When I woke up, I found myself at home. It was already the next day and it was almost noon.
Although the alcohol content of the three bottles of beer was not high, it still made me, who had a low alcohol tolerance, feel very uncomfortable and my head ached slightly.
It must be Yao Yizhou who sent me back. It seems that he is still loyal. He didn’t leave me alone in the hotel. He is a real brother!
I stood up and prepared to get out of bed, but I saw a glass of water on the table with a piece of paper under it. I moved the glass away and picked up the paper.
The handwriting on the paper was very neat, and you could tell it was Yao Yizhou's handwriting at first glance.
He didn't write anything on it, just told me to drink more water and rest more.
Fortunately, he didn't write anything corny. If he had said something corny to me again, I don't know how I would face him.
I took out my cell phone from my bag and dialed Ji Chuan's number.
The phone rang for a long time before Ji Chuan answered it. Just when I was about to ask him where he was, he hurriedly said, "I'm busy. Talk to you later."
This was the first time I called Ji Chuan and he hung up without saying a word... I didn't want to think too much about it, maybe he was really busy?
There were several unread text messages on my phone. I opened them and found that they were sent by the woman who claimed to have given birth to me. She said she wanted to apologize to me and hoped that I could forgive her. She also said that if I changed my mind, I could call her and she wanted to fulfill her responsibilities as a mother again.
I threw my phone onto the bed, not even in the mood to reply to the text message. What does it mean to fulfill your responsibilities as a mother? Now you remember that you are still a mother and that you have a daughter like me? This is ridiculous!
"Xiaoya, come out here."
Just as I put on my shoes and prepared to go out, a loud voice came from outside the door, which was particularly clear through the door.
I frowned, opened the door impatiently and walked out.
"I heard from your mother that a boy sent you back home yesterday. Who was that boy?" My father's voice was as stern as ever, and his expression was as ugly as ever.
Seeing me procrastinating, he got even more furious: "Look at you, a girl, getting drunk outside, is that decent? It's totally immoral! Why did I raise a daughter like you? You're such a disgrace to me!"
When I heard my father say this, I immediately became angry and sneered, "So you still care about me!"
When my father saw me talking back, he gritted his teeth and said with regret: "If I had known you were so disrespectful, I should not have kept you here!"
I stared at my father with wide eyes, unable to believe that these words came out of his mouth.
At this moment, it seemed as if something was blocking my chest, causing my breathing to stagnate and even my heartbeat to become rapid.
A few years ago in winter, the weather was extremely cold and I accidentally fell into the lake. The water in the lake was so cold that I didn’t feel anything. But today, after hearing what my father said, I felt my whole body trembling and my heart ached.
I turned around, went back to my room, lay down on the bed and cried.
"From today on, your living expenses will be halved!"
The door was half open and my father's voice came in from outside.
I didn't want to listen anymore and covered my head with the quilt, trying to block out the sounds I didn't want to hear.
My father's words of regret for not abandoning me were like a sharp knife, stabbing into my chest again and again, making my heart bleed uncontrollably. It hurt so much, so much that my whole body couldn't stop shaking, and I didn't even have the strength to lie flat. I could only curl up into a ball in the quilt.
After a long time, when I felt better, I left home.
After arriving at school, I didn't show anything unusual, but instead pretended to be indifferent.
When I talked to Shen Xiaoyu, she was too busy to talk to me. She said she was going to participate in the provincial mathematical modeling competition and had to devote herself to the preparations.
I had no idea what the provincial mathematical modeling competition was about, so I couldn't help Xiaoyu in any way. I could only sit next to her and watch her discuss the problems with other classmates. But I couldn't understand what they were saying after listening for a long time.
So I had to sit there alone, thinking about my own things. When I remembered that my father had said he would reduce my living expenses by half, I suddenly felt overwhelmed.
It seems that I have no choice but to work and study and support myself. If all goes well, I might be able to rent a house outside the school, and then I won't have to depend on their family for my life.
The more I thought about it, the brighter the future of working and studying became, so I started to think about what kind of job would be better.
Washing dishes in a restaurant? The thought of those greasy leftovers makes me feel sick.
Become a tutor to teach children? But with my level of skills, I guess no parents would dare to hire me.
Then what to do?
After thinking about it, I couldn't think of anything suitable for me to do, so I decided to go out and explore during lunch time.
There were a lot of part-time job recruitments outside the school. I read the notices one by one, and then with my eloquence, I convinced the owner of a milk tea shop and got a job.
After the discussion, I hurried back to school.
In class, when the teacher gave us homework before commenting on it, I didn’t pay much attention because all I could think about was working in the milk tea shop.
