The Twelve Years: Song of the Unsung Friends

That morning, the first time she woke up, she saw Fu Dongwen.

He seemed to be interested, he chose the position facing her, sat in a leather chair with Erlang's legs upright, peeled the shells with bare hands, and ate the salted pine nuts. At first glance, the pine nuts were opened with pliers by the layman, and they were easy to peel.

The curtains were hanging aside, sucked out by the morning wind.

On a sunny day in March, there was a small handful of broken shells on the desk, and Fu Dongwen, who ate pine nuts leisurely, with an open neckline on his shirt, lowered the sound of the vinyl record player, and cracked one off. Eat one, with a small pine nut in his teeth, pick the tip of his tongue into his mouth, and hum a scene that only he can hear.

Eating a pine nut can be as beautiful as the son in the picture.

It's just that this young man is not holding tea, it is coffee, and he is not wearing a long coat, but a shirt and trousers.

Shen Xi pillowed his arm and looked at him remotely, fascinated.

"Wake up?" He laughed, clapped his palms, and stroked the pieces.

She whispered "Uh", her face buried in the quilt: "You won't sleep for a while."

I think that today is decades later, gray-haired and old, and think that the two have been together for half a lifetime.

Fu Dongwen picked up the white porcelain coffee cup and took a small sip: "Waiting to take Ms. Shen to the hospital, but seeing you sleep till this hour, I'm afraid I don't need to go."

Of course no need to go.

"I took three days off." She was happy.

"Oh?" He laughed. "It's better, lest I have to wait outside the hospital again."

Shen Xi hugged the quilt and closed his eyes. These are his pillows and quilts, all his taste.

In the dimness, it was the movement of his walking, and the bed sank.

"Are you going home to pick up the clothes, or just buy a new one?" he asked in a low voice.

"Pack your clothes?" She opened her eyes.

"The third brother can't sleep separately with you for a while. Even if you don't sleep, I still have to watch you sleep in my bed," he said, "Let's take care of this thing today, and you move over."

"...My house is rented until next year."

"The house doesn't matter, let it be rented, you just come over."

Shen Xi was thinking silently, without making a sound.

He said directly: "Even if it is decided, the third brother will arrange the car to go."

She washed in a hurry and went downstairs for breakfast and lunch.

Fu Dongwen was in a good mood, and he personally baked bread for her, a little burnt.

Shen Xi wiped the peanut butter, took a small bite, and then drank his coffee. He remembered something: "I will borrow your phone here later."

"Call the hospital?" He sat beside her.

She shook her head and smiled. It was a surprise and a secret.

What the girl didn't want to say, he naturally wouldn't ask, he sent her to the room on the first floor and closed the door for her himself. After half a minute, Shen Xi came out of the room, looked at the time of the grandfather clock and said: "Wait for an hour, let's go from here."

He had no doubt: "Wan'an, let the driver wait outside the lane in half an hour."

"Let's go over," Shen Xi stopped him. "It's rare that the weather is good."

"Okay, let's just walk."

All her needs are met, a posture to make up for not pursuing her seriously in the past.

An hour later, Wan An brought Shen Xi's coat.

Fu Tongwen touched the material and said, "It's a bit hot and don't have to wear it. I'll hold it for you. I have to pack some thin clothes." Shen Xi didn't answer, and Wan An answered, "I Let’s take care of the closet. The pillows should also be a pair. I’ll prepare them.

Tan Qingxiang was upstairs. He heard nothing but said: "There is a lot to prepare. Miss Shen is going to live in. There are a lot of things for girls. Come up, Wanan, and I will write you a list. The ones with Peide have also been bought together neatly, and counted on the head of the third master."

The two sang a harmony, and they had to make her blush.

After careful calculation, this is Shen Xi and Fu Tongwen going in and out at the same time.

He instructed people to follow at a distance and not to show up, so he highlighted the two people walking side by side. The neighbors are still the same, cooking and cooking. Under the flower shelf, Mrs. Zhu is picking green onions, tearing apart the dried and muddy skin, breaking off the roots, and throwing them into the aluminum pot.

She raised her eyes and saw Shen Xi immediately smiled: "Miss Shen."

"Mrs. Zhu." She laughed.

Fu Tongwen is beside her, with her coat in his arms, a gentleman in a dating posture. When Mrs. Zhu looked at him, he smiled and nodded as a greeting.

