win or lose game

Shao Yigui saw some traces of fresh paint on the wall.He's not a detective, but he's not a fool either.

"You can draw? Are there painting tools here?"

This is only the morning of the second day of total lockdown.Shao Yigui had something to be busy with, so naturally he wouldn't be bored, but Tang Lin asked, except for the half-hour work of checking the equipment, the rest of the time can be said to be so idle that it can make people feel moldy.

He would rather let himself get moldy than move his painting tools.At this time, facing Shao Yigui's question, he simply nodded: "Yes."

Shao Yigui, who is accustomed to speaking in one to two words from time to time, is self-reliant and tries to dig out topics: "Are you painting oil paintings or watercolors?"

"Sketches and Watercolors."

Shao Yigui suddenly remembered the story Tang Hexiao had mentioned about his elder brother, "I remember you won the piano competition? Did you study music or painting?" This was a random question out of curiosity. After blurting out, Shao Yigui regretted it.

He realized he was asking the wrong question.It should be the piano competition that caused Tang Linwen to send a questioning email to his parents, causing the other party to return to China early and board the plane that crashed.

However, Tang Lin asked that the nerves comparable to titanium alloys would not be easily provoked by Shao Yigui. Faced with this question, he pointed out with an unchanged expression: "I am versatile."

Shao Yigui nodded quickly, and quickly changed the subject: "By the way, since you know how to draw, can you draw a picture for me?"

The tone of Tang Lin's question softened subtly, "I studied landscapes, not portraits." He said.Usually he would not use such a human tone to tell objective facts, even when rejecting others.But this time, he vaguely expressed his apology for refusing to make a portrait of Shao Yigui, which only showed that he was lying.

He can draw portraits, but he is unwilling to do portraits of Shao Yigui.

Shao Yigui's adverse quotient has never been low, and he is well prepared for this visit. He believes that he can move forward calmly in the face of constant setbacks.It's not that he hasn't been hit, he knows he's strong enough.However, this time the situation is completely different.

Tang Linwen is the one who can really hurt Shao Yigui's feelings.

Because he cares about it.As if at this moment, I especially want to know: "Do you really dislike me?"

The person who was asked such a question suddenly raised his head and looked at Shao Yigui calmly, and asked back in a calm tone that could not be discerned: "Why do you ask that?"

"Because I want to know the difficulty of this task." Shao Yigui finally let go, "I want to know how much you don't like me, so I can know how much effort it will take to get you to accept me."

Shao Yigui spoke clearly, and Tang Linwen was slightly taken aback by this. However, he was obviously not too surprised. He didn't need to confirm too much at this time, so he gave Shao Yigui a straightforward answer: "So as not to waste your time, sorry I say bluntly, no matter how much effort you put in, it’s impossible.”

It's not that Shao Yigui didn't expect to get such an answer, although he didn't expect that he would be so unbearable for the cold meaning of this sentence. "Speaking of wasting time," he recalled, "I remember you said that nostalgia is meaningless when reminiscing. Only when reminiscing is still happy and satisfied, then the time is not wasted. I agree with this view, So, what I choose now is the only way I hope not to waste time."

Tang Linwen looked straight into Shao Yigui's eyes, and for a moment he could see the sincerity in his eyes: "Why didn't I approve of He Xiao being with you back then, do you think I would agree with myself?"

"I know why you don't agree with He Xiao. Indeed, I don't care about him. In order to protect him, you naturally don't want him to be with me. But the situation is different now." Shao Yigui He is good at rhetoric, but when he really feels it, he becomes clumsy with his tongue, and he doesn't even know how to say what he wants to express.

Tang Linwen followed his rhetoric and nodded and said: "The situation is indeed different now. You have revealed that you did not expect He Xiao to be so easy to chase. I think, because there is no challenge, you will soon lose interest. If it hadn't been for I object, and you will break up even earlier. But I am different, I am an impossible task, so you become interested. You like difficult games, and this time, you will naturally put your heart into it."

