Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Meeting

Hongzhi went to work at ten o'clock.Nobuko stayed at home until noon, waiting for Sakurai who came from Osaka.But after noon, no one came.Waiting for guests at home is exhausting. Hongzhi said that Sakurai would come in the morning, and he would not come after one o'clock.After one o'clock, the guests did not come.Nobuko missed today's class because of this. However, Nobuko also went to school at her own convenient time every day, so it was a natural obligation to miss class to wait for her husband's guests.Even if all hope in the husband is lost, this "duty" must still be considered, but it is not out of love for the husband.

It's half past one.The phone rang, and Cheng Zi, the babysitter, came to answer the phone.Nobuko thought it was from Sakurai.Chengzi came to the living room to convey. "A call from a man named Asano." Nobuko was not aware of the associate professor at first.There are also two acquaintances named Asano. "She said it was Asano's agent from L University." Nobuko's heart skipped a beat, and it was the first time Associate Professor Asano called.Can't guess what's going to happen.Perhaps it was a gift from Maruzen?Because there is no message from him in the gift.However, he didn't make the call himself, but asked someone else to act on his behalf. Isn't it weird?Or is it Asano's mother?

Nobuko once thought that Asano might have given her a gift because her mother apologized for making her unhappy.However, if the mother's proxy calls, it should be the mother's wish to give the gift.In that family, it seemed possible that Associate Professor Asano was a dutiful son who respected his mother.While going to answer the phone, Xinzi was full of thoughts. "I'm Yanchuan." Picking up the phone, the other party was a young woman, which surprised Nobuko. "I'm Tadao Asano's...the representative of Asano from L University. Excuse me, is that your wife?"

"Exactly." Xinzi began to think that this was the other party's nanny. "Tadao Asano entrusted me to convey. If it is convenient for Madam, please meet me at Nishi Ginza Shopping Center at three o'clock this afternoon." "..." "There is a tea shop called 'Sangchagao' in the shopping mall. Please come and have an interview. Do you know the shopping mall?" "Ah..." Although Xinzi replied, he was very confused. "Anyway, according to what I said, I have something important to discuss, so please come to the appointment. Is it okay?" These are not the words of the nanny, but seem to be the words of people who are closer to Asano, such as relatives.

"Excuse me," Nobuko asked back. "You said you were Asano-sensei's agent, so who are you?" "I forgot to say." Young but calm tone. "I'm Asano's cousin. My last name is Asano." "That's right... I always take care of my teacher." Nobuko changed the wording. "I also often hear my cousin talking about Ms. Yanchuan." The woman on the phone became intimate. Nobuko has never heard Asano talk about her personal family situation, so when it comes to a cousin, maybe the associate professor really has a cousin.The agent is not a babysitter, but he is not an outsider either, and Nobuko is strongly aware that the associate professor is very polite.

"Okay! I'll go." "I'm causing you trouble. Then I'll tell Asano." The other party was a very careful woman, and hung up the phone after repeating the time and place of the appointment. Nobuko was a little depressed.Associate Professor Asano has never done that.I hadn't expected him to be so proactive.Xinzi was familiar with his image. He was speaking calmly on the podium and pacing alone in the corridor.Finding an agent to call and ask me to meet at the teahouse, this proactive gesture was really unexpected. However, if you think about it carefully, this is also an excellent opportunity to return the earrings.She is struggling to find a suitable way.Moreover, by returning gifts, you can also clearly express your attitude.We must take this opportunity to reject this innocent associate professor.Xinzi took out the earring box stored at the bottom of the drawer and put it in the bag.

Narisawa Edariko entered the teahouse "Sangchagao" at twenty-three to three o'clock.She chose to sit in the innermost corner where she could observe the overall situation, and she was very excited.Calls to both parties were successful, and Koji Shiokawa's wife Nobuko and associate professor Tadao Asano agreed.Of course, there were some subtle differences in the responses of the two parties. Nobuko seemed a little reluctant, but Associate Professor Asano responded extremely excitedly, "Understood, I will definitely go."Judging from the tone of the response, the associate professor was quite positive.Of course, Nobuko is a married woman, so she will naturally be careful not to be rash.

In fact, when Hongzhi arranged this matter, Zhilizi was still dubious.Leaving aside the male client, Shiokawa's wife's personality is also very clear to Riko Shiokawa - she began to understand it when she was dating Hongzhi in Osaka. At that time, Zhilizi and Hongzhi were madly in love.Hongzhi gradually went home less, and sometimes asked for leave from the company, and the two went on a trip for a week.Even in normal times, Hongzhi would often go to Zhilizi's apartment for three days without returning.After this kind of life lasted for half a year, Hongzhi told her that his wife already knew the existence of Zhi Lizi.

