Absinthe

When the two came out of the hospital, it was nearly eleven o'clock. If Hao Ai returned to the dormitory, he would definitely not be able to catch up with the access control time.

"Where do you live these few nights?" Zhong Xiu asked.

"Lijing Hua Mansion." Hao Ai said.

Hao Ai would rather live in a place he didn't want to live in than tell him, and didn't go to him.As soon as this idea popped up, Zhong Xiu felt a little uncomfortable.

Grandma's examination results came out, and they were not very optimistic. She had to get a stent, and needed a few days of injections before the operation.

In the following few nights, Zhong Xiu didn't go to the remedial class. He went to the hospital with Hao Ai as soon as school was over in the afternoon. Hao Ai didn't want him to go at all, but he was very persistent, and Hao Ai couldn't hold him back.

Both of them had books in their hands. There would not be as many people visiting patients in the inpatient department at night as in the daytime. They could do their homework or read books in the hospital corridor.

Uncle came a little earlier than usual today, so Hao Ai could go back to the dormitory before the gate was closed.Zhong Xiu sent Hao Ai back to school first, and then back to Lijinghua Mansion.On the way back alone, Zhong Xiu passed through the bookstore, and went in to buy several sets of IELTS and TOEFL vocabulary books and real test questions. He didn't know which country Hao Ai would go to if he went abroad in the future, so he wanted to make two preparations first.

When Zhong Xiu returned home, he found that the light was on in the room, and Yang Yingqiong was sitting on the sofa, and she seemed to have been waiting for him for a long time.

Before Zhong Xiu had time to speak, Yang Yingqiong preemptively said: "You haven't been to the remedial class these days?"

"Ah."

"Didn't you say that the teacher there taught well? Why don't you go now?" Yang Yingqiong stared straight at him, not hiding the dissatisfaction and doubt on her face.

Zhong Xiu squatted down to change his shoes, and wrote lightly: "It doesn't matter whether you go or not."

"You didn't go to evening self-study these days, where did you go?"

Zhong Xiu's new head teacher didn't turn a blind eye to students skipping classes like Lao Zhang did, but was very strict.Because of Zhong Xiu's grades, he didn't criticize him face-to-face for his bad behavior of escaping evening self-study, but directly told Yang Yingqiong about it.

"You don't need to make up other reasons to lie to me, I know," Yang Yingqiong continued, "You just came back from the hospital."

"How do you know?" Zhong Xiu walked into the living room.

"I have my way of understanding," Yang Yingqiong said, saw the cover of the book in Zhong Xiu's hand, and asked, "What book are you holding?"

Zhong Xiu threw the IELTS and TOEFL materials in his hand on the table.

"Why are you buying these?" Yang Yingqiong stood up from the sofa and asked, "Don't tell me you're going abroad!"

"uncertain."

"Going abroad is such a big matter, why don't you discuss it with your family?"

"I haven't considered it yet. Is it useful to discuss it? You won't agree." Zhong Xiu said.

"You..." Yang Yingqiong was extremely angry, and glared at him: "You also know that I will not agree, why do you want to go abroad? No good university in China can accommodate you?"

Zhong Xiuming knew that it was impossible for Yang Yingqiong to listen, but he patiently explained to her: "If I continue to study chemistry, going abroad is the best choice. The scientific research environment abroad is better than domestic ones."

"You have to admit death, don't you? Except for chemistry, you can't apply for other majors? Didn't I tell you a long time ago that I won't interfere with what major you want to apply for in the future, but why did you choose such a hopeless major? ?”

"It's also called not interfering too much? I just want to learn chemistry, and I have nothing else to learn besides chemistry." Zhong Xiu didn't plan to reason with her anymore.

Yang Yingqiong sat down, took a breath, folded her arms and said, "Okay, even if you want to study chemistry, can't H major? It's considered top in China. How can the scientific research environment be worse than abroad?"

"It's much worse. You won't listen even if I explain to you." Zhong Xiu said.

"Then you can't just now... If I haven't seen it, when are you going to tell me you're going abroad?"

"I didn't say that I would definitely go abroad."

Zhong Xiu seriously considered that if Hao Ai went abroad in the future, he would also apply for foreign universities. If he did not go abroad, then reading these books would be regarded as increasing his vocabulary.

