warm winter

Jiang Zhilan walked quickly towards the security and inspection office, without a single pause.She was holding the corner of her clothes tightly with one hand, and unconsciously clutching the shoulder strap of her backpack with the other hand.The neck was already stiff, and I said silently several times don't look back, don't look back, and finally stepped into the field that Jian Xin and her eyes couldn't reach.

Jiang Zhilan suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, her tense nerves and body relaxed, and she passed the security check listlessly.He raised his eyes and scanned the electronic screen, followed the directions to the boarding gate.

I couldn't tell why I suddenly became nervous and at a loss when we parted, and I couldn't tell where the sudden sadness and disappointment in my heart came from.But the life experience in her 30s told her that such a reaction was not right, and she could not continue to think about it.

Jiang Zhilan bought a cup of coffee and chose an empty and quiet corner to sit down, half an hour before boarding.Outside the floor-to-ceiling glass are flights that are constantly taking off and landing, approaching and departing, with familiar logos and less common companies.

She took a sip of coffee, smacked it a few times, and laughed at when she became so sentimental.Such scenes of coming and going will be experienced every three to five times. Except for the longer flight time, how different is it from the usual business trips?

Jiang Zhilan quietly watched the flight take off and land outside the window, but she rubbed the phone screen back and forth, and suddenly there was a reminder that a new WeChat message had been received.

She unlocked it quickly, and when she saw the contents of the screen clearly, the corners of her mouth that were about to raise slowly flattened.She read the message silently, quickly replied to the other party, then locked the screen again, and then enjoyed the scenery just now.Only this time, she didn't expect any new news.

The news just now was sent by Ye Qing, asking her if she arrived at the airport smoothly, wishing her a safe journey by the way, and telling her to report her safety when she arrives in F City.

It is the acquaintance and tacit understanding between old friends for many years, like family care, gentle and caring, but never melancholy.

Jiang Zhilan sighed softly in her heart, and the boarding information rang in her ears.She got up and threw the coffee cup into the trash can, and stood in the line waiting to board the plane.

The plane slid out, the ground at Haicheng Airport became more and more blurred, and the scenery outside the window turned into white clouds, Jiang Zhilan dared to ask herself quietly: Who is the reason for the sadness of parting?

Jian Xinhe stood in the airport hall in a daze, the flight news to F City scrolled on the electronic screen, the status was from check-in to take-off, and the mobile phone she was holding tightly did not send out any news.

Obviously she came to deliver it in person, but Jiang Zhilan felt that it should be taken for granted, as if the whole purpose of the reception this time was to make an apology for Yuan Yuan.The more Jian Xinhe thought about it, the angrier she became, especially Jiang Zhilan's back that didn't turn her head back not long ago, just looking at it made her want to hit someone.

Just as he was about to turn around, Jian Xincheng hurried over, out of breath, his tie crooked.Jian Xinhe hadn't seen his second brother in such a reckless state for a long time, and his heart sank.

"Second brother, didn't you say that you don't have to come here specially because you are busy today, I can just send you off."

Jian Xincheng calmed down, swallowed and waved his hands with a ferocious expression.Even so, the first sentence he spoke was: "Where is Zhilan? Have you left yet?"

Jian Xinhe glanced at his watch, Jiang Zhilan's flight had already taken off, and the second brother asked such a question, it can be seen that he was so anxious that he didn't even care about the time.

"Just took off." Jian Xinhe said calmly.

Jian Xincheng was so annoyed that he wanted to stomp his feet. He pulled off his tie irritably and murmured, "I would have come out half an hour earlier if I had known, but I also encountered an elevated traffic accident and traffic jam. I am so mad!"

Jian Xinhe glanced at the second brother and comforted him: "You can't catch up even if you leave half an hour earlier. She went in as soon as she arrived at the airport, so you still can't see her."

Jian Xincheng suffocated, looking at his sister who was smiling innocently and innocently, he didn't know what to say.

Jian Xincheng hugged his younger sister's shoulders and let her go back in his own car.The depression in my heart is worrying that there is no one to talk to, and I am ready to vomit bitterness to Jian Xinhe.

