Manhattanhenge

The same thing was said by Ning Yixiao six years ago, so Su Hui's thoughts were pulled back to the past, that period of joy mixed with pain.

It's strange, after so many high-pressure "treatments", electric shocks and drugs have reshaped his brain long ago, making him dull and lost many important memories in his life, but he still remembers this bitter experience very deeply. Shi Shi, even clearly remembered Ning Yixiao's expression when he said that life was meaningless, and his appearance standing alone by the beach.

This made Su Hui feel pain uncontrollably.

Ning Yixiao in front of him suddenly opened his mouth and called his name, the past and the present overlapped, falling on Su Hui's heart.

"Su Hui."

He regained his senses and pulled his feet out of the swamp of memories, but avoided Ning Yixiao's eyes, put down the fork in his hand, "Then... what do you want?"

Ning Yixiao's voice sounded calm, even with a little smile, "You never asked this kind of question before."

When the spoon hit the porcelain bowl, it made a crisp sound, as if it was hitting Su Hui's heart.

"Didn't you like to create surprises for others?"

He said it twice, like he really cared about the past.

Su Hui held back her emotions and replied softly, "Maybe I've changed."

He said frankly: "I don't know what you like now."

Ning Yixiao paused for a while, the air was as quiet as sticky jelly, wrapped in the emotions that flowed out of the two of them.

"I haven't changed. I'm still the same as before. I don't like anything."

He got up, picked up his water glass, went to the drinking machine to take a glass of water, and said relaxedly: "Actually, there is no other meaning, just think about it carefully, I am 27 years old, and I have never had a decent birthday. Life feels kind of boring."

Turning around, Ning Yixiao was holding a water glass, just in time to meet Su Hui who was looking up, this time he didn't hide.

Su Hui has indeed changed, she no longer acts coquettishly and says childish things like in the past.

He just nodded and said yes.

Then he got up, and seemed to think of something suddenly, looked at Ning Yixiao, and cautiously reminded, "It's time to take medicine."

Ning Yixiao nodded, "Yes."

They each took their own medicine, and then began to tacitly clean up the dishes and put them in the dishwasher.

"I'm a little tired, I want to go to sleep first." Su Hui said softly, then turned around, entered the room, and closed the door.

Ice Cream couldn't keep up with his pace and was shut outside the door. She glanced back at Ning Yixiao innocently and let out a sob.

Ning Yixiao obviously regretted the temptation just now. He could feel Su Hui's sudden depression after hearing the birthday-related words.

But he couldn't deny the incomprehension and resignation that did exist. He had spent so many years digesting it, but he still couldn't let it go.

Ning Yixiao is not the only one who can't let go.

Su Hui returned to the room, walked into the bathroom with shuddering steps, closed the door, and turned on the faucet of the bathtub. His legs were weak, and he fell to the floor. He curled up, buried his head, and cried silently while gritting his teeth.

Too many memories surged up uncontrollably, drenching him like a heavy rain. Ning Yixiao was the only house that could shelter from the rain. The door was open to him, and there were warm lights inside, but Su Hui dare not get involved.

He is not a normal person. He always makes crazy promises when he is on the rise, saying that he will give him a good gift, that he will be with him for a long time, and that he will not be separated from him no matter what happens.

But he didn't fulfill these promises, and he didn't even spend a full birthday with Ning overnight.

In the past six years, Su Hui has imagined countless times, if they had made another choice at the beginning, what would happen to them later.

Maybe that winter will not be so hard, at least I can skate with him on the frozen lake of Shichahai, hold hands, fall on him, and then hug.Or in the spring of the next year, they would go to the park for a picnic together, and Ning Yixiao would use the money he saved to buy a camera and secretly take pictures of him eating cake.In the summer, you may not be able to save enough air tickets to Iceland. You can go to a small beach where there is no one, where you can watch the sea side by side, and write each other's names in the sand.

In the closed room, relying on these beautiful fantasies, Su Hui survived many days and nights of nothingness.

At that time, he was trapped by auditory hallucinations and hallucinations, and the condition was so severe that he could not speak normally.The nurse kept asking him, "Can you tell what is hallucination and what is real? Do you know whether what you hear is true or false?"

