Chapter 15 Reluctant to part, but perhaps, he was an accident.
"Aze, Dad's asking when you're coming home?"
Xing Ze said calmly, "What are you doing?"
"The old man misses you. He keeps talking about you when he's drinking lately, and it's driving me crazy."
Don't listen to that.
"..." The woman on the other end of the phone immediately retorted angrily, "Xing Ze! You have five days to come home! Otherwise, I'll give all the alcohol in your basement to Chen Jiadong, and then you'll be crying!"
"......"
"...What's going on?" the woman's voice turned surprised. "Can't you even persuade me? You don't have anything urgent to do there, why don't you come back?"
"I can't go back," Xing Ze said helplessly.
"Why can't you go back? Don't worry, the old man didn't ask you to come back for a marriage alliance. Our family hasn't reached that point yet."
"...Could you watch less TV dramas?"
"Talking to you is so boring. Okay, why can't I reply?"
Xing Ze knew she was the type to get to the bottom of things, so he said with a bit of a headache, "Someone lives in the house."
"I'll stay then..." The woman paused, then suddenly raised her voice, "Huh? Male or female?"
Xing Ze paused for a moment: "A woman."
A series of clanging and banging sounds immediately came from the other end of the phone.
Xing Ze took the phone away from his ear and frowned.
After a while, a rustling sound came, and the woman's voice, which she tried to keep calm, came: "Aze, Dad wants to talk to you."
"......"
Xing Ze said, "I'm hanging up."
A booming male voice suddenly rang out, filled with uncontrollable rage: "You brat—you dare hang up on me?!"
Xing Ze frowned immediately, his lips tightening.
"Where are you? I'm talking to you, where did your voice go?"
"Alright, alright, I'll talk to you. Go feed your birds, they're hungry, hurry up." The person on the other end of the phone quickly changed, and the woman spoke up, "Aze, when are you going to bring that girl home to meet us?"
"..." Xing Ze's tone was a little speechless as he called her name, "Xing En, can you really watch less TV dramas?"
"How dare you talk to me like that! Call me 'sister'!" Xing En roared. "Who is that girl? Tell me honestly!"
Xing Ze stood at the door, glanced at the silent kitchen, frowned, and answered quickly, "The volunteer teachers from outside have nowhere to stay, so they'll stay here for two months. Okay, I'm hanging up, I have to go."
Xing En called out to him repeatedly, "Wait a minute! ... The teacher is not bad either, the teacher is nice, how's your relationship going? How far has it progressed?"
"......"
"I'm just asking, at least I need to know if I need to keep giving the old man a heads-up." The person on the other end of the phone sighed deeply, "I've really gone to great lengths to prevent you from suddenly coming out."
"......"
Xing Ze, whose sexual orientation was being questioned, coldly replied, "Why do you have the leisure to call me at this hour? Has your company gone bankrupt?"
“Heh,” Xing En chuckled dismissively, “my dear brother, guess what day it is today? And I’m not paying a bunch of people to play house all day long.”
"......"
Their long-standing bickering dates back to their kindergarten days. Xing Ze didn't have time to argue with her now. Just as he was about to speak, a loud shout suddenly came from afar.
"—Brother Aze!"
He looked up absently and saw Stone waving as he ran towards him.
Xing En asked in confusion on the other end of the phone, "Why is there a child's voice?"
Stone quickly ran up to him, panting and supporting himself on his knees.
Xing Ze took a deep breath, suppressing his impatience, and asked calmly, "What's wrong?"
"Is Teacher Mu here?" Shi Tou caught his breath and peered into the house. "My mom wants to invite Teacher Mu to our house for dinner!"
Xing Ze frowned almost imperceptibly, about to speak, when he was interrupted by Xing En's loud voice on the other end of the phone: "Who is Teacher Mu? Is she that girl! Quick, let me talk to her—"
Stone also started calling into the house: "Teacher Mu! Teacher Mu, are you there—?"
Xing Ze: "......"
His head was throbbing terribly, and he was just about to cover Shi Tou's mouth when he heard Mu Tingyu's voice coming from inside the house.
"Which child came to see me?"
