"Yes, Qian Ge, I like Xia Kong and have liked him for a long time. I don't know if you like him or not, but he likes you. However, I will not let go just because he likes you. I will compete with you fairly and see who will win in the end. If you end up together, I will definitely bless you with all my heart."
Qingyue said seriously and forcefully.
From the age of seven to twenty-two, a total of fifteen years.
Fifteen years is too long, long enough to make people forget many things.
At the age of 22, the four young men had all graduated. Qingyou stayed in the Celadon Workshop to learn how to take over the family business. Even though Lin Fangke had nothing to do, he had enough family property to squander, so he was not worried about his future.
Xia Kong, after his parents were put in prison, he visited them many times, but each time he ended up in a bad mood.
As for Qiange, she is about to find her own career.
There are no more chickens raised in the courtyard houses because raising chickens is not allowed in cities now.
Qiange changed into a professional suit and was about to go out for an interview. As soon as she went out, she saw Xia Kong coming back from outside.
At this time, Xia Kong looked even cleaner and more handsome, with a shallow dimple at the corner of his mouth when he smiled.
"Xia Kong, do you think I look good today?" Qiange turned around in front of Xia Kong.
Xia Kong smiled and said, "It looks good. Qian Ge looks good in anything she wears."
Qian Ge pouted and said, "You just praise me as much as you can. By the way, Xia Kong, how was your interview today?"
"Not bad, it's a photo studio in our A area."
"Great!" Qian Ge clenched her fist and said, "Give me some of your luck."
Xia Kong smiled and bumped fists with Qian Ge: "Come on!"
"Well! I'll go first!" Qiange ran out of the courtyard like a lively rabbit.
"Xia Kong is back." Jiang's mother happened to come out of the house and asked with a smile.
"Yes, Aunt Fang."
"Then come in quickly, auntie will make you something delicious."
Xia Kong walked over and said, "Okay, what is Aunt Fang doing?"
"As for beer duck, you and Qiange love beer duck the most." Jiang's mother walked into the house with a smile and said, "When we were young, you often left the last piece of meat in the beer duck for Qiange, and she became quite fat after eating it."
Xia Kong rolled up his sleeves and followed Jiang's mother into the kitchen to help: "Qian Ge would look better if she was a little fatter."
Mother Jiang said with a smile: "If she hears this, she will definitely treat you well." Then she sighed again, turned her head to look at Xia Kong's handsome and mature face, and said, "Time flies so fast, you and Qiange have grown up so much."
Yes, time flies.
In the years after the college entrance examination, nothing big happened. Or rather, no one except Xia Kong had any big problems.
After graduating from the college entrance examination, Lin Fangke confessed his love to Qingyou, but was rejected by Qingyou. So Lin Fangke continued to confess his love for the second, third and fourth time, but was still rejected by Qingyou.
But why say except Xia Kong? Because in the year of graduating from the college entrance examination, Xia Kong met a man, Yu Anjiu, whom Qian Ge had been thinking about. However, Xia Kong had been hiding it from Qian Ge until now...
At least until now, Qiange's life has not been affected by anything, and Xia Kong hopes that she can live happily like this forever.
She was so happy that even if she found out he had lied to her, she wouldn't be particularly sad.
The company that Qiange interviewed for was called Xuan's Group, which was considered one of the top ten companies in terms of comprehensive strength in City B. Qiange had put in a lot of effort to receive an interview notice from Xuan's Group.
Not only did she have a great resume, she also looked up Xuan's history in detail and did a lot of homework on the marketing position she applied for. Therefore, when the interviewer interviewed her, she answered questions fluently and her image quickly stood out among the five people who were interviewed at the same time.
"Well, then, all of you go back and wait for notification." The interviewer said seriously.
Qian Ge thanked him, carried her bag on her back and went to the bathroom while calling Jiang's mother. She said with great joy, "Don't worry, Mom. I performed very well today. The interviewer told me to go home and wait for notification. I am 90% sure!"
A girl who was washing her hands heard her phone call and suddenly sneered, saying, "I told you to wait for notification, but there's a 99% chance that it won't work, and you're still happy here, tsk——"
When Qian Ge heard the voice, she turned her head and looked at her. She knew this girl, she was interviewing with her. Because she was dressed up and the perfume she sprayed was very pungent, Qian Ge had a deep impression of her. Her name was Zhou Yanyan.
Qian Ge hung up the phone and asked her, "How did you know?"
Zhou Yanyan sneered: "You can tell at first glance that you're a newcomer in the workplace. If they were very satisfied with you, they would have decided to hire you on the spot."
Qian Ge pursed her lips and involuntarily tightened her grip on the phone.
"Xiaobai is Xiaobai. Alas, my passion has been poured with a bucket of cold water." Zhou Yanyan adjusted her hair in front of the mirror, smiled as if she was watching a good show, and prepared to leave.
Qian Ge muttered: "Aren't you waiting for notification as well..."