Su Hui really couldn't tell the difference at the time, which also meant that he was always a patient whose treatment failed.

Neither drugs nor electric shocks had wiped out these hallucinations, and he just didn't want to.

This world is as absurd as a horror game.Su Hui cleared the level one after another, and when he met Ning Yixiao, he thought it was a reward, but later realized that this was the biggest level.

Faced with a lot of pressure and torture, he gritted his teeth and made his own decision, but the subsequent plots were no longer related to happiness. For six full years, everything that happened was punishment.It seems that all the clues are implying him that he should give up everything for love without hesitation, that is the correct answer to the fairy tale.

But after meeting Ning Yixiao again and witnessing his success, Su Hui knew that even if he did it again, he would still make the same choice.

After crying for a while, Su Hui stood up with difficulty, washed his face, and raised his hand to wipe off the mist on the mirror. He saw his haggard face and didn't want to take a second look.

Ice Cream was yelling outside, Su Hui opened the bathroom door, and found that the door of the room had been opened by him with his claws.He jumped up, wanting a hug.

Su Hui hugged him carelessly, then staggered out of the room, but what he didn't expect was that the next second, he saw Ning Yixiao going downstairs fully dressed, holding a twenty-inch A silver suitcase that looks like it's about to go on a long trip.

He stood at the door of the room, staring at Ning Yixiao steadfastly.

"I'm going back to the Bay Area. I have too much work piled up. I have to go back and deal with it. The C round of financing has begun." Ning Yixiao also looked at him, and found that Su Hui's eyes and nose were red, and his eyelids were red and swollen. Looked like he just cried.

"What's wrong?" He asked Su Hui softly.

Su Hui shook her head, and lied unnaturally, "I just hit my knee..."

Ning Yixiao didn't expose it, but nodded, "Be careful when you walk."

Su Hui thought for a while, then suddenly said, "Just wait a moment."

After finishing speaking, he walked back to the room, opened the drawer of the table, and came out after a while, holding a box in his hand, explaining, "This is hand cream, there are three. You said last time that it is okay to use, I I just bought another set, you can take it with you.”

Ning Yixiao glanced at it. He knew he would be back soon, so he said, "Use up what you have first, I'll take it with you."

Being rejected, Su Hui was a little at a loss, and put down the hand holding the box, "Then... where is your medicine?"

"Bring it."

"Oh." Su Hui nodded, always avoiding Ning Yixiao's eyes, "Then be careful on the road."

"Yes, I know." Ning Yixiao nodded, carrying the suitcase and walking towards the entrance, Su Hui followed him a few steps away, planning to see him off.

Ning Yixiao opened the door, and the cold wind rushed in, hitting Su Hui's ankles.

He had already gone out, but when he turned his head, he saw Su Hui standing at the door in clean and simple pajamas and a knitted jacket. He felt like he was at home he hadn't seen for a long time, and he immediately felt a lot of reluctance. Being rational, he said impulsively: "Do you want to go to the Bay Area for a few days?"

Ning Yixiao regretted saying this, their relationship is not so good now, not to mention that this time his work is urgent, and he has no time to accompany Su Hui to any scenic spots.

Naturally, Su Hui refused.

"I'd better stay with Ice Cream." He chose a good reason.

Ning Yixiao was not disappointed as expected, and nodded, "Okay."

But just as he turned to leave, he suddenly heard Su Hui asking cautiously behind him.

"Ning Yixiao, when do you want to make up your birthday?"

He was quiet, then turned his head, "It's New Year's Eve, I guess I'll be back at noon that day."

This time Su Hui didn't dare to say anything like a promise, but just nodded to show that he remembered.

The weather was pretty good when Ning Yixiao left, but soon it turned cloudy and then began to rain. Su Hui felt very uneasy and wandered around the room nervously, silently hoping that his plane would arrive safely.

With only myself left, the room suddenly became very empty and large, as if there was no limit.He really wanted himself to stop missing Ning Yixiao, so he found some things for himself to do, such as cleaning.

