mouth of truth

Chapter 8

In midsummer in Taiwan, there is always more rain than sunshine.

Just like usual, Zhang Yuen walked home humming a song, holding an umbrella in one hand, and carrying a large bag in the other. The "Lemontree" humming on his lips was still light and bright, obviously not spoiled by the bad weather. .

No matter how easy this is, it is true or false, at least, when passers-by hear him humming, they can't help casting envious glances, especially those who run and hide from the rain without an umbrella. The jealous eyes!

It has been more than half a year since he boldly used all his savings and the money he borrowed from Ah Cao to build up the first and second floors of the dual-use storefront, and it didn’t take him too long to get used to it. adjust.

After all, the motivation for taking down that store was not pure. Apart from making a living, it was more of a souvenir.

Zhang Yuen thought he would always remember it—last summer, a man in a wheelchair and a little girl were outside the store under the outdoor French awning for sun and rain. He still remembered the song the little girl sang at that time!

the sun!Snap to shine!

The light is dazzling and hot, shining brightly like a bronze mirror; perfect like a coin...

The weather is already very hot tomorrow, and I can't help laughing every time I think about it.

How time flies, more than a year since that day, he thought.

After leaving for more than half a year, it's not that he didn't expect Xi Jinxun to come to him, but he knew better that it was impossible and unnecessary for that man to do so, and he was not acting in an idol drama.

Where does such an old-fashioned plot happen in real life——

"No, it won't be..." Zhang Yuen stared at the front with wide eyes, stopped and didn't dare to approach his home again.

A familiar scene—the same outdoor French awning, with the store name written on the crimson base cloth of creamy brown "Baony", and two people standing under it, one big and one small.

The difference is that this time it is not a shade, but a shelter from the rain.

The difference is that the store is already owned by him and is his home.

The difference is that the big man is no longer sitting in a wheelchair, he is standing straight with his arms clasped with crutches.

Stand up!He stands up!Ecstasy poured into his heart like heavy rain, and Zhang Yuen almost rushed forward to hug him.

But he didn't.To be more precise, when I took the first step, I thought of the past, and quickly woke up from the joy.Real life isn't such a corny plot, he reminded himself.There must be something wrong with Xi Jinxun coming to him suddenly.

But—so good, he was able to stand up again.

Zhang Yuen still couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips and smiled.

Xi Jinxun greedily looked at Zhang Yuen who was suddenly standing in the rain not far away.

There was still a clear smile on that face, as if nothing could break him down, as he once said, he had a vitality that was stronger than weeds, and he couldn't be trampled to death no matter what.

No matter what happens, he will live and find a way to make himself better.

As it turns out, he did.

Hiring someone to investigate his situation for more than half a year, he was surprised that he moved here after leaving him, and then he had to admit that he has been trying to make himself live happily.

Zhang Yuen, who was standing in the rain holding an umbrella, suddenly moved, smiled deeply at them, and walked over.

Xi Jinxun stared blankly at him as he approached him, passed by, looked away, and finally stopped in front of his niece, squatted down to look at her, and said, "Hi, lovely lady, is there anything I can do for you?"

It wasn't until he heard the voice that Xi Jinxun realized that he had been holding his breath for some time.

The heart suddenly felt a burst of suffocation between breathing and breathing, and found in the pain——

He misses him so much!

"Hi sweet lady, is there anything I can do for you?"

Hearing her elder brother Zhang's voice, Xi Youning raised her wet face, the rainwater gathered on her forehead flowed into her eyes as she raised her head, she blinked vigorously, squeezing away the rain that hurt her eyes, Little did she know that the acid rain in the sky in Taipei made her eyes red, like a pitiful little white rabbit.

The red and tender little mouth was pursed again and again, murmuring several times, for fear that what he said would be repudiated by adults, but he would be very sad if he didn't say it.

The little head raised and lowered hesitantly, repeated two or three times before opening, and said word by word very slowly:

"Brother Zhang, can you take me and uncle home?"

