When Yuan Yuan was about to get off work, he was stopped by his colleague Yu Lin: "Did you forget the dinner tonight?"
Yuan Yuan's desk was a little messy, and he was busy cleaning up. Without raising his head, he replied, "Remember."
Yu Lin was speechless. Obviously don't remember it. He didn't intend to let Yuan Yuan go, "Seven o'clock in the evening, the old place, it was agreed at the end of the case yesterday, no one can be missing."
Yuan Yuan raised his hand to look at his watch and frowned: "I have an appointment. Otherwise, you tell them that I will be late, and no one will remember when I have a good time."
Yu Lin wondered: "What appointment, is your girlfriend still your parents?" In his impression, Yuan Yuan would never rush for a date with someone.
"Today is my birthday, and Chen Donglan said he wanted to cook a meal for me at home. He forgot to buy green onions when he got home, and asked me to bring some to him when I came back." He hurriedly put on his coat. "I have to go, it's hard to buy it later."
Yu Lin was stunned for a while, then patted his head: "I forgot, today is your birthday!"
He had an "I'm sorry for you buddy" expression on his face.
Yuan Yuan smiled: "Not bad for your blessing."
After driving his car from the parking lot, Yuan Yuan went straight to the supermarket to buy green onions.
Chen Donglan, who wants to cook for him to celebrate his birthday, is his shared roommate.
Speaking of which, he and Chen Donglan have a very deep relationship. The two are university alumni and both participated in the school debate team. Before that, from the same city, same high school, junior high school and classmates.
Before college, Yuan Yuan didn't know Chen Donglan very well, and only had a vague impression that his name and face were not identical. It was only after his contacts on the school debate team that he became acquainted with this old classmate who was sexually silent and introverted.
Because Chen Donglan was a repeat student, he was one level younger than Yuan Yuan. When Chen Donglan graduated, he was looking for a house to rent. It happened that Yuan Yuan's co-tenant also moved out, so he naturally invited Chen Donglan to move in.
Naturally, they were roommates for three years.
When he came home with the green onions, Chen Donglan was chopping vegetables in the kitchen, and the sound of clicking was very clear.
It was foggy outside, but the air conditioner was on and it was very warm. Yuan Yuan's cotton slippers were also taken down from the shoe rack early in the morning, placed at the door, and put on with one foot.
Yuan Yuan walked into the kitchen, and Chen Donglan just turned around. He didn't put down the knife, his hands were wet, and he said, "I bought too many onions."
"Ah?" Yuan Yuan lifted the bag and looked at it, "I'm afraid there will be less."
Chen Donglan nodded, put down the knife, and took the green onion with both hands.
Yuan Yuan suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
Just now he actually had a feeling that he was afraid of being scolded for doing something bad. Then I found that I was not scolded, and the luck of the rest of my life rose in my heart.
With a little bit of confusion, he walked to his room, changed into convenient clothes, and went back to the kitchen.
"Is there anything I can help?" Although Yuan Yuan's cooking is a disaster, a huge disaster, but his principle is that housework must be done together.
As soon as he walked in, Chen Donglan said, "Today is your birthday, so leave it all to me."
Yuan Yuan was in high spirits: "It's also good to try your own craftsmanship on your birthday!"
Chen Donglan looked at him. His eyes were always quiet, as quiet as his people. People who don't know him will think he's cold, but it's just his way of dealing with people and doing things - keeping all his feelings inward.
Although there is no basis, Yuan Yuan thinks so, and affirms it.
"Since it's your birthday, you still have to eat better. If you are asked to do it, the taste won't be as good, does it matter?"
Yuan Yuan: …
Is this any different from "you're just doing me a disservice"? Yuan Yuan was helpless and left the kitchen.
Yuan Yuan wanted to take a break when it was time to eat, but as soon as he sat down, he couldn't help but took out the work he brought back. He studied law, and before he graduated, he decided to open a firm with the seniors of the same department. Since then, he has been busier every day.
After an unknown amount of time, Chen Donglan came and knocked on the door.
Yuan Yuan is not particular about this aspect, and his door is basically not closed. Without getting the approval, Chen Donglan did not enter the door, but strictly stood outside and knocked on the door.
He always felt strange persistence when he thought about it.
"All right?"
"All right."
Chen Donglan said it himself, he is only good at home cooking. But the table he came up with is definitely not just home-like.
The radish and old duck soup is simmered in a clay pot on a low fire. The clear soup is skimmed off the oil slick and sprinkled with chopped green onions. No matter how you look at it, it is restaurant level.
In addition, there are three small stir-fries, namely fish-flavored shredded pork, eggplant with long beans, and tofu mixed with shallots.
"Will you blame me if you can't finish eating?" Yuan Yuan asked.
In fact, Chen Donglan also cooks on weekdays, but he only has one or two dishes, and sometimes he even makes fried rice for the next noodles. After living together for three years, no one has ever cared about birthdays. This is the first time this year that one person celebrates another person's birthday.
