Shanghai morning

New Year's Eve is the most important day of the year for Chinese people. Even Chinese people who are struggling with death will never forget Chinese New Year.Eat the best food you can, and wear new clothes if you can.

Wang Yao and Wanwan would stick pairs and blessings on the door early in the morning. The foreign company does not rest according to Chinese holidays, so Wang Yao has to go to work even on the [-]th.Wanwan asked worriedly: "Brother, you won't work overtime tonight, will you?"

"No, no more!" Wang Yao smiled and patted Wanwan's face, "I've been busy with the work a while ago, and I won't work so late in the future!" Feliciano's painting has been finished .

At this time in previous years, Wang Yao was always urged to rent by the landlord.Fortunately, with the extra income from Feliciano this year, the end of the year is not so sad.The gift Wang Yao bought for Wanwan was stored in the cabinet early in the morning, and he planned to give it to her after the New Year's Eve.

There are not many jobs in the foreign company today, but Wang Yao dare not leave work early, according to the rules of the foreign company, if you leave early, you will have to deduct money.

"I said it was only a matter of time! No! No shipwreck! The ship was delayed for a day in the port of India, but the cargo will definitely arrive on time!" Arthur was yelling at someone from inside the door.

Wang Yao stood at the door with the report, waiting for the matter to end.

Arthur is irritable, and the work Francis has done in the past is not irreplaceable, but his existence is like a weight on the other end of the balance, even if it has no use value, it can maintain the balance of the balance.After Francis left, Arthur couldn't return to his normal state, and frequently lost his temper with employees.

The door opened, and a young foreigner with brown hair came out. His pair of green eyes were very attractive. He was an attractive man.Wang Yao has seen this person before. This is Antonio Fernandez Carriedo from Yangzi Water and Fire Insurance Company. He can't remember the name. He only remembers that this person is Antonio. He is a good friend of Francis. It is said that after Francis and Belle broke up , Antonio began to pursue Belle.

Antonio hurriedly nodded to Wang Yao, and Wang Yao also bowed slightly to show his courtesy.

Carefully pushed the door open, Wang Yao knew it was dangerous to talk to Arthur at this time, but the things that should be done must be done, this is his job: "Is there anything I can do?" Came in for no reason.

"Damn sailors!" Arthur cursed, "they don't think they're paid enough, and they're working in Bombay!"

"This kind of thing is hard to avoid." Wang Yao put the report on Arthur's desk.

"You don't understand!" Arthur shouted suddenly, "What do you think those shameless newspapers wrote? They said that our fleet had sunk! They said that Jardine Matheson was facing bankruptcy! Damn it! Do you think this is the sixteenth century? ? Now is the age of the steel industry, so let Verne write such adventure stories!"

"Mr. Kirkland, Jules Verne has passed away for more than 20 years." Wang Yao reminded softly.

"Okay, okay! Don't worry about the dead man!" Arthur pulled the report, "Let's take care of the living man!"

Wang Yao quietly stood in front of Arthur with his hands down, waiting for Arthur's arrangement.

Arthur suddenly remembered something and asked: "It seems that there is something special today, do you know?"

"Today is New Year's Eve, and tomorrow is Chinese New Year." Wang Yao replied.

"No, it's not this!" Arthur waved his hands irritably, trying to remember, "Ah, I remember! I have to go to Gonghe, the architectural design they made for us last time is so ugly! Damn it! I hate dealing with those people, it's Francis' job!" Arthur is used to pushing the unmanageable trivial work to Francis, and Francis, who seems to be careless, always handles these things properly.

When it was time to get off work, Wang Yao wanted to go home as soon as possible, but now he was wandering by the Huangpu River.Jiangfeng blew a few strands of his untied hair, which made his ears itchy—the frostbite on his ears was breaking out again.

Do you want to go back?Should have gone back sooner.But Wang Yao is heading in the other direction, Francis' home.

He knocked on the door a few times, but there was no answer.

"Francis, are you home?" Wang Yao shouted while knocking.

