Chapter 65 65 "I missed you so much."
Three days after the exhibition, Chen Zhan received a call from He Shiyi. Their relationship remained as good as ever, and despite being separated over the years, they kept in touch.
After graduation, He Shiyi transformed into a blogger on Tik Tok and gained a lot of fans because of her good looks.
Chen Zan returned to China to hold a personal art exhibition, and she only found out about it when she saw the exhibition video on a certain audio platform.
"Chen Zhan, you're so mean!" He Shiyi complained on the other end of the phone, "You didn't even tell me you were returning to China!!!"
Chen Zan was actually very busy during this period after returning to China. She was not only busy with the art exhibition, but also busy looking at houses.
She didn't know whether she would return to the United States in the future, but she made one thing clear: if she stayed in Jingbei, she would not go home and live with Lou Yan.
Over the years, she participated in various competitions in the United States and won a lot of prize money. She had ample funds, so it was easy for her to buy a house in northern Beijing.
When all these busy things have settled down, it is now.
Chen Zan didn't have time to tell He Shiyi.
"I'm sorry, Shiyi." Chen Zan apologized to her, "I didn't mean to hide it from you."
"In that case," He Shiyi said arrogantly on the phone, "I will only forgive you if you show your sincerity."
"What?"
The girl on the phone said, "Meet me."
The meeting place was agreed to be at Start. He Shiyi said that this was a new bar that opened recently.
The bar's clean and minimalist ambiance, with dim lighting creating a hazy, bluesy atmosphere, is captivating. Soothing music fills the air, creating a gentle, romantic atmosphere.
There was a bartender mixing drinks at the bar counter. He was wearing a black vest and a white shirt, and his arms were swinging up and down. He poured the thick liquor into a clean glass, inserted a straw, and garnished it with a small mint leaf. A waiter put the glass of drink on a tray and then left.
As soon as the waiter put the wine on the customer's table, He Shiyi called him.
He Shiyi also ordered two glasses of wine, but out of habit, she subconsciously ordered a low-alcohol drink for Chen Zan.
After the waiter left, she smiled at Chen Zhan and asked, "How is it? Isn't this place nice?"
"Yeah." Chen Zan nodded and turned to look around. She looked at every corner of the bar curiously, and finally found that this bar was different from any she had been to before.
This was their first meeting after so many years of separation. When good friends reunited, they should have a lot to talk about. He Shiyi told her about the development of Beijing City over the years, and also about how after she left, there were only three people left in their dormitory and it was deserted. She talked about how they graduated, Ji Miaomiao and Tao Yiran went to work in big cities like Guangzhou and Shanghai, and were extremely busy and stressed every day. She said that among the three of them, only she lived the happiest life, staying at home every day editing videos, or inviting a few sisters to come here for a drink.
At this point, He Shiyi encouraged her: "The drinks in this bar are really good, you must try them later!"
"Okay." Chen Zan looked at her with a smile, her eyes falling on He Shiyi's beautiful and bright face. At that moment, she seemed to see their lively selves in the past.
Just then, the bartender brought their drinks.
The two glasses of wine were very beautiful, one pink and one green, crystal clear in the light and shadow.
He Shiyi pushed the pink cup in front of Chen Zan and asked her to taste it.
Chen Zan picked it up and took a sip. The sweetness of peach mixed with the fragrance of alcohol and mint exploded on his taste buds.
Chen Zan gave He Shiyi feedback, "It tastes pretty good."
He Shiyi was very satisfied that the wine he recommended to her was recognized and said to her, "You can try other ones later!"
Chen Zan agreed happily.
The two hadn't seen each other for a long time, and He Shiyi seemed to have endless things to talk about, so the topic started with this bar.
He Shiyi must come here often and has a deep understanding of this bar. She introduced it to Chen Zhan in a long and eloquent manner. "This bar was actually recommended to me by my fans. They said the drinks here are particularly good and there are often handsome guys in the bar. I couldn't resist and came here."
Chen Zhan laughed at her, "Are you here to drink or to see the handsome guy?"
"Of course we come to the bar to drink..." He Shiyi didn't hold it in for three seconds and said, "...handsome guy...you can watch it too."
“…”
Knowing that this was the real He Shiyi, Chen Zan curled the corners of his lips, picked up the wine glass and took another small sip.
"But I've actually seen a top-notch one here." The topic quickly shifted from wine to the handsome guy. He Shiyi got a little excited and exclaimed to Chen Zan, "He's so top-notch."
That was probably last month. He Shiyi and her sister who is also a Douyin blogger came here to drink. The bar was quite lively that night. They were drinking in high spirits when they heard some noise coming from outside.
Then, He Shiyi saw a man walk in from outside. He was tall and straight, and his temperament was very impressive. He was wearing a white shirt and black trousers, with two buttons undone at the collar, making his hair look slightly messy.