"Little fool, it's not like you don't know the way. You can go home by calling a taxi." Zhang Yuen pretended to be brisk, while wiping the rainwater from the little girl's face, straightened her wet messy hair, hooked it behind her ears, and moved very familiar.

"But, but—" Xi Youning became a little anxious, looked back at her uncle and then turned back. "But it's not like home if we're not together...it's not like home without Brother Zhang..."

"...Who taught you to say that?"

"No, no!" Xi Youning shook his head vigorously, grabbing the cool big hand of his favorite brother Zhang. "Uncle said that it cannot be said that he taught it, and he also said that if we let you know that he taught me, we will not be able to take you home! So - so Ningning said it himself!"

...Silly boy, you said everything...

"Ningning is a good baby." Zhang Yuen turned his face and kissed the little girl's tender cheek. "Honest boy."

The little girl's tender cheeks flushed, and she felt anxious.

Xi Jinxun was suddenly jealous of his niece, his eyes were angry, and he stared fiercely at Xi Youning's right cheek.

Damn it, why did you kiss her!The hand holding the one-armed cane was tightened tightly, holding back the sudden jealousy.

He really wanted, really wanted to erase the kiss that fell on her little face just now, wanted to grab the man squatting in front of her with a pleasant face, wanted to bite the two lips that had just stuck to the girl's face, wanted to put this The person who had never glanced at him and completely ignored him hugged him and kissed him fiercely, thinking——

I want to tell him that everything is over and in the past, and I want him to know that he did not take action against the Li family, that Li Chengfeng was arrested for transporting drugs, and that Li's Shipping went bankrupt were caused by themselves, and have nothing to do with him, and I want to say what he left He kept all the post-it notes, and memorized them after seeing them over and over again, thinking——

I want to ask him, if I apologize to him, can I come back to him...

But Xi Jinxun didn't say anything, no, it should be said that he couldn't say anything.

From the moment Zhang Yuen, who was squatting, stood up and looked at him, Xi Jinxun was embarrassed to find that his head was blank, and he forgot all the thoughts he had just turned around.

At the moment when the four eyes meet, I strongly realize how much I have missed him for more than half a year——

The silent two didn't know that they had the same idea at this moment.

"Ha Chirp!" Underneath, a small sneezing sound woke up the adults who were staring at each other unconsciously.

Really, I looked stupid again... Zhang Yuen wrinkled his nose, retracted his greedy gaze, looked down at Xi Youning who was rubbing his nose, and finally spoke to the man: "Even in summer, children should not be exposed to rain and wind, Go back quickly." After a pause, he took out his mobile phone and dialed. "I'll call a car for you, soon—hey, Ah Cao? It's me, where are you running the car now?...No passengers, just right, I have someone who wants to go back and can't call—"

Well?Mobile phone... Zhang Yuen stared blankly at the man who snatched his mobile phone and pressed the end button.

"That—" I really don't know what he wants to do with Ningning here. "It's hard to take care of a child with a cold, and now there are a lot of enteroviruses, flu, etc., you quickly take Ningning home and cook some ginger soup—"

"It's not home without you..."

Zhang Yuen's heart throbbed, and he was suffocated.

It must be his auditory hallucinations, how could this man say such disgusting words, he must have heard it wrong.

I really heard what I wanted to hear, but it felt unreal.

Zhang Yuen scratched his nose and smiled awkwardly: "Well... Li Shi has declared bankruptcy, and my elder brother was also arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking, uh..." He didn't know what else to say, he couldn't say congratulations, and he couldn't congratulate him. Injustice for the family.

"You blame me?"

"How could it be?" Zhang Yuen laughed dryly.

After going through so many things, he understands better than anyone else that revenge, hurt, and stupid actions are not good for anyone. Only by letting go can he move forward.

As long as he can move forward, time will slowly dilute the injuries and pain he has suffered. He has experienced it, so he understands that this is not just a beautiful empty talk.

