When Yang Zhao came back, Xue Miao and Yang Jintian looked up at her together. She paused and slowed down a bit.
"Have you finished eating?"
Xue Miao nodded, "It's over."
Yang Zhao asked Yang Jintian and said, "Little Tian, it's too late, you have to go to school tomorrow, I'll send it to my parents."
Yang Jintian said, "Okay."
After paying the bill, taking advantage of Yang Jintian's inattention, Xue Miao lowered her head and whispered to Yang Zhao, "May I also visit?"
Yang Zhao said, "Today? I haven't been home for more than half a month. I will also go upstairs and sit for a while. If you want, you can come together."
Xue Miao said, "Of course I would."
Yang Zhao's parents live in a garden complex not far from the Experimental Middle School.
Yang Zhao's father is a doctor. He was a professor at the University of Edinburgh in Germany in the early years, and later went to teach at the University of Hong Kong. In the past few years, he returned to the mainland and served as the vice president of Shengjing Hospital affiliated to China Medical University. Her mother is a lawyer. She used to work in a law firm in the United States. Later, she married Yang's father. After having Yang Zhao, she returned to China and devoted herself to raising Yang Zhao. After Yang Zhao was admitted to university, she signed a contract with a domestic firm as a consultant.
Yang's father and Yang's mother lived in a single-family villa. Yang Zhao parked the car and rang the doorbell.
After a while, someone came.
"Which one?"
Yang Zhao said, "Mom, it's me."
The door opened, and a well-dressed woman came out. It's past ten o'clock in the evening, and Mother Yang's dress is still meticulous. Yang Zhao knew that her mother would only wash her hair before going to bed, and she always looked so serious on weekdays.
When Mother Yang saw Yang Zhao, she nodded and said, "Are you back?"
"Yeah." Seeing her mother's gaze on Xue Miao behind her, Yang Zhao said, "Mom, this is Kevin, my boss, I mentioned it before."
After hearing her introduction, Xue Miao added with a smile, "A friend too."
Yang Zhao glanced at him, Xue Miao looked at Yang's mother, and said apologetically, "I'm really sorry to bother you at such a late hour."
Mother Yang shook her head, "No, you are welcome."
The three entered the house together, and Mother Yang called Father Yang and said, "Xiao Zhao and Xiao Tian are back." Father Yang was sitting on the sofa in the living room reading a book, when he heard Mother Yang's words, he turned his eyes, and Mother Yang said again: "That's Kevin, Xiao Zhao's boss."
Yang Zhao didn't mention much about his work to his family, but he did mention Xue Miao more or less. Father Yang stood up, and Xue Miao stepped forward to meet him first. The two men shook hands. Father Yang patted Xue Miao's arm and said, "Xiao Zhao needs more care from you."
"She is not my subordinate." Xue Miao said, "She is my colleague, and we are partners."
His explanation was obviously that he completely regarded Yang Zhao as his own and gave Yang Zhao enough face. Father Yang said yes with a smile. Mother Yang prepared tea and snacks in the kitchen. Xue Miaoyu saw Father Yang while chatting and got up to help.
Father Yang and Xue Miao chatted quite well, and Yang Zhao sat on the side to rest and listen to their conversation. She turned her head to look at Yang Jintian, and whispered to him, "Xiaotian, show uncle the report card."
Yang Jintian shook his head desperately, "No need, no need."
Yang Zhao said, "Why don't you use it?"
Yang Jintian blushed a little, and muttered: "It's not a high score, don't read it..."
If it was a different place, another environment, I believe Yang Jintian would show the report card. But what he is facing now is Yang Zhao's parents. Compared with relatives, they are more like teachers, like professors. He dare not show them the achievements he has achieved.
Yang Zhao also seemed to understand his psychology and did not force him.
At this time, Yang's mother said to Yang Jintian: "Xiaotian, take uncle to go around the house."
Yang Jintian eagerly stood up and led Xue Miao upstairs.
There are three members of the Yang family left in the living room.
Mother Yang poured a cup of tea, put it in front of Yang Zhao, and said with a smile, "Is that him?"
Yang Zhao said, "What?"
Mother Yang said: "Last time you called and said you wanted to bring a man back to have a look. Is it him?"
Yang Zhaocai remembered that on the first night back from Mount Wutai, she had called home to report that she was safe, and then casually chatted about other things.
At that time Yang Zhao told them that he might take someone back to have a look in the near future.
Yang Zhao looked into his mother's gaze, lowered his head, and said flatly, "No."
Yang's father and Yang's mother were startled at the same time, and then Yang's mother said: "It's not him? Oh... I thought it was this person, you seem to be a good match."
