Chapter 8 Chapter Eight You Book a Seat in My Heart

A cup of coffee, a computer, an old record player, this is all my life content, from material to spiritual. I am very satisfied.After all, not everyone can do what he likes to do, arrange exercises as he likes, and still be able to live comfortably. In fact, the secret is very simple: I love my job—drawing plates for various magazines, designing covers for publishing houses, and occasionally accepting a few advertising ideas.Of course, the premise is that I want to.I don't draw nudes and cars. If you happen to receive a call from a friend to invite a tea party when you don't want to work, it will be even more perfect.

And Gu Haikong is just such a rare and wonderful person who is understanding and understanding.He always calls when I most want to be with him: "Danqing, there is a new Mirage Coffee House in Fenxiang, do you want to come out and rate it?" Tea shows and coffee houses in Xi'an are places that Gu Haikong and I often go to. At that moment, I packed up my painting tools, and then used my face as a drawing board to daub carefully. After an hour, I finally set off. Haikong arrived earlier than me. Seeing my new clothes, he applauded politely as usual, but couldn't help teasing: "If you are willing to devote half of the time and energy to making up and changing clothes to sketches, you may have already become a famous painter. It’s not like I’m still an unknown engraver.”

"As long as I can still earn bread and milk, what's the difference? I'd rather be a lazy painter, He Danqing, than a poor and famous painter, Van Gogh." I answered fluently. Rarely did Hai Kong agree: "That's right, your income is more than enough to buy bread and milk?" He handed me the tea recipe, "What to drink? Blue Mountain Coffee?" "I've said it a hundred times, there is no real Blue Mountain coffee in Xi'an." I turned around as I spoke, and bumped into the waiter who brought coffee to Haikong, and the whole cup of hot coffee fell on me. A Nina Ricci dress worth tens of thousands instantly turned into a rag, and my hands were already red and swollen like peaches.

Haikong jumped up in shock, and all the customers in the store turned their heads to pay attention to us. I shook my red and swollen hands, wiped the coffee stains on my clothes, and comforted the poor waitress. She was so frightened that she said "I'm sorry" over and over again, with an extremely terrified expression.She encountered such troubles at her new job, and I think she must feel very uncomfortable. In the midst of the excitement, the manager had already heard the sound and came out, apologetically saying: "I have scald medicine in my office, do you want to come in and bandage it?"

I smiled wryly and said, "Fortunately, it's not boiling water, so it's not that exaggerated. Do you often scald your guests, so you even have the medicine for the wound?" The manager's face turned red, and he murmured that he didn't know what to say.I was secretly surprised, running a service business and being so shy, he really doesn't look like a boss.Out of curiosity, I couldn't help but look at him a few more times. He should be a very handsome man, not too young, about 30 years old, but he looks like a college student. Seeing me looking at him, he was even more shy and said with trepidation: "I have a lot of women's clothes in my office, none of which have been worn by anyone. If you don't mind, you can change them first. We will send your clothes to the dry cleaner right away. After washing, I will send it to your home, do you think it is okay?"

I was even more funny, and I really wanted to say, "You guys even have your clothes ready", but seeing that shy manager's suffering, I couldn't bear to tease him anymore, so I just smiled and said, "No, fortunately, dark clothes don't matter. It was obvious that I took care of it myself." Gu Haikong was also trying to smooth things over: "Anyway, she is used to painting on cloth, now it is considered a kind of innovation for others to paint a few strokes on her clothes." Seeing that we were both talking and laughing at Yanyan, the manager felt relieved, ordered the waiter to pour two more cups of coffee, put down another business card, and walked away.

Haikong picked up the business card and studied it: "Manager He Shuang, this is not true." I retorted: "Who said that? I think he is a bit dull, but he has a real temperament. You see, he came over without apologizing or greeting, but kept proposing solutions to the problem, asking me to take medicine and change it Let him dry-clean the clothes with a very sincere attitude and no pretense, which is quite generous." Haikong laughed: "It's love at first sight? Protect him like this." I froze for a moment, and suddenly felt my face was hot, scolding Haikong for talking nonsense, but my heart was beating wildly.Really, it's been a long time since I've been curious about a strange man.This He Shuang, I really want to know more about him, such as his educational background, why he opened the door to do business even though he is obviously not good at socializing, and whether he is married...

