under the filth

"Quack——" Several adult wild ducks in the lake raised their heads and called a few times, and a dozen ducklings that had just emerged from their nests stumbled out of the grass, pushed and shoved into the water and swam towards them.

The duckling has not yet shed its gray down, and its body is covered with mottled down feathers.They made childish calls beside their parents, and a few big mallards combed their feathers with their flat beaks, and the dusty fluff floated on the water.

Tang Cen and Lu Sheng sat on the grass by the lake, Lu Sheng looked at the flock of wild ducks, while Tang Cen secretly observed Lu Sheng's face.

Lu Sheng never mentioned his family on weekdays. Tang Cen also imagined how indifferent and alienated Lu Sheng's family relationship would be, but he never thought that it would be so absurd.

"I'm a single parent." Tang Cen was surprised when Lu Sheng opened his mouth.

In Lu Sheng's memory, his mother was a gentle and strong woman.Although she took herself with her, she had no shortage of suitors, tall, short, fat and thin, but without exception, they were all wealthy people who spent a lot of money.

The mother relied on her own work to support the mother and son, grandparents, and a large family of vampires.She was not short of money, but she could only maintain her daily life, so those suitors who showed her courteousness one after another did indeed make Lu Sheng's childhood life better.

Lu Sheng's mother politely declined the money given by every man, but she couldn't refuse the connections and resources they provided.Mother would often mention a certain uncle that Lu Sheng met a few days ago, but never mentioned Lu Sheng's biological father.Compared with his father, whom he has never met, Lu Sheng's sophistication has planted a deeper root in Lu Sheng's heart.

"But my mother died of illness when I was just in high school, and then I lived alone for three years." When Lu Sheng mentioned his mother's death, his tone was flat, and the expression on his face did not fluctuate, as if he was talking about other people. s story.

He said: "After my father died, I got a piece of property. But obviously my mother raised me alone. The relatives on the mother's side have never done anything but are greedy for the money. The people on the father's side I'm worried that I might cause trouble, and I don't want me to stay in the country anymore."

From having no worries about food and clothing to being lonely, ups and downs and "exile" abroad, those were the darkest four years for Lu Sheng.

Tang Cen heard the weirdness in the words, but for a moment he didn't know what was wrong.He almost gave up opening his mouth, as if someone was strangling his neck, Tang Cen was unable to say a word.

Lu Sheng showed a mocking smile: "The day before I filled out the application, they sent me to Bath and left me here alone."

From the very beginning, life is not something anyone can choose. When Lu Sheng was able to make his own choice for the first time, he was forced to arrange his future again.

"I have never gone back since I came here, because there is no one waiting for me to go back there, and no one cares about how I am doing here." The tone and content were so cold that Tang Cen insisted. The hands on the grass slowly clenched into fists.

The tingling pain from the fingernails pinching the palm of his hand forced Tang Cen to speak. He asked Lu Sheng, "Why...you will live alone after your mother died of illness?" But in fact, he already vaguely had an answer in his heart.

"I'm an illegitimate child with my mother's surname. My father didn't recognize me until he died. He only left me a sum of money so that I won't starve to death now." Lu Sheng threw another coin into the lake. Shizi, this topic is over.

Lu Sheng didn't tell Tang Cen that when he saw his so-called father, the old man was already lying in the coffin, and even his grandson was a few years older than him.The first time the father and son met, the lonely and helpless Lu Sheng knelt in front of the coffin, while all the people standing around looked at him coldly and condescendingly.

His parents had passed away, so Lu Sheng could no longer know what happened in the past.His experience is the same as that of many illegitimate children of wealthy families, but Lu Sheng's father's family at least gave him a way to survive, and even let him study abroad, so Lu Sheng can calmly mention it now.

Tang Cen didn't speak, he could feel that Lu Sheng's mother loves Lu Sheng very much, but... Although his family is not as complicated as Lu Sheng's, it's not indifferent or even enviable, but as long as he When the wind blows, the accumulated resentment and incomprehension are buried underneath. When the fig leaf covering the surface is lifted, nothing can stop it.

A cool thing suddenly covered the back of his hand. Tang Cen looked down and saw that it was Lu Sheng holding his hand.He wanted to pull his hand back, remembering what Lu Sheng said just now, he struggled several times but couldn't calm down, so he could only let him hold it like this.

Tang Cen wondered if Lu Sheng should share his past after telling him about it.If Lu Sheng asked so, Tang Cen felt that he had no reason to refuse him.

Lu Sheng stared at him, and tightened his clenched hands: "During Freshman Week, I saw you from afar, and I...was very moved." He spoke slowly, his tone was not as cold as before, more There is more emotion in it.

Tang Cen saw his own shadow reflected in his eyes, and also saw his own eyes.He staggered his eyes, pursed his lips and said nothing.

"I'm sorry about what happened before, but I didn't consider your feelings." Lu Sheng said as he let go of his hand, "You don't want to, and I won't pester you any more. You seem very tired during this time, you should take a good rest. "

But fortunately, Lu Sheng brought the topic back to the previous matter, as long as he had a good rest.

