my name, your last name

Chapter 15 I've Always Been Franker Than You

Gan Lu took the evening flight back, it was already late at night, there were not many passengers on the same plane, and everyone looked tired and listless.

She came out and got into a taxi, and the driver asked her where she was going. She felt that she had nowhere to go again, so she had to ask the driver to drive, then took out her mobile phone and turned it on, ignoring the constant text messages, and called Qian Jiaxi phone.

Qian Jiaxi yelled: "Where have you been? You want to kill me. The phone is not turned on. Your husband called me in the afternoon and asked me if I saw you."

"I have to find a place to stay tonight. Is it convenient for you? Otherwise, I can go to the hotel."

"Is there a need to ask this between us? You come here immediately."

Gan Lu breathed a sigh of relief: "If he asks you again, just say you haven't seen me." She reported Qian Jiaxi's address to the driver, deleted all unread text messages, and turned off the phone.

Qian Jiaxi rented a high-rise single apartment not far from the TV station. It had one bedroom and one living room.After Gan Lu went in, she pushed away the clothes she had piled on the sofa and sat down, and said wearily, "Don't ask anything, Jiaxi, I'm too tired."

Even though Qian Jiaxi was full of doubts, she had no choice but to swallow it, and brought her pajamas: "Then you take a shower and go to sleep, look at your face, you are really pale."

"I'll just sleep on the sofa." Gan Lu knew that her bed was small, and she also knew that she would probably toss and turn tonight, so she didn't want to disturb her sleep.

"You go to the bedroom and sleep on the bed honestly. I still have work to do, so I don't know what time I will go to bed."

Qian Jiaxi's living room has always been used as a dining room and a study. At this time, the computer on one side was turned on, and Gan Lu didn't show any politeness to her anymore. After a while, she forced herself to take a shower.

When she came out, Qian Jiaxi turned her head away from the computer: "Your husband seems to have sensed it. He called again just now. I didn't say anything, so he told me to let you have a good rest."

She shook her head with a wry smile, of course she knew that Shang Xiuwen's judgment had always been strong: "Go ahead, I'll go to sleep first."

Qian Jiaxi has always been a night owl and has become a habit of going to bed late and waking up late. When the light in the living room under the door went out, it was already midnight.

The darkness and silence didn't help Gan Lu, she could only lie motionless, her body was so tired that she didn't even have the strength to turn over, she wished she could never wake up from a dream, but her brain refused to cooperate, it was still spinning at high speed and dazedly Not only that, all kinds of thoughts surged in turn, none of them took shape, but none of them were willing to disperse automatically.

It wasn't until the middle of the night that she fell into a half-sleep state, drowsy and half asleep. As soon as the phone rang at the set time, she opened her eyes and got up, put on her clothes and went to wash her hands lightly. Then take it to work.

Today is the day of registration. Since the High School Affiliated to Normal University is a boarding school, students need to bring their luggage to the dormitory. Many parents will send their children here, let alone those with cars.The street in front of the school is full of vehicles of all kinds. As usual, traffic jams occur twice a year during the registration time. The impatient drivers keep honking their horns, making this quiet street unprecedentedly early in the morning. Get lively.

Gan Lu was walking all the way after getting off the bus, and students she knew would greet her from time to time: "Morning, Teacher Gan" or "Happy New Year, Teacher Gan".

She was about to walk into the school when a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm tightly. Her footsteps were originally flimsy, but she staggered a bit. Before she could turn her head, she was dragged into a hug tightly hold on.

It was the embrace she was very familiar with, from the strength of her arms to the breath of her body, her face was stuck to the front of a dark gray suit, and even the texture of the clothes was familiar to her.She just swallowed back a scream, but heard the whistles of naughty students from around, and there were more than one whistles, almost one after another, she couldn't help being embarrassed, and hurriedly tried to break free.

However, Shang Xiuwen only let go a little bit, and put his arm around her shoulders instead. She got out, and was facing Vice Principal Wan and the dean who were standing at the school gate to welcome the students. Both of them were the same His face showed disapproval; his eyes swept away, and there were quite a few people looking at him around. The excitement of the students was palpable, and the accompanying parents were naturally a little bit disapproving.

She had never been in the limelight before in the work unit, no matter how calm she was, her face flushed and she was a little at a loss.Fortunately, the dean coughed and helped her out: "Mr. Gan, is your cold feeling better?"

Gan Lu forced a smile, and was about to speak, when Shang Xiuwen spoke first: "She is still not feeling well, she didn't eat breakfast, and she refused to ask for leave. She said that there are many things at school today. I am really worried, so I told you come and see."

Shang Xiuwen's voice was sincere and steady, which was in stark contrast to his behavior just now. Vice-principal Wan looked at Gan Lu's pale and haggard face, and smiled tolerantly: "The young couple are in love after all, you'd better take Mr. Gan there Let's eat something, the school cafeteria hasn't opened yet, so we didn't sell it earlier."

Gan Lu didn't want to continue making jokes at the school gate, so she had to follow Shang Xiuwen to Yonghe Soymilk at the corner of the street.

They walked against the flow of people rushing to the school, and they didn't walk fast. Shang Xiuwen looked at her: "Your complexion is really bad, you should ask for leave and go back to rest."

Gan Lu shook her head, and stood still at the corner: "I questioned you at the press conference earlier, and then I beat you, which made you ugly; now you come to the school to perform such a passionate scene, and you can repay me. Yes. Have you gone back?"

Shang Xiuwen's face darkened: "Do you think I came here on purpose to make a fool of you? You didn't expect how worried I was from yesterday to today. I rushed to the airport and just took a flight to hit you I couldn't get through to the phone, so I had to rush back and look for you again. I can't stop you at school today, and I'm already going to wait in front of Qian Jiaxi's house at night."

