In the silent place

Chapter 84 Silver Christmas

Zhan Zhao's flight arrived at 5:45 p.m. local time in Vancouver. Zhan Huaiyi greeted his colleagues, left the company an hour earlier, and hurried to the airport.There was a traffic jam on the road, and by the time we parked our car and rushed to the pick-up hall, it was already past 7 pm.

Christmas is approaching, and the airport is noisier than usual, with a large number of passengers, many of whom are eager to go home.Zhan Huaiyi looked at groups of young people in a hurry, carrying huge travel bags, a strong feeling of homesickness surged in his heart, and among them, the one who worried him the most was the angry and Painful son.This world is completely out of his comprehension. He doesn't understand why his son would degenerate into getting mixed up with a man?He used to be proud and proud of his son's persistent pursuit of the soldier's dream, thinking that he had finally grown into a responsible and good man, but now, he felt that his son was so strange.He couldn't understand and couldn't accept his son's choice.He didn't know if the choice his son made today was also his fault.He has never liked any celebrity in his life, and he is not interested in it.It's just that the first time he saw Bai Yutang on the TV in the ward, his son couldn't hide his smile, and he suddenly realized that in this small space with white walls all around, at least he could do something for him, even if it was just something. Minor things.Since then, he began to collect Bai Yutang's information bit by bit, online, on TV, in newspapers, and in magazines.He will carefully print them out and paste them into a book, and then take them to the hospital.Gradually, this has become a part of his daily life, but his understanding of Bai Yutang is still at the initial stage.He never thought that one day he would see his son's name in this person's news report.If it wasn't for knowing that his son met Bai Yutang High School, he would definitely think that Zhan Zhao was just a stranger with the same name and surname as his son.

"Dad, I'm here."

A familiar voice faintly rang out from the noisy crowd, Zhan Huai Yi suddenly came to his senses, and turned his head to look behind him.Zhan Zhao was wearing a black pullover and jeans. He was thin and tall, and he was walking towards him with his luggage. He looked just like those college students rushing home for the holidays.Looking at his dusty son, Zhan Huaiyi's usually stern and serious expression softened a little.

"Go get something to eat, or go home first?"

"Go home, I ate on the plane and I'm not hungry yet."

"En." Zhan Huaiyi responded lightly, turned around and opened the door and walked out.The last time he came back, Zhan Zhao hadn't been discharged from the hospital. Although he looked much stronger now than he did back then, his face was still pale.He sighed softly, and his steps slowed down.Zhan Zhao always walked behind him, he didn't speak, and Zhan Zhao didn't say much.

On the way home, Zhan Huaiyi bought some light stir-fried vegetables and open fire porridge in a Hong Kong-style restaurant.As soon as he entered the house, Zhan Zhao took a hot bath first.After changing into pajamas and coming to the restaurant, Zhan Huaiyi had already reheated the food. Although the dishes were not rich, the rising heat and fragrance added a gentle atmosphere to this usually cold home .Zhan Zhao's heart warmed, he pulled out the dining chair and sat down opposite his father.He didn't eat much, but he wasn't picky about food. There were three dishes on the table, and he took a few bites of each dish.

"Don't force yourself if you don't have an appetite." Zhan Huaiyi raised his head and glanced at Zhan Zhao. "Go and rest, it may snow in the middle of the night. There are blankets in the cupboard in your house, take them out and cover yourself when it's cold."

Zhan Zhao was also really tired, so he said goodnight to his father, and fell asleep as soon as he hit the pillow when he returned to the house.He was not in a hurry to confront his father at first, but now that he came back, he was very grateful to see that his father finally stopped ignoring him like he did a few days ago.The father and son seemed to have discussed it, and neither of them brought up those controversial and unpleasant topics.The days passed in rare peace, and it was Christmas Eve in a blink of an eye.

Zhan Huaiyi came back early today, and when he entered the house, he was still holding a small Christmas tree and a big bag in his hand.

"Dad, you didn't buy this, did you?" Zhan Zhao took the big bag from his father and looked inside.

