entanglements and choices
At 7:00 PM on Saturday, November 20, 2010, the bell for evening self-study rang in the twilight. The iron gate slowly opened under the hand of the student on duty. The streetlights outside the school gates had just begun to glow dimly, and the early winter breeze carried the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes. However, the school gates were already thronged with people, hundreds of students eager to return home, packed like sardines in a can.
"Get out of the way!" A rough voice burst out from the crowd, and a tall and strong boy squeezed out. The schoolbag on his shoulder flew out and almost hit the back of the head of the dean standing by the door.
"Who stepped on my shoes?"
"Don't push! Are you in a hurry to reincarnate?"
The iron gate slammed against the wall with a clang, and hundreds of people burst forth like a pot of boiling water pouring onto the road. The tinkling of bicycle bells, electric bike horns, and the constant clamor of shouting intertwined, and the school gate suddenly became bustling with activity.
Xiaofeng was squeezed out of the school gate by the crowd. She hunched her neck and looked around. Suddenly, the lights of a black car flashed. Her eyes lit up and she immediately ran over. The passenger door was already open for her. Xiaofeng lowered her head and got in, calling out sweetly, "Uncle Zhou!"
At this moment, Zhou Yong turned his head from the driver's seat and looked Xiaofeng up and down with a gentle gaze: "What did you eat in the cafeteria tonight?"
Xiao Feng frowned at the word "canteen," and her nose wrinkled as well. "Hey...canteen food. If I don't eat, I'll be hungry. If I eat, I'll feel uncomfortable all day." She pouted exaggeratedly, making Zhou Yong laugh out loud. "So, what do you want to eat now?"
Zhou Yong started the car and slowly drove away from the school gate. The evening breeze ruffled Xiaofeng's hair. She looked out the window at the receding streetlights, her stomach growling twice. "I want a hamburger and fried chicken..." she said tentatively.
Zhou Yong knew what Xiao Feng was up to as soon as he heard it, and deliberately put on a stern face: "You told a doctor that you want to eat these 'junk foods'?"
Xiaofeng blinked her eyes, suddenly raised her right hand, carefully made a "1" gesture with her index finger, tilted her head and said coquettishly: "Just once, you won't refuse me, right?" Her voice was as sweet as cotton candy, and she deliberately dragged out the ending tone.
Zhou Yong shook his head helplessly and parked the car in front of a fast food restaurant. Before getting out of the car, he reminded everyone, "Sit tight and don't run around." Xiao Feng nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, leaning against the car window and watching Zhou Yong walk into the store.
A few minutes later, Zhou Yong returned with a fragrant paper bag. Xiaofeng immediately leaned over, her nose twitching as she happily exclaimed, "It smells like a spicy chicken burger!"
Zhou Yong handed the bag to her with a smile: "You have a very sensitive nose."
Xiaofeng took the bag, held it in his arms, and said proudly, "Uncle Zhou loves me the most."
"This won't happen again."
As soon as she entered the tea room, Xiaofeng started to eat voraciously. Zhou Yong unscrewed a bottle of mineral water and handed it to her, admonishing her, "Eat slowly."
Zhou Yong gently closed the tea room door, shutting out the outside noise. Xiaofeng's chewing sounds were particularly clear in the silence, and hamburger crumbs clung to the corners of her mouth.
"Jiang Wenqing asked you to meet him tonight." Zhou Yong's voice was steady and almost cruel, as if he was reading out a cold diagnosis.
Xiaofeng's hand, which was about to put fries in her mouth, froze in mid-air. She suddenly laughed, with a look of panic that was hard to conceal: "Uncle Zhou, are you kidding me?"
Zhou Yong pulled out a stack of documents from his briefcase and pushed them in front of Xiaofeng. "He came to see me, but you should know that he didn't come to see me for a consultation."
Xiaofeng's eyes fell on the document cover, her eyelashes trembling violently. She suddenly grabbed a handful of French fries and stuffed them into her mouth, chewing them mechanically, as if this was a retaliatory procedure to chew up and swallow the confusion in her heart.
At that moment, Zhou Yong's phone screen suddenly lit up, the 8:00 PM alarm blaring. He looked up at Xiaofeng and said calmly, "I'll wait with you. If he doesn't show up after 9:00, I'll take you home. Let's just pretend nothing happened today."
Perhaps it was the sense of security Zhou Yong brought her around that helped Xiaofeng calm down quickly. She swallowed the last bite of fries, drank a sip of water, stuffed the rest of the food back into the bag, stood up and threw it into the trash can, and gave a slightly stiff smile, "Uncle Zhou is right. These things only satisfy you for a moment, but you'll regret it for days after you finish eating them."
She repeatedly crossed and unclenched her hands, finally placing her fingers clasped on the table. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, as if after a great struggle, she spoke: "I'm in a relationship with Zhou Yang now. Whether Jiang Wenqing comes or not, it won't change anything."
"Aren't you going to give him a chance?" Zhou Yong asked softly.
"Is it necessary?" Xiaofeng's voice contained a hint of resistance.
