never forget [criminal investigation]

When Xing Yue and Professor Zhong were saying goodbye, Xiang Hai had just finished his work in the morning and was sitting on the ground at the back door of the factory building, leaning against a tree stump, and putting the boxed lunch he had just received on his lap.

The weather is getting warmer day by day, and the spring breeze has finally brought out a new layer of green on the wicker, which looks yellow and tender, like the fluffy wings of a newly hatched chick.

Spring is short and cannot be let down.

So the cook's lunch gradually moved from a corner of the workshop into the spring with erratic temperature.

The dishes are still the same, but today they are hot.With the effort of breaking apart the disposable chopsticks, the food is ironing the skin through the trousers.

Xiang Hai scraped the two chopsticks against each other twice, put the lid on it, picked up the lunch box and began to chop the rice.

Xing Yue didn't come today, he was alone, what he was eating was not food, but the lonely loneliness.

No one was flirting all morning, and the work was extremely efficient.Go through the needles with your hands, without delaying the intense brainstorming in the small universe.

He was controlled by the question of the birthday gift, and he had lost countless brain cells.

This is Xing Yue's first birthday since the two of them got together, and they need an incomparable gift to commemorate.But right now, all he can freely dispose of is a few pieces of rags, a bag of cheap snacks from the prison supermarket, and a stack of draft paper left over from the review.

No matter how he combined these three things, there would be no sparks.

Although Xing Yue didn't seem to care about these things, not having them and not wanting them are two different things.It's as if I used to hang my neck when I was in elementary school, saying that I didn't care if no one came to his three-good student award ceremony.

If there is no accident, he will spend every birthday with Xing Yue in the future, but the day when he turns 29 should be the most special.

Just like my 23-year-old, a freshman who only comes once in a lifetime.

But he had nothing to offer.Even if you want to send him a flower, it is not the season for wild flowers to bloom.

Later, he even thought about finding a place where no one was around and singing him a song.Whether it's a joke or a rap, let him have a good time.

But there is no place for no one inside this high wall.

Alas, worry.

"Brother Hao Yang, your meal."

"Be careful, pinch the sides, the bottom is fucking hot."

Xiang Hai was chewing fried Chinese cabbage, when he heard this sound, his cheeks immediately became quiet.

There were a few people sitting scattered under the wall not far away, and one standing next to it was holding the two corners of the lunch box and carefully sending it to a person on the ground.

The man took the lunch box and put it aside casually, then took the disposable chopsticks and broke them open, scraping the same two back and forth.

He was almost turned away, leaving only a narrow side face.But suddenly, as if he had eyes on his back, he half turned around and met Xiang Hai's gaze.

Xiang Hai was unprepared, hesitated for a while, and continued to bury his head in eating.

After eating for a while, I couldn't help looking up, and found that the man was also eating. From this angle, I could only see a long scar carved obliquely on the side of the neck.That person should also know that someone is watching him, but he didn't look back, he just chewed his food slowly, his face puffed up.

Xiang Hai withdrew his gaze, and picked up another piece of cabbage with his chopsticks.

Is that person Zhu Haoyang?

After a short glance, Xiang Hai's attention was almost completely attracted by the conspicuous old scar.As for his appearance, he seems to be in his early forties, with plain brows and eyes, making him appear particularly deserted.

It must be him, otherwise he wouldn't look at himself half-baked like just now.

Xing Yue said that this person was sentenced to 20 years in prison and was imprisoned together with He Kun.

He also said that he was He Kun's most valued younger brother, but he was dumb.

He was not born dumb, but was injured in a fight and broke his throat.After recovering, it was difficult to speak, so he simply stopped talking.

Looking back now, he remembered that he also met Zhu Haoyang when he came to work before, but he was just a stranger at that time.In fact, they are not considered acquaintances now, after all, no one intends to greet each other.

The lunch break is over, and work continues in the afternoon.

Only then did Xiang Hai realize that Zhu Haoyang was sitting three rows in front of him.Similar to Xing Yue's previous performance, he just sat there all afternoon, fiddling with the scissors in his hand.

The one next to him didn't know if it was his younger brother, but he kept his head sullen and stomped on the sewing machine.After a while, he put the finished work at Zhu Haoyang's hand.

Xiang Hai seemed to see his own shadow again.

After work was over, everyone set off on their way home.

After all, it is spring, and the sky that used to be covered with stars and moon is still 75 degrees gray.

The crowded shuttle bus travels between two points and one line at a constant speed, like a palette pen filled with ink, outlining a gradual regression line according to its eternal rhythm.From 75 to 100, it gradually melts into the pure night.

