The Man Who Picked the Stars

Ignoring his almost exhausted physical strength, the boy ran quickly on the road.Bright halos flashed across his eyes, and finally, just before his lungs were about to explode, the boy stopped and collapsed on the ground exhausted.

Tonight's starry sky seemed extraordinarily bright, and the twinkling stars were far and near, making him feel sick and dizzy.The boy's head turned to the side, and it took a few seconds, maybe more than ten seconds, before he recognized the surrounding scene.The pine and cypress trees that were too gloomy to melt, the gray gate, and if there was a faint smell of disinfectant in the air, how could he not recognize it, how could he... come back here again?

The street lamps safely illuminated the deserted street, Jin Zaizhong collapsed on the cold ground, and suddenly laughed.He laughed louder and crazier each time, and the laughter had a sense of rhythm, which sounded weird and bleak.

After all, he couldn't get rid of his poor fate, and went round and round and returned to the original point.

The boy walked under the streetlight in front of the gray-white gate, slid down and sat down suddenly.The anger and sadness on the boy's face disappeared, replaced by a deep bewilderment.He scanned the surrounding street scene in a trance, still pale moonlight, sparse tree shadows, but this time, no warm person would pull him out of the darkness, asking if you are okay.

The young man stared at the moths under the lamp with ecstasy, memories flashed through his mind quickly, when the image of him pushing Zheng Yunhao away flashed in his mind, a trace of annoyance flashed across the young man's face.

Why can't I push him?The thought of being angry made Jin Zaizhong's stomach churn even more, and he pursed his mouth angrily.

He lied to me like that, of course I can... The young man lowered his eyes in disappointment and stopped thinking about it.

"Xiao Zai? 』

This sudden call sounded creepy in the boundless darkness. The young man raised his head in a panic, and the hunched figure of the old lady in the small shop opposite came into his eyes.

"Xiaozai! 』The old grandma smiled and waved to him, her walnut-like old face was clouded by the light leaking from the house.

Jin Zaizhong swallowed anxiously, wanting to say hello back.It's a pity that he failed, and in the end the boy had no choice but to answer dryly: "Yes. 』He straightened up with stiff legs, and slowly moved towards the house where the grandmother was.

"So you and Yunho had a fight? ’Grandma fiddled with the charcoal in the basin with an iron rod, and asked.

The boy didn't say anything, the heat from the charcoal basin made his brain buzz.The old man was afraid of the cold, and since it was late autumn, the charcoal fire was lit early in the house.

"Young people are just high-minded, and it's actually a big deal. ’Grandma didn’t mind, and continued to mutter, “Calm down, reconciliation is a matter of minutes. 』

"That's not what he thinks of me! 』Jin Jaejoong's brain finally received the old lady's message, and he refuted aloud.

Looking into grandma's questioning eyes, the boy coughed uncomfortably: "It's not that simple for me..."

『Those two people have a frank and honest talk, and it’s good that they speak clearly. 』

"How can it be so simple...Could it be, could it be that you and grandpa have never quarreled before?" 』

"I've had a quarrel," said grandma with a chuckle, "when the quarrel was fierce, things were thrown.But when it's over, it's over. How can I live my life with a dark face if I don't see each other when I look up every day? 』

"But, who knows that a person who lives every day, he is leaving, but I didn't notice it at all. 』Grandma rubbed her eye circles that were red from the fire, and the light in her eyes flickered.

"It's like a mist that those who are close can't see clearly. The old lady blinked, the faint fire sparkled in her cloudy eyes, "I should have noticed it earlier, that night he suddenly sat up from the bed and looked straight ahead, I saw Looking at him, calling him old man, he still looked straight ahead, and then fell down.That night, he didn't even snore. I should have noticed how loud he usually snores. 』Grandma poked the fire with an iron hook and sniffed.

"Actually, when people get old, they will be disgusting to others. It's better to die sooner rather than later."But when it really comes to that time, I can't bear to part with it. The person I've been with for decades, I'm still sad that I really want to leave.And he just lay there, not moving and ignoring me.Really, if you want to die, you will be angry with me! 』Grandma laughed again when she said this.

Jin listened in silence.

