Xu Xu still lives in the sa relocation building as before. The sensor lights in the hallway work only on the second floor, while the others are broken. Feeling their way down in the dark, Xu Xu walks ahead and reaches back to grab Zhao ii’s arm: "I’ll hold onto you, watch your step."
Zhao ii follows Xu Xu gradually downwards, then hears Xu Xu say: "ii, do you rember when we were in elentary school? I’d go to your house to play, and in the winter it got dark early. Your mom was stewing pig trotters, planning to pack two for to take ho once they were ready. I ended up waiting until six in the evening before leaving."
Zhao ii thinks for a mont but can’t really recall, yet she cooperatively responds: "Ah, I rember, what’s up?"
Xu Xu speaks with infinite nostalgia: "When I left your house back then, you insisted on accompanying with your dad to see off. You were holding onto just like this as we went downstairs. I was feeling my way down in the dark, and you grabbed saying, ’Watch your step...’
Uh...
Zhao ii sensitively perceives the atmosphere suddenly becoming awkward. She awkwardly tries to change the subject: "You know, my building’s been around for years. From the very beginning, there were no sensor lights; everyone installed their own bulbs to light the way voluntarily."
It used to be nice. Every household kept their lights on, showing great civic-mindedness. After all, everyone knew each other, seeing each other every day in the factory, fearing gossip behind their backs.
Later, as the factory’s benefits declined, people started calculating how to get by, and no one wanted to shoulder the electricity cost that facilitated neighbors anymore.
What Xu Xu wanted to talk about wasn’t the sensor light issue, the two of them tacitly understood each other. In the darkness, Xu Xu couldn’t hide his disappointnt.
That’s how feelings are; the more unattainable they are, the more precious they seem.
Zhao ii had clearly beco the unattainable mory in Xu Xu’s heart; even if he swore and forced himself to forget, it was rely deceiving himself for psychological comfort.
Xu Xu guided Zhao ii to the unit entrance and let go of her hand. The two of them exited one after another.
Xu Xu asked Zhao ii: "When are you planning to return to the provincial city?"
Zhao ii replied: "I don’t know yet, definitely not before the fifth day. My brother’s maternity store is closed until the eighth, and there are patients in the local hospital that need care, so I don’t think I can leave quickly. By the way, what about you? When are you planning to return to school?"
Xu Xu tugged at his down jacket: "I’ve booked train tickets for the sixth. I found a tutoring job at the school, tutoring a kid in the second year of junior high this year. I’ve tutored for half a sester already; their grades have improved significantly, and the parents are particularly pleased. With the new sester coming, heading into third year, they’re anxious, afraid that a long break will delay the tutoring, so they’ve been pushing for to go back early."
Zhao ii had always wanted to say a few comforting words, but that thought only spun in her mind for a mont before she suppressed it. Zhao ii knew too well the conditions at Xu Xu’s ho, saying things like taking care of his health and not being too exhausted were all pointless.
Zhao ii said: "You’re amazing, you can tutor second-year junior high courses. I’ve forgotten what I learned in junior high now."
Xu Xu just laughed: "Actually, if you suddenly handed a junior high problem to solve on the spot, I’d be baffled too. I need to go over the formulas beforehand. I’m not much better than you."
Zhao ii laughed along.
Suddenly, car headlights illuminated from ahead, and the other party honked the horn twice.
Zhao ii squinted, trying to see clearly, then laughed and hurriedly waved at the other party, saying: "Xu Xu, my brother’s here to pick up."
Xu Xu was taken aback and asked: "Did you arrange for your brother to co pick you up?"
Zhao ii said: "No."
Shi Yang got out of the car, smiling as he walked a few steps forward: "Long ti no see, Xu Xu."
Xu Xu quickly greeted him: "Brother Yangyang, Happy New Year."
Shi Yang: "Happy New Year. How’s everything over at school? All good?"
Xu Xu said: "It’s been great."
Shi Yang: "How long can you stay this ti?"
Xu Xu: "I’ve booked train tickets for the sixth."
Seeing that there was nothing more to say and the atmosphere might grow tense, Shi Yang put his arm around Zhao ii’s shoulder and said: "It’s late, let’s go?"
Zhao ii agreed with a sound and bid farewell to Xu Xu: "Xu Xu, I’m leaving now. Keep in touch."
Xu Xu handed over the bag he was holding. Shi Yang took it with a smile, saying to Zhao ii: "Why do you have food and things to take with you?"
Zhao ii laughed, waved at Xu Xu, and followed Shi Yang into the car.
Once Zhao ii was settled, she deliberately poked her head out the car window to wave for a final goodbye to Xu Xu, only to find that he had already left.
Zhao ii pulled her head back in and rolled up the window.
Shi Yang glanced at the rearview mirror, seeing a figure half-hidden at the entrance of the building. Xu Xu clearly hadn’t left, but he didn’t place himself in their view as he used to, just watched them leave longingly.
Shi Yang turned his gaze back and deliberately asked: "What were you doing?"
Zhao ii said: "I was trying to say goodbye to Xu Xu, but he’s already gone."
Shi Yang added casually: "Maybe it’s just too cold."
Zhao ii rembered and asked: "Brother, when did you co? Have you been waiting for for a while? Why didn’t you give a call?"
Shi Yang started up the car: "Fasten your seatbelt... I’ve been here for a while. You were visiting friends, and it didn’t seem appropriate to keep calling, urging you to co back."
Zhao ii fastened her seatbelt and looked up at Shi Yang: "There’s nothing inappropriate about it. If I had known you were here, I’d definitely have co down imdiately, wouldn’t make you wait."
Shi Yang felt ward inside, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he turned the steering wheel along the apartnt driveway: "What’s in the bag? It slls good."
Zhao ii said: "Xu Xu made it, fried cauliflower and mushrooms, very tasty."
Shi Yang: "Let try."
Zhao ii opened the bag, took out a piece of cauliflower, and handed it over. Shi Yang ate it: "Cauliflower can be fried?"
Zhao ii fed him another piece: "Ah, it’s especially good right out of the pot, crispy outside and tender inside. They’ve gone soft now."
After feeding Shi Yang a few bites, Zhao ii suddenly asked: "Brother, did you have dinner?"
"Not yet," Shi Yang casually replied.
Zhao ii imdiately understood. Shi Yang must have co early to wait to pick her up, not expecting her to stay so late.
Zhao ii felt sorry: "Brother, next ti you co to pick up, make sure to call ."
Shi Yang said: "I don’t have much to do anyway."
Zhao ii insisted: "Even if you don’t, call ."
Shi Yang turned to look at her, a smile rising in his eyes, agreeing: "Yes, alright."
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