don't force me

The new year was extremely bad, and school started on the third day of the new year, Du Xuan stayed at home all day long, Zhou Man probably felt that his son had been doing well recently and was "reasonable", so his subordinates relaxed a bit, I won't call the landline every day to check the post, and occasionally I will give him fifty or one hundred so that he can order takeaway to eat leftovers at noon.Du Xuan was extremely irritable and annoyed when she saw the money. Every time she took it, she stuffed it into the backmost drawer of the bookcase as before, and then went to cook instant noodles.

Sun Rui spent a winter vacation, and seeing that school was about to start, he finally remembered his brother, and wanted to call Du Xuan to use the last two weeks to "go crazy", but he couldn't get this grandpa after calling countless times.

"What are you doing at home all day?" Sun Rui asked, "Come out and see the sun. My ancestors are going to grow hair and mold."

Du Xuan said to Sun Rui through a mobile phone screen: "I don't want to go, it's too troublesome."

"Put on a coat, put on shoes, open the door, lock the door, go downstairs, and walk. There are only six actions in total. What's the trouble?"

"Before the six actions, I need to submit an application, explain the reasons, clarify the object and content of the activity, and clarify the schedule of the whole day. After the six actions, I need to hear for more than half an hour. Do you think it is troublesome?"

Sun Rui clicked his tongue and said, "Then you can ask for blessings."

Du Xuan threw the phone aside, looking bored at the piles of homework for the winter vacation on the table, he wanted to find a place where no one was hiding, but no one could find him, not even Lin Tingan.Because, when he sees Lin Tingan now, he has a particularly embarrassing feeling.

That day, he eavesdropped on his parents' conversation, and finally figured out the reason why his father invited the Lin family to dinner throughout the winter vacation: Du Jiancheng was in charge of a project that went wrong, and he wanted to make up for the gap .The chief reviewer of this project is an experienced chief engineer with a small rank but a wide face, and he has a good friendship with the head.He especially valued Lin Yi, so he applied to the general factory to relocate Lin Yi to the local area through the route of "bringing in talents".Du Jiancheng wanted to use Lin Yi's relationship to get online with the chief engineer. On the one hand, he approved his project, and on the other hand, he paved the way for future promotion.

Du Jiancheng's route is the norm in the workplace, and Du Xuan is not a three-year-old child, and he has heard and seen it.He knew that even if the school chose a student union cadre, it would be difficult to make connections, not to mention the career path of a large state-owned enterprise.But what he can't accept is that this kind of "human relationship" needs to use Lin Ting'an as a paving stone.

Du Xuan felt very dirty, he felt that the relationship between himself and Lin Ting'an was messed up by these things, and he couldn't even face the Lin family.After the New Year, he never went to Lin's house once. Once Lin Tingan ran up to knock on the door, but he hid behind the door without saying a word.Lin Tingan sent him a WeChat message, asking him to come down for dinner, saying that Ma Jing made authentic cross-bridge rice noodles, and Du Xuan replied:

Ah, unfortunately I'm not at home, I went to the library.

Lin Tingan would ask: But the lights are on in your house.

Du Xuan returned a surprised expression and said: That must be because I forgot to turn off the light.

Another time, Lin Tingan asked him to go to the library, but Du Xuan said that he went to find Sun Rui.In order to get the lie out of the way, he also specially asked Sun Rui not to let Lin Tingan ask if he asked.Sun Rui asked quite strangely: Aren't you two mixing oil with honey?What, did you quarrel?

Du Xuan was silent on the other end of the phone for a long time, and said, "I'm in a mess right now, I'll tell you when I figure it out."

But some things can't be understood, and some things can be understood without thinking.

Lin Tingan soon discovered Du Xuan's avoidance, the two lived upstairs and downstairs, and if they couldn't make appointments, there must be something wrong.After dinner that day, Du Xuan received a WeChat message from Lin Tingan: I want to see you.

Du Xuan's fingers moved slowly across the screen, hesitated for a long time, and typed each word: I am at my grandma's house.

He put away his mobile phone, opened the door and said to Zhou Man: "Mom, if Lin Tingan comes to see me later, he will say that I have gone to my grandma's house."

Zhou Man glanced at him suspiciously, and before he had time to speak, he heard a knock on the door.Lin Tingan glanced at the door, turned around and hid in the room. He stuck to the door, and when he heard Zhou Man's few words, he sent Lin Tingan away. He didn't even enter the room politely and stayed for a while, and he was even quite impatient in his words.