Before she could finish her muttering, Qian Ge heard a scream coming from the bathroom door, "Ah——"
Looking up, it turned out that Zhou Yanyan accidentally bumped into a woman when she went out. Zhou Yanyan shook her long curly hair and said with disgust: "What are you doing? Are you blind?"
After cursing, Zhou Yanyan left with a lot of resentment.
The man who was hit held onto the door frame and turned to look at Zhou Yanyan. After a while, he whispered, "Are these people so arrogant? Obviously, I was the one who was hit."
Seeing the woman leaning over and rubbing her ankle, making a hissing sound, Qian Ge walked over carefully and asked, "Are you okay?"
"It's okay." The woman didn't even raise her head. She was about to stand up when she suddenly felt a piercing pain in her left ankle. She immediately fell to the side. Qian Ge quickly supported her and asked, "Did you sprain your ankle just now?"
"A little." The woman looked down and saw that her ankle had indeed begun to swell.
Qian Ge paused, then quickly ran to the front desk and explained the situation. The front desk arranged for the security guard to check the situation at the bathroom door. Qian Ge saw that someone had gone to help, so she felt relieved and left Xuan Group.
This incident was just a small episode for Qian Ge, but unexpectedly it turned out to be an important step in changing her life.
Qiange would never know that the woman she met by chance at the Xuan Group would actually be the daughter of the Xuan Group - Xuan Lu.
Just as Zhou Yanyan said, Qiange has not received any notification of successful re-examination or interview from Xuan’s company since she came back from them.
The first interview in my life has fallen into oblivion.
Qiange lay on the bed bored, her fingers weakly tapping on the laptop. The computer screen showed a recruitment website, and she was sending out her resume to companies one by one.
Qiange always sees female protagonists having a hard time finding jobs on TV. She thought TV shows were just TV shows, just filming, but she didn't expect that the difficulty in finding a job would actually happen to her.
"Alas." Qian Ge sighed, "I am the only one who hasn't found a job."
"Qian Ge--" someone in the yard was calling her.
Qiange got up from the bed, put on her slippers and ran out of the room. She saw Qingyou, Lin Fangke and Xia Kong waiting for her in the yard. Xia Kong and Lin Fangke each found a bicycle and said to Qiange, "Let's go out and relax!"
Qian Ge knew that she couldn't stay in the house all the time, so she naturally agreed.
So, Xiakong carried Qiange and Lin Fangke carried Qingyou, and they rode along Beidaihe. The summer breeze, wrapped in the unique cool breath of the river, hit their faces, which was very enjoyable.
Lin Fangke rode behind Xia Kong and said to Qingyou excitedly, "Qingyou, I'm so happy!"
Qingyou smiled unhappily: "What are you happy about?"
Lin Fangke rode even harder: "Because you were behind me and holding my waist, I felt like I had something to protect, and I felt happy!"
Qingyou did not answer, but just stretched his neck slightly and looked at Xia Kong who was riding in front.
Qian Ge also sat steadily behind Xia Kong, holding Xia Kong's waist tightly with both hands. Xia Kong should be as happy as Lin Fangke, right? Thinking of this, Qingyou's expression darkened, and then, she quickly raised her head, facing the breeze, smiling.
"Beep-beep--" the cell phone vibrated in my pocket.
Qiange quickly took out her cell phone and answered it. It was an unfamiliar male voice.
"Hello, are you Miss Jiang Qiange?"
"It's me." Qiange answered blankly.
"Hello, Miss Jiang, I am the head of the HR department of Xuan Group. Congratulations on passing our interview. You can start work next Monday."
"What?" Qian Ge asked in disbelief, and quickly pulled Xia Kong's clothes, "Stop the car, Xia Kong, stop the car."
Xia Kong hurriedly slammed the brakes, and before the bike came to a complete stop, Qian Ge jumped off and confirmed on the phone: "Is this the Xuan Group? I passed the interview, can I start working?"
"Yes." The other party said affirmatively.
"Okay, thank you! I will be at work on time on Monday!" Qiange held the phone in both hands, her tone filled with uncontrollable excitement.
After she hung up the phone, she turned around and looked at Xia Kong and the others. She immediately rushed over to hug Xia Kong, then hugged Qing You and Lin Fangke. She spun around gently and said with a smile, "From now on, I am also an office worker! I can make my own money! Congratulate me!"
Qingyou and Lin Fangke both congratulated with a smile, but Xia Kong remained silent.
Qian Ge looked at Xia Kong's calm expression in confusion and asked, "Xia Kong, what's wrong with you?"
Xia Kong shook his head and asked, "Qian Ge, do you really like Xuan?"
Qian Ge thought about it and answered honestly: "Actually, I can't say that I like it. I just think Xuan's is better in all aspects. It is a rare opportunity for me to be able to enter such a large company and hone myself right after graduation."
Xia Kong held back what was in his mind and laughed: "Since this opportunity is hard to come by, you must seize it. No matter what, if you are not happy working in the company, you can come back, understand?"
