The morning sunlight grew weaker, lazily shining on the thin layer of winter snow from last night. The sparkling snowflakes along the edge of the flowerbed refracted the sunlight into a spectrum of colors, embodying the only vitality of winter.
上午的日光越发孱弱,懒懒地照在昨夜轻薄的冬雪表面,花坛边缘晶莹的雪花折射出阳光的七彩,跳动着冬日里仅有的生机.
After finishing her work in the morning, Qin Wenjing stretched and looked at Li Haojun, asking,
完成上午的工作,覃文静伸了个懒腰,看了看李皓珺问,
"Christmas is coming soon. Would you like to invite your new assistant and good students to be our guests and celebrate Christmas together?"
"圣诞节就快到了,邀请你的新助手和好学生来做客吗?一起过圣诞节?"
"Hmm?" This question caught Li Haojun off guard, and he hesitated for a moment before asking,
"嗯?"这个问题令李皓珺略感意外,迟疑了一下问,
"How did we celebrate Christmas in the past?"
"那我们以前是怎么过圣诞节的?"
"How? I'll just watch you lie there," Qin Wenjing chuckled,
"怎么过?我看着你躺在那里过呗,"说完,覃文静咯咯咯地笑了起来,
"Oh, what about before that?"
"哦,在那之前呢?"
"At that time," said Qin Wenjing, hesitating for a moment,
"那时候,"说着,覃文静迟疑了一下,
"At that time, you only had me, and that was all we had in the world."
"那时候你只有我,那就是我们世界的全部."
"Why should we change, then?"
"那我们为什么要改变呢?"
"What won't change? Time, mood," said Qin Wenjing, getting up and sitting in Li Haojun's arms, asking softly,
"有什么不会变呢?岁月,心情,"说着覃文静起身过来,坐在李皓珺怀里,轻轻地问,
"When you're with them, will you think of me?" With those words, her eyes silently gazed at Li Haojun,
"当你和她们在一起的时候,会不会想起我?"说完,眼睛默默地看着李皓珺,
"Yes, it will,"
"会的,"
Qin Wenjing smiled faintly.
覃文静微微一笑,
"So, when you're with me, do you ever think of them?"
"那么,和我在一起的时候,你会不会想起她们?"
"Oh, it does, but only for a moment."
"哦,也会,只是一瞬间而已,"
Qin Wenjing no longer looked at him, but buried her head in Li Haojun's embrace and muttered to herself,
覃文静不再看他,只是自己把头埋在李皓珺怀里自言自语地说,
You're someone who dislikes change, but if change benefits both of us, why not embrace it?
"你是一个不喜欢改变的人,可是如果改变对你我都好,为什么不接受它呢,"
Listening to Qin Wenjing's words, Li Haojun felt a bit puzzled, but he simply held her gently in his arms.
听着覃文静这番话,李皓珺有些不知缘由,只是轻轻把她搂在怀里.
After a moment of silence, Qin Wenjing perked up again, rose to her feet, and pulled Li Haojun along.
沉寂了一会儿,覃文静又来了兴致,起身拉着李皓珺,
"Come on, let's go for a walk." This time, instead of heading to the backyard, the two stepped out the front gate, leaving faint footprints in the snow-covered courtyard.
"来啊,我们出去走走,",这次两个人没有去后院,而是走出大门,庭院里雪地上留下浅浅的脚印.
After the snow, the sun had just climbed to the tips of the bare branches, its golden glow still brilliant. Gusts of north wind carried the scent of snowflakes, crisp and clean in the nostrils. The newly clear blue sky looked even more beautiful against the backdrop of white snow. Walking beside Tan Wenjing, she would occasionally glance over with a smile.
雪后初晴,斜阳只上到干枯树梢,金色依旧灿烂.阵阵北风,夹杂着雪花的气息,嗅在鼻孔中清澈干爽.初晴的蓝天在白雪映衬下越发靓丽,走在覃文静身旁,她不时看过来微笑的脸庞.
"Ask them if they'd like to spend Christmas together. Send them a message." Qin Wenjing said softly.
"问问她们是否愿意一起来过圣诞节,发消息给她们." 覃文静轻声说,
Gazing at the snowy scenery along the road, Li Haojun paused for a moment before asking,
看着沿路的雪景,李皓珺想了想问,
When it's just you and me, what are our days like?
"只有我和你的时候,我们的日子是怎么样的?"
Qin Wenjing glanced at Li Haojun, then turned her head back to look ahead at the road and sighed,
覃文静看了看李皓珺,又扭回头看着路的前方,叹气说,
Back then you were younger, more driven in your career. Well, it wasn't so much stubbornness as youthful passion—always charging ahead.
"那时候你更年轻,事业上更拼搏,嗯,不能说是偏执,只能说是年轻的心,总是一往直前,"
"Am I pursuing a promotion and a raise?"
"我追求升职加薪吗?"
"Huh, is that really who you are? Just look at all those things you've got down in the basement. I'd say you're just yearning for freedom."
"呵呵,你是那样的人吗?看看地下室里你那些物品,应该说你只是向往自由,"
"Am I not free? Are we not free?"