"I'm afraid. Madam will come and scold me." Zhi Lizi said. "Don't worry. She's not that kind of person." Hongzhi replied. "Oh, she is quite considerate of you." "Not considerate. Anyway, she's docile by nature." "It's all my fault. But madam is docile, are you ridiculous? She doesn't hate at all?" "Compared with the women you are used to, she has a somewhat unusual personality." "Why is it unusual?" "It can be said that she is too smart. It's a pity to be my wife!" "Ha, you really know how to boast!"

"That's not what I mean. You are not a man, you don't understand. Anyway, with such a woman, my husband will be suffocated. My husband is working hard outside, and home is where he rests and recovers from fatigue. He needs to stretch his limbs , lie down leisurely for a while." "You mean, a silly woman like me is the best!? After listening to you, I understand a little bit." "Let's just talk about you. You have seen all kinds of customers in the bar, right? Everyone in the company is a good-looking guy. However, the male customers you meet look like wimps. This is not so much The dark side of a man is rather the stretched and open posture of a man. The more capable you are outside, the more you need to be like this when you come back.”

"Doesn't Madam have such insight? Is it because there is no love?" "I'm afraid it's because she's too smart. Anyway, even if she knew about your existence, she never said a word, and her speech and behavior didn't change. Instead, I became restless." "That's still no love. Smart and virtuous can't be summed up." Zhi Lizi said. "It's a misfortune for you. It's better to break up as soon as possible." "I think so too." Hong Zhi reached out to hold Zhi Lizi's hand, pulling her closer to him. "Life is short. I'd rather have a good time with you than in a dull family." "If it were me, I would definitely try my best to make you comfortable. I will do my best. You are so unfortunate to marry such a woman who won't be jealous even if she knows that her husband is having an affair! Compared with a virtuous wife, it is better to have a silly lover." Your wife, right?" "yes!" "Are you really going to break up with Madam and stay with me?" Since then, Zhilizi has a general impression of Nobuko's character.This impression gradually became reality through Hongzhi's words.Although I have never observed Nobuko's appearance clearly, after two years of dating with Koji in Osaka, Nobuko's character has been formed in my heart, as if I had had an intimate relationship. It was five minutes to three.Zhi Lizi frequently paid attention to the entrance of the teahouse.At this time, a tall man walked in.She knew intuitively that it was Associate Professor Asano.Wearing glasses with reflective lenses and a full forehead, he is studying the faces of the guests.Eriko turned her face away, holding the coffee cup with one hand.A female guest sitting alone can easily attract people's attention. Asano paced between the tables.Knowing that Nobuko hadn't arrived yet, he started looking for a meeting place again. Zhilizi observed Associate Professor Asano from a distance.He ordered coffee and drank it, but his expression was uneasy. Whenever there was someone at the door, he would immediately glance at them.It's fascinating to watch men wait for their lovers.Moreover, they are all directly related to themselves. Associate Professor Asano seems to be a scholarly and serious person.Although he is serious, he is not funny enough. Only housewives who are in a hurry will be interested in this kind of man.Will such a man also be the type that Hongzhi's wife Nobuko likes? Nobuko still has to study correspondence education at the university, which is unimaginable for Zhi Lizi.What are the benefits of learning those things?If it’s okay to study while trading in stocks, studying like a college student will not produce any results.She is probably a strange woman, as Hong Zhi said, she is different from ordinary women.It would be quite humane to learn traditional arts such as tea ceremony, Qingyuan ditties, sanxianqu, etc. What's the point of economics?It's just posturing.Only that kind of housewife would have sex with a man who was sitting there without being funny. Speaking of men, the associate professor was checking his watch frequently, keeping an eye on the entrance.It's ten minutes past three, ten minutes past the appointed time.Seeing the restless look of that man, he must be fascinated by Xinzi.Of course, what he admires is not an ordinary girl but a married woman, perhaps this can arouse the subtle greed of a man.When Zhilizi was in a bar in Osaka, she heard a lot of romantic affairs from the male customers.In those vulgar