Flower Room

Chapter 8 Rejection
The next day's outing went as scheduled.The family of five squeezed into Shao Yun's car, and even the rear compartment was packed to the brim.Shao Lei accompanied Mengmeng to play all kinds of nursery rhymes she learned from the kindergarten, and the laughter was endless.Shen Yufang sat on the co-driver's seat, looking back cheerfully, clapping her hands and laughing from time to time.Only Manzhi, although she was in it, occasionally showed a smile, but her eyes often drifted out of the window, absent-minded and in a trance.

Shao Yun stared at Manzhi's expression in the rearview mirror, his brows gradually furrowed, and his lips became tighter and tighter unconsciously.

They came to a farmhouse by the lake for a barbecue, and they brought all the utensils and food, except for the stove lit by the host.Shao Lei often participated in similar activities when he was in school, and he was so familiar with the operation that even Shen Yufang had to retreat to the second line.

"Oh mom, that's not how honey is applied. I'll do it." Shao Lei rushed to his mother in a panic, grabbed the honey brush, and smeared it on the chicken wings.

Shen Yufang, who was always busy with housework, was left alone, watching her youngest son who was a head taller than her doing things so quickly, she felt both gratified and disappointed.

Seeing her regretful expression, Manzhi smiled and said: "Mom, you can rest at ease by the side, it's rare that you don't have to worry about eating and drinking."

Over there, Shao Yun took Mengmeng to see the fat duck by the pond. Mengmeng stood on the wooden bridge and yelled vigorously at the imitation duck in the water, "Quack, quack!"

The weather is exceptionally clear, like the days in early winter, clear and clear, with a little coldness in the morning, but the sun warms up the whole body, making people feel a little itchy.

Shen Yufang sighed contentedly, she had worked all her life, and she only hoped for such a reunion scene, and hoped that there would be no more accidents in her lifetime.

Shao Lei yelled, and the whole family gathered to eat and praised Shao Lei's craftsmanship. He became more and more proud, and his subordinates worked harder. Manzhi joked: "It's a pity that the Shangguan is not here today, otherwise, you can also show a good performance." Got it."

Shao Lei chuckled, "There will be opportunities in the future." As he spoke, he handed a string of flesh and blood to Manzhi.

Manzhi waved her hand and said, "I've had enough, you can eat."

Shen Yufang said angrily, "You haven't eaten much, why is your appetite so small?"

Manzhi said: "I have a bad stomach, so I can't eat too much. By the way, Mengmeng, take it easy and be careful of indigestion."

Mengmeng was nibbling on the chicken wings with relish, and said crisply: "The chicken wings baked by uncle are better than KFC's."

Provoking several adults to laugh, Shao Lei stretched out his hand and scratched the bridge of her nose lightly, "You are the best flatterer."

Manzhi got up, said to go for a walk by the lake, and repeatedly told Mengmeng not to be greedy.

Shen Yufang said, "Don't worry, I'll be watching her."

Seeing Manzhi walking away, Shen Yufang quickly cast a wink at Shao Yun, "Follow and see, Manzhi seems to have something on her mind for a while, and she wants to be strong, so she keeps holding back."

Shao Lei immediately pushed his brother, "Go, go."

Shao Yun had no choice but to stand up and slowly walked over.

Manzhi found a clean place by the lake. There were no idlers around, only the sound of the lake water occasionally rushing over and hitting the rocks, which was clear and pleasant.

She squatted down and stretched out her hands to paddle the surface of the lake. The lake water was cool. She shook her hands and sat down on a rock rising from the water. On the lake, it is suddenly far and near, just like in a painting.

She just looked at it like this, as if her mind was drifting far away, but she was actually thinking about nothing in her mind.

She is used to thinking, no matter what situation she is in, she tries hard to find a way out.Suddenly found that not wanting to is actually a kind of relief.

Shao Yun sat down gently beside her, but she didn't notice it until he cleared his throat, Manzhi turned around as if awakened from a dream, saw that he was alone, didn't say much, still straightened her face, and stared at the front.

Following her example just now, Shao Yun stretched out his hand to touch the moist lake water, and the water ripples on the lake surface rippled one after another.

He said slowly: "At the end of the year, I will preside over the shareholders' meeting."

Manzhi listened indifferently, with no ripples on her face.

