Contention

I was in a hurry, and I deliberately transferred from Pudong to Oucheng. It was noon when I arrived, but unfortunately it was still freezing, and the ocher black sun was slanting high, but it didn't help.

I didn't get used to it for a while, even though I put on a woolen coat, my hands and feet were still cold and stiff.

Lu Yuexi gave Assistant Wen two days off and asked her to go home and have a good rest. After parting ways at the airport, she also took a taxi back to Lu's house.

I couldn't take care of unpacking my luggage, and I was depressed, so I fell asleep when I was tired.

She had a lot of plans when she went, and she also wanted to surprise Zou Feiniao and walk around.But he didn't want to argue and returned home in embarrassment.

At the age of 30, I really live more and more.

After that day, she and Zou Feiniao temporarily lost contact.

This child is too entangled and has too many thoughts, and finally poured out everything like beans in a bamboo tube. It is not a bad thing for both of them to calm down and think about it.

Lu Yuexi didn't talk about it, and Wu Rurong could only say that she had a good time in New Zealand when she asked, but Lu Min didn't dare to mention it, so as not to be framed by these two people:

"At that time, people were regarded as a substitute for comfort. They deserve it now that they have pimples in their hearts and don't believe you anymore."

In this case, Lu Yuexi would get a headache just thinking about it, let alone talking about it.

She has been concentrating on her work for the past two days, socializing everywhere in the south and north of the city, and she will go to dinner when someone invites her. Make her crazy.

This day, she was passing through Shuanglong Road. She rushed to the appointment, but got stuck at the traffic lights, so she had no choice but to swipe her phone.

When I looked up, I saw a traffic policeman standing there, a man, directing traffic.

This scene was unremarkable, but Lu Yuexi's mind moved. Remembering what Ye Huai had mentioned to her, she finally opened the chat box and sent a message to the other party: I'm back, and when the time comes, I'll go to Uncle He's place, and I'll bring the painting there Bar.

Ye Huai returned quickly, and said: I haven't been there for a while.

Lu Yuexi was puzzled: Did you quarrel?

Ye Huai said: No, their relatives have come to visit these few days and live with them to help take care of them, so it's not interesting for me to go.

Lu Yue understood.But if you don't go to He's house, will this painting be sent to the traffic police brigade?

Just about to ask, Ye Huai sent a message: If you are free this Sunday, please bring the painting to my house.

The horn sounded loudly, and the car behind her was urging her endlessly. When she looked up, the red light turned green, and the car in front had already left. She couldn't blame others for urging her.

Lu Yuexi put down his phone and concentrated on driving, but his thoughts were a little messy.

She is now convinced of her feelings for Zou Feiniao, and she has no intention of treating her as someone else. As for Ye Huai, those ten years were too long, and it is impossible for her to meet again without turmoil in her heart.

However, when she was arguing with Zou Feiniao, the look in the child's eyes when he mentioned the word "Ye Huai" was really heartbreaking.

It's better for her to avoid suspicion.

Lu Yuexi thought about it until the car was parked in the open-air parking lot outside the hotel gate, then he took out his mobile phone and replied Ye Huai's message: OK.

It's about Sunday morning.

Lu Yuexi got up early in the morning, took out the painting, and put it in the locker in her room.

The back of the drawing paper is brushed with natural beeswax, and the front is coated with varnish, and it is mounted in a fir wood frame.

She rarely took it out, so there were not many traces of oxidation on it, and even the paper was as white as new, without any yellowing.

When Lu Yuexi took it out of the locker, the curtains on both sides of the floor-to-ceiling windows were blown up by the wind, bringing a trace of moisture.

She lowered her head, as if she could still smell the lead-heavy turpentine.

This thing was given to her by He Ying, she didn't have any idea when she asked for it, it was just for fun.Now that He Ying is gone, someone needs this painting more than she does.

After wrapping the picture frame in foam paper and putting it in a cardboard box, Lu Yuexi carried it under his arm and went downstairs.

She walked fast and didn't even eat breakfast. When Lu Heng called her, she just said, "I'm going to eat at a friend's house."

