Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Why

Feng Ran was waiting by the car early, and Chen Zhi pushed the door open, looking unhappy.

For someone who is used to sleeping at three and getting up at ten, the alarm clock at half past six is a torture.

Feng Ran stretched out his hand to open the car door, bent down and bowed, as if to greet: "Master, please get in the car." Shen

Zhi handed him a tightly wrapped box.

"For breakfast, there are sandwiches, grilled sausages, and soy milk. Eat quickly."

Feng Ran bowed again: "Thank you for the gift, Master."

Shen Zhi finally smiled, pinched his face, and said: "Stop talking nonsense."

Feng Ran became excited: "Master, you haven't laughed like this for a long time!" After

a few jokes like this, Chen Zhi's sleepiness and discomfort disappeared, and his heart was warm.

The hot air in the car was turned on high, and it had been blowing for a while, so he didn't feel cold when he got in.

This man always takes everything into consideration, and there is no flaw to be found.

Feng Ran closed the car door, and praised the lunch box - there were graffiti on it when Shen Zhi was bored - and then chewed the sandwich with a sound of smacking his tongue, slurped the soy milk, and praised it highly, saying that it was the best breakfast in more than 20 years, which was simply exaggerated.

Seeing his slightly exaggerated appearance, Shen Zhi smiled, he made the right choice, having such a person to accompany him on a business trip, who can get things done and relieve boredom, all benefits and no harm.

"The journey is about four hours, you can sleep a little longer." Seeing that he was in a good mood, Feng Ran was relieved, put the empty lunch box in the back, and fastened his seat belt.

"No, I'll help you watch the road."

Feng Ran did not refuse. He had something on his mind, and he went to bed late last night. It would be better to have someone watching him when he got up early to drive.

The winter sun rises late, with a hazy gray, rising slowly and slowly, as if floating on the water.

Shen Zhi couldn't resist the sleepiness, and opened the car window a crack, and the cold air hit his face, sobering up a little.

"I'll stay there today. We'll meet clients tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. This company has a good reputation. It would be best if we can reach an agreement."

"Will you be very busy in the future?"

"Probably."

Shen Zhi is an art student. He has been a professional painter since he graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts. Except for occasionally handling work assigned by his father, he spends the rest of his time and energy on painting.

Feng Ran only knows a rough idea about his paintings. They are extremely creative mental labor. When inspiration strikes, it's no problem for him to paint all night.

He went out with dark circles under his eyes. Feng Ran started to worry, but later found that he felt very little. What he should worry about is that he can't keep up with Shen Zhi's pace.

He has an independent studio on the second floor of his house. It is a large room. The door is the same color as the wall. It is very hidden and no one is allowed to enter.

Feng Ran is of course included.

"Why?"

Feng Ran wanted to ask this question countless times, but Shen Zhi's eyes told him not to ask, he wouldn't answer.

The first time he knew about the existence of the studio was when he knew Shen Zhi's profession.

After their first close contact.

"Then we were barely half colleagues. I used to work in a photography studio for many years. I did post-production of landscape photography and some creative works." He said.

Shen Zhi said in surprise: "I didn't see it."

"Why? Don't you look like one?"

"No."

"But you look like a painter."

The artistic temperament that he didn't know whether it was innate or acquired was so dazzling that it fascinated him.

So he was not surprised at all to learn that Shen Zhi painted.

Shen Zhi smiled sincerely: "Thank you, many people say so."

"This, you painted it too."

Through a layer of cloth, his fingers stroked Shen Zhi's collarbone. The material of the pajamas was thin, and the outline of the butterfly appeared when his fingertips pressed down. He didn't resist, but his body was stiff.

Feng Ran noticed it, dropped his hand, and touched his hand soothingly: "Sorry, I'm presumptuous. It's beautiful, I like it very much."

"Nothing. I... drew it a long time ago."

"Can I see your work? Do you have a collection of paintings?"

"Sure."

Feng Ran didn't want to talk about butterflies, but there were too many butterfly elements in Chen Zhi's paintings. He flipped through one and put it down again.

Seeing that he was looking at him with interest, he didn't want to spoil his fun and said: "Is this from college? Great, I can feel that some personal style is beginning to form."

Then his eyes fell on a photo album.

"These are old photos," Shen Zhi explained, "They are some very important moments, so I developed them all."

Feng Ran took the album, and on the title page was his handwriting: Tomorrow, good luck.

Flipping back, the album spans a long period of time. The first photo is of Shen Zhi, who is five or six years old, holding a paintbrush and with paint all over his face. The last photo is of Shen Zhi, who is wearing a bachelor's gown and standing in front of a painting with a shy smile...

After reading it, he sighed: "Time flies so fast."

"Really? It took more than ten years to take these photos."

Feng Ran stroked the photos with his fingers, his thoughts surging, and his eyes stopped on the last photo.

"Is this your graduation work?"

"Yes."

