27. "Eternal happiness"
Qian Zhongshu once said that in an old book he found, the French word for happiness (bonheur) is composed of the words for "good" and "hour," suggesting that good things often come with a long wait, lasting only an hour or two. Chinese expressions are similarly profound; for example, the word "kuai" in "kuaihuo" or "kuaile" (joyful) clearly indicates the fleeting nature of all the pleasures in life.
The night was too short for our enjoyment.
Because when people are happy, they live too fast, but when they are in distress or boredom, they feel as if their legs are lame and they walk very slowly.
"The idea of 'eternal happiness' is not only too far-fetched to be achieved, but also too absurd to be true. What is fleeting will never last."
Fang Kaixuan was precisely that kind of pessimistic person.
*
Gu Qiye's stay in Beijing was short, but Fang Kaixuan made a special arrangement to have dinner with Xiaoju.
Xiao Ju was surprised to receive Fang Kaixuan's message.
After all, she firmly believed that this person who appeared out of nowhere was a "pig butchering scammer," and that such scammers never show their faces, and don't even make video calls. Their excuses are always the same: "When I was video chatting with my ex-girlfriend, she got distracted and died in a car accident. I was devastated and never made video calls again."
Among Xiaoju's previous interviewees, more than one person had heard this excuse.
I don't know where all these ex-girlfriends who died in car accidents came from in the world.
Relatives and friends will certainly not be seen. The reason is simple: the underlying logic of the scam is to isolate the victim, cutting off their sources of information, so that the scam bubble can be inflated larger and larger, like a maze, a one-person game of murder mystery. Once it's exposed to the light of day, it loses its effectiveness.
This man not only showed up in person, but even dared to meet Fang Kaixuan's friends.
That's quite rare.
What exactly is he trying to do?
Xiao Ju thought that Fang Kaixuan wasn't stupid, but he was thin-skinned and soft-hearted, so it seemed she would have to be the one to vet him. She wanted to see what kind of amazing person he was.
It was a Japanese yakiniku restaurant near Fang Kaixuan's house. It was the kind of small shop hidden deep in a residential area with only two or three tables besides the bar. Without someone familiar with the place, it was hard to even find the door.
Fang Kaixuan is particularly old-fashioned in this respect. Old-fashioned means she doesn't seem like someone her age at all. She doesn't like going to new stores, doesn't like crowds, and lives just across the street from Sanlitun, but she never goes to trendy shops. She prefers to stay in small, run-down shops like this.
Fang Kaixuan had excitedly called her late at night to tell her that he had finally achieved his wish and married Chen Zhilun. Fang Kaixuan was too excited then, and Xiaoju couldn't bring herself to dampen his enthusiasm, but she always felt that what they had for each other was nothing more than outdated teenage memories. Talking about marriage without even a proper courtship seemed irrational. Yes, they had known each other for ten years, but they had never lived together during those ten years, and they didn't even live in the same city. Those ten years were a crucial period for the formation of one's personality after reaching adulthood. It could even be said that they didn't really understand each other.
By the time he could say anything, it was already too late. Fang Kaixuan had cut off all his escape routes. After graduation, he returned to China without hesitation, turned down good job opportunities, and devoted himself to settling down in Beijing.
Eason Chan sings in his song: "To meet you in my lifetime, I've used up all my luck."
This is indeed true for Fang Kaixuan.
I used up all my luck then, and all that was left was bad luck.
Thinking back on the past, Xiao Ju shook her head, saying that it was happier to keep her heart sealed and love locked away.
She pushed open the narrow door of the restaurant. Fang Kaixuan was already sitting in their usual spot, facing the door, smiling at her.
A tall man sat opposite Fang Kaixuan, his back to her.
Xiao Ju walked over and greeted him. Fang Kaixuan stepped aside to let her sit in the seat inside him. This way, the two of them were facing Gu Qiye.
Say hello.
Everything is normal.
Xiao Ju seemed intent on interrogating him, asking him quite a few questions. He, however, was very open and honest, answering whatever was asked.
Xiao Ju was just flustered because her friend was concerned, not because she lacked emotional intelligence. Later, seeing how natural and frank he was, she started to feel embarrassed and half-jokingly declared, "When someone is too perfect, it's like a pig butchering scam; you have to be careful. Don't blame me."
