After Yang Sisi paid the fare, she opened the car door and stood between me and Cao Xiaobei. She looked displeased at first, and then asked Cao Xiaobei, "What exactly do you mean by coming to see him?"

Unlike Xiao Bao, who was timid and subservient in front of Yang Sisi, Cao Xiaobei replied in a very composed manner: "I just think it's not appropriate for you to live with a man."

“We have other friends living with us, it’s not like he’s all alone, so why is it inappropriate?”

"Your two other friends will inevitably run into some trouble and be away from Dali sometime. Can it be okay for you two, a single man and a single woman, to live together like that?"

It was clear that Yang Sisi was very angry, but she was speechless after Cao Xiaobei's words. I couldn't help but take another look at her. At that moment, she was wearing a short red down jacket and slightly loose white woolen trousers. Besides looking very fashionable, she also looked incredibly youthful... I'm sure that when she gains more experience and matures, she won't lose to Ye Zhi in terms of temperament or appearance.

After a moment of silence, Yang Sisi finally spoke: "My parents have never managed me like this, I don't need you to think so much for me."

Cao Xiaobei realized that she couldn't communicate with Yang Sisi, so she turned to me and said, "You'd better remember what I just said... I'll come back to talk to you in a couple of days."

I laughed and said, "I really enjoy chatting. You're welcome anytime I have free time."

Cao Xiaobei gave me a half-smile, then put on his helmet. After starting the motorcycle, he said to Yang Sisi, "I'm leaving now. If you have time tomorrow, I'll take you for a ride on the coastal road."

This time, Yang Sisi gave Cao Xiaobei face and replied, "Let's talk about it tomorrow."

...

The sound of the motorcycle gradually faded away, and the entire Dragon Shrine fell into an unusual silence once again. After looking at me for a while, Yang Sisi asked, "What did Xiao Bei just say to you?"

"They just don't agree to us living together."

"Don't put it so harshly. There's still Sister Peach and Iron Man... Before renting this house, I had already thought about it. I can't live alone with you."

I just smoked and didn't say anything.

Yang Sisi rarely showed any embarrassment. Perhaps she knew in her heart that it was inappropriate for everyone to live together without any official status, but she had brought it up with me for some reason, and then Cao Xiaobei's outburst made it seem even more inappropriate!

After a moment, she finally said to me again, "Whether you go or not is up to you. Anyway, Sister Tao and the others have already moved in, so I won't be bored."

I sighed softly, then asked her very seriously, "How long do you plan to stay in Dali?"

"If you feel tired, just leave... Anyway, I'm not like you, I don't have to stay here."

"Um."

What do you mean by asking me that?

I had many thoughts in my mind, but for some reason, I couldn't say them out loud. I was afraid she would get angry with me, so in the end I just replied in a very formulaic way, "It's nothing, I just wanted to check on you..." After a slight pause, I asked her again, "How did you and this Cao Xiaobei meet?"

“I have another friend who is in the same motorcycle club as him. We got to know each other after having dinner together.”

Do you know who he is?

"I don't know, we're not close enough to be able to talk about anything."

I took a drag of my cigarette, exhaled softly into the mesmerizing night, and then whispered, "You feel you're not close enough to him yet, but he seems quite interested in you."

"I can't control what other people think... just as other people can't interfere with what I think."

"I feel like there's something hidden in your words."

"I'm not as complicated as you. I always speak very simply..."

After saying that, Yang Sisi looked across the sea. She seemed to have a lot on her mind and was not as simple as she claimed. I just stood silently beside her, finished one cigarette, and lit another. Actually, I already felt a little sore throat, but besides smoking, I didn't know what else I could do at this delicate moment.

Finally, Yang Sisi spoke up again and asked me, "Did Xiao Bei threaten you in any way?"

"You don't need to worry about that... He's not the kind of person who lacks discretion; he knows what he can and cannot do... But the premise is that he still has illusions about you."

"I never intended for him to fall in love with me."

I smiled and said, "Do you think the emergence of love is something you can decide whether you want it or not?"

"That's because I'm naturally beautiful... It's perfectly normal that he couldn't resist!"

I raised my hand, then lowered it again: "Never mind, I don't know what else to say."

"Then let's talk about you and Ye Zhi... You two must have been in a lot of contact these past few days, right?"

"It's not as much as you think."

"But I really think she's good to you. Tie Nan said she took over Bai Lu's old bar. Everyone knows why she did that! ... Also, I introduced my cousin to her so seriously before, but my cousin told me that she hasn't replied to him once in the past two days. She's not that busy, is she? She's actually indirectly rejecting my cousin."

"That's her private matter; I don't know."

"So you know whether you like her or not, right?"

The cigarette I was holding almost burned me. After I firmly held it between my fingers again, I looked at Yang Sisi and asked, "If you were a man, would you like her?"

"If I like her, why wouldn't I... So... you're indirectly admitting that you like her?"

As Yang Sisi spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. I knew she liked me, but it was a misplaced affection. I knew I couldn't hold her back like this, so I hardened my heart and replied, "I do like you. I like mature, dignified women... My ex-girlfriend was like that too."

"Oh..." Yang Sisi responded, but then laughed. She said softly, "Thank you for making me realize that some things in this world can't be accomplished just by putting in the effort... The most important thing between people is still feeling. Just like I don't like Xiaobao and Xiaobei... How can I feel the pain of not getting what they want?"

"yes."

I responded with a sound of agreement, and then I couldn't meet Yang Sisi's gaze, so I turned to face Erhai Lake, roughly from the spot where I had been standing before...

Suddenly, I felt a warm sensation behind me, and Yang Sisi's breath enveloped my neck, like a fragrant scent... She hugged me from behind, choking back tears as she said, "I'm not mature, nor am I dignified... but I just love being with you... It's okay, you don't have to accept me... you can use any excuse to brush me off... Anyway, I'll get better eventually, because many mature people have told me that time heals all wounds... Maybe one day, when I'm more mature and stable... I won't like you as much as I do now!"