Li Haojun wrapped up his customer coordination tasks for the door-to-door pickup service, and the afternoon was nearly over. Years of technical support work had instilled in him a deep commitment to customer experience, which is why he always preferred to provide service through face-to-face interactions with his clients.
李皓珺处理完毕上门取货的客户对接工作,一下午的时间已经快过去了,长期以来的技术服务工作使得他对于客户体验特别重视,所以总是倾向于和自己的客户面对面接触提供服务.
No sooner had he returned to his office and taken his seat than he was delighted to see Sienna arrive as promised.
回到办公室落座不久,让他感到欣喜的是西耶娜如约而至,
"Shall we continue our conversation?" Li Haojun asked cheerfully.
"可以继续我们的交谈了,是吗?"李皓珺高兴地问,
"Yes,"
"是的,"
"Could you tell me whether you chose this company directly when job hunting, or if you were also considering other companies? "
"能否告诉我,你在找工作的时候,是直接选择的这家公司,还是也有在筛选其它公司?"
"No, I came straight here."
"没有啊,我直接到这里的,"
So how did you learn about this company? Through a friend's recommendation, or social media?
"那么是通过什么渠道知道这家公司的呢?朋友介绍,或者社交媒体?"
"My family service recommendation,"
"我的家庭服务推荐的,"
"Oh, so that's how it is. I asked you these questions because..." Li Haojun lowered his voice even further as he spoke.
"哦,原来是这样,我问你这些因为像,"说着,李皓珺又压低了一些声音,
Corporal punishment like spanking is a relic of centuries past. Back then, slave owners might punish their slaves, or the head of a household might enforce order among family members in this manner. The whips used then inflicted far greater physical harm. But in modern, legitimate companies, such practices simply don't exist. That's why I'm curious about why you're here—is there some kind of screening mechanism at play?
"像打屁股这类肉体惩罚方式已经是几百年前的事情了,那时候比如奴隶主惩罚自己的奴隶,或者家庭成员中一家之主维持秩序对家庭成员可能会这样做,并且那时候使用的皮鞭对身体的伤害性更大.但是在近现代的正规公司里,没有这种事情.这就是我为什么好奇你会来到这里,是不是存在某种筛选机制."
"Hmm," Sienna nodded as she listened to Li Haojun's explanation, seemingly trying to understand.
"嗯,"西耶娜一边听李皓珺解释,一边点头,似乎是在试图理解,
"Actually, I'm new here too. I don't know the specifics of this place either. My superior assigned me to work here," Li Haojun explained, trying to win Sienna's sympathy as he spoke.
"其实我也是刚到这家公司,我也不了解这里的具体情况,是我的上级委派我到这里工作的,"李皓珺一边解释,一边试图争取西耶娜的共鸣,说,
It seems we've all been tricked into coming here, haven't we?
"似乎我们都是被蒙骗到这里的,不是吗?"
Hearing him say this, Sienna smiled too. Li Haojun then asked,
听他这么说,西耶娜也笑了,李皓珺接着问,
"Have you ever said anything—either intentionally or unintentionally—to your household staff that might have led them to come here?"
"你平时有没有主动,或者无意间对你的家庭服务说过什么意图,所以才会来到这里?"
Sienna thought for a moment and said,
西耶娜想了想,说,
"Sorry, I don't quite remember the details about my family anymore."
"抱歉,我不太记得家里的事情了,"
Li Haojun wasn't quite sure whether she genuinely didn't remember or simply didn't want to say, since she had forgotten so many things. So he reassured her,李皓珺不太确定她是真的不记得还是不想说,因为她不记得的事情太多了,就宽慰她说,
"It's okay. We live in a modern society now. There are no slaves, and there are no slave owners either," Li Haojun hesitated for a moment before saying.
"没关系,现代社会了,没有奴隶了,也没有奴隶主,啊,"李皓珺迟疑了一下想了想说,
"I can't put it precisely, but I can only say I'm not a slave owner."
"我这么表达不确切,只能说我不是奴隶主,"
"Why do you say your expression isn't precise?" Sienna fluttered her large gray-green eyes as she looked at Li Haojun and asked.
