On the day of the business trip to Beijing, I did not inform Shu Ming in advance. I arrived in the city at 4 pm and hurried to report to the bank and submit the documents. Of course, I couldn't wait to meet Shu Ming. I met Su Liang on the 16th floor. He knew me. When he saw me, his eyes sparkled. The innocent big boy was like this, "Huh? Zhao Qinqin!"
I say hello to him.
"You came here early?"
“Yes, yes.”
"It's been a long time, I really miss your place—"
I interrupted him hastily, "Where is Li Shuming's office?"
He looked at me in surprise. I immediately realized that I had let it slip. Our relationship was not public, so how could we call each other that casually? Fortunately, Su Liang looked at me in a daze, waved his hand and pointed inside, "The room on the far west."
Oh my god, which is east and which is west? I am a bumpkin from the south and never know the direction. I didn't bother to turn around and ask him again. I just went in, turned a corner, met another person and asked him, then I realized that I was going the opposite direction.
After two months of not seeing him, I stood at the door of Li Shuming's office, still not knowing how to switch between work and life, my heart was pounding. After hesitating for a while, I heard someone inside call, "Come in!"
When I pushed the door open and walked in, Shu Ming was busy signing something. He looked up and saw it was me. He quickly stood up and walked towards me in surprise and joy, "Qinqin, why is it you?"
He closed the door gently and opened his arms to me, and I threw myself into his arms excitedly. "I missed you so much, so I came early." He stroked my forehead and brushed away my hair. "Are you sweating? Are you in such a hurry? Sit down and take a rest." I sat on the black leather sofa with him, and touched my forehead. It was indeed sweaty. I didn't know if it was because I walked too fast or because I was too excited to see him.
Shuming turned down an evening social event and took me to the hotel to check in, and then to a French restaurant on the East Third Ring Road for dinner. He drove a black Volvo, old-fashioned and reserved, and men of this age have probably begun to turn to this calm and low-key color. The dating patterns they arranged were also converging. When they were in love, they liked to choose elegant, romantic, exotic and fashionable French restaurants. Whether it was a young pink girl or a generous and decent mature woman, they were all welcome.
We chose a table by the window and sat down. Shuming ordered Moët Rose Champagne. The romantic pink wine flowed in the tulip-shaped glass, and bubbles kept pouring out. I had never tasted such a good wine before, and I couldn't help but exclaim, "Shuming, look, the color of this wine is so beautiful."
"Rose red."
"Girl's color."
"In my eyes, Qinqin is still a girl." Shu Ming put down the wine glass in his hand and stared into my eyes.
I couldn't help but cover my mouth and laugh softly, "Wow, after three or four years, I'll become an old lady in no time."
Shuming reached out his hand and gently pinched my cheek, "By then, some people will call me grandpa." After that, he pulled both sides of my face, turned down the corners of his mouth, and looked dull, making an old man look, which immediately made me laugh. I never expected that the gentle Li Shuming would be so lively.
The dishes were served one by one, including my favorite orange soufflé. I didn't care about my ladylike manners and ate with relish.
I told Shuming that my father's problem had been solved and thanked him. He nodded with satisfaction and raised his glass to drink with me. The champagne seemed to still have the spicy aroma of the barrel and the rich taste of fruit. After drinking half a glass, my appetite was greatly opened. Shuming considerately helped me pick up some dishes.
I also told him that my father had changed his mind about divorce and decided to move back home, and it seemed that my mother had forgiven him.
"Good news. There is a rainbow after the storm." Shu Ming said slowly.
But is it so easy to heal from emotional pain? I don’t know if they are truly reconciled or just pretending.
Looking out through the large French windows, the sky was already very dark, the fog was thick, and the wind was blowing, making the branches of the ginkgo trees on the roadside sway. It looked like a storm was coming. The waiter came over and closed the light purple curtains.
"Shu Ming, it's going to rain."
"Don't be afraid, I'll take you back to the hotel. We haven't seen each other for so long, you have to let me see enough." The smile on Shu Ming's face grew.
"It's up to you."
He looked down at his watch. It was exactly eight o'clock. "It's still early. If you don't mind, come over to my place and sit down?"
Well, I am indeed somewhat curious about his home.
After paying the bill, it was just over a thousand yuan. I stuck out my tongue. It was a bit expensive, but fortunately he could afford it.
It started to rain when we got out. The big raindrops hit the car window. The rumbling thunder was getting closer and closer. It was really strange that there was thunder in winter. But sitting in Li Shuming's car, I felt safe and comfortable.
Shuming drove me to his place, which had four bedrooms and two living rooms. The furniture was simple and elegant. On the coffee table were several financial magazines of the season. The house was very lively but not messy. The tablecloth was the kind of orchid plaid cloth that was resistant to dirt. When Shuming came in, he took away a cup of green tea that he had forgotten to pour out in the morning. Apart from that, there was no dust on the wooden floor at a glance, and the beige leather sofa was also very clean. A man should be a little lazy, and he was just right.
Shuming played a piano piece for me, which was composed by a Korean. It was like a rainy day, where lovers walked hand in hand and talked in the misty rain. We sat on the sofa and chatted for a while, and I tentatively asked him when he had his first love.
He put his arms away, patted his head, and deliberately stretched out his tone, "A long, long time ago—"
"So, what about the second time?"
“After working for three years.”
"Well, are you going to ask me the same question too? It is said that what a boyfriend who has just started dating wants to know most is how many girlfriends his girlfriend has dated before." I winked at him.
Shu Ming hesitated for a moment, "Qinqin, do you care about a person's past?"
He understands it very well, but how can I answer him
"I understand what you mean. It's also my fault. I haven't really talked to you about it for so long. I've always been worried that you would have concerns after knowing it." Shu Ming suddenly put away his smile, turned around, looked at me seriously, and his deep eyes seemed to have thousands of words to say to me.
Ah! I suddenly felt scared. Maybe I shouldn't ask. Maybe there were many secrets in those eyes.
I stared at him, waiting for him to continue.
"Qi Qi, do you mind a man with a history?"
From the look in his eyes, he was very serious.
I was startled and couldn't help but shrink back, subconsciously moving away from him, "Ah! What do you mean - why haven't I heard you mention it before -"
He turned around and held my shoulders, "Qinqin, I'm talking to you now..."
"Have you ever been married?" I pointed at him and asked. This was also the first thing that came to my mind.
Li Shuming nodded very lightly, "I had a short marriage."
No! I felt like I was hit by a club! I never thought he was married. He did so well that you couldn't tell at all. Suddenly, my head was foggy and I couldn't speak. I only heard him continue, "We divorced three years ago."
Divorce? When I heard this word, I finally came to my senses. I jumped up from the sofa and stood eight feet away from him. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? No, no, don't say any more."
Shuming looked at me helplessly and innocently.
"I need to think about this," I said hastily as I searched for my handbag.
He stood up, as if a little aggrieved, "You don't even want to ask why we're getting divorced—"
If everyone is calm, this would sound wrong. Is he disappointed in me? Blaming me for not caring? But at that time, my mind was in a mess and I couldn't care less. "It's getting late, I'm leaving now."
"It's raining outside. I'll take you there."
I turned my head and looked at him, "Mr. Li Shuming, please stay. I'll call a taxi myself." After that, he grabbed the handbag on the small table in the hallway and walked away angrily. At that time, I just wanted to leave here and get better and better. I didn't want to be with such a "story-telling" person. I didn't want my lover to have any complicated emotional history. (To be continued)