Yang Sisi pushed me to the Vacheron Constantin counter, and she pointed to the whole row of counters and said to me, "Pick whatever you want, choose whatever you want... I'm so poor I only have money left... To others, this might just be a joke, but I really am so poor I only have money left... If I didn't have a bank card now, which can turn money into a bunch of numbers, I would really feel like I'm going to collapse in front of all this cash, because there are always people trying to make money for me, just like I'm trying to keep myself by his side. We are all people, but we can't please each other... That's the root of the pain!"
I looked at Yang Sisi, and the teller looked at Yang Sisi too. Although she could communicate with Chinese people in ZigBye, she seemed confused by this kind of Chinese with hidden meanings... but I understood it already...
After a long silence, I finally spoke to Yang Sisi, "I know that what others dream of may seem like vegetables in the market to you, something you can pick and choose at will, but that's not how I want it... Let's go outside and talk, so we don't block other people's business."
Before Yang Sisi could even speak, the sales clerk said to me with great anticipation, "Sir, if you really like this brand of watches, please buy one... You may not know this, but since we set up a counter in this duty-free shop, we have never sold more than two watches in a single day... If you buy one today, it will be a milestone day for our counter!"
I replied, "Sorry, but it means nothing to me."
After saying that, I turned to Yang Sisi and said, "Do you know what? Ye Zhi gave me this Rolex hoping that I could get out of my predicament and rebuild myself; I gave her a watch in return to show her that I did it... But now, I haven't done it. I'm still stuck in the quagmire and can't find a way out... This is our last battle, and I don't want to deceive myself!"
What does "the last one" mean?
"It means the last one... Although it's difficult now, I believe that one day it will come true... Let's go, I won't come here again until I'm capable enough."
...
Outside the duty-free shop, the sky turned pink again, and all kinds of motorcycles and cars sped along the four-lane road. This was Phuket at dusk. Nature was quiet and lazy, but people were busy... After get off work, everyone was rushing home with high spirits.
People live in this world with varying degrees of success and failure, but the meaning of home to a person has never been relative. Perhaps those who appear slovenly have slovenly homes, but they are still a haven for the soul and a warm bed for rest.
I finally spoke to Yang Sisi and said, "Sell that villa... Vice President Wu is very firm; he doesn't want anything else except your villa."
Yang Sisi laughed, "You're such an unlucky guy. It's clearly your business, but they just don't want your house."
"That's really unlucky!"
"What if I don't want to sell this villa to that Vice President Wu?"
"Why not sell? The price of thirteen million is already right."
“Vice President Wu knows how to enjoy life, but do you think I don’t? ... That villa is great, it occupies the best location on Patong Beach, and given the current market in Phuket, it will appreciate in value sooner or later. When I really want to sell it, I can ask for 13 million. Why be greedy for a temporary bargain?”
I laughed, "You even know the local market in Phuket?"
“Ever since I learned you were going to speculate on real estate in Phuket, I’ve been keeping an eye on it… Since the past two years, Phuket property prices have been on an upward trend, with apartments rising the fastest. Villas, while rising more slowly, have also become a new investment hotspot since the first half of this year… So, I’m not selling…”
"Whatever you say."
As I spoke, I took out a cigarette case from my pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and put it in my mouth. I didn't light it; I just held it in my mouth... Yang Sisi was standing next to me, and while I was silent, she also stared blankly at the pink sky.
It was Lao Mi who sent me the video call invitation, breaking the silence we'd been out of touch for quite some time; I knew it was because they didn't want to bother me.
After the video call connected, I pointed the camera at the pink sky. Old Mi spoke first, saying, "It's not dark yet where you are."
"Not yet, is it already dark at home?"
"It's already dark."
"Is winter already at home?... Please take good care of yourselves, Mom and I."
"Your mother and I are doing very well, you don't need to worry about us."
I responded with a smile, then said, "Dad... did you see the pink clouds?... I remember seeing them once when I was back in our hometown!"
“There are too many factories now, and there’s pollution everywhere.” After a brief silence, Lao Mi changed the subject and said to me, “Are you coming back for Chinese New Year this year? ... Your cousin Dai Qiang is getting married, and I heard it’s going to be a big wedding.”
I didn't know how to express my opinion, because whether I went back or not, it would hurt them... In my current state, how could I withstand Dai Qiang's comparison? But if I didn't go back, I hadn't spent the Spring Festival at home for four whole years, and they, as elderly people left behind, would definitely feel lonely. So I was caught in a dilemma.
Just then, Yang Sisi suddenly appeared in the phone camera's view. She waved to Lao Mi and then smiled, "Uncle, do you remember me?"
Although it was just a fleeting moment, I'm sure Old Mi trembled slightly. He was definitely terrified, or perhaps he still had a lingering fear of Yang Sisi. After a long pause, he finally spoke to Yang Sisi, saying, "Even if you were reduced to ashes, I would still recognize you!"
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