Times of Our Lives - Chapter 42

After spending over a year in Iraq, Zhang Ganggang had become proficient in everyday Arabic. He now carried a gun, and when taking photos in the wild or in war zones, he was mindful of his posture, often lying flat or crouching to avoid stray bullets from unknown sources.

 

When not working, Zhang Ganggang rarely wandered around due to the danger and fear. The post-war city was in ruins with hardly anything worth photographing. He preferred staying where there were children, though those places might not be safe either.

 

“Gang, look at the photos.” Tazayi, only 10 years old but already a little leader among the nearby kids, called out to Zhang Ganggang. His pronunciation of “Gang” sounded like “kang.”

 

Zhang Ganggang fiddled with his phone and smiled at him. “I haven’t taken any interesting photos recently, just the ones from last time.”

 

Tazayi frowned. “We want to see your old photos.”

 

Behind him were seven or eight children, including a girl who seemed only four or five years old, hugging a tattered doll.

 

Zhang Ganggang pointed to his phone. “The albums are all in here, but there’s no internet connection, so I can’t access them.”

 

Tazayi pointed to the little girl. “Dana’s rooftop has a signal. We can go there to look.”

 

Zhang Ganggang couldn’t refuse and followed Tazayi.

 

Different colored sheets hung between the houses, serving as camouflage during gunfights. When there was no danger, children played hide and seek among them, their laughter pure. The wind between the buildings lifted the colorful curtains high.

 

Zhang Ganggang had taken many similar photos. Looking at them occasionally made his numb heart a bit softer.

 

Indeed, Dana’s rooftop had a weak signal. Zhang Ganggang frowned as he tried to log into Weibo. After several attempts, he finally got in.

 

“Great China Mobile,” Zhang Ganggang muttered. “Their equipment is so powerful… installed even here?”

 

Tazayi, not understanding Chinese, pouted unhappily. “Gang, look at the photos!”

 

“Coming, coming.” Zhang Ganggang squatted down and opened Weibo. He hadn’t logged into his account for two years, partly to avoid memories of someone and partly to prevent uncontrollable regret. So when the albums of those years reappeared, Zhang Ganggang didn’t know how to react.

 

One by one, the photos loaded, the buffering circle like a sharp blade, slicing through images of Jiangnan’s misty rain, heavy snow, small bridges over flowing water, and the young boys of the past.

 

Zhang Ganggang’s fingertips slowly slid across the screen. A group photo under the starry sky in Mount Xiangshen, celebrating the New Year at Xie Meng’s home with innocent smiles under the fireworks, photos of Beijing’s hutongs, white plum blossoms, Zhuo Xiaoyuan holding Zhuo Jinjing, and Han Dong kissing his forehead.

 

The last photo was of a message he wrote on the beach in Xiangshan.

 

“Youth is eternal, we will always be together.”

 

It was Tazayi’s first time seeing such a different landscape from his homeland. Curious, he grabbed Zhang Ganggang’s phone and started flipping through from the beginning, suddenly exclaiming.

 

“Gang.” He pointed to a photo and asked, “Who is this?”

 

Zhang Ganggang wiped his face, his eyes red but tearless. Seeing that photo, he froze.

 

Before coming to the war zone, he had sorted out Han Dong’s photos and sent them to him, but he hadn’t realized he missed one.

 

It was the first photo he took of Han Dong.

 

In the picture, the young Han Dong was looking at the camera, smiling gently in the dazzling fireworks.

 

Zhang Ganggang saw the caption he added back then: “Master Han, you finally smiled at me.”

 

Xie Meng was so surprised when he received Zhang Ganggang’s call that he almost couldn’t speak. “Where are you? Are you back in the country?”

 

“No, no.” Zhang Ganggang explained, “I borrowed a phone from a restaurant in Baghdad. I can’t talk for long…” He said a few words in Arabic to the landlady, then helplessly told Xie Meng, “It seems some technicians are coming… I have to go. I’ll be back in a year, don’t worry about me.”

 

Xie Meng didn’t waste time, quickly saying, “Be sure to stay safe, avoid crowded places… keep in touch.”

 

The landlady urged him again, and Zhang Ganggang could only say, “Got it. You and Yi Mei stay happy. Wait for me to come back.”

 

After several goodbyes, Zhang Ganggang reluctantly hung up. He saw a few technicians enter the restaurant, apologized in English, and stepped aside to make way.

 

One of the technicians, wearing a hat, paused his action, slightly tilting his head as if trying to look at Zhang Ganggang’s face.

 

Zhang Ganggang: “?”

