The plane tree leaves on both sides of Huaishu Street have fallen to the ground. Autumn has arrived quietly. When the wind blows gently, the leaves on the ground are lifted up and slowly fall to the ground.
Tang You stood in the living room, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings.
This is a villa that has been vacant for a long time. Although the decoration is old, it is still clean and tidy overall.
A few years ago, the Tang family moved to the neighboring Haicheng for business reasons. Now, because he has to return to his original place of residence for the college entrance examination, Tang You had to transfer back to City C.
The best art high school in City C is in this district, so mother Fang Lai bought this villa nearby. Although it is a bit old, it is close to the school and convenient for going to school.
"I'll have someone come over to clean up later, and change the wallpaper in your room. Yes, yes, is there anything else you want to buy?"
Fang Lai's voice came from behind. Tang You turned around and asked, "Where's my dad?"
Fang Lai was about to reply when the phone she had been holding rang. She immediately turned her back and walked to the window to answer the call.
The mother's back is tall and proud, revealing the confidence, competence and strength unique to a strong woman.
A few seconds later, Fang Lai finished the call.
She came over, put her phone back into her new brand-name bag, and said to Tang You: "Your dad just finished talking about something and is waiting for me at the airport. This time we are going to South Africa for an inspection. You have to listen to Aunt Rong at home and practice the piano and take classes well. Do you hear me?"
The Tang family started out as a real estate business, and perhaps they were not satisfied with the status quo, so Fang Lai wanted to enter the jewelry industry two years ago. This time, she finally had an acquaintance to meet with a South African mine owner to discuss cooperation, so she naturally would not miss it.
Tang You's parents have been away from home for a long time doing business, and she has long been accustomed to such separation. She nodded calmly and pointed to the wallpaper specimen sent by the master on the table: "I want sky blue wallpaper."
"Sky blue?" Fang Lai frowned, picked up the specimen, flipped through a few pages, and pointed to a pattern of small white daisies: "Sky blue doesn't look good, how about this one?"
Tang You moved her lips and turned away with disgust: "Whatever."
After Fang Lai left, Tang You returned to the bedroom on the second floor.
She put her cello case in the corner. The priceless cello in the case was custom-made for her by Fang Lai from abroad. Tang You's name was engraved on the cello.
Thinking of this, Tang You slumped his shoulders.
Seriously speaking, her mother actually loved her very much, but this love was too strong and excessive, sometimes it made her feel suffocated.
From big things like going to school and making friends to small things like what color wallpaper to use, Fang Lai is in charge of everything, and denial and rejection are not allowed.
Tang You pushed open the glass door of the bedroom sullenly and walked to the balcony.
Some of the wall paint on the balcony has begun to peel off, and there are a few pots of newly bought flowers next to it.
She lay on the balcony and had a clear view of the scenery near her new home.
There is a not very wide street in front of the villa, with towering French plane trees planted on both sides of the street. It looks like a standard luxury residential area, but across the street -
On the other side under the sycamore tree, there is a row of brick and tile houses that are very inconsistent.
Compared with the tranquility of the villa, the world over there seemed more down-to-earth. One could faintly hear the sounds of playing, car bells, and the buzzing of children spinning tops.
Tang You's curiosity was aroused.
Fang Lai was very strict with her, always telling her that studying was the most important thing now, that she should study abroad in the future, and become the youngest cello player. Even when making friends, they had to be the descendants of aristocrats with good looks.
Therefore, Tang You's few friends were all well-behaved young ladies. Every day, they learned different languages, learned the etiquette of ladies from noble families, learned how to taste the vintage of red wine, and learned everything that was not suitable for their age.
Tang You often felt that her life at the age of eighteen lacked some liveliness and freedom.
There was a lot of noise in the distance, full of life. This alley hidden in the villa area and out of place attracted Tang You so much that she could not help but tiptoe to see it more clearly.
At this time, the maid Aunt Rong came up and knocked on the door.
"Miss, I'm going out for a while."
Tang You turned around: "Where are you going?"
"I was just preparing lunch and found that there was no soy sauce in the kitchen. I'll go to the supermarket in front to buy some and will be back soon."
"Oh." Tang You thought for a moment, pointed at the small bungalow opposite and asked, "What's that?"
Aunt Rong took a look and said with regret, "Before, this area was planned to be used to build villas, with a total of three phases. But somehow the developer ran away with the money after building half of the area. So now it has become like this. This side of the street is full of the rich and powerful, and the other side of the street is full of all kinds of people."
After saying that, Aunt Rong shook her head: "It's like two different worlds."
She buttoned up her embroidered bag and told Tang You: "Then I'll go buy it. If you're bored, you can go downstairs and watch TV."
Tang You thought about it, then stepped forward to stop her: "Why don't I go."
