“They’ve come several times already, specifically asking for Dr. An.” The round-faced nurse gestured with her hands.
"What did Dr. An say?"
"Dr. An told him to go find Dr. Chen on the third floor of Building 2." The round-faced nurse's voice also rose considerably.
"Ah!" The nurse across from me gasped, "Send him to see a lunatic!"
"Yeah, isn't that a bit much!"
I knocked on the door. "I'm going downstairs to buy a pack of cigarettes. Call me if you need anything."
After buying cigarettes at Rossoneri, I took the elevator to the top floor and smoked two in a row.
When I strolled to the cafeteria at noon, the cafeteria lady saw me and asked if I wanted chicken legs again today.
No need for chicken legs, just some rice and a little vinegar will do.
Holding my food, I randomly found a seat. I pulled out a cigarette and lit it. As I puffed out smoke, I saw "Myna" and "Lily Chou" from the dentist sitting by the window, feeding each other, one bite for each of us. Life's many flavors.
He pulled his wallet from his pocket, took out several hundred-yuan bills, stood up, and walked towards the "myna bird."
"Myna!" He pressed his left hand firmly on his shoulder.
"Congratulations!" He stuffed the banknotes into the pocket of the "Myna" man's coat with his right hand. "I'll give you the red envelope first. Don't forget to treat me to a drink when you and Xiao Hong get things done."
Evacuate the scene quickly.
Anqi
Sitting on a bar stool, a cigarette and a glass of brandy.
So many partings and deaths in this world happen in the blink of an eye. I don't know if eternity exists, nor do I know if reincarnation exists.
The lighting was dim, making it difficult to see the bartender's face. His hands hadn't stopped moving since he came in; I wasn't the only one in this city who loved alcohol.
A young girl swayed on the dance floor, revealing her slender waist. The stud on her navel glittered, and a man's hand touched it.
It was yet another lovemaking encounter.
This is not what I want.
"Hey, look, that girl's pretty good," said the myna bird next to me, pointing at the dancing girl.
I ordered another drink.
"Why drink so much?" "Myna" snatched the drink from the bartender.
"An'an, is something on your mind?"
"without"
"You're really spineless. You don't even know how to talk things out. You just keep it bottled up and drink." "Myna" spoke very quickly and finished the wine that was originally mine in one gulp.
"You're the same."
"Hey, how dare you say that?" Myna turned to face me. "Who told you to give me a red envelope? Who told you to mention Xiao Hong in front of Lily Chou-Chou? Tell me, what have I done to wrong you?"
What have you done to wrong me? I don't think so. Can I just dislike you?
"Why aren't you saying anything again?" He nudged me. "Are you thinking about Zhang Sijia?"
"screw you"
The bartender handed me a glass of wine. "Sir, this is a complimentary CAMPARI." After saying that, he went back to his work.
Bitter?
I took another sip, and it was still bitter?
"What kind of wine is this?" I asked the bartender.
“Dutch bitter wine, but I prefer to call it the myriad flavors of life, sir.”
Life is full of flavors? How many times has this happened?
"Hey, myna, give me a cigarette." I reached out and asked myna for a cigarette.
The myna bird pulled a bag out of its pocket and threw it in front of me.
"Why is it so bland?" I asked.
The myna bird stared at me with a thoughtful expression.
"An'an, do you know what people are saying about you behind your back lately?"
"What's your name?"
"An Jiahe".
"oh"
Seeing that I didn't react much, he reached out and touched my forehead, but I slapped his hand away before he could touch it.
"Are you having a hormonal imbalance?" the myna bird asked.
"Are you out of balance?" I asked him in return.
"Alright, alright, it's so boring coming out with you, I didn't even manage to pick up a girl."
He gulped down the CAMPARI in his glass, popped the lemon slice from the "Myna" glass into his mouth, picked up the salt shaker from the bar, sprinkled some salt into it, and swallowed.
This is my life, full of ups and downs.
He threw down the money, left the bar, drove off to Zhang Qian's house.
We've been running away for too long; it's time to face it.
Zhang Qian
I tucked Dongdong's little hands, which were sticking out of the blanket, back under it. The little guy was fast asleep. I was a little envious of him; he had no worries at all. How wonderful it would be to be like him.
Insomnia is a very painful thing. Maybe I should eat some of the Ding'an medicine that my grandfather left me.
She tiptoed out of bed, walked to the large room in front, and opened a drawer in the wardrobe to look for sleeping pills.
An Shen Wan, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Bai Xiao Dan, Xiao Shi Pian, Wu Ji Bai Feng Wan! (Grandpa, you're amazing, you even take this!) Of all these pills, only the tranquilizer is missing.
Just as I was tiptoeing to find the medicine, the phone rang. I quickly went to answer it, not wanting to disturb Dongdong.
"Hello?" I wondered who could be calling so late.
"Hello?" Ugh, you must have dialed the wrong number.
"Hello?"
Zhang Qian
"...."
"I'm downstairs."
"...."
"Could you open the door?"
"...."
"Um?"
"....."
"good"
After hanging up the phone, my mind went blank. Why did he come? Why did he have to come? How could he possibly come?
I opened the door, and he was already standing outside.
No one spoke. His eyes were beautiful, with deep-set double eyelids. His eyes were moist—what was that?
I put it in my mouth and tasted it.
"This is the full spectrum of life." He pulled my hand down.
I think I couldn't control myself anymore. I pulled him in and quickly closed the door.
His chest was warm, and he kissed me. His tongue slipped into my mouth, and his hands pressed my head down to prevent me from escaping.
Was that really a kiss?
Is it true?
"I'm sorry," he said apologetically.
"Have you been drinking?"
"Mmm," he looked at me and hugged me tightly. "I missed you."
"Me too." I can't lie anymore; it seems I can't escape. It's not that I can't escape, it's that I don't want to. I want to try, if, just if.
"Is that okay?" he asked.
"Um"
Lying in bed, I savored the kiss from earlier; it was so sweet. I don't want to regret it; I want to try it again.
Dongdong stretched his legs out from under the blanket again and covered him up. She gently touched his little face, wondering if he would object if he knew.
That night, I let Anqi stay at my house. But nothing happened between us. He drank a lot, and I was worried about him driving, so I let him sleep in my grandfather's bed.
That's insane! I pulled the blanket over my head!
Anqi
Early in the morning, Zhang Qian gently nudged me to get up quickly. I pretended to be asleep, a mischievous thought lurking in my mind, wanting to make her anxious. This girl didn't just let it go so easily after feeding me dumplings last time; I had to return the favor.
"Anqi, get up quickly, it won't be good if Dongdong wakes up and sees this."