Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Gray rain, gray heart...
Not long after, Shen Yanfeng came back with breakfast.
He sat in the back seat, placed breakfast in front of Guan Mi, picked up his footstool and put his coat on it, then opened a bottle of water for her.
Guan Mi didn't move, still wrapped in a blanket.
"Eat something," he said, emotionless in his voice, "or you won't have the energy to cry soon."
She felt upset at what he said, so she picked up the bowl of noodles on the table and started eating without any manners.
In the quiet carriage, the only sound was the deliberate slurping of noodles she made.
However, the man next to her did not show any expression of impatience or disgust as she expected.
He just looked at her sideways with a smile in his eyes, then lowered his head and looked at his phone as if nothing had happened.
Guan Mi had no appetite and ate a few bites before putting it down. She opened a bottle of unopened water and drank it. When she looked up, she suddenly saw a familiar figure walking past the car.
Her heart sank, and the action of drinking water froze instantly. Her eyes involuntarily followed the figure, watching him cross the road and finally disappear into the gate of the hospital opposite.
Shen Yanfeng stared at her silently. Even though he was no longer visible, she was still looking at him.
It never ends.
He lowered his voice: "Have you seen enough?"
Guan Mi came to his senses and said, "I want to get off the bus."
"Now?" Chen Yanfeng said calmly, "He won't be able to come down for a while. Although the old man of the Wen family has woken up, his body is paralyzed from the stroke, and his condition is not easy."
Guan Mi suddenly opened his eyes wide.
Previously, the doctor had only highly suspected that Mr. Wen had a stroke, but he didn't expect it to be so serious.
"You can go up if you want." Shen Yanfeng raised his wrist and looked at his watch. "One hour? Or two? Confirm the time, otherwise I will go up to find you myself."
"One day." She said simply, since she couldn't go back to work today anyway.
"not good."
Guan Mi lowered his eyes, pursed his lips and said nothing.
Chen Yanfeng looked at her for a while, then stuffed the phone into her hand and said, "Here."
"Aren't you afraid I'll throw it away?"
"I need this one phone?" He chuckled and unlocked the car door. "Come down as soon as possible."
Then he added lightly, "Or, I can use the time you go to see him to visit your father at school."
Guan Mi couldn't help but curse him in his heart, then pushed open the car door and got out without hesitation.
She hurried to the inpatient department, thinking about calling Wen Lixian as she walked, but what she took out of her pocket was Shen Yanfeng's phone, which she quickly put back.
She still remembered the ward number, but suddenly stopped when she reached the door.
How can you come to visit a patient empty-handed?
After a while, Guan Mi quickly went downstairs again.
Fortunately, there was a fruit shop opposite the hospital. She turned back to the car and knocked on the window gently.
The car window slowly lowered.
"Just solve it..."
"Can you lend me some money? I want to buy a fruit basket."
The two people spoke almost at the same time.
It was Shen Yanfeng who fell silent first and whose expression turned sour first. But he didn't say anything. He just took out his wallet from his coat and gave it to her, "Buy something nice."
Guan Mi was a little surprised that he would say this.
"Thanks."
Carrying a fruit basket, Guan Mi arrived at the ward and found that the door was ajar. She did not knock on the door immediately, but subconsciously looked inside through the crack.
There were several people standing in the ward, and she saw Wen Li at a glance.
He stood in front of the bed, his back slightly bent, and his hands gripping the bed rails looked very strong.
Then she heard a hoarse and vague voice coming from the hospital bed.
"If you want to piss me off to death... then go marry Miss Guan! Move out of the Wen family's household registration and start your own household... From now on, we'll pretend you don't exist in our family!"
"Grandpa, why are you still pushing me like this?" Wen Li's voice was filled with suppressed pain. "You have no idea how much she means to me. Ever since high school, my parents have only focused on work, and you... have only focused on my grades. Every time I didn't get first place on a test, you made me kneel in the living room to do the test. You only cared about the scores. Back then, I was almost suffocated by the pressure and even thought about jumping off the balcony..."
