In the economically booming city of Beijing, the bustling streets are lit up with lights and neon lights, highlighting the vitality of the city. Three old classmates, Wang Lei, Liu Qing and Chen Ming, meet in a quaint restaurant in order to relive the college years they spent together.
This is a restaurant with a retro theme, wooden screens, hanging ink paintings, and a faint scent of ink, making people feel as if they have traveled back in time. The three of them sat down by the window, and the scenery outside the window was dimly visible through the glass, which added a bit of nostalgia to the atmosphere of the room.
"Wang Lei, which company are you in now?" Liu Qing picked up the menu and asked casually while flipping through it.
Wang Lei smiled slightly and put down the teacup in his hand, "I work as a product manager in an Internet company, and I'm very busy at work. ”
Chen Ming also came up, "Compared to Wang Lei, I am a freelancer, but it is quite comfortable." ”
Hearing Chen Ming's words, Liu Qing asked curiously: "Freelancing? What for? ”
"Hmm... It's just to do some self-media and investment, which is quite comfortable. Chen Ming said vaguely, obviously not wanting to go further on this topic.
Wang Lei laughed, "Chen Ming, this guy has been so mysterious from before to now. ”
Liu Qing also laughed, and changed the topic, "By the way, do you remember the basketball game we played back then?" ”
"Remember, at that time, Wang Lei was the main force of our team, the scoring champion!" Chen Ming patted Wang Lei's shoulder exaggeratedly.
Wang Lei waved his hand and said shyly: "What is the scoring king, the happiest thing at that time is to be able to play with everyone." ”
Then, a few people began to say a word, and I recalled the bits and pieces of the common experience when I was a student, and the laughter and joy seemed to re-outline those lost youth, which made people's hearts fluctuate. It was as if time had gone back in time, and at that moment, they were still those carefree young people.
However, in this laughter, there is a bit of embarrassment. Wang Lei looked at Liu Qing from time to time, with a hint of hesitation and affection in his eyes, and Liu Jing seemed to notice Wang Lei's strangeness, and couldn't help but feel a little sour in his heart. Even though Chen Ming looked calm, he couldn't hide the sharpness that flashed in the depths of his eyes.
The conversation between the three gradually settled, and they all seemed to be reminiscing about the past misses and self-evident thoughts.
In the process of ordering, Wang Lei suddenly said: "Liu Qing, I have already brought you the book you asked for last time." After speaking, he took out a book from his bag and handed it to Liu Qing. Liu Qing took the book and smiled slightly, there was gratitude in that smile, but also a touch of sadness, "Thank you, I have been looking for this book for a long time." ”
"You're welcome, I hope you'll like it." Wang Lei's eyes involuntarily revealed expectation and concern.
The dish begins to be served, and the aroma wafts. The three of them drank and talked happily, but no matter how they laughed, in their hearts, those unspoken words were always with them.
The dishes filled the table, the aroma was overflowing, and the topic of old friends was getting deeper and deeper. Amidst the jokes about the future and the past, bottles of beer are gently placed on the table. The faces of the three of them were slightly flushed, but Wang Lei was a little absent-minded.
"Qingqing, do you remember that music festival?" Wang Lei asked suddenly, breaking the relaxed atmosphere.
Liu Qing was slightly stunned, and then nodded, "Remember, that time was lively, almost all of our classes went." ”
Chen Ming smiled and interjected, "Yes, didn't Wang Lei happen to be sick that day, and we went to take care of him together." ”
Wang Lei smiled bitterly, "Yes, I almost wanted to tell you ...... that day" When the words came to his mouth, he suddenly stopped his voice and looked at the wine glass with vague eyes.
Liu Qing's heart skipped a beat, "Tell me what?" Her voice trembled slightly, as if she had guessed something.
Wang Lei took a deep breath and looked firmer, "I wanted to tell you that day, in fact, I ...... I liked you, but then I heard that ......"
