Chapter 39
The studio had an office dedicated to Zhao Shuming, which was naturally smaller than Xing Anze’s. But it was a lot bigger than Xing Anze’s. Even the desk was more spacious.
However, it was a lot bigger than Zhao Shuming’s at Nancheng University, and even the desk was more spacious, so wide that at first glance it looked like there was only one computer on the entire desk.
In front of him was an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, and the rainy season in Nancheng finally had a look of summer, with the beams of morning light reflecting on the ground through the floor-to-ceiling windows and gauze curtains.
The dust in the air danced in the golden beams, and when the sun moved west, the dust disappeared again.
Zhao Shuming reclined on the back of his chair and completely emptied himself until the buzzing vibration of his cell phone on his desk interrupted his meditation, Zhao Shuming sat up straight, saw the caller and picked up the phone.
“Hey, dad, what’s up?” His entire body relaxed again and collapsed into the office chair.
“When is your mom coming back to South City?”
“Ask her if you want to, I’m not your messenger.” Zhao Shuming frowned a little helplessly, but still told Zhao Zhengcheng; “She said she’s playing in her hometown for a week and went on a trip with Aunt Shen.”
“Oh ……”
The air was quiet for a while, so quiet that it seemed like you could hear the cell phone current noise.
“That, Shu Ming ah, dad said before the method you tried it, how do you feel, two days ago your mom asked me about the progress of the two of you, how can I know ah, you never talk to us about this. You’ve never told us anything about this.”
“Dad, don’t worry about your crooked ideas.”
Zhao Shuming said so, but remembering that Jiang Yimiao couldn’t help but rub his neck when she jumped on him, and that she still had the desire to bite him, he felt inexplicably happy.
However, his tone was pretending to be too calm, so calm that Zhao Zheng Cheng couldn’t even hear his mood.
The old father on the other side of the cell phone furrowed his brows and let out a sigh, “Shuming ah, in fact, there are some things that can’t be forced, it’s hard for children who grew up together to stay together. Human beings are carriers of desire, if the other sister can’t even be interested in your body, then it’s really hard to say.”
Zhao Zhengcheng fell silent, although this world was originally magical, there was no such thing as a very pure relationship, no matter what kind of love went to the end it would either go up in smoke or turn into affection, but he didn’t want Zhao Shuming to get together with someone who didn’t love him enough.
Zhao Shuming broke down and couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “Dad, don’t worry about this kind of thing, big deal, I’ll be single for the rest of my life.”
Hearing him laugh, Zhao Zheng Cheng realized something, “Ugh you kid, are you hiding something from me.”
But in the end Zhao Zhengcheng still sighed again, “Forget it, your own life you look at your own to come, if Miao Miao can and you see eye to eye is also a good thing, the two families are familiar with a little bit, how to have a help. I don’t want to talk to you anymore, I have to work.”
Zhao Shuming didn’t have time to say goodbye to him before the other side hung up.
He sat up and inserted the USB flash drive into the computer, dragging and dropping a folder named with only symbols, Zhao Shuming put on his glasses and propped his head up to look at the computer screen, maneuvering the mouse to open the folder.
It was full of photos, Jiang Yimiao’s, Jiang Yimiao’s and his, occasionally interspersed with Jiang Yimiao’s family or his family.
But the only thing these photos had in common was that they all contained Jiang Yimiao.
Zhao Shuming looked at her face, which was still familiar no matter how much time had passed, and smiled blankly.
Countless robins chirped in the crooked-necked trees outside the window, and Jiang Yimiao’s hand, which was clasping the water cup’s lanyard, stalled in mid-air.
“Does he really not like you?”
This wasn’t actually the first time Cheng Wen Yao had asked her this, but every time Jiang Yimiao gave the same answer, and Jiang Yimiao was quite genuinely convinced that her perception wasn’t wrong.
“How is it possible?” Jiang Yimiao’s tone rose slightly due to her doubts, but it wasn’t a very exaggerated sort of pitch, which showed that her words weren’t contrary at all.
“He definitely doesn’t like me ah, if this like you’re talking about is the like of male and female love ……”
She loved her mom and dad as well as Zhao Shuming, so Zhao Shuming also liked her, but Jiang Yimiao felt that what she thought was liking was just liking like a family member.
They had known each other for far too long, so long that she didn’t even know the scene when she first met Zhao Shuming.
