Chasing Tides

Ning Lan didn't seem to hear clearly, so she unscrewed the ointment by herself, squeezed out a little and wiped it on Sui Yi's wound, then quickly tore off a band-aid with her mouth, and wrapped it around the first joint of his middle finger.

Sui Yi wanted to pull his hand back.

"Don't move." Ning Lan said while holding his hand.

Sui Yi stopped moving.Ning Lan's fingers were long and slender, her nails were clean and round, and her fingertips were tender pink, but the pads of her fingers that were pinching him were covered with fine lines, and even had a few small wounds, which did not match her pampering at all.

Sui Yi felt strange, isn't he very smart, isn't he very good at cheating?Why do you always put yourself in such a mess?

"Okay." After bandaging, Ning Lan blew on his finger, "It doesn't hurt now, does it?"

The skin that was blown by the blown numb immediately, Sui Yi withdrew his hand, clenched his fist, and put his fingertips in his palm, trying to get rid of this strange feeling.

Ning Lan realized that the action just now was too intimate, touched her nose and said, "Sorry, I'm used to it... I heard that blowing it doesn't hurt anymore."

What are you used to?

Sui Yi opened his mouth, but didn't ask.In the end, I just said "thank you" politely.

AOW's first national signing event came to an end in early summer. When Ning Lan received the third month's salary from the company, she was in a daze for a while before realizing that she had joined this group for more than two months.

This time, there is a share of the album in the salary. Although the company has divided it among seven people, there is not much left, but at least it is still a lot of money for him.He took out part of it as living expenses for the next month, transferred another part to call his aunt, and kept the rest in his card.

He wanted to return it to Sui Yi when he made up a five-digit integer, and it would be too ugly to pay a few thousand or hundreds of dollars.

Before going back to the dormitory, he went to the supermarket. In addition to instant food, he took a few bottles of imported drinks and bought some vegetables. When he checked out, these things accounted for the majority, which made him feel distressed for a while.

There was no one in the dormitory. Ning Lan sent a group text message to his teammates first, saying that he would treat them to dinner in the evening, then put drinks on everyone's table, and went to take a shower first.

The hot water hit her face gently, and Ning Lan closed her eyes.After drifting outside for more than a month, returning to the dormitory gave him a long-lost sense of comfort, like returning home.

Thinking of this, he froze for a moment.Where does he have a home?

Before her father died, people came to collect debts every three days. Ning Lan remembered that once when she went to school in the morning, she was doused in stinky filth when she opened the door, and she was almost beaten.And his father, who was supposed to be responsible, hid in the room for several days and did not dare to show his face.

Later, they often moved, tube buildings, private houses, group rented houses, and even lived in sheds and underground passages.When he was growing up, he didn't have enough to eat, and he stole money from his classmates several times. The amount was very small, only enough to buy a pack of instant noodles. He thought that he would quietly return the money when he had money.But he was caught soon, and the teacher called his mother over. In front of the whole class, his mother pulled and beat him, cried hysterically, and tore his only complete coat to pieces.

Later, my father died, and he was sent to the house of my uncle and aunt. My uncle separated half of my sister's room and put up a spring bed, which became his small room.He cherishes this hard-won residence very much. He works hard to please his uncle and aunt, and to treat his sister well. He goes out to work during winter and summer vacations, and uses all the money he earns to subsidize the family. The rest is used to buy delicious food for his sister. and hairpin flowers.

But people will change. Gradually, delicious and fun things can no longer please my sister, and my aunt has changed from being polite and caring to him at first to disgusting and disgusting.One day at the kitchen door, he clearly heard his aunt say to his uncle, "When will you send that kid away? Could it be that he will stay at our house until he gets married and has a baby?"

Ning Lan had a good memory, but he couldn't remember his mood at that time, he was probably a little sad.It may be a little more sad than Dad not coming out to see him when he was splashed with swill.

After graduating from high school and starting to work, he worked hard to earn money, hoping to return to his hometown in ten or eight years to buy a small house, his own house, without having to move around precariously, and without the fear of being caught. Drive away, go out facing the morning sun every day, and go home in the setting sun, without hiding or looking at people's faces to live.

Originally, I had almost saved enough money, and the house price in my hometown was low and stable, so it would not be difficult to make up a down payment, if it hadn't been for such a mess...

Ning Lan wiped the water off her face.Now that the money is gone, and he still owes a whole lot of debt, Boss Liu's and Sui Yi's are enough for him to be unable to turn over before he is 30 years old.

Unless there is a windfall.

After taking a shower, Ning Lan spent two yuan online to bet a sports lottery ticket, and then went into the kitchen.

He used to work in the capital, and when money was not so tight, he would buy some vegetables to cook and improve the food.Today I bought steak, fish, pork belly, chicken wings, prawns, and a lot of vegetarian dishes, even Lu Xiaochuan and Fang Yulai should have enough to eat.

