Overtone

The days passed by in a flash, and it was after the Spring Festival in a blink of an eye.

Qi Ye worked overtime for several days in a row, and even stayed in the bar during the day. Although the boss didn't pay him extra salary, he just stayed and killed some time.

The pre-approved Spring Festival leave was also cancelled, saying that I would go back to see my parents after the spring.

This alone made Xiao Chen unable to understand.

He glanced at Qi Ye who was leaning against the orchestra pit and playing with his mobile phone, and then arched his boss: "What's the matter this time?"

"Don't gossip like that, it's not good to gossip." The boss put away the shaker and said.

"I'm not curious." Xiao Chen said, "Now seeing him come here so early, sometimes smiling at me politely, I'm afraid, really."

"I'm broken in love." The boss clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"Really?"

"Really, does this have something to do with you?" The boss gave him a blank look: "Go and wipe those wine bottles."

As soon as the words fell, Qi Ye got up and looked like he was going out to smoke.

"Xiao Qi." The boss called to stop him, "You don't come here for a few days, I'll give you a rest."

Qi Ye was taken aback.

"I haven't rested for two weeks." The boss glanced at him, "Take a rest, if you come to a few more classes, Lin Wen will probably have to settle accounts with you."

Qi Ye laughed a little: "Okay."

In fact, it is not necessary to stay in the bar, but how should I put it, it seems that time runs faster only when I am working.

After coming out of the bar, Qi Ye walked along the street, and before he knew it, he walked a long way and reached a long street.

When hitchhiking last time, Qi Ye told Xiao Cheng that this long street is full of western food and brunch, and the environment is quite good.

After a while, I called Zhou Qun.

"Brother, you asked me to come out for dinner at this time?" Zhou Qun glanced at the garden house in front of him, "The sun really came out from the west."

"You don't want a free lunch?"

After taking a seat on the terrace, Qi Ye ordered a large combo platter. The poached eggs and bacon salad were all put together, which saved trouble and didn't bother to think about it.

Seeing Qi Ye ordered a glass of iced Americano, Zhou Qun still smiled: "It's true, I haven't seen such a big change in a few days."

Qi Ye didn't speak, pushed the menu over, and lit a cigarette by himself.

Zhou Qun didn't order the fancy Internet celebrity set meal, just ordered a German sausage with green bean puree, and then asked with his arms up, "Tell me, is it about Professor Xiao?"

Qi Ye stroked his chin: "Not exactly."

Zhou Qun looked at him quite understandingly, flipped through his phone, and called up a media report: "It's because of this."

"Okay, I've seen you before, turn off your phone soon." Qi Ye glanced at the photo of Zhou Sijia and Xiao Cheng attending the reception together, "I know you're bad, but I didn't expect it to be so bad."

"This has to be dealt with head-on." Zhou Qun said, "It's not a good idea to avoid it all the time."

Qi Ye didn't make a sound while listening. He was smoking a cigarette while flipping through his Wechat circle of friends.

After a while, there was a sudden "ah".

"Professor Xiao posted on Moments?" Qi Ye rubbed his eyes to make sure he read it correctly.

"Where is it?" Zhou Qun looked around for a long time without seeing him, and looked at him suspiciously, "It didn't happen."

"Just..." Qi Ye just wanted to say it was a photo, but suddenly realized that he and Zhou Qun had not added the same WeChat account, "Oh, I didn't post it, I read it wrong."

"what?"

"I saw a similar profile picture just now, and thought it was Professor Xiao's post on Moments."

Even so, Qi Ye's eyes still fell on the phone screen.

The content of Xiao Cheng's post was very simple, there was only one picture, and the date stayed two days ago, when he was working the most overtime.

Qi Ye recognized this place. It was the view from the Broadway street that bends from Times Square. After walking a dozen meters, he could see the theater where Hamilton was performed.

It's just that, apart from this photo, there is nothing about positioning, text description, or symbols.

It's quite rare to see Xiao Cheng posting in Moments.

Qi Ye was thinking of giving him a thumbs up, but just as his fingertips touched the screen, Xiao Jing commented on several symbols of applause below.

So the idea was taken back.

Not to mention, this matter is quite difficult.

"Brother." Zhou Qun clinked a coffee cup with him, "Don't think too much, wait for Professor Xiao to come back, ask carefully."

Qi Ye closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose: "What else is there to ask, everything is here."

Besides, that's all I asked.

"Speak directly." Zhou Qun looked at him, and suddenly said seriously, "Open your heart to him."

