salt by salt

The time with Song Chengni passed quickly, and as the end of the year was approaching, it would be unreasonable not to go back to Xu's house no matter what.

I lied to Song Cheng that my colleague would change shifts with me in an emergency, so he might have to go to work for a few days.He had no doubts, but said distressedly: "Are you going to work during the Chinese New Year?"

"This kind of private club is like this." I laughed, "Then I'm going out."

"Send me the address later, and I'll pick you up at night." He took my arm and handed me a washed pear, "I'll eat it on the way. I heard you have a cough these days."

"No need, I may have to work the night shift continuously, so I just slept over there..."

I took the pear casually, but I didn't expect that the feeling was not cold, but comfortable and warm.Song Cheng smiled: "I soaked it in warm water for a while, otherwise it would be bad for my stomach."

I said thank you in a low voice, tightened my scarf, pushed open the door and walked down the stairs. Song Cheng leaned against the door and winked at me: "Be careful."

The pear is heavy in the hand, exuding warmth, like a heart.

After getting out of Song Cheng, I took a taxi and went home first. I changed the down jacket I bought casually in the market into the shirt coat I usually wear, and went to the table to pick out a watch strap and put it on.I'm considered a junior in the Xu family, so I don't need to prepare red envelopes yet, but I still prepared a few for emergencies.

On the way back, I sent a message to Xu Yucheng. He has arrived and waited below for a while.He was leaning against the car and playing with his mobile phone. He still had a gentle and refined look. When he looked up at me, he smiled like a spring breeze: "Xiaoyan."

"Brother Yucheng." I opened the door and got in the car, "Let's go."

"The atmosphere may not be too good this year." Xu Yucheng said, turning the car and driving towards Xu's main house, "Dad is still in the hospital, and the control policy is tightened, and grandpa is not in a good mood."

"How is uncle?" I asked.

"Still the same, surgery the day after tomorrow."

He glanced at me with a hint of concern in his eyes.If I hadn’t known about his plan from Zhuang Lin, I would have thought he was a good son who was worried about his father’s health——Xu Yucheng seemed to see through my thoughts and said calmly: “Father is very important to the Xu family. In his hands, I also hope he gets well soon."

"What if it doesn't get better." I know that people who celebrate the New Year say this is bad luck, but there is nothing to shy away from in front of Xu Yucheng, "You... are you sure about dealing with Xu Yuzhong? Respect him..."

Xu Yucheng frowned slightly: "It's not that bad."

"...But when that day comes, there is nothing to be afraid of." He smiled slightly, "I have been working part-time at Xu's since I just entered college, and my father brought me to contact partners more often. Alright, Xiaoyan, Let’s not talk about that. Did you go back and look at the information about the investment in modern art project I talked about before?”

Mr. Xu likes to collect calligraphy, painting and antiques. Xu Yucheng fell in love with him and joined me in investing money to set up an art collection company.They say they are uniting with me, but in fact, I am only responsible for helping him to read the contract and planning documents, and occupying some of his shares for nothing.When it comes to calligraphy, painting and antiques, there is actually a lot of attention—most of the older generations who are in grades and can speak like them like these. The Xu family has been engaged in literary and artistic work for many years, and it is a good thing to do this.

In addition to investing in antiques, the company also hosted many modern art exhibitions during this period.What Xu Yucheng meant was to be close to the preferences of these second and third generations, and it was the best to have a relationship with them by relying on this.

"I see." I said, "I think this exhibition can be bigger. It takes half a year to plan carefully, expand the influence, and let others remember our company. It is more useful than implementing many dispensable small plans. .”

"Okay, let's go back and hold a meeting to talk about it. I also think it's better to invest more money to make it bigger. Don't young people nowadays have a herd mentality." Xu Yucheng nodded, "You can also invite some celebrities to promote it."

I casually responded, and lowered my head to reply to Song Cheng's message: I'm at work, remember to eat dinner on time.

His news came quickly: Yes, I will go to Lao Luo at night, have you brought the key?

