If seeing Xin Qi was Su Tian's last wish, Min Hui felt that she couldn't let her spirit in heaven have this regret.

Especially this death trip happened on the way she was about to meet Xin Qi——

If it wasn't to save her own life, the two people after a long absence have reunited, Xin Qi will fulfill her promise, Su Tian's fate will be changed, what awaits her is no longer poverty, hardship and displacement, and everything will be fine...

The happiness at hand just flies.

Min Hui pondered over and over again, which link was the problem?

First, he should not be soft-hearted for a while and agreed to have the same room with Su Tian.

Second, if you want to die, you have to choose a good day. The sound of thunder was so loud that it woke him up, and naturally also woke Su Tian. Couldn't the movement be smaller when going out?

Third, since everyone saw Su Tian following him to the bridge, he should give up the action immediately instead of turning around and jumping into the river. Even if you really don't want to live, it's not bad for a day or two, right?

Fourth, when they got into the water, they were soon separated. At this time, she could still die and give up the precious lifebuoy instead of monopolizing it all the time...

After thinking about it, a more terrifying truth emerged:

The reason why Su Tian died was because he suddenly didn't want to die at that time.

The more she thought about it, the more she could not calm down and forgive herself: she not only took away an innocent life, but also a beautiful love, a happy life and the expectations of another person.

Time has passed, and Min Hui has no clue here, so she has to take a car to Haiyuan City the next day.

She found the No. 2 Welfare Home in Longhui District on a secluded street corner, and a secretary received her. After checking it on the computer, I said that the two welfare homes were indeed merged, but the main ones were orphans and disabled children, not teachers.

"Why?" Min Hui asked disappointedly.

"Because it was a very small welfare institution, there were only 13 official staff, and the rest were contract workers or temporary workers. Although Yongquan and Haiyuan are next to each other, they are two cities after all. When the merger was made, most employees said they would not There are only three teachers who are willing to leave the city, those who are transferred, those who resign, who have resigned, and only three teachers who are still working in the orphanage.”

Su Tian mentioned several teachers in his diary, but none of them were named Han. Even so, the visit could not be in vain, so the two met in a reception room.

Mr. Han looked in his fifties, with short hair, tall, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and a gentle attitude. After Min Hui explained her intention, she immediately nodded: "I have an impression, I have an impression. I worked in the rehabilitation room and was mainly responsible for the rehabilitation training of physically handicapped children. Su Tian and Xin Qi were not disabled. When they reached school age, they went to their counterparts. Primary school. I was in charge of picking them up for a while, and I often took them to do extracurricular activities, so I am quite familiar with them. The orphanage is so big and there are so many children. Everyone sees each other every day and knows the basic situation.”

"Mr. Han," Min Hui asked a basic question, "How did Su Tian come to the orphanage?"

"The people rescued by the anti-abduction operation were over three years old when they came. The operation rescued a group of abducted girls, and only two children found their biological parents. The rest were left in Yongquan Welfare Institute. Su Tian just came At that time, we didn't say a word for more than a year. We thought he was deaf and dumb. We sent him to the hospital for examination. The doctor said that the child's hearing was normal, and he was probably frightened. Later, she gradually began to speak, telling us that she was with My younger brother was kidnapped together, but soon separated from my younger brother. When asked what my younger brother's name was, she didn't know, nor did my parents' names... I remember that the orphanage even went to the criminal police who participated in the abduction fight back then to see if they could Check the whereabouts of the younger brother. The police said that all the rescued girls were girls, no boys. It may have been sold before. Call and ask the main criminal who is serving his sentence, he will not admit that there is such a thing. "

"Where's Xin Qi? Also a kidnapped child?" Min Hui asked.

"He's not. He was abandoned. Not long after he was born, he was put on a chair in the waiting hall of the train station, wrapped in a piece of cloth with a note inside that said 'please adopt a kind person' or something like that. word."

"But..." Min Hui couldn't help but interrupt, "Who gave the name Xin Qi?"

"The policeman who was responsible for sending him to the orphanage at that time was named Xin. The train station was on Qipan Street, so he named him Xin Qi. That's how Su Tian's name came from. The policeman who rescued her was named Su, why was it called Su? Tian, ​​probably the teachers got it from the dictionary."

It turned out to be so.

Teacher Han went on to say: "When Xin Qi was first delivered, everyone thought it was very strange. He is a very beautiful baby, and there is nothing wrong with his body. He is also a boy, why not? Then the child started to cry, My God, when I cried, my whole body turned blue and my lips were purple, so I rushed to the hospital for a medical examination. It turned out to be a congenital heart disease, which was very serious and needed immediate surgery. At that time, there were very few hospitals in China that could perform open-heart surgery. , sent to Beijing, and a foreign expert happened to do it. I heard that it is particularly dangerous, a few months old baby, a thoracic sawbone... The doctor said that the child is too young, and can only do temporary repairs, grow up I will need to continue the operation in the future, otherwise I will not live to be fifteen years old."