He cleaned up the kitchen seriously and quietly, mopped the floor, and went back to his room to tidy up everything.

Su Hui doesn't want this house to leave too many traces of himself, because one day he will leave, and new and important people will move in here, preferably brand new, as if he has never been here.

To have a nice birthday for Ning Yixiao became what Su Hui most wanted to accomplish right now, and also to find a fulcrum for his long period of depression.He sat at the table and stayed all afternoon, using his memory to draw a sketch of the "gift" that was not given at that time.

Looking at it from the current perspective, this work is not mature at all, but it is a heart that my past self put into it completely.

He stopped judging himself, but he also felt that content like this no longer applies to their current relationship.

Maybe it should be a whole new gift.

Su Hui thought for a while, and temporarily put the drawing aside.It was getting dark, and Ice Cream really wanted to go downstairs, so she kept circling around Su Hui excitedly, reminding him that it was time to go out.

There was no way, Su Hui put on a thick coat, wrapped herself tightly, and went out with ice cream.

After returning from the park, Su Hui changed to a road that he seldom walked before. There are more shops here. A dessert bakery attracted his attention, but it was not because of the attractive desserts in the shop, but because of the poster on the door. of a Christmas poster.

The poster reads "Christmas gingerbread house DIY activity, make a gingerbread house by yourself, and give it to your favorite person!"

In the past, Su Hui would not have paid attention to such advertising words, but today he was a little moved and stayed for a long time.

The staff in the store noticed him, so they opened the door and walked out. The aroma of bread flowed out briefly through the crack of the door, which smelled very good.

"Hi! Do you want to buy dessert? We have a tasting here, do you want to try it?"

The female clerk enthusiastically took out the tasting plate and handed Su Hui a small fork.

Su Hui took it with both hands. He didn't intend to try it at first, but because the other party was too enthusiastic, out of politeness, he forked a small piece of mini ganache and put it in his mouth.

The taste of chocolate is very strong, with a hint of orange freshness.

"It's delicious, thank you."

Su Hui thought for a while, pointed to the poster at the door and asked, "Excuse me, is this DIY activity still going on?"

The clerk glanced back, "Is this? It's over, this is last month's Christmas event."

Su Hui nodded, he knew it was the result, "Then... is there any new event? I want to make a birthday cake, but I'm not very good at it."

The clerk understood what he meant, "Do you want to learn how to make cakes?"

"Yes." Su Hui nodded.

The clerk showed a regretful expression on his face, "It's a pity that our pastry chefs are very busy recently, and there are no DIY activities, but they have cake teaching courses on the Internet. You can give me a contact information, and I can send it to you. Check it out, and try it at home if you're interested."

Su Hui happily added the other party's contact information, paid for the video, and there were indeed tutorials for many kinds of cakes, each of which looked delicious.

He began to rejoice that Ning Yixiao went to California this time, which happened to give him some alone time, otherwise he wouldn't even have a place to secretly learn how to make cakes.

"Thank you, I got it."

"You're welcome!" The saleswoman smiled enthusiastically.

Su Hui briefly looked at the recipes of some cakes, and felt that they were very complicated. Although the finished products were exquisite and beautiful, he was not sure that he could really reproduce them one by one. He was afraid that they would be ugly and tasteless. .

He had a lot of self-doubt, thinking about whether to give up the plan.

Ning Yixiao and him are not students anymore, making a cake that is not good enough may be counterproductive, it is better to choose a perfect one.

After hesitating for a while, Su Hui said, "Why don't I take a look at your finished product..."

Unexpectedly, the female clerk opened her mouth at the same time, and asked with great anticipation: "You want to make it yourself for someone you like, right?"

Su Hui was stunned for a moment, before denying it in time, but her ears soon turned red.

"I knew it!" She thought she had guessed correctly, and gestured, "Come on, come on! Our recipes and tutorials are very detailed, you will definitely be successful!"

Su Hui took the ice cream and ran away, and the new plan he thought of was in vain, and he regretted that he didn't speak clearly along the way.

But afterward he calmed down, and felt that it didn't matter if he said it clearly, anyway, Ning Yixiao wouldn't know.

