046
Xu Yu got up very early. He and Zhu Wenxu exchanged new clothes, went to the most popular New Year's goods store, bought a lot of gift boxes and fruits, and then went to the Siyangs Shopping Mall to buy two thick down jackets.
On the way back, they passed by a paint shop. The shopkeeper had hung all sorts of paintings and notices about new paint colors on the windows. Zhu Wenxu walked past the dazzling array of bottles and was about to leave when Xu Yu grabbed him and said, "Want to try it?"
Zhu Wenxu hesitated for a moment: "I'm afraid I won't be able to draw well."
"Why can't you draw well? You haven't even tried." Xu Yu encouraged him, "Give it a try? I'll accompany you."
Zhu Wenxu hesitated for a moment, then took Xu Yu's hand and went in. Painting was allowed in the shop, but the paint colors used were limited. They were all taken apart for testing, and the quantity was fixed. Once used up, they were gone. Ten yuan for a painting was not expensive. Xu Yu paid and found a stool to sit next to Zhu Wenxu.
“I haven’t painted in a long time.”
"Try it." Xu Yu said, "You are the best."
Zhu Wenxu held a pen in his hand, ready to kiss him, but the surveillance camera overhead interrupted his thoughts. He picked up his pen and began to draft. He had drawn when he was abroad, but only a few times. Between his studies and his plans to start a business, he had no time for socializing.
Time passed minute by minute. Xu Yu observed his movements, wiped his sweat, and looked at the overall outline of the canvas: a bent tree and black water flowing on the ground.
There wasn't much paint available, so Zhu Wenxu found half a tube of green, squeezed it in and mixed it, rolled it in a few times, added some water, and touched it to the tree.
The lifeless tree sprouted buds and tender green branches emerged. The black water became lighter and a faint fluorescent green appeared in all directions. A dead tree was reborn in the blink of an eye.
Since there was no red paint, Zhu Wenxu used light yellow paint to spread a layer from top to bottom, and then applied a few strokes, and light appeared.
“Amazing.”
Zhu Wenxu saw the surprise in Xu Yu's eyes and paused holding the paintbrush. He had been feeling helpless about his poor skills, but now he felt warm in his heart.
He didn't care about the surveillance or the crowd. He hugged Xu Yu's head and kissed her tightly. Before Xu Yu came to his senses, he let go and poked the pen in the bucket again to help wash the used pen.
Xu Yu raised his head stiffly, and seeing the crazy look in the cashier's eyes, he blushed so much that he couldn't even lift his face.
"You should exercise some restraint."
Zhu Wenxu was helpless: "Am I not restrained? I just kissed you, I didn't push you down."
"..." Xu Yu stood up, "I won't tell you anymore."
Zhu Wenxu smiled and stood up, took out a piece of paper from his pocket to wipe his hands, and followed Xu Yu out. Xu Yu walked halfway and then turned back. Zhu Wenxu called him: "What's wrong?"
"I want to pack up the paintings."
Zhu Wenxu paused, then smiled and shook his head: "Not yet."
"Then I'll come back in a few days." After saying that, Xu Yu walked back in, negotiated with the cashier, left his number, and came out again.
Zhu Wenxu saw his blushing face and asked, "Am I teasing you?"
"It's all your fault." Xu Yu strode out. All he could hear was the compliments from the cashier, praising their equal looks and making them a very well-matched gay couple.
Fortunately, he left quickly. If he had continued talking like this, Xu Yu would probably have wanted to find a hole to hide in.
Zhu Wenxu took his hand and said, "Why are you angry? Can I apologize to you?"
"I'm not angry..." He looked up and was kissed. He immediately pushed Zhu Wenxu away and took seven or eight steps back. "This is on the street!"
Zhu Wenxu really likes his expression, it’s so cute.
"I was wrong."
"I don't accept it." Xu Yu shook off his hand, silently got into the passenger seat, took out his cell phone and sent a message to Shu Wei. Shu Wei told him that it was okay to arrive around three in the afternoon.
But Xu Yu wanted Zhu Wenxu and Aunt Mu to chat for a while longer, so he set up the navigation: "Let's go."
Zhu Wenxu rubbed his hands: "Are you still angry?"
"Did I tell you?" Xu Yu said, "Have a good chat with Aunt Mu and the others later."
"Yes," Zhu Wenxu said, "but I'm afraid of scaring her."
After all, they had been separated for too long. He had asked about his teacher, but it was always by phone, never daring to come in person. On the one hand, he didn't want the teacher to see his face like this, and on the other hand, he had been using the name Zhu Wenxu for too long.
When the car arrived nearby, Zhu Wenxu stopped the car and unbuckled his seat belt. Xu Yu suddenly held his face and kissed him hard, their tongues teasing each other, and the temperature on his face was higher than when the air conditioner was on.
