smoke like fire

In November, the weather gets really cold.It rains more often, and the sky in Taipei is only cloudy all day long, with no sunshine at all.However, everyone's spirit seems to be uplifting, perhaps it is near the end of the year.The festive atmosphere begins at the end of October, which is Halloween, followed by Thanksgiving, and finally Christmas; Western festivals have unknowingly become important days for Eastern people, especially young people, who have to eat and give gifts as much as possible.

At this time, there are also a lot of entertainment.Both public and private are overwhelmed.

Chen Liren registered his marriage with his girlfriend Lily.S at the end of October, and the official wedding banquet is expected to be in the coming year.The date depends on the progress of Lily's postpartum body recovery.Chen Limin flew back for this, only herself.It looks pretty good, and life seems to be good.She and I only chatted a few words at the engagement banquet, and we didn't meet up in time afterwards, and she returned to Malaysia again.

In mid-November, Xinbao held a board meeting.The original chairman resented him with a small number of votes.He Rongbao didn't win well, but he won the position in the end.On one day, he invited quite a few people to his private guest house, Xinyuyuan, and the few people he had focused on attracting at the beginning were all guests; of course there was Zhao Kuanyi.

But Zhao Kuanyi didn't go because he wanted to go to Beijing.I don't ask why.There is a tacit understanding with him, and we have never talked about each other's business.

And that time, because Lily was not feeling well, Chen Liren couldn't go there, so I took his place.Zhong Wenqi also accompanied her.This time, she and I drove separately.

Zhong Wenqi is really hardworking and smart, almost able to cope with various situations.However, the amount of alcohol is still not enough, because of the poor ability to hide alcohol, once persuaded, the face will turn red from drinking.She was sitting on a sofa when I noticed her.There were still people chatting around, but she was the only one who frowned, didn't speak, and covered her upper abdomen with one hand.

I thought about it, walked over, struck up a conversation with the person beside me and sat down.Of course Zhong Wenqi noticed it, and when I saw it, she turned her face away and looked forward.

This has been in the company, she and I usually have nothing to talk about, and the intersection of business affairs is no more than she and Ye Wenli.I just lit my cigar, and she looked again.In fact, the people around are not breathing.

I passed the cigar to her, "Smoking?"

Zhong Wenqi remained silent and shook her head sullenly.

I just smoked on my own, and then said: "It's best to eat something before drinking."

Zhong Wenqi seemed to be taken aback, and said after a while, "How do you know—"

I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Probably because I'm from here."

Zhong Wenqi didn't speak.

"If you feel uncomfortable, you can go first." I said, "I can tell Director He for you."

Zhong Wenqi whispered: "It's not that uncomfortable."

I didn't answer, just smoking a cigar.Zhong Wenqi remained silent.The person next to me came to talk to me, and I responded, and after a while, the people who were sitting got up and walked away.

As if waiting for the right time, Zhong Wenqi said: "You are not a bad person."

I looked at her in surprise, and said with a smile: "I don't know why you think so?"

Zhong Wenqi looked at me and said, "Xu Chengcheng said it."

I paused, then let out a snort, and said, "Then I am indeed a very bad person."

Zhong Wenqi was silent, and then said: "At the beginning, I didn't know what was going on between him and you. I knew that I was going to be promoted, and it happened that Xu Chengcheng talked to me about his family affairs-I heard a lot, and I was very surprised. I have never paid much attention to this aspect, that is, the surprise has passed, and I don’t feel much when I see you. Since I entered the company to do things, I have always relied on myself. I know you are all reading my jokes, anyway, things can’t be done. Well, blame me for being a woman."

I paused and said, "Maybe you don't believe it, but I don't think so."

Zhong Wenqi was quiet for a while, and then said: "I believe it." Looking at me, "Mr. Cheng, it's not easy for you, is it? If you don't enter your father's company, if you want to come out, there must be someone who wants to watch the show."

I took a deep breath.But Zhong Wenqi didn't seem to sense my impatience, so she continued.

She said: "I was with Xu Chengcheng before, when we were in college. Later he went abroad, but it wasn't because of that. It was mainly because of his mother. To put it bluntly, he didn't like me. He’s together.” After a long pause, he said, “Last month, I got back together with him. We kept arguing all the time. It’s strange for a man to socialize by himself, and he can do whatever he wants, but for a woman to socialize, it seems that everything is fine. It's been a while."

"You want me to stay away from you. I think it's funny, and I'm not very happy. He cares too much, so naive! Could it be that I don't know how to do things? Besides, it's impossible."

I don't talk, just smoke a cigar.No one said a word during this time, only the surroundings were laughing.But such silence is a strange thing here, and it cannot help but be noticed.

I stood up and said to her: "It's really uncomfortable, let's go back and rest early."

