At the end of July, the admission letter came.
The cover was bright red, with a word "He" on the left and Ning Xi's name written neatly on the right. Further down was the principal's signature. The two words "Ning Xi" were written with such strength that he couldn't help but feel happy and confused at the same time.
After receiving the notice, Ning Xi went back to school. Ren Mei and a group of other students who were still taking extra classes stood in the corridor to greet him. The director of the Academic Affairs Office, who was behind him, was holding a newspaper and knocking on the heads of the younger students, scolding them for not learning from Ning Xi and just playing around all day.
A junior student ran from the first floor to the open air, pointed at the sky and shouted, "Hey! There are fighter jets again! They are flying so low!"
Several other boys came out from behind him and looked in the direction of his finger: "Wow——"
That day, Ning Xi stood on the dam in front of the teaching building. He was wearing casual clothes with his white sleeves rolled up short. He looked up at the big clock hanging on the teaching building. Suddenly, he seemed to see the passage of time and saw himself four years ago, standing in front of the building that was still unfamiliar to him then, looking into the distance.
This is what growing up is like for him, constantly moving forward but also constantly losing. Years of being alone have affected his judgment, and he has forgotten what he once had.
He missed his childhood self, with a happy family, ignorant and fearless, and all he cared about was the 5.2-cent candy bars that he bought at the neighborhood gate after school.
Xingcheng went to Chongqing with his parents. When he came back, it was already early August and he brought back some hot pot base.
In the evening, the two of them sat cross-legged in the living room, clinking glasses as the hot chili oil bubbled in the pot.
Ning Xi held his chin and listened to Xing Cheng talk about that mountain city, which was full of enthusiasm, with tall buildings standing in rows, trains passing through the buildings, and the wind whistling.
Their cups clinked again, the soda inside still bubbling, and Xing Cheng asked him, "Why do you always like to drink pomegranate flavor recently?"
Ning Xi said: "I just want to."
——I miss you and that time.
Their stories were pieced together from bits and pieces to form a complete period of time.
At that time, every morning, Xing Cheng would wait at the gate of the community for the two taels of beef noodles, and then like a grass-guarding messenger, he would send Ning Xi to the classroom.
Every noon, in the small noodle shop at the school gate, there would always be Xing Cheng sitting among a group of brothers looking for Ning Xi.
Climbing up and down the windowsill every night was the most beautiful six months of their adolescence.
August 7th, it was cloudy and didn't clear up.
Xing Cheng woke up early and got out of bed in a daze at 5:30. He packed his bag and ran downstairs. He took out the key to open the door and found Ning Xi with his eyes closed, still sleeping quietly.
He set the alarm clock ten minutes later, leaned on the bed and looked out the window at the gloomy sky.
It was already past seven o'clock when they arrived at the bus station. It was the peak season and there was a long queue on the highway from Chengdu to Wenchuan. The temperature dropped sharply due to the rain. The raindrops were sometimes big and sometimes small, hitting the car windows. The bus was shaking. Ning Xi had not slept well to begin with, so he wanted to close his eyes, but also wanted to look around.
We started to take the national highway after coming down from Wenchuan. Xing Cheng didn’t fall asleep. When he saw the big words “Wenchuan” on the road sign, he thought of the 2008 earthquake.
A lot of rocks fell in front of the school building. He was thrown up in the classroom by the shock and couldn't even stand steadily. He ran to the playground in panic and saw Ning Xi wearing the badge of the team leader on his shoulder, calmly leading the classmates to evacuate.
May of that year is a gray month in the memories of all Sichuan people.
Later, on his birthday on August 8th, he turned eight years old. The whole world was celebrating the Olympics, but he was alone at home eating cake and cream, and even his parents ignored him.
Xing Cheng couldn't help but run downstairs to give Ning Xi a cake. He saw Ning Xi standing at the door with a stubborn look on his face and being scolded. Xing Cheng squinted his eyes, rubbed along the wall, wanting to give him a taste.
They had yak beef hotpot for lunch, mixed with vegetables and fruits to eat with the rice. Xing Cheng was so satisfied with the meal that he brought over some oil tea and drank it while taking out sunscreen to wipe Ning Xi's face.
