Chapter 8 Chapter 7: The Traces of Youth

Xin Di walked to the window and looked at the gloomy sky outside the window. The thick clouds were leaden gray and pressed down low. Standing in the air-conditioned room, she could feel the dullness of the weather.She couldn't help but think of that summer many years ago. So, the mutual love between Xin Chen and Lu Fei is not limited to the simple love between boys and girls that she always thought? At this time, her cell phone rang, and it was Lu Fei calling.He asked her in a flat tone: "Xiaodi, do you have any plans for the evening? If you have nothing to do, accompany me to the bar for a drink."

Xin Di agreed, and the two agreed on a good time and hung up the phone.Lu Fei is her friend, and they have known each other for more than 20 years, but she feels that Lu Fei who came back this time has become a little strange. He used to be calm and didn't show his emotions easily, but recently she can feel his calm down from time to time. Concealing melancholy and helplessness. At the moment, Lu Fei is standing alone in front of the office window, looking into the distance.After he came out of Xin Chen's house, he went back to the office directly, but he was completely indifferent to dealing with business, and was also immersed in the memories of that summer.

Lu Fei went to the United States to study for a master’s degree seven years ago. After graduation, he began to work in a private equity venture capital company in the United States. This company is low-key and manages more than ten private fund investments with a large amount of investment. It invests all over the world and invests in mainland China. Great in size and scope.He worked in the United States for a year, and applied to return to China three years ago to work in the company's China office in Beijing.This time he came back to the local area, although there are personal reasons, but also to cooperate with the company's investment and participation in the development project operation of Haotian Group.

His office is in the office building rented by Haotian Group in the city center. From the 29th floor overlooking the city, he can see the city very far, and the residential area where Xin Chen lives is also within his line of sight, just the gray residential building, It's so dense that you can't make out the outline at all. The project he was involved in was about to raze it to the ground and re-erect a bustling shopping plaza, and the girl who left traces of his wayward youth didn't seem to mind having the old memories wiped away in this way. Not long after meeting Xin Chen for the first time, Lu Fei started a brand-new college life, while Xin Di and Xin Chen started to go to the third and third year of high school, which made them breathless. The three of them didn't have much contact.

Xin Chen doesn't like studying, but she knows that she won't be able to pass the high school entrance exam and will have to bother her uncle, so she still attends classes honestly, reviews, and does endless mock tests. Xin Kaiyu is still doing business, dating, and living a rich and exciting life. He occasionally reminds his daughter not to go to bed too late, and the exam is not that important.Xin Chen is funny, and she is the only one who has a good life. She has such a father who doesn't demand, but she has an uncle who has demands, and she can't let her down. Besides, there is Lu Fei, and she doesn't want him to disappoint her.

During the winter vacation, Lu Fei came to teach Xin Di and Xin Chen as scheduled. Seeing Xin Chen's test results, he nodded with satisfaction, "Not bad, keep working hard." Xin Di’s house is plugged in with an electric heating oil heater. The old-fashioned house has thick walls, narrow doors and windows, and is relatively warm. The cold wind in the local winter is all shut outside. Lu Fei explained the key points of mathematics, physics and chemistry to the two sisters respectively, assigned them topics to do, and urged them to recite English words.It's just that Xin Di is not interested in this at all, but Xin Chen learned it quickly, and played against him when he had time, of course he would use tricks such as cheating, regretting moves, and quietly moving pieces.

It had been snowing for most of the day, and when Li Xin came back from get off work, she happened to see Xin Chen pinching a large ball of snow under the acacia tree in the yard, and trying to throw it into Lu Fei's collar playfully, Lu Fei just dodged, and at the same time Smiling indulgently, holding her hand that was red from the cold, "Stop playing, beware of catching a cold." Li Xin's face suddenly sank, Xin Chen only looked up at her expression, and stopped laughing.Lu Fei was also a little embarrassed, let go of Xin Chen's hand, greeted her and left first.Xin Chen and Li Xin entered the room together, Xin Di was concentrating on drawing as usual, completely unresponsive to outside events.

