Two of him

The afternoon sun was a bit bright, and the two of them walked into the Lonely Library side by side.

Zhuang Yu'an asked her what she wanted to drink, and she asked for an iced Americano. He bought two iced Americanos, and they sat side by side facing the sea, chatting casually.

Zhuang Yu'an gradually learned about Liang Sirui's experience. A Qingdao native, she had loved piano since childhood, but in middle school, she gradually realized she had no special talent, so she relegated it to a hobby. After graduating from university, she tried several careers, but ultimately returned to piano, turning her hobby into a career.

"But I always feel that playing the piano myself and teaching others to play the piano are two different things," Liang Sirui said. "Playing the piano myself is enjoyable, but teaching others to play the piano... is a form of spiritual practice."

Zhuang Yu'an smiled slightly: "Which aspect of cultivation?"

"In all aspects," she laughed. "Ever since I became a piano teacher, I've realized I don't have a good temper or patience. I get really mad when I hear bad music, especially."

"Then, according to your standards, what level is considered bad?" Zhuang Yu'an joked, "I need to evaluate where I fall."

Liang Sirui thought about it seriously and said, "If you have a chance, you can play a song and I will help you make an evaluation."

Zhuang Yu'an thought her straightforwardness was a little cute. He smiled, took a sip of coffee, and asked, "Where do you usually go to class?"

Liang Sirui gave an address, which was a little far from Zhuang Yu'an's company. But it didn't matter.

When the two stood up and were about to leave, Zhuang Jinghao and his group came in.

Zhuang Yu'an first noticed the striking red hair, then his gaze fixed on the floral dress beside her. The pale yellow background, dotted with small, unnameable flowers, swayed with her light steps, evoking the romance of late spring and the sunshine of early summer.

My eyes accidentally touched the dazzling white in the center of the deep V-neck, and I felt as if I was burned.

His gaze quickly shifted to his sister's blushing little face.

"Brother, how long have you been here?" The younger sister let go of Zuo Xiao's hand and walked quickly to him. Zhuang Yu'an raised his wrist: "Almost two hours. Did you just get up?"

"Yeah!" Zhuang Jinghao looked at her brother, then at Liang Sirui, and said with a smile, "The Sunset Music Festival starts at 6 o'clock, you still have time to take your time to stroll around. By the way..." She reminded, "Sirui has never been to the Dune Art Museum and Auditorium, you must take her to her!"

"Yeah, okay." Zhuang Yu'an said and walked towards the door. Luffy patted him on the shoulder as he passed by.

"Come on." Luffy whispered in his ear.

After going out, he turned his head and looked into the room as he walked: three girls were taking pictures face to face by the floor-to-ceiling window, changing two angles in just a few seconds.

"Are you familiar with Zuo Xiao?" Liang Sirui suddenly asked.

Zhuang Yuan paused and said, "I'm not familiar with him. I've met him a few times."

"This is the second time I've met her." Liang Sirui said, "Come to think of it, I was the one who introduced Zuo Xiao and Jing Hao to each other."

Zhuang Yu'an was surprised: "What do you mean?"

"At the end of April, Jinghao posted a message on WeChat Moments asking if anyone knew someone who graduated from the 21st class of a certain art college. I happened to have a friend from that school, so Jinghao asked me to help find someone." She turned around and smiled, "It was Zuo Xiao."

"I asked her what she wanted to do with Zuo Xiao, and she said she wanted to learn guitar singing from her." Liang Sirui chuckled, "I now suspect that Jinghao has other reasons for looking for Zuo Xiao. Look at them, they are as close as conjoined twins."

Zhuang Yu'an was in a complicated mood and said calmly, "That's just how she is. She does whatever she wants."

Zhuang Jinghao, on her side, finished checking in with Zuo Xiao and the others, sat for a while, and then started planning other places. Thinking she couldn't repeat her brother's route, she saved her recommendations for his attractions for tomorrow morning. From now until a little over an hour before the Sunset Music Festival began, they'd been strolling along the beach, taking photos, hand in hand with Peter Pan.

Along the way, he encountered several groups of people who tried to chat him up, but they were all driven away by Chen Liqing. He was really like a bodyguard, keeping strangers away.

"Will Chen Liqing be bored?" Zhuang Jinghao asked quietly, "Is he really here as a bodyguard?"

Zuo Xiao didn't think so. "He ate, drank, and visited tourist attractions. How is he any different from us? How could he be bored?"