"为什么你说你这样的表达不确切呢?"西耶娜呼扇着她那双灰绿色的大眼睛,望着李皓珺问,
Seeing how earnest she looked, Li Haojun couldn't help but feel grateful that this naive little thing had met him—otherwise, who knows how badly she might have been taken advantage of.
看她那认真的样子,李皓珺不由得感慨,多亏这个傻白甜的丫头遇到了我,不然不知道会被人家骗成什么样子.
As they chatted idly, time flew by, and it was long past quitting time. Li Haojun casually glanced outside the office and realized the others had already left hours ago. Checking his watch, he saw it was well past closing time. He hurriedly said to Sienna,
闲聊中,时间飞逝,早已过了下班的时间,李皓珺无意间扭头向办公室外望去,不知什么时候其他人早已经下班走了,再一看表,已经过了下班时间很久,急忙对西耶娜说,
"Look, it's long past quitting time. Sorry for taking up your rest time."
"你看,早就过了下班时间,抱歉我耽误你休息时间了,"
"It's okay,"
"没关系,"
"How about I drop you off on my way home? It'll save you some time," Li Haojun hurriedly asked.
"要不,我顺路送你回家吧?也算帮你节省一点时间,"李皓珺忙问,
"Sure," Sienna replied without seeming to think twice.
"好啊,"西耶娜似乎没经过思考就回答了,
As they spoke, the two stood up. Li Haojun walked out of the office, while Sienna went to her workstation to put on her coat. Side by side, they walked out of the factory building.
说着,两人起身,李皓珺走出办公室,西耶娜去到自己的工位穿上外套,两人肩并肩走出了工厂大楼,
Li Haojun's flying car was quite low-slung, featuring gull-wing doors that opened upward. Sienna watched the doors swing open and peered inside, looking delighted. She chose the seat directly behind Li Haojun on the right.
李皓珺的飞行汽车很是低矮,以鸥翼门方式开启,西耶娜看着车门打开,朝里面望过去,很欣喜的样子,她选择了李皓珺右后方的座位.
Fuel engines are rarely used in passenger vehicles on the market anymore, except for some high-performance models. The vibration upon startup and the low rumble of the idling exhaust seem to hold boundless power.
市场上的乘用车很少使用燃料引擎了,除了一些高性能车辆,启动的抖动和低鸣的怠速排气似乎蕴含着无穷的动力,
However, the road never had a chance to showcase its capabilities, as the route to the Sienna address was rather remote. The narrow asphalt surface was barely wide enough for two cars to pass, only with room to spare on the grassy shoulders. The two-story detached houses lining both sides of the road were built close together, seemingly designed for singles or small families. Their courtyards were so compact that the houses along the road blocked out the sunlight, making the entire stretch feel claustrophobic.
然而这一路并没有发挥它性能的地方,因为去西耶娜住址的道路有些偏僻,狭窄的柏油路面,要算上路边草地才能通过两辆车.道路两边的二层独栋住宅都很紧凑,似乎是给单身人士或者小家庭准备的,庭院也很狭小,以至于路边的住宅遮住了阳光,让这条道路倍感幽闭.
Dull golden sunlight diffused across the dark asphalt pavement, the granular texture of gravel contrasting with the receding outlines of houses, fences, and windows lining the street—all mirrored in the flowing streetlight reflections gliding over the sleek silver car body. This interplay of motion and stillness, the juxtaposition of steel and brick-and-wood, the contrast between mechanical power and tranquil homes—all intensified to the utmost by the deep, throbbing roar of the engine's exhaust.
暗淡的金色阳光漫射在黝黑的柏油路面,砾石的颗粒感与沿街纷纷后移的房屋,栅栏与门窗轮廓,对比着曲线流畅的银色车身上流淌的街景光影映射.这动与静,钢铁与砖木的对比,机械力量和静谧家园的反差,都在低沉而澎湃的引擎排气声中被极致强化.
