Have you ever tried to like someone like that?
No matter if he will be hated or disliked, he will cling to him.
It seems that as long as you never give up, he will belong to you.

In the midsummer of 2009, it finally rained in S City after a week of high temperatures with an average temperature of 38°C. The air after the rain was filled with the smell of soil.
"Jiang Huainan, which school will you apply to? You haven't told me yet." Xia Chan asked the boy who was sitting on a bicycle in front of her with one foot on the ground, biting a popsicle.
"That's the tenth time. Change the question." Jiang Huainan counted the medical books he had just bought in his hand and answered without raising his head.
Xia Chan took a deep breath, suppressed her anger and lowered her voice, "Well, my cousin was taken by my aunt to go on a blind date again this weekend. Every time she brings me, a light bulb, to help her with reference. How can I judge a man? Can you go with me? After all, you are a boy, and your vision should be... Hey, hey, hey, don't go!"
Before Xia Chan finished her words, Jiang Huainan quickly stuffed the books into his schoolbag, grabbed the handlebars of the bicycle and rushed out.
"Jiang Huainan!"
Xia Chan quickly took the last bite of her popsicle and threw the wood chip accurately into the trash can three meters away. She got on her bike and hurriedly chased after him: "Wait, listen to me."
"Catch up first." A faint voice came from not far away.
There are lush green and tall plane trees on both sides of Xiangxiu Road. There are a few pedestrians on the road shaded by the branches. This area is far away from the city, so there are not many people.
At this moment, Jiang Huainan stepped on the pedals so hard that it made a rustling sound. He was swimming freely like a nimble fish, and soon disappeared from Xia Chan's sight.
"Jiang Huainan--" Xia Chan parked her bicycle at an intersection, looked around, not knowing which direction the man went. After a long time, she could only kick the trash can next to her to vent her anger.
you are vicious.
Since then, Jiang Huainan would hide whenever Xia Chan bombarded him with phone calls, and Xia Chan also dodged calls from her cousin Gu Tong's "blind date consultant" until Gu Tong threatened to sever their sisterly relationship and forced her to meet. Xia Chan had no choice but to come out of the house in the scorching sun.
Xia Chan stood in the shade of the Kerry Building where Gu Tong had agreed to meet her. She kept fanning herself with her hands to drive away the heat, while squinting her eyes and looking around.
Gu Tong is 26 years old and just returned from studying in the UK three months ago. She originally planned to buy a bar on Qingshi Road in S City, but her mother thought she was not doing her job properly and thought that marrying her off early would put her mind at ease, so she arranged a long series of blind dates for her. Gu Tong refused at first, but her mother froze her credit card. Without funds, Gu Tong's plan to open a bar was far from being realized, so she had to agree to her mother's blind date in exchange for financial freedom.
"Chanchan, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I kept you waiting for so long."
Gu Tong's sweet voice brought Xia Chan back to her senses. Xia Chan turned around and saw Gu Tong, who was holding a small umbrella and looking radiant. She was wearing a red hip-hugging short skirt and nine-centimeter high heels, with her wavy hair was spread out like seaweed, and she was wearing a pair of sunglasses that covered most of her face.
Gu Tong took Xia Chan's shoulder and walked forward, handing her a wet tissue while explaining nonchalantly, "I spent a long time looking for my favorite lipstick when I was putting on makeup. The car my mom gave me was sent in for maintenance, and the road was congested when I took a taxi."
"It's okay, I didn't wait long." Xia Chan took the tissue and wiped the sweat off her face, then hid under the umbrella and asked, "Sister Tong, where are we going now?"
"?Cinderella Cafe. I told you on the phone that last time my mom went to a cocktail party, she took a fancy to the HR manager of the company she was working with, and she insisted that I meet him." Gu Tong showed a helpless expression and patted Xia Chan on the shoulder. "I know it's hard for you to accompany me every time, but you are always so smart to help me out. You are simply my military advisor. As for that fat guy last time, you said a few words to him and he left in anger. What did you say... that he looked like a walking pork belly?"
"It's a walking braised pork." Xia Chan glanced at Gu Tong and corrected him unhappily.
"Yes, yes, braised pork." Gu Tong covered her mouth and laughed.