"But he seems to be always circling around you!" Zhuang Jing said bluntly, "like a little bee buzzing around a flower. Isn't he tired?"

The speaker may not have meant it, but the listener took it seriously. Zuo Xiao's heart suddenly trembled. Was she so used to this way of getting along with Chen Liqing that she didn't realize he was always around her? Then why did he keep circling around her like this?

I can't help but think of Ms. Dai's ridicule: "Poor", "What a sin", "Don't let him wait"... Damn, Chen Liqing is not really going to perform some childhood sweethearts, some infatuated love, or some dog-licking literature, right?

"I noticed it too!" Zhan Jiaxin leaned over and whispered, "Not only does Chen Liqing always follow you, he's also hostile towards Mr. Zhuang and Mr. Lu, making them seem like rivals in love."

Zhuang Jinghao finally realized what was happening and opened her mouth into an "O" shape: "Oh my God! He's not secretly in love with you, is he?"

Zhan Jiaxin looked at her speechlessly: Come on, everyone who's been gossiped about has already figured it out, and you, the instigator, are only just beginning to react? That's pretty low emotional intelligence...

Zuo Xiao was silent for a moment, looking suspiciously at Chen Liqing. He quickly noticed her gaze and hurried over to ask, "What's the matter?"

Zhuang Jinghao chuckled, then immediately covered her mouth with both hands, fearing she would reveal the secret. Chen Liqing glanced at her sideways and continued to wait for Zuo Xiao to speak.

Zuo Xiao looked at his childhood friend, full of suspicion: Could this kid be capable of this?

She and Chen Liqing had been at odds for as long as she could remember. He was half a year older than her, and since childhood, he'd snatched her toys, bickered with her, and gotten into countless fights. After her parents divorced, her father would occasionally leave Zuo Xiao in the care of Chen Liqing's parents when he went on business trips. Whenever she walked in, Chen Liqing would yell, "Here comes the beggar again!" He was just being mean and asking for a beating!

Later, both children were admitted to Shanghai. One was an arts student, the other a sports student. Both had gotten into prestigious universities by lowering their scores, so neither could look down on the other. But Zuo Xiao still felt a little hurt: getting into a similar university with a fool like Chen Liqing made him feel lower in status...

During their college years, Chen Liqing began to behave like a human being, occasionally inviting her out to eat. At the end of the month, if he knew she had overspent on her living expenses, he would top up her meal card. Whenever Zuo Xiao needed bodyguards or laborers, he was practically always there.

But ever since Zuo Xiao got a boyfriend during her sophomore year, he's been on strike. Zuo Xiao rarely takes the initiative to ask him out, but he'll just say, "You're not the only one with a relationship. I'm busy too!"

During her four years at university, Zuo Xiao had three boyfriends. Chen Liqing was also a bitch, dragging each one under her scrutiny, then criticizing and nitpicking, ultimately mocking her for poor taste. He even rivaled her in terms of quantity, claiming to have dated five women, yet never brought any of them out. Zuo Xiao sometimes wondered: Maybe this guy's personality was so bad, his EQ so low, that he never even dated anyone!

After graduation, Chen Liqing went to Beijing to start a business. He soon bought a house and a car, and claimed that he had created tax revenue and jobs for the country, and was very proud of it.

Zuo Xiao stayed in Shanghai to work and developed a stable relationship with Zhou Zhihui, a senior she had met during her senior year. Last year, Zhou Zhihui first proposed to her, saying he felt sorry for her hard work and wanted to support her. After Zuo Xiao rejected his proposal, she felt conflicted and called Chen Liqing.

She said she might get married and have children soon, but she definitely wouldn't settle for being a housewife. After all, women in New China hold up half the sky. How many acres of land would it take to keep half the sky at home? Chen Liqing listened for a long time, then finally said, "That guy won't do. You'll regret it."

Later events proved that Chen Liqing, though not so good in other areas, had a good eye. Zhou Zhihui, on the other hand, was good in one area but not in others.

Thinking of this, Zuo Xiao realized that she had indeed never considered Chen Liqing a man. Many people said that Chen Liqing was handsome, but she thought he was just so-so. When she looked at other men, she couldn't help but look at their noses, hands, and whether they had gained weight during puberty. But when she looked at Chen Liqing, it was like looking at a slipper.

