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Chapter 1: Yang Mianmian

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　　荆楚接到母亲电话的时候，刚刚在写结案报告，连续熬了几天的夜，队里的成员都回家补觉去了，刑警大队的办公室里只留下了荆楚一个人。

When Jing Chu received the call from his mother, he had just been writing his final report on a case. After several sleepless nights, all the team members had gone home to catch up on their sleep, leaving Jing Chu alone in the office of the Criminal Police Brigade.

　　“人家小姑娘今年刚要上高三，还没成年呢就成了孤儿，”他的母亲连连感叹，“正好和你在一个城市，你既然不愿意回来，就顺便照顾照顾她吧。”

“That poor girl just became a third year in highschool. She became an orphan before even reaching adulthood.” His mother sighed incessantly, “She happens to be in the same city as you. Since you don’t want to come back, help her out when you can.”

　　荆楚对此可有可无，不过既然是自家母亲的故人之女，他倒是不介意照看一二：“行啊，你把地址给我。”

Jing Chu was dispassionate about this, but since she was his mother’s deceased friend’s daughter, he didn’t mind helping her out once in a while: “Sure, give me the address.”

　　“多帮帮忙，人家小姑娘没爹没妈，不知道要被人怎么欺负呢，如果家里困难，你就帮一帮。”他母亲这么叮嘱，“还有，别吓到人家。”

“Help her as much as you can! Who knows what people might do to an orphan girl like her. If she’s having trouble at home, then you will help.” His mother continued to nag at him, “Also, don’t scare her.”

　　荆楚捏了捏鼻梁，好笑道：“我知道了。”他长得又不是三大五粗，也不知道为什么队里的女孩子见到他都战战兢兢的，真是大惊小怪。

Jing Chu pinched the bridge of his nose and said in amusement, “I know.” He wasn’t a big guy, yet all the girls on the team would tremble in fear once they saw him. They were making a fuss out of nothing.

　　因着母亲的嘱托，荆楚写完结案报告以后就根据地址去探望那个最近成为了孤儿的女孩，她住在本市的老城区。

Because of his mother’s instructions, Jing Chu went to visit the recently orphaned girl after writing his final report. According to the given address, she lived in the Laocheng District.

　　南城是国际上也数得上名的大都市，近年来发展速度简直和火箭似的，不少地方都被拆迁重造，但是在靠东边的一块地方却好像是被时光施展了魔法，放慢了发展的脚步，依旧保留着百年前的气质。

Nancheng County could be considered one of the more famous metropolises in the world. In recent years, its development speed had simply soared like a rocket as many places were being demolished and rebuilt. But in the eastern area of the city, it was like time had slowed for them. The development there was like a walking pace and retained the atmosphere from a hundred years ago.

　　不过老城区也难免会有规划乱、环境差、交通糟糕的情况，荆楚的车开到路口就开不进去了，他想了想，靠边停了车，拿着地址找地方。

As such, Laocheng District could not help being a bit messy with undesirable areas and terrible roads. Jing Chu’s car couldn’t drive into the intersection, so he thought about it, pulled over, and started looking for the place on the address.

　　对方住在一个很老的小区里，猫狗横行，到处拉屎撒尿，一个个拽得和大爷似的走在路中央，有一只哈士奇看见了荆楚，还冲他喷了口气，别提多屌了。

The other party lived in a very old neighborhood, where cats and dogs ran free, shitting and peeing everywhere, and walking in the middle of the roads like lords. There was even a husky that puffed at Jing Chu arrogantly.

　　荆楚很少来这一带，循着地址走进楼道里，里头的光线很是昏暗，他走到了六楼，也是最高楼，敲了敲门。

Jing Chu rarely comes to this area. He followed the address into a corridor, the light inside was very dim. He went to the sixth floor, the highest floor, and knocked on the door.

　　里面的门开了，隔着老式的防盗门，他看见一张相当漂亮的面孔，是那种让人一看就要屏住呼吸的美貌，活脱脱的陋室明娟。

The inner door was pulled open and he could see her through the old-fashion entrance door. What he saw was a very pretty face, the type that will stop people in their tracks. She was the very meaning of poor but beautiful.

　　“进来吧。”她开了防盗门放他进去。

“Come on in.” She unlocked the entrance door to let him in.