Xing Cheng is still a bit of a straight man when it comes to skin care. He had seen sunscreen for a long time but never applied it on his body. As a result, the ultraviolet rays were too strong at noon, and the back of his hands were sunburned after walking a few steps. Ning Xi scolded him while applying sunscreen for him, which made Xing Cheng cry out in pain.
They took another two hours' car ride and finally arrived in Jinchuan County from Ma'erkang by transferring to a bus. The classmates who came to pick them up were already waiting there. They were all sophomores in high school. They were wearing windbreakers, their cheeks were a little red from the cold, and they greeted Ning Xi shyly.
The senior who was admitted to Peking University has such a great reputation in the school that strangers always feel a sense of distance.
The Genting Flower Sea is at the top of the mountain. There is a sea of ​​clouds and sunrise, and you can also watch the stars and the moon. The mountain behind the homes of nearby residents is covered with rhododendrons.
This place is still an undeveloped tourist attraction, and you can only have a good time with a local leading the way. Xing Cheng held Ning Xi's hand all the way, and his palms felt as hot as if they were holding charcoal.
On the way, Xing Cheng watched the wild pheasants passing by them with pride. Ning Xi shook the grass root in his hand and said, "Let's make a plateau chicken tonight."
It was already evening when they arrived. The blooming Meconopsis and Aster flowers were not clear as the altitude was already high. Fortunately, two of them did not have severe altitude sickness and did not feel much. The other native boy even felt like vomiting.
There was only one family near the sea of ​​flowers, specializing in the tent rental business. They led two tents to start dismantling. Xing Cheng looked at the endless wilderness and said to his buddies, "Pitch farther away."
One of them didn't understand: "What's wrong?"
"My brother is shy, he needs to change his clothes at night." Xing Cheng said calmly.
After the group of people cleaned up and had dinner, the stars were already high in the sky. They spread a camping blanket on the grass, and the four boys lay on it, looking up at the dark sky, sipping the barley wine they had bought bit by bit.
Xingcheng's brother said, "Kids here start drinking it when they're in their teens. Brother Xi, try it and see if it tastes good. If it tastes good, I'll bring you some when school starts!"
The other one knocked him on the head: "What are you thinking about? Brother Xi is already in Beijing for school!"
Ning Xi also drank heartily, the sour taste in his mouth had faded away, and he smiled and replied: "Give some more to Xing Cheng."
"I was wondering why Xingcheng's grades have been so good recently. It turns out it's because he has a good relationship with you, Brother Xi. If Xingcheng also gets admitted to a school in Beijing in the future, you two will be even closer."
Xing Cheng sipped the circle of butter on the rim of the cup and nodded, not knowing who he was talking to.
"Beijing, I will definitely go there."
Xing Cheng finished drinking the wine, which was not too strong, so he took out his cell phone and asked them to help take a picture of him and Ning Xi.
With the mountains behind and the starry sky in front, there is an endless sea of ​​flowers in the distance. Even at night, there is a refreshing fragrance.
They said goodbye to each other and used the bathhouse in each resident's home. Xingcheng's body was damp from the burning water, and his face was still warm when he got into the tent.
As he grew older, the lines of his profile became more and more obvious, imprinted on the surface of the tent like a knife-like shadow. Ning Xi lay on the grass covered with a quilt, staring in fascination.
Xing Cheng brought him out, fearing that he would find this kind of hiking and sightseeing boring, given his personality. "Is it fun?"
"It's good, nature, I haven't really experienced it yet."
Ning Xi said that it turns out that the mountains, gurgling streams and vast expanses in the Chinese textbooks are all real.
Ning Xi folded up the socks he had taken off: "Actually, it's fun to go anywhere with you."
Xing Cheng looked at the deserted plateau outside the zipper of the tent and said softly, "Come out with me more often in the future. We can go anywhere, anywhere."
As the time passed midnight, it was August 8th.
"Happy birthday, Xingcheng." Ning Xi said.
I was walking for a moment and I didn't know what time it was. The whole field was quiet, without the sound of insects or birds.
Ning Xi recalled that when he was a child, he climbed on the basketball hoop and looked at the grass clippings blowing in from the opposite street, unable to tell whether it was day or night.
