Insights Chapter 45: Sharing Hearts

Chapter 45: Sharing Hearts

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Two people walked towards the residential area together. Tonight, Shen Junci drank quite a bit, and he staggered a little as he walked. Back when he was abroad, he had drunk vodka for a while, but vodka was different from Baijiu after all. It had been a long time since he touched white liquor. This time he had drunk about three liang, and things in front of him were a bit blurry, but still within his tolerance.

Gu Yanchen drank even more than him, about half a jin. However, he had worked in logistics before and had often accompanied leaders for drinks, so he was quite experienced with alcohol. He showed no signs of being drunk, just that he talked a bit more than usual. As the two walked forward a few steps, they saw a shooting game booth at the night market.

Shen Junci’s footsteps paused, his gaze drifting over. He immediately focused on the stuffed toys on the booth, including a yellow Pikachu.

Seeing his expression, Gu Yanchen nudged Shen Junci with his elbow. “Do you like it?”

Shen Junci withdrew his gaze, casually saying, “Just looking around.”

When he was young, Lin Xianglan rarely showed him much care. Every time he bought gifts, he gave him what he thought were good things, like toy guns, toy cars, never asking what he liked. Back then, he had seen Pokémon cartoons at a classmate’s house and really wanted a toy like that. But as he grew older, he felt that such a cute toy was somewhat inappropriate for boys, or rather, for men. He had long learned to restrain his desires for things he liked.

Gu Yanchen pressed him, “What do you want?”

Shen Junci answered evasively, “Forget it, if we missed it, we missed it.”

But Gu Yanchen said, “If you want it, it’s never too late.”

He became interested under the influence of alcohol, took out his phone to scan, and said, “Boss, let’s have a round.”

Shen Junci felt a bit embarrassed and reached out to pull him. In the night market, only kids played these games, and there were many people coming and going on the roadside.

Gu Yanchen knew he had a thin face and smiled, “I want to play. Let me have some fun. If I win, the prize is yours. Which one do you want?”

Only then did Shen Junci speak, “That Pikachu.”

Gu Yanchen asked the boss, “Boss, what place is that Pikachu?”

The boss said, “Third prize, eight out of ten.” Then he reminded him, “This gun is realistic and has recoil, be careful.”

Today, Gu Yanchen wore a black shirt that fit well. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his toned forearms. Then he took the toy gun handed to him by the boss, adjusted to its weight, and gestured. With his posture, it was evident that he was absolutely skilled. As he stood there, his broad shoulders and long legs made him look tall, his movements precise.

Gu Yanchen aimed and pulled the trigger directly. The gun had small bullets, and he instantly burst a balloon in the upper left corner.

“Good marksmanship!” This shot earned a cheer from the boss.

After getting used to it, Gu Yanchen shot quickly, his body moving in coordination. His right index finger pulled the trigger, one shot after another.

“Bang, bang, bang…” The balloons were continuously burst. He shot a total of eight shots, all hitting their targets.

Even the vendors at nearby booths began to applaud.

Gu Yanchen returned the gun to the boss, “We won’t take the last two shots, just give us the prizes.”

The boss clicked his tongue in amazement, expressing regret, “If you had finished shooting, you would have definitely won the first prize, that big Doraemon over there.”

Gu Yanchen suddenly thought of seeking some benefits for Shen Junci, “I still want that Pikachu, but if we hit all the targets, could we also get a small dog figurine?”

The boss agreed, “Sure, consider it a gesture of friendship.”

Gu Yanchen then aimed and fired two shots without much aim, directly hitting two targets.

As the boss handed them the prizes, he marveled, “Young man, are you from a shooting team? I’ve never seen someone with such excellent skills before.”

Gu Yanchen smiled but didn’t say anything, taking the Pikachu and handing it directly to Shen Junci, while he took the dog figurine. Shen Junci hugged the Pikachu. The yellow plush toy was slightly smaller than a pillow, made of soft fabric, and felt pleasant to the touch.

The two of them strolled into the residential area. Shen Junci touched his cheek and felt a bit warm. His head was a bit dizzy. He didn’t want to go back to his room; he wanted to stay downstairs for a while longer. He said to Gu Yanchen, “Your dog hasn’t been walked yet, right? Why don’t you let it down, and it’s been days since I’ve seen Wuliang.”

Gu Yanchen thought it was a good idea and went upstairs to let the dog out. Wuliang had been pent up all day and started playing in the yard. When he saw Shen Junci, he wagged his tail and ran over.

Gu Yanchen couldn’t hold him back. He used the toy doll to tease him, but Wuliang seemed indifferent, as if finding the doll too childish, and instead wanted to grab the Pikachu in Shen Junci’s hands. Gu Yanchen was a bit helpless. He squatted down, holding the toy, and said, “Look at this dog, just like a child, he doesn’t want what’s given to him but only what others have.”

Shen Junci said, “I think he’s even smarter than a child.”

