After returning to the hotel and taking a shower, Yuezi and James also returned, and Yuezi told me that today they investigated the whereabouts of the member of the Ya Wolf Gang named Ah Zhen, but there was no news at all, they called Ah Zhen's family, but the family also said that there was no news.

As for the member named Blue Moon, they couldn't touch any information, although they found the overseas phone number of the member, but no matter how they called, they couldn't get through, it was like the world had evaporated, and the clue of the member was cut off.

In the end, Tsukiko thinks that the most likely explanation for Ah Zhen's whereabouts is that he was drawn into the God Game and went to other war zones, because according to the current content in the Book of the World, the contestant named Gao Tianfeng did talk to the boy named Ah Zhen before he was killed. In this way, I'm afraid we will have to wait until later to get in touch with Ah Zhen.

Things start to get confusing, like untying a knot, but more knots will be born, and no matter how you untie them, you can't untie them.

In the blink of an eye, it was late October, and twenty days had passed since the start of God's game, and the rest of the time was only about ten days.

It was difficult to find out more about staying locally, so on the evening of the fourth day, we took an evening flight back to our original city, ending the four-day trip.

The home is still the same home, nothing has changed. When I saw the villa that had not changed for decades, I had a feeling that I had not been seen for a long time, as if I had been gone for a long, long time, as if a century had passed.

The first thing I did when I got home was to take out the Book of the World, which was hidden in the basement, and look at the progress bar on it. When I saw the 90% on the progress bar, my heart was a lot more stable. There are still 10% left. As long as the remaining 10% is completed, the sense of crisis that has been hanging over my heart can be relieved a bit. There are still ten days left, and in the rest of the time, I have to find a way to keep Xueqi and Ma Bailong together. This kind of progress bar is something that many of us have worked hard to achieve without knowing how much it takes, and I can't let it burn. In the past few days with Ma Bailong, Xue Qi's mental condition has always been very good, it seems that she has come out of the shadow of the kidnapping a while ago, as long as they get closer, even if it is just a little bit, maybe I will be able to succeed.

And the last step I should take is also very clear. All the plans I had to do, all the frameworks, came to my mind very clearly.

That is, send Xue Qi away.

The day after we returned from the field, it also happened to be the day when Xueqi took the English test. This trip was originally intended to relax Xueqi's mind before the exam.

The test time was the evening of the 20th American time, that is, the morning of the 21st in China, and early in the morning, I drove Xueqi out of the door to take the test in a temporary local examination room of Harvard University's Department of Communications. What stunned me was that there were only two people who took the exam, one was Ma Bailong and the other was Xueqi, and the exam seemed to be specially customized for them.

The moment I saw Xue Qi walk into the examination room, it started to rain, and the results had not yet come out, and Xue Qi had not yet held the report card and cheered at me, I already knew the result.

Xue Qi will definitely be admitted, even if there are no special factors at work, I believe that Xue Qi will be able to be admitted. Because she has that ability, and because she has one of the best English teachers in the world.

Looking at Xue Qi's swaying back when she walked into the examination room, I couldn't help but think of the day when Xue Qi got 100 points in the first grade exam of primary school, when I went home, she ran over with interest, shouted loudly, jumped in front of me and said:

"Dad, I scored 100 points! 100 points! At that time, she was as excited as if she had picked up the world's largest gem.

Then when I asked her how many of them had scored 100, she stammered and told me that there were only two people in the class who had not scored 100. At that time, I really laughed.

Now that I think about it, it was really ten years ago, but I don't know why, or maybe this continuous autumn rain suddenly evoked some dusty memories in my mind, and that past came out secretly, and every shot was so vivid. It was really as if it had just happened yesterday, sitting in the car, watching the rain on the window of the windshield wiper, I listened to the voice of the little girl running and screaming outside, and for a moment, I almost mistakenly thought it was Xueqi when I was a child yelling at me.

Syllable.

Something hit the car door, I came back to my senses, pushed the door to look, but saw a wet red ball rolling on the ground, I frowned, reached out to pick it up, but suddenly heard a crisp sound, looked up in dismay, and saw a little girl with black hair and a short pink skirt looking at me with some fear.

"Uncle...... Can you give me the ball back? ”

The delicate and timid voice showed that the little girl was a little afraid that I would blame her, and her dark eyes were wide open, and the rain washed her black hair all over the ground.

