With the Spring Festival approaching, Li Baolong, carrying many bags and packages, embarked on his journey to Jianzhou to pay a New Year's visit to his cousin. His cousin greeted him with a joyful smile and busied himself with welcoming him.
On the dinner table, the steaming dishes emitted an enticing aroma. Uncle sighed softly and spoke of his cousin Huang Jian: "Just a few days ago, Jian called to say he's working on a jade mine in Myanmar and is too busy to come back for the Spring Festival." Hearing this, Li Baolong felt a pang of concern and worry for his cousin. That night, Li Baolong stayed at his uncle's house and talked with him for a long time until late.
The next day, he rushed to his lame uncle's house in the countryside. It happened to be Lunar New Year's Eve, and the village was filled with a simple yet rich festive atmosphere. Li Baolong accompanied the old man, feeling a unique tranquility and peace in this simple yet warm atmosphere. On Lunar New Year's Day, after dinner, the two went to the town market together. The market was bustling with people, a constant flow of people, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and laughter mingled together. They weaved through the crowd, buying many New Year's goods and daily necessities, and returned home laden with their purchases.
The next morning, Li Baolong rose early and headed to a secluded bamboo forest at the foot of the mountain, ten miles away. In the center of the forest lay a tranquil pond. He sat down by the pond and began his meditation. As time passed, he gradually became immersed in it, his mind growing increasingly clear and serene. An hour later, a knowing smile appeared on Li Baolong's lips. At that moment, he had miraculously awakened his senses, able to clearly perceive the movement of the fish in the pond; their number and size seemed to be present in his mind. This enlightenment brought him great rewards, not only leading to new breakthroughs and growth in his Taoist practice but also deepening his understanding of the connection between himself and nature.
In this tranquil corner of the countryside, Li Baolong's heart was far from at peace. He longed to share this growth and achievement with the person he cherished most. Each insight and step forward made him look forward to the moment of reunion with his beloved even more. He knew that on this long journey of life, they would accompany each other, witnessing each other's growth and transformation.
When he returned to Jianzhou City, the afterglow of the setting sun had already painted the sky orange-red. Li Baolong dialed Zhou Jie's pager with anticipation, but the pager remained silent for a long time. The silence filled him with a overwhelming sense of disappointment. He dragged his heavy steps, wandering alone through the alleys of Jianzhou.
Just then, a familiar yet alluring voice rang out in the alley: "Take care, Brother Wang. Have fun, come back again next time." Li Baolong subconsciously glanced to the side and saw Jiang Xiaomei. She was a woman he had shared an apartment with for over a year. Her beauty possessed a unique charm, like a delicate flower blooming on the edge of the night.
Li Baolong's steps faltered involuntarily, his heart caught in a struggle. After hesitating for several minutes, as if drawn by an inexplicable force, he slowly walked into the barbershop and massage parlor hidden in a corner. A faint aromatherapy scent filled the air, and the lighting was soft and inviting. When Jiang Xiaomei saw him, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, followed by a charming smile: "Little Baolong, what brings you here?"
A slight blush rose on Li Baolong's face, and he said somewhat awkwardly, "I was just passing by, so I came in to take a look." Jiang Xiaomei approached him gently, the faint scent of her perfume wafting into his nostrils. "Since you're here, why don't you sit down for a while?" Her voice was as soft as a whisper.
Li Baolong sat on the sofa, his gaze wandering aimlessly, unsure where to settle. Jiang Xiaomei sat down opposite him, her long legs crossed, a small section of her fair skin revealed by her short skirt and black stockings. "How have you been lately?" Li Baolong asked.
"That's fine. I run my own small shop now, and I'm usually busy here, just trying to earn a little money through hard work." Jiang Xiaomei sighed slightly, but there was a hint of resentment in her eyes.
The two chatted casually, with Li Baolong talking about his university life in Rongcheng. They reminisced about their time sharing an apartment, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed. However, Zhou Jie's image lingered in Li Baolong's mind. He didn't know why he had come here, nor how to face Jiang Xiaomei. In the ambiguous lighting and atmosphere, his heart grew increasingly conflicted and confused.
In the dimly lit, dimly lit barbershop, Li Baolong's thoughts were a jumbled mess. He took a deep breath and finally, intentionally, mentioned Zhou Jie: "I haven't seen Zhou Jie in a long time." Jiang Xiaomei paused slightly, sighed softly, and slowly said, "Zhou Jie left Jianzhou. That Boss Niu suddenly fell seriously ill and was hospitalized. When his wife and son found out, they stormed over, beat Zhou Jie up, and called her a vixen, saying she cheated the old man out of his money."
Li Baolong felt as if his heart had been struck a heavy blow, a wave of sorrow washing over him. Zhou Jie's delicate face involuntarily surfaced in his mind, and memories of their past together flooded back. He remembered Zhou Jie's gentle smile, the subtle yet palpable feelings that had stirred within them as they strolled through the streets. Now, she had suffered such a tragedy, bearing the pain of heartbreak alone, vanished without a trace from Jianzhou City.
Jiang Xiaomei quietly looked at Li Baolong, understanding the inner turmoil and deep affection in his pained expression. A complex emotion welled up within her, a mixture of sympathy for Zhou Jie's plight and confusion about her own relationship with Li Baolong.
Li Baolong remained silent for a long time, his heart filled with countless emotions. He regretted being too young back then, unable to confess his feelings to Zhou Jie, whom he loved, nor able to protect her. Now, everything had changed. He didn't know where Zhou Jie was, whether she was still crying alone in some corner, or whether she had slowly recovered from her grief. He only knew that the emotions deep within his heart had been completely disrupted at this moment, and the delicate relationship between him and Jiang Xiaomei had become even more unpredictable because of Zhou Jie's departure, as if they were caught in a whirlpool of emotions shrouded in mist, unsure of which way to go.
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