He was hugging a woman, hooking her legs with one arm, and the other hand was loosely holding the woman's high heels, hooked with only two fingers. The high heels swayed carelessly with his steps.
The woman's face flushed red as she shyly nestled in his arms, her arms tightly around his neck. Hearing someone laughing, she raised her little face and looked at him.
Her fair cheeks were flushed red. When the man turned his head to look at her, the woman suddenly smiled brightly. The moment the light flashed, she quickly leaned over and kissed him on the face.
The noisy noises grew louder.
He Shiyi watched the man carrying someone up the stairs, with a doting smile on his lips.
Although he didn't see clearly what he looked like, He Shiyi was sure that this man was extremely handsome.
Later, I learned from gossip in the circle that the man was the owner of the bar, and the woman in his arms was his wife. The couple had a very good relationship, and if I were to describe it in four words, it would probably be "intimate".
"He really dotes on his wife. With so many people looking at them, he only has eyes for her. It's really enviable."
The word "envy" brought back memories that Chen Zhan shouldn't have recalled. The dark emotions in her eyes were obscured by the hazy light and shadows. She drank the last bit of wine in her glass, trying to stay awake.
Later, a few more glasses of wine were served, and the two sisters drank while chatting.
The lights were dim, and there was a small table in the middle of the bar. A man holding a guitar was humming softly in a low, hoarse voice.
Chen Zan's face was flushed red from the alcohol. She supported her head with her hands, and her beautiful eyes were empty and unfocused.
The light was too dim, and He Shiyi didn't notice that Chen Zhan was a little drunk. Her fingers gently stroked the rim of the cup. She cautiously called her, "Zhan Zhan..."
Chen Zan reacted a little slowly before turning to look at He Shiyi. In the dim light, her eyes were dull and light.
"Do you...still remember He Jingsui?"
The name that she had not dared to mention for many years was gently mentioned by He Shiyi at this moment, just like a corner of the scar on her heart was torn open.
My heart aches.
She did not answer He Shiyi's question. She picked up the wine beside her and drank it all. The heat rolled up her cheeks and gentle light and shadow swayed in her eyes.
He Jingsui...
How could she not remember?
But what's the use of remembering it? It's impossible for them now. It was impossible five years ago.
She passed out drunkenly on the table. In the dim light, He Shiyi saw tears in the corners of her eyes, sliding down her cheeks. Her bright red lips were wet with wine, and the bitter taste of the tear passing through her mouth made her frown slightly.
He Shiyi felt so sorry for her and regretted that he had just mentioned the person he shouldn't have mentioned. He raised his hand and gently pushed her, "Zhanzhan..."
She was really drunk.
Even drunk to the point of passing out.
He Shiyi couldn't move her. She glanced at the empty wine glasses on the table. They were all drunk by Chen Zhan alone. It was all her fault that she had been so engrossed in gossip that she hadn't paid any attention to how much she had drunk. Now that she realized it, He Shiyi was completely overwhelmed.
She had no choice but to call for help.
The phone beeped a few times before the person on the other end picked up the call. He Shiyi's anxious voice followed, "Brother, Zhanzhan is drunk..."
Twenty minutes later, He Jingsui rushed to the bar address that He Shiyi mentioned. It was already late at night, the busiest time of the bar. He walked around the dense crowd, ignored the strange woman who came up to chat with him, and strode towards He Shiyi.
He Shiyi also saw him from a distance and waved at him.
Don't blame He Shiyi for having good eyesight. If you want to blame someone, blame He Jingsui for still being conspicuous. Five years have passed, and the unruly boy has grown up. The youthful vigor in him has faded, and in its place is the maturity that only adults have.
With a tall figure, broad shoulders and a narrow waist, He Jingsui seems to attract more attention from others.
"Brother..." After he approached, He Shiyi called him, and his voice was full of grievance, as if he really didn't know what to do.
He Jingsui's eyes were always on the drunk woman lying on the table. He had seen her a few days ago, standing far away. That day, her eyes were full of confidence and beautiful smile, not at all the sad look she had now.
With emotions surging in his eyes, He Jingsui forced himself to look away from her face, and the empty wine glasses on the table happened to catch his eye.
"Did she drink all this?" He Jingsui suddenly spoke up.
He Shiyi said: "Hmm..."
"Didn't I tell you," He Jingsui said with some reluctance, "not to let her drink so much?"
That was a long time ago, so long ago that she rarely looked back on those memories.
He Jingsui had indeed said this to her before.
"I……"
He Shiyi felt guilty as if she had done something wrong. She carefully raised her eyes to see He Jingsui's reaction, but the light was too dim and she could only see his shadowy figure.