The curved surface and low angle of the windshield increasingly reflected sunlight into the cabin. Li Haojun occasionally glanced at Sienna in the rearview mirror; she would sometimes gaze out the window at the street scene. sunlight tinted her hair strands a warm golden-brown, framing her cheeks, ears, and perhaps even her youthful shyness. At other times, she would turn back to look at Li Haojun. When Li Haojun's gaze met her eyes—eyes that appeared even more emerald-green and deep in the soft golden sunlight—a smile would grace her face.
前风挡的曲面和低矮的角度越发把阳光折射到车内空间,李皓珺不时打量后视镜里的西耶娜,她时而望向窗外街景,阳光把她的发丝烫染成为金棕色,遮挡住她的脸颊,耳朵,或许还有她少女的羞怯,时而她会转回头望向李皓珺,在李皓珺的视线接触她那双在淡金阳光中更显碧绿深沉的大眼睛时,笑意呈现面容.
Soon we arrived at Sienna's home—a compact little courtyard and residence with deep green fencing. The yard featured decorative greenery, while the building's walls were a pale green and the doors and windows brown. All the houses here shared this style.
很快到了西耶娜的家,很紧致的小小院落和住宅,深绿色的栅栏,院里有装饰绿植,淡绿色的建筑墙壁,棕色的门窗,这里的住宅都是这种风格.
Li Haojun opened the car door. Sienna thanked him before stepping out, crossing the courtyard to the front door. Suddenly, she turned back and called softly,
李皓珺打开车门,西耶娜道谢后下车穿过院落走到门前,突然回头轻声喊,
Ethan, would you like to meet my family?
"伊森,要不要来见见我的家人?"
Li Haojun thought to himself that since he had already arrived at the doorstep and there were elders present, it would be impolite to decline the invitation and leave. So he got out of the car and followed Sienna into the residence.
李皓珺心想,既然已经到了门口,家里有长辈,不好有违邀请不见,于是下车跟着西耶娜的背后走进住宅.
She led the way ahead without turning back or saying a word, then ascended to the second floor. Li Haojun wondered if his parents were in the upstairs bedroom? He didn't open his mouth to ask—it seemed impolite not to let the host speak first.
她在前面引路,并没有回头,也没说什么,然后上了二楼.李皓珺心想可能他的父母在二楼卧室?也没有张嘴问,没见人家主人首先张口说话似乎不是很礼貌,But Sienna still didn't turn back to lead the way or say a word. Instead, she walked while stripping off her clothes and tossing them onto the sofa in the hallway. Then she entered the bathroom alone, showering as if no one else were there. Behind the glass partition, her swaying silhouette—whether she hadn't noticed Li Haojun's presence or simply didn't mind Ethan seeing her—
但是西耶娜依旧没有回头引路,也没说话,而是边走边脱了衣服扔在走廊的沙发上,然后独自进了浴室,旁若无人地自己冲淋浴,玻璃隔断后她摇曳的身影,不知道是她没看到李皓珺的存在还是她不介意伊森看到,
Li Haojun scanned the second floor and found only one bedroom and one bathroom—no one else was there. Why had she just said she wanted me to meet her family?
李皓珺环视二楼,发现只有一个卧室,一个浴室,再没有别人了,为什么她刚才会说要我见她的家人呢?
Pondering, I descended to the first floor. It seemed no one else was there, and the door was locked. After inspecting the living room and kitchen on the ground floor, I found no further signs that anyone lived here.
思索着,下到一楼,看似没有其他人,房门也锁好了,巡视了一楼的客厅厨房,也没发现有更多人在这里生活的痕迹,
With lingering doubts, Li Haojun returned to the second floor, tidied her clothes, and sat on the sofa to wait. She planned to ask her what exactly had happened.
带着疑惑李皓珺又返回二楼,整理好她的衣物,坐在沙发上等待,想一会儿问问她到底是怎么回事.
Not long after, Sienna emerged from the bathroom. Her young body was slender and graceful, radiating youthful vitality. Barefoot, she walked softly, eyes fixed ahead, passing by Li Haojun as if he weren't there before returning to the bedroom.