I smiled and handed her the ball, and the little girl burst into laughter:

"Thank you, uncle." Then she turned and ran away, and a little farther away, a man with a black umbrella was glaring at her, and the little girl stuck out her tongue and smiled playfully.

Seeing this scene, I suddenly remembered the scene when I was a child and Xueqi playing ball in the park. It was when Xue Qi was not yet in elementary school, it had just rained that day, and the ground was still very wet, Xue Qi ran around with the ball in her hand, and as a result, the dress I had just washed for her was also stained with mud, and I was severely reprimanded. At that time, Xue Qi blushed on the spot, and then burst into tears, and shouted vigorously:

"Daddy is back! Daddy is back! ”

At that time, I didn't understand why Xue Qi called her father back, obviously I was standing in front of her, and I didn't understand it until later.

Xueqi's father shouted came back, referring to me not like me anymore, I changed, I became so fierce, not like the original father, I became scared of her. She doesn't know how to express more precise thoughts in words, so she can only cry with such immature words.

At that time, the passers-by around me would accuse me one after another, saying that I was a stepfather and couldn't look at the children, which made me lose face, so I had to bend down and pull Xueqi's little face, and said to her with a helpless smile, Dad is back, let's go buy big rolls to eat, okay?

It wasn't until Xue Qi gradually stopped crying and burst into laughter that I breathed a sigh of relief.

For me, when Xue Qi cried at that time, it was as if the sky was falling, which made me feel at a loss.

In "Spring Splendid Pig Bajie", as soon as the little dragon girl cries, it will rain and flood. When Xueqi cries, to me, it's raining in the whole world.

All morning, I sat in the car and waited, I don't know why I kept thinking about the past scenes of me and Xueqi, and in the end, I actually fell asleep in a daze, and when I woke up, I looked at the timer on the car, only to find that it was past eleven o'clock, I hurriedly wiped my face, but found that Xueqi was standing outside the window with an umbrella, the raindrops slid down from the umbrella, Xueqi's white dress and black hair looked hazy under the umbrella.

I pulled down the window, smiled and asked:

"Finished the exam? How did you do on the exam? ”

Xue Qi's face was a little complicated and said:

"It seems a little harder than I thought...... Time was almost too late...... Indescribable feeling. ”

I opened the car door and said:

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter if you do well or badly, let's go home and talk about it. If you don't pass the test, even if you spend money, I will also provide you with a study in the United States. ”

After going back that day, Xue Qi has been restless, even more nervous than before the exam, because the personnel of the admissions unit over there said that because there are not many people taking the exam, the results will be announced the next night.

So for a day and a half after the exam, Xueqi waited for the answer at home, restless, and couldn't even watch her favorite TV series and anime. In order to relieve her nervousness, I took her to the mall to buy autumn clothes, I specially picked the clothing area where Tang Mengyan was located, when I passed by her clothing store, I saw that she was undressing customers, and then I noticed that Tang Mengyan's hair had become longer.

After returning home, Xue Qi was even more restless, until half past nine, the family suddenly received a phone call, it was from the admissions office.

Because the other party was in English, I directly transferred the phone to Xue Qi, who took a long breath after a conversation, and then looked at me, as if she was hesitating something, and stood still as if she wanted to say something.

"How?" I asked Xue Qi tentatively.

"Dad...... I ......" Xue Qi lowered her head, a little afraid to meet my gaze, as if she was afraid that it would hurt me, "I was admitted." ”

Boom.

The moment Xue Qi said this, I suddenly felt that something broke in my heart.

It wasn't until I sat back on the couch that I realized what it was.

It turned out to be the sound of the kite string breaking that had been pulling the little kite in my heart all along.

At this moment, the string broke, and the kite finally stopped being bound by me and flew away.

The moment when Xueqi and I were separated has finally arrived.

"Oh, really got in? Hehe, hey, there's strength. I just said, you're sure you'll be able to get in, right? I smirked, "I told you not to worry so much all day long, but now it's okay, it's all in vain, right?" ”

But I didn't see a smile on Xue Qi's face.

"Dad......" Xue Qi looked like she didn't know what to say.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Feeling...... It's so sudden. Xue Qi said a little embarrassed, "Suddenly I'm going to go so far away......