As for how long it takes to let go, it varies from person to person, but one day it will be washed away, and life can still be passed. As long as you let go of your heart and let go of everything, you can still find a way to make yourself happy, although it is inevitable that you will be a little lonely... …hateful!Why on earth did he come to him?

Not daring to continue thinking, Zhang Yuen turned to face the side door on the side of the iron rolling door, lowered his head and concentrated on picking out the key to open the door.

However, the rattling sound of the keys highlighted the panic of the owner. After digging out for a long time, he couldn't find the right key to open the door, which made Zhang Yuen feel even more embarrassed.

"Go back quickly, people say that only idiots catch a cold in summer."

"I am." From behind came a deep and painful voice. "I'm a fool, that's why I can't see it, that's why I treat you like that, and why I let you leave me. Li Yang—"

The movement of opening the door stopped.

Staring at the hand in front of the door lock for a long while, Zhang Yuen took a deep breath and turned to face Xi Jinxun. "I'm Zhang Yuen. My friends call me Octopus. The 'Li Yang' you're looking for is dead."

Ah, it's too much, Zhang Yuen secretly groaned, and quickly made up for it:

"That—Xun?" He scratched his cheeks, and he smiled embarrassedly. "Can I still call you that?"

I didn't expect to hear him call him that, Xi Jinxun was stunned, and nodded in a daze.

"Yeah." Unconsciously raised the corners of his lips, let his emotions run ahead of his reason, and responded to this warm smile.

"That's good." Zhang Yuen showed a happy expression. "Everyone should be responsible for their own actions. My elder brother is responsible for his own actions. I know that. Don't think too much. I would do the same thing if I were to." In order to prove that his words came from 100% sincerity, he nodded vigorously. Again: "Really, you're just doing what you're supposed to do." That should suffice.He turned back to continue his great business of opening the door, completely oblivious to the man's smile at him.

I really dare not take another look.He was worried that he couldn't help but hug him, tell him that he missed him very much, and still loved him very much, and asked such silly things as "can I start over?"

Impossible, but I still can't help but look forward to it...

Click!The door of the house was finally opened, Zhang Yuen resisted the urge to run in, turned around and smiled at the little girl: "Ningning, take your uncle home quickly, don't catch a cold."

The man's rare smile froze because of his comfort and urging, and only then did he understand the purpose of his smile.

What he wants to hear is not this kind of polite comfort and dismissal!

He wanted him back, back to him, to complete his world!

He wanted—he wanted him!

"Brother Zhang..."

"Good boy, listen to your lord." Zhang Yuen patted the little girl's hair again, avoiding the possibility of meeting Xi Jinxun's eyes, and walked in the door with his head bowed.

Xi Jinxun grabbed his arm before he entered the door and forced him to stay.

"I didn't shoot!" he said. "Li Chengfeng has been targeted by the police for a long time. The bankruptcy of the Li Shi Shipping Association is also due to Li Chengfeng's affairs and poor turnover. It has nothing to do with me. I—"

"That's good." Zhang Yuen returned with a soft smile. "Thank you for being willing to forgive them, go back quickly, don't catch a cold."

After finishing speaking, he shrunk his shoulders and drew back his arms to turn around, but was arrested again before he could take a step.

"A place without you is not a home." Whatever figure and face are all dead!He can throw away everything, as long as he can be exchanged for him and keep him by his side! "It doesn't matter if you don't admit that you are Li Yang, I don't know him anyway, I only know you Zhang Yuen and I only want you——Yuen, come home with me."

"I already have a home." Zhang Yuen pointed at the open door and laughed out loud. "A golden nest and a silver nest are not as good as your own doghouse, but your own home is better."

There is already a home... Xi Jinxun's hand loosened for some reason. "Yeah……"

"My own, you don't have to worry about being—" Zhang Yuen suddenly stopped talking, and swallowed back the words "being kicked out" that he almost said. "The landlord took it back."

Uh... After thinking about my words carefully, it seems that I didn't turn it around better, and the meaning is still the same.

The embarrassing silence made the two of them speechless.

"Ha-chu! Ha-chu! Ha-ha-chu!"

