The next morning, Pei Shuo woke up early because of his schedule at the police academy. After lying on the bed and playing some games, he felt a little hungry and was about to get up and go downstairs for breakfast.
Tang Zi saw him getting up in a daze, turning over with the quilt in his arms, and looked at him sleepily, "What time is it?"
Pei Shuo put on her shoes and looked at her phone, "Eight o'clock."
Tang Zimi glared and cursed: "You are sick for getting up so early."
Pei Shuo said 'hey', picked up the pillow and threw it at it, "I'm happy with it, but you can do it."
And he is already light-hearted enough, but this turtle is just looking for trouble.
Tang Zi was so sleepy that a pillow hit him. He took it and covered his head to block the light and continued to sleep.
Pei Shuo pursed his lips, found a thin sweatshirt from his suitcase, and put it on before going out. As soon as he opened the door to the room, before he could step out, the door opposite was also opened.
He paused in his steps and looked at the person opposite him with squinted eyes, "Why did you come out of Suisui's room?"
Lu Zhinian twisted his neck, looked at him and went to the elevator without answering.
Pei Shuo glanced at the room next to him, then looked back at the room and quickly closed the door and chased after him.
"Are you going to the restaurant?" Pei Shuo stood next to him and waited for the elevator together.
Lu Zhinian stood with his hands in his pockets, still a little sleepy and responded lazily: "Yeah."
Pei Shuo clicked her tongue twice in her heart when she heard his hoarse voice, and then said, "Let's go and have breakfast together."
When the elevator arrived, Lu Zhinian walked in and pressed the button for the restaurant floor, "No, I'll be up in a moment."
"Huh?" Pei Shuo looked at him confused, "What are you doing here? Aren't you going to have breakfast?"
Lu Zhinian leaned against the car and said lazily, "She's still sleeping. I'll bring something to eat."
Jiang Suichu had a bad stomach, so he wanted to give it to her to eat before going to bed. Otherwise, it would be noon by the time she woke up, and she would be hungry all morning.
Pei Shuo opened his mouth and thought for a long time, not knowing how to answer this.
Ever since he was a child, he had known that Jiang Suchu would definitely be with Lu Zhinian, although he didn't know why he had this idea. But the relationship between the two suddenly went from a very pure level to several degrees, and he, who had always been thick-skinned, felt a little embarrassed.
Pei Shuo scratched his head and made a sound without embarrassment.
Lu Zhinian took a few of Jiang Suichu's favorite foods and went upstairs. Pei Shuo found a seat by the window and ate breakfast slowly.
He looked out the window at the sea and the scattered tourists on the beach.
The sun had just risen at eight o'clock, and the bright light shone on the sea, making the waves sparkle.
Somewhat dazzling.
When he looked away, he glanced at the easel propped up on the balcony outside the window. On the easel is an unfinished oil painting, which depicts the sea opposite in the dim light of morning.
The owner of the painting was not seen, only a colorful palette was placed on the table aside, and a few paintbrushes were scattered around.
Although the oil painting is a semi-finished product, the artist's skill can already be seen. The colors, light and shadows are all well outlined, as if the sea water not far away is gently flowing onto the paper.
Pei Shuo bent her lower lip, took out her mobile phone and took a photo at the easel, then stood up, put the plate in the place where the tableware was returned, and went upstairs.
When he turned around, a girl wearing a small floral round-neck dress sat in front of the easel with a bottle of mulberry-flavored yogurt in her hand.
Liang Yi opened the yogurt and took a sip, frowning slightly, "Sure enough, Yunyou's tastes better."
She stopped drinking, put the yogurt aside, picked up the brush and palette, and continued to color the painting.
A few people played in Haicheng for almost a week before returning to Yun City.
Back in Yun City, Jiang Minghao had to go back to Muyang Town for something. Jiang Suichu hadn't gone back for almost two years, and she wanted to go back with him to see her grandma.
Lu Zhinian had to fly to Beicheng for a business project and was unable to accompany her, so he lent his car to Jiang Minghao.
On the winding mountain road, Jiang Suichu sat in the passenger seat and looked down from halfway up the mountain.
The small mountain village at the foot of the mountain is the quagmire she has always wanted to escape from, but it is also a place that nourishes her efforts to grow.
After arriving in the village, Jiang Minghao returned home. Jiang Suichu went to his uncle's house to sit for a while. After chatting with him about the current situation, he took the incense and candles prepared in advance and went to his grandma's grave.
