Chapter12

  When Ah Heng clenched the train ticket in his hand, he finally had a real feeling.

  She is about to leave here.

  Ah Heng smiled, feeling relieved and happy, wanting to sing a song, but wondered if singing the national anthem would be silly.

  "Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves..."

  She hummed softly, and the pink-haired boy beside her propped up his chin, staring at her as if she were a freak.

  Ah Heng's face turned red.

  "You're off-key." The young man in pink clothes smiled blandly, took a deep breath, and let it out - "Rise up! Those who refuse to be slaves!!!! That's the way it should be."

  You... just ran out of tune...

  Ah Heng remained silent, sniffing her nose, but didn't dare to retort. She remembered that Si Gwan had mentioned countless times about Yan Xi's bad temper.

  10 o'clock at night train ticket, still half an hour left.

  It's now during the Spring Festival travel rush, and the waiting room is packed with people. Xīn fears being trampled, so he takes ā Héng to squat in a corner, where they quietly wait for their tickets to be checked.

  "We're going to S City?" Ah Heng asked the young man in a low voice.

  The boy crouched there, his big eyes flashing, and nodded.

  "Why?" Ah Heng was secretly delighted in his heart. Suzhou is very close to Wushui Town, only a two-hour drive.

  "I had a dream last night, I dreamed of s city." The young man spoke softly, his voice languid.

  "Have you been to S City?" Ah Heng asked him.

  "No." The young man shook his head.

  "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" Ah Heng asked with wide eyes.

  "In my dream, someone told me that there are many beautiful women like me, many delicious foods and many fun things." The young man's mask was half-removed, revealing a charming smile, with lips as red and luscious as if they were smeared with honey.

  A Heng burst out laughing.

  "Attention passengers on train 313, attention passengers on train 313..." a sweet female voice.

  "The ticket inspection has started." The young man stood up, his thick gloves patted the floating dust on his backpack, and slung it over his shoulder.

  That backpack, Ah Heng weighed it before, don't know what's inside, very heavy.

  She followed the young man, looking around curiously. The only means of transportation she had ever taken was a car; as for trains, it was her first time, just like a big girl getting married and riding in a sedan chair for the first time.

  "Don't look around, there are people who kidnap children." The youth's voice behind the mask sounded lazy.

  A Heng withdrew his gaze and looked at Yan Xi, feeling a bit embarrassed.

  She is no longer a child.

  Uniformed staff wearing white gloves stood at the ticket gate, Ah Heng thought of the door god in the New Year's picture.

  The girl happily handed two tickets to the staff.

  The staff smiled and checked the ticket, enthusiastically saying to Yan Xi: "You two sisters are going out for a long time for the first time, as an older sister, you should take good care of your younger sister when you go out!"

  Xinlu's face darkened outside her mask, took the ticket and walked silently to the platform with big strides.

  Ah Heng smiled at the staff while stumbling along behind Yan Xi.

  No wonder, Yan Xi looks so pretty and is wearing a pink dress, people who don't know her would probably think she's a girl.

  But obviously, Yan Xi was not happy.

  It wasn't until later that Ah Heng realized that Yan Xi was not just unhappy, but actually furious. From a young age, what annoyed him the most was when others mistook him for a girl.

  After passing through the ticket gate, Ah Heng was a little sweaty, she had never seen so many people in her life.

  On the platform, amidst the hustle and bustle, people of all shapes and sizes almost drowned her out.

  It was hard to squeeze onto the crowded train, but there were too many people and no seats could be found for a while. Most people were stuck at the entrance of the carriage, waiting for others to find their seats so they wouldn't get squeezed when they walked in.

  As a result, people with the same mind, the more blocked, the more crowded, chaotic into a ball.

  At this point, Ah Heng's tears were about to fall out.

  The tall and sturdy man beside her stepped on her foot, but he didn't notice at all. She tried to shout a few times, but the carriage was noisy, and the other party couldn't hear it at all.

  Xian Xi leaned against the window, feeling a bit empty, watching Ah Heng being squeezed to tears, and shouted - "Hey, I'm telling you, Uncle Neiwei, aren't your feet cramped?"

  The young man's voice was quite high, and the tall, fat man heard it, but didn't react, staring blankly at his dark, shiny big eyes.

  "Damn it!" Xīn hěn was anxious, cursed and pulled ā Héng's arm, exerting force to pull her into his own chest. He supported himself on both sides of the window frame, slightly bowed his head, leaving a gap for ā Héng, letting her stay in his arms.

