"Are you free tomorrow? Go to People's Park and sit down. I'll take Da Mao and Er Mao there."
After ten days, Zhou Hao still couldn't hold back, he edited such a text message to Sun Yiwen when no one was around.
When he was about to leave work at night, he received a reply, "Are you free, what time?"
"Eight o'clock."
At home at night, after dinner, he was rummaging through boxes and cabinets in the bedroom to find things. The movement was not too loud, but Jiang Yuqian, who was flipping through documents in the study, still heard it.
"What are you looking for?" Jiang Yuqian leaned against the door.
Zhou Hao turned his head in a panic, touched the door of the cabinet with both hands awkwardly, raised his eyelids, as if guilty of doing something wrong, "I want to find some clothes to wear tomorrow."
what clothes? He often wears only three woolen sweaters and two down jackets, which he hasn't changed throughout the winter.
Jiang Yuqian's heart sank and sank, but he still asked patiently, "What clothes?"
"Just looking for a sweater to wear."
Jiang Yuqian looked at the little lunatic with dark eyes, but didn't see any mystery, "Where do you have a sweater?"
"Maybe I forgot, I thought there was."
"After I'm done with this work, I'll take you out to buy some clothes."
A small episode did not hold Jiang Yuqian's heart, and soon his mind was shifted to those endless documents. At the end of the year, there are a lot of chores in the company.
On this day, Zhou Hao lay in bed early. He was thinking about the process of going out tomorrow, what time to leave home, what line to take, and whether he could arrive on time at eight o'clock.
Of course, he was still wondering if Jiang Yuqian would notice anything when he got up so early on the weekend. With this level of worry, he felt that he was not a person who lived a steady life, and he went to meet other men without telling his boyfriend. But he thought about it again, Wenwen is not an outsider, so it's okay to meet him.
With such layers of thinking, he had been lying on the bed for more than an hour, but he still hadn't fallen asleep. Jiang Yuqian had already finished his work over there.
Until Jiang Yuqian took a shower and walked into the room, Zhou Hao felt it. He closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.
Soon, he felt a small soft sink on the right side of the bed, and a pair of hands touched the corner of the quilt, and then he felt Jiang Yuqian's warm body pressed against it.
A shadow gradually covered his face, and Jiang Yuqian's lips fell on his left cheek, and with a light touch, they parted immediately. His heart suddenly "thumped".
About a quarter of an hour later, the person beside him breathed evenly and steadily, and Zhou Hao opened his eyes.
On an unimaginable night, he caught a glimpse of the man's deep affection for him, and this feeling made it difficult for him to sleep.
Panic, and a little bit of joy, it's weird.
The next day, Zhou Hao got up at six o'clock, his movements were very light, and he rustled his clothes aside.
Jiang Yuqian rubbed his eyes, and saw the back of the little lunatic in his clothes, "Why do you get up so early?" There was still laziness in his words.
"can not fall asleep."
Jiang Yuqian collected himself and got up from the bed.
"You sleep a little longer, it's the weekend."
"Don't sleep, get up and make you breakfast."
Zhou Hao glanced at the man who was getting dressed, but said nothing. He hurried to the bathroom to wash up, and after a while, he put on his coat, put on the bag with the cat on his back, changed his shoes, and was ready to go out.
Jiang Yuqian was still in pajamas and was brushing his teeth in the bathroom. He held up the toothbrush and walked to the living room, "Where are you going with the cat?"
"Take them to the pet shop for a bath." When Zhou Hao said this, his eyes were fixed on the doorknob, and he didn't dare to look at the man.
Jiang Yuqian's voice sank, "Come back early."
He went to the convenience store downstairs to buy some food, then took Line 2 to People's Park.
In the huge park, there was frost and dew in the morning. The weather forecast said that it would be cloudy today, but there was no rain. Zhou Hao walked along the gravel road in the park to the bench hidden behind the bushes.
The bench was stained with morning dew, Zhou Hao wiped a clean spot with a paper towel, and sat down. At this time, it was just five minutes after seven o'clock, and he was early.
