Chapter Forty-Six

A glass vase on the bedside table, smelling of roses for the first time.

In the already sinking night, the roses in full bloom suddenly trembled, and the crimson petals kissed the transparent bottle body, and fell silently to the side of the bed, making the quiet and dim room seem warm.

When Chi Xueyan leaned against the bedroom door and looked in, she couldn't help but think that the most suitable flower to put in this vase might be this bouquet of red roses.

For other flowers and colors, it seems that something is missing.

The day he went to the mall alone was the first time he bought a vase, and he quickly chose this one because he knew someone who was completely transparent to him.

It was the first time he bought roses when he went to the flower shop alone, and he quickly chose this bouquet because the clerk said that half-bloomed roses are more suitable for family flower arrangement and can be kept for a longer time.

Two days passed, the flowers were in full bloom, and the whole bedroom was filled with a faint fragrance.

Fresher and more intense aroma than dried floral sachets.

There was a sound of footsteps in the cloakroom, and a familiar voice: "Is this okay?"

Chi Xueyan followed the sound and saw that He Qiao was standing at the door of the cloakroom, wearing a light-colored coat with a simple and refreshing style. It didn't look like the usual dark and deep style, but it was still good-looking.

He couldn't find any faults, and nodded neatly: "Let's go."

He Qiao put on his coat again, which he lent out on his own initiative, just like on Christmas Eve.

Going to Wang Shaojing's bar tonight, it's better to dress casually.

In fact, He Qiao can buy a few for himself.

But he never bought it, and Chi Xueyan didn't ask.

They all have their own distinct dressing styles, and they have a partner with a completely different style.

Perhaps one day in the future, when there is a temporary need, he will also take a He Qiao coat to wear, which is more convenient and convenient.

A big plus for same-sex couples, clothes can be mixed.

When Chi Xueyan thought of this sentence again, the word partner in it was finally no longer a joke.

The driver was already waiting downstairs. He greeted the two with a smile, stood aside and watched the boss personally open the car door for his lover, carefully covering the roof of the car.

It's been like this since the first time he went to pick up his lover with his boss, and it hasn't changed.

After both of them got into the car, the driver sat in the driving seat, and the black luxury car drove forward smoothly.

Along the way, the phone in Chi Xueyan's pocket vibrated from time to time, and it was a notification tone.

He was looking at the night scene outside the window, and he didn't bother to take it out to look at it, and He Qiao didn't ask the reason anymore.

Because after a long time, he knew that the one who could harass Chi Xueyan like this and not be blocked must be Su Yu.

Although we will meet soon, lawyer Su, who talks a lot, still sent a lot of messages.

Su Yu had urged Chi Xueyan several times before, telling the two of them to come to the bar to watch the show, because he would come with his girlfriend. As a friend for many years, Chi Xueyan hadn't seen his partner yet.

An unabashed show of affection.

Chi Xueyan kept procrastinating and did not agree, and decided to leave the answer to time, because it meant that he and He Qiao would also have to show their intimacy in public.

Now, time gave him the answer.

The scenery in the car window continued to fly backwards, and the city lights at night were gorgeous, a bustling scene.

There is a university not far from the bar, so these streets are often accompanied by college students coming and going, patronizing the nearby shops.

The winter vacation is about to begin, and there are more and more young people on the street, the last gathering before going home for the holiday.

The streets at night were crowded with people, and there were extraordinarily many cars. The vehicles were moving slowly and with difficulty, so Chi Xueyan and He Qiao got off the car beside the main road and walked towards the small road where the bar was located.

The two chatted casually, and when they walked into the vast crowd together, they seemed to pass by a figure they had seen before.

Chi Xueyan felt vaguely familiar.

But he didn't look back.

Not once did look back.

The distant stories are like the old dreams of the past, and the fog dissipates amidst the surging and displaced people at this moment.

Pushing open the door, it was rare for the bar to turn on the lights very brightly, without the blurred atmosphere of the past, and the sound of lively conversations everywhere.

The band that will perform tonight has arrived and is adjusting the equipment on the stage.

Wang Shaojing, who was so busy walking around, was near the door. He just said hello to Chi Xueyan, but was quickly dragged away again.

The venue of the bar is not big, and it is full of customers at the moment, which can be called shoulder-to-shoulder crowd.

