There were few people here. A car passed by and honked twice, turning on its high beams, illuminating the interior of the car for a moment.
It was dark again.
Feng Ning was stunned by his mature and straightforward words.
Jiang Wen's outline was shrouded in flickering light and shadow. He looked very excited, but his eyes were filled with emotions. He grabbed Feng Ning's wrist, but did not take the next step towards her.
Feng Ning stared at him, looking deep and thoughtful.
Finally, Jiang Wen moved. Without saying a word, he slowly loosened his grip and let her go.
As soon as Feng Ning laughed, he kissed her again.
After a long time, the two separated.
Jiang Wen stood up and said slowly, "You should go up."
...
...
As soon as he entered the house, Feng Ning saw the empty doghouse in the living room and sent a message to Min Yueyue.
Ning: I'm back in Shanghai and will pick up the dog tomorrow. Is it doing well at your place
My: It's pretty good. Where did you and handsome Jiang go? Why did you come back so late? ? Any progress
Ning: Less gossip
After thinking about it, he sent another message to Jiang Wen.
Ning: I'm here, pack up and send me a message when you get home.
After waiting for two minutes, he didn't reply, probably because he was driving. Feng Ning put down his phone, took off his coat, and went to the bathroom to take a shower.
She hummed unconsciously, closed her eyes, and let the water from the shower head rush down. When she raised her hand to take the shampoo, she caught a glimpse of the scar on her arm.
The fingertips were placed on the wound and slid slowly along it. It was slightly raised and stretched across the skin.
After a moment of stunned silence, Feng Ning put down his hand.
The good mood suddenly dissipated a little.
The bathroom was filled with steam, hazy and like a dream. The past two days in South City with Jiang Wen were also like a dream. She floated and floated, as if she had returned to her carefree teenage years. She was fearless, could cry and laugh, and was unrestrained.
It was not until this moment, when I was alone, that I felt a sense of reality and groundedness.
After taking a shower, the first thing I do is check my phone.
She sent the message half an hour ago, and Jiang Wen replied with an "I know".
Feng Ning buttoned up her pajamas, sat on the bed, and sent a message to Jiang Wen:
Ning: Have you arrived home
-61nfiawj: No
Ning: How long has it been
A few minutes passed.
-61nfiawj: Have you finished your shower
Ning: I'm done.
A few minutes later, Jiang Wen sent a message.
Ning: Where are you? Don’t send messages if you are driving.
-61nfiawj: Take a picture of the moon and let me see it
Feng Ning was confused by the news. She thought Jiang Wen was quite artistic. She found it funny, got up, walked to the window, and opened the curtains.
Turning on the flash, he took a random photo of the crescent moon in the night sky. Feng Ning leaned against the window and sent the photo to Jiang Wen.
Ning: How is it? Are you satisfied
-61nfiawj: Pictures
Feng Ning clicked on the picture he sent, and it was pitch black with a shining spot in the middle. She took a quick look and thought he had also taken a picture of the moon.
I zoomed in and looked at it carefully again. Something was wrong. Why did this red building look so familiar? Wasn't this her neighborhood
Feng Ning continued to enlarge the picture with her thumb and index finger, and she was stunned.
In the picture Jiang Wen sent, the shining spot was her lit window.
Feng Ning quickly put away her phone and looked down, but unfortunately it was pitch black at night and she could not see anything except a few faintly visible trees.
Ning: Are you still downstairs in my house
-61nfiawj: Yeah
So he just asked her to take a picture of the moon, just to capture her
I have to say, all of a sudden, even someone like Feng Ning who wasn't fond of being pretentious was touched by his romance.
She laughed for a long time.
Ning: Do you want to come up
-61nfiawj: No
rather:
-61nfiawj: Unsafe
Ning: It’s okay, there’s nothing unsafe, I trust you.
-61nfiawj: I am afraid that I am not safe
rather:
Ning: ... ... ...
Ning: OK, you do have a strong sense of self-protection.
Feng Ning lay on the window sill and laughed. She had laughed enough and wanted to call Jiang Wen's name and interact with him from a distance. But it was so late and she was afraid of disturbing others, so she gave up. She returned to bed and sent a message to Jiang Wen.
Jiang Wen sat on the flower bed and watched from afar as the curtains of the lighted window were drawn and the light dimmed.
The phone vibrated, Feng Ning sent me a message.
Ning: Okay, go back now.
