because i'm pretty

Yuan Zhiming seemed to be living leisurely during this time, but in fact he was hiding a subtle evasion.

What is the price of falling out with Gu Changfeng, they all know in their hearts - even if the other party does not reach the point of covering the sky with one hand, it is enough to affect the mainstream art circle in China.Yuan Zhiming frequently submitted resumes to advertising companies, but he did not submit works to galleries or art managers, because he knew that would only lead to nothing.

Although he never mentioned it, and even showed disdain for Gu Changfeng, he couldn't hide the decadence in his heart.Li Yikai sometimes even thought that maybe going abroad would be more suitable for him, but with Yuan Songqing's body like this, it was obviously not the immediate solution.

So when he heard about the student art fair, he was not as logical as he said, but felt that Yuan Zhiming had to go—he needed an opportunity to return to the art environment, and only creation could revive him. Let him actually get out and into those swamps.

"So what do you think of this idea?" Fortunately, Yuan Zhiming was very upbeat. He drew more than a dozen sketches and ideas in one night, and he had already explained it to Li Yikai before he finished brushing his teeth.

Unfortunately, Li Yikai didn't quite understand, and he was still not sober.

"Shaved ice? Why shaved ice?" Li Yikai asked.

"Did you listen?" Yuan Zhiming glared at him and repeated tirelessly: "Because shaved ice is the happiest thing in summer vacation, I don't want to put too deep ideas in this work, I just want to express pure happiness. And excitement."

He wants to make a simple version of the 3D projection room. When you walk in, you will feel like you are in the world of comics, in the sea or in the rain of petals. The video will end with a cold fountain. After the fountain is over, everyone will Get a bowl of sweet shaved ice.

Li Yikai woke up, spit out the mouthwash and said, "What else is happy? Soda? Iced watermelon?"

"But the shaved ice looks good." Yuan Zhiming thought about it for a while, and then had to admit: "If it was a random gift, maybe it would be more interesting."

"And if it is cheap, simple and happy," Li Yikai added, "this is like expressing the contrast between the happiness felt in the virtual image and the real happiness that is within reach."

Yuan Zhiming glanced at him: "Didn't you say you won't do these sublimation?"

"Let's add one more, master." Li Yikai wiped water on his nose: "Otherwise, how do you write the work description?"

Reasonable exhortation Yuan Zhiming was easy to accept, he pursed his lips and followed for a while: "Well, let me think about it again, maybe the fountain is not just a fountain... It would be nice if the screen interacted with reality, but like that It should be expensive..."

When mentioning money, Li Yikai suddenly had a flash of inspiration, turned around and asked, "Canvas sneakers are also quite simple and happy?"

"No!" Yuan Zhiming subconsciously yelled refusal, and then felt a little embarrassed, "I mean, I'll think about your sneaker project, but this, this I..."

"I know, I won't let commercial capital affect your creation." Li Yikai smiled and hugged him: "First make a work that makes you happy and makes others happy. If the initial plan is completed, I can give it to the manager. If they are interested, maybe they can allocate a sum of money from art sponsorship channels, if there is any opinion, let it be, we will not change it.”

"Oh, that's fine..." Yuan Zhiming rubbed his nose, apologizing for his narrow-mindedness.

Until after lunch, when Li Yikai packed up his things and was about to leave, he was still fiddling with this matter.

"Actually, if it is helpful to your project, you can also use this idea. There are no restrictions on the art market. I can think about it again. Moreover, the sneaker is also more important."

Li Yikai was a little surprised, but soon remembered something, and asked: "Then will you regret it?"

"Regret? I won't, I have seriously thought about it," Yuan Zhiming said.

Li Yikai felt that it was necessary to have a serious talk with him, so he put down the things in his hands and sat on the bedside: "If I complete the project because of your creativity, and it will flourish from then on, then one day, maybe in the company's public relations draft, Still making a big fuss with this idea, I continue to reap long-term benefits from it.”

"And then you, when you see that I am very proud, you will remember that this was originally your idea, but you gave up your favorite idea this summer and gave it to me, and then you can only retreat Second... what will you think then?"