allegories, a married woman is the bane of seducing a man's greed.Maybe because it's an adventure. Associate Professor Asano sipped his coffee slowly, trying to pass the time while waiting for Nobuko to appear. Fifteen past one. Edariko's eyeballs became tense, and a slender woman of twenty-seven or eight years old in a light blue dress appeared at the door.Zhilizi knew at a glance that this was Hongzhi's wife.It was unbelievable that she was exactly the same as the image I had imagined in my mind!Zhilizi has never seen Hongzhi's wife so far.When he was in Osaka, he also told Hongzhi that he wanted to meet his wife, but Hongzhi stopped him. "There's nothing to see, forget it." "Ouch, don't you want me to see it?" Puchi smiled. "It's useless to look at that kind of woman." Hong Zhi looked impatient. "I don't want to be jealous when I see your wife. Hey, I can take a look at it from a distance, anywhere. It can be done when you take your wife to the street, or when you drink tea outside." "What a coincidence, I haven't taken my wife out for a long time." "It's so indifferent. Doesn't your wife say anything?" "Say nothing." Zhilizi recalled what Hongzhi had said in the past, her eyes followed Nobuko.She walked past the table where she was sitting, her chiseled side face, she thought it was pretty at first, but maybe because she heard Hong Zhi's comments, she immediately felt that face was very proud. The associate professor moved his chair and stood up, welcoming her with a beaming face.The two began to greet each other.Look at their polite appearance, not like lovers.Although I thought it was weird, I thought about it again, all educated men and women will become very hypocritical in public.The two sat down facing each other, and the associate professor was courteous in every possible way and called the girl from the teahouse to watch tea. Zhi Lizi had already finished her coffee and asked for a fruit plate, holding a fork in her hand but keeping her eyes on the two people at the table over there. It was a heart-warming scene.The two of them answered their own phone calls and met here, and they didn't seem to realize that it was a fake message.Perhaps because of the frequent meeting, they didn't seem surprised.Both of them were so amiable when they talked. After a while, a wonderful picture appeared in Zhilizi's field of vision.Hongzhi's wife opened the bag and put a small paper package on the dining table.She said something to the associate professor, and then pushed the small paper bag over, maybe it was a gift from her.I couldn't hear the conversation, so I didn't know what was said.The associate professor immediately became very embarrassed. The woman would actually give gifts to the other party. It seems that Hongzhi's wife was also deeply attracted by the man.Even so, how could Hongzhi know his wife's tricks?He always said flat words in his presence about his wife.But now that the situation has been accurately grasped, things don't seem to be as he originally said. However, on this occasion, Zhilizi would rather believe Hongzhi's words.Koji said that in order to marry Zhi Lizi, he must first embarrass his wife.Zhilizi's current observation is also assisting this plan.No, I will be Hongzhi's wife in the future, so it is better to say that I am already a core figure than assisting.Zhi Lizi leaned out from the chair, and Nobuko seemed to be still persuading the associate professor to accept the small gift. Developed to such a point, this love is really serious enough.The more Zhi Lizi watched, the more funny she felt, so respectful as a guest, what fun is there in love?As a rich family, do you have to stick to etiquette like that?Or is it a deliberate disguise to deceive everyone? The small paper packet was still on the dining table. One side is a teacher, and the other side is a wife, so no one can see the flaws. This funny show may be staged for this reason.In particular, the associate professor has a wide face, peaches and plums are everywhere, and young people are full of curiosity. Once it spreads in the school, it will be troublesome. Zhilizi continued to observe Nobuko, feeling particularly strange.Since she is the wife of a man who is like her husband and wife, she cannot be regarded as an outsider.She often asked Hongzhi about Nobuko, and the pressing questions were so tight that Hongzhi had to answer.The image assembled based on those fragmentary answers was strikingly consistent with the appearance of Nobuko who appeared at the door.After careful observation, the more I felt that Nobuko was exactly as I had imagined. Such a docile lady, but somewhat affected.Such a woman would never burst into tears, not the