"Xu Yu, you're suddenly like this, aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" Zhu Wenxu's voice darkened, his eyes less serious. "You're reuniting with your teacher at the gate after a long absence, and you're being affectionate with your lover in the car. What do you think will happen if others find out?"
"Who wants to be affectionate with you?" Xu Yu patted him lightly, "You're talking more and more vulgarly now. I'm just encouraging you, don't be ungrateful."
"Give me some more encouragement."
"I refuse."
Zhu Wenxu kissed him, and he didn't know how long they kissed. Xu Yu gasped loudly, hugged his neck and kissed him for a while.
"It's time to get off the bus." Xu Yu reminded.
"good."
After getting out of the car, Xu Yu fixed her hair and went into the courtyard with Zhu Wenxu, carrying her belongings. The courtyard felt even more cozy than before, the greenery properly placed for the winter. The air was lightly scented with flowers and plants, and the inner hall was filled with people.
Shu Wei raised her hand: "Mr. Reporter."
Xu Yu also waved: "Long time no see."
"Long time no see." Shu Wei said curiously, "Who is this?"
Zhu Wenxu immediately took his hand and said, "I'm his boyfriend."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent. It took a long time for them to understand, and then they were immediately and warmly invited to sit down. As Xu Yu sat down, Luo Xin brought over two cups of hot tea. Zhu Wenxu immediately thanked him, and Xu Yu took a sip and said, "It's delicious."
"This is good tea," Luo Xin said. "I recently bought some new tea."
Zhu Wenxu tasted it and asked, "Do you have a gift box?"
Luo Xin immediately responded: "Yes!"
"Please prepare thirty boxes for me. They're delicious. I'll give them away as gifts." Zhu Wenxu said quickly, "Send them to Xu Yu when the time comes."
Luo Xin was bewildered. He hadn't expected such a big order. "Thirty boxes? Thank you so much, but who is Xu Yu?"
Xu Yu noticed: "It's me."
Luo Xin was stunned: "Isn't your last name Wang?"
"I came to this interview on behalf of Wang Li before, but I never told the truth." Xu Yu was even more embarrassed. "Actually, my name is Xu Yu."
He hadn't expected that something he'd been too embarrassed to say would happen in such a situation. He looked up at Zhu Wenxu and saw that he only smiled faintly. Everyone had met Xu Yu a few times and had a generally favorable impression of him. Hearing him say this, they didn't feel like they were being deceived. It was just a different name.
Shu Wei straightened her face and said, "No wonder. I said the name Wang Li is so tacky and doesn't suit you. That's why I always call you Mr. Reporter."
Xu Yu smiled.
If Wang Li knew about this, he might call the police.
"It's all the same." Someone said, "It's all fate anyway. Friends are still friends even if we don't have a name or anything. Don't feel pressured, Xu Yu. We are all intellectuals and we won't settle for that."
Luo Xin disagreed: "I'm a native."
Shu Wei gently knocked his head: "Brother, you only know how to belittle yourself every day. If you were a native, would you have won the first prize in the city for oil painting?"
"That's all in the past."
"That's true."
No one had any different opinions about Xu Yu because of the lie about his name. On the contrary, the atmosphere became lively, and everyone stopped playing with their phones and started chatting about all sorts of things.
Zhu Wenxu grabbed Xu Yu's finger and said, "Don't worry about it. I know exactly what kind of person our teacher is. Any student who can stay with her and still be grateful to her is not an ordinary person."
Xu Yu shook his hand back: "Do you want to go see Aunt Mu?"
"certainly."
They left the inner hall and walked towards the backyard, which had been cleaned. Uncle Liang was about to go in with a brush in his hand, muttering that he would give two more red envelopes today. When he saw Xu Yu smile, he was stunned again when he looked at Zhu Wenxu behind him.
Xu Yu: "Let's come to see Aunt Mu."
"Hurry, hurry, hurry." Uncle Liang said, "She's inside."
Xu Yu moved away and said to Zhu Wenxu, "Do you want to talk alone first?"
Feeling a little heavy in his legs, Zhu Wenxu smelled the musty odor of wood. He pushed open the door and saw a thin woman sitting on the tatami, making a rabbit lantern with her not very flexible fingers.
Hearing the commotion, her voice was somewhat helpless, "Why did it take you so long to find a pen?"
Looking up, her pupils reflected Zhu Wenxu. In just three seconds, tears welled up in her eyes. She was really dazed and absent-minded.
Zhu Wenxu called her softly, "Teacher."
Aunt Mu's tears fell heavily. She first touched Zhu Wenxu's clothes, and wanted to reach out to touch his face, but hesitated and let it go. Zhu Wenxu closed his eyes, actively letting her touch him. When he swallowed and opened his eyes again, his eyes were red.
"It's been ten years. I thought I'd never see you again. Every time you called, I didn't answer. I could only listen to the recording. I wanted to talk to you more, but I didn't want to disturb you. How have you been these past few years? Have you exhausted yourself?"