Du Xuan couldn't hold back her anger and distress.

Zhou Man closed the door, came over and asked, "Did you quarrel with Lin Ting'an?"

"No." Du Xuan shook his head, he really didn't know how to tell his mother.

"Whether you quarrel or not, it's right to do so." Zhou Man smiled at his son.

The corner of Du Xuan's eyes twitched, she glanced at her mother, and said in a mocking tone: "He is in the third year of junior high school, and I am worried that it will affect his study."

Zhou Man waved his hand: "No matter who influences whom, it's good to keep the status quo anyway."

Zhou Man thought so, but Du Jiancheng didn't agree at all.One day, he came home from get off work very early. Zhou Man was cooking in the kitchen. Du Jiancheng wandered into Du Xuan's room, casually asked if he had finished his winter vacation homework, and then asked: "Xiao Xuan, why haven't you done it recently?" See you go out to play with Xiaoan?"

Du Xuan was a little impatient: "It's the third grade of junior high school."

"Oh, the third grade of junior high school is quite stressful. If you have nothing to do, help him more. You should remember the knowledge of the third grade of junior high school."

Du Xuan gave a vague "hmm".

Du Jiancheng said: "School is about to start, and you and Xiaoan should be busy again. Last time your Aunt Ma gave you such an expensive pair of shoes and we didn't return a gift. It's inappropriate. How about this, Dad will take you to Going to the hot spring, you go and ask Xiao An if you have time, and then call your Uncle Lin and Aunt Ma. Our two families just happen to..."

"Du Jiancheng!" Zhou Man suddenly yelled, and she blocked the door of Lin Ting'an's room with a cooking shovel and shouted at Du Jiancheng, "What are you doing!"

"What's wrong?" Du Chengcheng muttered impatiently, "What are you yelling about?"

"Didn't we agree, don't bother Xiaoxuan with your crap, why are you here again?"

"What's a 'broken thing'?" Du Chengcheng snorted coldly, "You know what."

"I don't understand, you understand, anyway, I just don't allow you to involve Xiaoxuan, Du Jiancheng, Xiaoxuan is your own son, so don't go too far. Besides, can't you see Lin Yi's attitude? Only by slapping you can you understand the expression on your face?"

"Why did I go too far, how did I go too far, Xiaoxuan and Lin Tingan have a very good relationship, what happened to the two families having a meal together!"

Du Xuan's mind was buzzing, he couldn't stay for a minute, he grabbed his coat in a hurry and muttered: "I'm going out for a walk", and then ran away.

Zhou Man yelled from behind: "Where are you going when you have to eat?"

Du Jiancheng was still scolding: "Zhou Man, you are a short-sighted person, and you don't care about my affairs."

Du Xuan slammed the door, and the loud sound of closing the door echoed in the corridor.With his head down, he rushed almost without knowing the direction, until he was hit by the biting cold wind when he rushed out of the building door, and then he stopped in a daze.

Where are you going?

Lin Tingan's face instantly appeared in front of his eyes. He turned his head to look at the second floor, where the curtains were down and the lights were warm.Lin Tingan should have come home from school. At this moment, the family is probably sitting around the dining table eating. It may not be a delicacy, but the happy atmosphere makes people enjoy it.

Du Xuan turned around and walked out of the community. When he came out in a hurry, he only grabbed a coat and was penniless.He put his hands in his pockets and walked slowly, thinking that his mind, which was stung by the cold wind, should be able to calm down, but once the word "Lin" was involved, his mind was in a daze.Du Xuan forced himself to think of something else, he turned around and walked towards Sun Rui's house, hoping to temporarily shelter there.

But Sun Rui was not at home, probably playing with Wen Yao.

Du Xuan stood on the main road, and there were roads in all directions. Everyone has their own direction, but each road cannot be followed by himself.The joy of the New Year is still on the faces of men, women and children, and the red lanterns and blessings in the streets and alleys are still celebrating.The winter is cold, and soon there will be fewer and fewer pedestrians on the road.Du Xuan froze from the cold and finally regained some clarity in his mind.He stomped his feet vigorously and walked slowly along the road to "Penumbra".

"Penumbra" did not close for Chinese New Year, but the store was empty, the venetian blinds on the glass wall had been lowered halfway, and the bright lights fell on the street, illuminating the path under Du Xuan's feet.Du Xuan gently pushed open the store door, and the crisp wind chime sounded, and a warm voice said: "Welcome to the light... Hey, Du Xuan."

