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At the exit of Hongqiao Airport, Wu held a piece of cardboard with his name written on it, and looked at the passengers from Beijing, passing by one by one. When Miss Shu Li, who was dressed in a light yellow checkered shirt and denim overalls, walked towards him with a large, tightly wrapped painting in her hand, he felt like he had seen a Ganoderma lucidum fairy grass, and the sky and the earth were bright. He didn't even understand why there were always so many beautiful, rich, and chivalrous women around Zhou You. Love and beauty seem to have the same nature as money and wealth, both of which are willing to concentrate only on a few oligarchs rather than be evenly distributed. Lao Wu learned on the phone last night that this "lover" would come to Suzhou to deliver the painting in person, thinking about it and thinking of the old saying "fighting poison with poison", and felt that from a medical point of view, this Miss Shu Li may be the best person to relax and calm Ah Ni's emotional injury. He now pins his hopes on this woman, hoping that she will bring good luck to Ah Ni and completely separate Ah Ni's mind from the oligarchs of the past.

He asked Shu Li to get into a luxury "Mercedes-Benz" car, and early in the morning, Boss Bai personally drove Lao Wu from Suzhou to Shanghai, and he had been waiting at the airport for a long time. It was almost noon, Shu Li said that she had already had lunch on the plane, and it was better to rush to Suzhou as soon as possible, so Lao Wu no longer insisted on inviting Shu Li to dinner first.

After years of ups and downs in the business world, Boss Bai, who has honed some Confucian businessman's demeanor, couldn't help but feel a little restrained when he saw Miss Shu Li from the metropolis under her aggressive and beautiful appearance. He feels that most Miss Suzhou, no matter how they are packaged, still can't get rid of their childish spirit, and what they lack is Miss Shu Li's confident and free manners and temperament. I'm afraid that only Shui Hong and Ah Ni can surpass her. He politely shook hands with Shu Li, from the glance of trust she threw in a hurry, he felt that Shu Li seemed to have long known the complicated and close relationship between him and the Wu family, on the highway to Suzhou, he said to Shu Li in a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant: "If Miss Shu has a way to cure Ah Ni's illness and let Ah Ni get through this hurdle, Lao Wu and I should thank you heavily, if you don't dislike it, I am willing to cut out some of the shares of the silk company to you." Miss Shu Li, please smile and accept ......"

Before the words fell, Shu Li laughed: "It's the first time in my life that I've met such a generous boss, which shows the depth of Boss Bai's affection for the Wu family." However, before I start treatment, can Boss Bai introduce the situation of your company first, I also have a little more motivation. ”

Boss Bai said respectfully: "When you have time, Miss Shu can visit my company, at present, the company's corporate culture image has been positioned in the ......style of the Venice of the East."

Shu Li asked with interest: "I wonder what Mr. Bai understands about the Oriental Venice atmosphere?" ”

"This is the gentleness and delicacy nurtured by the 2,500-year-old civilization history of Suzhou Water Town, coupled with the brightness and sorrow infiltrated by the Venice Water City for a thousand years."

"Oh, it's quite tasteful, it's really wonderful." Shu Li exclaimed.

"In fact, this is a few years ago, Shui Hong, oh, it is Ah Ni's mother, said in passing, for this reason, I also hired a senior art consultant to help me cultivate my artistic accomplishment. I have always wanted to ask a painter to paint a portrait of Rainbow and hang it in my office, but I think I am afraid that no painter can paint her charm, she is actually the real Venice ......of the East."

Shu Li's heart moved slightly. She found that thousands of miles away, the rainbow was still everywhere.

Bai Honggen said: "Fortunately, Shui Hong also left a daughter, Ani's beauty is no less than her mother, but she is a little more lively and willful, a little less gentle, probably the modern Venice of the East." I've pretty much watched her grow up, and I've given her sixteen birthday cakes...... But since that incident happened in her family, she has been blaming herself in her heart, the more sensitive the person, the greater the mental pressure, plus she is still thinking about her eldest brother Zhou You, the whole person is trapped by love, and the deeper and deeper she falls, it hurts to watch, Lao Wu and I are doing whatever it takes, we just want her to recover her body first...... Fortunately, I heard that Ah Xiu's case already has a little eyebrows, and if the case is really solved, Ah Ni's psychological burden will be greatly reduced. ”

Lao Wu interjected: "The current only child is too difficult to manage, and I don't expect Ah Ni to have anything to do in the future, just ask her to have a safe life." She can't live with me for the rest of her life, and sooner or later she will have to get married. I really thank you for coming this time, you can persuade her to stop thinking about Zhou You. Art is too luxurious for an ordinary person. Probably one of the biggest mistakes I've made in my life is to let Ah Ni learn to draw......"

"Then what do you think about Ah Ni's future future?" Shu Li deliberately diverted the topic.

Lao Wu sighed and said, "If Ah Ni didn't have this disease, I would have wanted her to go to university abroad, and my relatives overseas would have helped." But then she became ill like this, how can I rest assured that she will go away? Her current academic performance, it is probably difficult to be admitted to a key university, she is too smart, too willful, she can't listen to anyone's words, I am afraid that if she is nervous about her college homework, her brain will not be able to bear it. Therefore, after she graduated from high school, we don't know what to do, and I really want to hear your opinion this time...... Ah Ni has grown into a big girl, and there are so many people chasing her around that she can't get it. Beautiful girls have been tempted since childhood, and they also tempt others, and parents can't prevent it. If she hadn't met Zhou You two years ago, maybe she would have met someone else. I think about it, among the people around me now, only Xiaobai can be relied on......"

