Chapter 5 — People Come In The Cold Windy Night

40 My father's eyes wavered slightly, then suddenly let go of my hand, and with a "pop" he fell to the ground. The action was so unexpected that I panicked and took two steps back. “Diem Diem, I beg you!” He slammed his head down on the floor repeatedly: "This time it's real! They put a knife to my neck! If you don't give me the money, your dad will die!" He suddenly raised his right hand, and there was indeed a deep wound in the hollow of his thumb, revealing red flesh, looking terrible. A series of sniffles sounded around, and an old woman couldn't help but advise: "Son, maybe..." "No way!" I suddenly raised my voice, tears welling up in my eyes. "Dad, when I was in 12th grade, I also begged you to give me money for living expenses. Would you give me a penny? At that time, I was starving for two days in a row. Luckily, a friend sympathized with me to feed me, otherwise I would have starved to death!" "Dad, have you forgotten what you once told me, 'Even if you sell all the pots and pans, you will let me study'? Now that I have passed the entrance exam to Beijing, do you want to cut off the only way for me to get out?" “When mom was about to die, dad promised to take care of me properly, is this how he takes care of me?” Just mentioning my mother brings tears to my eyes. My father was stunned. He moved his lips, his eyes were cloudy with tears, his throat emitted choked sobs: "Dad... is sorry for your mother!" 41 I knelt down and slammed my head: "If you're really afraid of losing your life, then come with me to the police station, declare your debt, then stop gambling. But dad, I beg you, I don't want to... go with you on that road to death anymore!" “You stand up for me!” The shop owner shouted angrily, like carrying a chicken, he grabbed my father and pulled him up. My father was still in tears, muttering endless sentences. The boss decisively dragged him to the door and pushed him hard. “Bang” — the door slammed shut. Coming back, the boss's chest was still rising and falling violently. He looked at me, suddenly sighed, patted my shoulder: "Don't be afraid, keep your money carefully, study well. If you have any difficulties in the future, tell me, do you hear?" I nodded, looking at his back as I turned back to clean up the mess on the table. My heart is both bitter and choked. 42 A week later, my father died. The creditor came to the house and couldn't ask for money, so he used me to threaten him. The next day, he took medicine and committed suicide. The police found a message in his phone's draft box: "Daughter, I'm sorry for you." "I can't quit in this life. I won't involve you anymore in the future." “Take care of yourself in Beijing.” There were still dried water stains on the screen, like traces of tears. Without my number, you can't send it. When the shop owner announced this news, I was scraping the ice from the freezer. I calmly said "yes" and continued to tremble with a towel to wipe away the stubborn patches of ice, until my fingertips turned red and numb. It seems that by doing so, my heart also becomes numb. Just that night, while sleeping on the mat on the floor, touching the admission notice under the mattress, I suddenly remembered the day he took me to middle school. He squatted on the steps, smoking and smiling: "Daughter, study well. After you pass the entrance exam to Beijing, I will go to school to work as a security guard." 43 When Qi Che hurriedly found me, I was cleaning the floor in the restaurant. On his chin, which was always smooth, there was now a thin layer of beard, and there were dark circles under his eyes - it looked like Just got punched twice. I asked: "Aren't you in America? Why did you come back here?" He looked at me with sadness, his eyes wet: "Tieu Diem Diem, you did very, very well... please don't blame yourself." “I was afraid no one would tell you this, so I came back to tell you.” My eye sockets became hot, tears almost immediately fell. Regret is like a tide, over the past few days, it has been overflowing, drowning me over and over again. I thought over and over again — if I had given in that day, even if it was just a little softer, then... wouldn't he have died? I thought I was used to carrying the pent-up emotions because I had no one to rely on alone. But the moment I saw him, my resilience crumbled to pieces. As if I had finally grasped a piece of wood in the middle of a flood, I hugged him tightly, sobbing: "Te Triet, I... don't have a father anymore." The cry hit the floor and broke into pieces. In this world, there is only me left. 44 From that day on, Qi Triet and I completely lost contact. The stream of bullets also disappeared from my life. I understand, the main characters' lives now have no room for an NPC like me. Every day I am as busy as a crop — going to school, working part-time. I even opened an account on Douyin. I update very regularly. Sometimes it's the library scene early in the morning at 6 o'clock when I go to the bathroom, other times it's the sunset on the way back to school from the tutoring place. In the videos, I always wear a few rotating clothes, the background is always just a corner of the school yard or part-time job. As expected, it's not famous, the number of views for each video is only around three numbers, and the number of likes can be counted on the fingers of one hand. But I always have an account. Every time I post a video, I always like, leave comments, and give flowers on time. That account's profile picture is the system's default gray human figure, nicknamed "Must go to Beijing". 