I originally wanted to tell Ji Chuan, but when I took the phone out of my pocket, I suddenly remembered that Ji Chuan hung up the phone in a hurry, so I put the phone back.
As soon as the get out of class was over, I picked up my bag and left.
Yao Yizhou, who was sitting next to me, looked very strange when he saw me slipping out as soon as the get out of class was over.
Although I saw a surprised expression on his face, I didn't explain to him.
When we got to the milk tea shop, the proprietress carefully reminded me of things I needed to pay attention to. I didn't dare to be negligent at all. I took out a notebook and pen from my bag and carefully wrote down every word she said.
The boss lady was quite satisfied with my attitude. Seeing that I had completed the preparation of the milk tea under her guidance, she let me get busy in the store with confidence.
After working for a while, the proprietress was very satisfied with how quickly I got the hang of it and kept nodding her head.
After the first day of work, I returned to my deserted home exhausted.
There was no one at home. I guess the three of them were doing something, like watching a movie or a play or something.
I went to the kitchen to find something to eat and filled my stomach.
When I eat, I feel particularly uncomfortable and always have an indescribable feeling of discomfort.
When I got back to the room, I went straight to bed, covered myself tightly with the quilt, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, I called Ji Chuan again, wanting to ask him to have lunch with me, but just like yesterday, he just said "I'm still busy" and hung up the phone in a hurry.
This time, Ji Chuan only said three words to me on the phone. I couldn't help but shake my head in self-mockery. At this time, I didn't even have the courage to go to the Taekwondo practice room to take a look. In fact, I was afraid that after I went to the Taekwondo practice room, Ji Chuan would say less than three words to me.
I always feel that I would be very embarrassed when faced with such a scene.
During the afternoon class, Yao Yizhou looked at me strangely, but he didn't say anything. When the get out of class was over, just as I stood up to leave, he finally couldn't help it.
Yao Yizhou grabbed my schoolbag, looked me straight in the eyes, and asked softly, "Wen Ya, tell me, where were you going in such a hurry these past two days? What happened that made you leave so hastily after class every day?"
Facing Yao Yizhou's question, I could only shrug and pretend to be relaxed and said, "It's nothing serious. I just had a fight with my family and was a little short of money, so I found a part-time job near the school."
Yao Yizhou knows about our family situation.
Ever since I met him in the first year of high school, I have been able to talk to him about anything. We have so many similarities, including me who lacks family care and him whose parents are not in the country. He understands every decision I make, and he knows my intentions for everything I do.
We knew each other so well that he didn't care about the quarrel between me and my family. He just asked me one question: "Does Ji Chuan know?"
Yao Yizhou's expression was indifferent, and his voice was so soft that it seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
I didn't know how to answer Yao Yizhou, and my face looked a little unnatural. I sighed and said slowly: "I will tell him, so don't worry about it."
That being said, the reality is...
Ji Chuan seems to be really busy. Since yesterday, every time I called him, he hung up hastily. But I really don't know what he is busy with every day.
Yao Yizhou didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he changed the subject and asked me with concern, "Xiaoya, are you tired from working? Have you ever been scolded by your boss?"
My eyes suddenly became hot. These were the only words of concern I had heard in the past two days.
In fact, I hope the person who said these words was Ji Chuan.
In the past, when I wanted to collect money to buy Ji Chuan a gift, I would work part-time in a supermarket near the school, doing some work such as cashiering and sorting goods. But almost every day, Ji Chuan would accompany me from beginning to end, and only leave the supermarket with me when it was over.
At first, the supermarket manager thought Ji Chuan was causing trouble and planned to call the police. However, he was later hired as an hourly worker.
Thinking back to the time when we went through so much hardship together, my heart feels like it's about to explode.
I don’t even know what’s going on now... Ji Chuan’s attitude towards me is like two completely different people compared to before!
Perhaps, people will always change, always give up some things and some people, and always feel that their previous efforts were not worth it.
Perhaps, people always grow up, maybe Ji Chuan really devotes himself to the Taekwondo Club and regards the affairs of the club as more important than me, his girlfriend.
Perhaps Ji Chuan was really so busy that he didn't even have time to call me and say hello.
perhaps……
I can only think like this, and can only comfort myself like this in my heart, otherwise, I am afraid that I will cry out loud uncontrollably.
There are many worthless things these days, and the least valuable thing is tears. You feel wronged, hiding in a corner and secretly wiping away tears, but in the eyes of others, your problem is just a small matter, not worth being sad about, not worth sympathy at all.