　　荆楚站在门外没动：“你还不知道我是谁。”他微微拧眉，显然是对她那么没有警戒心而感到不满。

Jing Chu remained standing outside the door, “You don’t know who I am yet.” From his pursed eyebrows, he was clearly unhappy with her lax guard.

　　“你是警察。”少女拿着簸箕和扫帚扫地，“我在报纸上看到过你的照片。”

“You are a policeman.” The girl held a dustpan and broom as she swept the floor, “I saw your picture in a newspaper before.”

　　原来如此。荆楚松了眉头，打量着这逼仄的环境，大概只有五六十平米大小，客厅里的桌子上摆着骨灰盒和灵位、照片，小小的卧室，小小的厨房，小小的卫生间，不过打扫得很干净。

So that’s how it was. Jing Chu relaxed and observed the small home. It was roughly fifty to sixty square meters. A box for ashes, memorial tablet and photo was placed on the living room table. A small bedroom, a small kitchen, a small bathroom, but everything was very clean.

　　他一米八几的个子站在那里，好像哪里都觉得小：“你是杨绵绵吧。”

With his height of one-eighty centimeters, everything felt small. “You’re Yang Mianmian correct?”

　　“嗯。”她抬头看过来，“有什么事吗？”

“Yes.” She raised her and looked at him, “Is something the matter?”

　　她最多只有一米六，个子小小的，穿着T恤和七分裤，梳了个马尾辫，就是太漂亮了，那张脸让人看见了都替她觉得危险。

She was one-sixty centimeters tall at most, leaving her rather short. She wore a T-shirt and pants that cut off above her shin and left her hair in a ponytail. She was just too pretty that it made people feel worried for her.

　　荆楚想了想，还是先自我介绍了一番：“我是荆楚，我的母亲曾经和你的母亲是同学，所以我来看看有没有能帮上忙的。”

Jing Chu mulled over his thoughts and decided to introduce himself first, “I am Jing Chu, my mother was once your mother’s classmate. So I came to see if I can help with anything.”

　　她抬起头来看了他一眼：“没有什么要帮忙的。”

She glanced back at him from where she was sweeping, “There’s nothing you need to help with.”

　　“有呀有呀，马桶坏了，老滴水，你一直都没修好。”有个声音小小声和她说。

“There is something he could help with! The toilet is broken, it’s always leaking water and you never fixed it.” A soft voice spoke to her.

　　杨绵绵丢了个白眼过去。

Yang Mianmian rolled her eyes at the voice.

　　对方不以为意，继续提议：“还有电视机好像也坏了，屏幕老花，你也没说什么时候拿去修。”

The other did not mind and continued, “The TV also seems to be broken! The screen is always full of static and you never said when you were going to fix it.”

　　杨绵绵简直想翻两个白眼，那台老式电视机那么重，抱出去再抱下来很重的好不好。

Yang Mianmian simply wanted to roll her eyes some more. That old TV was really heavy, getting it up and down the stairs will take a lot of effort okay?

　　“绵绵~( ＞﹏＜)~滴水好难受。”

“Mianmian, leaking water feels terrible.” ~( ＞﹏＜)~

　　“荆楚人很好的，面冷心热，他不会拒绝的啦。”有个陌生的声音加入，甜甜的软软的。

“Jing Chu is really nice, his face may be cold but his heart is warm. He will not refuse~” An unfamiliar voice piped up that was sweet and soft.

　　好吧。杨绵绵一手支着扫把，认真问：“有一件事。”

Fine. Yang Mianmian held the broom with one hand and seriously spoke, “There is something you can help with.”

　　荆楚洗耳恭听。

Jing Chu listened with full attention.

　　“我家马桶坏了，老滴水，能帮我修一修吗？”

“My toilet is broken, it’s always leaking water. Can you help fix it?”

　　三分钟后，荆楚脱掉外套，挽起袖子，帮她修抽水马桶，杨绵绵站在他旁边给他递工具，他问：“你爸爸死了，不伤心吗？” 

Three minutes later, Jing Chu removed his coat and rolled up his sleeves to help her fix the toilet. Yang Mianmian stood next to help to give him tools. He asked, “Your father died, do you not feel sad?”

　　“不伤心。”她平静地说，“人总会死的。”

“I do not.” She calmly answered, “People would die sooner or later.”

