Chapter 33

He Xi started his internship in his junior year, working as a planner in a large Internet company.

In addition to completing my job every day, I also have to deal with a lot of boring people and things.

When she met Xu Ce, he gave her the impression of being like Jiang Yue in his childhood. He was cheerful every day, as if he had no worries, and he helped her draft plans and work on projects.

Once, when she finished overtime work at nearly ten o'clock, she was in front of the bus stop looking down at the bus schedule when Xu Ce's car came out of the underground parking lot.

A short car horn sounded beside her ears. She frowned and looked up to find that the man's fierce face flashed by and leaked out of the lowered car window.

"It's Xiao He. Get in the car. I'll take you there."

This was the first time she noticed that the man was different from the gentle man he was in the office. The way he looked at her had a hint of prey in his eyes.

"No, the car I'm waiting for will be here soon."

As they were talking, a bus pulled into the station. She waved to the man and quickly jumped on the bus.

She took the wrong bus and took a longer route, and it was almost dawn when she reversed back.

The next day at work, Xu Ce was still smiling as usual, but there was a hint of vigilance in He Xi's eyes that was not there before.

"He Xi, please stay for a moment."

After the morning meeting, Xu Ce said this in front of his colleagues.

There were only two people left in the huge conference room. She sat there not knowing what was going on, feeling a little uneasy.

"I don't eat people. Why do you look so nervous?"

"No, I'm just a little worried that I haven't done my job well."

The man's smile became even warmer when he heard her say this.

"Although you haven't been in the company long, your abilities are readily apparent to everyone."

"I asked you to stay because I have a project this week that requires me to go on a business trip to Lancheng. I remember that you seem to be from Lancheng. Are you interested in joining in?"

He Xi was stunned for a few seconds after he finished speaking. The Lancheng project was led by the government, and she, an intern who was still in the learning stage, was definitely not among the people who could participate.

"First of all, thank you very much for your recognition and attention to me, but I'm afraid I'm not up to the task given my current abilities."

Anyone who can gain a foothold in a large company is a shrewd person. If she rashly joins with her resume, she will definitely be targeted.

"Xiao He, you're too modest. The fact that the company allowed you to stay among so many interviewees must mean that you have something special."

He Xi's first big project came like this, and she was still a little bit unbelievable when she walked out of the meeting room.

The news that I was returning home from a business trip was sent to Yan Runqing. She was so happy that she had already prepared meals for her on the day she returned through her mobile phone.

Because she joined the project temporarily, she had to work overtime to quickly familiarize herself with the project content.

By the time we packed up and left work, only a few workstations in the company had lights on.

She took the elevator downstairs, casually opened the project group chat, and scrolled through the "Received" messages that Xu Ce had tagged everyone a few minutes ago.

The content and matters are clear and concise, with emphasis on assigning clear division of labor to specific individuals.

The only thing she was responsible for seemed out of place in comparison.

He Xi thought about it for a long time, but ultimately did not send a private message to ask.

The next day, when the plane landed in Lancheng, a group of colleagues rented a car to go to the hotel. After saying goodbye, she planned to take the subway back alone.

"Go home and relax, don't be too stressed."

She carried her suitcase and followed the crowded crowd to the platform, wondering all the way whether she was too sensitive.

*

Forty minutes later, just as she got off the subway, He Xu's fatal call came in a series of calls.

This guy goes to a local university in Lancheng and hardly ever lives on campus.

She reported her station name and waited for the coolie to come and move her luggage, but this guy was absolutely outrageous!

"Hello, sister."

They greeted each other in unison, and He Xi, embarrassed, almost dug out a villa with his toes.

In the busy station, several handsome young men about 1.8 meters tall stood in a row, and everyone passing by would take a few glances at them.

"Don't do it."

She searched her bag for a long time but couldn't find a mask, so she had to cover her face with her hands. She could be said to have been jogging the whole way back.

She felt relieved the moment she stepped into the courtyard. She jumped up and reached out to pull He Xu's ear, leaving her classmates stunned.

"See? She's a complete tigress! I'm not lying at all."

Yan Runqing had been waiting for her daughter to come back for a long time, but before she could be happy, she saw a scene that gave her a headache.

"Everyone is watching, stop messing around."

"Auntie, we're not really hungry."