Go first to Wu Rurong's house.In order to welcome her, Miss Wu personally cooked a pot of seafood noodles. The advantage is that the friendship between the two of them is rock-solid, and Lu Yuexi finished the bowl without changing his face.

Before getting in the car, Wu Rurong was still hesitating: "...how about I don't go, you and Ye Huai still have something to say, how embarrassing it is for me to go, why don't I sit there and pick my nails?"

Lu Yuexi said lightly: "You can sit there and do whatever you want, but you have to go."

Wu Rurong groaned and got into the car, but didn't take the child with her, and told her mother to look after her, lest it would be more embarrassing to take it to Ye Huai's house.

It has been several years since Ye Huai's house has been visited, but Lu Yuexi still remembers the address.After all, once so caring, it is difficult to forget.

When the two arrived, Ye Huai was boiling water in the kitchen. The room was small, and Lu Yuexi could hear the gurgle of white water as soon as he entered the door.

Seeing Wu Rurong following, Ye Huai didn't respond, and nodded to her as a greeting.

Wu Rurong was uncomfortable, scratching her head and looking around.He was usually very familiar with someone, but now he seemed to have lice all over his body, secretly pinching Lu Yuexi in the corner, hinting that she should leave soon.

Ye Huai said, "Sit down."

Seeing them sit down, they brought two bottles of milk and some wheat-flavored buns to treat them, and then went into the kitchen by themselves.

Lu Yuexi put the paper box containing the paintings on the coffee table, glanced at it casually, and suddenly noticed that the glass surface at the corner was knocked, as if it had been smashed by something, and there were cracks.

"Hiss." Beside him, Wu Rurong tore open the wrapping bag of the bun in boredom, and slowly began to eat it.

Lu Yuexi withdrew his eyes calmly, got up and went to the kitchen.

The water was already boiling, but Ye Huai didn't move, staring at the steaming electric kettle in a daze.There is also an enamel cup on the counter, and some scattered medicine boxes beside the enamel cup.

Lu Yuexi glanced at them, quetiapine fumarate, bupropion, venlafaxine hydrochloride, and a box of licorice tablets.

His heart sank, and he couldn't help but ask, "Why are you still taking medicine?"

Ye Huai seemed to have just noticed her existence, frowned reflexively, looked over, and said in a calm tone, "It's not like you can get it right just by thinking about it."

Lu Yuexi looked at her calmly, and sighed: "The matter of He Ying...you still can't let go of it?"

Ye Huai was silent.

After a long time, she shook her head lightly and said, "There's nothing to let go of, Ah Ying, she..."

Pale and chapped lips parted slightly, fingers compared to heart, "I've always been here."

Lu Yuexi was a little upset, and couldn't help rubbing his face again.

Ye Huai glanced there with dark eyes, and finally made a move.She took the kettle off the heater, poured a glass of water into the enamel cup unhurriedly, and asked, "What kind of person is he?"

"what?"

Ye Huai lowered her eyes: "Just ask, the one who put on the ring with you."

Lu Yuexi didn't expect her to ask this, and she was at a loss for words for a moment, before replying: "...she is a very good girl."

"girl?"

"Well, many years younger than me, studying abroad."

"Oh." Ye Huai picked up the enamel cup and blew it gently, "All the family members agree?"

Lu Yuexi automatically skipped Aunt Fang: "Yes."

Ye Huai remained silent, and continued to blow the water in the cooler cup, feeling that it was almost done, then picked up the medicine box to dig out the medicine in it.

There were noises outside.Wu Rurong couldn't sit still, she was talking on the phone with her family.

Slowly swallowing the medicine, Ye Huai took another sip of water and said, "Congratulations."

Lu Yuexi was a little surprised. With Ye Huai's temperament, she thought that she would be the same as last time, and sighed inexplicably, "It doesn't make sense", anyway, it wouldn't be a good word.

Now came the sentence "Congratulations", although it was a scene, more perfunctory, but she listened, her heart relaxed a little, and she said with a smile: "Thank you."

