Home/ The Selfish Gene/ Chapter 67
After being stunned for a short time, Ji Chenfeng also smiled, as if laughing at my bizarre ideas, and as if also laughing at himself for not having any resistance to my sweet words.
“I still hope there won’t be such a day.” Ji Chenfeng’s smile was like a cool breeze on a summer night, which was particularly intoxicating because it was rare.
We just stood under the streetlight and smiled at each other, not knowing what was so funny, but no one said to stop first, and we were immersed in an inexplicable joy.
Until a motorcycle passed by, the rider wearing a helmet stared at us with strange eyes. After driving for a while, he turned back frequently to check, completely unable to understand what the two of us were so happy about.
Ji Chenfeng also noticed the other person and coughed lightly, “Let’s go”, then turned around and continued walking forward.
Stepping up the long steps, apart from the exhausting chirping of cicadas, the only sounds left in my ears were the intertwined footsteps of Ji Chenfeng and me.
First, second, third … I have walked through it many times, but I have never counted how many steps this staircase has in total.
“Sang Nian…” Ji Chenfeng, who was walking in front, suddenly called out to me.
“Huh?” I responded to him while trying to continue to count.
“If you can stay here for a full year, we’ll start over.”
Twenty-seven……
My steps suddenly stopped, and I looked at Ji Chenfeng in shock, who was still climbing up.
One year?
How did Ji Chenfeng manage to make his words so reasonable yet unacceptable? During the one-year inspection period, is this really going to help me cultivate into the Liu Xiahui who can remain indifferent even with a beauty on his lap?
After running a few steps to catch up with Ji Chenfeng, I frowned slightly and tried to negotiate with him: “One year is too long, can it be shorter?”
“How long do you want?” Ji Chenfeng asked.
“…Two months?” Actually, I wanted to say one month, but I was afraid that cutting too much would make him unhappy, so I had to say two months.
He glanced at me sideways and said, “Ten months.”
I gritted my teeth and said, “Six months.”
He thought for a moment and said: “Deal.”
After some bargaining, the final inspection period was shortened to six months. As long as I stay in Fly City for half a year, Ji Chenfeng will forget the past and start over with me.
No matter where I live, whether it’s a high-end apartment or a slum, it’s the same for me. Even if the house is small, the sky is covered with messy wires, and high-power appliances cannot be used, as long as Ji Chenfeng is there, this alone is enough for me to give this place a five-star rating.
The bad environment is the least of the problems. Compared with these, maintaining the state of “only look but not touch” for half a year is more difficult.
When I didn’t know the specific term of my sentence, I could still look forward to tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or even the next second. But now I know that I have to wait for six months, every minute and every second has become torture.
Especially every night and morning, sleeping and waking up in the same bed with Ji Chenfeng was like a death sentence.
Is it only me who is like this? After taking too many cold showers, I even began to doubt myself. In the past, Ji Chenfeng could get hard just by holding me in his arms, but now he doesn’t react even if he sleeps with me all day long. Is my charm diminished or is there something wrong with him?
But apart from this aspect, other developments are quite gratifying: Ji Chenfeng has resumed communication with me on the mobile phone, and he talks to me on the mobile phone about things; we go to the supermarket together and buy daily necessities for the home; He would also share interesting things with me every day at dinner.
Crossing my legs, eating a simple meal, and listening to Ji Chenfeng talk about a dog with a long crooked tail and a cat with strange fur. What was completely an unimaginable scene before has now become my favorite daily routine.
I also gradually learned some simple cooking skills under Ji Chenfeng’s guidance, such as how to use a rice cooker to cook rice with moderate softness, and how to fry eggs without letting it stick to the pan.
Whenever I hand in a good answer sheet and successfully apply these skills, Ji Chenfeng never hesitates to praise me.
“Well done, Xiao Nian.”
I love and hate these compliments from him, and it’s hard to quit. Even though I know I won’t be able to calm down after listening to it, I still want to listen. I wish I could even peel an apple and show it to him. Whenever I am praised, my mood will be light and joyful that day, as if I am sinking into a cloud.
I can’t believe that humans can obtain happiness so easily, and I can’t even believe that I am as easily satisfied as a few years old child.
This once again made me deeply realize a fact— For me, Ji Chenfeng is the biggest addiction, and I cannot quit him in this lifetime.
“Should I just buy tomatoes and beef? Do you want anything else?” While talking on the phone with Ji Chenfeng, I locked the door and walked down the long stairs.
“Buy some more onions.”
“Okay, got it.”
I hung up the phone and walked down the long steps while humming a tune. Last time due to Ji Chenfeng’s interference, I didn’t count the exact number of steps in this long staircase, but if the steps are equally divided by resting platforms, I remember that there are a total of twenty steps from the first step to the first resting platform. There are now three resting platforms, so this long staircase has at least sixty steps.
“Child! Child!”
After walking a few steps down, I suddenly heard someone calling me from behind.
