I was the first to catch up

On the last day of August, Fang Ranran had just returned from Ming'an.She went to Ming'an this time to open a branch. The turnover of the breakfast shop has been very good in the past few months. She thinks this is a good time to open a branch.

But she didn't tell Yu Xiaomin about this. After all, if a branch is opened at that time, Fang Ranran must bear most of the expenses.Yu Xiaomin would definitely not agree, so Fang Ranran decided to go to Ming'an to have a look first.If there is a suitable place to consider this matter further, if not, don't mention it.

Fang Ranran vaguely realized that this was a troublesome matter, so she went to Ming'an without telling Yu Xiaomin.She said that she had something to deal with, and Yu Xiaomin would not ask.

And - I don't know if it's Fang Ranran's illusion or what, Fang Ranran always feels that Yu Xiaomin is very happy when she hears that she is going to Ming'an.

Thinking of this, Fang Ranran stopped, carried the suitcase and dialed a phone, the phone over there beeped several times before being picked up:

"Fang Ranran?"

For some reason, the voice over there sounded a little flustered, Fang Ranran frowned and said:

"I just got off the plane. Didn't I tell you? I—"

Oh yes, she didn't want Yu Xiaomin to take the time to pick her up, so she didn't say anything.

Fang Ranran stopped halfway through her words, and she changed her tone and said:

"What? Yu Xiaomin, you don't sound like you really want to see me."

Yu Xiaomin on the phone smiled when she heard the words, she said why, I just didn't expect you to come back so soon.

Fang Ranran gritted her back molars calmly.Obviously, she is not the only one who is imitating bad things now. Recently, Yu Xiaomin has also started to deliberately provoke Fang Ranran from time to time.

It's really abominable, Fang Ranran just took this trick from her, and every time she would be so angry that she would be a little depressed and unable to speak out.

"Then I'll go home directly. I wanted to go to the store to find you."

Fang Ranran said so bluntly, and Yu Xiaomin also replied bluntly:

"Okay, see you tomorrow, I happen to be very tired today, and I'm still busy in the store."

Ok? !

The corner of Fang Ranran's mouth twitched. She wanted to say something else, but Yu Xiaomin on the opposite side replied quickly:

"Okay, Fang Ranran, I still have something to do, you should go home quickly, Ang."

The phone was hung up immediately, Fang Ranran stared at the phone in a daze for several seconds, she just rolled her eyes in anger, and at the same time couldn't help thinking:

This woman really has something to hide from me!

She grabbed the suitcase and walked out angrily, and couldn't help but recall Yu Xiaomin's eyes that lit up before she left—as if she wished she would leave!

Fang Ranran got into the taxi, and an angry self was reflected in the rearview mirror. She tried hard to think about it, and finally came to the most likely conclusion:

Yu Xiaomin was tired of her.

——What nonsense are you thinking?

Fang Ranran realized that he was not awake at the moment, so he slapped himself on the forehead suddenly.But after thinking about it, she was still worried, so she turned her head and told the driver that she couldn't go back to her house, and went directly to Xiao Min's cafeteria.After she finished speaking, she regretted a little - even if she saw Yu Xiaomin, what could she say?She has nothing to do with Yu Xiaomin.

If you insist, it's just a relationship between friends with benefits—tsk.

Fang Ranran leaned there and sighed deeply.

As a result, the problem returned.

In the past few days in Ming'an, when she was lying on the bed alone in a daze, she would always think of this question.She wanted to call Yu Xiaomin and ask her what she was doing, and hoped to make a video with her, listen to her voice, and see her appearance.Whenever Fang Ranran wanted to do this, this question would pop up, and she would ask her: What are you?

what am iI'm Yu Xiaomin's reliable junior, and one of her closest friends, Fang Ranran can say that confidently.

But once "love" was touched, Fang Ranran could only think of the word "friend with benefits".