After a while, just when Wang Yao was about to give up, there were footsteps coming from the door, gradually approaching, and then with the soft sound of a hidden lock turning, the door opened.

Francis looks better than Wang Yao imagined, he looks calm, but his face is a little pale.

"What are you doing here?" Francis' tone was repulsive, not at all like the playboy who liked to tease people with sweet words in the past.

"I want to know what will become of you." Wang Yao said honestly.

"Now you see?" Francis crossed his arms to block the door, not intending to let Wang Yao enter the house, "Arthur asked you to come?"

"No, if you want to tell him this, then I'm ready to be scolded by him." Wang Yao said calmly, "Can you let me in?"

Francis turned sideways, but obviously did not welcome, Wang Yao squeezed through the door from his side.

The room was a bit messy, but not as messy as Feliciano's studio.A few pieces of clothing were randomly thrown on the chair, and a shirt was half-dragged on the ground and seemed to have been stepped on.Some books were thrown on the floor next to the sofa. Judging from this position, it is very likely that Francis snuggled up on the arm of the sofa to read a book, and then slept here, throwing the books on the ground casually.

Without the master's permission, Wang Yao picked up the clothes from the chair and put them on the small table in the corner, pulled the chair over and sat down.Francis sat on the sofa, legs spread, upper body leaned forward, elbows on knees.The two were relatively silent.

Francis obviously wasn't going to take the initiative to speak. He didn't even look at Wang Yao, as if he was just waiting for the time to end the meeting.Wang Yao is not used to facing such a silent Francis, but there must be someone to break the deadlock.

"I saw Antonio today." Wang Yao felt that his opening was stupid, but now he couldn't take it back.

"An accident happened to the fleet?" Francis grasped the crux of the problem, his posture was still decadent, but he was already listening carefully.

"You didn't read the newspaper?" Wang Yao picked up a newspaper thrown on the ground, the date on it was a week ago, this newspaper was used by Francis as a quilt cover.

"How about the fleet? Is it a serious loss?" Francis asked.

Wang Yao put the newspaper aside: "Today's newspaper headlines say that all the fleets of Jardine Matheson have sunk, but Arthur thinks that is just hearsay."

"The insurance company should stay away at this time. Antonio came to the door, he is really a warm-hearted fool!" Francis smiled self-destructively, "Even if I played with Belle's love, he still refuses to hate me!"

Wang Yao clasped his hands together and propped his elbows on his knees like Francis: "I think Antonio is a generous person."

Francis was noncommittal. He tossed his head, letting the matted blond hair loose.He stood up with the back of the sofa, staggered to the wine cabinet, picked up a bottle of red wine, and asked Wang Yao without looking back, "Would you like some?"

"No, thank you." Wang Yao declined.

Francis took two glasses, poured them skillfully and brought them over, and handed one of them to Wang Yao.

Wang Yao wanted to repeat that he didn't want it, but after thinking about it, it was useless to say anything to Francis now.So he took the wine, brought it to his lips and took a symbolic sip.

Francis drank the wine in one gulp and poured himself another glass.

"Francis, do you do this every day?" Wang Yao looked at Francis, who was transformed into Dionysus, with a pale and slightly drunk face like a standard drunkard.

"Yes or no, I can't remember clearly, and you can't remember what you look like every day, can you?" Francis muttered, "Besides, I haven't cleaned my mirror for a long time."

"Arthur is not doing well recently," Wang Yao said carefully, "you are not here, and the situation of the foreign company..."

"I don't think I played much role when I was there!" Francis interrupted Wang Yao, "Arthur never needed others."

"But Arthur has been abnormal since you left." Wang Yao recalled how busy Arthur was without a clue.

"Why is it abnormal?" Francis raised his eyelids casually.

"He can't do anything well." Wang Yao took a sip of wine subconsciously.

Francis sneered: "I didn't do any important work for Arthur except to seduce Belle. Even this one, I screwed up."

But Wang Yao thought that Francis did the right thing, and if possible, he didn't want to suppress his disgust to deal with Honda Ju.