Li Xin couldn't help but secretly lamented her daughter's innocence.To be fair, she doesn't have a strong sense of utilitarianism, so she doesn't want her and Lu Fei to have any development when her daughter is less than 18 years old.But Lu Fei's excellence is very obvious. He has a serious personality since he was a child, and his grades are outstanding. He doesn't look like a kid from a superior family, and he and Xin Di have always gotten along well. If Xin Kaiyu is like other prodigal children, who indulges while knowing that he is wrong, if Xin Chen is like other motherless children, with a bit of melancholy and pitiful or shrinking, then Li Xin may forgive him. The troublesome but really handsome brother-in-law will also hurt Xin Chen a little more.

It's a pity that Xin Kaiyu is very unpromising and very righteous, and Xin Chen has inherited his characteristics very well. He has always dressed fashionable and beautiful, and behaved indulgently and lively. Both father and daughter live calmly and contentedly. It is really impossible to make people and need sympathy Get involved. From Li Xin's point of view, Xin Chen is a girl who lacks discipline, is too wild, too willful, and has too much content in her eyes. In contrast, her daughter Xin Di is too simple, and it can be said that she has no scheming at all. Her vague dislike became more intense when she found out that Lu Fei had suddenly become intimate with Xin Chen.

Although Xin Chen was lively, she was also sensitive. Later, she found all kinds of excuses to avoid visiting her uncle and aunt's house. Xin Di took part in the joint art exam held earlier and got an excellent score.Next, the two sisters got good grades in the college entrance examination and the high school entrance examination, which made Xin Kaiming overjoyed and even said "double happiness". In the summer of this year, Li Xin took her vacation and took her daughter back to her hometown to visit relatives.And Xin Kaiyu ran around all over the world. When he was not at home, Lu Fei would come to accompany Xin Chen from time to time, urge her to do her homework, take her to the movies, drink soda, buy her her favorite chocolate cones, and accompany her. Play chess, chat.