The arm holding the phone fell by his side, a scarlet light flickering on his fingertips.
Jiang Wen took a long time to regain his composure.
They had been apart for less than an hour and he was already missing her.
After making a cup of milk, Feng Ning went to bed with his computer, snuggled under the quilt, and proofread an English document.
Jiang Wen initiated a video invitation.
She answered the call, fixed the phone into the holder, and reached out to adjust the angle. "Wait for me for a few minutes. I only have a few more paragraphs to watch."
Feng Ning continued to read the literature.
After a while, I looked at the phone screen and found that Jiang Wen's screen was black.
Feng Ning closed the computer, put it aside, and picked up the phone, "Where are you? I can't see you."
Jiang Wen's voice came: "I just need to look at you."
Feng Ning turned off the headlights, leaving only a desk lamp. She pulled a pillow to cushion her back, and fixed her hair in front of the camera, "I think I'm boring."
Jiang Wen showed half of his face.
Feng Ning said: "Are you... embarrassed?"
Jiang Wenmo.
She smiled.
The picture on Jiang Wen's side shook, and he also got on the bed, this time revealing his entire face.
He had just finished a shower, his short black hair was slightly damp, and he was wearing a low-necked sweater. Maybe because of the built-in filter in the video, his slightly upturned eyes looked very gentle.
She studied the painting behind him for a while. The dark blue color looked like a twisted sunflower. "Where did you learn so many ways to pick up girls? You're quite good at it."
Jiang Wen was puzzled: "What?"
“Let me take a picture of the moon.”
He asked, "Where's the dog?"
Feng Ning felt a little sleepy and yawned. "I left it with Min Yueyue. I'll pick it up tomorrow."
"I'll go with you."
Feng Ning: "Oh, sure."
"What time tomorrow?"
"get off work."
Jiang Wen switched his phone from his left hand to his right hand and poured himself a glass of water. "What time do you get off work?"
"Half past five."
On the other end of the phone, Jiang Wen asked tentatively: "Shall I go to your company and wait for you?"
"Whatever, do you know where my company is?"
"Know."
...
...
In such a state of distress, Feng Ning didn't even know when he fell asleep.
The next day, I was woken up by the alarm clock. I touched my phone and saw that I had video chatted with Jiang Wen for hundreds of minutes last night and hung up at around six in the morning.
New Year's Day had just passed, and everyone was in low spirits. Shi Yuange held a morning meeting, and Feng Ning passed by the tea room and happened to hear Guan Tongfu discussing Maruko's affairs.
Thinking of Jiang Wen, she took out her phone and searched for Maruko.
The first one that popped up was Baidu Translate.
Maruko—meatball noodles
She was stunned, and then Baidu pictures came into view. All the pictures were related to the familiar anime character, Chibi Maruko-chan.
She clicked on a Baidu Knows post:
Chibi Maruko's full name is Sakura Momoko, and the Japanese romanization is Sakura Momoko.
Her nickname is Chibi Maruko, which is romanized as tibimaruko in Japanese.
maruko... .Is this what you mean
She remembered that when she delivered documents to Manager Li that day, she had visited Jiang Wen’s company once. Their logo was something that looked like a cherry.
Many details and images flashed by, and then they were all connected. For a moment, complex emotions filled Feng Ning's chest.
Jiang Wen had always been like this to her since they were young. Awkward and arrogant, but straightforward and honest in his love for her. He laid his heart before her, letting her do whatever she wanted.
Xiao Zhu floated past her with a cup of water in his hand, "Goddess, what are you daydreaming about?"
Feng Ning smiled: "Nothing."
I was restless all day.
When it was almost time to get off work, Guan Tongfu came with the contract to discuss the details with Feng Ning.
Feng Ning asked Jiang about the news, but listened to him absent-mindedly.
After a while, Guan Tongfu stopped suspiciously and said, "Sister Ning, are you worried about something?"
Feng Ning exclaimed, "What's on your mind?"
"I'm not asking you."
Hearing Feng Ning's phone ring, Guan Tongfu shut up. He watched her finish the call and wanted to continue talking.
Feng Ning asked hurriedly: "Why haven't you left work yet?"
Guan Tongfu: "What time is it now?"
Feng Ning raised her wrist to look at her watch, "It's five forty." She began to pack up the things on her desk.
Guan Tongfu scratched the back of his head, "Sister Ning, are you okay?"
