Over the mountain is the sea

Chapter 13 What is Fate?

Her mother appeared suddenly when Yinan was in her second year of high school. She managed to get close to Yinan through several relationships. With hints from her relatives, Yi Nan finally understood the true identity of this "auntie" who was too kind to her.

Not long after, my mother was led to the door of Yao's house by several distant relatives.Yi Nan didn't feel anything yet, but her grandparents were very angry and threw out the gifts brought by her mother one by one.

The mother ran away crying and covering her face. Yi Nan, who was standing at the door blankly, began to sympathize with her mother at that moment.

When her mother came to her again, she didn't have the heart to refuse, but kept in touch with her without telling her grandparents.My mother was already married at that time, and she had a younger brother. Her husband was a small business owner, honest and honest, especially obedient to his mother, and his family was relatively well-off.Because of guilt, she treated Yinan too well, and always tried her best to please her.However, the mother-daughter relationship that has been separated for so many years cannot be reversed overnight, and the mother is clumsy, so she can only make up for her daughter in material terms.

Yinan can evade her mother's "gift" if she can, otherwise, her grandparents will inevitably become suspicious when she comes home with a bunch of things, but her mother is extremely sensitive, thinking that Yi Nan is not satisfied with her, and speculates about her thoughts in every possible way. Yi Nan's suspiciousness really troubled her.

Soon after the college entrance examination, Yinan was admitted to a key university in the south with excellent grades. While his grandparents were happy, they couldn't hide a trace of sadness—because of the money, they had supported Yi Nan all these years, and their own health was not good enough. Great, they have no savings at all.

But books are a must, and the two old people can only look for relatives to raise money.

Mother came again, and brought a wad of thick money tied up in newspapers. Grandpa still ignored her, but this time he didn't chase her away.

After smoking two bags of hookah, the old man sighed and finally left the money.That sigh shocked Yi Nan, because it contained too much helplessness.

Between mother and grandparents, Yi Nan didn't know how to reconcile to resolve the grievances between each other, although their grievances were entirely caused by themselves.The only thing she can do is to study hard and win a scholarship every semester. Whenever grandpa sees her red certificate and listens to her joyful description, he will sincerely feel that all "shame" is worth it.

During the winter vacation of her junior year, Yinan was busy working part-time and did not go home.My mother specially brought her big and small bags from her hometown to see her, and bought her a bunch of clothes that she thought were good-looking as usual. After staying in the big city for the past few years, Yi Nan has developed her own taste and vision of her mother. Can't really appreciate it.

Before her mother left, Yinan thought twice, packed those clothes and returned them to her, and told her tactfully that she didn't need to buy clothes for herself in the future because she couldn't wear them.

The mother who had been sitting in the waiting room without saying a word for a long time suddenly had red eyes at the moment of parting. She took Yi Nan's hand and asked her if she still hated herself for leaving her behind for so many years...

Yi Nan was really annoyed, especially when so many strange eyes looked at her with condemnation, as if she was a rebellious child who made her parents sad.Yi Nan, who couldn't say anything, blushed, pursed his lips and said nothing, with an indifferent expression.

The ticket office finally let go, and the passengers gave up their appreciation and scrambled to the entrance.

Yinan silently helped her mother carry her luggage, and patiently sent her in, then waved her hand, turned around, and stopped looking at her red and sad eyes.

After leaving the train station, Yi Nan's mood was still low. She took the bus with a sullen face and rushed towards the school. Today is not a rest day, and she asked for leave specially to accompany her mother.

According to common sense, Yi Nan should hate her mother, but in fact, she didn't feel that way. Maybe her grandparents took good care of her, and she had already passed the age of longing for mother's love.Now, what stood in front of her was just a poor middle-aged woman who had repented for the past. She had only sympathy for her mother.

However, the endless interrogation and remorse made Yinan feel tired, and she began to doubt whether she was right to accept her mother easily.In particular, her kindness to her mother has also stabbed her grandparents who are so dear to her. Is this price really worth it?
Yi Nan got off the bus at the platform outside the school. During the winter vacation, no matter whether it was inside or outside the school, there were few people. Only the bleak wind blew over and then blew up the dead leaves that had already dried up on the ground.

