She guessed he was still busy working and didn’t think much of it, finding a seat to eat alone.
Midway through, she called Zhang Xuelan to ask about her grandfather’s condition at the hospital.
After a few rings, the call connected.
“Hello, daughter,” Zhang Xuelan’s voice came from the receiver, tinged with fatigue. “Have you eaten yet?”
“I’m eating.”
Qian Duoduo picked up a piece of vegetable and took a small bite, mumbling, “Did the doctor say when Grandpa can be discharged?”
“Probably just today,” Zhang Xuelan said. “The doctor came for rounds this morning and said there’s one more check tomorrow morning. If the report is fine, we can handle discharge procedures.”
“That’s good.” Hearing Grandpa would soon be home, Qian Duoduo relaxed, her smile brightening. Then she remembered and asked, “How’s the discussion about hiring a caretaker going with Aunt Yang?”
“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I’d be fine,” Zhang Xuelan snorted coldly, her tone sharp. “That family said if we want a caretaker, we have to pay, but they refuse to pay. Absolutely impossible.”
Qian Duoduo felt embarrassed.
She knew Aunt Yang was stingy and liked to take advantage, so she wasn’t surprised by the conclusion.
After some thought, Qian Duoduo proposed a solution: “Then I’ll pay for the caretaker’s fees. Mom, you look around these days; don’t let Grandpa get discharged before this is settled.”
“I said no means no.”
The more sensible her daughter was, the more Zhang Xuelan worried. “Your money is hard-earned. How can you bear all the responsibility just because you earn more? I’m telling you, your Aunt Yang’s attitude is because you and your dad have spoiled her.”
“Calm down, don’t get upset,” Qian Duoduo soothed her mother patiently. “I know you’ve been holding back your anger all these years. But hiring a caretaker is for Grandpa. We can’t fight with Aunt Yang over this.”
“But…”
“Let’s solve the urgent problem first. As for the caretaker fees later, we can discuss it with them slowly,” Qian Duoduo smiled warmly. “If Aunt Yang won’t agree, we can talk to Uncle Yang.”
Zhang Xuelan, a woman of her age, understood this logic.
Indeed, her daughter was right. The caretaker was for the old man, so continuing to argue about fees with Yang Meilin was pointless.
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Xuelan sighed deeply and finally relented: “Okay, I’ll look online today and visit the labor market. I’ll try to find a caretaker as soon as possible.”
“Thanks.”
“By the way,” Zhang Xuelan suddenly changed topic and asked, “Have you heard any news from the Military Camp recently?”
Qian Duoduo cleared her throat, dodging: “Work? Everything’s going well.”
“Don’t lie, you know that’s not what I mean.” Zhang Xuelan’s voice lowered a few decibels. “So many young men, haven’t you found anyone you like?”
Qian Duoduo knew her mother was straightforward and couldn’t keep secrets.
If she found out Qian Duoduo was already in a confirmed relationship with Lu Qiming, the news would spread across the family group the next day.
Since they were still in the “trial dating” phase, it was better to wait until their relationship was stable and long-term before telling her parents.
Thinking this over, Qian Duoduo sipped her spinach soup slowly and said, “Taking it slow, still looking.”
After the call, she finished her meal.
Just as she was about to leave, her phone screen lit up again with a new WeChat message.
Baby: 【Have you finished eating?】
Not yet used to this mushy yet completely uncharacteristic contact name for Lu Qiming, Qian Duoduo pursed her lips and smiled, then replied: 【Yes.】
Qian Duoduo: 【Have you just finished?】
Baby: 【Yes】
Baby: 【I’m waiting for you at the garage】
Qian Duoduo: 【Aren’t you coming to eat at the Mess Hall?】
Baby: 【The movie starts at eight, can’t make it】
Qian Duoduo: 【Oh, okay】
Qian Duoduo: 【Wait a moment, I’m coming right now】
*
After seven in the evening, dusk deepened, the sky showing a very dark smoky gray.
Qian Duoduo touched up her makeup in the dorm, then slung her bag over her shoulder and headed to the Private Garage in the Military Camp.
A crow cawed in the distance; the last rays of sunset were nearly gone.
The familiar black SUV was parked as usual in a spot near the back.
The driver’s window was half down, and a slender, angular hand protruded, holding a cigarette between the index and middle fingers.
Blue smoke curled upward before being blown away by the evening breeze.
Qian Duoduo stopped.
She recognized the car and recognized the pale scar tracing the strong wrist bones.
She walked directly to the passenger side, opened the door, and sat inside.
The garage used voice-activated sensor lights, and because it was quiet, the lighting was dim.
The interior was dark. Lu Qiming’s tall figure was hidden in the driver’s seat; only the faint red ember of the cigarette glowed, making it impossible to see his expression.
He gave off a faintly dangerous aura.
“How did you get so busy so late?” Qian Duoduo sat down, fastening her seatbelt as she spoke.
