Chapter 55
Xia Lanzheng felt that he was not familiar with Chu Linchuan.
Because in front of Chu Linchuan, he always stammered and couldn't speak, and he always hung up the phone with a red face.
It's like social anxiety.
For the next two days, he didn't answer Chu Linchuan's calls. His soul was floating outside his body. Zhong Hai said he was possessed by an evil spirit and wanted to take him to the fortune-telling shop next door for treatment.
Xia Lanzheng waved her hand twice, telling him to go play somewhere else. He knew what was going on; that unclear, yet clear, relationship was causing him distress.
It's that simple but not that easy.
Xiao Zhang's tricycle broke down, so he rode an electric donkey today. There was nothing in front of the electric donkey, just a sturdy small box.
He drove to the front of the coffee shop and shouted at the top of his voice: "Xiao Xia! Come out and see if this is your package!"
“Here I come!”
Xia Lanzheng washed her face at the bar, then ran to the door and asked, "Why aren't you riding your tricycle?"
"I drank too much yesterday and fell into the river," Xiao Zhang said, holding a toothpick in his mouth and pulling out a cardboard box. "Xlz, is that you?"
Xia Lanzheng blinked and saw the recipient on the express delivery note with her initials written on it.
"Yes, where did it come from?"
"It was an expedited shipment, and it was only delivered to our centralized pickup point in Guzhen. There was no specific address," Xiao Zhang pointed at the letters xlz. "I asked around, but no one knew who this person was. I was thinking it might be a scam, and I was about to return it the same way."
He spoke like a storyteller. Xia Lanzheng nodded and asked, "And then?"
"Hey, guess what? I got a call this morning," Xiao Zhang said, sizing up Xia Lanzheng. "The caller said they were looking for a handsome guy with long, naturally curly hair and round eyes."
This is so directive, it's definitely Xia Lanzheng herself.
"I said I knew this person," Xiao Zhang continued, "but before I could finish, the other end said, 'Please, I'll give you more money.'"
Xiao Zhang laughed himself to death and stuffed the package into Xia Lanzheng's arms.
"Are you dating? Did you have a fight?"
"No," Xia Lanzheng shook her head. While she was talking, she hadn't figured out who the other person was, but she had a few guesses. "Okay, I received the package. Remember to ask him for the money."
Xiao Zhang held up his electric scooter and said, "Let's take it apart and have a look. The boss told me to check the contents carefully because they are fragile."
Xia Lanzheng took the courier knife, cut a hole in the package, and saw a corner of the things inside. She immediately knew who sent it.
It was the game console he often played, so who else could it be but Cheng Lan?
Xia Lanzheng sent Xiao Zhang off with a calm expression, then gritted her teeth, clutching her game console. How did Cheng Lan know where he was? To hide his location, he'd filmed a lot of footage, but hadn't posted it yet.
The wind blew the surface of the water. Xia Lanzheng turned her head and saw that the ancient buildings on the other side of the river looked like an ancient ink painting.
He looked up suddenly and saw the window facing the river.
During the live broadcast last night, the scenery leaked out of the window. The architecture here is very distinctive, and it's not difficult to find the location.
Xia Lanzheng walked quickly back to the coffee shop, where Jiang Yuan was tutoring Jiang Nian.
He greeted, "Sister Jiang, if anyone strange comes looking for me recently, just say there's no such person as me. Thank you."
Jiang Yuan raised her head suddenly: "Don't you owe any debts?"
"I didn't, it's not the same thing!" Xia Lanzheng saw Jiang Nian's bright eyes and rarely looked serious. "Nian Nian is the same, just say you don't know me, okay?"
Jiang Nian nodded and shook his head: "Then you have to bribe me."
After being hit on the head by Jiang Yuan, he said: "What are you talking about, kid!"
Xia Lanzheng's mood was no longer so anxious, and she laughed out loud: "Okay, I'll bring you some starch sausage tonight."
"Two." Jiang Nian said.
"One," Xia Lanzheng said, "I'll have one too."
"Then buy the eight-dollar ones, three in total, I'll have two and you'll have one."
Jiang Yuan tapped him again: "Aren't you good at math? How come you can't do any of your homework?"
Jiang Nian pulled his clothes up to cover his head, with the collar covering his nose, revealing a pair of cunning eyes.
Xia Lanzheng winked at her and said, "Deal."
*
Jiang Yuan had told her there was a market in the ancient town today, so Xia Lanzheng had already planned it two days in advance. She'd walk around, grab some snacks, and buy some souvenirs. It would be even better if the sun was out.
My original anticipation was diluted by what happened in the morning. Although I know that the plot of the original book has ended, I can't help but feel tired.
Dealing with complex interpersonal relationships is too difficult and he is not good at it.
As we reached the middle of the town, there were more people around and the surroundings became more lively.
A group of tourists dressed in local costumes gathered by the bridge, gongs and drums blaring. Xia Lanzheng cautiously stepped around the edge and peered through the crowd, but couldn't see anything, so she gave up.
Walking towards a quieter place, tourists passed by him in groups of three or four.
Xia Lanzheng stood in the sun for a while. Somehow, he felt the sunlight brushing against his body and flowing away, making his blood stagnate with cold.
The scene is quite similar to a recent seaside vacation.
He kind of wanted to go home.
At this moment, her phone rang, drawing Xia Lanzheng back into the bustling crowd. She seemed to have discovered the cause of her depression. Simply avoiding it would only make the situation worse.
He answered the phone with a frown.
