Better than the Most Romantic Words

By Wu Sesi

I'm a cool-minded person by nature. I don't believe that people need to say a lot in their whole lives. You needn't chat in full swing with someone who really knows you； a smile between you two will do, no matter how long a time has elapsed.

During my summer vacation as a junior college student, I followed some seniors to make a documentary film on the earliest female diplomat in new China. What impressed us most during the filming was her relationship with her husband in their shared years.

She was born into an intellectual family and went abroad to study in her young age. Then she came back and shared her destiny with China and went through the turbulent years of the 20th century with her nation. Even at such an old age, she was still quick-witted and kept the good habit of making herself up before meeting people. Her husband was a scientist, who would happily follow her every day, bringing her bird cage around and carrying her bag. After three days of filming, I found there was little to say between them, but they would support each other each time they rose to their feet.

My manuscript was written in a brief manner, and I expressed to her that I was afraid that the film was not long enough and I hoped that they would behave as usual. The diplomat laughed heartily, “That's the way we live. You're still young, my boy. Life is long, and there are not so many romantic words to say. We're good as long as we can see each other.” It was the same as what my mother said. I think it's like traveling together by train. If you don't talk, it will be awkward, but it will be even more awkward if you talk too long, because there are only a few topics which we know how to start or end. Nothing is more boring than to keep up a dry conversation. When a couple can sit side by side to see the scenery as they make small talks, it is better than the most romantic words.

(FromThe Convexconcave Relativity, Beijing Joint Publishing Company. Translation: Qing Run)

我天性凉薄，不相信人和人可以一辈子有很多话说。和真正了解你的人，绝不需要天天聊得热火朝天，而是无论隔多久，只需要相视一笑。

大三假期，我跟着前辈拍纪录片。拍摄对象是中国最早的一位女外交官，她最引以为豪的是百岁之年和丈夫一直相处得和睦愉快。

女外交官出生书香门第，年轻时漂洋过海，一生和国家共命运，历经峥嵘岁月。即便到了这个年岁，依然反应敏捷，保持着见人就化妆的优雅习惯。丈夫是个科学家，乐呵呵地每天跟在妻子后面，遛个鸟儿，提个包。跟拍了三天，他们之间基本没什么话说，倒是每次起身都相互搀扶。

我的稿子写得简要，怕片子时长不够，以为两人拘谨，就希望他们按平时的状态来。外交官笑了：“我们平时就这样啊。孩子你还小，一辈子那么长，哪有那么多话，能看得见就好。”这和我妈说的一样。我想，这就好像一起坐列车长途旅行，不聊尴尬，聊长了更尴尬，因为话题就那么多，找不到开头，也结束不了，无趣的莫过于没话找话。爱人之间，有一搭没一搭，能并肩坐在一起，看看风景，胜过最好听的情话。

（摘自《凹凸相对论》北京联合出版公司）