45 I will also reply to his comments from time to time. He never asked about my past, only said trivial things like "the clouds are very beautiful today" or "the fried chicken restaurant in front of the school gate is very delicious". I knew he was a boy, in high school, but other than that I didn't know anything else. During the summer of my second year of college, I had just returned from tutoring to the dormitory. The phone vibrates — a private message from “Must come to Beijing”: “Sister, I passed Beijing, right at Bac Biao next to your school.” I stared at that message for a long time before replying: "That's great! When school starts, I'll invite you to dinner, at a place of your choice." He chose a noodle shop, very close to my school. I arrived half an hour early. The curtains were lifted, bringing with it a blast of hot air. Looking up, I saw a familiar figure entering. “Tieu Diem Diem, have you been waiting long?” He said. My hands trembled, the tea cup "clicked" and hit the edge of the table. A stream of bullets that hadn't appeared for a long time flooded the screen again: "He's repeating a year to take the Bac Biao entrance exam, for whom? It's so hard to guess." "Why does he insist on going to Beijing? Who is there in Beijing? It's so hard to guess." "Why did Tieu Diem Diem invite you to eat green bean noodles with meat sauce today? It's too unpredictable." I hesitated: "Why didn't you tell me if you were studying again?" “Wouldn't it be very embarrassing if you didn't pass?” He smiled lightly. “How can I bear to lose face in front of the person I like?” I looked up in shock said: "What about Luc Dao?" 46 “In grade 12, when Luc Dao rejected my confession, do you know what I thought?” “I think… luckily she doesn't like me.” "At that time I didn't understand why. But later, when everyone didn't believe me, only you ran towards me despite everything, did I understand." "But you're too good, Tieu Diem Diem. I'm completely unworthy of you." He bowed his head, looking very sad: "I told myself, I can't go to America. I have to go to Beijing, I have to become better, so I can pursue you." The first sign of sincere love — in a boy is timidity, in a girl is courage. He lowered his eyelids and stirred the bowl of green bean noodles with meat sauce, as if crushing the feelings he had hidden for too long. He paused, looking a bit sorry for himself: "Even though I haven't gotten better yet... but... I saw the video of the last time you ate with a boy. I..." 47 "Is Bac Biao still not good enough? Are you cool now?" He was startled by this statement and looked up. “That boy is my cousin.” I gave him a braised egg: "I can't buy pigeon eggs, can I have braised eggs?" He was stunned for two seconds, his throat swallowed twice, then suddenly opened his mouth wide and swallowed the whole fruit. Her cheeks puffed up and she said lamely: "Miss! No! Okay! Swallow your words!" Looking at him choking and blinking repeatedly, I suddenly burst out laughing: "Don't worry, if I have a bowl of rice left to eat in the future... there will be a bowl for you to wash." The stream of bullets exploded: "My sister Diem is truly a woman like a female eagle!" “Get married now, it's decided.” "I ship CP and have never asked the main character's opinion. I say wedding is wedding, my opinion is the decree." “I am from Chongqing, I agree to this marriage.” “I am a bowl of green bean noodles with meat sauce, I agree to this marriage.” … 48 When Qi Triet's mother introduced the subject to him for the third time, he clung to me and begged: "It's been a year, Tieu Diem Diem, can I have a name yet?" "At this rate, I won't dare to go home every time I take a break..." I was in a hurry to write my thesis. Looking at his pitiful appearance, I softened: "Okay." His eyes immediately lit up, he hugged me, kissed and bit me: "Huhuhu finally I'm no longer a desolate man with no name anymore!" “Let me call my mom, I'll tell you later that you're my girlfriend, all you need to do is say 'um'.” Before I could answer, he dialed the number. "You brat, did the matchmaker show you that girl just now..." He deliberately cleared his throat: "Mom, don't introduce me to my girlfriend from now on..." The other end of the line was silent for two seconds, his mother's voice trembled: "... Or do you want to introduce me to my boyfriend?" 49 “No, no! I have a girlfriend!” He frantically scratched his head. “You know, Mom, it's Vu Diem Diem.” I immediately tightened my grip on the computer mouse. His mother raised her voice: "Who are you fooling? Thanh Hoa's daughter is looking right at you?" “Hey, she's next to you, let her talk.” Poor Qi Che nudged my arm. I was a bit nervous: "Hello, I'm Diem Diem, Te Triet's girlfriend." The other end of the line suddenly went silent, it took half a minute for his mother's voice to sound like a rapid fire: "Oh my God Diem Diem, hello, hello. This brat told me and I still don't believe it." “Your kid Triet has a slow mind, his whole life I have to rely on you.” “Mr. Te! Come out here! Our ancestors' graves must be smoking!" "Son, I just sent you a hundred thousand, don't be stingy in love!" Qi Triet: ... The sunlight outside the window filtered in through the foliage. Something felt like it was filled in my heart - sweet, warm. (End of story)