"Second Uncle is getting old, and he is timid in doing things, so it's hard to be a big responsibility... Moreover, there are more and more people in the company who don't agree with him, it's time to make a break."

Only then did Manzhi turn his head to look at Shao Yun, his gaze cast to the distant center of the lake, and he couldn't see the look in his eyes.

Manzhi had vaguely heard about Shao Yun's recent actions to win people's hearts and change his team. He seemed to be ruthless and wanted to take back the power completely. Such a result was expected.However, Manzhi is no longer in the game. As long as the family is stable, she doesn't have to care about anything else.

"What will you do to Second Uncle?" She had to ask, Shao Junbang had always been kind to her, but unfortunately, in the end, she couldn't do anything.

Shao Yun withdrew his distant gaze and turned to Manzhi's face.

"The board will decide where he will go after discussion." He had a businesslike face and tone.

Manzhi wasn't surprised, but she was still a little desperate, "Is there... room for maneuver?"

"Do you think it's possible?" Shao Yun asked back. "The rules of the game have been established. Once it starts, it cannot be stopped. The person who repents will be smashed to pieces. You should understand this."

His cold voice made Manzhi think of the appearance of his father Shao Junkang back then. In fact, the father and son were really similar, exactly the same, not to mention that Shao Yun was the one who fell, and he was more heartbroken than anyone else. He can be more ruthless than anyone else.Unconsciously, Manzhi shivered and lowered her head.

Manzhi's helpless expression still touched Shao Yun. He thought she was worried about Shao Junbang, so he said softly, "You don't have to worry about the second uncle. He has been in Shao for such a long time, and he will not be without accumulation. But, Even if I ask him to stay in the end, do you think he will be willing?"

Manzhi was speechless, after a long pause, she said sadly: "You don't need to tell me this, you are not afraid... Shall I tell my second uncle?"

Shao Yun looked at her and said firmly, "You won't."

Manzhi smiled wryly, "How can I see that?"

Shao Yun stared at her firmly, "You know it's useless to say it." He suddenly turned his face away and stopped looking at her.

"Last time he wanted to kick me out unexpectedly, but unfortunately he was undecided, so he let me go and gave me the determination and excuse to act. This is the result of his indecision. Now the situation has changed, and the initiative is no longer If you tell him what is going on in his hands, it will only increase his troubles and embarrassment. Besides, it is not that he does not understand his situation, and he may have already made his own plans." Sure enough, he said again: "Manzhi, That time he let me go, you were the one to intercede, I really have to thank you very much." There was a vague smile on the corner of his mouth, as if mocking her, but it was less fierce than before.

Manzhi closed her eyes. She couldn't say exactly what she had done wrong, but she really didn't like this feeling. Her original intention was nothing more than to protect herself, and she didn't want any party to be hurt, but she still tilted the balance invisibly.From the cold in her heart to her whole body, she shrank her body subconsciously.

Shao Yun had been paying attention to her expression, and couldn't help asking in a low voice, "Do you feel cold?"

Manzhi didn't make a sound, but Shao Yun took off his jacket immediately, put it on her, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, while he was wearing a silver-gray casual sweater.The sun poured down unscrupulously from the top of their heads, bathing the two of them. Shao Yun's handsome profile was well defined. He hugged her slightly, and she could feel his body temperature through the coat. However, she looked at him in vain. He still feels cold.

Shao Yun lowered his head sideways, staring at Manzhi intently.He had never looked at her quietly in such a beautiful environment, and every detail on her face made him feel unspeakable throbbing.

Manzhi felt that he was leaning over with deep desire, and raised her head impressively, but saw that his deep eyes had pressed onto her face, and there was a look in it that made her shudder, like an uncontrollable flame that would burst out at any time, devour her.

Manzhi frowned instinctively, tilted her head slightly, Shao Yun's lips brushed against her face dangerously, and finally missed.

"Let's go back, Mengmeng is waiting for us." She said lazily, pretending to turn around to look around, she broke free from his control and stood up quietly.

Shao Yun froze in place, the expression on his face seemed to be frozen, like a wax statue, watching Manzhi get farther and farther away from him.

Anger spread in his heart like crazily growing grass, he held back his anger tenaciously, and his palms gradually clenched into fists.

