu Chen’s phone.
Pu Chen stared at the familiar number, her heart sinking uncontrollably.
This was the second time she had received a call from Qin Mingyi. Wondering if it had anything to do with her aunt’s project, she took a deep breath, treading as if on thin ice.
After answering, Qin Mingyi’s cool yet polite voice came through: « Pu Chen, this is Auntie Qin. Are you done with class? I’m at your cafeteria—come straight over. »
Pu Chen: « ! »
That day Qin Minghan chose to threaten her in the cafeteria, and today Qin Mingyi also picked the cafeteria to meet her.
Her mind was instantly overwhelmed by fear. She wasn’t afraid of Qin Mingyi—what terrified her was the possibility of them causing trouble for her aunt again. Hidden arrows are hard to dodge, and even with Teacher Lu’s help, some things were impossible to guard against completely.
Zhuo Xuan shook her shoulder. “Pu Chen, what’s wrong?”
Pu Chen snapped back to reality: [My boyfriend’s mom is waiting for me in the cafeteria. I’m a little nervous about eating with her.]
Zhuo Xuan was surprised that Qin Yu’s mother had come to the school twice in just two weeks, but since Pu Chen didn’t want to talk about it, she didn’t pry further.
She comforted Pu Chen: « That’s completely normal. Everyone gets nervous meeting their partner’s parents. You’ll get used to it after a few more meals together. »
不是她悲觀，怕是沒有以後。
蒲晨跟卓萱揮揮手，和第一次見秦明藝那樣，她急匆匆跑去食堂。
秦明藝短信告訴她，自己坐在食堂哪個位置。
蒲晨沖到食堂時，秦明藝打好了飯菜在等她，看到她後對她招招手。
那一瞬蒲晨是恍惚的，忘了自己在赴一場鴻門宴。
“快去洗手，菜一會兒涼了。”這是秦明藝對她說的第一句話。
蒲晨點點頭，秦家的人總是不按常理出牌，她無從應對。
等她洗過手從水池那邊回來，還是沒有理清頭緒。
她哪有心思吃飯，鈍刀割肉的疼她不想再承受第二次，索性直接攤牌：【秦阿姨，有話您就說吧，我知道應該是跟我姑姑的項目有關。】
秦明藝喜歡跟幹脆直爽的人打交道，省時又省事，“你姑姑那事，是明晗做的不對，我不比你知道的早。我只是她的堂姐而已，管不了她做什麽，她也根本不聽我的勸。”
