New Year's Day.
It is customary for the Xie family to take turns visiting the elders’ homes for New Year’s greetings after the new year. Mr. Xie’s seniority is high, so he will go to his house first on the first day of the new year.
It was already early morning when Xie Ning was sent back by Zhuang Yan last night, and no one disturbed him in the morning. He slept until almost noon today and woke up.
There were a lot of relatives and friends sitting in the living room, some Xie Ning looked familiar, and some couldn't remember at all.
There were also a few children running up and down the stairs to play wildly. Thanks to the sound insulation of the house in the compound, Xie Ning was able to sleep peacefully until now.
The men seemed to have all gone to the chess and card room, and the living room was also crowded in twos and threes.
Xie An had a bitter face, and was surrounded by a group of elders gossiping. From introducing girlfriends to arranging blind dates, a group of aunts and aunts had already begun to discuss the name of his future child with Su Jinyan.
Mr. Xie's reclining chair was moved to one side of the balcony, covered with a small blanket to soak up the winter sun.
He closed his eyes, and he didn't know if he fell asleep or closed his eyes to rest.
Xie Ning walked over softly, wanting to say hello to Mr. Xie.
Just halfway there, Xia Wan stopped him: "Ning Ning."
Xia Wan and two or three wives of the same age were sitting at the small table on the balcony. When they saw Xie Ning coming out, they reached out to greet him.
"This child has only woken up until now." Xia Wan pretended to complain, and then introduced, "Ning Ning, these are your Aunt Sun and Aunt Liu."
Xie Ning was always well-behaved in front of the elders, greeted him, and was pulled by Xia Wan and sat down on the small stool next to her.
Xia Wan smiled and said, "I heard that the art exhibition held in the art museum a few years ago was quite popular. Ning Ning, you are studying art, have you seen it?"
Xie Ning shook his head: "I was too busy at that time, so I didn't go."
Xie Ning had heard of that art exhibition, and it was held on Christmas Eve, when he received the manuscript for the poster of "Shan Hai Ji" and couldn't find time to see it.
"That's a pity." Xia Wan said, "Your auntie Sun just happened to go to see it. She said that the paintings on display that day were very good. You like painting so much, you should go and see it."
Xie Ning smiled, not knowing how to answer.
He and Xia Wan have been indifferent for many years, and it has been a long time since they sat together and chatted happily.
It was a new year, and there were elders around. Xie Ning thought about saying a few words with them, smiled quietly, and passed.
Unexpectedly, Xia Wan went on to say: "Your auntie Sun also liked a painting and wanted to buy it. The person who painted it was a girl. Auntie Sun said that she had a special temperament. She was only two years younger than you, and she was still in art. College for further study, this time I followed the teacher to participate in the exhibition.”
Mrs. Sun next to her immediately answered: "It's not that I'm exaggerating, that little girl's temperament is not generally good, and at first glance, it can't be raised by ordinary people, maybe this is the quality of your artists, I will see you today. , I feel that you have an aura that is different from others."
She praised Xie Ning like this, and Xia Wan's face became even more happy.
Xie Ning then understood what Xia Wan was going to do, lowered his eyes, and his expression became more and more condensed.
Xia Wan smiled and said, "Auntie Sun talked to the little girl a couple of times when she was buying paintings. She said that she came from a scholarly family and had a good conversation. Don't you also love to paint? Maybe you will have a common language with her."
Xie Ning didn't speak, and Mrs. Sun responded: "You are all young people, and you should be able to chat."
Xia Wan asked softly, "I heard your Auntie Sun say this, and I like this girl very much. It just so happens that you should be free in the past two days, why don't you just... see her?"
Xie Ning pursed his lips, and when Xia Wan couldn't help making an appointment with Mrs. Sun, Xie Ning said coldly, "Mom."
When Xia Wan was called by him like that, his expression froze.
Xie Ning's voice was not heavy, and he said slowly: "I won't stop you if you want to see me. If you like it, I don't mind if you want to be a daughter or something."
Xia Wan's expression suddenly turned ugly: "What do you mean by that?"
"What do you mean by me, you don't know?" Xie Ning laughed at himself and said after watching her for a while, "If you go to see her yourself, don't take me with you."
Xia Wan didn't mention it in one breath.
Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Mrs. Sun hurriedly smoothed things out: "Xie Ning doesn't want to, so forget it."
Xia Wan picked up the teacup and poured a mouthful of cold water down his throat, and his brain calmed down a little.
She couldn't help but say, "It's a big New Year's Eve, can't you just follow my heart?"
Xie Ning looked at her quietly for a while, and sneered in his heart.
He used to think so too. After all, he is his biological mother. Even if he has no feelings, he can still do it to save face.
But Xia Wan's temperament is strong, and he is a man of his own.
He didn't say a word today, Xia Wan was about to make an appointment to meet.
If he sees it, Xia Wan will be able to invite the little girl to the house another day.