"I can see his sincerity." Zhou Yong pointed to the documents in front of Xiaofeng and said sincerely.
"I'll listen to you." Xiaofeng lowered his head, his voice as soft as a sigh.
"Xiaofeng, your own feelings are the most important." Zhou Yong's reminder was like a fine needle, gently piercing her forced calm. Her heart suddenly felt like it was being scratched, a sour feeling welled up, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Uncle Zhou, I admit..." Xiaofeng sniffed, trying hard to hold back tears. "I had feelings for him. But these documents say it all. If someone like him wants to fall in love and get married, all he needs to do is beckon girls to line up for him to choose from. What could he possibly see in me?" She paused, a hint of grievance in her voice. "Even if he's really blind and likes me, we met at a maternity and baby store. Didn't he go there because he already has a family? I can't destroy someone else's family."
Zhou Yong rummaged through the documents on the table, pulled out one, and poked it with his finger: "Proof of singleness. I think he went to the maternity and baby store for a reason. You should listen to his explanation."
Xiaofeng stared at the bright red seal on the certificate of being single, and could no longer hold back her tears. They fell onto the paper with a plop, leaving a small, blurry stain.
She tilted her head to wipe away her tears, and when her emotions calmed down a bit, she raised her head again and asked, "Those in power only exploit those below them. If we really get together, in love or marriage, can we treat each other as equals?"
"Don't you consider this issue when it comes to Zhou Yang?" Zhou Yong asked back.
Yes, there is a huge difference between her and Brother Zhou Yang.
"Xiaofeng, Uncle Zhou means no harm." Zhou Yong's voice softened. "Have you ever considered the issues you're concerned about with Zhou Yang? Or have you never considered the possible future you and Zhou Yang might have?"
Xiaofeng looked up at Zhou Yong. He seemed like a bystander who was not involved in the matter. It was precisely because he was standing at the perspective of God that he could see things so clearly and ask such a sharp question.
She straightened her back and didn't reply. Zhou Yong's tone softened a bit. "I'm Zhou Yang's uncle. Selfishly speaking, I hope you can become the daughter-in-law of the Zhou family. But I also want you to be happy. You've probably heard that Aunt Fan and her parents have plans for Zhou Yang. I have reservations about whether Zhou Yang can, or if she has the courage to break free from these constraints."
Zhou Yong stood up, walked to Xiaofeng, put his hand gently on her shoulder, and said with comfort and encouragement: "If my child were still alive, he would be about the same age as you. As long as I am here, these problems you worry about will not be a problem. Give him a chance, and give yourself a chance." After that, he turned and walked to the door and pushed open the door of the tea room.
Jiang Wenqing stood outside the door, holding a bouquet of flowers. Soft, pale pink roses intertwined with vibrant sunflowers, exuding delicate tenderness and a vibrant vitality. He approached Xiaofeng with light steps, his eyes filled with cautious cherishment.
Xiaofeng's shoulders were still heaving slightly from her sobbing just now.
"Xiaofeng..." Jiang Wenqing's voice was as gentle as when they first met, but with a hint of anticipation. Xiaofeng didn't move, so he slowly squatted down, knelt on one knee, and held the flowers in front of her with both hands. His eyes were earnest: "Xiaofeng, give me a chance."
Xiaofeng looked up and saw Zhou Yong standing in the backlight. His shoulders seemed to be trembling. He nodded gently at Xiaofeng, his eyes slightly moist, and he silently asked himself, "Am I doing this right?"
Xiaofeng turned around and met Jiang Wenqing's gentle eyes. She called out softly, "Wenqing." Before she finished speaking, she threw herself into his arms. Jiang Wenqing's fingers clasped around her back were incredibly hot, and Xiaofeng suddenly realized that this was the first time she had felt such tangible possessiveness from a man.
Jiang Wenqing's arms were still tightening around her, when a sudden "quack" sound broke the sticky atmosphere. He slowly let go of Xiaofeng and pulled out two yellow rubber ducks from his suit pocket. He handed them to her sheepishly, "I bought these at the store. They're for you."
Xiaofeng pinched the little yellow duck, feeling both amused and helpless. Jiang Wenqing held her hand and said with a hint of regret, "If I had known it would be this design, I should have bought a ring."
At Xiaofeng's door, when Jiang Wenqing asked "Is Zhou Yang here?", Xiaofeng bit the tip of her tongue and said, "He went back today and will come tomorrow morning."
"What are your plans for tomorrow?"
"I promised Brother Zhou Yang that I would go home with him." Xiao Feng panicked as soon as he said that. "Wenqing, give me some time. I can handle it."
Wenqing took her hand and asked, "Do you need me to talk to him?"
Xiaofeng shook her head and said in a trembling voice, "Brother Zhou Yang is very good to me. I don't want to hurt him. I need some time." In fact, Xiaofeng didn't know how to avoid hurting Zhou Yang. The only thing she could do now was to try her best to calm Wenqing.
Wenqing accompanied Xiaofeng into the house. He placed the flowers on the table before leaving reluctantly.
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