When I woke up in the morning, I saw thousands of acres of flowers in the valley, mist in the mountain stream, and the fragrance of butter tea in the air.
It drizzled at night. Xing Cheng untied the tent chain, half-covered Ning Xi's face, and stuck his head out to look. All the creatures on the field had woken up, some green, some red, and each of them was living a colorful life again.
Xing Cheng saw a bright rainbow hanging in the distant sky, extending from the edge of the mountains straight into the sea of ​​flowers.
Xing Cheng's two classmates had already finished washing up and came over to ask them to get up and have breakfast. Ning Xi heard such a loud noise, but showed no sign of waking up.
"Ning Xi," Xing Cheng leaned forward and said, "The sun is shining on your butt."
"Hmm...hmm." Ning Xi hummed impatiently a few times, closed his eyes, turned around, and let the sunlight sprinkle on his face, making him feel warm.
Xing Cheng rarely saw his brother lazy in bed, so he couldn't bear to yell at him anymore, so he pinched Ning Xi's face hard. Ning Xi stretched out his arm to grab something and wanted to throw it at him: "Get lost——"
Xing Cheng dodged with a smile, brushed off the grass debris on his butt, stood up, and called to his classmates: "Let's go and get some noodles. Let my brother sleep a little longer."
One of them changed into ethnic clothing, with a thick fleece around his neck. He took it off and joked with Xing Cheng as he walked, saying with a smile: "Why are you so considerate to Brother Xi?!"
Xing Cheng laughed out loud: "He is my brother."
On the way to the Jinchuan River Valley, Xing Cheng held a cup of milk and asked Ning Xi to drink it. Ning Xi couldn't stand the fishy smell squeezed from the mountain, wrinkled his nose and said: "Drink it yourself..."
Xing Cheng was not happy: "A cup of milk a day is good for the Chinese people. You must drink it."
"Why are you like my dad..."
Ning Xi suddenly stopped talking, not knowing whether he was talking to the air or somewhere else, and whispered, "I'm sorry, Dad."
Xing Cheng also knew that he seemed to have "caused trouble", so he drank the milk in one breath, ate two pieces of fruit, fed some to his brother, and then fell asleep on the bus while hugging his brother.
The Jinchuan River Valley is very large, and there are pear blossoms everywhere that have not yet bloomed. My classmate Xingcheng said that in March, the whole mountain and field are covered with pear blossoms. The feeling is like a spring breeze coming overnight, and it is as beautiful as described in the books.
Xing Cheng stood beside the road, looking at the vast forest. Before he could say anything, Ning Xi said seriously, "Let's come again next year when the pear blossoms bloom."
His brother didn't answer him, but just pinched his little finger and responded with an evil smile.
The result of waking up the next morning was the same as after the first night of indulgence. Ning Xi slept until noon. Xing Cheng stood in front of the bed with two taels of noodles in his hand. He felt that the noodles were not good enough. How come they had become sticky like a pancake before his brother even got up?
The Tibetan earthen hotpot is especially delicious. Xing Cheng kept adding mushrooms and fungi into it, which made Ning Xi frightened. This brat is really not afraid of getting bloated from eating too much.
The road from Jinchuan back to Chengdu was very congested, so the two of them woke up at five in the morning and hurriedly packed up and prepared to set off.
While waiting to get on the bus, Xing Cheng had eaten up the two bags of local specialties that he had bought at the beginning. He still had a small bag left in his hand. When he saw Ning Xi coming, he stuffed a piece into his mouth: "Is it delicious?"
Ning Xi sat down and fastened his seat belt, and asked him, "How old are you?"
Xing Cheng happily fastened his seat belt, pretended to yawn, and casually put his outstretched right arm on Ning Xi's shoulder. He also casually pointed a number and said, "Three years younger than you."
During the several hours' drive, Ning Xi slept soundly with his head resting on Xing Cheng's shoulder. Halfway through the journey, Xing Cheng could no longer hold on and fell down. The two of them fell asleep with their heads touching on the soft seats of the bus.
The bus was driving in the rain.
It was already nine o'clock in the evening when they arrived safely in Chengdu. The highway had been stuck in traffic for several hours. Xing Cheng looked at the huge word "Chengdu" and suddenly felt a strong sense of belonging. He felt thoroughly that he and Ning Xi had finally returned home.