People who take the initiative to uncover their own scars have experienced the pain of tearing flesh and blood. After seeing bloody scenes, they will often not uncover the scars of others.

Tang Cen lowered his head, staring at the place on the back of his hand that was held by Lu Sheng. It was still warm, but the breeze was blowing a bit cool.

After thinking and thinking, and being silent again and again, Tang Cen finally said all his thoughts in a thin sentence: "It's okay."

The morning sun is warm yellow, but it doesn't have any temperature on the body.The two sat on the grass, absently throwing pebbles, watching the wild ducks wandering in the lake.

The small stone escaped from Tang Cen's hand, drew a parabola in the air, and landed on the flock of wild ducks floating on the lake.The duckling let out a weak and terrified call, and the frightened adult duck flapped its wings and stood up, looking for the murderer who tried to hurt the duckling in panic.

Tang Cen knew he had done something wrong, so he touched his nose in embarrassment, but fortunately Lu Sheng didn't notice.But when the adult wild ducks stepped on the lake and rushed towards them aggressively, he subconsciously held Lu Sheng's hand and asked nervously, "What are they doing?"

Hearing the sound, Lu Sheng raised his head and saw the group of wild ducks rushing ashore. He hurriedly pulled Tang Cen to stand up, turned around and ran in a panic: "Damn it! Run!"

Tang Cen was pulled to stand up by him, frantically grabbing the book that was originally on his lap.Before he could stand still, he was slammed by Lu Sheng, his body almost lost his balance, and he stumbled and was dragged by Lu Sheng on the lawn to run away desperately.

It happened to be the class time at this time, otherwise the students coming and going would have seen these two oriental men who were chased by wild ducks and ran wildly on the grass by the lake.

There was the whistling wind in my ears, and Lu Sheng's warm hand was pressed against my palm.Tang Cen stared blankly at Lu Sheng who was pulling him away, completely forgetting that there was a group of aggressive wild ducks chasing them behind him.

Running all the way in a hurry, Lu Sheng slowed down only when he could not hear the crowing of wild ducks behind him.Tang Cen looked back, and after confirming that he couldn't even see the shadow of the wild duck, he took Lu Sheng's hand and stopped slowly.

"Every year when the ducklings just hatched, those ducks are very irritable and protective of their cubs." Lu Sheng leaned against the wall exhaustedly, stroked his chest with lingering fear, and said while panting, "I only looked at other people last year. Being chased by ducks, I never thought it would be my turn this year."

Tang Cen hadn't exercised so vigorously for a long time, and at this moment his face was so pale that he couldn't speak a word.He thought to himself, if he hadn't disturbed the wild ducks just now, they might have been on their way to the cafeteria at this time, but Lu Sheng didn't notice it, or he might have noticed, and he deliberately didn't say it because he was afraid of embarrassing himself.

Seeing Tang Cen's strange expression, Lu Sheng followed his gaze and looked down...

"Sorry." Lu Sheng quickly let go of Tang Cen's hand, and awkwardly rubbed his hair that was blown tousled by the wind.Fortunately, his ears were red from the cold just now, otherwise Lu Sheng's embarrassment at this time would be fully exposed in front of Tang Cen's eyes. He didn't want to lose face in front of the person he liked.

The heat source in his hand suddenly left, and a burst of coolness caused Tang Cen to withdraw his wandering thoughts.His hand hung alone in mid-air, and after a pause for a few seconds, he slowly retracted it, and gathered the book that he had been holding in his arms with one hand.

"En." Tang Cen looked at his watch, the pointer had already pointed to the far left from the lower left corner.Apart from being sleepy all night, he also felt a strong sense of hunger. He looked at the tile in front of Lu Sheng and said, "It's getting late, let's go eat."

Lu Sheng didn't expect Tang Cen's change to come so quickly, so he hurriedly responded: "Okay!" He was straightforward, as if he was afraid that Tang Cen would suddenly regret it.

When he walked to the door of the nearest cafeteria, Lu Sheng stopped suddenly: "Tang Cen."

"Huh?" Tang Cen turned around and looked at him puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Today, it was rare to recall his mother who had passed away for a long time, and Lu Sheng couldn't help thinking of those fifteen New Years.He'd had two lonely New Years and an unhappy Christmas in England, and he didn't want a third.

"I've already missed this year, let's celebrate the New Year together next year." Lu Sheng didn't know if Tang Cen would agree, but he still bit the bullet and asked.

Against the light, the expression on Lu Sheng's face was somewhat unreal, but Tang Cen could hear what he said clearly.Without a mirror, Tang Cen didn't know what kind of expression he had on his face, but he could clearly feel a choking feeling in his throat.

For him, there is nothing to look forward to in the usual festivals, but celebrating the new year with Lu Sheng may be a little different.

"Let's go." Tang Cen turned his head and walked straight towards the cafeteria.

Lu Sheng's eyes lit up, and he followed closely with his long legs. He knew that Tang Cen had acquiesced.