Chapter 2 Chapter 1 Traces of the Old Days

This is an old residential area in the downtown area of ​​the Han River. The cramped and old houses are densely distributed. The walls facing the street have been painted with the word "demolition" in red. But at dusk, people come and go, and the small facades are all thriving. , there is no sense of imminent demolition. Lu Fei got out of the car, locked the car door, and stood in the messy hustle and bustle, still looking majestic. He was wearing a gray T-shirt and dark trousers, with a tall and straight figure.Local August is the hottest time. Although the sun has set, the heat is still unabated, but the temperature doesn't seem to affect him at all.

He was about to walk in when a dusty Toyota Prado drove along the narrow street and stopped not far from him. A man and a woman got out of the car, both of them were wearing dirty clothes For outdoor clothing, the man opened the trunk, took out a red and gray 75-liter rucksack and a bundle of unexplainable long tubes, and handed them to the girl, "Aren't you going to eat together?" "Please smell it, the smell on us is almost rotten, probably no restaurant owner will welcome us in." The girl's voice was a little hoarse, and said briskly.She took the big rucksack and the bundle of things, waved to the man, and the man got into the car and drove away.She turned around and lazily walked up the narrow sidewalk, just in time to see Lu Fei head-on, and was stunned.

"Hello, Xiaochen." Xin Chen looked at Lu Fei without any reaction, as if he was in a trance.For a moment, he almost thought that he had misunderstood the person. Xin Chen in his memory had always had fair skin, so bright and clear that he had a somewhat restless atmosphere, while the woman in front of him was wearing big sunglasses, looking dark and thin, wearing wrinkled clothes. A blue T-shirt and olive quick-drying trousers, a dark gray fanny pack hung around her waist, her hair was tied up behind her head, obviously a little tangled and greasy, and her body was slightly tilted to one side with the things in her hand .Lu Fei stretched out his hand to take it, and the weight was really heavy.

She smiled suddenly, showing two rows of white and delicate teeth, "Hello, Lufei, when did you come back?" "About half a month ago." "Why are you here?" "Xiao Di told me that you will come back around this time today." "She comes to help me water the flowers every other day, she must be bored." She hesitated, "Come on, go in and sit, it's so hot outside." Xin Chen didn't look at him, turned around and walked into the residential area. Looking at the slender and graceful figure in front of him, Lu Fei suddenly became a little dazed.Eleven years ago, in the same summer, he came here for the first time. Although he was born in the local area, the environment where he lived was not at all like this.

At that time, Lu Fei was 18 years old, and he followed the 14-year-old Xin Chen in the same way.She has already started to grow, her black hair is tied into a ponytail, she is wearing a white T-shirt, denim shorts and flat sandals, she is lazily walking on her slender legs, her back has a smooth and graceful line with her light steps.Under the sunlight, the shoulder straps of the corset inside the T-shirt could be vaguely seen. At that time, this knowledge made his heart beat a few beats faster. At this time, Xin Chen's clothes were much more conservative, and his hiking shoes were covered with dust, which could no longer tell his true colors, but his steps were still slack, and the pocket around his waist was shaking slightly. This gait was familiar to him, even many times. Appeared in his dream.

This residential area is a collection of buildings from various ages. Xin Chen lives in a building from the 1970s. The gray five-story building looks a bit dilapidated.Walking into the dark corridor, she pushed the sunglasses to the top of her head, and neatly took out a small flashlight from her pocket to turn it on. Under the bright beam of light, the corners of the corridor were piled up with sundries extending from various households to occupy the territory.On the fifth floor, she moved her purse to the front, ready to take out the key to open the door. "I'm here to open the door, Xiaodi gave me the key." The two are very close at the moment, Lu Fei can smell Xin Chen's body and hair have a smell that is definitely not good, he has always been a little cleanliness, can't help it frown.