It was a powerful painting. The top of the picture was covered with large butterflies of different species and colors, which were extremely beautiful. Under them, there was a blazing flame. The butterflies flapped their wings with all their might, but they could not escape the small frame. They squeezed each other and struggled on the edge of the picture. Some of them were already broken into pieces. Looking at the photo, Feng Ran seemed to hear the sound of burning butterfly wings, and he couldn't help but feel creepy.

The most bizarre part of this painting was that at the bottom of the picture, in the center of the flame, there was a woman sitting in it, with a peaceful expression, as if she was asleep.

He didn't want to look at it anymore after a few glances. The thousands of butterflies seemed to suddenly have life, struggling and screaming in his ears.

"This painting..." His tongue was a little knotted. There must be a story behind the painting, but...

"There is only one award-winning person in the whole province." Shen Zhi said with a smile.

"Well-deserved."

"How much do you know about artists?"

"I know a little."

"Do you have a favorite?"

"I don't, you should have one."

"Yeah."

Feng Ran was a little curious, but afraid of touching on some past events. Seeing that Shen Zhi didn't say anything, he stopped asking, but couldn't help looking into his eyes, trying to see through them and see his soul.

Those eyes were bright and clear, flowing down like water, but dodging and flowing into the distance. Feng Ran's desire for knowledge fermented and rose in his heart, like a spark that spread across the prairie, almost unable to hold back, wanting to merge with each other.

At that moment and in the thousands of moments after that, he secretly and eagerly looked forward to the future they could achieve. Those eyes did not avoid or retreat, giving him the opportunity to ask one more question, "Why?"

- "Why?" He blurted out.

"What why?"

"Uncle Shen doesn't have enough money to spend? Why do you still have to work?"

Shen Zhi was silent. Feng Ran's heart "slipped" and he thought he wouldn't offend him. He took a look and fortunately, his expression was calm.

"I haven't spent a penny of his money since I became an adult." He said firmly, not allowing any doubt.

"Is it true? Why?"

"I can support myself by painting."

Feng Ran didn't understand. It sounded like he was asking for trouble. If his bastard father had been as rich as Shen Zhi's father, all his sins could be forgiven. Of course he wouldn't say that. Looking at Shen Zhi again, his soft eyes were full of determination, and his heart was beating wildly.

Really, why is he so childish.

"Concentrate on driving, don't keep looking at me." Shen Zhi reminded.

"...I'll look in the rearview mirror."

Three or four hours was not too long or too short. When they arrived at the place, the partner had already booked a restaurant, with three people at a table. Shen Zhi and the other party exchanged pleasantries, and Feng Ran swept the table aside like a whirlwind. When they were about to go to the hotel after the meal, Shen Zhi frowned and ignored him.

"What's wrong? Did you not eat enough?"

"You ate so deliciously."

"What's wrong, baby? What didn't I do well? I was so hungry today that I really didn't notice it. Tell me quickly."

"He asked about our relationship, what did you say?"

Feng Ran scratched his head: "Assistant, is there any problem?"

"Are you my assistant?"

"No. What should I say, boyfriend or your brother?"

Shen Zhi let go of his hand, his voice lowered a few points, not confident: "Just tell the truth... What's wrong with saying boyfriend."

"Not so good."

Feng Ran really felt that it was not so good.

He listened to what his sister said last night. He and Shen Zhi were involved in the family, and the fewer people who knew about this relationship, the safer it was.

Shen Zhi didn't say anything else.

In the evening, Shen Zhi asked him for something as usual, and he rarely refused: "Forget it today, go to bed early, we have things to discuss tomorrow."

The room had a double bed, and Shen Zhi slowly returned to the other bed. Feng Ran told him not to play with his phone and go to bed early. He hummed, and his emotion could not be heard.

Feng Ran drove for almost the entire day and fell asleep as soon as he touched the pillow.

The next day, Feng Ran consciously avoided talking about things and stayed in a nearby Internet cafe. When Chen Zhi came out, his game was not over yet, so

he sent an address. This small Internet cafe that exists in the cracks of the city has a tenacious vitality. Whether it is the cigarette ash in the gaps between the keyboards, or the mixed smell of instant noodles and cigarettes, the banging of the keyboard and the occasional shouting and cursing, it makes Feng Ran feel a strong sense of belonging. His soul was instantly hooked into the virtual world and never returned.

I don't know when Shen Zhi came. He walked quietly and didn't make a sound. After his game was over, he taunted the team with a microphone. When he picked up his phone, it was forty minutes since Shen Zhi's last reply.

"Fuck!" He kicked the chair away and jumped up, and then someone patted him on the shoulder.

"Here it is." Chen Zhi said, and he produced a bottle of iced black tea in his hand, "Do you want to drink it?"

"Ah, drink it, drink it," Feng Ran blinked. He couldn't have heard all the nonsense he said while playing games, "When did you come?"

"I came a long time ago."

Feng Ran's face was hot: "Why didn't you tell me?"

Chen Zhi glanced at him with a smile, raised his chin, and walked out the door. Feng Ran followed closely, and suddenly realized that it was so cold outside. He had the car keys, and the Internet cafe was full of smokers.

It was the environment that Chen Zhi hated.

"Chen Zhi, why don't you go back to the hotel and wait for me."