"Don't exaggerate your worry, haven't you already judged that I'm at Jiaxi's place? With your level of rationality, you probably just want to come and coax me in the morning. What's more," Gan Lu smiled wryly, "I seem to be very coaxing all the time. Usually, with a kiss and a hug, I will automatically explain everything for you, without you even needing to bother me, right?"

"No, I'm going to explain it to you in detail and ask for your forgiveness."

"What can I forgive you? You didn't lie to me, the worst is that you didn't tell the whole truth. In fact, there is no need to come here on purpose. I won't be absent from work, and I won't be missing, although yesterday I really wanted to It’s good to disappear like this, I don’t need to face these things that I don’t want to face.” Gan Lu said disheartenedly, and the two fell silent for a while.

After a while, Shang Xiuwen held her hand: "You can't go to work on an empty stomach, eat something first."

There were still students coming here, so Gan Lu had to follow Shang Xiuwen into Yonghe.He sat her down by the window and ordered breakfast. As soon as she returned to her seat, Gan Lu stood up suddenly. She hadn't eaten anything serious since yesterday, and she didn't feel hungry at all. Shang Xiuwen sent him away.But as soon as the smell of deep-fried dough sticks from the next table wafted over, she immediately felt nauseated, covered her mouth and rushed into the small bathroom, vomited, dizzy and dizzy, managed to stop it, and rinsed her mouth with water.

Among all the troubled thoughts, a question that she has been avoiding has finally come to her eyes.She thought that her vomiting might not just be caused by a sudden irregular diet. Thinking of the early pregnancy test sheet still in her purse, and thinking of the man sitting on the seat outside, she could only bite tightly. tooth.

A waiter opened the door and came in: "Miss, are you okay, your husband asked me to come in and take a look."

She shook her head weakly: "It's okay, thank you."

Gan Lu tidied herself up carefully and walked out with strength. Shang Xiuwen was waiting outside the bathroom with a worried expression on his face: "What's the matter, Lulu, are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing."

He helped her back to her seat, and the waiter had already served a bowl of vegetable and meat wontons, which she usually likes to eat, but seeing it now, she had no appetite at all.She barely endured it, scooped up a little bit with a spoon, and forced herself to eat it in small bites.

"Is it hard? Lulu."

"Ah."

"Or ask the leader for leave and go back and have a good rest."

Gan Lu raised her head and smiled sadly: "Where are you going?"

"Don't deny everything about us just because of yesterday," Shang Xiuwen reached out to hold her hand, "Give me a chance to explain, Lulu, don't rush to judge."

"All my judgments seem to be a joke now, so there's nothing to worry about." Gan Lu said uninterestedly, withdrew her hand, tried to restrain the discomfort in her stomach, lowered her head and continued to eat wontons. After taking a bite, she finally couldn't eat any more, put down the spoon, reached for her bag, and Shang Xiuwen held her down.

"Let's sit down and talk."

Gan Lu looked around and shook her head: "Let's talk about it when I get home tonight, I have to go to work." She saw Shang Xiuwen hesitated, and the smile on her face faded, "Of course, I know, you just took office, It must be very busy. I can understand if you don’t have time, and it doesn’t really matter if you talk or not.”

He was so blocked that he had almost nothing to say, so he could only say, "I'll pick you up after get off work."

He sent Gan Lu into the school, watched her tighten her gray short coat, lowered her head and hurried into the school gate, her back merged into the students before returning to the car.He came very early and stayed in the car on the side of the road. At this time, the car was stuck in the long queue of vehicles on the side of the school road and couldn't get out for a while, but he was not in a hurry.

The previous afternoon, Shang Xiuwen watched the Mercedes-Benz carrying Gan Lu start up quickly, and was about to call the driver over, when Wu Changzhi, who rushed down, stopped him: "Xiuwen, we have to go to the SASAC now."

His prior arrangement was indeed to meet with Wang Feng, Wu Changzhi and the leaders of the Provincial State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and Economic Commission immediately after the press conference, discuss the merger of the smelter again, and then rush to the airport.

The reporters who came out all around looked at him curiously. He knew that Gan Lu's slap just now might make people think about it, but he didn't care. He took out his mobile phone and called his wife's number, but her mobile phone was turned off.After thinking for a while, he called He Jingyi.

He Jingyi bluntly admitted her relationship with this matter. He clearly understood her character, and after she promised to send Gan Lu to the airport, he didn't say much.

Wang Feng also came out. Lu Fei, the general manager of Yuanwang Investment Company, had a car accident somewhere in Guiyang and is currently resting. Most of the company's affairs fell on him. On a business trip to another place, Shang Xiuwen had to get in the car with them separately and head to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

After finally talking about business, the driver took him to the airport. He checked and found that there were several flights between the two places every day. He called Gan Lu's cell phone, but it was still turned off.He had no choice but to enter the security check. He Jingyi suddenly rushed up from behind and called his name.

He stopped and looked at her sharply: "where's my wife?"

He Jingyi smiled and spread her hands: "I'm sorry, Xiuwen, she insisted on getting out of the car, I can't force her here against her will, I guess she should have gone back earlier."

He nodded slightly: "Thank you for taking the trouble to arrange today's scene."

"You're welcome. However, I didn't intend to target you from the very beginning. These could have been avoided, if you had told me the real role you played in Xu Sheng earlier."

"Jingyi, I never intended to ask you about your experience in Yixin."

He Jingyi's face suddenly turned pale: "Is this implying something?"

"I don't need to make any hints. After everyone goes their separate ways, the best ending is to forget each other in the rivers and lakes."

He Jingyi regained his composure slightly: "Now we are all on the verge of riding a tiger. Since you openly took over Xu Sheng, I am afraid that we will not be able to forget each other in this river and lake now."