蒲晨很意外秦明藝今天不是來威脅她的：【阿姨，您其實不用專程過來，您電話裏解釋一下這事跟您沒有關系就好了。】
“有些誤會，還是要當面解釋清楚。”秦明藝轉而道：“現在有你們陸老師幫忙解決，你姑姑那邊應該不會有什麽大麻煩。”
蒲晨總算暫時松了一口氣，不知道是不是陸老師主動聯系了秦明藝。
姑姑說得對，秦明藝是有底線的。
秦明藝把筷子拿給蒲晨：“快吃吧。”
【謝謝阿姨。】蒲晨接過筷子。
她以為秦明藝會在吃飯期間聊起她跟秦與，會暗中施壓，讓她和秦與盡快分手，然而直到吃過飯，她們從食堂出來，秦明藝也沒再多說什麽。
秦明藝多次用餘光瞥身邊這個小心翼翼又無所适從的小姑娘，她自己都沒想到，強勢執拗了半輩子，有一天會主動跟一個十幾歲的孩子示好。
這個待遇連年輕時的何君碩都沒享受過。
“聽說你們食堂二樓的小炒不錯。”
蒲晨：【嗯，都是家常菜，清淡爽口。】
她沒有自作多情地說，下次請您去樓上吃小炒。
秦明藝道：“下次過來嘗嘗。”
蒲晨也不知道自己該不該期盼下一次見面，她希望有無數次和秦明藝見面的機會，又怕下次秦明藝再來，是問她到底跟秦與分沒分。
她回秦明藝：【好的呀，到時我提前去占位子。】
秦明藝似有若無地“嗯”了聲，很是別扭。
她駐足，指指不遠處的一輛跑車：“我車在那，你回宿舍午睡吧。”
秦明藝信步走向自己的車子。
蒲晨目送秦明藝，她總覺得這次見面的氣氛怪異，可又說不清哪裏不對勁。
回宿舍路上，她遇到了卓萱。
卓萱是從超市過來，手裏拎着兩個面包和一盒酸奶。
她把購物袋給蒲晨：“怕你沒吃飽。”
蒲晨眼圈發酸：【謝謝。】
兩人并肩往宿舍走。
卓萱剛才在食堂看到了秦明藝，秦與跟她有幾分像。
她跟蒲晨那張餐桌離得不遠，能看清蒲晨吃飯時拘謹的表情，開解她：“憑直覺，我感覺秦與媽媽還不錯。”
蒲晨客觀評價：【嗯，是不錯。】
卓萱順着她的話：“那既然不錯，你回宿舍吃個面包，然後好好睡一覺。放心，天塌不下來，就算塌了，還有你家秦與頂着。”
蒲晨笑了。
秦與肯定是毫不猶豫替她抵擋一切風浪。
卓萱：“晚上敷個面膜，這幾天早點睡，不然你的黑眼圈要命。”
蒲晨算了算秦與回來的日子，她不能再這麽焦慮下去，他會擔心。
—
平安夜的前一天，秦與落地北京，蒲晨早早到了機場等着，為了滿足她接機的願望，秦與專程挑了一個她沒有課的傍晚到達。
人群裏，她總能一眼就捕捉到他的身影。
蒲晨踏着迫不及待的步子朝他走去。
秦與也看到了她，她今天穿了一條冬款長裙，他松開行李箱，往前快走幾步，伸手将她抱住。
“冷不冷？”他用側臉在她額頭上蹭了下。
蒲晨笑着搖頭。
到達廳裏人來人往，她被經過的人看得不好意思。
秦與放開她，抓起她的一只手，和她十指交握。
他向後退了幾步，長臂一伸撈過行李箱。
蒲晨也伸手握住拉杆，轉臉盯着他看。
那意思很明顯，她想幫他推行李箱。
秦與說：“箱子重。”
蒲晨搖頭，再重也是推着，不用提，完全沒問題。
只要她高興，秦與什麽都由着她，他把行李箱交給她推着。
蒲晨一手推着箱子，另一只手被秦與牽着，沒法拿手機打字。
秦與總有辦法調節兩人之間的氣氛，他說：“那接下來我當你的傳聲筒。”
蒲晨不明白什麽意思，側臉看他。
秦與解釋：“我問你問題，我替你回答，自問自答的意思。”
他問：“晨寶，這兩天想沒想我？”
“想了。”
“有多想？”
“吃飯上課睡覺都在想。”
蒲晨笑，拿胳膊肘捅他。
秦與偏頭，趁她不備在她唇上啄了一下。
蒲晨無以表達心情，用力夾了夾他的手指。
坐上車，秦與還是沒松開她的手，司機在前面，他也不能像剛才那樣無所顧忌。
他關心道：“我媽最近有沒有再聯系你？”
蒲晨搖頭：【沒，那次來學校找過我後就沒有再聯系。】
關于他小姨秦明晗來找她這件事，她還沒考慮好要不要跟他說，跟他說了除了給他增加煩惱，解決不了任何問題，現在有陸老師處理這件事，她很放心，想着等陸老師處理妥善，她再把前因後果告訴秦與。
秦與看着她的眼：“你剛才猶豫了一下，在猶豫什麽？”
蒲晨的反應還算快：【不是猶豫，是擔心你這次回來會跟秦阿姨鬧不愉快，我不希望你不開心。】
秦與答應她：“你不希望的事，我不會去做。”
