Do not lie to me

Ji means the first sunshine after the rain.

Xiao Ji stood beside the cash register, watching Shang Xuechen swipe his card to pay the bill. The cashier was explaining to him with a smile, "It will take some time to pack, please wait a moment."

Xiao Ji looked at the packaging table next to it, and it turned out that those snapdragons were still rationed with colored roses.Xiaoji's eyes swept over the sunflowers spread out beside him, but it didn't matter, he could be regarded as getting a little attention.

Shang Xuechen smiled and raised the card in Xiao Ji's hand, "See, brother, I'm an adult, paying you is a piece of cake."

This blatant showing off doesn't look like a decent adult, Xiao Ji sees it through and doesn't tell the truth, just smiles and says, "Thank you, Brother Chen."

Shang Xuechen took the card back carefully, and casually asked the people around him, "Xiao Ji, are you waiting here, or let them take you home in a while?"

"Brother Chen, is there something urgent to leave first?"

Shang Xuechen shrugged his shoulders, "I'm alone, I don't have much to do. I just saw a cultural and sports shop opposite the flower shop and wanted to check it out."

"Then I'll go with you. I don't have much to do. I seldom go out when I return to China. Brother Chen just takes me for a stroll."

Shang Xuechen glanced at him, originally wanted to find an excuse to refuse, but saw that his eyes were full of expectation, and finally nodded in agreement.

Seeing that he agreed, Xiao Ji happily followed Shang Xuechen out of the flower shop to the cultural and sports shop opposite.

There is nothing special in the cultural and sports shop, they are all beautifully packaged notebooks and cute pens of various styles, attracting boys and girls to come and spend.Shang Xuechen seldom goes into this kind of shop, he is not very interested in such cute gadgets, but Xiao Ji finds it novel, and he can get some cute gadgets with just a hand.

Xiao Ji was flipping through the brown paper notebook in his hand, and asked Shang Xuechen, "Brother Chen, do you want to buy something? You paid for me, this time I will pay for you."

Shang Xuechen walked casually, but carefully looked at the ornaments on the shelf, "I want to buy some books."

"Books?" Xiaoji glanced at the store, most of them were selling decorative gadgets, not like books, "It seems that you can't buy books with content here."

Shang Xuechen was still shuttled between the shelves, "I don't buy very advanced books. I just want to see if there are any fairy tale books. It is best to be a picture book, the kind with more pictures and less words. I bought a sheet music in a bookstore before. As soon as I opened it, there were all kinds of brief introductions, which gave me a headache. I think this kind of store should have the kind of book I want with less words and more pictures."

"Fairy tale books." Xiaoji put down the notebook in his hand, and started to help Shang Xuechen find fairy tale books, "Brother Chen, come quickly! Here they are!"

Shang Xuechen turned his head and walked towards Xiaoji who was waving at him. There really were fairy tale books on the low platform.Shang Xuechen squatted down and flipped through the books one by one. Xiao Ji saw that he was so serious about picking, so he also squatted down and flipped through them, "Brother Chen, why do you want to buy fairy tale books?"

"Oh, our goldfish suffers from insomnia at night, so I have to tell him a bedtime story." Shang Xuechen answered casually. Listening to his absurd answer, Xiaoji also guessed who the bedtime story was for.

Shang Xuechen squatted and flipped through it for a long time. He really didn't know which one to pick, so he turned his head and asked Xiao Ji, "What interesting fairy tales did you hear when you were young? I don't know much about it. Please help me choose one." Interesting."

Xiaoji looked at him, "Brother Chen, didn't you hear fairy tales when you were young?"

Shang Xuechen flipped through the coloring pages of the storybook, looked down and saw the villain in the storybook and laughed, "I'm not like your parents. Look at your name, you can tell that your family has placed a lot on you. What a great hope, I must have been held in the palm of my hand and cared for since I was a child. I was a wild child who was ignored when I was young." When he thought of his own childhood, he felt sour again, looked up and thought of Ji Shuping again, and persuaded himself , it doesn't matter, he is not alone now, he has Ji Shuping.

Xiao Ji saw the disappointment on Shang Xuechen's face flashed past, and then put on a gentle smile, he looked down at the fairy tale book in front of him, and told his past, "No one has ever told me a fairy tale. The first time I heard fairy tales was when I stayed at a friend’s house in elementary school. My friend is of mixed race, his mother is Korean, and his father is white. I stayed at his house that night, and his mother came in and told us fairy tales before going to bed. Did you know that foreign families are basically a full family of five, with parents and two children and a pet dog or cat. Sometimes it will only be more than this number, and it will not be less than this number. Parents, Children and pets, the whole family gathers for dinner, and occasionally invites neighbors to join us for dinner. Before going to bed, the father will accompany the children to build Lego, and the mother will lean on the bed and tell them bedtime stories, telling them that there will be tooth fairy teeth, and there will be Christmas. The elderly give gifts, which is standard for a perfect family abroad."

Shang Xuechen felt lively and warm when he heard it, "Then you are really happy to have grown up abroad."