Rather than eating, a few people were more happy to see He Xu, who always acted "domineeringly", being suppressed by his bloodline.

The meal was a chaotic one, and for a moment He Xi was dazed by the scene in front of him.

More than two years have passed, and the scenes in my memory have gradually become blurred, but the laughter and joy at that time seem to still remain in this small courtyard.

"You guys keep eating, I'm going upstairs."

It's always unsatisfactory for boys to get together and not party until the early morning. She pinched her sore brows and went back to the room in her slippers.

While going upstairs, she couldn't help but look at the yard opposite.

The shorter and older house looked even worse than before, and the clumps of moss on the courtyard wall made the courtyard look even more desolate.

The pear tree in the middle of the yard was hung with pears the size of a fingernail, but it was sparsely populated and unattended.

She somehow opened her phone and took a photo.

I stared at it for a long time while lying on the bed, and seemed to see the boy lazily lying on the rattan chair under the tree.

When her eyes were lowered, she looked particularly unapproachable.

"Are you doing okay now?"

She murmured to herself, feeling a sharp pain in her heart.

Not long after she returned to school during her freshman year, she heard from her mother that Zhao Lin had been forcibly taken back to North City by his father after his father broke into his room.

"What a sin! I went to see the child when he left. He was like a completely different person. He didn't have any of the youthful energy at all. It was really pitiful to see him."

He Xi reached out and touched the corner of his eye, trying hard to force back the tears.

*

The next morning, He Xi got up early and rode He Xu's electric scooter to the hotel.

The preliminary research and program planning of the project have been roughly completed. In addition to the routine talks with Party A during this visit to Lancheng, the focus is on implementation monitoring.

As a native of Lancheng, she had no choice but to supervise the execution on site. She was exhausted from running around every day, and when she returned home, Yan Runqing was heartbroken to see her like this.

"Xixi, why don't we come back after graduation? You're a girl working so hard outside every day, and Mom is really worried."

Yan Runqing rarely interferes with her daughter's choices, so He Xi was a little surprised to hear her say this.

"It's really not easy for young people these days. I watch the news every day and there are reports of sudden deaths every now and then."

"If you come back home, we can find a job from nine to five with two days off, or you can take the civil service exam and find someone you know well to marry. If you have children, your mother will help you raise them."

After hearing what she had said, He Xi finally understood what she was planning, and he felt both angry and amused.

"If you want to take care of a child, that's not easy. I can find you a job as a confinement nanny in Haicheng. After all, there are more opportunities in big cities, and it can also increase the employment rate."

After she said that, she curled her lips, suppressed her laughter, and ran out of the yard before anyone around her could react.

Yixing Street is more lively at night than before. He Xi still goes to his cousin's noodle shop when he goes out.

Students from Lancheng No. 6 Middle School graduated in batches, but Qiaojie Noodle House outside the west gate was open almost from morning to night except for a few days during the Chinese New Year.

In late spring, the leaves of the ivy in the alley rustled in the wind.

She quickened her pace towards the store, occasionally stopping to say hello to neighbors she met while chatting on the way.

"Or maybe it's because Xixi has a bright future, while the Yang family's kid is a complete waste."

She waved her hands awkwardly, probably guessing who they were talking about.

"I didn't study hard and went out to work, and now I'm pregnant and I'm back in shame..."

He Xi had already taken a few steps out, but he was still stunned for a few seconds after hearing this.

As soon as she trudged to the door of the store, her cousin Shi Xin came out to greet her at the top of her voice.

"You've been going out early and coming back late every day, and finally you remembered to come to me. It's not easy!"

"Oh sister, please stop teasing me. I can't afford to be hurt by working like an ox or a horse."

She threw herself into Shi Xin's arms, hugged her waist and cuddled her hard, just like a coquettish kitten.

The smile on Shi Xin's face was one of unconcealable relief; the little girl had grown up visibly.

"Are you in a relationship? Bring it back so I can give it to you."

The topic changed so quickly that He Xi heard her cousin whispering in her ear before she could react.

"Some young people don't take relationships seriously. I'm telling you, everything needs to be protected. Do you hear me?"

She closed her eyes helplessly and nodded under her cousin's gaze.

"Don't blame me for being nosy. This is just the daughter of the He family. The news spread all over the alley within a few days of her return. You haven't heard of the stories those people make up. They can say anything."