His voice choked for a moment, and he continued, "Later, when I went to university, it was Guan Mi who told me that life didn't have to be so burdensome. It was her company that allowed me to step out of the shadow of being a bad child if I didn't get first place. It was she who made me feel for the first time that I could breathe and live for myself... But after graduation, I still obeyed you and returned to Jiangcheng. I was thinking, since my work has fulfilled your wishes, then I should make my own decisions about marriage..."
"Wen Li, your grandfather is already in great pain, can you please stop talking?"
"Mom, I only want Guan Mi, I only want Guan Mi..."
Guan Mi was crying at the door. When she heard her mother anxiously calling for a doctor from inside, she hurriedly put down the fruit basket at the side of the door and quickly walked towards the stairwell next to it.
Going in at this time would only cause more trouble.
She hid behind the fire door, listening to several chaotic footsteps running back and forth in the corridor, as well as the doctors and nurses' hurried instructions, and finally everything slowly returned to calm.
She wiped her eyes, sat on the steps, buried her face in her knees, and couldn't help but let her tears fall, drop by drop, and soon a large dark stain appeared on the cement floor at her feet.
After an unknown amount of time, a piece of clothing with a familiar scent was covered over her head, blocking out the cold light.
Shen Yanfeng didn't ask anything, just stood beside Guan Mi.
The only sounds in the air were her suppressed sobs and his steady breathing.
He didn't urge her, nor did he comfort her. He just stayed with her silently in the dim stairwell for a long time.
Until her crying gradually stopped, he whispered: "Let's go, Mr. Wen was fine just now."
Back in the car, Guan Mi was still in a very low mood. He sat there motionless, like a lifeless sculpture, without saying a word.
Her memories flashed through her mind like a kaleidoscope, and every scene she had shared with Wen Li appeared clearly before her eyes.
It seems like it was just yesterday when he said in the sun, "Guan Mi, can I date you?"
If she could do it all over again, she would date him wholeheartedly and without reservation. She wouldn't ignore him because of a part-time job, she wouldn't end the date early because she had to prepare for an exam, and she wouldn't let work squeeze out the time she had with him.
After a long time, she opened her mouth, her voice hoarse, as if she was talking to herself: "Can you help Grandpa Wen Li find a medical team so that he can recover as soon as possible?"
Chen Yanfeng glanced at her sideways, "Why? His family isn't very kind to you, do you really have to do this?"
Guan Mi lowered his eyes. "If anything happens to his grandfather, other relatives might blame him."
Shen Yanfeng was silent for a moment. "I will contact the top neurology and rehabilitation experts in the country and have the medical team come in early tomorrow morning to do a comprehensive assessment."
"Don't arouse the suspicion of the Wen family."
"Are you afraid that Wen Li will find out?"
Guan Mi pursed his lips and said nothing.
A emotionless laugh escaped from Chen Yanfeng's throat, "You still care about his self-esteem."
"I want to go home." Guan Mi said, "I will find time to meet with Wen Li alone."
"Can it be solved?"
She didn't answer immediately. After a long while, her voice was as soft as a mosquito's: "Yes."
After going to the school to find Qiao Qiuying to get the house key, Guan Mi planned to walk back by herself. She didn't let Chen Yanfeng go with her because his car and he were too conspicuous. She was afraid that if the neighbors saw them, it would cause gossip.
Chen Yanfeng didn't want her to leave, so he reached out and pulled her away. After she struggled away, he didn't get angry. He just casually touched his trouser pocket and said, "If you don't want to take your phone, then tell me your landline number."
Guan Mi didn't look at him, but just turned his face slightly, and there was no emotion in his voice: "I will abide by the agreement, don't worry."
She paused, then continued before turning around, "Today is considered a business trip. I need to return to Beijing tonight and go to work on time tomorrow."
Shen Yanfeng raised the corners of his lips slightly: "No problem."
