Chapter 67: Intimate Lover (Original Ending)
In the second year, Yuan Xin and Wang Mang's relationship entered a new state. It seemed that there were no waves, but it felt like there was no way to go further. Yuan Xin's biggest feeling was that Wang Mang had been cooperating with her and rarely showed emotions. She knew that he loved her very much, but that "sense of cooperation" was very, very obvious.
She had been overwhelmed by this emotion, unable to explain it, and even suspected that she was being too pretentious, until one night, she suddenly saw a Douyin video that said, "The first time I truly loved you was when we lay in bed together and licked each other's wounds." She suddenly understood that they had done everything a couple in love should do, but Wang Mang had never "revealed" himself.
After Wang Qishan's death, Wang's mother came to Beijing and lived with Wang Shu. After Wang Shu's divorce, Wang's mother, in contrast, clung less tightly to him. People are strange creatures. When they have a daughter-in-law, they're eager to fight with her. But when they actually separate, Wang's mother gives Wang Shu plenty of space, hoping he can start a new relationship. She shifted her focus to Wang Meng, pushing him to get married, believing that marriage is the key to settling down. No one had yet told her that Yuan Xin was an orphan. Yuan Xin had seen her and Shen Qingqing fight, and she knew Wang's mother was the type to push her if she was too nice, and she was bound to cause trouble if she got too close. So whenever Wang's mother came to visit Wang Meng, she found an excuse to leave. During their two years of courtship, as she had expected, Wang's mother hadn't been as critical of her as she had been of Shen Qingqing.
After all, most people are just scoundrels who want to test other people's bottom line.
So Yuan Xin also understood why Wang Mang would not open up to others. It was because Wang's mother sometimes behaved like a drama actor, speaking in an impassioned tone and liking to talk about her own difficulties. She was definitely not a qualified mother. She needed her sons to provide her with emotional value and find her sense of existence, so that the children had always been cooperating with their mother and had not learned how to reveal themselves.
There is a chain supermarket downstairs from Wang Mang's house, and the two of them often go shopping for groceries hand in hand. The supermarket has discounts all year round, so Yuan Xin bought a lot of beautiful eco-friendly bags. Every time she goes out, she and Wang Mang will carry one each to ensure that they don't spend extra money on buying bags.
Willow catkins fluttered in Beijing's spring. Yuan Xin had a bit of asthma, so she put on a giant sunscreen mask early in the morning. When the two of them entered the supermarket that day, they discovered that Qilin melons were already on the market. Wang Meng, holding a Qilin melon, walked towards the self-service checkout machine.
While waiting in line, Yuan Xin was still asking Wang Mang if he wanted to have stir-fried pea tips in the evening. Wang Mang said sure, and he would stew some pork ribs soup.
As the two were talking, the self-service checkout exit was suddenly blocked. A staff member stood outside holding a rope and said nonchalantly, "We lost something, please don't leave."
Yuan Xin was a little puzzled, so Wang Meng put the melon on the self-service counter. Then the staff came over and started to search the bags one by one. While searching, he said, "We have a customer who lost a necklace. We are checking the surveillance now. Please wait a moment."
The first few customers were obediently waiting to be searched, but Yuan Xin covered her bag and said, "Wait until you finish checking the surveillance." After saying this, Yuan Xin turned around and found that Wang Mang had already opened her bag and let the other party search it.
Yuan Xin was instantly furious and reached out to tighten the bag. "We're not allowed to turn it over."
Wang Meng was a little surprised and asked quietly, "What's wrong with you?"
After Yuan Xin made such a commotion, several people in the crowd began to resist. The staff had no choice but to move a stool and start eating melon seeds. After about half an hour, everyone started to complain. After a while, someone finally came over and said that the necklace had been found and fell into the cash register gap at the checkout counter.
So the staff member stood up from the recliner, holding a handful of sunflower seeds, and told everyone, "Okay, let's go. Sorry for taking up your time."
Everyone was about to go out, but Yuan Xin threw the canvas bag into Wang Meng's arms, stood up and walked towards the staff member.