They took a lot of photos on this trip. Ning Xi saved them one by one and set aside some money, planning to have them printed out and put them in his wallet.
Although this method has been commonly used in the past, Ning Xi is actually a relatively traditional person at heart. He feels that as long as he puts Xingcheng in his wallet, he will not be afraid anywhere he goes.
In mid-August, Chengdu has completely entered midsummer.
In the evening, there were gorgeous clouds burning up half the sky. Old men sitting at the doorways of the streets playing chess put together a table and held tea in covered bowls while listening to the waiters singing and nodding.
The day when university starts is getting closer.
Xingcheng scored 480 points in the final exam, just passing the liberal arts undergraduate line. His parents were so happy that they allowed him to have some fun during the summer vacation. Xingcheng stood on the balcony and swore to the sky that if he didn't study hard in his senior year of high school, he would be struck by lightning and would be an unforgivable sin.
Ning Xi heard it clearly downstairs. He ran up in a short-sleeved shirt and knocked on the door. When the door opened, he pinched his mouth and scolded him for talking nonsense.
What Ning Xi didn't know was that Xing Cheng silently added in his heart: "If you want to chop, don't chop two people together. Chop me alone. I owe you!"
The two of them returned to Ning Xi's residence, sweating and making a fuss. After closing the door, they entered another world.
Ying Yuchen was having a great time in Beijing and didn't want to leave. He suddenly remembered to call Ning Xi.
Doesn't Xingcheng still need to work hard to get into Beijing in his senior year of high school? Ying Yuchen plans to give Xingcheng six walnuts to nourish his brain.
The three people behind had time to chat on the phone. Xing Cheng said ten sentences and Ning Xi replied one. Of course, Ying and Chen could say twenty sentences.
After much thought, Xingcheng decided to go into sports and try to get into Beijing Sport University. If that doesn't work, then Beijing University of Political Science and Law. However, both are very good schools but difficult to get into.
Ying Yuchen ate watermelon while connected to the microphone: "Hey, don't worry, your brother is in Beijing, how can I not take care of him?"
"Aren't you studying at Sichuan University?" Xing Cheng felt a little suffocated as he thought about it, "I can only see you once every six months."
Ning Xi listened for a long time without saying anything, but couldn't help but said: "Only four months."
Ying Yuchen spat out the seed and said with a smile, "Yes, Xingcheng, why are you so desperate? I'll take you back to Beijing to see your brother when I have time."
"You went to play with your sister-in-law, and..."
Ying Yuchen's tone was obviously lower, and even through the phone, one could imagine his worried look: "Don't mention it. My sister-in-law and my brother were in such a serious car accident. They are still lying in bed and will not be discharged until a few days later. My brother still uses a cane."
Xing Cheng was a little nervous: "Are you okay?"
Ying Yuchen shook his head: "It's nothing serious, it's just that the broken bones will take a hundred days to heal. It hurts me to see it."
Xing Cheng and Ning Xi inquired about the situation for a while, and felt relieved after confirming that there was nothing serious. Although they had not met Ying Yuchen's brother and sister-in-law very often, the two children couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of concern.
The small streets and alleys in Chengdu are very beautiful at night. Unyellowed ginkgo leaves occasionally fall on the streets. Bicycles gently roll over them, splashing green ripples. The dim street lights illuminate the food displayed at roadside stalls at night.
Ning Xi could take a bath three times a day in the summer, and the small fan was whirring. The corner of the curtain that was blocking the view was blown upside down. Xing Cheng had his hair shaved into a buzz cut, and a small Guanyin pendant was tied around his neck at the back of his head, which was cool.
Xing Cheng was afraid that his brother would get an upset stomach, so he bought a bottle of iced cola and placed it at home. He inserted two straws into the can and listened to Ning Xi reading the Basketball Times to him while enjoying the breeze outside the window.
It is the NBA off-season and there are not many games to watch, but Ning Xi still enjoys reading newspapers. He then folds up the newspapers and fans himself with them. If there is a special purpose, it would be convenient to wrap them up and hit Xing Cheng's head.
