Mingshu realizes that his life now is very different from before.
When he and Xiao Yuan were separated for a long time, as long as Xiao Yuan came to Dongye City to look for him, he would not be willing to leave the house. He was so attached to Xiao Yuan that he had to follow him wherever he went. Even if Xiao Yuan just went from the balcony to the kitchen, or from the study to the bedroom, he would follow him.
Xiao Yuan also let him follow, occasionally teasing him, and asked: "Ming team, do your subordinates know that you are like a koala at home?"
He pressed Xiao Yuan on the sofa, rode on Xiao Yuan's waist, and leaned down to kiss Xiao Yuan, "No one else knows, only you."
In fact, he is so tall and a strong person in the serious crime team, he is really not suitable for being a koala. But he can spend too little time with Xiao Yu'an, and he loves Xiao Yu'an too much, every short meeting, he can't wait to enlarge and enlarge.
It is best to enlarge it into a lifetime.
He is so clingy, but he cherishes every minute and every second spent with Xiao Yu'an.
Now that Xiao Yuan was transferred to Dongye City, the long separation was over. He was like a man who had been poor for half his life and suddenly became rich, and finally he didn't have to live his life in a hurry.
He would still follow Xiao Yuan from the study to the bedroom, but when Xiao Yuan went from the living room to the balcony, he was too lazy to follow.
Xiao Yu'an collected the clothes to dry on the balcony and asked with a smile, "Ming team, are you not a koala?"
Mingshu lay on the sofa and pretended to be stupid, "What koala? Who is a koala? Which zoo's koala ran out?"
Xiao Yuan temporarily threw his clothes on the shelf by the sliding window, walked to the sofa, and patted Mingshu's butt through his pajamas.
Obviously it doesn't hurt, but Ming Shu exclaimed exaggeratedly, "It hurts, it hurts! Don't treat the meritorious wounded like this!"
In fact, there is no injury, it is just overused in one place.
In the place under the pajamas, Xiao Yuan had already put a soothing ointment on him, and the burning sensation was long gone. He propped up his upper body, lay on Xiao Yuan's lap, and took a lazy nap.
The serious crime team took a collective leave, but the deputy director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau did not. Xiao Yuan had to go to the bureau every day, Mingshu slept alone until he woke up naturally, and finally had the feeling of living his life in a leisurely manner.
The reunion in the past was like fighting a battle to end together.
There was news from Luocheng that the village chief Hou had taken care of his son Hou Pao's funeral, and his mood gradually stabilized.
The police from the Los Angeles City Bureau and the town police station visit the village head Hou from time to time, and take the trouble to explain what the insurance Hou Pao bought is for.
"Small Paddle is to allow me to spend my old age in peace and to be cured of serious illness..." Elder Hou Cun burst into tears, holding a lighter that could no longer be sent out, with Hou Pao's bank card and insurance documents in front of him.
There are nearly 100,000 yuan in the bank card, all of which Hou Pao earned while studying and working over the years. If he hadn't suddenly suffered from brain cancer, after he officially graduated and established himself in the main city of Los Angeles, maybe he would have brought his old-fashioned father who only knew how to farm.
"Xiaopao is not an unfilial son, I know it, I know it best!" The village chief Hou hugged his son's portrait, raised his head after a long time, and said to the police: "Don't worry, for Xiaopao, I will also live well. .If I die and others say he is an unfilial son, no one will speak for him..."
Mingshu felt his eyes swell.
On the side of Dongye City, Fang Yuanhang brought Chen Quanhan's letter to see the Chen Mi family again.
Chen Mi refused to accept the letter from beginning to end, nor did he accept Chen Quanhan's confession.
She shut Fang Yuanhang out and said, "Please don't bother me again. Chen Quanhan died when he died. I don't care, let alone why he died. I have nothing to do with him. The easiest to cut off, from the moment he abused and beat me, he was no longer my father. For me, only the family that supports each other is eternal. You go, I don't want his stuff, ok Bad, don't have any of it."
These two matters concerning father and son, father and daughter, made Mingshu think of his own family.
When he was still in Los Angeles at the time, he had the idea of going home to see his parents, but at that time Luo Xiangfu's case had not been solved, and he couldn't get away at all.