Lao Wu's eyes were blank. Shu Li looked at the emaciated old doctor, and felt a little pity in her heart. She suddenly remembered her parents, who were diplomats, if they hadn't stayed abroad for a long time and left her alone in Beijing, would she have become such an independent and free woman now? Perhaps Chinese parents always raise their children as goldfish in a fish tank, but they are enchanting and beautiful but cannot support themselves.

Lao Wu said to himself: "Miss Shu, you may not know that in the past year or so, Xiaobai has really helped Ah Ni a lot, invited her the best tutor, and responded to everything she wanted, just donating to the sponsorship of Ah Ni School, adding up to more than 300,000 yuan." One of the things that Ah Ni is most grateful to him for is that he has done Ah Xiu's family a great favor. Later, the eldest son of the Li family, who is also my father-in-law, wanted to expand his restaurant, but he couldn't get a loan for a while, and then the eldest son of the Li family, who is also Ah Ni's uncle, found Ah Ni and asked her to ask Boss Bai for help. Ah Ni always felt ashamed of the people of Ah Xiu's family, so he hurriedly agreed, and then pestered Boss Bai to raise money for them. Xiaobai didn't say a word, and immediately took Ah Ni to the door in person, lent the Li family a low-interest loan of 400,000 yuan, and I gave my father-in-law tens of thousands, and finally saved this emergency. Ah Ni helped Ah Xiu's family do this, and the psychological burden was also reduced a lot. If it weren't for Xiaobai caring about Ah Ni like his own family, I would be a father and a mother and have to go to work for surgery, how could I take care of it alone? You don't know, before Ah Ni saw the painting that Zhou You painted for you, her spirit had actually recovered quite well, she relied on Xiaobai a lot, and often asked Uncle Bai to take her and her classmates out to play, especially like the high-cost enjoyment of karaoke......"

Bai Honggen, who was driving in the front row, quipped: "It seems that you have spent a lot of money on Ah Ni and her female classmates, right?" ”

"It's not much, it's just to give some small gifts, after the exam, invite them to the hotel for dinner or something, and sometimes ask them to help the company do some sales, so that they can earn a few pocket ......money," Boss Bai replied.

"Your trick is quite powerful, you really know how to detour the market." Shu Li smiled. "Looks like you're supposed to be Ani's attending physician?"

"Don't dare, don't dare to ......," Boss Bai shook his head again and again. You've been in the business world for a long time, don't you know that even if you sign a contract and have the funds in place, things may not work out? I am quite powerful in Suzhou, but as soon as I leave Suzhou, I am a small boat, which is not the same thing...... Again...... Ah Ni ...... me I know in my heart that she treats me, more of a junior's affection for her elders, and I like her as a sister...... Thanks to Lao Wu's love, treat me as a family member, this is enough for me, feelings are such things, after all, it is not a business......"

Shu Li smiled slightly, and gradually felt at the bottom of her heart. Nowadays, the market is dark, and the six relatives do not recognize it, but in the most secret corner of the human heart, there is still a piece of green space with true feelings. What she was worried about was Lao Wu's kind of thoughts, if she was eager to hope that Boss Bai could fill the gap in her girlish feelings because of Ah Ni's current predicament, then maybe it would lay an unfortunate factor for Ah Ni's future. Ah Ni should always be free and independent, just like she is Shuli. Fortunately, Boss Bai is quite wise, in this world, unrequited feelings are probably the rarest gems on the earth.

Shu Li turned back to Lao Wu and said, "According to the situation you introduced, I think Ah Ni is actually a very strong girl, and her condition is not hopeless. It's right to come this time, I think Ah Ni should be asked to think about the problem from a different angle, and let her jump out of the tip of the horns. ”

"Then Miss Shu will stay for a few more days. Let's play more with you, although Suzhou is small, it's quite white, you can also relax and rest by ......the way," Lao Wu said. Shu Li heard from Lao Wu's tone that Lao Wu seemed to have a good impression of her.

"It depends!" Shu Li replied cheerfully. "It's just that I'm too busy in Beijing, so I probably have to borrow Mr. Bai's mobile phone or fax often, as long as I can ensure communication, I can stay for a few more days."

"That's fine. If you have any requirements, please feel free to contact me. By the way, we can also talk about business cooperation, real estate prices are falling all over the country, only Beijing is still thriving, I always hope that my silk business can develop to the north. I heard Lao Wu say, Miss Shu is very discerning, shrewd and capable, and became a millionaire in two years, you started faster than me, I admire you very much...... If Ms. Shu can help me run a silk branch in Beijing, then I am very lucky. Boss Bai said sincerely, pointing to an ancient tower faintly in the distance, saying that he was about to enter Suzhou City.

When the car arrived at Wu's garden, Ah Ni's grandmother eagerly greeted her and said, "Ah Ni refuses to even take a nap, and wants to see Miss Shu Li, I don't know how many times I have asked." ”

Shu Li looked up at the courtyard of the Wu family, full of green trees and flower paths, and it was really quiet and simple; The ochre-colored columns and long wooden windows give it a quiet and elegant atmosphere. She followed Lao Wu through the door of the blue brick moon cave and walked to Ah Ni's bedroom in the second courtyard, and Boss Bai followed behind with a painting. As soon as I turned into the eaves, I saw the back of a person in pink pajamas in front of me swaying, barefoot, and quickly got into the door. Shu Li thought, could it be Ah Ni? When I entered the door, I saw that the pink man had just slipped into the blanket, panting, and his face was pale, except for a pair of large eyes, which were still emitting a burning luster of excitement.

The fragrant and radiant Shu Li stepped forward and gently hugged Ah Ni.

"A-Ni, you see that we met so soon, how did you sleep last night?"