"Who are you talking to?" Yuan Xin asked.
The staff member was stunned. "I'm with you guys. We've finished the check. You can leave."
"We've been delayed. You must apologize to all of us now."
Wang Mang stood behind him, watching Yuan Xin's ferocious appearance.
-
The next day, Wang Meng was writing code at his workstation when HR came over.
HR pointed to the video on his phone and asked Wang Mang, "Is that you in this video?"
Wang Mang took his phone and took a look. It was the scene of Yuan Xin causing trouble in the supermarket yesterday. Wang Mang nodded. "It's me."
HR found a few more Weibo posts and showed them to Wang Meng.
"Now someone has dug up all the stigma on you, even your company. This has a very negative impact. You and your girlfriend should sort this out."
The post on Weibo said that a senior programmer from Factory XX and his girlfriend caused a scene in a supermarket because of stealing something. The second picture even showed a picture of a necklace in a serious manner.
"These things are all fake. They falsely accused the customer of stealing and their attitude was very bad. My girlfriend was so angry that she said, 'This is a malicious photoshop.'"
"Then you need to clarify the facts and prove that you are innocent. The President's Office is already following this matter. If you need it, we can provide you with legal support."
-
When Wang Mang returned home, Yuan Xin was frantically browsing Weibo and pacing the living room. When she saw him open the door, she asked directly, "Did your company contact you?"
Wang Mang said he found it.
Yuan Xin asked again, "Have you explained it clearly?"
Wang Mang nodded, and Yuan Xin breathed a sigh of relief.
Wang Mang suddenly asked, "Why did you, when so many others didn't step forward, insist on standing up and arguing with others?"
Yuan Xin was very surprised and looked at Wang Mang. "So you're blaming me? Am I the one who did something wrong? Did I steal the necklace, or did you rope everyone into a circle? There are so many people coming and going, and we're being corralled like animals. And then when it's time to leave, you just say, 'Okay, let's go,' is that all that's allowed?"
Wang Mang said, "I just feel that...this is not a big deal. It shouldn't have gotten to this point."
Yuan Xin locked her phone, walked up to Wang Meng, and said firmly, "I'm telling you, if you don't stand up for small things, you won't be able to stand up for big things either. I just can't stand being wronged."
Wang Meng was very puzzled and said, "Why are you raising this to a value issue? This is just a trivial matter."
"Being misunderstood and disrespected is definitely not a trivial matter to me."
Wang Mang felt that their communication was completely off-topic and could only say gloomily, "HR said someone from the legal department would help us clarify."
Yuan Xin, however, refused to give in. She looked at Wang Meng and said, "Let me ask you, do you really think there's something wrong with me?"
Wang Mang said, "I don't think there is a problem with you. I just think this is a very small matter and not worth our time." After saying this, Wang Mang lowered his head and began to look for slippers.
"Do you know that you are even more annoying now?" Yuan Xin asked.
Wang Mang was stunned for a moment, and the sound of the slippers he found being thrown to the ground was a little louder. "What do you mean?"
"Do you have a natural sense of superiority, thinking that even trivial matters shouldn't bother you?"
Wang Mang felt a pang of regret in his heart, thinking that Yuan Xin was really overthinking...
Wang Meng said, "Let's skip this question, okay? We should calm down now and not talk about this anymore."
Yuan Xin walked over, kicked off Wang Meng's slippers, and said, "Wang Meng, you don't need to stay at home today."
Wang Mang didn't know what to say, so he had to start putting on his shoes again. Yuan Xin saw him putting on his shoes so slowly, and she became more and more angry. After he put on his shoes, she opened the door and pushed him out, then slammed the door shut.
Wang Mang stood outside and knocked on the door. "Can you at least get me some pajamas?"
No one responded. Wang Meng wanted to say something, but he didn't know what to say. His phone rang. It was Wang Shu on the other end of WeChat. Wang Shu asked, "Your girlfriend won't let you go home today. Come over to my place."