"Jingyi, I can affirm that this merger is not as smooth as you imagined, and your plot against Xu Sheng is not as easy as you imagined."

"A mere smelter has always been one of my goals, but how did you think Yixin was interested in Xusheng?"

"Shaokun said that he never contacted you, and you thought of him when you heard Brazil. Then at least you understand Xusheng's raw material procurement process, and you don't need to do so much homework if you just want to merge the smelter."

He Jingyi smiled: "It seems that the mediocre family life in the past few years has not completely dulled you. Next, we still have a lot of opportunities to meet. By the way, my boss, Chairman Chen, will go to J City next Monday. Mayor Kong met, and I believe that the merger of the smelter will soon have a result. As for what will happen next, you may wish to wait and see."

Shang Xiuwen also smiled, and that smile came coldly: "You have made a series of arrangements recently so carefully, I thought that since you sat in this position, you have indeed adapted to the laws of the market, and you can keep your face. But you are always impatient, and you can't wait to show the cards in your hand to surprise others. This behavior can be said to be a little childish and very funny before. It is still like this now, and it will not do you any good. "

He Jingyi tilted her head and thought for a while: "Yes, you have always understood my personality best, and now you deliberately married a wife whose personality is completely opposite to mine. It seems that you really dislike me."

"Jingyi, this is another stubborn part of you that puzzles me. You seem to always think that no matter what I do, I just want to erase your existence. In fact, we have already ended, and we have completely withdrawn from each other. life. Haven't you ever thought that I married Lulu just because I love her?"

She stared closely at Shang Xiuwen for a long time, and a sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth: "Go and act like a lover to your wife, and see if you can still convince her after today. You actually used a very strange way to Love her. In my opinion, she is not a simple mind to coax."

"I completely trust her ability to judge. See you in J City."

The announcement had been made to board the plane, and they walked in one after the other, sat in different positions, and did not speak again.

After the plane landed, Shang Xiuwen called Gan Lu again, but the phone was still turned off.

He began to think about where she might go.With her overly tolerant care and maintenance of her father from body to emotion, she is unlikely to go back to her mother's house to complain and live for a while like ordinary women.But he still called Gambo first to greet his father-in-law. He only said that he was back from a business trip. He was very sorry that he couldn’t give him New Year’s greetings during the Spring Festival. Lu came over to eat together.

He knew that Gan Lu's best friend was Qian Jiaxi, but Qian Jiaxi was very surprised when he called, saying that he had never seen Gan Lu, and immediately asked him, "What's wrong with her? She's not that kind of person." When you get angry, you can act like a baby and turn off the phone to play with the missing woman."

Shang Xiuwen said helplessly: "There is a little misunderstanding between us, please call me as soon as you see her?"

Qian Jiaxi was skeptical, and just said "Oh" noncommittally.

As Qian Jiaxi said, Gan Lu is never particularly willful.Before that, she only went there because of the job transfer imposed by Wu Lijun.

After the two got back together, Shang Xiuwen couldn't help laughing when he saw the clothes she bought from shopping, from outerwear to underwear, they were all very sexy and bold styles, and there was also a pair of short printed hot pants.Gan Lu was embarrassed by his smile, blushing and wanted to snatch it away, but he refused: "Show me the clothes."

"No."

"Why don't you wear it after you buy it, or show it to someone?" He smiled while holding a leopard-print corset.

"Hmph, if you don't chase me out to coax me, I'll have to use your card to shop to vent my anger, or I'll burn myself out of anger."

He dragged her into his arms and hugged her tightly: "Who says I won't coax you, but I have to admit that I quite welcome buying underwear as a way to vent, it's my welfare."

She does have a strong ability to relieve herself, and she doesn't blame others for things that cannot be changed.But Shang Xiuwen clearly knew that she had a bottom line, and he seemed to have touched her bottom line, and this anger probably couldn't be eliminated by shopping.

However, he still drove to several large shopping malls and shopping centers in the city.After the explosive concentrated consumption during the Spring Festival, these places are slightly deserted.

He wandered around these possible places, found nothing, and had to go home.

He speculates about all her possible reactions, but from her questioning at the press conference to the slap in the hotel lobby, her behavior has completely escaped his judgment and control.

I waited until late at night, still did not receive a call, and became more and more anxious, and called Qian Jiaxi again, but before he could speak, Qian Jiaxi said in a sharp tone: "Xiuwen, I want to ask you first, what do you do? What made Lulu rather wander outside in the freezing cold than go home?"

He was in a panic for the first time, but he immediately concluded that his wife should be with her, and after a while he said: "I'm sorry, please let her rest well, I will pick her up tomorrow."

Putting down the phone, Shang Xiuwen couldn't let go of his hanging heart. Early the next morning, he drove to the school gate and waited. After sitting for more than an hour, he saw Gan Lu appearing in sight. He got out of the car almost without thinking, walked through the crowd and hugged her.

However, Gan Lu obviously didn't soften in any way because of this warm embrace under the eyes of everyone.

In the afternoon, Shang Xiuwen came to the school gate early again. When Gan Lu came out, he was answering a call from City J.Gan Lu looked around, saw his car, said goodbye to her colleagues with a smile, and then walked over to get in the car with a very calm expression.He hurriedly ended the phone call: "Lulu, let's go out to eat and find a place to have a good talk."

"No, I don't have much appetite, just go back and eat."

He didn't want to disobey her, so he drove back while calling the hourly worker.

When they entered, Wu Lijun went home first. She talked with Wu Changzhi on the phone the day before, and she already knew about the situation. She didn't take it seriously, but Shang Xiuwen came back late at night, obviously disturbed, and refused to discuss it with her.As usual, Gan Lu called "Mom" when she entered the door. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said nonchalantly, "Let's eat."