At about half past seven, Xiao Sun also came over. Zhou Haoming only mentioned People's Park, but Sun Yiwen still remembered this bench.
The behaviors coincided with each other. When the two looked at each other, they both smiled.
Zhou Hao also wiped a clean area for Sun Yiwen with a paper towel, rolled the dirty and wet paper towel in his palm, then sat up straight with his hands on his lap, not looking at Xiao Sun.
The blankness of the words, the two understand each other. Sun Yiwen pursed his lips and sat next to Zhou Hao.
On a windless morning, when the river was calm, Da Mao jumped into Xiao Sun's arms with his fat body, and Xiao Sun hugged him.
"It has gained a lot of weight." Sun Yiwen said with a smile.
Zhou Hao picked up Ermao and stroked its fur, "They both get fat after drinking water, but they don't actually feed much."
"I also took a kitten home a while ago. My dad is getting old, and I'm afraid he will be alone."
Zhou Hao's eyes dimmed for a moment, "Well, it's pretty good."
A pine tree by the river dropped a needle, which floated to the surface of the river. Finally, the river, which had been sleeping for a long time, had some ripples, drawing a few circles in a small area. The two fell into an awkward situation again, and neither had anything to say to each other.
At eight o'clock, a few old people who did morning exercises came to the park. Their voices came from the activity area and penetrated behind the bushes.
"Old Zhou, have you had breakfast?" Xiao Sun asked him.
Zhou Hao made a gesture and took out the biscuits and bread bought from the convenience store from his bag. He was about to hand it to Sun Yiwen, when he replied, "The time is just right, let's go have morning tea together."
Sun Yiwen saw the food exposed in Zhou Hao's bag with downcast eyes, and he asked with the emotion of reminiscence, "Have you eaten a lot of instant food in recent years?"
"Almost no food." Zhou Hao said in a daze.
"Then, is your boyfriend cooking? Or you?"
Zhou Hao raised his eyelids, glanced at him, and said nothing.
The two got up and walked out of the park, and went to a nearby morning tea shop. Zhou Hao ordered two drawers of steamed buns and two bowls of wontons.
The morning tea shop was at its busiest time at this time, the two of them found an empty seat in the corner and sat down, and called the waiter to clean up the residue left by the previous customer.
Xiao Sun unzipped his coat, looked up and asked, "By the way, I haven't asked you yet, which unit are you in now?"
"At Kangren Hospital in Yuanling District."
"Very good. If I have a headache in the future, I will go to you. You have to open a back door for me."
Zhou Hao stared blankly at Sun Yiwen for a long time before he replied, "Okay."
In a short period of time, Zhou Hao didn't understand anything, but an intuition emerged in his heart: Xiao Sun has changed a lot, becoming more cheerful and optimistic.
Zhou Hao also unzipped his jacket, revealing the beige turtleneck sweater inside, which is the same as the sweater Wenwen gave him back then, and it is also a new season.
After a while, the morning tea they ordered was brought to the table. Zhou Hao scooped up the small wontons in the bowl with a spoon and chewed dryly, tasteless.
His phone rang at this moment, Zhou Hao took out the phone from the down jacket he had taken off, hesitated for a moment, and still answered it.
"It will take a while to go back."
Jiang Yuqian asked him again, "Where are you now, do you want me to pick you up?"
Zhou Hao hurriedly said, "No, I'll go back right away." When he said this, he looked at Xiaosun who was opposite him, but Xiaosun didn't respond, just lowered his head and ate the wonton.
"Do you want to eat hot pot at noon? I'll go to the supermarket to buy hot pot soup base, and then buy some dishes."
"Well, eat." Zhou Hao pressed the phone and put it back in his pocket.
Xiao Sun picked up a small steamed bun, the hot bun skin was still steaming, he pinched it with his fingers, put it to his mouth, took a bite, and swallowed it, he asked Zhou Hao, "It was your boyfriend just now?" ah?"
Zhou Hao glanced at him in surprise, then his eyes fell on the wontons in his own bowl, and he nodded, "Yes."