"Actually... you like Arthur, right?" Wang Yao summoned up his courage and asked.Francis had never lost his temper with him, but he wasn't sure how it would be this time.

However, this sentence did not move Francis much. He stood up and filled Wang Yao's glass with wine: "Drink, I will tell you after drinking."

Wang Yao frowned and drank the wine in the glass.

"Wang Yao, you think I'm a playboy, don't you?" Francis asked with narrowed eyes.

Wang Yao hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes, everyone thinks so, including Arthur." Francis tasted the top layer of wine, like a picky gourmet, "But the women I've had are far less than the fine wines I've had, in fact I'm a real drunk, it's a pity you never call me that."

"You are an alcoholic." Wang Yao felt that he could satisfy Francis' request.

"Very good, that's right." Francis refilled his glass and found that the bottle had bottomed out, so he got up and opened a second bottle.When the glass was filled again, Francis smiled with satisfaction: "Women can never make me forget everything, but always make me sober. Wine is more useful, and it will not be endless and talkative."

Wang Yao listened quietly, and when Francis poured him another drink, he readily accepted it.

"Of course, before I became an alcoholic, I was also a normal person. Young, healthy, brave, and with a great future—in the eyes of those around me." Francis told the story with blurred eyes, as if it was a story that was too far away "But I know that sooner or later I will degenerate, like my father. My father is a dissolute old aristocrat. He has had four long-term mistresses, one of which is a famous singer. My mother also has a lover , but compared to my father's indulgence, my mother is already a woman who keeps her duty."

Wang Yao thought of his stepmother, that beautiful woman who could sing with lamps and drums.

"Before I entered college, I wasn't the bastard I am now. Without Arthur, maybe I would have become a more decent person in line with people's perception." Francis laughed at himself, "The most feared thing in life is 'but', when God When you have a turning point, you can't avoid it, and it always leads you in a worse direction. If you are not as pure as a holy virgin, sooner or later you will become a sinner."

"Have you been in love with Arthur since then?" Wang Yao asked boldly.

"That's right," Francis nodded. "At that time, I liked to write funny stories and submit them to some boring tabloids. I didn't expect to attract the attention of a best-selling novelist. He met me through the newspaper. I don't remember that. The face of a writer, but it was through him that I met Arthur."

Wang Yao was surprised that Arthur didn't seem like a person who would like best-selling novels.

"You can't believe it. Arthur used to be a person full of fantasy. He still believed in the existence of goblins." Francis's smile became gentle, "We got along very well at that time. The woods, where we often explore, looking for mushroom rings under the grass leaves, and catching little people among the branches. He wants to go to the New World, be a reporter, and write some funny articles for the men in the tavern."

Everything that Arthur once dreamed of happened to be what Al now has. Wang Yao didn't know whether Arthur would envy Al.

"What happened later?" Wang Yao knew that the key was behind.

"Later? Then there is nothing to say. As the only son of the Kirkland family, Arthur took over the family business not long after graduating from college, and soon became a young workaholic. He asked me to be his helper, and I There is no reason to refuse, and then our relationship will be the same as what you see every day." Francis picked up the bottle and poured the remaining half of the bottle into his mouth.

Wang Yao also felt a little drunk, and had just unknowingly downed several glasses of wine.

Francis took out all the wine he had hidden, and the two drank all night, opening bottles of fine red wine one after another.In the distance, the sound of firecrackers could be faintly heard from the place where the Chinese lived together, but the laughter and laughter did not belong to the concession occupied by foreigners.

When he woke up, it was the morning of the first day of the new year, and Wang Yao realized that he had missed the New Year's Eve. He didn't know what happened to Wanwan, who was watching the new year alone at home, he must be in a hurry.

Francis was sleeping soundly on the sofa like a piece of human skin. The sound of Wang Yao getting up woke him up: "What's the matter, Xiao Yao? Are you leaving?"

"I have to go home." After Wang Yao finished speaking, he left in a hurry, and slammed the door shut with a bang.

