bud

In the early morning, the sound of firecrackers sounded continuously at the entrance of Baihua Lane. Jiang Yu was awakened, and after a few seconds, he pushed Zi Luo, who was still sleeping beside him.Zi Luo opened his eyes and heard Jiang Yu say, "Get up, you are going to pay New Year's greetings."

"Ah..." Zi Luo closed his eyes again.

Jiang Yu saw Zi Luo's cell phone turned on, so it was probably Xie Xiaoan who sent him a message.Jiang Yu said anxiously: "Why are you still in bed, hurry up and pay New Year's greetings to your grandparents."

Zi Luo was pulled to sit up by Jiang Yu. He didn't move, but asked, "What dream did you have last night?"

"Ah?" Jiang Yu was stunned for a moment, his eyes sparkled when he recalled it, "I dreamed about Jiang Lai last night!"

Zi Luo curled the corners of her lips and looked at him: "There's no me."

Jiang Yu stared at him for a moment: "...what happened to you so early in the morning?"

"I'm really missing." Zi Luo snorted softly, lifted the quilt and got out of bed to wash.

Jiang Yu sat on the bed in a daze for a while, and when he followed out, he found that there were still only the two of them in the house.After the two stood in front of the mirror and finished brushing their teeth together, Zi Luo said, "I'll make you an egg pancake."

"Don't mess with me and go away, I think Aunt Xie is going to knock on the door of my house in the next second."

As soon as the words fell, Xie Xiaoan's voice sounded outside the gate: "Zi Luo! Are you up yet, hurry up and go to your grandparents' house to celebrate the New Year!"

Jiang Yu: "Look."

Zi Luo responded to the door, and turned to look at him: "Make some food for yourself, don't be hungry."

"I know, I'll boil milk later, don't worry." Jiang Yu sent him out of the gate, saw Xie Xiaoan waiting in front of the car, he smiled, "Auntie Xie, Happy New Year."

Xie Xiaoan looked at the two of them, his eyes stopped on Jiang Yu's face, and he replied after a few seconds: "Happy New Year."

Jiang Yu heated up the milk and found a few bags of small bread from the snack pile. He looked up at the time, hesitating whether to call Xu Meiyin.

The moment he pressed the phone, there was the sound of a car driving outside the door, and it stopped slowly. Jiang Yu saw the color of the car clearly through the crack of the door, then the door opened, and Xu Meiyin walked in.

Jiang Yu hung up the phone and saw that Xu Meiyin was still dressed in the same clothes as when she left home yesterday, and her hair was a little messy.When she got closer, Jiang Yu could clearly see her slightly yellow eyeballs.

The fatigue was too obvious, Jiang Yu stared at her in a daze, Xu Meiyin glanced at him after entering the door, did not explain why he didn't come back last night, just said: "What are you doing standing here?"

Her voice was hoarse, and Jiang Yu was still holding the bowl in his hand, looking at her: "Where's Dad?"

Xu Meiyin paused as she walked towards the bedroom, and Jiang Yu asked again, "Where did you go on New Year's Eve yesterday?"

"There's something, don't ask so many questions." Xu Meiyin pushed open the door, and walked out about half an hour later, but saw Jiang Yu still standing there, "Go back to the room."

Jiang Yu didn't move: "Are you leaving again?"

Xu Meiyin lowered her head and said weakly: "The store is too busy, I may not come back for a few days."

"What about dad?"

Xu Meiyin was silent for a while without speaking, she loosened her hair and pulled it up again, bowed her head and continued to pack her things.Jiang Yu found that those were Jiang Dezhi's usual clothes and coats.

She didn't answer, Jiang Yu just looked at her like that.Xu Meiyin went to the bathroom and came back, went into the bedroom, came out, and stopped in front of him: "Your father came to work in the factory suddenly, and he is also busy for a while, so he won't come back."

Jiang Yu didn't speak.

