Leaving the studio, I walked through the streets and alleys of the ancient city. I've developed a habit of using walks to alleviate my loneliness. I pay attention to every shop on both sides of the street and remember people I've only met once... Whenever I do this, my heart feels full, leaving me no time to dwell on the loneliness that pervades my being.
After we reached a relatively quiet spot, I called Lao Mi to ask when he would be back, as I wanted to have dinner with him and my mother. Lao Mi handed the phone to Xiao Song, who told me that they had just passed Shuanglang on their Erhai Lake loop and that it would take about an hour and a half to get back to the old town.
This hour and a half was quite torturous. I couldn't find anywhere to go, and I couldn't just wander around the ancient city aimlessly. I was actually hoping that another client would come along so I could kill some time by working.
...
Fortunately, just as we were about to reach Erhai Gate, we ran into Bai Lu, who was in the ancient city on business. She had already finished her business, so the two of them found a coffee shop on the street, ordered some drinks and snacks, and started chatting.
I asked her first if she knew who took me home last night. Bai Lu said she had drunk too much, so she didn't notice who took her home...
The less people know about it, the more it piques my curiosity...
But Bai Lu didn't give me a chance to ask any further. She picked up her coffee cup, took a sip, and then changed the subject, asking me, "I was so busy drinking yesterday that I forgot to ask you, did you send that nasal medicine to Xiao Ma?"
"Uh... the truth might be a little hurtful, do you want to hear it or not?"
Bai Lu laughed: "He's already injured me like this, how much more could he hurt me?!"
“Then I’ll tell you the truth… I gave him the ‘medicine.’ He initially wanted it too, but when I brought it up, and we all had dinner together that night, including you, he immediately turned hostile… and then gave the ‘medicine’ back to me…”
Bai Lu sighed, then forced a smile.
I comforted him, saying, "It's not necessarily a bad thing... The more he cares about these details, the more unstable his mind is... Maybe one day he'll see the light and realize that this wonderful world is good."
Bai Lu looked at me, and after a moment, said with some sadness, "Maybe that day really will come... But Michael, how long do you think I, as a woman, can wait for him?... Tie Nan and Tao Zi are already examples of what can happen!"
"Yes, it's a favor to wait for him, and it's your right not to... If you really can't hold on any longer, you can choose again; that's your right."
White Dew remained silent.
She spoke again when she had almost finished her coffee, but had already changed the subject. She said to me, "I've noticed that Sisi has been getting quite close to Cao Xiaobei lately. Last night, before she had even finished her drinks, Cao Xiaobei came and picked her up..."
I laughed: "What does this have to do with me?"
As I spoke, I picked up my cup and took a sip of water. Then I shifted my gaze to the billboard on the roof outside the window, somewhat lost in thought. The scene of the argument just now was replaying in my mind like a movie.
"You need to be a little more aware of the risks. Women can't wait, and you're afraid she'll change her mind while she's waiting!"
"Don't you think she and Cao Xiaobei are a better match? ... They went through things together and grew together."
After a brief pause, I continued, "There's a real generation gap between us, so she doesn't understand many of the things I do and always thinks I'm wrong... But this society is so realistic; it might only give you one chance. If you don't seize it, you'll soon be eliminated and relegated to the margins of society. It's really cruel!... But I don't have that kind of conflict with Cao Xiaobei... Their upbringing is quite similar; they're both people who can live a dreamlike life... So, I'm quite willing to wish them well."
"If that's what you think, then I really don't know how to advise you."
"No need to persuade me, things will work themselves out when they reach the bridge."
Bai Lu shrugged, expressing regret over my thoughts. After a moment, she asked me, "So what are you planning to do in the future?... I mean, things in your love life."
"Wait a little longer...maybe one day she'll come back."
Bai Lu said with some emotion, "Actually, I'm quite curious whether women or men are more persistent in waiting for this kind of thing..."
I looked at Bai Lu and then whispered back, "I think waiting has no gender distinction. You can wait as long as you love him/her."
"Judging from this, you really do love Ye Zhi!"
I was in a daze, and then I remembered her standing in the wind, gazing into the distance from the observation deck... It wasn't until Bai Lu spoke again that I came back to my senses.
After Taozi left, did you hear from her again?
"No, I can't contact her anymore. She doesn't even use WeChat anymore."
"Sigh!...I went to see Tetsuo this morning, and he mentioned peaches...I don't know how to tell him."
After a brief pause, Bai Lu continued, "He's about to be sentenced. If he finds out the truth now, he'll go crazy!"
I felt terrible, so I lit a cigarette for myself...
Unbeknownst to us, we all seem to be standing at a crossroads where we must make choices. Who will succeed and who will stumble is anyone's guess.
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