Siheyuan, integrating everything, cultivating the city

Li Xiangqian was silent. He didn't know whether he should tell a stranger about his troubles, but the old man's calm eyes seemed to have a kind of magic that made him speak involuntarily: "Just now in the teahouse, I met someone I shouldn't have met."

"Oh?" The old man raised his eyebrows and motioned for him to continue.

"She's my ex-girlfriend." Li Xiangqian gave a bitter smile. "We've been apart for a long time, but she suddenly showed up today and ruined my blind date."

The old man nodded, with a hint of understanding in his eyes: "So, you think she is deliberately causing trouble for you?"

"I don't know." Li Xiangqian shook his head, with a bit of helplessness in his tone, "Maybe, maybe not. But no matter what her purpose is, I feel like a joke."

"Why do you think so?" the old man asked, without a trace of blame in his tone, but more of curiosity.

"Because I found that I didn't know how to face her at all." Li Xiangqian whispered, his eyes revealing deep self-blame, "We have already separated, but a few words from her can make me lose my composure. I can't even protect the life I should have."

The old man pondered for a moment and said slowly: "Sometimes, it is not others who really make us lose our composure, but ourselves. Perhaps you have not completely let go of the past."

Li Xiangqian was stunned for a moment, then looked up at the old man. He wanted to refute, but found that he had no way to speak. Perhaps, the old man was right. He had always thought that he had let go of Liu Fang, but the fact proved that a corner of his heart was still occupied by her.

"You're right." Li Xiangqian whispered, with a hint of fatigue in his tone, "I haven't let it go yet."

The old man nodded, said nothing more, and just stood up and left. Li Xiangqian looked at the teacup in front of him, feeling mixed emotions. He knew that he had to make a change, otherwise the days of being bound by the past would only make him sink deeper and deeper.

When Li Xiangqian left the small shop, it was completely dark, with only a few street lamps emitting dim light. The cold wind blew, and he couldn't help but wrap his clothes tightly, lowered his head and walked quickly towards home. Although the house was empty, it was a place to shelter from the wind and rain, at least allowing him to temporarily avoid the chaos outside.

Along the way, he kept replaying what happened today in his mind, especially Liu Fang's face and the words she said. Her provocative tone and disdainful expression were like a thorn that pierced deeply into his heart, making him unable to calm down no matter what.

"Why is she always like this?" Li Xiangqian whispered to himself, his tone full of resentment and helplessness. He knew that he should completely forget her, but reality reminded him again and again that she had been a part of his life, even the most important part of him.

When Li Xiangqian opened the door after returning home, he heard Xu Damao's voice coming from the yard next door: "Hey, Xiangqian, you're back so late?"

Li Xiangqian looked up and saw Xu Damao sitting on a bamboo chair in the yard, holding a cup of hot tea in his hand, swaying leisurely. He hesitated for a moment, but still walked over: "Damo, are you still awake?"

"You can't sleep, come out and get some fresh air." Xu Damao smiled and pointed to a chair next to him, "Come and sit down and have some tea."

Li Xiangqian nodded and walked over to sit down. Xu Damao handed him a cup of tea, and he took a sip. The warmth spread from his throat to his chest, dispelling some of the coldness.

"You look like you're not right." Xu Damao stared at him with some concern in his eyes, "Did something happen to you?"

Li Xiangqian lowered his head and looked at the teacup in his hand. He was silent for a moment, and finally sighed: "Something happened today, and I feel very upset."

"Tell me about it. Maybe you'll feel better if you talk it out." Xu Damao put down his teacup, leaned back in his chair, and looked like he was willing to listen.

Li Xiangqian hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke: "I went on a blind date today, and I ran into Liu Fang."

"Liu Fang?" Xu Damao raised his eyebrows, a hint of surprise on his face, "The one you met before?"

"Yeah." Li Xiangqian nodded, his tone full of helplessness, "She suddenly appeared and said some ugly words in front of me, scaring the girl away."

After hearing this, Xu Damao couldn't help but laugh: "This woman is really interesting. She came to meddle in your affairs even though we broke up."

"Interesting?" Li Xiangqian looked up at him with a frown, "You think this is interesting? I think this is simply a nightmare!"

"Don't worry, don't worry. That's not what I meant." Xu Damao waved his hand with an apologetic look on his face. "I just think this is very strange. Why did she do this? Logically, after breaking up, you should live your own lives. There's no reason for her to interfere in your life."

"Who knows what she was thinking." Li Xiangqian gave a bitter smile, "Maybe she felt happy to see that I was not doing well."

"Don't always think the worst." Xu Damao patted his shoulder, "Maybe she just happened to pass by and saw you, so she said hello."

"Say hello? Is that what you call a greeting?" Li Xiangqian sneered, "She clearly did it on purpose! From the moment she walked in, I knew she was coming for me."

"Okay, okay, I admit that she might have done it on purpose." Xu Damao shrugged, "But Xiang Qian, you can't keep this matter in your heart forever. You have to think more open-mindedly and don't let it affect your life."

"I want to get over it, but I can't." Li Xiangqian lowered his head, his tone a little painful, "What she said is like a thorn that has been piercing my heart. I know I shouldn't care, but I can't help thinking about it."

"Then you have to learn to remove this thorn." Xu Damao's tone suddenly became serious. "Xiang Qian, you are a good person, but you are too weak sometimes. You have to learn to be strong and don't always let others control your emotions."

Li Xiangqian listened to his words and was silent for a long time. He knew that Xu Damao was right, but it was much more difficult to actually do it than he said.

"Thank you, Damao." Li Xiangqian raised his head and forced a smile. "Hearing what you said, I feel better."

"Don't be polite, we are neighbors." Xu Damao waved his hand and said with a smile, "If you have any problems in the future, just come to me. Although I am not a big shot, it is no problem for me to help you with some advice."

"Well, I'll remember that." Li Xiangqian nodded, feeling a little warm in his heart. Although this day was terrible, at least he still had a friend like Xu Damao to talk to.