type to show emotion in front of others.From this point of view, it is understandable for Hongzhi to empathize with other people and come to him.Zhi Lizi has a character of saying what she thinks, and doing things as she pleases.The charm that attracts Koji herself is the opposite of his wife's personality, aware of this, Zhilizi is somewhat disturbed. The reason why Hongzhi seeks a personality type opposite to that of his wife is actually still centered on his wife.In other words, if there is no woman who is talking humbly with the associate professor as his wife, Zhi Lizi with the opposite personality will have no meaning of existence.No, no, where would such a thing happen?Zhilizi denied it.He has fully obtained Hongzhi's promise to break up with his wife.And for this reason, he called himself from Osaka and bought himself a house.It was herself who was attractive to him, and she returned to her original view. However, Zhilizi still felt uneasy about Nobuko.Generally speaking, women often decide the winner when they see other people of the same sex.Either a sense of superiority, or a sense of inferiority, Zhi Lizi never felt inferior no matter what kind of woman she saw before.It’s like working in a bar, and it’s the same mentality in Girls’ Generation before. However, in the process of observing Nobuko, she vaguely felt that she would lose the game.Where does this feeling come from?It's not a question of appearance and figure. In this respect, I am completely opposite to Nobuko's conditions.It is not a question of beauty or not, but the essence of beauty on both sides is very different.So she felt at ease.If she felt a certain lack of confidence when she saw Nobuko, it might be because of Nobuko's unique atmosphere.Of course, the two have very different personalities.That's nothing, but she still couldn't help but be attracted by the gentleness and gentleness of the other party. Being attracted to the other party means your own failure.At first, he thought that the other party was putting on too much air, but now he felt that it was the other party's innate temperament.It's not clear, that kind of atmosphere may be the so-called education or self-cultivation!Zhilizi doesn't want to lose to the opponent, so it's unreasonable to be attracted by the opponent.I am on the same starting line as the other party, but my personality is different.Hiroji's visit to Zhi Lizi when he felt that his wife was too difficult to live with cannot be simply interpreted as relaxation.Hongzhi pursues Zhilizi from the bottom of his heart, and she prefers to explain it this way. Zhilizi continued to observe the performance of the two, and discovered a wonderful phenomenon.The associate professor seemed timid, Nobuko seemed to have some kind of upper hand, and the scholar Asano's face even turned red.Of course, this is from a distance, so it's not exact, but it does feel that way.What entanglement did that little box cause? Hongzhi only entrusted himself to make a phone call to invite them out, and then observed the meeting scene, but did not mention the small box. It seems that the problem lies in the small box on the dining table.What exactly is in there?Zhilizi believes that Hongzhi took action after knowing the mystery. The girl came to remove the dishes she had used, and the number of guests increased.Eriko had to stay a little longer. "Hi!" she greeted the girl. "Let's have something more!" After reading the menu, she still ordered the fruit plate.Looking up again, the associate professor was moving the small box towards him. Asano blushed.After all, I regret my rashness.During that time, I became impulsive uncharacteristically, and finally bought that kind of thing impulsively.Being returned by Xinzi in this way is tantamount to exposing his own recklessness.However, since it was given anonymously, Xinzi could accept it smoothly, and he didn't want to try to get close to her by giving gifts.If she thought she was ambitious, that was a real surprise.But he didn't argue, even if he didn't say it, Xinzi would understand his feelings.So Asano moved the small box in front of him. "I'm so sorry." Shinko said.She has fully explained why she cannot accept this thing. "No, I caused you trouble." Asano also apologized. "However, please don't get me wrong. You were bothered when you came to my house. I just wanted to show my heart." Fortunately, he didn't explain what was in the small box. When Xinzi came to visit, he sent a bouquet of flowers.That's normal etiquette.Moreover, Nobuko came here to study and ask for advice, so it would be inappropriate to give back pearl earrings, if it is said that she will be speechless.However, Xinzi made a