"I know." Qian Ge replied with a smile, not taking Xia Kong's words too seriously. She pulled Qing You's hand and said, "Qing You, let's go buy clothes! I can't be careless now that I'm officially working!"
Qingyou always let Qiange do what she wanted, so this time he accompanied her.
Xia Kong looked at them with a smile, but there was always a knot in his heart. He didn't know whether it was good or bad for Qiange to join the Xuan family. The Xuan family's daughter had a very close relationship with that person, and Qiange would definitely not be able to bear this kind of closeness.
The day Qiange reported to Xuan's company, the weather was very comfortable, the sun was bright but not scorching hot.
Xuan's is a large group, located within the second ring road of City B, in an excellent location in the commercial center. Moreover, this is just the headquarters, and Xuan has branches in other places. Xuan's headquarters is very large, with thousands of employees and so many departments that Qian Ge can't count them all.
Even after the on-the-job training was over, Qiange still seemed confused.
At noon, Qiange was packing up and preparing to go to eat when a familiar female voice suddenly sounded above her head: "Hey, Jiang Qiange?"
Qiange looked up and saw that it was the woman she had helped in the bathroom that day.
"It's you." Qiange stood up and waved slightly as a greeting.
The woman smiled and said, "My name is Xuan Lu, let's go eat together."
"Okay." Since she couldn't find anyone to have dinner with, Qiange immediately agreed.
Xuan Lu seems to be an old employee and is familiar with the company. Many people greet her and say "Hello, President Xuan" when they see her.
Qian Ge bit her lower lip and dared not speak. She did not expect Xuan Lu to hold such a high position, and immediately followed Xuan Lu like a junior who was at a loss.
Xuan Lu noticed Qian Ge's reservedness and asked with a smile, "What are you doing?"
Qian Ge smiled embarrassedly: "I... I don't know who you are..."
"That's nothing. There are still many things you don't know." Xuan Lu smiled and ordered a few of the restaurant's specialties. She admitted openly, "General Manager is just my position. My identity is the daughter of the Xuan family!"
"Ah?" Qiange exclaimed, and then didn't know what to say.
Xuan Lu laughed out loud: "Are you surprised? Actually, I told you because I saw that you are kind-hearted and have helped me. Unlike that Zhou Yanyan, who is wearing fake clothes and pretending to be a rich and beautiful woman."
"Zhou Yanyan also came to Xuan's?"
"Yeah." Xuan Lu nodded, "He's from the marketing department too. Maybe he didn't attend the training with you, so you didn't see it."
Qiange smiled awkwardly. The marketing department was quite large, so it was normal not to meet each other even if they were training together.
"Qian Ge, don't be so reserved." Xuan Lu held Qian Ge's hand and said, "Although I am a manager and a rich girl, I like you. We can be friends. I don't have any friends in the company."
Qiange swallowed her saliva. It was not known whether this young lady did it intentionally or unintentionally, but she revealed her identity everywhere she spoke. Even if Qiange really wanted to be friends with her, she couldn't completely relax.
But Xuan Lu looked innocent and harmless, Qian Ge couldn't refuse and could only say, "Okay."
"That's great." Xuan Lu smiled, as satisfied as a child getting his favorite toy.
Soon, the dishes were served and the two began to eat. Halfway through the meal, Xuan Lu received a phone call. Xuan Lu didn't care whether there were other people around her no matter what she did, so the word "honey" was clearly heard by Qiange.
Qian Ge smiled silently and continued to eat her lunch.
I heard Xuan Lu suddenly say: "Okay, then you come to pick me up, thank you Honey, thank you my An Jiujiu."
An...long?
Is that the name Anjiu?
Qiange was stunned, as if piercing ice and snow were penetrating her skin.
Xuan Lu hung up the phone and enjoyed her lunch contentedly. Qian Ge's expression was a little stiff. She bit the spoon and tried to look natural: "Just now...was that your boyfriend?"
"Yes!" Xuan Lu said openly, "My boyfriend came to pick me up from get off work this afternoon! My boyfriend is so nice to me, handsome and considerate."
When talking about boyfriend, Xuan Lu seemed to open up a chatterbox. Seeing that Qiange didn't show any expression, Xuan Lu asked again: "Qian Ge, do you have a boyfriend?"
Qiange pulled the corners of her mouth weakly and shook her head.
"Oh, I see." He said with regret.
Qian Ge pursed her lips and asked in a low voice: "You, what's your boyfriend's name? I heard you call him An Jiujiu just now, and I accidentally heard it as uncle..."
“Hahaha!” Xuan Lu laughed and shook Qiange’s shoulders, “Qian Ge, why are you so cute? How did you hear it as uncle? I’m your aunt! Hahaha, my boyfriend is not an uncle, his full name is Yu Anjiu!”
Yu Anjiu.
The name spoken by Xuan Lu was like a bomb, blowing Qiange's mind into chaos.