"Given by colleagues in the unit."

"Aunt Hao?"

"En." Zhan Huaiyi responded softly, and carried the Christmas tree to the window sill of the living room together with his son.Zhan Zhao carefully broke off the branches of the Christmas tree, then took out the decorations in the bag, and began to hang them up little by little.

"Let's call Aunt Hao over for dinner tonight."

Zhan Huaiyi sat on the sofa, looked at his son who was busy, and said no.He knew Hao Qing's feelings for him, so he was always reluctant to get too close to him. Except for work matters, he didn't want to have any personal contact with Hao Qing.This Christmas tree was accepted because it could not be rejected.

After Zhan Zhao finished decorating the Christmas tree, he went to the supermarket to buy some things and came back.Zhan Huaiyi had never cooked before, seeing his son busy in front of the stove, wanted to help but didn't know where to start, so he turned around and went to the living room to watch TV.Without the supervision of his aunt Liu Rong, Zhan Zhao finally had a chance to "show his talents". According to the recipes, he managed to cook up some good-looking dishes.

Zhan Huaiyi looked at the dishes on the table, picked up a mouthful of shiitake mushrooms and fried vegetables with chopsticks, and tasted it. "Learned from your uncle?"

"I think so too, but my aunt has been worried about letting me into the kitchen." Zhan Zhao said as he filled a dinner and handed it to his father.

"It's for your own good, don't be ignorant." Zhan Huaiyi actually regretted it a long time ago, regretting that he shouldn't have said those hurtful things to Liu Rong in anger.Afterwards, he felt deeply guilty, but he couldn't bear to apologize to Liu Rong.He looked up at his son, and began to ask about his nephew Jiang Dong's marriage.

"When I came out, his new house over there was almost finished decoration, and the wedding date is scheduled for February 2th. Are you going back?"

"I have a business trip at the beginning of March. If you tell Xiaodong, I won't attend his wedding."

"Ah."

The father and son didn't talk much at the dinner table, they chatted without saying a word, it was nothing more than some trivial matters in life, Zhan Zhao held his chopsticks, hesitant to speak several times, and when he was trying to speak up, his father One step ahead.

"I know what you want to tell me." Zhan Huaiyi's expression was normal, he lowered his head and picked up a mouthful of food and put it in his mouth. "I don't want to hear about you and that guy, and I don't want to hear about it in the future. Unless you figure it out and break up with him now, you won't have to bother to see me in the future."

Zhan Zhao didn't know how to answer. It took him four full years to figure this out and determine the path he would take in the future.He had fantasized countless times about talking about this with his father, but he never expected his father to have such a lukewarm attitude.He didn't want to torture himself, but at this moment, he really hoped that his father could be like before, even if he beat him and scolded him.

"I'm sorry, Dad..."

"You have nothing to do to me. Anyway, I can't control you. You can do whatever you like." After speaking, Zhan Huaiyi stood up, turned and walked into the study without looking at his son.

All the words were stuck in his throat, Zhan Zhao silently lowered his head, staring blankly at the steaming food on the table, feeling that his heart was hollowed out, and some things could no longer be filled.

On Christmas Eve, it was snowing outside. I had stayed in Canada for nearly four years before, and I had never seen snow. This year, I saw a white Christmas for the first time, but Zhan Zhao no longer had the same interest as before.Looking out the window, Zhan Zhao recalled every detail of living with his father in Canada these years.He has been ill for 5 years, and he knows this pain better than anyone else, and he understands that the family members who take care of the patient have to bear far more than he, the patient.Everything his father has done for him cannot be repaid even in the next life.All he can do is to do his part of filial piety, obey his father's wishes more and make him less angry.But even such a simple thing, he can't do it now.Dad never seemed to be really happy since his mother died.He rarely heard his father mention work matters, and he never heard him mention any of his colleagues.Sometimes looking at the lonely figure of his father, he really hopes that his father can have a close friend, at least a talking partner.There was a sudden rustling sound outside the door, Zhan Zhao pushed open the bedroom door and looked towards the living room.Zhan Huaiyi was squatting in front of the Christmas tree under the window sill, swinging things. The colorful lights wrapped around the tree flickered on and off, making his figure flicker.Zhan Zhao leaned against the door, silently looking at his father's stooped back, feeling extremely sad.He originally wanted to fly over to spend a happy Christmas with his father, why did it end up like this?He really wanted to go over to help, but his legs were as heavy as lead, and he couldn't take half a step.