After two years of not seeing each other, the grave has changed again.
The grave is covered with weeds, there are spider webs hanging on the tombstone, and the dead leaves are hung by the spider webs and sway gently in the cold wind.
Jiang Suichu brushed off the cobwebs and dead leaves on the tombstone with his bare hands, and gently wiped the inscription.
"Grandma, I'm back to see you." She choked up as soon as she opened her mouth, and her eyes instantly became sore and swollen.
Jiang Suichu knelt in the mud, lit incense and bowed three times before inserting the incense into the worn-out incense burner in front of the grave.
"Grandma, I'm sorry, I didn't come back to see you last year." She took out a few pieces of yellow paper, lit them and threw them on the ground, and her tears began to fall. "I got sick last year. You won't blame me... right?"
She slightly curved her lips and threw in a few more yellow papers before they burned out: "Grandma, I've been admitted to university. It's the best university in the country."
"Our school is very big, with many classrooms and cafeterias. I haven't even eaten in the school cafeteria yet." She laughed softly as she spoke, but her tears became even more intense.
She raised her arms to wipe away the tears on her face, and then said: "Grandma, I will definitely be successful in the future, and I will definitely make you and dad proud of me."
She just knelt on the ground, burning paper money and talking to her grandma about everything that had happened in the past two years.
It wasn't until it was getting late and she saw Jiang Minghao standing there waiting for her in the yard opposite that she reluctantly lit all the paper money in her hand and put it on the ground.
The ignited fire made her eyelids burn, and the tears on her face reflected the flickering light of the fire.
Jiang Suchu looked at the tombstone, pursed his lips and trembled slightly with his chin.
"Grandma, goodbye."
On the way back, it was already dark.
The mountain road was a bit difficult to drive, so Jiang Minghao drove very slowly along the way. Jiang Suchu sat on the edge and chatted with him.
"Jiang Minghao, have you done everything?"
Jiang Minghao nodded: "Yes."
Jiang Suichu looked at him sideways: "Did Jiang Guodong make things difficult for you?"
His eyes dimmed for a moment and he said solemnly: "No."
Jiang Minghao will enroll in Beicheng National Defense in the second half of the year, and there will be a political review before admission. When he returned to Muyang Town this time, he had some documents that needed to be stamped by the village, and he also wanted to remind Jiang Guodong not to affect him during the review.
The headlights shone on the potholed road, and the light inside the car was dim. Jiang Minghao's dark eyes were hidden in the darkness, and his Adam's apple rolled slightly.
He glanced out the car window. The small mountain village below was shining with dots of light.
In the afternoon, he first went to the graves of He Yun and Jiang Mingyao. He had not had the chance to come back to see them in the three years he had been in the army. The two earthen graves were already covered with weeds and thorns.
A lot of the land on the side has been dug up by the villagers, and there is a large sweet potato field next to the grave. If he hadn't remembered, who would have known that there were two tombs here.
He borrowed a hoe and sickle from Uncle Jiang, and it took him more than two hours to dig out the grave from the thorn vines. Then he lit incense, burned paper money and lit firecrackers, then knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times.
Not a word was spoken the whole time.
After that, he returned to the dilapidated mud house that he could no longer call home. Jiang Guodong happened to be at home today.
Jiang Guodong was obviously stunned when he saw him, "When did you come back?"
Jiang Minghao just looked at him indifferently, without answering his question, and said directly: "Someone will come to my house for political review in a while. I hope you don't drink that day and don't cause trouble."
Jiang Guodong also drank some wine today, although not much, his face was already flushed. Hearing Jiang Minghao speak to him in a commanding tone, he felt that his majesty as a father was being challenged.
He blushed and pointed at him, "If you don't come back for a few years, will you talk to your father like this when you come back?"
Jiang Minghao stood in the middle of the hall, looking at him with dark eyes, his Adam's apple rolling hard: "I have never relied on you for anything since I was a child. This time I... hope you can... help me."
Jiang Guo's pointing finger trembled slightly, and he looked at his son who was already much taller than him. Standing upright in this dirty hut, he was no longer the child who was full of anger because of himself.
He slowly lowered his hand and put his arm on the dusty wooden table, "In the future...will you never come back?"
Jiang Minghao lowered his eyes and twitched the corners of his mouth sarcastically, "My mother and Yaoyao are here. I will come back to see them."
Just them.