The meeting with Wen Li was scheduled at a dessert shop that the two of them used to go to often.
The sky was gray in the evening and a heavy rain was brewing.
Guan Mi arrived first. She ordered two drinks and sat by the window. Soon she saw Wen Li park the car and then run towards her from across the road.
When he came in, she looked at him like an indifferent passerby, her face expressionless as she watched him approach.
Perhaps because of the tacit understanding they had gained over the years, Wen Li's heart suddenly skipped a beat when he met those cold eyes, and he felt that this might not be a pleasant meeting.
All the joy because of her sudden return was washed away in an instant.
He sat down opposite, his smile a little forced: "Why didn't you tell me in advance that you were coming back?"
"I heard about your grandfather," Guan Mi asked softly, "Is he okay now?"
Wen Li's voice was gentle: "It's much more stable. Although half of his lower body is paralyzed, his spirits are still good and he can eat and drink."
Guan Mi put on some makeup specially in the afternoon, and there was no sign of crying on her face. The person opposite her came in a hurry, and he couldn't hide his red and swollen eyes even with his smile.
She slowly tightened her hands on her knees, forcing her voice to be steady, each word coming out with difficulty from the deepest part of her heart: "Wen Li, let's... stop here."
The smile on Wen Li's face froze instantly.
He seemed to have not heard clearly, nor did he seem to understand. He stared at Guan Mi blankly. After nearly half a minute, he pulled the corner of his mouth and said, "Mi Mi, what are you talking about? Don't make such a joke."
His voice trembled a little, and he tried to find a trace of joking on Guan Mi's face, but he only saw cold determination.
There was no emotion in those eyes that he was so familiar with, only a sense of alienation that made him feel uneasy.
"I'm serious." Guan Mi's tone was very light, but it was like a blunt knife cutting into Wen Li's heart, "Let's break up."
The light in Wen Li's eyes dimmed little by little, and he couldn't speak for a long time. The two of them just looked at each other in silence for a long time.
In the end, it was he who broke the silence.
"Did I do something wrong? Or is it because my family affairs have exhausted you?" He pleaded, "We can talk it over, Mimi, don't be like this... If you want to stay in Beijing, then stay. I won't force you to come back. Once things at home are resolved, I'll go to Beijing and start over..."
Guan Mi interrupted him: "I went to the hospital this morning."
Wen Li suddenly realized something and curled his lips bitterly: "You brought the fruit basket at the door."
Guan Mi nodded, "I heard all your conversations."
She continued, "If one day you really break up with your family for me, I might suffer for the rest of my life. I don't want you to do that. You already have a bright future, and you shouldn't be dragged down by me."
At this point, tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably. She quickly lowered her head and blinked, "Four years is a long time. We have had the best time with each other, and that's enough."
She held back her sobs and finished her last words, "We're done here. It's good for both of us."
Wen Li's chest heaved violently, "I don't agree! No matter what you say, I won't agree to break up!"
Guan Mi couldn't sit down any longer, she was afraid that she would not be able to control herself and throw herself into Wen Li's arms.
She stood up and pretended to be indifferent: "I'm tired! Wen Li, I'm tired of talking about love here. If I continue, I will be overwhelmed. Can we part ways amicably?"
After saying that, she walked out quickly.
As soon as he reached the side of the road, Wen Li grabbed his hand. His eyes were red and his whole body exuded a heartbreaking grief.
"Guan Mi," he practically called out her name through gritted teeth, "Why do you want to end our four-year relationship with just one simple word: part ways amicably? Tell me how to 'part ways amicably'? Can you see my pain? Do you know how miserable I would be without you?"
Guan Mi didn't dare to look him in the eye and speak, "Don't blackmail me morally."
Wen Li stared at her intently, his voice hoarse: "Do you dare to look me in the eyes and say that you really want to break up?"
Guan Mi bit her lips tightly, slowly raised her eyes, looked into those pleading eyes, her lips trembled, "Yes, I want to break up with you."
