Self-knowledge

It was the Spring Festival, and the first draft of the project had been handed in a few days ago. After a few days of making up, Ye Xiang packed up and went home early for the New Year.

Father and mother were slightly surprised by his early arrival, but they didn't say much.Ye Xiang was sitting on the sofa watching TV, and his mother brought him some washed oranges and blueberries to pad his stomach first.

His father, Ye Ronggui, was busy in the kitchen. Several plates of braised vegetables, sauced beef, sauced duck legs, cold jellyfish, and some cold vegetables were placed on the dining table.

There is a tantalizing smell of meat in the room, the windows are covered with red grilles, and a string of lucky bags hangs on the glass sliding door in the kitchen, swaying and swaying as the owner passes by.

This is an ordinary New Year's Eve for an ordinary family, and the happiness of ordinary people is equivalently linked to the happiness of billionaires at this moment.

Ye Xiang felt awkward and uneasy at the moment, he hadn't been back before the Chinese New Year for many years, the dishes on the table and the melon and fruit snacks on the coffee table were not prepared for him.

The younger brother who went to school in other places arrived home a little later, and without his younger brother's noisy background, Ye Xiang was more and more uncomfortable under the politeness of his mother.

He knew from a very young age that he was not his mother's biological son, whether it was his mother's attitude of never being close to him, or the sometimes slightly resentful eyes all confirmed this.

As for who the biological mother is, the parents are unwilling to say more.He only knew that he was like a foreign object that could not be integrated into this family. His mother expressed her concern as politely as possible, but this kind of politeness made him even more unacceptable.

He sometimes thought that if his mother was as bad as the stepmothers in other fairy tales, he might be justified in resenting her;

What makes him most uncomfortable every time is that his mother often teaches his younger brother harshly, and even treats his younger brother to "bamboo shoot barbecue" when he fails the exam. Isn't punishment due to expectations and love?Whether he deliberately failed the exam, or deliberately came home late after the entrance guard, or even the day he brought Lin Jiaxu home and came out, the mother just sighed and watched him rebuke lightly.

Father's affection is more reserved.Ye Ronggui was busy with work. When Ye Xiang was young, his family lived in poverty. Raising two children in the era of family planning would have been poked at the spine. Later, when his father went into business, the environment gradually became more relaxed, and there were fewer gossips around him.

Therefore, Ye Xiang never wanted to celebrate his birthday. After the end of adolescence when he failed in trying to get his mother's attention, he accepted his position as an outsider in this family flatly.

Bite the bullet and asked about the recent situation of his mother's family, and told him the same health instructions, Ye Xiang went to the balcony to smoke for an excuse.

He really couldn't stand it, Cai Zhuo's eyes were filled with too much emotion, she had always been a simple, kind and ordinary woman, she couldn't be too good to Ye Xiang, and she couldn't be too bad.

After smoking one, Ye Ronggui also entered the balcony, pulling the door to cut off the warm and festive atmosphere in the house, and both father and son were silent for a while.

"You and Xiaoxu, did you quarrel?"

Ye Xiang pondered for a moment, but was still ready to tell the truth, "We broke up."

Ye Ronggui nodded, seeing that Ye Xiang went home for the first time in so many years, he guessed it.

"Then..." Ye Ronggui paused, as if it was difficult to say, "What is your plan? Have you considered getting married?"

Ye Xiang smiled wryly, "Dad, don't try to persuade me. I just broke up, so I haven't thought about it. But I have never liked a woman in my life, so getting married is really impossible."

Ye Ronggui sighed, and patted Ye Xiang on the shoulder, "Your mother and I disagreed when you were together, but my parents respect you when you grow up and have your own ideas."

"There is no guarantee between two men, and they will be discriminated against in society to a certain extent, Xiao Xiang..."

"dad."

Ye Xiang couldn't help interrupting his father.

Ye Xiang has been sensitive to the sense of alienation from this family since he was a child, and his parents have always been laissez-faire in his choices. Laissez-faire does not mean understanding, and he never thought of needing their understanding.

It's just that Ye Xiang is a little tired now, he willfully doesn't want to listen to criticism anymore.

Ye Ronggui sighed again, shook his head and stopped talking.