The child's sneezing dispelled the solemnity caused by him, and Zhang Yuen never thanked the child for making trouble like he does now.But when he saw Xi Youning's pale face, he suddenly had the urge to slap himself hard.

How could he—what a jerk!He cursed himself.What does an adult's business have to do with a child, she wants a child to accompany her in the rain and wind!

His determination not to let them enter his house quickly collapsed because of these repeated sneezes.

And Xi Youning's soft and crying child's voice was a fatal blow, which made him unable to resist: "Brother Zhang, I, I'm so cold... Will, will it become summer—ha, Ha chirp! Idiot with a cold..."

"Ha Chirp!" The sneezing sound was deeper but louder than that of a little girl, causing Zhang Yuen to move his eyes.

Instinctively scanning the past, he accidentally took another look at Xi Jinxun. His stiff hair was not knocked down by the heavy rain, but it could not withstand the rain. It followed the straight contour of the face and gathered to the sharp chin. One drop, two drops, three drops Straight down; the POLO shirt and slacks wet by the rain stuck to the body, indescribably embarrassed.

My heart throbbed faintly...to find him in this way...

"Brother Zhang..." Xi Youning sniffed, and couldn't help pulling on Brother Zhang's trousers, looking up with bright red eyes. "Ning Ning is so cold..."

Zhang Yuen lowered his head again, and found that the little girl had a pitiful expression - just like when she was begging him for ice cream.

It's so fake, kid, you can't fool anyone with an honest face with everything written on it... quickly avoiding your eyes, afraid that you couldn't help but laugh out loud.I almost forgot that Miss Xi Youning is also a clever little scammer.

This pair of uncles and nephews was really too much, which made him feel sad and want to laugh at the same time.

"Ha chirp! Ha chirp! Ha chirp... woo... Ning Ning will catch a cold and become stupid... woo..."

The child's sobs became louder and louder, and he hiccupped a few times in the middle, moaning the accusation of "Brother Zhang, don't want Ningning", crying terribly.

Alas, no matter what, it's a fact that it's raining... It can't be shaken, this one big and one small are really...

So whoever falls in love first loses, the outcome has been decided from the very beginning, and he can only accept the loss.

Sighing, Zhang Yuen took off his thin jacket and put it on Xi Youning's head.

"Ning Ning is a poor little boy, not an idiot." After speaking, he walked into the room on his own.

The open gates are not closed—

The uncles and nephews outside the door watched him walk into the house, stared at the open door for a long time, and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Indeed, an open door does not mean rejection, but the host did not open his mouth to invite...

It would be a lie to say that they didn't want to go in, but because the uncle and nephew were not sure that this was an invitation, neither of them had the courage to step in, fearing that they just misunderstood and would be kicked out in the end.

Xi Youning looked at the open door, looked at Uncle, and then turned back to stare at the door.She really wanted to go in, to act like a baby in brother Zhang's arms, and tell him that she really missed him, but——

I don't know why but I dare not go in, it seems that I have to wait until Brother Zhang says "come in".

But——she waited, Brother Zhang didn't come out, and didn't ask her to go in. She waited for a long time, her feet were sore...

This unprecedented anxiety overwhelmed the little girl, and this time she really burst into tears: "Woo... Zhang, brother Zhang, don't want Ningning, really don't want to, woo-woo... hiccup! Woooo..."

Suddenly, footsteps came from inside.

Zhang Yuen, who went back and forth, opened the big towel and wrapped the little girl tightly: "Who would be so heartless and leave such a cute little pity like you alone, huh?"

The little girl cried so sadly, hugging Zhang Yuen's leg and beating and beating, while wailing:

"It's you uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..."

"What's wrong with me?" Zhang Yuen laughed. "Aren't you going to take your poor little boy home?"

While speaking, Zhang Yuen picked up Xi Youning and walked into the house, leaving behind a man who was also wet and leaning on a crutch, and who was even more embarrassed because he was forgotten.

This time, the door was still not closed.