Wang Meng was even more confused.
-
Wang Meng has been in a dull state these past two days, especially when Wang Shu said that Yuan Xin couldn't let him go home, Wang Meng wanted to check whether there were cameras installed in the house.
When Wang Shu's door was unlocked with the code, Wang Meng immediately saw the red wine bubbling on the island counter. He placed his helmet on the entrance and asked his brother, "Brother, how did you know Yuan Xin wouldn't let me go home?"
Wang Shu turned around from his seat on the sofa and sipped at his red wine. "Drinking and talking at the same time, I woke up too early. I'm going to become jealous."
Wang Meng said, "I don't want to drink. I have to ride my bike later. I'm going to stay at a hotel near the company."
Wang Shu said, "Don't worry, drink it. Your company won't let you go to work tomorrow."
Wang Mang asked, "Why?"
Wang Shu said, "You've found the right girlfriend! You can stay here for the next few days."
A pile of unpacked duck necks sat on the dining table. While pouring wine for Wang Meng, Wang Shu said, "Actually, I used to be a little resistant to Yuan Xin's orphan status. I thought it would be very difficult for you two to get married, but now I've come to terms with it."
Wang Mang was even more puzzled. "Brother, what on earth are you talking about?"
Wang Shu pointed behind Wang Meng and said, "Bring that bottle of expensive wine to Yuan Xin in a few days and tell her it was a gift from me."
Wang Mangan turned around and found that Wang Shu was pointing to the bottle in the center of the wine cabinet. He remembered that when Wang Shu received it, he told him that the collection value of this bottle of wine was over 100,000.
Wang Mang said, "It's too expensive, she can't drink it."
Wang Shu said, "It doesn't matter whether she drinks it or not. It's a matter of my attitude. It's enough for her to accept it."
After sitting down, Wang Meng indeed received a text message from HR, asking him not to go to work for the time being.
Wang Shu noticed the change in his expression and asked, "Is he your leader?"
Wang Mang became increasingly puzzled. "How did you know?"
Wang Shu said, "I'm the boss. If an employee has a problem, I will definitely suspend him first and resolve the issue first."
Wang Mang started drinking. “If this continues… I’ll lose my job.”
Wang Shu looked at Wang Meng with a look of disappointment. "Work isn't a lifelong thing, but finding a wife is. The fact that she can stand up for herself in small matters means she has a strong sense of justice. And with me around, are you still worried that you'll lose your job in Beijing?"
Wang Mang said nothing and continued drinking.
Wang Shu said, "You've always been too quiet since you were little, so you always suffer losses in things."
"Have I ever suffered any loss?"
Wang Shu was very surprised. "You have a bad memory, don't you? Haven't you suffered enough? If I weren't your brother, you would have been bullied and turned into a problem teenager. In elementary school, everyone liked to bully the good students. Have you forgotten?"
Wang Mang thought about it carefully for a long time, but couldn't remember anything.
Wang Shu reached out and tapped Wang Meng on the head. "It's good to forget."
-
The supermarket incident escalated, and the company issued a statement in the early morning, saying that Wang Mang's case was under investigation and that he had been suspended without pay during the investigation. Yuan Xin immediately became restless and posted a Weibo account to talk about what really happened that day. Netizens followed the clues, and several customers at the time stood up, saying that Yuan Xin and Wang Mang did not steal anything, and that the problem was indeed with the supermarket.
Wang Shu was already a little drunk, but after seeing the Weibo post, he rushed to the second bedroom. He leaned against the door and said to Wang Meng, who was lying on the bed, "I just hope you can live a good life. I'm really happy to see someone protecting you like this."
Wang Meng had never experienced such a soft time. The first time in his life that he opened his heart was when he confessed to Yuan Xin. Moreover, in his memory, Wang Shu was already a grown-up towering tree. He had never seen this tree sprout any new buds. Now it counts as one time.
Wang Mang lay on the bed pretending to be asleep, not saying a word, avoiding this emotional moment.