It was in this summer that Xin Chen kissed Lu Fei for the first time. The two of them came back from watching the movie. On a summer night, the temperature was very high, and the streets were full of people taking a walk to enjoy the cool air. Having already walked downstairs to Xinchen, she suddenly asked Lu Fei: "I heard that many people in the university are in love. Do you have a girlfriend?" Lu Fei shook his head, this question made him a little embarrassed. "Then have you ever kissed a girl?" Lu Fei was even more uncomfortable. There was a kissing scene in the movie just now. In the dark, he couldn't help but look sideways. Xin Chen watched intently, as if he didn't feel shy at all.Now facing Xin Chen's probing eyes, he can only confess: "I don't have a girlfriend, so I can't just kiss any girl, right?" Xin Chen looked thoughtful, "A boy in the second year of high school chased me and wanted me to be his girlfriend." Lu Fei was taken aback, but after thinking about it, there was nothing surprising.He has only just come to high school, and he clearly knows that even the key classes of key middle schools with heavy academic work and strict teacher management can't stop the spring hearts of boys and girls, and a little ambiguous love can be regarded as a small relief from a tense life. "Do you like him?" He could only swallow back the principle that students should put their studies first, and asked. "He doesn't hate him, he doesn't have pimples, he looks clean, and he is the champion of the school's 100-meter race." Lu Fei sighed secretly, as expected, he was still a child, and this was what he wanted from a boyfriend. While despising himself, he couldn't help but ask, "Are you going to be his girlfriend?" The child in his eyes suddenly stopped and turned to look at him, "Unless you don't admit that I'm your girlfriend." Xin Chen looked at Lu Fei with his head tilted like that, his eyes were as bright as stars, and he had a mischievous smile of course.However, admitting that a 15-year-old girl is a girlfriend is a bit beyond Lu Fei's range of reason, and he was tongue-tied for the first time in front of her. But before he could say anything, she suddenly opened her arms to hug him, tiptoed to touch his lips quickly, and then let him go, "It doesn't matter if you don't admit it, anyway, your first kiss is mine." Without waiting for him to say anything, Xin Chen ran up to the fifth floor and went home in one breath.Xin Kaiyu came back early on a rare occasion, and handed the frozen watermelon to his daughter, "Chenzi, who is chasing you? I'm sweating from running." She didn't answer, took the watermelon, and took a big bite, but what remained on her lips was the touch of that lip, warm, soft, intimate...in short, it wasn't the taste of watermelon. This is also Xinchen's first kiss. When Lu Fei sat alone in his office on the 29th floor of the city center and thought of that kiss, Xin Chen put away the chess pieces and let his memory stop at the same place. Those were the warmest days in the memories of the two of them. Xin Chen clearly knew that those days were not only meaningful to her alone. Get along with each other, otherwise I wouldn't be here now, still looking at her with tender eyes. It was because of such a pure and happy time that Xin Chen forgave and allowed himself to immerse himself in the past occasionally. As the sky gradually dimmed, Xin Chen put the chess in the corner of the closet.She doesn't intend to indulge in memories, but when she was a girl, she seemed to be full of strength and courage in life, and also possessed love.She only agrees that when she has no strength to continue, she can find some warmth from memories and borrow some strength from the past. Xin Chen went back to his studio, turned on the computer, opened the original pictures in the album that he got back from David Fan, and began to repair the contours and skin one by one. Of course, this is not as simple as ordinary lovers using software tools to beautify their own photos. But it is also a mysterious job, but it is actually a skilled job. Since she was a freelancer, she has been processing photos for several small wedding photography companies all the year round. The salary is not very good, but the source is stable, and she has already done it very well, without any effort at all. Later, the big wedding Photography agencies also started looking for her from time to time. But advertising albums are more demanding than general photography portrait processing. She adds layers little by little, adjusts the transparency, removes acne, moles and small spots, and repairs the delicate skin texture that is close to real.When doing this, she didn't have to use her brain at all, so she could completely understand the joke that the kid in the photo studio had to get up and take someone's belly button out of PS. While concentrating on work, another laptop rang a QQ message notification tone.She pretends to be QQ just for the convenience of her work. She always hangs it up, but she rarely chats with people. When she clicks on it, it turns out that it is her netizen Bruce, who is currently studying at the University of California, Berkeley.Three years ago, the two walked together on the trekking in the Qinling Mountains that nearly killed her. Later, they became friends and exchanged their experiences on hiking in different places on QQ from time to time. "Hehuan, are you there?" Hehuan is her screen name. She uses this name on QQ and hiking forums. Of course, some people maliciously say that this name is easy to associate, but she just shrugs and ignores it.What she likes is the kind of tall tree that grows in Xindi's yard. The feathery leaves close quietly at night. The faint fragrance always lingers in