Mr. Butler on the catwalk

Regarding the banquet, Luo Lin was familiar with all the details in this scene.

When the guests were all seated, the young hostess appeared from the stairs on the second floor and walked down slowly.Looking at Lilian's face, Luo Lin smiled, lowered his head slowly, and bowed his body to show his respect.The girl walked to Luo Lin's side, but she extended her right hand to Luo Lin.Luo Lin was startled, then obediently raised that hand with his left hand and held it.Then he straightened up, and as a male companion, led Lilian to the long table—then pulled out a chair for her, and watched her sit down.

The banquet has officially begun since then.

Luo Lin stood in an inconspicuous place, not letting his sense of presence stand out, just quietly watching everything in front of him—the atmosphere of the banquet changed little by little with the progress of the chat and the change of the background music. Become casual and soft.The girls looked at each other, and occasionally looked at the food in each other's cups, and then their eyes were brightened by those exquisite and small dishes and desserts.Lilian was no longer nervous and shy at first, but became relaxed and soft.It was obvious that she felt a real sense of security with this group of best friends she hadn't seen in a long time.

The flow of music changes the expressions of the guests.The speed at which the ingredients are consumed, and the intimacy that the atmosphere creates.Every step of the process and progress was as expected by Luo Lin—and those genuine smiles that were reflected in his eyes, which had nothing to do with restraint and pretense, were achievements he could be proud of.

... It's just that occasionally when Luo Lin thought of something else, his mood would suddenly become complicated.

It was half past ten in the evening.Lilian walked back to the dressing room on the second floor and started to re-do her makeup.She's humming - with a bit of tiredness on her face after all the fun, but a palpable joy nonetheless.Luo Lin stood outside her falsely concealed door, hesitated for a long time, and finally knocked on the door of that room softly.

"Is there something wrong?" The girl turned around and smiled at Luo Lin.

Luo Lin took a deep breath silently, and then bowed to report: "Yes. There is a young man named Raul Favian waiting in front of the door, saying that he is someone you know well and wants to see you. "Lilian stopped combing her hair in front of the mirror: "... Who are you talking about?"

"Raul. Raul Fabián."

... When the name was announced again, Luo Lin's mood was contradictory.He maintained his slightly bent posture, not looking at Lilian's face.

Finally Lillian said, "...please bring him in."

According to Luo Lin's function, such a "guest" who came suddenly did not need him to pick him up in person.Luo Lin withdrew from the room, and then slowly retreated into the shadow at the end of the corridor - he saw Raul being led up, and then walked into the room.Luo Lin didn't want to eavesdrop on what these two people said, he just stayed in the shadow for a long time, then took a deep breath and walked downstairs.

At the last step of the stairs, Luo Lin was stopped by a girl.The young girl stammered and tried to ask Luo Lin's contact information, taking advantage of her drunkenness.Luo Lin politely rejected her, and then led the little girl who couldn't hide her disappointment back slowly.

He let the child sit on the couch where her companion was sitting, and then whispered to himself: "...it will end early."

The girl looked back at Luo Lin with eyes full of water, and Luo Lin tried his best to smile and said, "It's all right."

……

Just as Luo Lin thought, the banquet really ended early.The current situation even exceeded Luo Lin's expectations - Lilian never came down from the second floor at all.When two elderly maids left the dressing room, they wondered in a low voice, why did this girl suddenly cry to a strange boy?

Luo Lin was very concerned about such sentences.But first of all, he has to make sure that those guests who don't know what's going on can leave without getting annoyed—fortunately, these girls are all reasonable, and they don't even need any special appeasement, just saying that they have had enough fun, and it's time to leave up.

When the guests were sent away one by one, the feeling that the banquet hall became dark was probably not an illusion of Luo Lin.

Luo Lin actually wanted to go back and inform Lilian, but when he walked back to the second floor, he was informed that Lilian and Raul had left first.As for where he went and what he was going to do, Luo Lin was no longer qualified to ask.When the guests left and the host left in a hurry, Luo Lin actually didn't have any need to stay any longer - because the deputy head of the banquet was a permanent employee of the clubhouse, and it was good to leave the finishing work to this person.

It was time for Luo Lin to leave too.He untied his tie, went back to the servants' room, and then picked up his mobile phone in the closet——

There was a missed call on the phone, which was from He Shiwei half an hour ago.

Luo Lin looked at the time displayed on the upper right of the phone, suddenly remembered something, quickly changed out of his uniform, picked up his bag and rushed out.

——"There is a very important event, and I want you to join me."

He Shiwei said this before, but Luo Lin almost forgot.It was almost eleven o'clock, maybe He Shiwei would be annoyed at himself for losing contact.

There had been no taxis in front of the clubhouse for a long time, Luo Lin looked back and forth on the street, finally took a deep breath, and started running in the night.

...He Shiwei sent a text message to Luo Lin before, and agreed on a meeting place.That is the St. Regis Hotel on East 55th Street - the King Cole Bar here ranks among the top three classic bars in New York. Under the dim light, the aroma of the liquor creates a quiet and elegant atmosphere.

Because January [-]th is the weekend, the business hours here have been advanced to midnight.Although Luo Lin didn't know this, but because of what He Shiwei said earlier, he rushed over with the greatest effort.

... Fortunately, there is still time.

Perhaps because of a sense, He Shiwei, who was sitting in the bar at that moment, turned his head and saw Luo Lin's chest still heaving.The front of Luo Lin's coat was open, and his slightly long hair was blown messily by the wind, looking very hurried.He is obviously a man with long legs and long feet, but Luo Lin's eyes are as helpless as a child's.With his lips parted slightly, he was breathing rapidly, standing at the door of the lounge, searching for He Shiwei's location with his eyes.