Xia Chan looked at Gu Tong with a blaming look, sighed and said, "I'm really afraid that I'll be beaten for being so mean, and die before I can accomplish my mission."
"How could that be! You know the people I go on blind dates with are either rich or noble, and most of them are my mother's friends. I can't afford to offend them. But you are different. My mother can't hold you responsible. You are a small person who doesn't care about the mistakes of others, so don't bother with me!" Gu Tong lowered her voice, her tone full of soft tenderness.
"No..." Xia Chan let out a light breath, gave a smile that made Gu Tong feel at ease, and said nothing more.
When she was old enough to understand, Gu Tong would bring various nutritional supplements and beautiful clothes to her family without telling her aunt. Dad and Mom were busy arguing and fighting the Cold War and rarely cared about Xia Chan's growth. Parents who were busy hurting each other all day would not know that when she was a child, she caught a cold and had a fever. She got up in the middle of the night in a daze to find medicine. She took the wrong medicine and her taste became insensitive. At first, Xia Chan thought it was because of a cold. Later, she needed a strong taste to taste salty, sweet, and spicy. Xia Chan was afraid of being scolded and hid it from her parents, and secretly shared this secret with Gu Tong. Gu Tong would take her out to play under the pretext of going to the hospital for treatment, but it didn't work. Later, he changed to bringing her supplements to replenish her body. During that period, Gu Tong was very concerned about her. She will always remember that anxious and caring look.
The daily quarrels ended when Xia Chan was eight years old. That afternoon, her father rushed out and slammed the door loudly. He rushed out and never came back.
When Xia Chan and her mother arrived at the hospital, it was too late. Under the cold white cloth was the cruel truth that she refused to reveal.
Even though Xia Chan knew that the man would never wake up again, the rejection in her heart was far more real than reality.
Sometimes she would keep reminding herself in her heart: Xia Chan, your father just fell asleep, this is all a nightmare, don't cry, if you cry it will become real.
So every time she faced the empty house and her mother's silence day after day, her eyes would be sore and uncomfortable that she could not breathe, so she would quickly wipe her eyes, raise her head and smile, pretending nothing had happened.
Xia Chan didn't know if her mother's red and swollen eyes reflected her longing for her father, or if she would rather that man live and quarrel with her than leave her alone. However, her mother didn't say anything, but came to Xia Chan's room more often, and occasionally leaned against the door and stared at her lying on the table doing homework.
Xia Chan thought, people are used to using the sharpest weapons to attack the most vulnerable things, but often the ones who get hurt are the ones who love you. This truth can only be understood after losing someone.
Xia Chan was just daydreaming when Gu Tong quickly pulled back Xia Chan who was about to hit the tree trunk and scolded her angrily, "Your eyes are on your forehead. Didn't you see the tree when you were walking so fast?"
"Are we there? How come it's so fast?" Xia Chan asked without thinking.
"Hurry up! Come on, go in first." Gu Tong put away her umbrella, pretended to be angry and slapped Xia Chan's butt, pointing to the brick-red wooden house behind the big tree.
The cafe is at the corner at the end of the alley next to the Kerry Building. Circles of pink roses bloom on the white fence. The wooden house surrounded by the fence is covered with dense creepers, and the emerald green leaves sway in the wind under the mottled light and shadow. Several meters of log steps extend into the glass door. There is an orange square plaque hanging above the door with "Cinderella" written on it.
It is indeed a good place for blind dates and dates.
"What a romantic scene." Xia Chan praised with a wicked smile.
"What's the point of being sentimental, little girl?" Gu Tong said disapprovingly, and the text message alert sounded at the right time. Gu Tong took a look and immediately became gloomy. She called Xia Chan and said, "My mother sent a text message. She said it was a man wearing beige casual trousers, a white short-sleeved shirt, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. Please keep an eye out for me when I come in."
"Yes, sir! Please come in." Xia Chan saluted exaggeratedly and opened the door flatteringly.
Gu Tong walked in with her head held high and chest puffed out like a queen.
On the left side of the gate, there is a wooden bridge leading to the hall. Under the bridge is an artificial shallow pool and an antique waterwheel. The flowing water makes a gurgling sound, adding a lot of coolness.