Xiao Ji laughed at himself, "But I only knew about these things when I was staying at a friend's house. At that time, I realized that the house should look like this. The first fairy tale I heard was from someone else's mother. As I said, my first lively dinner party was at someone else’s house, and the warmth and excitement on the dining table belonged to other people’s house. After I learned about it, I could only borrow a storybook that my friend didn’t want, and hide under the quilt on the bed when I went home Revisit it over and over again.”

Xiao Ji touched the fairy tale book in front of him, and the page he turned to happened to be a picture of a little match girl.Xiaoji looked at the little girl who lit a match in the book and saw the illusion of a family. For him, the fairy tale book in childhood was a match, bringing warmth to his lonely life.He hid under the quilt with a desk lamp and read the only story in the book over and over again. The book still carried the warmth of other people's homes. Will stay with him, if he has a home like others.The fun in the fairy tale book is the illusion brought to him by the light lit by the match.

On the topic of home, Shang Xuechen is not qualified to comfort others, so he just changed the topic, "Didn't I ask you to pick a book for me? Pick me an interesting and inspirational story."

Xiaoji came back to his senses, took out a copy from the bottom, and gave it to Shang Xuechen, "Then this is it. The ugly duckling."

"Ugly duckling?" Shang Xuechen took the book and quickly flipped through it, "What are you talking about?"

Xiaoji stared at the book in Shang Xuechen's hand, "Talk about a duck who was ugly when he was young, and was disliked by his parents, and finally went through hardships and obstacles to become a swan."

Shang Xuechen flipped through the book in his hand and wondered if Ji Shuping would like such a story. Obviously he didn't like the princess story I told him yesterday, maybe he would like the fairy tales about small animals.Shang Xuechen stood up holding the storybook, "Okay, this is it." Looking back, he saw Xiao Ji still squatting on the ground, "I'll just buy this one, you don't have to pick it when you get up."

Xiao Ji looked up at the person standing in front of him, and asked him, "Brother Chen, do you think the ugly duckling is happy when it turns into a swan in the end?"

Shang Xuechen found that Xiao Ji always had these strange problems, which may be due to the difference in education abroad.Shang Xuechen tilted his head and thought about it seriously, "I think he is happy."

Xiaoji asked him persistently, "How do you know? Does he have to be happy when he changes from a duck to a swan? Does it mean that a rose must be wonderful when it turns into five colors? It is artificially bred, the pigments added by people forcibly. The duck turned into a swan, it seems to be superior to others, but it has lived as a duck for more than ten years, others think it should be happy when it turns into a swan, what about itself, is it because of its identity? And self-doubt?"

Shang Xuechen didn't understand why Xiaoji was so excited all of a sudden, he didn't know how to answer, he looked up at the green teenagers who came in the store with smiles on their faces.Shang Xuechen sighed and pulled up Xiao Ji who was still squatting on the ground, "I think the ugly duckling is happy. Not only because it turned into a swan, but more importantly, the children like this story. Children are always innocent. Yes, I'm just happy for the ugly duckling to have a happy ending, and don't think about anything else."

Xiaoji got up and looked at Shang Xuechen who was standing opposite him. They were so close that Shang Xuechen could see the mole under his eyes clearly. Shang Xuechen patted him on the shoulder, "Look at the mole under your eyes. You are so special, you are destined to be an extraordinary person. And how can you be an ugly duckling if you are so handsome." Shang Xuechen smiled at him, "You wait for me here, I will go and take this book first Bill, please."

Xiaoji stood at the same spot, fixed his eyes on Shang Xuechen's back, raised his hand to touch the mole under his eyes, and smiled, so he is special?

Shang Xuechen took the storybook and went to the front desk to check out. Hearing the sound of footsteps behind him who didn't follow, he supported the countertop of the front desk and gasped for breath. How could the mole grow so coincidentally.

After paying the bill, Shang Xuechen turned to look, but Xiaoji was no longer in the shop.It would be fine if he left, Shang Xuechen didn't care about Xiaoji's leaving without saying goodbye, which made him breathe a sigh of relief. For some reason, when he was with Xiaoji, he always felt that his heart was suppressed. It hurts.

Shang Xuechen pushed open the glass door, and was about to go back to the flower shop opposite to pick up flowers.Unexpectedly, as soon as he left the house, Xiao Ji came out of nowhere and patted him, shouting loudly, "Brother Chen, I've been waiting for you for a long time. Have you been scared by me?"

Shang Xuechen lazily stretched out his hand and patted his chest, "Yeah, I'm almost scared to death by you."

Xiao Ji pouted, "What, brother Chen is always so perfunctory to me."

Shang Xuechen felt funny when he saw the childishness he showed, "Then tell me, how can you not be perfunctory to you?"

"Be like your expression when you were picking colored roses, frowning calmly and worryingly, your brows are obviously locked, but your eyes are overflowing with joy. Probably because you are thinking of the person who is going to send flowers, so there is a contradictory expression on your face at the same time, but It’s not against harmony. Although Brother Chen looks casual and lazy, he didn’t expect him to be so cautious.” Xiaoji looked at him with a smile, “If he treats me like that, I will be very happy.”

If you are treated with that kind of expression, and you are wrapped up in a cherished mood, it is indeed a joyful thing.

