Nini

  Maybe it was the thrill of a new marriage, or maybe lovers are always more passionate than husbands. In any case, for six days, Zhang Jin lived in Ye Hong's single apartment, and he thoroughly enjoyed the warmth and tenderness that he had not experienced in years of marriage.

  For several days, Zhang Jin had not gone out for sightseeing or travel except for occasionally going out with Ye Hong to buy vegetables or adding two pieces of clothing as props. He was always focused on staying in Ye Hong's little nest, doing household chores. Although Ye Hong, who had a strong sense of career, did not take time off to accompany Zhang Jin, every day at noon after work she would rush back for a moment of tenderness, and every night until midnight, their passionate entanglement was destined to become an unforgettable moment in Zhang Jin's life.

  But no matter how beautiful the music is, there will always be a time when it ends. After six days, Zhang Jin also finally had to leave.

  Looking at Ye Hong, who was helping herself pack her luggage with a faint mist in her eyes but still forcing a smile, Zhang Jin felt a pang of sadness. In fact, he really wanted to say "Yezi, come back with me!" But in the end, he didn't say it out loud. Because he knew Ye Hong wouldn't agree, just like how she had chosen divorce over giving up her career a few months ago. Lovely stubbornness and persistence, hateful career ambitions and professional aspirations!

  The oppressive atmosphere filled with the sorrow of parting made Zhang Jin somewhat uncomfortable, and he forced a smile to say: "Yehzi, you don't have to be busy. When I came, I didn't bring anything, wasn't it fine? How did it become that when we came, our hands were empty, but now they're full of big and small packages?"

  Ye Hong also temporarily got rid of the sorrow of parting, and said with a smile: "How can I come here without bringing any gifts for my relatives and friends to take back?" As she spoke, Ye Hong called Zhang Jin, who was sitting on one side doing nothing, to her side, pointing at each package in the suitcase and muttering: "Remember, this is for my dad... this is for my mom... this is for Mengmeng..."

  …………

  Time is always so ruthless, never stopping for anyone, it's always walking with such persistence and precision. It has walked through Zhang Jin and Ye Hong's reluctant farewell, walked through the two people's lingering goodbye. In the end, mercilessly taking away the plane carrying Ye Hong's loved one from her sight.

  …………

  Yeh Hong's mood was gloomy as she watched the plane gradually disappear into the distance, while Zhang Jin on the plane also felt dazed and confused as the ground below was quietly obscured by white clouds.

  Until the A330 soared into the blue sky, Zhang Jin was still carefully recalling every detail of the past few days, feeling stunned. Anxiety, tension, fear, loss, sweetness, reluctance... a mix of emotions that even he himself didn't know what flavor it was, this should be what they call "a hundred flavors mixed together".

  Zhang Jin maintained this state of daydreaming for a long time, until the in-flight meal service began, when he was interrupted by the warm and friendly service of the flight attendants.

  Zhang Jin mechanically took the meal box handed over by the flight attendant, and woodenly scooped a spoonful of rice into his mouth. Zhang Jin had just chewed for a moment before he couldn't help but spit it out again. His dazed spirit was also thoroughly awakened by the "unbeatable" taste and flavor. After this one bite, Zhang Jin finally understood what "tasting like wax" really meant. The rice not only tasted like paraffin wax, but its flavor was almost identical. "I thought the airplane food of our country's airlines was already bad enough, but I didn't expect Malaysia Airlines' to be even more unbearable! Our chickens at home wouldn't even eat this."

  As mentioned earlier, Zhang Jin liked good food but was never picky. However, this time he really couldn't swallow it down, was it really that inedible?

  Furrowing his brow, he took a glance at the canteen box that made him tremble with fear, and then swept a look around at several fellow prisoners who, although also frowning, were still shoveling rice into their mouths as if they were being punished. Zhang Jin stood up, opened the luggage rack above his head, pretending to take something out of his bag, but in reality, he secretly took out several packages from his storage space.

  Carefully looking around, confirming that no one had discovered his little move, Zhang Jin closed the suitcase door and sat down with a few packages. First, he scanned again the difficult "塞饭" neighbor, accumulated a sense of superiority, and then opened the package with an even better mood, taking big bites.

