Chapter 82
After he left.
Guan Nan held the birdseed and kept a close eye on the jar.
That's when I noticed that each of the coffee jars had a label with its name on it. But the jars containing birdseed had no labels at all.
Seeing this, Guan Nan silently went out and fed the parrot.
At first, she didn't suspect it was birdseed. One reason was that a colleague in her studio had bought the same jar, and the same type of cup cost around 3,000 to 5,000 yuan. Another reason was that she never imagined anyone would put birdseed and coffee together, which felt rather strange, like making "duck poop" or "cat poop" coffee.
Thinking this, she couldn't help but glance at the jar in her hand and then at Jiang Li not far away.
"Idiot, idiot," the parrot eating birdseed suddenly uttered.
Guan Nan paused, looked away, and stared at it incredulously. "Why are you swearing?"
The parrot stretched its wings, tilted its neck back, and pointed its sharp beak: "Idiot, idiot."
When Guan Nan was scolded by an animal for the first time, she stared at it blankly, unable to say a word.
The parrot continued its incessant chattering, and perhaps because of its loud volume, it soon attracted its father, who swept a large hand across its head and said, "If you keep chattering, I'll stew you."
I don't know if it's because I've said too many threats, but the parrot isn't buying it at all, and its neck is stretched even straighter.
It declared with righteous indignation: "Idiot, idiot!"
“Okay,” Jiang Li glanced at it and said coolly, “I’ll take it to the morning market for you to sell tomorrow morning.”
The parrot shuddered, glanced at him timidly, and seeing that he really intended to do so, it quickly tucked in its tail, looking dejected and extremely obedient.
Guan Nan stood frozen in place, looking at the parrot and then at Jiang Li.
There's always a sense that I'm the culprit.
But this parrot was very clever. After being frustrated for only two minutes, it cheered and began to speak very intelligently: "Welcome, welcome."
It seemed to be very good at reading people's expressions. Seeing that Jiang Li remained unmoved, it changed its tune again.
"Thief, thief!" the parrot cried.
Jiang Li stared at his phone, not even glancing at it, and stood aside waiting for her to continue feeding the birds. When she saw her throw several birdseed at once, his expression became somewhat strange.
Guan Nan was completely unaware.
"Never raised animals before?" Jiang Li crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly.
“Hmm,” Guan Nan, who was holding birdseed, turned her face upon hearing this and honestly said, “I’ve never had any experience with it.”
Jiang Li nodded and said nothing more.
The parrot repeated all its sweet words, but still couldn't see any reaction on his face. In desperation, it suddenly had a bright idea and called out "pai" to Jiang Li, the word he had used to tease it before.
As if sensing its father's subtle change, it became majestic again and barked even more enthusiastically.
Its cry is strange, making it hard to distinguish between "pai" and "kuai".
Guan Nan gave a dry compliment: "It's quite smart."
"Really?" Jiang Li's expression softened, and he glanced at it, still without saying anything nice. "I didn't realize that."
After feeding the parrots, I put the jar away.
As dusk settled, Guan Nan sat at the doorway, watching as small lights suddenly illuminated the flowers and plants surrounding the courtyard. They flickered like stars lighting up the night sky, bringing a touch of warmth.
She turned her head again and saw Jiang Li holding a wine bottle between his fingers and a snack between his thumb and forefinger.
The estrangement between the two deepened inexplicably. He could see that she was sitting in the courtyard with an uncertain look in her eyes, just like before, always hesitant and lingering, often feeling lost, helpless, and uneasy.
After exchanging glances for a few seconds, Jiang Li walked over and put the things on the table.
He turned around, but hadn't had time to leave yet.
"Jiang Li," Guan Nan called out his name again.
"What is it now?"
Where are you going?
"You have to tell me where we go?" Jiang Li turned around, seemingly amused, and snorted coldly. "If I remember correctly, this seems to be my house, right?"
Guan Nan moved her lips several times, her voice sounding weak: "I didn't."
"You want to control me?"
Guan Nan pursed her lips.
"Do you remember what I said?" Jiang Li asked, his eyes lowered, a half-smile on his face.
"·····"
Clearly, she forgot.
Seeing that he seemed too lazy to say anything more and was about to leave again, she watched his retreating figure, remembering that profile picture. Guan Nan clenched her hands, looked up at him, and her eyes welled up with tears.
She started to get scared; if she didn't speak up now, she might never have another chance.
Or perhaps they simply lack the courage and determination to try again.
So she opened her mouth and called out in a hoarse voice, "Jiang Li."
"Can't you just say everything at once?" Jiang Li turned around completely, facing her directly, his tone exasperated. "Can you please stop sending telegrams?"
Guan Nan gritted her teeth: "You..."
Jiang Li waited for her to speak.
Guan Nan choked, worried that the other person would get impatient and leave. She closed her eyes, steeled her resolve, ignored her uncontrollably trembling voice, and blurted out, "Do you currently have any plans to get married?"
This time, the stunned silence shifted to another person, who was still somewhat unable to react.
Jiang Li paused for two seconds, then calmed down: "What do you mean?"
Perhaps it's just a burst of courage that leaves one feeling empty and disoriented.
She opened her mouth but then closed it again, unable to say anything.
"Heh," Jiang Li sneered, "You really want me to be your mistress?"
"·····"
Jiang Li stood with his hands in his pockets, coldly staring at her, his rationality vanishing: "I have no official status, I won't be a mistress, and I won't be a backup plan. If you really have that kind of intention, then you've come to the wrong person."
She remained seated, gazing at him with a frail air.
Seeing this, Jiang Li strode out, opened the door wide with his long arm, and said with a dark face, "Now, immediately, right now. Get out of here."
The two faced off in silence.
This was the first time he had ever truly given her a cold shoulder, even resorting to verbal abuse.
Guan Nan felt wronged and sad, but the words she had been holding back finally came out: "Do you still stand by what you said before?"
"Get out." Jiang Li didn't respond directly to her, his voice hoarse. "Just consider all these years of my life as a waste."
Guan Nan sat there and shook her head.
Seeing that she still didn't move, Jiang Li was already getting up. He walked up to her and took her hand, but before he could do anything else, she took his hand back.
Guan Nan gripped the hand that was trying to break free.
Jiang Li remained silent with a cold expression.
She said, "Let's get married."
Tourists thronged the streets and alleys, and the faint sunlight shone on her cheeks. Jiang Li looked down at her face, and his impulsive emotions calmed down in an instant.
It's as if there's so much to say, but no one knows where to begin.
Guan Nan spoke softly and repeated herself, as if trying to make it clearer for him: "Jiang Li, let's get married."
"..." After a two-second silence, Jiang Li fully woke up. "Do you know what you're saying?"
"I know," Guan Nan nodded. "I know very well."
Jiang Li looked at her.
“I know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Jiang Li remained silent.
Guan Nan forced a smile: "I know exactly who I'm talking to."
"Why me?" Jiang Li pulled his hand back, put the uncontrollable hand behind his back, and said with feigned composure, "Give me a reason."
She seems to be desperately seeking any treatment at this moment.
The atmosphere fell silent again, and seeing that she couldn't come up with a coherent explanation, Jiang Li gave a mocking laugh.
Just then, a voice said, "Hello, your delivery has arrived. Shall I leave it at your door?" The deliveryman knocked on the wooden door, completely unaware of the undercurrent between the two.
Jiang Li went to pick up the takeout, closing the door behind him. "Thank you."
He placed the takeout on the table, but before he could make a further move, he heard that voice murmur, a soft, whispering sound that sent shivers down his spine.
—“I never thought about being with anyone else. (1)”
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