"Wouldn't it be nice to go to the United States? Don't you want to go? I deliberately kept my tone relaxed.

"I don't know...... Xue Qi pursed her lips, "I really wanted to go...... But now that I'm really in, I feel like I don't know what to do......"

"Why? Are you afraid that the place is too unfamiliar? I asked, "Qiqi, your English is so good, you will quickly adapt to going abroad." When you come back, you'll be half a foreign girl, maybe your mouth will be full of English, your tone will change, and your father won't understand what you're saying. Ha ha. ”

When I said this, Xueqi's expression became more complicated, and she shook her head and said:

"I'm not going to be like that...... However, I'm just worried about you, Dad. ”

I laughed, "Dad, what do I have to worry about?" ”

Xue Qi looked at me seriously and said:

"But if I go to the United States...... After Sister Yuezi and the others are gone, aren't you alone? When I think of Dad, when you come home in the future, the house is empty, dark, and you are the only one...... I'm a little scared. ”

Xue Qi sat next to me, put her hands on her thighs, and lowered her head, it was the first time I saw her think so seriously and worry about her future. At this moment, I really felt that Xueqi had grown up. She is really no longer the little girl who had to worry about everything in one hand, and she actually started to worry about me in turn.

"Oh, what's there to be afraid of, can't Dad take care of himself? Hehe. I laughed and tried to make the atmosphere a little softer.

"However, if I go to college in the United States, it will take at least four years, and ...... If I want to continue to study in the future, if I go to graduate school, it may take another three years, that is, seven years...... Seven years. I went to the United States for seven years at once, and it was difficult for my family to come back a few times...... Aren't you always home alone, Dad? When I get back...... I'm afraid that Dad, your appearance has changed, maybe I won't recognize it, and my face may be wrinkled...... As soon as I thought about it, I suddenly felt a little scared......"

Xue Qi's voice was a little choked, and she was a little difficult to speak:

"When I was young, no matter where I went, whether I traveled or went to other places, Dad, you always went with me, Dad, you took me to Hainan to see the sea, went to Xinjiang to ride horses, and took me to Harbin to see ice sculptures...... At that time, you accompanied me everywhere, and now I have to go so far away by myself, I don't know what to do......"

Xue Qi leisurely recalls the past when she was sick, I took her to travel all over China. At that time, Xue Qi was seriously ill, and I even thought that Xue Qi had little time left, so I planned to fulfill Xue Qi's wish, which was to see the outside world, so during that time, I took her all over the country, went to one city after another, saw the scenery of different places one after another, and saw the shape of ** people. That's what I owe Xueqi, so I'm going to pay her back.

"Dad, every time I go to the field, you go with me, I'm a little unaccustomed to the feeling of your absence......" Xue Qi's voice became lower and lower.

I smiled and patted Xue Qi's head lightly and said:

"It's going to take time to get used to it. At most, it's a little uncomfortable at first, and after a while, you will get used to life in the United States. Moreover, isn't Arima Bailong going with you? He is a very good boy, capable and responsible, and he also likes you very much, I am relieved to have him here. Wouldn't that be great? ”

Xue Qi still had a small face, looking preoccupied:

"But what are you going to do, Dad? What would you do if I went to the United States? Who does the laundry in the house? What about meals at home? When you're cleaning, are you busy all by yourself? Who's going to dig your earwax? There's a lot going on...... A lot of things, if I don't help my father, are you really doing well alone? ”

I laughed:

"Qiqi, what do you think of my father, I am not a child. When you were only a little slap old, your father raised you alone, can't you take care of yourself? ”

"But...... Dad, you're going to be old, too. I'm really a little scared, I'm going to go to the United States for so many years, if one day I come home, Dad, you suddenly have white hair on your head and your eyes are wrinkled, like an old man, what will happen......" Xue Qi's voice began to be a little out of tune, "Dad, I don't want to see you like that......"

I smiled wryly and said:

"Qiqi, what about being a human being, that's it, everyone gets old, and so does Dad. Even if you're at home, won't Dad get old? ”

Xue Qi snorted fiercely, and her voice was a little choked:

"But that's different...... If I was at home, I didn't feel it, and if I had been so far away for so long, it felt as if time would have changed all of a sudden...... Dad, why do people have to grow up? I'm kind of annoying. I always feel that as people grow up, there are more and more things that upset them......"

