Tao Zhi felt that he could not understand Jiang Qihuai's many words.
But in a trance, she felt that she still understood something from it.
The atmosphere in the barbecue shop was lively and lively, the heater was fully turned on, and it was roasting warmly against the wall. In the hustle and bustle, Tao Zhi lay on the table with eyes half down, as if asleep.
Jiang Qihuai got up to pay the bill, helped her put on her coat, bent slightly and said, "Zhizhi, you're home."
Tao Zhi tilted his head, frowned and flattened his mouth: "Why did Zhi Zhi go home?"
"It's too late, Zhizhi should go back and rest early." He said patiently.
Tao Zhi glanced at him, not sure if she understood or not. After a long time, she stood up slowly, without putting on her coat, and went outside directly.
Jiang Qihuai followed behind with her scarf.
Tao Zhi walked straight along the street, and Jiang Qihuai followed all the way. After walking more than ten meters away, she suddenly turned her head and said proudly, "I want to drink yogurt."
Jiang Qihuai lowered his head, and suddenly smiled for no reason.
Tao Zhi looked at him inexplicably: "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing," Jiang Qihuai pointed to the convenience store across the street, "Do you want to buy something?"
"Yes." Tao Zhi's eyes lit up, and he trot over and went straight into the convenience store.
When Jiang Qihuai entered, Tao Zhi was standing in front of the fresh-keeping refrigerator. She had already held five or six bottles of yogurt in her hand, and she was still staring at the other bottle in the refrigerator. She raised her hand to take it, but found two hands All are occupied.
So he hugged everything he just took in his arms, and stretched out his hand to continue taking it.
Just as she poked out her fingertips, a hand suddenly reached out from a higher place behind her, and took the bottle of yogurt away before her.
Tao Zhi turned his head away.
Jiang Qihuai piled that bottle on top of the yogurt bottle in her bosom, he watched her struggling to hold the yogurt bottle full of bosom, a little funny: "Hold it well, don't drop it."
Tao Zhi pressed his chin against the cap of the yogurt bottle and said vaguely, "Aren't you 1.6 meters tall? How could you catch it?"
This is really a long time ago.
Jiang Qihuai looked at her, and the corners of his lips loosened: "When you are drunk, can you string together all the things that happened when you were drunk?"
"I have a good memory when I'm drunk," Tao Zhi murmured in a low voice with a look of remorse, with a hazy drunkenness in his eyes, "I should drink a bottle of beer before going to the college entrance examination."
Jiang Qihuai: "..."
When she finally made a choice, she ran to the cashier with her arms full of bottles and cans, and Jiang Qihuai paid the bill.
She picked out more than a dozen bottles of yogurt, and the cashier took a bag and packed them one by one. Tao Zhi happily carried them over, walked ahead and left the store: "Let's go."
Jiang Qihuai followed her, watched her go forward, raised his hand to take her sideways when she was going astray, and turned her back to the correct direction.
Tao Zhi was led by him all the way to the side of the car.
She stood in front of the co-pilot's door for a while, looking at him: "Jiang Qihuai, I want to drive."
Jiang Qihuai: "?"
He opened the door directly: "Open it tomorrow."
Tao Zhi was unwilling, she said firmly, "I'm going to drive today."
Jiang Qihuai directly stuffed her into the car: "You can only drive to the police station today."
Tao Zhi was reluctantly pushed into the co-pilot by him, and Jiang Qihuai walked around the front of the car and got in.
She stared straight at him without blinking, before Jiang Qihuai could insert the car key in her hand, she suddenly moved.
She kicked off her high-heeled ankle boots, knelt on one knee on the co-pilot and leaned over, and then straddled him directly across the barrier in the middle.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, knelt beside his legs with her knees apart, her thumbs resting on the sharp jawline, and looked down at him.
Line of sight.
The next second, Tao Zhi suddenly lowered his body, and the girl's soft chest was pressed down, with a warm body temperature, a faint smell of alcohol rushed over her body, her breath was like feathers scraping, ambiguous and long.
"Ah Huai." She called him.
Jiang Qihuai looked at him with heavy eyes.
"I like you very much," Tao Zhi said softly, "I have always liked you."
Jiang Qihuai was startled, and responded in a low voice: "Yes, I know."
Although he knew it a little late.
But fortunately, there is still time.
"So," Tao Zhi looked at him, his deep black eyes were quiet, his thin eyelids were red, and even the corners of his eyes were red. I don't know if it was because he was drunk or for some other reason, "Don't leave me behind. gone."