"You've made up your mind, but you're still not sure?" Yang Yingqiong asked strangely.Zhong Xiu has always had his own ideas, and what he is determined to do will not be easily changed.

She suddenly thought of something again: "Is it because of Hao Ai? He is not sure whether to go abroad, so you are not sure either?"

Zhong Xiu was silent for a while, then said: "No, I have been thinking about going abroad for a long time."

Yang Yingqiong didn't think so, "You don't care about your parents at all! Do you really like him so much? You don't listen to what I say, and now you want to disrupt the original life plan for him. You... pissed me off never mind!"

This quarrel ended with Yang Yingqiong slamming the door, but there was still no result.

After the operation, grandma rested in the hospital for two more days before she was discharged. The day of discharge happened to be the weekend. Zhong Xiu and Hao Ai went to pick her up together, and my uncle drove a car and waited in the parking lot at the back door of the hospital.

Just after sending grandma to uncle's car, uncle wanted to invite Zhong Xiu to dinner, but Zhong Xiu suddenly received a call from Yang Yingqiong.Yang Yingqiong said that she left an important document at home, and the secretary asked for leave, and asked Zhong Xiu to go home to get the document and send it to her company.Zhong Xiu agreed.

When Zhong Xiu took a taxi to leave, his uncle was still a little regretful, saying that he had been helping a lot these days, and it was too unreasonable not to even treat him to a meal.Hao Ai said, "Uncle, it's fine. I'll treat him to dinner after he finishes his work."

"Oh, I can't invite him to dinner, and I can't invite you either." The uncle sighed. He knew that Hao Ai was going to the tattoo studio, but he didn't take his own car because he didn't go along the way.

"You can take grandma home first, I'll just take the bus by myself."

He watched his uncle's car start and drive out the back door of the hospital.

He turned around and wanted to go out through the hospital gate, but he saw a familiar face not far ahead, and that person was gradually walking towards him. Hugh Yang Yingqiong who called.

Yang Yingqiong called him: "Hao Ai."

"Hello, Auntie..." Hao Ai finally recovered.

"I bought some supplements for your grandma." She was holding high-end nutritional supplements and supplements in her hand.

"Oh, thank you..." Hao Ai took it with fear.

"Is your grandma feeling better?"

Hao Ai nodded: "Well, it's better."

Yang Yingqiong said she wanted to invite Hao Ai to dinner, but Hao Ai quickly refused: "No, thank you, auntie."

But Yang Yingqiong insisted on inviting her. She had been in the business world for a long time, and she was slick in all aspects. How could Hao Ai, a high school student, be able to deal with it? She managed to bring Hao Ai into a nearby western restaurant with just a few words.

Hao Ai sat opposite her very cautiously.

Yang Yingqiong looked at him with a smile, her eyes were not offensive, but like an elder looking at a child, making people feel a little gentle.

"Auntie, Zhong Xiu went home to get the documents." Hao Ai spoke first.

"Well, I know," Yang Yingqiong said, "don't be nervous."

Hao Ai has always been sweet and talkative, and can make the elders happy, but when he meets Yang Yingqiong, he will be very nervous, he doesn't know where to put his hands and feet, and he can't say anything about the scene.

"Is there any taboo?"

Hao Ai shook his head.

After Yang Yingqiong finished ordering, she smiled: "I never asked you, why do you want to grow long hair, you are the first boy I have ever seen with long hair."

Hao Ai replied honestly: "I used to have long hair but I didn't bother to go to the barber shop to cut it. After I tied it up, I thought it was very novel, so I kept it." Then he asked carefully: "Auntie, don't you feel very Is it strange?"

"No, I think it looks pretty." Yang Yingqiong said with a smile.

Hao Ai smiled shyly, but didn't answer.

"You look more like your father." Yang Yingqiong said suddenly.

"You, know my father?" Hao Ai was very surprised, with hesitation on his face.

Yang Yingqiong said: "It doesn't count as acquaintance, we have cooperated in business."

"Oh."

"Your father wants you to go abroad, doesn't he?"

"Ah."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want to." Hao Ai's tone became a little stiff, he didn't know why Yang Yingqiong brought this up, he couldn't just be a lobbyist to let him go abroad, right?