"I received the item, no need to send it again."
No one spoke on the other end. Xia Lanzheng called out "Hello" and raised her cell phone to search for a signal under the sun.
The moment he looked up, he caught a glimpse of the note and quickly put it back to his ear.
"elder brother?"
Chu Linchuan spoke slowly: "Who do you think I am?"
"Cheng Lan," Xia Lanzheng coughed lightly, holding her chin, "He sent me something."
There was silence on the other end again. Someone called out "Xiao Chu" from a distance, and then Bao Bao's voice was heard.
Xia Lanzheng changed the subject: "Are you walking the sheep?"
"Well," Chu Linchuan said, "You don't want to keep your son anymore?"
Xia Lanzheng rubbed her arms and said, "Yes, you can help me take care of it first."
"Do you think I'm in kindergarten?" Chu Linchuan laughed. "Why don't you send Cheng Lan to that after-school care?"
"Don't be like this..." Xia Lanzheng said, "You heard everything just now. I told him not to send anything over."
"Okay, that's not it," Chu Linchuan said, "You told him the address? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't!" Xia Lanzheng was no longer cold, but felt a little hot from anxiety. "I was discovered."
Bao Bao called out, but Chu Linchuan didn't respond. He waited for a few seconds and said, "Bao Bao just said she missed you."
Xia Lanzheng let out a soft "Pooh" sound, and Chu Linchuan probably put the microphone close to the sheep's mouthpiece, making a loud "Mee" sound.
Chu Linchuan said, "It just asked, 'Did Zheng Zheng have breakfast?'"
"Not yet," Xia Lanzheng said, "Have you eaten your buns?"
"I've eaten," Bao Bao called out, and Chu Linchuan translated, "How's the weather today?"
"It's a little cool, but the sun is shining."
The two exchanged absurd and childish conversation for a full ten minutes. Xia Lanzheng unzipped her jacket, and the heat spread from her face to her neck.
"Chu Linchuan," Xia Lanzheng was the first to give in. She sat down on the side of the road and asked lazily, "Why haven't you gone to work yet?"
"What do you think?"
"I can't guess."
Chu Linchuan called out "Bao Bao," and after the sheep's hooves rustled on the lawn, he picked up his phone again. "Then let me guess, was the man last night your friend?"
Xia Lanzheng choked and swallowed: "He is a college student."
"Well," Chu Linchuan thought for a moment, "Song Xinghuai is also a college student."
Xia Lanzheng stood up suddenly, startling several passers-by. They looked at him, and he quickly sat back down.
He tilted his head and whispered, "Chu Linchuan, you hold a grudge."
Chu Linchuan quietly waited for Xia Lanzheng to criticize him, saying things like holding grudges, being petty, and mean... He didn't get angry but laughed instead: "Zhengzheng, do you have a secret with him too?"
Xia Lanzheng's forehead got hot when she heard this and she hung up the phone without mercy.
Is Chu Linchuan crazy or is he crazy!
He stared at the black screen of his phone, his hands shaking uncontrollably. His face was reflected on the screen, and even though it was pitch black, it was easy to see his flushed face.
It's over. It's over. It's over.
Xia Lanzheng put his phone away and stared at the river, wishing he could jump in and swim a few laps. He could now swim from one end of the ancient town to the other without even taking a breath.
He had been lied to several times, but each time he realized it too late and was filled with deep doubt, so slow that he didn't seem like a man who had lived two lives.
Xia Lanzheng was still skeptical of Chu Linchuan's confession, but after realizing it, he realized something different. He was thinking, is this really possible?
What would my parents and Chu Linyu think?
It's over, it's really over this time.
Xia Lanzheng wandered through the alleys like a ghost. After dinner, she found a bar, listened to a couple of songs, and drank a glass of wine (I don't know what it was called, but it was recommended by the owner).
It wasn't until it got dark, lights came on around, and another wave of tourists arrived that he unmuted his phone.
It was time for him to go home, so he went out and came across a small stall and bought some starch sausage for ten yuan.
He ate two and Jiang Nian also ate two.
Holding the bag in hand, she walked towards the guesthouse. The closer she got, the fewer tourists there were. The air suddenly grew quieter. Xia Lanzheng pulled on her coat, feeling a surge of irritation rising in her heart once again.
Emotions go up and down again and again, more exciting than a roller coaster.
Xia Lanzheng walked through a side alley. The stone slabs were intermittent, and he stepped on the squares as he walked forward. Shadows were trampled under his feet, accompanying him all the way.
As he walked, his shadow split into two, swaying and overlapping with his.
The bar owner clearly said that this wine is not strong and is suitable for guests who don't drink.
Why am I still dizzy?
Xia Lanzheng stopped to verify, and his own shadow stopped as well, while another one paused for a second and approached from behind him.
...being followed?
The bar owner proved right. Xia Lanzheng's mind was sharp and her reactions were quick. He clutched the sausage bag tightly in his hand and walked quickly, his long hair fluttering behind him, his shadow also drifting.
When you reach the middle of the alley, you can see the sign of the B&B to the left. The big red lanterns hanging high under the eaves are like a reassurance to Xia Lanzheng.
He turned to the left, and his wrist was grabbed.
He almost dropped the plastic bag, his hand trembling, frowning as he looked to his side, then clenched his other hand into a fist and slammed it to the side.
"Xia Lanzheng."
The man called out his name accurately, dodged a punch by turning his head, and waved his hand in front of him.
"How did you become an alcoholic?"
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