Xin Chen looked up and saw his expression just in time, smiled slightly, stepped aside a little, watched him open the door, and reached out to turn on the light very familiarly. "Are you the one who came to water the flowers these days?" She asked suddenly. Lu Fei handed the key back to her, "Xiaodi has been busy preparing for the autumn fashion show recently." She went to turn on the air conditioner first, "I'm sorry, I've been out for half a month, and there's nothing at home. You can sit wherever you want, and I have to clean myself up." She kicked off her hiking shoes, went back to the bedroom, took her clothes, and went to the bathroom to wash her hair bath.

Lu Fei looked around the house again. For nearly half a month, no matter how busy he was, he would come over every other day to water the flowers. He was already familiar with the pattern here, but at this moment, he still felt strange in his eyes.In his memory, the girl Xinchen lived in a small two-bedroom house, the house was as dilapidated and messy as the outdoor corridors, and entering this house for the first time was a major challenge for his cleanliness. However, everything in front of me is too neat, white walls, dark maroon floor, the original living room is connected with a room and the kitchen, and it has been decorated into a studio. The large light-colored workbench is connected to the computer table, two computers, Printers, scanners, etc. are placed in an orderly manner, and there is a simple bookshelf on one wall, on which books, magazines, folders, and CDs are neatly stacked, without a trace of clutter, but there are no decorations representing personal hobbies .

There is only an open corner of the kitchen, a cooking table and dining table, to divide the space, and two high chairs are placed, obviously eating is settled there. A deep wine red velvet chaise longue was placed by the door leading to the balcony, with two embroidered cushions placed on it, which was the only piece of furniture with a feminine touch. The bathroom was next to the bedroom, and there was a faint sound of rushing water. In the quiet and cool room, this sound made Lu Fei a little inexplicably disturbed. He opened the balcony door and walked out, and the sultry air rushed in.The balcony is not too small, and other people basically sealed it into a small room in order to maximize the space.Only Xinchen's balcony maintains an open layout, filled with all kinds of potted plants, several pots of jasmine are in full bloom, and a plant of asparagus grows to a height of almost one meter inconceivably, in a large porcelain pot The pomegranates planted have produced a lot of fruit at this time.A wooden shelf on one side is full of roses of different colors, and the flowers are very beautiful. On the other side of the flower shelf, there are four seasons of crabapple, hydrangea, rose, Milan, and geranium.This balcony looks like a lush and small garden. The only thing that spoils the view is that the balcony is covered with a thick iron anti-theft net. The red flowers are now closed and drooping, somewhat making the anti-theft net less dazzling.

He lifted the lid of the small water tank in the corner of the balcony, scooped out water to fill the big watering can, and then began to water the flowers. In the twilight, the water line was sprinkled evenly and finely, and the crystal water droplets rolled and slid down on the petals and leaves. Even this balcony is not the same as before. There were no flowers here before, only two old wicker chairs were placed here. Lu Fei and Xin Chen used to sit here and chat while looking at the same dusty building opposite. He has always believed that his memory is very reliable, but in the past half month, even if it rains heavily and does not need to water the flowers, he will come up and sit alone for a long time, but he can't find any trace of the past.He couldn't help but began to wonder if the memories lingering in his heart really existed.