The three of them sat together to eat, except for Gan Lu's poor appetite, it was the same as usual.The dining table was quiet as usual. After eating, Gan Lu packed the tableware into the kitchen and went upstairs.

Shang Xiuwen received another call from Wu Changzhi, and when the call was over, when he came up, he saw Gan Lu half kneeling on the floor in front of the closet, packing things into the box and putting all the clothes into it.

He stopped suddenly: "What are you doing?"

"I plan to move out to live for a while." She looked up at him and replied calmly.

Shang Xiuwen strode over, almost roughly pulling Gan Lu up.

"We have to sit down and have a good talk."

Gan Lu was dragged almost out of balance by him, she frowned and whispered, "You hurt me."

Shang Xiuwen let go of her quickly: "I'm sorry."

"If you insist on talking, we can talk. But since we realized that we have been married for so long, Xiuwen, you didn't say it when you could make it clear. If you drag it on until now, I'm afraid you can't win my trust. Made me change my mind."

Shang Xiuwen took her hand, took her to sit on the soft couch at the head of the bed, and looked at her seriously: "Lulu, I know that I broke my promise not to work in Xusheng. But Xusheng faced The situation is very serious, and Wu Wei's scandal is far more serious than the reported situation. If he is only an executive of the company and a shareholder holding 10% of the shares, if he is seriously investigated, he will go to jail. It's just my uncle and him Father and son are connected, no matter how angry they are, it is impossible for him to fend for himself. However, if he is let go and Xu Sheng is forced to shoulder this responsibility, it will be a catastrophe for a company that is already in turmoil."

"Are you trying to make me understand the need for your uncle to make a gesture of resigning to cover up the public, and then you take over? Well, that doesn't seem to me to be aboveboard, but it's not complicated, and I get it. But really. Yes, I don't care about Xusheng, what does its future have to do with me?" Gan Lu said lightly.

"Lulu, next I will explain my shares in Xusheng." Shang Xiuwen hesitated, "I didn't say it before, and I didn't mean to hide it from you. This matter involves some past events, and I didn't mention it to you. Because I have too many... hidden pains."

"You still don't need to say anything, Xiuwen, I've never asked you anything, and now I'm not curious anymore, you don't have to expose old scars in exchange for my understanding."

"If I don't confess to you again, I'm afraid I will never gain your trust. Can you listen to me patiently?"

Gan Lu could only lower her gaze and listen quietly.

"I seldom mention my father to you. In fact, compared to my mother, my father and I are closer. He is wise, sensitive, generous and knowledgeable. He is almost perfect. I have admired him since I was a child. He used to be from W City A civil servant, in order to support his mother's pursuit of politics, he resigned and went into business, and the company was doing well. When I was 24, it can be said that because of me indirectly, his company was involved in a very complicated incident at that time. Among the sensational economic cases, that case involved a lot of people in the political and business circles of the two provinces. You saw Wang Feng, the chairman of the Yuanwang Investment Company on stage yesterday, was also involved. Sentenced to two years probation."

Shang Xiuwen's voice was a little hoarse, and he stopped for a while, as if lost in memory.Gan Lu suddenly had an impulse to stand up and walk away without looking back.She had been exhausted for a long time, and could no longer bear the pain of others, but she could only hold on to the skirt of her clothes tightly, forcing herself to sit quietly.

"At that time, my mother served as the deputy mayor of the second largest city in the neighboring province, and her career was very smooth. She has always been very professional, clean and self-disciplined, and focused on her work, but it is impossible not to be implicated by this incident." Said At this point, his expression was very calm, but his deep eyes were dark, and the pain in his eyes was obvious, "In the middle of the investigation, my father passed away suddenly."

No matter how preoccupied she was, Gan Lu was taken aback.

Shang Xiuwen tried hard to control his emotions, and continued: "He was investigated for many days before he was allowed to go home. He was alone in the study that day, and when I... came back late at night, he had already collapsed on the floor, not breathing .After being taken to the hospital, the doctor said he died of a sudden heart attack."

Gan Lu instinctively realized that his father's sudden death might not be as simple as death from illness.She raised her head, and saw Shang Xiuwen clenched his teeth tightly, and the line of the entire jaw was so tight that it was a little distorted.Her heart softened, and she reached out to hold his hand: "It's the past, Xiuwen, don't blame yourself."

"He did have a heart attack, but he had a physical examination every year, and it wasn't serious. The first aid medicine was right by his hand, and he didn't move at all. My mother was busy reporting and explaining to the organization, and I was busy cleaning up my mess. We didn't notice it, and he suffered. There is too much pressure from the company and family, and the mood is very abnormal..."

Shang Xiuwen suddenly turned his head to the side, and clenched his teeth again.Gan Lu just held his hand silently, and the two sat side by side, silently waiting for him to calm down.

When Shang Xiuwen spoke again, his voice became even hoarse: "It is impossible for me not to blame myself. Over the years, I have never forgiven myself. After the death of my father, the part of the investigation involving him ended without a problem, and my mother did not have any illegal activities. Disciplinary mistakes. But she was hit hard. She asked her superiors to be transferred and took a job in the health department here, which almost cut off her career pursuits. The loss of the company left by her father was too great to estimate, and I did not I was in the mood to continue the operation, cashed out, and ended all the business. At that time, the steel company where my uncle worked was restructured. He was optimistic about the development of the domestic steel industry and decided to take over. I invested all my money in it, and then came here .” He took Gan Lu’s hand backhand, “Now can you understand why I avoided talking about this matter?”

"Xiuwen, what you're talking about is such a sad past. If I don't understand it, I'm probably cold-blooded. Everyone has a little something on their minds that is not humane. You don't want to mention the sad past to your wife. Maybe I shouldn't be demanding. But let's not talk about anything else, you think your financial situation is a secret that belongs to you and your family, and this gesture is enough to hurt me."

