Through Thick and Thin

Hearing that Chen Yuan asked him this question, Ai Qian was stunned for a long time before he realized it, and then he quickly answered: "My name is Ai Qian, Ai from wormwood, and humble."

Ai Qian looked up at Chen Yuan, feeling nervous and unavoidably pleasantly surprised, why did Mr. Chen suddenly ask his name?

Chen Yuan nodded, ordered two cups of coffee, Ai Qian agreed, turned around and went to the bar, and couldn't help but said: "Mr. Chen... It's better not to drink too much coffee at night."

"Well, thank you, it's just that there is still some work to be done, and I need to cheer up."

"I see..." Ai Qian paused, "But won't you be unable to sleep at night?"

"well enough."

Ai Qian helped Chen Yuan pack the coffee, Chen Yuan paid the money, said "see you another day", and left the shop.Ai Qian's heart was pounding, he sat down by the bar, recalling all the things that happened just now, it was as unreal as if he was in a dream.

The originally anxious mood calmed down a lot because of the arrival of Chen Yuan. Ai Qian took a deep breath and comforted himself that everything will be fine.

In the early morning of that day, Ai Qian flew back to his hometown to take care of his grandma. A few days later, his grandma's condition began to improve, and then gradually stabilized, out of the dangerous period.

After grandma's condition stabilized, Ai Qian's family felt relieved and returned home together.

After arriving home, Ai Qian's father asked Ai Qian by chance: "Why are you always on the morning shift and night shift recently? Get up so early in the morning, and don't you have enough staff in your store at night?"

Ai Qian replied with some guilt: "The wages of the morning shift and night shift are higher."

The high salary is one reason, and the more important reason is that Chen Yuan usually comes to the store in the morning or evening, and he may meet him only when he is on the morning and evening shifts.

Dad didn't ask any more questions, and chatted about another topic: "A few days ago, your mother and I mentioned that her old friend's son who works in the tax bureau is five or six years older than you. Too busy, do you want to add him to WeChat to get to know him?"

Ai Qian: "Ah? No need..."

Although Ai Qian never thought about the possibility of himself and Chen Yuan, he also didn't like deliberately cultivating a relationship with someone he didn't know at all, preferring to let nature take its course.

Seeing Ai Qian's reluctance, his father didn't insist, but told him not to be always on the morning and evening shifts.

After Ai Qian returned to work, he asked his colleague, Mr. Chen, if he had been here. Chen Yuan, who is so outstanding, has been here many times. Of course, Ai Qian is not the only one who knows him in the store, and other colleagues have more or less impressions of him.

The colleague said that he had been here in the past few days, and once asked why Ai Qian was not there.

Ai Qian was both surprised and unbelievable. Hearing the ridicule from his colleagues, he felt that perhaps he was good at coffee, and Chen Yuan might like to drink the coffee he made.

That day, Ai Qian listened to his father's advice and did not work the night shift, but shifted to the afternoon shift. He got off work at six o'clock in the evening and rode home.

Ai Qian's home is about 10 to [-] minutes away from the coffee shop by bicycle. On the way, he will pass a well-known food and bar street in Nancheng District of City B. There are many restaurants and bars on the street.

Ai Qian has lived in City B for more than 20 years, and the number of times he went to the bar can be counted on one's fingers. He was only encouraged to go there a few times by his classmates when he was in college, but he couldn't get into the lively atmosphere when he went, and sat in the corner every time. Drink in silence in the booth.

Not long ago, a new bar opened on this street. It is said that the consumption is particularly high. Ai Qian passed by the bar's parking lot by bicycle, but suddenly saw a familiar figure in it.

Chen Yuan and several men and women in suits and leather shoes like him were walking towards the gate of the bar, and there was a person who looked like a secretary leading the way.Seeing Chen Yuan, Ai Qian stopped, thinking that Chen Yuan might be here to socialize, and he definitely shouldn't bother him.

But at the same time, Ai Qian hasn't seen Chen Yuan for a while. If he doesn't see him tonight, he doesn't know when he will see him again.

