together for a moment

Zhao Yimu read the few short sentences back and forth several times, then put on the bracelet and looked at the silver elephant in a daze, until Xiaopei's ringtone interrupted him.

"Hello." When he picked up the phone, Xiao Pei still asked him in his usual gentle tone how he was doing these days, whether he went to bed early last night, whether the plane should be checked-in first, and so on.Zhao Yimu's seven souls are not in the six souls, and his answer is very concise: I played well, I went to bed early yesterday, and I will check-in online later.

"Let me ask you, what else is there to see in Varanasi other than the Ganges River, which is worth staying for four or five days?" Xiaopei couldn't understand, "I heard from a colleague who went there at lunch yesterday that it's almost as good as watching the sunrise in one day gone."

"..." Zhao Yimu looked down at the river bank scenery outside the window. There are 64 altars on one road. They held hands to watch kites on this road, participated in the ceremony and made a wish, and then kissed passionately under the night sky.

"The Ganges River is not only beautiful at sunrise. During the day, local residents wash clothes and walk on the river bank. Cows sit and lie down lazily. There are ascetic monks meditating in front of the large murals." Zhao Yimu said slowly: "Every afternoon, there are children chasing and running and flying kites. There are festivals, oil lamps and candles are the Milky Way on the river.”

"Going all the way to see people doing laundry and flying kites?" Xiaopei smiled.

"Well, I didn't go to any scenic spots. I just walked around the river and on the road all day to see the daily life of the people." Zhao Yimu gave up explaining. Now he knows that the taste of travel is difficult to share. He would rather keep it in his heart as a secret between him and Nick. .

"I'll take a look at the photos when you come back," Xiaopei said briskly, "You should have taken a lot of photos this month, right?"

A month has passed like this?Zhao Yimu remembered that when he first came here, his life was like a year. After a day, he had to put a cross on the calendar. He wished that he could go back to China after a month, but he couldn't be happy.

"Don't talk about it, let's talk about it tomorrow." Feeling depressed, he wanted to be quiet.

After finishing the phone call, Zhao Yimu continued to sit on the windowsill until he was too hungry to change his clothes and go out.He was used to the strange smell in the alleys of Varanasi, but now he was walking step by step, feeling stuffy and out of breath.

Passing the corner of the street, he remembered that day when Nick bought bracelets and anklets from a little girl selling them along the street. The one in his hand must have been bought at that time.

Walking to the river bank, the painted mural next to the main altar attracted Nick to look up for a long time, with reverence and surprise in his eyes.

Passing by the gate of the Nepalese temple, he remembered that Nick squatted here because of a stomachache, and his pale face made him worry.

Zhao Yimu walked back and forth, unable to get around the memories in his mind.

They are passers-by in this city and in each other's lives, because Nick, India has different meanings to him. Although New Delhi, Agra and Varanasi are just a few names on the map, he has since then A unique interpretation.

Zhao Yimu recalled that there was a "Little Prince" in the high school selected books. When the little prince said goodbye to his fox friend, the fox said he wanted to cry.

"It's your fault." The little prince said, "I don't want you to be sad. You asked me to tame you."

"Not bad," said the fox.

"But you want to cry," said the little prince.

"Not bad," said the fox.

"In this case, you have not benefited at all!"

"I got it," said the fox, "I will always remember the color of the wheat."

From now on, the fox will think of the little prince with golden hair when he sees the color of wheat, and he will think of Nick when he sees things related to India. He has benefited, even if he wants to cry a little.

Zhao Yimu sat down at the entrance of a snack bar by the side of the road. He still chose his favorite scones and milk tea. The scones were still crispy and the milk tea was still mellow.Today's winter sun has a soft golden wheat color, like an apple light shining on the general land, and the river bank is really beautiful like a painting.

But he just felt that something was missing, Nick was not around, and his heart was empty, as melancholy as a broken love.

This is too exaggerated, Zhao Yimu thought.

He has had five girlfriends instead of ten, and the time of dating can be long or short. When they break up, he dumps someone or gets dumped. Whoever has lost love has never asked his buddies to come out for a drink or bury his head in work for a few days? It doesn't seem to be too sad to say that I am sad, at most I feel that I have messed up, and I can start over by deleting the group photos on the phone.

But what does that feel like now?Stuffy, lost, sad, and sore eyes.

Zhao Yimu lit a cigarette and took a few puffs, took out the note Nick gave him and read it several times, carefully put it in his wallet after reading it, took out his mobile phone and clicked on Nick's number in India to broadcast it.