Now finally has the time.
But it was embarrassing to go back suddenly.
In recent years, he followed Xiao Yu'an back to Xiao's house much more than he went to Ming's house. The elders of the Ming family love him, and his peers have long regarded him as their own. Sometimes he can't figure it out - they all have similar backgrounds, families of similar classes, how can there be such a big ideological gap between his parents and Xiao Yu'an's parents, his grandparents and Xiao Yu'an's grandparents
After he established a relationship with Xiao Yuan, Xiao Yuan had a conversation with Xiao's father alone. He did not know the content of that conversation, but after that, the Xiao family completely accepted him.
And it took him and his parents many years to compromise and let go of each other.
Chen Mi said - blood is actually the easiest thing to cut off, only the family that supports each other is eternal.
Apparently I only agree with the second half of this sentence.
The family relationship that supports each other is the most precious, and it is impossible to find, but the blood relationship is not so easy to cut off.
Otherwise, he would not have thought of going home to visit just because the village chief Hou and Chen Quanhan thought of his father.
"I'll accompany you back." Xiao Yuan took out a power strip from the locker.
Mingshu wanted to eat hot pot today, but he thought the hot pot restaurant was too noisy, so he ordered a hot pot takeaway, but when he placed the induction cooker, he found that the wires were not long enough.
The table was full of dishes, and the two of them ate like a group dinner.
"Are you free?" Mingshu took the power strip and finally powered on the induction cooker. As soon as the "scalding" gear was turned on, the soup immediately made a grunting sound.
Xiao Yu'an said: "I have been relatively free these days. I have two days on weekends, which is enough."
Mingshu was still a little hesitant, "Will it be abrupt if I go back now?"
"Your mother's birthday is next month." Xiao Yu'an prepared the dipping sauce for Mingshu, "We're even wishing her a birthday in advance this time."
Mingshu said, "I almost forgot."
"You didn't forget, you just couldn't say it." Xiao Yuan said while cooking the vegetables: "You didn't get much love when you were young, but in your heart, your parents have always had a place. On the contrary, they have never forgotten you. this son."
Ming Shu lowered his head, his eyelashes trembled slightly.
"You don't have to always compare my parents with yours, every family is different." Xiao Yuan put the beef that had been blanched for ten seconds in the Mingshu bowl, "Since you have the intention to visit them, then Just go, don't think too much. We are all adults, so we don't have to worry about our youth. There is no deep hatred between you and your parents, which is completely different from the situation of Chen Mi and Chen Quanhan."
Mingshu picked up the beef, "I know, I'm just... how to say it, it feels awkward."
Xiao Yuan put down his chopsticks, "Look up and look at me."
Mingshu immediately raised his head.
Xiao Yuan's eyes are gentle, but this kind of gentleness is not weak and soft, but inclusive of all things, powerful and reassuring.
"Brother..." Mingshu shouted unconsciously.
"You want to care about your parents, but you are ashamed to express such concern. In fact, you can try to relax. They are your relatives, not outsiders." Xiao Yu'an said, "I will accompany you, but you can't handle it. I'll help you there. Don't worry."
The soup boiled, and the sound of bubbles breaking was very small, but together it was very powerful.
In the end, only half of the dishes were eaten, apparently because Mingshu had something on his mind.
After washing the dishes, Ming Shu wrapped his arms around Xiao Yu'an's waist, "Brother, do you think I'm a little sensitive?"
Xiao Yu'an was meaningful, "It depends on which aspect you are talking about."
Mingshu understood, and pinched Xiao Yuan's waist hard, "Emotionally! Are you thinking about 'homework'?"
In the car a few days ago, Lu Yanzhou said that he was sensitive. He thought about it and thought that maybe he was very sensitive, otherwise he would not be entangled in the time for a hot pot if he went home to visit his parents.
"You are very soft inside." Xiao Yuan said.
Mingshu said "tsk", "It doesn't sound like a good word."
Xiao Yuan pulled him back into his arms, "You need a hard shell to protect you."
"You're that hard shell?" Mingshu became serious. "Okay, boss, I understand what you mean. Don't you just want to emphasize—you're hard?"