Ah Ni looked at Shu Li with wide eyes, and for a while, she muttered in a low voice, "...... Oh, Miss Shuli, you are so beautiful, I have known you in that painting...... Thank you for coming to see me......"

Shu Li finally saw the beautiful Ani in Zhou You's dream. At that moment, she felt as if she was standing next to Rainbow's bed, and in front of her was another rainbow that had grown up. Her heart trembled slightly-no wonder Zhou You missed his little sister in Suzhou so much, such a lovely girl, even women would be tempted. Ah Ni really doesn't look like a sixteen-year-old girl, more than two years of suffering and bitter love have made her much more mature. Although her beauty is not as elegant and subtle as Shui Hong, her youthful brilliance is what Shui Hong is losing. Shu Li couldn't help but be fascinated by Ah Ni's beauty, fortunately she had the psychological preparation given to her by Shui Hong, otherwise she would be ashamed of herself. She picked up Ah Ni's arm and put it in the blanket, and the snow-white arm was softer and brighter than the rainbow, just like the transparent and vivid Taihu whitebait she had seen on TV......

Shu Li fell in love with Ah Ni from the first moment she saw her. The look of tiredness and tenacity in Ah Ni's eyes made her feel even more pity. But Shu Li still thinks that Zhou You is right to choose Shui Hong, Ah Ni's personality and temperament are too similar to Zhou You, if these two art maniacs roll together, then their lives and fates may not be what will happen. Both of them are emotional and artistic mustangs, and they probably need a steady and peaceful partner of the opposite sex to harness them. Besides, if Zhou You had chosen Ah Ni at the beginning, then maybe it would have been difficult for him to get close to Zhou You, Ah Ni would have entangled Zhou You to death, she was definitely not a gentle woman, and she would not be as tolerant and generous as Shui Hong......

Ah Ni stared at Shu Li's gaze for a long time, and a trace of imperceptible pride swept from the surprise. She finally saw the woman in the painting, who herself looked more beautiful than the woman in the painting. But although Miss Shu Li is beautiful, her beauty needs makeup, which needs to be supplemented by eyebrows, blush and eye shadow. As for herself, when she was not born, her mother dressed her up in her stomach all at once. Compared to this Miss Shuli, Ah Ni felt that she still had many advantages, and she did not feel inferior at all. Still, Ah Ni was glad that this woman could come to see her, at least she brought her a painting of her big brother. Even if the eldest brother fell in love with Shu Li, they still didn't forget her Ah Ni......

Ah Ni looked down and saw the frame of the carton packaging. She said, "Miss Shuli, let me see the painting first, okay?" ”

Shu Li immediately unwrapped the thick wrapping paper and put the easel on a chair not far from the bed.

“…… Ah, it's so pretty! Ah Ni shouted. I haven't seen a big brother's painting in over a year. She jumped out of bed, threw herself on it, hugged the painting, and kissed the maroon wooden frame. While greedily breathing in the oil paint on the painting, she closed her eyes and sniffed and smelled, and then asked Shu Li to move the painting away, widen the distance, squinted her eyes, and savored the color effect of the picture; I opened my eyes wide again, admiring the details of the picture......

"The tone of this painting is rosy red, but you can probably feel that it's actually a green prairie." Shu Li explained softly beside her. "Big brother in the red of the setting sun, you feel green, that's amazing, isn't it? This is also a very special ...... in his recent works."

Ah Ni looked at it, and tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Big brother, there are always so many things to say about your paintings, and there are always so many things to tell me...... she muttered to herself. Why do the colors on my paintings keep changing? Have you found your beautiful grassland, or are you looking for ...... I can't read your drawing......"

Shu Li smiled and said, "The beautiful grassland in the legend will only live in the legend forever. The big brother said he couldn't find it anymore, so he had to imagine it and draw it. He wants you to be as wide and quiet as this mysterious grassland. If you look at this painting often, your heart will be still, and you will see the tranquility after sunset, the stars and the moon blink far away, we can't hear their sounds, but the years and time are running in the sky, it is an eternal natural beauty...... The big brother said he was tired, and you were tired, and you all needed the peace of the night to recuperate, waiting for the sun to rise again on the grassland......"

Ah Ni looked at the painting intently. In front of him, there was a rose gold red, an emerald dark green; One moment it is bright and warm, and the other is deep and quiet. She found that the key effect of this painting was that the green grass in the vicinity was painted by two colors, the light side was rose-red, and the backlit side of the grass shadow was transparent and pure blue-green. Rose-colored dots of light fill the picture, and the dots of light shimmer with dots of emerald green, and the magic-like changing spots of light and color are like spinning musical symbols, playing a soothing and beautiful lullaby...... The sun was sinking, the picture was slowly darkening, and the quiet night fell, and in the depths of the endless dark green grassland, she and her eldest brother lit a bonfire, and the two of them were close together. The eldest brother played the guitar, and she sang the song in a low voice, the legendary beautiful grassland. The moon had risen, and it was so quiet all around, that the bonfire was burning brighter and brighter, melting them both in a rosy halo...... Her heart gradually quieted down, and she felt that her eldest brother was reaching out from the painting, gently patting her back, the portrait of a cradle, rocking her slowly, her head a little heavy, and her eyelids slightly closed.

"A-Ni, if you doze off, you can rest for a while. Let Miss Shu Li also take a break. Lao Wu said, put a blanket on her, and walked out of the bedroom with Boss Bai.

"No, I don't want to sleep." Ah Ni stood up. "Miss Shuli, I want to talk to you."

"Do you like this painting?" Shu Li asked.