That whole afternoon, I was a little absent-minded when talking to Gu Haikong, and kept looking at the manager's office, but He Shuang didn't come out again until we left, but told the waiter to waive the bill for us.Once again, I sigh with emotion, this is a person who only does what he says, and in this era where propaganda is paramount and superficial skills are advocated, it is rare to see such a pragmatic person. After that, I became a regular customer of "Mirage", and I didn't see He Shuang very often, but the waiter got special orders from him to let me enjoy a 50% discount.At first I thought he was still guilty, but on Valentine's Day, I received a large bouquet of fragrant flowers from the florist, not roses, but birds of paradise with gypsophila stars, the plain ones became more plain, and the public ones became more publicized.There was not a word left on the card, but the new service items of "Mirage" were printed.I was pleasantly surprised, it turned out that He Shuang understood me so much and cared about me.

I skipped all my appointments that night and headed to Mirage alone in my best Ports dress.Because it is a festival, several flower baskets were placed in front of the coffee shop, and a lady stood in front of the door to distribute roses and wish "GOOD LUCK" to every young person. I opened the door and went in, went straight to the table in the corner and sat down, as usual, I asked for a Colombian coffee bean to grind myself.He Shuang didn't show up, so I waited quietly, feeling that something would happen tonight. The water in the siphon coffee flask gradually boils, and the air is filled with the aroma of coffee.I put out the alcohol lamp and poured myself a drink.

He Shuang finally came out until this time, and said shyly, "Are you alone today?" I smiled: "With you, there are two of us. I wonder if you have time?" This slow-talking person must be given some encouragement.I don't mind taking the initiative, as long as I'm not mistaken. He Shuang sat down and called the waiter to bring syrup, milk and fruit juice. I was surprised: "How many drinks do you want alone?" He smiled and didn't answer, just poured the syrup into the glass with ice cubes, then poured in the fresh milk and stirred evenly, then slowly poured the coffee into the cup along the wall of the cup, and finally added the green apple juice.