Regarding Xin Qi's condition, Su Tian's records are very sketchy, only mentioning that he was hospitalized several times. Obviously, the teachers didn't tell him too much about the condition for fear of worrying the child.

Min Hui remembered the details one by one and continued to ask: "Su Tian mentioned in his diary that Xin Qi's eyesight is not good?"

"Well, a high degree of myopia is also congenital. I don't remember how many degrees. In short, the glasses are as thick as the bottom of a bottle. They are heavy and expensive. He is naughty, and his classmates like to make fun of him. The glasses are always broken... He himself said that there is no distinction between males and females at a distance of three meters, and no distinction between humans and animals at a distance of five meters." Teacher Han laughed as he spoke, "But he was lucky, he was caught by a pair when he was thirteen years old. The American couple adopted him and went to the United States. Medicine is developed there, so his illness should be cured by now, right?"

"It's possible." Min Hui couldn't help sighing that the fate of the two children was very different. "Where's Su Tian? How did she get back to her hometown?"

"It was said that there was a relative in my hometown who was working out of town, and for some reason I heard about the anti-trafficking operation. As soon as the time was right, I looked at the pictures of the children at the time and thought they were very similar. They also called the police and brought them with them. The child's mother came over with the documents and photos. When I came here for a comparison, let alone the face, even the clothes were exactly the same. Su Tian was very happy at the time, so he went back with his mother. We were pretty good at that time. worried"

"Um?"

"Her family lives in a particularly remote mountainous area, and living conditions are very poor. She and her brother were abducted in the market. The poor mother was drugged by the traffickers and fell asleep after eating a bowl of noodles. After waking up, two The children are gone. The couple called the whole village to look everywhere but couldn’t find them. After calling the police, they searched for several months without any results. Her mother’s mood collapsed, her spirit began to become abnormal, and the situation became more and more serious. , and there is no money for medical treatment. Her father entrusted his wife to relatives to take care of him, and decided to go out to work and find children by the way. How could he know that he died in an accident on the construction site within a year of working. "

"Then was her mother normal when she came to pick her up?"

"How can I say it, it's not normal, but I can communicate. I'm a little bit speechless when I talk. I'm very excited when I see my daughter, and my mind is much clearer. The mother and daughter hugged each other and cried. There is no one to take care of her. She looks like a beggar all day long. When Su Tian heard this, she was very anxious to go home and take care of her mother. We originally wanted to persuade her to stay here for a while and finish the class this semester. Let's go. After all, there is a remote area over there, and there is no way to go to school when she goes back. But she insisted on leaving, and there are some relatives in her hometown who can take care of it, so we agreed. "

"So Xin Qi left first, and then Su Tian also left?"

"There should be less than three months before and after. The relationship between these two children is very good, and they always play together on weekdays, bang and bang, and bang, like a young couple. The difference between the two is less than one year old. Xin Qi is older, because of illness, he went to school one year later, and happened to be in the same class as Su Tian. Su Tian was a warmhearted person since he was a child, and the teachers said, Su Tian, ​​take care of Xin Qi, he has poor eyesight and can't see clearly. Blackboard, you help him take a note. Su Tian took the teacher's words as the imperial decree, and he became Xin Qi's little follower."

"So they've been good friends since childhood?"

"Also quarrel. This Xin Qi doesn't know if it's because of heart disease, has a quick temper, has a bad temper, and has poor patience. Because of his bad eyes, he is often teased by his classmates. Annoying him, in case of a heart attack, wouldn't it be impossible to eat and walk around? Su Tian, ​​on the contrary, is more obedient, regardless of his young age, his temperament is not small, no matter how anxious Xin Qi is with her, he doesn't care. , at most, ignore him. If Xin Qi gets angry, Su Tian can persuade him, even the teachers can't."

Min Hui imagined Xin Qi's appearance as a child, he must be a little bully. So he said, "Then his academic performance is not very good?"

"So-so. He is very smart, and he has an amazing memory. He is especially good at playing chess. That year, he represented his elementary school in the provincial capital to participate in the provincial chess tournament for primary and secondary school students. I signed up for him, the original intention was to let him play, but I didn't expect him to come back with a provincial championship, which shocked everyone. In my opinion, this kid is a playful person, and he doesn't listen well in class, otherwise If so, there will definitely be great prospects in the future.”