"I'll come back sometime and cook for you. If you don't come back, you can get something to eat yourself, or you can go—" probably thinking that it would be inappropriate for Jiang Yu to go to anyone's house during the Chinese New Year, Xu Meiyin stopped talking, He didn't continue talking for a long time.

Jiang Yu was expressionless, pinched the rim of the bowl tightly with his fingers, and said, "I see."

Xu Meiyin glanced at the half bowl of milk left in his hand: "I'll make some porridge, you can eat it warm at noon."

After the steaming porridge was ready, Xu Meiyin left. Jiang Yu stared at the porridge in the pot for a while, and took out his phone to take a photo.

He was no longer hungry after eating a few buns, and went back to the house to do his homework for a while, when his phone rang, and Zi Luo sent a message.

Luo: Are uncles and aunts back?

Jiang Yu thought for a while and replied, "I'm back."

There was no reply for a long time, Jiang Yu directly sent the photo he took, and edited: "My mother's porridge is very delicious."

Zi Luo then replied: eat more

Yu: After dinner, remember to come back and play the piano for me

fall: good

Chinese New Year symbolizes reunion and joy.Ziluo's grandparents like to be lively. When the Chinese New Year comes, everyone must come here, even if there is one less child.

Now after dinner, several elders get together to play mahjong, while the children sit on the sofa and chatter and watch TV.

Zi Luo felt noisy, so he glanced at Xie Xiaoan who was playing mahjong, and walked directly to the balcony.

The winter sun shone warmly on his face, Zi Luo closed his eyes, took out his phone and sent a video call to Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu picked him up quickly, and Zi Luo saw the golden light on his body, and said with a smile, "Are you basking in the sun?"

"Yeah, the sun is so good." Under the sun, Jiang Yu couldn't see Zi Luo's face clearly, and blocked the phone with his hand, "What are you doing?"

Zi Luo walked towards the shadow, stared at Jiang Yu's face for a few seconds: "I just finished eating."

Jiang Yu followed him with a smile: "I just finished eating too. My mother cooked porridge, and my father cooked vegetables."

"Yeah." Zi Luo nodded and looked at him, "That's good."

In the evening, Xie Xiaoan and Ziluo's aunt made noodles together, and Zi Chengmin was preparing the stuffing for making dumplings. Ziluo went back to the house and took out a red envelope, stuffed a dozen banknotes into it, put it in his pocket and zipped it up.

Xie Xiaoan was making dumplings in the living room with the flour in his hand, smiling and chatting with others.

"Mom." Zi Luo walked over.

Xie Xiaoan turned to look at him: "If you have nothing to do, come and make dumplings together. I remember you know how. I taught you before."

Zi Luo went to wash her hands, moved a bench and sat down next to her, picked up the rolled dough, scooped a spoonful of meat filling, squeezed a few times, and a full dumpling was wrapped.

He didn't even say a word after wrapping a few bags. Xie Xiaoan glanced at him and continued to chat with the people next to him.

After a while, Zi Luo said, "Mom."

Xie Xiaoan lowered his head: "Speak."

Zi Luo held the already wrapped dumplings in his hands, and was silent for a long time: "I want to celebrate the New Year with Jiang Yu at night."

The cartoon was still playing on the TV, and the elders seemed to have endless words to say one after another. The two old people sat on the sofa and took their children to eat, drink and have fun. Multiple dumplings.

Zi Luo moved a little slower, and he counted, and there were only more than 30 in total.

He stopped, Xie Xiaoan patted the flour on his hands, went to the kitchen and took a bag out.

Zi Luo watched Xie Xiaoan put the wrapped dumplings into the bag one by one, his heart trembled slightly, he pursed his lower lip, and suddenly heard Xie Xiaoan say: "Bring these to Xiaoyu."

Zi Luo froze there.

Xie Xiaoan didn't look at him, turned around and said, "Go. I'll tell you where your grandma is."

Zi Luo was carrying a bag of dumplings, and there were more than 30 dumplings he made inside.He stared at Xie Xiaoan's busy back, and whispered: "Thank you, Mom."