It was just after four o'clock, and she didn't want to go back to the dormitory so early to be in a daze. When she looked up, the Citi Island Cafe around the corner was still open. This was the only high-end cafe near the school. The consumption was not low, but many students When you are in a relationship, you have to come in once you grit your teeth, so it has the nickname of "Couple Cafe".

Some boys also invited Yi Nan, but she cherished time like gold and always refused.

At this time, her hand subconsciously reached into her trouser pocket, and unexpectedly touched a handful of neatly rolled banknotes, and took them out to examine them. They were not thin, and must have been slipped by her mother secretly while she was not paying attention. He offered it clearly, but Yi Nan refused to accept it.

A sneer suddenly appeared on her lips, and she put the money back into her pocket. As if she had made up her mind, she walked vigorously towards the cafe...

As soon as the door was opened, the hot wind blew in. Immediately afterwards, Yi Nan was enveloped in coaxing warmth, and she felt like a seed dropped in the spring soil sprouted in an instant.

The waiter graciously led her to the small table in the corner, and then handed her the price list. Yi Nan flipped through it and browsed through it one by one. Feeling terrified, she hesitated again and again. After all, she only ordered a cup of the cheapest "classic coffee".

While waiting for coffee, Yi Nan looked around. The decoration here looks very good in the eyes of a student, but it has been a long time, and some details are beginning to show signs of mottled.

In this season, and at this hour, there are only a handful of guests, and they are spread out lazily, all of whom have sufficient spheres of influence.When her eyes slid past the excellent scenery in front of the French windows, she was stunned, and her eyes were like gel, and she couldn't turn her eyes away.

There was a person sitting alone, reading a document by the window.Just now when she entered the door, she liked that place very much, but she hurriedly glanced at someone and avoided it. Before she could take a closer look, she suddenly saw clearly at this moment, and she was pleasantly surprised for no reason.

The man's silhouette is equally attractive, still wearing a clean and plain gray shirt, and a dark windbreaker is draped on the back of the chair next to him. Simply put a cup of coffee, pure white porcelain, the lingering mist curls up, and melts away invisibly, without stopping.

After Yi Nan regained her composure, she smiled lightly, flicked her fingers on the table twice, and then stood up resolutely.

The man only felt a black shadow appeared in front of him, he raised his face in surprise, and saw Yi Nan who was examining him with a smile that was not a smile.

The momentary astonishment in his eyes made Yi Nan feel unreasonably disappointed, and he had no impression that he was real.

"Don't remember me?" She curled her lips and thrust her hands into her trouser pockets.

Liang Zhongming put the documents in his hand on the table, groaned slightly, and then said with a smile: "...Miss Yao?"

Yi Nan also laughed, swayed her body from side to side, and asked playfully, "Do you still remember your full name?"

He didn't answer, and pointed to the empty seat opposite him, "Sit down and talk."

Without hesitation, Yi Nan sat down and asked again: "Are you waiting for someone?"

He still didn't answer her question, but instead asked her, "Are you not angry?"

She laughed, "Why should I be angry?"

What impressed her most about that meeting was still the words she heard when she left, "Don't embarrass a girl." Later, when she recalled alone, she couldn't help but think that all her good feelings for him actually stemmed from this sentence.

Shrugging, she said again: "I'm just...disgusted."

Of course he understood that she was referring to the "payment" thing.

After thinking about it, Liang Zhongming said solemnly: "To be honest, I am also disgusted by myself."

The two stared at each other for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.

When he laughed, the gloom and seriousness on his face would be swept away, and the warmth was throbbing.

The waiter brought Yi Nan's coffee over, she glanced at the yellow liquid and asked, "Is this sweet?"

The waiter was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "It's not sweet. Miss, if you want something sweet, you can add sugar packets." He pointed to the complete set of ingredients on the table.

"Oh, that's good, thank you." Yi Nan nodded, picked it up and took a sip. It really didn't taste sweet, but it wasn't as bitter as black coffee.