"Xinhe, you said I missed it today, will there be another chance in the future?"

Jian Xincheng is quite frank, this question is a bit reserved, but Jian Xinhe understands it immediately.Ever since we met by chance in the hospital, the second brother asked her about Jiang Zhilan every now and then, and was caught by her several times when he showed his courteousness.

She vaguely guessed it in her heart, but Jiang Zhilan didn't seem to have that kind of intention, and the second brother kept walking in place, so Jian Xinhe didn't bother to stop him.But it's different now. Since the second brother asked this way, it's time for her to show her attitude.

"Second brother, I don't know if you have a chance, but I don't intend to let you have a chance."

Jian Xincheng didn't hear clearly at first, it was indeed a bit confusing.After he thought it through, he was too stunned to leave.

"Xinhe, what do you mean by that?"

Jian Xinhe followed and stopped, looking helplessly at the tall and burly second brother: "Second brother, you already understand, don't you?"

Jian Xincheng showed a puzzled and tangled expression, and thought for a while before digesting the shocking news.

"But, you didn't like it before..."

"You also said it was before."

Jian Xincheng is not stupid, when it comes to his sister, he still doesn't understand.Now he finally understands why every time when he inquires about Jiang Zhilan, Xin He always has a negative attitude of ignoring him, and he also understands the reason why his sister always takes the lead every time he wants to ask Jiang Zhilan.

Jian Xincheng was a little absent-minded, and a little sad. He finally met someone he felt, but he didn't want to become a rival in love with his sister.The point is, his sister has just come out of Yuan Yuan's emotional injury, and he really can't bear to let Xin He get hurt again.

"But, is she that? How does she feel about you?" Jian Xincheng didn't know how to express it more appropriately, so he could only express his concern clumsily.

Jian Xinhe smiled helplessly: "She doesn't know."

Jian Xincheng frowned and became worried: "Why is it the one who doesn't know? Xinhe, it's a disadvantage for you to always be so unilaterally tempted. In the end, you are the one who gets hurt."

In these years, I have seen too much Jian Xinhe's forbearance and waiting, but in the end it was all for nothing. Yuan Yuan didn't even know that there was a person who really liked her like that.

Bitterness flashed across Jian Xinhe's eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by clear expectations.

"Who said I would keep hiding this time?"

"Ah? What do you mean?" Looking at the back that was getting further and further away, Jian Xincheng ran after him with his long legs, "Xinhe, don't be tricky, tell me quickly, don't worry about me!"

**

It has been more than half a month since I returned to F City, and the summer vacation is coming to an end, and some students have already returned to school early.When Jiang Zhilan came out of the laboratory, the sky was still bright, but she felt tired.

Ye Qing told her that Yuan Yuan's home in Haicheng was almost decorated, and he showed her the ring on his hand with a shy tone and could not hide the sweetness in his heart.Jiang Zhilan said her blessings sincerely, and then quietly saved the picture of the ring.

Having known each other for many years, she wishes Ye Qing to be happy more than anyone else, but when she really saw the ring on her friend's hand that symbolizes a lifetime commitment, she truly felt that her wish for many years had come true.

At the same time, she had to admit that she was about to be singled out.At the age of more than 30, the tail of youth is almost out of control, and she still hasn't met the right person.

Jiang Zhilan propped her forehead with her hand, stared blankly at the picture while staring blankly at the picture, but her thoughts drifted away.After coming back for so long, apart from sending a few messages to Jian Xinhe on the day of arrival, there was no news from her after that.

Jiang Zhilan couldn't tell whether she wanted to hear from Jian Xinhe or not, but she knew that the other party would definitely come back when the summer vacation was over.However, in the last academic year before graduation, there is very little time to stay in school, and the return is only to deal with the matter of returning to China after graduation.

Thinking of this, Jiang Zhilan's eyes darkened.Even Jian Xinhe graduated and left, and only Yuan Yuan and her were left to depend on each other in F City from now on.But no matter how good and familiar Yuan Yuan is, he is just a friend's lover.