"Like. I know the big brother is still thinking about me. ”

"Zhou You always talks to me about Xiao Ani, and I am a little jealous." Shu Li touched Ah Ni's hair and said. "Unfortunately, you're just too young...... When I was your age, I was obsessively in love with a neighbor who was more than a decade older than me, but then he told me that he was just a fatherly affection for me, and I was so sad. Many years later, when I saw him again, I really felt that he was a loving father, and you said it was interesting......"

Ah Ni was stunned and asked coldly, "How many years have you known your big brother?" ”

"Almost ten years. He was three years older than me, and I felt like I had grown up with him. ”

"Do you love him?"

"Of course I love. He was the only man I ever truly loved in my life. ”

"Does a woman love many times in her life?"

"Yes. At each different age, people know themselves differently, she will fall in love with different men, and when she becomes a mature woman, she will know what she really wants......"

"That'...... That big brother *** you? Ah Ni asked, her eyes wide.

Shu Li was stunned for a moment, and a pinprick-like tingling pain suddenly passed through her heart. She didn't seem to expect Ah Ni to ask such a question. The clear eyes stared at her, asking for the embarrassing answer. Shu Li could neither lie nor tell the truth, and in her panic, she almost thought that her fake lover had been spotted by Ah Ni at a glance. It was an eternal scar in Shu Li's heart, an untouchable sore spot. At that moment, she suddenly felt that she, the "doctor" who had traveled thousands of miles to heal Ah Ni, was on the same level as Ah Ni's lovelorn and lost soul. "Does he or she love you?" They are the two tiger talismans that are held in the hands of men and women, and they are the passports of the soul in the world of love. If he doesn't or no longer loves you, you'll never reach that paradise—but why would you venture into this dangerous minefield, little elf-like little Ani?

Ah Ni smiled faintly and said, "Miss Shuli, you don't have to be embarrassed, I know that my big brother loves you." You're getting married...... However, does it mean that if you love each other, you have to get married? Like my father and mother, who have been married for so many years, if they meet someone they love more, they will also break up......"

"yes." Shu Li replied hurriedly. "Love doesn't last forever. For example, now you love your big brother, but when you grow up, maybe you will meet someone more lovely than your big brother, or you find that there is a woman who is more suitable for your big brother than you, what do you do? Marriage is like a house that often needs to be repaired, and if it can't be repaired, it has to be torn down, or moved away, and a new house is built. I don't know how long your big brother and I will be able to live in that house. Therefore, the free prairie will be so attractive to people. Unfortunately, people can't leave the house all the time......"

Shu Li heard her own pale voice, echoing through the empty room. The voice sounded unconfident, even self-defeating. She didn't know what was wrong with her, and those inquiring eyes seemed to look straight into her heart, making her feel a weakness and embarrassment that she had never felt before.

Ah Ni leaned tiredly on the head of the bed, her gaze still lingering on the painting, her gaze gradually condensing. She was visibly tired, and she didn't have as much energy to discern every word Miss Shu Li had said to her. She hadn't seen her big brother for more than a year, and his impression in her mind was getting more and more blurry, like this picture of changing light and color. She couldn't argue with Miss Shuli, she was too young to qualify for the competition at all, and she certainly couldn't expect her big brother to wait for her any longer. She looked at her eldest brother's painting, the gorgeous sunset was calmly diffuse, and the grassland with red flowers floating in the green was like a beautiful dream, calling to her...... "Sister Shuli, I want to sleep for a while, let me be alone with my eldest brother...... Shall I talk to you after dinner? You'd better sleep with me tonight, I have a lot to say to you...... You asked Daddy to hang this picture on the wall next to my bed......" she murmured, and soon fell asleep.

Shu Li gently closed the door, walked through the hallway, and came to the living room. Lao Wu and Boss Bai both stood up anxiously and asked about Ah Ni's situation. Shu Li told them that Zhou You's painting worked very well, and maybe it would work better than any medicine. Ah Ni is also very close to her, and if she has to let Shu Li sleep with her at night, it is okay, she will slowly enlighten Ah Ni, but Ah Ni is indeed not lightly ill and cannot be impatient, it seems that she has to stay in Suzhou for a few more days. After saying this, Shu Li turned around to find the phone and said that she wanted to make a long-distance call to Zhou You, so that he could rest assured. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to sleep well that night.

Ah Ni slept until it was nearly dusk, and then got up for dinner. She ate a small bowl of rice and many dishes, and everyone said that she had not had such a good appetite for a long time. After dinner, Lao Wu asked her to watch TV for a while and rest, she shook her head again and again, saying that she wanted to go back to the room to chat with Sister Shu Li. Shu Li had already noticed that since the afternoon conversation, Ah Ni had changed the title of "Miss" to "sister" at the beginning. So Sister Shu Li and Sister Ah Ni took a bath, and went to bed early, and the two of them lay comfortably on the bed, in the sound of soft music, Shu Li told Ah Ni many stories about Zhou You's early years of learning to paint, talking about the cruel competition in the painting world and the hard work of artists. Ah Ni is most interested in her eldest brother, who from time to time is constantly happy about Zhou You's stupidity when he was learning to paint and those faults that are lost, or he interrogates Shu Li endlessly. Shu Li was talking, her eyelids could no longer be raised, in order to rush to Suzhou, she slept in the second half of the night last night, and rushed to the airport to get tickets in the morning, she was too sleepy, struggling to say "see you tomorrow", and she fell asleep first.

