Nineteen

  "Like frost, I got lost. I'm lost in Mian City." He said childishly, clinging to her ear. She suddenly felt a sharp pain. He gently turned her around and stared into her eyes, while tears were welling up in hers: "Ruxue, you promised not to leave early. Why don't you keep your word? Do you know how anxious I am? I looked everywhere for you, asked Liu Qing but she didn't know where you were either. I went to school and asked Juanzi, but she didn't know either. It wasn't until today that I asked people at your company and found out you'd gone home. You naughty child, why don't you carry a phone? I was really afraid you'd leave me forever."

  Tears fell from her eyes, and she was choked with emotion, unable to say a word. He grabbed her hand and ran with her until they reached the riverbank behind the residential area before stopping. This place, because of its deep grass, was rarely visited by people, and she finally let out a loud cry. He held her tightly in his arms, letting her tears wet his chest as she rested her forehead on his chest, hoping that this moment would last forever.

  Later, she finally calmed down but didn't dare to raise her head. He let go of her and held her hands again like the first time. He said slowly: "The first time I saw you, your face turned red, your head was lowered, and your expression was dazed. At that time, I didn't know that I had fallen in love with you at first sight." She thought what he said was probably about finding a house, which was just a month ago, but it felt like many years had passed.

  "It's a pity you don't remember me, but it doesn't matter, I remember you and that's enough. Fortunately, I still remember how to find you." She raised her head and looked at him hesitantly: "Did the company give you my home address?" He smiled: "Of course not, I already knew it anyway, I've known it for a long time."

  Her phone suddenly rang on his body, he let go of her hand, took out the phone and handed it to her, saying: "I brought you the phone, remember not to forget to bring your phone when you go out next time." She took the phone and saw that the incoming call was her aunt's number. She put her finger on her lips and made a shh gesture before pressing the connect button. Her mother's anxious voice came from inside: "Xuexue, where did you run to? Aunt said she didn't wait for you, we're all at the hotel now." She stammered: "I'll be right there." Fortunately, her mother didn't ask too many questions and calmed down after hearing her voice, only saying: "Come quickly, everyone is waiting for you."

  She hung up the phone and said to him, "I have to go home, my family is waiting for me to eat." He smiled and said, "Okay, I'll come with you." She thought he was capable of doing something like that and was frightened: "Don't..." He laughed even more brightly: "I just wanted to ask your dad and mom if they would be willing to let me take care of their daughter." She became even more anxious: "Absolutely not." Afraid that this wouldn't be enough to scare him off, she heartlessly said: "Besides, we've only known each other for a few days and you're already so disrespectful. I don't like you at all. I really dislike you. Little Tang is more suitable for you, and she appeared earlier than me, she understands you better."

  He became serious, held her hand and said: "Ruxue, you are lying. You're not good at lying, your face turns red whenever you lie. If you don't like me, why would you be so hurt by what Xiaotang said and leave without saying goodbye?" She was speechless. He continued to say: "I know you love me, you like me. Although I'm not sure if you still recognize me, but I know you love me."

  Do you know him? What does this mean? She raised her head again to look at his face. His face was obviously thinner, and his fair skin had turned dark, but his eyes were still bright and spirited.

  "It may be a small matter to you, but it's etched in my memory." His unusually serious and calm tone caught her attention at once.

  "You appeared in my life earlier than anyone else. You are the earliest person to appear in my life. I met you here seven years ago, just downstairs from that building."

  "You don't know how I knew about your family, do you? Seven years ago, I already knew that it was as if fate had arranged for you to bump into me in the lobby downstairs. You blushed and looked down, like an angel with transparent wings, deeply etched in my heart. At that time, your hand seemed to be holding a bag just like today."

  Her head was a bit dizzy and felt like she hadn't slept enough, nothing in this life could be compared to this matter.

  "You didn't even look up at me, of course you don't remember me. But I won't forget you, forever. It's just that I didn't expect to run into you again after seven years, although you don't remember me at all. Before you reappeared, I told myself that if I could see you again, I would definitely hold on to you and make you remember me well, not letting you walk away from me."

  She was struggling to digest every word of his, not daring to believe what she had heard at first and couldn't be sure whether the feeling that now filled her heart was joy and happiness or sorrow. The bright colors of the sunset on the other side of the river gradually faded away, with the sound of frogs croaking in her ears, the wind blowing over the water brought a fresh breath.