Hi!Thinking about something wildly again, Jiang Zhilan couldn't help but patted her cheek lightly, reminding herself not to think about it anymore.

"It must be the sweetness that Ye Qing stuffed into his brain recently!" Jiang Zhilan blamed her friend who recently shared a sweet relationship with her.

Jian Xinhe returned as expected, but he didn't tell Jiang Zhilan.They met again outside the laboratory, and as soon as Jiang Zhilan came out, she saw the person leaning against the car door.

A familiar figure, smoother long hair, and a side face that repeatedly appeared in her dreams.

A burst of inexplicable joy suddenly rose from the bottom of my heart, and before I could restrain myself, I stepped forward. It wasn't until standing in front of Jian Xinhe that Jiang Zhilan realized her gaffe.

I forgot to confirm whether the person came to find me, what if I was waiting for someone else?

Jiang Zhilan's embarrassment was resolved by Jian Xinhe's smile, because in addition to hearing the familiar laughter, she also heard the other party's straightforward invitation: "I just came back yesterday, and I was busy tidying up. I just had time to invite you to dinner today, you won't Do you mind?"

Ah, I came back yesterday, but I didn't know it at all, and I didn't go to pick it up.

Jiang Zhilan's face was a little slumped, and she seemed to have no interest.Jian Xinhe's worries and expectations, which had been held back for most of the summer vacation, were all lost at this moment, and he even felt that it was just wishful thinking that he rushed to find Jiang Zhilan before he even got back from the jet lag.

The second brother asked her more than once, didn't he get hurt after taking the initiative once?If I take the initiative again this time, will I be injured more seriously?

Jian Xinhe didn't answer because she didn't know what the answer was.She was just thinking that she had been by Yuan Yuan's side silently for so many years, so that she just missed the chance to speak.If she misses it again because of silence this time, then she will be very sad.

However, Jiang Zhilan's reaction really didn't give her the courage to speak up.

Seeing that Jiang Zhilan didn't answer, Jian Xinhe guessed that she didn't want to go.Out of politeness, she asked again, but this time her tone was flat and perfunctory: "Do you want to go?"

Jiang Zhilan, who came to his senses, certainly didn't want to miss this opportunity.These days, she has been thinking about Jian Xinhe, but she did not expect that when he came back, he would really fulfill the promise he made at Haicheng Airport.

"Of course, but I have to go back and change my clothes first."

Jian Xin raised his mouth slightly, scanned it from top to bottom, and said lightly: "You don't need to change it, and it's not like going to a high-end place to socialize. Besides, I've seen you wearing a hospital gown before. good-looking."

Jiang Zhilan heard a little praise from it, and seeing that Jian Xinhe had already sat in the car, she no longer pretentiously followed her into the car.

I don't know where Jian Xinhe found out about it, so he took her to an unremarkable small Chinese restaurant, but there were quite a few people waiting in line.

Full of food and drink, Jian Xinhe was not in a hurry to pick up the car. He glanced at the person who was half a body behind him, bit his lip and struggled with how to speak.

"Xinhe, the car is parked over there." Seeing that Jian Xinhe was about to walk over to pick up the car, Jiang Zhilan hurriedly reminded her.

"I know." Jian Xin and her footsteps continued.

"Do you have something on your mind?" Jiang Zhilan followed quickly, walking side by side with Jian Xinhe, both of them slowed down.

Jian Xin and Yandai glanced at her hesitantly, then looked back to the front, and her heartbeat gradually accelerated.

Jiang Zhilan rarely saw Jian Xin like this, and thought she had encountered something difficult.At the dinner table just now, they had a very happy conversation, and the brief separation made their attitude towards each other much closer.

"I have something to say, but I don't know how to say it better."

"Is it a troublesome matter or is the other party a difficult person to deal with?" Jiang Zhilan subconsciously felt that Jian Xinhe was complaining to her.

Jian Xin and Mo Mo rolled their eyes in their hearts: Jiang Zhilan is the one who most needs to change the gene sequence.

"Things are not too troublesome, and the other party is not too difficult to deal with."

If this is the case, why are you so entangled?Jiang Zhilan was even more puzzled: "Then why are you so embarrassed?"