When she put down the cup, she realized that Liang Zhongming had been looking at her with a smile. There was a bag of sugar in his hand, and he waved at her, "Didn't you want to add sugar?"

She was surprised and said: "No, I asked just now because I was worried that what he gave me was sweet, and I don't like it."

Liang Zhongming put the sugar bag back, but the smile on his face never faded.

"How is Zhiyuan?" She asked naturally.

Liang Zhongming also picked up the cup and took a sip, it was cool after a long time.

"He's fine, he's already gone to Switzerland." Putting down his glass, he looked at her with the usual expression, "Thank you anyway."

"Thank me? Why?" She was surprised.

"Thank you for the letter you wrote him."

Yi Nan smiled relievedly, "Ah! Well, I thought he didn't receive it! Hey, so you also know?"

Liang Zhongming nodded. However, he still didn't want to talk more, so he quickly changed the subject, "Isn't it winter vacation now? Why are you still here?"

"I'm an intern! And you, I never thought I'd run into you in this kind of place, shouldn't I be busy every day? So I have time to drink coffee?" She teased him cheerfully.

He smiled at her generously, as if she was a child, "I just finished talking about business with someone, and I thought of coming here for a walk. I used to... I also studied at F University."

Yi Nan opened her eyes wide, "Ah, so it's an alumnus!"

The undisguised joy in her eyes gave Liang Zhongming a long-lost sense of joy, "Yes, alumnus. However, I am many years older than you."

She asked bluntly, "How old are you?"

He was stunned for a moment and didn't answer. Yi Nan then realized his abruptness. Age was probably a secret to them, so he shrugged quickly, "Sorry, pretend I didn't ask."

He hesitated for a moment, but still replied, "35."

Yi Nan couldn't help but bowed his head and counted with his fingers. He was 14 years older than himself.

"Very old, isn't it?" He stared at the emotional smile on her face and asked.

Yi Nan was startled, raised her head and hurriedly said: "No, at your age, you should be called—" She turned her head and thought for a while, "When you are young and promising! How can you be considered old, really!"

Seeing her anxious appearance, he couldn't help laughing again.

Before he knew it, the coffee was already cold. Liang Zhongming looked out the window and saw that the car that came to pick him up had parked quietly by the side of the road, so he said, "I should go."

"Oh!" Yi Nan replied, with a hint of reluctance, "Then I'll go too."

He calls in the waiter to check out.

Seeing that he counted his share, Yi Nan immediately jumped up and said, "No, no, I have money!" shouting, hurriedly taking money out of his pocket.

Her impatience caused him to smile again, but he didn't argue with her, and they both paid their bills and walked out together.

The wind is still strong.

Liang Zhongming tightened his windbreaker at the door, turned his head and asked Yi Nan, "Do you want to see you off?"

"I'm going back to school, just a few steps away."

She looked up at him with a little regret, "I don't know when we will meet again?"

He stared at her innocent and beautiful face, and his heart moved for no reason.

Yi Nan soon became happy again, "Why don't we make a bet."

He stared at her with interest, "What bet?"

Yi Nan blinked slyly, "Hmm... bet on whether we will meet again."

There was a smile on his lips, "Don't bother, tell me your phone number, and I will contact you next time when I come over."

Yi Nan shook her head, "That's so boring, I'd better take a bet. I bet we'll see each other again, how about you?"

"I think so too."

"No, you can't have the same opinion, otherwise it's not a bet."

Liang Zhongming smiled helplessly, "Okay, then I bet...no." Saying this, he actually felt a little regretful.

Yi Nan chuckled, "That's it!"

He reminded her, "Less stakes."

Yeah, she forgot the key thing, she looked up to the sky and pondered, and then said very uncreatively: "Whoever loses will be treated!"

"A word is settled!"

Yi Nan ran away briskly, and turned around suddenly under a sycamore tree. Seeing Liang Zhongming still standing at the door of the cafe and looking at her from a distance, she grinned at him, waved her hands vigorously, and shouted: "See if we still have fate—"

He smiled again in her direction, however, gradually, he became a little puzzled, fate, fate?
What exactly is fate?
(End of this chapter)