He Shiwei pulled back the chair, turned around and walked towards Luo Lin step by step.The tip of Luo Lin's nose was a little red from the cold wind. Seeing He Shiwei approaching, he bowed his head in embarrassment and began to apologize: "I'm sorry, I should have come earlier, because there are some things..."

"It's okay, let's sit over there." He Shiwei led Luo Lin over, and sat down in the corner where he was before.Luo Lin took off his coat and put it on his hand, his expression was still a bit reserved.

He Shiwei glanced at him and smiled: "Why is there such an expression?"

"You said that there is a very important event and you want me to join you...I..."

He Shiwei pushed a pre-ordered cocktail in front of Luo Lin—the temperature of the wine had changed, but it didn’t bother—“It’s not the kind of event you imagined. It’s embarrassing to say it...today is my birthday. "

"Huh?" Luo Lin slightly opened his eyes wide.

He Shiwei seemed a little embarrassed, lowered his head and coughed in a deep voice: "Today I am... 34. I know this is not a big deal at all, but I just want to take this opportunity to sit with you... You are busy in the training camp. , if you don’t make up some mysterious reason, I’m afraid you won’t want to come out and waste time with me.”

"Ah," Luo Lin also became a little embarrassed, and even seemed to want to look through what could be a gift for a moment—"I'm sorry, if I knew about it earlier, I would definitely prepare a gift for you to celebrate... ..."

"You don't need to be so polite... I don't need that kind of thing, I'm satisfied if I can have a drink and chat with you." He Shiwei tapped his knuckles on the table.

"En..." Luo Lin thought for a while, raised his head to look into He Shiwei's eyes, and asked, "Do you need a happy birthday song?"

He Shi smiled slightly: "I'm not a child..."

"After all, there should be some birthday atmosphere, but unfortunately there is no cake... at least make a wish." Luo Lin also seemed to realize that his question seemed childish, and his tone was a little embarrassing.

"Do you wish..." He Shiwei looked down at the table, clasped his hands, put his elbows on the table, and was silent for a while.Then he said to Luo Lin, "...it's a promise."

"A wish about what?"

He Shiwei raised the cocktail glass in front of him, took a sip, and smiled slightly: "It won't work if you say it."

……

"How did you celebrate your previous birthdays?" Luo Lin looked at He Shiwei.

"Actually, it's not too late. I'm such an old man... In recent years, it's this day that I go out with people, drink casually, and don't mention it's my birthday. Looking forward, That is, when I was very young, my uncle helped me really celebrate once."

"kindness?"

He Shiwei felt that the memory was very interesting, and smiled: "At that time, I was led by Zhang Yishan's father to a barracks run by his old comrade-in-arms. I didn't know that he knew my birthday and still remembered it, it was me. When I got off the car with him, I suddenly saw a platoon of young soldiers standing upright, singing Happy Birthday to me—the style of singing was exactly the same as the military song, roaring loudly. At that time, I didn’t feel that It's strange, I think it's too much face, and I still think that my uncle is really my real father..."

Luo Lin also laughed, and after laughing, he continued, "I would say that...is your father very strict with you?"

He Shiwei was startled: "...Maybe it's okay."

Luo Lin didn't care about it and continued, saying gently: "A strict father gave birth to a filial son...it must be a good father to have such an excellent son like you."

"...Do you think so?" He Shiwei's voice suddenly became a little hoarse.

The so-called excellence is probably the affirmation he has always wanted.To be so identified with someone I care about... feels weird.It is very complicated, and I feel an indescribable sour feeling.

That sentence was probably an opportunity.The topic extends from here to many things related to the past - many things related to He Shiwei and his father.It's not the specific details that are treated harshly, but other than that, there are very few pasts that have gained warmth.

The one that impressed me the most was probably when He Shiwei took off his shirt and ran into the snow to lie down in order to show off to others when he was young. Who can last long in the competition.In the end of this contest, He Shiwei won—he had a fever, passed out and fell asleep in the snow.His father finally came running and slapped him twice and dragged him out of the snow.He Shiwei was afraid at first, but his father didn't say anything, and took him to the hospital on his back.

In my memory, I was close to my father once, so I couldn't help but remember it.He Shiwei was a little pretending to be casual when he said these words, but there was still something unnatural.

He was very grateful to Luo Lin for always looking at him so quietly, not interjecting much, but enough to make him feel comforted.

The conversation continued little by little.

The lighting in this bar is quite appropriate.Such a small piece of warm and retro light shrouded Luo Lin's head mistyly, making Luo Lin's face look so delicate.Coupled with Luo Lin's serious expression, it looks like a flawless portrait.

He Wei in the conversation suddenly stopped at a certain moment.It was at the end of a certain story that his attention was unconsciously focused on Luo Lin, and he could no longer take his eyes off such a face.

He Shiwei added his lower lip subconsciously.His mouth feels dry.

In order to get over his unnaturalness, He Shiwei forced himself to look down at his watch: "It's getting late...it's time to go back. Luo Lin, cough, your cup...hasn't been touched yet."

Luo Lin smiled embarrassedly: "I really can't drink."

He Shiwei joked at him: "I know you can't drink alcohol, but this is tea... iced tea. Such an expensive cup, it's a bit of a waste to put it here."

After finishing this sentence, He Shiwei actually wanted to pull out his chair and stand up.But I don't know if the word "waste" touched a certain nerve in Luo Lin. Before He Shiwei could react, Luo Lin picked up the cup and swallowed the whole drink.