faint star

The subway stops at Jiqing Street East Road Station.

Xu Zhiwei followed the crowd out of the subway and walked towards the pedestrian street.This is one of the most prosperous areas in the city, and it is always crowded with people. When it comes to summer vacation, there are young people everywhere.

Xu Zhiwei arrived a quarter of an hour earlier than the agreed time, and he stood under the shade of a tree near the statue.The place was already full of people, most of whom had made appointments and were waiting to meet here.

Holding his schoolbag in his arms, he looked at the passers-by, not knowing which direction Gu Heng would come from.

It is said that there are many shops owned by the Gu family on this pedestrian street, but they can only be regarded as a drop in the bucket of the Gu family's property.

Gu Heng's father, Gu Changsheng, is very good at business, and there are all kinds of rumors, but there is one saying that is consistent - Gu Changsheng has many lovers, and even the most famous evening news anchor in the city is his confidante.It was rumored that he had several illegitimate children, but Gu Heng's mother didn't care. The whole family lived together like an ancient harem.

Most of the students in No. [-] Middle School come from ordinary, normal, and good families.Many of the students' parents are civil servants.The Gu family's lifestyle is too crazy for them.

Xu Zhiwei once heard a classmate say: "My family told me to stay around Gu Heng and not to mess with him. I heard that he beat someone when he was in junior high school, and let it go."

So in No. [-] Middle School, very few people took the initiative to provoke Gu Heng.

It is neither dared nor necessary.Because everyone knows that the Gu family is very powerful.

But Gu Heng doesn't seem to care that he is isolated by other students, he always walks alone.

Xu Zhiwei didn't know which part of her body attracted Gu Heng's attention.

While he was in a trance, he suddenly saw Gu Heng across the road.

Gu Heng was riding a small red electric scooter, waiting for the red light in an orderly manner. After passing the red light 20 seconds later, he rode over and stopped on the side of the road.

He is tall and tall, and the little electric car looks very delicate beside him.Watching him lift the car and stuff it into the gap is even a little funny.Xu Zhiwei couldn't help laughing.

Gu Heng parked the car, and soon saw Xu Zhiwei, waved at him, and strode over.

"What are you laughing at?" He asked Xu Zhiwei, but obviously knew why, and shook the electric car key in his hand.

Xu Zhiwei teased him: "I thought you were the young master of the Gu family. At least ride a Harley?"

Gu Heng simply said: "It's the Gu family's money, not mine. It's boring."

Xu Zhiwei didn't expect Gu Heng to be such a rich N generation, it's hard to say whether it's too cliche or not.

They walked side by side on the pedestrian street.Gu Heng didn't say their destination, but just took Xu Zhiwei to the depths of the pedestrian street.Many couples shopping around passed them laughing and laughing.

"You're still carrying your schoolbag, what did you bring?" Gu Heng asked.

Xu Zhiwei glanced back at his bulging backpack: "Water cups, and a few books, which are similar to what you usually go to school with. I told my grandfather that I have to make up lessons with my classmates, so I'm not at home during the day."

It sounds like Xu Zhiwei only

Grandpa takes care of him.

Gu Heng couldn't help asking: "You live with grandpa? Is there no one else at home?"

Xu Zhiwei showed a faint and self-deprecating smile: "Yes. I live with my grandfather, and there are only two of us, the old and the young, at home."

"Where are your parents?"

"They divorced when I was in elementary school. Later, my mother went to another city and lost contact with us. My father probably also wanted to leave this sad place, so he often took over projects from other places with his unit—he was an engineer. I just Live with grandpa and take care of each other. He gives us living expenses and will come to see us after the project is finished."

Gu Heng listened, hesitant to speak.

Xu Zhiwei was silent for a moment, and then said: "I never told anyone about this, even our homeroom teacher Lao Chen didn't know about it. Actually... my dad disappeared in another place."

Gu Heng was surprised: "How long? Did you call the police?"

"It's been more than a year. I called the police. But he said before that he wanted to start a business, so he resigned from the unit. Maybe he didn't develop well outside, so he didn't want to come back. The police said that such things often happen."

Gu Heng was stunned: "No wonder you said you have no money."

Xu Zhiwei felt a slight tingling pleasure.It's like tearing off the barb on the edge of a nail all at once.

"Well. Now it depends on grandpa's pension, but he is not in good health and suffers from many chronic diseases. It is a big expense to see a doctor and take medicine every month. Fortunately, my aunt usually helps out. But it is impossible for me to reach out to my aunt again. Need pocket money."

"Did he not contact you again? Didn't he even report his safety?"