  Master chef's handmade 'Fruit Fragrance Milk Cake' is sweet and soft; Master chef's handmade 'Braised Beef in Soy Sauce' is rich and savory; Master chef's roasted 'Kung Pao Chicken' has an unparalleled mouthfeel...

  After comparing with the in-flight meal, something that was already extremely delicious became even more so; after contrasting with the 'neighbors' around, the sense of happiness when savoring the food also became stronger. As they say, "happiness built on others' suffering is the greatest happiness".

  Zhang Jin, who didn't care about his image at all, was eating with a happy mood and a big smile on his face, but the poor passengers sitting next to him were miserable. It's already difficult to maintain one's dignity while eating airplane food, and then Zhang Jin came along, making it feel like others were eating bird's nest and shark fin soup while he was gnawing on a cold bun, how could they swallow?

  Although the people around couldn't help but swallow their saliva, this was first class after all. The passengers sitting in first class were basically all well-off, and almost everyone attached great importance to dignity and face. Even if they were tempted by the aroma and swallowed their saliva, they could only put on a calm and composed expression, unwilling to show their greed. However, the reason it's said that "almost" is because there was an exception among them.

  Just as Zhang Jin was enjoying his meal at the small table, a round and chubby little face suddenly appeared from one side of the table. It was a three or four-year-old little girl who had to stand on tiptoes to barely expose part of her face above the tabletop. Her pink cheeks matched with big black eyes and a small nose, and at this moment she was sucking on her fingers, that lovely appearance made Zhang Jin want to secretly steal her away, put her in his pocket and take her home to keep!

  Note that it is necessary to emphasize here, Zhang Jin is absolutely not a lolicon or any kind of otaku enthusiast. It's just that this little girl is too cute and too adorable!

  When she saw the little girl staring at her hands with a pair of big eyes, blinking occasionally, and making loud "gulugulu" sounds while swallowing saliva. Zhang Jin kept his right hand holding a palm-thick slice of beef and his left hand pinching a golden-colored cake, frozen in place, and said with a smile that seemed to know the answer: "Little beauty, do you have something to do with Uncle?" The expression, no matter how you look at it, looks like the legendary perverted uncle.

  After listening to Zhang Jin's question, the little girl blinked her big eyes, took a step back, and with a gentle gesture, she lifted the hem of her princess dress, curtsied lightly, and said politely: "Uncle, hello, I'm Nini!" As she spoke, she stretched out her right hand like a little adult.

  The little girl's cute appearance, like a young lady, almost made Zhang Jin utter that classic line - Little sister, do you want Uncle to take you to see the goldfish?

  Fortunately, Zhang Jin managed to maintain his last bit of elegance. He smiled warmly and formally nodded: "Hello Miss Nini, my surname is Zhang, you can call me Uncle Zhang!" As he said this, under the 'fiery' gaze of Xiaoyu's eyes, he put down the shiny beef in his right hand, wiped it with a tissue on the side, and then extended his hand to shake hands with Xiaoyu who was waiting there.

  "Now Miss Nini can tell Uncle Zhang, what's the matter with you looking for Uncle?" After releasing Xiaoyi's small hand, Zhang Jin continued to ask knowingly.

  The little girl was a bit embarrassed, and in a low voice, she stuttered: "Nini just...just wanted to ask, Uncle Zhang what were you eating earlier? Was it delicious?"

  "Is Nini telling Uncle first, is what Nini eating now delicious?" Seeing Xiaoyao putting her left hand into her mouth again, Zhang Jin couldn't help but tease.

  The little girl hastily pulled out her left hand from her mouth and put it behind her back, her face red like an apple, and said in a flustered tone: "It's not delicious, it's not delicious!"

  Zhang Jin looked at the cute little girl and couldn't help but smile again. He handed her a tissue to wipe her hands, then put on a serious face and said: "Uncle is very silly, so he didn't eat well before, doesn't know if it's good or not! I wonder if Uncle has the honor of inviting Miss Nini to help taste it?"

  The little girl who was originally lowering her head with some embarrassment, after hearing Zhang Jin's words, suddenly raised her head, a pair of big eyes radiating a vast amount of starlight, replied in a voice that was both milky and crisp, and couldn't wait: "Good!"