他靠在座椅裏，緊繃了一路的神經放松下來，他把她的手拿過來，在她掌心親了又親：“寶寶你自己玩會兒手機，我眯幾分鐘。”
蒲晨：【飛機上沒睡好嗎？】
秦與：“嗯。”
他跟她對視：“挺害怕的，怕你在消息裏答應我不分手是為了穩定我情緒，我不确定能不能在落地時看到你，瞎想了一路。”
他眯上眼：“寶寶我睡會兒。”
何止這一路沒睡，自從知道母親找過她，他沒有一夜能睡踏實。
現在牽着她手，才感覺心安。
蒲晨挪了挪身體，緊挨着他，在他嘴角親了一口。
秦與沒睜眼，擡手将她攬在懷裏，他啞聲道：“你也睡會兒。”
蒲晨不困，卻貪戀他的懷抱，所以他讓她睡時，她點了下頭。她這個姿勢正好枕在他胸口，聽着他強有力的心跳。
沒多會兒，他的手耷拉下來，已經沉沉睡去。
這一路，他肯定很累很累吧。
她跟他之間相隔着的，是千山萬水，長途跋涉。
每次辛苦的都是他。
秦與這一覺從機場睡到公寓樓下，司機停車前他醒來，睜眼就看到蒲晨的手機屏幕，她趴在他懷裏正在刷手機，頁面是小西米的那本小說。
秦與微微動了動。
蒲晨仰臉，見他醒來，她莞爾。
秦與笑着看她：“你這是幾刷這本小說了？”
蒲晨退出小說頁面，回他：【記不得了，有空就會看看。】裏面一些小片段看多少遍都看不膩。
她從他懷裏起來，幫他拿了一瓶蘇打水要擰開。
“我來擰。”
蒲晨不給，非要擰開來再給他。
秦與笑，每次見她抱着瓶子擰瓶蓋就想起她高中抱着牛奶盒喝牛奶時的樣子，那副孩子模樣幾年過去也沒有變。
他還想着她剛才刷的那本小說，問：“你算是小西米的忠實讀者了，知不知道她為什麽停筆不寫？”
當然知道，但她也不能告訴他呀。
蒲晨搖頭，把擰開的水遞給他，說：【可能現實裏很忙吧，小西米沒有名氣，我也沒途徑打聽。】
秦與見她這麽喜歡小西米的小說，他更加堅定了要讓小西米重新動筆的念頭。
—
回到公寓，還跟上次過來一樣，家裏的幾個花瓶裏插滿了鮮花，茶幾上還多了一捧玫瑰。
蒲晨：【高檔住宅的物業都這麽貼心嗎？】
秦與放下行李箱，說：“那束玫瑰是我訂好，讓物業管家給送上來的。”
他走到她身後，把她攬懷裏，滾燙的吻落在她脖子裏。
蒲晨的後背貼在他懷裏，她扭頭看他，還沒看清他的臉，他的唇就覆在了她的唇上。
親着親着，秦與便動了情。
家裏沒有準備工具不說，他也不知道蒲晨到底有沒有做好心理準備。
秦與放開她，暗暗平複呼吸：“我給你做晚飯，炒你喜歡吃的菜。”
蒲晨點頭，問他：【你會炒菜？】
“跟我堂哥學了幾道。”秦與牽着她去廚房。
冰箱裏滿滿的生鮮，也是物業管家按照他的要求，今天下午給準備的。
Pucheng couldn’t cook, but she had no problem helping as an assistant. In the past, she often watched her father busy himself in the kitchen.
她剛把手伸到蔬菜上就被秦與給擋回去，他不讓她動手：“我來就行了，我還得研究一下今晚的菜怎麽做，不着急擇菜。”
他把她抱在中島臺上坐着，“你陪着我就行了。”
怕她的兩條腿一直垂在那難受，他去找了一個凳子給她踩着。
“晨寶，這段時間我白天沒空陪你，要跟彭靖陽他們忙那個AI項目，晚上我過去陪你去圖書館複習。”
蒲晨：【不用整天陪我。】
每天能看到他，她已經很知足。
兩菜一湯在一個半小時後端上桌，秦與感覺做菜比做數學競賽題難。
他的廚藝處在紙上談兵階段，在炒菜之前他覺得應該味道不錯，畢竟每一步都是嚴格按照堂哥交代他的來，誰知道菜出鍋後，是黑暗料理。
But Pu Chen was eating with great relish.
Qin Yu felt she was seeing the food through rose-colored glasses and advised her, « Eat less. I’ll order takeout for you when you’re hungry again. »
Pu Chen: [It’s really delicious, why should I eat less?]