People were coming and going in the morning tea shop, and the waiters were so busy that they moved around with trays in their hands. The two lowered their heads and ate the steaming breakfast.
Afterwards, the two of them walked aimlessly along the street from left to right, walking casually. When Sun Yiwen talked about his life in the United States these years, Zhou Hao pricked up his ears and listened carefully.
They are all talking about interesting things. For example, at Christmas, a few of their friends will take a road trip together, bring guns, and travel across more than a dozen states in the United States. Along the way, they will encounter many precious scenery in the photos. There are wild animals.
Xiao Sun also said that the most memorable time was going to a private estate in Baltimore. Standing on the corridor of the house, you can see the dense and rolling forest behind.
Speaking of this, he stopped and looked at Zhou Hao, "Old Zhou, guess what I thought at that time?"
Zhou Hao shook his head, very dazed, the big world that Xiao Sun had experienced made him feel dazed, "I don't know."
"I thought of the mulberry forest behind your hometown, and I was thinking, it would be great if you could come here to have a look. You will definitely like it."
Zhou Hao had been listening dumbly, and he was thinking about how to ask Xiao Sun.
After spinning around for a long time, he was brewing a good mood.
"Ou Yi said," Zhou Hao paused, speaking very difficultly, "He said, you have a good life there, I called him last time to ask him, you just went to Europe with your friends at that time. Wenwen , is Europe fun?"
Sun Yiwen looked at the man in front of him seriously again. He was already thirty years old, and he was in the thirties of his life. He didn't seem to have changed at all, he was still in his own closed thinking. These years, in the United States, besides thinking about his father, he also missed this man who was as innocent as a child all the time.
After returning to China, he wanted to find Lao Zhou, but now, looking at the innocent and curious man in front of him, he suddenly seemed to understand a lot of things——
Lao Zhou's problem does not lie with him, Sun Yiwen, nor his current boyfriend. What he needs is a home in his own spiritual world, where anyone can walk in, or it can be empty. In any case, such a home of the soul is always a happy and secure place.
Where can I find such a home for him? At this moment, Xiao Sun suddenly thought of the boundless and magnificent scenery. Maybe, Lao Zhou can go there to look for it.
He took Zhou Hao's question and said reverently, "It's fun."
He knew very well in his heart that it was Ouyi who lied to Lao Zhou, but what did it matter, this deception was so suitable. The timing is right and the characters are right.
And he, Sun Yiwen, will continue to round up this scam.
At this moment, Zhou Hao finally calmed down, and he grinned very happily.
For the past year, all he has been struggling with is—Wenwen, are you happy in a foreign country without me? Can you be happy without me
Now he knows the answer: Wenwen can be happy without him.
They continued to walk forward, and a small alley suddenly appeared among the modern urban buildings, and the two of them walked in.
It seems to be another world inside, with cafes, small bars, shops selling clothes, and of course, a baked sweet potato stand that continues the ancient style of City A.
The sweet potato seller is an old man, and there is a stove and an electronic scale on the tricycle.
Zhou Hao left Sun Yiwen behind and hurried forward to buy two roasted sweet potatoes, wrapping them in oiled paper. He handed Xiao Sun one.
Xiao Sun looked at him, smiled, but didn't reach out to take it, he said, "I can't get used to these anymore."
Zhou Hao was stunned for a few seconds, then withdrew his hand and asked the old man for a plastic bag, and he put two sweet potatoes into the bag.
Soon the alley came to an end, it was almost eleven o'clock, and it was time to say goodbye.
"Is there ready-made food to eat when you go back? Your boyfriend must have prepared it for you." Sun Yiwen's tone was playful and cheerful.
Zhou Hao waved to him with a smile and said, "Goodbye."
Sun Yiwen also waved to him, "Goodbye."
The two parted ways at the intersection, and after walking a dozen steps, Zhou Hao suddenly turned his head, and Sun Yiwen was also looking back at him.
Then, Sun Yiwen rushed over and stood still in front of him.