This time, I definitely didn't hear it wrong.
Yu Anjiu...Yu Anjiu...
It really was the brother Anjiu that she had been looking for.
It’s great that he is still alive and well in this world, but how did he get to know the eldest daughter of Xuan Group and become her boyfriend?
No, no, Qiange shook her head suddenly. Could it be just a coincidence that they have the same name?
"Qian Ge, what's wrong with you?" Looking at Qiange's reaction, Xuan Lu was confused.
Qian Ge came back to her senses and said, "Oh, it's okay. I just find it incredible because I used to have a friend named Yu Anjiu."
"Ah?" Xuan Lu put her hands on the table and asked, "Your friend is also called Yu Anjiu? Aren't they the same person?"
"I'm not sure either. I haven't contacted that friend for a long time." Qian Ge smiled. "That friend was my junior high school classmate. Later, he flew to the United States with his parents."
After listening to this, Xuan Lu waved her hand, sat firmly on the chair, and said, "That's not the case. My boyfriend is several years older than you. He can't be your classmate. Besides, my boyfriend is an orphan and has no parents."
"Boom——" If what happened just now was just a bomb explosion, then at this moment the world must be suddenly collapsing!
How many years older than her? An orphan? Yu Anjiu...
When all these keywords are put together, who else could it be but him?
Qian Ge lowered her head, her eyes were foggy. She was shivering all over, as if she had been splashed with a basin of ice-cold water on a cold winter night, her ears were buzzing, and the world was spinning.
"Qian Ge...Qian Ge?" Xuan Lu was shaking her shoulders, but Xuan Lu's voice seemed to be blocked by layers of thick walls, and only a faint sound reached Qinge's eardrum.
Qian Ge stood up dazedly and said, "My stomach hurts."
Having said that, he left his seat and stumbled away.
Xuan Lu looked at all this in surprise and confusion.
Qiange didn't have a stomachache, but when she heard the news, she found it hard to accept for a while.
When he was a teenager, the scene of Fu'an Orphanage overlapped with Xuan Lu's words, just like a boiling fire burning Qiange's heart.
Qiange hid in the bathroom and didn't come out until half an hour later.
During this half hour, she forced herself to return to normal, washed her face several times, and hid her red eyes.
Xuan Lu had been waiting outside. When she saw Qiange coming out, she went to greet her with concern: "Qiange, are you okay? You don't look well."
Qian Ge shook her head and smiled tiredly: "I'm fine, I'll feel better after going to the toilet. I'll go up and get a cup of hot water."
"Let me pour it for you." Xuan Lu helped Qiange back to the company and poured her a cup of boiled water.
"If you are still feeling unwell, please ask for leave. If your immediate supervisor disagrees, I can help you solve the problem," said Xuan Lu.
Qian Ge shook her head: "I'm fine, I'm much better now."
"Tsk, something strange happened on your first day at the company." Zhou Yanyan's seat was not far away. Seeing Qiange's lifeless look, she sneered.
Xuan Lu glared at Zhou Yanyan. Although Zhou Yanyan didn't know that Xuan Lu was the daughter of Xuan Group, she knew that as a manager, she was their superior, so she had to shut up in disappointment.
Xuan Lu patted Qiange's shoulder, looking worried, and said, "Then you should have a good rest. Tell me if you can't hold on any longer."
Qian Ge nodded, not having the energy to answer.
Xuan Lu looked at Qiange worriedly for a few times, then slowly returned to her department to work.
Qian Ge was lost in thought for a while, and sent a WeChat message to Xia Kong:
Xiakong, I found Anjiu.
Two minutes later, Xia Kong replied:
Have you seen him?
Shallow song:
No, he became Xuan Lu's boyfriend.
After a long time, Xia Kong didn't reply. Qian Ge thought he was busy and was about to pack up and go to work when Xia Kong replied:
Come home early after get off work, I have a surprise for you.
Qian Ge smiled as usual and replied:
OK
Then, Qiange hid the WeChat chat window, rubbed her cheeks with her hands, and started working.
No matter how many emotions you have in your heart, you can't delay your work!
Qiange secretly cheered herself up in her heart.
The get off work day ended at six o'clock in the afternoon. Qiange packed her bag and went straight to the company gate.
At six o'clock in the summer evening, the golden sunset shone on the glass windows of the Xuan Group Building, reflecting a dazzling light.
Qiange stood next to the inside of the company's gate and looked outside through the glass door. Even though people were coming and going, she could still clearly see the face of the man who was talking to Xuan Lu.
Even after fifteen years, she could still recognize him at a glance.
It was Anjiu. He had grown taller and stronger, with clearer facial contours and more three-dimensional features.
Xuan Lu clings to An Jiu like a little bird, with admiration in her eyes. An Jiu rubs Xuan Lu's hair, with endless tenderness in his eyes.
Qiange was a little dazed for a moment. She was so eager to find Anjiu, but why?