Stone jumped and skipped excitedly at the door: "Teacher Mu, I'm Stone! Come to my house for dinner tonight!"
After washing her hands, Mu Tingyu walked out the door, exchanged a glance with Xing Ze who was holding his phone, and then turned to Shi Tou with a smile: "Are you the one who wants to invite the teacher to dinner?"
"Mom called me here!" Shi Tou reached out his hand, seemingly wanting to take Mu Tingyu's hand, but then hesitated and withdrew it. "I... I wanted the teacher to come too!"
Seeing his little actions, Mu Tingyu smiled and squatted down, taking his dirty little hand in hers: "Where did you go to play?"
Shi Tou became excited, gripping Mu Tingyu's hand tightly, and pointed excitedly to the beach: "There are lots of little snails on that big rock over there!"
“That sounds really fun,” Mu Tingyu stood up, took his hand, and led him into the house. “Come on, let me take you to wash your hands.”
She felt a slight resistance in her hand. She turned around and saw Shi Tou clinging to the door frame, refusing to come in. He glanced at Xing Ze with a somewhat timid expression.
"Let's go, it's okay." Mu Tingyu patted his head. "Don't disturb him on the phone."
Xing Ze, who hadn't even said a word, remained silent.
The two quickly washed their hands and came out of the house. Mu Tingyu greeted Xing Ze, "I'm leaving."
"Wait a minute," Xing Ze moved his phone a little further away, frowning as he asked, "Are you going to his house for dinner?"
"Yeah, they invited me, why wouldn't I go?"
Xing Ze's throat tightened slightly: "...What about dumplings? Didn't you say you wanted to eat them tonight?" "It's not like we have to eat them tonight. I just tidied up a bit, I'll make them when I get back after dinner."
As she spoke, Mu Tingyu glanced at the phone in his hand and said in a light tone, "Leaving a girl standing there like that, be careful she doesn't get angry."
"No, she..."
“Alright,” Mu Tingyu smiled and her beautiful eyes curved at him, “I’m leaving.”
"......"
Xing Ze watched Mu Tingyu's departing figure, a rare hint of irritation appearing between his brows and eyes.
"Xing Ze," Xing En's voice came through the receiver, "you're definitely up to something..."
No one responded to her.
Xing En paused for a moment, then said, "If you don't want her to go, just say so."
Xing Ze remained silent, then slowly took a breath.
“You’re just like that old man, unwilling to say anything. How are people supposed to know what you’re thinking? You need to communicate, you know?” Xing En earnestly lectured him. “Besides, she clearly misunderstood just now. Remember to explain to her.”
"I know." Xing Ze pinched the bridge of his nose. "I was going to say that anyway."
"—Heh." Xing En sneered.
"You really are up to something!"
The sound of footsteps climbing the stairs came from over there, followed by her chilling voice: "Trying to hide it from your older sister? You just wait, you brat!"
Xing Ze: "......"
What are you waiting for?
Before he could ask, Xing En slammed the phone down.
The surroundings suddenly fell silent. He stared at the blacked-out phone screen and then looked up at the path.
Sunlight streamed down, illuminating the path, which was deserted except for the rustling of leaves in the wind.
The puppy that had just disappeared suddenly darted out from the corner, rushed to his feet, circled around him, and barked softly a few times.
Xing Ze stared at it coldly for a while, then bent down, picked it up, stared at its round eyes, and asked with a lowered brow, "What were you doing just now?"
The puppy was being held by the scruff of its neck, whimpering.
"—Don't call out." Xing Ze said with a sour face. "There won't be any snacks this afternoon. Wait for her to come back and feed you."
.
Mu Tingyu followed Shi Tou as they walked and strolled, listening to him chatter on about how he and his friends usually played in the water and climbed rocks.
As she listened, she began to feel a little itchy to join him, so she followed him to the beach.
The beach was covered with pebbles and coarse sand of various sizes, with waves crashing in.
Dried and broken seashells are scattered here and there. Turning over larger stones, you can find small crabs left behind after the tide recedes. The dark rock walls are rugged and rough to the touch, but upon closer inspection, you can find various kinds of conch shells of different sizes clinging to them.