As he expected, an English broadcast came from the microphone, and the other party's phone was currently turned off.

Zhao Yimu changed it to sending a message. He thought about it, typed and deleted, deleted and typed again, and it took a long time to write:

Nick, why did you leave without saying a word? I was sitting on the bank of the river drinking milk tea and scones. The sky was bright, but the most beautiful scenery was gone.

It is really lucky to be able to come to this country and meet you.I will never forget you.

Good luck finding someone who can travel the world with you and wipe your gray hair.

Just say goodbye, Nick can walk away, and of course he can.

Zhao Yimu sent the message, but he put an end to his mind. He took off his cigarette and went back to the hotel to pack his clothes and luggage.

Before leaving the room with his luggage the next morning, Zhao Yimu took a photo as a souvenir. The double bed and the big bay window were all in the picture. Only he knew what happened here.

Goodbye, Varanasi, goodbye, India.

Goodbye, Nick.

Zhao Yimu was different from reading the information on the entire flight when he came to India. He fell asleep as soon as he got on the plane this time. Even though he was going to the company to report the results of the business trip tomorrow, he still left all the documents in the checked luggage and tilted his head in the seat. After falling into a deep sleep, he had several dreams. For a while, he dreamed that Nick was still sleeping next to him, with the familiar scent of chamomile and the hot body temperature.After a while, he dreamed that Nick was dragging him to buy tea tarik, the corners of his mouth and eyebrows were all upturned, and his smile was still so charming that he couldn't take his eyes off.

When he woke up, he found that the corners of his mouth were raised, like a fool.There was nothing to do on the plane, Zhao Yimu took out the camera to look at the photos taken in India, most of them were landscapes, some were his own photos, and there were many photos of Nick later, but there was only one group photo, he always thought Nick looked good when he smiled , but the self in that group photo also smiled so recklessly.

Perhaps, they were once close to love.

As soon as the plane landed, the on-board broadcast announced the local time and temperature, reminding passengers not to forget their belongings, this journey ends here, and we look forward to seeing you again.

Really went home, Zhao Yimu felt unreal as if he had passed away.

Walking on the entry passageway, he finally knew what it means to be close to home. Zong Pei and Xiao Pei said they would come to pick him up. He should be very happy but he couldn't.

Just as he was thinking wildly, the exit gate was in front of him, and Zhao Yimu saw a lot of people picking up the plane. He hadn't seen so many compatriots for a long time, and the words and sentences that caught his ear were all in Chinese.

He glanced around and didn't see Zong Pei's two brothers and sisters. He took out his mobile phone and turned it on. He took out Xiao Pei's phone and prepared to call.

"Yimu? Is that you?" Is that loud voice Zong Pei or someone else?Zhao Yimu turned around and saw Lin Zongpei.

"Long time no see," Zhao Yimu gave him a smile, "You are going to be a father, and you really look radiant."

"Isn't it that I'm radiant or blessed?" Lin Zongpei looked him up and down with a smile, "I almost didn't recognize you from the back just now."

Zhao Yimu touched his face and asked with a smile, "Have I changed a lot?"

Lin Zongpei carefully scanned up and down again, smiled and said, "You've lost weight, and you've got a lot of tan, but the main reason is that I haven't seen you wearing orange clothes, where did you buy them?"

"Well, it's very cheap to buy locally," Zhao Yimu thought to himself that I still have yellow, green, and purple ones. After laughing for a while, he remembered something. He turned his head and asked, "Where's Xiao Pei?"

"She's waiting with my wife in the car. It's not easy to park here. Let's go." Zong Pei said and walked towards the gate.

"Are you really here?" Xu Kezhen is Lin Zongpei's wife. She is a beautiful woman with a good family background. She is the daughter of a famous construction business boss. Zhao Yimu has heard a little bit about how Lin Zongpei exhausted all his efforts to get the beauty back. .

"Yeah, she hasn't seen you for a long time, and she wants to say everyone get together." Zong Pei said.

They walked to the temporary parking place. Xiaopei was leaning against the car and saw them, so he walked towards them quickly and hugged Zhao Yimu gently.

"I'm back," Xiao Pei backed away with a light hug, with a faint smile on his face.

"Well, it feels like I've been away for a long time." Zhao Yimu replied with a smile.

"Have you lost weight? Why do you seem to have become younger?" Xiao Pei's gaze lingered on his face.

"I'm tired of eating Indian curry every day, how can I not lose weight?" Zhao Yimu turned his face away as if nothing had happened, and greeted everyone: "Don't stand here, talk slowly after eating, are you really still waiting in the car?"