The forgotten man stood there staring at the open door, and he could only stand there and stare like this, chewing alone like the little girl—no, it was several times more anxious and suffering.

He didn't dare to hope that he could be forgiven as easily as his niece. The pain of the people in the room was almost all caused by him - indirect, direct, all.

Equivalent to the desire to enter the house is the fear that the person inside will come out only to close the door.

Will he?Come out again, close the door in front of him and reject him?

Just as he was thinking wildly in fear, Zhang Yuen came out again, and Xi Jinxun, who was unprepared, showed a cowardly expression and took a step back unconsciously.

At the same time, Zhang Yuen spread out a larger bath towel, grabbed the two corners and held it high, circled over the back of the man's head, drew a big arc in the air to cover him, and pulled it towards himself.

The bath towel isolates a narrow and exclusive world, and the two men can only see each other.

Trapped in the narrow world of bath towels, Xi Jinxun's dull expression expressed disbelief.

It was so close that he could almost kiss him - he couldn't believe that Zhang Yuen was willing to get so close to him!Is he dreaming?

Why does he feel that Xi Jinxun's expression at this moment is pitiful like a big dog that has been abandoned by its owner?

Just standing here in the rain, so—well, it has a dramatic effect, it's more pitiful than the little pity just now, how could he make himself so bad?

Zhang Yuen sighed, and finally couldn't help wiping the man's wet hair and tired face, and finally couldn't help kissing the man's slightly parted lips in surprise.

A very light, very light kiss, almost retracted as soon as they touched each other.

"Let me tell you first, my house is not as comfortable as yours, and the bed is not as big as yours."

With a light kiss and a low murmur, the man was so excited that his body trembled and his lips moved, as if he wanted to say something but suddenly he couldn't find his own voice. Unable to speak.

"My house hasn't been cleaned in three days." He remembered that he had a certain degree of cleanliness. "Recently, the store's business has improved, so I'm too busy to have time."

It wasn't a dream... it was really him.Xi Jinxun came back to his senses, listened to his voice, and smelled his scent—the bath towel covered unnecessary eyes, forming a world of his own, he let himself bury himself into his shoulder and neck, and murmured the name of the man he had missed for a long time. "Yuen, Yuen, Yuen..." At this moment, the only free hand quietly wrapped around Zhang Yuen's waist to tighten it, and at the same time, he let go of the other crutch and put it aside to lean against the wall, so that he could embrace it with multiple hands. A man in his arms.

This is his, belongs to him - Li Yang who has passed away, and what exists now, his Yu En.

Unable to let go, love to this point, he is speechless to himself... Zhang Yuen, who was muttering in his heart and spurning himself, didn't notice that there was an extra hand behind his back, and he didn't notice that the man fell quietly, and gave most of his body weight to him. for myself.

"I won't drive you away. You don't have to tell me if you want to leave. You can do whatever you want." Zhang Yuen said, not noticing that Xi Jinxun's hand had moved to his jaw, and he was gently touching, kneading, and slowly supporting high. "That--Xun, if you can bear my messy home, then--well, that, cough, the little poor one is already soaking in the bathtub and singing, you poor fellow, use the shower head in the bathroom on the first floor Get some hot water—huh!?”

Xi Jinxun couldn't bear it anymore, his body screamed crazily longing for the person in his arms, he lowered his head and bit his chattering mouth, and did what he wanted to do since he saw him just now, flicking his thirsty tongue away Undefended jaws, rolled up his, entangled together.

"Help me wash..."

The world under the towel was a bit gloomy, and Zhang Yuen only saw the man's eyes flickering with clear desire, staring straight at himself.

"I can't stand on my feet, help me..."

Instinctively feel that what this man wants is not just to help him take a bath, but——

One step back, one step back.Zhang Yuen grasped both ends of the towel tightly, wrapping the man who was almost lying on top of him, allowing him to kiss him furiously, and retreated into the room half-push half-way.

lb!

Who closed the door?

It didn't matter, the longing for each other's kiss made them unable to think any more.