 

Suddenly, someone outside shouted, “There’s a woman in the car! It looks like a bomb! A bomb!”

 

Terrified, Zhang Ganggang looked outside. The landlady was already screaming. The car was right by the restaurant’s window. It was too late to run out. Instinctively, Zhang Ganggang looked for cover, but the technician beside him grabbed him first.

 

“What are you doing…?!” Zhang Ganggang exclaimed in his native language. The technician said nothing, hugging his waist tightly and rolling behind the bar with him.

 

Zhang Ganggang stared, half-open mouthed, at the familiar face under the hat.

 

Han Dong was pressing down on him.

 

Zhang Ganggang struggled violently.

 

“Stop moving!” Han Dong shouted angrily. “Stay down!”

 

Zhang Ganggang held his breath, his face turning red. He yelled at Han Dong, “Turn to your side! Do you want to get hurt? Don’t just protect me!”

 

Han Dong: “…”

 

He finally compromised and turned to his side, still facing outward, his hands and feet tightly wrapped around Zhang Ganggang. Their faces were almost touching, their breaths mingling.

 

The explosion never came. Zhang Ganggang was sweating all over from being held so tightly. He made eye contact with Han Dong and awkwardly tried to start a conversation. “Why are you here?”

 

Han Dong stared at his mouth. “I switched jobs and came here for technical support.”

 

“Oh.” Zhang Ganggang licked his lips. “Are you busy?”

 

Han Dong: “Busy as hell. I’ve been looking for you for over half a year, only to find you right under my nose.”

 

Zhang Ganggang felt a little dizzy. “Why were you looking for me?”

 

Han Dong: “What do you think?”

 

“…” Zhang Ganggang didn’t know what to say.

 

“What about you?” Han Dong asked him. “How long do you plan to stay?”

 

Zhang Ganggang replied honestly, “Another year… I don’t know what to do if I go back.”

 

“Do you want to be with me?” Han Dong suddenly asked.

 

Zhang Ganggang looked confused. “Aren’t we together right now…”

 

Han Dong took a deep breath. “I mean together as in…”

 

Someone knocked on the bar. Zhang Ganggang and Han Dong both turned to see a soldier with a gun, accompanied by a colleague in a bomb suit.

 

“The bomb has been defused.” The soldier spoke fluent English, even joking, “You don’t need to hold each other so tight. You won’t be dying together as lovebirds.”

 

“…”

 

When Zhang Ganggang finally left the restaurant, his legs felt weak. He stood at the door for a while until Han Dong pulled up in a big Jeep in front of him.

 

Zhang Ganggang: “…”

 

Han Dong adjusted his hat and ordered, “Get in.”

 

“Why so bossy…” Zhang Ganggang muttered as he climbed into the car. Han Dong leaned over to help him with the seatbelt. As Zhang Ganggang raised his head, his chin brushed against Han Dong’s face, feeling the rough stubble.

 

Zhang Ganggang’s face turned a bit red.

 

Han Dong patted his head. “Think about it carefully.”

 

Zhang Ganggang glanced at him. “Think about what?”

 

“You know what.” Han Dong skillfully shifted gears. “Whether you want to be with me.”

 

Zhang Ganggang retorted, “I want Rou Rou.”

 

Han Dong laughed. “There’s no Rou Rou, only me. I’ll treat you better and love you more than she would.”

 

Zhang Ganggang opened his mouth, flustered. “Aren’t you being mushy?”

 

“True love is a tragedy that must end with death,” Han Dong suddenly said. He asked Zhang Ganggang, “Do you know what that means?”

 

Zhang Ganggang, puzzled, shook his head. “No idea…”

 

“…” Han Dong was speechless. “Then why did you write that to me?”

 

Zhang Ganggang said innocently, “I was so angry at the time, I just searched online for a particularly emotional quote… and chose that one.”

 

Han Dong: “…”

 

Zhang Ganggang grew frantic. “What does it mean?!”

 

Han Dong sighed. “Forget it… maybe it’s better you don’t know.”

 

“…” Zhang Ganggang was desperate. “Tell me already!”

 

Han Dong stepped hard on the gas pedal. The Jeep’s tires kicked up heavy dust. The hot wind blew into Zhang Ganggang’s face. He squinted, shielding his eyes from the scorching sunlight.

 

“In an instant, you must accept the thousand transformations of life and endure endless love.” Han Dong suddenly said beside Zhang Ganggang. “Do you understand this one?”

 

Zhang Ganggang, his hair a mess from the wind: “?”

 

“Silly.” Han Dong reached over to ruffle his hair. “Hurry up and fall in love with me, considering how much I love you.”