But according to her mother, Zhao Shuming had seen her when Shen Man had given birth to Jiang Yimiao and finished her monthly cycle, and when outsiders were able to come to the house to see the little baby.
Not unlike some childhood friends who would bicker and quarrel, Zhao Shuming was clearly only two years older than her, but his personality was like he was twenty years older. From a young age, he was very accommodating.
Although she had to eat ice cream in the winter, wanted to eat candy when she had a toothache, and when she washed her hair and didn’t blow dry it, Zhao Shuming would seriously stop her from these behaviors, but in reality it was very difficult for him to get into a fight with her.
When two good-tempered people get together, they can argue and it’s all just for the good of the other.
“He’s even seen me in diapers and ……” Jiang Yimiao counted with her fingers. “The two of us combined are over fifty years old, if he liked me, wouldn’t we have been together long ago? Like us can’t we still be suddenly moved after our twenties?”
“But River, have you forgotten that he separated from you in your first year of high school, and this separation of so many years in between is totally the best good time to fall in love. Your life trajectories didn’t overlap in any way during this time.” Cheng Wenyao took another large sip of water, “That period of time in life is the most suitable for a first love.”
Jiang Yimiao blinked, suddenly realizing that Cheng Wenyao was right, they had actually been drifting apart during this period of time even though they had remained in contact, she touched the tip of her nose and muttered; “That couldn’t be helped, he went abroad with Auntie Zhao. So it’s even less likely that he likes me.”
In her thinking, she had actually always been disposable. In middle school she had thought that she might be so close to Zhao Shuming for the rest of her life, that even if there was no blood relationship, he would always be her family.
But ever since he chose to go abroad and separate from her, she knew that they probably couldn’t be close for the rest of their lives.
Human relationships were sometimes fragile, but time always erased everything.
The connection between them was like a bundle of spaghetti, how it couldn’t be folded at first glance, but one fold at a time would one day break completely.
“I don’t have a hairdresser who is that close, I really can’t understand your feelings.”
Cheng Wenyao shook her head, frowning in a way that looked distressed, “Do you guys hold hands and hug and sit next to each other?”
Jiang Yimiao nodded her head a little, “I used to do this a lot when I was a kid, I got used to it …… and these behaviors are okay, right?”
“But I really think that your relationship is actually a little bit strange, originally together with the opposite sex to live together is not very convenient Well, the results of you and he are with a person like nothing. Your relationship is too close, it’s a little bit not normal.”
If there is flesh. If there was a physical relationship, then it would be fine, but Jiang Yimiao and Zhao Shuming kept their relationship as purely heterosexual friends, which in Cheng Wenyao’s perception, always felt very strange.
“We lived together when we were kids, and we also lived together in high school.” Jiang Yimiao retorted, probably wanting to make it clear that the matter of living together was actually a normal thing for her and Zhao Shuming.
“But you also said that there’s marriage in his life plan, and being able to tell you straight up means that Zhao Shuming has a target to pursue one hundred and one percent of the time. Think about it, he’s going to be hugging and kissing the girl he likes in the future, and he’s definitely going to be living with the person he’s after, so what do you count as?”
What do I count as?
Jiang Yimiao was suddenly stunned, what does she count as, she kind of didn’t quite know.
It was as if she suddenly knew why she was sad in her heart, because Zhao Shuming didn’t belong to her alone, because she wouldn’t be able to bite him in the future.
“Of course it’s also possible that people just like you ah, but keep your eyes open, trust no one but men.”
Cheng Wen Yao paused, “And isn’t that brother of yours studying psychology, although psychologists aren’t as esoteric as the novels written about them, they definitely have more heart eyes than ordinary people like us.”
“He wouldn’t hurt me, though.” Jiang Yimiao still trusted Zhao Shuming after all, “But I feel like my brain is a little messed up.”
“Why, I’m also talking nonsense, you know, the two of us are purebred female singles, we don’t have any relationship experience at all, it’s all about getting high on CP to get the feeling.” Cheng Wenyao smiled not too kindly.
But she was also just a little worried about Jiang Yimiao, she could see that Jiang Yimiao was clearly troubled by this when she opened this topic with her.
“By the way, have the shoes that Miao Miao left at the wrong address with you earlier arrived?”
Cheng Wen Yao suddenly remembered something else, their last topic was abruptly interrupted.
“Oh oh I’ll take a look on Taobao.”
A while ago during the shopping festival, Jiang Yimiao bought some things and asked Cheng Wenyao to make up the order with her.
