twenty three
Xu Yu did not respond.
The meeting room was quickly filled with people, and they were glanced at from time to time. Ji Shengsheng hurriedly returned to his seat.
When she looked back again, Xu Yu was gone.
In fact, during her time with Xu Yu, she also sensed the strange things she had felt before. However, because she cherished this reunion, she didn't want to dwell on those moments.
If they can stay together for a long time, then those moments don't matter.
If they can only walk this part of the road together, she will only remember the good parts.
When Ji Shengsheng got home that evening, she saw a package at the door—a sewing machine that Xiao Qi had given her.
After opening it, she saw the postcard that Xiao Qi had asked the shop owner to write for her.
This sewing machine wasn't cheap, and Xiao Qi received an advance on a month's salary.
She hoped to give Ji Shengsheng a gift together with her grandmother.
She felt this sentiment.
Ji Shengsheng transferred two months' worth of living expenses to Xiao Qi's card, with the note "Eat well".
Ji Shengsheng placed the sewing machine in the workshop and began studying several tutorials.
She also had a gift she wanted to give to Xiao Qi, but hadn't decided yet, and now she had some material to share.
Having gained a basic understanding of sewing machines, Ji Shengsheng copied several paintings.
Xing Xing always sends messages when she's focused on work, and each time it's a bombshell.
"Xiao Yang and I broke up. We can be friends again."
Ji Shengsheng saw the text message, followed by a friend request from Xing Xing.
"No. Your breakup has nothing to do with me. Don't bother me until the cooling-off period is over."
It's unrealistic to completely cut off all friendship. Ji Shengsheng thought the best scenario for her and Xing Xing was to be friends, but not to contact each other regularly.
"...She already has a new boyfriend, what's there to calm down about? I never go back to an ex." Seeing that she disagreed, Xing Xing sent another message.
"Oh, I hope that next time you're in a relationship, people won't misunderstand our relationship." Ji Shengsheng thought for a moment, then continued typing.
"Three rules. First, don't mention me to your prospective or current partners. Second, put away or throw away anything related to me to reduce misunderstandings. Third, only maintain necessary contact; stop with routine greetings and chats."
Ji Shengsheng had just sent the message when Xing Xing called. Xing Xing was completely baffled: "Seriously, are you crazy, Ji Shengsheng? Wasn't I there for you when you were heartbroken? I'm just telling you I'm heartbroken, and you're coming here to lay down some rules for me?"
"It's just for your future healthy relationships."
"What if I stop dating? Will you stop being my friend?" Xing Xing was furious.
“…If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine,” Ji Shengsheng laughed sheepishly, “I do want to talk about it. What if I’m also prone to jealousy and misunderstand that you and I have some kind of relationship, and then I start making a scene?”
"Then let's break up?" Xing Xing was speechless. "What's there to misunderstand? Everyone has childhood friends, right?"
"That won't do."
She didn't want Xu Yu to misunderstand. She couldn't bear to be separated from Xu Yu.
"Alright, hurry up and accept my friend request. Let's make a deal."
After hanging up the phone, Ji Shengsheng opened WeChat but didn't see any messages from Xu Yu.
Thinking of Xiao Yang's matter, Ji Shengsheng quickly got up and looked around the room for anything related to Xing Xing.
She had only stayed for one day when she first saw Xing Xing's shorts and short-sleeved shirt in the laundry basket, and then found a brand new pair of men's slippers in the storage room.
On the kitchen counter, I saw a can of protein powder, a bottle of men's multivitamins, and a box of men's health supplements...
After packing out a small box, Ji Shengsheng went to wash her hands and saw men's facial cleanser on the counter...
Fortunately, Xu Yu did not see or misunderstand it.
Ji Shengsheng packed up all of Xing Xing's belongings, wrote Xing Xing's name on the boxes, placed an order for a courier service, and left it at the door.
Xing Xing now lives with his parents. If his mother accidentally opens the package and sees these things she sent to Xing Xing, that would be terrible.
Thinking about it, Ji Shengsheng picked up a chrome-yellow acrylic pen and highlighted Xing Xing's name.
She didn't know if Xu Yu would come to see her tonight.
