smoke like fire

Chen Liren came back two days later.The previous morning's regular meeting was lengthy, and it was finally broken up. Everyone left the conference room in twos and threes. He kept me and told me to go to the dinner together tonight.

The host is the boss Changle Xie.I am not familiar with this boss Xie. Last year, the company was carrying out a project. He heard the news and expressed his interest in investing in Chen Liren, so he contacted him.He is a man of temperament, he wants to treat anyone he thinks of, and he likes to invite people from different walks of life together.

It seemed that he had thought of someone else, including Chen Liren.

The place to treat guests is at the Straits Club, on the first basement floor of the Hongguo Building.As soon as you enter the hall where the square crystal chandelier is hung, someone will come to ask you and take you to the box.

There are already other people in the box.Fortunately, everyone is familiar with it this time.After the greeting, everyone sat on their seats and struck up a conversation with each other. After a while, Boss Xie arrived.

Boss Xie brought a lady in.Yanyan smiled at Fang Yan, not embarrassed, and agreed with everyone.Everyone present had seen his wife, but not this one; no one asked further questions, because it was not important.

Eat complex dishes today, in the form of a set meal.Boss Xie opened two bottles of wine, Sibei whiskey 18 years old.

There was no shortage of topics during the dinner, but less about business, and more about tobacco, alcohol and women.When I commented on a well-known actress, I got a call, so I apologized and went out of the box to answer it.

It was a friend I hadn't seen for a long time.I stood in the hallway and listened.

In the other box not too far away, the door suddenly opened, and the constant chatter and laughter could be vaguely heard. A young man came out, wearing a suit, and also answering the phone.

I was about to turn my eyes away, but when I saw the other person's appearance, I paused for a while before I stopped looking.I go down the hall.There is an aquarium by the counter that looks like a British telephone booth, and I watched the fish swimming there before I hung up the call.When he walked back, the man was no longer in the corridor.

Fu went into the box again, thanked the boss for seeing me taking a long time to come back, and teased me a lot, and everyone also booed, thinking that the caller just now was my flirtatious object.

Chen Liren often helps his girlfriend to match me up.He glanced at me even more maliciously. I was very difficult to answer, so I had to drink three glasses of wine as punishment.

After a good meal, another box opened.The two groups of people met unexpectedly, some unfamiliar and familiar, and they were all polite; thanking the boss for making a lot of friends, and meeting friends inside, it was a good time to chat.

I saw the same person again.The companion who followed, I recognized, was the new general manager of Huayuan.The two of them said goodbye to the host over there.

Chen Liren's driver drove over.When he got in the car, he talked about Huayuan.Huayuan is a family business with its own factions. The original general manager belonged to the uncle's house, but was pulled down due to a scandal a while ago.

He suddenly said: "By the way, the young man just now, at first glance, is quite similar to you."

"is it?"

I don't feel similar - I've always been a little more like my mother.It is said that a son is like a mother, and it seems that the other party also agrees with this truth.

There are too many social occasions, I have long thought that one day I will meet them.To my own surprise, there was no ups and downs in my heart, I simply avoided, the embarrassment was minor, and the main thing was nothing to talk about.

I don't know what the other party thinks?Might have just seen me too.

Chen Liren was still there and said: "The next time you meet, ask him what his name is."

On this day, I met Qi Dongwen in the company.He is Ye Wenli's capable subordinate, and he has been following up the cooperation project with Zhaomei, and has been busy recently.

He casually said that the meeting between the two parties was scheduled for tomorrow, but it was suddenly rescheduled.

I hesitated and asked a lot, but Qi Dongwen didn't know the reason.I walked back to the office, looked at the desk calendar, and figured it out, half a month had passed since that day.

It's been so long - I don't really want to settle down too much.Once you calm down, you will inevitably have to think too much.I admitted in my heart that I didn't speak very well that day.

The word "revenge" is ridiculous even thinking about it, but I know very well that what happened to Ms. Zhao is really over.If Zhao Kuanyi is still unhappy, he will not talk to me easily.

For example, the current situation, I think, would make me unhappy.

It would be easy to explain if I had called earlier.But it's one thing to think clearly, and another thing to care about.Me and him, the problem is still there.

Also have my problem.

That time at He Rongbao's guest house, I'm not sure if he saw me.But I couldn't walk through, and I felt more intimidated than when I was alienated before.

I'm not afraid that he will ignore it.I was being hypocritical of myself for wanting to have nothing to do with him.

When Qiu Yisen knew that Zhao Kuanyi and I had broken up, he didn't say anything.He just said, drink a glass of wine in two days.It took two days to wait for half a month.

He called in the afternoon and said the appointment was at Shake.I didn't go there for a while, and Wang Ziyang and the others seldom went there either.I don't know about the others, but Wang Ziyang is because of his wife.He has rarely had the opportunity to organize a meeting these days.