Yang Zhao said: "He is my boss and my friend, but I have nothing to do with him."
Mother Yang said, "Then the person you want to bring back, why hasn't he come?"
Yang Zhao said, "He... He has something to do recently, so he went back to his hometown."
Mother Yang said, "Where is his family?"
Yang Zhao said, "Qinghai."
"That's really a bit far away." Father Yang also opened his mouth. He pushed his glasses and said, "Is he dispatched here for work reasons?"
Yang Zhao said, "Maybe."
Father Yang said, "What kind of work does he do?"
Yang Zhao paused, and then said, "He's driving a taxi now."
Yang's father and Yang's mother were stunned at the same time, they looked at each other, and they both saw doubts in each other's eyes. Father Yang asked again: "What does he... do?"
Yang Zhao felt some inexplicable anxiety and irritability in her heart, and she said, "He drives a taxi."
"Taxi driver?" Mother Yang said.
"Um."
Mother Yang put down the teacup, and said, "How did you know each other?"
Yang Zhao said, "We met by chance."
"That… "
"Mom." Yang Zhao raised his head and interrupted Yang's mother, "He's not here now. When he comes back, I will bring him to see you. I hope you don't embarrass him when the time comes."
"No, Xiao Zhao, you misunderstood." Father Yang said, "Your mother and I will not laugh at other people because of their work. We are just wondering how you are with him."
Yang Zhao said, "Why is it strange? What's so strange about it?"
Father Yang heard Yang Zhao's resistance, and he said, "Xiao Zhao, I hope you can talk to us calmly."
Yang Zhao looked at the clean table in front of him, and was a little dazed for a while.
This set of mahogany furniture has been used for decades, and Yang Zhao has been using it since he was very young. Father Yang likes this set of furniture very much. Due to the passage of time, the mahogany has precipitated a simple and simple atmosphere. Yang Zhao liked to sit here and read books when she was a child. When she reads for a long time, she will naturally smell a deep woody fragrance.
Because of family reasons, the house is full of scholarly atmosphere. Even in the living room, there are two cabinets of books. Both parents like to read and collect books. Many books in the cabinet are out-of-print treasures.
Yang Zhao looked at it, closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she whispered, "He is a disabled person."
In the teacup on the table, the leaves of Tieguanyin are thin and long, and they are slowly rotating in the white porcelain teacup. .
Father Yang's voice was steady and calm, "Disabled? Why is he physically inconvenient?"
Yang Zhao said, "Legs."
Father Yang said, "Is it serious?"
Yang Zhao paused and said, "His right leg was amputated."
She heard her father take a deep breath, and then the whole living room fell silent.
After a while, Father Yang said, "Xiao Zhao, Mom and Dad don't agree."
In fact, since childhood, Yang Zhao's parents seldom restricted her. But once they ask, it must be done. Their opinions are like pieces on a chessboard, black and white.
Now, they say they disagree.
Yang Zhao said, "It was you who asked, so I'll tell you whether you agree or disagree, and I'll talk about it after you have met him."
Mother Yang said, "Do you want us to see him?"
The clock on the wall jumped forward second by second, and Yang Zhao couldn't speak.
What does she think
Of course she would.
But after coming.
It is impossible for Chen Mingsheng to deal with his parents as easily as Xue Miao, they have no common language. And it is impossible for her parents to be as willing to accommodate him as she is.
She could almost imagine Chen Mingsheng sitting on the sofa, facing her parents, embarrassed and silent.
Yang Zhao stood up suddenly and said, "I'll go upstairs first."
"Xiao Zhao." Mother Yang also stood up with her, stopped her, and said, "Sit down."
Yang Zhao said, "I'm going to the bathroom."
Mother Yang's expression was calm but determined, her eyebrows and eyes were very similar to Yang Zhao's.
"You don't want to go to the bathroom." Mother Yang said, "Sit down."
Yang Zhao didn't move.
Mother Yang said: "Xiao Zhao, if you run away now, it means that this matter is not worth discussing at all."
After a stalemate between the two, Yang Zhao finally turned around and sat down again.
"Tell us about how you met him." Father Yang said.
In fact, Yang Zhao is like this, being a parent is more strange than dissatisfying. Yang Zhao has always been very reassuring for them. He is not considered to be well-behaved, but there is almost no rebellious period.
So now that Yang Zhao told them such news, they felt very strange in their hearts.
Yang Zhao opened his mouth, but didn't know where to start.
"He, I met him by accident."
Mother Yang said, "What kind of accident."
Yang Zhao simply told what happened to Yang Jintian back then, and after she finished speaking, she looked up at her mother and said, "That was a misunderstanding."