If he sees two more times, Xia Wan may even be ready for his wedding.
In some things, he takes a step back, that is, he takes every step back.
During the four years that he used Xu Qing as a shield, Xia Wan also tried to get him "on the right track".
Xie Ning didn't want to be unhappy in the Chinese New Year, but he also didn't want to continue to play the role of mother and child filial piety here.
He stood up and said bluntly: "Seeing or not is a trivial matter... You know what's going on with me, and I don't mind letting others know."
Xia Wan was so angry that her hands trembled: "You..."
Seeing that there was going to be a quarrel here, Mr. Xie, who was lying on the other side of the balcony, suddenly said, "Ningning."
Father Xie was on the reclining chair, opened his eyes, and greeted Xie Ning: "Ningning come."
Mr. Xie didn't know if he had just woken up, or if he heard the movement on their side, he came here specially to relieve the siege.
Xie Ning secretly let out a breath, walked to the old man, bent down and asked, "Grandpa?"
Mr. Xie sat up with his hand: "I want to go to the room and lie down for a while, Ning Ning will help me up."
When he helped Mr. Xie to the master bedroom, Xie Ning saw that Mr. Xie didn't lie down, but looked at him with a smile, and knew that Mr. Xie had something to say to him.
Just now, Mr. Xie should have heard the argument between him and Xia Wan on the balcony.
Xie Ning sighed in his heart.
Who knew that Mr. Xie didn't mention what happened just now, and asked with a smile, "I heard from Xiao Zhong that you went out in the middle of the night last night?"
Shane was stunned.
"Well," he said, "out with friends."
Father Xie squinted and said with relief, "It's good, you're too boring, you should make more friends. It's too restrictive to let you young people stay at home for the new year."
He clapped his hand again and asked, "How is it? Did you have a good time last night?"
Xie Ning smiled and said softly, "Happy."
"Just be happy." Father Xie laughed twice, "Just go out and play more when you are happy, you don't have to stay home with this old man."
Xie Ning let out a sigh of relief: "Well."
After chatting for a while, Mr. Xie was a little tired. Xie Ning helped him to lie down on the bed and was about to leave, but Mr. Xie stopped him.
"After dinner, it's time to pay homage to your grandfather and grandmother." Mr. Xie said, "No matter how angry you are with your mother, don't forget to see the old man."
Xie Ning was silent for two seconds and nodded.
Xie Ning's grandfather and grandmother were buried in the Changle Cemetery outside the city. The two elders were professors and teachers during their lifetimes. Every Qingming Festival, many students come to the cemetery to worship.
Xia Wan is their youngest daughter and is much loved.
Xu Shi was in a bad mood. She was uncharacteristically taciturn along the way. She didn't mention the little girl who painted or talk to him again.
Xie Ning breathed a sigh of relief, and felt a bit of joy in his heart.
This is the way he is familiar with and gets along with Xia Wan.
Changle Cemetery is surrounded by mountains and rivers. It is said that countless masters have tested it before its construction. The feng shui is excellent, and the price is also the highest in the local area. Ordinary people who save a lifetime of money may not be able to buy a cemetery in Changle Cemetery.
The snow stopped today, but the wind was still strong, hitting the trees on the road in the cemetery, making a rustling sound.
If you come here in the middle of the night, it will be a little scary.
Xie Ning followed Xie Jing and Xia Wan to worship grandfather and grandmother, and then went to a small tombstone next to the two old people to offer incense.
That is the mausoleum of Uncle Xie Ning. His uncle died when he was in elementary school. At that time Xie Ning was too young and he was still in the south. If he hadn't come here every year, he would hardly remember that he had an uncle.
Xie Ning's grandfather and grandmother only have two children. I heard that his uncle was unmarried when he died of illness.
After Xia Wan finished offering sacrifices, he suddenly said, "You guys go to the car and wait."
Xie Jing whispered: "Xia Wan..."
Xia Wan's face was sullen, and the emotion on his face was inexplicable: "Let me talk to my parents, my mother, and my brother alone for a while."
Xie Jing wanted to persuade her, but seeing her expression, she finally sighed and took Xie Ning back to the car.
Xie Ning walked halfway, looked back and saw Xia Wan squatting down slowly and touched the name on the tombstone.
His heart stabbed inexplicably.
Xie Jing said: "My mother and I will one day leave before you."
Xie Ning: "… "
Xie Jing looked at the mountain top full of tombstones: "Now we are all still there, we can talk about anything, and we can slowly resolve any conflicts. I only hope that you don't start regretting until we are gone."
"Ningning. Your mother is too stubborn, and no one can persuade her to decide. I am indecisive. Maybe we are not good parents, but we hope that your better heart will not change. "
Xie Jing patted his head: "So no matter what, don't say let's take it as if we don't have your son, your mother's relatives... There are only a few left."
Xie Ning looked at him lightly for a while, and finally nodded slowly.