"Yes, I have something to say. Go talk to the legal department about the contract." He took off his work badge and said, "I'm leaving first."
Guan Tongfu turned around and passed Xiaozhu.
Xiao Zhu chased after Feng Ning's back, "—Sister Ning, wait for me!"
The elevator descended and Xiao Zhu chuckled twice.
Feng Ning was putting on lipstick in the mirror and glanced at her.
Xiao Zhu: "Sister Ningning, what color is your lipstick?"
"I forgot." Feng Ning looked in the mirror and wiped away the excess red at the corners of his lips with his index finger.
Xiao Zhu blinked and gossiped, "You're still so exquisite after get off work, are you going on a date?"
With a ding, the elevator reached the first floor.
There was a brief silence, and Feng Ning put the lipstick into her bag. "Why do you worry so much? Do you have time?"
Xiao Zhu pouted.
The two walked out together, and as soon as they came out of the revolving glass front door, they saw Jiang Wen at a glance.
He parked his car on the side of the road and stood under a tree. He was wearing a very eye-catching suit, and everyone who passed by couldn't help but take a few more glances at him.
Xiao Zhu and Feng Ning stopped walking at the same time, "Hey... that's not..."
"My friends are coming. I'll go over first."
After greeting Xiao Zhu, Feng Ning walked straight towards Jiang Wen without paying attention to her surprised look.
"How long have you been waiting?"
Jiang Wen raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
Feng Ning stood in front of him, raised his hand and tapped his cheek.
A bit soft, nice touch.
So I couldn't help but play it twice.
Jiang Wen looked at Feng Ning quietly, letting her bully him for a while, and then grabbed her hand.
He was driving the same car he had that day.
Feng Ning entered Min Yueyue's home address into the navigation, which was in Jing'an.
Jiang Wen was driving, and Feng Ning was sitting next to him texting Min Yueyue.
While waiting for the other party to reply, she turned her head to look at him. Jiang Wen stared at the road ahead and drove very seriously.
Just as he reached the turning intersection, he steered the wheel with one hand.
Feng Ning thought of the recent popular video on Tik Tok - filming her boyfriend driving.
Her heart moved as she wished. Feng Ning leaned back and turned on the camera.
In the slightly shaking camera, the cuffs of his suit are neatly arranged, there is a silver watch on his left wrist, there are a few slightly protruding meridians on the back of his hand, and half of his palm is casually resting on the steering wheel.
The fingers are long, thin, straight and very delicate.
Seeing Feng Ning patting him, Jiang Wen raised his right hand and changed gears, "What are you doing?"
"Hey, you drive pretty cool, super A."
Jiang Wen understood that Feng Ning was praising him.
Feng Ning instructed him: "Hurry up, turn the steering wheel again."
Jiang asked: "..."
Feng Ning urged: "Hurry up."
He glanced at her and said, "The road doesn't bend anymore."
The phone kept ringing, it was the notification tone of WeChat.
Normally after work, Feng Ning would turn off the sound of WeChat in the settings, leaving only vibration. Today, he didn't have time to do that.
She opened WeChat and saw a bunch of messages, all from Xiaozhu:
Zhuzhupig: Sister Ning, if I am not mistaken, that was Maruko's boss?! We even had dinner together!
Zhuzhupig: Oh my god! I'm so messy. Did you just get into someone else's car? That silver BMW
Zhuzhupig: Oh, yes, you two were classmates in high school.. You are not going to the class reunion with him today, are you?!
Zhuzhupig: But, but why did I see your dirty hands touching that handsome guy's face? And you even took advantage of him. I wonder if I'm blind..
When Xiaozhu sent this message, Fengning finally interrupted her.
Ning: Can you calm down a little
Zhuzhupig: No, I really can’t calm down. What is your relationship with that person
Ning: It’s the kind of relationship you think it is.
Zhuzhupig: I don’t dare to think about it... .
Ning: It’s okay, think about it.
Zhuzhupig: Is it the kind that can be used in bed
rather:.
Ning: Almost
After half a minute of silence, Xiao Zhu became even more excited than Shuang Yao and filled the screen with countless exclamation marks and question marks.
Feng Ning was about to go back to Xiaozhu when Jiang Wen suddenly called her.
Feng Ning hummed, "What's wrong, are we here?"
Jiang Wen said casually, "It's time to turn."
At first, Feng Ning didn't understand and paused. Then she reacted and smiled.
Min Yueyue was waiting downstairs holding the dog leash, with Bai Hongyi standing next to her.
