When the alarm clock rang on time the next morning, Xu Ran was still a little surprised. When he looked at the phone, there was still 3% of the battery left, and he dutifully rang two alarm clocks before turning off automatically.
Slowly getting up from the bed, Xu Ran took a few seconds to realize that this was not his usual place to live, and then Xu Ran dragged his heavy steps to wash up. After splashing water on his face, he shook it like an animal, shaking all the chaotic thoughts in his head, and finally he was truly awake.
His unit is less than two stops away from here, if it wasn't for He Cheng, he would prefer to live here.
The place is not big, but it is the only place that can truly accept him, his own home.
There is no He Cheng's home.
The alarm clock rang according to the usual schedule, which caused Xu Ran to arrive at the unit an hour earlier than usual. The office was empty and lifeless, Xu Ran sat in his seat, rubbing his flat stomach in a daze.
He doesn't have the habit of eating breakfast, usually only when He Cheng is around, he will make some for him. He couldn't eat the oily things sold outside, so he could only starve every morning.
He knew this habit was bad for his health, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't help not starving, which was a bit like another kind of self-punishment, and he used starvation to keep himself awake.
There must be something wrong with this. There must be something wrong with me, he thought.
The working hours are muddled, and when there are no projects, everyone in the design office is fishing. Xu Ran does his job well and opens WeChat on the computer. He couldn't read Moments on the computer, which allowed him to pretend that he didn't see anything last night, deceiving himself.
Clicking on He Cheng's chat box, he asked, "When shall I go back?"
In fact, without He Cheng, it makes no difference whether to go back or not. But Xu Ran knew that He Cheng liked the way he was chasing after him, the kind of shamelessly begging to go back after being kicked out, would always bring happiness to He Cheng, and only at this time, He Cheng would smile at him.
After the news was sent out, Xu Ran regretted it again. He couldn't see the expression while chatting, he should ask He Cheng to meet first, anyway, the excuses are ready-made. Today marks their tenth anniversary together.
Ten years ago, the day before yesterday, Joan chose to go abroad and said that he would never come back. Two days later, Xu Ran plucked up the courage to tell He Cheng that he wanted to be with him.
He Cheng agreed.
Xu Ran didn't regret the desperate gamble back then, even though He Cheng had scarred him all over the past ten years, they were together.
No matter how unspeakable the love between lovers is, it is "love" after all. Xu Ran has said this to himself for many years.
He Cheng didn't return, Xu Ran didn't know when he would return, so he asked again, "Are you free tonight? Let's go out for dinner."
Last week, he made a reservation for He Cheng's favorite French restaurant, Rose Rain, Candlelight Dinner. He Cheng likes style, and Xu Ran has prepared everything.
Two hours later, He Chenghui: Yes.
Xu Ran was so happy that he almost jumped up, if his legs allowed him to do so.
The gift was a tie clip, and the price was Xu Ran's three months' salary. The previous one was dragged down by a drunk while having a party. It was nothing at the time. When he returned home, He Cheng was so angry that he reduced the amount of cooperation with that company by 30%.
He Cheng especially likes that tie clip, for no reason. He had carried that tie clip for several years, Xu Ran spent several months traveling all over the shops in the city, and finally found the exact same style.
Generally speaking, He Cheng is a long-lasting person.
After asking for leave from the director with a bad face, Xu Ran left work early and went to the store to pick up the gift. The small black and gold box was heavy, containing Xu Ran's cheering mood.
There is always a traffic jam on Monday night, so Xu Ran went to the restaurant to wait. Looking at the traffic in the city from the nineteenth floor, accompanied by elegant music in the ear, there is always a sense of detachment that has abandoned the world.
He Cheng's company is a little far from here, Xu Ran looked at the time and blamed himself. He should have thought about the traffic jam, and he should have ordered the Japanese restaurant next to He Cheng's company. He has a bad stomach and can't eat raw food, but once in a while should be fine.
The guests at the table around him changed twice, and the waiter bowed to him gently and politely, and asked him if he needed to change the ice cubes in the champagne bucket.
Xu Ran said yes, holding the box unconsciously with both hands, and quickly put it back in his pocket when he regained consciousness.
He took out his mobile phone and looked at He Cheng's circle of friends. Only the news from last night made Xu Ran heave a sigh of relief.
He Cheng is a person who keeps his promises, even if the promise is made to him, He Cheng will definitely not release pigeons.
Xu Ran firmly believed in this.
Fortunately, before the waiter came to change the ice for the second time, He Cheng arrived.
He was wearing a neat suit and striding towards this side. Everywhere they passed by, people looked back, and the young girls all had curious smiles on their lips, wanting to see where such a handsome guest would go.
Xu Ran was dumbfounded. As if He Cheng was walking towards him under the spotlight, he got up quickly, staggered with his right leg, knocked open the stool, and made a slight creaking sound.
He Cheng frowned slightly, but Xu Ran didn't care. This man was mine, he told the girls in his mind, and he was dating me.