From the moment we met, Jian Xin and the joy in his eyebrows were always mixed with inadvertent melancholy.Jiang Zhilan was quite familiar with this kind of melancholy, but she didn't expect Jian Xinhe to have it too.

Before Jian Xinhe returned to the United States, he thought about such a scene countless times, but when he saw it, his mind was blank.She was annoyed that her character was still not direct enough.

Jiang Zhilan became worried, and lowered her head slightly to look at her beautiful eyes covered by her long hair: "What's the matter?"

It's probably not an ordinary thing that can make Miss Jane so entangled.

Could it be something happened between Yuan Yuan and Ye Qing?Jiang Zhilan's expression changed when he thought about it.But before she could speak, the touch of her hand made her tremble all over.

She was suddenly held by someone, the kind that held her tightly.

It's not the first time I've touched Jian Xinhe's hand. They also had more intimate contact, such as hugging, such as holding hands, but they all happened on specific occasions.

Like today, it was the first time to be held without warning.

Jiang Zhilan blinked her big bright eyes, and looked at the person in front of her in confusion.

"Now, do you know what I wanted to say just now?" Jian Xinhe's voice was not loud, and his tone was controlled and stable with all his might.

Jiang Zhilan trembled again, quickly withdrew her hand, and took two steps back.

Jian Xinhe was very hurt by her actions, she didn't expect Jiang Zhilan's resistance to be so obvious.

"Xinhe, did you make a mistake? I'm not..." Jiang Zhilan clarified subconsciously, and then stopped in the middle of speaking.

"Me neither, but because it's you, I want to give it a try."

Jian Xinhe has never said such a thing to anyone, even when facing Yuan Yuan before, she paid more than she wanted to gain.But when facing Jiang Zhilan, she couldn't hold back, so many emotions surged in her heart that she couldn't wait to speak them out.

Probably because he missed it once, let Jian Xinhe know that it is meaningless to wait blindly.Or maybe when she is with Jiang Zhilan, she can be herself more authentically, and she doesn't have to blindly show a gentle and tolerant side just because she is old.In front of Jiang Zhilan, she would lose her temper, become impatient, and speak sarcasticly, all of which she had never discovered.

She calmly thought about it, if she had to choose again, whether to be the gentle big sister who always stood by Yuan Yuan's side or to be the real and natural Jian Xinhe who did whatever she wanted in front of Jiang Zhilan, the answer was self-evident.

She wants to be herself, a Jian Xinhe who can be less tiring, and fully show her true side.

And the only person who can let her express it naturally is Jiang Zhilan.

Jiang Zhilan lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with her, obviously unwilling to accept her wishes.Jian Xinhe had thought about this possibility, but it was still unbearable if it happened.

She smiled wryly, "Did I scare you?"

Jiang Zhilan quickly shook her head in denial: "It's not that I'm afraid, I'm just..."

Jian Xinhe saw that she was not afraid, maybe he still had a chance, so he asked eagerly, "Just what?"

There was a little bit of starlight in her eyes, which was her only remaining hope.

Jiang Zhilan raised her eyes with difficulty, and the moment she met Jian Xin and her eyes, her heart twitched violently.She licked her hot lips, trying to sort out her chaotic thoughts: "I just never thought that you would have such feelings for me, after all, you have always been..."

She didn't say the rest, but they knew it well.

Jian Xin smiled shyly, she just had an unrequited love for a fruitless person for several years, so she had to keep explaining to others.

"Could it be that you once liked others, but now you are not qualified to like others?"

Jiang Zhilan was silent, she wanted to say no.But that person was Yuan Yuan, and she didn't want to get involved in such a complicated relationship.

Jian Xinhe already knew Jiang Zhilan's attitude, she had her pride, some things need not be said too clearly, as long as both parties know.

Jian Xinhe drove Jiang Zhilan back, and the two of them didn't speak any more along the way.The car was parked under the apartment building, and Jian Xinhe didn't turn off the engine.

"Thank you for the dinner, and thank you for your kindness."

Jiang Zhilan opened the car door and was about to get out of the car.