In turn, Shang Xiuwen held her hand tightly, staring at her with deep eyes: "That's not a secret, it's just something that my mother and I don't want to talk about. I had a youthful and frivolous past, and I paid a terrible price. Lulu, after my father passed away, I reflected on myself and found it impossible to live the same way as before. For me, Xusheng was just a very successful investment, and it developed rapidly under the hands of my uncle. In the restructuring of a bankrupt state-owned enterprise, the J City Economic Commission has always held a considerable portion of the shares, and the shares have been scattered. In order to avoid interference with my uncle's business, I put the shares in his name, let him hold the shares in name, and have absolute control. I admit I participated in a part of the business, but that was never my interest. I have been slowly reducing my holdings over the years, making my uncle the largest shareholder. It is impossible for me to bring up these things when I first met you. Procrastination Later, I thought, if there is no accident, I will quit Xusheng completely sooner or later, and there is no need to say anything."

"Then you are going to always appear in front of me as a small businessman?"

Shang Xiuwen could hear the sarcasm in her tone, and smiled wryly: "No, I took you to the Yuanwang company's dinner before Chinese New Year, remember? In the past year, I have transferred the shares step by step. Part of the bonus funds were invested in Yuanwang. The friendship between Wang Feng and my father is the same thing. I agree with his business ideas and concepts, and investment and capital operations are my majors, and I am confident to do well. The closing of Anda’s business, although there are factors to protect Xusheng, is also in my plan. I have already made a plan to transfer the remaining shares in hand to Yuanwang, and Yuanwang will participate in the decision-making of Xusheng’s board of directors. Restrain uncle's behavior and bring the business operation on the right track. After the Spring Festival, I will go to Yuanwang to work, and then slowly tell you the shares I hold in Yuanwang, so that you don't feel awkward."

"I can only say that your arrangements are very careful."

"If Shaokun hadn't had an accident in Brazil first, and Wu Wei had an accident here, I wouldn't have let you accept the news in such a sudden situation. Forgive me, Lulu, don't worry about it anymore, okay? "

After a moment of silence in the room, Gan Lu raised her head and looked at him with a pale face: "Shang Xiuwen, this way you let me not worry about it. What do you think of me? A complete fool?"

"Don't say that..."

"Then what should I say? Yes, even if I am not a fool, I am still a pawn that you can fiddle with. You decide when and what posture to appear in front of me; when you think it is appropriate, then Reward me with a little more truth. You have arranged so carefully, if I don't applaud you, I am sorry for your hard work. If there is no such accident, I am completely under your control, just like what He Jingyi said, living in In the fool’s paradise you gave me, I still feel that my happiness comes without any regrets, how ironic.”

"We don't need to pay attention to what she said, she is just a passerby who has nothing to do with our lives."

"For you, has she really become a passer-by? Xiuwen, it seems that you have become a habit of not being honest, and you can't even be honest with yourself. We are a husband and wife, and I will help you face it Alright. Your youthful and frivolous past in bright clothes and angry horses largely included He Jingyi, right?" Seeing Shang Xiuwen tightly pursing her lips, she continued mercilessly, "Driving a BMW off-road vehicle , often go shopping in foreign countries and Hong Kong, let my girlfriend swipe her credit card to buy famous brands without blinking..."

Shang Xiuwen's face sank: "Did she tell you these things?"

"Yes, I am stupid, but I am not living in a vacuum, not completely ignorant, and I heard this very early, not yesterday. Poor me, I said to myself, your husband Probably experienced a business failure, since you don’t care about material comforts, you’d better understand the general situation, take care of his self-esteem, and don’t bring up these old things in front of him.” Gan Lu laughed, full of self-deprecating, “Xiuwen, you have to admit, Am I being virtuous?"

"I'm sorry, Lulu. She has no right to provoke you like this."

"Let's not rush to criticize her, and you don't have to rush to apologize on her behalf. Maybe she thinks she has some kind of power that neither of you and I know about." Gan Lu sneered, "The time when you broke up coincided with The time of your father's death has overlapped. Looking at it this way, it is really the same as what you said, involving two families, and it was a helpless breakup. No wonder you have been blaming yourself for being depressed, and she still remembers it so far. Stop entangled with you, never end with me."

"It's not what you think, Lulu, don't speculate like that."

"What's that like? You've turned my life into a mystery novel, playing out complicated plots in front of me to your heart's content. I was dragged into it for no reason, but I had to cheer up and participate. Otherwise, you would act It’s so exciting, it’s a disappointment that there’s no one to support it.”

"Don't speculate about the past, Lulu." Shang Xiuwen's voice contained a serious chill, "I'm as frank as I can, and what I'm telling you is all about the past that I haven't mentioned to anyone."

"Should I be grateful? Maybe, after all, I don't know those things. I have lived with you for such a long time. I have to admit that most of the time I think I have a good life. Sometimes ignorance is really a kind of happiness. ah."

"Lulu, I'm serious with you, from proposing to you to preparing to have a child..."

Shang Xiuwen suddenly mentioned the child at this time, Gan Lu stood up like an electric shock, took a step back, and looked at him from a little distance, the frightened expression on her face surprised him: "What's wrong, Lulu?"

Gan Lu pushed away his outstretched hand: "I'm sorry, you think you have confessed like never before, but to me, this kind of confession like squeezing toothpaste is meaningless."

"Why should we dwell on things that are long gone."

"I don't mind what kind of past you have with anyone, Xiuwen, I have always thought that you are a person who can control your emotions and life. But now it seems that you should be as clear as I am, if it all ended early, and There is no influence left, you will not avoid talking about your property to me from the time we met until we got married; He Jingyi will not be entangled after meeting again, from public to private. The two of you have a long past , even if I can persuade myself to ignore this point, but in my opinion, your current behavior is clearly still indulging in it in different ways, and you can say that you never get tired of it."

