The news I heard from the company was confirmed by Shu Ming. For him, it should be a great opportunity for promotion. I was really happy for him, otherwise it would not be his turn in a short time, and he might not be able to move for ten or eight years. But he just smiled, not as happy as I imagined, and finally said to me, "Don't be happy too early."
I calmed down and thought about it. Yes, I should be more cautious. Haven't you seen those determined people in the Olympic Games often get overshadowed by the dark horse that suddenly appeared out of nowhere? However, I felt strange when I thought that he was also so cautious in his attitude towards me. Haha, we are not a family after all. But I don't blame him. Li Shuming always has his own account book in his heart, and he doesn't tell outsiders. He is probably like this.
Shuming will come here on a business trip next week and stay for three days.
After that day's meeting, I didn't contact Xu Nanfang again. Many things have inconvenient reasons, but I learned from my father that the Xu family is in Shanghai, doing a business of electronic components. They are manufacturers, and the inland market is undoubtedly vast. They will soon find a company in Chongqing to act as an agent in the southwest.
When I was a child, I didn’t know what business they were in. I only knew that they came from a well-off family in Taipei, and that Xu Nanfang drove a white BMW sports car out for a ride when he was in high school... Looking back, time is like water that has been spilled.
It has been two years since graduation. Wei Changjia, the university class monitor, posted a notice on the Sohu Alumni Directory, "A class reunion will be held in the multi-purpose hall of the China University of Political Science and Law on Saturday afternoon. The content will be dinner and simple campus entertainment activities to relive the old days. There is also a small request: please bring your family along."
We called everyone one by one a week in advance to inform them. We never thought that this inconspicuous class monitor would be so responsible. When we were in school, this boy with big black-framed glasses had small red spots on his face all the time. Girls were reluctant to date him. No matter how talented he was, they were overshadowed by his vigorous hormones.
Zhang Yaoyao also sighed, wow, the class monitor is really thoughtful!
Shuming arrived on Wednesday, and took the opportunity to stay with me for a few more days on the weekend. This time, my mother invited him to stay at home for two days to discuss the wedding. Shuming was used to staying in hotels on business trips and being alone. When he came home, he had to look at the elders' faces, be submissive, and be polite and know the rules.
I wanted to take the initiative to block him back, "Mom, he has to meet some friends, so it would be more convenient for him to stay at the hotel. I'm afraid he would disturb you if he went home."
"We will be a family sooner or later. Besides, the house is so big, the living room and study can both accommodate guests. His parents died early, and he has been away from home for many years. It would be good for him to experience the family atmosphere of four people in advance."
It seems that my mother doesn't understand that men don't like to be bound by rules.
Before I could say anything, my mother continued, "Ask him what he thinks and tell him that we invite him to come. How do you know he doesn't want to come without asking?"
At dinner time on Thursday, I told Shuming what my mother meant, "Aunt Jiang cordially invites you to move into her home and stay for the weekend." After saying that, I stuck out my tongue and smiled at him.
Shu Ming was also stunned for a moment. Ha! I secretly found it interesting, even he didn't expect it. He pursed his lips and smiled, helpless but open-minded. Then he took out his mobile phone and called his mother. He greeted her first, then thanked her for the invitation and said he would come over tomorrow after finishing his work. He didn't have the slightest intention of refusing. It can be heard that the mother was happy on the other end, and this future son-in-law is likable.
After the date with Shuming, I returned home at 11 o'clock. After taking a shower, I lay on the bed reading a book. I found a text message on my phone: Qinqin, do you have time this weekend? Come out and sit with me. I am in Chongqing, in the south.
Wow! I almost fell off the bed. When did this guy show up? I thought about it and replied to him: I don’t have time for the class reunion this weekend.
Xu: When do we leave? It would be nice to have a midnight snack in the evening.
Me: They have arranged a small dance party and karaoke, maybe until very late.
Xu: It’s okay, let’s make an appointment another day.
I closed my phone, my heart was beating hard, I didn't know what I was afraid of. Maybe I should have told him that Zhao Qinqin was getting married and her fiancé worked in a bank...