Maybe this is indeed the case, Yu Xiaomin's longing for her is just to satisfy his desire that he can't vent on weekdays.The reason for choosing Fang Ranran is that Yu Xiaomin does have some affection for her, and Fang Ranran is always by her side now, and these are indeed the only reasons for the current relationship.

When Fang Ranran tried to analyze all this with a completely rational mind, she could only come to this conclusion.

...Of course, if you want to look at all this with your emotional self.

Fang Ranran would say that Yu Xiaomin absolutely loves herself.

But if that's the case—

The car stopped.Fang Ranran paid, got out of the car, and stood by the street.

——Then why, Yu Xiaomin wasn't with her?

Such a fact made Fang Ranran suspicious, even anxious about it, and came here at this moment.

It's ridiculous to say that a month ago, she was still saying that this was enough, and she didn't have extravagant hopes.But now she's starting to make the same mistakes again.

Fang Ranran sighed, she shook her head to get rid of these thoughts, but when she reached the door of Xiao Min's cafeteria, she suddenly stopped.

In the evening, the street was a little dark, and the shutter door of Xiaomin’s cafeteria was tightly locked—generally speaking, there must be no one inside under such circumstances.

She was really hiding something from herself.

Fang Ranran clicked her tongue again. She took out her mobile phone, but when she wanted to make a call, she received a call from Yu Xiaomin first:

"Fang Ranran, are you home yet?"

Fang Ranran frowned and asked:

"I came to the store first, aren't you busy in the store? Have you gone home?"

"Ah, yes, I've gone home—well, I'm actually at your house right now...forget it, you wait for me there, and I'll be there right away."

The phone was hung up immediately, and Fang Ranran was stunned for a long time before realizing what Yu Xiaomin had said.

She sighed, since Yu Xiaomin said so, Fang Ranran had no choice but to sit on the suitcase and wait.

The weather was hot, the sky gradually darkened in the evening, and when it was completely night, it began to rain suddenly.

Fang Ranran quickly hid under the eaves, her shoes were a little wet, and Yu Xiaomin hadn't come yet, but her mood had gradually calmed down, and she didn't know if it was due to the rain.

Originally, she planned to question Yu Xiaomin when she came over, asking her what she was hiding from her, why she wanted her to leave so much, and whether she was tired of her—but now she felt that these questions didn't matter.

She has done her best to love someone. If Yu Xiaomin wants to continue their relationship like this, then Fang Ranran has no choice but to accept it.

From the beginning to the end, Fang Ranran played an active offensive role.But now she was tired—or rather, she was used to reaching out and failing.It's not "that's good", but "it's good if it's only this way".

She lowered her head and put her hands in her pockets.The rain drifted in a little.She wondered why Yu Xiaomin was so slow?She—will she come?

Fang Ranran was even a little sleepy - just as she was about to give up waiting and make a call to Yu Xiaomin, there was a pattering sound not far away.

It was the sound of footsteps on watery ground.The footsteps were fast, mixed with panting breaths - finally, Yu Xiaomin came to Fang Ranran.

There was a lot of sweat on her forehead - the reason was very simple, she was holding a big box in her arms, and the box was wrapped in a tarpaulin, but Yu Xiaomin herself was drenched.Fortunately, the rain wasn't heavy, so she could still stand in front of Fang Ranran and say intermittently:

"Yes—I'm sorry, I originally drove an electric car to your house. This box was originally placed at your house, and the electric car couldn't fit in the back seat, so I had to carry it here."

Fang Ranran frowned, she stretched out her hand to pull Yu Xiaomin under the eaves so that she would not get wet from the rain, and at the same time she said softly:

"Why are you here? It would be faster if I went."

Yu Xiaomin replied a little embarrassedly:

"I was too anxious just now, and my mind was full of thinking about rushing to your side and giving you this, so I didn't think about it that much. When I thought about it, I was already on the bus, and it would not be worthwhile to turn around and go back."

She returned with a smile, Fang Ranran turned her eyes to the box - for some reason, she always felt that the box looked familiar.