Chi Xueyan and He Qiao heard an excited voice at the same time.

"Old Chi—here, here!"

Su Yu stood up next to the golden seat specially reserved for them by Wang Shaojing, and waved to them.

Being called out by him again, Chi Xueyan clenched his fists as he walked in that direction: "I will beat him up one day."

The surroundings were very noisy, only He Qiao who was close at hand could hear the whisper.

He hadn't really seen Chi Xueyan beating someone, only once saw him calm and relaxed after cleaning up others.

It seemed that she couldn't imagine what Chi Xueyan's expression would be at that time.

But at this moment, He Qiao saw him smiling.

In an overcrowded bar, and in front of close friends, He Qiao reached out and gently wrapped his shoulders around his shoulders, walking towards the reserved seat together with him.

Necessary, but not too distant intimacy.

Chi Xueyan didn't seem to notice it, and was still looking ahead, perhaps thinking of an opportunity to violently deal with Su Yu once in a reasonable and legal way.

Under the cover of the light, the smile flickered in the eyes, and the eyelashes moved slightly.

After the wedding, this was the first time Chi Xueyan had a party with friends with He Qiao, as a lover.

He finally met Su Yu's girlfriend who was also a lawyer.

To his surprise, the other party turned out to be the type with a glamorous temperament, seemingly difficult to get close to.

Thinking of the long list of cuteness that Su Yu often posted in the middle of the night, Chi Xueyan was a little unable to connect the cuteness with the other party.

Maybe because he is a natural bend.

The brain circuits of straight men are too different.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, while Su Yu was taking his girlfriend to the bar to get drinks, Chi Xueyan casually asked He Qiao: "Do you think she is cute?"

He Qiao was startled, and confirmed, "Who?"

"Su Yu's girlfriend."

As a result, after a while, Chi Xueyan didn't wait for an answer.

He looked sideways at the people around him in surprise.

He Qiao was also looking at him.

Hesitation was clearly written in the always quiet eyes.

For this question, it seems impolite to give a negative answer, and there is something wrong with giving a positive answer.

So he can only give the third answer consisting of silence.

Chi Xueyan couldn't help laughing.

He suddenly knew why Su Yu thought his other half, who was obviously very cold, was cute.

Because he felt the same feeling now.

Soon, the band on the stage officially started singing, pushing the night into a more publicized restlessness.

The style of this band is very relaxed and boring. Some people dance along in the audience, some sit and listen quietly, and some chat in a lively atmosphere.

Although the girls beside Su Yu didn't get up, they looked focused. They obviously liked the band on stage, and they came here to watch the performance.

Su Yu didn't mean that, he just wanted to find an opportunity to get together with his friends.

The surroundings were already noisy, and there was nothing less than a few chatters, but the two of them did not interfere with each other.

Chi Xueyan is used to having two things at once, talking to Su Yu while listening to music.

From the cocktail at hand to Boss Wang's recent gain in weight, to the approaching Spring Festival.

Su Yu suddenly remembered something, and asked him gossip, "How are you going to spend New Year's Eve?"

He Qiao, who was listening most of the time, looked over.

He had thought about this question a long time ago.

It's just that when it was mentioned before, Chi Xueyan didn't seem to have any plans, and his attitude was extremely flat.

This year's New Year's Eve is special, it is Chi Xueyan's birthday on February 14th.

So on this day, he has three options for celebrating at the same time: New Year's Eve, birthday, and Valentine's Day.

...sounds like it's going to be busy and tiring.

Therefore, Chi Xueyan replied without hesitation: "Live in a normal way."

Su Yu pondered for a while: "Which kind of normal is it? The normal in the eyes of ordinary people, or the normal in your eyes?"

"..."

Chi Xueyan was silent for a moment, and began to list the process blankly: "Sleep until you wake up naturally, play with your mobile phone, eat New Year's Eve dinner, share cakes, watch TV, set off fireworks, and go to bed after midnight."

For his birthday this year, he wants to experience a sense of normalcy.

Except for sharing the cake, everything else is an ordinary New Year's Eve arrangement, but the family that spends this night together this year is very different.

His parents are going on a two-person trip, and he and He Qiao will go back to He's house for the New Year.

So it is a most special ordinary.