On Friday, I drove the family car to the hotel to pick up Shuming. While he was packing his luggage in his room, I told him about the class reunion on Saturday and tentatively asked him, "Shuming, the class reunion invites girls to bring male companions."
Shu Ming closed the suitcase and stroked my hair. "Go ahead. Uncle and aunt said they want to discuss wedding preparations with me."
"You're not coming with me?" I squatted down, looked at his face with wide eyes, and suddenly felt a little lost.
Shu Ming smiled slightly, stood up and took out the neatly folded striped shirt from the closet, reopened the suitcase and put it away. He lifted the suitcase with one hand and put his hand on my shoulder, motioning me to go out. "Qinqin, you classmates can chat about the past and talk about your current life. It's such a happy thing. Such an occasion doesn't need a strange face like me. I'll take you there tomorrow and pick you up when the time is up."
I was deeply disappointed. I wished he would go with me, at least to show his face. They only needed to take one look to know that Li Shuming was an excellent male companion. From his appearance to his conversation and temperament, Shuming was noble and distant in front of them. His actual age was not easy to guess.
This is the effect I want. I am also vain.
But maybe he doesn't like chatting with a bunch of young people who have just debuted. This attitude really disappoints me.
On the way home, Shuming drove the car, passing through the streets of the mountain city with flashing neon lights, neither fast nor slow. But somehow, I suddenly felt that he was a stranger. It turned out that Li Shuming would not accommodate someone without principles, and he also had his limits.
Summer is only halfway through, and the humid weather is coming. Mother cooked Tremella and Lotus Seed Soup at home and put it in the refrigerator for us. Father was also there, and they greeted Shuming warmly. Mother had prepared a guest bedroom in advance, and had just cleaned it, and the floor was spotless. Shuming stepped in and sighed repeatedly, "I haven't felt this way for many years. When I first went to college, every year when I went home for vacation, my mother also specially cleaned the house for me, and placed the table lamp diagonally at the head of the bed as I was used to..."
"From now on, this will be your home too." The mother smiled and the father stood by the door with his hands behind his back.
"Uncle, aunt, thank you for leaving your good daughter to me."
I went back to the bedroom to prepare clothes for tomorrow, leaving time for them to chat.
At noon on the second day, the mother prepared many dishes, as well as special snacks, spicy cold noodles, which were very fragrant. It can be seen that Shuming liked it very much, and he enjoyed such a warm atmosphere very much. Perhaps, when a person's heart has been wandering for too long, he also needs to find a harbor to stop and rest.
After taking a nap, I dressed up nicely, wearing a tight white fishtail skirt that was an inch above the knee, with a light purple satin flower on my left chest, light makeup, light purple eye shadow, and stood in front of the mirror. I still looked presentable. My mother came in, looked at me carefully, nodded and said, "After all, my daughter is more beautiful than her. What time do you leave?"
"We will leave in a moment, Shu Ming will take me there."
"No need to trouble him. Your father is out on business and will take you there."
Okay.
I took the tassel sequined handbag that Shuming gave me for my birthday this year and went out. Before leaving, I hugged him and said goodbye. "I'll pick you up when you're done." He whispered in my ear.
"Are you familiar with the road?"
"I think so."
I nodded with satisfaction.
I went out with my father and received a call from an unfamiliar number. I immediately realized it was him. "Qianqin, is your class reunion at school?"
"How do you know?"
There was a chuckle on the other end of the phone. "It's described in detail in the alumni directory."
When did this guy get on our alumni directory? Before I could say anything else, he said, "It says that girls are welcome to bring their friends along."
They are really good at changing the concept. They clearly said "family members". I was shocked and asked, "Why?"
"Why not go together?"
"Who's with you. I have a boyfriend."
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long time, then the person said, "I'm at the gate of China University of Political Science and Law. If it's convenient for you, please come out and meet me. We'll go back to Shanghai tomorrow." The voice was low.
I didn't know how to refuse. Suddenly, some of the feelings seemed to come back. (To be continued)