"No... He told me some time before he disappeared that he would come to pick me up when he was settled. He just said vaguely, and there was no news after that. Every time my grandpa heard someone calling, he would think that It's my dad, he can think wildly, so I said this is my family's situation, and I can't make too many phone calls."

Gu Heng looked at Xu Zhiwei, his eyes were calmer than before.

Xu Zhiwei's heart beat faster.

What would Gu Heng think?

Do you think this story is too ridiculous?

But Gu Heng didn't comment any more.He just scratched his hair and complained: "It's too hot, eat some ice."

They rummaged through the freezer of the small snack shop on the street for a while, and picked out two salt water popsicles, the cheapest kind.

Gu Heng tore open the package and bit off a large piece in one bite.Xu Zhiwei felt a pain in the head just looking at it.He took a small bite of the popsicle, listening to the rustling sound, the icy and sweet taste melted in his mouth.

Xu Zhiwei couldn't remember the last time he went shopping here, the pedestrian street looked like it had changed a lot, and there were unfamiliar shops everywhere, so he could only follow Gu Heng.

After 10 minutes, they arrived at their destination.

Xu Zhiwei thought they would go to a game room or a KTV or something, but Gu Heng led him through the alley, and stopped at a quiet and beautiful shop with a signboard saying "Flower Face Photo Photography".

Gu Heng stretched out his hand to grab the doorknob of the black cylinder, and said to Xu Zhiwei, "Here we are, here."

Xu Zhiwei did not expect that Gu Heng would take him to a photography shop.

The first floor of the shop is not big, and it is clear at a glance.Entering is the teahouse for entertaining guests. A woman with a round face is recommending a set meal for the guests. When she sees Gu Heng, she asks the customer to look at the photo album by herself first, and then comes over to say hello with a smile: "Young master is here, what would you like to drink?"

Gu Heng introduced to her: "Sister Ning, this is my classmate, bring him to play."

Sister Ning wore light makeup, her hair was permed in beautiful curly curls, and only a strand fell on her temples. She looked mature and charming. She said, "It's so rare! You bring your classmates here, and you're still the same as the first one." once."

She greeted them warmly and went to get drinks.

Gu Heng responded familiarly: "It's okay, sister Ning, are you busy, Brother Mao Mao is upstairs?"

As he spoke, he dragged Xu Zhiwei upstairs.

The wrought iron staircase of the photo studio is made into an exaggerated spiral shape.Gu Heng went upstairs while explaining: "Brother Mao Mao is my distant cousin, and Sister Ning is his wife. They have worked hard for several years to open this mom-and-pop shop, and I often come to play."

Xu Zhiwei asked, "Are you interested in photography?"

Gu Heng paused and said, "It's okay."

The second floor is the studio, which is divided into several areas and decorated with different themes.

The owner, Mao Mao, and his apprentice are taking photos of the couple in the studio.

Gu Heng only glanced at the side, without disturbing them, and whispered to Xu Zhiwei: "Come here."

He led Xu Zhiwei to a room at the end of the corridor, and pushed open the door.The room looked taller and more spacious than the narrow corridor, but it was very messy inside. There were large and small decorative paintings on the walls, bouquets of fake flowers of various colors piled up on the cabinets, old brass-colored photo frames, and small props for shooting. .

Through these sundries, the corner of the room facing the window is arranged into a small studio.

A huge white cloth hangs down in front of the wall and spreads all the way to the floor.There was a stool for the model to sit on.

On the opposite side are easels and painters' seats, and it seems that someone has been painting here.Gu Heng naturally picked up the pen on the easel and drew distances.

Xu Zhiwei put down his schoolbag, although he didn't say it clearly, he vaguely guessed what Gu Heng brought him here for.

"Be my model. I want to draw you." Gu Heng finally confessed.

Xu Zhiwei sat down in front of the white cloth and asked, "Why?"

Gu Heng focused on his face, from forehead to eyes to mouth, and then repeated it slowly.

Xu Zhiwei didn't know whether he was measuring the position of the facial features with his eyes or evaluating his appearance.

"Zhiwei, turn your face to the left about 15 degrees." Gu Heng's voice was soft and beyond doubt.

Xu Zhiwei did as he did.

"That's right... raise your chin a little bit, that's all right," Gu Heng began to slide the tip of his pen on the paper, "Because you are very suitable to be drawn."

"Where does it fit?"

Gu Heng looked at him: "All."

Xu Zhiwei didn't know whether to take this as a compliment, so he could only adjust to a comfortable sitting position.

Xu Zhiwei is a model for the first time and has no experience.

"Can I speak?"

"Don't

say. "

"I just sit? It's so boring."

Gu Heng smiled reassuringly at him.Xu Zhiwei closed his mouth.

They fell silent at the same time.