Later, every time Pu Chen took two or three bites, he would kiss her on the lips to comfort her poor stomach.
Next time he’ll make it for his cousin first, and only after He Chuyao says it’s good will he come back to make it for Pu Chen.
Qin Yu served her some soup—only the soup was barely passable. He’d forgotten to add salt at first, and after adding some, it was just passable. He placed the bowl by her hand, saying, « Be careful, it’s hot. »
After the meal, Qin Yu took charge of clearing the table.
Pu Chen picked up the bouquet of roses, her heart full of contentment.
但這樣放下去不處理的話，鮮花很快幹枯。
【還有花瓶嗎？】她問秦與。
秦與收拾好廚房，去儲藏間找了兩個空花瓶給她，“插花的時候小心枝上的刺，別戳着手。”
他叮囑她幾句，去了卧室洗澡。
Pu Chen found a pair of scissors and carefully trimmed each rose. She had just counted them—Qin Yu had bought her 52 roses in total.
She had only trimmed half when Qin Yu emerged from his shower.
Hearing the noise, she glanced up at him. He had changed into light-colored loungewear.
Chenbao, why don’t you check your phone for a bit? I’ll trim the flowers for you.
蒲晨擺手，她想自己剪。
家裏只有一把剪刀，秦與幫不上剪花的忙，于是他在她對面的沙發上坐下來陪着她。
思忖許久，他還是決定找小西米聊聊。
他登錄小學時就注冊的q號，這個號他棄用了一段時間，轉學到蘇城後他不想跟任何人聯系，主要是不想一遍遍解釋他怎麽轉學了，又轉到哪裏上學，更不想接受別人的同情。
He couldn’t let Puchen know about his contact with Xiaoximi, so he reactivated this account that hadn’t been used for several years.
[Hello, have you made a decision?]
The moment he sent this message, Puchen’s phone received a notification about new activity from the associated alternate account.
Fortunately, the notification didn’t trigger any vibration alert, and she only noticed it ten minutes later.
蒲晨想要找首鋼琴曲播放，不然家裏太安靜，沒想到‘我比小說男主有錢’給她發來消息。
她掃一眼正在盯着手機看的秦與，他這麽專注應該是在看郵件。
她上次已經說的很明白，不打算再寫小說，但這個股東似乎沒當回事，也可能對方覺得她是欲擒故縱，想借此擡高版權價格。
但真不是。
蒲晨拿着手機，準備借着去洗手間回複雲月文化的這個大老板。
她走到秦與跟前，打算跟他說一聲。
秦與正在看法律相關的資料，眼前的光線被人擋住，他擡頭問：“怎麽了？是不是剪花剪累了？”
他說：“剩下的我來修剪。”說着，他拿起她的右手給她捏捏放松。
蒲晨只好用左手打字：【不累，我要去洗手間。】
秦與：“那等你出來我陪你一起把剩下的花再修修。”
蒲晨直奔洗手間，反鎖上門後，直接往馬桶蓋上一座，正準備回複‘我比小說男主有錢’，姑姑的消息進來。
【晨寶，在幹嘛呢？】
蒲晨：【沒幹嘛，秦與今天回國，我們剛從機場回到公寓。】
蒲文心原本要跟侄女視頻通話，只好放棄。
她說：【你跟你們陸老師說了，秦明晗去學校找你的事？】
蒲晨：【嗯，因為我幫不上你，我也不想跟秦與分手，就找陸老師了，我也不知道是對是錯。姑姑，對不起，我跟秦與談戀愛連累到你了。】
【瞎說什麽，是姑姑連累到你了好不好。我們一家人不說這些。】
蒲文心誇她：【我們晨寶現在很棒了，知道要怎麽冷靜處理麻煩，之前姑姑還擔心，你談戀愛後會不會受傷，現在我放心啦，晨寶都能護着姑姑了。】
蒲晨松口氣：【姑姑你不生氣嗎？】
蒲文心反問：【為什麽要生氣呢？姑姑只是不知道怎麽開口去找陸柏聲。】
蒲晨發了一個抱抱的表情包，她問姑姑：【事情處理得怎麽樣了？我也不好意思一直問陸老師，怕他着急。】
蒲文心寬慰侄女：【陸柏聲說元旦要過來，他在疏通關系，事情暫時沒那麽棘手了。姑姑今天想跟你說的是，你那麽喜歡秦與就堅定一點，沒有什麽問題是我們一家人共同面對解決不了的。】
[« Besides, we have strong support behind us. »]
Pu Chen: [« Yes, with Teacher Lu, I’m not afraid anymore. »]
Pu Wen thought to herself: [« Our support is actually your dad. »]
Mentioning her dad made Pu Chen feel melancholy. She didn’t dare tell him about her relationship with Qin Yu, afraid it would worry him.