Before I go, I still have a dinner, and I will inevitably have a few drinks, but I won't feel drunk.There was dim light in the bar, I greeted the bartender I knew well, and I was about to go downstairs to the box, but I met a person sitting at the bar.

I don't know emotions for a moment.She didn't expect to meet Lin Luowei here.

Of course she saw me.It seemed that she drank a lot, her cheeks were flushed, and her expression was in a daze. She stared at me in a daze, and I could only stop.

I took a look, and all the people sitting around her were male guests, depending on whether they were her companions or not.I hesitated and asked, "Don't you have any friends to come with you?"

"Oh, Alison is going to pick up the car."

Lin Luowei said, looking away, staring at the wine glass in front of him.I thought about it, and said something to a male guest beside her, who readily moved away from her seat.

I ordered a glass of ciroc.

Lin Luowei looked at him suddenly and said, "You are really good friends, you drink like wine."

I know her well, and I have never heard her use such a straightforward tone.Normally, she might have to smile first, pretending to find out, and ask gently.

I don't need to answer her why, I just said: "It's just a coincidence."

Lin Luowei seemed to be chatting, and asked, "I don't know how long ago you two met? I have almost met many friends around him, but you rarely see them."

I sighed to myself, I shouldn't be sitting here in a single thought.I don't want to talk to her more about this.I asked, "Has your friend been away for too long?"

Lin Luowei didn't answer, just stared at me for a while, and then turned away.

Holding the half-drinked wine glass in both hands, she said to herself: "I thought he didn't know you very well—I don't know if you remember? In the movie theater, when you talked to him, I felt that he was a little cold towards you." I glanced, "So I met you later, I pretended I didn't see you, I'm sorry."

I was silent.

Lin Luowei didn't seem to care, and murmured: "In fact, he is really a strange person——no, no, not only strange, but also selfish, indifferent, and doesn't take other people's feelings seriously, huh, but I Still love it. I noticed him when he was in school. As you probably know, he had a lot of girlfriends around and I didn't really want to be one of those guys. The first time I asked him out was with Fred After they got together, he often dated a female star at that time. I asked him, is that a girlfriend? He said he didn’t have a girlfriend. I said I wanted to date him, like a boyfriend and girlfriend, but he didn’t say a word , but he still dated me."

I drink wine, always silent.I don't know what to say.She shouldn't have told me, and I don't want to hear it at all.I don't feel concerned.

But I kept thinking about the pictures in the weekly magazines.

And she was still talking: "Several times, he said no. He never refused to date me. I can feel that he has something to say, and I'm just waiting for him to speak." After a pause, he drank the wine , suddenly looked at me, "Are you guys actually disgusted by women who take the initiative?"

I froze for a moment, not knowing how to answer her.

She said: "He suddenly became indifferent. Until last month, I couldn't help asking if I was with him all the time. I didn't expect him to deny it, and said that he already had a date. Heh, it was like a joke. What did you take me for?"

She babbled, narrated the possible list she suspected, and accused Zhao Kuanyi of wrongdoing.I have no comfort at all, and my mood is ups and downs.

I refrained from inquiring into the fact that she also went to Beijing.She didn't mention that one time at all.I didn't make a sound to stop her until I heard she asked for another glass of wine.

Before listening to her, a woman came.

Probably that friend of hers.The other party put his arms around her shoulders and looked at me defensively.She didn't notice it, she just twitched the corners of her mouth at me, and stood up with her hands on the countertop shaking slightly, fortunately someone was holding her up.

They are gone.

I was stunned for a while before finishing the glass of wine in my hand.

When Qiu Yisen came, I just opened the third bottle of red wine.

I sat on the sofa in the box, facing a wall, drinking one glass after another, and the unknown time flowed.I have regurgitated what I just heard a few times.

It turned out that Zhao Kuanyi had clearly refused.He didn't talk about it, because I didn't ask.I didn't expect, and I didn't think I could believe that he could be sincere about this relationship.

Sometimes I think, I would rather he lied to me than tell me the truth.It's better to dream than to be awake.I don't need to recognize my feelings too clearly.

The attachment is too deep, and you can't believe it after you get it.What I don't believe is my own fear. I'm afraid a lot, so I don't feel real, and because it's too real, I can't believe him.

But I love him again.I hate being so powerless.

Seeing my condition, Qiu Yisen was very surprised.

"I heard you said that you broke up with him that day, and your tone was not very free and easy. What's going on with you now?"

I took a sip of wine and said, "I don't know either."

Qiu Yisen seemed speechless.He is the one who knows the ins and outs of everything about me.He never judged.He sat next to me and tried to take my glass away several times, but I refused to let him.

As if he had nothing to do, he poured himself a glass.