Aunt Rong was stunned: "How can that be possible... This is what I should do."
"I'm fine anyway." Tang You walked out without saying anything: "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."
In fact, the kitchen was busy, and Aunt Rong really had no time to spare, so she had to compromise: "Then I'll trouble you, Miss. It's not far, there's a supermarket about 200 meters from the street corner."
"Um."
Aunt Rong walked her to the door, and suddenly, as if remembering something, she raised her voice and shouted, "Oh, Miss, please don't go to the other side. Madam specifically warned us before we left. It's a mess over there, and there are many bad guys!"
"… "
Tang You looked speechlessly at the servant who had already followed her to the street and was still worried: "Aunt Rong, do you still have soup in the pot?"
Aunt Rong was reminded and slapped her thigh and ran into the house - "Oh, it's over!"
His ears finally found peace, and Tang You closed his eyes and exhaled, as if to let out the depression in his chest.
Why does the whole world want to control her? Fang Lai left, and a talkative servant was left behind.
But fortunately, she finally got half an hour of freedom.
Tang You crossed the road and walked along the side of the street, looking curiously at the opposite side.
She wanted to know what the world outside her own was like.
Passing through the tall sycamore trees, the winding alleys across the street are what adults call "forbidden areas"
There is a small stone tablet at the entrance of the alley, on which is engraved: Huaishu Hutong
There is an open space in the alley, and many people gathered there, young and old, playing something. It looks like a lively little market.
Tang You stood at the entrance of the alley and watched for a few minutes. Finally, he couldn't suppress his curiosity anymore, so he made up his mind and walked towards the depths of the "forbidden area".
The alleys are full of old houses, old brick walls and rubble, and every household is close together, as if witnessing the historical changes of the city. Under a sturdy old locust tree, the elderly gather together to play chess and chat, the children chase and play, and all kinds of mobile handmade snacks shuttle around.
Tang You bought a piece of twisted candy, tasted it in her mouth, and it was so sweet that it made her teeth sick.
If Fang Lai were here, he would never allow her to buy things from street stalls.
Tang You was a little excited, as if he had accidentally entered into some new and fresh world hidden in the city, and was reluctant to leave.
She bit the candy and watched the two old men play chess and then play spinning tops with some little kids.
Although there is no hustle and bustle of traffic and no neon lights here, it is full of folk customs and human touch.
What forbidden area? Where are the bad guys
Tang You felt that this place was simply a paradise. Everyone looked so kind and friendly, and did not object to her intrusion as an outsider at all.
After playing for a while, Tang You still remembered the purpose of her coming out. She saw a small shop in the alley and walked over.
The store was not big and there were a lot of goods piled up inside. Tang You saw soy sauce on the nearest shelf.
But there was no one in the store.
She looked around and saw a man leaning against the freezer at the store entrance with his back to her.
The man held a cigarette between his fingers, and his eyes seemed to be fixed on where the children were playing.
He was very tall and leaned against the freezer with a somewhat lazy posture.
Tang You guessed that this should be the owner of the small shop, so he coughed and said, "Excuse me."
The man didn't respond.
She had to raise her voice: "Hello?"
The figure next to the freezer finally moved.
The man turned around and looked at her uncertainly: "Call me?"
Tang You met his gaze without warning and was stunned for half a second.
My heart suddenly pounded as if it was hit by something and it missed a beat.
The sun was shining brightly. The man had dark eyes and a very casual expression. He just leaned against the freezer, half turned around, and looked over with a lazy raised eyebrow.
The sleeves of his coat were half rolled up, revealing a wrist with beautiful curves. His skin was a healthy wheat color. The zipper of his coat was not zipped up, leaving it casually open, and the grey T-shirt underneath was a little pale.
At first glance, the appearance of this man standing in the sun is undoubtedly stunning, even better than all the rich young masters Tang You has seen in Haicheng.
But Tang You didn't have the courage to look at him a second time.
The fragmented sunlight at noon shone on the man's face, which was apparently gentle, but the moment their eyes met, his eyes reflected a strong sense of weirdness and distance.
Like a wild and unruly horse, his whole body exudes the smell of danger.
Tang You swallowed, lowered his head, and subconsciously stepped back a little.
But since I've already shouted, it would seem like I'm just teasing if I don't say anything.
She could only point to the shelf cautiously: "Excuse me, how much is a bottle of soy sauce?"
Zhou Qinyao looked at the strange girl in front of him who appeared out of nowhere.
She has fair skin, short hair, denim overalls, a pair of white sneakers, and a pair of clean and clear eyes. It's just as if the words "I'm a good boy" were engraved on her forehead.
Zhou Qinyao doesn't like to meddle in strangers' affairs, and today is no exception.
