Both elevators stopped downstairs and didn't come up. When you are emotional, your patience is always very poor. Li Xuan pressed the down button several times without any response, so he was too lazy to wait any longer. He opened the door of the emergency passage and walked down to the tenth floor in one breath.
"Uncle, please have some public morals. What are you doing?"
When I walked out of the stairwell, I saw a little boy of about seven or eight years old in the entrance hall, using the elevator as a toy, running in and out of this door. I don't know if it was his grandfather or grandfather next to him, but he didn't stop him and even helped him press the button. No wonder the elevator didn't move. Li Xuan couldn't help but shout.
"No, who are you? What does this have to do with you? Does it bother you?" The old man turned around and realized that someone was calling him, and said unhappily.
"Of course it's in the way. What else? I'm free so I'd run upstairs to exercise at night?" Li Xuan curled his lips. "The child is ignorant, and you don't understand at your age? Besides, it's not safe. You might get caught in the door."
"How can you talk like that? You were the one caught in the door, how could my grandson be caught in the door! ... ... Oh, young people nowadays have bad tempers, not like us back then..." The old man pouted, but seeing that Li Xuan looked unhappy and looked like someone who was not to be trifled with, he did not continue to argue. He took the boy's hand and said, "Let's go back."
"No, I want to play..."
"Go back and play." The old man said with a serious face as he pulled his grandson into the elevator. The boy was pulling his arm and making a scene, but when he saw Li Xuan outside the elevator, he suddenly stopped crying.
"Young Marquis! Grandpa, Young Marquis!"
His voice became shrill because of excitement. Li Xuan didn't react to this strange name for a moment, frowning and looking over. The boy immediately shouted even more fiercely.
“What the hell…” the old man pulled him.
"The one on TV, my sister watches it every night, that's him!" the boy said and wanted to run out.
"Oh... he looks familiar..." The old man was reminded and had some impression of him. He even forgot to hold his grandson. Seeing that the child was about to jump out like a monkey, Li Xuan even subconsciously took a step back. Fortunately, the elevator door closed in time. During the ascent, he could still vaguely hear the child's noise and the old man's voice: "Who is that celebrity? How can a celebrity be so rude? He can't even respect the elderly and love the young..."
Sheng Min's silhouette was clearly visible on the smooth door. Li Xuan came to his senses and realized that the boy was probably talking about a role played by Sheng Min. He raised his hand and pressed his temple. He was confused after the whole night and had forgotten that "he" was now a celebrity.
He didn't follow the entertainment industry for a long time. He always wore full armor when he went out. Although he was thin and tall, many people turned around to look at him, but he had never been recognized on the street. He only had a vague idea of Sheng Min's fame. He didn't expect that once he showed up, he would be recognized by everyone from eight to eighty years old.
He found it funny, but he was still angry and couldn't laugh. He unzipped his backpack and tried to find a mask to put on, but his cell phone rang.
Li Xuan glanced at the incoming call and hung up without hesitation. The ringing sounded stubbornly a few more times, but Li Xuan didn't answer it, and Sheng Min finally stopped calling.
"Are you giving up just like that?" Li Xuan snorted.
It's hard to describe his mood. Seeing Sheng Min's call, he really didn't call, and felt something was wrong. He stared at the records of canceled calls for two seconds before throwing them back into his pocket and continuing to look for a mask. However, he left in such a hurry that he only remembered to put on the laptop out of habit, and he didn't remember anything else.
He searched all his pockets and finally found only two chocolates. Before going to record the show this morning, Shengmin was worried that he would be hungry after recording for a long time, so she stuffed them into his pockets.
Li Xuan could even clearly remember his expression. He said to him seriously, "This one is not sweet. You can eat it." Li Xuan opened one and tried it, and said, "It's OK." Sheng Min smiled, with a little pride that he had done something right.
The gold foil wrapping the candy shone with tiny glitters. Li Xuan was blinded by it and was about to throw it away. He walked to the trash can and took his hand back. In the end, he put it back in his pocket and left the lobby.
This area is not too busy. Before nine o'clock, there were only a few pedestrians on the road. Li Xuan bought a bottle of water and a mask at the convenience store at the entrance of the community. The cashier was busy with the bill, and finally avoided the embarrassment of being recognized again. He put on the mask and glanced at the glass door, then turned around and bought a hat.
In June, the acacia trees were in full bloom, with a sweet fragrance. The night wind blew, and the petals fell. Li Xuan stood by the roadside for a while, raised his hand to brush off the fallen flowers on his shoulders, and watched the car lights flashing intermittently at the intersection.
He didn't have an ID card, so he couldn't get a room at the hotel. He knew a lot of black hotels and internet cafes that didn't require ID cards, but it was always inconvenient to have Sheng Min's face on him. It was difficult for Li Xuan to ensure that he would always wear a mask. If he was recognized, it would be troublesome.
He scratched his nose in annoyance, thought for a while, and dialed Qi Boyuan's number, but a sweet female voice came from the other end.