Cheng Wenyao bought a pair of sneakers that were just enough to make up for the full discount, but Jiang Yimiao forgot to change the address when she paid.
When she realized that she wanted to change the address with customer service, the shoes had already been shipped, so Jiang Yimiao had to wait for the courier to arrive and then give them to Cheng Wenyao.
“It shows that it can be delivered today, I guess it will arrive in the afternoon.”
“Then I’ll stop by and pick it up when I send you home this afternoon.”
Jiang Yimiao gave an OK gesture.
Lin Ke Yu, who had taken them to workout, came from not far away, “Are you guys still practicing today, or are you going straight to lunch?”
“Going for lunch, together? I’ll treat you.” Cheng Wenyao greeted him, looking at his slightly engorged arm, and asked in a low voice, “Can I touch it?”
He lowered his head and lightly responded, “Uh-huh.”
Jiang Yimiao listened to their conversation, self-consciously putting the thermos back into her bag and preparing a dry meal!
In fact, whenever she went out with Cheng Wenyao, there was nothing to dry, the two of them could sit in the restaurant for more than two hours, eating and gossiping at the same time.
But at lunch, because Cheng Wenyao’s senior brother was also there, they were much more restrained. During dinner, they chatted again, from four o’clock to six o’clock.
Zhao Shuming went back home in the afternoon, and incidentally helped Jiang Yimiao pick up the courier, including Cheng Wenyao’s pair of shoes that were left at the wrong address, so Cheng Wenyao had to follow Jiang Yimiao on a trip to her house to pick up the courier.
This season in the southern city, probably to seven or eight days will be dark, six o’clock in the afternoon the sky is still bright, Jiang Yimiao live from those who work in the skyscrapers is very close, even if it is a Saturday, the traffic jam is still serious.
She lay on the car window, counting the cars that crossed from the side, boredom, she began to remember the license plate, instantaneous memory is not bad, she remembered nearly ten license plates in one breath, but look at the phone for a while and she will completely forget.
All the way to the car stop and go, Jiang Yimiao a completely will not get carsick people feel a little dizzy, she sent a message to Zhao Shuming, told him that she is now on the way home.
Zhao Shuming’s reply was almost a second, and Jiang Yimiao guessed that he was probably having dinner right now, and his cell phone happened to be in his hand.
[I’ll send you a message when I get back to the flat building haha.]
Ever since Zhao Shuming learned of her experience with a pervert at night, his PTSD was worse than Jiang Yimiao’s, and she would occasionally get scared walking at night, whereas Zhao Shuming wouldn’t let her walk alone at night as long as he had the time.
Today, there is no wind, the weather is hot, even under the parking lot is not as cool as on weekdays, from the open air-conditioned car out of contact with the hot air in the moment, Jiang Yimiao was a little dry in the heart of the heat, tugging Cheng Wenyao to quickly take the elevator with air conditioning on.
The door to her home was half-covered, and Jiang Yimiao pushed it open to find Zhao Shuming sitting at the kitchen table, “Miao Miao, you’re back?”
“Well, I’m taking something to Cheng Wenyao.” She squatted in front of a pile of express deliveries and quickly stripped out the shoe delivery, taking the shoebox and walking out, Cheng Wenyao was waiting for her at the door.
“Do you want something to drink, or have an ice cream, there’s all of them in the fridge at home.” Jiang Yimiao took the express to Cheng Wenyao.
“No need, I’m going to drive on the road later, I can’t eat anything.” She shook her head and took the box and glanced at it, “Then I’ll go back first, I’ll send you a message when I get home.”
“Uh-huh.”
Zhao Shuming stood behind the door watching Jiang Yimiao and Cheng Wenyao’s conversation, silent, just standing quietly behind Jiang Yimiao until he and Jiang Yimiao watched Cheng Wenyao go down the elevator when he moved forward a little closer again.
Jiang Yimiao happened to turn around and bumped into Zhao Shuming, “When did you walk behind me?”
“When you picked up the courier.” Zhao Shuming laughed, “Did I walk so softly, I thought you always knew I was behind you.” He lowered his head and looked at Jiang Yimiao.
Cheng Wenyao liked to hold Jiang Yimiao’s left arm, and liked to put her hand through Miaomiao’s arm to hold her.
Today, Jiang Yimiao stayed with Cheng Wenyao all day, they definitely held hands, Zhao Shuming pursed his lips and held Jiang Yimiao’s arm, his warm palm pressing against her equally warm arm.