没多久,西耶娜从浴室走出,年轻的身体纤细苗条,饱含青春的气息,只见她光着脚步履轻柔,目视前方,旁若无人一样从李皓珺身边走过回了卧室,
"Sienna?" Li Haojun watched her retreating figure, about to call out, but before he could finish, she had already entered the bedroom.
"西耶娜?"李皓珺望着她的背影想要叫住她,可是话音未落,她已经进了卧室.Sensing something was off, Li Haojun approached the bed and leaned over to take a closer look. Sienna lay on the bed with her eyes closed, seemingly already asleep.
感觉不对劲的李皓珺来到卧室床前,俯身观察.西耶娜闭着眼睛躺在床上似乎已经睡着了,
It was highly unusual for her to fall asleep so quickly. Li Haojun hurriedly held his finger to her nose—there was breath. He then touched her carotid artery—there was a pulse.
这么快入睡,太不合常理了,李皓珺急忙把手指伸到她的鼻子前,有气息,又伸手触摸她的颈动脉,也有脉动,
"Sienna, Sienna," Li Haojun called out twice, but she showed no response. He shook her shoulder again, still to no avail.
"西耶娜,西耶娜,"李皓珺呼唤了两声不见她有反应,又摇了摇她的肩膀,还是没有反应,
Such deep sleep—if her airway became blocked during sleep, she could easily suffocate. Had she taken some kind of medication? Realizing this couldn't go on, Li Haojun wrapped her securely in the quilt, carried her downstairs, and prepared to take her to the hospital.
这么深的睡眠,如果在睡眠过程中阻塞了呼吸道很可能会窒息,难道她服用了什么药物了吗?心想着这样不行,李皓珺用被子把她包裹好,抱起来下楼准备带她去医院,
As I carried Sienna out the front door and placed her in the car, she suddenly opened her eyes, looked around in confusion, and began to mumble.
当抱着西耶娜走出大门,刚把她放在汽车里,她却睁开了眼睛,茫然望着周围,嘴里嘟囔着,
Am I really going to work? Why is it still dark outside? Why did I have to get up so early?
"我这是要去上班吗?为什么天是黑的,为什么我起床这么早?"
Seeing her confusion upon waking, Li Haojun hurriedly explained,
见她醒来的困惑,李皓珺急忙解释,
It's not yet time for your shift tomorrow. You just got home from work, took a shower, and fell asleep. I couldn't wake you no matter what. Now I'm taking you to the hospital. After speaking, he looked into Sienna's eyes, waiting for whatever answer she might give.
"还没到第二天你上班的时间,现在是你刚下班回到家里,你到家里冲了澡就睡着了,我怎么都叫不醒你,现在正要送你去医院,"说完望着西耶娜的眼睛,等待她不知道会是怎样的回答,
Oh, don't worry about me. I'm just like this—as soon as I get home, I'll go straight to bed. Just take me back to my room...
"哦,你不用担心,我就是这样,回到家里就会睡觉,送我回屋里吧..."
When she lay back down in bed, she fell asleep just as quickly. This time, however, Li Haojun didn't try to wake her again. Glancing out the window, he saw the sky had grown completely dark. Checking the time, he realized they should be nearing home. To avoid worrying Qin Wenjing, he dialed her video call and explained the situation here.
当再次躺在床上,她同样是很快入睡了,只是这次李皓珺没有再次去试图唤醒她,再看看窗外的天已经彻底黑了,看看时间,本来应该快到家了,为了不让覃文静担心只好拨通视频电话,说明了这里的情况,
"Then let me see your little sleeping beauty first," Qin Wenjing requested after hearing Li Haojun's explanation, adopting the mindset of a bystander just there to gawk.
"那先让我看看你的小睡美人吧,"覃文静听完了李皓珺说明先提出了这个要求,完全像一个旁观的吃瓜群众心态,
Li Haojun shifted the camera toward Sienna.
李皓珺把摄像头移向了西耶娜,
"Come closer, let me see the face shape. Hmm, looks pretty young. Now show me the profile," Qin Wenjing instructed from the other end while examining the image.