Her voice was soft, her speech was very slow, and her pronunciation was somewhat vague: "Don't leave me behind, I will be sad."
She looked at him stubbornly and seriously like a child who had been bullied and wronged, saying every word.
Jiang Qihuai's throat rolled, what emotion is like the deep and heavy snow in the middle of winter, overwhelming the sky and covering it, making people painful and depressing.
He raised his hand, put his palm on top of her head, rubbed her hair gently, and then hugged her into his arms: "I'm sorry."
Tao Zhi raised his head, tilted his head and looked at him: "Why are you apologizing?"
Jiang Qihuai lowered his head, kissed her hot eyelids, and moved to the slightly cooler corners: "It made my Zhizhi sad."
Tao Zhi didn't know which word he was pleasing to her, her eyes curled up, her eyelashes fluttered and brushed his lips, a little itchy: "But your Zhizhi is a very tolerant Zhizhi."
Jiang Qihuai gave a low laugh, and said obediently, "Well, my Zhizhi is the most tolerant."
"That's what you said," Tao Zhi changed the subject, "It's impossible for me to forgive you so easily."
"..."
Tao Zhi raised his head slightly, moved a little distance away, glanced at him, and said solemnly, "I have to drive today."
Jiang Qihuai: "..."
The little alcoholic has always been very difficult to serve when he is drunk. He looks the same as usual, and he speaks in a clear and orderly manner, but he always makes some weird and willful demands.
Until the car drove to the door, Tao Zhi was still losing his temper because Jiang Qihuai did not allow her to drink and drive.
She obviously took a step back in the end, expressing her willingness to just step on the accelerator and brake, and let Jiang Qihuai take the steering wheel. The two of them cooperated tacitly and went on the road perfectly.
He still disagrees.
Tao Zhi narrowed his eyes, watching the car drive into the underground parking lot, found a parking space and stopped, then turned off the engine, Jiang Qihuai turned around.
She quickly closed her eyes.
The surroundings were silent, the eyes were tightly closed and there was no light at all, and even the senses were a little dull under the paralysis of alcohol.
For a long time, Tao Zhi didn't hear any noise. She endured it for a while, but couldn't bear it any longer. She opened her eyes again and looked to the side.
Jiang Qihuai leaned into the seat, with a cold face, looking at her without emotion.
Tao Zhi was caught, and he looked at him for a few seconds, then tilted his head nonchalantly, leaned against the passenger seat, closed his eyes again, and continued to pretend to be asleep.
As calm as if nothing happened.
Jiang Qihuai suddenly let out a low laugh.
Tao Zhi opened his eyes and looked at him with dissatisfaction: "What are you laughing at? I'm losing my temper. If you don't coax me, just laugh."
"Then how to coax?" Jiang Qihuai humbly asked for advice.
"Do you still want me to teach you?" Tao Zhi curled his lips.
Jiang Qihuai paused, as if thinking for a while, unfastened his seat belt, got out of the car, and walked around.
He opened the co-driver's door, stood by the car door, and stretched his arms forward towards her.
Tao Zhi watched his movements, and asked in a daze, "What are you doing?"
"Coax you," Jiang Qihuai tilted his head, slightly lifted his chin towards the elevator, "I'll carry you up."
Tao Zhi blinked, and muttered, "It's just such a short distance, you are not hypocritical."
"Would you like it?"
"Yes," she immediately sat up straight and unfastened her seat belt, raised her head and raised her hand towards him with a smile, and said in a sticky voice, "Your Highness hug me."
The parking spaces next to the elevator are usually private, but the place where Jiang Qihuai parks is a little bit off, and there is actually a long way to go to the elevator.
It was originally agreed to hold her, but Tao Zhi felt a little awkward after holding her, and finally let him carry her forward.
Her chin rested on his broad shoulders, her arms wrapped around his neck, and her breath lightly sprayed on the skin of his exposed neck, bringing a tingling sensation.
Tao Zhi's fingers hung on his chest, and the fingertips were entangled together: "Jiang Qihuai."
"Um?"
"When I went to see my mother that day, I saw Grandpa Jiang." Tao Zhi said.
Jiang Qihuai's steps stopped for a moment, and then he continued to walk forward.
"Is grandpa sick?" she asked softly.
After drinking, she talked more, and she could always say things that she couldn't usually ask.