When she left the company, Xu Yu seemed to have urgent business to attend to. They didn't exchange many words before she returned.
There has been no news since then.
Ji Shengsheng stopped thinking about it and instead cleaned the room thoroughly, especially the places where Xing Xing had left his things.
After ensuring the whole house was clean, Ji Shengsheng went to take a shower, and then sat down at the computer to start brainstorming ideas.
I can't say I had any inspiration; I just scribbled a few little pictures.
Xu Yu rang the doorbell just as she was starting to feel sleepy.
Ji Shengsheng sensed it was him and immediately got up to open the door.
Xu Yu's expression didn't seem as happy as hers.
"...Why are you so late?"
Xu Yu's gaze swept past the cardboard box with Xing Xing's name on it by the door and landed on Ji Shengsheng's face.
Ji Shengsheng has an oval face. Or maybe not. It's rounder than an oval face.
Her eyes were almond-shaped and round, sparkling when she was excited, and when she looked at him, she always gave him the illusion that she was devoted to him.
Her nose is very thin and the tip is very soft, always feeling very pleasant to the touch. Even when she's not smiling, she doesn't seem distant.
She has two very shallow dimples that appear when she is happy or impatient.
Ji Shengsheng didn't know how long Xu Yu would watch her, so she could only reach out her hand to him and say, "I can give you a key. Next time you want to come, you can just open the door."
Xu Yu looked at her lips upon hearing the sound.
Realizing what he was looking at, Ji Shengsheng's face immediately turned red: "...Would you like to come in first?"
"good."
"Please have a seat for a moment, I'll be right back."
Ji Shengsheng went to find the key.
She had a spare key, which she had specifically put in her drawer after Xing Xing returned it to her last time.
After confirming that there was only one key to the house, Ji Shengsheng scratched his head and said, "I can't find it. I'll get a copy made for you tomorrow."
Xu Yu remained silent.
For a moment, Ji Shengsheng felt even more helpless than when she first returned.
Just then, my stomach suddenly growled.
...She ate a piece of bread for dinner, probably because doing housework used up a lot of energy, and she actually felt hungry at this time.
"Hungry?" Xu Yu asked her to confirm.
"Hmm..." Ji Shengsheng rubbed her stomach, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
What would you like to eat?
I don't want to eat anything.
She didn't want to trouble Xu Yu to cook her a meal so late again.
“…I want a hug.” Ji Shengsheng mustered her courage.
“Then come here.” Xu Yu said generously.
Ji Shengsheng walked up to Xu Yu.
Xu Yu did not move.
Ji Shengsheng opened his arms and embraced Xu Yu first.
"Why do you want a hug?" Feeling Xu Yu's body temperature, Ji Shengsheng heard Xu Yu whisper in her ear.
"I feel very secure and at ease when I hold you." Ji Shengsheng buried her face in Xu Yu's neck and rubbed against him, whispering, "...I wish you were mine."
"Hmm, you haven't been going to art exhibitions lately, you've been seeing classmates?"
“…I haven’t had time lately.” Ji Shengsheng didn’t know why Xu Yu suddenly brought this up.
Xu Yu remained silent.
He recalled Ji Shengsheng mentioning "physiological attraction" when they were in Yunlan.
Holding hands, hugging, kissing—these are all examples.
"What are your plans for tomorrow?" Xu Yu raised his hand and gently patted Ji Shengsheng's back. "I'm off tomorrow."
"Really?!" Ji Shengsheng calculated that she didn't have too many manuscripts to finish. "Then I'll take tomorrow off too."
What do you want to do?
“I…I’ll take you to meet my good friend,” Ji Shengsheng suggested, though she wasn’t entirely sure. “Do you want to go?”
"Zhu Xiaodan?"
“Yes. My classmate from junior high and high school.” Ji Shengsheng released Xu Yu, looked into his eyes, and asked, “Would you like to meet my friend?”
"think."
He really wanted to.
It's not just friends I want to see.
Who else do you have?
"And..." Ji Shengsheng thought. She had many friends, but she hadn't seen many of them in the three years she had been abroad. It wouldn't be appropriate to suddenly bring Xu Yu to see them.