The city is a bit hot in the summer, but it is bustling everywhere. The city’s tourist attractions are crowded with people, the nightlife is very exciting, the bar street is brightly lit, and even the singers playing guitar in the pub sang a few more songs.
Xingcheng plays the guitar badly, as if he can't play anything else except Daolang's "The First Snow".
At that time, Xing Cheng failed to attract his brother's attention with this song. The next day, he became tired of it and forgot that he had a small guitar. After a while, he picked it up and played it again, but he didn't know if his brother downstairs was listening.
Xing Cheng wanted to learn Zhao Lei's "Chengdu", but Ning Xi didn't let him, saying that he was afraid that when he heard the song in Beijing in the future, it would only make him miss her more.
Xing Cheng asked him, what do you want to hear?
Ning Xi held his chin and thought for a while, then held the bowl of glutinous rice cake jelly and fed hawthorn into his mouth one mouthful at a time, and said, "Beijing Beijing".
Two days later, it was late August and the start of the Peking University semester was approaching. Ning Xi bought a plane ticket in advance. That day, he held his phone and stared at his flight number until he could remember it by heart.
Xing Cheng looked at the time and the boarding gate and wanted to ask Ning Xi why he didn't buy a train ticket, but he didn't say anything.
Ning Xi probably spent some time saving up for the plane ticket which cost more than a thousand yuan.
On the night Ning Xi booked the ticket, Xing Cheng came down with a guitar in his arms. He sat on the edge of the bed in the bedroom, and gently plucked the strings with his slender and powerful fingers. Ning Xi couldn't tell whether the pitch was correct or not, so he just put his fingertips on his knees and followed along intermittently.
"I pray here, I wait here, I look for you here, I embrace you here..."
The young man's voice was in the period of voice change, and it had an indescribable low and hoarse tone, carrying a strong sense of emotion.
"Beijing, Beijing."
Beijing is so heavy, yet so desirable.
The summer in Chengdu is really hot and humid, but also really warm.
After exiting Wenweng Road, go up the Yiguanmiao bridge and then walk south along Yongfeng Interchange to Airport Road. It’s less than 20 minutes’ walk and you will reach Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at the end.
Ning Xi had looked at this location on the mobile navigation a hundred times, but he didn't expect time to pass so quickly.
Life is like this, long when it should be long, short when it should be short. Some people leisurely drink tea and listen to opera on the street, while others are drowned in the crowd in the crowded subway station.
People yearn for laziness and also yearn for fulfillment.
It was the last day of August, and the registration day for Peking University was approaching. Xing Cheng took Ning Xi to buy a lot of things needed for the start of school.
Pulling the suitcases, the two of them squatted in the room and packed together.
Ning Xi is very capable of taking care of himself, but he has never lived on campus. Neither has Xing Cheng. However, he has heard a lot of rumors about accommodation, so he can't help but worry: "Brother, it must be hot in Beijing at night. Do you have a bed mat? And this lunch box..."
"That's a school," Ning Xi suppressed a laugh, "not my home."
Xing Cheng was unhappy: "Didn't you say that we should treat school as our home? When I was in junior high school, I carried a watermelon to school."
Ning Xi said to him: "You are quite proud of yourself?"
Xing Cheng didn't say anything. He rolled up Ning Xi's thin pajamas and stuffed them into the suitcase. He then went to collect the toiletries and said, "Why do you feel like you're going to run away with me?"
Ning Xi said, "Okay, you should take the exam well, and if you do well, you can become a deserter."
"You still have this idea!" Xing Cheng moved over.
Xing Cheng asked in a low voice: "Where are you going?"
Ning Xi pretended to think for a while, then answered seriously: "Chengdu."
"Come back?" Xing Cheng asked.
"Where else can I go if I don't come back? Our families are all in Chengdu..." Ning Xi licked his lips, feeling a little dry and uncomfortable, "I want to go to high school."
In early September, the sky is clear and the air is fresh.
There have been heavy rains overnight recently, and it is rare to have such good weather in the hot and humid Chengdu.
The departure delay rate at Shuangliu Airport is relatively high, with long queues for flights and many passengers stranded overnight. Instant noodles in the departure hall are selling like hot cakes, and the 24-hour restaurant is packed.
