be late

"Who?"

There was cold air blowing in from outside the window, the sound of the wind was a bit chilly, very cold, lonely and slightly cold, with cold water vapor.

After Nan Xue turned off the water, she listened carefully. She was familiar with several people in the family, and she could basically tell who they were by the sound of footsteps.

This person's footsteps were very light, as if he was afraid of disturbing anyone, and he was a little cautious.

Nan Xue felt slightly relaxed

It was Aunt Zhang who came up.

She opened the bathroom door.

"Aunt Zhang?" Nan Xue leaned against the door, walked over and quickly closed the door of Shu Yubai's room, and looked at Aunt Zhang's position.

The stairs are spiral upwards, old elm wood, hollow, looking down from here, besides Aunt Zhang, there is a misty shadow standing on the stairs, accompanied by a low coughing sound.

The man looked up and glanced at her.

In the next second, Nan Xue's face turned pale.

There is another person behind Aunt Zhang, who has been standing on the stairs on the second floor for an unknown amount of time, wearing a gray half-worn coat with gray hair.

It was her father.

"Sir came back early."

Aunt Zhang smiled at her, and said softly: "It happens that there are many people at night, so I came up to ask, what do you want for dinner, and I asked the cook to prepare it."

Nan Mingzhuo was standing downstairs, I don't know when he came back, he looked a bit travel-stained, his gray suit jacket was still on, his face looked a bit tired, and he rested against the fence on the second floor.

When Nan Xue talked to Aunt Zhang, he listened.

Silent, not saying a word.

"Do whatever you want."

Nan Xue said softly: "It doesn't need to be complicated, it's fine as usual."

Aunt Zhang wrote it down and asked again, "Where is Mr.? What would you like to eat?"

Nan Mingzhuo coughed, his voice was hoarse, and he said, "Get some cough soup, I seem to have a cold."

"Ok."

She turned and went down.

"Dad, why did you come back early?"

Nan Xue didn't know how long he had been standing there, and didn't know if he heard anything, her back was tense, and she prepared for the worst, even thinking that if he found out, why not use this opportunity to come out cabinet.

Nan Mingzhuo coughed, turned and went to the bathroom to spit, and rinsed with cold water for a while before turning back. He shook his head and said, "It's a little uncomfortable, I have a headache from the wind, and I have a cold."

Nan Xue let out an "oh" and observed his expression calmly.

It was bland, as usual.

Just looking tired.

Nan Mingzhuo glanced at her, and asked a little strangely, "What are you doing with the door closed?"

He stood up and walked upstairs.

His footsteps were neither fast nor slow, and every time he walked, there was a slight vibration of the wooden stairs, Nanxue's heart was beating up and down, and her thin white fingers were tightly pinching the handle of the door

Shu Yubai was still inside.

Is she still in bed now?Still got up.

Many thoughts passed through Nan Xue's heart, her fingertips were cold, and cold sweat broke out faintly on her back.

"Anyone in there?"

Nan Mingzhuo stood in front of the door, glanced at her inexplicably, turned his expression slightly, and asked, "Did you bring friends home? Male or female? Why didn't you tell Dad."

Nan Xue's fingertips were icy cold, her heart was beating fast, she didn't know what to say for a while, did he see it?

Or admit it directly.

Yes, there is nothing to hide, she is with Shu Yubai.

Nan Xue closed her eyes, raised her eyes, her heart was beating wildly, she said: "Dad, actually I..."

The next second, there was a click from the door, Shu Yubai twisted the handle inside, patted the door, and said softly: "Nan Xue?"

Nan Xue's heart skipped a beat, she let go of her fingers, and took a step back.

Click.

Shu Yubai opened the bedroom door from the inside, and stood there looking at Nan Mingzhuo.She was already dressed, and she was still wrapped in the thick down jacket, her complexion was as usual, and there was almost nothing wrong with it.

She said politely and softly, "Hello, Uncle."

Nan's father paused slightly.

He glanced at Nan Xue and then at Shu Yubai.

The air froze for a moment, and in the silence, no one made a sound, only the whistling wind outside the window.Shu Yubai pinched his palm tightly with his fingertips, not daring to look into his eyes.

She could feel a kind of careful scrutiny, as if she could see her careful thoughts, and she could see that she had feelings for Nan Xue that were beyond friends, and she could see her clearly with just one glance.

She could even feel a vague rejection.

go hand in hand.

Nan Mingzhuo laughed.

He went over and rubbed Nan Xue's head, with a bit of strength, he seemed to relax instantly, and he didn't seem to have any tendency to get angry or put on a cold face. What did he mean?

"Xiao Shu is here, why are you still hiding it? How can I say that you are not good? When a guest comes, you lock her in the bedroom?"

——Nan Mingzhuo remembered the ring she saw last time, and thought she was secretly in love behind her back, and brought her boyfriend back.

Originally, he cursed in his heart that the wild man he was talking about was brought home without the consent of his parents.He was angry and wanted to clean up the little bastards here, but he never thought that it was Shu Yubai.