A clear look of confusion crossed his eyes, as if he didn't understand why she would say that.
Xiao Ju asked, "Sir, even if your Chinese isn't very good, you must know what a 'pig butchering scam' means, right?"
He replied, "I know the word, but I don't fully understand why anyone would do this, or how someone could fall for such a scam."
Fang Kaixuan couldn't help but speak up to explain for him: "His Chinese is not bad, but he speaks classical Chinese from twenty or thirty years ago."
Just like when Fang Kaixuan was abroad, her classmates would always joke that she spoke the kind of French that only elderly French people spoke. This was because the textbooks she used when she was learning the language were quite old. Fang Kaixuan couldn't understand the slang her classmates used, and she wasn't used to the excessive glissando and elision in their spoken language.
Xiao Ju winked at Fang Kaixuan, the gesture was so obvious that it felt like the two of them were exchanging knowing glances.
Seeing this, Gu Qiye said, "I'll go wash my hands."
Fang Kaixuan nodded with a smile, thinking to himself that this was the highest level of emotional intelligence he had ever shown since he met him.
Xiao Ju was speechless at this point, only nodding: "I haven't seen any flaws yet. But the person without flaws is the one who is full of flaws. Keep observing."
This is a reasonable guess. Because even someone as discerning as Xiao Ju, who has seen countless people, couldn't find a flaw in him for a while, he shouldn't be around the ordinary Fang Kaixuan.
It's not that they underestimate themselves, it's just that good men are rare.
A handsome man who is perfectly well-behaved is almost like a ghost story.
“However, he seems to have some problems,” Xiao Ju said seriously.
Fang Kaixuan knew he should pretend to be nonchalant and indifferent, but he couldn't help but feel nervous: "What?"
"Don't you think he's a bit dull? He's so young, yet he doesn't understand popular culture or the jokes. He must be the kind of person who thinks he's superior and claims 'I never watch short videos'."
Fang Kaixuan was completely convinced by Xiao Ju. That was indeed the case.
After the two finished exchanging their opinions privately, Gu Qiye returned promptly.
Xiao Ju suddenly remembered something: "You're going to Fang Da's wedding, right?"
"They've already invited me, how can I not go? I should at least return the red envelope they gave me back then," Fang Kaixuan said helplessly while forking the meat on his plate.
Actually, she really doesn't like going to these kinds of social occasions.
Especially now.
Fang Da was an old friend of theirs, and he must have invited Chen Zhilun and his wife to the wedding as well.
Fang Kaixuan and Chen Zhilun's whirlwind marriage and subsequent divorce remains a mysterious event among their old friends, still unresolved. Even today, everyone is secretly speculating about what happened. But no one has asked her.
The less you ask, the more it seems like there's some strange, unspeakable reason behind it.
This wedding will be the first time the two have appeared together since their divorce.
Becoming the subject of gossip and being secretly observed is the last thing Fang Kaixuan wants right now. But if he doesn't go, the rumors will probably get even more outrageous. It seems he has no choice but to dress up nicely and go and play along.
Xiao Ju knew Fang Kaixuan's concerns, hence the question. Then she suddenly said, "I have a plan that can bring peace to the world."
As good friends are, Fang Kaixuan immediately understood what Xiaoju was thinking. There was no need for Xiaoju to raise her chin and gesture to Gu Qiye standing to the side.
"Is it okay?" Xiao Ju asked him directly, before Fang Kaixuan could stop her.
This is not Fang Kaixuan's style. She has always been extremely reluctant to take the initiative, never initiating invitations, never actively pushing things forward, and never asking, "What is our relationship now?"
Besides, he was just someone who had never appeared in her social circle.
He seemed completely unconcerned: "Accompanying you to your wedding? Of course, it would be my honor."
Xiao Ju winked at Fang Kaixuan and nodded, meaning "You're teachable."
Fang Kaixuan still retorted, "Otherwise, I'll just ask Qin Zhisheng. He's worried about not having any occasions to wear those nice outfits to work, so he'll definitely dress up in a very flamboyant way."
Xiao Ju sighed, complaining that Fang Kaixuan was so clueless about romance. But she was also excited, because she really wanted to see Chen Zhilun get his comeuppance.
///
Digging lotus roots coincides with double night watch
Haha, I wish I could just post them all at once!
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