Wang Shu added, "Don't pretend to be asleep. Don't be like me, knowingly doing the wrong thing. You have to learn to humble yourself. If you like someone, you have to learn to call her baby!"
Wang Meng still didn't get up and continued to pretend to be asleep.
Wang Shu began to mutter to himself, "You kid... actually fell asleep."
Then he closed Wang Mang's door very quietly. Wang Mang watched the beam of light in front of him getting smaller and smaller until it became completely dark.
Wang Mang took out his phone and texted Yuan Xin, "Can I go home tomorrow?"
Yuan Xin was typing repeatedly, and finally replied, "Do you know you are wrong?"
Wang Meng said, "I know I was wrong."
"What's wrong?"
"People should have a sense of justice."
"A sense of justice comes second. The first thing is to cherish yourself and keep your own territory."
"Uh-huh!"
"Then come back now."
"I've been drinking and can't ride a bike."
"Which hotel is it? I'll come find you."
"I'm with Wang Shu."
"Brother, are you in love? Sister Qingqing even asked me indirectly."
"I didn't hear him."
"So how do you feel?"
“I don’t think so. He seems to still like Shen Yanyan.”
"You can observe this?" Yuan Xin made a shocked expression.
"I said I was drinking, why didn't you ask why?"
"I won't ask."
Wang Mangan found it very strange. They had been living together since they fell in love and would chat every night before going to bed, but this was the first time they had a fight and chatted separately on WeChat.
"I'll be back early tomorrow morning. What do you want for breakfast?"
Yuan Xin hasn't returned yet.
Wang Mangan sent another "baby."
Wang Mang had never called her like that before. Yuan Xin slowly raised a question mark.
-
The Qingming Festival in 23 years happened to fall on a leap February, and burning paper was not customary on the streets of Beijing. They couldn't just find a crossroads, draw a circle, and start lighting fires like they did in their hometown. Wang Mang had been a materialist since childhood, and he and Yuan Xin said they hated these feudal superstitions.
Every day has its own rules. From the first seven days to the seventh seven days, he had a lot of trouble. He had to burn paper at the intersection and was chased around by urban management officers in cars with speakers on.
Yuanxin reminded Wang Meng in advance that he should burn paper money before the first two months. By the time Qingming Festival comes, it will be a bit late, and there may not be enough money to spend.
Yuan Xin had only casually mentioned it; she didn't think Wang Mang would actually listen. He'd always been too devoted to science. But Wang Mang, with all seriousness, went to Wang Shu's place to pick up his car, and with a trunk full of Yin money, he began searching for a place to "deliver the money." The two of them finally found a burned intersection in a remote part of Beijing. Yuan Xin immediately said, "Let's go here. We'll go together."
It was already evening when we finished burning, so we decided to stay out together for one night. When we were looking for a hotel, we found that all the nearby hotels were fully booked. Wang Shu loves camping and has a tent in the trunk of his car, so the two of us found a nearby lawn and started to set up the tent. When we lay down, we found that we could see the zenith from the tent. The air in the suburbs was good and the stars were very obvious.
The two of them were lying side by side, and Wang Mang suddenly started chatting with Yuan Xin.
"It turns out my brother actually loves life. I always thought he only cared about work."
"It seems like he has relaxed a lot after his divorce. When I saw him before, I felt that he really had a lot of work on his mind," Yuan Xin said.
"Has he been like this since he was a child?" Yuan Xin suddenly asked.
Wang Mang looked at the stars in the sky, thought for a long time, and then spoke slowly.
"I don't know how my brother grew up. When I was born, he went to school in town. The year I took the junior high school entrance exam, my brother went to college. There was no WeChat at that time, and we often had no signal and couldn't make phone calls. I had a high fever on the entrance exam for junior high school and did very poorly. Based on my grades, I could only go to a very ordinary middle school. My father took me to beg people, saying that our child was smart and studious. If he didn't go to the best middle school, our city would lose a seedling for Peking University. Then my father asked me to go out and buy them beer. When I came back, I saw the drunken principal through the crack in the door and said to my father, "Then you sign and seal it." They tore off a menu and asked my father to sign and seal it."