He Cheng said to him, "Sit."
It is extremely embarrassing to make noise when tables and chairs collide in such a restaurant.
He Cheng sat down across from him, the waiter asked if the meal would start, He Cheng waved his hand and said, "as soon as possible."
"Do you have a job?" Xu Ran was a little apprehensive, "Did I waste your time?"
"Did I say that?" He Cheng looked up at him impatiently.
No. Xu Ran answered quietly in her heart.
The pre-dinner was very quiet. He Cheng seemed unhappy, so Xu Ran could only tell the waiter to postpone the scheduled violin performance.
While waiting for dinner, He Cheng's tense expression finally relaxed a little. Xu Ran took the opportunity to ask, "Are you busy recently?"
"It's okay." He Cheng said calmly, "The old guys still only look for trouble."
"Don't be too tired." Xu Ran said. He saw that He Cheng's eyes were slightly blue, and he had a lot of social engagements recently, so he probably didn't get a good night's sleep.
He Cheng glanced at him and held back what he wanted to say.
"By the way," Xu Ran was so nervous that his legs were shaking, he touched the box in his pocket, "There is something..."
He was taken aback suddenly. He Cheng was arranging his collar and straightening his tie, a small black tie clip was shining under the soft light.
"Have… "
Xu Ran opened his mouth for a long time, but couldn't continue.
This tie clip was exactly the same as the one in his pocket.
Seeing that he didn't speak for a long time, He Cheng was a little impatient, "What, what's there? Want to buy something?"
He knew that Xu Ran suddenly asked him out for dinner because he wanted something. It's not the day of the festival, what kind of food do you eat
It's just that the company's work is too annoying, and I want to divert my attention, so I agreed to come. It's not impossible for Xu Ran to ask, as long as he doesn't exceed his bottom line, he can buy whatever he wants.
Xu Ran doesn't make much demands on him, but once in a while, he can still accept it. Otherwise, the relationship between the two people on the surface will not be justified.
Xu Ran was stunned, his throat was sore and itchy as if someone had poured a pot of boiling water.
"No..." He let go of the box in his pocket and said softly, "It's nothing."
"Just say what you want." He Cheng said, "It's not that I don't have money."
"I don't want to ask you for something." Xu Ran lowered his head so low that he almost fell into the dinner plate.
He Cheng really hates his submissive look, he is usually in a state of emptying himself, he only says "yes" when talking and chatting, and now he doesn't even ask for it, is he a fool
"Forget it." He Cheng snorted coldly. After passing this village, there is no such shop. If you have money, you don't know what you want, and you don't know what this person is planning.
Xu Ran stopped talking. He Cheng was too lazy to sit face to face with him, so he called up the violinist who was pretending to watch the scenery.
The long music flowed through the ears like water, it was originally a warm tune, but Xu Ran felt sad. Why did he forget that He Cheng would get what he wanted immediately, so he wouldn't wait for a gift from his shady lover. Compared with the expensive He Cheng, any gift in Xu Ran's hands faded to seven points.
After finishing his meal in silence, he followed He Cheng and left the restaurant. There were only the two of them in the elevator, He Cheng stood in front, and he was behind, watching He Cheng's back quietly.
I really want to hug him. Xu Ran thought dazedly, wishing he could hug me too.
Suddenly, He Cheng said, "Have you seen enough?"
Xu Ran was startled, his right knee throbbed, and he quickly said, "Enough is enough, no..."
No matter what he said, he was a little at a loss.
He Cheng was obviously amused by his appearance, his shoulders trembled slightly.
The elevator reached the first floor immediately, Xu Ran didn't know what was wrong, so he blurted out, "Did your classmates reunite yesterday?"
He knew that He Cheng didn't like others to explore his privacy, but he really couldn't help it.
As if thinking of something, He Cheng replied in a good mood, "Yes."
"I see..." Xu Ran took a deep breath, "I saw Qiao An."
"Yes, he came back and said he would go back to China to work and start his own company."
As soon as Qiao An was mentioned, He Cheng's words obviously increased, with obvious lightness and joy.
Xu Ran said sadly, "That's very powerful."
"Yeah, he's still so powerful." He Cheng smiled lightly, gently stroked his tie with his fingers, rubbed it lightly, and touched it carefully.
"He even remembers which tie clip he gave me back then."
The elevator dinged and stopped on the first floor.
"This version is no longer produced, and he can still find the same model, and he doesn't know how far he has traveled."
In the second half of the sentence, there is a deep distress, but it is so happy, just like a teenager receiving a gift carefully selected by someone he likes, so satisfied.
It didn't make any sense either, just to tell him simply, to find someone to share his indescribable joy, He Cheng took the lead out of the elevator and left the restaurant.
After a long time, the elevator doors closed automatically, and Xu Ran pressed the door to open it and walked out.
He was silent, looking at the empty hall, tightly holding the box in his pocket, even though the corners of the box hurt his palm.