After the operation was completed, he finally raised his head and smiled brightly: "This is something I specially made for you, called 'Iced Latte'." During the whole process of his operation, I kept my eyes wide open holding my breath. After drinking coffee for so many years, I never knew that coffee can also be mixed with a variety of colors like cocktails.From the bottom to the top of the cup, there are clearly three colors of milk white, coffee brown, and apple green, which are cool, delicate and attractive. I gasped and admired deeply: "What a lovely color!" He Shuang said: "If you are a painter after all, don't ask about the taste, first look at the color." I was ashamed: "How can I be called a painter? I'm just a sketcher." "After all, it's my choice." He Shuang sighed softly.I took the opportunity to ask: "You don't like your current job?" When we chatted, it turned out that He Shuang was a doctoral student in the Department of Marine Science, a very uncommon subject.If you don't want to teach, it's rare to apply what you have learned, so he was sent by his father to do business and ordered him to return the education funds spent on him for many years with interest within three years.But he knew that it was not a business material, so he had no choice but to avoid the seriousness and open the coffee shop lightly, so as to get some peace from the commotion.However, after several months of opening, the income and expenditure are about the same. I am afraid that I will fail my parents' high expectations, and I don't know how to be forged by my father in the next step. I feel very sympathetic, I don’t know how he can bear such a heavy psychological pressure, so I tried my best to offer suggestions: “Opening a door and doing business must be unique. Although there are many cafes in Xi’an, they are all similar. If you are willing to make this handmade cocktail coffee Bring out your unique skills, coupled with a certain amount of publicity, it is guaranteed that there will be a lot of customers." "Really?" His eyes lit up.I nodded desperately and volunteered: "I can help you design brochures, and I can also help you advertise in magazines. I have an acquaintance in the printing factory, and the cost is not much. Don't worry." I did what I said, and I started work the next day to find a photographer to take pictures of the Heshuang brand coffee, with hazy patterns to render the mirage atmosphere, and contacted familiar editors everywhere to promote the discount in the fashion column.I didn't mention the money for dinner and photo development to He Shuang. I know that his little boss is just a puppet, and he has the obligation to make money but not the right to spend it.I really want to help him win in front of his dad. I even dragged Gu Haikong to send me a 20% off VIP card.It’s the kind of one-time purchase of 1,000 yuan consumer coupons for 800 yuan, earn a sum of cash first.Haikong was displeased: "What are you talking about? Let me be the general manager as a salesman, why don't you just ask me for sponsorship." "He Shuang is a very self-respecting person, please don't bring up this kind of joke in front of him." "He Shuang He Shuang, seeing your enthusiasm, I thought you were the proprietress of Mirage." If you are angry, Haikong really helped He Shuang attract many big clients.Mirage's turnover has skyrocketed. He Huairen, the real owner He Shuang's father, also visited the store a few times in person. When I come down, I just have to quickly marry Xiaona in and give me a good grandson." I simply suspected that I had heard it wrong. In what age, he, Mr. He, still wanted to arrange a marriage.Xiaona, who is Xiaona?He Shuang's childhood sweetheart, or the right family?I really wanted to pull He Shuang out immediately to ask for clarification, but suddenly I remembered that we are just ordinary friends, what right do I have to interfere with him?I peeked at He Shuang, he had a serious face, so to speak, marrying Xiaona and having a son is already a homework he must do, and he has already accepted it.So why should he give me a "bird of paradise" and make me an "iced latte"? But what does sending flowers and coffee represent?I know that Gu Haikong likes me, but I don't know how many times I've had coffee with him, how many bouquets of flowers I've received from him, are we still just ordinary friends?No wonder I have had many opportunities to meet He Shuang in the past six months, but he just talked about business over coffee, and he never said anything further to me.It turned out that it was because there was already a Xiaona. After all, I am just a passer-by in a mirage. When I got home that day, I opened a whole bottle of Cordon Bleu Martell and got myself very drunk.In a daze, I received a call from Gu Haikong, I couldn't hear what he said, I just kept laughing into the phone.Haikong heard something wrong, and immediately said: "I'll come to your house right away." But before others arrived, I was already fast asleep.In the dream, he saw He Shuang wearing a full suit and holding a wedding ceremony. The unrecognizable woman in his arms is that Xiaona, right?I walked up to him and asked with a smile, "What's your last name?" At this time, I woke up inexplicably. I only felt a splitting headache, and I heard the clanging and the smell coming from the kitchen. I was amazed, and walked over gently, only to find that Gu Haikong was making sweet and sour pork with an apron on.Oh, a big man who has tens of millions of assets but is still willing to cook for his beloved woman, I was suddenly moved from the bottom of my heart, and gently wrapped around Haikong's waist from behind, buried his head and said: "Haikong, I love you." "You love my cooking skills." Hai Kong refused to drink the ecstasy soup, he knew me too well, "Once you are full, you forget what you said." I was confused: "Men and women break up because of understanding, you already know me so well, why are you still wasting time for me?" "I'm not really successful because you haven't proposed to me." "If I open my mouth, are you really willing to marry me?" I didn't believe that Gu Haikong was the one to marry, so I dared to talk nonsense to him.If it was He Shuang, I would not dare. Thinking of He Shuang, I just felt a pain in my heart, and I couldn't help letting go of Haikong and being dazed. Hai Kong brought the sweet and sour pork to the table, looked at me, and sighed: "I am stupid enough to know what happened—you are indeed in love, but it's not me, it's that