Chapter 80 chapter80 "Qing Xu, I..."
Lin Qingxu finally went to the banks of the Nanchuan River.
After his emotionally draining phone call with Ruan Yanyan, Lin Qingxu fell back into a light sleep. But not long after, his phone rang again.
It was the fireworks company we had agreed on before.
Seeing that the time was almost up, the person in charge called Lin Qingxu. They were ready and asked Lin Qingxu when they could proceed. Since the confession had been ruined, Lin Qingxu told them to just set off the fireworks without waiting for a specific time, and the balance would still be paid.
The person in charge hesitated to speak. According to regulations, for the sake of safety procedures and responsibility confirmation, the discharge of such large-scale customized fireworks requires the person in person to confirm and sign before it can be carried out.
Lin Qingxu just wanted to bury himself in the silence and had no intention of watching the fireworks anymore.
According to the fireworks company's regulations, as long as she didn't confirm the purchase and the fireworks didn't go off, Lin Qingxu would only have to pay half the penalty. This way, she wouldn't have to go back and forth, and could stay in a corner as she pleased.
However, the initial investment in each custom fireworks display, from design to materials and labor, is enormous. If Lin Qingxu were to proceed in this way, the fireworks company would undoubtedly be losing money. I'm afraid that in the future, these companies will become even more stringent in their review of such personalized orders, and may even stop accepting them.
Her willfulness at this moment may block the way for many people who have the same sincere feelings in the future.
Lin Qingxu was silent for a moment, and finally said softly: "Okay."
After hanging up the phone, Lin Qingxu got out of bed. The last ray of sunlight outside the window had long since faded, leaving the night as dark as ink.
Jin Yuanbao came down from the cat climbing frame when he heard Lin Qingxu open the door. Lin Qingxu added some food to him and went to the bathroom.
In the mirror, her makeup was still exquisite, her eyeliner clear, her eyelashes curled, and her lip gloss still in perfect color. Every stroke of her brush outlined the anxious and expectant intentions before she went to see Kan Zhao that afternoon.
Lin Qingxu poured the makeup remover oil, paused, then lowered his hands, finally washed them, dried them, and went out.
I took a taxi to the Nanchuan River.
After meeting with the person in charge at the agreed location and confirming each other's identities, Lin Qingxu signed the document.
The person in charge breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the procedures were basically completed. After all, this was a large order and there was no room for error.
He habitually asked Lin Qingxu if there was anything that needed to be changed, such as the scheduled time.
Lin Qingxu had told him before that he would just look at her hand gestures when the time came. After all, he could only determine an approximate time and couldn't be too precise.
But now it is obviously not necessary.
She randomly reported a nearby time point. The person in charge didn't ask any more questions, nodded, and called someone to make the arrangements.
*
Actually, it would be nice to call her out, Lin Qingxu thought.
It was getting late, and Kan Zhao was probably going back soon.
Thinking of Le Yao and what he saw in the afternoon, Lin Qingxu didn't want to face him for the time being.
The person in charge went off to take care of the fireworks, and after Lin Qingxu parted ways with him, she wandered aimlessly along the riverbank, blending in with the crowd, moving slowly with the flow.
There are a few small vendors scattered along the trail along the river.
The stalls selling roasted sweet potatoes and sugar-roasted chestnuts exuded a sweet and warm aroma, and young couples were laughing and playing while feeding each other.
Lin Qingxu's eyes swept across their faces filled with happiness and satisfaction, then he lowered his eyes and left.
Occasionally, she would stop for a moment at a stall selling hand-woven items, and then look at an old man painting sugar paintings, but she didn't buy anything, just walked, listened, and watched.
Finally, she stopped by the river. Perhaps it was because the surroundings were too lively and warm, and only by the calm water did she seem so out of place.
The river was calm, flowing gently. The lights on the other side of the river seemed exceptionally clear and distant in the cold air.
There was the sound of the wind in my ears, and the occasional nasal shout from a vendor.
And... Qu Wen's gentle voice.
Lin Qingxu didn't expect to meet him here.
*
"Senior?"
Lin Qingxu heard Qu Wen calling her name.
Turn around.
Seeing that it was really her, a hint of surprise flashed across Qu Wen's eyes at first, and then turned into a warm smile.
He nodded slightly towards the restaurant a few hundred meters behind him. "I came here to eat with my parents. They were so engrossed in their conversation, and I, a giant light bulb, was really an eyesore, so I came out to get some fresh air."
His eyes fell gently on Lin Qingxu's long hair that was slightly fluttering in the river breeze, and he smiled lightly: "I didn't expect to meet you here, what a coincidence."
"What a coincidence."
Qu Wen slowly approached her, and Lin Qingxu naturally made room for her.
The two stood side by side in front of the railing by the river, looking at the flickering lights on the opposite bank swaying on the inky water, speechless for a moment.
Qu Wen spoke softly, his words floating on the wind: "Last time I heard my mother say that we knew each other. I didn't remember much of that time at the time, but after I got home, I dreamed about it a lot."
He rested his arm on the guardrail. "I remember when I was little, I always pestered my parents to come here. They were soft-hearted and couldn't stand my pestering. Later, I found a restaurant nearby that was quite good, so I started eating here often."