He looked at the two suspiciously for a while, but he couldn't see anything.

Although Shu Yubai likes the same sex, if she and Nan Xue really wanted to be a little vaguely ambiguous, it would have been done long ago, and it wouldn't be just now.

It's okay to be angry.

The two of them are friends who have played since they were young. They have known their personalities and characters clearly for a long time.

"..."

Shu Yubai looked at Nan Xue, a little embarrassed, not knowing what to do.

"You two play."

Father Nan glanced at Nan Xue, rubbed his temples, and sighed, "I'm going downstairs to rest. I'm exhausted and have a headache."

He turned around and went downstairs, while coughing, he instructed Nan Xue vaguely: "Go and get some fruit for your elder sister Shu, there is still something to eat in the refrigerator."

Seeing him leave, Shu Yubai gradually relaxed his tense back, and leaned against the wall, panting slightly.

At night, the temperature dropped sharply, and there was only a little cold light outside the window, as if the stars were twinkling. There was only a dark outline of the tea mountain in the distance.

In a few days, it will be the vernal equinox.

The lights were dim.

I had dinner at Nan Xue's place. There were hearty but light dishes on the table. Shrimp and snow peas, white fungus soup, steamed fish in vinegar sauce, and carrot fried meat. The taste was sweet and light, which Nan Xue liked.

"Has Xiao Shu fallen in love?"

Nan Mingzhuo asked casually.

Shu Yubai's figure shivered, cold sweat broke out from his forehead, and when the wind blew, it was chilly.She didn't understand the meaning of his words, her heart was beating wildly, and after a while, she said cautiously and very slowly: "Uncle, I... talked about it."

"Oh, not bad."

Nan Mingzhuo gave Nan Xue a piece of shrimp, and said with a smile: "Nan Xue hasn't talked about it yet, look at how old she is, the little girl still looks like she hasn't enlightened, it's really worrying."

Nan Xue: "..."

"You should talk about one too, almost."

Father Nan said earnestly, "You said you didn't like the boy I introduced to you last time, so tell me what kind of boy you like, and I'll introduce you again."

Shu Yubai froze for a while.

What did he mean by that, was he telling himself to stay away from Nan Xue?

Nan Xue lowered her head, her red lips parted slightly, and drank a spoonful of white fungus soup with a small grain of Chinese wolfberry floating on it. My sister is like this."

Father Nan's movements froze, his brows were tightly frowned, forming a deep "Chuan" character, he became serious in an instant, and stared at Nan Xue.

Nan Xue looked up at him indifferently.

Nan Mingzhuo couldn't tell whether she was serious or joking, for a moment she even suspected that there was something wrong with her hearing, and asked again: "What did you say?"

Nan Xue smiled lightly and said, "I like it..."

Shu Yubai pinched her hand violently under the table: "What she means is that she likes someone who is older than her."

"Is it?"

Father Nan raised his eyebrows: "You like older ones? Not bad, okay, I don't know yet."

Nan Xue glanced at Shu Yubai, and a complex expression flashed in her dark eyes.

……

The conversation at this meal, to Shu Yubai, was like playing charades, difficult and full of unknowns, she had to translate every sentence of Nan Mingzhuo into many meanings in her heart, always as if there was something in the words.

She could only choose the most cautious way to answer.

After the two finished eating, Nan Xue invited Shu Yubai to stay overnight again.

"Sister, can you sleep here tonight?"

Nan Xue went to hold Shu Yubai's hand, the movement was natural.

There were three people on the table, a round wooden table with a long tablecloth, Nan Mingzhuo was sitting opposite them, it was nothing to hold hands under the table, but the moment they met, Shu Yubai seemed to be caught It was so hot that he quickly avoided it.

Nan Xue: "..."

There was a flash of hurt in her eyes.

"Why? Just sleep together."

She seemed obsessed with letting Shu Yubai sleep in the same room with her, she said it once and mentioned it again.

But Shu Yubai refused.

"I... have to go back to draw later. The manuscript is about to be handed in."

Since her father came back, Nan Xue could notice a subtle change in Shu Yubai's attitude, becoming indifferent, as if deliberately drawing a clear distance, which made her feel deeply uneasy.

There are three people at the table.

Aunt Zhang and the cook bring food here from the kitchen.

Nan's father only mentioned a few words casually, and then, he watched the mobile phone to process the work, and the messages were one after another, without looking at them at all.

But Shu Yubai somehow felt that he knew everything, but he had already seen it.

She looked at Nan Mingzhuo's expression.

This attitude seems to be a little cold.

He does not support it.

She felt like a "bad guy" who took someone else's daughter away. She always felt a deep sense of guilt. She couldn't explain why. Only then did she realize that she couldn't face the kind " uncle".

Is she wrong?

At night, perhaps because the weather is still cold, there are few pedestrians on the road, as if it has entered the night, but I can look at my watch, it is only eight o'clock, and it is still a while before I fall asleep.