"It's not easy to live in this lifetime.It's good to have someone as a companion. 』Grandma rubbed her eyes again, and her rough fingers rubbed the loose eye circles red. "If you meet such a person, with him, you are not afraid of death, you are not afraid of life, two people can live together for a long time. 』Grandma's cloudy eyes flashed a gleam of brilliance.

"Do you love grandpa?" Staring at the glowing charcoal fire, Kim Jaejoong asked suddenly.

"How can people in that era talk about love or not?"Let's live it if you see it pleasing to the eye," grandma waved her hand amusedly, "but, he is not the only one who can accompany me to the end. 』Grandma sniffed again, but remained silent.

The two stared blankly at the glowing fire.

"Okay," Grandma stood up on her knees, "I'll make the bed for you."Let's go back tomorrow, don't let Xiao Zheng worry.Young people, let's quarrel, it's over and it's over. 』

Jin Zaizhong saw her crooked figure groping into the house, and then looked back at the brazier again.The red light reflected on his immature face, a face that was too young and too inexperienced. The beautiful boy hugged his knees and fell into deep thought.

In the middle of the night, Jin Zaizhong tossed and turned in bed.There was a stale smell in the room, and the quilt was slightly damp, but this was not the reason for Jin Jaejoong's insomnia.The boy stared wide-eyed in the void, staring at the dark shadow in the corner.

The smell of hair oil and pillow covers lingers around the nose, which is the smell that belongs to the old man and has been tainted by the baptism of years.Jin Jaejoong used to smell it on his grandma, but at this moment it made him feel slightly at ease.

Jin Zaizhong sighed leisurely.At this moment, when he calmed down, he was surprised by the lack of anger in his heart. He searched and searched carefully, and there was really nowhere to find the trace of the anger just now.Let him pass, he heard a voice whispering to him in his heart.You know, Jin Jaejoong, you can't continue to be so entangled, or you will fall back into the past situation again.You know.The voice repeated itself, getting louder and louder.The boy who was still a little sleepy could only stare at the yellowed ceiling and count the spiders in the corner boredly.

What should we do tomorrow?All he knew was that he couldn't go back now, and didn't want to.

While thinking, Zheng Yunhao's pale face flashed out from time to time, and the boy was so depressed that he fell off the quilt and wanted to yell.But then he remembered that this was not his home, he gritted his teeth and shut his mouth.Covered by the quilt, the young man took a deep breath, and finally fell asleep slowly with a faint musty smell.

The next day, the boy quietly left a note to his grandma, and left before dawn.

Jin Zaizhong walked through the streets with few pedestrians during the daytime, and turned into the golden gate with no neon lights, until he found the head waiter who was playing cards with everyone at the bar.

Facing the astonished foreman, the boy's first words were: "I want to ask for leave." 』

"You want to ask for leave? ’ The foreman threw out a card in his hand and said absently, 『Crazy? 』

"I said I was going to ask for leave. 』The boy stared straight at someone who was concentrating on the game.

"no! The foreman waved his hand impatiently, "It's not that you don't know that the store is short of manpower recently, so you still ask for leave, you are so beautiful!"Here we come! ’He shouted loudly and shook the cards in his hand.Ignoring the wailing voices of the people around him, he greeted triumphantly: "I won, give me money, give me money!"Don't be foolish! 』

Everyone sighed in unison, and began to find money in their pockets.

"Then I resign. 』

"Oh, I'm going! ”The foreman stopped collecting money, turned his head and looked at the boy in disbelief, “Did you give me back the bar? ! 』

"The previous wages must be settled clearly. 』

"Oh you..."

"Also, last time I blocked a wine bottle for you, it was counted as a work-related injury, so you have to give me the money too." 』

"me……"

"Because of that incident, I had a fight with my partner, and I didn't take the previous holidays. Together, you have to settle the overtime pay. 』

"..." The foreman stared at Jin Zaizhong, holding the money tightly in his hand.Taking advantage of his inattention, others secretly stuffed some money that had been taken out on the table back into their bags.

……

"So can I ask for leave now? ’ the boy asked calmly.

"All right, all right, you boy!Hurry up, me, get out, egg! 』The foreman moaned and wiped his face, making a gesture to chase away people.

"Thank you foreman. The young man lowered his head expressionlessly, "And can I settle my last month's salary, otherwise I can't get out. 』

"..."