"近一点,看看脸型,嗯,好像很年轻啊,再看看侧脸,"覃文静在另一端一边看还一边提着要求,
Oh, look at her nose—the bridge is a bit flat, and the tip is slightly upturned. It's kind of cute. Hey, doesn't she kinda look like Mariah Carey?
"唉,你看她的鼻子,鼻梁有点趴,鼻尖有些翘,挺可爱的,哎,你看她是不是有点像玛莱雅?"
"Heh, I guess you could say that," Li Haojun replied with a wry smile, caught on video by his girlfriend having a private meeting with another woman.
"呵呵,是有点那意思,"李皓珺一边苦笑一边回答,视频现场被女友抓包私会其他女性,
"Does she have a good figure? Zoom out a bit and take another look," Tan Wenjing seemed to have found a new pastime for her solitary evenings at home.
"她身材好吗?把镜头拉远点再看看,"覃文静似乎找到了自己独自在家时新的消遣,
"Oh my, you can't tell just by looking like that. Lift up her blanket and take a look."
"哎呀,这样也看不出来啊,你把她的被子掀开看看,"
"No, really? Is that okay?" Li Haojun replied.
"不要吧,那样好吗?"李皓珺回答,
"Don't you want to see it?" Tan Wenjing said, giggling on the other end of the phone.
"你不想看吗?"覃文静说着自己在电话那边扑哧笑出了声,
"Alright, stop teasing me. I'm heading back now."
"好了你就别拿我开心了,我这就回去了,"
"Forget it. If it's not a beautiful trap over there, just make do for the night. Take care of yourself." Qin Wenjing said in a serious tone.
"算了,如果你那边不是一个美丽的陷阱,你就在那将就一晚吧,你自己注意安全."覃文静很认真的语气说,
"Are you really okay with this?" Though Li Haojun understood his woman's trust in him, he still couldn't bear the thought of her facing the loneliness of the night alone while he was with another woman—even if nothing had happened.
"你真的不介意吗?"虽然李皓珺了解他的女人对自己的信任,可是他还是不想让她独自面对黑夜的孤寂而自己却在陪着另一个女人,虽然什么也没有发生,
"At least it's better than having me worry about your safety on the road," Qin Wenjing stated her concern directly.
"总比让我担心你的交通安全好,"覃文静直接道出自己的关切,
"Then let's video chat until I fall asleep with you," Li Haojun suggested, unable to think of a fairer way to treat Qin Wenjing...
"那就视频到我陪着你入睡吧,"李皓珺建议道,他想不到对待覃文静更加公平的方式了...
As the night fell into complete silence, Li Haojun gazed at the crescent moon outside the window, his thoughts still racing. Could it be that everyone here, like Sienna, went straight to bed after returning home, which was why the streets were empty of people out for entertainment or leisurely strolls? But if that were the case, when did the people of this town make babies?
当夜彻底地万籁俱寂,李皓珺望着窗外的弯月,还思绪不断,难道这里的人们都是像西耶娜这样,回家就睡觉,所以街上看不到娱乐或者闲逛的人群?可是如果这样,这个城镇的人在什么时间造小孩呢?
Don't I have the chance to do this? Li Haojun sneered at himself, wondering what on earth he was thinking. He glanced back at Sienna lying on her side on the bed. Moonlight spilled over the strands of hair scattered across her forehead. Li Haojun could even hear her peaceful breathing—she was sleeping so soundly.
我这不是有机会这样做吗?李皓珺咧嘴嘲笑自己,想的都是什么啊.回头看了一眼在床上侧卧的西耶娜,月光正照在她额头散落的发丝,李皓珺甚至可以听到她平静的鼻息声,睡得那么深沉,
Li Haojun fantasized again: If he went over and gave her a sincere kiss, would she truly wake up like a princess in a fairy tale? Would the spell binding her be broken?
李皓珺又幻想着,如果自己过去给她一个真挚的吻,她真的会像童话里的公主一样醒来吗?她身上的魔咒会就此破除吗?
O moon, O moon, can you tell me— Was she truly under a spell?
明月啊明月,你可否回答,她真的是被施了魔咒吗?