"我不自由吗?我们不自由吗?"
"No, you just want to be with me without any strings attached."
"不是,你是想要不受约束地和我在一起,"
Li Haojun was a bit confused, so he asked,
李皓珺有点不明白,就问,
"Between you and me, is there anyone else who can interfere?"
"我和你,难道还有别人干涉吗?"
"Hmm," Qin Wenjing said after a moment's thought.
"嗯,"覃文静想了想说,
"Because you're never satisfied—you always want to spend more time with me."
"因为你不满足啊,你总想和我在一起更多时间,"
Li Haojun listened to her story, walking while trying to piece it all together into a coherent narrative. Seeing Li Haojun lost in thought, Tan Wenjing smiled and urged him on.
李皓珺听着她的讲述,边走边试图把这一切整理出清晰的逻辑脉络.看李皓珺不说话在那里沉思,覃文静笑着催促,
"Send that message already, you hopeless romantic."
"快发消息吧,大情种,"
"Heh," Li Haojun chuckled sheepishly, though being called that by the one he loved truly made him feel warm and fuzzy inside.
"呵呵,"李皓珺惭愧一笑,不过被自己的心上人这样称呼,还真是心里美滋滋的.
Qin Wenjing pulled Li Haojun closer by his arm and explained,
覃文静搂着李皓珺的胳膊往怀里拉了拉,又解释说,
"Have them come over. That way your little thoughts won't wander off, right?"
"叫她们过来,这样你的小心思就不用往外飞了,是不是?"
Li Haojun grinned widely, unable to utter a word. Gusts of wind swept snowflakes from the treetops, where they danced in the sunlight—crystal clear and translucent—before drifting down to settle on both of them. Tan Wenjing's long hair, whipped by the wind, carried her scent toward him, along with the smile on her face as she turned to look back. In Li Haojun's eyes at that moment, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
李皓珺咧着嘴嘿嘿地笑,什么也说不出来,阵风吹落树梢一片片雪花,在阳光里飘舞,晶莹剔透,随风洒落两个人身上.覃文静风中吹起的长发,迎面带来她的气息,和她回眸的笑脸,此刻在李皓珺的眼里,她是那样的美丽.
On the walk back, Li Haojun waited for her reply. Today wasn't a workday—perhaps Kesiya and Malaya were out like him, or busy with their own daily chores. Was he just imagining things?
散步回程的路上,李皓珺等待着对方的回复消息,今天不是工作日,也许凯西娅和玛莱雅也像自己一样出门了,或者忙着自己生活中的琐事.或许是自己自作多情?
Qin Wenjing didn't notice Li Haojun's distracted state, instead walking along while muttering to herself about how she would spend Christmas.
覃文静并没有留意李皓珺的心不在焉,只是自己边走边自言自语地设想着圣诞节怎么过,
If they come together, we should prepare small gifts for them. After all, they're young and our juniors. Think about what they might like. If they arrive early, we can explore the town together and head home in the evening.
"如果她们一起过来的话,我们得给她们准备小礼物,毕竟她们还年轻,是晚辈,你想想,送什么她们会喜欢.如果她们来得早,我们就一起去小镇上逛一逛,晚上回家,"
After walking a few steps, Qin Wenjing paused to think for a moment and said,
没走几步,覃文静又想了想说,
I wonder if they'll take an air taxi and land right at our front door?
"不知道她们会不会坐空中出租车直接落到咱家大门口?"
As she spoke, Qin Wenjing pointed toward home, then turned to look down the road leading to the town, estimating the distance as she said,
说着,覃文静手指着家的方向,又回头看向通往小镇得道路方向,估计着距离,说,
If there's no heavy snow, you can drive to the small town for the Christmas celebrations. The round trip... well, less than an hour. You drive, but... it's best to come back before dark. Otherwise, the road lighting isn't good, and you can't drive too fast.
"如果没有下大雪的话,可以开车去小镇参加圣诞庆祝活动,路上往返...嗯,不到一小时,你开车,嗯...但是最好天黑前回来,不然路上照明不好,不能开太快,"
Li Haojun, who had remained silent all along, couldn't help but ask,
一直默默无语的李皓珺忍不住问,
Are you sure they'll definitely come over?
"你确定人家一定会来做客吗?"
Qin Wenjing paused for a moment, thought about it, and said,
覃文静愣了一下,想了想说,
"Probably. I think Malaya's a pretty good girl. We hit it off really well."
"应该会吧,我觉得玛莱雅挺好的姑娘,我们聊得很投机,"
Qin Wenjing paused for a moment before saying,
覃文静又想了想说,
I haven't met Kesiya myself. What's she like? I mean, do the two of them make decisions together?
"凯西娅我倒是没接触过,她是什么样啊?我是说,她们俩是姐姐做决定吗?"
"Not really. I think the younger sister is smarter—she seems quite calculating—while the older sister is more emotional."
"好像也不是,我觉得妹妹更聪明,似乎满有心机的,倒是姐姐更加感性一些,"
"Oh, I see," Qin Wenjing said, and said no more.