"As the years went by, I would come to the riverside every now and then. It became a habit."
"It's been so long that I've forgotten why I came here in the first place. It wasn't until my mother mentioned our past that I slowly began to remember."
He turned to look at Lin Qingxu with a gentle look in his eyes, "I was actually quite withdrawn when I was little. Can't you tell?"
"Yeah." Lin Qingxu nodded and waited quietly for him to continue.
A gust of night wind blew across the river, and Qu Wen's gaze returned to the river.
"My parents thought I developed that personality because they were too busy with work and neglected me. I didn't like playing with my peers and only wanted to be alone. They took me to Qionghai specifically to make me more lively."
He smiled and said, "Actually, it's not because of that. I just think the kids around me are too stupid and arrogant."
Lin Qingxu was slightly surprised. She thought that a gentle personality like Qu Wen was innate.
But she didn't say anything and continued to listen quietly.
Qu Wen's voice gradually softened: "When I came to Qionghai, I was still alone as before. It wasn't long before I met you."
"I remember when I first met you, you were only a little bit tall, very white, and had a round face, like a glutinous rice dumpling."
The corners of his lips lifted unconsciously, "That was the first time I wanted to take the initiative to approach someone. Unfortunately, there were too many children who wanted to play with you, and I couldn't squeeze in."
"I was at a loss at the time. I had no choice but to ask my mother how I could make you want to be just my friend. She said that gentle people always make people want to get close to them."
Qu Wen's eyes passed over Lin Qingxu lightly, "She's right."
As the night deepens, the river breeze becomes cooler.
"It's a pity that the vacation was too short and you left so soon. It was inconvenient to contact you back then, and I always looked forward to seeing you again." Qu Wen looked at the river in the distance, as if recalling something. "Then I had a dream. I dreamed that you were passing by on the river on a cruise ship. I don't know why I took it so seriously. Over the years, I have subconsciously come to the river for a walk."
Lin Qingxu pursed her lips. Following Qu Wen's description, she searched the depths of her memory, but found only a hazy mist.
For Qu Wen, these were precious memories. But for her, Qu Wen had long since been lost in the sea of time. Memories are never equal; perhaps the fleeting glimpse of Qu Wen in childhood had long been forgotten, but the ordinary moments with Kan Zhao still lingered.
I still feel a little sorry for Qu Wen.
Qu Wen probably guessed what Lin Qingxu was going to say, so he changed the subject.
As the night deepened, the crowds along the river thinned out considerably.
Qu Wen suddenly realized that they had been standing here for a long time, but no one came to look for Lin Qingxu.
This is unusual.
He remembered that every time they met, Kan Zhao would stay by Lin Qingxu's side almost every step of the way, his eyes filled with undisguised wariness. He shouldn't have left Lin Qingxu alone by the river for so long on such a cold night. And given Lin Qingxu's personality, he wouldn't have come here alone to enjoy the scenery for no reason.
"The river breeze is getting colder." He said gently, "Is your friend...still busy?"
Just a casual question.
When Lin Qingxu heard his words, she lowered her eyes, and her long eyelashes cast a light shadow on her cheek.
She said softly, "We're not always together."
"Kan Zhao...has his own life."
The words were spoken softly, but like a stone thrown into a quiet lake, they created tiny ripples between the two of them.
Qu Wen realized that he had touched upon a topic that he shouldn't have touched upon. A hint of understanding flashed across his eyes that were always smiling, and he remained silent at the appropriate time.
Just at this moment, a gust of river wind blew past, picking up the dead leaves and making them spin in the air.
It's cold by the river, and moisture seeps into the skin following the direction of the wind.
When Lin Qingxu came out, he was still wearing the same white woolen coat as in the afternoon. He didn't feel cold during the day, but he couldn't withstand the chill of the river at night.
Qu Wen slightly turned sideways, subtly blocking some of the cold wind for her.
"Excuse me." He said softly, turned and walked towards a shop not far away.
After a moment, Qu Wen came back with a cup of steaming cocoa in his hand.
He carefully placed a paper cover on the cup to prevent scalding and handed the cup to Lin Qingxu: "Maybe something sweet can make you feel better."
"Thanks."
Lin Qingxu held the warm paper cup, lowered his head and took a sip. The warm liquid flowed down his throat, gradually dispelling the coldness around his body.
Qu Wen didn't speak immediately, but just stood with her by the river.
His eyes fell on Lin Qingxu's profile, her hair was gently blown by the night breeze.
The tranquility at this moment was so beautiful that he couldn't help but want to prolong this tacit understanding a little longer.
He returned his gaze to the lights on the other side of the river, his voice a little gentler than usual: "Actually, sometimes I feel that fate is very strange."
Lin Qingxu came out of her thoughts when she heard this. She always felt that these words were familiar.
Qu Wen paused, as if considering his words, and looked at her tenderly, "Qing Xu, I..."
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The author has something to say: Damn, the progress is slower than I thought [cat's paw][cat's paw][cat's paw] Why hasn't it reached the point where Kan Zhao breaks through the defense yet?
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