If it was just because Anjiu was her only friend and her only concern, and now that she had found him, she should be happy, should go out to hug him, and say with a smile, "It's been a long time since we last met."
However, Qiange's legs seemed to be rooted to the ground and did not move at all.
There were fewer and fewer people in the company. Qiange squeezed into the last group of people, lowered her head, and pretended not to see Xuan Lu and An Jiu.
However, Xuan Lu spotted her with her sharp eyes and called out, "Qian Ge!"
Qian Ge stood still, turned her head, and put on a stiff smile: "Lulu..."
She glanced at Anjiu, but found that he was indifferent, with a kind light in his eyes. Yes, the kind light she gave when she looked at her girlfriend's friend.
Xuan Lu happily dragged Qiange in front of Anjiu and introduced her generously: "Anjiu, this is Qiange, my best friend in Xuan's company."
Qiange lowered her eyes and didn't look at Anjiu.
Anjiu stretched out his hand and said naturally, "Hello, Qiange."
Qiange was extremely panicked. She quickly reached out and held Anjiu's fingertips, remaining silent.
Anjiu scratched his head and said, "Your friend seems a little introverted."
Qiange was at a loss, not knowing where she was. Anjiu's words showed that he didn't seem to know her.
"Qian Ge and you are not familiar with each other. It won't be like this when we get to know each other better, right Qian Ge?" Xuan Lu lowered her head and asked Qian Ge. Qian Ge collected her thoughts, nodded, and said nothing.
"Qian Ge." A motorcycle stopped in front of the company. The person on the motorcycle took off his helmet and looked in the direction of Qian Ge.
Qian Ge's eyes then lit up, as if she had found a life-saving rope.
"Qian Ge, is that your boyfriend?" Xuan Lu asked in surprise when she saw Xia Kong.
Qian Ge explained honestly: "It's my neighbor who came to pick me up."
Xia Kong came over, glanced at An Jiu, and said to Xuan Lu with a smile: "I will take Qiange home first, you guys go about your business."
"Okay." Xuan Lu waved to Xia Kong with a smile.
Xia Kong put the other helmet on Qiange, took Qiange's hand and said, "Let's go back. Aunt Fang is waiting for you to have dinner."
The heavy helmet covered Qiange's head, making it impossible to see her expression. She was just led by Xia Kong and sat on the back seat of the motorcycle. Then Xia Kong rode the motorcycle away from Xuan's.
From beginning to end, An Jiu's expression remained calm, until he opened the car door and let Xuan Lu sit on the passenger seat. Then, when no one was watching, his thick black eyebrows frowned.
Xia Kong was riding the motorcycle steadily, with a hard helmet pressing against his back. Xia Kong heard faint crying sounds coming from under the helmet.
"Qian Ge, are you okay?" Xia Kong asked worriedly.
Qian Ge said calmly: "That's An Jiu."
Of course Xia Kong knew it, but he said nothing.
Qian Ge continued, "I finally found him, but I didn't feel the joy I had imagined. I had imagined thousands of ways for us to meet again, but I didn't expect that the real way of meeting was not among those thousands of ways I had imagined."
Xia Kong still didn't say anything, but he tightened his grip on the motorcycle handlebars.
Qiange lowered her head and said with forbearance, "I thought that when we met again, I would happily rush over to him and call him Brother Anjiu like before...but...but I don't even have the courage to recognize him, he...he..." Finally, Qiange couldn't help sobbing, her voice full of strong grievance and sadness, "He doesn't even seem to recognize me...no impression of me at all...he forgot about me..."
Xia Kong calmly parked the motorcycle under a shade of green trees. The lush leaves were like a huge umbrella, blocking the scorching sunset outside.
Xia Kong got out of the car, reached out and pressed on Qiange's helmet, and held her in his arms. Qiange's face was buried under the helmet, with sweat and tears on her face.
"You look so ugly when you cry..."
In his arms, Qiange was crying and sighing.
In this world, even people cannot fulfill your wishes 100%, let alone God.
Qiange and Anjiu met again and said goodbye in a way that was not romantic or joyful.
Qiange concluded that Anjiu no longer recognized her. Now Anjiu was Xuan Lu's boyfriend, so Qiange didn't want to mention the past. As long as Anjiu was still alive and well, it would be fine.
This was something that Qian Ge took two days to figure out.
However, she was willing to let go of the past, but the past was unwilling to let go of her.
On a Sunday half a month after I reunited with Anjiu, the sky was a little gloomy and there was a strong wind. It seemed like it was going to rain, but this weather lasted for two hours and it didn't rain. It just remained gloomy.
Qiange came back from borrowing books outside. As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw a tall figure sitting in the yard helping Jiang's mother wash radishes.
Qian Ge's brain buzzed and everything in front of her eyes went blank.
Mother Jiang saw Qiange standing there and said with a smile, "Qiange, why are you standing there like an idiot? Didn't you see that there were guests?"
