Dear Chen Jiu

Chapter 58

When I called Lao Xiao again, no one answered the phone.

Lu Yuan's death, Chen Jiu's departure, Lao Xiao's collapse...all happened yesterday, but it seems like a lifetime ago.

When I put down the phone and picked it up again, I entered the wrong password again and again... I tremblingly opened our WeChat group, and the chat history was still the day before Lu Yuan’s birthday. I joked in the group that Miss Lu, see you tomorrow ah.

Lao Xiao replied with a sycophant emoji to attack me.

I lay on the floor of the living room, and the coldness of the floor tiles spread through my back to my limbs. It turned out that summer would be so cold.

I closed my eyes, and my mind was on the summer vacation of the second year of high school. The four of us walked in the long alley of Chen Jiu's house after dinner. Grandma was still there, and Wang Jin's chattering voice seemed to be heard in my ears.

The summer wind blew by. At that time, we had our own thoughts, but we were friends who could play together.

When I chose to repeat, Lu Yuan said that the four of us might just be friends.

But when did our relationship start to change?

If Lao Xiao and I didn't have that obsession at the beginning, we wouldn't be so greedy, wouldn't we be like this now...

Who has been fulfilled all these years?

If liking is a burden and trouble, is persistence really necessary?

When the phone rang again, I took it numbly.

"Xiao Zong, the air ticket and school have been arranged, you go to the 10-week language class first..." It was my uncle who called.

"I want to stay in Jiangzhou to study in university, and I will make it clear to my family."

I struggled to force my voice out of my throat.

"Your parents have been so busy with the company recently, you are no longer a child."

I could hear my uncle's anger through the phone.

"Or is it that he didn't tell you clearly enough?" Uncle's tone suddenly became tough. As expected of a real uncle, he knew what I really cared about.

"What do you mean?" I sat up from the ground.

"Do you think, to him, is it important to have relatives by blood, or are you an outsider?"

Before I could figure it out, my uncle continued, "You know when I approached him, I didn't even need to ask for any conditions.

So your insistence is meaningless. "

"Uncle Shen will take you to the airport for the air ticket next Wednesday."

I listened to the "beep beep" hang up on the phone, and lay back on the ground with my arms outstretched.

I closed my eyes, and many thoughts flashed through my mind one by one, such as I can not leave, I can come out with my family regardless...

I took the phone and sent Chen Jiu a message.

About 15 minutes later, he got back to me.

I asked him to meet in a coffee shop, not so much as a farewell, as it was my last deathbed.

In the text message, I said that I am leaving, but as a friend, I hope to meet again.

Because I don't say so, he won't reply to me at all.

I took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and sprayed on some perfume.

Even after tidying up, I was still haggard standing in front of the mirror.

But I wish I looked more refreshed.

I arrived at the coffee shop an hour earlier. During that time, there were three couples and two girlfriends in the shop. They all walked into the shop hand in hand and sweetly.

When Chen Jiu entered the door, he wore a black baseball cap, probably to cover the injury on the back of his head, and there were obvious bruises on his arms.

My heart tightened, as if the injury was more serious than I imagined.

After he sat down, I asked what I would like to drink, and he said whatever.

Chen Jiu's condition is not much better than mine, his eyes are even a little bloodshot, I don't need to ask to know how tragic the fight yesterday was.

It can make Lao Xiao call a helper, and Chen Jiu can be injured. The other party is definitely not a good person.

"Are you okay? Where did you stay last night?" I was like a million whys, with countless questions.

"fine."

"I will move things away today. You can go home and take care of yourself. I won't disturb you."

Chen Jiu didn't speak.

"Old Xiao said... Lu Yuan is dead."

"suicide."

Obviously Lao Xiaogang told me this morning, but when I heard Chen Jiu say this, my tears still flowed down in an instant. I repeated and palely whispered "I'm sorry..." but I didn't know what I was saying. Who listens.

Tears were silent, Chen Jiu handed me a tissue.

It took him a long time to break the silence, "When are you leaving?"

Don't ask where to go, don't ask how long to go.

I shook my head feebly, "It's because I want too much. If we take a step back, we are still friends."

"What I told you before is true. I never thought that giving up is true, liking is true, and wanting to be with you is true. These are always valid."