Chen Ming's expression tightened, and he preemptively said, "What did you hear?" ”
Wang Lei glanced at Chen Ming and said slowly, "I heard that the two of you are getting better." ”
Liu Qing sat dumbfounded, she looked at Chen Ming, and then at Wang Lei, "That...... It was all a misunderstanding, and Chen Ming and I had nothing to do with it. ”
Chen Ming also felt that the situation was a little embarrassing, and the sudden change in the topic made him not know what to do, he smiled awkwardly, "Wang Lei, why did you suddenly mention this, it's been so long." ”
Wang Lei lowered his head, his voice a little weak, "Because I haven't had a chance to say, I've always been thinking about it all these years, if I ...... at that time"
Chen Ming interrupted him: "Forget it, it's all in the past, let's all look forward." ”
But Liu Qing sighed, "If you don't make it clear, how can the knot in your heart be untied." I always thought that the two of you were ...... back then So I didn't think about it that way. ”
Wang Lei raised his head, and there was an indescribable complexity in his eyes, "After that music festival, I was depressed and sick for a few days, I thought I would miss you, but I didn't expect you to take care of me through various methods." ”
"That's because you're our best friend." Liu Qing replied sincerely.
Chen Ming seemed to have made a great decision, "I'm sorry, Liu Qing and Wang Lei, I misunderstood at that time, thinking that you Wang Lei just wanted to play with Liu Qing, so I ......"
Wang Lei interrupted him: "Then why don't you say it to your face." ”
Chen Ming smiled bitterly and shook his head, "You also know that at that time, I was young and emotional, and I didn't have so many thoughts now. ”
The three were silent for a moment. Outside the window, the night in Beijing is getting darker, and the warm lights in the restaurant cast dappled shadows on their faces. Old melancholy and intricate feelings gradually surfaced in my heart.
Liu Qing said slowly: "Actually, I've been waiting for you to say. ”
A glimmer of light flashed in Wang Lei's eyes, and Chen Ming was drinking silently on the side, as if he was making a silent confession for his past foolishness.
As time passed, the lights in the restaurant began to dim and the surrounding customers gradually dispersed. Wang Lei looked at the time on his phone, it was not early in S City, and proposed: "Almost, we should also go." ”
Liu Qing and Chen Ming nodded in agreement, and Wang Lei stood up and waved to the waiter to settle the bill. Liu Qing looked at Wang Lei's back, his eyes were full of gratitude and tenderness.
Wang Lei arrived at the cash register, took out his wallet and was about to pay, but saw the waiter with an ugly face and said: "Sir, sorry to disturb you, we found that two guests in the restaurant stole some of our cigarettes just now." ”
"What? Stealing? Are you sure? Wang Lei's voice raised slightly.
The waiter nodded, with a look of embarrassment, "Yes, we have surveillance here, and the video shows that two people took 5 cigarettes while they were in chaos." ”
Wang Lei suddenly had doubts in his heart, "Can you let me see the surveillance?" I'm a little curious. ”
The waiter nodded and led Wang Lei to the monitoring screen. The screen replays footage from a few minutes ago, and two blurry figures sneakily approach the counter, lean over, and then quickly leave.
Wang Lei frowned, although the picture was not clear, he always felt that the figure of one of them was somewhat familiar. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and he turned his head in disbelief to look at the table where he had just been sitting.
Chen Ming saw the expression on Wang Lei's face, guessed something, and stood up hurriedly, "What's wrong?" Wang Lei, what's going on? ”
Liu Qing also got up and asked with concern: "What's wrong with you, Wang Lei?" ”
Wang Lei pondered for a moment, then turned to stare at Chen Ming, "Chen Ming, are you ......?"