Under the dim bedlight, Ah Ni gently hugged Shu Li, leaning close to her plump body, feeling as if there was a gentle warmth coming to her. Through the faint smell of perfume on Shu Li's body, she suddenly smelled the oil paint in Shu Li's hair. She closed her eyes and quietly brought her face close to Shu Li, almost digging her nose into Shu Li's thick hair. But the smell of the painting is gone, and the air still smells of perfume that smells good. She got up, walked barefoot to the window, stood on tiptoe, sniffed the painting on the wall, and gently touched the frame with her fingers. In the darkness she could not see the brilliant and deep colors on the picture, but she could feel its presence, like a big brother's smile, protruding from the depths of memory. She slowly stepped back to the bed, and she heard the sound of Sister Shuli's even breathing, like waves on the edge of a lake, undulating around her. Shu Li must have many kisses from her big brother, and the big brother no longer belongs to her Ah Ni. Suddenly she felt a deep panic, she buried her head in the blanket and sobbed in a low voice......

The next day, when Ah Ni woke up, the sun was slanting through the window, and she opened her eyes to find Shu Li looking at her with her elbows bent and smiling.

"A-Ni, did you sleep well last night? You're such a sleeping beauty, and you look so beautiful when you're asleep. Does your head still hurt? ”

Ah Ni shook her head, feeling that the headache that had tormented her for many days really seemed to have been alleviated a lot.

"Sister Shuli, you are so good, if you don't come to see me, my headache will explode...... Can you just stay with me for a few more days? The weather is so good today, I want to go out with you to have fun, Uncle Bai said yesterday, if it doesn't rain today, we will go to Taihu Lake. ”

After the two of them washed up, they walked into the dining room. Lao Wu and Boss Bai have been waiting for a while. In a large vase on the dining table, there is a large cluster of red roses, which reflects the whole room in red.

"Uncle Bai, you bought me flowers again, thank you so much." Ah Ni smiled at Boss Bai.

During breakfast, the grandmother of the Wu family has been diligently carrying Shu Li all kinds of Suzhou pastries, while chattering and praising Shu Li. said that thanks to Shu Li to come to see Ani, and said that if a woman in Suzhou encountered such a thing, she would have become a cross-eyer. is still Miss Beijing, who is generous, good-hearted, and knowledgeable, and now that Ah Ni has such a big sister as Shu Li, it is her blessing......

After breakfast, Boss Bai used his mobile phone to tell the company a few things, and then drove the two young ladies to visit Taihu Lake. For this reason, Lao Wu also specially asked for leave to accompany Shu Li. Shu Li said that she actually wanted to see the scenery of the water alleys and small bridges in Suzhou City, but Lao Wu shook his head and said that houses are being demolished everywhere in Suzhou City, and the alley where he and Ah Ni's mother used to live has been demolished beyond recognition. Suzhou citizens don't like those dark and damp old buildings, everyone is looking forward to living in modern apartment buildings, and Suzhou's oriental Venetian atmosphere will probably only be preserved in the silk industry of Boss Bai in the future. Shu Li was suspicious, not only afraid of ruining everyone's interest, but also afraid of touching Ah Ni's injured nerves, and it was inconvenient to insist on being hospitable to the host.

On the edge of Taihu Lake, a chartered medium-sized luxury yacht is already waiting at the cruise ship dock. Two girls in ancient costumes stood at the bow of the boat to greet them, and the small table on the yacht was already full of melons, fruits, snacks, and a few red roses. Boss Bai helped Shu Li and Ah Ni onto the boat, and then sent the employees who came to contact the company to go back, and he didn't need an attaché.

As soon as the boat opened, Ah Ni acted like a hostess, maintaining and taking care of Shu Li everywhere, and often picking on Boss Bai, either the "Biluochun" tea was not brewed correctly, or she forgot to bring her binoculars, and forgot to give Shu Li a straw hat or something. Boss Bai seems to have gotten used to Ani's support, and he always has a good temper with respect. He never seemed to have any overly affectionate behavior towards Ah Ni, but his eyes never left Ah Ni for a moment. Shu Li thought to herself, people are really strange emotional animals, once they fall into the quagmire of feelings, they will be like her. Since her allies abound, will the world be swallowed up by the flood of interests?

In early summer, the embankment along the lake is lush with green trees, and the lake water near the shore is as green as a piece of soft jade, and the lake surface is vast and cloudy. Even if the people on the ship have all kinds of thoughts, it seems that they want to melt into this gentle country. Shu Li had never been to Taihu Lake before, so she suddenly took off her shoes and socks with joy, sat on the side of the boat, and immersed her feet in the warm water. She felt that her temperament, which had been sharpened by the wind and sand of the north, was becoming soft and delicate in the steaming mist of the lake. She remembered Zhou You's "Jiangnan Neon", the beauty of Taihu Lake shown in that painting seemed to be more breathtaking than the lake and mountains in front of her. Therefore, for Zhou You, the water rainbow is a pearl of Taihu Lake made of the essence of the sun and the moon for thousands of years, even if she is thrown into the water, Zhou You will still dive to the bottom of the lake to find her back. Shu Li's expression dimmed, and the beautiful scenery of Xi Shi and Fan Li boating on the lake would probably always be an unattainable dream for her......

Ah Ni also seems to be immersed in her own reverie. She silently folded a small paper boat repeatedly, sometimes with a canopy, and then again with an uncanopy, and the candy paper in her hand was almost crumpled, so she put a few melon seeds in the cabin of the boat, gently lowered it on the water, and let it drift away until it was out of sight......

"A-Ni, your boat will float all the way from the Grand Canal to Beijing...... Shu Li said with a smile.

“…… Yes, I'm going to let him pick up the big brother and let him come to Suzhou too, and let's go to Taihu Lake together, there are many small islands in the lake, and you can play for many days...... If the eldest brother really comes, I will ask Uncle Bai to charter a big boat, and we will live on the boat, fish on the boat, cook fish soup and drink......"