As soon as he finished speaking, the grip on her wrist suddenly loosened. She watched him quietly shed tears, and watched him turn away, leaving her with an extremely lonely figure.
The rain that had been held back for a whole day finally fell at this time, and the drizzle quickly turned into a dense rain curtain.
The cold rain seemed to suddenly wake Guan Mi up. She subconsciously raised her foot to rush towards the departing figure, but her hand was once again firmly grabbed from behind with terrifying force.
Chen Yan raised the black umbrella over Guan Mi's head, exposing half of his body to the rain. He watched indifferently as Wen Li's figure was gradually swallowed up by the rain.
Rain and tears mixed on her face. Guan Mi pulled her hand away with all her strength, and took one last look at the street corner where Wen Li had disappeared. She bit her lip, took a deep breath, and resolutely turned around, walking in the opposite direction of Wen Li without looking back.
"Why are you leaving?" Shen Yanfeng easily caught up with her in two steps. The umbrella completely blocked her view, completely ignoring the rain on himself.
The corners of his lips curved up gently, but the words he said were cruel: "I guess he will be back to bring you an umbrella soon. Don't you want him to see with his own eyes who you are with now? Maybe this way, he will give up more completely."
Guan Mi felt as if his chest was being blocked by a thousand-pound rock and he was almost suffocating.
She really wanted to yell, "Chen Yanfeng, are you satisfied with this result?" But she couldn't. She needed him for something and owed him a favor. All of this was enough to prevent her from cursing at him.
But he was such an eyesore.
She suddenly stopped and closed her eyes. "I've broken up with him. I've kept the agreement between us. So can you please shut up or just disappear from my sight?"
"cannot."
Shen Yanfeng took a step forward, entered under the umbrella, and occupied a safe distance from her.
He raised his hand and gently lifted the rain-soaked hair from her forehead.
As he leaned closer, a low, smiling voice fell into her ear: "How do I know if you two are just teaming up to put on a show for me? What if I leave and you guys get back together right after? Wouldn't I have been deceived by you for nothing?"
After looking at him, Guan Mi staggered forward, then suddenly stopped. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and she laughed softly, but as she laughed, tears couldn't stop falling.
"That's ridiculous... I'd have to be crazy to do something like this with someone I love."
Her smile was filled with self-mockery and despair, with the corners of her mouth raised and her eyes filled with broken tears.
Shen Yanfeng tightened his jaw and stared coldly at her miserable appearance in the rain.
He originally planned to ignore it, as everyone has the right to be sad.
But when people on the street cast inquiring or even curious glances at her, his eyes darkened, his Adam's apple rolled slightly, and he swallowed down all the surging emotions.
He took a step forward, took off his coat, and wrapped it around her trembling shoulders without hesitation. Then he brought her closer to him, shielding her tightly with the umbrella, isolating her from all outsiders' sight.
After doing all this, he did not take any other action and just watched over her in silence.
Shen Yanfeng's car slowly drove past the dessert shop.
The car window was half open, and the temperature inside the car was gradually rising, mixed with the damp smell of rain.
Guan Mi looked out the window with empty eyes and a dull expression.
Suddenly, a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes again.
Just because I saw him at the place where I had just parted with Wen Li.
He just stood there, holding an umbrella in his hand, but letting it hang at his side. The heavy rain fell on him, soaking him completely, but he seemed to be unaware of it and just stood there stubbornly.
She couldn't help but turn her head and keep looking until the car window was completely closed and the car roared away, and she was getting farther and farther away from Wen Li.
When Guan Tang came out of school and was crossing the road holding an umbrella, he accidentally made eye contact with someone in a black car parked on the side of the road at a restaurant.
It happened that the street light at that location was broken, so she couldn't see the other person's appearance clearly, but the gaze was too strong, making her clearly feel that the other person was looking at her.
She felt a little frightened, since it was late at night, so she lowered her head, quickened her pace, and walked quickly past the car.
As soon as she entered the restaurant, she couldn't wait to tell Guan Mi what had just happened.