"It's a bit regretful, but I won't regret it," Yuan Zhiming said seriously: "If you lose your house or fail in your business, I might regret it."

"But I will," Li Yikai said, "I will always think that all these achievements I have achieved are all done under the sacrifice of Yuan Zhiming. Money can be made again, and failures can be recovered; if you accompany I'm going through the lows together, and I'll be touched, but if you sacrifice what's most important to me for me, I'll be ashamed of you, no matter how good life can bring you."

Yuan Zhiming was a little confused, so he frowned: "Is it so serious?"

Li Yikai nodded, and said solemnly: "Yes, I just learned it recently, no matter how close we are, we can't blur this boundary. You can help me think of ideas, and you can cooperate with me, but don't let me be so easy for me. publish your work, for it is part of your soul. Love cannot steal it."

Yuan Zhiming was stunned by this great truth, and always felt that he meant something, but he never thought it through.

Li Yikai didn't allow him to think too much, and pushed him out of the bedroom, Yuan Songqing was waiting for them in the yard.The silver car reflected strong light in the afternoon, Yuan Zhiming still felt baffled, opened the car door and asked, "Is there something you are hiding from me?"

"I said yes, but I will tell you when we meet next time." Li Yikai said.

"The next time we meet, my dad will be in the operating room."

Li Yikai stroked his hair, took advantage of the lock to close the door, and rolled down the glass: "I will come to accompany you sooner."

Yuan Songqing stood behind them, shook his head and went back to the yard, Yuan Zhiming thought for a while, finally shook his head, and decided to let him go.

It is more important to get his "shaved ice" done.

Li Yikai arrived in Jinghai at 03:30 in the afternoon. He originally wanted to go home to see Hu Manting, but Sun Shanshan on the other end asked him out several times. I still couldn't resist, so I went around to meet her first.

The coffee shop was very air-conditioned, and Sun Shanshan blushed and lowered her head, and said that she was about to resign, leaving Jinghai and returning to her hometown.

"I wanted to tell you a long time ago, but I wanted to tell you in person, so I put it off until now." She was reluctant and helpless. There was a good job opportunity at home, and her parents kept urging her to go back. She has rented a house in Jinghai for many years. Landing, persistence has become more and more nothingness.

"I'm sorry, Boss, I said I'm going to wait until we start a business together, so I'm going to retire first."

Li Yikai never imagined that there would be an unchanging team, but the first person to leave was Sun Shanshan, which really caught him by surprise.

"I should apologize," he said. "I don't think I did a good job of not giving you more solid job prospects."

"Oh, don't say that," Sun Shanshan raised her head, regaining her old spirit: "How can you owe us anything? You take care of everyone like this when you are working. My parents also know about it, and they even said they would give it to you." Thank you by sending some local specialties."

Li Yikai smiled, feeling a little desolate in his heart, but sincerely wished her all the best in the future.

After chatting for a while, from resignation to work plan, Sun Shanshan's depressed mood slowly passed, and she asked him and Yuan Zhiming with concern and gossip.

Li Yikai didn't like to meddle in personal affairs, but at a time like this, he still couldn't help asking her: "Did Daqiao know about your departure? What did he say?"

Speaking of this, Sun Shanshan curled her lips again: "I know, I've been awkward for a long time."

Li Yikai bowed his head in silence, and shook his head after a while: "Maybe he didn't think about how to deal with it."

"Boss," Sun Shanshan regained her composure, and asked closer, "Do you still know these things?"

"I'm not stupid," Li Yikai said.

"That's right, everyone can see that." Sun Shanshan lowered her head again, and said sullenly, "But why is he angry with me? He hasn't confessed his love to me yet, so he expects me to wait?"

She said it out by herself, calmed down a bit, and then concluded: "Procrastinating, in fact, I just don't like it that much in the end."

Li Yikai had no way of guessing and commenting on Daqiao's idea, but listened to Sun Shanshan's complaints and remembered what Yuan Songqing said.

"It may also be too precious, so I feel timid because of the closeness to my hometown, and I am increasingly unable to summon up courage."