"This accusation is not fair to me, Lulu. I know that you won't listen to any excuses I make now. But please believe me on one point. For me, the past is the past, and I love you. I married you for this reason, and that's what matters."

"Really? But I'm sorry, I can't connect you with the man I married. You have frustrated me, from doubting my IQ, my eyes, to doubting my choice and my marriage." Gan Lu smiled bleakly, "I don't like the situation you imposed on me. I need to calm down and think about what I should do."

"There's no need to move out, Lulu." Shang Xiuwen stood up, walked in front of her, and hugged her, "Stay at home, and I won't disturb you until you think it through."

His arm was firmly around her waist, and she realized again that she had long been familiar with and used to his embrace, just like the sudden hug in front of the school in the morning, her body had already made a move before her heart. With a reaction, she automatically fit into his arms, and put part of the weight of her tired body into his hands, while he firmly supported her.

She tilted her head back slightly and looked at the clear face in front of her. His eyes were deep and his pupils were black. She could clearly see her own reflection in his eyes.They have looked at each other like this countless times, and his eyes are as firm as ever, without flickering.

She used to think that a man with such eyes could make her give and trust with confidence.She could only smile bitterly now, and stretched out her hand to touch his face: "I've always been more honest than you, Xiuwen, there are two things I have to tell you: First, I just went for a checkup yesterday morning, and I'm pregnant. "

Shang Xiuwen first looked at her in disbelief, and an expression of ecstasy immediately appeared on his face.

However, she continued calmly: "Second, I'm not sure I should keep the baby."

"Lulu—" Shang Xiuwen was shocked, and clasped her waist tightly with his fingers. The force was so violent that she flinched under his gaze and palm.

"This is our two children, and I won't make the decision alone. But I have to get out of here and think things through."

She reached out to her waist, broke away from his arms, and withdrew from his embrace, but his hand held her palm tightly: "Lulu, please don't get angry with me with your child."

His voice was full of anxiety and pleading, she lowered her eyes, looked at his slender fingers, tears finally filled her eyes, and overflowed a little bit: "I did have this idea, Xiuwen, I really want to get angry, but... ..."

Yesterday, she sat in that park in W City until the sun set. The group of Peking Opera enthusiasts packed up their things and chatted in twos and threes as they walked past her. Suddenly, a few people stopped beside her. An old gentleman said, "Girl, you also You like Peking Opera, I have sat here and listened to it for so long."

She withdrew her thoughts, forced a smile, and said "hmm": "It sounds very interesting."

Another old lady smiled and said: "Don't sit for too long, girl, the lake is very humid, be careful of catching a cold. As long as the weather is good, we will come here every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. If you like, you can also join in." Follow along, it’s rare for young people to like our national quintessence.”

The group of fanciers walked out of the park. She sat for a while, then stood up and walked out.But under the thin twilight, looking at this strange city, she still didn't know where to go.

Not far ahead was a bus stop. She walked over subconsciously, looking at the bus stop signs, unfamiliar place names, and lines leading to nowhere, which could not give her any sense of direction at all.

The advertising light box standing behind the station suddenly lit up. Like the city she lived in, there were advertisements for private hospitals everywhere. The doctor wearing glasses and the sweet-looking nurse told people with a smile at the same time, just go to them, from all kinds of hospitals. Intractable diseases, infertility to the unspeakable, can all be resolved quickly and professionally.

Her eyes fell on a row of words such as early pregnancy, early pregnancy dream visual abortion operation, and she couldn't help shivering. She didn't know whether it was the cold air in the evening that invaded her body, or she was stung by the weird and bizarre name of the operation.

Her hand instinctively touched her abdomen, which was as flat as ever. When she got the test results in the morning, she touched it like this, with joy and shyness.However, within half a day, her mood plummeted to the bottom.

This was the child the man she lived with was eagerly looking forward to, and she thought she was ready to be a mother to his child.But suddenly, she couldn't recognize the man's true face.

Her eyes rested on the advertisement light box. The doctor in white robe showed his standard eight teeth with a smile, very kind and joyful, as if what he was facing all day was not disease, fear, sadness and sorrow. Below was a line of small words: Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist Consultation until nine o'clock every night, to solve your problems.

A cold thought flashed through her mind suddenly, she was frightened by herself, and she pinched the hem of the skirt of the short coat tightly with her fingers.She hurriedly turned around and waved to stop a taxi: "Go to the airport, thank you."

"But a person's reasonable life has become a habit, and he has no confidence to be arrogant and willful with anyone. Just thinking about it is already considered a crime. I just think that if I treat others reasonably, then they will also treat others reasonably. Treat me..." Gan Lu couldn't hold back her choked sobs anymore, and tears fell onto the back of Shang Xiuwen's hand.

Shang Xiuwen retracted his arms and dragged her into his arms again.

"I'm sorry..." He couldn't go on, but hugged her tightly.

Gan Lu has never tried such a method of crying with tears flooding into a river.

In fact, she has never been a crybaby. Her close friend Qian Jiaxi even has a strange sense of humor. She can laugh out loud while watching a sensational film. She is the only one in the dormitory who can bear that sense of humor.Generally speaking, she wouldn't find it funny, but she couldn't exchange tears like other girls.

With Shang Xiuwen, he never provoked her to cry.She was only watching the movie "Artificial Intelligence" directed by Spielberg with him. When she saw her mother Monica abandoning the adopted robot child David to the dark forest, she couldn't stop crying. .When Feng Xiuwen was sitting next to her, his eyes were facing the screen, he didn't look at her, but he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and handed her a tissue with the other.

She carefully wiped the tears welling from her eyes, while mocking herself: "I hate the most when people exaggerate maternal love."

"Everyone has weaknesses. Crying and crying properly will help your mental health."

