Could you please give this to Xu Li for me?
One day, Zhou Junchang sat at the bar, looking lazily out of the store.
Bars are usually crowded at night; during the day, people prepare things for the night. And right now, with the heavy rain outside, there are hardly any people inside.
Zhou Junchang finished preparing things in the store and then had some free time. The store staff were mostly Zhou Ji's brothers, and since they had nothing to do, they sat together and chatted.
Zhou Jun often sat on a high chair, his back slightly hunched, one foot touching the ground, occasionally controlling the swivel chair to turn slightly left and right, somewhat erratically.
Several people were sitting around Zhou Junchang, talking, but Zhou Junchang didn't join in.
Then a person wearing a dark gray short-sleeved shirt came into view, looking around the store as if searching for someone.
Zhou Jun often looked at that person and felt that he was somewhat familiar.
Zhou Junchang narrowed his eyes, trying to recall where he had seen this person before.
When the person turned around, Zhou Junchang remembered that the person outside was the one who had almost gotten into a fight with Xu Li in the store a few days ago.
He glanced into the shop again, his gaze meeting Zhou Junchang's. The two stared at each other for a moment before Zhou Junchang looked away and turned to leave.
Zhou Jun often thought he was there to see Xu Li, but he realized he hadn't seen Xu Li for a few days and then immediately understood why he was thinking about her.
It rained heavily all day today, and even using an umbrella was useless, so the bar was not crowded at night, and Zhou Junchang left work earlier than usual.
On his usual way home, Zhou Jun saw the same person who had been outside the store earlier that day.
He was holding an umbrella, but because it wasn't raining, he didn't open it, though water was still dripping from it.
In that instant, Zhou Junchang suddenly became very curious about the purpose of the person in front of him, because it seemed that he was not there to see Xu Li.
The man walked up to Zhou Junchang and smiled amicably: "Young man, hello, my name is Duan Ruiming."
"Zhou Junchang".
Duan Ruiming nodded and said with a smile, "Um... you know Xu Li, right?"
Zhou Junchang did not answer this question.
Duan Ruiming, not hearing Zhou Junchang's reply, said somewhat awkwardly, "I remember you, that day at the store."
Zhou Junchang knew what Duan Ruiming was talking about, but he still didn't respond. Instead, he replied, "I was just stating the facts that day. Why do you assume that I know Xu Li?"
Duan Ruiming wiped the sweat from his forehead. He couldn't explain that he had actually come to Yangcheng several times since his last visit, secretly following Xu Li to and from get off work to learn about her daily life. So he naturally recognized Zhou Junchang and knew that the two of them knew each other.
Duan Ruiming said, "Actually, I'm a policeman, and I have pretty good observation skills. You two look like you know each other."
Although it was an excuse, Duan Ruiming still spoke with a hint of pride.
Duan Ruiming then said, "Can you do me a favor? Can you give this to Xu Li for me?"
As he spoke, Duan Ruiming pulled out something from his clothes that was in a transparent plastic bag. Because it was nighttime, Zhou Junchang couldn't see what it was.
Duan Ruiming's hands were trembling slightly, and Zhou Junchang then noticed that Duan Ruiming's pants were completely wet from the knees down.
The pants were jeans, so the color was very obvious when they got wet. I don't know how long Duan Ruiming had been waiting here.
Zhou Junchang was even more confused about their relationship, and what was in the transparent plastic bag?
If that thing was really that important, why didn't he give it to Xu Li himself? Since Duan Ruiming knew that Xu Li wouldn't want it, why did he still get soaked in the rain and then have him deliver it to Xu Li?
Why should I help you? Doesn't she dislike you?
Zhou Junchang was also very smart. He knew that although the two of them clearly knew each other, Duan Ruiming still went to find Zhou Junchang, which meant that the two of them must have some conflicts. In addition, he had witnessed the two of them arguing last time, which clearly showed that Xu Li did not want to talk to Duan Ruiming. So he naturally knew that it was Xu Li who disliked him.
Since Xu Li herself didn't want to contact him, Zhou Junchang also didn't like to meddle in other people's business.
At this point, Duan Ruiming hesitated to speak, as if something painful had been touched upon. He sighed softly, "I can't really say anything about this. It's just that Xu Li hasn't thought it through yet. She's a bit stubborn, and once she's made up her mind about something, she's unwilling to go back on her word."
Duan Ruiming snapped out of his daze and added, "Really, please do me this favor, and when you give it to her, don't say it's from me."
Zhou Jun looked at the things in his hands, and for the first time in his life, he began to feel conflicted.
To give or not to give? To help or not to help? To tell or not to tell?
——
**
The following afternoon, the area outside the shop was still bustling with traffic. Pedestrians were heading home exhausted from the day, children were walking along with their schoolbags, complaining about the amount of homework their teachers had assigned, and others were carrying the groceries they had just bought, pondering what to cook for dinner...