"My dad really did that. He was such a proud person. He said that if he gave my youngest son another chance, he would definitely be extraordinary in the future."
"He didn't have the opportunity to go to school as a child, but he had a photographic memory. When he was about to start junior high school, my grandfather passed away, and he had to take over the sheep herd. My grandmother was only 1.4 meters tall and had bound feet. If he didn't go herding sheep, he and his aunts would have starved to death."
"From the fragments I heard, my father was filled with deep regret. I don't know how he grew up. My brother couldn't give up his original family because my father said that humans, like sheep, are social animals. Every family must have its own leader. He hoped that my brother would learn to take on his own responsibilities."
Wang Mang took out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. It was the pink, low-quality menu from that year. The words on it were almost illegible. The folds had been there for too long and there was foam on the edges, so it was impossible to make out what the words were. The only words that could be seen were "Mangan" and "Qishan". This list was given to him by the principal at the funeral.
Wang Meng said, "I originally wanted to burn it for him, but I suddenly forgot."
Yuan Xin took it and looked at it carefully.
Wang Mang then said, "Ah, I was going to talk about my brother, but I accidentally talked about my dad."
Yuan Xin said, "I sometimes miss my father. When he first passed away, he left me a sum of money, but I spent most of it on feudal superstitions because I wanted to know if they were doing well. I've tried Bazi, Qimen, and even spiritualism. Every time, I only ask one question: Dad, did you feel pain when you passed away? Everyone's answer is no."
Wang Mang reached out and held Yuan Xin's hand.
"But I don't believe it. My father has a very low pain tolerance. When he was a child, he would groan for a long time after getting a cut."
Wang Mangan said, "It's not necessarily a failure of the psychic communication, it's just that Dad doesn't want to tell you that he's in pain."
Yuan Xin nodded and asked Wang Meng, "Do you know Ziwei?"
Wang Mang asked, "Ziwei from Huan Zhu Ge Ge?"
Yuan Xin sighed and said, "On the day you were born, different stars fell into your twelve zodiac signs. This combination is your Ziwei disk. These stars determine the general direction of your life. The stars change every day, every month, every year, and every decade, determining the direction of your heaven, month, year, and minor limit."
"That's so boring. Wouldn't it be enough to just look at one plate for the rest of your life?" Wang Mang suddenly realized.
"Perhaps we will die at eighty, but those stars will still be moving in the sky. You may be gone, but your stars are still there. If you want to find them, you can go back many years. Each of us, in the final analysis, is just a constellation. After we leave, the constellations that belong to us will not give up. They will continue to shift in the sky, changing new directions, as if you have never disappeared.
"This is very astronomical," said Wang Meng.
"Yeah. It's a bit romantic." Yuan Xin said.
"At that time, every time I thought of my father, I would look at his Ziwei plate and wonder what he would have experienced in that year if he were still alive. One year he would have disasters, another year he would have romantic opportunities, and another year he would be a little stingy but happy. I thought that year might be because I was getting married, and he would have to give me a dowry and balance my income and expenses, so he would be a little stingy."
"Which year?" Wang Mang suddenly asked.
"I won't tell you."
Wang Mang suddenly reached out and hugged Yuan Xin. At this moment, the two of them were like people keeping each other warm, engaging in feudal superstition in a materialistic way in the tent.
Suddenly, a fireball streaked across my head.
The two people were stunned and turned to look at each other.
"Am I dreaming?"
“No, no!”
"We actually saw a fireball! In Beijing."
"Yes."
Yuan Xin sat up, stretched out her hand, and made a wish. Of course, the wish was not to become rich and powerful. For people like her and Wang Mang who had lost their loved ones, the most important thing in the world was to be able to feel happiness at all times in ordinary days.
In this often chaotic world, life is full of unexpected events, but finding a close lover and being able to openly reveal each other's wounds without scruples is already the best life.
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