When Ziluo returned to Baihua Lane, he saw Xiaobai just ran out of a house, his stomach was round, he must be full.He knelt down and touched Xiaobai's head: "Happy New Year."

Xiaobai rubbed against his feet and left slowly.

The lights were on in the yards of every house that passed by, and the sound of eating and talking came out, and it sounded very noisy.It was a little dark around when he walked to the gate of Jiang's house. Zi Luo looked up and saw that the broken light bulb was still hanging there, and it would not turn on again.

He entered the yard, only to see the light of the night lights in Jiang Yu's house.

The house was silent, and Zi Luo didn't hear any sound. He opened Jiang Yu's door, but when he saw the man, he felt a rush of blood.

He took a deep breath, and the uncontrollable distress almost burst through his heart.

There was only one night light turned on in the room, and Jiang Yu was still holding a pen in his hand, and fell asleep lying on the table at the moment.

The air conditioner wasn't turned on in the room, so it wasn't warm enough. Jiang Yu was only wearing a thin pajamas, and his posture didn't look comfortable.Zi Luo moved his fingers, went in and took off his coat, covering him directly.

He turned on the air conditioner, and there was a "beep" in the silent surroundings.

Jiang Yu did her homework all afternoon, and when she got sleepy, she lay down on the table for a while, not sleeping soundly.He opened his eyes and smelled a pleasant fragrance, which was brought by the coat on his body.

He was very familiar with this smell, turned his head and saw Zi Luo's figure.

"...Luoluo?" Jiang Yu came to his senses and grabbed his coat tightly, "I, I haven't eaten dinner yet, my parents came back, and they went out again now, I don't know—"

He tried to explain incoherently, he was afraid that Zi Luo would be angry and he would lie to him again, but the more he talked, the more chaotic, the more illogical, Jiang Yu let go of his hands in anxiety, lowered his head, and stopped talking.

Zi Luo looked at him for a while, then stepped forward to hold his chin, and knelt down to look at him: "It's okay, Jiang Yu."

Jiang Yu's nose twitched suddenly, and he stared at him without saying a word.

"It's okay, I don't blame you." Zi Luo smiled at him, "I'm here to celebrate the New Year with you."

The corners of Jiang Yu's mouth were slightly pressed down, as if he was suppressing his emotions, Zi Luo looked at him: "I brought dumplings, I'll go to the kitchen to see if there are any dishes, I'll cook them for you."

Zi Luo said: "It's just the two of us tonight, let's celebrate the New Year together."

Jiang Yu's eyes were wide open, and after a long while, he squeezed out a voice: "...um."

There are not many dishes in the kitchen, but enough for two people.Zi Luo took out the meat from the refrigerator and thawed it, washed the vegetables, and cut up a whole eggplant.

Jiang Yu wandered around him, trying to help but found that he couldn't help, so he had to wait for the water in the pot to boil.

It didn't take long for the meal to be ready, Jiang Yu put the dumplings in a bowl and carried them back to the room one by one.They still turned on the little light, sat shoulder to shoulder, and Zi Luo brought him food: "Fortunately, these dishes are all your favorite."

Jiang Yu is a bit picky eater, he doesn't eat all kinds of dishes, the three dishes made by Zi Luo are not big fish or meat, but Jiang Yu likes it very much, he always thinks such home-cooked dishes are delicious and easy to eat.

His mouth was stuffed: "It's delicious."

Zi Luo took a bite of the dumpling, looked at him and smiled, "There's one more bowl left for you."

An extra bowl of dumplings was placed in the kitchen, steaming, and no one touched it.Jiang Yu wailed, "I can't finish it."

"Then warm it up and eat it tomorrow morning."

Jiang Yu nodded: "Okay."

After they finished dinner in a fuss, Jiang Yu went to the kitchen to clean up the dishes.He didn't ask why Zi Luo came suddenly, nor did he ask what method Zi Luo used to get away from the reunion dinner.He didn't want to think about it, he only knew that the shock in his heart when he saw Zi Luo when he turned his head could completely collapse his pretended strength.