Xia Chan now had no time to appreciate this creative and stylish cafe. Her sharp eyes were searching for prey that met Gu Tong's requirements among the guests drinking coffee in the hall.
Gu Tong also stopped and looked inside. Before she could see how many people there were, she was suddenly dragged by Xia Chan behind a green potted plant that was as tall as a person.
Xia Chan lowered her voice, leaned close to Gu Tong's ear and said, "In the northwest corner, the man reading the newspaper is him." After saying that, she couldn't help but hold Gu Tong's hand tightly and pointed to her from behind the leaves of the plant.
"It looks very ordinary." Gu Tong shook his head.
Xia Chan nodded in agreement: "It's very ordinary, not worthy of you."
Gu Tong snorted coldly from her nose: "There are too many people who are not worthy of me, just like the one last time..."
"Ladies, is there anything I can help you with?"
A sudden female voice appeared above their heads, and Xia Chan was startled like a cat with its tail on fire. She turned around and saw a waiter in a blue uniform looking at her and Gu Tong with a big smile on his face.
"It's okay." Xia Chan made a silencing gesture to the waiter, pointed to the northwest corner, and whispered, "We're looking for someone."
The waiter looked at them, then looked in the direction they were looking, frowned and said, "Ladies, please go ahead. Call us if you need help." Then he left.
At this moment, the man reading the newspaper seemed to sense something and turned around to look over here. Xia Chan was frightened by his gaze and blocked Gu Tong reflexively.
Gu Tong placed one of her slender hands on Xia Chan's chest to distance themselves from each other.
Xia Chan covered her chest with both hands and asked angrily, "What are you doing?"
"You've never seen the world. Why are you so nervous?" Gu Tong poked Xia Chan's forehead, then turned back and asked, "Is my hair messy?"
Xia Chan shook her head seriously: "Not messy, very beautiful."
"Be good, follow me." Gu Tong took the opportunity to touch Xia Chan's chin, turned around and walked straight towards the man with a proud look. Xia Chan was stunned for a few seconds, and immediately followed him.
Xia Chan had imagined countless ways to scare the man away in her mind. She even made up a tragic drama in which Gu Tong was suffering from a terminal illness and would not live long, forcing the man to give up.
Gu Tong took off her sunglasses and sat down opposite the man. She casually extended her hand, smiled, and greeted him in a formal manner: "Mr. Chen ? I'm Gu Tong, your blind date today."
The man stared at Gu Tong's angelic face, dazed for a moment, then put down the newspaper, wiped his hands hastily, stood up and shook hers, his smile wrinkled: "Ms. Gu, hello, hello, I didn't expect you to be more stunning in person than in the photo. My name is Chen Chu."
Vinegar...
Xia Chan, who was peeking at Gu Tong at the table next to her with a magazine in her hand, tried hard not to laugh out loud, and her eyes accidentally fell on Chen Chu's socks.
Red? Is she sick? She asked in her mind.
"What kind of coffee would you like, Miss Gu?" Chen Chu handed the order to Gu Tong, then took out a tissue and carefully wiped the table in front of Gu Tong, smiling and explaining, "Sorry, I have a slight mysophobia."
Gu Tong raised her eyebrows and smiled awkwardly: "It's okay, just be casual."
Chen Chu called the waiter and skillfully ordered a cup of coffee. After thinking for a while, he said, "I also have a mysophobia when it comes to choosing a girlfriend."
"Oh? What did you say?" Gu Tong leaned back slightly, found a comfortable sitting position, and looked at the man opposite her.
As if he had finally found a topic, Chen Chu opened up: "Ms. Gu, I've been on blind dates several times before, and they all said that people with mysophobia are sick. I personally think they are too sensitive. I just like a spotless life and pursue quality of life. Just like when friends come to my house for tea, I will feel that there are bacteria in the cups they drink from if they are not washed five times. Every time I clean the room, from the sofa seams to the ceiling, I will carefully check to make sure it is clean. I never eat junk food outside because my stomach is not a trash can... Sorry, I said a little too much."
Gu Tong held back her laughter and asked, "Then what do you think is the difference between me and them?"
Chen Chu said: "Miss Gu seems to be a very reasonable person. I believe there will be no problem in our getting along in the future."