Chen Donglan helped him pack the meal, and set it up for him together with his chopsticks: "No."
"I can eat as much as I can, can you see?" Yuan Yuan tasted the old duck soup. The duck was completely stewed and tender.
I don't know if the light above the dining table is warmer, but Chen Donglan's face has a thin red color: "This... Of course, you can eat as much as you can."
He picked up the eggplant with chopsticks, but put it in his bowl and pushed it around without eating it. After a while, she said softly: "Happy birthday..."
The voice was so soft that Yuan Yuan couldn't hear it clearly, but knowing that he was blessing him, he smiled: "Thank you, today's dishes are really delicious."
After quietly eating half a bowl of rice, Yuan Yuan's phone rang.
Glancing at the incoming call, it was Yu Lin, and he hung up directly. But Yu Lin is someone who doesn't know how to write the four characters of renunciation and resignation. The second call came in and he was hung up, so there are third and fourth...
"Is there an emergency?" Chen Donglan couldn't stand it any longer.
"I'll pick it up." Yuan Yuan had nothing to do with this buddy, and there was nothing to avoid, so he picked it up in front of Chen Donglan.
The other end of the phone was full of noisy voices, someone yelling, and there were also crisp collisions, it should be someone clinking glasses. Yu Lin raised his voice and said, "Still come over?!"
This sound can be heard by Chen Donglan without turning on the speaker.
Yuan Yuan went back unceremoniously: "I'm hanging up."
"You kid!" Yu Lin roared, "You asked me to tell everyone that you are going to be late, and now everyone asks me for someone, why don't you come over to me?"
Yuan Yuan reluctantly held his forehead. Yu Lin was obviously drinking too much and was making fun of him.
"Call me when you wake up." Yuan Yuan hung up decisively, and then quickly shut down.
"There is a party in your office?" Chen Donglan didn't look up when he asked.
Yuan Yuan felt a little annoyed. Chen Donglan agreed a week ago. At that time, he agreed without even thinking about it. After being interrupted by Yu Lin, he still lived up to it more or less.
"Yeah." The chopsticks that were put down when answering the phone were put down, and they were no longer picked up. He said, "The big case was closed some time ago. Yesterday, it was said that there would be a party. It seems that I still have to go there."
Chen Donglan was silent, but when he spoke again, there was no difference: "Are you driving? Maybe it's better to drink at a bar or take a ride."
Yuan Yuan nodded and stood up: "You can leave these after you eat them, and I'll clean up when I come back." Between them, Chen Donglan was always cooking while he washed the dishes.
There was one person missing at the dinner table, but Chen Donglan was not affected, so he picked up the dishes naturally: "It's okay, you can go. It's better to wash the tableware and chopsticks as soon as they are used up."
Really thoughtful.
This is probably also a rare advantage of Chen Donglan. Because he is quiet, he doesn't like to chat, and his life has few ups and downs, so he won't have unnecessary restraints on the people around him.
Once he is not needed, he can disappear cleanly.
Yuan Yuan thought again, this is the reason why they can be co-renters for so many years.
It was very cold at night, so Yuan Yuan put on a coat and a scarf before going out.
In the taxi, he started to lose his mind.
Eating with Chen Donglan at home has actually become more frequent this year.
During the first and second years of living together, eating together was only occasionally. Most of the time, Yuan Yuan would stay in the law firm to work overtime, and he would eat his meals directly there.
Yuan Yuan always thought that Chen Donglan would cook and eat when he didn't go home for dinner, but he would eat simpler. Until one time he ran home at mealtime to get the documents, and found Chen Donglan sitting alone at the dining table eating bread.
Not even a glass of milk, dry nibble.
His back was straight, and the light reflected only a shadow, and he was inexplicably lonely.
Yuan Yuan thought it was just an accident, because Chen Donglan was in a bad mood and didn't want to cook.
But after a few more times, I found out that Chen Donglan couldn't eat well by himself.
Either not eating, or not eating on time, eating blindly, eating bread and instant noodles. It's more normal to eat two slices of biscuits and walk through the scene.
Yuan Yuan suddenly felt a sense of responsibility, an unreasonable sense of responsibility. Similar to the feeling of "the child is disobedient because I have not educated well", I began to go home for dinner every day.
This is really strange. As long as Yuan Yuan said he wanted to have dinner with Chen Donglan, no matter how busy or tired he was, he would definitely cook something decent every meal.
When he arrived at the destination, the driver called several times, and Yuan Yuan was still immersed in his own thoughts. He said that he was embarrassed while paying, and got out of the car. The cold wind made him tighten his scarf.
actually…
Chen Donglan didn't want him to go, did he
He said "you go quickly", but his straight back almost collapsed. Once he pulled away, he would be overwhelmed by a certain emotion.
Yuan Yuan gasped, seeing the fog condensed and dissipated.
Must be an illusion.