"Oh, yes, yes, let's put aside the youth and beauty, are you going to take a picture with your phone or not?"
"Take it, why not? If you take it, this will be your black history that I have on my record!"
Shinichi quickly reminded: "Just to make it clear in advance, you are not allowed to post it online!"
"Of course not. If it's posted online, it won't be a deterrent. Just like a nuclear bomb is most deterrent before it's launched."
In the video recorded by Kiba's mobile phone, Shinichi still used the low and calm voice that sounded like a loved one had died. He reluctantly read the love poem that gave him goosebumps again.
This time, Kiba held up his phone and laughed so hard that he couldn't stop: "Hahahaha~"
"Tsk..." After reading it, Shinichi tore the cards in his hand into pieces and swore that he would never do such an embarrassing thing again!
And as the next dish was served, the restaurant seemed to have come up with something new.
The first course was a short story, the second was accompanied by a card with a love poem, and the third was a dessert, but there was no card or anything like that.
But the waiter directly called a trio!
"Okay, are you going to spend so much money?" Zhenyi saw that there was a special band playing music to liven up the atmosphere. He took another look and turned to the ranch and asked, "Although it is a couple's restaurant, it must cost a lot to have such a grand dinner."
Kiba waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter. I have an unlimited overdraft on my black card anyway. They can spend as much money as they want and make the ceremony as grand as they want. That's their ability."
"But your black card...was obtained from that little girl Lidou, right?"
"correct."
Shinichi couldn't help but chuckle: "Other people are young and rely on the old, but you are the same, the old relies on the young~"
"Ah, well, although I am indeed Lidou's nominal guardian, sometimes I feel that she doesn't need my guardianship at all. This girl, in her own words, does have enviable divine talents.
So I can't really treat her as my daughter. She is very precocious and smart. She can even do things that I find difficult to do myself. There are even many times when I need to rely on her. "
Shinichi raised his eyebrows, picked up a piece of dessert and put it in his mouth: "Then it feels like you have failed as a guardian. Ugh... the cake is too sweet."
Kiba nodded. "Well, you're right. I do feel like a failure. But fortunately, my failure didn't affect Lidou's growth. Or I couldn't affect her growth. She matured very early and was very independent. She didn't need my guidance. She knew what she wanted to do.
But sometimes, I feel that she is a little too independent. She should be playing with her friends, going to school, making more friends, and participating in activities and clubs. At this age, she helps me in the lab.
She is even researching some profound projects that most scientists today cannot figure out. Perhaps, she needs a friend. A friend who can follow her thinking or play games with her. "
Hearing this, Shinichi chuckled and asked, "So, you actually want Ai to go over and play with Lidou~"
"Alas~ The coffee shop is really not popular these days, it feels so deserted. But you don't have to rush back, after all, you still have to continue practicing with Ryoko..."
Shinichi smiled and waved his hands: "Oh~ You should have said it earlier. In fact, I can go back now. Ryoko told me that even without her guidance, my current situation is basically on the right track. The rest of the training is up to me.
If you want. I'll say hello to Ryoko and bring Ai back to the coffee shop tomorrow. After all, I bought the loft above yours. It would be a loss if I didn't live there!"
Upon hearing this, Kiba showed a rather pleased expression and nodded.
Seeing that the two had almost finished chatting, the trio musicians nearby asked, "Excuse me, are there any songs you two would like to order?"
"Repertoire?"
"Yes, if there is any song you want to order, just tell us."
Kiba turned his head to look at the trio preparing to perform and asked, "I don't know much about music, do you have any recommendations?"
"Yes, our customers often request the song 'One Step Away'."
"One Step Away?" After listening to the trio's recommendation, Kiba thought for a moment, then turned to Shinichi and asked, "Shinichi-kun, what do you think?"
Shinichi then asked, "The music from the movie Scent of a Woman? So you guys are familiar with movie soundtracks?"
The leader of the trio nodded and responded, "Yes, sir. Most of the songs that you know now are from movie soundtracks. Naturally, I have to learn more about this aspect."
"Oh, that's great. Then I want Eleanor Kalandno's El Vals. Got it?"
The trio nodded respectfully and said, "Of course we know that. We'll play it for you right away~"
After the three of them prepared for a while, a playful and pleasant melody was played, accompanied by the standard three-part waltz rhythm, adding a touch of magic to the candlelight dinner.
Kiba, who didn't know much about movies, closed his eyes and enjoyed the music, and asked curiously: "Which movie is this song from? It's very nice, and it sounds like a fresh love story full of romance~"
"A romantic little fresh love story?"
Shinichi burst out laughing at Kiba's comment.
She pouted her lips with a puzzled expression and asked, "What's wrong? Am I wrong?"
"Well, I can't say it's wrong, I can only say it has nothing to do with it~"
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Ah, yes."
"Hmph!" Kiba glared at Shinichi in annoyance and asked angrily, "Since it's not a love movie, then what kind of movie is it about?"
"Ah... this song comes from a Greek movie called Landscape in the Mist. The plot is about a pair of siblings who lost their father at a young age during the Cold War and boarded a train to Germany in order to find their father."