Manzhi was stepping on the almost withered grass, and felt hot and cold all over her body.

In a trance, she thought of Chang Shaohui, and his affectionate gaze, clear and warm.

She thought of the temperature he gave her from his warm palm when she shook hands with him for the first time; when she was hurt, when his solid arm helped her walk, she felt the peace of mind she had never had before; Whether she is happy or not brings a huge tremor in her heart...

Some people will never enter your heart even if they are by your side for a lifetime, but there are also some people who seem to be able to enter the heart easily with just one glance.

In an instant, she suddenly discovered that the source of her troubles was actually longing for those extremely peaceful eyes.

However, that was beyond her reach in her entire life.

Manzhi felt that she was really possessed.

After being busy with Christmas and New Year's Day, it was rainy for several days, the temperature dropped sharply, and there were fewer and fewer guests during the day.Manzhi gave the two boys a day off, leaving Li Qian alone to help organize the stock in the storage room.

Some products that have been backlogged for a long time can only be dealt with at a reduced price. While cleaning up, she used the price marking machine to re-post the price, and then asked Li Qian to take it out and place it in the newly created special price area.

Li Qian looked carefully at the pair of engraved glass bottles in her hand, and said reluctantly: "I think this is very good, eh, why is no one buying it?"

Manzhi heard it, and just smiled, not everyone's eyes are the same.

"Hey, Mr. Chang! Are you here to buy flowers again?" Li Qian's sudden call made Manzhi's heart skip a beat. She didn't go out to welcome her, but still kept her head down and did what she was doing.

"I'm here to find Miss Su, is she there?" Chang Shaohui's soft voice came from outside, Manzhi's hands trembled slightly, and she realized that she had lost the courage to face him.

"Yes, she's in the storage room, wait a minute, I'll call her." Li Qian ran in as she spoke.

Manzhi had already stood up, and without waiting for Li Qian to say anything, she smiled and said, "Mr. Chang is here." Once she got up, all the symptoms of cowardice disappeared, and she was still her, Su Manzhi who could always hold her own.

Chang Shaohui kept looking at the door of the storage room, and Manzhi's figure finally appeared in his sight, smiling calmly at him.

"You always seem to show up at such inappropriate times." She walked over slowly and said with a smile.

"I've been thinking about coming to thank you. I just came here when I'm free today." He also had a smile on his face, shallow and light, like a warm breeze blowing through his heart. Manzhi subconsciously clenched the labeling machine in her hand .

Chang Shaohui suddenly lowered his voice, and asked softly, "If it's convenient, can we go to 'Zhiran' to sit down?" The coffee bar that is two doors away from the flower shop is called "Zhiran."

He knew that his request was very abrupt, but he didn't expect Manzhi to agree after hesitating for a while.

Manzhi vaguely guessed what Chang Shaohui was thinking. If it was what she thought, she had to clarify with him. Since it was doomed to fail, she had no reason to enjoy this ambiguous atmosphere, even though she really loved him. Have a good impression.

Subconsciously, what Manzhi didn't want to admit was that she longed to stay with him for a while, even a minute longer would be good.

Manzhi put on her overcoat, turned her head and gave Li Qian some instructions, and walked out with Chang Shaohui under her slightly astonished gaze.When I went out, I realized that it was raining heavily outside, not very heavy, and it hit my face, making it cold and wet.More rain smeared on the woolen clothes, which were extremely fine beads, which clinged persistently, and then disappeared into the fibers.The two of them didn't speak, but walked forward silently, as if they both had serious concerns.

But it's about ten steps away.Chang Shaohui pushed open the door first, and Manzhi's body shivered uncontrollably when the hot radiator came over.

"Are you cold?" Concern was palpable in his voice.

"Yeah, I don't like this kind of rainy winter the most, it's cloudy and hissing." When she spoke, even her voice trembled.

The waiter ushered them to a table and sat down, and each of them ordered a cup of hot drink.The waiter glanced at them vaguely as he retreated, and he seemed to recognize Manzhi.

On Wednesday afternoon, there were almost no customers in the coffee bar, and a few waiters chatted lazily at the bar counter. The low voice accompanied by a smile came, which was soon covered by the soft music.

Manzhi touched the cup with her hands to keep warm, her heart was trembling secretly because of the cold and nervousness, which made the smile on her face hard to condense.