her associations and memories of the local summer. And Bruce, who immigrated to Canada with his family at the age of 15 and went to the United States to go to university at the age of 18, also explained his name: "My surname is Lin, and foreigners hear that Bruce Lin is similar to Bruce Lee, how prestigious." "I'm here, did you go to bed too late or wake up too early, why are you online at this time?" "Long nights, sleepless." Bruce is 3 years younger than her, and in order to prove that he has not lost his Chinese, he likes to speak some overused dialogues. "I'm working, let's talk later." "Hey, wait, it's not good to take the time to give overseas travelers some hobbies for compatriots. Ask me what I'm doing now." "You don't need to ask, you're too busy to panic." "I'm in the same city as you now, just arrived in the afternoon, Hehuan, I want to meet you." Xin Chen was taken aback. They used to sit and chat on the Taibai Mountain in the Qinling Mountains. Bruce did tell her that he lived in Hanjiang City before he was 15 years old. The video game shopping malls and the small restaurants that eat beef noodles prove that what he said is true.Later, he also mentioned that he planned to come back to visit relatives at the right time, and visit her, a "friend in distress" who had lived and died together. "I've already gone out once today. For a house girl, going out twice a day is too much." She jokingly typed, "Make an appointment early tomorrow, first tell me what you want to eat, I'll treat you." "Fuck you, just today, I was fed to death by my relatives, and I didn't eat anything. Let's go drink in the evening. We have already agreed to find a place to have a good drink. You can't hold back." Xin Chen thought that going out for a drink and relaxing today would not be a bad idea, otherwise in the dead of night, the memory might turn into a nightmare uncontrollably, so she agreed and made an appointment with Bruce. On non-weekend nights, Bruce was stunned by the number of people in this famous local slow rock bar. The loud voices, coupled with the hot and powerful music, made the eardrums vibrate. They finally found a place to sit on the high stools by the bar. Next, ordered a beer and drank it. Xin Chen turned her head inadvertently, and saw her ex-boyfriend Feng Yian, who was drinking with a girl at a table not far away, and even though the girl was wearing heavy makeup, she could tell that it was the same as the one Feng Yian specially introduced to her last time. Not the same person.She immediately looked away, not intending to greet him, but he saw her at once, got up and walked towards her, and said coldly: "Xiaochen, why don't you introduce me?" She could only give the simplest introduction: "Feng Yi'an, Bruce." Bruce stood up and stretched out his hand in a friendly manner. Feng Yi'an didn't look at him, shook it perfunctorily, turned around as if he was about to walk away, then stopped suddenly, approached Xin Chen's ear, and said slightly mockingly: "So, finding a new person to accompany you Did you kill the loneliness?" The last time they met, he introduced his new girlfriend to her, and he was very polite. She didn't understand his unfriendly behavior now, so she could only conclude that he had drunk too much, and avoided the provocation, ignoring the provocation. Bruce reached out to protect Xin Chen, and asked at the same time, "What's the matter?" Fortunately, Feng Yi'an didn't act out of line, he gave her a hard look, and walked away. Seeing Xin Chen's hesitant expression, Bruce said, "I'm having trouble breathing and my heart is getting overwhelmed by this noise. Let's go out." She immediately nodded in agreement. Standing outside, Bruce took a breath of fresh air, "I'm really a native from overseas, I can't bear this noise." Xin Chen sneered, "No, I'm fine as an old man." "Pity me, a nerd. I used to stay in Vancouver, and my family was strictly controlled. I only saw middle school students go crazy while adults were away at Homeparty. After adults can buy alcohol, everyone is crazy but not crazy. I like to be quiet." He is 22 years old, wearing a white V-neck T-shirt and processed trousers, with styled messy hair, tall, handsome face with a mischievous smile, where there is a hint of bookishness. Xin Chen doesn't go to the bar often, but every time he comes out, he doesn't mind the noise. Instead, he feels that the noise is just suitable for a group of people with their own concerns to drink and have fun without having to use their brains to answer people.Now that it’s still early, I thought about it, “Why don’t we go to another one, Blue Sky, which is said to be opened by a foreigner, and has a good atmosphere. Many local foreigners go there, and it seems to be a little quieter than this place.” "Don't treat me as a foreigner, and I see foreigners every day, if I'm not interested, I still watch them when I come back." "Hey, you are hard to serve, young master. Let's go to the bar opened by my cousin's friend, called Forever. It's a place for pure drinking and chatting, but it's rare for young people like you to go there." "Don't discriminate against my age, He Huan, I'm only a little over two years younger than you." Bruce grabbed her hand and stared at her, and said in a serious manner, "Since you rejected me, I've become more and more emaciated, and my youth is gone .Those vanished years seem to be seen through a piece of dusty glass, but cannot be grasped." "Please, don't watch Wong Kar Wai's movies anymore." Xin Chen withdrew his hand, vomiting unceremoniously. Bruce laughed, "Why? Banana man Huangpibaixin can't help it if he doesn't know Chinese. Generally speaking, little sisters who understand Chinese like it." "Because I haven't been a little girl for many