"Unexpectedly," Jiang Qihuai said, "the gas exploded."
His voice is a little hoarse.
Tao Zhi didn't speak.
She has only seen this kind of accident in reports and news. A few years ago, the gas pipes in the old residential area had not been replaced for a long time and were seriously worn out. There were several explosions and fires caused by gas leakage. Later, the government paid attention to a large number of investigations and replaced them all. I haven't heard such news in recent years.
Grandpa Jiang is such a good person.
Why do good people have to encounter so many bad things.
Tao Zhi suddenly felt sad, she shook her legs, and said in a low mood, "What about that annoying ghost?"
She didn't say who it was, but Jiang Qihuai knew who she was asking.
"Dead," he said without emotion, drooping the corners of his lips, "a gas explosion."
Tao Zhi was stunned.
She didn't ask further, Jiang Qihuai didn't speak anymore, he walked forward steadily with her on his back, when Tao Zhi pressed the elevator button, the cold sweat on Tao Zhi's body almost soaked the fabric on his back.
She still remembers these news until now because Fu Xiling worked as a holiday intern in a newspaper office during her freshman year. Every day, I run around with the teacher who leads her, where I go all day when I come back at night, and tell her what incidents I come across.
At that time, Tao Zhi was completely devoted to the bunch of lenses he bought, so he just listened casually and didn't pay much attention to them.
But one of the gas leak explosions still left a little impression on her. It is said that all the neighbors were lucky to be away from home that day.
Tao Zhi never connected this matter with Jiang Qihuai at that time.
And this accident, I'm afraid it may not really be just an accident.
Her mind was in chaos, and she heard someone calling her in a trance, Tao Zhi suddenly came back to her senses, only to realize that she had arrived at the door of the house, Jiang Qihuai stood in front of the door lock, looking at her patiently: "The password .”
Tao Zhi bit his lip and reported a string of passwords.
Jiang Qihuai unlocked the door, pushed the door open and walked in. Fu Xiling probably worked overtime again tonight, the room was pitch dark and no one was there.
Tao Zhi turned around and closed the door, shaking his legs.
Jiang Qihuai put her down, and watched her turn on the porch light.
The entrance was dimly lit, Tao Zhi leaned against the door, and didn't go in. She looked up at him with a hoarse voice: "Is it Grandpa Jiang?"
Jiang Qihuai was against the light, with his head down, unable to see his emotions clearly: "Really."
Tao Zhi's eyes were a little hot, she took half a step forward, raised her arms to hug him, and buried her head in his arms.
She wrapped one arm around his waist, and lightly stroked his back with the other hand: "It's all right."
Her hands were soft and warm, and her voice was shallow, soft and gentle: "Grandpa is old and tired, so I can only protect Ah Huai here."
She raised her head and looked at him in the darkness, her deep black eyes were bright and moist: "From now on, it will be the turn of the branch to take over," she said as she waved her hand, stood on tiptoe, and touched his dark skin with her fingers. With short hair, he said softly, "I will always be with us Ah Huai."
Jiang Qihuai looked at her, listened to her gentle words, and felt the power transmitted by the touch of her fingertips.
When I was a teenager, I was young and vigorous, and I always seemed to have a little hero complex. I felt that things had to be perfect, and I felt that I had to protect the world and be the hero of my beloved girl.
Little do they know that there is no one path that can be perfect. When making a choice, you are already facing loss.
I also don't understand that no one can completely become someone's sky.
With the support of each other, they have to overcome obstacles and be each other's heroes.
Tao Zhi had been busy all day, and after drinking at night, she cried and tossed all night. She must be very tired. By the time Jiang Qihuai went to the kitchen to make some honey water, she had fallen asleep on the bed up.
The clothes were not changed, the makeup was not removed, and the shower was not washed.
The little girl's face was buried in the pillow and only half of her face was exposed, her brows were frowning, her mouth was pursed, and she dreamed of something unpleasant.
Jiang Qihuai put the honey water on the bedside table and sat down on the carpet beside the bed.
He looked down at her, then raised his hand, and gently stroked her knit eyebrows with his fingertips, then across the bridge of her straight nose, and landed on her soft cheeks.
What happened to Jiang Qinghe was very sudden.
After Tao Zhi's incident, Jiang Zhi was arrested for intentionally hurting someone, and because he was a former criminal, he was sentenced to several years in prison.
When he was released again, Jiang Qihuai was already in college.
