Chapter 7 Chapter 7 The Trip to Athens

The day after Sanzhi went to Athens, Ando, ​​her husband's boss, came to visit Yoko unexpectedly. "Ah, Mr. Chief!" Since there was no prior contact, Yoko was surprised by Ando's sudden visit.At this moment, the child has not returned from kindergarten.Ando has become concerned about Yoko since Kogen disappeared. He not only went to several places with business contacts to inquire about Gao Yuan's clues, but also often visited Yaozi and asked about Yaozi's life.In the company that showed lukewarmness to Yoko after her husband disappeared, Ando was the only one who always cared for Yoko.

He was just 40 years old, Yoko felt his husband's warmth during the time when he was gone, and at the same time felt his identity. "Ah, ma'am, I'm very sorry to disturb you again today." Ando looked a little embarrassed today. "What's wrong with that?" Yoko looked at Ando strangely. "When I was away from the company on a business trip, I heard that the company returned Mr. Gao Yuan's personal belongings to you? I'm sorry because I didn't have time to do it." "Ah, it's for this! That's not what." Yaozi replied.But because of this, she remembered the cold appearance of the company at that time, and she couldn't help but feel a little unhappy.

The company, no matter how you say it, should be a desirable place for employees to think of, but the current company only pays attention to profits and has no family affection.People who have no contribution should not cross the river and tear down bridges.You can't be like an old hen, no matter how many eggs you have laid in the past, once you can't lay eggs, the owner will ignore you again. Frankly speaking, when I returned my husband's personal belongings, I felt as if I was "kicked out" by Ando.So since then, Yoko has never had any contact with Ando. "I only found out about this after I came back from a business trip. I was taken aback, and it didn't come right away. The person who sent the personal belongings didn't think too much about whether it would make relatives sad. I'm really sorry. Because Mr. Gao Yuan is still an employee of the company, so he shouldn't have sent his personal belongings back so early."

"It's embarrassing for you to say that." Hearing what Ando said, Yoko's cold heart gradually warmed up again.If the people in the company did this carelessly, it wouldn't matter much to Yoko.Since the company is so big, it's not surprising that this matter was ill thought out. "So when I come here today, I have to do something embarrassing: I hope to take Mr. Gao Yuan's personal belongings back." "what?" Yoko pondered the meaning of Ando's words, and looked at him. "Mr. Gao Yuan's membership is still there, and his desk and chairs are also placed there, so the company thinks it's better to put his personal belongings there."

"That's unnecessary." Yoko understood Ando's sincerity, but she was completely desperate for Gao Yuan to come back.Even if a seat was reserved for him, through the investigation of the past few days, she also realized that it was impossible for her husband to come back. So there is no need to get his personal belongings back again (perhaps "relics" are more accurate) and put them in the company.Ando's kindness is enough.And personal items are not particularly important items. After working for the company for the past few years, the things that are now worthless like garbage, when the company sent someone to deliver them, Yaozi simply asked what was there, and threw them in the corner of the room without looking at them.

Later, she was going to send it to the waste recycling station or the waste paper exchange station. "No, it's a very important thing." However, Ando said to Yoko with a serious look: "Placing Mr. Gao Yuan's items in the company proves the existence of his membership. Without these things, his membership will be empty. In this sense, please ask me to bring them back. Bar." After Ando said this, Yoko noticed.Maybe Ando is right, he also had a lot of painstaking efforts and good intentions.Putting these things in the company may be a kind of comfort to the current employees: the company does not neglect the employees who have not yet concluded.

It seems that Gaoyuan's items are not personal items, but half "company items". "If you say that, it's hard for me to refuse." Yoko bowed his head to Ando and expressed his gratitude.She thinks her husband is really blessed to have such a considerate boss.So she immediately went to find the plateau's personal belongings that were sent last time, but suddenly her mind became hot. (Is this to put them in the company as proof that the husband is still alive?) "Ma'am, are you lonely by yourself? Be sure to persevere. If you have any difficulties in the future, just come to me."