"This is..." Shen Xi didn't have the cheeks of Fu Tongwen. He talked about his fiancée and fiance without getting engaged. He squatted and said, "Mr. Fu, it's my boyfriend."

Mrs. Zhu smiled, nodded, and kept looking at Fu Dongwen. Mr. Zhu worked in a bank, and she had also seen the appearance of a person with an identity, and she could tell that Mr. Fu had an extraordinary background at a glance. With this kind of attire, this kind of demeanor, you should have your own mansion in Shanghai, but you have to live here again... Is this Miss Shen really an outside room with no name?

Fu Tongwen followed up and said: "I am going to get engaged, just next month."

Shen Xi didn't expect that he and an unknown neighbor would also confess this, bowed his head, stroked his hair, and became at a loss.

"That's good, that's good, first congratulations," Mrs. Zhu secretly blamed herself for thinking too much. "Mr. Fu is very lucky. Ms. Shen is a hard-to-see kind person. Mr. Fu must not know. When making donations to save the country, Ms. Shen I took a lot of money to support it."

Fu Dongwen smiled.

In fact, he knew that, in the Fu's family, Shen Xi had explained to him in every detail.

But when an outsider praised her, he was happy to listen.

Shen Xi was afraid of going down again, and Fu Dongwen didn't know what to say, and urged him to leave.

When I went to the alley, he murmured, "Why do you say you want to get engaged when you meet someone."

He changed her coat and said, "I have lived here for a few days, and you came in late and left early again. It is obvious that you are living together," he laughed. "It's no better here than in New York, where there are girls and boyfriends with status. You have to accompany your family on a date, let alone..."

The voice fell down: "There is a relationship."

Shen Xi hit him with an elbow: "It's not you yet."

Fu Tongwen laughed: "If you have a relationship here, it's just'mucky three fresh soup', it's a mess, it's morally corrupt. It's as simple as you think. So Miss Shen can only be engaged to me. , There is no other way."

"Should I not agree?" she muttered.

"Then pursue it for a while," he whispered, "The third brother should be only thirty years old. It is okay to pursue you for a few years, but now we can't wait. We Yang Yang is so young and left a young man. Brother Du, Prince Wang or something else, the third brother can't bear it either."

After speaking, he smiled and said, "The third brother has a bad heart and can't stand jealousy."

Shen Ximing knew that he was playing with flowers on his mouth, but he was also amused by him: "What time is it?"

Fu Tongwen took out his watch from his arms. It is still the original one. He is a person who is very nostalgic: "Two points."

"That's too late."

It happened that a tram was coming.

Shen Xi was afraid that he would not be able to make it, so he took him on the tram: "Come on here."

There were not many people on the tram at this hour, and they didn't want to sit for long, so Shen Xi looked for a single seat. Just about to sit down, Fu Dongwen stopped her and pulled her to the row seat by the window.

"It's here in ten minutes."

He smiled: "People are a couple, and they look like sitting in one place, otherwise the relationship will be boring."

He was in a good mood, put her coat on the front railing, stretched out his arms, and put it on her shoulders. He looked at the shops on the side of the road, and what reflected in his eyes was the bustling market in the French Concession. Such a good city, such a good home, but with the word "concession"... thinking of this, the scenery has changed.

When Fu Dongwen got on the tram, he noticed that he was driving in the wrong direction. When he got off the tram, the two stood in front of a large western restaurant. He was puzzled, but he didn't ask questions.

"You told them not to go in?" She whispered.

Fu Dongwen gestured to the seven people behind him, motioning them to stay outside.

The two walked in through the wooden revolving door. The opaque frosted glass blocked the daylight and separated the excitement inside and outside.

Turning into it, it was a lively scene.

Shen Xi booked a seat in advance, and the box was gone, so he had to take a seat by the window, two rows of narrow leather seats, and a long table in the middle. It seems to be able to sit at least eight people.

They had just been brought to their positions. Before Fu Dongwen had time to put down his coat, he could hear a trembling voice behind him calling him: "San Ye..." an unfamiliar woman's voice.

Fu Tongwen turned his head back, half a step behind him was Shen Xi, and four people behind.

Two men and two women, he recalled slightly, remembering that face.

"Dou Wanfeng?" He laughed, "Did I call the wrong name?"