"Brother Ding." Du Xuan regretted the moment he opened the door, at this moment he really didn't want to see any acquaintances.

"Come in, it's so cold outside." Ding Zimu came out from behind the bar, and took Du Xuan to sit on the sofa booth where he used to sit, "Drink hot chocolate, we brought in some very good chocolate."

Du Xuan nodded blindfolded, every word Ding Zimu said just slipped through the ear canal and disappeared without a trace.

Ding Zimu looked at Du Xuan, changed to a very gentle light music, cooked hot chocolate and brought it to Du Xuan with a piece of cake.Du Xuan lay prone on the table, buried her face in her arms and said nothing.

Ding Zimu sighed, it's been a year, and the old Du Xuan came back again.He still clearly remembers that Du Xuan calmly said "I just finished class" on the phone a year ago, and he was suddenly shocked by that indifferent and lonely look.After all, he is just a teenager, so why is it like this?Later, he will be accompanied by a handsome boy. That man loves to laugh and speaks with a weird accent, which makes people happy.When that boy was around, Du Xuan was just an ordinary middle school student, childish and cheerful, with a kind of pride in his expression that made people yearn for.But today's Du Xuan has changed back to a year ago. Ding Zimu is very distressed. He always feels that the look on Du Xuan's face is familiar to him. A family of three who walked by.

Ding Zimu hesitated for a moment, and quietly sent Yang Yiming a WeChat message.

Yang Yiming wrapped his coat tightly and pushed open the store door. The first thing he saw was Du Xuan lying on the table, with a piece of snack beside him, and a cup of hot chocolate that was no longer steaming.

Ding Zimu pouted at him.Turn down the volume of the music.

Yang Yiming took off his coat and put it on the bar, then sat opposite Du Xuan with a cup of coffee.

"Du Xuan." Yang Yiming knocked on the table, "Asleep?"

Du Xuan moved, and when she raised her head, the corners of her eyes and brows were irritable: "Hello, Teacher Yang."

Although the mood was extremely low, but the rules in his bones made Du Xuan sit upright, and said hello seriously.

"Didn't you bring the house key?"

Du Xuan shook his head.

"Argued with Lin Ting'an?"

Du Xuan frowned fiercely, and stared at Yang Yiming warily.

Yang Yiming shrugged: "Don't be so surprised, right?"

"What do you want to do?" Du Xuan said coldly.

Yang Yiming laughed lightly: "Is this the way you talk to the teacher?"

Du Xuan was silent for a while: "I apologize for my bad attitude, because I quarreled with my parents today, so I'm in a bad mood. But this matter has nothing to do with Lin Ting'an, I don't want to involve people who have nothing to do with it. Lin Ting'an is in the third year of junior high, he wants Prepare for the high school entrance examination."

Yang Yiming looked at Du Xuan playfully. This "man of the hour" in No. [-] Middle School is always gentle and modest on campus. No one must have seen Du Xuan who is now showing his sharpness and not giving an inch.

He actually talked back to the teacher, and his words were sharp.

Yang Yiming thought, this child is covered in armor all over his body, and his heart is so hardened that he is invulnerable. Lin Tingan may be his only loophole.Yang Yiming didn't want to pierce him, Yang Yiming just wanted to help him.

"Why are you arguing with your parents?" Yang Yiming avoided Lin Tingan's question and asked casually, "Forcing you to study?"

Du Xuan narrowed his eyes: "How do you know?"

"Parent-child issues seem to be ever-changing on the surface, but in fact, they are nothing more than those types, just eliminate them." Yang Yiming spread his hands, with childish pride, "I am a professional, and I have seen thousands of student files. Ten thousand."

Ding Zimu at the bar smiled and shook his head.

Du Xuan didn't speak, just lowered her head and stirred the chocolate in the cup.

Yang Yiming: "Parents have high expectations of you, and you must understand their painstaking efforts."

Du Xuan showed a mocking look.

Yang Yiming said: "Of course, reason is such a reason. When it comes to specific behaviors, I am actually opposed to the actions of many parents. I have talked with your mother, and I personally think that you can maintain this under such high pressure from your mother." The state is quite admirable."

Du Xuan looked at Yang Yiming with some doubts. He didn't know if it was Yang Yiming's strategy or if it was sincere.

"Tell me, how do you want to solve this problem?"