Mirage He." I was moved again: "Hai Kong, you are really my confidant, I love you." "How sentimental!" Haikong laughed at me, "Fortunately, it's me, if you were someone else, you would definitely think you are a nympho. You always recite the Three Character Classic to men." I was taken aback: "What Three Character Classic?" "Hey, what you say most often is, 'I love you'." "Gu Haikong, go to hell." I chased and beat Haikong all over the room.He was running around the table, and when he turned suddenly, I was running right into it, and he hugged me tightly, suffocating me.I heard his heavy breathing and was too scared to move. After a while, Haikong let me go and sighed: "The one we love and the one who loves us can't be the same person." I know what he means, and I am very sad.It's not that I never thought about it, if I could stay with Gu Haikong for the rest of my life, he would be in business, I would be a painter, and I would raise one or two children in my spare time, so that he could satisfy the family materially, and I would be in charge of their artistic accomplishment and education. Your child must be an excellent child, and our home must also be a model family.Most of us will grow old together, because the most perfect combination in this era is no longer like-minded, but should learn from each other. However, what Hai Kong said is right, the person I love is He Shuang.I bowed my head and wept silently. Haikong is not angry: "There is no reason, why should I come to bind your wound when someone shoots you? I will call Mirage and find that He Shuang to come out and explain clearly." I stopped him: "The more you talk about this kind of thing, the more you will bring yourself shame. Haikong already has a fiancée, who am I, why should I be sad for him?" But Gu Haikong went to find He Shuang later, and when he came back, he said angrily, "That guy told you to wait for him." "what?" "He said he was going to negotiate with his father to see if he could persuade his father to cancel the engagement. Dare to love and not act, what is it? Is his father in love or is he in love?" Seeing me change His face turned pale, and Haikong quickly changed his words, "But seeing his painful appearance, I know that he has the same heart for you and you for him. You two are really alike, both a little unrealistic and unearthly. If you are together, you will probably be the fairy couple in the mirage that people often say." My heart warms a little bit. He asked me to wait, and He Shuang said he wanted me to wait for him, which means that he loves me too, and he will fight for me. I decided to wait, I know this is a bit useless, a bit helpless, a bit passive, but I love him. After that, I never went to Mirage again, but I made a phone call every afternoon at 2 o'clock and told me softly, "Ms. He Danqing makes a reservation for the No. 5 station in the corner." I don't want to put pressure on him, I don't want to make the Sichuan character between his brows wrinkle even tighter for me.But I want him to know that I am by his side. Haikong is very disapproving of my approach, often saying that I am wasting time, he said that love is a matter between two people, if He Shuang loves me, there is no need for me to wait for a day, two people just go to register for marriage hand in hand, why bother Ask others for mercy.He advised me not to stretch my neck and do nothing, but to take advantage of the good time to go abroad for further study and study painting hard. I know his words are precious and precious, but I can't listen to a word.My whole heart is filled with He Shuang, He Shuang, He Shuang! I waited for half a year, but at the end of that year, at the end of that year, He Shuang was still engaged.He personally delivered the post to me, and I finally knew that Xiaona's full name was Han Mingna, and she was a family friend of the Gu family. He Shuang said in a low voice, "It's not that I haven't fought for it, but my father is determined." "So you compromised?" I looked at him and smiled. "Father is determined", what kind of reason is this?But in his Gu family, it is the golden rule.I looked at Gu Haikong and wondered if he was the young master Juemin in "Home, Spring, Autumn" who went through the wrong time tunnel and came to the millennium to play tricks on me. He Shuang lowered his head under my gaze, and his voice became deeper and deeper: "I have quarreled with my father many times because I insisted on studying marine science and refusing to study business management. I promised him that as long as he let me finish my Ph.D. After graduation, I found that this science is just like what my father said, it is completely useless for scholars, and the facts are always against me, proving him right and me wrong. My father is very old. Against him, I'm afraid he'll be overwhelmed." So I became a victim of his filial piety.I said bitterly, "Why get engaged? Wouldn't it be simpler to just hold the wedding?" His face flushed with embarrassment: "I'm still fighting, I hope there will be a turnaround. But my father said that you are a chic person, and you will definitely figure it out. Xiaona is different. Since she was 12 years old, she has believed that she will grow up. Marry me, and I will be responsible for what I have said." One father said one sentence, He Shuang, what about you, don't you have your own wish?But it was too late to say anything at this time, I said disheartened: "I wish you a happy life together." That night, I got drunk and got coffee poisoning, so I was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment. When he woke up, he saw a room full of people, and the most surprising thing was that He Shuang and his white-haired father, He Huairen, were also there.He Shuang held my hand and cried: "Danqing, why are you so stupid? I promise you, I won't get married. I was at the engagement banquet, and I rushed over as soon as I heard Mr. Gu's call. I have already made an agreement with Xiaona , each other calmly think about it." I thought it was funny, and comforted him instead: "He Shuang, do I have to die for you to force you to show some courage? But, I think you misunderstood, I didn't commit suicide, I just want to drink iced latte. "I shed tears, Ice Latte, Bird of Paradise, He Shuang, I don't know if it's because of you that I give up on myself like this.When I poured down cups of coffee and felt my chest swell, it wasn't that I didn't think that He Shuang was married, so I might as well just go there.Deep in my heart, there