Mother Yang asked some more about Chen Mingsheng's natural condition. Yang Zhao was like a machine, she answered every question she asked. In the end, she even felt that her throat was rusted, and every word, every sentence was grinded together, forming a piercing and sharp voice in her mind.
Mother Yang had a calm expression on her face. After hearing this, she picked up the teacup in front of her, took a sip of tea, and said, "Xiao Zhao, separate from him."
Yang Zhao's face was expressionless, neither saying yes nor no.
Mother Yang said, "Does he like you too?"
The light from the roof was gentle and bright, but when it shone on Yang Zhao's face, she looked a little pale.
"I like it." Yang Zhao whispered, "He likes me."
"There's something about him that attracts you."
Yang Zhao didn't speak.
Father Yang spoke, and he looked at Yang Zhao with the eyes of an absolute elder.
"Xiao Zhao, Mom and Dad don't intend to comment on this person, but we want to tell you that your current behavior is irresponsible." Father Yang's eyes were harsh and his tone was harsh.
"Have you thought about your future life, not only yours, but also his. I know that you insist on being with him now because there must be something about him that attracts you, but how long can such a little thing last. You don't have a common life circle, no common topic, such a relationship can't be maintained at all."
Yang Zhao's breathing was a little heavy, she looked at the white porcelain teacup on the table, and said nothing.
"Marriage is not a child's play." Father Yang said, "You have to be responsible to yourself as well as to the other party. Xiao Zhao, Mom and Dad understand you, and you have always been rational. We won't force you, you have to think about it yourself. Think about it."
After finishing speaking, he stood up and said again, "A person like him will get emotional quickly. The longer you entangle with him, the more hurt he will be when you part with him."
After Father Yang finished speaking, he got up and went to the study.
Yang's mother said to Yang Zhao: "Xiao Zhao, don't blame your father for being straightforward. It doesn't matter if you listen or not, that's the reason. In fact, my mother thinks that you are just a little confused now. Maybe you I want to dig out something from him, but my mother told you that most of the people in this world are ordinary people. After spending time with him, you will understand."
After finishing speaking, she also stood up. She adjusted the black shawl on her body, and said, "Don't bring him home, there is no need for that."
Mother Yang also left, leaving Yang Zhao alone in the living room.
She seemed to be fascinated by the white porcelain teacup.
Yang Jintian and Xue Miao came down the stairs talking and laughing, Yang Zhao raised his head and looked at them.
They have some similarities, and the good life makes many people have similarities.
Xue Miao noticed Yang Zhao's gaze, and he came to her with a smile on his face, and just about to speak, Yang Zhao stood up suddenly and walked past him.
"Xiao Zhao?"
"excuse me."
Xue Miao sensitively heard that Yang Zhao's voice was unusually hoarse. He looked thoughtfully at the empty living room, and then glanced at the direction Yang Zhao left.
Yang Jintian said, "What happened to my sister?"
Xue Miao was quiet for a while, and said to Yang Jintian: "Go and say hello to uncle, I'll go and see your sister."
"good."
Xue Miao followed Yang Zhao upstairs, and on the right side of the second floor was a bathroom.
At this time, the door of the bathroom was opened with a gap, and there was the sound of rushing water from inside.
Xue Miao knocked on the door and called softly: "...Xiao Zhao?"
There was no sound from inside.
For some reason, Xue Miao suddenly remembered the scene of Yang Zhao standing by the artificial river not long ago. His heart became inexplicably tense, and he pushed the door open.
Yang Zhao rested his hands on both sides of the sink, his head was lowered, and the water from the faucet kept flowing.
Xue Miao looked at Yang Zhao's thin shoulders and was suddenly speechless.
Yang Zhao raised his head.
It was the first and only time in Xue Miao's life that she saw Yang Zhao so vulnerable and angry. The two extreme emotions were mixed together, making her eyes reddened and she almost trembled.
She looked at Xue Miao without blinking, and it seemed that she was not only looking at him.
"Xiao Zhao..."
"Why?"
The sound of splashing water made Xue Miao almost feel that these soft words were just his hallucinations.
He took a step forward, but Yang Zhao's gaze made him unable to take another step.
"Why?"
This time, Xue Miao finally heard clearly.
Xue Miao couldn't describe her gaze.
It seems confused, but extremely firm. Her hands gripped the sink so tightly that her knuckles were almost white.
She was only two meters away from him, but Xue Miao felt that Yang Zhao was far away from him.
She is like a wilderness driven to the end, a huge land, but no place for her to live.
"Why..." Xue Miao could only hear Yang Zhao saying this sentence repeatedly.
"Why do you..."