The tall figure turned around and gave Qiange a familiar smile.
She saw it, of course she saw it, but why was Anjiu here? Who could tell her what was going on?
"Qian Ge, come and help wash the radishes. Your father and I will go to the supermarket to buy spareribs. We will stew them tonight!" Jiang's mother stood up, wiped her hands on her apron, and shouted, "Dad, let's go."
"Hey, I'm here." Father Jiang came out of the house with a shopping bag. Father Jiang told Qiange to talk more with Anjiu, and then accompanied Mother Jiang to the supermarket.
Outside the courtyard, the wind blew the leaves of the locust tree, and the leaves fell one by one in the yard like elves. An Jiu looked back and smiled at Qiange, "Qian Ge, come and sit."
Qiange walked over as if possessed by a ghost and sat down next to Anjiu, accompanying Anjiu in washing radishes mechanically like a puppet.
An Jiu said calmly, as if chatting with his family: "Long time no see, Qiange."
Qiange was startled and the radish in her hand slipped into the basin, splashing water.
Anjiu stared at Qiange, watching her lower her head and wipe her tears with the back of her hand.
Anjiu laughed and nudged Qiange's head with his elbow: "Why are you still as crybaby as you were when you were a kid?"
Qian Ge didn't say anything, but just cried even louder.
The smile on Anjiu's face disappeared. He wiped his hands, looking a little sad: "Qian Ge, are you sad because I pretended not to know you?"
Qian Ge shook her head, slowly raised her face, and forced herself to smile: "I'm not sad... I'm happy... because Anjiu, you still remember me..."
An Jiu was stunned, looking at Qiange's tear-stained smiling face, and his heart was suddenly grabbed by a hand, and the pain after many years came up without any preparation.
He lost his mind and hugged Qiange tightly, feeling a little nervous and trembling with nervousness.
He was also afraid of what Qiange was afraid of.
Qiange was afraid that Anjiu wouldn't recognize her, but she didn't know that Anjiu was also afraid that Qiange wouldn't recognize him.
Fortunately, fortunately, his Qian Ge still remembered him.
"Brother Anjiu..." In Anjiu's arms, Qiange sobbed and shouted these words.
Anjiu smiled. He held onto Qiange's shoulders and looked into her eyes seriously. "Hearing you call me like that, I feel happier than I have ever felt in the past ten years."
"I've been looking for you for a long time..." Qiange looked at Anjiu, choked up, and couldn't say anything.
"I've been looking for you for a long time." An Jiu stroked Qiange's hair. "I've been looking for you for fifteen years. In the sixth month after you were taken away, the dean took us on a trip and I got lost. But I don't want to go back. A place without Qiange is like a cold cellar, without any warmth. Qiange, have you ever felt warm during the days you left me? Have you ever thought about me?"
When Qiange heard this, a look of worry appeared on her originally moved face.
She avoided Anjiu's gaze and whispered, "Brother Anjiu, you miss me, how do you feel about me?"
"Qian Ge, you clearly know it." An Jiu said.
Qiange thought of Xuan Lu’s smiling face and shook her head violently.
An Jiu knew what she was thinking of. He turned around, drooped his shoulders, and said softly, "Qian Ge, Xuan Lu's matter is a long story. I will explain it to you slowly when I have the chance."
Qian Ge said calmly: "It doesn't matter."
It really doesn’t matter, after all, all of this is a fact that cannot be reversed.
Silence suddenly fell between the two of them. They sat side by side, but just sat there. It was eerily quiet all around.
At this time, the person who had been standing outside the yard finally stomped his feet and walked slowly to the door.
Hearing the voice, Anjiu and Qiange turned around at the same time.
It was that person, the neighbor who came to pick up Qiange.
An Jiu looked at Xia Kong with an unfriendly look, but Xia Kong simply ignored An Jiu and walked straight to Jiang's house: "Aunt Fang said she's going to make ribs tonight, did you go buy some?"
"Yeah." Qian Ge nodded, "I'll be back soon."
"Then I'll go to the kitchen to prepare. Do you want to help me?" Xia Kong said, looking at An Jiu. "The guests can rest outside. The weather is so cool today."
Qiange stood up and followed Xia Kong into the kitchen, cooperating with him in perfect harmony.
There was silence between the two of them, but this silence did not make people feel awkward, but rather peaceful.
During dinner, Jiang's mother and father took good care of Anjiu because they knew that Anjiu was Qiange's best friend in the orphanage. Now that Anjiu and Qiange had met, they were really happy for Qiange.
After dinner, Anjiu was about to leave.
Qian Ge sent him to the end of Huaishu Lane, and An Jiu said considerately : "You have to eat well and sleep well every day, understand?"
Qian Ge: “Yeah.”
An Jiu added: "You...don't tell Xuan Lu that we know each other. If I have time, I will come to see you again."
Qian Ge's expression darkened: "Yeah."
"Then I'll leave." An Jiu said.