special phone call to make an appointment and returned the original, which is also an uncharacteristically blunt approach.Of course, she also had a reason to say that there was no other chance to deliver herself, but this was too straightforward.Asano felt that Nobuko's image in his heart had changed. "You can take it back, I really appreciate it." Xinzi seemed very sorry. "Don't be offended." "No, it won't." Asano also apologized. "I'm too presumptuous." Nobuko hesitated for a moment, then raised her head, as if she couldn't speak. "Also, I have a request to the teacher." She seemed a little nervous. "What's up?" "From now on, please don't call my house." "Huh?" Asano opened his eyes wide. "That would cause a lot of misunderstanding. Please, please, please stop calling." Asano doubted his ears. "What are you talking about?" He couldn't help asking back. "Call?...I never called you." This time, Nobuko was dumbfounded. "But..." She herself felt that her face was extremely stiff. "It was the teacher who called and asked me to meet at this teahouse." After finishing speaking, Xinzi whispered "ah", and remembered that the call was not from Asano himself, but from a woman who claimed to be a relative of Asano. if. "Who the hell?" Asano asked eagerly. "Calling you?" Seeing Asano's seriously astonished expression, Nobuko suddenly realized. "Then, who called the teacher again?" "Me too." He nodded. "It's a woman's voice. When I was at school, the clerk called and said it was Yanchuan's call. I answered the call, and the other party said it was your relative. A woman, convey your message and tell me to come here .” Nobuko bit her lip. What does this matter mean?Nobuko was aware of Asano's intense questioning gaze, and various imaginations were spinning in her mind. "Did you entrust the person who called?" Asano continued to ask because the situation was serious. "Isn't it? The man said that you entrusted him to make the call, isn't he a relative of yours?" Difficult question to answer.If he said he didn't do this, Asano would definitely get to the bottom of it.He is prone to tantrums in this regard. "I was negligent." Nobuko apologized. "I did entrust an acquaintance." Asano said nothing.He looked suspiciously at Nobuko's face. Nobuko really wanted to run away from Asano immediately, she stood up subconsciously, and didn't even remember what she said to say goodbye.Just then, she glanced around because she felt someone staring at her.The moment she asked for the details of the phone call, she felt a wave of fear strike her. The customers are all at ease, drinking drinks and eating snacks, men and women are happy.Nobuko still felt Asano's puzzled gaze from behind, and hurried out of the teahouse. Eriko called from the tea shop.The switchboard staff at the bank were very polite, but Koji Shiokawa took a long time to come. "It's me!" Zhi Lizi said. "It took so long to answer the phone." "I'm very busy!" Hongzhi replied in the tone of receiving guests. "I finished my observations and just came back, Madam and the scholar's date." Hiroshi remained silent.He was the director of general affairs, and it seemed that the guest was by his side, so he couldn't answer immediately. "How funny!" Zhi Lizi said deliberately. "Now both are home." "Please wait a moment," Hong Zhi said. "I'll be done in twenty minutes. Please wait for me there." "Hee hee hee..." Zhi Lizi hung up the phone with a smile, she was imagining Hong Zhi's expression when he rushed here.He was obviously very busy, but he said he would be back in twenty minutes, his mentality was obvious.He pretended to be indifferent on the surface, but revealed his inner state.In order to kill the twenty minutes, Zhi Lizi left the teahouse temporarily. The associate professor then stood up slowly, walked past Zhilizi, and went to the cashier to pay.Zhilizi captured these movements in detail, like a slow-motion picture.The associate professor looked melancholy, but there seemed to be some kind of excitement hidden in it. Zhilizi kept staring at the two until the end, but the last scene was a bit strange.Xinzi, who had always been calm, changed his face suddenly, and walked out first.Maybe the two of them noticed the trick of the phone call, otherwise, people who are usually so calm and stable would not rush back in a hurry.The scholar didn't go with her either, but stared blankly at each other. The situation is not good, but at most it just clarifies the phone call.But their reactions were shown before their eyes, and it was a good show.Zhilizi walked around the street, can Hongzhi be here on time in twenty minutes?It's just bragging.He should be told to wait for a while, so Zhi Lizi admired