"You still speak for him," Sun Shanshan disapproved, "If you say that, then those who are timid and evasive have such an excuse?"

Li Yikai smiled: "Maybe, but fate is still hard to say."

When it was getting dark, he took Sun Shanshan home, and heard her share some company gossip on the way. When the car drove to the gate of the community, it was almost dark, and Li Yikai was downstairs, so he remembered to call and ask if Hu Manting was there. at home.

If he wasn't there, it wouldn't be difficult to go directly to the account book, but he still felt the need to explain his big plan to her.

The phone rang several times before Hu Manting picked it up: "Ah, okay, then you can buy some favorite dishes downstairs by the way, I haven't cooked yet."

"Already brought it", Li Yikai stepped out of the elevator, took out the key to open the door, and carried the foam cooler with one hand.

"Fresh sea bass brought from Huaizhou," he went straight in, put it in the kitchen, and introduced, "Papa Yuan Zhiming gave it to you."

Unexpectedly, Hu Manting didn't appreciate it very much. She stroked her hair and said, "Do you still want to make fish? It's so troublesome."

"It's all been taken care of, wouldn't it be good to steam it?" Li Yikai changed his shoes and entered the room, looked at the living room, turned around and leaned against the wall of the corridor between the kitchen and the living room, and looked at Hu Manting with folded arms.

"Do it, Mom, I have something to tell you, it will take a long time."

……

"What?" Hu Manting put on the lid of the pot, and with a bang, she turned her head and asked, "Why did you mortgage that apartment? It was left by your grandfather, and where will you live after it's gone?"

Li Yikai didn't expect her to react so violently, he was stunned for a while, before he used bitter tricks to sell Yuan Zhiming, but now he wants to comfort Hu Manting instead: "It's just temporarily mortgaged to the bank, you don't need to move out, and you can pay it off within three years. "

Hu Manting thought for a while: "Then mortgage this building."

"This building is still repaying the loan, and it was bought for your retirement." Li Yikai walked over and handed her a hand towel: "I'll keep my grandfather's old house, and it's not like I don't really have no place to live."

"Then..." Hu Manting hesitated, and the alarm clock rang, and the fish was brought to the table, and the bowls and chopsticks were placed.Only then did she say, "Then sell the one over there at Hongda Mall."

Li Yikai looked up at her: "Are you willing?"

At the beginning, Hu Manting was reluctant to move, and she refused all the price inquiries, but now she is relieved.

"Everyone is back, the house is still reluctant to do anything," she whispered, "Besides, the house is not as important as you."

Li Yikai's heart felt as if it had been poured with lemon juice for an instant, and after being sour, he returned to sweetness. While being moved, he thought of the reason why she had been waiting, and some old bitterness appeared again.

After a moment of relative silence, he picked fish bones one by one from the plate, thought for a while and said, "The old building is not so easy to sell, I need cash flow now, besides, the house is yours, and you will need it after selling it." Pension money."

"I have a son, am I afraid that no one will take care of him? What's yours and mine?" Hu Manting retorted, and then said: "If you feel sorry, just treat it as an exchange between me and you. Isn't this building still yours?" money?"

Old buildings are not as expensive as new ones, this deal is obviously not worthwhile, but Li Yikai was hit by mother's love, and the warm current rushed away these insignificant cares.Even my throat was a little sore, and I didn't know what to say for a while.

Hu Manting seemed to be able to see it, and continued to press his hand and said: "You don't have to repay the loan here where I live. When the time comes, you will transfer the ownership and the old building will be at your disposal. I will pay for it myself, and you don't have to worry about the cash." , I still have some, I'll bring them to you later..."

"You have money to save for yourself, no need..." Li Yikai suddenly felt something was wrong halfway through his words, he frowned slightly, and looked at Hu Manting: "You are in a hurry to settle this with me, this house belongs to you... not just Want to help me? Who do you want to live in?"

He withdrew his hand, looked at the closed bedroom door, and asked with a sneer, "His idea?"

