Xia Chang

No one stops the hot and humid summer in May.

Outside the lights of high-rise buildings in the city, there is a gray-white sky that is illuminated, and the buildings in the commercial district are either majestic or cramped; an open space is not wide, and it is divided by roller skating children and old people dancing, so there is an unclear passage.

Zhang Nian frowned slightly covered by bangs, and walked up the short outdoor escalator; in his hand was a paper dark blue gift bag, which contained a newly bought hat and his half-used mobile phone.

The stained glass handrail at the top of the escalator was occupied by a tall man. He was leaning there, wearing overalls and short sleeves, but he was not unruly at all, but chic or majestic.

If he really guessed, Zhang Nian would say that he looks like a nobleman.

The man turned his head back, with a bright red cigarette dangling from his mouth, he looked at Zhang Nian, examined it with very relaxed eyes, and then turned away again.

The appearance of a man, handsome and friendly.

The vertical elevator of the building went up, and Zhang Nian could see countless mixed lights of various colors. He glanced at his watch, and then frowned anxiously and tiredly. His eyes were deep and lively, and he had a sharp and beautiful face. of.

Puberty is a strange drug. It catalyzes the face of a teenager to become thinner, sunken or protruded more hard. Therefore, Zhang Nian now has a tall nose bridge derived from genes, two thin lips and wears light-colored jeans. Still slender and straight legs.

And the abundant hormones written on the arms and face.

Zhang Nian's body completely covers her 26-year-old elder sister. The two seem to be peacocks and swallows; A pair of glasses with silver frames.

"I still have something to do today." The song that others were singing was deafening, Zhang Nian moved closer and shouted into Zhang Qi's ear, even he couldn't hear himself anymore, and he didn't know the people who were chatting happily at the side .

Zhang Qi looks like his father, with a pair of bright eyes, and when he smiles, he shows his white and neat teeth. She just nodded at Zhang Nian and said, "Let's go after playing for a while."

Zhang Nian didn't hear Zhang Qi's words clearly, he was suddenly a little out of breath in the cracks between people coming and going; Zhang Qi was being poured alcohol by others, and screamed to encourage others, with his thin arms resting on the shoulders of the girl beside him.

A few people who had seen Zhang Nian crowded up and shouted: "Brother, brother..."

"Hi." Holding the wine glass, Zhang Nian saluted them symbolically, but he didn't take a few sips. He gave Zhang Qi the newly bought hat, and said a few sentimental words of blessing during the grand cake cutting session.

Said: "I think Zhang Qi is closer to me than my parents. I hope she will be in good health and rich, and she will act in more good-looking dramas."

My sister’s colleagues, with good looks and tall postures, stand in a row, even at this moment of leisure and carnival, it seems that they are in a gorgeous curtain call; Zhang Qi is about to give a hug to his younger brother who is particularly well-behaved today, and everyone is also moved Or enviously, suddenly, the door of the box opened from the outside, causing all eyes here to look there.

The man was holding the large bouquet of flowers with a bit of jerk, and he smiled when he came in. He came straight to this side, still muttering: "Director Zhao, you flew the flowers over from France, but I'm going to die."

Director Zhao had long hair and was wearing a white-blue gauze dress. She took the bouquet from the man, but seemed to be in a daze again. After a few seconds, she said, "Hey, why do you give it to me... give it to the birthday star."

Zhang Nian didn't understand why Director Zhao insisted on putting the flower back into the man's hand. He was like a ghost in the crowd among the men and women who were born on the stage and screen. He watched them scream and boo.

The man laughed at being ridiculed, and felt embarrassed. After all, he was obedient and gave the flowers to Zhang Qi. Director Zhao still said, "How old is he? What's the point of being embarrassed... What's the point of sending flowers to the male number one?" .”

Zhang Qi probably said thank you, but probably didn't say anything, she still smiled as always, and deliberately rolled her eyes after the director's words; Zhang Nian was still standing there, he looked at the man, and the man nodded at him. Nod, then, as you would when smoking at the end of the escalator, flash a relaxed smile.

Even though he was reserved and shirked at first, he is cheerful and playful by nature, so Zhang Nian ushered in the first drunkenness in his life amidst the noise.

He was about to fall asleep, but stubbornly knelt on the floor and poured wine for others. He was drunk because he was relaxed and excited, so he drank a few more glasses when someone made a fuss. Zhang Qi was even crazier than him, so he didn't have the heart to discipline him.

The sound of music in his ears, the distorted out-of-tune singing in the microphone, the crisp footsteps when the high heels moved... Zhang Nian wanted to vomit. Kneeling down was about to bury his face in the toilet, and he could even smell the strong smell of disinfectant.

A liquid that was more choking than wine overflowed from his throat, Zhang Nian saw only pale yellow, bright circles of light in the bathroom, he was sweating, in the freezing air-conditioned room.

The air conditioner in the convenience store seems cooler than ice cream.

Liu Xiaobai occupied the only black high chair. He bit down the milky ice cream with a chocolate shell, and marked a C in the brackets of the physics multiple-choice questions with a black grease pen.