Jiang Guodong understood what he said and laughed. Then he rubbed his face with his hands and lay on his back on the bamboo sofa, waved his hands and said drunkenly: "Let's go... let's go..."
Jiang Minghao knew he was drunk, so he twisted his lips and turned around. When he stepped out of the hall with one leg, Jiang Guodong's vicissitudes of voice came from behind.
"Xiao Hao, don't worry."
"This time, I won't hold you back."
Jiang Minghao gritted his teeth and tightened his cheeks.
He raised his eyes and glanced at the Bodhisattva tree on the opposite hillside, twitched the corner of his mouth almost imperceptibly, and then walked forward without any hesitation.
In the dimness, Jiang Suichu couldn't see clearly the emotions in his eyes, but she knew that Jiang Minghao didn't want to elaborate.
She did not ask further, but asked him: "Jiang Minghao, is this what you want now?"
Jiang Minghao put his hands on the steering wheel and was silent for a long time before speaking: "It is the development direction I want, but it is still far from what I want."
Jiang Suchu knew what he meant.
At present, he has just reached a good platform and given himself a more respectable identity. But there is still a long way to go before she can be recognized by her family alongside Tang Mi.
Jiang Suichu pursed his lower lip and smiled: "One day, you will get everything you want."
Jiang Minghao curled his lower lip and looked at her: "Jiang Suichu, the same goes for you."
We will all get everything we want.
Because we have never compromised with fate.
…
A few days later Jiang Suchu celebrated his nineteenth birthday, and this time everyone was there.
When she woke up in the morning, she received a big red envelope from Aunt Yuan, Uncle Lu and Uncle Pei. After having dinner with them at the Lu family at noon, in the evening the six-person team once again went to the Jiangbin Park where a few people had been before during the Lantern Festival to eat hot pot to celebrate.
After finishing the hot pot, everyone was too exhausted to eat the cake. Pei Shuo suggested taking the cake to the riverside to eat, and walking there to eat.
So a few people walked to the riverside with the smell of red oil hot pot all over their bodies.
As the Spring Festival approaches, the street trees on the streets have begun to be decorated with small lanterns and red lanterns.
When we arrived at the riverside, we were still in the same place as before. Pei Shuo took out the cake, and Tang Mi inserted Nineteen's birthday candles, then turned around and stretched out her hand to Jiang Minghao: "Lighter."
Jiang Minghao smiled, took out a black lighter with some paint peeling off, and put it in her hand.
Tang Zi saw it and looked at him with a 'huh' sound: "Aren't you going to quit smoking?"
Pei Shuo also said: "Yes, Brother Hao, don't you stop smoking? Why do you have a lighter on you?"
Tang Mi lit the candle, turned around and returned the lighter to him. Jiang Minghao took the lighter and put it into his pocket, smiling: "It's an old thing, I'm used to carrying it with me."
After saying that, he and Tang Mi looked at each other, and Tang Mi smiled at him.
Lu Zhinian put the birthday hat on Jiang Suichu's head, then tidied the broken hair on her forehead, and said with a smile: "Now she is really a princess of Sui Sui."
Jiang Suchu glared at him, pursed his lips and smiled.
Tang Mi pulled Jiang Suichu over and said, "Come here quickly and sing Happy Birthday to Sui Sui."
So a few people gathered in a circle, singing happy birthday while clapping their hands.
"Happy birthday to you~Happy birthday to you~"
“Happy birthday tO yOU…….”
………
"Happy birthday~~"
After singing the birthday song, Pei Shuo clapped his hands vigorously and said in a loud voice: "Happy birthday to Princess Sui Sui! Eighteen forever!"
There were people by the river, and they all looked this way when they heard the sound. Jiang Suchu covered her face in embarrassment and got into Lu Zhinian's arms. Lu Zhinian put his arm around her waist in a funny way.
Tang Mi couldn't stop laughing when she saw Jiang Suichu's embarrassed look, and leaned against Jiang Minghao.
Tang Zi glanced at Pei Shuo who was endlessly talking, and said disgustedly: "Okay, okay, let's make people wish. The candles are almost burning to the end."
Pei Shuo: "Yes, yes, make a wish every year."
Lu Zhinian lowered his eyes and glanced at the person in his arms, lowered his head and said softly: "Baby, I made a wish."
Jiang Suchu left Lu Zhinian's arms, looked at the flickering candlelight, clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and made a wish devoutly in his heart.
After saying her vows, she leaned down and blew out the candles.