Chang Shaohui was not in a hurry to speak, he sipped his coffee thoughtfully, as if he was sorting out his thoughts, only the smile on the corner of his mouth reflected his calmness and calmness.

Manzhi looked at the sparsely populated street outside the window, and said casually, "When it rains, even the atmosphere of the Chinese New Year will be diluted."

Chang Shaohui also raised his eyebrows to look at it, feeling quite emotional, "The first time we met was in summer, and the Spring Festival is already approaching in a blink of an eye."

Manzhi thought for a while, and it was true, she smiled and said: "You can be regarded as our noble person, once you helped Li Qian, and once you helped me."

Chang Shaohui looked at her quietly, "If possible, I hope to help you more."

Manzhi could only still say with a smile, "Mr. Chang is too polite."

"Manzhi." He called her suddenly, his eyes became serious.

Manzhi's smile became a little sluggish, and the well-restrained emotions flooded up again. She lowered her head slightly, trying to hide her nervousness.

"That night, I... actually didn't get drunk because of the celebration."

He confided in his low and soft voice, Manzhi still lowered her head, her eyebrows and eyes trembling slightly.

"It's because... I broke up with my girlfriend."

As if a movie film was stuck, Manzhi's expression froze immediately, and she sank down with a heavy heart, all the tension was loosened at this moment.

"We've only known each other for three months. Before that, I never thought that I would accept an introduction to meet a girl, but I still did."

Chang Shaohui's voice became deeper and deeper, and Manzhi listened, only to feel the bitterness of coffee in his mouth, which blew up to his heart.

After a pause, he continued: "That girl is very good, smart, beautiful, and impeccable. I seriously dated her, gave her gifts, and made myself a competent boyfriend, but in the end, She still turned me down."

The rain that had just been drenched just now penetrated her clothes and penetrated directly into her skin, Manzhi suddenly calmed down, she smiled very lightly at herself, feeling a trace of cold relief.

She raised her head and looked at Chang Shaohui, coping with it distantly, "There must be a reason... If you care about her, you should ask her."

Chang Shaohui noticed the change in her expression, and he could clearly see every trace of her emotion.

"Yeah, there must be a reason." He also looked at Manzhi, his smile gradually filled with hazy tenderness, "She told me when we broke up."

Manzhi only felt exhausted, and heard her dissociated voice, "Oh? What is it?"

"...She said I wasn't paying attention when I was with her," he took a deep breath, and then slowly let it out, including the second half of the sentence, "She said that I...have a shadow of someone else in my heart." His deep meaning was contained in his eyes, and he stared straight at her.

Manzhi's face was still blank, as if every word he uttered had a deep meaning, worthy of her careful consideration, but she suddenly understood and lowered her head abruptly.

"Manzhi." He finally stretched out his hand and held hers tightly, so appropriate and still warm, he said word by word: "I'm very glad——I met you in this life."

She used to think that her life would be like this. The short few decades seemed very long, but with a wave of her hand, it passed away.

But finally there will be a day when she will understand what it's like to love and be loved.

All the raindrops filled my heart like melted heat, but it wasn't enough, the full joy ran amok in my body, and there was nowhere to bloom.

It turned out that she didn't just have a good impression of him, but the bitter taste had not yet dissipated, faintly reminding Manzhi that she cared so much about this person in front of her.

However, a little bit of warmth tossed in her heart for a while, and finally it gradually cooled down again. Manzhi had no time to recollect, leaving only helpless sadness.

Manzhi's silence made Chang Shaohui a little uneasy.

"I'm sorry, I know that according to common sense, I shouldn't tell you these things. But I can't help it, I don't want to lose without a fight, I want to try my luck, maybe...you are not happy. "

The word happiness is too extravagant for Manzhi. All she needs to keep in mind is the word "responsibility". She feels the pain, the pain in her heart.

Even so, she can't change anything, because she knows her destination too well, she has walked for so many years, no matter how hard she is, she still has to persevere.She's not one to be desperate, never was.

Manzhi raised her head again, raised her cup to take a sip, and said flatly, "The coffee is cold."

Chang Shaohui suddenly became unsure, he thought he understood Manzhi, and he hoped to give her happiness, but her reaction made him embarrassed, neither happy nor sad, completely outside of things.

