Three months ago, in the old city of Shanghai, deep in a narrow Shikumen alley.
"Click, click" – the sound of a sewing machine echoes through the cramped tailor's shop, like some kind of ancient metronome. Xu Meifeng stepped on the pedal, and her hands skillfully guided a large piece of snow-white satin through the machine. Outside the window, the summer twilight gradually enveloped the alley, and the neighbor's radio heard the singing of Huangmei opera, intertwined with the sound of the sewing machine.
"Auntie, I'll pick up the cheongsam tomorrow!" The voice of a guest came from the door.
"Okay, do it on time!" Xu Meifeng replied without raising her head, and the movements in her hands did not pause at all.
The curtain of the tailor's shop was lifted by the wind, revealing the silhouette of a man. Xu Meifeng saw the blurred shadow of her fiancé Chen Shusheng through the old glass window. He always wears that dusty overalls coat with frayed cuffs, like a wild cat curled up at the base of a wall, quiet and mysterious.
"Miho." Chen Shusheng called softly, with an imperceptible excitement in his voice.
Xu Meifeng raised her head, and the tiredness on her face instantly turned into a smile: "Ah Sheng, did you get off work so early today?" "
Chen Shusheng did not answer directly, but carefully took out a document bag from his backpack and placed it on the workbench next to the sewing machine: "I applied for annual leave. "
"Annual leave?" Xu Meifeng stopped the pedal, a little surprised, "Didn't you say that you were going to save up for a holiday for a wedding?" "
Chen Shusheng's eyes flashed with a strange brilliance, which was a look that Xu Meifeng rarely saw - like a child who had found some treasure.
"Meifeng, I want to go to the mountains to shoot stars." He opened the file bag, took out a yellowed map, and carefully unfolded it on the workbench, "The Alps, where the starry sky is the purest in the world. "
Xu Meifeng frowned, and her fingers twitched the area of the map circled by the red pen—a ridge that had been circled in the shape of a cross.
"Australia? Nong's brain is w? She unconsciously used the Shanghai dialect, and her voice was incredulous, "Our wedding dress is not ready yet, the wedding venue has not been decided, and you are going to Australia to shoot stars now?" "
Chen Shusheng's expression did not change, he just gently stroked the red circle on the map: "It's very special there, Meifeng." That's where my father went. "
Xu Meifeng's expression softened a little. She knew that Chen Shusheng's father had died when he was very young, and he rarely talked about this past.
"Your dad loves photography, too?"
Chen Shusheng's gaze became distant: "He... I have sought the truth. "
Xu Meifeng restarted the sewing machine, and the stitches left neat marks on the white satin: "Ah Sheng, I understand your feelings about wanting to commemorate your father, but now is really not the time." Our wedding is just two months away, and there's so much to prepare..."
"We can go together." Chen Shusheng suddenly said, with a firm voice that could not be refused, "It should be regarded as a honeymoon trip in advance." "
The sound of the sewing machine stopped abruptly. Xu Meifeng raised her head, not sure if she had heard it wrong: "What did you say?" "
"Let's go together." Chen Shusheng repeated, his eyes looking directly at Xu Meifeng, "There are the answers we need." "
"What's the answer? Ah Sheng, what the hell are you talking about? Xu Meifeng felt a little uneasy.
Chen Shusheng lowered his head, took out a small notebook from his pocket, and turned one of the pages: "The Book of Revelation says that when the seventh seal is opened, the angel will blow the trumpet..."
Xu Meifeng interrupted him: "Ah Sheng, when did you start studying the Bible?" "
"It's not just the Bible, Meifeng." Chen Shusheng's voice became deep and earnest, "This is the guidance of the truth. My father found a part, but he couldn't finish it. Now, it's my turn. "
Xu Meifeng felt an inexplicable chill. She had known Chen Shusheng for three years and had never seen him like this. He has always been a quiet, rational designer, occasionally showing an unusually enthusiastic passion for photography, but never mentioning any religious beliefs.
"Ah Sheng, you scared me." Xu Meifeng said softly.
Chen Shusheng seemed to realize his gaffe, and his expression immediately returned to his usual gentleness: "I'm sorry, Meifeng." I was just... So excited. This trip is important to me and I hope you will accompany me. "
He walked up to Xu Meifeng and gently stroked her cheek: "In just two weeks, let's go to see the stars, take some beautiful photos, and then come back to prepare for the wedding." All right? "
Xu Meifeng looked at her fiancé's pleading eyes, and the uneasiness in her heart was gradually replaced by love. Maybe he just wanted to honor his father too much, she thought.
"Well," she finally compromised, "but only for two weeks, not more than a day." "
A bright smile bloomed on Chen Shusheng's face, and he leaned over to kiss Xu Meifeng's forehead: "Thank you, Meifeng." You won't regret it. "
Xu Meifeng lowered her head again and continued to sew the wedding dress, but there was a trace of doubt in her heart. As she turned the fabric, the sewing needle suddenly punctured her finger.
"Shhh
"Miho!" Chen Shusheng hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wrapped her fingers, "Be careful." "
Xu Meifeng looked at the small blood flower on the wedding dress, and an ominous premonition surged in her heart: "Blood... It's on the wedding dress..."
Chen Shusheng's gaze fell on the drop of blood, and his expression became strange: "It's okay, this is... Blessing. "
"What blessing would be marked with blood?" Xu Meifeng smiled bitterly, trying to ease the suddenly solemn atmosphere.
Chen Shusheng didn't answer, just took out the camera from his backpack, aimed at the blood and pressed the shutter. The moment the flash light turned on, Xu Meifeng saw a trace of frenzy flashing in her fiancé's eyes that she had never seen before.
"Ah Sheng," she hesitated, "your father... What exactly does it do? "
Chen Shusheng put away the camera, and his voice was surprisingly calm: "He is a seeker, Meifeng." Just like me. "
Outside the window, the last rays of the setting sun disappeared at the end of the alley. The Huangmei opera on the radio sings to the climax of the tragedy, and the heroine cries and complains of regret for being blinded by love.
Xu Meifeng looked down at the wound on her finger, the bleeding had stopped, but that uneasy premonition took root in her heart. She looked up at Chen Shusheng, who was packing up the map, and for the first time felt that she didn't really seem to know the man who was about to spend her life with.