Ando said behind her back.Maybe he realized what was going on in Yoko's heart, so he said this to her.So she also suddenly wanted to tell Ando how she suspected Sumiya who got into a car accident and went to Greece in the name of her husband. Flight KLM862 took off from Haneda Airport at 13:00, a Boeing 747 jetliner, passing through Manila, Hancock, Jieli, and Beirut. It was about 30 minutes later than the scheduled time the next morning and arrived at 6:10 local time. at the Athens airport. Considering the time difference of 7 hours, it should have arrived in the capital of Greece after a 24-hour flight from Tokyo.And because of the flight in a circle to the north, it arrived about 30 minutes later than the scheduled time.

Athens Airport faces the sea and has only one runway.Therefore, compared with Haneda Airport, which has several runways interlaced, Athens Airport is too small. Next to the airport is a tall mountain with exposed limestone rocks. Compared with Japan, which is rich in green vegetation, Sanzhi clearly feels exotic. The distance to the city is about 50 kilometers.Sanzhi didn't feel any emotion, and even witnessed the surrounding scenery of the airport without expression, then entered the satellite hall, and got on the bus that was parked in front of the terminal building and headed for the city.Athens has completely entered summer, and Japan has also entered the rainy season at this moment.But the typical Mediterranean climate here is just entering the dry period, with clear skies and cloudless skies.

On the contrary, the blue Aegean Sea that I have heard about for a long time seems to be due to the effect of the morning light, and the entire sea surface presents a light brown color. Sanzhi sat on the seat on the side of the mountain.The russet mountains seen at the airport have been continuous.From the car window on the opposite side, you can see the sea glowing with white light reflected by the morning light. Not only the sea, but the entire landscape also takes on a cloudy "white".Perhaps it is the appearance of "reflection" due to the fact that there is almost no green on the calcareous mountains.The car drove into the city in a short while.The number of buildings with white walls has increased significantly.Probably at this moment is the morning rush hour, and there are many pedestrians on the street.