Pei Shuo: "Woohoo~Happy birthday!"
Tang Zi: "Happy birthday."
Tang Mi also hugged her, "Happy birthday, Suisui."
Jiang Minghao looked at her and raised his chin, "Happy birthday, Jiang Suichu. You are one year older."
Jiang Suichu smiled lightly: "Thank you everyone."
After making their wishes, several people sat side by side on the edge of the river embankment and ate cakes.
Tang Mi hit her with her shoulder, "Sui Sui, what wish did you just make?"
Pei Shuo, who was on the far side, heard it and looked over with his arms on his legs, "My birthday wish won't work if I say it."
Tang Zi agreed: "That's right."
Tang Mi took a bite of the cake and glared at them: "You two know better."
Jiang Suichu glanced at the three people arguing and smiled without saying anything. She took a bite of the cake, bit her spoon and turned her head.
By chance, Lu Zhinian also glanced sideways, and the two of them looked at each other and smiled tacitly.
Her wish had already been predetermined by him.
She took the spoon and asked him, "Is it sweet?"
Lu Zhinian still had a lot of cake in his hand. He bent his lower lip and took a big piece into his mouth, frowning and saying, "It's very sweet!"
Jiang Suchu smiled, then withdrew his eyes and continued to eat the cake while shaking his legs and looking at the gurgling river.
In the evening, several people played outside until very late before disbanding and going home.
On the way home, Lu Zhinian drove Jiang Suichu and sat next to him.
While waiting for the red light, Lu Zhinian was looking for something in the armrest box and couldn't find it. Seeing that the red light was about to end, Jiang Suchu asked him: "What are you looking for? Let me help you find it."
Green light.
Lu Zhinian started the car and said to her: "Please help me see if there is a small box in the blocking box in front of you."
"Small box?" Jiang Suchu muttered as he opened the blocking box in front of him, "What is it...?"
The moment the blocking box was opened, Jiang Suichu was stunned. There was a small bouquet of white roses in the box, with bright little lights wrapped around the bouquet.
Jiang Suichu licked his lips, turned to look at him and asked uncertainly: "Is this for me?"
Lu Zhinian drove the car and chuckled: "Who else can I give it to?"
He glanced at it and raised his eyebrows: "Take it out and take a look."
Jiang Suichu carefully took out the bouquet, only to find that there was this light yellow lucky bag tied to the bouquet.
It was very similar to the peace charm he gave himself before.
Jiang Suichu took off the lucky bag and looked at him: "Is this for me too?"
The car just drove into the villa area, and Lu Zhinian parked the car under a dense tree.
He took off his seat belt and looked at her sideways, "Yeah."
Jiang Suchu took the lucky bag in his hand and looked at it again and again, then raised his eyes and looked at him: "A birthday gift?"
"Yes." Lu Zhinian curled his lower lip, leaned over and kissed her lips, "Happy birthday, Zhuzhu."
Then he took her backpack from the back row, took the lucky bag in her hand and tied it to the backpack, "Let it bless you, and everything goes well."
Jiang Suichu held the roses in his arms and stared blankly at his beautiful fingers tying them carefully: "When did you beg me for it?"
Lu Zhinian said while tying the lucky bag: "When I returned to Beicheng some time ago."
It was fastened. Just as he was about to put the backpack back in the back seat, Jiang Suchu grabbed the strap of the backpack and said, "I want to take a look again."
Lu Zhinian raised his eyebrows when he heard this and let go of his hand.
This lucky bag is different from the previous peace charm in that it is not transparent. Jiang Suichu couldn't see what was inside, but could only touch and feel the hard touch inside.
She held the lucky bag in her hand and raised her eyes to look at him: "What's in this?"
Lu Zhinian curled his lower lip and said in a mischievous tone: "Secret."
Jiang Suichu: "…………."
Jiang Suchu: "Then when will I know?"
Lu Zhinian took the backpack from her hand and put it on the back seat, then leaned over and hooked the back of her head with one hand, looked directly into her eyes, and whispered: "When you graduate, .”
His breath hit her eyelashes, and as soon as Jiang Suichu raised her eyes, she ran into his smiling amber eyes.
His slightly warm fingers carefully stroked the skin on the back of her neck and said softly: "Okay?"
Jiang Suichu looked into his eyes, curved his lips, and responded softly: "Okay..."
Lu Zhinian's Adam's apple was soft, his palms hooked her head closer to him, and his thin lips pressed against her soft lips.
