Chapter 17 The Budding of Trust
Under Su Ran's meticulous care and in the constant, suitable environment within the fortress, the wound healed faster than expected.
Wen Yu was already in good physical condition. With ample nutrition and strict rest, by the third day, although his left arm was still painful and stiff, he was able to perform some light activities. His fever had subsided, and his complexion had returned to its usual slightly pale color. However, the faint bluish shadows left by blood loss and pain had not completely faded away.
Su Ran almost became his shadow.
It wasn't the clingy, uncomfortable kind of following, but a quiet, distant kind of thoughtfulness. He would offer Wen Yu his arm or prepare slippers when Wen Yu needed to get up; he would silently bring warm water to Wen Yu's side when Wen Yu looked at the water glass; he would strictly control the time Wen Yu spent looking at the monitor and operating the control panel, staring at him with those wet but unusually persistent eyes until Wen Yu had to look away and rest.
Most of the time, Su Ran was busy. He kept the kitchen in perfect order, and he kept a clear record of the food consumption and rotation plan in a small notebook.
The scallions and garlic in the sunroom have already sprouted tender green shoots, and the lettuce and tomato seedlings have become noticeably stronger under his care, with their leaves unfurling and their colors bright.
He even tried using a few empty tin cans and some discarded substrate to sow some bok choy and radish seeds, saying that they "grow quickly and don't take up much space."
The fortress's daily operations did not cease due to Wen Yu's injury. Energy, water, and security systems continued to function automatically. However, Wen Yu could no longer spend extended periods in the control room to monitor every detail. He needed another pair of eyes to assist him in observing certain external developments, especially those occurring at night.
On the evening of the fourth day after his injury, Wen Yu finished eating the blackfish soup and stir-fried spinach that Su Ran had specially prepared to help his wounds heal, and sat down to rest on the sofa in the small living room. His gaze fell on the secondary monitoring screen on the opposite wall.
The screen was divided into sixteen small grids, displaying real-time views of key angles around the fortress. Dusk was falling, and the snow reflected the last rays of sunlight, a desolate blue-gray.
After cleaning up the dishes and wiping her hands, Su Ran quietly walked over and placed a cup of perfectly warm grapefruit tea on the coffee table next to Wen Yu.
Today he wore a light smoky gray loose sweater, which made his skin look even whiter. His black hair fell smoothly over his forehead, and his profile looked particularly soft under the soft lighting in the living room.
He lowered his head slightly, his long eyelashes casting a faint fan-shaped shadow under his eyes, and his hands were neatly clasped in front of him, like a good student waiting for the teacher to assign homework.
Wen Yu shifted his gaze from the monitor screen to Su Ran, where it lingered for two seconds.
"Come here," he said, his voice slightly hoarse from having spoken little for the past few days.
Su Ran immediately stepped forward, raised her eyes, and looked at Wen Yu with a questioning gaze.
Wen Yu pointed to the secondary monitoring screen, then to a control panel with simple buttons and a joystick next to it: "Starting tonight, you'll be in charge of watching this screen. Especially between 8 PM and 4 AM. Focus on the area around the perimeter of the wall, and a few key points on the road leading up the mountain."
Su Ran's eyes widened slightly, seemingly surprised, followed by obvious nervousness and a hint of flattery. He glanced at the complex screen and control panel, his fingers twitching slightly, and asked softly, "I...can I do it? I'm afraid I won't be able to see it properly, or...I might break something."
"It's very simple." Wen Yu gestured for him to sit down, and then began to explain concisely and clearly using his uninjured right hand: "This is the screen switching function. Press the number keys to correspond to different camera groups in different areas. This is the pan-tilt control, which can slightly adjust the up, down, left, and right angles of the camera you are looking at. This is image enhancement, used at night. This is video playback; if you find any abnormalities, you can replay the video to confirm."
He spoke quickly, without any unnecessary words, but his steps were clear.
Su Ran listened intently, leaning slightly forward, her beautiful eyes fixed on Wen Yu's fingers and the corresponding changes on the screen, her lips unconsciously pursed as if trying to memorize.
His profile was clearly defined under the screen light, with a straight nose and a focused expression that softened his usual timidity, revealing a unique calmness.
"…That's basically it." Wen Yu finished speaking and looked at him. "Any questions?"