"Easy to say, go and try."

Qi Ye threw a cigarette to him, then looked at the street that had just been cleared of snow.

It was a rare sunny day.

The blue and clear sky, even the winter fog that lingered for many days, disappeared.

After bidding farewell to Zhou Qun, Qi Ye started to wander aimlessly again. His mobile phone stayed on the dialog box with Xiao Cheng, but he didn't type anything.

As night fell, the shops on the street hung up banners, all of which were warm-up activities for Valentine's Day.

This year’s Chinese New Year coincides with Valentine’s Day, and before the stores could replace the Chinese knots, they hung up pink balloons in a hurry.

He thought that he couldn't miss any festivals, but Qi Ye couldn't do it by himself.

Following the crowd, Qi Ye turned a few turns, and a flower shop on a street corner suddenly appeared in sight.He couldn't help but stop, and stood not far away, just looking at it, his eyes gradually softened.

—It was a bouquet of Ecuadorian roses.

Against the background of flame orchid and frangipani, it blooms enthusiastically.

Qi Ye didn't know how long he looked at it, but his phone's screen was still on, and when he recovered, he had already entered the flower shop.

"This is a new product this year." The clerk watched him staring at the rose, and was about to introduce it, but Qi Ye asked, "How long is the flowering period?"

"About a week," replied the clerk, "if you are careful, you can extend the time."

Qi Ye said "hmm", he gently touched the petals, and said to himself: "So... no matter how beautiful it blooms, this flower will not last long, right?"

The clerk was slightly taken aback, but didn't respond.

"I'm sorry." Qi Ye looked away from Rose and smiled, "I just said it casually, don't take it to heart."

Before leaving the flower shop, Qi Ye still bought two roses.

There is no other meaning, I bought it when I thought it looked good, just like the roses that have been kept in Xiao Jing's place all year round, wait until they wither, and then see if I want to buy another one.

But having said that, Qi Ye thinks that Xiao Cheng's family likes flowers, especially Ecuadorian roses, even his sister likes to raise this category.

Qi Ye almost wandered back home.

By the time we got back to the bungalow, it was almost midnight.

At this time, the sky is full of stars, and the night is also cool, especially the moment when the moonlight shines through the thin clouds.

After entering the yard, Qi Ye was not in a hurry to go upstairs.

With a click, the spark lighted up for a moment, and he lit a cigarette.

The thick and slightly spicy smoke irritated his mouth, he squinted his eyes, and looked at the two roses through the gray mist.

For some reason, the unique tobacco scent of Marlboro lingering on his fingertips reminded him of Xiao Cheng again.

I should have come back yesterday, Qi Ye thought.

In fact, he didn't stare at Xiao Cheng and ask this, but two days ago, he received a screenshot of the itinerary without coding.

——It seems that all of this has become a habit.

For some reason, Qi Ye's vision blurred for a moment while staring at the screenshot of the flight information.

They are still connected.

Those bits and pieces that sink in the photo album can still be remembered.

Qi Ye watched it for a long time, and when he finally moved his eyes away from the screen, the phone rang suddenly.

Looking at Xiao Cheng's caller ID, he answered the call.

"Did you just get off the plane?" The moment the connection was made, Qi Ye glanced at Rose, lowered his head and lit another cigarette.

"Yeah." Xiao Cheng said, "I'm already home."

"New York is cold, it's the same here, don't catch a cold." Qi Ye couldn't help telling him, just like Xiao Cheng said to him many times.

"Ah."

Xiao Cheng responded lightly.

"Don't just listen, the temperature has dropped a lot in the past few days, and a cooling warning has been issued." Qi Ye raised his eyes to look at the sky, and all he could see was the sky filled with stars and the extremely gentle moonlight.

"it is good."

"It's so cold that the roses are thankful." Qi Ye followed softly, with a slightly lower tone: "It's true that there are no flowers in winter."

Xiao Cheng didn't speak there, just smoking a cigarette.

At this time, the two ends of the phone are connected together, and although they are silent, they can hear the breathing of the other party all the time.

It's really strange, even though they are quite far apart, Qi Ye feels that they are closely connected at this moment, just like Betelgeuse and Betelgeuse in the constellation of Orion, they can no longer be separated.

"Professor Xiao." Qi Ye said suddenly, "I'm serious this time, and I've thought about it."

"Me too." Xiao Cheng looked at the eternal flowers on the table, "Tomorrow night, are you free?"