Although the "childhood sweetheart becomes a regular partner" theme is a popular theme in romance novels, Zuo Xiao couldn't believe she could develop any special feelings for Chen Liqing. Men are men, and Chen Liqing is Chen Liqing. He is an enemy, but also a friend, a friend she cannot lose.

Zuo Xiao tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk and asked with a straight face, "Are you bored?"

Not expecting her to ask this, Zhuang Jinghao and Zhan Jiaxin both opened their eyes wide.

"Of course it's boring!" Chen Liqing didn't give him any face at all. "It's just a sea and a few shabby houses. What's fun about it?"

Zhuang Jinghao and Zhan Jiaxin's eyes widened even more: What's this superb emotional intelligence? Big brother, you're destined to be alone!

"Tsk." Zuo Xiao gave him a look, "I should have known not to take you with me."

At this time, Luffy came over and said with great emotional intelligence: "Coming to the beach to enjoy the breeze, my mood has become more cheerful. Hey, what's the lineup for the music festival later?"

The three girls began to chatter about the lineup. The festival lasted from 6 to 11 and featured folk, electronic, rock, and one or two lesser-known rappers.

The sun was setting, and when the few of them arrived at the music festival venue, a large crowd of people had already gathered near the stage.

Luffy somehow managed to procure a few inflatable sofas. Everyone bustled about, and the beach was now filled with five colorful sofas. Zhuang Jinghao and Zuo Xiao took one, the other three each took one, and one was left for the stranded Yuanyang.

After a while, Luffy said he was going to buy some water and some wine, showing his service-minded attitude. Zuo Xiao winked at Chen Liqing, "Come on! How dare you?" Only then did he reluctantly follow.

"Oh, it feels a bit chilly. Will it be cold at night?" Zhuang Jinghao said.

Zhan Jiaxin was already wearing a coat, which was tied around her waist. She shook her head and said, "I don't think so." Zuo Xiao thought for a moment and said, "It seems a bit cold. Why don't we go back and get some clothes?"

"No need, just ask my brother to bring two over. He always keeps them in his car." Zhuang Jinghao said before calling his brother, "Brother, are you far from the car now? We're at the music festival. Please get two long-sleeved shirts for Zuo Xiao and me. We're worried it'll be cold at night. Yeah, remember to get one for Si Rui too!"

Dusk had fallen. Zhuang Yu'an opened the trunk and bent down to pull out a camping storage box.

"You should take one too, in case it gets cold at night." He took out two pieces of clothing: a long, light camel-colored open-cardigan sweater and a pink windbreaker, both in size XS. "Which one do you like?"

Liang Sirui picked out a sweater. Zhuang Yu'an said with a smile, "Do you want to try it on and see if it fits you?"

Liang Sirui put it on on the spot and it fit her perfectly. Zhuang Yu'an then realized that although she was much taller than her sister, she had a small frame and was thin.

Continuing to search through the storage box, he found a light blue, long-sleeved linen shirt. He was slightly startled, then quickly took the shirt and jacket, folded them slightly, and put them into the paper bag.

When the two arrived at the performance venue, a band was already performing on the stage.

Zhuang Yu'an handed the bag to his sister: "The clothes are inside."

"Thank you, brother!" Zhuang Jinghao sank into the sofa, arm in arm with Zuo Xiao, and smiled sweetly, "Are you tired from walking? Come and sit down!" Pointing to the only empty sofa at the scene, "This was conjured by Brother Luffy. It's so comfortable to sit on!"

Zhuang Yu'an took a look and said: "I'm not tired, Si Rui, please sit down first. I'll go for a walk in the front."

He walked a few dozen meters away, stood there and listened to the songs for a while, and he was really a little tired. Forget it, he went back to squeeze in with Luffy.

I turned and walked back. The sun hadn't yet sunk, painting everything with a shimmering blue hue. The sunset glow on the horizon was breathtakingly beautiful. Behind my ears, a faint, atmospheric electronic music, riding on the sea breeze, rolled in like waves, gently lifting my body and swaying gently forward. This moment was exquisite, even the dampness on my skin and the subtle fishy smell in my breath were exquisite.

From a distance, he caught sight of his sister's red hair, still dazzling in the twilight. Then, he saw the black-haired girl cuddling with her.

She was still wearing a floral dress that looked as beautiful as the end of spring or the beginning of summer, but over the dress, she had put on a shirt.

A light blue shirt. His shirt.

In an instant, my heart was beating like a drum.