　　荆楚看得出她并不是在说谎，只不过如此薄情，难免令他十分在意地多看了两眼。她眼底没有伤心，也没有痛苦，平静得好像死的不是自己的亲人：“好了。”

Jing Chu could tell she was not lying. It’s just that such an attitude was rather rare, he couldn’t help but look at her some more worriedly. Her eyes did not hold grief, nor was their pain. It was calm as if the one that died wasn’t a close family member. “It’s fixed.”

　　“还有我家电视机。”她倒是真的不客气，说要帮忙还真的使唤起来了。

“My TV is also broken.” She forwent any previous politeness and readily ordered him about.

　　荆楚替她修好了马桶和电视机，啼笑皆非地问：“还有什么要帮忙的吗？”

Jing Chu fixed her toilet and TV and then asked while being torned between amusement and resignation, “Anything else you need help with?”

　　她认真想了想，回答：“没有了，谢谢你。”

She seriously thought about it, then replied. “That’s it, thank you.”

　　“那我走了。”荆楚拿起外套，想了想还是说，“我留个手机号给你，有事可以给我打电话，女孩子一个人在家要要小心，不要随便给人开门。”

“Then I’ll be leaving.” Jing Chu picked up his coat and paused for a moment, before finally speaking to her again. “I will leave you my phone number, if you need something you can call me. You need to be more careful as a girl alone at home, don’t open the door so readily to anyone.” 

　　杨绵绵长得实在是太漂亮了，这老城区治安又乱，荆楚职业病发作，多唠叨了两句，顺便伸手问她要手机。

Yang Mianmian was really too pretty. Laocheng District wasn’t the most lawful place and Jing Chu’s occupational disease flared up as he gave her a couple warnings and asked for her phone number.

　　她挺茫然的：“什么？”

She stared blankly at him, “What?”

　　“你没有手机吗？”

“Do you not have a cell phone?”

　　“没有。”她找了本便签簿让他留了名字和电话。

“I do not.” She went looking for a notepad and had him leave his name and phone number.

　　走出门的时候荆楚不禁想，他是不是已经老了，完全搞不明白现在的小姑娘是在想什么，还是杨绵绵名字听起来很软，实际上也是个叛逆少女？

When he walked out, Jing Chu couldn’t help but think, was he already old? He really didn’t understand how young girls these days think. Or was it that Yang Mianmian sounded like a soft name while she was in fact, a rebel girl?

　　完全不知道被荆楚惦记的杨绵绵把扫帚一扔，去厨房接水，她也没有去拧开水龙头，水就哗啦啦从水管里流下来了，正好放到水壶八分满停，她把电热水壶插上电，继续去扫地。

Yang Mianmian who was unaware of what Jing Chu thought of her tossed her broom aside and went to get water from the kitchen. She didn’t even need to turn the faucet on for water to start pouring out and filled the kettle until it was eighty-percent full. She plugged in the electric kettle and continued to sweep the floor.

　　“绵绵，你是不高兴吗？”抽水马桶哗啦啦冲了一遍水，有点担心，“我都不漏水了呢。”

“Mianmian, are you not happy?” The toilet flushed once and asked worriedly, “I’m not leaking anymore.”

　　杨绵绵眼皮子都没抬一下：“不要乱冲水，水费很贵的，我爸死了，没有抚养费了。”

Yang Mianmian did not even look up, “Don’t flush as you wish, the water bill is quite high. After father died, I don’t have child support payments anymore.”

　　抽水马桶：“Σ(°△ °|||)︴对不起绵绵！”

The toilet: Σ(°△ °|||) “I’m sorry Mianmian!”

　　“绵绵，如果没钱就把我卖了吧。”老旧的电视机努力想要安慰她，“楼下每天都有人来收废品呢，我应该可以卖几百块钱。”

“Mianmian, if you have no money, just sell me.” The outdated TV did its best to comfort her, “There is always someone downstairs taking scraps. I should be worth a couple hundred at least.”

　　杨绵绵揉了揉额头：“我不会卖你们的，你没事了吧，放部电视剧看看。”

Yang Mianmian rubbed her forehead, “I won’t sell you guys. You’re fixed now right? Put on a drama or something.”