The urban area is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and only the southwest direction leads to the sea gently, thus forming an alluvial plain.There are several scattered islands on the sea facing the city. In the center of the urban area, there is a square table-shaped highland called "The Hill of the Acropolis".But his trip was not a sightseeing tour, so he was indifferent to the other Japanese tourists in the same car who were excitedly taking pictures with their cameras. Sanzhi got off at the "Sindamuma" square, where most of the passengers also got off. "Sindamma Square" means "Constitution Square" in English.It is also the place where restaurants and restaurants are most concentrated. The hotels here are divided into five levels: AA, A, B, C, and D.According to a brochure issued by the National Tourist Association, there are 4 AA-level hotels, 6 A-level hotels, and 5 B- and C-level hotels in the city center.Probably D-level restaurants are not open to foreigners, so there is no introduction in the brochure. Sanzhi plans to search one restaurant after another.But before that, he first had to find a hotel to live in.It's not the real tourist season yet, so finding a room is not a problem.But Sanzhi wanted to go to a D-class restaurant or a youth hostel that was not open to foreigners, and he was hungry right now. Sanzhi's eyes revealed an expression of uncertainty about the future.In this foreign country, my curiosity is still mixed with a little anxiety. Regarding Gao Yuan being replaced by a man named Sumiya and going to Athens, Mei Cun Lie learned about it from Yao Zi after a few days. Rie stared at Yaoko closely, his eyes were very solemn.Yoko was noncommittal to Riede's speculation and did not answer. "So, maybe that Sumiya knows the whereabouts of Kogen." Yoko only told her a series of facts about the car Sumiya threw at a restaurant in Nagoya, the coffee powder found in the trunk of the car, and the passenger manifest at Haneda Airport. Summing up the above facts, we can of course draw the conclusion that Sumiya fled abroad.But this conclusion has nothing to do with whether the plateau is alive or not, but Lie is very concerned about it out of love for the plateau. For Sanzhi whose parents were murdered, the comfort of finding clues to Gao Yuan is another issue, and of course it cannot be said that it has nothing to do with it.But the two are very different. "Shall I go to Athens?" Rie put his chin in his hands and said.Yoko had this premonition when he came.She guessed that Rie would say so.Not only did she say it, but she would go as soon as she said it. "I want to go too, but I have children and I can't go away." Yoko explained to Rie.So I was in a very difficult situation.In fact, she also knew that there was no need for her to explain this to Li Zhi.As Gao Yuan's wife herself, she shouldn't have said this to a woman who planned to go abroad to find her husband. But if she has no children, she can't even tell whether she will go to Athens or not.Because ever since she found out that her husband had a woman named Riede, she didn't want to look for her husband, even if she calculated that her husband might be dead. Using "children" as an excuse to say that I can't go abroad is a bit too far-fetched.Mainly because I don't have this desire.Just thinking about going to an unknown country to find clues to a husband who has betrayed her heart makes Yaozi chill. What excuse could there be if there were no children?Fortunately, there is a child.Dan Lie said she would go alone.Yoko understands that this is because Lie has different feelings for her husband than herself. Yoko's explanation was not directed at Rie, but at her husband. "Yes, it's no wonder Ma'am, your children are also very important!" Rie reassured.This delicate relationship between Yoko and Rie has recently been mixed with some complex complexes. "But if you want to go abroad, I'm afraid you need to ask your parents for permission." "My uncle is a journalist and he is in Paris. We were always asked to go to Paris. My parents also want to change their mood and travel to France. I don't think there is a big problem." Maybe her parents took her to travel abroad in order to let her break up with Gao Yuan.They didn't know that Gao Gao was going on a business trip to Europe at that time, and they wanted to "isolate" from Gao Gao by letting their daughter go abroad. However, Li Zhi took advantage of his parents' painstaking efforts and happened to go abroad to inquire about the man.Her parents would be surprised if they found out that was the reason. As the news of Gao Yuan has been cut off, Li Zhi's parents have gradually loosened their "surveillance" on her recently, and they have not restricted her going out so much. So she often came to Yaozi's place.If two people chat and enlighten each other, the uneasiness in their hearts will be somewhat reduced. Both sides try to avoid talking about the plateau.However, the two of them came together because of a common reason—worried about Gao Gao’s whereabouts, so they couldn’t help but talk about his uneasiness and worry occasionally, probably in order to be comforted. But there is another kind of uneasiness tormenting in Yaozi's heart.She didn't want Rie to go to Athens.Because she felt that once Lie went there, her husband would never come back. Letting Lizhi go to Athens alone is tantamount to surrendering herself as a wife with a white flag. So she can't let Lie go abroad anyway, but she has no power to stop Lie from going abroad. "Sumiya is not necessarily in Athens!" Because he is very likely to change the destination of the