I patted Xueqi on the back, handed Xueqi a tissue, sighed, and said:

"Qiqi, everyone, it's like this. People don't grow up forever. When I was young, Dad, I was like you, very simple. I feel that this life will be so simple, but that kind of simplicity, like a flower, will be scattered when a little wind blows. After that, my dad went to elementary school, middle school, and high school, just like everyone else. In fact, Dad didn't understand why people had to study, why they had to go to class, and why they had to do their homework. Probably everyone else is doing that, so Dad should follow suit. After graduating, I went to society and came into contact with a lot of people, some helped my father when he was in difficulty, some encouraged me when my father couldn't go on, and some said bad things about my father behind my back. How good it would be if people never grew up and lived a simple life forever. Later, Dad understood, because this is life, life will not come from your nature, this is what everyone must experience. ”

"But I hate it......" Xue Qi bit her lip and said in a tone like a coquettish little girl. I don't want to see my dad get old...... Dad, I'm not going to the U.S. anymore, can't I work here all the time? I'm really a little scared...... I'm afraid that when I come back, I will change my appearance, and my father may not recognize me. ”

"But isn't the United States what you've always wanted to go? Qiqi, Dad is old, no longer when he was young, it is impossible to accompany you to the end, in the past ten years, we have all walked together, but just like two travelers who go to different places, there is always an intersection, they have to be separated. Now, it's time for us to walk the path of the two of us. Qiqi, do you understand that? ”

Xue Qi raised her head, looked at me, and whispered, "Dad...... I always feel that you have been deliberately matching me with Ma Bailong recently...... It's as if you're leaving to go to a far away place......"

My heart trembled slightly, and I smiled bitterly:

"Isn't Ma Bailong bad?"

Xue Qi lowered her head, played with her little finger, and said:

"Ma Bailong, he's very good...... But he's not your father...... If in the past, you knew that I was with Ma Bailong, I would definitely be angry, but now, you suddenly seem to be a different person, how strange...... Dad, are you trying not to get angry? ”

"What do I have to bear?" I smiled.

Xue Qi's expression was really serious, her eyes stared straight at me, and said:

"Really, I think you're really putting up with something, Dad...... You're smiling at me now, too, but I always feel like it's deliberate...... Dad, I heard you tell Sister Yuezi that day that Sister Yuhui already has a boyfriend...... Then you ...... What should I do? ”

I was shocked, I never expected Xue Qi to know about this, and hurriedly said:

"You don't have to worry about that. Qiqi, do you think you can't find a girlfriend with your father's personality charm? ”

"But over the years, Dad, haven't you always been very good with Sister Yuhui......

"Okay, Qiqi, don't talk about it! Let's go to bed early, I've got into the ...... anyway."

"Daddy!" Xue Qi's voice suddenly became louder, even I didn't expect it, I looked at Xue Qi in a daze, a little stunned, "Dad, don't hide it from me anymore, okay?" I know you're hiding something from me! You weren't like this at all before! In the past, when you saw me with Ma Bailong, you would definitely be so angry that you smashed your phone! In the past, if you knew that I was going to shoot commercials, you would definitely call and push off all those agents! Also, if you had known that other boys had written me love letters, you would have torn them all to pieces! That's like you! What's wrong with you now? ”

Xue Qi's words hit me like a thunderbolt, and I didn't expect Xue Qi to suddenly say such a thing. My chest felt like a sea overturning, and a wave of irritability swelled up.

I stared at Xue Qi as if I had never known her, and Xue Qi also looked at me quietly, waiting for my answer. I knew that if I didn't give her an answer that satisfied her, she wouldn't be comfortable leaving.

I curled my fingers slightly and took a deep breath, letting the cold air fill my lungs.

I looked at Xue Qi, and then said word by word:

"Because Dad has a woman he likes. In fact, my father has been in love with a woman all this time, and ...... Maybe we will get married in a short time, and by then, Qiqi will have a mother...... So, Qiqi, do you understand? If Qiqi were by your father's side, it would hinder your father from falling in love. ”

My words were like a thunderbolt from the blue to Xueqi, and I saw Xueqi standing in place, and the corners of her eyes were wet.