This size, and this shape—

"However, it rained so suddenly. The weather forecast didn't say..."

Yu Xiaomin looked up at the gray sky. The rain didn't show any intention of stopping, but it just got heavier.

Fang Ranran was taken aback for a moment, she suddenly felt that this scene was somewhat familiar.On a hot summer day, it rained without warning, at the door of the breakfast shop, and Yu Xiaomin standing in front of her.Fang Ranran seemed to have returned to that afternoon three years ago, the day she said goodbye to Yu Xiaomin.

It's just that she was the one who came to look for Yu Xiaomin that day, but now, it was Yu Xiaomin who ran all the way to find her.

At this moment, Yu Xiaomin said to her, Fang Ranran, look here.

Fang Ranran followed the sound and looked.

Yu Xiaomin squatted down and removed the tarpaulin outside the box, revealing the wooden box inside - Fang Ranran really recognized this box, she saw it every day at home when she was a child.

This is the box her mother used to put her paintings in.

Fangran then took a step back, subconsciously resisting the existence of the box.In her home, such boxes used to fill a room. She didn't know if other painters would use such wooden boxes to store paintings, but her mother would put every painting in a good wooden box. , a small part was sent away, sold, or given to galleries, and most of them were labeled and piled up.

"Yu Xiaomin."

Fang Ranran's voice was a little stiff.

"Where did you find this box?"

Yu Xiaomin seemed to have expected Fang Ranran's reaction, she smiled and said:

"Before you went to Ming'an, didn't I clean up the house for you? You were there at that time. I found that there was a door in the basement that was tightly closed and had never been opened. I asked you what the room was for. What, do you remember?"

Fang Ranran frowned, she nodded slowly, remembering that she replied at that time:

"Warehouse. Nothing to see, let's go."

Although Yu Xiaomin seemed to care about it at that time, she still didn't ask.Fang Ranran thought it was over like this, but Yu Xiaomin said that she went to the basement again when she was away. Although the door was closed, it was not locked, probably because Fang Ranran never thought of checking it out. it.

"After I opened the door, I found that there were a lot of painting tools piled up there, and there was a lot of dust. I was so choked that I wanted to clean up there——but, you hadn't gone to Ming'an at that time, and I was afraid that you would criticize me, so I always It was packed secretly."

No wonder she was so happy when she said she was going to Ming'an. With Yu Xiaomin's temperament, having such a room in Fang Ranran's house would probably make her scratch her head for a while.

Fang Ranran found it both funny and complicated.

"Then I found this box there——I just wanted to clean it up again to see if there were any other boxes. Later, after you went to Ming'an, I finished cleaning up that room, and there was indeed only this one box there. I After seeing the paintings inside, I thought it would be meaningful to leave only that box there.”

only this one?

Fang Ranran was stunned for a moment, she remembered that there should be a lot of boxes piled up there.However, when my mother moved out of the house later, she took many of her things away, and Fang Jiayuan came back several times, and it seemed that she also took some things out.

If you want to say that, it's really strange to leave only this one box there.

Fang Ranran lowered his head, watched Yu Xiaomin squat down, and opened the box little by little.The sealing property of this kind of box is very good. When it is opened, it is still very dry inside. There is indeed a painting lying inside, but it is covered by a white cloth and cannot be seen clearly.

"I, the first time I opened it up, the moment I saw it, I knew why it was in that house—where you lived. And then I thought, I've got to let you see it. I want to give it to you personally, preferably on your birthday."

"So, while it's a bit early—it's still a few hours before your birthday."

Yu Xiaomin smiled. She gently lifted the white cloth, and then stood up the painting so that it faced Fang Ranran.

"But, Fang Ranran, happy birthday."

This is a gift from your mother that was already prepared but delivered late.

Fang Ranran's breathing stopped - she saw herself.

It was an oil painting.The strokes are gentle and the shades are soft.She never thought that her mother could draw such a warm picture.

On the rectangular paper, the little Fang Ranran was sleeping soundly.

