La vida de la gente del campo en la ciudad durante la dinastía Song

Capítulo 121

As they got closer, they realized that the footsteps were somewhat disordered and hurried this time, and even the breathing, which had been steady and even slightly deathly still just moments before, had become frantic and urgent.

"Hey! You don't have to be in such a hurry! I've only caught a glimpse of that name once in a while, and I'm not sure if it's him... Besides, it was last month, and he doesn't come here often..."

I waited patiently until they were far away, and then said in a firm and unquestionable voice, "Brother, let's go."

Before the older brother could speak, the auntie laughed and said, "Let's go, we've almost finished eating anyway. Lanlan, you can't wait to go out and experience the excitement of a foreign festival, can you?"

I smiled noncommittally and stood up. As my brother helped me up, I said, "Brother, I remember you said there's a back door here, right?"

"Yes, there is, but it's a small alley with few people passing by, so it's rarely used."

I nodded: "Brother, let's go through the back door." Blue Cheers charges are settled when ordering, which is a system inherited from some mid-to-low-end restaurants in China.

"Lanlan, you..."

"Brother," I repeated in a soft voice, "let's go through the back door."

Over the past six months, my brother, who often said I was becoming more and more unpredictable and more and more helpless with me, finally listened to me.

I walked along the quiet, cold alleyway with my brother's help. The snow in the alleyway was obviously unswept, so it was piled up thickly. Except for a few small open spaces that were probably in front of other people's houses, there was no crunching sound when I stepped on them.

The aunt suddenly exclaimed, "If Lanlan hadn't insisted on coming out through the back door, we wouldn't have seen so much snow under the moonlight."

My brother, who was supporting me, quickly agreed, "Yes! I never imagined that an ordinary alley could become so beautiful with a little moonlight and a little snow."

I can only hear and imagine, but I can't see the tranquil and beautiful scenery I'm in right now. But I have no regrets. My only wish is that the man in the blue robe and silver hair is standing at the corner of the alley right now, waiting to take my hand. How wonderful that would be.

I don't know why I ran away with such a seemingly calm attitude, and then, under this cold moonlight, I reminisce about the man in another world who is so close yet so far from me. I've been trying to find a way for my brother to erase everything so he can find us, but that doesn't mean I should run away if he finds us.

He's already in Switzerland. He even found my brother's name in the Blue Cheers restaurant I just admired, so I know that with his abilities, he'll soon find my brother's workplace and residence in Lausanne. All the effort I put into hiding it has become meaningless, but I don't intend to run away.

For him, how could I possibly do something so foolish as to disrupt my peaceful life and leave my little villa, whose layout I know so well? Yet today, I still ran away. Whether it was to avoid a melodramatic reunion in the warm and elegant Blue Cheers, or because the sudden intrusion reopened old wounds, I can't even say for sure.

I took a deep breath, and could faintly hear the cheerful noise from the street. That kind of noise, seemingly capable of concealing anyone, unconsciously brought me a sense of peace. I smiled, and the torn wound slowly scabbed over again. Although a lingering pain remained, the joy of the wound healing so quickly brought me another sense of relief.

When I felt a warmth on my forehead and eyelids, the only parts exposed outside the layers of clothing, I knew we had finally arrived on the festive street. I reached out and ran my hand through Yufei's neatly combed hair, ruffling it without a care, and then happily said, "Feifei, Merry Christmas Eve! Merry Christmas!"

"You little rascal!" my brother scolded me helplessly.

My aunt didn't mind at all; on the contrary, she was very happy: "Let's go buy a Christmas tree and then go home. It's always better to have a party at home on Christmas Eve." My aunt is very adaptable and can easily accept new things. Apart from not being as good at learning as my brother and me, who are older, she is already living very well in Switzerland, a country with beautiful mountains and clear waters.

We went into a shop that specializes in selling Christmas trees, Santa Claus costumes, and other exquisite gifts. Because the shop was crowded, I stood quietly at the door waiting for my brother and the others to come out.