Mu Tingyu glanced at her phone; it was still early. So, she and Shi Tou took off their shoes and socks and ran to the edge of the tide, waiting for the waves to crash in again.
The cool seawater washed over our feet, leaving dark marks on the beach.
She was wearing capri pants, so she wasn't worried about getting her cuffs wet. She took a few more steps forward.
Shi Tou reminded her from behind, "Teacher Mu, don't go in there."
"It's alright, Teacher Mu is very tall, she won't be swept away," Mu Tingyu said with a smile.
She felt the seawater gradually spreading up to her calves and closed her eyes contentedly for a moment.
She discovered that she truly loved the sea.
She has experienced everything, whether the seawater is clear and blue or slightly murky, whether the sand is fine or rough, and whether the beach is bustling or deserted.
She traveled to beaches big and small, and each time she loved to climb the tall rocks to feel the unique, slightly salty but free-spirited atmosphere of the sea breeze. She imagined herself as a seabird, lifted high by the wind, then spreading her wings and flying to any place she wanted, facing the bright morning sun.
—She's been thinking this way since she was seven.
With no shade on the beach and the sun shining down, Mu Tingyu squinted at the distant horizon, the only sound in her ears seemingly the crashing waves, and involuntarily took another step forward.
"Teacher Mu!" Shi Tou called out to her loudly, "Come back quickly!"
"......"
Mu Tingyu suddenly came to her senses and realized that the seawater had barely reached her thighs, and half of her trousers were submerged below the surface.
She turned around and saw the thin stone standing on the beach, looking at her anxiously.
"I'm here!" Mu Tingyu smiled and started walking back. "It seems like the tide is coming in a bit."
Stone solemnly admonished her: "Teacher Mu, you must not go into the sea, or you will be swept away!"
Mu Tingyu readily admitted her mistake: "I know, I'm sorry. You're amazing, you have such a strong sense of safety."
“My parents often tell me this, and I know it.” Shi Tou looked up at her. “They said that a long time ago, a child in the village was swept away by the current.”
"Ah..." Mu Tingyu opened her mouth, but her smile gradually faded.
They sat down on a larger rock, and she wrung out the water from her trouser legs, stretching out her legs to let the sun fully dry her wet trousers.
Mu Tingyu asked, "Where are your friends?"
Shi Tou propped himself up with his arms behind his back, swinging his two thin little legs: "Peng Peng's mother called him home, and Brother Ali took Xiao Shi, A Xia, and Jia Fei to play on the mountain behind."
Mu Tingyu turned around and looked at the mountain that Shi Tou had mentioned. It was not high and looked lush with vegetation.
She asked, "What's fun to do on the mountain?"
“There’s nothing fun about it.” Stone pouted. “But Ali loves going. He always likes to take them on adventures. Sometimes they can catch some insects they’ve never seen before in the mountains.”
Mu Tingyu nodded thoughtfully.
They sat on the rocks in the sun for a while. Mu Tingyu waited for her pants to dry a bit, while Shi Tou sat next to her, keeping her company. The two chatted casually.
Mu Tingyu was somewhat surprised.
When she first met Shi Tou, she thought he was a mischievous little boy. After spending time with him, she found that he was a somewhat shy boy. But now, he showed a composure and quietness that children his age do not possess.
She had seen a saying somewhere.
In fact, everyone is quite interesting when you look closely, but people are rarely seen by others.
The process of seeing is a process of continuous understanding and getting closer.
During her travels, she always encountered all sorts of people, but they were all just fleeting glimpses.
Because she was always leaving and going far away, she didn't have time to stop and carefully observe everyone.
But perhaps Xing Ze was an accident?
The moment the name came to mind, a smile curved her lips.
This person may seem fierce on the surface, but is actually very sensitive and caring. They always find a unique way to show consideration and concern for others.
Sometimes I'm too controlling of her, treating her like a child. Sometimes I get angry with her and yell at her, and when I'm really angry, I'll flick her forehead.
Apart from that, he is a very good person.
Before this, Mu Tingyu had never felt that leaving a place would make her feel so reluctant.
But when she suddenly realized that she would be leaving in a little over a month, she was unusually overcome with a mix of complex emotions.
It's strange that we've only known each other for a short time.
A note from the author:
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