the clothes in the window of the nearby fashion store, and really had an eye addiction. Forty minutes after returning to the teahouse, Hongzhi was waiting in the teahouse.She approached the table and he looked up. "What did you do?" "What are you talking about?" Zhi Lizi straightened her skirt and sat down. "For you, I spent half a day here! For someone else's date." "Huh!" Hong Zhi stopped the waiter who walked by. "What would you like to drink?" "I've had enough. In order to see them, I drank coffee again and ordered two fruit plates. My stomach is about to burst." Hiroji held a cigarette slantly from the corner of his mouth. "How about it?" "That matter, you really have to worry about it!" "Of course, I'm sure!" "It's quite affectionate!" "nonsense!" "Oh, don't you want to do this?" "Don't be so secretive. Speak well." "Okay, I say. In short, my impression is that the two are still in the stage of spiritual love." "Oh?" "You're annoying! Are you relieved now?" "I'm listening to you! You're telling the objective facts." "I don't know what happened. The two of them pushed a small box back and forth, as if they were trying to compare whose strength was stronger. In the end, the university teacher accepted it." "That's right..." "Hey, let me tell you, how about asking your wife to get closer to men? You are always so serious, the university teacher is so pitiful... Let me help you with this!" Shiokawa Koji woke up in bed, not knowing when he fell asleep.The desk lamp next to the pillow glowed palely, all the other lights in the room were turned off, and Zhi Lizi had already left.The reed-curtained sash facing the courtyard was opened a crack, and the evening breeze blew into the room.Because it is on a high slope, it is cool in this area. "Hey, Eriko!" Hiroji called out. The curtain opened, and the figure of Eriko appeared. "What's the matter? Want to smoke?" "No, drink water." "Okay, okay." Zhilizi turned around and went out, quickly took a water glass from a tray and knelt beside Hongzhi's pillow. Hongzhi got up and lay on his stomach, twitching his Adam's apple to drink water. "what time is it now?" "It's just past ten." "Oh. Cigarettes." "Okay!" Zhi Lizi opened the foreign cigarette box far away from the pillow, took one in his mouth and lit it.She changed into an ordinary dress.He took a puff of the cigarette, then handed it to Hong Zhi, leaving blood-red lip marks on the cigarette. Hiroji exhaled smoke and picked his ear with the little finger of his other hand. "Is it itchy?" "what." "Someone said something bad about you. It must have been." Hong Zhi propped his chin and continued to smoke. "What are you thinking?" Zhi Lizi looked at his profile.Hiroji frowned and let the smoke rise up his face. "You're still worried after all, aren't you?" "worry about what?" "Your wife! Today I will tell you everything I saw." "How come?" Hong Zhi showed a seemingly boring expression. "Come on, why are you pretending to be chic? I can see it." Zhilizi poked Hongzhi's cheek with her little finger. "Are you jealous when you hear that your wife is dating another man? Get angry, get angry!" Hongzhi only cares about blowing clouds and mist. "What time is it? Exact time." "I only know how to ask the time, hum!" Zhi Lizi looked at her slender watch. "Twenty-five minutes past ten... Oh, you want to go home?" Zhi Lizi asked when she saw Hongzhi lifted the thin quilt and sat up. "I have something to do." Zhilizi was still sitting, staring at Hongzhi getting dressed. "What else is going on right now. Don't fool me!" "..." "Hey, you, really, marry me?" "Ah." Hong Zhi stood up and put on his shirt sleeves. "Is it true?" "of course?" "Seeing my wife dating other men, homesick? What a weirdo!" "..." "You play tricks yourself, why are you so jealous?" "Turn on the lights! I want to look in the mirror!" "Let's go out in the dark! I'll follow you. When the lights are on, the neighbors can see clearly. A big man is coming to my place." "Anyway, everyone knows." "It doesn't matter if you know it. You won't be afraid if you officially marry me. I don't want to be like this all the time." "..." "You really keep your word? Sure, right?" "what." "It doesn't matter... If you let me know that you are lying to me, I will throw acid on your face." Hiroji puts on his trousers and snaps his belt buckle. "This is not to scare you. I will do what I say. I came here from Osaka to join you." "I keep my promise." Hong Zhi whispered. "Look at you...you're unreliable with this look." "Hey, stop sitting there babbling! Give me the coat!" Zhi Lizi stood up helplessly, as if she was going to get a clothes hanger from the closet, but suddenly stretched her jade arms