While in the bar Bi Shenghua didn't notice the person sitting in the corner, radiating an aura of death, whose dark, sinister eyes, like those of someone from hell, were staring at her.
She only came to Ruhua Bar to avoid the typhoon after Hu Xing's advice, and also to see her old buddies. She found that Xiao Qi's cooking skills hadn't improved at all; the drinks he mixed tasted almost exactly the same as they did two years ago, which gave her a feeling of going back to the past.
The layout of the bar is similar to that of the one in Liuying Lane. It's clear that Xiao Qi is a mature person who doesn't want to make too many changes, which is also in line with Bi Shenghua's wishes. The biggest changes are the stage and lighting. The stage is much larger than before, which can accommodate more people and instruments; the lighting is much dimmer, which is more in line with the bar's positioning, unlike before when it was so bright that it looked like a restaurant.
But what she missed wasn't the stage and the lights, nor the cocktail in her hand. What she missed was a feeling, the feeling of neighbors gathering early on that bustling old street to chat about current events, watch sports, and gossip. The earliest bars were like that. As night deepened, the old neighbors gradually dispersed, and more young people arrived, making the atmosphere even more lively, yet always retaining a sense of leisure and warmth.
After that wooden guy arrived, a talking bird appeared in the bar. The bar became lively very early afterward because the bird liked to boast to customers at the counter, making them laugh. The bird often ordered a ton of drinks and made the customers pay. It also loved to drink, but Bi Shenghua forbade it from drinking in the bar because it would get drunk easily, and when drunk, the bird would spout nonsense, saying all sorts of things. Several times, its ramblings almost led some young women to take it to a hotel room.
That man always lit a cigarette and leaned against the corner or a pillar, looking so lazy he didn't want to do anything. But when the bar was busy, he would help. He either didn't do anything at all, or when he did, he was much more efficient than Xiao Qi. The key was that he could handle many things that Xiao Qi couldn't. But he was still lazy; as long as Xiao Qi could manage, he absolutely refused to lift a finger.
Bi Shenghua felt as if he had returned to the first day they arrived at Liuying Lane. He stood like a log under the willow tree, and the bird perched on his head. It was probably so hungry that it couldn't even stand up and just lay there like it was incubating its eggs.
That day, Bi Shenghua saw large patches of tender buds sprouting from the willow tree. The old tree, which had survived fire, grafting, and the relentless passage of time, hadn't been this green in a long time. Bi Shenghua had always worried that it would wither and die at any moment, but from that day on, that worry never arose again.
But at that very moment, while she was still immersed in her green memories, she suddenly saw a hand reach out from the void and grasp the trunk of the willow tree. The tree, which originally required two people to encircle, turned into a thin ebony cane and was pulled out. She felt the earth tremble, and her mind went blank for a brief moment, as if someone had uprooted her memories.
Her hand slipped, and the glass fell to the ground with a crisp sound of shattering glass. Fortunately, the music in the bar was loud, and broken beer bottles were not uncommon, so it didn't attract the attention of other customers. Only Xiao Qi was startled; this was the first time he had ever seen a cocktail glass fall from the proprietress's hand since he met her, and he had never seen her with such a dazed and flustered expression.
Bi Shenghua felt a chill, as if Siberia cold wave had swept over her. She looked towards the dark corner that exuded deathly aura and met a cold gaze that seemed to come from hell. However, she had no time to care who that person was or what their relationship was with her; at this moment, her mind was only on that tree.
She suddenly stood up, said to Xiao Qi, "I'm going back," and rushed out of the bar, disappearing into the howling wind.
The typhoon did not move towards Shenzhou as expected. Instead, it made a sharp turn after entering the East China Sea and headed northeast. Therefore, the wind tonight is not stronger than during the day.
Of course, at this time, Bi Shenghua had not yet heard the news that the typhoon had changed direction. She returned to the ruins of Liuying Lane, and hurriedly made her way towards her former home, walking along the dimly lit street that was now less than half the width it used to be.
When she saw the familiar shadow of the willow tree appear in the night ahead, her tense nerves relaxed, and she secretly laughed at her own nervousness. Who could uproot a tree? Even if it was a construction crew mistake, it was impossible for it to happen on this stormy night!
However, as she walked a little further, and the willow tree became clearer, with her drooping branches swaying in the wind, her heart suddenly pounded, her body stiffened, and she could only take half a step forward with her right foot before she could no longer move.
The willow tree was still the same willow tree; even at night, she recognized the shadow of its canopy. What made her heart flutter was another shadow beneath the tree, a human figure, indistinct in the dim night, only his slightly hunched back and disheveled hair visible in the black, silhouette-like image.
Bi Shenghua's heart pounded wildly. For three years, she had imagined this scene countless times, but she had never thought she would be so excited. She kept telling herself to calm down, that maybe it was just an illusion, like the illusions that had just appeared in the bar and the book.
She closed her eyes, regulated her breathing, and waited until a light drizzle began to fall. The coolness on her forehead confirmed that she had completely calmed down before she opened her eyes.
The dark figure was still standing there, like a piece of wood.
Bi Shenghua still couldn't be too certain. She kept praying in her heart, praying to hear that once so annoying voice:
Like a flower, like a flower, has anyone prepared braised pork knuckle yet?!
If he returns, that chattering Crow will surely caw loudly upon seeing her, even if it's too hungry to move.
However, it seemed that God did not hear her prayers.
The rain started to get heavier, and she saw the dark figure open an umbrella. Her heart instantly turned cold. She knew he never carried an umbrella, because he was lazy. Even if he did, he wouldn't use it, still because he was lazy.
In Bi Shenghua's memory, the only time Qingmu ever used an umbrella was that winter. She was replacing the rotten reed mat on the willow trunk with a blanket. It was snowing lightly, and he came over carrying a black umbrella, his slippers making a soft crunching sound on the snow. He opened the umbrella over her head and asked, "It's just a tree, why are you so good to it?"
She said, "Even a piece of wood, as long as it has life, can sense warmth. I believe it knows that in its heart, don't you think?"
He didn't answer, but silently held the umbrella for her and walked slowly with her on the street. Snow fell behind them, leaving two pairs of footprints on the snow as they walked home.
There was no snow at the moment, but the rain was falling softly on her face, cool and refreshing.
Seeing the open black umbrella, she knew it wasn't him.
She took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, and walked over to the person holding the umbrella.
He was an old man, his back slightly hunched, holding an extinguished pipe in one hand and an umbrella in the other. Under the umbrella was a head of wildly white hair, like silver rays radiating from his brain, defying the darkness.
"Hello, I am Mei Yiqiu," the old man said.
"Hello, Professor, I recognize you," Bi Shenghua said.