is indeed a small voice saying, without He Shuang, my life will be barren from now on, and I have no attachment to this world. But no matter what, He Huairen breathed a sigh of relief when I personally confirmed that he did not commit suicide, and Gu Haikong drew a big "ten" on his chest: "Amitabha, I said that He Danqing is not that kind of person." Petty people." I forced a smile, pretending to be relaxed: "Hai Kong, your actions are not in line with your lines." After the suicide drama, I became so disheartened that I would often stay out of my house for days at a time.Haikong forced me to go out, and I often sat staring at a corner for half an hour without saying a word.Haikong said all kinds of comforting words, and even scolded me: "I think He Danqing was so chic back then, drawing pictures and drinking tea to flirt, and he became such a pustule because of a broken relationship. Then I, Gu Haikong, will treat you like this." I haven’t paid anything back for many years, so I’m going to jump off the building?” I just looked at him in a daze, although the suicide was a misunderstanding, but my heart really died. I can stay awake all night, and I can get up all day long, wrapped in a quilt, and read thousands of times: "The love has turned sour in the depths, but now I really regret my love." The end of the wheel is bright and clean, and I don’t care about ice and snow." If Nalan Rong is my only confidant, but when someone mourns his dead wife and is in pain, what am I?Falling in love with a man who is engaged to be married, crying for him, even if he dies, he is still a third party, without any sense of beauty. Not to mention Gu Haikong, I also look down on myself. When spring comes again, I decide to go abroad.Haikong was surprised: "Hey, turning grief into ambition?" I smiled wryly: "Didn't you always complain that I don't want to work hard? I have some savings over the years. If I don't use it to do some serious things, I will sit and eat nothing. How about going to France for 'advanced studies' as you said, maybe I can really draw a Brahman. Come on, it can be regarded as finally accomplishing something." Going to France for further study is scary, but it is impressive. Haikong admired: "Children can be taught. However, when you come back from your studies, good old Gu Haikong will definitely not wait for you here again." "What are you going to do?" "Go wash diapers for your son. Knowing that you don't like me, I still want to waste my youth for you by not getting married?" It was easier said than done, and applying for a relocation certificate was very cumbersome. After more than four months, I finally walked into Xi'an Airport accompanied by Gu Haikong.During this whole period of time, He Shuang did not appear once.He is like a mirage, which looks magnificent from a distance, but turns into nothingness when he gets close. The day before I left, I couldn't hold on any longer, and finally went to Fenxiang by myself, but instead of entering the "Mirage", I went to the opposite "Juzheng Tea Talk" and sat there all night. I chose a seat by the window and watched people come and go in and out of the sea market, so these should all be overseas experts. Overseas, people usually call foreign countries overseas, so am I about to become a master? I turned the cup, thinking wildly, dreaming and waking up. I didn't leave until twelve o'clock. At twelve o'clock, the pumpkin cart should show its original shape, but He Shuang never showed up. I got on the plane the next day. On lonely nights in a foreign country, I often make myself a cup of "ice latte". I have a deep coffee addiction, and my limbs will become weak if I don't drink it for a day. It can't be said that learning is nothing, and there was a solo exhibition in the middle, but the response was mediocre.I'm not a painting genius, but I like this study very much, because I don't expect too much from myself, so there is no pressure.Just thinking about how dignified international students still have to earn living expenses by painting cover design advertisements after returning to China, I can't help but feel a little hesitant. Gu Haikong has been keeping in touch with me, this old happy man has never been married, but he insisted that he didn't protect himself like a jade for me, just because he didn't find a better one, so I don't have to send it.He said a very philosophical saying: Loving someone worthy of love is already a perfect life. I pondered for a long time, thinking of He Shuang, with infinite tenderness in my heart and no regrets. I love him just because he is really cute and I shouldn't have any resentment. When Christmas came, I extravagantly took a long-distance call across the ocean to say "Christmas" to the sea and air.Hai Kong's voice obviously hesitated, but finally decided to tell me: "I went to Mirage again a few days ago, it turns out that He Shuang is not married, he has been waiting for you." "What?" I was stunned.I thought he was going to be a father soon.But Haikong said: "He finally persuaded his father and that Han Mingna. The surname Han is also a good girl. He ran away at the engagement banquet, and people's hearts became cold. It is said that the woman voluntarily broke the engagement." "But," I heard my voice tremble, "why didn't he tell me?" "He originally wanted to go to you, but he heard that you were ready to go abroad. He didn't want to delay your journey. He said that he always asked you to wait for him. This time, he should wait for you..." I couldn't hear what Haikong said anymore, my heart was already filled with joy, and I couldn't believe everything I heard.I desperately need to prove this for myself.I want to see He Shuang!I just want to see him right away! 5 days later, I flew to Xi'an.I didn't care about picking up my luggage, so I took a taxi and went straight to Mirage. It's still the same old facade, and the middle year seems to have ceased to exist, nothing has changed. I gently opened the door and walked straight to my old seat in the corner, only to see a small sign on the table: "Seat reserved".I was taken aback for a moment, at this moment He Shuang had been notified and walked out of the manager's room: "I ordered it for you." I looked at him, tears gradually welled up, He Shuang opened the chair for me, and said softly: "Taiwan No. 5 is dedicated to He Danqing, as long as you don't come, this seat will always be 'reserved'. Also, He paused, and finally said clearly, "I also reserve such a place for you in my heart."