Song Cheng moved very quickly, taking advantage of the good weather the day before yesterday and yesterday, he really changed into a 1.8-meter double bed and gave me a key.To be honest, I was a little uneasy when I took the key, but I was ashamed of his expectant eyes if I didn't.

I replied to him: yes, come back early, and take a look at our last photo by the way.

Song Cheng: Of course, you should be busy.

Xu Yucheng glanced at me: "Who are you messaging with? You have such a happy smile."

I looked up for a moment: "Did I laugh?"

"Dating?" He had a smile on his face, "Otherwise, why are you so happy after chatting?"

"No." I put away the phone, "My friend was joking with me."

He didn't ask.In my private life, Xu Yucheng has always maintained an attitude of turning a blind eye. I had been entangled with Yang Chen for a long time before, and he knew more or less about it, but he never mentioned it.This is Xu Yucheng's cleverness: he knows that he is only my elder brother, so he only does what his elder brother should do, and only asks what his elder brother is suitable to ask about, never exceeding half a point.

The security guards knew Xu Yucheng's license plate number, and the car slowly drove into the main house. I silently looked at the camphor trees on both sides of the road.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, there are already many people in the main house, and the relatives have basically arrived today, and the face is still peaceful and happy.Fortunately, I brought a red envelope. This year, several distant cousins ​​and cousins ​​who I am not familiar with have all given birth to children. Although I can't tell who belongs to which family, I can't go wrong with putting a red envelope on them.

"I thought you didn't bring it, and I prepared it for you." Before the meal, Xu Yucheng whispered to me, "Xiaoyan has grown up, and he is more thoughtful about things."

"Really?" I smiled.There was a child who was just learning to speak, and passed me by the nanny in his arms. I just teased him for a while, and he called me "Uncle" vaguely, and he couldn't help feeling a little bit, "I'm finally Raised a generation."

"Will Xiaoyan stay to watch the night tomorrow?"

Xu Yuzhong came down from the stairs. He was only wearing a sweater. I don't know if it was because he was so energetic to take over the company during this period of time. His complexion was much better than the last time I saw him.Although he was arrogant, his attitude towards me was not bad on the surface, "I asked them to arrange a room for you. This year, there are more people than last year. If you stay, tell me in advance."

"I won't stay if there are too many people this year." This is exactly what I want, and I don't want to stay any longer. "Thank you Brother Yuzhong."

"Okay." He didn't hold back, glanced at Xu Yucheng, and said as if commanding, "Yucheng, grandpa asked you to come with me to the study."

Xu Yucheng gave me a comforting smile, turned around and went upstairs with him.I was bored, the main hall was big, but the loud noises of the children really gave me a headache, and I didn't want to have any more flirtation with my relatives who had ulterior motives, so I just went to sit in the back garden for a while.

As soon as I walked into the garden to take a breath of cool air, my phone vibrated in my pocket.I glanced at it, and it was an unfamiliar number again. I thought that someone had changed the phone number again, so I picked it up: "Hi, how are you?"

"Brother." The familiar voice on the other end of the phone was Andre, "It's me."

"Why did you remember to call me?" I walked into the depths of the garden. Mr. Xu likes camellias, and the garden is full of bright double-petaled flowers. The border area code can't be displayed—"

"Brother, turn around."

The voice on the phone coincided with the reality, and I turned around in astonishment. Andre was standing at the entrance of the garden with the phone in his hand. For no reason, he reminded me of the image of a prince in a fairy tale, and looked into my eyes seriously.

"How long have you been away..." I couldn't laugh or cry, "Why are you back again? Are you tired?"

Surrounded by camellias, his pretty face is extraordinarily gorgeous, making one feel as if one is suddenly in an oil painting.It was an ordinary sentence that came out of his mouth like love words, every word was very solemn: "I can't leave you alone, I told my mother, and she agreed to come back to spend the New Year with you."

"Where am I celebrating the New Year alone, there are so many people in the Xu family..."

I sighed and walked towards him, being pulled into his arms by his hand.His lips brushed against my cheek, and his voice was close to my ear:

"But brother, I miss you very much."