This happened in a slightly awkward way.
The four of them looked at each other.
As soon as Xiao Huang saw Feng Ning and Jiang Wen, he started barking and wagging his tail excitedly. Min Yueyue pointed at them in surprise, and her eyes fell on the two people's clasped hands, "What are you doing..."
Feng Ning took the dog.
Bai Hongyi was petrified on the spot.
Min Yueyue was at least mentally prepared, but he was completely unaware and faced such a shocking scene. He widened his eyes in disbelief and looked carefully twice, and it was really Jiang Wen.
After a long while, Bai Hongyi found his voice again: "Ryan...?"
Min Yueyue kept winking at her.
Feng Ning was very calm, "Thank you for helping take care of the dog. How about I treat you guys to a meal?"
Min Yueyue readily agreed, "Okay, okay."
While Jiang Wen and Bai Hongyi were talking, Min Yueyue pulled Feng Ning aside and said, "Are you two really together?!"
Feng Ning was a little helpless: "Why is it that when I'm in a relationship, everyone looks at me as if they're seeing a bomb?"
Min Yueyue pinched her face fiercely, "Nonsense, of course it's because your boyfriend is so awesome!"
...
...
Get in the car, Jiang Wen drives and Feng Ning sits in the passenger seat.
Bai Hongyi and Min Yueyue sat in the back row.
After all, as a person who has experienced many ups and downs, Bai Hongyi quickly accepted this reality. He sighed a little: "I really didn't expect that Ryan's high school ex-girlfriend was you."
Min Yueyue was reminded, "So, after all the twists and turns, you two are still with each other?"
Feng Ning joked, "I'm only twenty-six, how come I'm the last one?"
Jiang Wen drove quietly and didn't join in their jokes.
One night, Bai Hongyi kept describing to Feng Ning how popular Jiang Wen was in the Chinese community.
Every time he went to a party, there were always a bunch of women trying to chat him up. The more reserved ones would ask for a phone call, while the more daring ones would just ask for a one-night stand. But he refused any of them, making it seem like he had a cold personality.
The funniest thing is that later on, the news of Jiang Wen's sexual frigidity spread in the circle, and someone even sent an anonymous email to Bai Hongyi, sincerely suggesting that he take Jiang Wen to see a psychologist.
When talking about these things, Feng Ning laughed at first, but as he laughed, he felt a little sad.
After dinner, Min Yueyue and Bai Hongyi went to see a movie and then dispersed.
...
...
There is a park nearby, where they can digest their food after dinner, take a walk in the night breeze, and walk the dog.
"Jiang Wen?" Feng Ning called his name.
Jiang Wen stopped and looked sideways at her.
"I'm a little tired, let's find a place to sit down."
They found a pavilion to sit down in. It faced the square and there were a bunch of grandparents doing exercise nearby.
The little yellow dog lay on the ground obediently.
Feng Ning smiled and asked him, "Are the things Bai Hongyi just said true?"
When she heard no answer, she asked again, "Is it true?"
"That's a bit exaggerated," he said. "That's about right."
"Are you stupid?" Feng Ning leaned against him. Although she was smiling, she felt sad in her heart. "Why are you so stubborn? After all these years, why don't you try to find someone else?"
Jiang Wen touched his pocket, it was empty, no cigarettes.
She looked at Jiang Wen's face.
Almost everyone was amazed. How could Jiang Wen deceive such a man? Even Feng Ning was puzzled. How did she deceive him in the first place
In the past eight years, Feng Ning has recalled Jiang Wen countless times. Ever since they met, she had been mean to him and would bully him at every turn. Later, when something happened in her family, Jiang Wen stayed by her side silently. After her mother passed away, it was also him who accepted almost all of her negative emotions.
The older she gets, the more she realizes how sincerely Jiang Wen treated her.
Feng Ning said helplessly: "Jiang Wen, did I give you some kind of drug that makes you crazy? Otherwise, why do you have to be with me?"
There was a long silence.
Jiang Wen stared at her for a long time, then slowly said, "I fell in love with you when I was a teenager. I don't know how to flirt, nor do I know how to be cautious. You rejected me and didn't like me, and I had no way to deal with it. If you treat me better, I won't want anyone else."
Feng Ning was speechless.
"Sixteen is our beginning."
Jiang Wen's voice was a little low, but still clear, "Twenty-six is not your last, but it is my last."