"Bo Yuan forgot to take his phone when he went downstairs to buy food." Zhou Jia and Li Xuan knew each other after meeting each other several times. "I'll ask him to get back to you later. He should be back soon."
"Okay." Li Xuan hung up the phone, raised his hand to drink a sip of water, and felt a little hungry again, so he returned to the convenience store for the third time, picked up a sandwich, and asked the clerk to help heat it up. He went to the dining area behind the store and found a table by the side. While waiting for Qi Boyuan to call back, he found Yang Xu's number and called her.
"Li Xuan?"
Li Xuan almost agreed, but changed his words before opening his mouth: "No, I."
"Brother?" Yang Xu was a little surprised, "You haven't changed your cell phones yet?"
"Where are you now?" Li Xuan skipped his question, "... Just got home? Then is it convenient for you to come over? There's a small problem here... We had a little unpleasantness, I'm coming out now."
"You came out?! What do you mean you came out?"
Before he could finish his words, Yang Xu yelled, "No, brother, what do you mean? He kicked you out because you two had a fight? What kind of person is this?! I thought Li Xuan looked decent, but he is even more rude than that guy!"
"What are you thinking about..." Li Xuan was speechless and tried to take back the initiative, but Yang Xu ignored him and said angrily: "Brother, where are you now? Wait for me, I will come to you and beat him up for you. Li Xuan is such a piece of shit!"
"Why aren't you a thing?" Along with Yang Xu's voice, there was a crackling sound on the other end of the phone. He was probably putting on his shoes and was about to go out. Li Xuan had to raise his voice to interrupt him, "Be normal and listen to me!"
"You said it, I can hear you! Do you have a bad signal? You don't have to be so loud." Yang Xu was still immersed in the character setting of helping him settle the score, "Do I need to bring a stick?"
"Use your brain!" Li Xuan was now doubting the wisdom of his action of looking for Yang Xu. "I didn't ask you to come here to cause trouble... You have skinny arms and legs and you are holding a stick. The stick is almost enough to hit you... I was afraid that he was in a bad mood, so I wanted you to come and keep him company for a while."
"Ah?" Yang Xu spoke like a ball, surprised and frustrated, "I accompany him? I don't even know him well."
You two can't get any more familiar with each other, Li Xuan thought.
The waiter just happened to bring over a heated sandwich, and probably heard that he was making too much noise on the phone, so he looked at him strangely. Li Xuan pulled his mask up again and said thank you in a muffled voice.
"Just come when I tell you to. You're going out anyway." He waited until the clerk left before opening the sandwich and taking a bite. The taste was just average, barely edible. But then he remembered that Sheng Min hadn't eaten yet either.
"Buy him some dinner on your way over."
"What?"
Li Xuan wanted to say whatever he wanted, but paused before saying, "Mango sticky rice."
"He also likes this... OK." Yang Xu muttered, and then asked him, "Brother, where are you? I'll send you one too?... Where are you staying tonight? How about coming to my house?"
"Don't worry about me, just take care of him."
"Oh." Yang Xu didn't look very happy, but still asked very diligently, "Do you want to bring anything else?"
Li Xuan supported his head with one hand, and unconsciously twisted the two chocolates in his pocket with the other hand, saying casually: "The dessert shops should be closed at this time, right? ... Did you pass by Binjiang Road when you came? See if that dessert shop is open. If it is open, buy him some osmanthus candy. You know which one I'm talking about, right?"
Sheng Min actually asked him to bring some candy from that store whenever he went to 'sweep the graves'. I guess he must have bought it often, so Yang Xu must have heard of it.
"I know." Yang Xu said, with a hint of complaint, "But Binjiang Road is in the south of the city, and I live in the north. I won't pass by it, brother, you know..."
Li Xuan had no idea where he lived, and was about to say forget it. Then Yang Xu said, "Besides, that store closed down last year."
"Bankrupt?" Li Xuan was stunned.
"Yes, you used to buy it every week. Then it went bankrupt and you stopped eating that stuff. You don't want other brands'... Brother." Yang Xu paused, then asked in a cautious voice, "You didn't quarrel with Li Xuan and got angry. It's okay for you to forget where I live, but you can forget this."
His tone was very serious, and he was definitely not joking. It seemed that if Li Xuan said "hmm", he would come to take him to the hospital in the next second.
"If I become really angry and stupid, you will be to blame."
Li Xuan pressed his forehead helplessly, remembering the scene when Sheng Min mentioned the dessert shop to him - halfway through jumping off the building, he dragged her back from the balcony. In that mental state at that time, did he forget
But you're still thinking about buying it when you're about to die. Do you like it that much
He couldn't help but look at the glass window next to him. Sheng Min was so fond of sweets, but her teeth were still as sharp as a gourd, which made her lips look particularly rosy. Li Xuan unconsciously traced it with the tip of his tongue, and suddenly felt that he was going crazy. He turned his head away in a guilty and panicked manner, grabbed the water and took a gulp.