But there was silence for a while.
He still walked over, reached over the counter and took out a bottle of soy sauce:
"Ten dollars."
"Oh." Tang You lowered his head to feel for the money, took out a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and handed it to him.
Zhou Qinyao turned his gaze to the children playing in the distance.
A voice that was neither light nor faint followed: "If you don't have change, scan the QR code."
Tang You’s cell phone was out of battery, so she left it at home to charge and didn’t bring it with her when she went out.
She paused, thinking that she would need soy sauce at home anyway, so her brain short-circuited:
"Then I'll buy ten bottles."
"… "
Zhou Qinyao looked back again.
He looked at the good girl carefully, and after making sure she was serious, he twitched his lips with a half-smile: "Okay."
Then, he neatly placed the remaining nine bottles of soy sauce in front of Tang You.
"… "
Tang You was a little confused. She blinked hard, looked at the shelf in disbelief, and then looked at the man.
How did he manage to hold nine bottles of soy sauce in his two hands at the same time and bring them all at once
… Is he an octopus
The man's cell phone rang at this time, and he answered the call with his back turned. Tang You also began to think about how to move the ten bottles of soy sauce back home.
She naively thought that she could do it, so she imitated the man, stretched out her hand, pinched the bottle of soy sauce between each finger, and finally picked it up.
Half a second later—
Tang You’s soy sauce obviously has his own ideas.
First one, then two, then three, they slipped through my fingers one after another and fell on the counter in a mess.
Tang You hurriedly picked up all the tilted bottles in his arms.
Take a deep breath…
That was a close call, we almost fell down.
Tang You began to think of other solutions. Just as she was thinking about whether to deposit a few bottles in the small shop first, she suddenly felt something touching her butt.
The touch through the jeans is a bit subtle and a bit provocative.
Her heart tightened, she thought of something, and immediately looked back vigilantly.
There was no one around. In the distance, there were children playing together, old people playing chess, and the old lady selling candy canes was still there.
The one closest to her, the one most likely to run into her...
Tang You fixed her gaze on the man beside her.
His cigarette was almost finished, but he was still on the phone.
But at this moment, the man's back in Tang You's eyes inexplicably had a hint of concealment and deliberateness.
She bit her lip, turned her head back, and her fingers unconsciously picked at the packaging on the soy sauce bottle.
—Although he looks a bit like a bad guy, with so many people around, he can’t be so blatant, right
—He is quite handsome, handsome guys should have no shortage of girlfriends, so he shouldn’t be so… hungry…
However, just when Tang You was thinking in confusion, the other party suddenly hit him again, neither lightly nor heavily.
This feeling is very much like an octopus's tentacles, fast and sensitive, stretching out quickly and retracting quickly.
He did it without anyone noticing, and it was obvious at first glance that he was an old hand.
Tang You turned around immediately, and sure enough, the scene in front of him was the same as before, so calm that there was not even a gust of wind.
Yes, it must be this stinky man who is pretending to make a phone call!
Don't judge a book by its cover. Even if a beast is dressed in the skin of a handsome man, he is still a beast at heart.
Tang You pursed her lips tightly and her face flushed.
She really wanted to scold the man, but she had never scolded anyone and didn't know how to do it.
Even though she was furious, she couldn't vent her anger. She was frustrated for several seconds before she opened her little paws like a little lion cub and used all her strength to -
He reached out and pushed the man hard.
Zhou Qinyao was answering the phone when he was suddenly pushed. He frowned and turned around to see Tang You looking at him with wide eyes, holding a bottle of soy sauce in her hand, as if hinting at something.
Zhou Qinyao:
It took him several seconds to comprehend this protest-like gesture before he finally reacted.
Someone bought ten bottles of soy sauce at once, ten bottles in total, and the shelves were completely emptied! Even if you can give a discount of 20 cents per bottle, you should still show some appreciation, right
The shy little girl was really embarrassed to ask for help from Huili.
Zhou Qinyao roughly understood it, but since the boss was not there, he didn't know what wholesale price he could give.
I simply raised my hand, picked up a lollipop from the counter and threw it to her.
"?" Tang You was shocked.
I've seen hooligans, but I've never seen such an open-minded hooligan. He touched someone's butt and even gave them a one-dollar candy.
Tang You didn't answer, feeling both annoyed and ashamed. She stared at the man in front of her, and after enduring for a few seconds, she suddenly stretched out her feet in white shoes and stomped hard on his left foot three times with all her strength.
After stepping on them, he picked up a few bottles of soy sauce from the counter and ran towards the alley without looking back.
"… "
Zhou Qinyao was caught off guard when a clear little footprint appeared on his shoe. He frowned and looked at Tang You's back as he ran away. He paused for a long time.
Is there anything wrong, miss