Shao Yigui felt a fire burning in his chest, but he didn't know whether the anger was aimed at the other party's absurd judgment, or at himself who made the other party make such a judgment, so he had to inhale to relieve the burning pain. "I thought you were always so judgmental, but you can be so wrong! It's not a game. For me, I don't do it to win the game. Want to know why I do it? He guessed that the other party didn't want to know at all, so he didn't give Tang Lin a chance to ask and answer, and quickly continued, "Because I won't be able to sleep if I don't do that. If I can't be by your side to ensure that you are cared about, I will worry. You are like when you were a child, you were obviously sick, but you didn’t say anything because you felt that no one cared anyway, and you hid in the quilt, crying secretly in pain. I would worry, guarding this lighthouse and hoping to help the parents whose whereabouts are unknown You, who light up and guide the way home, sleep in disappointment every day. I will worry, because you are afraid that what you think will hurt others, you deliberately avoid and alienate your brother, and everyone else you care about. "

Originally Shao Yigui didn't want to say this, it was a wound that made him feel pain, but for a moment he couldn't help himself.He had only just learned how to use his heart, and he hadn't had time to know how to deal with it when others didn't take it seriously.

Tang Linwen did not stop Shao Yigui from completing this long speech, his upbringing prevented him from interrupting others' speech for no reason.From the beginning to the end, he just listened blankly, and his emotions became deeper and deeper until there was no trace.When Shao Yigui finally stopped talking, he said in an extremely calm tone: "You once said that if people's words are reliable, you don't need to sign a contract when you cooperate, and you don't need to issue a marriage certificate when you live together. So, why do you need to waste your time?"

Shao Yigui was helpless and powerless listening to the other party's words and stance.

After a long silence, he finally said, "Yeah, it's useless to say anything." So he prepared to show the other party.

Seeming to understand what he was thinking, Tang Lin asked and added, "It's useless to do anything you do." He spoke mercilessly and rigorously without leaving any room for it.

Shao Yigui didn't want to back down anymore, and couldn't back down anymore: "Generally speaking, your judgment may be more accurate than mine, but I'm sure that you also make mistakes in judgment. I believe that this time you are also wrong. gone."

"This is not my judgment." Tang Lin asked calmly to correct, "This is my decision. Sometimes my decision is wrong, but my decision is not changed." People who never allow others to comment take this as their conclusion , directly ending the conversation between the two.

Afterwards, Shao Yigui spent two full days experiencing Tang Linwen's execution ability.At the same time, during these two full days, he hardly saw Tang Lin ask a few times.Tang Linwen, who made it clear that he would not give Shao Yigui a chance, can be said to have isolated himself in the control room of the lighthouse.He never showed up unless necessary.

The part that Shao Yigui could spare had to be spared. After all, he was not a stalker. Tang Lin asked to avoid him, so he could only accept it.

until the third day.

When the restriction order was finally lifted and the lighthouse was bright again, Shao Yigui didn't feel the joy of seeing the sun again.Because, Tang Linwen stood in front of him and said clearly to him: "Please come back, Mr. Shao. Besides, although I can't stop you from coming again, in order to avoid you, if this is the case, I will choose to leave completely."

All the way back, Shao Yigui lost his soul.

He seldom hesitates over a decision, and never has he been so helpless.All perceptions at the moment were new to him.He was so careful, so focused, so restless.His thoughts kept turning to Tang Linwen, but he couldn't figure out what he could do.

It is true that the person who is going to take a one-month vacation is too lazy to go back to the company to work after he gets home. He comes to the bar he often goes to in the evening.

As a frequent visitor to the bar, Shao Yigui can be regarded as a celebrity there. Everyone knows what kind of player he is, but some boys can't resist the temptation to strike up a conversation with him.Shao Yigui had never been so tired of these harassments. He dismissed the ignorant children impatiently, and then adjusted to the most secluded corner of the bar.

"If I didn't know you, I'm afraid I'd think you're broken in love." The bartender who knew Shao Yigui brought the high-strength whiskey that was ordered. Out of concern for Shao Yigui who seemed to be drinking heavily, he tentatively opened his mouth .

Shao Yigui felt that the other party was quite discerning. Of course, this was also related to his drinking too much. He subconsciously asked, "Do you know Tang Linwen? He seems to be a guest here too."

The bartender nodded quickly: "Mr. Tang from the 'Tang Dynasty' before, of course I know him. Every time he is alone, he hardly talks to other people."