Du Xuan shook her head: "I don't know."

"I'll give you a strategy 'avoid the edge, plan long-term'."

Du Xuan: "What do you mean?"

"Your mother is just worried about you. If she can actually see your hard work and success and rest assured, she won't put so much pressure on you."

"But I can't achieve her goal."

"What target?"

"She wants me to stay in the top three, I find it very difficult. She wants me to take the central financial examination, I don't want to go."

Yang Yiming said seriously: "It doesn't matter if you are in the top three or not, but it is very important to choose which university to study and which major to study. You must choose carefully."

"Which do you think is better?"

"As a teacher, our consistent principle on this issue is to stand on the standpoint of the students. After all, you have to read the book by yourself, and you have to rely on yourself to break through the future."

Du Xuan's eyes lit up, and he sat upright.

Yang Yiming changed the subject: "But Du Xuan, I think those things will happen three years later. Let's talk about the things in front of us. I think you are not just arguing with your parents today. How about it? Do you want to talk to me?" I talk about it?"

Du Xuan trembled a little. Some words had been kept in his heart for too long. He needed an adult to provide him with some solutions and support. Maybe it was because he couldn't stand it anymore, maybe the atmosphere in the store was too good. Maybe it's Yang Yiming's sincere attitude...

Holding a cup of cold chocolate, Du Xuan slowly began to say that he avoided his relationship with Lin Tingan and only described Lin Tingan as a good friend. He wanted to know how to really get rid of all this.Minutes passed, and Ding Zimu came over to give Du Xuan a new cup of hot chocolate. Du Xuan felt thirsty, but he didn't want to stop, not even to take a sip of water. I didn't have the courage to say it.

Yang Yiming listened quietly until Du Xuan looked at him blankly, not knowing what else to say.

Yang Yiming smiled, turned to Ding Zimu and said, "Ermu, tell him what is the most important thing to talk to a counselor."

"Tell the truth." Ding Zimu raised the water glass in his hand to Yang Yiming, and made a gesture of respect.

"I... am telling the truth."

Yang Yiming shook his head: "Du Xuan, your defense mechanism is very good. But from a psychological point of view, I think you are very pitiful. This is not what you should have at your age."

Du Xuan lowered her eyes and looked at the cup, her hands trembling a little.

"What you said is true, but it is not a threat to you at all." Yang Yiming took out a spoon from the cup and put it on the table, and said, "If your parents put pressure on you, you should directly fight against them. , this is a passive confrontation, because the premise of your confrontation is to admit this pressure, and you are in stress. And you choose to go roundabout, bypass these pressures, and follow your own line firmly, this is psychological Ignore the pressure, it is an active confrontation. I have always wondered why your grades plummeted in the third year of junior high school. I dare you to do it on purpose. Since you succeeded once in the third year of junior high school, I have no doubt that you plan to do it again in the third year of high school. It is easy to operate, and the class teacher will not even take the initiative to inform your parents which schools you have filled in. Whether you want to study medicine or law, it is completely in your own hands.”

Yang Yiming suddenly approached him: "Du Xuan, your heart is very strong, but maybe too strong, you are not tired if you are alone? You are only in the first year of high school."

Du Xuan stared at the brown liquid in the cup, and suddenly noticed ripples. He blinked, and water droplets dripped into it one after another.

Yang Yiming pushed over a stack of napkins.Du Xuan grabbed one and pressed it on her eyes, but still didn't speak.

Yang Yiming asked: "Du Xuan, why are you in a bad mood today?"

Du Xuan looked at Yang Yiming and still shook his head.He couldn't say it. If he said it, he would bring Lin Tingan into it. Even if he knew that Ding Zimu should have seen the confession scene that day, but Du Xuan thought that as long as he firmly refused to admit it, Yang Yiming would not be able to get evidence.

Lin Ting'an is in the third year of junior high school. He should study steadily. These things have nothing to do with him.Du Xuan thought so.

Yang Yiming sighed, and sat on the back of the sofa, just like half a year ago, when Du Xuan didn't want to speak, it was useless to say anything.

Ding Zimu came out from the bar and stood beside Yang Yiming.

Yang Yiming looked up at him suspiciously, and asked, "Why..."

Before he could utter the word "Le", Ding Zimu suddenly leaned down and kissed him, the movement was very fast, and he left after his lips were printed.Ding Zimu looked at the stunned Du Xuan, squeezed his eyes and said, "Actually, he's not my brother."