Guan Mi glanced outside with an indifferent expression.
Guan Tang forgot to put his umbrella in the bucket by the door, so he went back and put it away.
When we sat down again, the waiter brought us some light and delicious dishes.
She originally had no appetite because of some things, but after seeing her sister, she felt much better and her appetite returned.
"Sister, why did you come back so suddenly? It's Monday, don't you have to go to work?"
Guan Mi said he asked for leave to come back and get something.
"Oh, then when will you be back?"
"I'll leave after dinner with you."
Guan Tang was stunned for a moment. "In such a hurry? Is there a car to go back? If we take the train, we will probably get there in the middle of the night."
"Yes, don't worry." Guan Mi gave her some fish meat that had been deboned. "Are you adapting to college life?"
Guan Tang's eyelashes trembled slightly. "I've adapted quite well. I like it very much. I have a lot of free time."
"How are you getting along with your roommates?"
Guan Tang smiled and said, "She's still the same, not paying much attention to me. But she's very busy. Besides teaching, she also works part-time."
"Is it enough to live on?"
"Enough." Guan Tang said, "I'll make wool felt in my spare time. If I complete two more orders, it will be enough for my living expenses next month. I don't think I'll need you to pay me in the future. This customer is an old one, so I gave her a good discount. When we get new customers..."
Guan Tang had a strong desire to share, and she chattered non-stop, talking about which cafeteria window had the best food, and then she talked about how some time ago there were two swallows that loved to fly into their dormitory.
"Most of the time they perch on the fan, their little heads tilting this way and that. They're so adorable." Her tone suddenly dropped as she poked the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks. "But I haven't seen them lately. My roommate said swallows are migratory birds and when the weather gets cold they fly south for the winter."
She sighed softly, her voice filled with obvious reluctance: "The dormitory has suddenly become much quieter, especially when my roommate is not here. I feel empty inside."
Guan Mi gently held her hand and said, "It's okay. They will come back tomorrow when it's warm in spring."
She said with a sense of loss: "Waiting itself is a kind of hope. Knowing that there are good things waiting for you in the future makes the present days more meaningful."
These words were both to comfort his sister and to convince himself.
But she suddenly felt lost, not knowing where her "hope" lay. The days ahead seemed to be nothing but work day after day.
She could no longer expect Wen Li to appear as a surprise at the weekend... Thinking of this, her heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by something.
The meal took nearly two hours.
After sending Guan Tang back to school, Guan Mi went to check on her dormitory.
Seeing that her roommate had already gone to bed, she did not stay any longer.
When she went downstairs, she didn't let Guan Tang see her off. She closed the door gently and walked towards the stairs alone.
As I passed the dormitory next door, I could faintly hear a low-pitched argument from inside. The intermittent words drifted into my ears, "her sister," "let her go," "how annoying"...
She subconsciously glanced towards the crack in the half-open door and happened to meet someone's gaze. It was a dark-skinned girl, frowning and looking out the door. Her eyes were tired and bored, as if she was holding back anger.
Guan Mi withdrew his gaze, without thinking much, and quickened his pace to leave.
Returning to the car in front of the restaurant, Guan Mi reached out to open the back door.
Not opened.
There was clearly someone inside, and he himself clearly said that he would immediately leave for Beijing after sending Guan Tang off.
She stood there motionless, feeling a surge of powerlessness in her heart, and simply turned around and walked forward.
At worst, she could just take a taxi back. She was tired and empty now anyway, so maybe a little revenge spending would make her feel better.
I had walked less than two meters when a muffled "bang" sound came from behind me.
It was the sound of a car door slamming.
She turned around suddenly, wanting to face Chen Yanfeng's anger directly, but his face was not as angry as she had imagined. Instead, it was very calm, like a tolerant adult trying to coax a naughty child.
He walked over and gently held her wrist. "Why don't you try to open the front door? It's a several-hour drive, and I need someone to talk to and cheer me up."
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