Jiang Yu finished washing the dishes and went back to the room but did not find Zi Luo. When he came out, he saw the door was open and there was a slight movement outside.

He ran out to look, and saw that Zi Luo moved a ladder, turned on the flashlight with his mobile phone, and was changing the light bulb at the moment.

"..." Jiang Yu was stunned for a while, "Why do you know everything?"

Zi Luo is tall, and he stepped on the ladder to reach it. He glanced at Jiang Yu and said with a smile: "It's not difficult to change the light bulb."

"I'll support you."

There was more than one broken lamp, and the two of them replaced them together. The alley was restored to the brightness of the past night, and the red couplets and lanterns were illuminated.

Zi Luo glanced at the gate of the Jiang family, but there was still nothing on it.

That night Jiang Yu slept in Zi Luo's room, Xie Xiao'an and Zi Chengmin hadn't come back after taking a bath, Zi Luo didn't forget their agreement, and dragged Jiang Yu to sit down in front of the piano.

Jiang Yu didn't understand music, nor could he understand the notes. He only knew that Zi Luo played the piano well, and knew that this piece was played for him.

After the song ended, Jiang Yu held Zi Luo's hand and kissed his fingertips.

Zi Luo stared at him with intense eyes for a long time, tightened his fingers and grasped his five fingers in the palm of his hand, and pulled him closer with a slight force, he bowed his head and kissed Jiang Yu, very lightly, like a lingering lingering desire to leave.

When Jiang Yu closed his eyes and opened them again, he saw a red envelope in front of him.

"……What's this?"

"Happy New Year." Zi Luo looked at him and smiled, "As a boyfriend, I gave you a red envelope."

Jiang Yu's eyes lit up, with a strong look of joy: "Ah, it's so good."

Zi Luo said, "You spend the money yourself, don't keep it."

"I don't need any money either." Jiang Yu took out the money and glanced at it. After not counting, his body softened and he threw himself into Zi Luo's arms, "Thank you boyfriend."

After a few days, Jiang Yu didn't see Jiang Dezhi again, and Xu Meiyin always came back to cook and left with the thermos.Jiang Yu and Zi Luo were doing their homework at home, and on the evening of Jiang Lai's death day, he took Zi Luo to the cemetery together.

He first went to burn paper money for Jiang Honglin, but when he went to Jiang Lai's tomb, he found that no one was there, and there were many flowers around. It is estimated that Jiang Dezhi had come and left.

Jiang Yu squatted down and wiped Jiang Lai's photo with his sleeve, and put the bouquet of flowers he bought on it.

"Brother, I'm here to see you." Jiang Yu looked at the small photo, "I brought Zi Luo with me this year, you must still remember Zi Luo, he grew up with me."

Zi Luo stood by and silently accompanied him.

Jiang Yu's voice was very low: "I'm fine now. Mom and Dad are too busy, but they're also fine. Dad doesn't drink much now, and his cooking is as delicious as before."

"I found the cup you bought for me, and I saw a lot of photos of us together. You always hug me."

"I always dream about you in my dreams, probably because I miss you so much."

"I'll slowly remember things about you."

"I will do my best to take care of my parents, don't worry."

Jiang Yu stood up and turned to look at Zi Luo.

The two looked at each other and smiled, Jiang Yu looked at Jiang Lai's photo for a while, then turned around and took Zi Luo's hand.

"Let's go."

The surrounding was very quiet, there were not many people, and the two walked slowly.Jiang Yu looked at the gravel road under his feet, and remembered that every year on this day he would come and leave alone, wrapped up tightly, surrounded by tombs, saying that he was not afraid of fakes, but later he got used to it and didn't care.

When he walked to the gate, Jiang Yu looked at the deserted road not far away, recalling the scene last year when Zi fell under the street lamp and waited for him in the cold wind, he suddenly realized that he was never alone.

Since many years, since childhood, he has not been alone.