around Hongzhi's neck and hung her body. "Hey, do you really want to go back? There is still time, take me to the nightclub!" "Not tonight!" "Really? Well, I'll go out and find random boys to dance with." "Jacket." Eriko took a coat from the hanger and wrapped it around Hongzhi. "Eriko, what did you say in the teahouse just now?" "what?" "You said to ask my wife to get closer to that associate professor, so you can help." "Yes. Why are you talking about this all of a sudden?" "One day I will need your help." "Ha, really?" Zhi Lizi's eyes lit up in the darkness. Koji Shiokawa drove home, put the car in the garage, lowered the shutter door, and made the keys rattle in his pocket. Entering the foyer, no letter came to greet him.Cheng Zi seemed to have just taken a shower, and came out in a bathrobe. "Where's the lady?" "Oh, out." "What?" He stopped suddenly. "Did you not come back after going out during the day?" "No, come back around four o'clock, change clothes immediately and leave." Hongzhi hesitated to speak, and went into the back room.I glanced at the lady's room halfway, but the light was not on.Turn on the light and see that the room is clean, bright and spotless.Judging by intuition, Nobuko seems to have traveled a long way.He turned off the lights and went back to his living room. The husband and wife had lived in separate rooms for a long time.There was a white envelope on the study table. Hongzhi looked closely, and it was the expected wife's handwriting, so he opened it immediately. "I have something on my mind, and I suddenly want to travel to Nagano. It just happened that the summer lectures have ended, and I went out to relax. I couldn't say hello in advance, please forgive me. I don't know when I will be back. When I am not at home How inconvenient it will be for you, I have already instructed Chengzi carefully, and she will help you with the things around you." Hong Zhi put the letter down with his fingertips, and then smoked a cigarette there.After thinking about it for a while, he rang the bell.The hallway remembered the sound of footsteps, knocking on the door. "Come in!" Chengzi came in wearing a bathrobe, shrugging her shoulders and keeping her head down. "sit down." Chengzi trembled.After greeting him two or three times, he finally sat on a corner of the sofa uneasy. "How did Madam get out?" Hong Zhi asked gently. Chengzi raised his eyes to look at Hongzhi, then quickly lowered his head. "Wearing a white dress." "Of course I brought a suitcase, didn't I?" "Yes. Madame has a black leather case." "Didn't you say when you'll be back?" "The madam said to go away for a few days... Madam gave careful instructions to the husband's affairs." "Hmm... didn't you say what time the train departs from and which station?" "I said it. I don't know the time of the train. Madam called a taxi and said she was going to Shinjuku Station." "Have you called anyone before? I mean Ma'am." "No. Just called to get a taxi." Hongzhi glanced at the letter paper thrown on the table, sat on his chair and stretched out his long legs. "Madam, come back after going out during the day? Have you asked me anything?" Chengzi bowed his head and remained silent. "Look, I'm not angry with you, I just asked Madam how she left home!" Cheng Zi raised his head in surprise and widened his eyes. "Did Madam run away from home?" "I didn't run away from home... Although I didn't, I suddenly had something on my mind, so I left home for a trip. That's why I asked you! Madam should have asked you something when she came back during the day. You don't have to cover it up, I'm not angry." "..." "Ask about the little box yesterday? Look, it's the little box I asked you about." "Yes." Cheng Zi finally nodded. "How did I ask you?" Chengzi lowered his head and spoke softly. "The lady asked me, and the husband asked me if the little box was there." Sure enough, that was the case, Hongzhi silently exhaled a puff of cigarette.He asked Zhi Lizi to call both parties, but after the two met, Nobuko knew what was going on.However, the associate professor may not have noticed it, only Nobuko knows.Nobuko knew intuitively that it was Hongzhi's trick to ask a woman to make a phone call.And she speculated that Hongzhi had asked the babysitter about the package, so she came back to confirm with Chengzi. Hongzhi also asked Chengzi about this, but she was not allowed to tell his wife.But when the housewife asked, Chengzi couldn't keep the promise.After Chengzi disappeared outside the door, Hongzhi leaned against the table and thought for a long time.The feeling of emptiness was mixed with anger, and new hopes flooded his chest like water, but the object of his thoughts