"I want to accompany you and go back with you."

"Thank you..."

"You're welcome." He seemed to have some feelings and added, "This is the first time I've seen you play games. It's quite interesting."

"No, I'm actually a very mature person... Forget it, let's not talk about this for now."

He said he didn't want to talk about it, so Chen Zhi didn't mention it. When it came to work, the two sides talked very smoothly. They introduced each other's basic situation. The editor-in-chief would come tomorrow and would talk to him about some specific requirements and salary issues.

"Because my situation is special, the contract is different from other painters, and we will mostly work remotely in the future," said Shen Zhi. "The docking process and submission of manuscripts will be done online, and I may have to come to a meeting occasionally."

Feng Ran then learned that the partner he was negotiating with this time was a larger company. When he just graduated, the person in charge contacted him and worked on some projects. Some time ago, the other party came to him again and proposed to double his salary.

Feng Ran was amused by his statement: "Why do you suddenly care so much about money? Are you really short of money?"

"Yes, I am."

"Did something happen? Can I help you with something?"

"Nothing, I just want to save some money."

Shen Zhi didn't say much. Soon after, Feng Ran saw his determination to save money. He began to stay in the studio day and night. Although they were in the same city, they had an eight-hour time difference in a foreign country.

The deadline was approaching, and he was almost crazy. He couldn't contact him for two days in a row. He rushed into the house to find someone. What greeted him was a haggard face, wearing pajamas, and unkempt.

"It's you... Why are you here before dawn?"

"It's fucking night now."

Feng Ran simply moved into his house and took care of his daily life.

"I'm in good shape today, it's okay to stay up a little longer." Shen Zhi always said this when he was advised to rest on time. When he said this, his hair was disheveled, dark circles were hanging under his eyes, and red bloodshot covered his eyeballs like a net.

"That's enough." Feng Ran felt distressed, "Your posture is as bad as when I was addicted to the Internet." Shen Zhi

agreed verbally, but still did his own thing. Feng Ran really couldn't do anything about him, so he ordered him to bring the blanket into the studio and cover himself when he rested, and then knocked on the door every ten hours and watched him eat his meal.

This kind of life continued until the New Year was approaching, and Shen Zhi finally delivered the manuscript a week before the agreed time, and then slept for three days.

Feng Ran answered his call and joked, "Are you awake? That's rare. I thought you had forgotten how to make a phone call."

"Come home early. I have something to give you." Shen

Zhi recovered his spirit, and Feng Ran's mood also cheered up. He said hello to the old master, and stopped a taxi at the intersection to go to Shen Zhi's home.

Shen Zhi was looking at a picture album in the living room. He looked like he had taken a shower and shaved his beard. Although his hair was long, it was still neatly combed. When Feng Ran came back, he put down the picture album and smiled gently, "You are here."

"Yeah," Feng Ran stomped his feet as he walked in, stepping on the snow accumulated on the soles of his shoes in the yard onto the absorbent cushion, "It's not snowing today, but it's very cold. The air conditioner is on in the house, so it shouldn't be cold, right?"

"Not cold."

"Why are you asking me to go home? What's the emergency?"

Shen Zhi gestured to the coffee table. Feng Ran saw a black packaging bag and said, "Huh? What is this?"

"Birthday present, I'm giving it to you in advance."

"Ah... birthday." Feng Ran was a little dazed. Yes, it was his birthday. It seemed to be... tomorrow? Or the day after tomorrow?

Chen Zhi was a little embarrassed: "A little thing. I wonder if you like it."

Feng Ran's heart was pounding. The gift was wrapped with some thought. It was hard to guess what it was from the outside. It must have been wrapped by Chen Zhi himself. The bow was tied the same way as his shoelaces.

When he opened the lid, his breath stopped.

An exquisite IWC watch.

He said with some difficulty: "You just made money..."

"You make money to spend." Shen Zhi rested his arms on his knees and tilted his head to look at him, "Do you like it?"

"Of course, I like it very much, especially."

"Why do you look so serious?" He still smiled gently, took the watch out of the tin box, and took his hand again, "Look, it suits you very well. I picked it out a month ago."

Feng Ran was a little speechless. This luxurious gift was small and light in his hand, but it was like a heavy hammer, chiseling open his long-sealed heart.

Chen Zhi just received his salary yesterday, and this watch is enough to spend more than half of that salary.

For many years, no one remembered his birthday, let alone gave him a birthday present. Even he himself gradually forgot about it.

His sister once joked that his birthday was very close to the Chinese New Year, so why not celebrate the Chinese New Year as his birthday? He thought, no one remembers it anyway, so this is just right, when all families are reunited, it seems as if the whole world is celebrating his birthday.

"Come with me to a place later." Chen Zhi lowered his head and took his hand. These hands were slender, beautiful, and strong, with one or two shallow, old scars.

If Chen Zhi asked him to go through fire and water at this time, he would agree, let alone just "go to a place".

He agreed immediately, drove there, and was a little dumbfounded when he arrived.

The place where Shen Zhi took him was his mother's grave.