Behind me was a Christmas tree, and Yufei, sitting in his wheelchair, was hidden behind it; you couldn't see him unless you were specifically looking for him. I stood gently against the tree, my posture relaxed. I reached back slightly and plucked a pine needle, then lightly twisted it into various shapes in my hand.

I couldn't see the beautiful colorful lights on the trees or the exquisitely packaged candies, but I could touch the supple pine branches and the slightly warm light bulbs. People passing by me, probably thinking I was a greeter, kept wishing me a Merry Christmas, saying warmly in French.

Although I didn't understand how they mistook me, dressed so bulkily and strangely, for a greeter, I still patiently responded to their sincere blessings even though I couldn't see them at all. During my time in Switzerland, besides listening to various military strategy videos downloaded online, I also often took the time to study English and French. Now I can communicate fluently in English and speak a few everyday French phrases.

Because I had been standing on the steps for too long, when I took the next step, I was hit by a huge impact and stumbled. The person who accidentally bumped into me grabbed my gloved hand with one hand and supported my waist with the other to prevent me from falling on the already slippery ground.

The large, furry gloves slipped off with his pull, and I felt the cool air brush against the back of my hand, sending a shiver down my spine.

A pair of warm, large hands grabbed my hands and put my gloves on quickly and urgently, just like his voice: "I'm sorry!" He only said that one sentence before leaving me and rushing away, as if he were anxiously and fearfully chasing after something.

He didn't see my face clearly, didn't have time to hear me say "it's okay," and didn't even remember that in this foreign country I should use "Sorry" or "Excusez moi" instead of "对不起" (I'm sorry).

What a small world! What a melodramatic plot! I shook my head and smiled, then heard my brother come out, my aunt pushing her wheelchair, and complaining about how the weather had suddenly turned cold as she put a hat on Yufei.

My brother took my hand and asked, "Are you cold?"

I slightly moved my hands inside the thick gloves, playfully curling my fingers into a fist, then releasing them, the warmth of my palm instantly transferring to my fingertips. I shook my head and said, "Let's go back."

"Okay." My brother helped me up, and we walked slowly forward, chatting as we went, as if taking a stroll.

When the older brother said in a relaxed and expectant tone, "Lanlan, we've arrived,"

Suddenly, I heard hurried footsteps behind me. As the footsteps grew closer, I felt a suffocating sensation, as if I couldn't breathe. I pursed my lips, barely managing to create a small opening, when a gust of cold wind rushed in.

I almost instinctively wanted to cough, but the sound was suppressed in my throat by a subtle mix of joy, anger, and pain.

“Galan…” he called my name breathlessly behind me, his voice filled with ecstasy, regret, longing, and a sob, echoing in the Christmas Eve air of Lausanne, Switzerland. He said, “Galan… I’ve finally found you…”

I seemed to hear a delicate, fragile sound, like the bursting of beer foam, slowly rising in the depths of my heart.

Xiao Yi

2008.2.18 21:50

Chapter 10 Christmas is over.

Next update: Wednesday, January 20th

Since the later parts overlap with the bonus chapter, I'll post the whole thing together to speed things up. Those who have already read it, please be patient and wait. Thank you!

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Chapter 11 Looking Back

Chapter 11 Looking Back

“Galan…” he called my name breathlessly behind me, his voice filled with ecstasy, regret, longing, and a sob, echoing in the Christmas Eve air of Lausanne, Switzerland. He said, “Galan… I’ve finally found you…”

I seemed to hear a delicate, fragile sound, like the bursting of beer foam, slowly rising in the depths of my heart.

My brother stopped first, letting go of my hand, then immediately put his other hand on me. I heard him ask me in a slightly doubtful voice, "Galan, do you know this person?"

I forced a smile and said, "I guess so." I didn't turn around the whole time, and my voice was suffocating without me even realizing it.