Although Ji Lian is in a high position, his style is very low-key. Ji Fanyang is out of character, and he doesn't want to have close friendships with the children of high officials. The father and son unanimously chose to hold a small-scale birthday party, without notifying too many people, just three or five relatives and friends, gathered for a small drink, and the friendship was harmonious.
Ji Fanyang invited Rao Feifei and Yang Jie, and several young women in the city bureau building who admired Ji Fanyang asked a few insinuations, but Ji Fanyang smiled and perfunctory them.
Ji Lian called Gao Ju himself and invited him to his son's birthday party, which made Gao Zhengcheng quite flattered.
During the few days of preparing for the birthday party, Wei Congjia called, first to send birthday wishes, and then to reassure Ji Fanyang not to worry. Lu Hui's life and death are uncertain, and considering that he will be missing for half a month in the past few days, the police in the imperial capital still haven't received any news. Even though Ji Fanyang was very anxious, there was nothing he could do.
The birthday party was held in a side room of a nature-themed hotel. The room was not too big, enough for a dozen people to come and go. The lush bamboo forest grew against the wall, and the shrubs about waist height subtly divided the space.
Ji Fanyang was sitting at the side of the long table talking with Rao Feifei and Yang Jie, Ji Lian was chatting with old friends, Fan Shuqin was sitting and talking with several ladies with exquisite makeup and gentle eyebrows.
Ji Fanyang is a gentle person, but his words are tight. There are almost no close friends, and there are a lot of opposite sexes. However, he always messes up his relationship. He was broken up four times. After being dumped for the fourth time half a year ago, He seemed a little discouraged, and enjoyed following Lu Hui every day to clean up the mess.
He still lived in the shared house and made sure that someone would open the door when Lu Hui came home. Rao Feifei jokingly said that he treated Lu Hui with all his heart.
"Today is your birthday, don't be so sad." Rao Feifei dissuaded.
Ji Fanyang squeezed the stiff facial muscles, and forced a smile: "Oh, by the way, I'm going to the bureau, Xi Junhong is not here, so he doesn't chase you anymore?"
Rao Feifei smiled and shook her head: "He watched Lu Zu's self-sacrifice behavior and was greatly moved. He told me to do something good for the people. I heard from Uncle Xi that he signed up for a volunteer association , I set off to work in the southern mountainous area two days ago."
"Can Team Lu encourage people so much?" Ji Fanyang couldn't help but listen to it, imagining his expression when he told Lu Hui. Lu Hui must have looked disgusted and refused to put on the hat of "life mentor".
"That's not true." Rao Feifei shrugged, "I didn't understand Lu Zu's intentions at the beginning, but I didn't expect that Lu Zu could really influence Xi Junhong. Is this one thing and one thing?"
"...It's hard to say." Ji Fanyang admired Rao Feifei's imagination, he propped his chin with his right hand, "If Group Lu heard what you said, he could throw you out from the fifteenth floor."
"Then don't tell him when he comes back." Rao Feifei said, she stared at Ji Fanyang for a moment and lowered her head in frustration, "Forget it, you will definitely tell him and then use it to laugh at him."
"One of the great pleasures in life." Ji Fanyang smiled, "Being a babysitter must be rewarded."
"I see you and the Lu group." Rao Feifei raised his glass, "It's the same thing. Happy birthday."
"Let's generate and restrain each other." Ji Fanyang raised his wine glass and touched Rao Feifei, "Thank you."
Rao Feifei stuck out her tongue: "I also wish Lu Zu a happy 33rd birthday."
"He can stir up trouble until he is a hundred years old." Ji Fanyang said.
Rao Feifei nodded: "That's for sure."
…
After the birthday party was over, Ji Fanyang saw off the guests and rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. Fan Shuqin patted his son on the shoulder: "Mrs. Qi invited you to play at her house."
"I won't go." Ji Fanyang refused, he looked at his mother, "My friend is missing, I don't have the heart to play with Miss Qi."
"I know." Fan Shuqin nodded, "So I refused, saying that you were just broken up and you were in a bad mood."
"...Mom, it's all about it." Ji Fanyang smiled wryly, "It's better to talk about what happened half a year ago now, and just find any reason."
Fan Shuqin pinched Ji Fanyang's cheek: "My son is so handsome and has a good personality, they are blind to dump you."
"... That's not what Lu Hui said." Ji Fanyang muttered, he looked down at his watch, "It's almost ten o'clock, mom, hurry up and go home with dad, I should go too."
"It's getting dark." Fan Shuqin suggested, "For these few days, your friend hasn't come back, so if there is a day missing, nothing will happen."
"That's not necessarily true." Ji Fanyang tried his best to smile, and his smile looked very much like Fan Shuqin, "Go, Commander Ji is getting impatient."
"He dares to be impatient." Fan Shuqin said angrily, she had no choice but to leave after being urged by her son repeatedly, "Then let's go."
"Well, good night, Mom." Ji Fanyang waved.
"Good night." Fan Shuqin walked up to Ji Lian and waved to Ji Fanyang.
Ji Fanyang stopped to watch his family's car leave, turned around and got in the car, and drove home.
Lanshan Apartment No. 1521, Ji Fanyang walked into the elevator with the car key, and pressed [15]. He was the only one in the elevator, so it seemed empty.
The number on the screen above the elevator jumped to 15, the elevator door opened, and Ji Fanyang stepped out of the elevator room. Passing by the dark stairs with no lights on, Ji Fanyang's footsteps paused slightly, and he heard rustling sounds.
The small sound sounded like clothes rubbing against each other. Ji Fanyang frowned, stepped lightly, and approached the stairwell cautiously.
The light in the stairwell is a voice-activated light. Ji Fanyang stomped the ground and made a huge noise to turn on the light bulb. The light filled the stairwell—a person was sitting at the corner between the two walls.
It was spring now, and the temperature was not too high. The man was wearing a tattered black coat, his messy hair was full of dust, and he was sitting on the concrete floor with one leg bent, his face covered by a half-length beard.
Ji Fanyang squinted his eyes, most people would think he was a homeless man, but Ji Fanyang didn't, he just thought that person looked very familiar.
The sudden bright light made the tramp squint his eyes to adapt to the harsh light. After a while, he opened his eyes and looked at Ji Fanyang. Those eyes were like a wolf walking far away in the wilderness, cold and sharp. with confusion. He leaned on the wall and stood up staggeringly, with a hoarse voice: "... Long time no see."
Ji Fanyang opened his mouth wide but couldn't find a sound. He stared blankly at the homeless man. His heart, which had been suspended for half a month, fell hard to the ground. He gasped for breath, and then he found his voice: " Lu, Lu Hui?"
The lights in the stairwell flickered twice, and the flickering lights were the only movement in the frozen atmosphere.
"Hmm... happy birthday?" Lu Hui's beard moved, as if smiling.
Ji Fanyang's eyes suddenly turned red, and he quickly walked forward and hugged Lu Hui without hesitation: "You are finally back."
Lu Hui stood stiffly on the spot, well, he really didn't expect Ji Fanyang to be able to do anything dressed like this.