Ai Qian hesitated for a moment, then stopped the car, and he was wearing a t-shirt that was too ordinary. It is not suitable to enter this kind of high-consumption place, let alone this kind of place where you have to order, Ai Qian Qianke doesn't have that spending power.

So Ai Qian sat down at a late-night snack stall opposite the bar, ordered a pot of hot tea and a small plate of crayfish and fried sixties, and waited for Chen Yuan while eating, planning that after Chen Yuan came out, he could Say hello to him as if you just passed by after work.

Ai Qian called his parents and said that he had an appointment with his former classmates for supper and had to go home late.The last time Ai Qian made up an excuse to go home late was when he was ignorant in junior high school. Thinking of this, he felt ashamed and embarrassed.

After waiting for ten o'clock in the night, the tea in Ai Qian's teapot was cold for a long time, and the phone was about to run out of battery.He propped his head up, his eyelids drooped, but he still managed to keep an eye on the door of the bar.

At 10:30, Ai Qian finally saw Chen Yuan and his group come out of the bar. He suddenly came to his senses, and when he was standing up to go, he saw Chen Yuan sending the other people to the driveway to say goodbye. He went back to the bar alone.

Seeing Chen Yuan's figure disappear behind the luxurious gate of the bar again, Ai Qian felt a little more worried in his heart.

Chen Yuan is still staying in the bar so late, is there still a friend there?Or drank alone?

Ai Qian continued to wait at the food stand for more than half an hour, and it was almost eleven o'clock, he couldn't wait any longer, so he stood up and walked towards the bar.

Just as Ai Qian stepped up the steps, he suddenly saw the figure of Chen Yuan coming out from behind the glass door. Ai Qian hurriedly stopped, turned around and hid towards the parking lot.

Chen Yuan came out of the bar and walked towards his car when a figure poked his head out from one side and called him "Mr. Chen" from a distance.

Chen Yuan turned his head and saw Ai Qian standing there unexpectedly, raising his hand and waving at him, his expression seemed somewhat embarrassed for some reason.

Chen Yuan also seemed surprised to see him here: "Just got off work?"

"...Well, passing by here, I suddenly saw you and wanted to come up to say hello."

Ai Qian's eyes drifted slightly, he was not close to Chen Yuan, but he could still smell the strong smell of wine on Chen Yuan's body, this time the smell of wine was much stronger than last time.

From Chen Yuan's face, Ai Qian couldn't see much abnormality, but he knew that Chen Yuan always looked like that, and said: "Mr. Chen, it's not good for your stomach to drink at such a late hour."

"I came here with a client." Chen Yuan paused, "Occasionally, I would like to have a drink by myself."

Ai Qian was a little touched, Chen Yuan was willing to tell himself this matter that he obviously could not mention.

Chen Yuan: "I heard from your colleagues that you went home to take care of your family. How is your family? Are you feeling better?"

"Well, it's much better, thank you." Ai Qian nodded, and said, "You usually work so hard, you should pay more attention to your body."

Chen Yuan stared at him for a while, and suddenly asked half-jokingly: "Do the employees of your store care so much about every customer they know?"

Ai Qian was taken aback for a moment, and instantly understood the meaning behind Chen Yuan's words.

It's not that Chen Yuan can't see it, he's already in his 30s, so of course he knows all these things well.Ai Qian's expression on his face, uncontrollable concern, all of these are telling the feelings of this young and simple boy in front of him.

Ai Qian also understood in his heart that he shouldn't show too much concern for Chen Yuan, but he couldn't help but keep his eyes on him and care about him.Chen Yuan was faintly reminding him that he had already noticed something.

Ai Qian stood there in a panic, not knowing how to answer for a moment.

Mr. Chen is reminding him that they are just slightly better than strangers, the relationship between customers and clerks, so that he should stop having those extra thoughts?

Finally, Ai Qian lowered his head, remained silent for a while, and replied softly: "...Of course not, Mr. Chen."

Chen Yuan looked at him quietly, without speaking.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Chen, I... I am to you, indeed..." Ai Qian was a little afraid of knowing Chen Yuan's expression now, afraid of seeing the bored expression on his face, every time he said a word, he felt uncomfortable "I know I'm delusional, but I really can't stop caring about you and caring about you... If you're reminding me, then I understand, and I won't do it again..."