At this time, a flock of pigeons flew past the balcony. Lufei put down the watering can and looked out through the dense leaves of the morning glory. The pigeons flew away, then circled back, and passed his sight again at almost the same angle and trajectory. . "I hate the pigeons fed by Uncle Lu the most. They shit on the balcony of my house every day. They are so dirty. They coo in the early morning, making people unable to sleep because of the noise." The girl Xin Chen once complained. So after all, there is still one thing that hasn't changed. Xin Chen laughed lightly from behind, "Believe it or not, I really like this group of pigeons now." Xinchen took part in a self-driving trip to Tibet this time. He and seven other members of the outdoor club took two off-road vehicles, passing through more than 30 large and small cities, and traveled nearly 8,000 kilometers. He didn't take a good bath for almost half a month.She has long been accustomed to the hygienic conditions outdoors. Four people sit in a car. Anyway, the small space is full of turbid smells, and everyone's sense of smell is numb.At this moment, she thoroughly washed her hair, took a bath, and applied skin care products. When she came out, she felt refreshed, as if she was reborn as a human being. Lu Fei turned her head, and standing under the light, she was wearing a white T-shirt, denim cropped pants, half-dry black hair draped over her shoulders, shining with a healthy luster, and her face after the bath was clean and clear with a little blush, The eyelashes on the bright eyes are long and thick, and the corners of the mouth are slightly raised in a familiar arc, and there is a small dimple on the left cheek. She has the same memory as him, and she even knows what he is thinking. Lu Fei, who has always been arrogant, calm and calm, realizes again that he can always reveal his emotional fluctuations in front of her. "Did the pigeons not bother you anymore?" "It's the same noise, but suddenly one day," Xin Chen said casually, "I'm used to it, and nothing can match my habit." Lu Fei was still standing on the balcony. At this time, the twilight outside was getting darker, and his emotions could not be seen in the semi-dark light. "What are you doing with such a cage? It's too ugly." He pointed back at the anti-theft net welded on the outside of the balcony. , it does look like a large birdcage. "There was a time when thieves were rampant. I had to save a place to grow flowers. I didn't want to close the balcony, so I had to install this. Safety is more important than beauty." "You are a girl, why do you have to live here? Isn't there an empty house at Xiaodi's side? The law and order in that area is much better." Lu Fei frowned. "Why live in someone else's house when you have your own house? And it's more free to live alone. I guess Dizi thinks the same way." "This residential area is about to be demolished. What are your plans?" "It's early, the rumors of demolition have been spreading for several years, and every time there is thunder and rain." "The company I work for and the Haotian Group that won this land have already determined the venture capital financing plan, and the rain will probably fall soon this time." Xin Chen was stunned, paused for a while, then shrugged, "It depends on how much the compensation for the demolition is, so I won't be reduced to sleeping on the street. Go eat, I'm hungry. How long are you staying here? I'll treat you, count it." You welcome the wind and see you off." "I'm coming back this time, it should be a long stay." Lu Fei's voice was calm, but Xin Chen seemed taken aback. She looked at Lu Fei with wide eyes.Lu Fei could clearly see that her eyes suddenly dimmed, and finally a little bit of emotion beyond surprise flashed across her eyes, and then she looked away. "Really?" Her voice dropped suddenly, "Oh, that's good." She turned around and walked to the shoe cabinet in the entrance, took out a pair of dark gold flat-heeled ballet shoes and put them on, then looked up, her expression returned to normal, and said with a smile: "Let's find a place to eat, I've been eating pig food for half a month, okay Hungry." Lu Fei drove to a restaurant near the downtown business district. It has been open for more than a year, and the business has always been good. The dishes include local and Cantonese flavors. It is not special, but the decoration is exquisite, which is the atmosphere that the white-collar workers in the vicinity like. The Chinese restaurant is quieter. Xin Chen used to have an astonishing appetite, such a slender figure, but no matter how much he ate, he couldn't gain weight.But today was beyond Lu Fei's expectation. Although she emphasized that she was very hungry and was very interested in ordering food, her appetite was not as good as the forecast. "Not to your liking?" "I probably got hurt from eating those instant noodles, compressed biscuits and chocolates on the way, and now I'm obviously hungry, but I just can't eat." "Didn't you never eat instant noodles?" He remembered her stubbornness, she would rather cook dried noodles than choose the simpler instant noodles. Xin Chen smiled, "I eat