Instead of going to the foreign firm to ask for leave, Wang Yao rushed home all the way.Just about to open the door, but found that the door was not locked, he couldn't help feeling nervous, pushed the door open and rushed into the bedroom calling Wanwan's name.After entering the house, he saw Wanwan curled up on the bed sleeping peacefully, and there was a man sitting beside her bed, it was Ivan.

"Why are you here?" Wang Yao asked Ivan angrily.

"Hush!" Ivan stood up and pushed Wang Yao outside, "Wanwan cried all night and just fell asleep."

Wang Yao suddenly felt guilty. Last night he did such absurd things at Francis's house. He was so drunk that he didn't know what day and night it was. He didn't even spend the most important New Year with him.

"Where did you go with such a strong smell of alcohol?" Ivan asked sniffling.

"I can't explain it clearly." Wang Yao rubbed his forehead, the headache after a hangover is inevitable.He suddenly remembered the question that was interrupted just now: "But why are you at my house? You are still in Wanwan's room! What have you been doing this night?" Wang Yao asked vigilantly, he had never trusted this Russian.

"I didn't want to come here," Ivan shrugged. "You haven't come back, Wanwan is very scared, so you asked me to come down with her."

"Really?" Wang Yao still didn't believe it.

"I should ask you: Do you feel relieved if you leave your sister at home overnight?" Ivan asked with a smile.

Wang Yao was speechless.

"Oh, I almost forgot, there was indeed a dangerous man here!" Ivan rubbed his chin as a memory.

"What?" Wang Yao's heart raised again.

"It's the Yankee you brought back, he came to look for you." Ivan smiled innocently, "I don't think he's a good person, so I drove him away!"

Al came to him?On New Year's Eve?Wang Yao was a little happy, but also regretful.

Suddenly, the sound of getting up and going to the ground came from Wanwan's room, and then the sleepy Wanwan appeared in front of the two with his shoes on.

Facing his sister, Wang Yao could hardly say anything: "Wanwan, brother yesterday..."

"Brother, Happy Chinese New Year!" Wanwan greeted Wang Yao with a sleepy voice, "School is always on during Chinese New Year, I still have to go to school!"

Seeing Wanwan packing up his things clumsily, Wang Yao felt distressed: "Wanwan, don't go to school today, and my brother won't go to work, I will spend the New Year with you at home!"

"No way!" Wanwan shook his head vigorously, "The school chose to put the exam on today, so it won't work if you don't go!"

"I'll see you off." Wang Yao said and prepared to go out with Wanwan.He thought for a while, then turned to Ivan and said, "Aren't you going back?"

Ivan expressed regret: "Okay, okay!" He left their home first and went back to the attic.

On the way to the station, neither Wang Yao nor Wanwan spoke.In the cold wind, there were very few people on the road. The celebration of New Year's Eve made most people fall asleep, and the firecracker debris all over the ground showed the excitement of last night.

Two figures, one tall and one short, waited alone at the station.

Wanwan suddenly asked: "Brother, didn't you say yesterday that you wouldn't work overtime? Why didn't you come back all night?"

Wang Yao didn't dare to look into Wanwan's eyes: "Wanwan, I'm sorry! I just received the news yesterday that the foreign company may have a big accident, but it ended up being busy all night." Wang Yao lied half of it.

"What? Then you won't have a job?" Wanwan's eyes widened in fright, "We're going to have nothing to eat!"

"Don't be afraid, it's not confirmed yet." Wang Yao comforted Wanwan, "Besides, even if this job is lost, brother will find another job, and I definitely can't let you go hungry!" Wang Yao took out a small The red envelope was placed in Wanwan's hand: "Wanwan, Happy Chinese New Year!"

"Ah! New Year's money!" Wanwan finally cheered up and snatched the red envelope.

Just then, the tram pulled into the station.Wang Yao hurriedly urged Wanwan to get on the car: "Put it away properly, don't lose it!"

Wanwan put the red envelope into his pocket, waved vigorously to Wang Yao, and the tram gradually moved away in the cold air.