I tried hard to hold back the tears that were about to burst out, and whispered, "It's okay, it's only a few hours, it's nothing serious. I don't want to go home anyway, I just want to kill time."
Yao Yizhou smiled at me, and his smile made me feel that he seemed to have seen through everything already.
At this moment, I really don’t want him to be so smart… It would be great if he didn’t guess it right, so that I can retain the last dignity in this love war that I am almost sure to lose.
I quickly escaped from school and went to the milk tea shop to work, hoping to forget the confusion in my heart. However, sometimes it is so strange that the more you don't want to worry about something, the more it lingers in your heart.
Now, what comes to my mind are all the kindness Ji Chuan had shown me in the past, one by one, so unforgettable, as if it happened just yesterday...
When I left the milk tea shop in the evening, I couldn't help but call Ji Chuan again. Just like before, Ji Chuan just said " I'm busy, I'll talk to you later" and hung up.
At this point, I decided not to contact Ji Chuan anymore. For his abnormal behavior, I was waiting for an explanation, or... waiting for the final verdict.
Although I have prepared myself mentally, I still have to go on with my life and work in a milk tea shop to earn my living expenses which have been halved.
After the experience of the first two days, the boss lady was very satisfied with my increasingly familiar business skills and sat aside happily.
A few customers left and I had just finished cleaning the table when I saw Yao Yizhou walk in with a schoolbag on his back.
I looked at him, surprised: "Why are you here? How did you find this place?"
Yao Yizhou smiled slightly, his eyes sparkling with light: "I have known you for so long, how could I not know where you would work?"
Yao Yizhou's words made me feel a little embarrassed: "Can you not be so deliberate? I don't bring bodyguards with me when I work."
"I just need to find a place to read quietly for a while, don't think too much."
After Yao Yizhou finished speaking, he nodded to the proprietress.
The lady boss was naturally very happy to see such a good-looking young man like Yao Yizhou staying in her store. She smiled and said, "Handsome boy, you can stay here as long as you want. You are always welcome here."
I frowned and looked at Yao Yizhou, then let out a long sigh.
To be honest, Yao Yizhou appeared in front of me when I needed warmth and care the most. It would be a lie to say that I was not touched.
After a long while, I said slowly, "Yizhou, you really don't have to be like this. I'm really fine."
Yao Yizhou shook his head and said softly, "Anyway, I don't want to go to the library or stay in the classroom... Besides, I can read here and talk to you. By the way, give me a cup of your signature milk tea."
Seeing that Yao Yizhou was so determined, I stopped trying to persuade him to leave.
Actually, I have been alone all this time and I feel really lonely. Without Ji Chuan and Shen Xiaoyu, I only have Yao Yizhou as my friend... I really don't want to be alone when I am down, but I also don't want to waste Yao Yizhou's time. After all, he would have reserved most of his time for his violin, which is more important than his life.
If I let Yao Yizhou sacrifice his time to accompany me, I would really feel very sorry. A long time ago, he always skipped piano practice to accompany me. As a friend, I hope he can be fine. On this point, I think Yao Yizhou and I think the same thing. He also wholeheartedly hopes for my well-being... Although I think I can't be so selfish, but today, at this time, I really want to indulge myself and be selfish for once.
"Wen Ya, I just ordered your signature milk tea. Please make me a cup quickly."
Seeing that I seemed to be distracted, Yao Yizhou waved his hand in front of my eyes to bring my thoughts back.
I smiled sheepishly: "Please sit down and wait for a while. It will be ready soon. I will definitely make you a cup of my best milk tea. I believe you will praise me after tasting it."
Yao Yizhou found a place to sit down, put his schoolbag on a chair beside him, and then looked at me expectantly.
I quickly prepared the milk tea and handed it to him.
He took the milk tea I prepared, put it on the table, and took out a few books from his schoolbag.
I looked at Yao Yizhou and asked anxiously, "Try it quickly. Is it delicious?"
Yao Yizhou took a sip of milk tea, then smiled and gave me a thumbs up.
Seeing that my craftsmanship was praised by Yao Yizhou, I immediately became happy.
A guest came in and I became busy again.
I originally thought that I could chat with Yao Yizhou for a while when there were fewer customers, but for some reason, customers kept coming, and it was not until the end of the workday that the number of customers decreased.
The working hours before were particularly hard to endure, but today, with Yao Yizhou's company, time passed very quickly, and my originally depressed mood gradually improved.
Some people say that friendship is the most precious thing in the world. This afternoon, I truly experienced this feeling. In fact, during this period of time, I didn't even miss Ji Chuan.
This state makes me feel very relaxed and makes me cherish the rare friendship between Yao Yizhou and I even more.