When making Coca-Cola chicken wings, he specially reserved a few wings, marinated them, coated them with egg wash and flour, and put them aside to make fried chicken wings.Although it's been a long time since I had dinner with everyone, Sui Yi likes to eat fried food, and he always remembers it.

After two hours of hard work, several major dishes were ready, and the vegetarian dishes were also cut and stacked on the chopping board. When they came back, they could stir fry them and eat them.Ning Lan washed her hands and picked up her mobile phone, and saw Wang Bingyang's reply to him 10 minutes ago: We are outside, we won't come back to eat at night, Brother Lan, you can eat by yourself!

He guessed that the "we" Wang Bingyang mentioned probably meant the four people in the dormitory except him.

Lu Xiaochuan and Fang Yu also replied that they would eat at home and would not come.

Ning Lan sat in the living room in a daze for a while, then took out the small cake she bought in the supermarket from the box, and before stuffing it into her mouth, she made a very impious wish, hoping that the lottery ticket she bought just now would win the prize.

Today is his birthday, and the November written on the ID card was changed by his mother when she changed his age on her own initiative, saying that the end of the year would make him look younger.Xie Tianhao likes boys who are so tender, and Ning Lan has a tender face, so he doesn't feel disobedient at all when he is five years younger.

He didn't care about his birthday, but the date displayed on the ATM machine reminded him when he was withdrawing money.This afternoon happened to be off. He had long said that he would invite everyone to dinner. Eating outside food was expensive and unhygienic, so he went to the supermarket and passed the fresh food section, thinking that it would be better to hit the sun today.

In fact, he subconsciously had some unrealistic little thoughts, today is his birthday, didn't he say that the birthday is the biggest?Maybe God will help him and let him go smoothly?

Sure enough, I thought too much.

After eating the cake, Ning Lan was no longer hungry. She sealed the cold food with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator. After a few rounds of boredom, she took the key and went out. She decided to go to the company to practice dancing to pass the time.

I went to the company and found an empty practice room. I just finished stretching and dancing for a while when my mother called.

These days, my mother calls him from time to time, and he ignores most of them. Anyway, if there is something urgent, she will kill her with a series of calls or SMS bombardment, or use someone else's mobile phone to call, until he answers. until the phone call.

And today's call, Ning Lan wanted to answer it a little bit.

He silently counted to ten in his heart, then picked up,

"Hello, Lan Lan."

Ning Lan wiped the sweat off her forehead: "Well, Mom."

The other end of the phone paused: "Stinky boy, how long has it been since you called mom?"

Ning Lan sat down against the wall, didn't know what to say, and said "hmm" in a nasal voice.

"Mom saw you on TV. The new job you're looking for is to be a star. Why didn't you tell mom?"

Ning Lan rubbed the itchy scar on her knee: "It's nothing, just sing and dance, I'm not a celebrity."

"That's how big stars start. My son is so handsome. Sooner or later, he will be so popular."

Ning Lan smiled. His indomitable spirit was probably inherited from his mother, but he was not as heartless as her.

He wanted to ask his mother if he still remembered what day it was, but what his mother said next shattered the warmth that had just risen in his heart.

"Mom doesn't even have money for food now, and you don't answer your phone calls. Mom got her nose broken by Xie Tianhao last time, and she still wants to have plastic surgery...you can earn a lot without being popular, right? Seeing that you paid 20 last time..."

The smile slowly disappeared from his face, Ning Lan pursed her lips and said, "I have no money."

"Can I borrow some from your company? I heard that your company is very rich, and the clothes you wear are so beautiful..." After hearing Ning Lan's reply, her mother said, "Why don't you borrow some from your teammates?" One point, I read the gossip on the Internet, saying that several of your teammates are rich second generations..."

"I won't borrow it." Ning Lan interrupted immediately.After speaking, I felt ridiculous, I already owed my teammates 20 yuan, why pretend to be stubborn now, rather than bend?

"Okay, don't borrow or borrow." The mother on the other end of the phone immediately changed her words, "But Lanlan, you should raise some money to let mom eat. Mom is old and pitiful now. She can't eat enough and has no place to go. Her nose is still there. It's crooked..." She was crying as she spoke, and if she didn't stop her, she would definitely be able to cry on the spot.

Ning Lan didn't want to hear it, so she pressed the hang up button hard, and then called her mother the last sum of money from the bank card.

After a while, my mother sent a text message: Received my son!In the future, if you have money, don't give it to that bad woman Jinfeng. Mom will save it for you and use it for your marriage.

marry?Does selling him to someone else count as marriage?

Ning Lan looked at the words on the phone, and let out a wry smile from her throat.

When I dragged my tired body to the downstairs of the dormitory, it was already completely dark.

The wind in the early summer night was very cool, and the night sky was full of stars. Ning Lan sat on the edge of the flower bed at the bottom of the building and counted her head up for a while, until a cloud floated over to cover the light, then she closed her skirt and put the hood on her head , Rubbing cold hands while going upstairs.

Open the door, the living room lights are on, and you can vaguely hear movement in the kitchen.