"It's a movie about finding one's father... It doesn't sound like it from the melody... But it's so cheerful, it should be a warm feeling~"
"Warm..."
Hearing this, Shinichi's expression was quite subtle, which made Kiba even more confused.
"What? Am I right?"
"...There are some small differences... But I can't explain it to you clearly. Maybe you can go watch the movie yourself when you have time."
The more Shinichi said this, the more curious Kiba became, and this curiosity made her feel even more itchy as the band played.
Then, an idea came into her mind: "I am curious after hearing what you said...Okay, after dinner, let's go to the movies. I want to see what the movie you hid is like~"
Shinichi did not refuse, but showed an intriguing smile and said: "The guest follows the host's wishes~"
Chapter 192: The Gap That Cannot Be Filled
In a subtle atmosphere, the two finished this special dinner, and then left the restaurant with the respectful hospitality of a group of waiters. Shinichi looked at the waiters who were smiling from the bottom of their hearts, curled his lips and looked at Kiba, and asked: "How much did we spend on this meal... Those waiters looked at us as if we were ancestors..."
Kiba smiled but said nothing. He looked at the bill in his hand. Hmm... there are too many zeros at the end. I'm too lazy to calculate.
So, she tore up the bill in her hand and said, "Why do you care how much money it is? It's not you who's spending the money. Just enjoy it when the rich woman spends it for you. What's there to worry about?"
Shinichi shook his head: "If it was just an ordinary rich woman supporting me, I wouldn't mind it, but this rich woman is Miss Kiba~"
"Hahaha~"
After hearing this, Kiba laughed, got into the Ferrari, and said, "You're right, get in the car~"
"Okay, ma'am~" After getting in the car, Shinichi asked curiously, "So, are we going to the movies next?"
"Hmm~ Let's watch the movie 'Landscape in the Mist' that you mentioned."
"...Tsk...how should I put it..." Shinichi was embarrassed and muttered, "Actually, I don't really recommend that we go watch this movie...it might be a bit of a letdown..."
"Ha~ It's just a movie, what's the point of spoiling the fun~ Is it a bad movie?"
“No, no, no, it’s a very good movie.”
"That doesn't matter!"
"Uh... well, okay..."
Seeing Kiba so interested, Shinichi could only shrug and not spoil her fun. Anyway, the movie would teach her a lesson later.
At Kiba's insistence, the two came to a screening room. Since the movie they wanted to watch was not a currently showing movie but an old one, the only place they could choose was a private screening room that allowed customers to choose their own movies.
However, Kiba was rich and willful, so naturally the place he chose was one of the best private screening rooms. The place where they watched the movie was quite large, no less than a normal movie theater screening room.
At this moment, this large screening room was opened only for the two of them.
"Do you want to eat?" Kiba took a piece of popcorn from the popcorn bucket in his arms and handed it to Shinichi's mouth, asking.
"Woo...ah~" Seeing this, Shinichi did not answer, but opened his mouth to receive feeding.
"Hmph~" Kiba curled his lips, took the popcorn that was handed to Shinichi's mouth back and threw it into his own mouth.
"Huh?" Shinichi raised his eyebrows in surprise, and then silently reached out to take some food from Kiba's popcorn bucket.
However, Kiba moved the popcorn in his hand and said, "If you want to eat, go buy it yourself~"
“…Tsk…Alright.”
Shinichi rolled his eyes, got up and went to the front desk of the theater to order a bucket of popcorn. While buying the popcorn, he glanced at the stack of tissues on the front desk.
"…and a pack of Kleenex."
By the time Shinichi returned to the screening room, the movie had already started playing on the big screen, and Shinichi returned to his seat, eating popcorn with Kiba while watching the performance of the movie.
The reason why Shinichi's evaluation of "Landscape in the Mist" is so subtle is that this movie is a very deceptive movie.
Beautiful shots, pleasant melodies, and the theme of two children searching for their father, including the director who said that this movie is a gift to children. It sounds like a family-friendly movie with laughter and tears was conceived immediately.
However, only those who have actually watched this movie know how cruel it is.
Although the clue of this movie is to find the father, in fact, the real theme it tells is actually growth. It is not the kind of beautiful and vigorous growth, but the psychological and physical maturity of children under the destruction of reality.
The movie begins with a beam of light shining on the sleeping brother and sister.
The siblings, the protagonists, lost their father when they were young. Their mother told them that their father had gone to Germany. Due to their longing and need for their father and their mother's indifference to them, the siblings would watch the train to Germany at the station every day, hoping that they could get on the train and reunite with their father.
Finally one day, the two of them made up their minds and boarded the train, but they were soon discovered by the ticket checking police. The two children were kicked off the train and sent by the police to their uncle who lived in the local area.
The uncle was very distressed about the sudden appearance of the siblings. It was through his narration that the police learned that the father their mother mentioned was not in Germany at all. It was only because many people moved to Germany after the country fell into war that the mother gave this ordinary and perfunctory excuse.