Zhu Wenxu shook his head: "I'm fine."
"You send me gifts every year. Last year, I watched the fireworks with Lao Liang and made a wish that I could see you this year. I didn't expect that God would hear my wish and you would come this year." Aunt Mu said gently, "Thank you for your hard work, child."
Zhu Wenxu was a little afraid to look at her, but he had to admit with a choked sob: "Teacher, you've worked harder. I wanted to come see you, but I didn't know how. I've done a lot of wrong things, many of which are despicable when I think about them. I'm not a good child. I'm sorry."
Aunt Mu shook her head, hugged him and patted his back gently: "Have you been wronged? I know your temper, it's hard for you to talk about what you've been through, but you have to believe that there will always be people in this world who trust you unconditionally, like me, your teacher. I will trust you all my life, your wronged child."
Zhu Wenxu hugged back, tears falling on the back of his hand. He had cried the same way when he said goodbye to his teacher to go abroad at the age of eighteen. He had never expected that he would still cry the same way when they met again ten years later.
He was never able to act like a mature adult in front of his teacher. All he could remember was that his teacher treated him like a mother, a mentor, and a close friend.
"Don't cry, kid, be happy, today is New Year's Day."
Crying could be heard from the small house. Xu Yu and Uncle Liang were standing under the eaves. Uncle Liang had taken out a pack of colored ribbons and was helping them split them. Xu Yu glanced at the door and asked, "Has he never been here before?"
Uncle Liang sighed: "Well, I can understand if the child doesn't come. If he comes, I will be very happy too."
Xu Yu was puzzled: "Did something else happen back then?"
He admitted that he had a strong interest in Zhu Wenxu.
Uncle Liang knew what kind of child Xu Yu was, and naturally saw that Zhu Wenxu's return was due to Xu Yu. He coughed twice in silence, rubbed his waist, and sat down on the wooden chair. "He's only been at the Children's Palace for a year, but it's rare. His first attempt at painting surpassed many who had studied for three or four years. Mumu loved him and kept him with her almost all the time. Later, he stopped studying, and he even fell ill the day Mumu sent him abroad."
"Actually, I never told anyone that the reason he stopped studying was partly because he was going abroad, and partly because of my family. I had a son who didn't like painting and even had trouble distinguishing colors. So, I sent him to be a gym student. When he learned that Mumu wanted to adopt him as his godson, he spent money to get to know a lot of thugs, hoping to get rid of him. But when everyone showed up that day, they got into a fight over trying to raise the price, and my son died just like that."
Xu Yu's pupils constricted.
"I've always felt sorry for him because he wasn't a good parent. If something had happened, both children might have died. So your aunt Mu and I were both relieved and sad after he left. But we never had any reason to express our longing for him or ask him if he wanted to come back like a parent." Uncle Liang patted Xu Yu's hand. "Thank you. Now that he's here, the knot in my heart has been untied."
Xu Yu was speechless for a moment. Looking at Uncle Liang's smile, he pursed his lips and said, "He will definitely come here often."
Uncle Liang just smiled: "Then Mumu and I are very happy."
The meals were prepared by Shu Wei and her friends, who had experience in preparing food from frequent gatherings. This time, three tables were set up. Some people opened beer and drinks, and the meals were served in the hall, which was covered with a windproof cover.
Xu Yu sat in the middle, took two sips of beer, and then, half-dazed, heard someone greet him, but couldn't open his eyes. Zhu Wenxu chatted with Aunt Mu and Uncle Liang, and also had a few drinks with the others. By the time he found Xu Yu, he had already blacked out.
Aunt Mu and Uncle Liang sent the two of them to the door. Zhu Wenxu let them pass and said, "You guys go in first. It's cold outside. I'll call you, Teacher, when we get there. I'll come to see you when I'm free."
Aunt Mu was very happy and took out two red envelopes from her pocket: "Take them, Happy New Year."
Zhu Wenxu wanted to refuse, but seeing the two of them looking expectant, he accepted it.
"You guys should go back quickly."
The car drove away. Aunt Mu hadn't come out of the scene just now. She raised her hand and asked Uncle Liang to push him back.
After returning home, Zhu Wenxu changed Xu Yu's clothes. Snow began to fall outside the window, so he had to turn on the air conditioner before going to sleep. He stared at Xu Yu's face, resisted the urge to kiss her, and fell asleep holding her.
Zhu Wenxu had a rare dream. In the dream, when he was eighteen years old, his teacher checked his homework and expressed her selfish desire to adopt him as her godson.
Because the Children's Palace was no longer involved in the tasks assigned to him by the Zhu couple, Zhu Wenxu used his old ID card when registering and wanted to disassociate himself from the name Zhu Wenxu.
She said, "Wenxu, you are the most favorite child I have ever met. I wish you were my child."
yes.
I wish he was the teacher's child.
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