Ning Lan was very tired and felt that he would not be able to smile to anyone today. He walked around the dining table full of shopping bags and wanted to go straight back to the house. When he approached the kitchen, he heard the conversation between Gu Chenkai and Gao Ming.

"What is this? Who did it?"

"Ning Lan, he will be in the dormitory this afternoon."

"It's disgusting. The refrigerator is not big. These plates are crowded here. Where do I put my drink and yogurt?"

"Tsk... After doing so much, do you really think we will come back to eat? Take it out, it will take up space."

"There's no place to put it out...just throw it away."

Ning Lan didn't want to listen to it anymore. The amount of negative content he could receive today was close to the limit, and he would be out of breath if he continued to listen. He hurried back to the room as if evading, and when he entered the door, he saw two bottles lying in the trash can next to the door. drinks.

Sui Yi was changing clothes. He just took off his T-shirt when he turned around and saw Ning Lan who had just entered the door.

Ning Lan's complexion was not very good, her lips were slightly purple, as if she was frozen, she greeted Sui Yi with drooping eyelids, and then went to her bed and lay down on her side.

Sui Yi wanted to ask him what's the matter, but felt that he seemed to be fine. After thinking about it, he put down his clothes, turned around and took out a long box from the shopping bag on the table, and walked to Ning Lan's bed: "I didn't buy it. Exactly the same ointment, the clerk said it works the same."

Ning Lan moved her body, turned her head to look at the ointment, and stretched out a hand to take it: "Thank you."

His "thank you" was inexplicable, Sui Yi thought, obviously I used his ointment first.

Ning Lan took the things and turned around, her shoulders curled inward, her protruding shoulder blades protruding from her back, she was pitifully thin.

He didn't smile just now, and his dimples didn't even show.

Sui Yi stood for a while, then bent down to help Ning Lan pull off the quilt at the end of the bed and cover him.

Ning Lan shivered, then curled up again.

Just as Sui Yi wanted to ask him if he was uncomfortable, the door of the room was pushed open from the outside, and Gu Chenkai and Gao Ming walked in talking and laughing.Gao Mingwu is a good dancer, and he often guides Gu Chenkai. The two of them have been having a good time recently.

Sui Yi still maintained the posture of covering Ning Lan with a quilt, Gu Chenkai suddenly faced the situation before him, and his laughter stopped abruptly: "Brother, what are you doing?"

Sui Yi straightened up and faced him: "Have you packed your things? Go to bed early, you have to train tomorrow."

Gu Chenkai's eyes were wide open, and he walked forward as if he couldn't believe it, and glanced at the person lying on the bed, suddenly angry, he raised his foot and kicked Ning Lan's back: "I told you not to seduce my brother, Do you think I'm joking with you?"

Talking about kicking again, Sui Yi didn't expect Gu Chenkai to make a move, so he quickly stopped him: "Xiaochen, what are you doing?"

Gu Chenkai was pulled away, didn't kick up, and danced at Ning Lan: "Get up! Speak clearly! Think my brother is a fool with so much money and easy to bully, yet actually tricked him into giving you money? A scumbag who bluffs everywhere , bah, shameless!"

Sui Yi was shocked, and looked at Gu Chenkai: "Who did you listen to?"

Ning Lan sat up slowly, still with a wooden face.When he got out of bed to put on his shoes, Wang Bingyang who was next door was also attracted by the noise here, and asked stupidly what happened.

Gu Chenkai told how Ning Lan seduced his brother, how he cheated his brother of money, and added a lot of his own guesses and fantasies, telling the whole story vividly, and it sounds very credible .

Sui Yi interrupted several times but couldn't get in. Gu Chenkai was so angry that he couldn't stop him, and he couldn't beat him.

As Ning Lan listened, she almost believed it.His chest was shaking violently, as if it would explode at any moment, he didn't want to stay here for a second, he opened the cabinet and quickly packed his luggage, and after walking two steps, Sui Yi stopped him.

"Where are you going?" Sui Yi asked with a frown.

Ning Lan was still wearing the hat on the hoodie, and looked up to meet his eyes: "Don't worry, if I don't run away, the money will be returned to you."

Sui Yi was taken aback by his flushed eyes, and let him squeeze past him without paying attention.

"Yangyang, has the upper bunk in your room been repaired?" Sui Yi heard Ning Lan ask Wang Bingyang.He was so close that Ning Lan's voice could be heard trembling.

"Ah? Ah...it's fixed."

Gu Chenkai raised his voice and asked, "Don't you want to live next door?"

Gao Ming then said: "I don't agree, don't move here."

Wang Bingyang walked over and tugged at Gao Ming's sleeve, and said in a low voice, "Brother, don't do this...Brother Lan lived with us in the first place."

Gu Chenkai crossed his arms and pointed to the two people next door as if sneering: "Brother Gao Ming, Yang Yang, you have to be careful, he can not only steal things, but also..."

"Can you still seduce people?" Ning Lan who was standing at the door turned around and answered by herself.