Familiar scene, just like many years ago, this little man ran over and hugged him, "You still have me."
"Lao Zhou, let's go outside for a walk in the future. The river in People's Park and the mulberry forest in your hometown are too small and narrow. You have to go to a wide place, to see the mountains, to see The sea, and the endless prairie."
Zhou Hao has been in a state of ignorance today. He untied the burden and felt a little happy in his heart, but now Xiao Sun's words made him confused again.
"Why?" Zhou Hao said very softly, he said in a nervous tone, "Wenwen, I, I, I can't understand what you are talking about."
Sun Yiwen hugged him and patted him on the back, "When you really see the beauty of mountains and rivers in the future, you will understand what I said today. Old Zhou, go out for a walk more often."
Zhou Hao looked at the little man in front of him with the most serious eyes, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
"Go outside for a walk, don't be afraid. You and I, we, will always be a family."
Sun Yiwen pressed his lips against Zhou Hao's chest, and said very softly, but Zhou Hao still heard it.
Zhou Hao carried the big hair and the second hair on his back, and was carrying a plastic bag of sweet potatoes in his hand. His back was firmly buried in the sea of people.
Sun Yiwen's eyes suddenly became moist. He searched for the figure of the back in the crowd, but the figure had disappeared.
Dear old Zhou, my forever family, may you really grow up.
When I got home, an electric cooking pot was placed on the dining table, surrounded by more than a dozen plates of the same size, all of which were filled with dishes for shabu-shabu, including meatballs, shrimp slippery, meat, and some mushrooms and vegetable.
"I'm back." Zhou Hao called out after putting on cotton slippers.
Jiang Yuqian came out of the study, "I've prepared all the dishes, and I'll eat them when you come back."
Zhou Hao handed the roasted sweet potato to Jiang Yuqian, "I finally met it, try it, is it sweet?"
Jiang Yuqian took it, tore off the skin, and took a bite, "Mmm, sweet."
Zhou Hao suddenly smiled happily.
In the evening, Zhou Hao didn't watch TV or read a book. He turned on his computer and entered the words "beauty of mountains and rivers" in the search bar of the browser, and many magnificent and beautiful scenery popped up.
He opened and looked at these pictures one by one, with mixed feelings in his heart, and he couldn't use specific words to describe the eagerness to break out of the ground in his heart.
Sure enough, the river in People's Park and the mulberry forest in my hometown are not worth mentioning in front of these scenery.
At this moment, his heart drifted to an unknown place, wandering unscrupulously...
At half past ten, Jiang Yuqian finished his work and returned to the room. Zhou Hao was still sitting motionless in front of the computer.
"Why aren't you sleeping?" Jiang Yuqian walked over to put his arms around the little lunatic's neck, and at the same time saw his computer screen.
"Want to go out and play?"
Zhou Hao turned his head and looked at Jiang Yuqian sincerely, "Have you been to many places?"
This question was asked suddenly, Jiang Yuqian was taken aback, and said, "I will take Haohao to those places I have been to in the future."
Zhou Hao blinked, and a perplexed look appeared in his eyes, "I will go out to see and see in the future."
At eleven o'clock, the two lay on the bed, Zhou Hao was still thinking about the mountains and rivers in the picture he saw just now.
He thought, he wants to go out for a walk alone, if he can't go this year, then he can go next year, if he can't go next year, then he can go the year after next. In any case, he was going out for a walk.
And Jiang Yuqian in the dark didn't fall asleep either, he could clearly guess the reason for all the abnormal behavior of the little lunatic today—
The little lunatic must have already contacted Sun Yiwen, and they made an appointment to meet this morning.
He let all this go, let it develop at will, and secretly made an oath to himself: If the little lunatic wants to leave, let him go, let Sun Yiwen take him away. That person likes him, he should be able to treat him well.
But at noon, the little lunatic came back and brought him back roasted sweet potatoes for him to taste. He tore open the skin and took a bite.
At that moment, he was really sweet.
Sweet in the mouth, sweeter in the heart.
His little madman, he's home again.