Birthdays are fake; I want to tear off your masks.
CH(4)’s first offline invitation occurred the day after the group was formed.
As you can tell from the name, this study group is definitely doomed (alkane).
That day happened to be a Sunday. During the last period, they took a math mock exam. When the bell rang, there was a lot of discussion in the classroom. After comparing answers with her for a few questions, Dong Rui said that she must have failed the exam.
Lin Shih-Jen put away her pencil case and turned off airplane mode on her phone. She hadn't done very well on the test, and she hadn't even finished reading the last big question, but that didn't affect her mood.
Because Xin Xiaomei and Lin Zhiyuan will be celebrating her birthday together tonight.
The group message popped up at that moment: "Let's do something today, shall we? How about our group has an activity this afternoon?"
Dong Rui's phone rang at the same time. She didn't rush to reply to the message, but asked Lin Shiren for his opinion first. Lin Shiren replied without hesitation, "No, I have something to do this afternoon."
"Then I won't go either."
After replying to the group message, Dong Rui suddenly lowered her voice and gossiped, "Were you familiar with Zhou Lin and Song Ci before? Why did they ask you to form a study group? Song Ci is a bit of a show-off, but Zhou Lin is really strange. I've never seen him form a study group with anyone before."
Lin Shiren didn't respond. The way those two acted was hard to understand. She couldn't reveal the Jissbon incident, so she could only ignore this absurd study group and set the group messages to do-not-disturb mode.
Before leaving the classroom, she took an orange-flavored candy from her pocket and stuffed it into Dong Rui's hand. Dong Rui looked at her with questioning eyes, and she smiled and said, "It's my birthday today, so I'm treating you to this candy."
"Oh? Why didn't you say so earlier? I didn't even prepare a gift."
"I don't need any gifts, just smile at me."
It was after school, and the chalk dust from the blackboard eraser floated in the light. Lin Shiren peeled open a piece of fruit candy and put it in her mouth. The sweetness on her tongue made her feel happy.
The students poured out in waves, and she walked in the line with them, her ponytail swaying on her slender back, her fair neck faintly visible.
Zhou Lin stared at the back of her neck until Song Ci yawned and hooked her arm around his shoulder, at which point he looked away.
"The girls have something to do this afternoon and can't participate in the study group activity, so let's just go play ball instead."
The words were spoken by Song Ci, and the group was also created by Song Ci.
Zhou Lin slapped away the slouching arm, as if annoyed by the noise, and looked at him coldly: "Go crazy if you want, I don't have time to indulge your perverse sense of humor."
Song Ci shoved the book haphazardly into the desk drawer, smiling innocently: "Don't you know who I'm creating opportunities for?"
He is now filled with curiosity about Lin Shiren.
Zhou Lin is incredibly popular with girls. He's not only the heartthrob of the girls in his own school, but he also receives love letters from more girls from other schools than two football teams combined. Xu Yiqiao often tries to be friendly with him under the guise of caring about Schrödinger's cat, but he always responds coldly, like a conversation killer.
This time, Zhou Lin didn't even bother to reply; he simply picked up his bag and got up.
Staring at the back of his head, Song Ci suddenly slammed his hand on the table: "Damn, I almost forgot, the principal is going to give you an award at the flag-raising ceremony tomorrow, right?"
He spoke like a worried old mother: "Outsource your acceptance speech to me, I love writing that stuff..."
*
There was no traffic on the weekend, and when Lin Shiren got out of the car, she ran into her neighbor from the same building. The girl was studying at another key municipal school and was in the same grade as her. Her name was Wang Shu.
Wang Shuren, true to her name, is a girl who makes you feel very comfortable around her. The two shared a lot of gossip about their respective schools on the way.
As we approached the second floor, a woman's voice suddenly came from above: "Why are you ten minutes late today?"
Lin Shiren subconsciously looked up and found that the entrance door on the left side of the second floor was open at some point. Wang Shu's mother, wearing an apron, was standing by the door: "Shushu, your father has been so hungry that he has stolen food several times. I can hardly protect your braised pork anymore."