"Is that so?" Gu Tong coughed, drew a circle in the air with her clean white index finger, pointed at Chen Chu's socks, and said with a smile, "How do you explain this red color?"
It turned out that Gu Tong had noticed it, too. Xia Chan stuck out her tongue. That's right, she had such a sharp eye, she probably already had a rough idea of ​​how this man was when they first met.
Chen Chu was silent for a while before continuing, "It seems that Miss Gu is bothered by the color red. This is my zodiac year and I have to wear red. I searched for a pair of socks and finally found them. They are for a good omen when we meet today. Miss Gu, do you think they don't match?"
"I don't think we are a good match." Gu Tong answered directly.
Xia Chan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Chen Chu then realized that someone at the next table was watching them. At that moment, Chen Chu tensed up and looked at Xia Chan, whose shoulders were shaking with laughter, and hesitantly asked, "Excuse me, who are you..."
Seeing that she could no longer hide it, Xia Chan quickly stood up, looked at Chen Chu and began to explain: "I am Gu Tong's..."
"Honey."
As soon as these three words came out, the air froze, and Xia Chan could even feel the strange air current flowing between the three of them. The two stiffened people looked at Gu Tong at the same time, with very complicated expressions in their eyes, one of which was puzzled, and the other was horrified.
Gu Tong stood up and glanced at Chen Chu, and put one arm tightly around Xia Chan, who had goose bumps all over her body. Chen Chu stared at the hand, his pupils widened, as if he had seen a scary monster.
Gu Tong blinked and stared at Xia Chan, her lively eyes full of innocence and grievance: "Dear, I know my family has always been against us, but even though you are jealous, you are still willing to accompany me to the blind date. I am actually very touched. Thank you."
Seeing Xia Chan standing there in a daze like a fool, Gu Tong pinched her shoulder silently with his hand.
Xia Chan's eyes rolled, and she came back to her senses in a moment of pain. Her heart ached, and she said without thinking, "No, you're welcome. It's my duty."
Chen Chu stood there like a sculpture, his chest heaving up and down due to the stimulation.
Gu Tong brushed her bangs and leaned her head slightly closer to look at Chen Chu's rich expression: "Mr. Chen, do you have any questions?"
"No, no." Chen Chu responded guiltily, "No, you, you are..." Chen Chu realized it later and opened his mouth for a long time. Facing Gu Tong's beautiful face, he was a little at a loss for a moment.
"Yes, we are." Gu Tong indicated that he guessed correctly.
"We have known each other for a long time, and we have always had a very good relationship." Xia Chan helped to explain, and there was no trace of guilt in her sincere eyes. She and Gu Tong had known each other for a long time, and they had a very good relationship. But these words changed their meaning when they fell into Chen Chu's ears.
Chen Chu looked up at Gu Tong, his expression a little distorted. Perhaps he was really scared, he was stunned for a long time before he remembered to answer.
"Um... I'm sorry, I didn't know you guys came together and didn't understand clearly. Miss Gu... I suddenly remembered something urgent." Chen Chu hurriedly took out the money to pay the bill, and was too flustered to look up at Gu Tong.
"Mr. Chen, why don't you finish your coffee first?" Gu Tong suggested.
"No, Miss Gu, this matter is urgent. I have to leave first." Chen Chu shouted, "Waiter, please check out the bill," pulled out a chair and prepared to leave.
"Mr. Chen, you haven't..."
"Sorry, next time, no, there's no need for next time, have fun, don't worry about me, don't worry about me... I'm leaving first." After leaving these words, Chen Chu stumbled outside as if fleeing from the plague, his hurried steps eventually turning into a jog.
Seeing him walk out the door, Xia Chan and Gu Tong looked at each other in tacit understanding, but said nothing. After a long while, they both laughed without caring about their image, holding their stomachs at the same time.
Later, Xia Chan recalled the day when she excitedly went back to tell Jiang Huainan about this incident. A helpless smile appeared on his cold face, and when he pointed at her and scolded her for "making trouble", something deep in her heart collapsed.
At that time, she thought that if Jiang Huainan could always smile at her like that, she would be willing to tell him jokes for the rest of her life.
If things had not happened later, if I had not met that person, those futures about Jiang Huainan that I had fantasized about countless times during my youth, from my ignorant youth to the many hardships that I experienced, might really come one day.