bookbashuk 055 Wine Deya Ji
055 Wine Deya Ji
The harbor wind carried the fishy smell of the river, making Aki's hair stick to her cheeks. An orange tugboat was slowly approaching the Moniach ahead. Grayson told her, "Go back quickly, your companions are waiting in the car."
Aki bowed deeply.
"Thank you so much for taking care of me and Ye Sheng, and everyone on the ship."
Grayson waved his hand without turning his head and told her to go quickly, as he still had to stay with the Moniach.
A Mercedes-Benz van was waiting for her at the dock. Ye Sheng sat in the driver's seat and started the engine. He smiled at her through the windshield.
She opened the car door, sat in the passenger seat, and fastened her seatbelt.
The tugboat sounded its horn, and the Moniach began to slowly depart from the port. On the deck, the crew were waving and shouting something, but the wind blurred most of it, and she couldn't hear them.
Ye Sheng stepped on the gas, and the car drove off along the port road. Through the rear window, Aki watched as the happy expressions of those people gradually blurred, their waving arms grew smaller and smaller, until they finally became just a few dots on the riverbank.
Aki turned her head and secretly looked at Ye Sheng. Sunlight streamed through the car window, casting a colorful spot of light on Ye Sheng's profile.
Mans said from the back seat that she had too many rules for interacting with people, and that Ye Shengshou would have to deal with her later.
"Actually... there aren't that many rules," Aki whispered in defense.
Mans didn't believe it and complained from the back seat that the Japanese had a lot of rules, and Ye Sheng was an honest boy, so he would have a long time to kneel on the washboard in the future.
Selma leaned over from the side and asked Professor Mans if he intended to impart life experience to her and Ye Sheng.
Mans said this wasn't life experience, but a prophecy from someone who had been there.
Selma deliberately asked if the professor's prediction was based on real experience.
"That's different," Mans laughed.
Aren't they the same?
Different.
Aki turned to look at Lu Mingfei and Zero in the back seat and asked softly, "Actually, I really envy the way Lu-kun and Zero get along. Why are you two so harmonious and in sync?"
Selma laughed out loud and asked her, "Are you already starting premarital counseling? You two are the real veterans!"
"No," Aki quickly waved her hand, "I'm just envious. It seems like you two know what each other is thinking without even saying a word."
Lu Mingfei said he didn't understand either. He hadn't planned to date, but he was taken in by Ling as soon as he entered school, and he still couldn't figure out what was going on.
Lu Mingfei also said that he had never discussed this kind of thing...
Which one?
Ling suddenly asked Lu Mingfei.
It's... that kind of...
Lu Mingfei stammered for a long time, unable to speak, while the carriage was filled with a cheerful atmosphere. Aki covered her mouth and laughed, thinking to herself that this S-class was completely outmaneuvered by Zero.
After a moment of silence in the carriage, Professor Mans asked Ye Sheng about his future plans. Without hesitation, Ye Sheng replied that he had decided to stay at the university and transfer to the logistics department, where he could also use his skills as a part-time swimming coach.
Aki watched as the railings outside the window swept past one by one.
I remember him secretly holding my hand on the Tokyo Tower; I remember him buying me strawberry daifuku at the convenience store late at night, saying it was on sale, buy one get one free; I remember him saying to me, "Aki, look at the moon."
Aki laughed out loud at the thought. He looked silly pointing at the dark clouds, but the moonlight that day was beautiful.
All the bits and pieces of memory came together and formed the shape of Ye Sheng.
After returning to Japan, she should first visit the shrine next to her hometown. She used to work as a shrine maiden there when she was in high school. It would be very convenient to hold a wedding there, and she could ask Professor Mans to be her witness.
Ye Sheng wanted to stay at the university, so she could apply to transfer to the archives, where the working hours were stable. On weekends, they could drive to Chicago's farmers markets; Ye Sheng liked seafood, and she could learn to cook it. Although her current cooking skills were limited to curry and fried eggs, and although Ye Sheng was a better cook and would definitely laugh at her, it didn't matter; she could learn slowly and improve. And then—
And every morning when I woke up, he was there.
She secretly glanced at Ye Sheng again.
He happened to turn around while waiting at a red light, and their eyes met.
Aki suddenly felt that it would be good if those scenes could be realized, but it wouldn't matter if they couldn't.
As long as he's there.
-----------------
The special plane stopped at the end of the runway, the gangway was lowered, and Principal Angers was already waiting below.
The car door slid open, and Selma helped Mans out of the car.
"Congratulations, Mans." Angers stepped forward and shook Mans's hand.
"Congratulations to my team members and crew," Mans' voice was still hoarse. "They played a far greater role than I did. Especially Lu Mingfei."
He glanced back at Lu Mingfei, who was just getting out of the car.
"Well deserved S-class."
"I know." Angers followed his gaze and saw Lu Mingfei being pulled by Ling's sleeve as he said something, "Let's get on the plane, the flight is still long."
After the plane climbed to cruising altitude, Angers asked the flight attendants to bring out a refreshment cart.
Aki sat next to Ye Sheng, holding a cup of black tea. Outside the porthole were endless clouds, and the bright sunlight shone into the cabin, bathing everyone in a halo.
After everyone was seated, Angers took an envelope from the inside pocket of his suit.
"The Executive Department has approved your and Aki's retirement applications." He handed the envelope to Ye Sheng. "I will definitely attend your wedding."
"Thank you." Aki's voice trembled slightly.
Ye Sheng reached out and covered the back of her hand; his palm was dry and warm. She took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions that welled up inside her.
Angers looked at Ye Sheng and Aki and said, "This success can be attributed to the power of love between the two pairs of partners... how should I put it."
Aki blushed.
"But the dragon-slaying endeavor cannot rely on such luck."
Angers' gaze shifted to Zero.
"I am very satisfied with your performance on the ship, and I hope that you and Lu Mingfei can continue to work together like this."
Ling nodded slightly.
Aki lowered her head, not daring to look at anyone.
She understood what Angers meant. According to the Executive Department's regulations, partners on dangerous missions could not be lovers. This was an ironclad rule written in the manual, a lesson learned through countless casualties. Because in dire situations, people instinctively protect their loved ones, rather than completing the mission.
She saw that Zero's expression was calm, as if the principal wasn't talking about her.
Zero, when Lu Mingfei was underwater, what were your feelings?
"Alright, mission accomplished. Rewards will follow later," Angers suddenly clapped his hands. "But before that, please give me and our rising star some space."
Everyone smiled and consciously moved to the back. Selma took Zero's hand, "Don't be reluctant to leave now, let's go."
Mans stood up, supporting himself on the bulkhead, swayed, and glared at Selma.
Selma pretended not to see and walked hand in hand with Zero to the rear cabin.
Aki helped Mans walk towards the back of the plane, and Mans complained that he shouldn't have given Selma a perfect score for her internship so early.
Ye Sheng and Ya Ji exchanged a glance, then turned their faces away to suppress their laughter.
Angers had already sat down opposite Lu Mingfei, elegantly holding a bone china teapot and pouring steaming Ceylon black tea into two cups, carrying an elegant fruity and woody aroma.
Upon reaching the rear cabin, Selma was explaining some dating strategies to Zero, based on her and Ye Sheng's experiences of outsmarting the rules of the Executive Department. Zero and Professor Mans listened attentively.
With a click, she gently closed the sliding door.