"Manzhi." He called her, holding her hand even harder.He stared at her face desperately, hoping to find some clues there.

"I...can't let them go." She finally answered him.

A trace of absolute sadness gradually appeared on her face, and her expression made him feel pain in his heart, and his thoughts spread all over his body.

He has always understood her, because they are basically the same kind of people, with too many scruples, they can't get past the thunder.

For the first time in his life, he felt hopeless.

Chang Shaohui's hand slowly let go of Manzhi, and slowly retracted on the table, like a silent sigh.

After waiting for so long, he finally realized that it was her.

However, he waited for so long, but it turned out to be in vain. Before he knew it, he had already missed her.

Li Qian watched in surprise as the wet Manzhi stepped into the shop, and secretly swept behind her, but did not see Chang Shaohui.

Manzhi let go of her hand, and she flung her coat into the chair limply, and then she sat in with a blank expression on her face.

Li Qian asked with a sip, "Are you going to take care of the rest?"

For a while, Manzhi didn't seem to hear her voice, Li Qian asked again nervously, and then she looked over as if waking up from a dream.

"Oh, let's talk about it tomorrow... It's raining, so you should go back earlier."

Li Qian stood still and asked hesitantly, "What's wrong with you? Nothing happened, right?"

Manzhi squeezed out a smile, and said comfortingly: "It's okay, you can go."

Even though there were thousands of questions, Li Qian didn't dare to ask, it was useless to ask, she knew Manzhi's temper.

Finally, Manzhi was the only one left in the shop.It was so deserted, she could hear the trembling motor sound of the air conditioner's outdoor unit, the ticking sound of the little bear wall clock above her head, and the two monotonous mechanical sounds intertwined, ruthlessly pushing time forward bit by bit.

After sitting for an unknown how long, Manzhi suddenly became agitated, all the accumulated depression in her heart turned into heat and rushed straight to the top of her head, her mind couldn't bear such a big pressure, and she felt faint pain.She stood up screaming, walked to the pool in a few steps, unscrewed the bridle fiercely, and the water gushed out.

She stretched out her hands to catch it, and the water filled her palm instantly, and then quickly leaked from the edge, from between her fingers, and leaked down.

She picked up the water violently, and threw it vigorously towards her face. Time and time again, the skirt of her chest was also soaked, but she ignored it completely and tried her best to wash away her sorrow and cowardice.

She heard tiny weeping overflowing from her palm, so she washed even more desperately, trying to kill even the sound.

She has been holding on for so many years, and the bones all over her body are rattling, and she has to grit her teeth to hold on. This resolute character has become an inseparable part of her person, and it has penetrated deep into the bone marrow. The reason for the initial persistence has faded away. There was only one persistence left that surprised and inexplicable.

She has never been so weak as today.She is only 28 years old, and there is still such a long way to go, the unknown future, the end is already doomed, but she still has to go on, into the darkness she has woven.

A wet face appeared in the mirror, pale as paper, Manzhi took a step back in fear.She thought of Manqi, lying on the hospital bed, how similar was that face to the one in the mirror.

She closed her eyes and called "sister" silently.

Manqi's voice floated from her own heart, still sweet and mellow.

"Manzhi, you are sad now, aren't you? Is it as sad as I used to be?"

Manzhi explained sadly, "I'm sorry, sister, I didn't understand before..."

Manqi sighed leisurely: "Since you understand now, just do it right."

Manzhi suddenly opened her eyes, staring at her embarrassed self in the mirror, just like looking at Manqi, and asked in pain: "What about Mengmeng...what about him?"

"Manqi" stared into her eyes, as dazed as she was, unable to give an answer.After a long time, she said, "Manzhi, you actually miss him in your heart, don't you?"

Manzhi shook her head desperately.

"Manzhi, you are worse than me...you fell in love with two."

Suddenly, the sky darkened and the rain started to rain heavily.

Manzhi tied a floral square scarf on her head, which she used as a hat, bent over, and cleaned the entire shop.She swept the ground until it was spotless, and wiped all the ornaments again, until she collapsed into the chair exhausted.

The bear clock rang six times, Manzhi gritted her teeth and got up, packed the garbage on the ground in waste bags, it was time for her to go back.