"Brother?" Yang Xu heard the noise and called him.
"It's okay." Li Xuan wiped his mouth carelessly, "I won't buy it if it goes bankrupt. I forgot."
"Oh." Yang Xu hummed, and then said, "But, brother, you are too good to him. He kicked you out, but you still care about what he eats, and you have to give him snacks after buying him food..."
"I walked out on my own." Li Xuan corrected, "You're so talkative when I asked you to bring something. He'll feel better if he eats some sweets... ... Forget it if you don't have any."
"Are you in a good mood? Why are you caring about him?" Yang Xu said indignantly.
"I… "
Is he in a good mood? Not at all. Is he calm? Not at all.
He spent the whole afternoon and night cleaning up the mess for Sheng Min. It would have been fine if she didn't appreciate it, but she was trying to draw a line between them... But he remembered Sheng Min's frustrated yet calm expression before she left. He was angry, but not wanting to see him for the time being was one thing. Not wanting Sheng Min to stay at home alone and let his imagination run wild was another.
"I'm kind-hearted, isn't it?"
"What kind-hearted?" Yang Xu didn't believe it at all. "Brother, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but you've completely changed since you started dating. This is simply..."
"Just what?"
"He's simply in love!"
"What nonsense are you talking about! Love-brained..." Li Xuan almost choked and scolded him, "Don't use words randomly just because you learned them. I've told you so many times, it's not that kind of relationship at all!"
He thought he had expressed himself clearly, but Yang Xu's brain circuit was like a series circuit and could only follow a single path.
"Not that kind of relationship?! You broke up?... You left the house to him? A breakup gift? Li Xuan accepted that?" Yang Xu asked questions like a machine gun. Without waiting for his answer, she concluded, "He is really a piece of shit."
"Oh my god... OK, OK... If it's not true, then it's not true..." If he couldn't find anyone else, Li Xuan really didn't want to call Yang Xu, "Whatever you say. Anyway, come as soon as possible. Be nice and don't talk nonsense with him. Just stay here."
"So is there any point in this?"
"Why are you so concerned about my love life? Are you secretly in love with me?"
"I'm straight!..." Yang Xu shouted, "Um, brother, I don't have any other intentions..."
Who isn't straight? Li Xuan thought, and then heard him ask, "So you don't have any points..."
There is only one way to connect a series circuit.
"No, right, no." Li Xuan looked at the ceiling. The pale light made his head ache. He gave up explaining. "Come over quickly and remember to bring him food. If you have nothing else to do in the next few days, it's best to stay with him. Talk less and do more. Send me a message when you arrive."
Yang Xu seemed to be still talking, Li Xuan raised his hand and hung up the phone. He was not very smart, but Yang Xu would definitely do what "Sheng Min" arranged.
Qi Boyuan hadn't called back yet, but Sheng Min called several more times. But he was automatically hung up during the call.
The clerk had already sorted out the accounts and was walking around to clean up the shelves. Li Xuan finished the remaining half of the sandwich in two bites, put on his mask again, and walked out with his schoolbag.
He stood at the intersection and called a ride, but probably because the location was off, no one immediately accepted the order. Li Xuan was not in a hurry, and while waiting, he saw the WeChat message prompt bar pop up. It was Sheng Min's message.
A small period.
Before Li Xuan could figure out what he meant, the other side retreated.
Then came a new message, nothing else, certainly not to persuade him to go back. Just said that it might be inconvenient for him to go to a hotel near Chengbei Airport without his ID card. He always rushed to catch flights, so for convenience, he had a fixed suite. He could get the room card directly at the front desk. He also sent the hotel location very considerately.
What do you mean? Are you afraid that he will go back
Li Xuan licked his teeth, thinking that he was really out of his mind to call Yang Xu, and that Sheng Min had infected him with the Madonna syndrome. The third message came again.
"If you don't want to go, you can just come back and stay here. I can go out... You can be angry, but remember to eat and don't stay up late. I have a bad stomach and a migraine. If I'm hungry for a long time and sleep late, you'll feel uncomfortable."
There was a small smiley face at the end. I quickly withdrew it and reposted it, deleting the smiley face.
Li Xuan was stunned. Sheng Min did not apologize, let alone mention the real cause of their conflict.
However, what he remembered was the period that was also withdrawn at the beginning. Li Xuan suddenly realized that it was actually a cautious test. Sheng Min called him and the call was still going on. He probably thought he was blocked. Worried that WeChat was also put on the blacklist, he sent a period to try it out.
He was not afraid of going back, he was afraid that Li Xuan didn't want to see him.
Indeed, I don't want to.
Li Xuan frowned and pursed his lips, still not replying his message, but staring at the phone screen for a long time without exiting.
"Shall we go? Where to?" Still no one took the ride, but a taxi stopped.
Li Xuan opened the car door and got in. He canceled the ride and glanced at Sheng Min's message. He finally put away his phone and did not give the hotel's address. "High-tech Software Park."