Aunt Pu Wenxin sent another message: [I won’t disturb you and Qin Yu anymore. Your aunt still has work to handle. I’ll try to come home early after finishing up, and aim for a long vacation during this Spring Festival.]
After ending the chat with her aunt, Pu Chen finally replied to ‘I’m Richer Than the Novel’s Male Lead’: [Sorry, just saw this. I really don’t plan to write anymore.]
Qin Yu waited a full twenty minutes for Little West Rice’s reply.
He had anticipated she would say this. Having no time for idle chatter, he showed sincerity: [As for the copyright fee, we can discuss it further—I’ll increase it beyond the previous offer.]
Little Ximi: [« …I have no ideas and can’t write anything. Even if I forced something out, it wouldn’t be worthy of the copyright fee you’re offering. I wouldn’t feel right taking the money. I have my own plans and priorities that are more important than earning this copyright fee. I’m truly sorry. »]
Faced with such resolute refusal, Qin Yu found himself at a loss.
[« If you ever want to write novels in the future, feel free to contact me anytime. »]
[« May I ask one more presumptuous question—if we offered you twenty million, would you consider writing one book then? »]
幾乎不假思索，小西米直接回過來：【那肯定寫呀。】
Qin Yu: « …… »
果然沒有錢解決不了的問題，要是沒解決，那錢還是不夠。
小西米說：【兩千萬是我這輩子上班都賺不到的錢，有了這麽多錢，就能激發出靈感和思路，不需要再撓禿了頭想劇情，也就不占用我陪我男朋友的時間。關鍵是，你們公司也不會出兩千萬買我的版權（偷笑）】
人間真實。
Qin Yu certainly wouldn’t spend twenty million to buy such a small copyright.
Because he doesn’t have twenty million right now.
There are too many places where he needs to use money now, especially for that AI project’s R&D – every penny must be spent where it counts most.
If he were thirty now, he would definitely be willing to spend twenty million just to make Pu Chen happy.
Qin Yu changed his original nickname and logged out of his alternate account. He glanced toward the restroom—Pucheng had been in there for quite a while. He called out to her, « Chenbao, what’s up? »
Pucheng: [Watched a few funny videos. Be right there.]
In her haste, she accidentally closed the chat window.
She reopened it, ready to say goodbye and end the conversation.
Unexpectedly, the other person changed their nickname to « Temporarily Not as Rich as a Novel’s Male Lead. »
Qin Yu asked, « Are your legs numb? I’ll come carry you. »
Pu Chen turned off her phone, [No need, my legs aren’t numb.]
Her words came back to bite her half a minute later.
Pu Chen struggled to walk out of the bathroom, but her legs were overwhelmed by a numbing soreness. She couldn’t even take a step forward, clinging to the bathroom door with both hands to steady herself.
Qin Yu laughed: « Didn’t you say it wouldn’t go numb? » He put down his phone and strode over.
Pu Chen was overwhelmed with shame and turned her face away, refusing to look at him.
Qin Yu bent down and effortlessly scooped her up in a princess carry, pulling her into his embrace. « No more playing around when you go to the bathroom from now on. »
Pu Chen pressed her hands against his face to stop him from speaking.
« You won’t even let me speak. » Qin Yu lowered his head to kiss her. Pu Chen wanted to dodge, but he was quicker—his lips directly sealed hers.
When their lips met, Pu Chen stopped resisting. She raised her arms to wrap around his neck, returning his kiss with tender affection.