Su Ran blinked, seemingly quickly going through the thought process in her mind, then gently shook her head: "Not for now. I... I'll try?"
Wen Yu pushed the control panel toward him.
Su Ran took a deep breath, extended her slender, fair fingers, and tentatively pressed a number key.
The corresponding image on the screen immediately zoomed in, showing a wall covered with thick snow. He then tried slowly moving the gimbal with the joystick, and the image smoothly followed, sweeping across a snow-covered slope and several snow-laden spruce trees. His movements gradually became more stable and fluid, starting from his initial cautiousness.
"Here," Su Ran suddenly stopped and pointed to a corner of the enlarged image, where the wall met a natural rock protrusion, half-hidden by shadows and snow. "This corner seems to have a small blind spot? When the camera zooms in here, it gets blocked a little by that rock."
Wen Yu raised an eyebrow and looked in the direction Su Ran was pointing. Indeed, there was a tiny blind spot, about the size of a palm, that would be hard to spot without deliberately adjusting the angle. He had considered this in his design; the location was extremely difficult to approach from the outside and was covered by multiple other sensors. Yet, Su Ran noticed it immediately on his first try, demonstrating remarkable observational skills.
"Yes, there are other sensors there," Wen Yu explained, acknowledging his discovery.
Su Ran nodded, asked no further questions, and continued to familiarize himself with the other operations. He tried switching between several different camera groups, adjusting the night vision mode, and even tried playing back a short clip of previous footage. His learning speed was astonishing; he made almost no mistakes and quickly became proficient at switching between various monitoring angles to observe key areas.
Wen Yu leaned back on the sofa, holding a cup of lukewarm grapefruit tea in his right hand, calmly watching Su Ran operate the device. Under the warm yellow light, Su Ran's slightly furrowed brows, focused profile, the graceful curve of her slender neck, and her eyes that appeared exceptionally clear and distinct under the cold light of the screen all fell into his eyes.
This young man seems to unconsciously shed his soft protective layer when faced with these "techniques" and "details," revealing an inner calmness and intelligence.
For the next few days, night surveillance became Su Ran's regular "job." He was extremely serious, staring at the screen almost without blinking, and would also make a brief record of his observations every hour on the hour.
He even prepared a small notebook and sketched some simple diagrams, marking several places where the connection between monitoring perspectives was not smooth, or which areas were prone to snow accumulation that might affect the sensors.
One night, Wen Yu slept poorly because of the lingering pain from his wound. He got up around 2 a.m., intending to check on the control room. As he passed the small living room, he noticed the lights were still on. Su Ran was wrapped in a thin blanket, curled up on the sofa, holding a cushion in her arms, her eyes still fixed on the monitor screen.
The cold light from the screen illuminated his tired yet determined face, with faint shadows under his eyes and long eyelashes fluttering occasionally like butterfly wings. Hearing footsteps, he jolted awake, turned his head, and saw Wen Yu. He visibly relaxed, rubbed his eyes, and asked in a soft, just-awakened voice, "Mr. Wen, why are you up? Does your wound hurt?"
"It's nothing. Why don't you go to sleep?" Wen Yu glanced at the time.
"I...I'm not sleepy," Su Ran said softly, pulling the blanket tighter around herself, her gaze returning to the screen. "Things might happen in the latter half of the night, I'll keep watch for peace of mind."
Wen Yu didn't say anything, walked over, and glanced at the screen. Everything seemed normal. His gaze swept over the small notebook Su Ran had casually placed beside her. Besides the notes, there were indeed a few simple diagrams on it, and the angles and problems marked were indeed there.
"Go to sleep," Wen Yu said. "Come back at seven tomorrow morning."
Su Ran wanted to insist, but seeing Wen Yu's expressionless face, she obediently nodded, stood up, folded the blanket, and whispered, "Then... you should rest early too."
Since then, their interactions have gradually expanded beyond simple instructions and responses to include other elements.
It usually revolves around the daily operation of the fortress. For example, when Su Ran was taking stock of the food reserves, she would whisper to Wen Yu, "Mr. Wen, I think the batch of beef patties in the freezer is being used up quite quickly. Should we add some bean products or canned meat next time we cook to balance it out? Also, the potatoes seem to be showing signs of sprouting, so we need to eat them as soon as possible."