Xiang Hai was still thinking about the gift all the way, like a scumbag before the bell rang, facing the blank exam paper, he became more and more anxious and lost his mind.

After shaking for a long time, the car finally stopped.He jumped down and jumped into the moonlight all over the place.

Looking up, a crescent moon is hanging on the treetops.

Xing Yue will be 29 when the sun rises tomorrow.

Xiang Hai raised his hand to grab it, letting the silky cool moonlight flow between his fingers.

He looked forward to the moonlight coming as promised by this time tomorrow.

The next morning, Qu Wei came.

Stepping into the door of the reception room, Xiang Hai spotted her at a glance.Qu Wei also saw him almost at the same time, smiled and waved to him.

"Hello." Xiang Hai came over and sat down opposite her, a little embarrassed, "Long time no see."

"Isn't that right? It's been more than half a year." Qu Wei looked very relaxed.

"You, you...your hair is cut short." Xiang Hai gestured at his neck without words.

It was fine when Xing Yue was around, but now he is facing Qu Wei alone, he is not sure what to call him.According to seniority, she is in the same generation as Xing Yiqing, but she looks very young, and Xing Yue has never called you.

Calling "you" is awkward, and calling "you" is not respectful enough, let alone calling you by name directly, and you can't call me sister...

It's a little embarrassing.

"Yeah, change your hairstyle, change your mood." Qu Wei's long curly hair will now sweep her shoulders, still tucked in her ears with a lazy curve.

"Xiang Hai, just call me Chris." She said with a smile, "You just called 'you', boy, I'm sweating, I'm still young, okay?"

Xiang Hai scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

Qu Wei looked at him, and suddenly frowned, "What's wrong with your face?" She moved closer, "Is your chin blue?"

"Oh, it's okay." Xiang Hai leaned back quickly, and wiped his chin casually, "It's just a knock."

"Did someone bully you here?" Out of the teacher's professional sensitivity, Qu Wei frowned even more, "Don't be afraid, tell me, I'll go and complain to the prison leadership."

"..."

Xiang Hai was stunned for a moment, and quickly pressed the corners of his mouth together.

At first glance, these words sounded a bit of joy derived from professional barriers, but after thinking about it, it made him feel very warm.It seems that I have become the kind of child who is supported by someone.

"It's okay, really, thank you." Xiang Hai said sincerely, "I'm fine, besides, there's Brother Xing."

Qu Wei sighed, "Forget it, let's hurry up and get down to business."

She also realized that her words had a taste of "why not eat minced meat".This is not an ivory tower, but an adult world that condenses all the real world.Fortunately, the two of them will leave this place soon, and Xiang Hai has more important things to do now.

She bent down, picked up a stack of books from the ground, put them on the table, and patted them, "I checked these when I came in, and they're all right."

"These are the textbooks, exercise books, test papers, and my photocopied class notes." She picked them up one by one, and then stacked them to the other side. "I borrowed these from a little girl in the class. She took good notes, good grades, and good handwriting. I will give you a reference."

Xiang Hai was overwhelmed and rubbed his hands under the table, feeling more and more nervous and a little embarrassed.

"Well, Chris, the little girl probably doesn't want to borrow the notes casually."

He always felt that notes were somewhat private, especially the notes of good students, which were like martial arts secret books and were not easy to spread.

He didn't want to cause Qu Wei any more trouble because of this, and he didn't want to embarrass that little girl he had never met.

Qu Wei smiled and said, "Don't think too much, the little girl agreed very quickly. Besides, you are not in the same class as her, and there is no competition."

"Thank you." Xiang Hai turned to the first page of the note, looking at the strings of familiar and unfamiliar formulas inside, "Please also thank that little girl for me."

"Okay." Qu Wei agreed, "By the way, which school are you planning to take? Have you decided on your major?"

"Not yet, I want to see Brother Xing's plan. If he plans to stay in Dongjiang, I will apply for Dongjiang's university."

"Yo." Qu Wei raised her eyebrows, "You two are really, can't you live in different places for a few years?"

Xiang Hai scratched his cheek, "...not very good."

Qu Wei looked at him and laughed, "Does Xing Yue have any plans at present?"

"Not yet."

"I remember he said that you took the college entrance examination, which high school did you study in at that time, and how did your grades go?"

Xiang Hai told her his high school and college entrance examination results.

Qu Wei was a little surprised, "This grade is very good. Your high school is also a key city. How could you fail?"

"It's not considered a failure." Xiang Hai explained, "I wanted to work early at that time, so I only applied for a police academy."

