Xiao Yuting sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, and called Yu Jiawei back, telling her not to worry, he just didn't look at his phone.

He didn't tell anyone, so he went to the hospital for a checkup by himself. It turned out that there was nothing serious wrong with him, but it was just a disease common to old people.

Then, he went to a nursing home on his own initiative.

I have lived in a nursing home for more than ten years.

One group of elderly people came to the nursing home, and then another group came. He watched them being welcomed and sent away. He was alone, as if he was an outsider who had nothing to do with him.

Until today, it is his eighty-first birthday.

Yu Jiawei asked her granddaughter and grandson to order a big cake for him and come over to celebrate his birthday. Xiao Liang also called his juniors over, and the whole room gathered in a lively manner.

After the excitement, the juniors left, and Xiao Yuting walked to the gate to watch them leave.

After the bustle, there was a loneliness that belonged to him alone.

The old director of the nursing home is his old classmate.

The old dean came from behind with his hands behind his back and asked him to drink.

Under the night light, Xiao Yuting drank half a glass.

The dean said: "Your whole life has passed like this, don't you feel any regret?"

Xiao Yuting smiled.

He looked down at the age spots on the back of his hands, "What's missing?"

"Without a wife and children, I am lonely in my old age and have to live alone in a nursing home."

"Those who have children, don't they also need to live in nursing homes?"

Old Dean: "It's always different."

Xiao Yuting stroked his wine glass and did not answer.

Back in the room, Xiao Yuting collected the half-eaten cakes on the table and put them in the refrigerator.

Looking at the birthday candles placed on the table, he suddenly lost his mind and suddenly remembered his eighteenth birthday.

On the cake is an 18-year-old candle. The candlelight is swaying, showing Yang Bei's soft face.

He has grown so old, but her face will always remain in that most beautiful and blooming age.

Xiao Yuting sat alone in front of the bed, his back a little stooped, and he looked up at the crescent moon in the sky.

Moonlight poured in from the window, and the figure fell on the ground.

Any regrets?

There must always be some shortcomings to be complete.

Just a different life experience.

He didn't feel any regret.

Before Xiao's mother passed away, she held Xiao Yuting's hand and lamented that if there was any chance, she would never ask Father Xiao to arrange Yang Bei to be Xiao Yuting's teacher.

If there is if.

He will still choose to meet Yang Bei and Yu Jiawei, to participate in their lives and pass through their world.

After this birthday, Xiao Yuting drew up a will.

Part of his property was left to Xinghui, and part was left to Xiao Liang's children.

end of the year.

First snow.

Outside the window, snowflakes fell, and the ground was covered with frosty white.

This day.

Xiao Yuting passed away.

He passed away peacefully, without any pain, and even had a smile on his lips.

Just like before.

He was 81 years old.

…

Yang Leqing turned over.

She touched the side of the man's pillow and opened her eyes.

The man is sitting on the bed.

In the darkness, the faint night light outlines his silhouette.

She blinked her eyes and saw that he was still motionless, as if he was in trance.

Yang Leqing reached out and took his hand, whispering: "What time is it?"

Xiao Yuting came to his senses.

He slowly turned back, lowered his eyes on Yang Leqing's ignorant sleeping face, and said in a hoarse voice: "It's only four o'clock, it's still early, please sleep a little longer."

"Well." Yang Leqing came closer to Xiao Yuting, "Husband, why don't you sleep?"

"I had a dream and woke up."

Yang Leqing was so sleepy that she closed her eyes and asked softly: "What dream?"

Xiao Yuting lay down and hugged her over.

"I dreamed about when I was old."

Yang Leqing's breathing was shallow and she put her arms softly on his chest, "I'll be old by then and turn into a white-haired old lady..."

Xiao Yuting is very close to her.

He was so close that he could see the shallow wrinkles on her slightly narrowed eyelids through the night light.

"Well, you are just like me."

Yang Leqing sniffed the scent on his body.

It was the same fragrance as the shower gel she wore.

"Then I'm old and ugly, will you still like me?"

She was half asleep and asked this easily.

Maybe when she wakes up the next day, she won't remember anything she said or did.

But Xiao Yuting didn't deal with her either.

He replied seriously: "I like you."

Yang Leqing raised the corners of her mouth, squinted her eyes and kissed his chin, "I like you too, husband."

At this moment, his heart seemed to be filled with tenderness.

It's completely different from the feeling of just waking up from a dream, with hot flashes in the corners of your eyes, and an empty feeling in your heart.

Different choices, different trajectories, different life experiences.

No matter how he chooses, he will never regret it.

Xiao Yuting kissed her gently on her eyelids.

"Good night, Lele."

…

After returning from the town, Xiao Yuting went to the cemetery.

He brought a bouquet of flowers that he personally selected and matched.

He leaned over and placed the flowers in front of Yang Bei's tombstone.

On the tombstone, the woman in the photo smiled her most beautiful smile at him every year.

Even the delicate flowers are eclipsed by them.

Until now, when he thinks of Yang Bei, he no longer has the throbbing and passion of youth in his youth, but he still remembers her clearly.

The woman who once ignited his youth.

"I am married."

he said.

"Her name is Lele and she is a pediatrician. I will take her to see you next time."

He turned and left.

The afterglow of the setting sun shines on the horizon, and the light orange light shines on the photo on the tombstone, and the man's figure gradually moves away.

…
To be continued...