"Are we still friends in the future?" Jian Xinhe's face was hidden in the semi-darkness, and her expression could not be seen clearly.

"of course."

**

None of them mentioned what happened that night again, it was like a dream, but both of them dreamed it.Jian Xinhe was busy with various chores before graduation, while Jiang Zhilan devoted herself to the new research project.

It was Yuan Yuan who organized several dinners before bringing the two together again.Yuan Yuan has been in good condition since he came back from Haicheng, his study and life are arranged in an orderly manner, and his cooking skills have also been improving.

"What have you been up to lately? I always say that I don't have time to invite you to dinner. How long does it take to get them all together?" Yuan Yuan served them each with a bowl of soup.

"Something happened."

"Work."

After finishing speaking, Jiang Zhilan and Jian Xinhe were startled, looked at each other again, and then quickly looked away.

Yuan Yuan looked at the unnatural two people, and the radar in his heart was rumbling.

"No matter how busy you are, you have to combine work and rest. Besides, Xinhe is about to graduate, and it may be difficult to see each other in the future. We should cherish the time we can get together." Yuan Yuan put ribs in their respective bowls.

Jiang Zhilan slammed the hand holding the chopsticks, and dropped one of the chopsticks on the floor.

"I'll change a pair of chopsticks for you." Yuan Yuan picked up the chopsticks on the ground and walked quickly to the kitchen.

In the living room, only two people were left silently facing each other.

Jiang Zhilan was the first to lose her composure: "When are you planning to return to Haicheng?"

Among the people at the same table, one had no chopsticks, and the other hadn't come back from the table. Jian Xinhe felt embarrassed to eat alone.

"have not decided yet."

"It's less than two months before graduation, and you haven't decided yet?"

"I didn't say I would go back after graduation. Maybe I want to continue my doctorate."

The speed of Jiang Zhilan's brain dropped significantly, obviously he did not expect Jian Xinhe to have such a plan.

She simply sighed: "It's very hard to study for a doctorate, and if you don't do it, you will become bald."

"Pfft, then why are you not bald, your hair looks pretty good."

Jiang Zhilan's face turned red in disbelief, and she had to pretend to be calm and explain: "I am a special case. I am more suitable for studying, so I only know how to read."

"You mean to say that I'm stupid and not suitable for reading?"

"That's not what I mean. I just think that I can do nothing but study. Unlike you, there is a wider sky after graduation, and there are infinite possibilities in the future."

Speaking of this, Jiang Zhilan realized the reason for hastily rejecting Jian Xinhe that day.She always felt that Jian Xin and He would return to Haicheng after graduation.She is unwilling and afraid to challenge a foreign relationship, especially in her 30s.

She is not Ye Qing, nor is Jian Xinhe Yuan Yuan, besides, who knows what the outcome of the five-year test will be.She knew how difficult her friend's journey was. She wasn't sure if she could persevere, and she didn't want Jian Xinhe to go through another suffering with her.

This girl has been hurt once, and she deserves a better future, not jumping into a more tormenting sea of ​​fire for herself.

"You don't want me to stay in the United States?" Jian Xinhe guessed what Jiang Zhilan meant. They hadn't met alone these days, let alone talked about such topics.

Jiang Zhilan shook her head lightly, and sighed: "This is not something I can decide whether I want to or not."

"What if I say yes?"

Jiang Zhilan looked up and saw Jian Xin and the faint smile in his eyes.

After staring at each other for a long time, Jiang Zhilan's wavering heart gradually stabilized.She is still not sure about the future, but she already knows the attitude of the person sitting across from her.

If you refuse to start a relationship because you are afraid it will not work out, is it responsible or cowardly?Jiang Zhilan still couldn't find the answer.She looked for examples from what she saw and heard around her, but found that every couple has a different way of getting along, and the ending is naturally different.

Love is probably the most unpredictable thing.Jiang Zhilan had never understood this subject, but the person in front of her gave her the temptation to try it.

"If you give me such a qualification, then my answer is, yes."

The author has something to say: The two of them belong to the semi-open type, let the natural development type