Ye Xiang felt a little bitter in his heart, he was thinking, in fact, if his father scolded him again now, would he feel better, at least knowing that someone still treats him sincerely.

"Dad—! Mom—! Huh?! Brother, brother, brother, brother———?!"

The voice that belonged to his younger brother Tian Noise suddenly appeared, and Ye Xin was carrying two big boxes and staring at Ye Xiang who appeared at home at this moment with wide eyes.

"Brother, what, hen." Ye Xiang knocked on Ye Xin's head, and Ye Xin stuck out her tongue and immediately came up to her.

"Brother~ You don't need to accompany Brother Jiaxu today?"

"Need not."

"Brother, why do you look so pale?"

"Busy at work."

"Brother, why don't you call me more?"

"study hard."

"Brother~" Ye Xin leaned over and said furtively, "I made a girlfriend."

"Good."

"Brother~ you don't care about me at all."

Ye Xiang looked at him with raised eyebrows, "Do you want me to teach you how to fall in love?"

The younger brother curled his lips. He has been very clingy to his brother since he was a child, because his parents never scolded Ye Xiang. Ye Xiang has good grades since he was a child, and he is also handsome.

He is Ye Xin's worship object.

In front of his younger brother, it was rare for Ye Xiang to take off his armor. His younger brother was one of the rare people who made him feel at ease.

"Brother~ I'm going to graduate in June and I'm exhausted looking for a job. Do you have any suitable jobs to introduce?"

Ye Xiang finally stopped practicing Tai Chi and seriously asked him about his expectations and requirements for work.

For this younger brother, Ye Xiang's feelings are also very complicated. For this younger brother who was raised by his parents' love, he is envious and unwilling, but still

He treats each other sincerely. This younger brother is stupid enough. He gave him the good ones since he was a child. He worships his elder brother like an idol, and often speaks from the bottom of his heart.

In any case, the first job after graduation is still a major event in life, Ye Xiang decided to advise him well.

"Brother, did Brother Jiaxu open a company? I don't want to waste time serving tea and water in those big companies. I want to find a small company with a better atmosphere and really learn some technology."

Ye Xiang froze for a moment, but felt that it was indeed feasible.

Looking for a job is no longer the job of his parents' generation, and he has been working for a lifetime. Although large companies have a reputation bonus, it is difficult to learn things in the first two years of department refinement; small companies, especially start-ups, although the internal organizational structure is relatively chaotic, A person often takes multiple roles, but he can exercise himself and grow together with the company.

He made up his mind, but he didn't talk too much, he only said to help and ask, and he didn't specifically clarify that he and Lin Jiaxu had broken up.

----

Lying at home, eating, lying and drinking for several days, Ye Xiang returned to City A to attend Gu Cheng's wedding.

The wedding ceremony was very romantic. He listened sarcastically to the emcee's compliments such as being in love with each other, flying together, and a match made in heaven. On the stage, the bride shyly held a bouquet of flowers. kneel.

"I am willing."

The audience applauded, and Ye Xiang clapped his hands reluctantly, thinking that it was a good thing that Sun Xiao didn't come. He, an outsider, felt sour just listening to those vows.

Proposal, swearing in, cake cutting, champagne tower, the first process of the wedding was successfully completed.

The table Ye Xiang was sitting at was some mutual friends of Gu Cheng and Sun Xiao, and Ye Xiang had met them a few times, their faces were as ugly as Ye Xiang's, and they had no appetite when they saw the table full of delicacies.

Ye Xiang sat quietly in his seat, patiently looking at the photos of the groom and the bride from childhood to adulthood, and the speech of the groom's father.

He endured it until now, and just wanted to ask Gu Cheng during the toast: You told Sun Xiao when you told me that you will have and support each other, whether it is good or bad, rich or poor, sick or healthy, you will love and cherish each other. Do you remember the saying that death will not separate you?

He still remembers.

He still remembered that Sun Xiao solemnly copied that sentence into his diary, and said to Ye Xiang with a bright smile in his eyes, I have found the person I have identified in my life.

However, when toasting, he almost gritted his teeth, but he still choked up and spit out "a hundred years together."

Gu Cheng passed by him, and said softly, "Help me take care of him, I'm sorry."