Shao Yigui really couldn't imagine the scene where Tang Lin asked to strike up a conversation with someone in a bar or being struck up by someone. What troubled him was that he couldn't see through this person he had been watching so hard. "What do you think he came to the bar for?" At this moment, he couldn't help asking, full of doubts.

The bartender thought for a while and decided to make a joke: "You know what, I suspected before that he came to the bar for you."

Shao Yigui was stunned when he heard the words.According to Tang Linwen's words, before he dated Tang Hexiao, Tang Linwen had already met him in the bar, so it was naturally impossible for Tang Linwen to come to the bar to find him for Tang Hexiao. "Why do you say that?" He asked curiously.

The bartender elaborated from the beginning: "Mr. Tang was a frequent visitor to the bar a long time ago. It seems that most of the guests here will have a certain pattern. He basically comes to the bar on Fridays. However, he usually only comes once or twice a month. Once in a while, of course. Occasionally, of course, he comes over on other days. Wednesdays and Thursdays are possible, but those are the exceptions. His dates are fixed on Fridays. Until one time. That time, he came to the bar on a Thursday— Do you remember, more than three months ago, the day when your little lover refused to break up with you? Mr. Tang was there at that time. Usually he would not take a second look at what happened, but that day he looked at you several times After that night, he came to the bar on Thursdays, and he came every Thursday, which basically coincided with the day you came here."

"It's just a coincidence. Your ability to associate is too rich. How could he fall in love with me." These are the most beautiful words for Shao Yigui, and he is also the most unbelievable.

The bartender shrugged nonchalantly and said, "How is it impossible? You are so charming, at least half of the people in the bar are attracted by you."

Shao Yigui used to be very confident in his own charm, but it's different now.In front of Tang Linwen, he didn't have any confidence.The charm he saw in Tang Linwen was beyond his reach.Like the unicorn at the bottom of the mine, a thousand roses have nothing that the unicorn has.

"I can't attract him." Shao Yigui told the bartender, and he also hoped that the bartender would tell him, "What do you think I should do to attract him?"

The well-informed bartender didn't show any special surprise, he just tried to persuade Shao Yigui: "You drank too much, shall I find someone to take you back?"

"No, where can I go back? The only place I want to go back to but I can't go back to."

The bartender looked at Shao Yigui with admiration, "Didn't expect you, Young Master Shao, to have today?" He must have really never expected it, so he subconsciously looked at Shao Yigui several times.

Shao Yigui hadn't noticed anyone's gaze early on, his eyes were only on the wine for getting drunk, and in his heart was the figure of someone who would definitely reject him.Any one person's refusal may not count, only that person is an exception.He was too clear about what he wanted and what he didn't want.Shao Yigui was completely powerless to change his mind.

The wine in the glass had actually been replaced with lighter sparkling wine by the bartender, but Shao Yigui, who didn't notice it, was still drunk.

When Shao Yigui woke up from a hangover, he found himself in a strange yet familiar environment.Strange because this is a room he has never seen before, and familiar because he often wakes up in such a strange room.

In the case of a relationship partner, usually Shao Yigui will deliberately avoid this situation from happening, but then again, if it happens, he will not feel too much guilt.Playing on the spot is an irrelevant thing.He never looked at it that way.Unexpectedly, he was clearly free right now, but when he found that he was almost sleeping on the hotel bed, he was shocked, as if he had done something wrong.He unconsciously looked to the side anxiously.

After recognizing who the person caught my eyes was, it really was——

Like being struck by lightning.

Tang Hexiao, who was sitting on the sofa beside him, looked at Shao Yigui calmly, and asked in a playful tone, "Do you need such a frightened expression when you see me?"

Shao Yigui skimmed over all the unnecessary gossip, and asked directly: "Did we have anything last night?"

A flash of anger flashed in Tang Hexiao's eyes, but he quickly calmed down, and asked simply: "Do you think I, Tang Hexiao, would take random shots at ordinary friends?"

It was only then that Shao Yigui realized that his worry was actually a slander of Tang Hexiao, whose personality was so pure and clean that he didn't deserve to be suspicious. "I'm sorry, it's messy if you close yourself." He explained, "I didn't think much about it when I was in a hurry."