If the final product is good enough to distinguish the real one from the real one, he will not let Ning Yixiao know that it was made by himself.

Ning Yixiao's plane landed in San Francisco smoothly, and the company's driver picked him up immediately.The temperature here is 8 degrees Celsius, without rain, very mild, much warmer than the winter in New York, but he is not happy with the good Mediterranean climate, and always thinks about Suhui.

So after the meeting, he turned on the surveillance video again, watching what Su Hui was doing at home while working.

Very different from what he imagined, Su Hui didn't lie quietly on the bed or the floor, but stayed in the kitchen, doing something in a hurry.

Ning Yixiao glanced at the time, it was already eleven o'clock in the evening, and he couldn't even eat in Yuqi, so why would he make supper at this time.

He was very interested, so he put down his work and took a few more glances, and found that Su Hui seemed to be weighing sugar and then milk.

He even took out the electric egg beater, as if he wanted to send something, but before he could do it, he accidentally knocked over the weighed milk with his elbow, so he wiped the countertop and cabinet in a panic.

Ning Yixiao didn't notice that she was laughing.Carl opened the door and came in. Just seeing this scene, he felt a little weird, so after thinking about it, he closed the door and planned to come back to discuss work in 10 minutes.

Ning Yixiao couldn't figure out why Su Hui was so smart sometimes so stupid.

He had the desire to tease him, so he picked up his cell phone and dialed Su Hui's number.

In the video, Su Hui put down the things in his hands, picked up the mobile phone on the table, tapped it, but it didn't connect.

Why are you hanging up?

Ning Yixiao couldn't understand, so he called again.

This time Su Hui finally accepted.His voice on the phone was waxy, with a little helplessness, "Hello?"

"Is it time to take your medicine?" Ning Yixiao pretended to be decent.

"Take medicine?" Su Hui paused, apologetic in his tone, and said in a low voice, "I've already taken it."

"Why don't you ask me to come together and agree to supervise each other?" Ning Yixiao started to attack.

Su Hui's voice was very low, as if he was about to admit his mistake in the next second, "I forgot... Then you can eat now, and you can go to sleep after eating."

Ning Yixiao had already eaten it, but he still deliberately made a noise. Fortunately, he found the medicine jar, otherwise he would have to perform on the spot without a real thing.

After drinking water, Ning Yixiao said: "I can't sleep, I guess I will stay up all night today."

Su Hui paused, and couldn't help but ask, "Do you have a lot of work?"

"Well, I should have come back a long time ago. As soon as the financing starts tomorrow, I'm sure I'll be even busier and have no time to sleep." Ning Yixiao didn't exaggerate, but his tone was more serious than before.

"Then we should take a nap for a while." Su Hui tentatively put forward his own thoughts, "Otherwise it will be very tiring."

This kind of concern for Ning Yixiao was very helpful, and he even wanted to hear more from him, so he deliberately said: "I'd better drink a few more cups of coffee, although my heart feels uncomfortable after drinking too much."

"Then you don't drink." Su Hui said this sentence faster than before, and he was not so cautious, "If this continues, the body will not be able to bear it."

"It doesn't matter." Ning Yixiao said.

At this point, Su Hui stopped taking advantage of his tricks and chose to remain silent.

Ning Yixiao asked, "What about you? When will you go to bed?"

In the surveillance video, Su Hui obviously glanced at the messy countertop in the kitchen, and then replied, "Soon."

"How fast is soon?" Ning Yixiao deliberately asked, "Lying on the bed now?"

Su Hui actually lied along with him, like a kid doing bad things alone at home, "Yeah."

Ning Yixiao almost couldn't hold back his smile, "Okay then, good night."

"Good night."

Su Hui didn't have any doubts about Ning Yixiao's motive for this call, and even felt guilty after hanging up. After looking at the things on the table for a while, she decided to learn how to make cake embryos quickly.

So he continued to beat the egg whites, and the ice cream lay at his feet, accompanying him very seriously.

What Su Hui didn't know was that ice cream wasn't the only thing accompanying him.

It was something he couldn't imagine.