Zhong Wenqi looked over in astonishment, probably thinking that I was going to say more, at least not this kind of thing.She was stunned, and I had already walked away.

I don't take this episode seriously, just pretend that Zhong Wenqi is drunk.Maybe she also felt inappropriate, and after that, she saw it in the company as usual.

However, very occasionally, when it's just me and her, she wants to mention Xu Chengcheng.She seemed to despise him very much and never had good things to say.Of course I won't answer.I really don't know what's going on with her, and I've never understood her as a person.But at least she knows that she probably doesn't hate me.

In the afternoon of this day, after I finished talking with a friend, when we parted ways, I received a call from Wang Ziying.She asked me if I was free to see the exhibition together, and two tickets were about to expire.

Anyway, I didn't plan to go back to the company, so after thinking about it, I agreed.In fact, she doesn't call often, but sends more messages.I've always seen her as a younger sister.It's never been anything, so you don't have to worry about what you think of others.

The place on display is in the History Museum.I parked my car nearby and walked there.Wang Ziying was already waiting there, dressed in light clothes, plus a light-colored wool coat.

She waved her hand at me, "Brother Cheng!"

I stepped forward and smiled, "Have you been waiting for a long time?"

"I just arrived too." She smiled, and took out the ticket, "I blame my poor memory, I forgot, and when I couldn't make an appointment with other friends, I remembered you. Fortunately, you are willing to come, otherwise it would be a waste."

I smiled and said, "Occasionally, I should cultivate a bit of literary and artistic temperament, otherwise, the smell of copper will be left on my body."

She is also smiling.

So we went in together.It is to see the flower and bird painting exhibition of Ming and Qing Dynasties, which mainly displays the works of Xu Beihong and Zhang Daqian.Although it is a weekday, there are not many people who come here.So there was a lot of noise, everyone rushed to stand in front of the painting, as if walking through a bush of flowers, not even a single leaf touched their body, just be confused.

I can't talk about my feelings after taking a quick trip to see the flowers, and Wang Ziying seems to be upset.When she came out of the museum, she said, "I don't know why, but I always feel a little disappointed."

I smiled and said, "That's how people are. I'm not really disappointed, at least I saw a good exhibition."

Wang Ziying looked at it and smiled slightly, "You don't want to blame me for dragging you here to crowd people."

I laughed, "How come? I also said I would come."

Wang Ziying smiled shyly.

I looked at it and said, "Let's go, I invite you to drink tea."

Wang Ziying was taken aback, "Huh?"

I said, "Thank you for inviting me to see the exhibition."

Wang Ziying said: "You're welcome, I am..."

I interrupted her with a smile: "I don't plan to go back to the company anyway, and I have to find time to kill it, or you can just keep me company."

Wang Ziying seemed to be in a daze, then nodded after a while, and did not speak.

I didn't take it seriously, just smiled, and walked with her to the parking place.

Because we stopped farther away, we had to walk for a while.At this moment, it was just me and her on the sidewalk.The car was running in the middle of the road, rumbling, and there was no atmosphere.I don't think too much about it.

Wang Ziying wore a pair of high shoes today, so I walked too slowly if I didn't walk very fast.But she was still one step behind me.

She stopped me suddenly.

I turned around, stopped for a while, turned to her, and asked with a smile, "I'm walking too fast, am I? I'll go slower."

She stood still, looked at me with both eyes, and said, "Brother Cheng, I've been thinking all the time, the person who can be your girlfriend must be very happy."

I was startled, then smiled and said, "Actually, you are wrong, just the opposite."

She didn't seem to believe it, and said again: "I will definitely, I just... always feel that way."

I am silent.

She was also silent.Facing each other, after a while, she seemed to take a deep breath and said, "I like you."

I looked at her quietly, there was a rippling look in her eyes, and two blushes on her cheeks, as if it was because of the heat, but it was obviously so cold.I smiled and said: "I know, I like you very much too, like a sister of mine."

Her gaze suddenly dimmed, and her smile seemed to be forced.

"I... don't mean that."

I was silent, nodded after a while and said: "I see. I am very grateful."

She seemed to stare blankly at me and didn't speak for a while.

I suddenly couldn't bear it, and said: "You are a very good girl, I am not suitable for you."

She asked softly: "Is it because——you already have someone to associate with?"

I paused, still looking at her, struggling in my heart, and confessed: "Yes."

"I don't believe it." She said immediately, then paused again, as if sadly: "But the eldest brother also told me so."

I was slightly taken aback, but said: "Your elder brother is not wrong."

She pursed her lips, looked at me and asked, "Who is it?"

I was silent for a moment before answering, "You don't know him."

But she chased after him: "Have I seen it?"

I ignored it, and just said: "You are really a good girl, liking me is too wasteful."

She opened her mouth, but after all remained silent, she suddenly turned away.I was still where I was, watching her hurry away, but I never wanted to chase her.