He Xi looked at his cousin who was still talking and reached out to tug at her sleeve.

Whoever comes is here. When she glanced at Yang Jia, the person was only ten meters away from the noodle shop.

I saw that the woman's belly was slightly bulging. Because of her pregnancy, her body was much fatter than before, and her face was a little swollen.

"Hey, the top student is back?"

She originally wanted to drag her cousin into the store, but unexpectedly, Yang Jia spoke first before she even got close.

This was also the first time the two met after the incident that year. Hearing the woman's ambiguous tone, she looked at her intently without saying a word.

"Why, are you pleased with myself for seeing me like this?"

"At least I'm an adult. Unlike some people who seduce boys in high school, they rush to cook, clean and serve as a maid, but in the end, they still get dumped!"

"Who the hell are you talking about? Keep your mouth shut!"

Seeing his cousin rushing towards Yang Jia and about to attack, He Xi quickly stepped forward and grabbed her.

"We don't need to pay attention to her."

Who knows what evil intentions this person has. If he ends up blackmailing others, it will be hard to explain.

"He Xi, has anyone ever told me that you look so lifeless and innocent all day long that it's really disgusting. You pretend to be ignorant of the world, but you're actually more despicable than anyone else!"

He Xi never assumes the worst of others, but as for Yang Jia, she really can't figure out how she could have made her so hysterical.

"You're pregnant, so you should be more polite to your baby."

"You don't need to judge what kind of person I am. I used to protect you like a family member, but ever since I found out about the dirty things you and Tan Zheng did together, you've become like a slut in a muddy ditch to me. I feel sick just by looking at you!"

She finished speaking in one breath without even looking at the woman, and turned and walked into the store.

Shi Xin, who was standing beside her, had never seen her get angry with anyone. When he heard her mumbling a bunch of curses, he was stunned for a moment before coming to his senses.

Before entering the store, she wanted to spit, but just as she was about to do so, she remembered that it was right in front of her own store, so she had to give up in disappointment.

"Awesome, sister!"

She put her arm around He Xi's shoulders. She really didn't expect her sister to be so violent towards others.

"Do you think I'm too mean?"

"Tsk, why would you think that? It's obvious that some people are about to shit on your head!"

He Xi's eyes were red, obvious signs that she was about to cry.

"I did clean and cook porridge for Zhao Lin, but he was almost fainting from heatstroke during military training..."

Seeing her sister sobbing, Shi Xin suddenly felt angry for no reason towards the person she mentioned who had been out of contact for a long time.

Fortunately, she still remembered what Grandma Li said that year, and she was thinking of testing her sister again and trying to find a way to bring the two of them together.

"Don't cry, don't cry. It's not worth crying for that coward."

"My sister is so delicate and pretty, she can find any man she wants. There's no need to hang herself on a tree."

The moment He Xi finished speaking and turned back to the store, all the spikes on her body disappeared completely. She couldn't imagine how harsh her expression was when she said those words. This was not her intention.

When you stare into the abyss, the abyss also stares into you.

She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a tissue, looked at her cousin's anxious and regretful expression, and smiled bitterly at her with some apology.

"I'm sorry for making you get scolded by me and have to listen to my nagging."

"That's nothing. The shit I deal with every day is way more troublesome than this."

*

He Xi stayed in Lancheng for more than half a month. Before returning to Haicheng, she took the time to buy flowers and sit in front of Grandma Li's grave for a while.

Unexpectedly, the old man's tombstone was wiped clean. In addition to the flowers she brought, there was also a bunch of daylilies that were not particularly fresh placed in front of the tomb.

Daylily, she was sure it was not sent by the Yang family.

A bold guess made her heart beat wildly.

She looked back around the cemetery, but there were only a few lonely figures in the cemetery, no matter whether it was a holiday or not. The person she expected was nowhere to be seen.

She sat for a while, told the old man about her recent situation, then got up and walked back.

Passing by the security booth at the cemetery entrance, a kind-looking old man stopped her with a smile and said, "Little girl, did you lose a sketchbook? I found it while I was patrolling a while ago."

He Xi felt a little puzzled. Just as he was about to wave his hand to explain, he saw the old man had already handed him the notebook.

Looking at the slightly yellowed inner pages, her head was buzzing, and she took the notebook stiffly in her hands as if she had thought of something.