Qiange nodded without looking at Anjiu. Anjiu sighed and left Huaishu Lane.
The wind was still blowing wildly. Qian Ge was thin and weak, and she staggered a step before she could stand firm. She had a very strange feeling in her heart, tingling but calm.
There were only warm yellow street lights in Huaishu Lane. At the gate of the courtyard, Xia Kong looked at the dark figure at the end from afar and sighed.
Xia Kong sighed not because Qiange cared about Anjiu, but because he felt sorry for Qiange. Until now, she still didn't know what kind of person Anjiu was.
If she knew that Anjiu was no longer the Anjiu in the orphanage, she would not be as dilemma as she is now.
But Xia Kong also knew that he couldn't tell her this yet.
The time is not yet ripe, Qiange won't believe it.
Shortly after joining the company, Qiange still stayed in Xuan’s marketing department. Now, she has successfully passed the internship and become a formal employee of Xuan’s.
Xuan Lu was trying to celebrate for Qiange, but Qiange said embarrassedly, "It's just a small thing, no need to make a big fuss."
But Xuan Lu didn't care at all and said, "How can it be a small matter? You, Jiang Qiange, are my best friend. You have become a formal employee and your job is stable. Of course I have to celebrate for you."
Qiange was a little embarrassed.
Xuan Lu hugged Qiange's shoulders and whispered, "Okay, I don't know you yet? How about this, I'll call my boyfriend, you call your boyfriend, and the four of us will go eat together. I know a Japanese restaurant, the food is delicious!"
Qiange admitted that she was moved, only because Xuan Lu was going to bring Anjiu here.
Qiange nodded foolishly as if she was possessed, she didn't even know when Xuan Lu decided on the time and place.
When she brought Xia Kong to the door of the Japanese restaurant, she regretted it and hesitated to go in.
Xia Kong put his hands in his pockets, turned his head to look at Qian Ge's embarrassment, reached out and held her hand, and said, "Since we are acting, we must do it in full. Now that we are here."
Qian Ge smiled bitterly. Now that she was here...
Ever since Xia Kong took Qiange in, Anjiu's eyes have been wandering over those hands.
Anjiu is unfriendly to Xiakong, and Xiakong is even more unfriendly to Anjiu, but in the eyes of others, they just don't have that close a relationship.
On the contrary, it was Xuan Lu and Qiange. Xuan Lu pulled Qiange aside and talked about everything under the sun. Qiange responded with a smile, but she felt a different feeling in her heart.
Xuan Lu ordered a lot of Japanese food, and some sakura wine which was not very alcoholic.
Xuan Lu seemed very excited and drank a lot of cherry blossom wine one after another. An Jiu stopped Xuan Lu and said gently: "Lulu, you can't drink."
Xuan Lu dodged An Jiu's hand that was about to grab the cup, and said coquettishly, "It's okay! The alcohol content of this wine is not high!"
An Jiu covered his face with a bitter smile. Xuan Lu couldn't touch alcohol. She would get drunk if she did. Even though the alcohol content of cherry blossom wine was not high, she drank so much. How could she be fine?
Seeing Xuan Lu like this, Qian Ge said worriedly: "Anjiu, why don't you send Lulu back first, she is already drunk."
"Qian Ge, Qian Ge." Xuan Lu grabbed Qian Ge's hand and said hurriedly, "No... I, I'm not drunk, I can still hear you talking."
Qiange was ashamed. If he couldn't even hear what was said, then he must be drunk and unconscious!
"Qian Ge, drink too." Xuan Lu pouted and poured wine for Qian Ge in dissatisfaction. However, because she was drunk, the cherry blossom wine did not pour into the glass, but spilled all over the table.
Qiange and Anjiu quickly pulled out tissues to wipe the table. Xia Kong drank his tea calmly, watching the show in front of him.
"Anjiu, you should send Lulu back first." Qiange said.
"No...I haven't had enough fun yet." Xuan Lu waved her hands.
Suddenly, Xuan Lu felt sick and retched. Before Qian Ge could say anything, Xuan Lu stumbled out of her seat and ran to the bathroom.
"Hey——" Qian Ge wanted to get up to help, but Xia Kong gently held her down under the table. Qian Ge looked at Xia Kong in confusion, and Xia Kong said, "I'll go and take a look."
After saying that, Xia Kong stood up and left his seat, leaving only Qiange and Anjiu.
Xia Kong's intention was so obvious that even Qiange understood it.
Qian Ge asked An Jiu: "An Jiu, you don't seem to care much about Xuan Lu."
An Jiu drank quietly and said, "I can't care."
"Then how did you get together?" Qiange said puzzledly. Anjiu didn't care about Xuan Lu, but Xuan Lu cared a lot about Anjiu. The look in Xuan Lu's eyes when she looked at Anjiu was like the sea reflecting the starry sky.
"Because of money." An Jiu threw the wine glass heavily on the table, his face a little gloomy.
Qian Ge was stunned and seemed unable to react.