was definitely not Edariko.After dawdling in the study for thirty minutes, he immediately walked out of the hall. "Are you going out?" Cheng Zi asked from behind in surprise. "Ah, go out for a while." It was past eleven o'clock. "May not come back tonight, close the doors and windows." "Yes." Chengzi watched Hongzhi worriedly. Hongzhi went to the garage to open the shutter door, drove out of the car that had just been stored, and drove directly to Zhilizi's residence.At this time, there were no people enjoying the cool air on the street.He parked the car at Zhilizi's door and walked into the hall.Ringing the doorbell, the old nanny, whom Edariko called Aunt Suzuki, came out, and was startled when she saw Koji.Seeing that Hong Zhi was about to enter the house without making a sound, she hurriedly stopped him. "Ah, sir! Madame is out." Hongzhi put on the shoes he had just taken off again. "Where did you go?" "Madam said, go out and play." Hongzhi remembered that Zhi Lizi said that she wanted to go to the nightclub alone, maybe because she said she wanted to go home early, so she used this to demonstrate.Originally thought that since Nobuko had left home for a trip, he would have to go back to Zhi Lizi to stay tonight.But Zhi Lizi was not at home, so he had nowhere to go, and his heart was dry and boring. "Didn't she say where she was going?" He couldn't help but get tough. "Yes, I didn't say anything." He returned to the gate of the courtyard and got into the car, with nowhere to go.I was about to step on the accelerator, but changed my mind and returned.The nurse was still standing in the hall. "Does Madam often go out alone at night?" "Ah... no." The nanny replied vaguely. "rare." "It means going out sometimes, isn't it? When will you be back?" "This..." The nanny seemed unable to speak. "Come back before twelve o'clock." "Did you get drunk when you came back?" "Ah..." The nanny was very embarrassed and faltered. "Hey, tell the truth!" "Sometimes I come back from a little drink and I'm not very drunk." The nanny seemed to be protecting Eriko. "Where did she go? Did you ask?" "This..." The nanny seemed unclear again. "Okay!" Hong Zhi returned to the car and held the steering wheel.If you keep asking, there will be no truthful answer, and you have to maintain your dignity.When it comes to nightclubs, Akasaka is the only place that comes to mind.She is given a lot of pocket money every month, so it is more than enough to go to nightclubs. 弘治开得很快，如果不早点儿到，将近十二点夜总会就会关门，之后就无法捉摸枝理子的去向了。自己也明白这样开车太猛，到赤坂之前曾两次差点儿撞车，对方司机大声斥骂。 忽然，他想到此时乘上夜间列车的信子。她一个人要去哪儿呢？说是去长野，会去长野的什么地方呢？据枝理子所说，信子与浅野并没什么接触，倒像是浅野对妻子十分倾心。妻子本来就是封闭于自我世界的女子。 到达夜总会门口，他问来迎接的店员是否还在营业。店员看看手表说，还有三十分钟。夜总会另有三家，选择这家完全是冒碰。不过，他凭直感也觉得这里合乎枝理子的性格。 进店之后，看到有些客人已经打道回府。弘治若无其事地注意着客人的面孔，没有看到枝理子，便先在桌旁落座。光线昏暗，观望远处的客人时需要定睛细看。客人几乎只剩下一半，舞池中的人们还在跳舞。可能再跳一曲也就该结束了。空调开得很足，有点儿冷。 弘治要了加冰威士忌，继续观望舞池中的舞者，人们正在跳近来流行的快节奏舞蹈。弘治的视线停在其中一对舞者身上，目光突然锐利起来。 弘治找到的是与年轻男子跳舞的枝理子。舞池中虽然昏暗，但他很熟悉她的身影。曾经见过的那件粉红色连衣裙，忽而卷入舞者群中，忽而从中旋转闪出。 对手是个二十五、六岁的青年，身穿白色上衣、黑衬衫，领带也是白色的。窄脸庞，卷曲头发。看上去舞领得不错，看他的动作便知是个玩家。青年将枝理子拥在怀里，枝理子也把脸贴过去，如醉如痴。 弘治没见过那个青年。他把酒杯端到嘴边，眼睛盯着两人的动向。一曲终了，枝理子这对舞伴仍没退场，接着是摇摆舞曲。枝理子似乎不太会跳这种舞，笑着模仿对方的动作。她夹着大腿扭动腰肢，从心底里透着开心。 弘治抽起了香烟，真是怪诞的舞蹈，这种舞姿弘治耻于尝试。但是，眼见得枝理子却渐渐熟能生巧了。 又一曲终，枝理子与舞伴终于离开舞池。弘治眼睛盯着，只见两人落座的餐桌是两张拼成的。这张稍大的桌旁坐着四、五个青年，拍着手迎接枝理子。 弘治与他们之间隔着三张桌子，他越过客人们的肩头观察着枝理子。光线很暗，只要不太显眼便不会被对方察觉。青年们桌旁有两、三个女招待，但枝理子似乎最有人气。她举着酒杯，脸笑得像鲜花怒放。这是上一个时期的枝理子，活力四射。 女招待来到弘治身旁坐下。“一个人挺寂寞的吧？”穿白裙的女子邀请说：“跳个舞吧！”这一曲是舒缓的布鲁士舞曲，弘治与女子起舞，眼睛却望着那边桌旁的枝理子。在这边走来走去，可以从各个角度观察。青年们谈笑风生，核心却是枝理子。 “莫不是从前就认识？如果认识，是何时开始的呢？”弘治边舞边想。“枝理子从未说过她与那帮人有交往……” 枝理子起劲儿地讲着什么，青年们听得津津有味。离她稍远的人，甚至探身歪头地听。 “似乎不是老相识。”通过观察他又有了这种感觉，那帮人像是职员，但又看不出是哪类公司的职员。枝理子没有察觉弘治在这边跳舞，她又要跟那帮人说话，又要喝酒，无暇顾及舞池。 枝理子在他眼中变成了另一个人。当对方没有意识到自己而自由行动时，自己就会感到对方判若两人。枝理子沉浸在自由的解放感中，显得舒展开心。 弘治从舞池回到桌旁。“喂、你帮我把这张纸转交给那个桌旁的女客人。”弘治撕下一张笔记纸，写了“那边的事情办完后，请到这边桌子来。弘”，然后递给女招待。他继续喝酒，并若无其事地望着别处，他知道接到字条的枝理子会探身朝这边张望。女招待轻轻摇动裙摆回到这边来。 "What did you say?" “没说话。看完字条后朝这边望了望。” “没吓一跳吗？” “挺吃惊的。她说马上就过来……您认识她？” "know." 没过五分钟，昏暗之中一片粉红色向这边靠近。 “欢迎光临！”女招待向落座的枝理子致意。 弘治呷一口酒，眼角瞥见枝理子的白脸。 “哦哟！什么时候来的？”枝理子直勾勾地盯着弘治的侧脸。“吓了我一跳！什么时候来的？” “刚才。” 枝理子倒吸一口冷气。弘治抬眼看看她刚才坐过的席位，那边的青年们也一齐望着这边。快关门了，客人也只剩三分之一。乐队奏起最后一曲。 “你没回家吗？”枝理子突然问道。 “本来打算回家，但又返回你那儿去了。” “啊？……那你怎么不早点儿告诉我？” “他们是谁？”他问的是那些陌生青年。 "I do not recognize." “哦？你不是跟他跳舞了吗？” “啊，你是那个时候来的呀！坏心眼儿！现在才叫我。” “你总是跟陌生青年跳舞吗？” 女招待觉察到气氛不妙，悄悄地离席而去。 “你真坏！”枝理子瞪着弘治说。“我只是今晚跟陌生人跳舞……不知为什么，我心里乱糟糟的。” “你在哪里碰上他们的？” “没到哪儿去。只是到这来后，偶然邻桌而已。” “正像你说过的。” "what?" “你不是说独自随意出来跟陌生人跳舞吗？” “这事儿你倒记得清楚！” “因为你说到做到了嘛！” “我不是想做才说的，只是后来感到寂寞了才到这儿来的。后来，有个青年看到我一个人无聊的样子，就过来邀请我跳舞了。” “哼！你就跳了？挺有意思的嘛！” “心情不好的时候，偶尔就想这样做。” 弘治胳膊肘支在桌上独自喝酒，枝理子死盯着他。“你真行！居然能找到这儿。” “猜个大概吧！” “哈，那是你回家前听我说过，于是就记住找来了。” 弘治放下酒杯，“舞会结束了，回去吧！”他立刻叫来男店员付了费。 那边桌旁的青年中，也有四、五个人一齐站了起来。他们直勾勾地盯着过道中跟枝理子走的弘治，其中一个还向枝理子挥挥手，可却她头都不回地向门口走去。