0043 Night Rose, Night.43 Ruan Mei took out a package from Fengchao. It was the LED tube light she bought online a few days ago. The original light bulbs in the new house were the color of white paper, which made the shadows cast on the white wall a little dull. She liked warm light, like the sweet and sour juice squeezed out of ripe orange flesh.
That will make her feel the warmth of home.
Half a month ago, she rented the house that Chen Shanye, a regular customer, recommended because she really liked the location. It was okay if the budget exceeded a little, as long as she tried to sell more small toys every month.
The house and the shop are only separated by three inner streets, and can be reached by walking through three coffee shops and an eyewear store. She can keep her habit of sleeping until noon, leisurely go downstairs in her slippers, eat a bowl of wonton bamboo noodles or fried sausages with century egg porridge, and then go back to the shop to work.
Or it could be like this: after the courier collects the package in the evening, I smell the aroma of coffee beans roasted over a direct fire wafting over the block, and walk slowly home under the swaying shadows of trees under the rosy sunset.
The stairs twisted and turned to the fourth floor. There were three households on each floor, but one was empty. A couple lived opposite her, and they didn't have any small animals that would always bark heartbreakingly.
There is one bedroom, one living room, one bathroom and one kitchen. Originally, Chen Shanye wanted to help her move the bed from the store to the new house. However, as soon as he lifted the mattress, he saw that several bed beams had cracks. The wood had not completely broken, but it was also in danger of collapse. No wonder the bed creaked so loudly.
Ruan Mei opened her eyes wide and accused with trembling hands, "The bed is broken, Chen Shanye, you broke the bed, which made the situation even worse for a family that was not well-off to begin with!"
Chen Shanye squatted on the ground, easily carried her woven bag full of clothes onto his shoulder, and said, "When you have free time one day, go to the furniture store to pick out a bed."
Ruan Mei felt that the prices in physical stores were too expensive, so it would be better to buy them online.
Chen Shanye shook his head: "Of course you have to try sleeping on the bed to know if it's suitable."
The seal on the store's power switch was unsealed last week. The first thing to do after the power was restored was of course to pack up and ship out the orders that had been outstanding for this period of time.
Express delivery notes spit out like snowflakes from the thermal printer. Ruan Mei is ready to stay up all night to deal with a hundred or so packages at once.
At two o'clock in the morning, the iron gate of the yard was knocked, jingling like the golden bells on the necks of the red-nosed reindeer pulling Santa Claus's sleigh.
The dim light of the orange street lamp sprinkled on the man's head, and the shining reflective vest was the cross star hanging on the dark blue velvet.
Chen Shanye raised the plastic bag in her hand and saw the restaurant logo printed on the bag. It was the grilled oyster restaurant she had been clamoring to eat on WeChat two hours ago.
After returning from Yunnan, everything seemed to become natural.
Accompany her to look at houses, help her move, buy her midnight snacks after get off work, help her pack her packages, take her home, and go upstairs with her when she says, "It's too late, why don't you stay overnight?"
When they were trying on beds in a home furnishing store, Chen Shanye lay down beside her, and the two of them sank into the soft buns and smiled at each other; the salesperson jokingly asked how big their wedding room was, and if there was enough space, they could buy a 1.8-meter bed; they also bought new pillows and bedding, a double bed.
And sent a message to Chen Shanye, saying that the light bulb had arrived.
Chen Shanye replied that he would come over to change it for her after get off work tonight.
It's as natural as hearing the chirping of summer cicadas at the beginning of June.
*
Ruan Mei changed her clothes and went out. The little Fit blended in with the traffic, chasing the purple sky that was a mixture of orange and blue.
After measuring her wrist temperature and changing into the disposable slippers of the parent-child restaurant, Ruan Mei rubbed the fine and dense hand sanitizer on her hands, and saw Gong Xin as soon as she turned into the colorful and bright dining area.
Her short black hair was neatly cut to her ears. Her eyes, which had sparkled when she talked about money, were now as gentle as afternoon tea. She gazed at a certain spot in the children's play area with a faint smile on her face. Her crossed long legs swayed lazily, and her light disposable slippers seemed to be hanging on a crescent moon like a water lily that was about to fall.