  A Heng suddenly relaxed all over, and in an instant, he was already standing by the window.

  Upon closer inspection of the slippers, there was indeed a clear footprint of leather shoes on them.

  Lift your head, and you'll see a young man's chin as white as jade.

  The train swayed back and forth, and in front of Ah Heng's eyes, there were only pink things swaying back and forth, making her feel a bit dizzy. The pink sleeves sometimes gently rubbed against her nose, with a faint scent of milk, clean and cold.

  Her face turned red and she felt a little embarrassed.

  It wasn't until about ten minutes later that the travelers gradually dispersed, and Ah Heng let out a sigh of relief.

  She glanced at her lightly and began searching for her seat according to the number on the ticket.

  No. 23, No. 24......

  Ah Heng pulled at La Lian's sleeve and pointed to two seats on the left side.

  She felt that Xinming had obviously let out a sigh of relief.

  The young man put down his backpack and sat in a window seat.

  Ah Heng sat down beside Yan Xi, lifted his wristwatch, and the minute hand was one grid away from zero. The carriage also gradually became quiet.

  The train rumbled and rattled, its rhythmic sound inducing sleep.

  Ah Heng listened to the whistling wind and felt very tired. Not long after, when he opened his eyes again, he was already sitting outside the Yun family's house.

  She saw the familiar medicine stove, saw the old palm-leaf fan in her hand, the orange flame faintly flickering, not scorching, not warm, yet seemingly drawing out her longing, unable to distinguish the passage of time. The big dog Ah Huang lay quietly at her feet, like her, stopping all the rotations and changes of this world, with only the medicine stove left in her eyes, waiting for herself to be slowly submerged in the fragrance of the medicine.

  Living a lifetime like this isn't bad at all. Eternity and perpetuity are just a medicine stove and a feather duster.

  No pain and no sorrow either.

  In such a vast and habitual reality, she was certain that she was dreaming. But what was the dream, her medicine stove, her Ah Huang, or the boy sitting by the train window, far away in his sickbed, sorrowfully thinking of Yuexiang?

  This reality is more illusory than a dream, and this dream is more real than reality.

  Possible, no matter how she was terrified in her dreams, in Xī's eyes, the girl had undoubtedly fallen asleep, cutting off her thoughts of reality.

  This girl, when sleeping, still has a calm and ordinary appearance, neither annoying nor likable.

  Yan Xi's eyes widened, maintaining complete self-control.

  The young man had a bad habit when sleeping, requiring absolute quiet around him. If there was the slightest noise, he would rather stay awake until dawn than try to fall asleep.

  He can't tolerate that while his own thoughts are interrupted and defenseless, others are still thinking and existing in a clear-headed way beside him.

  This will make him feel uncomfortable.

  He sat there, gazing out of the window at the vast expanse of whiteness that was rolling in.

  Watching snow on a train is like this. Small squares, like a kaleidoscope, the scenery rushes by with snowflakes as the background.

  Suddenly, something soft and light fell onto his shoulder.

  Xian furrowed his brow.

  He is not used to physical contact with intimate implications.

  Not a clean freak, but unconditionally rejecting in heart.

  Then, solemnly, the young man straightened the girl's head again.

  Fortunately, Ah Heng slept very soundly, maintaining a fixed posture as a young man, neat and tidy, without any movement.

  When she woke up, it was already the early morning of the second day.

  Rubbing her eyes, she looked at Xuan Xi, still with yesterday's appearance, but with a faint thread of blood in her eyes.

  "You, haven't slept?" Ah Heng's voice was soft and sticky, with a thick nasal tone of having just woken up.

  The young man looked at her and smiled blandly - "Are you awake?"

  Ah Heng nodded.

  "I'm hungry." He slowly got up and stretched his waist.

  "Do you like spare ribs noodles or beef noodles?"

  She hesitated for a moment. She didn't have any particular preference for food, and somewhat bewilderedly said, "Braised pork ribs noodles."

  Xian Xi looked at Ah Heng, her big eyes suddenly becoming gentle, hiding the sharpness that was previously fixed.

  A Heng is unclear about the reason.

  The young man left his seat and came back with a paper bowl in one hand after a while.

  Ah Heng hastily reached out and took it, stood up and gave his seat to Yan Xi.