They went out of the kitchen together, ready to look at He Ying's painting.

Wu Rurong has finished making phone calls and is drinking milk.Although she was reluctant to come here this time, she still leaned over to have a look when they unpacked the cartons to get the paintings.

At first glance, he was speechless.The three of them were silent, Ye Huai was even worse, his eyes were red with just one glance.

Because Lu Yuexi had seen it many times, he was not as solemn as the two people next to him, but he was also not in a good mood, so he unconsciously glanced at Ye Huai's reaction.

The painting is not a peerless masterpiece, but because the person who created it has passed away, it is very special and precious.

The color on the paper is heavy, with a high degree of contrast, and the bright red is particularly dazzling.The withered trees and the waning moon gave off a cold light, and there were no tombs, but they were gloomy. Anyone who glanced at them could describe He Ying's mood at that time.

Sick and hopeless, suffocated but calm.

Wu Rurong couldn't make jokes anymore, she lowered her voice, and just wanted to go away first: "I'm going to the bathroom."

Ye Huai pointed her in the direction, and Wu Rurong hurriedly put down the milk carton, and disappeared without a trace.

"What did Ah Ying say at that time?" Ye Huai said hoarsely, "Why did she give you this painting?"

"I'll give it to her if I want it." Lu Yuexi sighed, "During that time...she was quite peaceful, and she wasn't very emotional."

Ye Huai frowned slightly, endured for a moment, and finally calmed down.Stretch out your right hand and slowly stroke the drawing paper across the air, as if trying to feel its texture.

She looked intent, almost devout.

Lu Yuexi suddenly discovered that there was a shallow scar on the ring finger of her right hand, which was slender and inconspicuous.

She didn't have this scar before, at least Lu Yuexi had never seen it, and it was still on the ring finger.

Inexplicably, Lu Yuexi looked down at the ring on his hand.

At that time, He Ying also had a ring on her hand. It was a plain 925 silver ring. Lu Yuexi remembered it clearly. After all, it was Ye Huai who put it on for the other party.

Later, when He Ying died of illness and saw Ye Huai again, it stands to reason that she should also be wearing the corresponding ring on her hand. Lu Yuexi thought about it carefully, but Ye Huai's hand seemed empty at that time, without anything.

Until now, it is still the case.

Is it because she doesn't want to wear it, or is there some other reason?

After thinking for a while, he said: "When He Ying was buried, the ring on her hand was put in a box by her mother and she took it down with her. You should have one too, right?"

Ye Huai paused, and said lightly: "Yes."

"What about the ring?" Lu Yuexi was thoughtful, "I didn't wear it because I avoided suspicion?"

"No." Ye Huai pursed her lips, her sparse eyebrows and eyes looked a little gloomy under the light and shadow, "I lost it."

Lu Yuexi remained silent.When she said "lost", of course she didn't lose it by accident. Ye Huai was cautious and would not throw away such a valuable thing.

"Is... throw it away?"

"Ah."

"Why did you throw it away?"

The corner of Ye Huai's mouth twitched, and he looked at her deeply, with obvious pain in his eyes: "...I didn't hear her lie, I thought she was really...so the next day when I passed by the river, I just..."

"At that time, she was really struggling, and she felt very uncomfortable."

"I know, I know." Ye Huai's voice was very soft, and he paused every word, as if he couldn't breathe.She looked at the painting on the coffee table again, and her tone gradually became a little ethereal, "I deserve it, I didn't notice that she was not feeling well, Ah Ying probably blamed me for not caring and was angry with me. I don't treat her enough. Well, even the ring is thrown away now, no wonder she refuses to see me no matter what."

"..." Lu Yuexi stopped talking, and his eyes fell on her hand inadvertently again.

Without asking too much about this scar, it is already obvious how it came about.

The atmosphere between the two was dull, Wu Rurong finally came back, Lu Yuexi and her looked at each other from a distance, and said, "Since this painting was drawn by He Ying, it's best to put it here with you."

After hesitating for a moment, he gently put his hand on her shoulder, "Ye Huai, take care."