years." Bruce couldn't help laughing, "I just arrived in Vancouver a few years ago, and I really miss everything in China. Whenever a Chinese movie is released, my mother will take me and my sister to see it. When you say little sister, I think of a funny movie. " Xin Chen knew what he was talking about, and couldn't help laughing, Bruce looked at her appreciatively, "I told you more than once, no, I have to say it again today, you are so beautiful." Xin Chen is wearing a ginger yellow silk sleeveless top, black pencil pants and golden sandals, and a large colorful triangle scarf around her waist, which looks like a short skirt. Because she went to the bar, she put on slightly brighter makeup and eye shadow with glitter , pink lip gloss, the whole person looks dazzling.When others praised her appearance, she was always calm and said with a smile: "Thank you." The two bars were not far apart, so they decided to walk there.There are a lot of old houses in the concession area. Bruce studied architectural design and looked at them very carefully. "I often go to the photography section of the hiking forum. The feeling of seeing it on the spot is really different from other people's shooting. I was too young when I was here. , I don’t feel it, I have to find another day to take a good look at it.” Standing in front of the Forever bar, which was converted from a two-story old house with a low-key neon sign hanging at the door, Bruce once again sighed: "This idea is too ingenious. The old house is used in such a way that it really fits in with the surrounding atmosphere. .” After entering the small bar, there was jazz music playing in it. As expected, older people were drinking and chatting quietly at the small table with candle cups.The two walked up the steep old-fashioned wooden stairs. The upstairs space was relatively large and there were not many people.They sat at a table by the corner window, ordered wine, and chatted wildly. "The boss here also likes outdoor sports." Bruce looked at the large pictures of off-road vehicles, rock climbing and scenery posted on the walls. "Yes, the boss, Afeng, also hangs out on our forum, but he likes extreme sports like mountain climbing and rock climbing, and doesn't like gentle hiking. It's a pity that he's not here today. He can sing very nicely sometimes. You can learn from it. Much more effective than those overused lines." Bruce smiled, "You always hit me. Hehuan, I really envy your trip to Tibet this time. The photos your companion posted are amazing. But there are no photos of you, and you never post the main post. Every time you Traveling, I searched from the beginning to the end, and only saw a group photo of you guys, you put on big sunglasses, showing a little face, which can't relieve my lovesickness at all." "It's about looking at the scenery, not the people." Xin Chen has known him for three years, and knows that he is used to talking nonsense, so he doesn't care at all. The tripod is fully armed, and if you can’t take out the things you are shooting, of course you don’t need to send them out.” "Last summer, my classmates and I went to Germany and hiked along the Rhine River for half a month. It felt good. If I have the chance, I would also like to go to Austria. Are you interested in going together?" When it comes to Austria, Xin Chen is distracted for a moment.In the summer eleven years ago, a strange woman stood in front of her, claiming to be her mother, saying that she was leaving that day, and then going to live in Austria and never coming back. Of course, she didn't intend to satisfy the woman's desire to recognize her relatives and leave without regret. Later, Lu Fei told her that the woman left an envelope with an address on it, and as long as Xin Chen wanted to, he could get in touch with her at any time. Xin Chen didn't have that wish, but every time he heard the name of Austria, he felt a little strange. They were complete strangers and had no impression of each other, yet she had little doubt about what the woman said, even if she never mentioned her birthday and physical characteristics.That connection is wonderful, as soon as she saw her, she knew that she had stayed in that womb for ten months. After that encounter, she had carefully examined herself in the mirror and found similarities with that woman. place. But this does not give her a natural sense of intimacy. She has no yearning for her mother, neither love nor hate. The mother she has the most contact with in life is Xindi's mother Li Xin. It is a pity that they have never been close. Pass. Maybe that woman only looked at her carefully on the day she was born, remembering the mole on her foot, with an unknown mood, regretting her youth and absurdity or fearing the future, and then let this give birth from her body The little baby who came out was taken away.When she was about to go abroad and leave her hometown, she had inexplicable thoughts again. Xin Chen still couldn't imagine the scene of sitting and talking with her, she thought it was ridiculous.Not to mention, it was from the night when she saw that woman that she began to have nightmares of being trapped in a dark corridor and not finding her home, or walking tiredly with no direction on the road with no end in sight. "Hey, you're distracted." Bruce waved his fingers in front of her eyes. "It's cruel to be so distracted by a man. What were you thinking?" Xin Chen smiled apologetically, and was about to speak, but saw two people walking up the stairs one after the other. She thought that it was probably not suitable to go out today, but she met familiar faces everywhere, and immediately regretted coming to this bar on a whim .She knew both of them, the one in front was Xin Di, and the one behind was Lu Fei.