No matter how many magnificent struggles she had in her heart, she still knew where to go when the time came.

Opening the door, she put the garbage bag in a corner outside the door, and she will throw it away tomorrow, she has no strength to walk.

Straightening up, she froze in place.

Chang Shaohui stood on the edge of the flowerbed ten meters away with an umbrella in his hand, looking directly at her. The rain rolled down from the edge of the umbrella and wet his left shoulder, but he didn't notice it.

He stared at her for a while, then suddenly made up his mind and walked over.

Manzhi only felt her mouth was dry, she wanted to say something, but she couldn't utter a word, she could only watch him coming, she hurriedly retreated into the door, as if to avoid, but he had already walked quickly He broke in and grabbed her firmly the moment she went to close the door.

Manzhi looked at Chang Shaohui with a pale face.He looked so strange, no longer the calmness she was familiar with, all the pain and anxiety were written on his face.

He dragged Manzhi into his arms without hesitation.

"Manzhi." He murmured, and his hot lips suddenly covered the corners of her cold mouth.

Manzhi felt dizzy, her hands and feet went limp.She struggled twice, trying to find herself, but Chang Shaohui hugged her tightly, not allowing her to resist.

Finally, she settled down and succumbed to the dizziness he brought her.There was a rumbling loud noise rolling through her mind, cold and heat alternately invaded her whole body, making her tremble constantly, she thought she must be sick.

However, his embrace is so warm, and the smell on his body is also as expected, the faint scent of sandalwood mixed with a hint of tobacco, everything in him is right and appropriate for her, thinking about it this way, I just feel that more sad.

Chang Shaohui finally let go of her, he held her face with both hands, the cold face was covered with tears, he had never seen such a distressed Manzhi, she was in his palm, she was just a girl who needed someone to love her. weak woman.

"Manzhi, you've had a hard time, haven't you?" He asked regretfully.

Manzhi didn't answer, but buried her head in his arms.

She fell in love with him, maybe at the first sight, maybe after that, in retrospect, every meeting is beautiful and full of warmth, which is the most lacking breath in Manzhi's life.This moment is so worth cherishing, she must remember it well, even if she loses it in the future, she will remember this situation and his taste.

Chang Shaohui hugged her tightly and stopped asking any further questions. No matter what the answer was, it was already a thing of the past. What he wanted to grasp was Manzhi's future.

"Come with me, okay?" He tried hard to persuade her, trying to warm her with his own heat.

She tried her best to smile at him, as if she had found herself again, "I am too much trouble, one day, you will always find something better."

"What if you can't find it in your lifetime?"

"It's been so long for a lifetime, why can't you wait? There will always be." She forced a smile, looked at him, and then gently left his embrace.

Chang Shaohui stared at her sadly, not knowing how to move her.

Just now, he stopped in the rain for a long time, saw her hesitation, saw her painful appearance, but he is not a young man in his 20s, he can take away the one he loves with a brute strength without asking why people.

Her concern was written all over her face, making him understand that it was impossible for him to completely occupy her heart, and it was too late for him to meet her.

When he spoke again, he had regained his composure.

"I plan to accept the company's transfer and go to the United States after the New Year." He glanced at Manzhi and continued, "Maybe I will work there for two years."

Since you can't stay together, just walk away and avoid unnecessary troubles. This is Chang Shaohui's principle of life.

Unexpectedly, Manzhi just nodded, and murmured: "That's fine."

Chang Shaohui took out a pen, wrote down his contact number on a piece of paper, and handed it to Manzhi.

"I will keep this number forever. If one day...you can let it go, if...you still think of me, remember to call me." He smiled at her with some bitterness.

Manzhi took it, held it tightly in her hand, and said yes gently.

The two stopped talking for a long time, Chang Shaohui looked at her steadfastly, finally gritted his teeth, turned his head and walked out.

He opened the umbrella at the door, turned around again, nodded slightly to Manzhi, and strode away.

Manzhi kept smiling until his figure completely disappeared from her vision, then she turned and went back to the room, and looked down at the note he left for her, which had his strong handwriting on it.She looked at it blankly for a while, and finally gathered it into a paper ball and threw it into the wastebasket.

She loves him so she will never call him.

He just needs a little time to learn to forget, and then start again.

(End of this chapter)