Xue Qi looked at me blankly, and then said word by word:

"Liar. Dad, you're lying to me again. ”

My emotions also started to get agitated: "I don't. Really, Qiqi, Dad has a woman he likes, not Sister Yuhui, it's another woman. ”

"Liar." Xue Qi still repeated this sentence, "Dad, you are perfunctory to me." Father...... I don't want to go to the U.S. anymore. ”

My mood became more and more irritable, like droplets of oil rolling on a pan of oil.

"Okay, don't believe it, do you? Then Dad brings that new mother back, Qiqi, you go to the United States, okay? ”

Xue Qi looked at me steadily, as if she couldn't believe that I would ask her such a rhetorical question, but she finally looked at me stubbornly and said:

"Okay."

"Okay, Qiqi, then this sentence is settled, Dad brings his girlfriend back, and you go back to the United States." I accentuated my voice to emphasize the sentence, this is a bet between me and Xueqi.

Xue Qi stood in front of the sofa and looked at me, I saw her eyes red, and then she turned around and ran towards the spiral staircase as if she was angry, and after a while, I heard the sound of the room door closing.

Listening to the sound of Xue Qi's room door closing, a strong resentment and unwillingness suddenly surged in my heart.

This is an unwillingness to fate.

I know I don't want Xueqi to go at all.

I want to be with Qiqi.

Together forever.

But that's for Xue Qi's good, Xue Qi stays by my side, and she will only continue to encounter danger and will not be happy.

It's already predestined. Even if I don't want to, I can only do this.

Listening to Xueqi's footsteps running away, I took out my mobile phone and dialed Ma Bailong's number.

After three rings, the phone went through.

"Uncle Yang?"

"Ma Bailong...... You listen to me, from now on, I will hand over Xueqi to you, she is my daughter, and the most precious thing in my life, even if it is to exchange my life for me...... I beg you, when you arrive in the United States, you must take care of her...... Qiqi she is very simple, I don't understand a lot of things, I'm really afraid that she will suffer, she was sick when she was a child, and now sometimes her body is still very weak, she can't withstand the wind and waves, and it will be uncomfortable to eat something cold, and she needs someone to take care of her, and sometimes she is in a bad mood, and she will ask someone to comfort her and tell her jokes...... I, Yang Jiandong, have won many times in my life, but this time, I lost, Ma Bailong, you won, you won completely. I rarely ask people for anything, but this is really a request for the rest of my life...... If you treat her badly in the slightest, if you make her shed a tear, if you make her lose even a hair! Even if I only have one hand left, I'm going to crawl to find you and cut you with a thousand cuts, do you understand? ”

Ma Bailong was taken aback by my rushing tone, but he quickly understood my intentions, and after a few seconds of silence, Ma Bailong said:

"Thank you, Uncle Yang...... I see what you mean. I will always be good to Qiqi. Because...... I really...... Love her very much. ”

The last three words are what I have always hoped to hear from Ma Bailong's mouth, after hearing these three words, I was really satisfied, I hung up the phone directly, and then lay on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling of the living room, stunned.

I don't know when, the confinement came, holding a cup of steaming black tea in his hand, and then sat down beside me silently, without saying anything.

Seeing the confinement, my nose suddenly became sore, and I reached out and wiped my slightly moist eyes fiercely.

"Did you hear the phone call?" I didn't look over, rubbed my eyes, and didn't look at the confinement.

"Hmm." Yuezi just hummed softly. "Brother, you're crying."

I sniffled hard, didn't look at the confinement, just lowered my head, looked at the floor, and asked the confinement in a choked voice:

"Confinement ...... Do you think, Qiqi and Ma Bailong, are they worthy? You don't have pity on me, don't take care of my feelings, I want you to tell the truth. Yuezi, I want to hear you tell the truth. ”

"Brother," Yuezi gently stretched out her hand, grabbed my wrist, and said in her soft voice like warm water, "I know, it's really not easy for you. ”

Yuezi didn't answer me directly, but continued:

"Brother, you know what? Japan is a strange country where almost everyone believes that if one gains something, one loses something. Therefore, some people say that Japanese culture is cherry blossom culture, and just like cherry blossoms, when those beautiful things bloom, they will also wither. I guess it's the same with life, everyone gains something and loses something. The more a person gains, the more he loses. It's like I got a brother and then lost a man who might be with me for the rest of my life, isn't it? …… One day, Qiqi will understand this truth too. She will always know that we are all cherry blossoms, just withering sooner or later. ”

Yuezi didn't answer my words, but her words poked the most sensitive part of my heart, and I put my arms around Yuezi, hugged her tightly, and sobbed softly in her arms. Yuezi didn't push me away, just let me hold her, she stroked my broken hair with her slender fingertips, and sighed softly.