"Then what's your weakness?"

Shang Xiuwen seemed to be stopped by the question, he paused for a while, then he smiled lightly: "My weakness, maybe it's you."

This answer obviously came too readily, but when he said this, he was full of a smile that had always fascinated her, his voice was low and gentle, it sounded very sweet, and swept away the sadness caused by the movie .

She thought that a man who knows how to speak love words at the right time to satisfy his girlfriend's vanity is really good. Although he didn't have any substantive promises, it was enough to make her happy.She tucked into his arms more tightly, continued to watch the movie, no longer explored anything.

It was still the same embrace, but everything was different.No matter how you indulge the pain, there will be moments when the tears dry up.

Gan Lu resolutely broke free from Shang Xiuwen's hand, went into the bathroom to wash her face, and then walked out: "Please don't stop me. I still say the same thing, the child belongs to the two of us, I won't do anything alone without telling you Decision. But I really need space to think it through."

"Where are you going to live? Back to Jiaxi's place?"

"No, Jiaxi's place is small, so I can't keep bothering her. I'm going to find a hotel to stay in tonight. At noon, I've checked out several rental houses on the Internet, not far from the school. I made an appointment with the landlord , go to see the room tomorrow."

Shang Xiuwen's eyebrows were tightly locked: "Lulu, are you planning to separate from me for a long time?"

Gan Lu said wearily, "I don't know, I can't stay with you now."

"I can sleep in the guest room."

"Are you playing dumb? Well, let me make it clear, I can't stay in the same house as you."

"Lulu—"

"You think I'm willful. Yes, I really intend to be willful. I never liked living here. I used to admit and endure it for you and our marriage. Now I can't see what else I have I have to continue to endure, I am not in the mood to perfuse anyone, I just want to have a place to stay alone for a while, if I want to mess up the room, I don’t have to force myself to clean it; Sleep, wake up when you think about it, no need for any reason."

She squatted down again and packed the box.She has always moved swiftly, and this moment is no exception. She quickly tidied up her clothes, and when she stood up again, she saw Shang Xiuwen standing upright and looking at her.

"You are pregnant now, how could I let you live alone." Shang Xiuwen said hoarsely, "Besides, the rented house is not convenient for everything, and the safety may not be guaranteed."

"Then do you still have real estate that I don't know about? I heard that rich people like to buy real estate. It doesn't matter. Now I can afford to be surprised by what you bring out."

Shang Xiuwen looked directly at her: "Lulu, don't deny everything about me. If it wasn't for that completely personal reason, I wouldn't want to hide anything from you, let alone my property status. Since I choose to marry you, I will do it well. I am ready to share everything I have with you."

"This is a very strange way of sharing. You let me just accept it without knowing anything. And it doesn't include your past and your feelings, right?" Gan Lu also looked at him, Ask softly, "You two are very strange. You and I have been in love for more than a year and lived together for two years. We had such intimate moments, but never mentioned your past; Miss He and I are just passers-by. But every time I see me, I can’t wait to recall your past with me in detail. I’m confused, is the one she loved and married me the same person? Who are you, Xiuwen? Do I really know you? "

"If you want to know, I'll tell you the beginning and end of my relationship with her right now. I will definitely not hold back." Shang Xiuwen slowly opened his mouth, "You guessed right, He Jingyi did have a relationship with me. Father's death has something to do with it."

His voice stopped abruptly, and there was an almost unbearable silence in the room again.Gan Lu was about to speak, but he spoke again.

"I have been working part-time in my father's company since I was in college. He Jingyi and I met through Shaokun. They used to be neighbors. At that time, she had just entered college and was my school girl. Her family background was average. After being together, I admit that I really indulge her. I have done all the ridiculous things she said to you, and even more. "

Gan Lu suddenly interrupted him: "No, no, don't say it. The meeting between the prince and Cinderella wearing a crystal slipper is very dreamy, very fairy tale, very interesting... But forget it, please understand that I am relatively fragile now, I can't stand my husband being someone else's prince. I don't want to hear this passage, and I don't want to force a confession on you. From now on, I don't plan to ask any more questions about your past. You can keep your good memories intact. .”

"The next thing is neither a fairy tale nor a beautiful one. I don't like to mention that part of my life to others, but I don't want you to torture yourself with speculation. It's better for us to explain everything clearly today."

Shang Xiuwen's voice was as cold as the severe winter, Gan Lu had to press her lips tightly.

"We fell in love, and at first I only took care of her life, and later also took care of her family. Her mother was a housewife, and her father and brother were running a small business to make ends meet. At first, I arranged for them to start a small company , do some downstream business related to the industry my father is engaged in, and the income is stable enough for their family to live above a well-off life, but it is impossible to get rich overnight. Gradually, they are not satisfied with this. When I realized that they beat me In the name of my father’s company, I was discussing cooperation with people outside, and even advertised my mother’s position, accepted other people’s property, and claimed that I could do some sensitive personnel and engineering arrangements, and things had already developed to the point of being out of control.”

Shang Xiuwen's tone returned to his usual calm, as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

"My mother has always cherished her own reputation and future. When she heard the news, she was very angry and called her and me to scold her. My father stopped all financial ties with her family out of caution. We had disputes more than once. After she went back, she also quarreled with her family, but to no avail. Desire is like a wild beast. Once released, it is very difficult to put it in a cage. Neither she nor her family can Go back to the original simple and plain life.

"My parents wanted me to break up with her. I admit that I was shaken, but she refused to let go. The method she used...was very intense. After all, it was only her family's problem. She was still a student and did not participate. And in the final analysis, I am also responsible, so how could I just give up on her like this. After the delay, I finally caused an irreparable catastrophe.

"Her father and brother acted more and more ostentatiously, and were involved in an economic dispute. To be fair, they were just small people, and the incident did not start because of them, and the subsequent development was beyond their control. But their greed made They got into it step by step, unable to get out, and also implicated my father's company.