As for where the brother and sister's father really went, their uncle couldn't say for sure. Maybe he had died in the war.
The brother and sister, who had always had dreams and expectations for their father, naturally did not believe this, so they chose to escape from their uncle and the police and search for their father on their own.
In the process, the two siblings come into contact with this post-war society that was devastated by war, with people's livelihood declining and cold and ruthless. People no longer need art, so the actors of the troupe choose to sell their costumes to make a living. Society needs industry, so the cold industrial giants are like giants that hinder the two siblings' journey to find their father.
In this process, the elder sister who had always been the backbone gained love, but lost love, lost a friend who could give her guidance, witnessed the goodness and evil of human nature, turned from a girl into a woman, and fell into confusion under a series of devastations.
The younger brother was initially an ignorant and confused boy who was led and protected by his sister. He followed his sister and experienced everything along the way. He gradually matured from being ignorant and confused at the beginning and became a man who could lead his sister forward.
Finally, the brother and sister boarded a boat to Germany in the dark. In the dark night, the small wooden boat they were on swayed and drifted away, heading towards the unknown future.
The movie also ends with a beam of light, a searchlight hitting the boat of the siblings, followed by a gunshot...
"!!"
Along with the gunshot, the popcorn fell from Kiba's hand. Kiba had not eaten the big bucket of popcorn since the first half of the movie. For the rest of the time, Kiba maintained an almost dull expression, letting the plot of the movie ruthlessly instill in his mind.
She couldn't imagine why a movie could be so cruel, using beautiful shots and cute children to show such a cruel world. At the end of the movie, she watched two children step on a small wooden boat in the middle of the night and float away into the dark night.
She couldn't help but worry, could this small boat bring the two children to their father? Even if it drifted all the way to Germany, what unforeseen hardships would they encounter?
After the gunshots, while feeling grief for the fate of the two children, Kiba even felt a sense of relief, relief that the two children were finally freed...
Shinichi turned his head to look at Kiba, who had tears on his cheeks, put down the popcorn he hadn't eaten much, took out a tissue from his pocket, and raised his hand to wipe Kiba's tears.
"Do you still feel it doesn't matter now?"
"..." Kiba fell silent, letting Shinichi carefully wipe the tears from her face. After watching the whole movie and nodding her head, she realized how wrong her initial assumptions were.
She wanted to say a lot, but there were too many feelings that she couldn't express. In the end, she could only say: "It's a good movie."
"Well~ at that time, a good movie didn't mean you could watch it happily. Some movies would only make you feel painful."
"..." Kiba looked at Shinichi, whose expression was calm and didn't seem to be affected at all, and asked, "Then Shinichi-kun, don't you feel any pain?"
Shinichi shrugged and said, "Me? Well... it's just so-so. I've seen it so many times, I've gotten used to it and it doesn't matter anymore."
Kiba fell silent upon hearing this, and she suddenly remembered how similar Shinichi and Ai were to the brother and sister in the movie who set out on the journey to find their father alone. They were both exposed to the cruelest side of the world at an innocent age, and they both grew up from children to adults prematurely in this harsh environment.
Yes, real reality can only be more cruel than literary works. Shinichi naturally doesn't care at all. In the movie, Kiba can even feel comforted that the siblings were finally killed by bullets.
But the reality is that people like Shinichi, in this cruel world, even without bullets to bring him relief, have survived all the way to the present day. What has he experienced in the process? Kiba can hardly imagine...
After watching the movie, Kiba and Shinichi came to the theater. It was late at night and there were not many cars on the road. Although the treatment in the western restaurant was luxurious, the food was indeed average.
After watching a movie, Shinichi's stomach was empty again, so the two of them found a late-night restaurant on the side of the road to buy barbecue.
Shinichi was eating with gusto, but Kiba beside him didn't have much appetite. He just ordered a bottle of shochu and drank it sip by sip.
While drinking, Kiba asked Shinichi: "...Shinichi-kun, as an orphan, have you ever thought about finding your parents?"
"Looking for parents?" Shinichi raised his eyebrows, recalling the original owner's memory, and then chuckled and said, "I have looked for them, I must have looked for them. I was about seven or eight years old. At that time, I hadn't picked up Ai Yi yet. Because of a joke among the children, I thought my biological parents were in Yokohama.
So, I escaped from the orphanage while the director wasn't paying attention and wanted to go to Yokohama. But I didn't know where Yokohama was at all. I could only ask where Yokohama was as I walked. I wandered around like this for the whole day, feeling thirsty and hungry.
Because my behavior was abnormal, a kind supermarket salesperson told me the so-called direction of Yokohama, but in fact that place was the police station. Finally, I was sent back to the orphanage by the police, and the director locked me up in a small dark room for a day. "
When Shinichi talked about this past event, his expression looked quite relaxed and his tone was quite brisk, as if it was just an embarrassing incident in his youth. However, when Kiba heard these words, she felt even more uncomfortable. When she thought of a single child walking confusedly on the streets of Tokyo and asking everyone where Yokohama was, an inexplicable feeling of distress rose in her heart.
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