detour

Xu You hadn't been home for many years, and was a little uneasy along the way.After the car drove into City C, the whole person became excited again, lying on the window of the car and saying "Hey, there used to be a small square here" and then "Oh, that sculpture is still there!" We used to go to school through there, and everyone thought it was ugly." Zhuang Shaodong was both funny and a little sad.

When the car drove downstairs in the community, it was just in time for lunch, and the two of them went upstairs with big bags from the trunk.Li Minhui had seen them coming from the balcony, and had been waiting with the door open. Seeing the two children walking out of the elevator one after the other, she rushed up to meet them, took the bag from Xu You's hand, and babbled reproachfully, " Just come home, what else should I bring? C City and Dao City are only so far away, everything you have there is here...Shaodong is the same, why don't you stop me, this big bag and small bag, at home There are only a few people, how can they be used?"

Shaodong said with a smile: "This is also a little bit of our heart as a junior."

Xu You tremblingly stepped in with one foot, and asked Li Minhui in a low voice, "Where is my dad in the study?"

An angry expression appeared on Li Minhui's face, "This dead old man has been fine for the past few days, who knows what happened this morning, he insisted on going to participate in the activities of their fishing club, and went fishing in that ditch. Come back next Tuesday."

"Go fishing?" Xu You was stunned for a moment, feeling a little relieved and a little lost.

"Don't think too much about him, that person..." Li Minhui felt sorry for her son's reaction now, and sighed slightly, "I told you that you would come back, but he never objected, who knows..."

"It's okay." Xu You forced a smile, "I'm hungry, Mom."

"Oh, good," Li Minhui said hastily, "Go and wash your hands, let's eat right away."

As soon as she turned around, Xu You's face drooped.Knowing the news that he is coming back but not objecting, can it be understood that this old man is also very contradictory?Get entangled and entangled, and simply avoid it from a distance.Xu You laughed at himself and thought: This is actually good news.At least he didn't outright deny him access.A few years after he left City C, he was once again standing in this familiar living room, which already had extraordinary significance in itself.

In any case, the problem must be solved step by step.

The rupture may be only a momentary matter, but it is often not easy to mend.

Before coming to City C, Zhuang Shaodong booked a hotel for himself near Xu You's house.He imagined what would happen after he followed Xu You to Xu's house: out of politeness, Li Minhui would definitely invite him to live at home.Of course, Xu You would also like to live with him.However, this was his first visit to the door after all, and he didn't dare to risk such a magical thing as a first impression in front of Xu You's father.This stubborn old man didn't like him at all.In case he finds himself having sex with his son under his nose... He can't even think about the consequences.But if he lived with Xu You, he couldn't help but want to get bored.Therefore, in order to prevent this kind of hidden danger, he had better live directly in the hotel.

The hotel is not far from Xu's house, and it takes only a quarter of an hour to walk out of the community.Zhuang Shaodong got up early every day and strolled to Xu You's house for breakfast, and then accompanied Li Minhui to buy vegetables and cook with Xu You.During the period, I went to the furniture mall with Xu You once, and changed a few pieces of furniture for Xu's family: a wardrobe, a dressing table, and a sofa in the study.Li Minhui watched the two children playing with the furniture with a smile, and was very pleased with her son's thoughtfulness for the family.As for Zhuang Shaodong... well, although this kid can't cook or do housework, he is quite sensible, and he will run forward and back to cooperate with his son whatever he wants to do.That's fine.Li Minhui has always had a good impression of people with a good temper, so in just two days of getting along, her impression of Zhuang Shaodong is better than before.

Xu You's father came back on the third day.When he entered, Li Minhui and Xu You were busy preparing lunch in the kitchen, and Zhuang Shaodong was packing their luggage in the living room. They planned to return to Island City after lunch.The May Day holiday is only three days long. Although Zhuang Shaodong has no holiday restrictions, Xu You still has to go to work tomorrow morning.As soon as he stuffed the beef jerky that Li Minhui made for Xu You into his travel bag, he heard the sound of the key turning in the door lock.

Zhuang Shaodong's movements froze immediately.

The door was pushed open, and an old man with gray temples came in. He bent down and put the plastic bucket and travel bag in his hand at the door, then straightened up, and looked at Zhuang Shaodong expressionlessly.

Zhuang Shaodong stood up and met the old man's scrutiny. He suddenly felt his throat dry, "Uncle...Uncle."

Father Xu still retains the traces of being a soldier when he was young, and his waist is straight when standing casually, looking extraordinarily energetic.Zhuang Shaodong felt that he must have been more handsome than Xu You when he was young.It was a kind of handsomeness that was completely different from Xu You's beauty, more rough and handsome, with thick eyebrows and stern eyes, which would make people standing in front of him feel an invisible sense of oppression.Zhuang Shaodong couldn't describe what kind of eyes it was, critical and scrutinizing, like a hunter standing next to a trap condescendingly sizing up his prey, with a kind of unobtrusive contempt.

Li Minhui and Xu You heard the movement and hurried out. Li Minhui was still holding half a green onion in his hand, and looked slightly uneasy at the two people standing opposite each other in the living room.Xu You's face turned pale, and across half the living room, Zhuang Shaodong even felt that he was trembling secretly.

"Are you back?" Li Minhui greeted him, and at the same time quietly pushed her son, "Go and put your dad's fishing gear on the balcony."

Xu You took a step forward and called out tremblingly, "Dad."

Father Xu ignored him, walked into the study without stopping, and closed the door with a bang.