"This case is getting bigger and bigger, catching up with changes in national policies and monetary tightening, this incident caused a series of domino-like chain reactions, and finally escaped everyone's expectations and control. Many senior officials in the two provinces were arrested because of this. Shuanggui, dismissal, and even being held criminally responsible, several listed companies have been suspended for investigation, and everyone is in danger.

"In the end, my father died because of this, and Wang Feng was sentenced to probation. Jingyi's father had an unexplained car accident while he was released on bail. After being sent to the hospital for rescue, he fell into a vegetative state and never recovered. Half a year later, she died in the hospital; her brother was convicted of fraud involving a huge amount of money and the circumstances were serious, and was sentenced to ten years in prison."

Such an unexpected development process was slowly spoken by Shang Xiuwen in a voice without ups and downs and without emotion, and it echoed in this usually quiet and warm bedroom, almost thrilling.

Gan Lu couldn't help being at a loss, she suddenly remembered what He Jingyi said.

"If you've ever experienced the unpleasantness that I have experienced, these are just pediatrics."

She unceremoniously mocked the vicissitudes of the other party's tone.But now it seems that He Jingyi's words have been considered very restrained, this is not a small unspoken unhappiness - indeed, He Jingyi experienced a huge change of fate when she was very young, even to the point where her family was ruined and her lover was separated.

And all of this, that woman experienced together with the man sitting in front of her.

She didn't have the energy to lament the fate of others, only to realize bitterly that she had involved herself in the life of a man with such a complicated past.

"Love is inherently fragile. Once it is involved in other people and things, it will gradually become less pure, let alone go through such a thing. I think you should understand that she and I have not continued to be together at all. possible together."

Gan Lu had nothing to say and could only remain silent.

"After my father died, I officially broke up with her, and we have no contact after that. It is said that she dropped out of school when she was about to graduate. After her father died, she went to the field alone."

"I'm sorry." After a long silence, when Gan Lu spoke again, her voice was already very dry, "I don't like to hear your fairy tales. I shouldn't force you to tell such painful memories."

"You didn't force me. You always gave me enough space, but I abused your trust and tolerance. I should have given you a clear account."

"No, do you think this explanation can explain everything? I'm sorry, I don't need such an explanation, Xiuwen, I was never ready to face these things you said, and this will only make me more unacceptable."

Shang Xiuwen pulled a wry smile on his face, and held her hand again: "That was a long time ago, and it was completely over long before I started with you."

"After you confessed like this, if I still want to pursue something, I will feel that I am a mean woman. But your past is too complicated, and it is beyond the scope of my understanding and acceptance. I really have to be alone. Think it over."

Gan Lu stood up at once, bent over to pick up the box as if fleeing, and strode outside. Shang Xiuwen caught up and snatched the box, and grabbed her: "Lulu, let's sit down and have a good talk."

"From yesterday to today, you have been letting us have a good talk. We have been talking all night. You are not tired, but I am really tired."

"You've always been sensible..."

Gan Lu interrupted him impatiently: "This sounds more like a sarcasm than a compliment."

Shang Xiuwen had no choice but to raise her hand and put it on his lips to kiss lightly: "It's my fault, but don't use my fault to punish yourself."

"I once asked you if you proposed to me because I was sensible. Xiuwen, I clearly remember your answer. You said that all you want is the kind of trust that is willing to connect our lives. I gave you the willingness." Giving the feeling of trust." Gan Lu smiled, but her eyes were filled with tears again, "You know? This answer has touched me for a long time, support me not to doubt you, question you, and give you as much space as possible. But until Now I realize that you have always had a talent for cold humor..."

She couldn't continue talking, shook her head, and wanted to withdraw her hand to get the box, but Shang Xiuwen held her hand firmly: "Lulu, regarding this point, please don't doubt my sincerity and live with you The two years I spent together were indeed the happiest and happiest days of my life.”

Gan Lu ignored him and tried hard to get rid of him, but it was in vain.She has been in poor spirits for several days, and with yesterday's back and forth running around, her body is already very weak, and she can't help but feel short of breath when she exerts a little force, so she can only raise her head and look at him angrily: "You must drag a pregnant woman Is it? Very good, continue to drag it on, and it will save me the embarrassment of whether to keep this child. "

"Lulu—"

Shang Xiuwen's yelling was not loud, but it was almost violent. Gan Lu had never seen him get angry before, so she shivered in fright. She saw a sharp light in his eyes, which was something she had never seen before. After that, she felt a chill in her heart, and instinctively withdrew her hands again.Shang Xiuwen clenched it tightly, paused for a while, slowed down his voice, with a hint of pleading, "Don't say that about our child."

Gan Lu looked at him like a stranger, her eyes were full of fear, doubt and pain. Under her gaze, Shang Xiuwen slowly let go of her hand and lifted the box: "If you insist on living If you go out, I will accompany you to find the house."

When they went downstairs, Wu Lijun came back from a walk. She looked at the box in Shang Xiuwen's hand and was about to speak when Shang Xiuwen said first: "Mom, Lulu is going to stay for a few days, I will see her off."

Wu Lijun's face darkened: "What is it like? It's outrageous for you to go to a press conference and mess around. What matters between husband and wife can't be clarified in person, and now you have to run away from home. I always thought you always She is more sensible than Yu Fei..."

"Mom, this is a matter between the two of us. You should go to bed early and don't worry about it."

Wu Lijun wanted to say something, but Shang Xiuwen's eyes stopped her. She rarely saw her son showing such a troubled and anxious expression, while Gan Lu was completely indifferent and expressionless, her lips were tightly pursed, obviously not responding plan.She glanced at the two of them, turned and entered the room.

(End of this chapter)