Xiao Yuan slapped him on the lower back, "Smell of hot pot, go take a bath."
Mingshu's parents Ming Haofeng and Wen Yue currently live in the capital. When Mingshu called to ask if he had time on the weekend, Wen Yue repeatedly said, "Yes, you should come back alone or..."
Mingshu's tone was formal, firmer than when he reported work to Bureau Li, "I'll come back with Xiao Yu'an."
Wen Yue paused for two seconds, her tone changed slightly, "Okay, come back, I'll prepare the room in advance."
On Saturday morning, Mingshu and Xiao Yuan took a direct flight to the capital, and it was four o'clock in the afternoon when they arrived at Ming's house.
This time is just right, we don't have to sit at the dinner table together, and it's not far from the meal time, giving each other a chance to buffer.
Ming Haofeng is very busy and has very little time at home - Mingshu has known this since he was a child. But as soon as he stepped into the house, he saw Ming Haofeng dressed very formally.
Some things are tacit, and Mingshu knows that Ming Haofeng has pushed aside other affairs and waited for him at home.
The family finally saw each other, but they didn't talk much, and they were very restrained to each other. Ming Haofeng and Wen Yue lacked Mingshu's childhood and youth, and Mingshu was like passers-by with them in the first few years of independence.
Compensation is irreparable, and neither party needs to make it up.
From a certain point of view, Ming Shu is very similar to Ming Haofeng and Wen Yue - they are all people who put their eyes more in front, and let them fall behind when it comes to the past.
Mingshu sent the prepared birthday present, a jade sculpture. Wen Yue's happiness was restrained, but when she said "thank you", her voice finally trembled.
Ming Haofeng also got a gift, a box of tea that is not easy to buy.
These two gifts were given by Mingshu himself, and Xiao Yuan watched silently from the side.
The dinner party was as restrained as the afternoon tea, and the family spoke polite words. But this kind of politeness actually carries a gradually obvious temptation - Ming Shu found out - that his parents are trying to communicate with him, wanting to know if he and Xiao Yu'an have had a good year.
With their identities and habits, they can only do this. It is too difficult for ordinary families to greet each other.
Under the table, Xiao Yuan gently shook Mingshu's hand.
Ming Shu took a long breath, stood up, filled Wen Yue with a bowl of soup, and said with a smile, "Mom, this soup is fresh, you can try it."
At this moment, Mingshu saw the tears in Wen Yue's eyes.
"Okay, thank you." Wen Yue took the bowl and kept her eyes on Mingshu's face for a long time.
"Dad, let's have a drink." Mingshu poured Ming Haofeng wine, "Just have a drink, you won't make a mistake."
Ming Haofeng's face was cold and hard, but his expression was actually loose. He picked up the wine glass, clinked with Mingshu, and drank it all at once.
When Ming Shu sat down, Ming Haofeng was still standing, filled the wine glass again, turned to Xiao Yu'an, and said in the heavy tone that the chief is used to: "Let's have a drink."
Xiao Yuan stood up, majestic and calm.
With a light touch of the wine glass, the crisp sound replaced a thousand words.
After dinner, Ming Shu and Xiao Yu'an didn't stay in Ming's house, but went to the hotel they booked early in the morning.
The hotel was suggested by Xiao Yuan.
In the family affairs of the Ming family, Xiao Yu'an is the calmest and most discerning person. Wen Yue prepared the room early in the morning, and Ming Shu also wanted to live at home, but Xiao Yu'an told him that it was not suitable.
Wen Yue wanted to play a good mother, and Ming Haofeng also wanted to restore harmony to the family, but it was a long process. Having afternoon tea and dinner together as a family is something that each other can resist. But if you want to stay overnight, some of the emotions that you try to hide may be leaked.
Approaching but keeping a distance, this degree is not easy to control, at least Mingshu is not sure.
But fortunately, Xiao Yuan helped him deal with all this.
"Compared to you, I'm like an ignorant child." The hotel room was lit with aromatherapy, and there was a light fragrance in the air, Mingshu said while sitting by the bed, wiping his hair.
"The child is worrying about work outside." Xiao Yuan leaned against the bedside, "Someone hurts at home."
Mingshu laughed, "Why do I think I'm being oppressed?"