"No, no," Wanfeng looked at her tears, choked up, and she wanted to give the old courtesy, and she wanted to shake hands with Fu Dongwen. Finally, she held her hands in one place and chose to face Fu Dongwen. Light fortune: "I never thought I could see San Ye again, it's better to be like this."

Fu Dongwen smiled and looked at the remaining faces: "Wang Qifang, Wei Jun?"

The men and women whose names were named also had red eyes and nodded lightly.

There is only one, he really doesn't recognize it.

"This is my husband," Wanfeng took the man's arm. "It was also in Ta Kung Pao with me. I heard that it was San Ye who was here. I wanted to meet him, so I brought him without permission. III If you don't want to see him, let him go immediately."

"I'm afraid it's not very polite, it's just an afternoon tea," Fu Tongwen pointed to the seat, "Come, sit down."

Shen Xi sat next to him, and smiled at him.

This is the surprise Shen Xi gave him.

A year ago, with the mentality of trying, she wrote a letter to Chen Linguan, who was staying in the United States to study for a PhD, and wanted to keep in touch with Chen Linguan and obtain more advanced medical information for the hospital. Chen Linguan wrote back and mocked that she was a utilitarian. Only when he was used, would he remember the friendship of the old days under the lamp. At the end of the letter, he said, sarcasm is sarcasm, and I am grateful that Shen Xi has provided him with the best. The study subsidy allowed him to obtain grades in the subject and graduate his PhD in advance.

Chen Linguan's reply not only repaired the relationship between the two, but also brought her graceful news.

Many patriotic youths whom Fu Dongwen had funded have returned to the country one after another and have penetrated into all walks of life. Wanfeng is a lively and sociable person and keeps in touch with her old acquaintances.

So after Shen Xi had set a seat just now, he told Wanfeng the news of Fu Dongwen in Shanghai. Wanfeng was vigorous and resolute, and went to inform everyone one by one, come here to meet Sanye.

Fu Tongwen let everyone in, and he sat beside Shen Xi, on the outermost side of the bench.

After being seated, Wan Feng only realized that Fu Tongwen and Shen Xi had an unusual relationship. This feeling was so strange that people who weren't here could not detect it. She gently stepped on Shen Xi's feet with high heels and whispered: "You and San Ye? Are you still together after all?"

after all? The word is used subtle.

Shen Xi was stunned for a moment, and whispered: "We will speak alone for a while. I didn't tell you before. There is a reason."

Fu Tongwen kept her in mind when she was parting, except for Duan Menghe who had guessed it, Shen Xi never mentioned the rest of them, no matter who they were.

Wanfeng smiled and nodded.

Wanfeng's husband called the waiter and took the menu.

"You who have studied abroad are suitable for afternoon tea here." Her husband smiled and handed the menu to Wanfeng.

"I want a cake and coffee, how about you?" Wanfeng greeted.

Everyone is polite and let Wanfeng take the order.

Shen Xi and her two girls huddled together and studied them in a decent way. During this time, three men came to see Fu Dongwen. They were all excited when they saw Fu Dongwen. It is rare for Fu Dongwen to see so many old acquaintances. He also laughed and gave a solid hug one by one.

Today, there is no Fu Sanye who is a master of the business world, only the Fu family who has sponsored countless students.

He was relieved and smiled when he looked at everyone's face. Everyone chatted eagerly, rushing to tell Fu Dongwen about their experiences over the years, trying to prove that they did not live up to Fu Dongwen's expectations and cultivation.

"Where is Gu Yiren?" Shen Xi remembered this dear man and glanced out the window.

Gu Yiren returned to Shanghai last year and his whereabouts are uncertain. Even Shen Xi has never seen him.

It's overcast, I'm afraid that I will catch a shower if I don't come again.

"He said he was coming," Wanfeng mentioned only this former friend, a little worried, "I want him to come, but I am afraid he will come. He has been in the southern government since he returned to China..."

That is following the cause of revolution.

Shen Xi wondered what Wanfeng meant. He was suggesting that Fu Dongwen had a bad reputation among the people?

Raindrops fell on the windows, causing a sudden rainstorm.

"Is anyone else coming?" Fu Tongwen interjected with a smile, "Is it Gu Yiren?"

"It's him, he is coming." Wan Feng replied.

She stopped and waved to the turnstile happily: "Gu Yiren."