almost everything now. When I'm out, I can probably pick up the steamed buns and pat the ashes on the ground and eat them again. There is no taboo." She lowered her head and ate a piece of stewed snow clams with papaya specially ordered by Lufei in front of her. , but frowned slightly. This look is like the expression of acting like a spoiled child when she drank cold medicine when she was a girl. Lu Fei stared at her, but she clearly didn't mean to act like a spoiled child, but she was really forcing herself to swallow it. "It must be a tough road this time." Of course it was a long and arduous journey, poor accommodation, altitude sickness, sudden rainstorms, bad road conditions on some roads, mudslides, and two flat tires in one car, but there is nothing to say, Xin Chen I have long been used to accepting all the accidents of the journey as inevitable, "Fortunately, I was well prepared. Most of the companions who went with me have a lot of self-driving and outdoor experience, and it basically went smoothly." "I didn't even know when you started getting into outdoor sports and gardening." "There must be a hobby to pass the day. What about you? You still like listening to classical music and playing chess?" The conversation was so polite and homely, Lu Fei kept his composure, "Yes, do you still play chess now?" Xin Chen shook his head, "I probably even forgot the rules." She has a good memory, but she never played chess after graduating from high school. There was a ranking to take, but she was not tempted.After a pause, she still asked, "Long stay? Are you coming back to work? Why didn't you hear about Dizi?" Lu Fei was silent for a while, "Last time, three years ago in the summer, I came back from Beijing, and you happened to go out too." "That time..." Xin Chen looked at the cup of papaya in front of him, and he couldn't taste it even more. He couldn't help wondering how long it would take for the taste to recover, "Oh, I remembered, I went to Xi'an to play." "Is it such a coincidence? I called Xiaodi the day before to tell Xiaodi that I was going to come back. You signed up for a trip to Xi'an the next day. I got off the plane and you left. The timing was really good. And," he stared at her, said slowly, "You Did you really go to Xi'an?" Xin Chen looked at him in surprise, pursed his lips tightly and did not speak. "That's right, you did go to Xi'an, but you went to participate in the seven-day trekking route that is known as the most difficult and self-torturing in the Qinling Mountains, and you almost lost your life there." "It's not that exaggerated." "Then what I heard and the information I found on the Internet is not accurate. Two donkey friends were trapped in Paomaliang to the primitive pine forest in the mountains near Dayehai for three days and three nights. One of the women was seriously dehydrated and her life was in danger. The local armed police It was only after entering the mountain to search and rescue. I asked Xiaodi, she and her parents were completely unaware of this, and you never called home." "I was inexperienced that time, but I didn't get to the point where my life was in danger. I was sent to the hospital to hang the water and I was fine. There is no need to call home to make them worry. But I refused to be interviewed, and the local reporters just wrote indiscriminately. " Xin Chen looked puzzled, "But how do you know? My name should not be mentioned in the report, and I didn't let them take pictures." Lu Fei didn't answer her question, but just looked at her quietly, and finally showed a painful expression, "Is it to avoid me, Xiaochen? I came back to trouble you so much." Xin Chen smiled wryly, "Why do you think so? You won't even tell me when you come back, why should I hide, and why should I hide?" "I asked Xiaodi not to tell you when I came back this time. I'm afraid that if I tell you, you will simply stay in Tibet and never come back." "Not to mention, I started preparing for Tibet about two months in advance, planning the itinerary and round-trip time." Xin Chen still smiled, "Before I left, I collected at least three deposits, and I had to work overtime when I came back. It is definitely impossible to run away for this little money.” "You don't seem very happy to hear that I'm coming back for a long-term stay." "Whether I'm happy or not, nothing can change. This city is not mine. In fact, nothing is mine. It's normal for people to come and go." Xin Chen didn't want to try to keep calm anymore. Putting down the spoon, "I really can't eat anything, I'm too tired, I want to go back and rest." Lu Fei drove her home, the two got out of the car, and he walked her in.Xin Chen stopped suddenly, and looked at a small shop next to it that was closed. Under the street lights, there was a big "Demolition" written in red paint on the rolling gate.She slowly turned her head to look at Lu Fei, and suddenly smiled. Under the dim light, her smile was as bright as a flower blooming, and Lu Fei almost held his breath for an instant. "It doesn't matter if it's demolished, it's time to leave here. I don't believe it myself, I've lived here for so long, I don't know how many years."