Trying to mask her nervousness, she kept her tone as natural as possible. “This movie is nearly two hours long. You must have been hungry for a long time.”
“Too many things to handle,” Lu Qiming replied coolly. To avoid smoke drifting toward her, he casually stubbed out the cigarette.
After that, he seemed at a loss for what to say next.
Their brief opening exchange ended after just one round.
A moment later, the engine started, and the black SUV smoothly exited the garage, drove through the Military Camp compound’s gates, and onto the main road.
After about ten minutes on the expressway, the car interior remained quiet.
Qian Duoduo in the passenger seat pursed her lips, silently complaining to herself: They’re probably the most ‘couple-like’ couple in the world who don’t actually seem like a couple.
Other young couples were inseparable, endlessly chatting and sticking together whenever they met.
Not like them, where every interaction was a painstaking search for conversation topics.
She bowed her head slightly and unconsciously fiddled with the hem of her clothes, preparing to randomly say something to break the awkwardness.
Then the man in the driver’s seat spoke.
“I looked up the synopsis and trailer for this movie while waiting for you,” Lu Qiming suddenly said.
Qian Duoduo quickly followed his lead and asked, “Really? What did you think?”
“I didn’t understand it at all.”
“…Trailers usually don’t show detailed plots,” Qian Duoduo cleared her throat and smiled. “They’re just about the visuals and characters; you don’t need to fully understand.”
“The synopsis says it’s a romance film about reunion after the war?”
“Yes.” Qian Duoduo nodded and smiled. “The male lead is a Spanish officer from World War II. I read some reviews and spoilers; the movie is like the male lead’s memoirs, looking back at himself and the person he loves from his perspective. Both leads are Spain’s top-tier actors, and both were nominated for the Goya Award thanks to this film.”
“Oh…” Worried Lu Qiming might not know about the Goya Award, Qian Duoduo hurried to explain, “The Goya Award is a prestigious film award in Spain.”
Lu Qiming drove while attentively listening to her.
When she finished speaking, he lightly curved his mouth and said, “I feel good.”
Qian Duoduo was puzzled and could only guess: “You mean, you feel this movie is good after hearing me talk about it?”
He said no.
He tilted his head slightly, dark eyes fixed on her lightly made-up face. “Just being alone with you like this in broad daylight, I feel good.”
“…”
Qian Duoduo was stunned. Warmth welled up from her heart, flowing drop by drop into her palms, mixed with the sweet taste of sugarcane.
Her ears flushed red again and again.
She was incredibly grateful the car interior was dim, perfectly hiding her blush.
After a moment, she cleared her throat, looked ahead, lips curving upwards uncontrollably, but her tone was light and casual: “Drive carefully, don’t look around.”
*
Alejandro was a pillar of European art cinema; every film he made was a classic.
‘The Time Forgotten by Roses’ was no exception.
The story began with the male lead as a white-haired old man lying on a sickbed.
His aged, wrinkled hand unfolded a dusty preserved rose and slowly sank into memories — a forbidden love lost in the fog of war.
Love stories set against war were always tragic yet grand.
The leads suffered multiple separations and deaths, ultimately ending up apart, living only in long memories.
By the time the end credits rolled, Qian Duoduo’s eyes were already teary.
They left the cinema after ten o’clock at night.
The mall where the cinema was located had shut off its lights and closed; the pedestrian street below was quiet and desolate, with empty bars and milk tea shops.
Only a few dry leaves drifted in the north wind, spinning lightly as they disappeared.
Qian Duoduo walked silently, eyes lowered, still immersed in the emotional impact of the film’s heartbreaking ending.
Beside her, Lu Qiming’s posture was upright and sharp, quietly following her.
Seeing her small, red nose from crying, he frowned slightly, his eyes showing a helpless yet doting tenderness.
He didn’t say a word, only handed her a tissue.
“Thank you.”
Qian Duoduo took it carefully, afraid of smudging her makeup, and gently dabbed at her eyes. Even after, her nose still stung, and her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.
Lu Qiming watched her quietly for a moment before finally speaking.
“Duoduo.” He called her by her childhood nickname.
“Hmm?” She responded, her voice thick with nasal sound.
“The movie plot just now… it was fake.”
Qian Duoduo raised her wet eyelashes, looking a bit puzzled at him: “I know.”
“So don’t be sad.”
“Even if it’s fake, it’s really touching… The male and female leads love each other but can’t be together, one never marries, the other never marries — it’s heartbreaking to think about.”
She sniffed, paused, feeling embarrassed.
Turning her head away so he wouldn’t see her tear-streaked face, she murmured, “I’m sometimes like this, overly sentimental. I get emotional when I see touching things. You don’t have to mind me. I’ll stop crying soon.”
Hearing this, Lu Qiming was silent.
After a long moment, he sighed softly and said, “But seeing you cry makes me very heartbroken.”