Wen Yu would sometimes simply grunt "Mmm," and sometimes add, "Soy products are on the lower shelf of storage cabinet number two. Potatoes should be consumed first; sprouted potatoes can still be eaten after removing the sprouts, but the taste is poor."
Or, when Su Ran was fiddling with the planting racks in the sunroom, she would talk to herself, or perhaps report to Wen Yu: "The lettuce seedlings can be thinned out now; the thinned seedlings are delicious in salads. The tomatoes have their first bloom; should we artificially pollinate them? Although the enclosed environment may not have insects, it's better to be safe than sorry..."
If Wen Yu were to pass by, she might stop and take a look, saying, "You decide what to do," or, "You can use a small brush for pollen."
These conversations were trivial and ordinary, devoid of any profound meaning, yet like tiny threads, they wove an invisible, sparse, but undeniably real net between the two. They discussed the shelf life of food, the details of planting, the occasional condensation problem on a certain monitoring probe, and the estimated replacement cycle of the water purification system's filter cartridges.
Wen Yu discovered that Su Ran not only learned quickly, but was also meticulous and had a good memory. He could basically remember anything that had been mentioned to him once. Moreover, the "little suggestions" he made often did indeed improve efficiency or avoid waste.
For example, he suggested placing frequently used tools and ingredients in more convenient locations, attaching foam strips to easily bumped cabinet corners, and even suggesting that during long night shifts, people could take turns taking short breaks and set up vibration alerts—although Wen Yu never adopted the last suggestion.
Su Ran seemed to be gradually becoming less afraid of Wen Yu. At least, when Wen Yu wasn't radiating obvious coldness, he dared to get a little closer, and his voice was a little louder. Occasionally, when he was focused on doing something, he would even forget to maintain his submissive demeanor and reveal a bit of the seriousness that belonged to his age.
One afternoon, Wen Yu was checking the diesel generator's operating log. Su Ran followed half a step behind him, holding a small notebook and pen. Wen Yu pointed out a few parameters that needed attention, and Su Ran carefully wrote them down. After finishing the check, Wen Yu turned around, and Su Ran happened to look up; the two were quite close.
Wen Yu could clearly see Su Ran's upturned face.
Simulated sunlight streamed through the high window, casting interplay of light and shadow on his face. His skin was a delicate, porcelain white, almost poreless, with a healthy, faint blush from the constant indoor temperature. Long, thick eyelashes cast small shadows beneath his eyelids, and a tiny, almost invisible, adorable mole graced the tip of his pert nose. His lips were a pale pink, slightly pursed in his focused concentration, their shape exquisite.
His eyes were clear and bright, like two black agates soaked in clear water, reflecting Wen Yu's figure. There was no fear in them, only complete focus and a hint of waiting for the next instruction.
Wen Yu's gaze lingered on the small mole for half a second before shifting away. He walked past Su Ran sideways, his tone flat: "Keep the record safe. Remind me before you change the filter next time."
"Yes, Mr. Wen," Su Ran replied, closing his notebook and quickly following. He was wearing a light blue knit sweater today, which made the skin on his neck and wrists appear even whiter and more dazzling. From Wen Yu's angle, one could see his long, gracefully slender neck and his soft, black hair swaying gently as he walked.
The seeds of trust may sprout in this way: in the daily routine, in the mundane yet necessary details of jointly maintaining this little world, in the silent observations and the occasional accurate suggestion, they quietly take root.
It was still fragile, far from being a reliable support. But at least, Wen Yu no longer viewed Su Ran entirely as an "external variable" that required constant vigilance. He began to get used to this quiet, diligent, skilled, and occasionally clever "little cook" existing within the fortress's operational system.
Su Ran, too, seemed to be using his own unique way, cautiously yet firmly, to find his place and value within this cold and solid fortress, and to try to warm the fortress and... the equally cold and lonely master within it with his faint light and heat.
Night falls, and the light from the monitor screen illuminates two equally serene faces. One is cold and sharp, the other refined and gentle. One is in control of the overall situation, the other is filling in the gaps. Outside the fortress, the cold is ever-present, and danger lurks everywhere. Inside the fortress, a new, delicate balance is being established silently.