  Xian Xi handed a fork to Ah Heng, who held the noodles and stared at the boy's hand holding the fork without blinking.

  After a while, he learned it and rolled up his face to send it into his mouth.

  Hot and steaming noodles, with a smooth and elastic texture.

  He slurped down the noodles with a loud "slurp", getting soup all over his mouth, making it look like he had grown a beard.

  A Heng nibbled on his food, glancing at Yan Xi as he ate.

  The boy's sucking sound grew louder, with a malicious playful tone.

  Travelers from all sides curiously looked at them, Ah Heng's face turned red.

  "Delicious! I love spare rib noodles the most!" Yan Xi pretended not to see, smiling as she spoke, her face flushing with warmth from the hot soup.

  A Heng nodded honestly.

  Xian Xi always thought that when people interact with each other, a common language is the most important thing. Previously, he had not found any common ground with Ah Heng, and subconsciously felt a sense of estrangement. Now, she also likes braised pork ribs, and he feels a sense of "it's a small world after all" - that even if they hadn't known each other before, they are still fellow foodies who have met by chance.

  But Ah Heng naturally didn't know, and spoke hopefully towards her kindness, simply because of a bowl of braised pork noodles.

  "Achoo!" The young man rubbed his nose.

  He seems to have caught a cold again.

  He has always been afraid of the cold, and in winter he stuffs his clothes tightly on his body, wrapping himself up warmly, best not to come into contact with the air at all. However, even so, he still often catches a cold, and each time, it won't subside until after ten or more days.

  It's still half a day's journey from Hangzhou.

  "You, sleep, for a while." Ah Heng looked at the young man.

  Xian Xi slightly shook her head, calm and composed, but stubbornly unyielding.

  "I'm watching the bag, don't worry." Ah Heng thought the young man was worried about safety issues.

  The young man didn't respond, slightly tilting his head, pulling up his mask, leaning against the window, closing his eyes, and meditating.

  Ah Heng looked at the youth's delicate eyelashes, which were as thin as a flower bud, and felt somewhat embarrassed. In the end, he still pulled out his handkerchief, folded it, and placed it in a leaning posture on the outside of his left hand.

  It's more comfortable than putting it on a hard seat.

  The boy's fingertips trembled slightly, but gradually, his fingers relaxed slowly and sank into the softness.

  He seemed to have fallen asleep for real.

  He gazed down at the slender fingers like jade in that rice-colored handkerchief and smiled slightly.

  At four o'clock in the afternoon, I arrived at the station.

  When getting off the train, Ah Heng thought it would be another tough battle, but fortunately, Yan Xi's eyes were big and intimidating when staring at people, so they got a green light all the way and smoothly exited the train station.

  The south and north have distinctly different warm atmospheres.

  Ah Heng gently closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and was greeted by the familiar scent of moisture and sweetness. When he opened his eyes again, the elegant charm of Jiangnan had already been frozen in his gaze.

  If people in City B are too busy to notice the snowflakes, then people in City S have enough leisure time to study how to walk with the most beautiful posture.

  "Now, where to go?" She tilted her head and looked at Xian Xi.

  "Follow me." He said, but his expression was somewhat tired.

  The journey is hurried, one day and one night, making people tired.

  Ah Heng silently followed up, unconditional trust.

  Xianxi bought a map and pointed at the clear lake on it - "Are there any boats here?"

  A Heng smiled and nodded.

  "Does the boat provide accommodation?"

  "Some."

  The boy's eyes lit up instantly and he spoke excitedly "Really? I thought it only appeared on TV. Let's go."

  Ah Heng furrowed his brow, somewhat hesitant - "But you, haven't sat on a boat before, will get seasick."

  "Is there anything delicious on the boat?"

  A Heng nodded.

  "Is there a beautiful view?"

  Once more.

  "Is there a beautiful woman?"

  Three o'clock.

  "Go die." The young man laughed, revealing a small red flesh on his gums.

  Silent.

  Damn it!

  Ah Heng's face was calm, but in his heart he secretly rolled his eyes.

  What is called a romantic, has three great loves in life: one loves good food, two loves beautiful scenery, and three loves beautiful women. Among these three loves, beautiful women are the most important. Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned in life, eight years of war resistance, the ideal beauty did not fall into his hands, only married a wife who can cook delicious food but is unattractive, and barely appreciated the scenery on the dog-shit-filled Champs-élysées.

  Of course, this is after the event. 13