　　电视机吧嗒一声开了，自动跳了几个台，放现在最火的宫斗剧，杨绵绵其实也没什么心思看，继续扫地。

The TV clicked and turned on, it automatically flipped through a couple channels and landed on the recent most popular palace drama. Yang Mianmian was not in the mood to watch so she continued to sweep.

　　好不容易扫干净了，冰箱又说：“绵绵，你没有东西吃了，去超市买点吧。”

After finally being done with the floor, the fridge spoke up, “Mianmian, you don’t have anything to eat. Go buy something from the supermarket to eat okay?”

　　她拉开冰箱门，里面果然只剩下零星几个鸡蛋和牛奶了：“叫外卖吧，我不想做饭了。”

She pulled open the fridge door and as expected, all she had left was a couple eggs and milk. “Let’s get takeout, I don’t want to cook.”

　　晚饭是小区门口的炒米线，又咸又难吃，杨绵绵戳着塑料饭盒里的米线：“吃不下了，今天怎么那么难吃？”

Dinner was rice noodles from the neighborhood entrance, it was very salty and disgusting. Yang Mianmian stabbed the noodles in her takeout box, “I can’t eat anymore, why is it so disgusting today?”

　　白色的泡沫饭盒小声说：“老板在外面养了个小三，老板娘知道了不高兴，今天和老板吵了一架，把盐罐弄翻了。”

The white foam box quietly answered her, “The boss had a mistress and the lady boss found out. She was really unhappy. They had a fight today and spilled the salt.”

　　“……”杨绵绵想起店里那个肥肥胖胖的老板，“这样的人都会有小三吗？”

“……” Yang Mianmian thought back to that fat boss, “Even someone like that can have a mistress?”

　　“可不是嘛。”饭盒叹了口气，有点感伤，“二十多年的夫妻了，小孩都上小学了呢，出这样的事情。”

“I know right?” The lunch box sighed, a bit sad, “They’ve been married for over twenty years, their children are in school now and an affair like this happens.”

　　杨绵绵摇了摇头，打包把饭盒收拾好，它关照她：“要好好把我丢到垃圾箱里，不要扔在外面，如果可以的话，不要折我，我会痛的。”

Yang Mianmian shook her head and cleaned up. The box reminded her, “Remember to throw me in the trash can, don’t toss me out at random. If you can, don’t fold me, it will hurt me.”

　　“晓得了。”杨绵绵用塑料袋整整齐齐把饭盒扎好，还系了蝴蝶结。

“I know.” Yang Mianmian used the plastic bag and neatly packed away the box, she even made a butterfly knot.

　　饭盒有点高兴：“谢谢你。”

The lunch box was a bit happy, “Thank you.”

　　“不客气。”

“You’re welcome.”

　　塑料饭盒的寿命都不长，被用掉之后就会被当做垃圾填埋，结束这短短的一生。

The lifespan of foam lunch boxes are short, after being used they would be buried as trash, ending it’s short life.

　　世间万物都有生死轮回，很多事物的生命比人短很多，就好比饭盒，每天都有无数的白色泡沫饭盒诞生，也有无数被使用掉的饭盒死去，她今天用的这个饭盒比较活泼，愿意说几句话，但是也有饭盒安安静静的就死了，一辈子没有说过一句话。

Everything in this world has a life and death. Many things have a lifespan far shorter than humans, like this box. An uncountable number of foam lunch boxes are born each day, and an uncountable number of them are used and then die. The one she used today was a lot more lively and was willing to talk a bit with her. But who knows how many lunchboxes died quietly and never spoke a single word in their life.

　　在杨绵绵的眼里，每天要经历很多次的离别，今天和饭盒说过几句话，日后就再也不会见面了，这样的生死经历多了，又怎么能够奢望她会为一个不曾见过几面的父亲死亡而伤心呢。

From Yang Mianmian’s point of view, she would go through such meetings and farewells many times a day. The small chat she had with the lunchbox today would be the last with it. After so many life and death partings, how could she be capable of feeling any grief for the man that was her father when they barely ever met?

　　吃过晚饭，窗外的路灯就亮了起来，杨绵绵坐在书桌前写作业，有点年头了的台灯努力让自己的光更亮一点儿，好让她的眼睛不至于有太大的负担。

After eating dinner, the street lights outside the window started to light up. Yang Mianmian sat at a desk doing her homework. The desklamp that had aged quite a bit did its best to be brighter by even just a bit, so she wouldn’t have to strain her eyes as much.

