The old man didn't ask Lu Ming where the pendant came from, and Lu Ming didn't explain the preciousness of the pendant to the old man.

Just like at the beginning, Lu Ming thought that the old man was an ordinary old man, just a lonely old man in Shrek City, and the two of them joined the group to keep warm.

But he didn't know that some people who appeared at certain times came with a clear purpose, and that some seemingly warm situations might just be a hoax.

The old man was never an ordinary man, he was observing, or rather studying, and his might could see something, something crazy to the point of suicide.

Although he didn't see as thoroughly as the devil, he could still understand many things that the world didn't understand, and as he approached Lu Ming, a grotesque and crazy speculation grew out of his mind.

He couldn't believe it, he didn't even dare to think about the truth of that idea, there was nothing in this world that could make him feel fear, not even death. But after that thought came out of my mind, tons of fear and confusion were forced into my mind.

He didn't even dare to tell anyone else about this idea, otherwise others would probably think that he had lost his mind, was old, and delirious, after all, this crazy and grotesque idea was not acceptable to anyone.

Today is the New Year, and the old man left early after cooking with Lu Ming two days ago, and Lu Ming was once again the only one left in this room.

It snowed in Shrek City, the first snow of the new year, mixed with strong winds, swept everywhere. Families are at home enjoying the reunion of loved ones and the warmth of the stove.

Lu Ming lit the fireplace, the charcoal burning fire slowly dispelled the cold in the room, and the firelight was reflected on the wall, cutting out the reflection of Lu Ming alone.

Lu Ming didn't want to move, today's weather seemed to freeze him, he sat by the fireplace in a daze, drinking a cup of hot tea, but still couldn't dispel the cold in his body.

The old man probably won't come today, Lu Ming thought like this, even if the children are not filial, they will get together today, chat a few words, and talk about a few family things.

Lu Ming's eyes reflected the firelight, shining, wearing a thick woolen coat, exhaling a few hot breaths. The howling wind and snow slammed violently on the windows and wooden doors, and the air flow penetrated into the room along the cracks, blowing on Lu Ming's face, like a knife, painful.

He was a little hungry, but he didn't want to cook, as if the ice and snow had frozen the whole person, and he didn't want to move anything, he just wanted to sit here in a daze.

He brought out the stack of cold shortbread from the kitchen, and when he took a bite, it was hard, it was cold, it tasted like ice cubes, and it was hard to eat.

He suddenly felt sad, and he didn't know where the sadness came from, like the wind and snow in Shrek City, without any warning.

He missed Old Man Lu a little, originally he thought that he had adapted to Old Man Lu's departure, but in the past few years, like a stone, he forgot time and sadness.

Gradually, he learned to take care of himself, he learned to cook good meals, he learned to be alone in this dangerous society, and he learned to take care of his body.

A lot of times, the sudden departure doesn't make it sad, as if that person isn't that important. Only when the years gradually swallow up life, this indescribable sadness will gradually accumulate in my heart, like a stone, as cold as the wind and snow in Shrek City.

There were two pairs of dishes and chopsticks on the table, still the familiar dishes and chopsticks, the familiar table, and the familiar fireplace, but this time there was only Lu Ming alone.

He shifted his body and slowly opened the familiar room, opened the box, and pulled out the neat and ridiculous scarf.

Carefully around the neck, some small, some ugly, carefully dressed themselves in the mirror, the lame appearance in the mirror is ridiculous, like a circus clown.

He sat back in his cold seat once more, and lit the lantern with the two little figures with the wood from the fireplace, and the light of the fire seemed to laugh at him, and the screeching sound reflected the ridiculous appearance on the wall.

Mixed with hot water, he swallowed a mouthful of hard meatloaf, Lu Ming cried, he felt so wronged, so sad, so cold, as if he was swallowed by the wind and snow in Shrek City, he couldn't go back......

The tide of sadness overwhelmed him, sinking the whole person to the cold bottom of the sea, and the water pressure fell evenly on every inch of skin, cold and suffocating.

Looking at the lantern and feeling the small warmth on his neck, Lu Ming shook the lantern like a fool, and brought his hand closer to feel the warmth in the firelight.

The manic wind and snow never stop, as if trying to destroy this house, destroy the lonely traveler who is adrift in a foreign land.

Knock knock

A small knock on the door was especially piercing in the huge sound of wind and snow, Lu Ming hurriedly opened the door, and outside was a kitten, black, small, shivering.

"You're a human being, too."

Lu Ming carefully picked up the kitten, put it in his arms, melted the wind and snow outside the kitten's body with his body, took out a small mat, and put the kitten on it.

took out a small plate, poured a little hot water on it, and watched the kitten drink the hot water greedily, Lu Ming laughed and touched the kitten's head.

A man, a cat, curled up in a small room on a snowy day, snuggled up by a tiny fireplace.

The weather is still the same, the wind and snow never stop, except for the silence of the Fengtian Tavern, the entire Shrek City is in a midst of laughter and laughter, and the rare preciousness is experienced in the passage of time.

The weather is not early, and the already weak sunlight is like old age, trembling, and may be extinguished at any time, devastated in the wind and snow.

The old man shouldn't be coming, Lu Ming thought again, opened the door to look at the faint sunlight outside the window, the fire in the hazy wind and snow, and slowly closed the door, blocking the wind and snow outside the door.

Knock knock

There was another knock on the door, as if it were endless, mingling with the sound of the wind and snow.

Lu Ming slowly opened the door, and there was an old man standing outside the door, wearing a thick jacket, his eyebrows and beard were full of snowflakes, carrying a cloth bag in his hand, and a smile on his face.

Lu Ming was stunned for a moment, and then a smile bloomed on his face like facial paralysis, and he rubbed his red eyes.

"Why are you here?"

"The old man doesn't worry about your kid alone, today is still the New Year, I'm braving the wind and snow to come here, is it easy for me, hurry up and let me in"

Even if you come with a purpose, even if you see the terrible truth, who can say clearly, this period of time is because of some purpose or simply because of some emotion?

No one said it clearly, and no one cared, only two people in a cramped tavern on a snowy day, and that was enough, and that was enough......