Qu Wei covered her heart, and automatically took the role of Xiang Hai's class teacher, "Did your teacher not persuade you?"

"Persuaded me, but I was too stunned at that time." Xiang Hai was ashamed, "It made our head teacher very angry."

"You children..." Qu Wei let out a long breath, and pounded her chest twice, "Let's leave a way for those of us who are class teachers to survive."

"Hmph, how about it, regret it now!"

Xiang Hai closed the notes in front of him, and muttered softly, "That's not true."

Qu Wei leaned back into the chair directly, turned back quickly, and said with a smile, "Okay, I understand, I understand! But you must not go back and tell your head teacher about this."

Xiang Hai also smiled, "Well, Chris, are you also the head teacher now?"

"That's right," Qu Wei habitually rolled up her curly hair hanging from her temples, and shrugged, "It's not easy for the head teacher to do, I can't stop worrying about it."

"Forget it, let's not talk about me," she glanced at her watch, "Let's hurry up and review the review plan first."

So in the rest of the time, Qu Wei, as an English teacher and homeroom teacher, helped Xiang Hai formulate a preliminary review plan.She feels that Xiang Hai's foundation is very good. Although he has been away from campus for 4 or 5 years, as long as he is willing to put in the effort and add appropriate learning methods, he will pick it up again soon.

The visiting time is coming soon, and Qu Wei is about to leave.Before leaving, she opened an English book, revealing an envelope in the middle.

"This is for Xing Yue, let's take it as his birthday present." She pulled out the envelope and handed it to Xiang Hai, "It's a few photos left by his father, I think he might like it."

"Oh, okay." Xiang Hai took it, but didn't open it, "Then I'll thank you for him."

"It's nothing," Qu Wei pursed her lips, "Wish him a happy birthday for me."

"Okay." Xiang Hai nodded in agreement.

"Then, come on." Qu Wei said as she stood up and reached out to him again, "Review well, I'll come back in a few days."

"Yes, Teacher Qu." Xiang Hai also stood up and reached out to hold her hand, "I promise I won't be angry with the head teacher this time."

Qu Wei giggled immediately, "Then I thank you."

At night, when the cell finally became completely quiet, Xiang Hai placed two small benches beside Xing Yue's bed, and spread out the stack of draft paper.

"What are you doing?" Xing Yue sat on one of the small benches and asked in a low voice.

"Talk about WeChat." Xiang Hai said, and solemnly wrote at the beginning of the homepage:

-April 2018, 4, sunny

Xing Yue smiled and gave him a thumbs up.

- Brother, happy birthday!

After Xiang Hai finished writing, he glanced at him, and then entered another emoticon package.

-(*￣3)(ε￣*)

Xing Yue raised the corners of his lips.

-Thanks.You still remember.

- Nonsense, can you forget this?

After finishing writing, Xiang Hai stood up, touched the envelope from his bed, and sat down again.

- This is from Chris to you today, she wishes you a happy birthday.

-Chris?

- It's Qu Wei.

Xing Yue took the envelope and took out two photos from it.

Xiang Hai also moved his head to look at it.

This is a photo of an ice hockey game. The players in the red and white jerseys are intertwined fiercely. The picture is frozen at the moment when a player in white swings and hits the ball.

Xing Yue pinched the photo to look at it, and gradually lost his mind.

He can't remember which game it was, but he is very familiar with this ice rink, and even through the background and angle of the picture, he can roughly guess where Xing Yiqing was standing at that time.

Thinking of this, he almost turned around from the small bench.

After a long time, Xiang Hai gently touched his arm, and then pointed to the person in the photo.

Only then did Xing Yue come back to his senses, and nodded.

- Brother, how old were you then?

-It seems to be 15.

-Did you win the game afterwards?

- can't remember.

Xing Yue put down his pen and put the photo aside.

Next, a group of teenagers in white embraced and celebrated together.

- Brother, you won!

The teenager in the photo is extremely excited, with a wanton smile and sweat that was too late to wipe off every slightly immature face.

Xiang Hai soon found Xing Yue in the crowd.

The juvenile version of him smiled happily, the kind of happiness that only youth can interpret.His black hair was soaked in sweat and stuck to his forehead. His eyebrows, eyes, bridge of nose, and lips all had his current shadows, but they were different.

Xing Yue touched his cheek subconsciously.

When taking this photo, Xing Yiqing should have been very close to him, otherwise the sweat on his temples would not be visible.

But so close, yet so far away, I didn't notice it until 14 years later.

Xiang Hai touched his arm again.

- Brother, you are so handsome.