"Landlady." Ruan Mei greeted.
"Are you here? Take a seat. Just order what you want to drink." Gong Xin pushed the menu in front of her, stood up, and picked up the two thermoses, one pink and one blue, hanging on the back of the chair. "I'll get some water for the kids. Wait for me."
She pulled out a chair opposite Gong Xin and sat down, but she was a little confused when she saw a set of children's tableware placed on each of the other two sides of the square table.
After flipping through a few pages of the menu, she turned around and saw Gong Xin standing by the glass fence of the playground, smiling and saying something to the two children.
Ruan Mei recognized Gong Baiyu.
Gong Xin rarely posts about her children on WeChat Moments, but she has brought Bai Yu to her store a few times to pick up ordered items. The little boy is very handsome and looks even more handsome than many child stars on TV.
But she had never seen the little girl with pigtails next to the little boy.
"Who is that little girl? Is she Bai Yu's classmate?" Ruan Mei asked curiously when Gong Xin returned to her seat.
Gong Xin shook her head and smiled: "In terms of seniority, she is considered Bai Yu's aunt."
She added: "Xiaoli is my sixth uncle's child and now lives in my house."
Ruan Mei was stunned. She knew something about the relationship between Gong Xin and her sixth uncle.
Gong Xin beckoned the waiter over and asked Ruan Mei, "How are things going between you and your Master Chen? Have you confirmed your relationship?"
Ruan Mei pointed to a purple soda drink and placed her order with the waiter, then replied, "Not yet... but we're basically doing the same things as a couple."
"Is Master Chen's work... really that good?"
Ruan Mei quickly looked around and lowered her voice, still smiling, "We're in a family restaurant. How dare you say this?"
Picking up the drink and taking a sip, Gong Xin raised her eyebrows and said, "What are you afraid of? The child is not here."
Thinking of those days that were a bit like an escape, and recalling the intense sexual intercourse between her and Chen Shanye, Ruan Mei's cheeks would still feel slightly hot, like the warmth of the afterglow of the setting sun lingering on her face.
She held her chin with her left hand, a satisfied smile on her lips: "Really, Master Chen's work is really good."
"Tsk tsk, look at your happy face. I was asking if Master Chen's driving skills were good. What else were you thinking about?" Gong Xin joked, lightly tapping the water droplets on the wall of the cup with her fingertips.
The waiter brought the drinks, and the raspberries were like gems sunk to the bottom of the lake, the reflected light dyeing the lake red.
The long-handled silver spoon stirred in the cup. Ruan Mei heard Gong Xin ask, "Since you're moved, what are you still considering?"
The ice cubes hit the shimmering glass, making a clanging sound.
"Landlady, how old is Bai Yu this year?"
"I just had my sixth birthday, what's wrong?"
Ruan Mei took a sip, and the instantaneous coolness made her sensitive back teeth slightly sour. "Master Chen has a child who is about the same age as Bai Yu."
Gong Xin exclaimed "wow".
If it is just a physical relationship of bed partners, as long as they please each other in bed, they are qualified sexual partners. Once they get out of bed and leave the room, they should return to their respective identities and positions. Whether the other person is rich or poor, good or evil, it has nothing to do with them.
But once you fall in love, the issues you need to consider increase exponentially.
Do you want to take things further? Are there any clashes in lifestyle? Do your values align? Can you find common topics to talk about? Are your family relationships complicated? ...
Gong Xin half-closed her eyes and spoke in a slightly more serious tone, "Is he married?"
"Well, we are currently going through the divorce procedures." Ruan Mei did not say much about Chen Shanye's family affairs.
"Do you mind that he has a child?" Gong Xin asked.
Ruan Mei turned her head and followed the two children playing in the pretend area, tapping her fingers on the wooden table like a woodpecker.
She sighed softly, "Maybe one day in the future, I will be like you, and like Chen Shanye so much that I love him and his family as well."
"But the problem is, I'm not ready to be a 'mother' yet."
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