After a good night's sleep, Li Haojun and Kasiya began another day of work. Kasiya was assigned to collect and compile the quantities and models of the facility's equipment, as well as verify their nameplate information. Li Haojun intended to send Kasiya on this task first before assigning the cleaning duties to the facility's laborers. Since teaching them the cleaning procedures would be rather complicated, Kasiya was assigned this task first.
经过一个好的睡眠,李皓珺和凯西娅又迎来了新的一天的工作,凯西娅被安排了收集统计设施设备的数量,型号,以及确认它们的铭牌信息.刚想要打发凯西娅去做这项工作然后再给设施内劳动力大兵们安排清洗工作,因为教他们清洁程序比较繁琐,所以才先安排的凯西娅.
However, Li Haojun now considered her safety. Beyond these adolescent soldiers, even stationary equipment posed risks. Though Kasiya served as her work assistant, that was strictly professional—she couldn't treat her own child as a tool.
但是,李皓珺这时想到了她的安全问题,除了这些个青春期大兵,即便是静止的设备也有安全隐患,凯西娅虽然是自己的工作助手,但那只是工作而已,可不能把自己的宝贝当工具使用.
Li Haojun then called Kasiya over and kept her by his side. Citing the need to oversee technical details and ensure work quality, he summoned the soldiers' commanding officer and arranged for them to work under military supervision. He then summoned the facility operations manager, instructing him to bring technical documentation and accompany Li and Kasiya on an inspection of existing equipment. Upon inquiry, it became clear that the operational team lacked dedicated safety and environmental protection personnel.
于是李皓珺叫住了凯西娅,把她留在了自己身边.以管辖工作技术细节,保证工作质量的原由找来大兵们的长官,安排他们在军事长官监督下工作.然后又找来设施操作主管带上技术资料陪同自己和凯西娅巡查现有设备,经过询问才知道,操作运营队伍里没有配备安全环保专业人员.
Li Haojun glanced at Kasiya beside him and thought to himself: Given how inadequate this facility is, he couldn't be blamed for holding back. He'd rather stay a few extra days and proceed methodically according to protocol. First, he summoned the camp's biochemical defense soldiers to jointly draft a preliminary cleanup plan for the site and equipment. Meanwhile, Li Haojun took Kasiya to the office, where they reviewed technical documentation while receiving updates on the cleanup progress and handling details.
李皓珺看了一眼身边的凯西娅,心想,既然这个设施的情况是这样不完备,那就别怪自己不出力了,只能宁可多待几天按照程序慢慢来了.先把营地防生化士兵调来,一起制定了初步清理场地和设备工作计划,李皓珺则带着凯西娅在办公室一边熟悉技术资料,一边听取现场清理进度和处理工作细节.
However, while reviewing the documentation, Li Haojun discovered that the equipment specifications for this facility differed significantly from other facilities. The petri dish dimensions, interface types, and quantities all deviated considerably from standard equipment. Li Haojun selected several examples to show Kasiya.
但是在查看资料的过程中李皓珺发现这个设施的设备规格与其它设施不尽相同,培养皿尺寸,接口种类和数量,都与一般常用设备有较大偏差,李皓珺挑选了几个给凯西娅看.
Kesiya watched for a moment, then asked softly,
凯西娅看了一会儿,轻声问,
"What's wrong, Ethan?"
"怎么了?伊森,"
"Look at the size—it's not meant for humans," Li Haojun murmured softly.
"你看尺寸,不是给人类用的," 李皓珺轻声说,
"Oh," Kesiya replied, glancing at the spot Li Haojun was pointing to.
"哦,"凯西娅一边答应着,一边看李皓珺给她指到的地方,
What surprised Li Haojun even more was that some of the culture dishes were designed to withstand positive or negative pressure, some featured electromagnetic shielding, and others were placed within some kind of field-generating apparatus. This seemed to suggest that the organisms inside possessed certain specialized functions or inhabited environments distinct from ordinary Earth conditions.
更让李皓珺诧异的是有些培养皿是耐正压或者负压的,有的是带电磁屏蔽的,而有的培养皿是被置于某种场生成装置中的,似乎可以推断其中的生物是有某些功能的,或者生活于非普通地球环境的.
Another unplanned day had come to an end. Li Haojun had once considered raising the issue of service procedures with the company to improve efficiency, but given the confidentiality requirements, it proved difficult to implement. He eventually abandoned the idea.
就这样非计划的一天又过去了,李皓珺曾想要与公司反映一下这种服务工作的程序,以便提高效率,怎奈限于保密要求不太容易实现,于是打消了这个念头.