Zhou Junchang was still sitting at the bar.
Someone inside called out, "Someone come over here and bring a fruit platter."
Normally, Zhou Jun would do such a small thing himself if he heard about it, but this time Zhou Jun didn't move. He turned to A Feng, who came over to help, and said, "Go and deliver it."
Zhou Jun often looked up at the time. Usually at this time, Xu Li would most likely go downstairs to have dinner, but there were exceptions, if it was too busy upstairs.
The familiar sound of high heels came from behind, crisp and rhythmic.
As the sound grew closer and closer, until it was right in front of Zhou Junchang.
"Hello."
Xu Li turned around, frowning in confusion: "You called me? Is there something you need?"
Zhou Junchang is still struggling with this.
Xu Li stood still, waiting for Zhou Junchang to speak.
Seeing that Zhou Junchang hadn't spoken yet, Xu Li turned around and walked towards him.
Xu Li said, "What? You want me to drink?"
Zhou Jun often shook his head.
Xu Li was getting impatient: "Then what do you want to do? If you have something to say, just say it."
Zhou Junchang seemed to have finally given in and took out a small box from his pocket.
Zhou Junchang packed the things into a box. Only then did he see the contents clearly. One of them was a letter with a waxy yellow envelope and some rough edges from friction. The other was a voice recorder.
Zhou Junchang seemed afraid that Xu Li would refuse to accept it after just one glance, so he deliberately put it in an opaque container.
The box was like an exquisite jewelry box, wrapped in red velvet, and under the light, you could see a layer of shimmering light floating on it.
Xu Li looked at the packaging box, then at the unnatural expression on the other person's face, and burst out laughing.
Xu Li was incredulous: "What do you mean?"
"Your things."
Zhou Junchang had no idea what Xu Li was thinking.
Xu Li found it amusing: "You can't just give me something because I treated you to a meal and you feel bad about it. That meal was my way of apologizing."
Zhou Junchang then understood what Xu Li was talking about and felt that Xu Li's thought process was really unique.
Zhou Junchang was initially quite guilty for agreeing to Duan Ruiming's request, but now that Xu Li had said that, all his guilt had vanished. He tilted his head, ready to see what else Xu Li could say.
Xu Li thought Zhou Junchang had been exposed and was too embarrassed to admit it. She wanted to laugh, but seeing that Zhou Junchang's tone didn't seem to be joking, she held back for the time being.
The box was opaque, so Xu Li couldn't see what was inside. Following Zhou Junchang's words, she asked, "Then what is this?"
Xu Li looked at the things on the table, reached out to open them, but then heard Zhou Junchang's voice: "You can look at them after you leave."
Xu Li muttered to herself, "What kind of ridiculous request is this?"
...
Watching Xu Li's departing figure, her high heels clicking softly, Zhou Junchang was suddenly overwhelmed by a nameless emotion, which he found unbelievable.
Afterwards, Zhou Jun often thought back to what he had done: if he hadn't made an exception and agreed to Duan Ruiming's request, if he hadn't given the item to Xu Li, would things have turned out differently? Would things have not come to this point? Would there have been a future? Would they have been able to give them a little more time?
Perhaps Zhou Junchang was wrong from the very beginning. He was wrong to go out partying that night, which was unprecedented for him; he was wrong to leave his keys at the bar; he was wrong to go back to the bar alone to get them; he was wrong to see Xu Li drunk at that time; and he was wrong to reach out to her...
Everything was spiraling out of control. Zhou Junchang carefully thought about everything that had happened between them, from the moment they met until they parted ways. Zhou Junchang couldn't pinpoint exactly where it all started to change. By the time Zhou Junchang realized it, he was already at the center of the vortex.
In Zhou Junchang's view, during their interactions, he could often sense Xu Li's pure and straightforward nature, as well as her inner struggles and anguish. However, these feelings were always fleeting, and Zhou Junchang usually overlooked them.
But when Zhou Junchang recalls the moments he spent with Xu Li, these feelings always take over his heart first, making him unable to distinguish which one is the Xu Li he truly knows.
But in reality, each of them is Xu Li.
Simple yet complex.
Her inscrutable nature is what draws people in, making them want to explore her inner world little by little.
People often become unpredictable and develop negative emotions only after experiencing certain events.
This is what Xu Li experienced.
Human nature, revenge, the dark side.
These oppressive words gnawed at her bit by bit, reminding her countless times every night that as soon as Xu Li closed her eyes, those dark memories would play repeatedly in her mind, driving her into a corner.
Behind the silent, unwilling-to-face scab lies a soul torn apart and forcibly pieced back together.
Later, Xu Li said, "Zhou Junchang, you shouldn't have gotten involved."
Yes, it "shouldn't have been," but what exactly is "should"?
No one can answer that.
There's no turning back now, and regret is no cure.
If things have come to this point, then all we need to do is look forward.
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