Xing Yue rolled his eyes.

-Absolutely.

-Why didn't I see you play ball later?

- how can there be time

-Then go make a call after you get out. I'll go with you.

- I'm old and I can't move anymore.

Xiang Hai immediately frowned, blacked out that line of writing, and handed him the pen again.

Xing Yue smiled.

- OK, I withdraw.Then you will accompany me.

- By the way, what did you and Qu Wei talk about today?

Xiang Hai picked up the pen.

-Talked about the review method.She brought me a lot of materials, as well as her students' class notes.

-Brother, from tomorrow onwards, I will study hard, so I can't fool around with you.

Xing Yue frowned, and snorted hard at the back of his head.

- Who are you talking about?Who the hell is messing around?

- Let me tell you, starting tomorrow, your brother and I will study hard too.You stop harassing me.

Xiang Hai tilted his head, his eyes widened, his face was full of question marks.

Xing Yue simply wrote down what Professor Zhong said to him yesterday, and his plan to return to OUHK to study a postgraduate degree in physical and chemical testing.

Xiang Hai's eyes widened.

-real! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Xing Yue was overjoyed.

Fortunately, it is handwritten WeChat. If it can send voice, this row of exclamation marks is worth at least 60 decibels.

- Can I lie to you about this?

It's just that he doesn't plan to tell Xiang Hai that he has accepted Professor Zhong's mission at the moment, and he wants to wait for a while.

Xiang Hai wrote furiously.

- Then I also want to take the university entrance examination in Beijing!

Xing Yue raised his eyebrows helplessly.

-Why are you so clingy.

Xiang Hai poked at the paper.

-? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Xing Yue was very happy.

- Don't talk nonsense, let me ask you, have you prepared a birthday present for me?

Xiang Hai pursed his lips.

-Of course, olddog.

"Fuck!" Xing Yue output a sentence without paying attention.

Xiang Hai straightened his chest.

-what?Do you want to engage in domestic violence again?

Xing Yue laughed, and pointed again.

- Did you prepare a present for me?

Then Xiang Hai stood up, went to get the cup that had been prepared, walked to the window, and hooked his fingers at Xing Yue.

Xing Yue quickly followed.

Xiang Hai handed him the cup, pushed him towards the window, adjusted the angle, and then pointed to the water surface in the cup for him to see.

Xing Yue leaned closer to the mouth of the cup.

On the surface of the water half the size of a fist, a crescent moon just reflected outside the window.

The hand holding the cup trembled slightly, and fine ripples appeared on the water surface.The moonlight was crushed, like melted butter, and when everything returned to calm, it condensed again.

At this time, Xiang Hai took the "WeChat" book and handed it to him.

- Brother, I don't have any good presents, only this.

-Send you a lifetime (cup) of moonlight, and wish you a happy birthday.

Xing Yue looked at him, holding up his notebook, standing in front of him devoutly.

He sniffed, and the moonlight swayed and shattered all over the water.

- Brother, you should drink it.

Xing Yue gave a "hmm" and raised his head to pour down his birthday present.

After drinking, he licked his lips, "Sweet?"

"Or orange?"

Xiang Hai smiled and nodded desperately.

-I melted two orange-flavored fruit candies in it.

-do you like it?

Xing Yue also nodded, and pulled him back to sit by the bed.

- This is the sweetest birthday present I've ever received.Thank you.

-(*￣3)(ε￣*)

But then he sighed sadly.

- Xiao Hai, I am one year older again.

- Do you think I'm old?

Xiang Hai made a "tsk", frowned and blacked out his last sentence.

- so old!Who is not old?Who can stay young forever?

- I grow old with you, and you grow old with me, isn't that great?

makes sense.

Xing Yue touched his head.

No one can be young forever, but fortunately, he can grow old slowly with the person he loves the most.

Then he saw the glass set aside again.

-Xiao Hai, I think you can pour water into the bed.

Xiang Hai looked at him, and slowly typed a "?"

Xing Yue explained seriously.

- a quilt.This is a serious quilt (life) life.

"..."

Xiang Hai suddenly felt that this matter was not so romantic all of a sudden.

Sometimes he felt that he was really uncertain about Xing Yue's temper.

Say he is not romantic, but his life is covered with blooming roses.

Call him romantic, and he often takes the scale of destroying the atmosphere very tightly.

Well, never mind.

He looked into his smiling eyes.

It's not romantic, as long as he is happy.

- Brother, are you happy?

- Of course I am happy.

- how happy are youTell me.

- I am so happy to have a cup (life).

Xing Yue laughed happily.