Looking back, I saw that a thin white-haired old lady in her seventies reached out from the anti-theft window and waved to me, beckoning me to come over.
“What’s the matter?” I hesitated and took a few steps toward her. I was sure I didn’t know her.
“Ah, can you please help this old woman?” The old lady trembled as she took out a pile of scattered banknotes wrapped in a handkerchief from her pocket, “This grandma is old and has inconvenient legs, so I really can’t climb the stairs anymore. Child, can you buy me a bag of rice?” She handed me a crumpled banknote.
The title “child” is quite new. It seems that no one has ever called me that in my memory.
“Just rice?”
At this age, she probably doesn’t know about “home delivery”. Anyway, I just need to go to the supermarket and bring an extra bag of rice. It’s just doing a good deed.
“Yes, just rice, just rice.” The other party was overjoyed, “Thank you, child.”
After confirming that I only needed to buy rice, I took the money from the other party and asked about the specifics and brand of the rice before turning around and leaving.
I bought everything Ji Chenfeng asked me to buy, and also bought rice for the old lady. Carrying two large bags of things, I walked back. When I reached the intersection, I saw black smoke rising in the distance.
There were many people standing under the long steps, pointing upwards.
Knowing that something must have happened, I ran over quickly carrying my things, and saw black smoke coming from the farthest part of the long staircase. Faintly, you can still see flames coming out.
“I don’t know if it’s because the circuits are too old, but the smoke is so big.”
“The firefighters have been called, they should be here soon…”
“I wonder if there is anyone up there…”
“Huh? Where are you going, handsome guy? It’s very dangerous up there, don’t go there… Hey!”
Regardless of the obstructions, I dropped the bag and ran towards the end of the long staircase, climbing to the top as quickly as possible.
The smoke became more and more choking as I went up, and when I reached the third resting platform, my view was somewhat restricted.
“Open the door!” I smashed my fist on the old lady’s door. Seeing that there was no movement, I went to pat the anti-theft window again, but there was still no answer.
Did she die inside?
I gasped for breath and didn’t have much time to hesitate, kicking the door heavily. The lock on the old door was immediately loosened.
The black smoke was inhaled from the mouth, and my throat was burning painfully. With the second kick, the door lock finally broke and I rushed into the house. The old lady had fallen to the ground, still conscious, but coughing constantly.
Helping her up, I heard her muttering “I’m going to die, I’m going to die.” The corner of my eye twitched, and I grabbed both of her arms and bent down to carry her onto my back.
“Stop talking, aren’t I trying to save you?”
The house was filled with thick smoke, and for a moment, it was difficult to tell where the door was. Fortunately, the old lady was thin and light, so I could move quickly while carrying her on my back.
Rushing down the long steps, I put the old lady on the lower steps. She was groggy and her nostrils were all black and gray. Although I didn’t look in the mirror, I should be no better than her.
Looking back, I saw that the blue iron door of Ji Chenfeng’s house had been engulfed in thick smoke. Although it was still some distance away from the fire, there was a habit of piling debris all over the Fly City, so there was no guarantee that it would not burn through.
My ring…
If other things are burned, then so be it. But that ring is something I want to give to Ji Chenfeng and I have to get it back. I have to get it back…
Without even catching my breath, I rushed onto the long steps again, climbing up two and three steps at a time.
“Why are you going up again…”
“Is there anyone else up there?”
I ignored the sound of the fire truck siren coming from afar and climbed sixty steps in one go.
Holding my breath, I opened the door and entered the house. Since the fire was located a little lower, the smoke surged upwards and poured into the house.
My eyes, nose, throat, and even my lungs started to hurt with breathing. I rummaged through the suitcase under the bed, and all I had to do was open it and take out the ring box. However, there was too much smoke, and I entered the password several times but failed to get it right.
In a fit of anger, I picked up the suitcase and walked out the door. In just a moment, the fire underneath became even bigger, and the heat wave rushed towards my face, almost making me breathless.
After dragging the suitcase up a few stairs, I felt it was too slow, so I simply dropped the suitcase, kicked it down, and then followed.
When I got to the second resting platform, I was discovered by the firefighters who came up to put out the fire. They grabbed my arm and took me down.
Three fire trucks and two ambulances were parked on the roadside. After handing me over to standby medical staff, the firefighters quickly rushed back against the crowd.
“Sir, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere in your body?” The medical staff asked me a routine question.
I broke free from the other party’s hand, squatted down, and tried to open the suitcase again. This time I finally got the password correct.
When the ring box was held in my hand, I took a long breath.
Standing up, my vision went dark, I staggered slightly, and was supported by the medical staff on the side.
“Sir?”
I wanted to tell him that I was fine, but I lost control. My mouth was open, but I couldn’t make a sound at all.
“I…” I barely managed to squeeze out a syllable, but it was hoarse and unpleasant.
I touched my throat and coughed due to the severe itching in my trachea. My throat suddenly hurt even more.
Damn it, I won’t be smoked dumb, right?
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