"So, would you be willing to—"

"Gu Zong," Chen Jiu interrupted me, then took a sip of the coffee in front of him, and said, "Don't like it anymore."

At that moment, he looked at me very seriously.

"Then when I go, will you see me off?"

"it is good."

That afternoon, ended in a promise.

The day I left Jiangzhou, the weather was not hot. My mother came to Jiangzhou to see me off. Even though I refused in every possible way on the phone, she still insisted on coming.

"Mom, is the company busy?"

"It's okay, with your father, besides, what is important to have my son."

My mother helped me check my luggage and gave me a bank card, "Keep the card away, it contains your tuition and living expenses, if you lose it, you will have to beg for food abroad."

My mother touched my head and said with emotion, "It feels like my son has grown up suddenly."

"I'm already an adult."

"It has nothing to do with age.

In the past, you refused to listen to any advice to go abroad, and insisted on repeating the study. Why do you want to leave now? "

"Uncle said that I have no future in my major. Mom, is our family going bankrupt?"

"Bah, bah, bah," my mother said, reaching out and knocking on the table three times, "It's really an exaggeration.

Don't worry, your parents won't starve you.

The money in the card is enough for you, if not enough, ask the family. "

"Mom, I'm sorry, because of the re-reading before—"

"It's okay, I sent you to another place to repeat your studies. Mom just hoped that you wouldn't have to stay in the local Pugao to be talked about. I didn't want you to be a stupid child in the eyes of others. My son is smart."

"I feel so too."

From childhood to adulthood, my parents doted on me very much. The only expectation they had for me was to live well, and they had no requirements for me in terms of study and life.

The only disagreement we've ever had was the repetition.

Unexpectedly, they ended up going the same way in the end.

"By the way, it's winter over there. Remember to put on your down jacket before getting off the plane."

"Ah."

"It's better to rent an apartment than a house. Remember safety first."

"Ah."

"If you miss home, come back. If you don't want home, buy a plane ticket and fly to various places. Some time ago, I made a guide to several famous cities around, and I will send it to your mobile phone later. Don't stay at home during holidays, go out more and have a look. Let's go."

"Ah."

***

On the way to the airport from the apartment rented by my uncle, I sent a text message to Chen Jiu, saying that I was leaving.

He didn't reply me.

I don't think he will break his word. He promised to come and see me off, and he will definitely come.

My mother was still telling me some odd things along the way.

Then the car suddenly became quiet, and my mother took out a tissue and gave it to me, "Why are you still crying?"

I looked at the unfamiliar scenery outside the car window, and I was getting farther and farther away from the urban area. "Mom, I seem to have left something very important at home."

"What, you child, you said yesterday that you should check your luggage carefully, if you can't do it, you can just buy it abroad."

I just shake my head.

"Xiao Zong, Dad and I love you very much, and uncle loves you too."

My mother grabbed my hand and touched my ear.

When I arrived at the international airport, I realized that there are so many people breaking up every day, lovers, family members, friends...

"I heard you get up several times in the middle of the night last night, did you not have a good rest?"

"Mom, you don't need to accompany me anymore. You can go first. I'll just go to the lounge and sleep for a while."

"I'll see you."

"I haven't seen you come to see me once in Jiangzhou for a year."

"Well, it's not far away, and your uncle is here again.

But this time when you go abroad, you are the only one. Pay attention to safety and take care of yourself. "

"it is good."

I nodded.

My eyes fell on the entrance of No. 6. I just sent a message to Chen Jiu to tell him that I was at this door.

I thought, as long as he comes, I can't leave.

But until I finally persuaded my mother to leave, refused the service staff's request to take me to the lounge, and finally had to check the ticket to go in, I didn't wait for Chen Jiu.

The stewardess reminded me that I could board the plane early, and I said wait, what are you waiting for, even Chen Jiu can't come in after passing the customs.

I thought maybe he was on his way, on his way, and I still had a chance as long as I didn't get on the plane.

But my mobile phone has never had any message notification tone.

...

When I got into the first class cabin, the stewardess prompted the phone to switch to flight mode.

I turned on the phone and just received a message from Chen Jiu, with only two words, "Peace."