Li Xiyu told the story word by word in a gentle voice, bringing a strange yet familiar feeling to Song Jiaye.
Different from Li Xiyu's sadness, when he heard these verses, he felt calm instead. In front of him, there seemed to be a man in a worn - out navy winter coat. Facing the snowy scenery outside the window, he wrote these words stroke by stroke, almost devoutly, as if he were making a pilgrimage.
Song Jiaye could feel his calmness, the calmness after years of precipitation and the changes of time.
It wasn't that he had let go or abandoned something. He had grown up and learned to deal with his feelings in a more mature way.
However, at this point, the translator Li Xiyu found it hard to continue. She took several deep breaths to stop herself from losing control and shedding tears.
Song Jiaye wasn't a fool. Every time Li Xiyu read this poem, she seemed unable to go on. After reading two lines, she would choke with sobs, her eyes red and tears welling up, looking so pitiful.
Song Jiaye felt a bit heart - ache. He said, "Don't read it anymore."
Li Xiyu didn't expect her emotions to be so hard to control. Before going to the museum and seeing that broken hairpin, she wasn't so sure about the identity of the owner of this collection of poems. She still harbored a fantasy that Zhou Donglin hadn't suffered any harm.
Now, she knew.
The collection of poems was real, and so was the harm.
The heart - ache and guilt for Zhou Donglin made it difficult for her to read this collection of poems that she knew by heart.
However, this matter was different from others.
Li Xiyu knew that whether Zhou Donglin's story could be a story broadcast on TV and whether she could find out the truth about what had happened to Zhou Donglin all depended on Song Jiaye's decision. If he lost interest in this story and stopped the planned movie, Li Xiyu would have no way to explore the truth and would be very anxious.
Li Xiyu adjusted her mindset and said, "I can do it. This is really a great collection of poems. I didn't do well. I'll pay attention."
Seeing Li Xiyu being so serious and hard - working, Song Jiaye just felt heart - ache.
He handed Li Xiyu a tissue and said, "I really like this story."
Even though Li Xiyu didn't mention a single word, Song Jiaye understood her worries and difficulties at this moment.
Actually, Li Xiyu was just over - thinking.
This was his dream, a dream that had troubled him and once obsessed him. How could he not like it?
He just didn't expect that Li Xiyu was such a crybaby. It was just a collection of poems.
To comfort Li Xiyu, Song Jiaye said, "Well, those who are good at writing are most skillful at playing with words. Although this story is touching, who knows how much of it is true and how much is false?"
What Song Jiaye said was worse than not comforting at all. Li Xiyu, who was only a bit sad before, was now directly angry.
"What did you say! How could this be false?"
"I said..."
At this time, Sister Liu poked her head out from the kitchen and shouted,
"Mr. Song, Miss, breakfast is ready."
Li Xiyu was angry. She ignored Song Jiaye and got up and went straight to the kitchen.
Song Jiaye was still standing there, completely confused.
What on earth had he done to offend Li Xiyu? How could she turn from a crybaby into a firecracker in such a short time?
Sister Liu cooked three bowls of noodles and fairly put a fried egg in each bowl.
After Song Jiaye sat down, he casually put his fried egg into Li Xiyu's bowl.
Li Xiyu looked a bit surprised.
Actually, Song Jiaye wanted to apologize to Li Xiyu. However, at this moment, the little pride that men never lose no matter what age they are kicked in. He made up an excuse on the spot: "I don't like eating eggs."
Li Tong, who had seen everything clearly, wasn't happy. He pouted and said to Song Jiaye, "Uncle - in - law, I want one too."
Song Jiaye glared at him and said, "Ask Aunt Liu to fry one for you."
Seeing Li Tong looking unhappy and left out, Li Xiyu thought that Li Tong must be afraid of being abandoned by her and Song Jiaye because his mother had left, so he was vying for attention here.
Li Xiyu picked up the fried egg in her bowl and was about to give both eggs to Li Tong, but someone stopped her.
Song Jiaye saw through her thoughts at a glance and reminded her,
"We're not too poor to afford eggs. Just ask Sister Liu to fry another one."
Li Tong pouted and snorted.
"Bad uncle - in - law."
If it had been before, Li Tong would definitely have added, "Tongtong will never like you again."
However, now, even when Li Tong was angry, he didn't dare to say this sentence.
He was afraid that if he said it, they would stop liking him and send him back to the Li Mansion where there was no longer his mother.
Seeing Li Tong lowering his head and looking so lost, Li Xiyu felt really sorry for him. She looked at Song Jiaye unhappily and said, "It's just one or two eggs. Can't we just make Tongtong happy?"
Song Jiaye had a different opinion.
"Li Tong has to get through this."
"He's just a child!"
"It's okay. He'll get over it."
This was Song Jiaye's experience.
In fact, Li Tong was quite lucky. At least he wasn't driven out of the family, and at least there were so many people around caring about him.
"You make it sound so easy. Have you ever gone through it?"
As soon as Li Xiyu said this, she realized she had said the wrong thing.
Song Jiaye's parents seemed to have passed away a long time ago.
She quickly apologized, "Sorry."
"I understand him, so I know how to help him get out of this. If he can't accept this fact all the time, he'll become more and more extreme."
Song Jiaye, who had come out of this kind of family - related loss, had his own way of education.
Li Xiyu had never really taken care of a child, so she could only follow Song Jiaye's advice. However, looking at this little guy, she still felt a bit heart - ache.
After breakfast, Li Tong went back to his room dejectedly. Song Jiaye followed him. Li Xiyu was worried and wanted to follow too, but Song Jiaye stopped her.
"A chat between men. Ladies stay out."
Hearing this, Li Xiyu had no choice but to stop obediently.
Song Jiaye walked into the room. Li Tong was sitting curled up on the shoe - changing stool, hugging his doll.
Seeing Song Jiaye coming, Li Tong turned his face away. "Bad uncle - in - law."
"Where is uncle - in - law bad?"
"Uncle - in - law won't let Tongtong eat the egg."
"Why does Tongtong want the egg in Big Aunt's bowl?"
Li Tong turned his face away and didn't answer this question directly.
"Uncle - in - law won't let Tongtong eat it."
"Because that was what uncle - in - law gave to Big Aunt."
"Aunt has uncle - in - law's care, but Tongtong doesn't." Li Tong lowered his head.
"But Tongtong also had an egg in his own bowl. Didn't Aunt Liu fry an egg for Tongtong later? Tongtong didn't even finish it. If he couldn't eat it, why did he still want it?"
Li Tong remained silent. Li Xiyu, who was peeping outside, was extremely anxious.