Shang Xuechen raised his eyebrows, and when he thought of Ji Shuping, the corners of his mouth turned up, "You think too much. People who pick flowers don't all have this look."

Xiaoji wanted to say something else, but Shang Xuechen stopped him bluntly, "If the flower picker has such an expression, those who are watching by the side should know it. The mind of that person, the onlookers can only watch on the sidelines."

Xiaoji's eyes were lowered by Shang Xuechen's words, Shang Xuechen didn't want to cause extra trouble for himself, he just wanted to live with Ji Shu in peace and quiet for a long time, but seeing the expression in Xiaoji's eyes, he thought again At his age, he still couldn't bear to say nothing, "Okay, I bought you flowers too. Let's go back, maybe the flowers are wrapped."

"I just came out because I heard the sound of gongs and drums outside. Anyway, Brother Chen said that he was free, so why not accompany me to the lively park in front." Xiaoji didn't want to go back to the flower shop immediately, he probably guessed After taking the flowers, Shang Xuechen would immediately part ways with him.

Shang Xuechen was a little reluctant to go, and said in his mouth, "Maybe the uncle and aunt who are practicing body are rehearsing, there is nothing to see." He said so, thinking that Xiaoji would lose interest, but unexpectedly Xiaoji After hearing this, Ji not only didn't give up the idea of ​​going to have a look, but even more vigorously, he kept begging Shang Xuechen, begging him to accompany him to have a look.

Shang Xuechen couldn't beat him, so he had to take him to the park.This park was built next to the moat, with good greening, tables, chairs, benches, and fitness equipment, so many retired grandparents like to come here to play Tai Chi, dance a sword, rub mahjong and play chess. From time to time, there will also be health presentations in the park.Shang Xuechen led Xiao Ji to walk in the park, Xiao Ji was like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, seeing things one by one.

Shang Xuechen saw his continuous admiration and surprise, and asked him, "Are there any parks abroad?"

Xiaoji looked up and looked around, and answered, "Yes, there is, it's not so lively. In foreign parks, everyone walks their dogs and runs, and occasionally throws a tablecloth for a picnic. Oh, Brother Chen, Brother Chen, what about that?" What is it, is it a legendary juggling?"

Shang Xuechen looked in the direction he pointed. It was an old man spinning a spinning top. He looked at Xiao Ji who was beside him with a curious look on his face. He thought that foreign parks were not lively enough because they lacked such a group of talented old men and aunts. , "He's playing a spinning top."

"What, what about that? What is that thing that is swinging around?"

Shang Xuechen continued to explain to him, "That's playing diabolo."

"Brother Chen, Brother Chen, that uncle knows kung fu and is dancing sword!"

Seeing him shouting excitedly, Shang Xuechen felt a little ashamed and wanted to go up and cover his mouth, pulled his sleeves and walked to the side aisle, "Keep your voice down, it's just for health preservation, sir, you don't really know kung fu!"

"Oh, I thought everyone in the country knew kung fu."

Shang Xuechen raised his forehead, thinking that he has been completely westernized. He raised his head and looked at Xiao Ji before he became conscious of facing foreigners, "You are Chinese after all, so you don't know anything about the domestic environment. I see you You can speak Chinese without stuttering at all, and didn't you say that your mother has business in China and often returns to China?"

Xiaoji smiled helplessly, "I have never been back to China, and my mother never took me with her when she went back to China, and I don't know much about China."

"You don't go back to China to visit your relatives during the holidays?"

Xiao Ji nodded.Shang Xuechen didn't seem to believe it, "Is it true that you never came back before?"

"Really. I have never been back before, and I was always panicked when I was suddenly told to go back to China."

"Why panic? Aren't they all yellow people like you, and you can understand what they say, shouldn't you feel kind?"

Xiao Ji sighed, "Probably because I am afraid of seeing relatives whom I have never met in so many years. When I return home suddenly, how should I deal with relatives whom I have never been warm to?"

"There's nothing to be afraid of. They're just relatives. You can live a comfortable life by yourself, and they can live their lives well. Just take care of your own home. Besides, you haven't lived in the country for so many years, and you have nothing to do with them. If you don’t know each other very well, why should they care about you?”

Xiaoji suddenly became enlightened, and turned to look at Shang Xuechen, "Brother Chen is right. I don't care about them, and they can't care about me."

Shang Xuechen smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "It's fine if you think about it that way. In China, all kinds of human relations are the most troublesome. Anyway, you can think about it in a simple way."

What Shang Xuechen said, Xiaoji was very useful. What he said, Xiaoji nodded in agreement. The two walked in the park all the way until they reached the river. Shang Xuechen was thinking about the flowers he bought. Thinking that it was time to go back after visiting the park, Xiaoji didn't know that Xiao Ji still had something to say, so she pulled Shang Xuechen and asked, "Then why are there so many people gathered by the river?"

Shang Xuechen squinted his eyes and looked into the distance, a little unclear, "Maybe there is something going on."

Xiaoji was interested, and he pulled Shang Xuechen to join in the fun. Shang Xuechen was no match for Xiaoji's novelty and enthusiasm, so he had to follow along to watch the fun.