Looking out through the transparent glass of the airport, you can see that it is drizzling again.
But this rain still couldn't keep Ning Xi.
Ning Xi went to bed early last night and chose to leave early. He got up at 5:30, washed up and took a shower, and was ready at about 6:30.
It was still a little chilly in the morning, so he wrapped himself in a hoodie, quietly closed the door of his house, picked up his suitcase, closed his eyes, and solemnly said "goodbye" to the world.
Xing Cheng was unable to take the small table he bought with him, so he asked Ying Yuchen to help him send it to Beijing when he was free.
Ning Xi's family lives on the first floor. The living room is a little damp. The smell lingers at Ning Xi's nose for a long time. It seems that only when Xing Cheng is there, the living room will become dry and bright, full of hope for people to live a good life.
The summer mornings dawned early, and the chickens from someone's family in the community yard started crowing again. The lights in the kitchens and bedrooms of each household came on one after another .
Grandma Qin, who lived on the third floor, came down with a basket of vegetables in her hand and said, "Ning family boy, where are you going?"
Ning Xi turned around and smiled: "Hello, Grandma Qin, I'm going to college."
Grandma Qin stopped and took a mandarin orange from the basket and gave it to him: "Which university are you going to?"
Ning Xi said: "Peking University."
"Oh! Beijing! There's so much going on!"
Grandma Qin praised Ning Xi for five or six minutes and left happily. He peeled the tangerine and ate it with his mouth full of sweetness.
Ning Xi carefully walked down the stairs, step by step, picking up the suitcase.
He didn't want Xing Cheng to see him off because he knew that the next meeting would be a long time in the future, which would make him feel uncomfortable. It would be better to leave in the future when he could say goodbye so that he would not be reluctant to leave.
But when Ning Xi walked to the door of the apartment building, he saw Xing Cheng's car parked there.
Xingcheng's father looked at his son in the rearview mirror, held an umbrella, and waited for Ning Xi upstairs in the rain.
The rain this morning was clearly not heavy.
The two men sat in the back seat, Ning Xi opened his palm and stuffed two slices of tangerine into Xing Cheng's hand.
"Where are you from?" Xing Cheng asked Ning Xi.
Ning Xi looked out the window: "Is the reward sweet?"
Xing Cheng followed his gaze and answered blankly, "Sweet."
There was no traffic jam on the road, and it took them about half an hour to reach Terminal T2. From the arrival level, the airport traffic began its peak period in the morning.
Tomorrow is probably the day when universities across the country will start registering for the new semester. The airport parking lot is packed with cars waiting in line.
Xingcheng's father was afraid of wasting Ningxi's time, so he went to park the car first and asked Xingcheng to take Ningxi to get their boarding passes.
The two of them went to get the tickets, and then went to buy milk tea and toast. After Xingcheng unpacked the straw, he told him to eat something before boarding the plane, so he wouldn’t be hungry when he arrived in Beijing. The airport was still some distance away from Peking University. He would send him directions later, so he wouldn’t get lost and have to come to Beijing to rescue him…
Ning Xi pinched him: "You are really talkative today."
Looking at Ning Xi eating bite by bite, Xing Cheng suddenly stopped talking.
Xing Cheng stared at him for a while, then used his hands to adjust his brother's hoodie. His palms were sweaty, and he reminded him, "Wipe your mouth after you finish eating. You have to go through security one and a half hours in advance."
Ning Xi knew what Xing Cheng was thinking, and said calmly: "One hour is fine, I checked."
Xing Cheng added: "Go in early and get some rest."
Ning Xi responded to him unyieldingly: "You can sleep on the plane."
The moment Xing Cheng was closely watched by him, he was defeated again and could only say, "Then wait a little longer."
Passersby in the airport were walking in a hurry, heading in their respective directions.
After Ning Xi gulped down the milk tea, the two chatted idly, each with their own thoughts, unable to speak out.
The word "separation" seemed so far away to them, but this day came so quickly.
So within reach. We all have to grow up and go our separate ways, just like a big river flowing eastward, throwing our memories into it and rushing to the distance.
Ning Xi looked at the time and said, "It's almost time."
He slowly stood up, slowly threw the milk tea box and toast packaging into the trash can, and bought a bottle of mineral water to drink.