Tang Hexiao looked at Shao Yigui thoughtfully, and said slowly, "When did you become the kind of person who is anxious about these things?"

Shao Yigui smiled wryly, he knew when this happened, but he didn't know how to answer. "Speaking of which," he changed the subject, "where are my clothes?"

"You vomited all over, and I took it off for you to send to the wash."

"I'm sorry. It's Jacky—the bartender at the bar. I called you?" Although Shao Yigui drank some tea, he could understand why he didn't die drunk in the bar.

Tang Hexiao corrected the details of his guess: "I delivered it to the door myself. I happened to ask you for something, but it turned out that the bartender answered your call and told me where you were."

"You have something to do with me?"

Faced with Shao Yigui's question, Tang Hexiao, who had always been able to deal with it before, suddenly fell silent.

Shao Yigui didn't urge him, he knew that when a difficult decision had to be made, people often hesitated.

a long time.

Tang Hexiao finally spoke without thinking: "You said that I don't know what my brother likes to eat the most, I admit it, but that's because he has no special preference, and I know the food he doesn't eat, he never eats it chicken."

Shao Yigui wanted to say that Tang Hexiao must have made a mistake. He clearly remembered that Tang Linwen had eaten chicken, but in the current scene, he knew that he had better not hit the person who finally let go.

"It's not that I haven't thought about what my elder brother is thinking. It's just that I'm not that smart, and my elder brother always hides himself so deeply that you can't touch it at all." Tang Hexiao chattered and counted the trivial things in the past, "When I was young, my family There is a piano, I just thought it was fun and played it casually a few times, but my eldest brother never touched that piano. If I hadn’t skipped classes for fun and went to my eldest brother’s school and saw him playing in the piano room, I probably would never have known that he liked piano. We were very young at that time, and I talked to him about everything, but he hardly said anything subjective. This is even more so when we grow up. You say I don't understand him, and you think I have the ability To get to know him? You said I should communicate with him well. Do you think I have the ability to let him communicate well with me?"

Shao Yigui felt sorry for him, he stared at the wall slightly in a daze, and said, "None of us have such ability."

"However..." Tang Hexiao lowered his head and said in an almost self-mumbling voice, "I at least experienced that feeling, the feeling of being favored by others. That day, when you scolded me, it wasn't even obvious that you were partial to my brother... and we Parents are blatantly partial."

"So?" Shao Yigui asked in a low voice.

"So," Tang Hexiao took a breath and looked up, concluding, "I want to know where he is now."

"Yangqiao Lighthouse in Taizhou." Shao Yigui replied, he hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Are you ready to talk to him?"

Tang Hexiao shook his head instinctively, and then smiled self-deprecatingly: "Yesterday I called you impulsively and asked for your address. At that time, I wanted to meet him. But now that I calmed down, I realized that I was not ready at all."

"Perhaps the most effective conversation is when nothing is prepared."

Tang Hexiao listened to Shao Yigui's speech silently, somewhat absent-minded, to be precise, he was full of worries. "Tell me," when he spoke, he whispered as if he was afraid, "will my brother not want to see me?"

"When you stand in front of him, you will know the answer." Shao Yigui was suddenly envious and even jealous. He knew that Tang Linwen would always want to see Tang Hexiao, but at the same time, the former was afraid of him.

I don't know if the loss in his heart showed on his face, Tang Hexiao looked at him thoughtfully, and said slowly after thinking: "You talked to my brother, but he rejected you."

Shao Yigui never thought that he was not good at hiding his thoughts, but there were some things that no one could hide.When you love someone.When you want more.

He wasn't going to discuss this matter with his ex-lover at first, but the other party was Tang Linwen's younger brother, "What kind of person does your brother look up to?" Half of self-mockery, half of genuine curiosity, he said dryly asked with a smile.

Tang Hexiao thought, "He does seem to like men." Shao Yigui knew about this, better than his younger brother, but Tang Hexiao knew another thing that he didn't——

"I heard from our housekeeper that he saw my brother draw a portrait of a man."

Shao Yigui really wanted to know who that person was, but suddenly...