On the day Jiang Zhi was released, Jiang Qinghe uncharacteristically went to pick him up.
He took Jiang Zhi home without telling Jiang Qihuai, cooked a lot of delicious food, bought him new clothes, took him to take a shower and have a haircut.
Jiang Qihuai didn't know if Jiang Zhi had changed. He only found out later that Jiang Qinghe let him stay at home for a week.
One afternoon a week later, Jiang Qihuai received a call from Jiang Qinghe.
There was nothing wrong with the old man's voice, he was still not in a hurry, and his smiling tone made people feel as if he could imagine his crooked smiling eyes behind his glasses.
During that time, Jiang Qihuai took advantage of the holidays to work in other places with a senior in a research institute in the department. There were too many things to learn, and he was very busy every day. Jiang Qinghe only talked to him a few words, and before hanging up, he suddenly asked: "Ah Huai, how can I make a video of the WeChat you applied for me last time?" He said slowly, "Grandpa wants to see you. "
Jiang Qihuai responded: "Okay, I'll go back to the hotel to teach you at night."
Grandpa Jiang didn't even say yes, paused, and then suddenly said, "Forget it...or forget it, you don't have to watch it."
He murmured in a low voice: "Grandpa wants to help you in the end, seeing you, Grandpa is reluctant."
Jiang Qihuai didn't have time to think about what his words meant.
After he returned to the hotel at night, he called Jiang Qinghe and sent another video, but Jiang Qinghe didn't answer.
The next day, he received calls from the hospital and the police.
Jiang Qinghe died on the spot. When the firefighters arrived, Jiang Zhi was still breathing. He was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment, and within a few hours, he also died.
The police said that Jiang Zhi was protected by Jiang Qinghe at the time, probably because of the instinctive conditioned reflex of the parents when their children were in danger.
Jiang Qihuai was standing under the pale light of the hospital, looking at the death notice handed over by the doctor, still at a loss as to what happened.
They had just talked on the phone the day before, and the old man happily told him that the old man Zhao next door had a new granddaughter, who was chubby and very attractive, and asked him to teach him how to use WeChat videos.
Why is everything different after only one night.
In the next few days, he received calls from several neighbors. The day of his accident was originally a working day, and few people would stay at home. Jiang Qinghe used various reasons in advance many days in advance. The neighbors who stayed at home all left.
Jiang Qihuai remembered the last words the old man whispered to him.
He said, Grandpa couldn't bear to see you.
Jiang Qihuai wondered if Jiang Qinghe would really be reluctant to see him.
All he knew was that he was finally willing to give up.
Tao Zhi didn't sleep well this time.
At first, I had a lot of messy dreams, and then I kept dreaming that there was a dog licking her face non-stop, from the eyebrows to the eyes, and then to the bridge of the nose, and finally the wet tip of the nose touched her face.
Tao Zhi opened his eyes, and saw Jiang Qihuai sitting on the floor beside the bed, with his fingers resting on her face, his lips were tight, his eyelashes were drooping, and his pale eyes were dark, as if he couldn't see the end.
As soon as she moved, he seemed to be awakened suddenly. He turned his head almost blankly, his eyes seemed to be out of focus, and he stared at her blankly for a few seconds before he grasped the real scene.
"Are you awake?" His voice was hoarse.
Tao Zhi blinked at him: "How long have I been asleep?"
Jiang Qihuai glanced at his watch: "It didn't take long." He handed her the honey water on the bedside table. The heating in the bedroom is very good, and the water is still warm. "Drink some water first, then take a shower before going to sleep. "
Tao Zhi didn't move, he lay sideways on the bed and looked at him.
Jiang Qihuai didn't urge her, he just patiently waited for her to calm down.
Tao Zhi propped his elbows on the pillow, raised his head with his chin propped up, looked at him suddenly and said, "Your Highness."
This title has been dusty for too long, Jiang Qihuai paused: "Huh?"
"It's okay, I just think," Tao Zhi's black eyes curled up, and the corners of the slightly raised eyes were still sleepy. She looked at him and sighed, and said with satisfaction and attachment, "Although many years have passed, you are still Zhi Zhi’s Jiang Qihuai, this feeling is very good.”
Jiang Qihuai was stunned.
He lowered his eyes slightly and smiled, his originally sharp and cold eyebrows were illuminated by the dim night lantern, making him look indifferent and gentle.
"I will always be Zhizhi's Jiang Qihuai."