The scent of the salty air swirled along like rhythms. Jia’s nostrils twitched with the tinge of saltiness as her loose hair flared back with the wind’s dance. At a distance, waves of Bohai sea crashing against each other echoed a pleasant sound that reached her ears.
Tianjin.
A bustling port city nestled along the northern coastal plains of China was like a gateway to the sea. The Hai river from the Bohai sea flows through Tianjin’s heart that connects the urban landscape with the mariti world.
A wide smile stretched on Jia’s lips as the cool and pleasant air kissed her face. She thought that getting a forced vacation was useless but she was proved wrong.
This does feel relaxing...
With She and Zhang Luqi’s case, a lot of things parallely were going on. She could feel it in her bones that whatever lay ahead of her would prove to be a long battle. But before she delved into those depths of viciousness, she needed a recharge break.
Away from Beijing so ti, away from the cases and most importantly, away from Yang Mingshen.
From the airport’s exit, she looked for a cab. She stepped into one and the driver politely asked, "Where would you like to go, Mam?"
Jia checked the address again and her brow twitched.
Crimson Moon Hotel.
The na itself gave her the shivers. It was a beautiful na but a frightening type of beautiful.
The cab drove along the city roads and Jia enjoyed the view through the window. At one point, she could see the Hai river and a huge garden-like area.
"What is that place?"
The driver said and chirped. "Oh it’s the Hai river park! It’s one of our popular tourist spots. There’s the beautiful view of the Haihe river. There is recently a space constructed for people to have picnics here. It feels amazing."
"Can we stop here for a few minutes? I will pay for the extra waiting ti."
"Of course! You can keep your luggage here. I will wait."
"Thanks a lot," she appreciated his patience.
A long corridor of a road stretched far and wide along the bank of the Hai river. At the other side of the corridor lay a beautiful bed of flowers in different layers from top to bottom like steps. Tall and green trees neatly lined across the path whose leaves rustled with the wind. The soft splashes from the river water felt pleasant like a symphony. The weather was just perfect. People road around laughing and clicking pictures. Just like the cab driver said, so families were out on a picnic.
A ball ca rolling to her feet and a little girl of around six to seven years old hopped by. With her good left leg, Jia kicked the ball to her side.
The girl bead. She kicked the ball back and with that, Jia played a few rounds of kicking the ball with the child.
Her father rushed to their side. "I am so sorry for the inconvenience."
"It was no inconvenience. I had fun," Jia smiled.
"But your leg..." he noticed the crutch and tensely said.
"My left leg is fine."
"Ah, I see. Thanks a lot."
"Thank you big sister!" The girl brightly said.
Jia patted her head. "Have fun."
The father held his daughter’s hand and walked back together where the mother was waiting for them. The girl jumped on the sandwiches with the mother then putting her hands on her waist as she scolded her.
Jia stared at that family for so ti as a light smile laced her lips. She turned her head away eventually and decided to rest under a tree’s shade before heading back to the cab. She took a seat on a bench under one of the trees. She had the company of a silent man with shades and a hoodie at the other far side of the bench.
Jia kept her cane aid aside. The view of the beautiful river glistening under the sun greeted her.
"You have good expressions."
The unexpected voice of her neighbor suddenly speaking up took her aback. The man was seated in a comfortable position with his hands inside his pockets. A sports cap was on top of his head with a hoodie jacket around his shoulders and shades on his eyes.
"Are you talking to ?"
"Yes."
She blinked. "I don’t understand. Good expressions?"
"That was a good expression when you were watching that family."
"You were watching ?"
"I am watching everybody."
"That doesn’t give relief."
The man paused and turned to look at her. Her face reflected in his black shades. "Why?"
"As a cop, the words only ring ’stalkerish’ for ."
"Ahh you are a cop," It dawned upon him. "Wait, I didn’t an it that way."
"I sincerely hope so."
He smiled and turned his gaze back towards the river. Jia, too, went back to gazing at the scenery. Eventually, she couldn’t help it and asked, "What kind of a face was I making?"
"It was just a passing comnt. You seem very bothered."
"Not really. I am just curious."
"I see."
He then slowly said, "I said that because you described perfectly what we call longing. The light in your eyes, the small shift in your lips, the intentful and lancholic gaze, your very posture...everything exuded that common emotion of longing. It was a good expression. Sorrowful but good. You miss your family, don’t you?"
Jia furrowed her brows. "No."
"You do otherwise you wouldn’t look like that. I miss my family too at tis. I have been told by sobody that I give a similar expression. I was always curious about that claim. But now I understand after eting you."
She couldn’t see his eyes behind the shades of the glasses but she felt she could picture the gaze in those irises. They spoke nothing after that and simply passed the ti in silence.
Jia decided it was ti to head to the hotel now. She snaked her arm through the crutch and got up. Her numb knee faltered and she stumbled back. The man quickly caught her back, and she grabbed onto his hoodie for support. Her fingers knocked off his shades by an angle which partially revealed his face. She wondered if she was seeing things but overall, she was still calm and poised.
Aware of the people around her, Jia spoke in a low whisper, "Bai Caishen."
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