...
Halfway through the drinks, Coach Ma, whom I had rarely contacted since leaving, finally called me. This was definitely not a coincidence; I just happened to think of him, and he called. I felt it was inevitable because the inn was demolished today, and he must have wanted to say a few words to me.
I took a drag of my cigarette and then pressed the answer button. Coach Ma's voice was very deep. He said to me, "I saw your post on WeChat Moments."
"Yes, the inn was demolished this afternoon."
Coach Ma's silence is a sign of grief.
Having finally managed to get through on the phone, I didn't want it to be in this kind of atmosphere, so I smiled and asked him, "How have you been lately?"
"It's neither good nor bad... about half good and half bad."
"What's wrong?"
"I feel like Bai Lu is being treated unfairly by following me around like this."
“She did it willingly, so she probably doesn’t feel wronged…” After thinking for a moment, I added, “You should find a place to settle down first. It’s not good to keep drifting around like this.”
"I haven't found a comfortable place yet."
I asked jokingly, "Have you been in Dali for so long that you feel uncomfortable anywhere else?"
"Dali is great. If I don't want to work, I can find a bar to sing and support myself. If I'm feeling down, I can smoke a cigarette by Erhai Lake and feel better. It's a new place, a new beginning. You know, I'm not a person who likes to make friends. This kind of personality will probably hold Bai Lu back."
“She won’t think that way. If it really doesn’t work out… you can go back to Dali after this is over.”
Coach Ma fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject, asking me, "How are Tie Nan and Tao Zi doing lately?"
"The two of them... they're doing well. Peach recently found a bartending job, and although Tie Nan is currently unemployed, he still has some spare money, so they can make ends meet."
"That's good... Tie Nan sometimes acts impulsively, so you should keep an eye on him and remind him. I think you have a much better sense of right and wrong than he does... Help him out when necessary."
"Don't worry, I definitely hope he gets better."
"Well... take care of yourself too. Try to think positively and don't let your thoughts trap you."
"You're putting it a bit too deeply. What do you mean by trapping yourself with your own thoughts?"
Coach Ma smiled, but didn't give me a specific explanation, and then hung up the phone in silence... I didn't try to figure out why he said that to me, but I was a little worried about his state. He shouldn't be worried about holding Bai Lu back. I think that two people should be equals when they're together, and then share hardships and joys...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