Wang Shu smiled and took another step up the stairs: "Let him eat it. He'll be fined a hundred for every piece he eats. Anyway, I know where his secret stash is."
"Nonsense, I don't have a secret stash of money." A male voice retorted from inside the door.
Lin Shiren looked through the half-open door and saw a table full of food on a light wood table, the aroma of which was very enticing.
Only then did Wang's mother notice her, her smile undiminished: "Qiaoqiao, you two came back together? Perfect, why don't you have lunch at my house?"
"No need, thank you, Auntie."
"Okay, come visit me at my house sometime."
Lin Shih-jen said goodbye to them and continued up the steps.
When she reached the second and a half floor, her body was involuntarily drawn to her, and her steps slowed down. Through the gap in the railing, she saw Wang's mother helping Wang Shu with her shoes, and Wang's father taking her schoolbag. Wang Shu had the innocent charm of a little girl on her face, and she was being taken care of in every possible way.
With a loud "bang," she looked away.
Lin Shiren opened the door with the key. The small house was empty. He found the remote control on the coffee table, and soon the laughter from a variety show came from the TV, making the living room seem less empty.
She comforted herself, saying that after entering her senior year of high school, apart from Zhou Lin and Song Ci causing her a little trouble, life seemed to be developing in a good direction. She got into the top class, got closer to Shen Xuqing, and even Xin Xiaomei and Lin Zhiyuan's relationship was about to break the ice. What else was there to be upset about?
Only when you are certain that you will become increasingly lucky and happy will good things truly happen.
That's right, that's it, the Law of Attraction.
Once I figured all this out, the whole world became clear, and I was in a good mood while doing my homework in the afternoon.
As dusk approached, a thunderstorm struck.
Qitangli is the most upscale Chinese restaurant in the Huaiyang Road area, with its pink and gray tile facade and wind chimes hanging from the eaves that sway gently in the wind, making a crisp sound.
In the drizzling rain, Lin Shiren entered through the main entrance. Her long hair was loosely held in place by a hairpin, and she wore a light blue Chinese-style long dress, the hem of which was slightly damp. A waiter took her dripping umbrella, and the wooden stairs creaked as she went up to the second floor.
Lin Zhiyuan waved to her: "Qiaoqiao, over here."
Many of Lin Shiren's childhood memories have become blurred, but the scene etched in his mind is Xin Xiaomei rushing into the bathroom, snatching the cigarette from Lin Zhiyuan's hand, and cursing as she burns holes all over his clothes. His grandmother is called over to mediate: "Why don't you just live a peaceful life? What are you doing making a scene every day? It's not like he's involved in gambling, prostitution, or drugs..."
"You want to get lung cancer yourself, and now you want to drag me and Qiaoqiao down with you?"
It's not that I dislike him for smoking; I really dislike him for not being ambitious enough.
Lin Yuanzhi likes to smoke, drink, and gamble. He works as an accountant in a small company and has not been promoted or received a raise in ten years. Xin Xiaomei often scolds him for being useless.
The day Xin Xiaomei was promoted to head nurse, Lin Zhiyuan proposed a divorce. Perhaps because he had seen too many messy situations, Lin Shiren felt only relief at that moment.
The father and daughter chatted casually until their tea had gone cold, but Xin Xiaomei still hadn't arrived. Lin Shiren got a little anxious and made a phone call.
The moment the call connected, she got straight to the point: "Mom, where are you?"
Xin Xiaomei didn't say anything.
Her reaction chilled Lin Shiren to the bone: "What's wrong? Aren't you on the early shift today?"
"My colleague who was supposed to take over the shift got into a car accident on the way, and now we're short-handed..." Perhaps she still felt guilty towards her daughter, because her tone was unusually soft.
"What should we do then?" Lin Shiren panicked.
