Xiangyangzhuang is a relatively undeveloped seaside fishing village with only about ten guesthouses and hotels, all clustered together. Finding Yang Sisi wasn't difficult. After finding out, I found a shady spot, sat on my suitcase, smoked, and patiently waited for her. I didn't go directly to her because I wanted to create the illusion of a chance encounter. After all, I had told her yesterday I wouldn't go to Shanghai, and today I suddenly changed my mind. For someone as concerned with saving face as me, it was quite awkward. If it were a chance meeting, at least our conversation would seem more natural. Come to think of it, I'm incredibly stubborn. From Shanghai to Dali, from Dali to Jimo, this "face-saving" habit has never changed… But it's not necessarily a bad thing. One can't completely see through the ways of the world. Retaining a bit of worldly wisdom at least makes you appear more human. Isn't that right? Everyone cares about face. ...After waiting for about twenty minutes, Yang Sisi finally came out of the hotel carrying her small bag. Of course, I noticed her first. Unlike yesterday, she wasn't wearing makeup today. I didn't know if she was lazy or felt it wasn't necessary, but yesterday she had taken great care in dressing herself up. She also noticed me, glanced at me first, and then her gaze lingered on my suitcase. She walked towards me, and before she could speak, I blurted out, "What a coincidence... bumping into each other again so early in the morning!" Yang Sisi ignored my feigned exclamation and asked, "You're dragging such a big suitcase, are you going on a long trip?" "If I told you this suitcase is full of farewell gifts for you, would you believe me?" "Believe you? What a joke... I think this suitcase is full of the ugliness of human nature... You've put your pride and vanity into this suitcase, but every suitcase gets opened eventually... right, Michael?" I laughed, "After all this time, you still understand me best." "No wonder nobody here likes you... You should really reflect on yourself." "There's nothing to reflect on... If I aspired to be a perfect person, I would have gone to the Fourth Division with Coach Ma long ago." "It's all empty now..." "Yes, you're really shameless..." Afraid that Yang Sisi would say something even harsher, I quickly interrupted her, saying, "That's called being down-to-earth... Don't you think I'm a very easy person to get along with? ...Sometimes I really don't care about myself, only about other people's feelings... So, after thinking about it all night, I decided to go back to Shanghai with you... I was afraid you'd be sad." "Shameless... You really know how to save face!" Yang Sisi cursed, but a smile had already appeared on her face... She's someone who can't hide her emotions, and the next moment, a hint of disappointment appeared... She understands me, and I understand her well enough... She doesn't believe that I went to Shanghai entirely to take care of her feelings; she thinks I went for Ye Zhi's sake... In a woman's heart, men can also be hypocritical, and I'm one of them. ...Before noon, Yang Sisi and I took a car from Jimo to Qingdao Railway Station, and then took the high-speed train back to Shanghai. To be precise, it was a return for Yang Sisi, but for me, it was a first-time visit… In the nearly one year since leaving Dali, I haven't been back to Shanghai… I'm more like a passerby here, simply passing through again after a long absence, in a different guise. Stepping out of the train station, the atmosphere of Shanghai hit me like a tidal wave. It felt like in an instant, daytime had turned into night. The dazzling neon lights, one after another, lit up right before my eyes, their shimmering glow constructing the city's prosperity while also reflecting the insignificance of ordinary people. Perhaps I was considered a successful person in Dali, but here, I was immediately brought back to reality. What I possess now is still not enough to buy a decent house in the city's most bustling area. That's why I dislike Shanghai… because behind its prosperity, there are too many powerless people, living in the shadows, in the city's dark side, like fleas, hardly deserving of dignity, hardly worthy of being called human. I habitually sniffed, then pulled out a cigarette and lit it… Then I squinted and looked into the distance, where countless windows stood, and perhaps Ye Zhi was inside one of them. This feeling was contradictory… I was grateful she was still alive; yet I couldn't help but feel heartbroken because she didn't care about me. A while later, Yang Sisi drove her car from the parking lot—a very understated Volkswagen Scirocco, not the Ferrari she used to drive… Presumably, after all this, she had gained a new understanding of material things. Indeed, some levels of understanding aren't reflected in cars and houses… After these two years of transformation, Yang Sisi was now more like a new Dali resident. ...Sitting in Yang Sisi's car, letting her drive me through the city, until we stopped at a traffic light, she finally spoke to me: "Having experienced the ups and downs of life, my dad has come to terms with many things... He no longer forces me to go abroad, and he even bought me an apartment in Dali... He said I can go to Dali anytime, even if I stay and settle down there, it's fine... He feels that he's lived his whole life solely for business and social rules, and he doesn't know what true happiness is... He doesn't want me to repeat his mistakes, so he lets me do whatever makes me happy." "Your dad is a good dad." "So I want to be a good daughter too... I'll stay in Shanghai with him, and Dali will be a dream, or rather, not a dream... At least I can go there for a vacation occasionally." After saying this, Yang Sisi slumped onto the steering wheel, staring blankly at the red light that was counting down. After a brief silence, I spoke first, asking Yang Sisi, "By the way, how's Lao Huang doing?... He did a lot for your dad during his accident." "He's doing well. He's now the vice president and a shareholder of my dad's company... Xiao Bao has also returned from abroad. My dad wants to mentor him and might arrange a position for him in the company." I nodded, thinking that Lao Huang's good deeds were rewarded, and Yang Sisi's dad was also grateful; it seemed like a happy situation. After a slight pause, Yang Sisi continued, "Xiao Bao is getting married soon... His girlfriend is Korean. They were classmates in the same major, and Xiao Bao brought her back to Shanghai. They'll be developing their careers together in Shanghai." I didn't speak, but I couldn't help but sigh at the vicissitudes of life... In my heart, Xiao Bao was a very persistent man. Now, he has let go of Yang Sisi. I wonder if Yang Sisi will feel disappointed because of this, after all, he's a man who has been pursuing her since he was a teenager. Want to chat about "My Tenant Miss" with more like-minded people? Follow "or" on WeChat to discuss your favorite books with other book lovers.
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