"Father, please forgive my son's unfilial piety..." Zhan Zhao squirmed his lips, choked up his father's back and silently expressed his apology.The deep self-blame and guilt stabbed his heart like a sharp knife.

Without Bai Yutang, Zhan Zhao doesn't know how long he can hold on.Bai Yutang's arrival was very much like his usual way, and it caught people off guard suddenly.

In the middle of the night, when the mobile phone buzzed by his ear suddenly, Zhan Zhao listened to the instructions and went to the window, slowly opened the curtains and saw the slender figure of Bai Yutang under the street lamp, as if the dream at night was still going on, ignorant I haven't woken up yet.So for the first time, he indulged himself so much, and without waking up his father, he opened the door and rushed towards the figure.

Four or five days have passed since Christmas, but the snow has not stopped.Bai Yutang stood under the dim light, smiling with open arms, and snowflakes hung on his body, as if he had been waiting for him for a century.

"Cat, I miss you so much."

"I miss you as well."

Bai Yutang hugged Zhan Zhao tightly, and it took a while before he let him go slowly. "I rented a car at the hotel, go up and stay with me for a while." He said as he took off the scarf and wrapped it up for Zhan Zhao.Zhan Zhao shrank his neck with a smile, and followed Bai Yutang into the car.

"I told you not to let you come, and I will go back in a few days."

"Hey, I've finally been romantic, can't you cooperate? Besides, there are still 9 days before you go back, and you don't miss me at all?"

"But your play..."

"Don't worry, there will be no delay at all. The start-up was originally late, and it was scheduled to be finished before New Year's Day." The two sat on the back seat together as if they had discussed it.Bai Yutang hugged Zhan Zhao's waist, it seemed that only by embracing could he alleviate the longing for him these days. "Did your father make things difficult for you?"

"No." Zhan Zhao said with a faint smile, and changed the subject without a trace. "How are your ears?"

"I knew you had to ask this." Bai Yutang said, taking out a piece of paper from his pocket. "Here, I brought the doctor's written medical certificate."

Zhan Zhao took it, bowed his body and leaned closer to the car's interior lights to look at it carefully, and then sat back on the seat with confidence. "You are obedient."

"You've already spoken, dare I not listen." Bai Yutang stared deeply into Zhan Zhao's eyes, with a smile on his face. "Hey, what about the promised reward?"

Zhan Zhao also laughed when he heard it, this was the first time he laughed from the bottom of his heart these days.He slowly closed his eyes, and put his cold lips on Bai Yutang's without hesitation.

On New Year's Day, the two visited the exhibition of gingerbread houses and gingerbread men in downtown during the day, and went to see the Christmas light show in Stanley Park at night.Even in foreign countries, two big men leaning together to take pictures will still attract the attention of many people.Bai Yutang quietly leaned into Zhan Zhao's ear, and said with a smile, "Actually, I really want to tell them that you are my lover. Are you afraid?"

Zhan Zhao replied, "I'm afraid, I'm afraid you don't have the guts."

"Boy, just wait. Let's see who has the guts!" After speaking, Bai Yutang took two quick steps and handed the camera to a passing local. "Excuse me, can you take a photo form and my partner please?"

"sure."

Bai Yutang ran back, put his right arm on Zhan Zhao's shoulder, and kissed Zhan Zhao's cheek by the way. "Come on, have a smile."

Zhan Zhao smiled, and whispered eight big characters to Bai Yutang. "The heart is not small, and the courage is big enough."

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