Yang Yingqiong saw that Hao Ai's attitude suddenly became a little resistant, and she had a guess in her heart. Hao Ai might not know that Zhong Xiu was preparing for the language test, so she tentatively said: "Zhong Xiu is preparing to go abroad."

"Ah?" Hao Ai was obviously stunned, as if he didn't know about it at all. After a few seconds, he said, "That's pretty good."

"Then you will be separated from now on." Yang Yingqiong said in an extremely flat tone.

Hao Ai suddenly understood that with Yang Yingqiong's experience, he must have seen the relationship between him and Zhong Xiu long ago. Yang Yingqiong came to him today, probably because of this incident.But she never got into the main topic, but kept going around in circles, which really made him feel very tormented.

"Auntie, just say what you want to say." Hao Ai said.

"You're a pretty smart kid," Yang Yingqiong smiled coolly, then changed the subject and her eyes became sharper: "Children, it's okay to make mistakes occasionally, as long as you correct them in time, you can be forgiven."

Hao Ai was silent, he didn't want to conflict with Yang Yingqiong, so he thought that no matter what Yang Yingqiong said, he would either agree or keep silent.

"You will be easily attracted by something new and unreasonable. At your current age, it's okay to try and make mistakes. But in the final analysis, it is Zhong Xiu's fault. He brought you on this road. Of course, I am also responsible for improper discipline, I am sorry."

"Auntie, Zhong Xiu is right," Hao Ai still couldn't help retorting, "It's right to be gay..."

"I didn't say that homosexuality is wrong," Yang Yingqiong said with a smile, "You are still too young, even if you do something wrong, you won't be aware of it, but in the end, it will not only hurt you, but also your family."

"I didn't intentionally pry into your privacy, but I know something about your family situation, so does Zhong Xiu?" Yang Yingqiong said.

"Yes." Hao Ai nodded.

"Then do you know what Zhong Xiu's father does?"

Hao Ai shook his head.Zhong Xiu hardly mentioned about Zhong's father in front of him. He only heard that his father was very busy with work and often changed jobs.

"He works in a national unit, at the deputy department level, and is in the rising stage. There are many opportunities for promotion in the future."

Hao Ai is not very clear about the concept of deputy director level, but he can tell that this should be a big official position.

"Besides, he is on the verge of promotion, any stain may ruin his official career, can you understand?"

stain.Hao Ai repeated these two words in his heart.

Zhong Xiu just likes the same sex, is he wrong, why should he regard this as a stain?

But in the end Hao Ai was silent and nodded.

So Yang Yingqiong continued.

Hao Ai heard her criticize Zhong Xiu, saying that he was selfish, indifferent, and irrational, and she attributed all the faults to Zhong Xiu.

In Hao Ai's impression, Yang Yingqiong has always been a very gentle woman, and she always speaks softly when talking to him.

But for Zhong Xiu, this may not be the case.

Now he seemed to understand how Hugh felt at one o'clock.

"Auntie, Zhong Xiu is not what you said, he... is fine."

In Hao Ai's mind, there were countless beautiful adjectives that could refute Yang Yingqiong.

But he only said one thing in the end, he was fine.

In Hao Ai's eyes, he is the best person.

Yang Yingqiong didn't care about Hao Ai's weak rebuttal: "I admit that he is indeed excellent, but if he is wrong, he is wrong, so there is no need to make excuses." Her tone was harsh and unrepentant.

"He's right." Hao Ai knew in his heart that he should follow Yang Yingqiong's words at this time, but he really couldn't bear others to say that Zhong Xiu was wrong, not even his closest family members.

Yang Yingqiong's face changed, she paused and said, "You think he did the right thing, so do you think you're wrong?"

Hao Ai didn't speak, as if he had acquiesced that he was at fault.

"You pampered him too much, and it was because of this that he made mistakes again and again," Yang Yingqiong continued, "but I didn't mean to blame you."

"Auntie, if you want me to separate from him, I may not agree." Hao Ai said in a low voice.

"Zhong Xiu is following you..." Yang Yingqiong paused and said, "I knew before that he likes the same sex."

"Before he came to Zheng Chuan, he said that he wanted to find someone to try."