She didn't know that He Jingsui had already met Chen Zan, and thought this was their first meeting, so she said to him: "Brother, I really have no other choice but to call you..."
She didn't know what He Jingsui was thinking, so she could only say something nice: "I just mentioned your name in front of her. You know, Zhanzhan cried. Do you think she might be regretting breaking up with you..."
"That's all in the past." He Shiyi was interrupted by He Jingsui, who said, "Don't mention it again."
"oh."
He Jing then helped the drunk person up from the table. His broad palms steadied her shoulders and let her lean on his arms.
Ask He Shiyi to pay the bill.
After everyone left, He Jingsui withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyes to look at the woman leaning in his arms. She still looked the same as before, so thin that it made him feel distressed.
He gently stroked the back of her hair, just like he used to.
"Didn't I tell you not to drink when I'm not around?" His gentle eyes, looking at the top of her head, hid a trace of greed, entwining her little by little. "Chen Zan, why are you so disobedient?"
"How have you been these years..." His eyes were filled with longing, almost overflowing with longing, "I miss you so much."
The woman leaning in his arms frowned slightly. She seemed to smell the familiar scent in her memory. She slowly opened her eyes, and a hand appeared in her dull eyes.
After staring at it with a dazed gaze for a few seconds, she raised her hand to grab the hand, from the fingertips to the palm, stroking the lines on the palm bit by bit.
She still remembers.
Always remember.
In his arms, Chen Zan slowly raised her head and looked at him with her beautiful eyes. When his gaze fell on her, she slowly raised the corners of her lips and said to him drunkenly, "He Jingsui, this is your hand..."
“…”
He Jingsui smiled, laughing at how she had never given him any peace of mind over the years.
Just at this time, He Shiyi rushed back after finishing his order.
He Jing then freed one hand to grab Chen Zan's bag and hung it around his neck, then picked him up and carried him sideways, and walked out with He Shiyi.
It was too late, so He Jing asked He Shiyi to go back first, and he took Chen Zan to a nearby hotel.
After checking into a room, He Jingsui carried Chen Zan to the room and put her on the bed. He Jingsui went to the bathroom and got a basin of water to wipe her face and wash her feet.
I haven't done this for many years. Now that I'm picking it up again, I find that I'm not too unfamiliar with it.
After cleaning her, He Jing took the opened quilt and covered her with it.
Then leave.
When Chen Zhan woke up the next day, she felt a headache, her lips felt like dried rose petals, and her throat was dry and aching. When she recovered, she took in everything. The unfamiliar room made her sit up in bed with a jerk. Her clothes were intact and untouched. She pulled the quilt against her chest and looked around in panic.
This turned out to be a hotel.
But who sent her here?
Chen Zan recalled yesterday, and those disjointed images could not be connected in her mind. She only remembered that she had an appointment with He Shiyi to drink in a newly opened bar in Jingbei City. He Shiyi gossiped with her about the bar owner and the bar owner's wife. Later, she got drunk. After getting drunk, she even had a dream. She dreamed of He Jingsui and the familiar smell in his arms.
After waking up, everything was still empty. There were many such situations in the United States. She had experienced it day and night and had become accustomed to the feeling of loss after failure.
When she got out of bed, she suddenly saw the medicine box on the bedside. Chen Zan reached out and took it, and read the name on the box clearly.
It can help to sober up.
Chen Zan thought that He Shiyi must have bought it for her when he sent her to the hotel last night, but she didn't touch it directly. Instead, she took a picture with her mobile phone and sent it to her.
Chen Zhan: Shi Yi, did you buy this?
The message fell on deaf ears. He Shiyi didn't reply in time, and Chen Zan didn't wait any longer. He got up, put the box of medicine into his bag, and then went into the bathroom to wash up.
He Shiyi only replied to her message after she returned home.
[He Shiyi: That wasn't bought by me, it must have been bought by my brother.]
Chen Zan's gaze paused on the line of words.
"Buzz buzz." This was followed by He Shiyi's second message.
[He Shiyi: You were drunk last night, so my brother took you to the hotel.]
It was as if the heartstrings that had been tense for a long time suddenly broke at this moment, and the lively heartbeat sound reappeared in her ears.
She was a little breathless.
Chen Zan leaned against the wall, her legs weak, and suddenly realized that everything that happened yesterday was not a dream. She leaned into He Jingsui's arms, grasped his palm, and smelled the familiar scent she had missed for five years.
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The author has something to say: I’d like to share with you a piece of writing written by a good friend of mine!
The star bar and the bar owner mentioned in the article are hers!
If you are interested in "In the Heavy Rain" by Cen Qi, you can go and watch it!!!
Hahahahaha this is my first time trying to collaborate with a friend’s book, and it feels pretty good!!!
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