In the past, Jiang Yimiao usually didn’t react, but she frowned a little and subconsciously shook off Zhao Shuming’s palm, and he gripped it so lightly that Jiang Yimiao shook off his hand with just a flick.
Zhao Shuming was stunned for a split second and subconsciously asked out, “Miao Miao, what’s wrong?”
“Uh, that, I’m so hot, my body is sweaty, and you just got out of the shower.”
She looked at the pajamas he was wearing, as well as his smooth hair after blow-drying it, and it looked a few points milder than usual, Jiang Yimiao pursed out a smile.
“It’s fine, the water for the bath is ready, you can just take a bath if you want to.” Zhao Shuming looked at her movements as she silently took a step back and was a bit puzzled.
“Okay, then I’ll go take a shower first.” Jiang Yimiao was too hot to think of anything else at all, she quickly changed her slippers and ran to the room’s bathroom.
The bathroom was filled with water mist, in front of her eyes was full of hazy images, noon did not nap, Jiang Yimiao tonight sleepy a little early, usually after the bath brain will be like a mirror covered with water droplets after being wiped dry become clear.
Tonight, her brain is still as dizzy as the mirror in the bathroom that is covered with water droplets.
Jiang Yimiao hung her underwear out to dry and then quickly fell onto the bed, the room was filled with the subtle sound of the air conditioner in operation.
She rolled over and happened to see Zhao Shuming’s pillow and his neatly folded quilt in front of her, and Jiang Yimiao suddenly sat up and looked left and right.
Although they slept apart, wasn’t it not quite right to sleep in the same bed all the time?
Jiang Yimiao gripped her long hair and subconsciously went over to pick up his quilt.
Zhao Shuming’s quilt was just a very simple solid-colored style, a plain sheet.
Vaguely sensing a familiar odor on the quilt, Jiang Yimiao subconsciously sniffed closer.
It was really a scent that was somewhat similar to Zhao Shuming’s, but because she had washed her bedding only last week, the quilt was also mixed with the scent of laundry detergent, which was somewhat similar to the scent of the pajamas she was wearing.
“Miao Miao, is there something on my quilt?” Zhao Shuming’s voice came over coldly from the side of the room door.
Jiang Yimiao subconsciously threw the quilt back, then shook her head, “It’s nothing, I just think your quilt smells a bit good.”
She picked up her own plush quilt and covered her legs, her fingers rubbing the quilt’s furry edges out of habit.
Jiang Yimiao felt like her mind was so messed up right now, wondering if she should have to sleep in a separate room from Zhao Shuming instead of like this.
But in the first place, it was still her who suggested sleeping together, even though the purpose was pure, just wanting Zhao Shuming to sleep better. How was she going to ask ……
Zhao Shuming pulled the room’s curtains tight and smoothly walked over to her, squatting beside the bed, “Really, it’s probably the smell of laundry detergent.”
“And the odor on you.”
“The odor on me?” Zhao Shuming purposely pretended not to understand, and sniffed down at himself again, “There doesn’t seem to be any scent on me, right?”
“There is!” Jiang Yimiao tilted her head, wondering why Zhao Shuming couldn’t smell her own body, she pressed her hand on Zhao Shuming’s shoulder and brought her head closer, sniffing hard, “There is, I still smell good now.”
Zhao Shuming was afraid that she would fall off the bed, wrapping his hands around behind her to vainly gather her waist, “Is that so? What kind of scent is it?”
“What kind?” Jiang Yimiao repeated and muttered, “I don’t know how to say it, I don’t understand scent either ah.”
She subconsciously moved closer, nearly next to Zhao Shuming’s collarbone, “It’s just a very comfortable scent, like lying on a soft cloud in paradise.”
Zhao Shuming was amused by her description, he lowered his head to come closer to her shoulder socket like she did, and his hand that was vaguely gathered around her suddenly pressed against her waist.
He could feel that Jiang Yimiao was a bit strange tonight, as if she had suddenly distanced herself from him.
That’s why Zhao Shuming had no choice but to let her take the initiative to get close to him like this. A nature like Jiang Yimiao’s that loved to break the pot and ask questions to the end could never accept that she couldn’t answer certain queries.
The scents of the two were intertwined like two hands.
“Miao Miao.”
“Hmm?”
“You smell good too, it’s my favorite smell.”