After dinner, the two decided to go for a walk. Snow had sealed off the valley, so they could only stroll along the wooden porch of the inn. Yet from the outdoor veranda, they could see the stars in the southern sky. Li Haojun took Kasiya's hand and tucked it into his pocket to keep it warm, which inevitably reminded him of that rainy night with Malaya.
晚餐过后,两人决定出去散散步.山谷之中,大雪封山,只能在旅店的木制门廊上走一走,但是在室外门廊可以看到南方天空的星辰.李皓珺拉着凯西娅的手,把她的手插在自己兜里保暖,这不由得想起了自己与玛莱雅的那个雨夜.
But recalling the perceptual abilities of Kesiya that had been verified yesterday, Li Haojun quickly refocused his attention and asked,
可是想到昨天验证的凯西娅的感知力,李皓珺赶紧调整了自己脑中的注意力,便问,
How do you know so much about stars? Is it a hobby?
"你是怎么知道那么多关于星星的知识的?是爱好吗?"
"It's not my hobby, it's Malaya's. She used to tell me about it when we'd watch the stars together." As she spoke, Kasiya glanced at Li Haojun. Walking along the porch, the dim light cast a silhouette of her profile.
"不是我的爱好,是玛莱雅,过去我们一起看星星的时候她经常讲给我听,"说着凯西娅看了李皓珺一眼,门廊里的散步,昏暗的灯光正好照在她一侧的身影轮廓,
After gazing at them for so long, I've grown to love watching the stars. Sometimes I even feel that's where our home truly lies.
"看的时间长了,我也喜欢看星星了,有时候我甚至觉得那才是我们的家,"
Kesiya paused for a moment and sighed,
凯西娅停顿了一会儿,叹息说,
"Perhaps it's nostalgia for our childhood,"
"也许是怀念我们的童年吧,"
Li Haojun squeezed her hand in sympathy, thinking to himself that it was this world that owed them that warmth, making her feel that the distant cold star was her home. He said,
李皓珺握了握她的手以表同情,心想,是这个世界欠她们那份温情,才会让她觉得遥远的寒星是她的家,便说,
"Then may I accompany you on your journey here?" The words had barely left his mouth when Li Haojun regretted his bold promise. He already had a partner, Qin Wenjing, yet here he was pledging to accompany someone else.
"那我陪伴你在这里的旅程好吗,"话刚出口,李皓珺便后悔自己说了大话.明明自己还有伴侣覃文静,却还信誓旦旦地说陪伴人家,
Kesiya didn't say anything either; she just glanced at Li Haojun.
凯西娅也没说什么,只是看了看李皓珺,
"I mean, wherever I can be there for you, I'll be by your side," Li Haojun hurriedly explained.
"我是说,只要我能做到的地方,我就陪伴你," 李皓珺急忙解释一下,
Kesiya glanced at Li Haojun but still said nothing.
凯西娅看了看李皓珺,依旧没说什么,
What I mean is, I hope I can bring you some warmth, if I can, no, if you'd like.
"我的意思是,我希望能带给你些温暖,如果我能的话,不不,如果你喜欢的话," Although Li Haojun tried his best to explain and make himself clear, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
李皓珺虽然尽力解释,想表达清楚,但是总觉得有些不妥,
"Actually, I understand your situation right now," Kasiya said calmly. She took a deep breath of the cold winter night air and continued,
"其实我也明白你当前的状况," 凯西娅平和地说,她深吸了一口冬夜里的冷气,又接着说,
My sister isn't like me. It seems she doesn't need one either—no partner, no man, or even emotional companionship.
"我妹妹就不像我这样,好像她也不需要,不需要伴侣,男人,或者精神上的陪伴,"
"She's still young; it's only natural she's not focused on this," Li Haojun hurriedly interjected to explain.
"她还小,心思不在这上面也正常,"李皓珺急忙帮着解释,
No, it's just that she seems cut off from the world. Though she admires pretty clothes and watches what her peers are doing like any other girl her age, she never mingles with them. Her perspective has never aligned with that of her contemporaries.
"不是,她就是好像隔绝于尘世一样,虽然她也和别的小姑娘一样,会看好看的衣服,看她的同龄人在做什么,但是她从来不会和她们混到一起,她的视野从来没和她的同龄人一致,"
"Oh, I see," Li Haojun,
"哦,是这样,"李皓珺,
"Then why did you choose me? You could have chosen someone your own age. After all, I'm so ordinary, older, and already have a girlfriend."