Shu Li reminded her: "Ah Ni, in the past few years, Uncle Bai has spent so much for you, although he is a big boss, his money is earned bit by bit......

Ah Ni replied casually: "What is it to rent a boat, Uncle Bai's silk company still has my shares!" If you don't believe me, you go and ask Dad. ”

"Oh, I forgot to tell Miss Shu that before Ah Ni got sick, she was already Xiaobai's company image, and she was just for fun at first, but I didn't expect that customers liked her like a demon." Lao Wu said lightly.

Boss Bai interjected with some excitement: "I forgot to bring Miss Shu Li a company brochure, there are several photos of Ah Ni on it, she is wearing silk clothes, and she is even more beautiful than she is now." Suzhou silk seems to be only worn by Suzhou women. Ah Ni wears silk clothing, whether it is a cheongsam or modern fashion, she looks detached. In the hall of our company's headquarters, four large color photos more than two meters high, 'spring, summer, autumn and winter', were all taken by Ah Ni as a model. Those foreign businessmen who came to see the sample and ordered couldn't move their feet. Ah Ni has a unique eye for the color and style of the fabric, and every time the clothes designed by the silk fabric she chooses are always very popular. So every time the designer makes a sample of clothing, I always ask Ah Ni to choose, and at most a quarter of the ones I select will sell well, and more than half of the ones selected by Ah Ni will sell well. The company's board of directors as a reward, year-end share expansion, specifically allocated a small number of shares to her, she is a minority shareholder of our company, I really want her to be a major shareholder in the future, but if she can be admitted to university in the future, I will never let her bend to make clothing. But if she can't go to college, this is also a way out, she has an artistic genius and high aesthetic taste, whether she is engaged in public relations, design, or modeling, she is a first-class talent. In the future, I would like to use her name to register a company for her, specializing in the production of high-end silk clothing under the Anie brand. Miss Shuli, I'd love to hear your opinion......"

Lao Wu sighed lightly on the side and said: "It's good, but the three generations of the Wu family have all graduated from famous universities, and when it comes to A's generation, they can't catch the ......."

Shu Li retorted bluntly: "Lao Wu, your concept is too old, I think, the most important thing is that Ah Ni can have the opportunity to display her artistic talents, do what she likes to do, she has studied painting, and has a natural appreciation for color and body feeling, if you develop to the silk industry, maybe it is the sky is high and the sea is wide, Ah Ni, you say right?" ”

Ah Ni grabbed Shu Li's arm and said with a smile: "Sister Shu Li, thanks to your words, otherwise Dad would never let Uncle Bai talk to me about silk, but Uncle Bai said that when the college entrance examination is over, he still wants to take me to see the real Venice Water City......"

Shu Li patted Lao Wu's shoulder and said, "Lao Wu, Lao Wu, I know, it turns out that you just want Ah Ni to be the boss lady, and you don't want her to be the female boss, it's wrong, it's wrong!" If your thoughts can be reversed, I'm afraid it is a good medicine given to Ah Ni by the goddess of Taihu Lake! ”

Lao Wu was stunned for a moment, looked at Ah Ni, and suddenly laughed with realization.

On the evening of the third day, Boss Bai specially set up a dinner party for Shu Li at the Taihu Hotel near the mountains and lakes. After dinner, I invited Shu Li and Ah Ni to dance.

Boss Bai hugged Shu Li for a while, and hugged Ah Ni for a while, their skillful and beautiful dancing attracted all the attention of the dance hall, and immediately there were several Jiangnan bigwigs, who frequently presented flowers and delivered business cards to Ah Ni and Shu Li. Shu Li's first-class chic dance steps in Beijing made the other dance partners leave the dance floor and retreat to the side to enjoy it. When the waltz music sounded, Lao Wu suddenly stepped forward and politely made an inviting gesture to Shu Li, after the two of them stepped onto the dance floor, the eyes of the men around them were straight, Lao Wu's strict standards and a bit of gentlemanly demeanor danced, so that Ah Ni was also dazzled, and applauded his father and Shu Li again and again. The lights dimmed, and the next dance music suddenly began to be fierce and vigorous rock music, the music was deafening, the rhythm became more and more crazy, and there seemed to be no man in the dance hall who could be Shu Li's dance partner. Shu Li simply stepped onto the dance floor alone, improvised a solo, like a professional dancer from Spain, enthusiastic and sexy, spinning and jumping, blowing a tornado of sound and body on the dance floor. The lights flickered on and off, and Shu Li turned into a free-spirited spirit in the colorful and misty beams of light. Ah Ni finally couldn't sit still, and she was also incited by Shu Li's crazy and selfless passion, and she was swept into the dance floor like a whirlwind. She and Shu Li danced hand in hand and face to face, excited and wild, crossing and separating. Her hair spread out like a waterfall, Shu Li's skirt trembled like petals, and she and Shu Li were like a chain of buttons, making everyone in the dance room spin with them. - Jump on your own! A-Ni, jump alone! She heard Shuli shouting at her. At that moment, the music was like a hot stream, ironing her cold heart hotly. Ah Ni stretched out her arms again, stretching her chest, she felt so comfortable, she hadn't been so happy for a long time. She spun and danced, and without even noticing it, she suddenly danced like a white crane spreading its wings, the same kind of crane dance that she had danced in front of the mirror a long time ago, the group of white cranes that her big brother had painted. Sometimes she is a female crane, sometimes a male crane, sometimes soft, sometimes strong, they are entwined with their necks, they call each other from afar, but in each piece of music, they are independent dancers, intoxicated by their own mature and beautiful dancing......