Inside the turnstile, he walked into a man who was soaked in the rain. His short hair was dripping down, and his suit and coat were soaked. The waiter handed him a white handkerchief. After he nodded and thanked him, he looked at this place. It was Gu Yiren. . The impassioned youth of the past faded away from youthfulness and impulsivity, leaving only calmness.

Gu Yiren came to this table holding a white handkerchief, and after nodding greetings with two men he knew well, he sat down. There is no tears in his eyes as imagined, nor an expression of excitement that is difficult to suppress, and he is even more indifferent to Fu Dongwen.

Wanfeng smiled and said, "You are late, please order by yourself."

"No need," he said.

Wanfeng smiled: "Are you going to watch us eat and drink for a while?"

"Hunan is still at war. In the Civil War, I remember, I can't eat it. You eat."

Everyone was chatting enthusiastically, but when they felt Gu Yiren's taste, they stopped talking.

Gu Yiren sat on the bench opposite Fu Dongwen. Both were on the outermost side, just facing each other. He took off his glasses and wiped the rain with the corners of his shirt.

It was a warm atmosphere, but it became a stagnant pool with his cold face.

Only Fu Dongwen's expression remained unchanged. He picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and asked with a smile, "When did you return home?"

"This time last year." Gu Yiren replied.

He was gratified: "It's good to be able to return to China. Since I'm back, I should also give San Ye a message."

Gu Yiren put on his glasses and said nothing.

There was a sudden heat on Shen Xi's thigh, and it was Fu Dongwen's left hand resting on her lap.

Shen Xi was puzzled. He turned his head and said, "I forgot to take the money. Go outside and ask someone to come and settle the bill."

Before leaving the house, Shen Xi saw him put the wallet in the inner pocket of his suit. Did he forget it?

"You are not—" she asked.

Fu Tongwen looked at her, still smiling. There is something wrong in the smile.

Shen Xi Yu Guangli saw two young men sitting down nearby. The waiter was handing them the menu and greeted them in English in a low voice, but apparently the two did not know much English and wanted to answer with a little knowledge.

Because of this, the two young people looked different from the other table guests.

Could it be... Gu Yiren also brought outsiders?

Shen Xi's heart trembled.

Fu Dongwen smiled and stroked the hair on her cheeks behind her ears: "Hurry up."

Gu Yiren was the closest to him, facing each other, across the narrow long table, no one could stop anything, let alone the seven people waiting outside the door, it was too late to protect him.

Fu Dongwen asked her to leave because he was afraid that she would be implicated. Either kidnapping or assassination is troublesome.

Thinking of this, Shen Xi immediately shook his head, and said with a smile: "The rain is too big, and I don't rush to pay the bill now. I will go again later."

He was silent for a few seconds and then whispered: "Don't listen to what the third brother said?"

She pretended to smile: "Well, I don't want to listen today."

This short conversation was so intimacy that everyone in the room smelled extraordinary.

"Yiren," Shen Xi suddenly looked at the person across the long table, "San Ye and I are going to get engaged next month."

"Really?" Wanfeng smiled, "Oh my God, great news."

Everyone laughed too.

Gu Yiren was startled: "You and Fu Dongwen?"

"Give me an address, and I will have someone send the invitation," Shen Xi said. "You were all drunk when you were parting. You didn't have time to say goodbye...I miss you all these years."

Her eyes were flushed.

This remark was to ease the atmosphere, make Gu Yiren feel soft, make him hesitate, and let him not act rashly.

But somehow just want to cry.

"I just asked San Ye to leave people outside the door, and he didn't say anything. The world is so messy, and he didn't want to doubt anyone." Tears fell on the back of her hand without warning, Shen Xi lowered his head and smiled. He wanted to hide, "He treats you all as his younger brothers and sisters. Although everyone has little contact, he keeps everyone in his heart and never expects anyone to get anything in return. In the Fu family house, each of us writes He kept all the letters of the letter, and asked someone to tie them up—"

She choked and said, "You think the third master can speak well, but in fact he is the least good at defending himself. You didn't see it before you came, how happy he is to see everyone..."

Fu Dongwen, who is under heavy protection, is not the life he wants to live.

He is the one who temporarily removes the pretense here, but it is that way of protecting and removing it, the heart will be more fragile. Shen Xi pressed his hands on his eyes and couldn't stop his tears: "Yiren, don't hurt his heart anymore..."