"Let me see if I can find a colleague to cover my shift. You guys eat first, don't wait for me."
In the night breeze by the window, Lin Shiren rested her chin on her hand, listening to the sound of rain splashing on the bluestone slabs. When she was quiet, Lin Zhiyuan didn't say anything either, occasionally scrolling through his phone, until he heard his stomach rumble, at which point he suggested, "Qiaoqiao, how about we order some food first?"
Lin Shih-ren shook his head.
Xin Xiaomei has many dietary restrictions and has a strong personality that she has maintained for more than ten years. If she and her father eat first, they will inevitably be accused of disrespecting her. She wants everything to go smoothly tonight.
She glanced at the time and realized half an hour had passed. She found Xin Xiaomei's name in the latest call list, put the phone to her ear, and at the same moment, Lin Zhiyuan's phone, which was on the table, rang. The word "Wife" popped up on the screen. He covered the earpiece, and the next second after answering, his expression instantly turned ugly.
Lin Shih-jen dialed T's number but no one answered.
After hanging up the phone, Lin Zhiyuan's lips were a little stiff: "Your brother has a high fever."
It took her a while to realize that she had a younger brother, and she pleaded, "Dad, can we wait another ten minutes?"
Lin Zhiyuan's patience had run out. He finished the last sip of tea and placed the teacup on the table: "Qiaoqiao, don't you understand? Your mother doesn't want to come at all!"
Lin Shiren's eyes reddened, but his voice remained calm: "Today is my birthday, and she has already promised me."
“You can disagree with me, but you know in your heart that she won’t come, she won’t come, even if I say it a thousand times, she still won’t come.”
"She will come!" Lin Shiren almost shouted these words.
Lin Zhiyuan looked at her calmly, his tone indifferent: "This world revolves around Xin Xiaomei. Only her affairs are serious matters. What other people consider time and things are nothing to her. I must be stupid to humiliate myself by having dinner with her seven years after our divorce."
His words brought tears to her eyes silently. Lin Shiren looked at him, his eyes filled with a stubborn resentment tinged with embarrassment.
"Study hard. Adult matters are none of your business, and don't force yourself to do anything. Happy birthday, Dad."
Lin Zhiyuan made a lot of noise when he got up, attracting the attention of many people. He ignored them, grabbed his phone from the table, and turned to walk downstairs.
Ironically, it was at this moment that the birthday cake arrived in front of Lin Shiren.
To create a festive atmosphere, the waiters dimmed the lights, so no one saw her crying. They even sang "Happy Birthday" together.
The sound of flowing water filled the air. In the center of the restaurant was a waterfall. Zhou Lin stood there, the mist drifting like smoke and settling on his shoulder.
"What's wrong?"
Zhou Heyu was dressed formally tonight because he was hosting several important business partners. One of them brought his child, who also studied at Huiwen School. Zhou Heyu was always adept at interpersonal relationships, so he asked Zhou Lin to accompany him.
Following his gaze, she asked, "Did you see someone you know?"
Zhou Lin nodded: "My classmate."
Zhou Heyu patted him on the shoulder: "Just say hello and go in, a few uncles are waiting."
Now is not a good time to say hello, Zhou Lin looked away and bent his knees again: "Never mind, we're not familiar."
Another rumble of thunder came from the clouds.
Lin Shih-ren went to the inpatient department of Huaicheng Central Hospital in the rain. The security guard saw that she was carrying a cake and reminded her that she had to end her visit before 7:30.
The hospital lights were always exceptionally bright, and the air was filled with the smell of disinfectant. She walked down the long corridor. There was no one at the nurses' station. An orange and white thermos was placed open; it was a Mother's Day gift she had given to Xin Xiaomei.
Later, Lin Shiren met Xin Xiaomei in the doctor's office at the end of the corridor.
By then, her tears had stopped. Through a narrow crack in the door, she saw the male doctor sitting in front of the computer explaining something to her. Xin Xiaomei listened attentively, occasionally jotting down notes on her medical record. The male doctor took an apple out of his pocket and handed it to her. She smiled, her expression one of tenderness she had never seen before.