When Xia Wan came back, her eyes were red, as if she had cried.
When the car started to leave the cemetery, Xie Ning turned his head and looked at the plaque of "Changle Cemetery".
His eyes were cold and clear, as if he didn't know what joy or sorrow was.
He didn't know how to tell Xie Jing that in fact, for a long time, he could not experience the warmth of family affection.
No matter how hard you try to sense it, it's just that faint, as if there is a layer of mist from this world.
Thinking about it, it hurts again.
…
Back to the courtyard at night.
Xie Ning glanced at the two rabbit dolls placed side by side on the bed, and his dull mood improved a little.
He was stunned for a while, opened the closet and was about to get a change of clothes, when he caught sight of the black coat on the hanger.
Yesterday, Zhuang Yan insisted that he wear it back.
It seemed that he had a good heart. Just as he remembered the name Zhuang Yan, the phone rang.
This time Zhuang Yan made a direct video call.
Xie Ning was stunned for a moment, then nodded slowly to accept.
Zhuang Yan's face appeared on the phone screen: "Ningning?"
Xie Ning: "Yeah."
"I can't kidnap you again today." Zhuang Yan sighed, "There are too many relatives in the family and I can't go out."
Xie Ning said quickly, "No... I don't want to go out today."
Zhuang Yan leaned against the wall: "I finally found a clean place to talk to you."
Xie Ning: "If you have something to do, go to work."
"It's alright." Zhuang Yan shook his head, "It's all relatives chatting, and the family is long and the family is short. I find it annoying, and I can't run away."
Xie Ning replied softly.
Zhuang Yan chuckled: "I shouldn't have bothered you at this time..."
Xie Ning thought he was afraid that he would have something to do, so he quickly said, "I have nothing to do either."
Zhuang Yan slowly raised the corner of his mouth and smiled.
"But I miss you so much." He said in a low voice, "It's only been a day, and I can't help but want to see you..."
Xie Ning: "… "
When he said such straightforward words in such a low voice, Xie Ning's ears couldn't help but turn red again.
Zhuang Yan looked at him like this, his smile deepened, and his voice became softer: "How about you?"
"I..." As soon as Xie Ning opened his mouth, he realized that his voice was too soft, and then increased the volume, "I took a shower and was going to sleep."
Zhuang Yan raised his eyebrows: "Go to bed so early?"
Xie Ning: "It's not too early. You also go to bed early. You arrived home at almost 2 o'clock yesterday. Have you slept enough today? Don't you have a cold?"
Zhuang Yan looked at him in a good mood: "Are you caring about me?"
Xie Ning bit the corner of his lips and muttered in a low voice, "Just... just a few words of concern."
Zhuang Yan smiled again: "With the blessing you gave me, how could I catch a cold? And I'm fine, don't worry."
This smile made Xie Ning's ears numb, and after a while, he said, "I, I'm going to take a bath."
Zhuang Yan: "Ningning, do you know that you are seducing people by saying such things at such a time."
Xie Ning was at a loss: "Huh?"
Zhuang Yan teased him on purpose: "What if I misunderstand that you want to take a shower while you video?"
"..." Xie Ning didn't look too far, "I didn't mean that!"
Zhuang Yan looked at Xie Ning wishing to move his whole body out of the camera, as if a feather slipped through his heart.
Before he could speak again, Xie Ning turned around again and said with a blushing face, "Don't say it."
Zhuang Yan had enough teasing, and let him go generously: "Okay, I won't tell you, I'll just look at you like that."
Xie Ning was caught off guard, and remembered what he said just now about "taking a shower while taking a video", and his face turned even redder: "I can't even watch it."
Zhuang Yan was surprised: "Don't even look at it, Ning Ning kid is a little stingy recently."
Xie Ning: "… "
Seeing that it was really late, Zhuang Yan finally showed mercy and said, "I was joking just now, don't take it seriously."
Xie Ning blinked: "...I know."
Just can't help but take it seriously every time.
"But there is a question you haven't answered me just now." Zhuang Yan said again.
Xie Ning pondered for a while and was confused: "What's the problem?"
"I said I missed you." Zhuang Yan's voice was gentle, "what about you? Miss me?"
Xie Ning: "… "
Zhuang Yan asked reluctantly, "Answer me, Ning Ning."
Xie Ning pursed his lips, and after a while, he said in a voice as thin as a mosquito: "... think."
The author has something to say: Ningning: Why do you show up every time I'm in a bad mood
Zhuangzhuang: Because we have a good heart.
May I ask if there is a list of Yuandan's most heartwarming attack
If so, can Zhuangzhuang be on the list
This chapter was deleted once, revised for a long time, and updated late.
Bow in apology.
One more sentence, I see that there is a topic building in the comment area that is inexplicably built, so I will spoil you in advance to give you peace of mind.
[Ning Ning and Xu Qing have not had any substantial relationship.]