"Aren't you being loved?"
"Going home to save relatives was also reminded to worry about work."
Xiao Yuan kicked Mingshu's waist, "Come here."
"what?"
"sleep."
Before returning to Dongye City, Mingshu met Wen Yue again, this time in an elegant teahouse, Ming Haofeng was not there, and Xiao Yuan was not with Mingshu either.
Compared with the previous day, Wen Yue was much more relaxed, and asked Mingshu how he was doing now and how hard his work was. Mingshu will answer one by one. There was finally a normal mother-son relationship between the two.
Later, Wen Yue wanted to ask Xiao Yu'an. Mingshu saw it and said seriously: "We are fine. Now he has been transferred to be my boss, and we live together."
Wen Yue's eyes jumped, and for a moment, she shook her head with a smile, "You know, your father and I are not in free love."
No one in the Ming family ever mentioned this matter, but Mingshu knew from a very young age that his father did not love his mother, and his mother did not love his father either.
When he got older, he understood that his parents were united because of interests and power, and they were colleagues and partners rather than husband and wife.
And he is not a product of love, but a living contract.
Wen Yue and Ming Haofeng can't love each other, how can they love him like normal parents
When Wen Yue talked about this today, Ming Shu was not surprised, but suddenly got an answer—
My parents are different from Xiao Yu'an's parents. This has nothing to do with class or background. The fundamental reason is that Xiao's father and Xiao's mother love each other, and Wen Yue and Ming Haofeng are the pawns of their respective families.
"I don't want to marry him, and he doesn't want to marry me." Wen Yue looked down at the clear tea, "but we had to be together, I had to give birth to you. In a blink of an eye, the family is owned by me and your father. The pain. I didn't give you any attention, because when you were young, I was very afraid to see you. When I saw you, I...I would think of what I lost because of this marriage."
Ming Shu listened calmly, and his mood did not fluctuate too much.
At this time, he didn't hate Wen Yue, and even felt sorry for Wen Yue.
"There must be gains and losses. Ming Haofeng and I both gave up our love at the time and got where we are now. I have never regretted it. Until now, the Wen family and the Ming family have also achieved mutual success. But... "Wen Yue Taking a long breath, with a helpless smile on his face, "I sometimes think, if I don't obey my parents' arrangements, what kind of life will I have?"
Mingshu looked at Wen Yue like a patient listener.
"When you insisted on going to Public Security University despite my and your father's opposition, that was when I was thinking the most." Wen Yue continued, "Aside from the mother-son relationship, we actually have the same background."
Mingshu nodded, "Yes."
"But you like a man... You like Xiao Yu'an, you dare to chase after him, and you gave up the road we paved for you for him, and you have to cut ties with us." Wen Yue stopped, "When I was eighteen years old , why not as crazy as you? Not as brave as you?"
Mingshu doesn't know how to answer.
Young and frivolous are not all impulsive, even at the age of eighteen when everything is still unknown, he also understands, or firmly believes that Xiao Yuan is worth it.
This is the foundation that supports him to go crazy, to be brave, to rebel against his family, and to fight for an uncertain future.
"I don't regret my decision, I don't regret marrying your father and giving birth to you." Wen Yue said softly, "but over the years I have occasionally felt that I envy my son, he did what he thought was right. , he has become an elite in his professional field, and as for the relationship, he seems to have finally caught up with the people he yearns for, and they live happily."
An indescribable emotion suddenly surged in Mingshu's chest.
He never knew that his mother was an emotionally slender woman.
Wen Yue sighed, "Alright, the other way I gave up, my excellent son helped me take it, and it went very beautifully. The only regret I had seems to have been filled."
"Mom..." Mingshu called in a deep voice.
Wen Yue smiled, "If you want to come back in the future, the door of the Ming family will be open to you and Xiao Yu'an at any time."
When the two-day trip ended and the flight landed at Dongye Airport, Mingshu's one-week vacation also ended.
Yi Fei sent a WeChat message - There is a folk music performance in Jiangnan Theater, and it is still in the preview stage. It said that we have worked hard a while ago. We will organize brothers to visit and cultivate our sentiments. You are the captain, and you will lead the team when the time comes.