In the bizarre and flickering lights, Shu Li noticed Ah Ni's beautiful and improvised dance. She found that there was no self-pity and self-love in Ani's dance, no despair of spiraling down, and no sorrow of sorrow, her outstretched arms were full of longing for the blue sky, and it seemed that after more than a year of hibernation, she began to fly again...... Shu Li's heart was hot, and the colorful dance floor blurred into a colorful cloud under her eyes......

Among the guests at the dance venue, some people began to recognize this little princess of Suzhou's clothing industry. The men invited her to dance, and she did not refuse to come, but left a white boss out in the cold. Ah Ni danced one song after another, and several times attracted the applause of the dancers in the seat. Until the end of the song, it was almost late at night, and when Ah Ni, who was still in the mood, walked out of the dance hall by leaning on Lao Wu's shoulder, he was still radiant, and Ah Ni, who Shu Li saw when she first arrived in Suzhou a few days ago, was already like two people.

Back at home, the two of them collapsed on the bed exhausted, but Ah Ni still didn't feel sleepy, she brought a plate of bananas for Shu Li, peeled them and stuffed them in Shu Li's hands. I changed into my pajamas, turned on the stereo again, turned the music to the lowest, and wandered ghostly on the floor of the room, looking at my big brother's paintings, and continued to dance casually......

"Sister Shuli, when I grow up in the future, I will compete with you." Ah Ni suddenly stopped dancing, turned around, and announced to Shu Li.

"Competition? You mean, you want to be a big woman too? Shu Li asked in surprise.

"No, I'm going to be Big Brother's lover. I don't care if you get married or not. ”

Shu Li sat up from the bed suddenly. At that moment, she seemed to hear her own voice.

"Okay, I'm welcome to compete with me." Shu Li settled down and generously agreed. However, modern girls should abide by the rules of competition and must have a strong will and an independent personality. You have to win, you have to lose, you can't be like before, as soon as you lose, your spirit will collapse. If you accept this competitive condition, you are welcome! ”

"I accept! I promise! Ah Ni held out a finger and hooked it with Shuli.

Shu Li smiled: "It seems that I will be at a disadvantage, because you are a sunrise industry and are on the rise, maybe you will really beat me......"

"Then you should be able to afford to lose." A flush flew up on Ah Ni's face.

"No problem, I can afford to lose, but I'll try to win you too!" Shu Li hugged Ah Ni by her side and stroked her hair lovingly. "Since you trust me so much and tell me the secret of your heart, I will also tell you a secret about women, do you want to hear it?"

"Of course."

"Although your sister Shuli loves your big brother for so long and so deeply, the only person I really believe in is myself - my own independent personality and independent economic ability. I was never willing to live a good life on men's property, I had to have my own property, so my feelings were always free. Of course, a woman with good luck marries a good man, has love and a career, and has a very happy life. But most women can't get even one of these things in their lives, and they may be lucky to be able to get one of them. If you reach out and catch two big birds at the same time at the beginning, you probably won't be able to catch even one. A wonderful woman, even if she can't meet a man who can really make her love, she should still have her own life, she loves a hundred times and loves a thousand times, and her soul is still free......"

Shu Li heard her own vicissitudes of life, echoing in the old house. When she finished saying this, she was surprised to find that although she was bruised and scarred in the ocean of love, deep down in her heart, she still had the same intention. She understood that she had no regrets about loving Zhou You, and she would not regret what she had done for him and Shui Hong. Whether or not she will continue to love him in the days to come, she is already an incorrigible self-supremacist. She was suddenly very glad that she had come to Suzhou by magic, Suzhou is a wharf, and the boat will return to this place and leave the port from here. What she didn't expect was that while she was convincing A-Ni, she also seemed to convince herself.

"Okay, Anie, when you grow up, you will definitely get a beautiful love...... Remember, a lover is a kind of helplessness, that's not a real choice, it's not all feelings......"

Shu Li's voice choked, and her heart trembled, she let go of Ah Ni, threw herself on the bed, and sobbed violently. She felt A-Ni's warm hand caressing her back. She couldn't tell if she was Ah Ni's doctor, or if Ah Ni was treating her deep wounds?

The night before Shu Li left, Ah Ni was invited by her classmates to attend a birthday party, and Boss Bai also had a reception, so he called and said that the ticket had been bought and that he would personally drive her to Shanghai tomorrow. After dinner, Lao Wu suddenly proposed to go for a walk with Shu Li by the river in the old city unintentionally. Shu Li readily agreed.

Next to the glittering streets and high-rise construction sites, the faint and faint shadows of the stone bridges and houses in the water lanes are revealed, like an old painting, which is being buried little by little by the dust raised by reinforced concrete. The style of the small town in the past, which Shui Hong once described to her so affectionately, is difficult to find its full picture. It's like a dazzling art gallery that suddenly breaks at the crossroads of history. Shu Li's heart was filled with a faint sentimentality and sorrow, and her steps couldn't help but slow down again and again.

Lao Wu coughed and said, "I haven't had time to ask you these days, how are Zhou You and Shui Hong doing?" ”

Shu Li smiled and said, "It's so good that I am jealous." They always seem to be on their honeymoon, and both of them are almost losing themselves. Now that I've moved into a new house, I'm even happier in the future. ”

"I think, I think, it's time for them to get married, right?"

"I thought so too. However, Shui Hong insisted that she would wait until Ah Ni's condition was completely stabilized. Love doesn't care about marriage in this form......"

Lao Wu lowered his head, his eyes full of loss.