"It's normal to care about someone, and there is no need to apologize." Chen Yuan said slowly, "I just want to say, I already know what you mean."

Ai Qian raised his head, Chen Yuan's expression was gentle with a bit of nostalgia, as if he remembered something that happened to him.

Chen Yuan: "Are you in a hurry to go home?"

Ai Qian shook his head blankly.

"Would you mind chatting with me?" Seeing Ai Qian's astonished look, Chen Yuan smiled helplessly, "What's wrong? Don't be so surprised, right?"

Ai Qian panicked: "No, Mr. Chen, I..."

Chen Yuan didn't get in the car, but leaned against the side of the car. Ai Qian walked beside him, and he didn't dare to lean on Chen Yuan's car casually, but just stood straight to the side.

Chen Yuan: "He got married not long ago."

Although Chen Yuan didn't say who that "he" was, Ai Qian understood that that person was the one in Chen Yuan's heart.

"To be honest, I haven't met him a few times before and after, but I just keep it in my heart." Chen Yuan said, "Now I feel that I was really too stubborn at that time, and I even doubted the relationship between him and his lover. .”

Ai Qian pursed his lips: "I envy him very much."

"But he is not suitable for me." Chen Yuan stared at Ai Qian, "I should make a new choice."

Ai Qian was taken aback for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Chen Yuan in a daze.

"Don't get me wrong, I didn't want to use you to forget him." Chen Yuan smiled, "I just think, since you like me, I also have a crush on you, why don't we try together?"

Ai Qian held his breath and could hardly believe his ears.A huge and unexpected surprise flooded into his heart in an instant, and he said dully: "Mr. Chen...you really..."

"Just call me by my name." Chen Yuan laughed, "I'm no longer at the age where I would hesitate in this kind of thing, but you, don't you mind if I'm so much older than you?"

Ai Qian shook his head quickly, his nose was sore, and his eyes were red, "I just don't think I can be so lucky..."

"I can't tell whose luck it is."

Chen Yuan stretched out his hand and wiped the corners of Ai Qian's eyes with his fingers, Ai Qian's heart was pounding, and the temperature of Chen Yuan's fingers finally gave him a sense of reality.

Ai Qian couldn't help stretching out his hands, holding Chen Yuan's hand, Chen Yuan opened his arms, Ai Qian hesitated for a moment, finally took a step forward, and put his arms around Chen Yuan's neck.

Chen Yuan hugged him, the body temperature in his arms seemed to fill the missing part of his heart for a long time.At that moment, Chen Yuan suddenly felt relieved. This is a completely different embrace, but it seems to be the one that should really belong to him.

Ai Qian hugged Chen Yuan tightly, he couldn't get out of this embrace no matter what, he still felt like he was dreaming.

After a while, Ai Qian finally raised his head from Chen Yuan's embrace, but he still did not let go of his holding hand.

"Thank you, I'm really happy, it feels like a dream." Ai Qian's voice was still a little choked up, "After all, I can only talk to you every time in the store... By the way, you How do you go back after drinking?"

"Let me call a substitute driver." Chen Yuan said, "Where do you live? Shall I take you home?"

"Ah, no need, my electric car is parked at the seafood restaurant opposite..."

Ai Qian shut his mouth abruptly, remembering that he had told Chen Yuan just now that he was passing by here after get off work, and accidentally slipped his mouth, his face blushed.

Chen Yuan obviously noticed this too: "Seafood restaurant?"

Ai Qian simply told the truth: "Well...Actually, I saw you passing by after get off work, but that was when you just entered, and I was sitting opposite and waiting..."

"Then how long have you been waiting?" Chen Yuan felt helpless and felt warm again, "I'll be free after I've been busy for a while. If you can, try to schedule the lunch shift. I'll wait for you to go back together after get off work."

Ai Qian looked at Chen Yuan, and stretched out his arms to hug him again: "Chen Yuan...I really like you."