She had originally planned to take Xu Yu to meet Xing Xing to clear up any possible misunderstandings, but given Xiao Yang's experience, she decided against it for the time being.
"No, not at the moment."
A friend you don't take to see is someone you shouldn't see.
Xu Yu remained silent, but Ji Shengsheng mustered her courage and tentatively asked, "...Do you want to stay the night?"
"Not very convenient."
He did not bring any clothes or toiletries with him.
“…I’ve prepared.” Ji Shengsheng scratched her arm, avoiding Xu Yu’s gaze. “I went to the supermarket to buy some when I came back.”
"Hmm?" Xu Yu looked at Ji Shengsheng's helpless yet earnest expression. "What did you buy?"
"Toothbrush, slippers, bath towel, and pajamas... The pajamas and bath towel have been washed and dried." Ji Shengsheng's voice grew softer and softer.
She wasn't prepared for today.
I was just going to the supermarket to buy daily necessities and brought this along just in case.
“Ji Shengsheng,” Xu Yu said, twirling his fingers through the hair at the back of her head, “are you planning to keep a mistress in a gilded cage?”
“You can interpret it that way too,” Ji Shengsheng said. “I am sincerely inviting you to stay overnight.”
"Today?" Xu Yu coaxed gently, "Or every day?"
"...Can I really do it every day?"
"If you don't have anyone else to arrange," Xu Yu pressed on.
Zhu Xiaodan used to occasionally invite her to stay, but if Xu Yu were to stay permanently, Zhu Xiaodan probably wouldn't want to come anymore.
Ji Shengsheng was lost in thought when she heard Xu Yu's voice above her head.
"Sheng Sheng, are there any other people you need to arrange?"
"……No?"
"That's good."
There was some noodles in the refrigerator, so Xu Yu simply cooked her a bowl and then went to take a shower while she watched him go.
In fact, Ji Shengsheng was not as brave as she appeared.
From the moment she realized that Xu Yu really wanted to stay overnight, her heartbeat never calmed down.
The sound of running water in the bathroom made her a little dizzy until she heard Xu Yu's voice—calling for her to help her get her clothes.
She then realized that she seemed to have forgotten to buy something.
He awkwardly handed the two pajamas to Xu Yu through the crack in the door.
Xu Yu's hesitation suggested that she had realized the same thing as her.
As soon as the bathroom door closed, Ji Shengsheng's heart pounded wildly.
I had no choice but to take out my graphics tablet and draw to distract myself.
After changing her clothes, Xu Yu opened the door and saw Ji Shengsheng concentrating on drawing a draft. She didn't disturb her.
"Why don't you go and rest first?" Painting had indeed calmed her down. Ji Shengsheng looked up at Xu Yu and said, "I'll be done soon."
"good."
Xu Yu went into the bedroom, changed into the four-piece bedding set she had bought last time, and sat on the edge of the bed waiting for Ji Shengsheng to finish drawing.
Not long after, Xu Yu saw Ji Shengsheng rubbing his wrist and walking in with a tablet in his hand.
She lay down very lightly beside him, and Xu Yu saw Ji Shengsheng unlock the tablet and hand it to him.
The image above is a nine-square grid comic.
A young tailor traversed mountains and valleys to collect fragments of joy, happiness, and peace, then, covered in sweat and working tirelessly with both hands and feet, sewed together each broken piece of a soul.
Then, bring the whole soul to the riverbank, and joyfully wash away the pain, unease, and doubt that were above it.
“One more painting is needed.” Ji Shengsheng yawned. “The soul of the painting also needs to be exposed to the sun.”
“But the 3x3 grid is already full.” Xu Yu looked at the last square.
The little tailor made a wish to the soul, hoping that he could have true happiness.
"If he is still unhappy, the little tailor will make other efforts and will not give up easily."
Ji Shengsheng winked at Xu Yu.
She didn't know when it started, but she sensed that Xu Yu was unhappy. If he didn't want to talk about it, she wouldn't press him.
She hoped that Xu Yu could understand her feelings, even if it would make him a little happier.
"What other wishes does the little tailor have for tonight?"
"...I want to sleep on the right side."
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