Shu Li said: "I don't think you should worry about Shui Hong anymore." When Ah Ni's spirit is a little better, you should also think about your own affairs, find a suitable woman, and start a family. Shui Hong also asked me to persuade you, Ah Ni will grow up sooner or later, and she must have her own life, at that time, didn't you, the three-entry mansion, seem too lonely? ”

Lao Wu was silent. The two men walked silently for a while, and sat down on the edge of a stone bridge.

"The night you decided to come to Suzhou, Shui Hong later called me again and introduced your situation." Lao Wu said hesitantly. "I'm quite touched when I hear it, I'm afraid there aren't many women like you now...... But what do you plan to do in the future? With all due respect, don't you feel like you're a little redundant in their lives? ”

Shu Li smiled faintly and replied, "Maybe it's a little redundant." However, even though I lost a lot, I also gained a lot, as if ...... It seems that I can do without Zhou You's love, but I can't do without the friendship of Rainbow...... It's weird......"

Lao Wu suddenly grabbed Shu Li's hand gently, and said in a bit of a panic: "So, then...... If I proposed to you, would you be willing...... In the past few days, I feel as if I am younger, you are such an energetic person, with you, life will definitely be very easy......"

Shu Li laughed loudly, but did not withdraw his hand from Lao Wu's palm.

"Although you haven't said much in the past few days, I can already see your kindness to me. Lao Wu, you are a good person, a good man with education and status. But I, I'm used to being free, I'm not the kind of good woman you think I am, you won't be able to stand me. To tell the truth, this big mansion of yours really makes me moved, such a well-preserved private house of the Qing Dynasty, I am afraid that even the minister will not be able to live in Beijing. It's a pity that Rainbow would lose this garden, and I really admire it. But I still don't have this blessing, come and enjoy your sweet and good days in Suzhou......"

"Can I be your extra lover, then?" Lao Wu plucked up the courage to look into her eyes, but still didn't let go. "I can give you some extra house!"

"Oh, Lao Wu, I already have a superfluous lover, let's be friends who don't have a superfluous relationship." Shu Li replied teasingly. "If your house were in Beijing, I might still consider it, such a short distance, I'm afraid only a madman like Zhou You would be able to do it. Besides, if I really marry you, won't I, the fake Zhou You lover, be exposed? How can I tell Ah Ni about this lie? ”

Lao Wu laughed embarrassedly, thought about it, and said: "That lie will always be exposed sooner or later, Ah Ni will meet her mother one day." ”

Shu Li waved her hand open-mindedly and said: "Hey, when she grows up and truly understands the love of the world, she will understand that it is because Shui Hong is worried about losing her, worried that she will not be able to bear it, so she has to hide it from her, and she should forgive her mother." Maybe by then, this kind of story won't be much of a story for a modern girl......"

Lao Wu slowly withdrew his hand and said with mixed feelings: "Then I will thank you again for coming to Suzhou, Ah Ni really admires you, and you made her lose convincingly." Even if the rainbow comes, it can't untie this dead knot. However, Miss Shu Li, I will still chase you, I have your phone, I have already seen how Zhou You bombed Shuihong, I will also gain something if I lose......"

Shu Li stood up, smiled at Lao Wu and said, "Don't forget, Shui Hong has actually fallen in love with Zhou You from the beginning, and Zhou You can succeed." And I, my love is running out. Unless I go bankrupt in the future, I may come to you. But you'll have to be careful, I'll lose your mansion together. ”

Lao Wu said: "No matter what, in the spring and autumn seasons in the future, you will come to Suzhou to play when you have time, live with me, it is very convenient, before Ah Ni's wings grow hard, you also need you to take her to fly for a while, I believe you will train her wings to be as hard as you." Ah Ni will also look forward to you coming, and you will also come to see me by the way. I don't even have a friend in Suzhou who can talk to me, and I'm almost suffocated to death for that secret......"

Shu Li nodded, and reminded Lao Wu that he was going to get on the plane tomorrow, and he had to go back to pack his luggage, and wait for Ah Ni to come back later, the two of them must have a lot to say.

The two men walked along the dimly lit gravel path by the river. The river is secluded, giving off a cold luster like porcelain enamel. Shu Li suddenly remembered the years spent by the water alley when Shui Hong was a girl, and now it is the scenery that no longer appears in this beautiful corridor...... The corridor is constantly opening new windows, the long wind blows, the tide surges, only love and beauty are still the end of the elusive corridor, an unchangeable dream......

Shu Li looked ahead and said to Lao Wu: "Although Shui Hong and Zhou You also have many troubles, they live a full life. It is not easy for them to dig a clear spring in such an impetuous emotional desert now. The next century is the century of people's special desire for spiritual life, and Shui Hong has always wanted to hold a love gallery in the future, to display all the love letters drawn by Zhou You and those drawn in the future, so as to add a large color of love to this dull and suffocating world. I am very willing to be an assistant and agent for Rainbow's wishes. For me, it's painful, but it's valuable......"

"You are also a bird, I can't catch you......" Lao Wu was stunned in his heart.

Shu Li turned her head sideways to look at Lao Wu, and said with emotion: "Lao Wu, I'm really sorry, if I hadn't left Zhou You to go to Shenzhen three years ago, or hurried back to Beijing after earning money, I wouldn't have brought you so much pain......

Lao Wu shook his head silently.

As soon as Shu Li returned to the Wu family's house, she hurriedly told Lao Wu that she wanted to call Zhou You and Shui Hong.

Shu Li dialed the phone in Beijing. For some reason, she felt that her fingers were so stiff. She heard Zhou You's voice from the microphone, and tears suddenly filled her eyes. Her lips twitched, and she spat out only a few words, and she couldn't say any more.

Before Shu Li left Suzhou, the last words she said to Zhou You were: "I miss you......"

October 1995

Completed in Garden Village, Beijing