country on the plane. "But he might also get off the plane in Athens." "I don't think he will stay in Athens." "I'll find out if I go to the airlines and hotels in Athens and maybe find out where he's been." "Even if you find Sumiya successfully, he will never tell you the truth. Because telling the truth is equal to his confession! And a person like that might do something to you!" "It doesn't matter, I will call the police after finding Sumiya, or find the local embassy, ​​the police there will be very enthusiastic about the woman's request for help!" "It's too dangerous for a young unmarried girl to go abroad alone." Yoko concealed her true intentions and tried her best to dissuade her, but Lie said disapprovingly: "It's nothing if I haven't been there, isn't it just Athens. I arrived there in one night by plane. And now Greece is quite influential in Japan. I heard that Japanese people go there every day. A friend of mine also used the consecutive holidays at the end of the year to go there. pass!" "But I'm still worried! The language and customs are far from ours!" "It's really all right! And there is also a branch of our company in Athens. I can ask them for help if I have any difficulties!" Rie said with a confident look.So Yoko remembered that Liede had worked in a foreign company.Although she didn't say so, maybe she has the experience of traveling abroad. "Go no matter what." Yoko wanted to tell her about Takao Saneda.But the words came to his lips and swallowed back.Sanzhi has nothing to do with her.He met Yoko by chance in the process of chasing Sumiya.It's just a relationship with fellow travelers. However, why don't you tell Lie about Sanzhi?Saneda had gone to Athens two or three days ago, and he was looking for Sumiya's whereabouts.The purpose of Saneda and Lieda is to find Sumiya, and they are consistent on this point. In this sense, Saneda can be said to be a reliable reinforcement for Rie.Perhaps as effective companions as a pair of detectives with a partner. However, Yoko felt that she didn't want to say it. Unlike Takahara, Saneda was a man of a completely different style.The plateau always gives people a "wacky" feeling, but Sanzhi gives people a masculine masculinity. Perhaps it is the influence of his profession, he has a heart like the sea, and he is full of enthusiasm.On his face, which has been ravaged by the sea wind and the sun, there is no trace of urban decay, philistine, and sleek.Thinking of this, Yaozi seemed to smell the male body odor of Sanzhi again, and couldn't help feeling agitated. Yoko instinctively objected to making Saneda and Rie a "golden partner".Her kindness to Saneda was not just out of jealousy towards Rie. Sanzhi and Lizhi are still a pair of "comrades" who don't know each other, and Yaozi's jealousy is still out of the question.Perhaps it would be more accurate to say "a premonition of jealousy." But her concern about Saneda and Rie's "cooperation" is real.This kind of strange psychology makes Yaozi unable to "give up" Lizhi to men outside the plateau. To Yoko, Rie is her rival in love who hates to take her husband, and she is a woman that she can never tolerate as a wife. Yoko still has monk hatred towards Liede in her heart.The monk's hatred for Lizhi surrounding the plateau cannot be eliminated.But in fact, Yoko has a bond with Rie who is full of persistent love for her husband. Probably a kind of "comrade" that loves the same thing.At this time, Sanzhi appeared again as a "newcomer".He, Yoko and Rie have the same goal.Under the common goal, it is impossible for Rie to guarantee that he will not have a favorite emotional change for Sane. Rie is an attractive young girl, and Saneda is a manly single man.There is no obstacle for two people to "bond" together. So Yoko is very worried that Saneda will replace Takahara as Riede's "friend".In other words, Yoko's jealousy has shifted from Takahara to Saneda. She herself didn't know what to do.If it was originally (assuming Yoko loves Sane), it should be worried that Rie will "take" Sane again, but the form is reversed. In any case, she couldn't bear to push Rie into another man's arms any longer.Until he figured out the life and death of Gao Gao, he had the obligation to "protect" Lizhi.For this reason, Yaozi finally restrained herself from telling Lizhi about Sanzhi. "what?" Rie saw what Yoko wanted to say and asked. "Then we agreed, never take any risks!" Yaozi quickly found a word to cover up. "Okay, I promise." Rie readily agreed. It was her first time to go abroad, but since she had worked in an American-funded business company for three years, she had no sense of distance from abroad.She has also been in contact with the head office's staff in New York, as well as with most of the European clients. Although the branch office in Athens is not big, it has a foothold and employees sent by the company.Lie is no longer a member of this company, and the staff from Athens were also sent from New York, so in fact, it is not easy for Lie to entrust the people in the branch company if he has something to do.But Lie has a strong desire to see a place that is very strange to him. She told her parents that she wanted to go to Paris to visit her uncle, and to take a trip to Athens and Rome.Her parents also felt helpless about their daughter being idle at home, so they had no choice but to agree to her daughter's request to go to Europe to play and relax. If you don't go this time, you won't have another chance in the future.Her parents were also exhausted physically and mentally by the "Plateau Rebellion".In fact, they didn't know that the plateau was still alive and dead