Ji Shuhe at fourteen or sixteen might not have had a choice, but she was free now. She, her will, and her choices were all free. She shouldn't be bound to Xia Chun's side in the name of family love.
Besides, setting aside emotional factors, for their project on "Urban Architecture and Memory," there was no one more suitable than Ji Shuhe for the role of domestic executive producer.
So, regardless of personal feelings or work needs, Shen Xing couldn't agree to Xia Chun.
After some persuasion, Xia Chun finally conceded reluctantly. However, she still asked Shen Xing to keep an eye out and make sure Ji Shuhe didn't get involved with too many other people outside of work.
Shen Xing agreed verbally but had no intention of doing so.
It was just that because of that call, he was about ten minutes late. Hurrying into the airport terminal, he had spotted Ji Shuhe sitting in the waiting area, looking forlorn.
Not tired—sad.
Probably the anxiety of nearing home, Shen Xing thought, giving what he believed was the most appropriate answer.
He had grown up in London, and both his parents and he had been constantly traveling around the world for work. He couldn't really grasp the concept of a hometown, let alone understand what it meant to feel "timid at the doorstep."
"Has Xinhai changed much from eight years ago?"
The car was crawling on a congested elevated road. The twilight on the horizon was gradually being swallowed by cold tones. The lingering light blended with the new night, and if not for the towering buildings, it would have looked like a beautiful oil painting.
Ji Shuhe turned her gaze away from the window and shook her head, looking down. "Actually, not much. Xinhai was already very developed eight years ago—high-rises everywhere, about the same as now."
"The only thing that might be different... are probably the old alleyways left in the city center for historical reasons. Waiting for municipal demolition and relocation, with residents moving farther and farther away. Who knows whether those houses will be restored and preserved or torn down and rebuilt."
"Did you collect that from research, or did you live there as a child?" Shen Xing glanced sideways.
Ji Shuhe tightened her grip on her backpack strap. "I lived there as a child."
She took a deep breath. "At the time, I was staying at my grandparents' house. A standard shikumen lane house—the kind where each door leads to two and a half floors, and every room is one household, an old building."
"The conditions couldn't have been great, I imagine."
Shen Xing had done his research during the early stages of the project. These old shikumen houses were usually dark and cramped, with shared kitchens and no bathrooms. Even earlier, the morning ritual of queuing to dump chamber pots in the alley had become a part of the local culture.
If Ji Shuhe's father's family lived in such a place, it was hard to imagine what exactly she couldn't let go of.
Ji Shuhe didn't deny it. "They were all last-century houses, structurally old with moldy walls—no comparison to later new buildings. But our building only had two households, and people kept moving out, so except for the inconvenience of the bathroom, everything else was fine."
"And the people in the alley were really nice. Anyone who made wontons would bring a bowl over. If an elderly person had trouble walking, neighbors would help buy groceries and deliver them. My grandmother and the others had old neighbors who had lived there for over a decade; their relationship was closer than with ordinary relatives."
"Sounds like I should arrange a special interview with you." Shen Xing listened thoughtfully. "You're the most qualified firsthand witness for this topic. We've found our expert."
It was understandable to cherish close interpersonal relationships, but Shen Xing still felt it wasn't enough of a reason. Eight years was a long time, and the obsession strong enough to stand up to her mother—surely there was more.
"Senior..." Ji Shuhe spoke up just as Shen Xing was thinking.
He raised an eyebrow, kept his eyes on the road, but leaned slightly toward the passenger seat. "What is it?"
"There's something... I might need to ask for your help."
"Go ahead. If I can do it, no problem."
But the words caught in her throat. Ji Shuhe hesitated again.
Of course, she wanted to find her grandparents and the rest, but in a sea of people, after Yong'anli had been demolished, she had lost even the only possible way to find them. Even if she asked Shen Xing, what good would it do?
Shen Xing saw through her inner conflict. This girl was fine in every way, but she worried too much about others. "Xiao Shu, just tell me. I'll let you know if I can do it or not."
Ji Shuhe looked at him gratefully. "Right before I went abroad, the Yong'anli where my grandparents lived was just being demolished. After that... I lost touch with them. So I was hoping you could help me find out the approximate area of their resettlement housing... even just a tiny clue would be great!"
Eight years. Eight years without a word.
Too much could have changed in that time; it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Ji Shuhe knew that, and Shen Xing did too.
But her dejected expression reminded him of a manga character slowly fading and losing color. Her big eyes seemed clouded over—it made one's heart inexplicably soften.
Anyway, Shen Xing couldn't stand to see her like this.
"Is that all?" Shen Xing cleared his throat. "Yong'anli... that name sounds familiar."
"As it happens, the day after tomorrow, we have a business dinner with the local collaborators, the design institute consultants, and the city planning bureau. They'd know best about these things. I'll ask for you then."
Author's note: New Year's Eve! Happy New Year in advance! This chapter has red envelopes as usual! Good luck, everyone! [Shy]