Shu Yubai went back to the small courtyard of Huahua, while Nan Xue insisted on following her. The two got out of the car and walked silently on the gravel path, feeling a little cold.There are dim lights among the trees in the courtyard, like fluorescent lights, and the sound of grass-bottom insects.

"Sister, what's wrong with you?"

Along the way, Shu Yubai didn't speak, Nan Xue's uneasiness gradually increased, she took Shu Yubai's arm, her black eyes reflected the light and flickered.

"A little stomachache."

Shu Yubai walked to the end of the path, stood in front of the door, lowered his head, did not look at Nan Xue, and said, "Tonight, let's sleep separately. I'm afraid I'll disturb you by turning over."

With her neck hanging down, she went to open the door of the room, before Nan Xue could speak, she walked in on her own, and closed the door with a bang, Nan Xue stood in a daze in the cold night.

She heard a click.

The sound of locking.

She panicked and hurried up the stone steps, her hands trembling a little, and the cold air she exhaled scattered a thin white mist in the night.She stood in front of her door and knocked hard: "Sister! Open the door."

The voice inside said, "My stomach hurts, please let me be quiet for a while."

"Stomach pain?"

Nan Xue persisted and asked, "Do you have any medicine? What do you usually take for stomach pain? I'll buy it for you. Can sodium bicarbonate tablets be used?"

"No need." The voice inside said softly, "Go to sleep, don't worry about me, it will be fine tomorrow."

Nan Xue stood anxiously outside the door, her palm pressed against the cold door, and said softly: "You can tell me if you have something to do, don't lock the door."

There was a bit of commotion here. The door of the room next door opened, and a fat girl came out from the door. She was Ying Ran's assistant. She walked over with her cuffs wrapped around her sleeves and asked with a frown, "What's wrong with Miss Yubai? Does it hurt?"

"She won't open the door."

Nan Xue frowned.

"Huh? Sick and emotional?"

She blinked.

This disturbed others, Shu Yubai sighed helplessly, Nan Xue could be so noisy, she hadn't expected it.She used to not want to disturb others, for fear of affecting their sleep.

Nan Xue tapped on the door a few more times.

Shu Yubai frowned, afraid of making a big noise, he stood up, walked over and opened the door: "It's all right."

She looked at Ying Ran's assistant and said softly, "Go and rest, I'll be fine after lying down for a while."

"Really?"

Ying Ran's assistant glanced at her. His face was pale. She frowned and said sympathetically, "Miss Yubai, pay attention to your body. Painting is too hard. Don't get tired. Your body is the most important thing."

"Thank you."

Shu Yubai said softly: "Go back to sleep, I'm really fine."

She glanced at Shu Yubai again, gave some instructions, and then turned around and went back.

In the cold courtyard, a piece of moonlight fell on the stone steps paved with green bricks.The shadow of the sycamore tree swayed gently in the cold wind, and under the eaves, there were shadows and indescribable loneliness.

There was silence in front of the door.

They were alone, relatively silent.

Shu Yubai sighed softly, glanced at this person, and went to close the door again.

"and many more."

The moment it closed, the door was held by a white and thin hand.

Shu Yubai raised his eyes.

Nan Xue stood there alone, staring at her blankly. In the night, her pale jaw was covered with a thin layer of glaze under the moonlight. She was at a loss, like a pitiful kitten with beautiful eyes. It was full of fear and anxiety.

"Sister, are you okay?"

she asked tentatively.

The moment Shu Yubai looked into those eyes, her heart ached, and a flash of strong unbearableness flashed across her, she was full of self-blame, and thought to herself: What's the matter?

Why are you still ignoring her? How can you be willing?

pitiful.

"Come in, it's cold outside."

Shu Yubai opened the door a little wider, seeing Nan Xue was still standing there, staring blankly at her, as if he didn't react.

Shu Yubai sighed softly, took her hand, hugged her lightly, and placed a comforting kiss between her brows.

Nan Xue suddenly opened her eyes wide, feeling flattered.

作者有话要说：感谢在2021-03-2122:27:44~2021-03-2222:44:27期间为我投出霸王票或灌溉营养液的小天使哦~

Thanks to the little angel who dropped the shallow water bomb: full of branches. 1;

Thanks to the little angel who threw the rocket launcher: one back;

感谢投出手榴弹的小天使：卡卡的2个；子枫1个；感谢投出地雷的小天使：零下CC3个；子枫、啊呀、嘻嘻嘻、墨染裳、只看好书的崽～、金桐玉女一笑倾晨、叶一、只我一人、小福星、城南青石1个；感谢灌溉营养液的小天使：玉黄大帝26瓶；12345、靳野.、努力努力再努力20瓶；P露to16瓶；波霸紅茶拿鐵10瓶；五花肉szd7瓶；xk5瓶；追男团看百合有冲突、77、小福星3瓶；沐悦、泰允是真的、程天啸2瓶；一只小桃子、深海电台、conico、匿星、50173482、sssteppen1瓶；非常感谢大家对我的支持，我会继续努力的！