Xu Zhiwei's mood gradually relaxed.At first he thought that Gu Heng was playing tricks on him, maybe Gu Heng just scribbled a pig on the paper.But Gu Heng sat opposite him, frowning slightly, his eyes focused.It was the first time Xu Zhiwei saw Gu Heng so serious.Although he has only really known Gu Heng for a few days, he is sure that Gu Heng is really serious.

Xu Zhiwei couldn't help thinking, could it be that Gu Heng wanted to be admitted to the Academy of Fine Arts?

So no wonder he went to the liberal arts class.

The corner of the equipment room returned to the quietness just now.Xu Zhiwei could hear the music outside the window facing the street, as well as the vague laughter of tourists.

From the corner of my eye, I could see extremely fine dust particles flying.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes - who would have thought that Gu Heng, whom everyone avoids, would paint in such a quiet way?One never realizes how many secrets another person has.

Fifteen minutes passed, maybe two 15 minutes...

Xu Zhiwei's gaze slowly shifted to Gu Heng's face again.When Gu Heng was not smiling, he had a different atmosphere, with sharp eyebrows and eyes, more like an adult man.

"Don't move." Gu Heng whispered.

Xu Zhiwei felt strange—it was just a change in sight, how did Gu Heng notice it?He was also a little guilty, afraid that Gu Heng might misunderstand something.

"I didn't move."

"You spoke."

Xu Zhiwei simply changed the subject: "Are you painting for fun, or are you planning to take the art academy exam?"

Gu Heng didn't answer, he stared at the paper as if carefully handling the lines, and said after a while: "Just drawing for fun."

He immediately realized the trap in Xu Zhiwei's question, and added: "Even if you're just drawing for fun, you can't move around. The angle of facing is different from before."

When they started "moving and not moving" the wheels, Sister Ning came upstairs to interrupt them, calling them to have lunch together.

Xu Zhiwei was still a little hesitant, but Gu Heng responded naturally, "We'll come down now." It seemed that this wasn't the first time he had a meal here.

But Xu Zhiwei didn't have Gu Heng's familiarity and thick skin, he was used to keeping people in mind, so he was a little hesitant about the hospitality, but it seemed to be a disappointment to propose to leave at this time.Fortunately, Gu Heng gave him a push: "Why are you being polite, I'm not inviting you to eat delicacies from mountains and seas."

Really simple fast food.

One serving of cold noodles per person.Alkaline water noodles, mixed with roughly cut cucumber shreds, fried peanuts, are the most common cold noodles on the street.The side dish is a well-known chain stewed dish. The cold dish is hot and sour and refreshing, and it is especially delicious when eaten with noodles.

They did not continue to paint the picture in the afternoon.

Gu Heng said that the light had changed, and he wanted to paint again tomorrow.Same time, same place.

Xu Zhiwei strongly expressed boredom again: "It's too boring. I can't bear this boredom."

Gu Heng laughed: "I thought you were a very patient person."

Xu Zhiwei didn't know where Gu Heng came from

This impression of him probably means talking about him being a good student.

He finally revealed his sincerity: "I thought you would take me to do something more exciting."

Gu Heng endured it, but still couldn't help laughing, he said: "You are so cute."

As he said this, he took out half a pack of cigarettes from his trousers pocket like a magic trick, tapped the cigarette box with his long fingers, took out a cigarette with his mouth, and pointed the opening of the cigarette box at Xu Zhiwei: "Your I mean, is it like this?"

Xu Zhiwei didn't hesitate, he also took out a cigarette and stuffed it into his mouth.

Gu Heng took out a lighter and lit it for them.

They were sitting by the stairs on the second floor of the studio.It is shady and there are few people here, but the view is not bad, and you can see patches of residential buildings behind the commercial street.

Dense greens are growing in every corner of the city in summer, and you can even see fluffy spider plants on the balconies of residential houses here.Gu Heng exhaled the smoke, Xu Zhiwei quickly learned it.

"The matter of your father's disappearance..." Gu Heng seemed to think that this was a good time to enlighten others.

Xu Zhiwei held his cigarette in his mouth, and said lightly, "It's okay. I won't be sad, I'm used to him not being at home anymore."

Gu Heng turned his face sideways and looked at the way Xu Zhiwei was holding a cigarette—his lips were a little thin, and his blood color was a little lacking. The way he pursed his lips to hold the cigarette was very natural, and it made people think for no reason—this People must learn everything quickly.

Gu Heng said slowly: "I mean, your dad has been missing for so long, in fact...you should be mentally prepared."

Xu Zhiwei looked at Gu Heng in confusion.

Does Gu Heng want to say that he should think his father is dead?This was something he had never thought of.