Lin Shih-jen stood there for a while, his eyes stinging.
The air was damp, the rain was incessant, and my cell phone was buzzing in my pocket.
She was walking down the street, soaked to the bone. Not wanting to go home, and with nowhere else to go, she stood in front of a convenience store near her apartment complex. Xin Xiaomei had already called her more than a dozen times, but she hadn't answered.
On the street, several stray dogs shared her birthday cake. She couldn't hold back her tears, which fell one by one, wetting her eyelashes and blurring the night before finally being swallowed by the rain.
I don't know how much time passed, but then I heard the sound of a glass door opening behind me, and the shop assistant said, "Little girl, come in quickly to take shelter from the rain."
The shop assistant was very kind and gave her tissues and hot water. Lin Shiren wiped away the tears that were falling from the corners of her eyes and thanked her somewhat awkwardly.
On a weekend evening, the convenience store was brightly lit, and many small moths fluttered against the glass outside, seemingly oblivious to the pain.
The music in the store switched to Guo Shun's "Mercury," a song she's been playing on repeat lately.
"Sister, can you do me a favor?"
The somber atmosphere was broken by a little girl of about seven or eight years old, who was holding a can of drink in her hands and had her big eyes blinking.
Lin Shiren didn't quite understand: "What kind of help?"
"I'm not strong enough, I can't pull this ring..."
She really knows how to find topics to talk about. Lin Shiren's mood was diverted, and he took the little girl's can and helped her open the tab.
The little girl said, "Thank you, sister. Don't be sad. This drink is for you."
On such a merciless rainy night, with no best friends to confide in and no parents to be her safe haven, she was ultimately warmed by one stranger after another.
Bubbles hissed upwards as Lin Shih-jen looked at his reflection in the glass wall and mouthed, "Happy Birthday."
Then I sat by the window and quietly scrolled through my phone with my other hand.
A confession post that had been outdated on the campus forum was brought back to the top by a screenshot of Zhou Lin being interviewed by official media.
In the photo, he is wearing the national team uniform, his index and middle fingers hooking the gold medal ribbon. His movements are relaxed and his expression is calm, as if he has already figured out the way to win the championship and winning the gold medal is as easy as taking candy from a baby.
No wonder they're holding an awards ceremony tomorrow.
Now is the time when IPHO is receiving the most attention. If it is delayed until the start of school in September, the news will become old news and the hype will be gone.
Thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. Zhou Lin's excellence is so straightforward that he is the best calling card for Huiwen High School. That's why the principal is so eager to take advantage of this momentum to solidly promote the school's reputation.
Lin Shih-jen stared at the photo for a full ten seconds, a dizzying feeling fermenting in his stomach and then spreading to his brain, the person in the photo gradually becoming blurry.
One bottle of RIO was enough to knock her out; the alcohol started to take effect.
Perhaps feeling too wronged, or perhaps having been on edge for too long, when Xin Xiaomei came to see Lin Shiren, the first thing he said was, "Why did you break your promise?"
Xin Xiaomei had never seen her like this before, and her temper flared up: "It's just a meal, what are you making a fuss about? Your father and I have been divorced for a long time, why do you have to force us to be together? Stop deceiving yourself."
After saying that, he grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the door: "You've really got some nerve, aren't you? You're so young and you're already drinking alcohol, just like your dad."
"You're always like this, you think you're the only one who's right in the whole world."
Lin Shiren's tears fell rapidly and fiercely: "Hypocrisy, I really want to tear off your masks..."
These were the last words she uttered before she blacked out, and then she was swept away by the dizzying effects of drunkenness. She didn't know what she had done, otherwise, she wouldn't have caused such a big disaster.
A note from the author:
----------------------
50 red envelopes. Sorry, I was on a business trip to Beijing for a week last week. I will at least guarantee updates every other day this week.
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