After tidying up my messy hair, Ye Zhi and I stood facing each other... The wind never stopped, hiding in the already arrived night, howling and blowing towards National Highway 14... The streetlights were also on, turning the asphalt road under our feet a dark yellow... A leaf fell, and in the blink of an eye, it was swept by the wind onto the lawn where the streetlights couldn't reach.
I felt incredibly lonely, so much so that it took me a long time before I spoke to Ye Zhi: "Everyone encounters setbacks in this world; after all these years, I've been through so much, and I'm not as impulsive as I used to be... Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"Hmm... I believe you have the ability to handle difficulties."
I forced a smile, then stared blankly at the cars speeding past on National Highway 14... Suddenly, I remembered something and said to Ye Zhi, "The environment we're in isn't very optimistic... You should also be careful and think things through carefully... Personal safety is the most important thing."
"Um."
Ye Zhi responded lightly and followed my gaze into the distance... Just then, Erhai Lake became exceptionally beautiful, especially the area bathed in moonlight, which resembled a luminous pearl placed on a table, illuminating the black tablecloth.
I was just about to light a cigarette when a taxi pulled up to the side of the road. The driver asked me where I was going... It was rare for a taxi to pass by, so I didn't dare to delay and quickly told him that I was going to the ancient city.
The driver was also going to the ancient city. He told me to hurry because he was going to switch shifts with another driver at 7:30.
I whispered to Ye Zhi, "I'm leaving."
"good."
I put away my crutches, and Ye Zhi helped me into a taxi. The driver, who was rushing to change shifts, didn't care about our moods. As soon as I was settled, he stepped on the gas, first overtaking a truck, and then following a BMW SUV with a Kunming license plate, speeding towards the ancient city.
I couldn't help but look back, and Ye Zhi was still standing under the streetlight... That figure was just like the first time I saw her at the observation deck.
I felt inexplicably sad, so I closed my eyes and waited until the driver spoke to me before opening them again.
...
After returning to the old town, I went to Nicole's "Woman Flower" bar. I wanted to have a drink, as I hadn't touched alcohol in a long time. However, Nicole refused to oblige, insisting that my leg wasn't fully healed and I couldn't drink.
Nicole made me a cup of coffee, but I was a bit disgusted by this stuff that made me more and more awake, so I asked the waiter to give me a cup of plain water instead.
I wanted to find someone to chat with, but Nicole was incredibly busy. She not only had to manage the bar's business but also sing for the customers... I was getting restless. I really didn't know what my purpose was in coming to the bar for a glass of water.
Just as I was about to leave, my mom called me.
I thought she was asking about the house, but she said to me very urgently, "Son, your dad and I have gone back to Chengdu. You stay here..."
Take good care of yourself.
"Why did you suddenly go back?"
“One of your dad’s comrades is seriously ill and is dying… Your dad is rushing back to see him one last time.”
I was a little surprised and quickly asked, "Is it my Uncle Jiang?"
“Well… when your dad was serving in the army in Nanjing, he received a lot of help from him. The two of them were like brothers… I have to go back with him to see him… I’m afraid he’ll feel bad.”
"Alright... Where are you? I'll see you off."
"You rest well at home... We've already boarded the bus; Chen Jin brought us."
"Then please be careful on your journey. Give me a call when you arrive in Chengdu."
My mom responded and then hung up the phone... It must have been an emergency; she didn't even have time to ask me about the house.
That's good, at least this night will be peaceful.
In an instant, my heart sank into sadness again. I thought of Uncle Jiang… Although we hadn’t been in touch much over the years, I remembered that his relationship with Lao Mi was truly one of life-or-death bond… I’d forgotten when he came to our county, only that the day Lao Mi brought him to our house, he seemed very confused, as if he’d suffered some great shock… He stayed with us for six months, and then disappeared… It wasn’t until the year I went to university that he returned to Chengdu, still all alone; later, Lao Mi helped him find a security job in Chengdu, and he never left again… I never expected that the next news I heard about him would be such devastating news!
Reflecting on the unpredictability of life, I subconsciously lit a cigarette...
After taking a deep breath, I thought of Yang Sisi again. I really wanted her to go back to Dali. After all, the reason I asked her to leave was because I was worried that she and Lao Mi would have another conflict. Now that Lao Mi and my mother have left, I no longer have that worry.
After weighing the options, I finally gave up on the idea... I felt that it would be the fairest thing for her to do to go to Shanghai to find her myself.
...
After sitting in the bar for a while, I went back to my apartment. Zhou San, who had been delivering takeout all day, came over around the same time. As soon as he sat down opposite me, he asked me with concern, "Brother, have you gotten that apartment back?"
I shook my head.
Zhou San seemed to have suffered some setback; he lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.
I comforted her again, saying, "Don't be discouraged, San San... When I was speculating on real estate in Jiulongju, my situation wasn't much better than it is now, but I still managed to get it done step by step."
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