Su Yu had an expression that I knew: "It really is normal in your eyes! If you were an ordinary person, you would definitely choose to focus on celebrating Valentine's Day, okay?"

He knew that Chi Xueyan hadn't celebrated Valentine's Day in a serious way when he was so old, because he had never had a lover.

This year, finally fell in love and got married, and didn't plan to go out with significant other during the day to enjoy the world of two.

But it's not too surprising.

Anyway, it became very reasonable to put it on Chi Xueyan.

Chi Xueyan was not interested in Su Yu's proposal: "Is Valentine's Day fun?"

He went on to list the most common procedures: "Sending flowers, shopping, eating, watching movies, exchanging gifts... It sounds like New Year's Eve, at least you don't have to go to the streets to crowd people."

He Qiao on the side listened silently.

This is a way of celebrating Valentine's Day that Chi Xueyan is not interested in.

Su Yu shook his head again and again: "Don't belittle yourself, you won't live like that, I think you are more likely to drag Lao He to visit a haunted house, or to do something I can't think of at all."

As he said that, he didn't forget to show his affection: "Actually, ordinary dates are also quite fun, such as talking about cases while pressing the road, and then correcting the other party's inaccurate laws."

Chi Xueyan immediately ignored him.

The lawyer girlfriend who was looking at the direction of the stage seriously heard a specific key word, and suddenly glanced back: "What law?"

"It's nothing." Su Yu immediately changed his expression, and said in a courteous tone, "Do you want some French fries?"

"No, pass me the cup."

"Here, what would you like to eat?"

"...I want to listen to music."

"They're almost done singing, are you hungry?"

Amidst the chattering questions, Chi Xueyan reflexively sat aside a little.

No matter how many times he has seen Lawyer LoveStruck Su in private, as long as he thinks of that professional avatar full of elite temperament, he always feels a little split.

He moved his position and got closer to He Qiao.

He Qiao saw that he couldn't bear it, a faint smile welled up in his eyes, and asked him in a low voice, "Do you want some French fries?"

Chi Xueyan looked sideways, and was about to speak when He Qiao cleverly continued the sentence: "Or popcorn?"

So he paused, and simply replied, "Popcorn."

He didn't want to eat it.

But when He Qiao asked like this, it made people vaguely think of the taste of popcorn.

And a romantic comedy that saw once a long time ago.

Chi Xueyan suddenly wanted to eat the most delicious popcorn.

As soon as the performance on the stage was over, he went straight to Wang Shaojing and proposed to show the movie on a big screen.

The main purpose of Wang Shaojing's invitation to the band today was to find an excuse to get together with old friends.

Watching a movie together before each parting sounds more fulfilling.

"Okay, what do you want to see?"

Chi Xueyan reported the title of the film and explained: "My parents said that eating popcorn is the most delicious when watching this movie. They have watched it seven times, and every time they want to eat popcorn, they will dig it out and watch it again."

After he finished speaking, he added rigorously: "There may be more, maybe I watched it again recently, but I'm not at home, so I didn't count."

When Wang Shaojing heard the words, he said decisively: "That's it!"

It's an offer a popcorn lover can't refuse.

The gorgeous night ushered in the second half.

The guests who came to see the band left one after another. The bar was no longer so crowded and noisy. Most of the rest were regular customers. They came here for the last time a year ago. Whether it was watching a movie or something else, it didn’t matter, as long as it was lively.

Carbonated drinks instead of alcohol, popcorn instead of cold cuts.

The bar owner generously announced free popcorn tonight.

Amidst the whistles and cheers, the big screen, which used to be used to show horror movies, streamed a picture with lighter and warmer tones.

In the atmosphere of romantic comedy, the couples present are unconsciously getting closer to each other.

The same goes for Chi Xueyan and the people around her.

They've seen a lot of good and bad horror movies together, and this is the first time they've seen a romantic movie together.

Not armrest seats in a movie theater, sharing a bucket of popcorn in an exposed booth, shoulder to shoulder.

Chi Xueyan heard a voice very close to his ear: "Is it the movie your parents have watched seven times?"

He Qiao still remembered the little thing he said.

The warm breath fell on his cheeks, bringing a slight itchiness. Chi Xueyan blinked and answered him softly: "Yes."