It wasn't Yang Yingqiong who lied to him. In the messy notebook that Yang Yingqiong picked up, it recorded all of Zhong Xiu's confused, helpless, and vented emotions during that time.

There is such a sentence:

"Before the fierce resistance comes, you must always obey your heart and give it a try."

At first, she thought that the person who "had a try" was Hao Ai, but now she could see that what the two of them showed was more than just trying.

The more she understood, the more frightened she felt.

She had no choice but to forcibly stop it.

Yang Yingqiong made a bet with Zhong Xiu in the open, but she didn't take it seriously at all, she just wanted to achieve her goal.

It's naive to bet a love on an uncertainty.

She also wanted Zhong Xiu to understand that never bet on uncertain things.And love is full of uncertainties, not to mention love between the same sex, it is too vulnerable and too ridiculous.

"You have lost the most basic judgment now, and the decisions you have made are too immature. It is good for both of you to separate."

What's the meaning?Hao Ai was puzzled.

"Let's put it this way, his life plan was disrupted by you," Yang Yingqiong said, "He didn't intend to go abroad."

"Because of your uncertainty, his clear goal has become blurred."

Yang Yingqiong's words have already given a lot of leeway, what she means is that you have too much influence on him, let's separate as soon as possible.

On the way, Yang Yingqiong went outside to answer the phone.When she came back, she said to Hao Ai: "Eat slowly, I still have something to do in the company, so I'll go back first."

She went to the front desk, paid the bill and left.

But Hao Ai sat in the restaurant for a long time without taking a bite of food.

After returning, he searched the Internet for the official title of deputy department, and also searched for government officials in Zhengchuan City, hoping to find a leader with the surname Zhong.

When he saw that photo, he felt that Zhong Xiu was more like his father.

Hao Ai stared at the phone screen for a long time, until his eyes began to turn sore, a hazy mist formed in front of his eyes, and his vision became blurred, as if he couldn't see anything.

*

On the first evening self-study at school, Zhong Xiu received a message from Hao Ai as soon as the school bell rang: I'm so sleepy, I won't wait for you at night, I'll go back to sleep first.

Zhong Xiu: Okay, go back to sleep.

At this time in the past, he always received texts from the same person on his mobile phone: Waiting for you.

The next morning, when Zhong Xiu came to look for Hao Ai, he found him sleeping on the seat, wearing a T-shirt, showing his white-washed arms, and covered with a thick winter school uniform. It's a bit cold, I don't know when winter will come quietly.

Hao Ai has become less talkative recently, and Zhong Xiu guessed that he may be depressed because of his grandmother's repeated illness, and he doesn't want to talk.

Zhong Xiu was not unhappy because of Hao Ai's neglect of him, he just felt distressed.

There is no chemistry experiment class in the third year of high school, but Zhong Xiu still holds the key to the laboratory.

The two will still go to the laboratory, even if they are just doing their own homework, and get along very briefly.

Hao Ai was still lying on the table, listening to Zhong Xiu talking in his ear.

……

He seems to talk a lot today.

"After the winter vacation, let's go skiing. You promised me last year." Zhong Xiu said.

It seems that there is such a thing, Hao Ai can't remember what else he promised Zhong Xiu, but it seems that there is no way to keep it.

"Your grades are not bad. I read your papers last time, and they are much better than before. But it's a pity that some questions are wrong. There is still a lot of room for improvement."

"I know you've always been smart, you just have to work a little harder."

"I'm very happy to see your progress, really."

"Are you asleep?"

"Ai Ai." The last sentence is breathy, like a feather passing by the ear.

Hao Ai buried his face in his arms, he wanted to block his ears, and wanted Zhong Xiu to stop talking, so he could only keep thinking about what else Zhong Xiu had said.

You said, I am very dazzling in the crowd.

But the light that illuminates me has always been you.

Zhong Xiu probably thought he was asleep, so he didn't speak any more, and sat quietly beside him to write the questions.

After a while, Hao Ai sat up suddenly, and Zhong Xiu immediately stopped writing and turned to look at him, "Are you awake?"

Hao Ai kept his head down at first, but when he raised his head again, his eyes were shining brightly, and he said word by word: "Zhong Xiu, let's separate."

The author says:

I wrote a lot in this chapter