"What did I say earlier? Fortunately, I can't be your lover." Holding the wine glass, he sighed earnestly: "Do you know? Every time you tell me something that you only mention to me, I listen to it I don’t know whether I should be happy or not. I really hope that you still have someone close to you to share with. Otherwise, what would you do if you lost me? You have to dig into the horns of the dead in terms of relationships, especially for him. If you don’t want to think about it, with him There have been many years of friendship in the past, is it fake? If you don't talk about him, how do you think about his mother?"

I was silent.

Qiu Yisen said again: "Don't blame me for speaking directly, but don't you know? In front of love, only love itself is beautiful, and everything should be ugly. What about your embarrassing things? It's the truth anyway. .”

I slowly said: "Because of the fact. I was not good enough, and it was even worse. But he is too good, and his liking for me may not be able to tolerate these things—no, it must not be, he was also Only for those who are friends with me."

Qiu Yisen said: "Even so, you should tell him, call him."

Call up?Should he answer, I didn't answer, just drink again.

Qiu Yisen didn't say a word anymore, he stood up, took two steps and said, "I can't stand you!" He looked at me, "What about now? How do you go back? I thought you could still drive, so I asked Milton to drive the car." drove off."

I continue to pour wine.

"Stop drinking! Go back." Qiu Yisen came over to stop him, and stretched out his hand, "Give me the car keys, where is your car parked?"

I mentioned a place but didn't show the key.Seemingly helpless, he took the coat I had thrown aside, looked at it, lifted the curtain, and walked out without knowing where he was.

I didn't care, I just wanted to drink.I don't want to care about why my heart is empty at the moment.For the past half month, everything has been fine.

Alcohol is such a good thing, I think.But I used to clearly disapprove of getting drunk in frustration.I drank it in one gulp and poured it again, again and again, until the bottle was empty again.

Someone raised the curtain.

I said: "You go first, take a taxi, the fare is mine."

"Can you still talk? It doesn't look too drunk."

I paused and looked up, but I didn't see Qiu Yisen, it was Zhao Kuanyi.He was still in a suit and his hair wasn't too messy. With one hand in his trouser pocket, he stood and looked at me.

I was so surprised that I managed to regain my composure, and opened my mouth to ask, "You are...how could you..."

"I got a call."

As Zhao Kuanyi said, he came and sat down on the seat next to me.I smelled a strong smell of cigarettes on his body, and I probably didn't know who was socializing in the venue.

I asked confusedly, "What phone number?"

Zhao Kuanyi stretched out his hand, and there was a mobile phone lying on the palm, which belonged to me.I was stunned for a moment, and took it over to look at the call record, which turned out to be half an hour ago.

I could only look to him and ask, "Where is Qiu Yisen?"

"He said to drive your car back first, maybe he has gone far away." Zhao Kuanyi said, still looking at me, suddenly said: "I thought about what you said, and you are right."

I stared at him blankly.

Zhao Kuanyi continued: "There are some things that I haven't thought about talking about. It's not necessarily that I can't talk about it, because you didn't ask. But I think there is enough tacit understanding between us."

I smiled wryly and remained silent.

Zhao Kuanyi said: "I've told you about my mother, and there's nothing else to say. If you think that way, I can't help it, but it's understandable. That's why I don't talk about my aunt. I don't know what to say? At that time, I thought about your past, so I understood your embarrassment."

I just opened my mouth: "I understand, it's hard to talk about this kind of thing. I didn't speak well for a while."

Zhao Kuanyi fell silent for a moment, and then said again: "You asked me that day, I really don't know part of it." Looking at me, "You said I wasn't confessing, but you were too. You go to the hospital, Who do you see? You don't want to say, and I don't want to press too hard."

I stared blankly at him for a while.After thinking about it, I said, "It's not that I refuse to say it, I am—I don't know how to say it, I can't deny that I have been estranged from you for a long time, and it has a little influence."

Zhao Kuanyi was silent again, and only spoke after a while, but said: "I don't like giving up halfway."

I froze.

From Zhao Kuanyi's point of view, "Besides, the situation is not too bad to deal with. Maybe you and I should have a fair chance."

I didn't speak, I just felt my heart beating suddenly, and I was only thinking about his words.My heart was shaking, but I wasn't strong at all.Because he never thought that he would answer the phone and come here for me.

All kinds of feelings at the moment, each one is telling me not to say no.

Zhao Kuanyi did not urge him.

I finally gave in.I said, "You're right, maybe, we should all try to give each other another chance."

Zhao Kuanyi looked at me, nodded after a while, and looked again, "You can drink it. Can you still stand up?"

I stretched out my hand towards him in shame, "I want to trouble you to give me a hand."

Zhao Kuanyi didn't speak, just held my hand and led me up.I walked by him, feeling a very real feeling.I should have confessed to him the most.

I said, "Zhao Kuanyi, I always have you in my heart. You don't need to say anything, you just need to know that I love you."

Zhao Kuanyi looked at it, but I didn't move my eyes away.

And he didn't say nothing, he said: "I know."