Shen Junci crouched down and rubbed the dog’s head. He gestured for him to sit down, and Wuliang obediently sat in front of him. Then Shen Junci made a motion to follow, and Wuliang obediently followed him.

Gu Yanchen asked, “Have you trained dogs before?”

Shen Junci said, “I’ve seen others do it occasionally.”

Gu Yanchen joked with him under the influence of alcohol, “It’s a good thing you’re not a liar with a mouthful of lies. You not only ‘deceive’ children but also ‘deceive’ dogs. Who knows, you might even deceive people’s hearts.”

Shen Junci remained expressionless. “That’s something I really can’t do.”

There weren’t many people jogging near the residential area at night. They walked not far, and Shen Junci saw a small swing in the yard. He sat on it, holding the Pikachu. Wuliang was beside them, pushing with his front paws, making the swing sway back and forth.

Gu Yanchen sat on a nearby bench, holding the unwanted hunting dog doll. He sighed, “Okay, then this toy is mine.” He watched Shen Junci and Wuliang playing there and said, “I think my dog at home really likes you.”

“We seem to get along well,” Shen Junci looked up and asked, “Why did you decide to adopt him?”

“It was just one day, passing by the Logistics Department, seeing several dogs having a retirement ceremony… I saw it at a glance and felt a connection,” Gu Yanchen lit a cigarette. Looking at Shen Junci holding the dog, he said, “That scene seems familiar.” Gu Yanchen continued, “At that time, I was afraid it would think its owner didn’t want him anymore, so I brought him home.”

Shen Junci stroked the dog’s paw. The night wind blew, and the city was already dark, but in their little corner illuminated by streetlights, the warm light seemed to radiate some warmth. This bit of light separated them from the surrounding darkness.

Gu Yanchen took a drag of his cigarette and, under the influence of alcohol, said, “I once went to experience a death simulation.”

This statement seemed random. Shen Junci was curious and turned to ask, “What is a death simulation?”

Gu Yanchen explained to him, “It’s a new type of experiential activity, similar to murder mystery games and escape rooms that became popular around the same time. However, fewer people go, so not many know about it.”

Shen Junci asked, “What exactly does it involve?”

Gu Yanchen replied, “Simulating death.”

Shen Junci was even more puzzled, “How can you simulate death?”

“The whole process takes about four to five hours, with several parts: having a hearty farewell meal, taking a satisfactory funeral photo, writing a will on a piece of paper, calling the loved ones you want to say goodbye to, choosing a burial gown and favorite flowers, simulating a funeral, and the final step is coffin meditation, where you’re locked in a small coffin, reflecting on your life in complete darkness.”

These were steps that the deceased had to go through, but for a living person, it was a novel experience. To prove his words, Gu Yanchen took out his wallet and handed it to Shen Junci to look at.

Shen Junci saw a black and white photo inside. He asked, “Why did you do this?”

Gu Yanchen looked at him and said, “Ignorance is bliss. I wanted to know what death feels like, so I did it.” In the night breeze, Gu Yanchen smoked and said, “This experience allows people to stand from the perspective of the living and experience death. I think the photo turned out pretty good, so I kept it. If someday, by any chance, I need it, I’ll use the one I took myself.” Later, he added an explanatory note, “I’m not anxious about my appearance, but I still don’t want others to randomly choose my funeral photo after I die. That photo will forever remain in others’ memories. If it happens to be an ugly one, it would ruin all the efforts of my first thirty years of life.”

It sounded like drunken rambling, but surprisingly, it made sense. Shen Junci realized it was An Nangle he hadn’t considered. Most people aren’t prepared for death when it happens. If they could practice beforehand, they’d be better prepared. If people could think about their death properly, it might help them live more consciously. Then he remembered that his photo must have been chosen by Gu Yanchen. It was a good photo, alleviating his concern about the funeral photo.

He returned the wallet to Gu Yanchen.

Gu Yanchen said, “My will is still there, notarized, ready to be used if necessary.”

Gu Yanchen said it naturally, but Shen Junci still felt discussing this topic was a bit awkward. He said softly, “Captain Gu, don’t say such unlucky things.”

Gu Yanchen blew a smoke ring and said, “What’s there to fear? Just because we talk about it doesn’t mean we’ll die immediately. Avoiding the topic won’t stop death. I’ve never shied away from discussing death.” After a moment, he spoke again, “The case I mentioned during dinner isn’t the one I can’t forget the most. There’s another case that haunts me.” Gu Yanchen paused for a moment. Just when Shen Junci thought he wouldn’t say anything, Gu Yanchen continued, “Five years ago, I encountered a case.”

Under the streetlight, Gu Yanchen’s eyes were as dark as ink, his handsome face serious, his voice low. “In June of that year, at the Merry karaoke bar in Penang, there was a fatal and an injured victim.” Then he slowed down his speech, “The deceased was named Zhou Chen, and the severely injured one was named Lin Luo.”

That sentence hit Shen Junci’s heart hard.