With the comfort of the confinement, I was like a wounded beast, my hands clutching her sleeves, and my throat sobbing uncontrollably.

"Confinement ...... I really...... I love Qiqi...... I really...... I really want to be with her forever...... Be her dad and take care of her all the time, just like before...... I really want to...... But...... I can't do it! I can't do it!! ”

That night, I didn't sleep all night.

In front of that sofa, I thought about a lot of things, about the future, about the world, about Xueqi, and myself.

Maybe I didn't think about it as much in my life as I did that night.

Until noon the next day, I received a second call from the admissions office, this time, it was Yuezi who answered the call, the content was very simple, that is, Xueqi passed the written test, and she also needed to participate in the interview, although the interview procedure was simple, but she still had to be present in person. Therefore, before the end of the month, Xueqi must go to the United States, according to Yuezi, you can go through the procedures quickly in the way of traveling to the United States, if you find a faster business agency, it will be done in about two or three days.

As for Ma Bailong's side, they have already begun to prepare, and with Ma Bailong's ability, there is no problem at all in passing the exam.

But the next day, when I asked Xue Qi to go to the embassy to apply for a visa, Xue Qi played a trick, hid in her room and pretended to sleep, and refused to come out, I urged her to get up, but she covered her face with the quilt, and refused to move in the quilt. I tried to convince her several times, but Xueqi began to hesitate again, incoherently saying that she wanted to go to high school in China and didn't want to go abroad. She said she wanted to meet her classmates and her teachers. All in all, it is all kinds of reasons to delay the time to go to the visa.

There was no way, so I had to call Ma Bailong to persuade her in person, because at this time, I knew that only Ma Bailong could persuade her.

Ma Bailong is the person who is the most convincing to Xueqi.

I watched Ma Bailong walk into Xue Qi's room and sit on the edge of her bed, with a soft look on her face, and Xue Qi's cheeks suddenly turned blood-red. She didn't expect me to do it.

I looked at them, and finally, smiled at them, and said, I'm going to buy them cantaloupe.

Then, silently, he exited the room and closed the door.

Leave this small space to these two young people.

Growing up is always accompanied by the pain of tearing, just like the candy that has been clutched in your hand, or the doll that has been held in your arms, one day it is ruthlessly taken away, you run around, cry bitterly, but no one can help you. As the years go by, this pain will form a faint scab in the depths of your soul, and even you think that you have forgotten the original pain, until on a long rainy day, you will suddenly remember it on the road, and the dusty memories in your heart will come out with a faint pain, and it will last for a whole rainy season.

Half an hour after I left home, I was in the fruit shop watching the news of an amateur boxing match in the city, and I received a call from Yuezi. Yuezi said that this time, even Ma Bailong failed to convince Xue Qi, and Xue Qi was still very hesitant.

"Brother, what should I do? Time is running out. ”

I replied in a calm voice:

"I see. I'll figure it out. ”

"Brother, listen to your tone, do you have any plans?" Confinement asked me.

"I ...... To go to a place. "I'll say it simply.

"Where? How long to go? ”

"Where to go, I don't know. I don't know how long I went. I answered the confinement truthfully.

"Brother, don't mess around......" Yuezi heard that my voice was abnormal, and her tone began to mix with worry.

But before I could get my answer, I turned off my phone, got in the car, and drove straight to the mall where I had bought clothes that day.

By the time I arrived at the mall, it was already four o'clock in the afternoon, and the autumn sky always darkened very quickly, and when I walked into the revolving door of the mall, the sky was already covered with a layer of gloomy gray.

I walked down the aisle of the mall, store by storefront, and when I mentally counted to 5 o'clock, I stopped in front of a clothing store.

I saw the familiar figure.

Six years ago, I owed a debt, and today, it's time to settle it.