Xing Cheng also took it and drank it. After a sip of cold water, his mind became much clearer.
They stood near the security checkpoint, watching people around them go in one after another. Ten minutes passed and no one was willing to move first.
Xing Cheng finally spoke to break the silence: "Let's go?"
Ning Xi took a deep breath, took the suitcase and dragged it himself, then took out his ID card and plane ticket from his pocket, raised his arm, and touched Xing Cheng's head.
Four months, they haven't been apart for such a long time in almost more than ten years. If the university expenses are too high, they may have to stay in Beijing to work during the winter vacation.
Ning Xi looked at the passengers going through security check one by one, made up his mind, and clenched the documents in his hand.
He blinked and said, "Xingcheng, I'm leaving now?"
At the busy security checkpoint, countless people were walking hurriedly, dragging their suitcases and holding their plane tickets.
Xing Cheng looked at him and said, "Have a safe journey."
After saying that, he helped Ning Xi carry the backpack whose strap had just fallen off, pulled the suitcase over, and rubbed the slippery floor of the airport with the soles of his feet without looking at him.
"miss me."
Ning Xi suddenly wanted to cry, but he held it back.
Until he really said goodbye, the moment he turned around, tears fell uncontrollably. He tried his best to restrain the urge to look back, because he knew Xing Cheng was still standing there.
Ning Xi's eyes were staring straight ahead.
This trip is far away, and it separates us from half of China. I really don’t know when we will see each other again except next Spring Festival.
Ning Xi had thought about the parting scenes between him and Xing Cheng many times, smiling at each other and bidding farewell in a cool manner downstairs of the residential unit or at the airport security checkpoint, but he had never thought it would be like this. They were obviously two capable young men who were now inseparable.
Ning Xi seldom cries and cannot hold back his tears. During the security check, the security inspectors were inevitably surprised. They had seen many people crying at parting at the airport, but there were very few young men like Ning Xi. Perhaps he was reluctant to leave someone or something.
I was really crazy and started crying.
Ning Xi ignored their expressions, he didn't care at all. He took photos, stamped his passport, and went through security until he passed through customs. He couldn't help but peek through the fogged glass, and vaguely saw Xing Cheng standing at the security checkpoint, motionless.
Ning Xi took a few steps forward, and Xing Cheng followed him. Suddenly, he felt as if his feet were weighed down, as if he could no longer take another step.
Xing Cheng watched Ning Xi dragging the suitcase away, and he felt deflated all of a sudden. He stood there motionless, a little dazed, as if it was winter vacation now and he was here to pick up Ning Xi from the plane.
He was like an abandoned puppy until his phone vibrated. He took it out and saw a message from Ning Xi: "I'm about to board the plane. Are you back?"
Xing Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, and was about to reply to the message while walking, but when he looked up, he saw his father standing next to a potted plant in the distance. There was no expression on his face, and his figure was as tall as a mountain, staring straight at him.
Xing Cheng didn't know how long it took his father to arrive: "Dad, Brother Xi is gone, shall we go back?"
Xing Cheng's father frowned and said softly, "Let's go."
Xingcheng's father glanced at him and turned away.
Xing Cheng's heart was beating very fast, so he had to follow slowly. He went down the elevator and went to the parking lot to find the car. When the car door opened, he didn't dare to sit in the front seat, so he ran to the back seat and got in. Suddenly, he heard his father shout, "Sit in the front!"
Xing Cheng sat in the front seat and fastened his seat belt.
The journey home from the airport was not far. Xingcheng didn't dare to talk or play with his phone along the way. He could only stare at the scenery outside the window. He rolled down the window a little to let in some air, grabbed a handful of hair, and suppressed the cough that was rising in his throat.
Xingcheng's father, who was driving, suddenly sighed.
Xing Cheng suddenly became nervous. He straightened the seat back and sat upright, feeling that in the next second his father, who had been a soldier, would open the car door and throw him onto the airport highway.
"Do you also want to study in Beijing?"
Xing Cheng was stunned for a moment, then nodded honestly: "I do."
"Do your best in the exam," Xing Cheng heard his father say while he was driving. "If you pass, you can go to study there."