The wind is sultry, and being close to the outside is close to the tumbling red flames of the stove. The black clouds on the zenith are pressing down, and the tall buildings seen when looking up are like swords pierced in a few flowing dark colors.

Liu Xiaobai held a sweet ice cream stick in his mouth, and stuffed a water cup, English notes, physics test papers, and a mobile phone charger with poor contact in his schoolbag; with his mobile phone in his hand, Liu Xiaobai couldn't care less about whether he could make a phone call during a thunderstorm. This is his No. . Dial Zhang Nian's number 13 times.

Still no answer.

The rain mixed with the breath of the soil, choked into the respiratory tract in an instant, the rain fell from falling to falling, and then it was heavy and dense like flying stones. With a shriveled backpack hanging on Liu Xiaobai's shoulders, he went to the narrow table by the window again, and found a black high-rise Sit down in the foot chair.

Outside the window is the world of flickering lights in the water curtain, everything seems hazy than the night, only some of them are brighter than the day.

Liu Xiaobai couldn't sit still, he looked at his phone every five seconds, went to the freezer again, took a bottle of yogurt, thought about it, and took another bottle.

He waited for several hours in the anxiety of being missed an appointment; the rain was getting heavier, and it was pouring down to bathe the city. After paying the bill, Liu Xiaobai looked up and saw Xia Honglin who was choosing sliced ​​bread in front of the shelf.

She is a thin and beautiful woman with strong thoughts and gentle words and deeds; she is the mother of Zhang Nian and Zhang Qi.

At this time, Liu Xiaobai in Xia Honglin's eyes is like a fawn in a hurry and kindly. His eyes are dark and bright, embedded in the thin eyelids on his small face. His hair is newly cut, so his bangs are a bit short, showing two sharp and neat strokes unevenly. eyebrows.

He was wearing a white school uniform with a blue collar and half-sleeves, with a schoolbag that was about to fall over his shoulder, holding two bottles of yogurt in one hand, and holding his mobile phone tightly in the other hand, saying hello, "Aunt Xia, what a coincidence."

Xia Honglin has a calm and slow personality by nature, she didn't think about what to say, she just kept staring at Liu Xiaobai's cheek, then smiled more kindly and gently, and said after a few seconds: "Come to Zhang Nian... Zhang Qi For his birthday, he went to play there."

"If he won't come back... I'll go back first."

"It's such a heavy rain." Xia Honglin didn't think for a second, she still spoke in a very calm tone, turned her head to look at the rain outside, and turned her face with a smile, "Call your parents, auntie will take you back home." home as a guest."

Xia Honglin, who is wearing a pink silk shirt and a purple one-step skirt, has smooth and black hair. She is nearly fifty years old, but her face is stretched and vigorous; in the shoulders.

Xia Honglin was still muttering: "Too thin, you need to eat well."

Liu Xiaobai was surprised, because in such a gentle invitation, he didn't have the courage to say no. He also smiled when he saw Xia Honglin facing the convenience store cashier, but it was not overly enthusiastic or flattering, but a kind of comfortable hint.

Next to the convenience store is a luxurious and quiet high-end real estate. Zhang Nian’s home is here. Liu Xiaobai walks beside Xia Honglin, who is as tall as her in high heels. Xia Honglin shares her big black umbrella with him.

The home is as Liu Xiaobai remembered, clean and spacious. Xia Honglin sighed when changing his shoes and said, "It's a good thing I worked overtime today, otherwise I wouldn't have met you."

She handed Liu Xiaobai Zhang Nian's slippers, light gray and decorated with blue plaid.

Xia Honglin will never give too much grudge to others in the relationship, she does not deliberately pursue the appropriate alienation, but always creates intimacy, so she did not clean up the guest room, brought Liu Xiaobai canned soda water, and said: "You sleep on the bed I read the room, I just changed the sheets this week, and put the new towels on the table, if you want to take a shower, you can take a shower, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to wash it.”

"Aunt Xia, I'm too disturbing." Liu Xiaobai said.

Xia Honglin immediately refuted, she said: "No, no more, you see that you and Zhang Nian play so well, and the two of you can make progress together in your studies. Auntie always wants to invite you to come home and cook for you , but you also know that Auntie is very busy with her job, so she can't spare time."

Liu Xiaobai can always figure out how to get along with everyone in a short time. He is very cute and lively, and said: "If you have time, you can also go to my shop for noodles."

"I heard from Zhang Nian that your noodles are very delicious. I said it's just right. I like noodles the most."

After Xia Honglin finished speaking, she patted Liu Xiaobai's shoulder and said, "I'm going to change clothes. You should clean up and go to bed. It's too late. You'll be in your third year of high school soon. You need to get enough sleep; Zhang Nian should come back later, and don't worry about it." Know if they'll stay through the night."

I don't know if the rain outside is heavy or light, Liu Xiaobai took the soda water and said goodnight to Xia Honglin. He was indeed a little puzzled why Zhang Nian missed the appointment, but the trust of his close friend made him understand.

Zhang Nian must have a special reason for not answering the phone.