"哦,是这样," 覃文静不再说什么了,
Li Haojun, however, grew increasingly uneasy inside. Malaya was a young woman, always so sharp and perceptive. Though they'd known each other for some time, she had always remained in his mind as distant and pure as a fairy.
反倒是李皓珺内心越发忐忑起来,玛莱雅是一位少女,她总是那么聪慧精明,虽然相处不短,可是她在自己心中一直都是如同仙女一样圣洁美丽的距离.
Kesiya, on the other hand, was quite close to me. Yet she was still young, in the prime of her life, with countless possibilities ahead. Who knows when she might set out on her own path in life.
凯西娅倒是与自己很亲密,然而她也正年轻,芳华正茂,她的未来还有很多可能性,不知何时,或许她就要走上属于自己的人生道路.
It had been a long time since they last parted ways, and he hadn't seen her in ages. He wondered how much she had changed. As this thought crossed his mind, Li Haojun couldn't help but examine himself. Was he starting to worry about something? Had he become too greedy? Had his initial pity and care gradually blossomed into love for her?
自从上次分开已经很久没有见过她了,也不知道她是都已经变了.想到这里,李皓珺不由得审视自己,自己是不是在开始担心什么了?自己是不是太贪心了,从开始的怜悯与关爱,慢慢地开始爱上了她?
Perhaps it's simply that I've grown accustomed to their presence by my side. Yet that lingering concern within me, that unease deep in my heart, never ceases to remind me.
或许,这只是自己只是习惯了她们存在于自己的身边.只是这内心的那一丝牵挂,和内心的那份担忧,却无时不提醒着自己.
Just as he was about to reach home, Li Haojun felt the notification for a new message. But he didn't check it right away. He wanted to get back inside, settle down, and then look at the message. Or maybe it was just his procrastination kicking in.
就在快回到家里的时候,李皓珺感受到了新消息的提醒,但是他并没有立刻查看结果,他想回到室内坐定了,再去查看消息.或者仅仅是,自己的拖延症.
Returning to the living room, Qin Wenjing went into the inner room to take off her coat. Li Haojun sat in a chair scrolling through new messages—it was a reply from Malaya. She said both she and her sister would be coming. Malaya listed several flight schedules for different departures, asking which time would be more convenient. She was always so thoughtful and reliable.
回到客厅,覃文静回里屋去脱外衣了,李皓珺坐在椅子上翻看新的消息,是玛莱雅回复的,她说她和姐姐都会过来.玛莱雅列举了几个班次过来的航班时刻,问哪个时间比较方便,她总是那样的周到稳妥.
Li Haojun was checking the schedules of different flights when Tan Wenjing leaned in. Her head came close, and a strand of hair brushed against Li Haojun's cheek, tickling him.
李皓珺正查看着不同航班时刻,这时覃文静也凑了过来,她的头探过来,发丝正好划过李皓珺的脸庞,痒痒的.
Li Haojun couldn't help but take her hand, studying her face as he asked,
李皓珺不由拉起她的手,一边端详着她的脸庞,一边问,
"When do you think would be a good time to invite them over?"
"你看邀请她们什么时间过来比较合适?"
Qin Wenjing looked at it for a moment and muttered to herself,
覃文静查看了一会儿,自言自语地说,
"If they'd come a little earlier, we could have gone to the town festival parade," she said, snatching Li Haojun's keyboard and sending a message to ask.
"如果她们更早一点过来我们就可以去参加小镇的节日巡游,"说着,她抢过李皓珺的键盘,直接发了消息过去询问,
Li Haojun was a bit surprised. Since she was so eager to invite other women over, she changed the subject and asked,
李皓珺有点吃惊,她这么热衷于邀请另外的女性前来,便拐了个弯问,
Would they enjoy joining in the fun?
"她们会喜欢凑热闹吗?"
Qin Wenjing glanced at Li Haojun and asked,
覃文静看了李皓珺一眼,问,
"Don't you like it?"
"你不喜欢吗?"
"Me? Hah, maybe you know me better than I do," Li Haojun chuckled self-deprecatingly, then slipped his arm around Qin Wenjing's waist, gently caressing her as if to make up for his usual generosity toward the women around him.
"我?呵呵,也许你了解我更多吧,"说着李皓珺自嘲地笑了,然后把手搂在了覃文静的腰,轻轻抚摸,似乎是对于她对于自己身边女性的大方的某些补偿.
"Yes, I understand you," Qin Wenjing replied with certainty, her eyes fixed on Li Haojun's. Yet it seemed she'd only spoken half her mind; after a moment's hesitation, she turned back to stare at the screen, waiting for his reply. Li Haojun could only wrap both arms around her waist from behind, drawing her close once more.
"是的,我了解你," 覃文静回头望着李皓珺的眼睛,很肯定地回答,但是似乎她只把话说了一半,迟疑一下就又回头去盯着屏幕等对方回消息了.李皓珺只好又用双手从背后搂着她的腰,与她亲昵.
Qin Wenjing was thoroughly enjoying herself too. She leaned back into Li Haojun's embrace and murmured softly,
覃文静也很享受,往后一坐,靠在李皓珺怀里,喃喃说道,
You're better off with them than with those field agents.
"你和她们一起,总比和那些外勤一起好."