After getting in the car, Lin Zongpei's wife Xu Kezhen exchanged warm greetings: "Is Mu returning home after studying?"

"I didn't learn anything, I just learned how to bargain when buying things," Zhao Yimu smiled, "I haven't congratulated the two of you for successfully creating humans! It's been more than three months?"

Lin Zongpei was driving, and glanced at him in the rearview mirror, "I think you will come to visit my two elders first, and you and Xiaopei have to think about the future."

"Brother, I just returned to China, why are you so anxious, as if you are afraid that your sister will not be wanted?" Xiao Pei scolded her brother with a smile, then turned her head and smiled at Zhao Yimu.

Zhao Yimu didn't say anything, but felt that the reality came too fast and he couldn't adapt, so he turned his head and looked out the car window.

For dinner, Lin Zongpei specially chose an authentic Jiangsu and Zhejiang restaurant to satisfy Zhao Yimu's hunger. Drunken chicken, smoked fish and cold salad were served in order, followed by pickled vegetables, white leaves, green beans and shrimps, all kinds of piles.Zhao Yimu couldn't help but think, it turns out that the food in my hometown I miss the most.

During the dinner, Zhao Yimu ate a few bites first, and then began to tell them many interesting things that happened in India

He said that he met a backpacker named Nick, who has the unique chicness of a traveler.

Everyone asks how old are you?What do you do?Where are you from?Zhao Yimu shook his head and smiled bitterly and said that backpackers don't talk about this.

He said that the hot water in the hotel he stayed in was always unstable and the blankets were not hot enough.

Everyone asked him if he didn't have money, why didn't he live in a five-star hotel and enjoy himself?

He said he took the sleeper train and walked along the street with Nick to find hotels in the middle of the night.

Everyone shook their heads and wondered, why is traveling so hard?

Zhao Yimu joked: "If you don't experience this, what can you talk about when you come back?" Only he knows the happiness in this.

The meal was spent between talking and laughing. In the past, they used to talk about the company's bad things and scold the boss. This time, the atmosphere was relaxed and happy. After the meal, Lin Zongpei sent Zhao Yimu home first.

When Zhao Yimu got out of the car, Xiaopei also followed him to the gate of the community, "You seem to be different when you come back this time," she tilted her head and smiled, "I can't tell you exactly."

"Is it because I'm wearing an orange top? Your brother almost didn't recognize me at the airport." Zhao Yimu laughed twice, "Maybe I have changed my mind a bit. I went out and took a look, and found that there are all kinds of people in the world. Any kind of lifestyle is possible.”

"Maybe I should go out and have a look if I have a chance," Xiaopei said.

"Did I ask you to play at that time?" Zhao Yimu reminded her.

"How can you just go out without saying it? Are you disregarding work?" Xiao Pei sighed with a smile, "I heard you talking about India during the meal just now. Although it sounds bitter, you look very happy."

"Stop thinking about it, go back early, they are still waiting for you, good night." Zhao Yimu waved his hand and opened the door and walked in. It is useless to regret many things, everyone should be responsible for their own choices.

Zhao Yimu opened the door of the house, and Tang Qing was changing the sheets for him in the room. He came out when he heard the sound, and said with a smile, "You're back? You didn't mess up your work, did you?"

Mom's standard way of speaking is to presuppose the worst position first, and Zhao Yimu is used to it, "I have finished my work, and I will go to the company to report to the boss tomorrow."

Tang Qing walked up to him and stared at his face, "You're thin, didn't you eat on time?"

"Yes, you eat on time every day," Zhao Yimu pushed the luggage into the room, "Did you eat well at home?"

"Yeah, sometimes I cook by myself, and sometimes I partner with Uncle Zhang next door. His noodle making skills are really good." Tang Qing walked to the door of his room, "Why don't you come back soon after work, and ask for so many days off? It’s a bad impression on your boss.”

"Mom, it's rare to go abroad," Zhao Yimu said softly, "Next time I will take you abroad to see."

"I don't want it, I can't sleep well in other places," Tang Qing waved his hand immediately, "Take a shower and go to bed early, and don't be late for work tomorrow."

I am not a primary school student anymore, Zhao Yimu rebelled in his heart, but said: "Got it, you go to bed early too." He closed the room, didn't bother to tidy up his things and lay on the bed in a daze. His Indian adventures were officially over. He is still her boyfriend, and he will still wear black and gray to work tomorrow.

Before going to bed and closing his eyes, he thought about what happened in India for the last time, and then told himself that it was over, and starting tomorrow he would return to the right path and live his real life well.