Xu You's face seemed to be paler.Zhuang Shaodong suddenly felt distressed, he came over and patted Xu You on the shoulder lightly, if Li Minhui was not standing beside him, he really wanted to hug Xu You into his arms and kiss her.

"It's okay." Xu You forced a smile, "I'll take the fishing gear up to the balcony."

"I'll help you." Zhuang Shaodong took half of the things from him, and went to the balcony with him.Li Minhui sighed softly behind them.

The balcony of Xu's house is filled with flowerpots of all sizes, and it is thriving.There are very common jasmine, rhododendron, monstera, and some unnamed potted plants, all of which are beloved by Xu's father.Xu You remembers that there were many potted plants growing up at home. There were green bonsai on the balcony, the window sill of the living room, and even the countertop in the kitchen. There was also a big aquarium in the study. When Xu You was in elementary school The family also raised budgerigars.The home in his impression is full of vitality at all times.

Xu You knows that his parents are people who love life, work hard, and take care of their families seriously.The only surprise was that such a strange son was raised.

"No wonder you have so many bonsai in your rented house." Zhuang Shaodong reached out and touched the phoenix bamboo, which is as tall as a person. "So it's because of family influence."

"My dad is very good at growing flowers," Xu You smiled wryly. "I remember when I was young, people would come to ask him about raising flowers. My family even raised parrots."

Zhuang Shaodong couldn't bear the pitiful expression on Xu You's face, and quickly comforted him, saying: "You have a father, how lucky you are compared to me. I have never raised flowers before, it was all done by the gardener at home. The most I can do is to watch from the side twice, and it’s not enough to watch too much. If I play in the yard for a while, the nanny will be afraid that I will catch a cold or something, and will try to trick me into the house. I have never raised a pet, and I have never raised a flying one. , because my mother doesn't like furry animals. I once picked up a cat when I was in elementary school, but before I could name it, she had someone throw it out for me."

Sure enough... happiness is something that can be compared with other people's pain.

Xu You felt a little better, and then comforted him with a guilty conscience, "In the future, we can raise ourselves. Raise a few cats and dogs, and let them run and play in the yard by themselves."

Zhuang Shaodong imagined the picture Xu You described, and thought it seemed pretty good, so he pursed his lips and smiled, "Okay."

Li Minhui called them in the restaurant, "Wash your hands and eat."

Lunch was as good as ever.If you ignore Dad Xu's iceberg face and the eerie silence during the dinner, this is really a perfect farewell dinner.Father Xu still seemed to have not seen two more people in the family, just focusing on eating.Li Minhui kept picking up vegetables for the two children, with a slightly displeased expression on her face.

After eating, Father Xu went back to the study without looking up.

Xu You watched him leave, feeling extremely powerless in her heart.He would rather he took out his belt and hit him like last time, than he ignored himself so completely.It was as if there was no one like him in the family.

Accompanying Li Minhui to tidy up the kitchen, Zhuang Shaodong had already brought their travel bags to the door.Xu You walked to the door of the study and said in a low voice, "Dad, I'm going back right now, take care of yourself."

There was no sound in the study, and I don't know if the people inside heard what he said.

Xu You took a step back, knelt down at the door of the study and kowtowed.

The car turned a corner and drove out of the community.Li Minhui rubbed her red eyes, and when she turned around, she saw that familiar figure standing on the balcony of her home, her eyes were chasing the direction the car was leaving.

Li Minhui's nose was a little sore, and she muttered bitterly in her heart: He didn't see the child when he was there, and stood here looking silly when the child left.This damn old man doesn't know what he's awkward about...

"I don't know what I'm awkward about..." Xu You rubbed his nose, turned around from the window with red eyes.

Zhuang Shaodong stretched out his hand and rubbed his hair, "I think this is very good. Maybe he won't turn a blind eye to you next time, and maybe he will be willing to talk to you next time."

Xu You nodded, with a frustrated expression on his face, looking quite pitiful.

"Don't think so much," Zhuang Shaodong gave him an idea, "Why don't we come back with Huo Ying when Huo Ying is on summer vacation? Then invite them to our house on November."

Xu You was anxious, "Can he agree?"

Zhuang Shaodong comforted him, "I feel very hopeful."

Xu You lost his mind for a while, and murmured to himself: "I also think there is hope."

"Don't be upset," Zhuang Shaodong intentionally changed the subject, "By the way, Zhuang Shaoqing is treating guests this weekend, will you come?"

"Zhuang Shaoqing's treat?" Xu You was surprised, "Two of us?"

"It's not just us, there are others." Zhuang Shaodong hesitated for a moment, "Actually, it was Zhuang Shaoqing's engagement banquet, and he also invited you, and the invitation was also handed over to Zhuang Yupei, and it's all here with me."

Thinking of the man with green eyes, Xu You felt a little complicated, "I don't have any personal relationship with him..."

Zhuang Shaodong actually didn't want to go either, but Zhuang Shiwen had basically lost contact with the dealer, and his mother was in France, so he was the only one left in their branch.And he also needs to take advantage of the big tree of the dealer to enjoy the shade from time to time, and the affection of face is always needed.But let him go by himself, he really can't cheer up.

"I heard that they invited the chef from the seafood restaurant." Zhuang Shaodong said in a coaxing tone: "And the owner's own chef is also very good, the beef is especially good."

Xu You glanced at him suspiciously, "If you want me to accompany you, just say so."

"Then are you going?"