"Where's Su Tian? What hobbies does she have?"

"I like sports, swimming, running, long jump...everything. I like to stay on the playground when I have nothing to do. For a while, I especially liked to play table tennis, and I always said that I wanted to enter the Olympic Games. Xin Qi had to play with her, and his eyes were not clear. Well, when the ball comes down, I can see Su Tian looking for the ball all over the place—"

"Pfft—" Min Hui couldn't help laughing, imagining all the interesting stories of the childhood sweethearts back then, "Is there any way to contact Xin Qi from the welfare home?"

"No way. It all happened more than ten years ago." Teacher Han shook his head, "Xin Qi has never come back since he left. Think about it, a boy with heart disease, highly myopic, who went to a strange country and could not speak the language. , the cultural difference is so big... His life should be very difficult, right? It takes a long time to get used to it? When he gets used to it, the orphanage here will be dissolved."

"But," Min Hui said, "the adopter should leave his address and phone number when he goes through the formalities."

"At that time, there were few people and many things, and the management was chaotic. There was no professional file organization. After several relocations, many materials were lost. Before, there were people who wanted to check the files, but they couldn't find them at all. Besides this address Phone calls are private and need to be kept secret, and even if there are, they will not be given to you easily."

The bell rang for class, and Teacher Han looked at his watch: "Any questions? I have a class below."

Min Hui hurriedly said: "The last question, Mr. Han, do you know where Xin Qi and Su Tian ate ice cream for the first time? I only know it's by a bridge. Where do children in welfare institutions usually eat ice cream? ?"

Mr. Han frowned and thought about it, and said, "Although these children are all orphans, there are still many opportunities to eat ice cream. As long as there are major events, watching movies, spring outings, condolence performances, and festivals, there are all kinds of opportunities. Maybe ice cream."

"It should have been when they were very young."

"Ten or twenty years ago, the chances might be less. There are always a few times a year. Who knows where they ate for the first time? Who would remember these things?"

Min Hui tore off a piece of paper from the notebook, wrote her mobile phone number and handed it to her: "Thank you for telling me this. If you remember anything, especially about ice cream, call me."

Although the visit to Haiyuan City did not obtain key information, from another aspect, Min Hui learned more about Su Tian and Xin Qi. The narrator's perspectives are different, but they complement each other. The past of Su Tian and Xin Qi is like an ink painting in the hands of a master. After a few strokes, it gradually becomes clear.

Min Hui began to imagine this boy with thick glasses, pale face and purple lips in anger.

There are too many reasons why he can't perform:

——Not living the agreed meeting time.

- another love.

- If you don't get along well, you don't have a face.

——Or, it was just a bragging in youth, can't remember it long ago...

Min Hui returned to Yongquan City, wanting to find more employees who used to work in the welfare home, and inquired about more information about Su Tian. They found a few, but with little success. No one knows more than Teacher Han, and everyone has no impression of Su Tian, ​​except that she follows Xin Qi all day long. Everyone was impressed by Xin Qi, because he was the champion of the chess competition, and he was a big news in the welfare institute and even his primary school.

Everyone's description of the two people is also different. Some say Su Tian is cheerful, some say Su Tian is dull, some say Xin Qi is naughty, and some say Xin Qi is arrogant...

In short she was the inconspicuous, obscure girl; he was the talkative, difficult boy.

Everyone knows that they are together every day, go to school, eat together, play together, and are as close as a couple.

Min Hui searched Yongquan for three days, and suddenly fell ill on the fourth day.

Cold, fever, cough... Coupled with the days of depression, she lay on the bed of a homestay for three days. The high fever persisted, so she had to go to the hospital to hang water. It didn't start to improve until the fourth day, so she returned to the homestay to pack her luggage and plan to take a ride. Day train leaves. When was about to leave, suddenly received a voice message from Zhao Yingmei:

"Dear, a staff member of a family-finding website called Rankinge to find Chunmiao, and it happened to be me who answered. They said that they found a suspicious message, which may be Chunmiao's younger brother. They gave the address and phone number and asked Chun Miao, please contact me immediately."

Min Hui hurriedly called her: "Did you say that Chunmiao has disappeared?"

"No. Didn't you say that you want to help Chunmiao find relatives? I'm afraid that if you say that, people will not be active." Zhao Yingmei explained on the phone, "Besides, we can't be 100% sure that Chunmiao is dead now, right? ?"

"Yes. By the way, how can the staff contact him? Do you have his phone number?"

"Yes, I'll send it to you right away. Chunmiao's user name on the family-hunting website is Su Tian, ​​he will know if you mention Su Tian."