"那么你,为什么要选择我呢?本来你可以选择你的同龄人啊?毕竟我这么普通,年纪又大,还有女朋友,"
Kesiya smiled, then turned to look at Li Haojun and said,
凯西娅一笑,转脸看着李皓珺说,
"Don't you think that if her sister is so special, her older sister should be allowed to have a little bit of specialness too?"
"你觉得,妹妹那么特别,她的姐姐就不能有一点特别吗?"
"You're right," Li Haojun replied, yet the doubts in his heart remained unanswered.
"你说得对," 李皓珺回答着,可是内心的疑惑并没有得到回答,
Neither of us had family. After reuniting at the orphanage, we became inseparable. When she was little, I took care of her; as she grew up, she kept me company. Besides the two of us, it seemed no one else ever entered our circle.
"我和她没有亲人,在福利院团聚之后就是一直形影不离,她小的时候就是我带她,后来她长大了就是她陪伴我,除了我们俩,好像没有其他的人进入过我们的圈子,"
"Oh, I see."
"哦,是这样,"
"Actually, I've never had a boyfriend," Kesiya murmured to herself, her voice tinged with shyness. She slowly lifted her gaze to meet Li Haojun's eyes, then flicked her bangs aside with her left hand.
"其实,我,都没谈过男朋友," 凯西娅低头自顾陈述,有一点害羞,然后缓缓抬头看了一眼李皓珺,用左手撩了一下自己低垂的刘海,
"Hmm, I can see it—the innocence and purity within you. I can see it."
"嗯,我看出来,你身上的天真纯洁,我能看得出来,"
Ha ha, she wouldn't let me. Back in school, she wouldn't let other guys get close to me.
"哈哈,她不让,上学的时候,她不让别的男生靠近我,"
"Your sister? She's such a handful."
"你妹妹吗?她那么调皮,"
"Ha ha, that's right,"
"哈哈,是啊,"
"You can't blame her—she only has you as a sister," Li Haojun explained.
"也不能怪她,她就你这么一个姐姐,"李皓珺解释说,
"Yes," said Kasiya, glancing up at the distant mountains on the other side, as if to ease the heated atmosphere. In the dim night, it was impossible to tell if her face was flushed.
"是啊,"说着凯西娅抬头看了一眼另一边的远山,似乎在舒缓火热的氛围,暗淡的夜色里看不出来是否她红着脸,
"Hey, does she object to our relationship now?" Li Haojun asked curiously.
"哎,那现在你和我的关系,她反对吗?" 李皓珺好奇地问,
"She's grown up now, not like she was when she was little, heh," Kasiya said, lowering her head and laughing self-deprecatingly.
"她也长大了,不再像小时候那样了,呵呵" 凯西娅说着低头自嘲地笑了起来,
"She can understand these things now."
"她现在能理解这些事情了,"
Li Haojun had intended to ask Malaya if she liked him too, since the young girl sometimes acted ambiguously and other times kept her distance, making her hard to read. But then he thought better of it—he didn't want to spoil the mood of the person before him—and instead asked about other things concerning her.
李皓珺本想问问玛莱雅是否也喜欢自己,因为那个小姑娘有时候表现得暧昧,有时候又表现得高冷,让人捉摸不透,转念一想还是算了,不要坏了眼前人的心情,就问到关于她别的事情,
"What did she go to study? Do you know?"
"她去学习什么了,你知道吗?"
"She didn't tell me."
"她没跟我说,"
Li Haojun couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Not only did I not understand, but even her sister was unaware.
李皓珺暗自感慨,别说我搞不清楚,就连她的姐姐都不知道,
"Call her when you have time and remind her to stay safe."
"有空的时候打电话告诉她注意安全,"
I will, don't worry. As for her, well, I think aside from needing her sister's company in daily life, she's quite independent in other ways. She's even more decisive than I am—sometimes she gives me advice, and she often thinks of things I haven't even considered.
"我会的,你不用担心,她,呵呵,我觉得除了生活中她需要姐姐陪伴以外,其它方面她挺独立的,她甚至比我都有主见,有时候还经常给我出主意,她甚至比我想到的都多,"
"Well, that puts my mind at ease. I can tell she's truly one of a kind," Li Haojun said, his curiosity piqued once more. He then asked,
"好啊,那我就放心了,我也感觉到她确实与众不同,"说着,李皓珺的好奇心又来了,便问,
"About us, did she give you any advice?"
"关于我们,她有没有给你提什么建议啊?"
