Chapter 14: Missing You (Part 1) (Little Theatre)

  Another busy year is coming to an end. Two months before the Lunar New Year, after a period of high-intensity work at her newspaper, Gu Zixin's tracking report mission was successfully completed as various tasks in the city were finished one by one.

  On the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, Gu Zixin carried a simple and not-so-large luggage onto the long-distance bus heading home. As usual, the newspaper's holiday was from New Year's Eve to the sixth day of the new year, a total of seven days. Since Gu Zixin's hometown was in a nearby county, after finishing her work, she asked for leave with Qiao Xu'an and returned home one day in advance.

  To catch the earliest train, Gu Zixin got up before 6 o'clock in the morning, packed her things, had breakfast, and rushed to the station. When she finally sat down on her seat after putting away her luggage, she felt a little drowsy.

  She stuffed her earbuds into her ears, turned on the music, and pulled down her hat brim. Gu Xi thought to herself that she should take this opportunity to get some good sleep. In a daze, she felt her phone vibrate, took it out to look, and saw that it was Gao Mu Yang's call.

  Gu Xixin looked at the jumping big head sticker of Gao Muyang on her phone screen, and it wasn't until then that she suddenly remembered that she hadn't contacted her for a long time. She happily picked up the call.

  Mu Yang's unit is a private enterprise. Because this year's work plan was over-fulfilled, they gave everyone a week off ahead of schedule. This woman spent almost a week lounging around at home, until she couldn't stand her own self-torturing vacation style anymore, and finally thought of finding someone to go out with her to "take a break".

  Gu Xixin had agreed to meet her on the 30th of the lunar year, and then hung up the phone. Holding the phone in her hand, she was about to doze off again when the phone rang once more, this time it was Kang Yue.

  "Is it almost here?"

  "Yeah, it should be soon."

  "Have you eaten breakfast?"

  Had some breakfast at the restaurant downstairs.

  ……

  Kang Yue spoke neither quickly nor slowly on the phone, detailing many things before hanging up.

  Gu Xixin looked at the time on her phone, there were about twenty minutes left before the train could enter the station. It seemed that she couldn't sleep anymore, so she simply sat up straight and stared out of the window.

  During this time, Gu Zixin and Kang Yue got closer, but only to the extent of being familiar with each other as good friends. It can't be denied that Kang Yue is an ideal boyfriend material. He's meticulous, considerate, gentle, knows how to observe people's words and expressions, and shows concern at the right time without making others feel awkward or embarrassed.

  Gu Xixin has been thinking about how she and Kang Yue became familiar with each other step by step. Was it when they ate hot pot at the sixth gate? Or was it during the two conferences? There is no clue, but when she realized this state, Kang Yue's various concerns and attentions towards her had already become a matter of course.

  The two people's contact was not frequent, every two or three days Kang Yue would give her a courtesy call to casually chat about each other's things, some were work-related, some were trivial matters around them. After chatting for a few sentences, they would hang up the phone. Gu Xi occasionally went online on nights when she wasn't too tired and most of the time could meet Kang Yue in the QQ work contact group. The conversation between the two at both ends of the computer was apparently more casual. Kang Yue would also occasionally ask her out to dinner under the pretext of passing by her unit or home, and each time Gu Xi would go with a smile, not showing any particular expression. Since Kang Yue didn't plan to say anything, she was happy to pretend ignorance.

  Gu Xixin could sense that she and Kang Yue were not quite the same, or rather, Kang Yue's feelings towards her were different. Gu Xixin had a faint premonition of this, but was contradictory in not wanting to admit it and not wanting to investigate further, so she just let things develop as they would.

  When Gu Xixin thought of this name, she still wanted to sigh. This feeling was even more inexplicable. Yin Shu still had no news, and Gu Xixin was busy all day like a spinning top, as if she didn't have time to think about these problems. But at this moment, Gu Xixin couldn't help but admit that she cared more than she thought.

  The next day, Gu Xixin and Gao Muyang made an appointment at a Mongolian characteristic beverage shop that they often visited. They ordered a pot of milk tea, cheese and tofu, sat down and chatted casually.

  It's clear that Gu Xixin can see that Gao Muyang has been doing well lately, with a radiant complexion and a hint of excitement in her eyes. When asked if she's encountered any romantic luck, she just smiles without saying anything. Gu Xixin wouldn't let it go, and after being teased to the point of frustration, Muyang had no choice but to tell her that the timing isn't ripe yet, but when the time is right, she'll be the first to know. Gu Xixin heard this and didn't press the issue further.

  After saying goodbye to Gao Muyang, Gu Zixin called her mother and asked her to meet at a shopping mall near their home to buy some New Year's goods.

  Actually, before Gu Zhi Xin returned home, Su Jin Ping had already prepared all kinds of food, including the ingredients needed for the New Year's Eve dinner and Gu Zhi Xin's favorite snacks. However, it was rare for Gu Zhi Xin to return home, especially after work, as she had to rush back to the newspaper office for interviews during the past two Spring Festivals, only managing to have one meal with her mother before returning to work. Last year, she even spent the entire New Year at the newspaper office.

  This year is rare to have so much rest time, Gu Zixin also wants to make up for Su Jinping and accompany her more.

  The two of them wandered around the ladies' department on the mall's upper floor for a long time, and after re-outfitting themselves and their mother, they headed to the supermarket downstairs with satisfaction.

  Maybe it's the infection of the New Year's festive atmosphere, maybe it's been too long since she went shopping with her mother, or maybe it's because her mother's smile from the heart is particularly moving today. Gu Xixin has a joy that gushes out from the bottom of her heart, and in the supermarket, she buys a big pile of snacks that she doesn't usually eat.

  They came to the small alley outside the mall, which is set up as a New Year's goods street every year. The stalls selling couplets, firecrackers and festive decorations were crowded together. Gu Xixin held Su Jinping's arm, looking at each stall one by one, and the mother and daughter occasionally discussed.

  When they returned home with big and small bags, both of them were too tired to speak. Collapsing on the sofa, Gu Zhi Xin exerted all her strength to take out her phone from her pants pocket and check it. When she opened it, she found that several calls had come in without her noticing. The unconnected calls displayed an unfamiliar number, and no matter how hard Gu Zhi Xin thought, she couldn't recall who the number belonged to. Later on, she thought maybe it was one of her interviewees calling to wish her a happy new year, so she didn't bother with it anymore.

  At three o'clock in the afternoon, the mother and daughter gathered in the kitchen to start preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner. This year's New Year's Eve dinner, Gu Zhi Xin suddenly came up with an idea, insisting on showing off her skills, Su Jin Ping was happy to let her try. The two of them were busy in the kitchen, chatting occasionally.

  Don't look at Gu Zhi Xin, who is busy with work, but her cooking skills are not good. Even after work, she hasn't cooked much. The newspaper job is too stressful and doesn't have the time or energy to study cooking. Occasionally eating a meal at home is also a convenient combination of instant noodles and frozen dumplings. Plus, she's not good at cooking and has a lot to say about it. When it comes to eating, unless absolutely necessary, she won't settle for anything less, so most of the time, the problem of eating is solved outside.

  Today's painstakingly prepared "display meal" is unlikely to succeed.

  In the end, Su Jingping helped her finish up, and the mother-daughter duo brought the dishes to the table. Gu Xixin also opened a bottle of red wine and poured a small cup for Su Jingping. They ate while watching the Spring Festival Gala, and it was quite harmonious.

  Digression

  The man has arrived, lined up to welcome!