　　大家都静悄悄的不打扰她写作业。

Everyone remained extremely quiet as to not disturb her from her homework.

　　“绵绵。”橡皮小声喊她。

“Mianmian.” The eraser called out to her.

　　杨绵绵从浩如烟海的习题里抬起头来：“怎么了？”

Yang Mianmian raised her head from her dense stack of homework and asked, “What is it?”

　　“(┳＿┳)…绵绵，我太小了，不能再陪你了。”原本很漂亮的白色橡皮只剩下了一点点，擦起来已经很费劲了。

(┳＿┳) “Mianmian, I am too small now, I can’t help you anymore.” The originally pretty and white erase had just a bit remained. Using it to erase anything took quite some effort.

　　杨绵绵放下了笔，把它拿到手里：“已经只有那么一点了。”

Yang Mianmian placed down her pencil and picked it up, “Only this much is left now.”

　　“嗯。”它蹭蹭她的手指，“把我和大家放在一起吧，对不起，不能再陪着你了。”

“Yes.” It rubbed against her finger, “Place me together with everyone else. I’m sorry, I can’t help you anymore.”

　　“没关系。”

“It’s fine.”

　　杨绵绵拉开抽屉，里面是整整齐齐摆放着的铁皮铅笔盒，她把这块橡皮放到最外面的铅笔盒里，里面是整齐码着的橡皮、铅笔头、空了的修正液盒。

Yang Mianmian pulled open her drawer. Iron pencil cases lined up neatly within it. She placed the remaining eraser in the pencil case closest to the drawer opening. Inside it was erasers, pencil heads and empty white-out boxes lined up neatly.

　　“再见。”

“Goodbye.”

　　她对橡皮说，那块白色的大橡皮努力挤出一个笑容：“再见，绵绵，再见o(*￣▽￣*)o”

She said to it, that white eraser did its best to squeeze out a smile, “Goodbye, Mianmian. Goodbye.” o(*￣▽￣*)o

　　又是一次分别。

It was another parting.

　　没有人讲话，也没有人哭泣，房间里安静极了，仿佛大家在用静默为一位老朋友送别。

No one spoke and no one cried. The room was very quiet, as if everyone was using silence to bid their farewell to an old friend.

　　它们也的确没有伤心，因为对于一块橡皮来说，它一直很好地履行着自己的责任，它是光荣退休的，这是一件值得高兴的事情。

They were indeed not sad, because for an erase, it had greatly fulfilled its responsibilities. It had honorably and gloriously retired. This was something to be happy about.

　　对于它们来说，橡皮能够被好好用完，铅笔可以被写得只剩下短短一截，修正液用尽全部的力气修改完最后一个字，那样的归宿，是值得骄傲的。

From their point of view, an eraser being used up, a pencil being used until it was just a head, white-out doing its best to correct one last word. That kind of ending was worth being proud of.

　　这样的死亡，是一件神圣的事情。

This kind of death was a sacred one.

　　杨绵绵打开了笔记本电脑，登录账户，她手边的马克杯已经陪伴她一年多了，性格活泼，它打破了房间里的沉默，好奇地问：“绵绵，你在干什么呀？”

Yang Mianmian opened up her laptop and logged into her bank account. The mug by her hand had been with her for over a year and had a lively nature. It broke the silence of the room and curiously asked, “Mianmian, what are you doing?”

　　“赚钱。”杨绵绵端起杯子喝了口水，“我爸的钱全给那个女人了，她肯定不会给我的，从今天起，我们要自己赚钱了。”

“Earning money.” Yang Mianmian raised the mug and took a sip of water. “My father’s money had all gone to that woman, she will definitely not give me anything. From today on, we have to earn money ourselves.”

　　马克杯似懂非懂地点点头：“哦。”不明觉厉，股票什么的，好像很厉害的样子。

The mug nodded without really understanding, “Oh. Although I don’t get it, stocks and so on seem really hard to do.”

SnowTime: Anyone else suddenly feel guilty about something they threw away barely used? *cough* I know I thrown away a lot of erasers before in good condition.

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