"Oh, don't guess like this!" Hu Manting said angrily, retracted her hands uncomfortably, brushed her hair, then got up and opened the door, turned around and closed it, and took a dark red passbook when she came out again.

"Your father gave it to you." Hu Manting put it on the table and pushed it to him: "I have never dared to give it to you. Having said that, I'd better give it to you."

The corners were worn and faded, and the edges were curled. Li Yikai looked down and didn't pick it up.

"36", Hu Manting said, "The password is your birthday, the money may not be much for you, but he has been saving it all these years."

She looked at Li Yikai, her eyes were no longer young and round, but the light in her eyes was no different from that of a girl. As a mother, she was not considered successful, but as a woman, she was full of charm because of her willfulness.

Hu Manting said: "I don't intend to take care of the affairs between the two of you, I just help him pass it on to you, and I also want to say something for your father in a fair way. He is wrong, but it's not as bad as you think."

Li Yikai's eyes were sore from being stretched. He raised his eyes to look at the ceiling, then took the passbook and opened it with a clatter.

It started to be recorded 20 years ago, and sometimes a sum of money would be deposited every one year, sometimes every one or two months, and the amount was also large and small, irregular.

The only thing that is fixed is that there are only deposits and no expenditures.

Turning back page by page, each page is densely packed, and the number of total deposits is getting bigger and bigger.

And in these years, in such a silent count, Li Yikai's age is also increasing day by day.

It's just that the blank columns in the passbook can be gradually filled, but the blanks in life cannot be filled only with numerical amounts.

He looked at the door and said in a hoarse voice, "What's the use of saving it? Can it make up for guilt?"

There was a long silence inside before a muffled voice came: "I can't..."

"At the beginning, I also thought so, earn more money and come back, so I can face you. But the money is getting more and more, the time is getting longer and longer, and the hurdles in my heart are getting higher and higher, and it is getting harder and harder to make this step. step."

Li Yikai felt that he had already forgotten his voice, but when he heard it in such a distance, he realized that the person inside the door that he desperately wanted to be a stranger, just the sound of speaking, could bring him back to his childhood The few lively times, those vague memories still exude warmth in the dense time.

He can resent, he can not forgive, and he can always stand on the high ground to judge.

But it turned out that he still couldn't be fooled. In the deepest part, Li Yikai who asked Hu Manting over and over again, "When will Dad come back?"-what exactly does he want in his heart.

The door of the room was still closed, Li Yikai looked away, pushed the passbook back to Hu Manting, and said to the void: "Parents, it's not a matter of course to owe children these things, you don't owe me, what you owe is my mother and grandparents. "

He stood up, and when Hu Manting caught up, he said again: "For the house, I'd better go for the mortgage first, and then pay it back after the old building is sold. I bought it for you. It was originally your house. Don't worry about it." It's so clear to me."

Hu Manting held him back, she had to raise her head to see Li Yikai's face.

After this trouble, she felt that she had said something wrong. It is not her style to bow her head and apologize. She just sighed and said, "I didn't plot with you just now, but you thought too much. If I didn't say that, you wouldn't I know how many things are hidden in my heart, and I will be bored for a long time when I go back."

"In business, it's normal to have risks, losses and gains. It's not a big deal, so you can rest assured to do your business." She slapped the passbook on Li Yikai's arm, and her demeanor remained the same as when she opened a hairdressing salon: "He Owe me, and then mom will give you the money, is that okay?"

Li Yikai was forced into his hand, looked down at Hu Manting, there was no reason to be tough again.

He knelt down to change his shoes, took back a slipper that Hu Manting dropped when he ran over, stood up and said, "I'm going first."

Hu Manting let out a long sigh of relief, and said sadly, "I cooked all the fish, but I didn't eat it."

"You... let's eat," Li Yikai said.

"Then next time," Hu Manting held the door to prevent him from closing it: "Bring your little boyfriend back to have a look? His father can also invite him over, whether it's a fish from Huaizhou, or I come to buy it, and my mother will give it to you later." Make a good meal."

"En", Li Yikai's fingers tightened secretly, and he said after a long while: "It's fine, just arrange it according to your heart."