An Jiu raised his head with empty eyes: "Qian Ge, you don't know how I have been through all these years just to find you. I met Xuan Lu when I was sixteen, and she fell in love with me at first sight. I knew her identity, so I always cooperated with her. Thanks to her, I am so glamorous today."
It turns out that An Jiu knew Xuan Lu when he was 16 years old. After so many years, Xuan Lu still likes An Jiu so much. If this is not true love, what is it?
"What about you? You don't like her at all?" Qiange asked in disbelief.
Anjiu sighed and said, "If you say you don't like her at all, how is that possible? After so many years, even the strongest heart will be melted by her, but... No, even if I like her, it's not pure." Anjiu stared at Qiange, "I can't do anything, Qiange, I can't forget you..."
Qiange lost all her strength and slumped in the chair. She looked at Anjiu with wide eyes and shook her head, as if there was something stuck in her throat.
"Qian Ge." An Jiu held Qian Ge's hand and said, "Can you wait for me for a while? Wait for me for a while, and I will take you far away."
Qiange retracted her hand as if she had been electrocuted and shook her head absentmindedly.
"What's wrong? Qiange, haven't you been looking for me for fifteen years? Isn't it because you like me that has supported you in looking for me for fifteen years?" Anjiu asked doubtfully.
"Anjiu, please stop talking. I'm very confused now." Qiange sat curled up, not daring to look Anjiu in the eye.
"Qian Ge..."
Qian Ge slowly raised her head and said, "I can no longer sort out these things, but I know that Lulu really likes you, you can't use her like this..."
Hearing this, Anjiu's face darkened.
After a long while, he slowly said: "Qian Ge, in this world, people who are too kind cannot survive. Everyone is for themselves. If I didn't do this, I would have died in this world a long time ago. How could you see me?"
Qiange looked at Anjiu blankly, as if she didn't know the person in front of her.
Can time really change a person? Qian Ge thinks that time should change a person for the better, not like this. Even if An Jiu has many unavoidable difficulties, even if An Jiu really can't like Xuan Lu, Qian Ge knows that she should be the sober person.
No matter what kind of feelings she had for Anjiu in the past, Anjiu and Xuan Lu were now in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, and Qiange should not have interfered no matter what.
"I'm sorry, Anjiu." Qiange lowered her head and said slowly.
Anjiu raised his head and stared at Qiange in surprise. Qiange said calmly: "I am very happy to see you, and this happiness is no less than your feeling of seeing me. But I can't go with you. I don't care what kind of relationship you and Lulu have, but I know in my heart that you and I can only be friends now, and we can't take another step forward."
Anjiu stared at Qiange, his pupils trembling.
Although Qian Ge lowered her head, her words were calm and rational.
Anjiu suddenly stood up from the chair, leaned forward slightly, supported his hands on the table, and looked down at Qiange. Qiange raised her head and looked at him, timid but had to be brave.
There was a sound of a chair being kicked, and Qiange was startled. Seeing that Xia Kong had returned, he stood behind Anjiu and watched them silently.
Qian Ge took a step back, away from An Jiu's gaze, and asked Xia Kong: "Where's Lulu?"
"She vomited in the toilet, so I called a car and sent her back." Xia Kong smiled slightly and turned to look at An Jiu, "An Jiu, aren't you worried about Xuan Lu at all? If I were her boyfriend, I would make sure she got home safely before I would feel relieved."
Anjiu frowned and stared at Xia Kong, but Xia Kong was still smiling slightly, like the warm sun in spring.
"Got it." Anjiu picked up the coat on the chair and left the Japanese restaurant without looking back.
Xia Kong looked at Qiange and didn't ask a single question. He just said, "Qian Ge, it's time for us to go back. Aunt Fang must be worried."
"Yeah." Qiange nodded slowly.
On a midsummer night in City B, the neon lights are bright and dazzling.
Cars were flowing like water on the street, and pedestrians were talking and laughing in groups of three or four. Xia Kong and Qiange were only half a meter apart, one in front of the other. The wind passed through the gap between them, bringing a hint of coolness.
"Qian Ge." Xia Kong suddenly stopped and Qian Ge almost bumped into his back.
Qian Ge raised her head and looked at Xia Kong.
Xia Kong looked at the stars in the deep blue night sky and said with a smile: "Qian Ge, look, we are now under the same sky."
Qian Ge suddenly remembered what she had said to Xia Kong. Those were the words she had used to comfort him. Those words were like a warm breeze in Xia Kong's heart, hovering in his heart.
Behind him, Qian Ge smiled slowly, reached out to hold Xia Kong's clothes, and replied to him with peace of mind: "Yes, under the same sky."
When Xia Kong was feeling lost, Qiange was always there for him.
This time, even though Qiange thought she had hidden her sadness well, she was still discovered by the attentive Xia Kong.
Now that I've grown up, it's my turn to protect you, Qiange.
Xia Kong curved his lips and smiled.