Hahaha, Kacyah laughed, her laughter gentle and blissful.
哈哈哈,凯西娅笑了,笑的声音温柔而幸福,
She told me not to rush into things, to think carefully about whether he's the one you're looking for.
"她告诉我不要心太急,想清楚他是不是你要找的人,"
Oh, is that so? Then am I? Li Haojun was dying to know how Kasiya would respond.
"哦,是这样,那么我是吗?" 李皓珺很想知道凯西娅会怎么回答,
"Actually, I'm not quite sure myself. It's just that when I saw you, it felt like I knew you from before," Kasiya said, pausing in her steps. She turned to face Li Haojun, studying him closely as if trying to confirm whether this was the person she remembered.
"其实我也不太清楚,我就是看到你就觉得,好像以前认识你,"说着,凯西娅停下脚步,面对李皓珺,仔细端详,似乎在确认这是不是她所熟悉的那个人,
Her gaze was focused and serene, profound as if gazing across time and space. After staring for so long, Li Haojun couldn't bear to interrupt this affection that transcended time and space.
她的眼神专注而宁静,深邃如同穿越时空的相望,凝视许久让李皓珺不忍打断这跨越时空的眷恋.
The Milky Way spins, That unchanging, timeless longing Guides those bound by fate To meet again in the mortal world.
星河旋转,那未曾改变的穿越时空的思念,指引着那些牵绊的人儿在红尘中再次相见.
Gazing at her, Li Haojun slowly drew Kasiya into his embrace and gently kissed her lips. Though he knew not what unfinished ties bound him to this young woman, the sincerity and devotion before him could not be betrayed.
凝望中,李皓珺把凯西娅慢慢搂进怀中,轻轻亲吻她的嘴唇.虽然不知道自己与这位姑娘曾经有怎样未尽的情缘,但是眼前这片真心与痴情不能辜负.
As night deepened and the indoor lights faded, the starry sky grew ever clearer and more brilliant. Li Haojun took Kesiya's hand and stepped out onto the porch. Together they gazed up at the night sky above, as if asking the stars: Are you witnessing the experiences of people in this world? Are you guiding the bonds of affection between those who care for one another?
随着夜色更深,室内灯光熄灭,夜空中的星河越发清晰灿烂,李皓珺拉着凯西娅的手走下门廊,两人仰望头顶的夜空,似乎在询问星星,关于世间人们的经历可是你们在见证?牵挂的人们的情缘可是你们在牵引?
"If the brilliant starry sky is our home, then dazzling eternity is also a beautiful destination," Li Haojun said, tightening his embrace around Kasiya's shoulders.
"如果灿烂的星河是我们的家园,那绚丽的永恒,也是一个美丽的归宿,"说着,李皓珺搂紧凯西娅的肩膀,
"I don't want eternity—just this moment is enough," Kesiya whispered softly, her hair tousled by the wind as if it were the messy fate she'd carried since childhood, evoking pity.
"我不要永恒,我要现在就够了," 凯西娅轻声回答,风吹乱她的发丝,仿佛她从小到大凌乱的宿命,让人爱怜.
Yet the more she refused to take, the more Li Haojun felt that fate owed her too much, compelling him to give her even more.
可是她越是不要更多,越是让李皓珺觉得命运欠她太多,想要给予她更多,
"Very well, then let the eternal stars bear witness to this moment—you and I together, hearts mirroring hearts." As he spoke, Li Haojun's mind flashed to Tan Wenjing. Though that woman occupied his thoughts, at this moment Li Haojun had no choice but to relinquish the space he'd reserved for himself, making room for Kasiya to dwell within it, offering her warmth.
"好吧,那就让那些永恒的星星的眼睛见证此刻,你我相伴,心心相映,"说着,李皓珺内心闪过覃文静一刻,虽说那个女人占据着他的牵挂,此刻李皓珺不得不把留给自己的位置,让出来,让凯西娅住进去,给她温暖,
Kesiya turned her head, her smiling face illuminated by starlight as she looked at Li Haojun. Though the starry night held a profound romanticism, Li Haojun worried she might catch a chill—after all, she wasn't dressed very warmly.
凯西娅转过头,星光下她微笑的脸庞,看着李皓珺,尽管这星辰夜色极具浪漫,可是李皓珺担心她被冻感冒了,毕竟她穿得不多,
"Let's go back. It's freezing out here, and we've been out for quite a while," he said, tugging her hand.
"我们回去吧,外边这么冷,时间已经不短了,"说着拉了拉她的手,
"Sure thing,"
"好啊,"