"My mother always sat there, with her back to me and her face to the canvas. She didn't say a word, she was colder than me, and she seemed to be forever frozen in the sunny place in the whole room."

The little Fang Ranran didn't understand why her mother could maintain the same posture, drawing from morning to night.One day she ran to her mother and asked, "Mom, what are you painting?"can i have a lookShe asked politely, as if the person in front of her was not her mother.Mother looked at the painting and then at her, and it took a long time before she said: You can't understand now.

Fang Ranran frowned and said, "Then can you draw something I can understand, I want to see it."

Mother paused for a long time, she said yes, and said: Then you sit on that sofa.

Fang Ranran nodded, and sat on the sofa obediently.At first she was able to hold on, and her waist was straight, but it happened to be noon, and she had just finished eating, so she was already sleepy.So slowly, her eyelids became heavy.

In the end, she didn't know when she fell asleep. When she woke up, she was already lying on the bed. She thought she was still dreaming because her mother was still there.She was sitting in front of the bed, half of her body was covered by the drawing board.Fang Ranran closed her eyes again, and fell asleep peacefully.

To this day, she has always thought it was just a dream.

Now, it's still raining.Fang Ranran stood there, tears dripping down on the ground.She tried to hold back, but failed.She wanted to speak, but her voice trembled when she spoke, so she could only bite her lower lip, sobbed for a while before finally uttering half a sentence:

"...I understand."

"Ok?"

Yu Xiaomin looked at her, quietly waiting for Fang Ranran's next words.

Fang Ranran let out a breath slowly, and said clearly:

"I said, I finally understood my mother's painting once."

At the same time as he said these words, the heavy and cold haze suddenly disappeared.It was the gloom that Fang Ranran had accumulated since birth, and it became more and more serious during the time of her mother's death.Even with Yu Xiaomin's company afterwards, Fang Ranran understood: it didn't disappear, it was only slightly relieved.

But now, these shadows belonging to the past have completely disappeared in the fine rain.

She seemed to be recovering from a serious illness, and her smile bloomed, Yu Xiaomin was stunned watching.Then she suddenly lowered her head, put the painting away carefully, closed the box, and spread the waterproof cloth.Then she stood up and came to Fang Ranran.

Yu Xiaomin raised her hand and stroked Fang Ranran's hair, just like she had always done.She smiled and said softly:

"Fang Ranran, are you satisfied with this gift?"

With tears in his eyes, Fang Ranran gave Yu Xiaomin a blaming look.

Ask knowingly.

Could there be a better gift than this?

Yu Xiaomin got the answer, she smiled and continued:

"However, this is a gift from Fang Ranran's mother. It's not from Yu Xiaomin."

Fang Ranran blinked, not quite understanding what Yu Xiaomin said.She didn't know what was going to happen next—because she never thought that these words would come out of Yu Xiaomin's mouth:

"Fang Ranran."

Yu Xiaomin took a deep breath, as if to cheer herself up:

"Although-although I am in my 40s, and you will meet more and more people in the future, who are much better than me, a hundred times gentler than me, and more glamorous than me. You will eventually go to a wider world The world, I know. But, even so, even so..."

When it came to the tail, Yu Xiaomin's voice also choked up.She didn't want to cry at first—she shed tears at such a time, it really doesn't look like an adult.

A truly mature and prudent adult would not say vaguely and whimperingly like she is now:

"Even so, if you still don't dislike me—"

Then we'll be together, shall we?

These words fell heavily in Fang Ranran's heart, creating a hole, which was quickly filled with something hot.The coming of meteorites is nothing more than this, right?Fang Ranran raised her face, and she stood on tiptoe - fortunately, the rain was so heavy that no one could see clearly what happened here.It's nothing to say, just a long, long kiss.

And this sentence:

"—I don't dislike you, Yu Xiaomin. I will never dislike you."

Please stay with me.

The author has something to say: At [-]:[-] p.m., I want to put an end to the story of Yu Xiaomin and Fang Ranran~