"You said that you have watched it with them before, and if you watch it again today, won't you feel bored?"

"No," he said, "I guess it will feel very different."

Because the relationship with the companions around me is different, and also because of the movie itself.

After the title introduction of the cast and crew ended, the plot of the movie officially started, and the guests fell silent.

Chi Xueyan, who watched the movie for the second time, took it more seriously than the first time.

The movie tells a fantastic love story. The heroine who died unexpectedly returned to the hero who had fallen into depression because of missing her in the form of a soul. He wanted to cheer him up, but he couldn't see her, and was blocked by other people in the building.Residents thought it was haunted, which triggered a series of ironic stories.

The male protagonist sitting on the ground watched the TV series he had watched together, and cried loudly: "Zhenzhen, I miss you so much."

Zhenzhen, who was nestled on the sofa, yelled at him: "Then you get up and sit on the sofa! Why are you still sitting on the floor if I don't compete with you on the sofa! Block my sight, okay!!"

He couldn't hear it, so he just cried and said, "I've been waiting for you for a long time, but you haven't come back."

She couldn't throw a tissue to him, so she could only smile and scold: "I've been waiting for you for a long time too! If you really don't want to sit on the sofa, can you lower your head, idiot——"

The two often talk to each other, the voice clearly falls in the same space, but only they can hear it, and their moods are always opposite.

When he sat on the cold floor in front of the TV and said that he missed her with tears like rain, she was too noisy to watch TV and cursed.

She rarely showed her sad side, and when she was trying to hug him with her transparent body, he, who wanted to learn how to cook, saw the iron pan suddenly burst into flames, holding a shovel and running around in a hurry, then shouted for help and rushed out the door, hurriedlyGo to the neighbor and leave her frozen in place, taking deep breaths of rage.

There are many hilarious scenes in the movie. Most of the guests in the bar are laughing, and occasionally some sensitive viewers will lower their heads and wipe their tears.

Chi Xueyan in the crowd looked at the screen, sometimes laughing, but most of the time, his eyes just flickered quietly.

When he read it before, he didn't feel moved. He only saw the comedy, but he didn't read the love.

He Qiao was holding the popcorn bucket, while Chi Xueyan sat beside him, often reaching for the popcorn in his arms.

When their eyes met, he could clearly see the smile in He Qiao's eyes, as well as himself reflected there.

Today's popcorn is the caramel flavor missed before.

Chi Xueyan thought, he finally understood why his parents thought it was best to eat popcorn when watching this movie.

Because looking at the lovers who are separated at the ends of life and death on the screen, unable to touch each other, and then hearing the real voice in my ears-the sound of myself eating popcorn with the people around me, it seems that I really feel very special.precious.

Also makes people miss the smell of cuddling even more.

He suddenly wanted to hug He Qiao very much.

This vaguely sad love story finally ended with a brisk and dreamy reunion. The transparent wandering soul returned to the deeply attached world, and the same brisk applause sounded in the bar.

The movie is over, and the night of reunion is almost coming to an end.

The night is darker and the wind is colder.

At the entrance of the bar, Chi Xueyan said goodbye to his friends, and subconsciously rolled up his collar.

In the next second, the people around him gently held him in their arms, instead of holding hands more restrainedly.

Amidst the booing laughter of his friends, Chi Xueyan looked calm, as if he had long been used to such an intimate gesture.

Together with He Qiao, he walked into the depths of the night.

The wind was blocked a lot by the people wearing their own coats, breathing closer in the bitter cold wind, embracing each other speciously.

A tearful rom-com is best for popcorn, and winter is the season for hugs.

Under the dim street lights, the flow of people dispersed, and there were no audiences to deal with.

When He Qiao habitually wanted to let go of his hand, the warmth in his arms did not leave, but stopped.

In the already sinking night, the roses in full bloom were blown by the night wind, and the crimson petals fell silently on his shoulders.

The answer came quietly while waiting.

The slightly cool hair ends wrapped around the neck, and the fiery breath sounded from the closest distance.

He couldn't see Chi Xueyan's expression at the moment, he could only hear the voice blurred by the night, parked on his shoulder for a long time.

"I bought a new vase and put it on the bedside table in my room."

A hug without the slightest desire, and a confession of falling in love again after missing out.

"Now, I have found the only flower I want."