Chen Ming's face changed suddenly, and he hurriedly defended, "What are you talking about?" You think I'm going to steal cigarettes? ”
Wang Lei shook his head, "No, it's not like that, I'm just ...... Feel like one of them's back resembles you. ”
"Is the back similar to me?" Chen was visibly a little angry, "What do you mean by that?" Is it because of that misunderstanding that you think I'm going to do something like stealing? ”
Seeing this, Liu Qing hurriedly interjected, "Okay, okay, everyone calm down." Wang Lei, it can't be a misunderstanding, right? Let's take a look at the picture of the monitoring clearly, and we should be able to identify whether it is a misunderstanding. ”
When the waiter heard this, he clicked the mouse to bring up a clearer and closer monitoring screen. The trio watched with bated breath. In the video, the faces of the two figures finally become clear.
Seeing that the true form of the real thief was revealed, Chen Ming breathed a sigh of relief, and Wang Lei's face suddenly became ashamed, "Chen Ming, I'm ...... I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have doubted you. ”
Chen Ming smiled faintly, "Forget it, I know you didn't mean that." We're old friends, and it's just a misunderstanding. ”
Liu Qing breathed a long sigh of relief, "Fortunately, it's someone we don't know even more." That's the best, let's not stay long, let's leave quickly. ”
After settling the meal bill, the three of them walked out of the restaurant. The night breeze was slightly cool, but their hearts became warmer because of this small episode, and the old misunderstanding between old friends seemed to have been unexpectedly resolved because of this wrongful and explanation.
The three of them were in a good mood because of the misunderstanding, and walked out of the restaurant together. The night in Beijing is as cold as water, and the light cast by the street lamps stretches their shadows long, like an indelible old time.
Liu Qing stretched his waist, "It's really exciting tonight, I thought there would be a 'big duel'." She looked at Wang Lei and Chen Ming playfully, with a glint of humor in her eyes.
Wang Lei chuckled, "Yes, indeed, but I'm even happier that the three of us can sit down and talk in our hearts." ”
Chen Ming nodded, "Yes, some words have been held in my heart for too long, but I can say them today, and my heart is much more comfortable." ”
Liu Qing looked at these two old friends and said calmly: "Actually, I also have words that I didn't say, and none of you asked me how I felt back then." ”
Wang Lei looked at Liu Qing in surprise, "Yes, we are too selfish, we only care about our own feelings, what about you?" ”
The corners of Liu Qing's mouth rose, and his eyes were soft and deep, "I liked you very much at that time, Wang Lei." It's just that you didn't act, so I thought you didn't mean that. ”
Chen Ming snorted, "It seems that I'm too nosy." ”
Wang Lei didn't know what to say, he looked at Liu Qing, and then looked into the distance, with an indescribable feeling in his heart, "If I had been brave then, would I ...... now?"
Liu Qing patted Wang Lei on the shoulder, "Don't think too much, the important thing is that now, we still have a chance." ”
Chen Ming quipped: "Don't show in front of me, I'll leave first, leaving space for the two of you." ”
Wang Lei and Liu Qing looked at each other and smiled, and their gratitude was beyond words.
Although the misunderstanding at the checkout was small, the knot between them was unexpectedly released. The gloom and mist of those years seemed to have gone with the wind tonight, and they understood the true meaning of friendship and love. And Liu Qing and Wang Lei rediscovered a new emotional spark in each other's eyes.
"On the way home, do you want to go together?" Wang Lei asked, his tone full of anticipation.
Liu Qing smiled and nodded, "Okay, anyway, we are in the same direction." ”
The two walked side by side, slowly disappearing into the night. In the short story, all misunderstandings have dissipated like smoke, leaving behind the infinite possibilities of the future.
When they walked away, Chen Ming stood in place for a moment, looked at the backs of the two people, and whispered to himself: "Maybe, this is fate...... right" He turned around and walked in different directions, leaving deep thoughts alone in the night.
And the wind of this night, as if whispering softly in the ear, is the echo of those who have passed away: "If the original choice was different, tonight, will there be a different scenery?" ”