(1) Acquaintance
It was this day again. I turned on my computer. Na Ying's song "Love is Perfect with You" echoed in my room. There was only me, this one song, and a full ashtray of cigarette butts. Every year on this day, I would isolate myself, immersing all my thoughts in reminiscing about Xiaomei. Two years ago on this very day, Xiaomei called late at night, "Are you okay?" "I'm fine," I took a deep breath, trying to sound calm. "Really?" She paused for a moment, "What are you doing now? Is it hard?" "I'm reading the electric meter, sometimes I feel tired." I answered in a low voice. She could hear the desolation in my words. "Don't worry, take your time, don't rush. Things will get better in a few years. I know you can endure hardship, right?" "Yeah, how about you? Are you doing well now?" I asked anxiously. "Me? Very good, all thanks to you." She seemed to be laughing... No! She must be crying. "I..." My stiff lips trembled speechlessly, tears streamed down my face. "Don't be silly, haven't we been foolish enough?" "By the way, I've already sold the house, disconnected the mobile phone, I won't appear in your life anymore, you'll never find me again." Xiaomei sobbed hurriedly. "Xiaomei, you..." "Isn't mutual harm enough? Goodbye!" "No!" I roared, the phone had already hung up. The long blind tone wailed cruelly. I dialed her mobile phone like crazy, the phone kept repeating "Sorry, the number you dialed has been disconnected" over and over again, reminding me. When I suddenly realized that this was reality, I collapsed beside the telephone.
In the past, I sometimes went to a café called Lan Gui Fang for a rest. Not many people go there, it's European style decorated, elegant and unique, soft blues music whispers in your ears. I often sat in the bar corner by the street, sipping coffee with a fragrant aroma, gazing at the crowds passing by on the street, peaceful and leisurely. There was also a girl who came frequently... She was special, different from other guests dressed in formal attire, she often wore a casual and flowing outfit. When she pushed the door open, the wind blew her black long hair, the golden sunlight outside slanted and illuminated her delicate face. Everyone looked up and stared at her. She walked in lightly, smiling and nodding to those she recognized. I silently watched her, she was indeed beautiful. Her beauty was so pure and untainted. Her laughter was beautiful, a kind of hearty and innocent laughter... She was completely unaware of the focus of many admiring and appreciative gazes, laughing and chatting with her friends without restraint. Gradually, I felt that she knew I existed, because occasionally her glances would sweep over me in the corner of the room. And whenever her eyes or figure passed by me, the coffee I held would ripple with my heartbeats. I tried to control this feeling, I told myself "Stay calm, stay calm", but I found that even if my hands stopped shaking and my heart gradually calmed down, my face would often turn red. Later, for no reason, she would inexplicably pop into my mind, thinking about her when alone made me nervous, sometimes I even broke out in sweat. I told myself, maybe it was due to the hot weather in Shenzhen. So I went to that café more frequently, perhaps for her, perhaps not, I didn't dare to think. But I really wanted to meet her there, and indeed we often met.
About a month later, after much deliberation, I convinced myself that I had to get to know her. I remember making a decision, that night I couldn't sleep counting my own heartbeats. Such a pre-battle mood, probably only comparable to my excitement and anticipation the night before the college entrance exam.
On that April afternoon, at Lan Gui Fang Café, she really came as I guessed. I spent ten minutes calming myself down, thinking that I wouldn't be nervous and stutter when speaking. I was really quite strange, how could I become like this. I pulled out the customer feedback form I had prepared long ago from my bag and walked straight towards her. She seemed to have sensed it, looking up sharply at me walking towards her, she smiled modestly, but couldn't hide some surprise, then grinned, with a hint of cunning in her eyes. When I reached her, her smile actually made my legs feel weak. In front of her, I just wanted to say "I...", but forgot what I wanted to say. "I...", I was embarrassed, my brain went blank. She lightly raised her right hand towards the chair opposite her, then tilted her head and gave me a bright nod, "Hello, please sit." She was composed and friendly. I snapped out of my embarrassment, awkwardly pulled out a seat and sat down. "What would you like?" She smiled and looked directly at me. I hastily lowered my head, slightly shifted my body, feeling more stable. I quietly exhaled, wanting to wipe the slight sweat off my forehead, but thought it wasn't appropriate. In front of her, I almost didn't know what to do with my hands and feet, "Hold on, hold on" I silently repeated in my mind. Raising my head, I tried to look very calm and spoke in a steady tone, "No need, thank you. I am from ** company, our company takes up some of your time, hoping you can give us some opinions on the company's products and services, okay?" "Of course," she replied cheerfully, surprising me. She took the survey form, glanced at it quickly, filled it out and handed it to me. I immediately took out a voucher according to the plan, "This is from the company to you, you can claim a new product worth 200 yuan, thank you for your cooperation." "Oh, come on, you must be a scammer," she laughed loudly. "Don't believe me? Let me show you my work ID." I hurriedly fumbled for my credentials. "Don't be silly, I was just kidding, thank you." She took it, shook her head lightly, and laughed brightly. "There are still people like you in Shenzhen?" I seriously studied her. A delicate face, mischievous smile, and an unpretentious youthful aura that I hadn't seen in Shenzhen. I secretly thought to myself, "You're the fool, where in Shenzhen can you find a girl like you?" "Can I have your phone number and name? We need your feedback on the gifts we offer," I continued according to the plan. "Oh," she hesitated for a while, "Alright, my name is Xiaomei, my phone number is 139******." I hurriedly jotted it down, afraid that my joy would show on my face. Actually, this job should have been done by my subordinate. In fact, the gift was my private property. In fact, all the words were planned. When everything went as I wished, I was almost overwhelmed with joy, knowing that I must have been grinning foolishly. "What's wrong with you?" She saw me not raising my head. "This song is very nice," I raised my slightly flushed face pretending to be lost in the music. "Do you like this song too? I like it very much, especially Na Ying's 'Love is Perfect with You'." She widened her eyes in surprise. At this point, I carefully listened to the song: "The little by little of the past, you may have forgotten, but every time I think of you, I still cry. Love is perfect with you, but I can't win it back. Long nights to face alone, I don't want to hear who you love. Love is left as a pile of ashes, once burned beautifully. This life, I will live it this way. I won't let myself be heartbroken again." I listened quietly, and she listened attentively too. I stared at her, softly said to her, "The lyrics are beautiful, the melody is beautiful, the singing is beautiful," and another sentence "Actually, you are also beautiful" almost slipped out, but I quickly swallowed it. Hearing my evaluation, she looked at me curiously. "This song gives me a sense of familiarity, as if it comes from the depths of my heart." I really felt something similar and continued to say. "Xiaomei, is it okay to call you that? I've noted down your phone number, then I won't bother you anymore." She pouted and extended her hand, "No, what about your phone number and name? Otherwise, you're a scammer." "Not possible, no problem, you can check with our headquarters, haha." I laughed heartily. "Hey, you don't look like a scammer," she teasingly looked at me... That's how we met. Later she told me, actually she had noticed me long ago, she had been waiting for the day I would approach her. That day, she didn't feel surprised, it was just that the method I used made her feel somewhat stupid and silly.
After that meeting, I never went to the café again. I thought if she liked me, she would expect to see me again at the old place. If she didn't see me, she might have a deeper impression of me. Give her half a month to think of me, think of that somewhat abrupt boy that day. Perhaps catching someone by letting them go works this way. Maybe I should have gone to be a military strategist early, I had read the Thirty-Six Stratagems when I was young, I was somewhat self-satisfied. But will she think of me again? Whenever I thought about this question, I became very anxious. Just like this, I spent half a month in speculation and unease.