at this time!Rie was very happy. They think that the ruins of the ancient city of Rome and the customs of foreign countries may be able to "heal" their daughter's hurt heart, and staying at home all the time is not the answer. So they immediately booked rooms in top hotels in Rome and Athens for their daughter.In fact, they didn't know the real purpose of their daughter's trip to Rome and Athens in order to cover their eyes and ears. "Be careful on the road!" "It's okay, it's not a dangerous place there." "Just in case something happens!" Her parents have been sending Lie to Haneda Airport, repeatedly urging Lie like sending a child to kindergarten. Rie nodded in agreement with a forced smile, while looking out of the corner of her eye for Yaoko who secretly gave her.Yoko is wary of her parents seeing off Rie. Since Rie's parents knew Yoko, she could only secretly send Rie off.If they found out, they would definitely wonder why Gao Yuan's wife came to send her daughter off.During this last step, try to avoid any surprises. Of course Rie understood Yoko's kindness.She looked past her parents and "said" to Yaozi: Just wait, I will definitely bring back the news about Gao Yuan! With the help of students from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Riede's father quickly obtained a passport and visa.He and his wife sent their daughter to the airport, but as if they had already arrived in another country, they were very worried about their daughter.This is not the effect of memory forgetting, but the effect of being cut off from her daughter's heart. The Aegean Sea in early summer presents a turquoise color.The morning light paved the airport to the coastal road leading to the city center with a layer of dazzling golden luster.The exposed limestone hills, the olive grove belt like a silver belt, the coastal plain covered by green, carpet-like grass, the white-built houses and the blue sky, against the background of these things, it looks like love. Qinhai is unfathomable. In Riede's hazy eyes that haven't adjusted to the jet lag, the first sight of Greece is the picturesque and beautiful impression just now. Although the temperature may seem high, the air is exceptionally clean, so the heat doesn't feel unbearably hot. There was a burst of cheers from the passengers in the same bus.It turns out that the famous "Hill of the Acropolis" and "Parthenon" can already be seen from a distance from the car window.After a while the bus drove into the city center. Although Rie couldn't remember how long it had been since she arrived here from Haneda Airport, she still had no sense of distance from Japan. The hotel she stayed at was "Kings Palace" which is very close to Syntagma Square.It was a high-end restaurant no different from a hotel in central Tokyo.Although there is no unique local style, it will give a single woman a sense of security.When it comes to a country for the first time, Rie is most worried about the safety of her residence.When she saw that the hotel she stayed in was no different from the one she saw in Tokyo, she felt at ease.There is a male attendant at the main service desk. He is fluent in English.Since Lizhi has worked in American-funded companies for many years, it is not difficult for her to speak English.While apologizing repeatedly for her inability to speak English as well as Riede, the waiter explained to her that she could only provide her with a double room because the reserved single room had already been occupied by the earlier guests.Of course the resulting room rate will be paid by the hotel.For Lie, of course, he couldn't help but be happy to live in a spacious double room for the price of a single room, so he has no objections. During the check-in process, she was impatient to ask "is there any Sumiya that lives in the name of Takahara", but then she finally restrained herself.She went into her room first and took a hot bath. She left Japan with barely any makeup on.In an unknown country, she felt a heavy burden on her shoulders. Makeup is for the showdown.Rie is not confident about her makeup and clothes, and feels that she is not as good as Yoko.But if you pursue a foreign country with an uncertain future for the sake of the plateau, then you must put yourself in the "best" state. This room is located on the sixth floor.The equipment in the room is no different from that in Tokyo and Osaka.There are many high-rise hotels that can be seen outside the window, and the traffic and crowds on the street are extremely crowded.But it looks slightly less than Tokyo. For a moment Lie Jingran forgot that this was in Athens.When she recalled it, a strong sense of loneliness came to her heart. This hotel is very similar to the hotel in Osaka that she had traveled to the Kansai region with Kogen before. The slight difference is that the sky seen from the tall buildings is bluer than that of Osaka, and there is no Kogen around. The double bed is huge, which shows loneliness even more.She regretted agreeing to the double room very much.If she insists on switching back to a single room there will be no problem.The "blank" of another person in the open space seems to be telling the anguish of not having a plateau. "Haoyi, where did you go?!" Rie blankly said to the "other half" of the big bed. "Rie, you finally came to me!" Rie seemed to hear the voice of the plateau.But in fact there was no sound at all on this empty bed.In order to cure this sadness, she went to take a bath again.Then she changed her clothes and put on her make-up, and walked towards the main service desk on the first floor. The prelude to the "battle" is about to begin.