Min Hui was stunned for a moment. In the previous conversation, Zhao Yingmei had neither mentioned the welfare home nor the relative tracing website. Apparently, Chunmiao had not told her that she had lived in the welfare home and was currently looking for her younger brother. So he asked, "How do you know her username is Su Tian?"

"Her WeChat account is called Su Tian, ​​and so is her QQ nickname, so when someone from Xunqin.com asked Su Tian, ​​I knew it was Chunmiao."

Min Hui had just finished talking to Yingmei, and less than three minutes later, the phone rang again.

It was Teacher Han who called.

"Xiaomin, didn't you want me to think about the place where Su Tian and Xin Qi ate ice cream for the first time? I remembered something. There used to be a 'Love Volunteer Association' in Yongquan City, who often went to welfare homes, elderly people The hospital organizes condolence activities. They also take the children out for outings, and they have a great time every time. Many children have been there more than once. The person in charge of the association is surnamed Yang, named Yang Qiong, who is very capable. You ask her, Maybe there are clues."

Min Hui hung up the phone, turned on the computer, and found the website of the Love Volunteer Association in just one minute on the Internet. She called to find Yang Qiong, who happened to be there.

"...Ice cream? It's the top priority of outings. As long as we take the kids out to play, we always buy them ice cream. Everyone likes it," said Yang Qiong.

"Then do you remember the location of the outing?"

"Of course I remember. Taking children out can't be sloppy. We usually choose a particularly safe place and only go to three places."

"Which location has a bridge nearby?"

"That is the Wild Flower Lake Scenic Area. There is Yong'an Bridge there, there is a playground beside the bridge, and there is an ice cream shop inside. It is the first choice for the nearby primary school's spring outing activities."

Min Hui took a deep breath: "Is this bridge still there?"

"Yes, it is the stone arch bridge of the Ming Dynasty, a national key cultural relics protection unit, how could it not be there? The playground is also there, and the ice cream shop is also there. I went there last month."

After hanging up the phone, Min Hui sighed in her heart: This Xin Qi is really smart. Wouldn't you be dumbfounded if you chose the meeting place in an orphanage?

It was already one o'clock in the afternoon when Min Hui put on a white T-shirt and arrived at Yong'an Bridge with an enamel water cup.

Wildflower Lake is located in the mountains north of Yongquan City, and it takes two hours by taxi. No wonder she didn't find her that day, because she wasn't in the city at all.

At this moment, nine days have passed since Xin Qi's agreed meeting time.

Min Hui felt that Xin Qi was unlikely to appear here. She hesitated for a long time between going and not going, and finally decided to come and have a look, at least buy an ice cream to eat.

Although it was late, finally found it, and have no regrets.

It is midsummer and the climate in the mountains is cool. Although it is not a weekend, there are still many tourists. The parking lot near Yong'an Bridge is full of various tourist buses.

The playground is on an open space beside the bridge, with a large area, slides, swings, trampolines, bumper cars, merry-go-rounds... everything. There is a row of snack bars next to it, and the one closest to the arch bridge is an ice cream shop.

The smell of cream and caramel was in the air.

Inadvertently, Min Hui looked down and found herself standing on a circular drain cover. The black cast iron was etched with a strange spiderweb pattern, with the word "rain" in it.

She felt that the pattern was familiar, and suddenly realized that the pattern on the T-shirt on her body was extended from the manhole cover, only half of it, so it was a semi-circle.

interesting.

If you guessed correctly, the other half should be on another t-shirt.

Such an ingenious thought.

Su Tian and Xin Qi, what game are you playing?

Min Hui walked into the ice cream shop, asked for a single-scoop sundae, mango-flavored, topped with chocolate and chopped nuts, and walked towards the stone bridge.

The sun was very strong, and there were only three or five pedestrians on it. She stood by the bridge and observed it carefully.

There are only two boys, and they don't match in terms of age.

According to Teacher Han, Xin Qi should be twenty-six years old this year.

Moreover, Min Hui was not sure what kind of dress he would be wearing. Is it the same as himself, wearing a white T, holding a water cup, like a spy waiting for a connection, looking around and sneaking around the bridge?

The only certainty is that he must be wearing thick glasses, who is severely short-sighted. So Min Hui turned her attention to young tourists with glasses.

She was amused at her own absurdity as she watched, and after waiting for less than ten minutes, she felt a little bit wanting to leave.

It was so cold on the mountain that she shivered.

At this moment, suddenly a pair of cold hands stretched out from behind and covered her eyes.

She was startled and almost screamed, but a very pleasant voice sounded in her ears: "Tian Tian, ​​it's finally time for you."