Qingyou was very grateful to Boss Gu, who was a stranger to her and was willing to help, but Boss Gu just smiled and said that because the year she asked about it was the year when her father founded Xiaocao Photo Studio, it had a very special meaning to her father.
I also wanted to see if my old father could remember something. At that time, my father kept a lot of photos at home, maybe they could help.
When she arrived at Boss Gu's house, Qingyou learned what a photography family was. Photography and painting had something in common. She knew at a glance that Boss Gu and his father were both very good photographers.
Mr. Gu, who was over seventy years old, was taking a nap in a rocking chair. The nanny told him not to disturb him. Boss Gu invited Qingyou to the small room where her father kept photos. It was a microcosm of an era. Qingyou was stunned.
"Ms. Xia, the photos you mentioned 36 years ago should be in..." Boss Gu's fingers slid through the dusty photo albums, "This one!" He had always been very sensitive to photos, so he took out one and said confidently
, "It should be here. You can check to see if there is any deposit."
Qingyou took the thick photo album and said, "Thank you, but...it's useless even if I have a record. I've seen the photos. I want to know the specific things..."
"Actually, at that time... I was sixteen or seventeen years old. I spent all day hanging around my father studying cameras. I think my memory should be much deeper than my father's."
Qingyou nodded excitedly and turned her attention back to the photo album, "The photo I'm looking for was taken in October 1974..."
"The photo studio opened in October!" Boss Gu was also excited, and he quickly turned to the October album.
Qingyou's eyes lit up and she pointed to the first picture at the top of the current page, "That's it!"
Boss Gu took out the photo from the album, touched his chin and thought about it carefully. Qingyou watched him pacing around the room expectantly, not daring to make a sound to interrupt him. "Well... I really don't have any impression!" Finally, Boss Gu said
I finally gave up, and the passage of time ruthlessly erased the memory of 36 years ago.
Qingyou lowered her head in disappointment, but inadvertently noticed that there seemed to be writing on the back of the photo that Boss Gu was holding. She immediately took it over and took a look. A dense row of small words were neatly written in the lower right corner of the photo - May lovers eventually get married.
Photographed on October 26, 1974. This layout confirmed her original guess that her mother Xia Rou and Zhang Zhekai were indeed lovers.
"Miss Xia, are you okay?" Boss Gu asked worriedly when he saw Qingyou dazed and her face turned pale.
Qingyou waved her hand gently, "I'm fine..." She raised her head, "Boss Gu, thank you, I think I already know... I have other things to go first, can you try to continue thinking about what happened back then?
It’s best to ask Mr. Gu, because this matter is really important to me!”
"good!"
Qingyou took out her business card and handed it to him, "This is my business card. If you have any news, please call me immediately."
"Um…"
After leaving Boss Gu's house, Qingyou wandered around again as if she had lost her soul. Does Zhang Zhekai know that she is Xia Rou's daughter? Does he know that Xia Rou was kidnapped and raped by Jiang Hua? What would he do to himself if he knew?
Just as she was thinking hard, a car honked its horn, and the harsh sound pierced her eardrums. She suddenly woke up. It turned out that she had run a red light unknowingly, and she quickly retreated to the side of the road.
"You're looking for death!" The car driver cursed loudly at Qingyou. Qingyou just stood blankly. She felt that this scene was so familiar. She had foolishly taken that step before. But now, she didn't dare anymore.
It’s not that she is timid, it’s just that if a person is not afraid of death, then how can she still be afraid of living?!
Zhang Zhekai, who was in the hospital, was anxiously waiting for Qingyou to bring the medical record card. He called several times but couldn't get through. Just when he wanted to be discharged and go home first, Qingyou came in a hurry.
"Why so late?! Don't you know I'm waiting?" Zhang Zhekai rarely had a scolding tone.
Qingyou wiped her sweat and softened her tone, "Isn't it the art exhibition in Pudong? They said that a child accidentally made a few random strokes on a painting and it couldn't be repaired. They asked me to send another one over quickly."
Zhang Zhekai was dubious, "If there is such a thing, how could the exhibition staff be so careless?"
Qingyou stepped forward to help the bloated man sitting on the hospital bed, "Yes, that's why I came so late, otherwise I would definitely put your affairs first." She knew that Zhang Zhekai was a very suspicious person, and she only had
Be cautious in your words and actions to avoid leaking any clues.
"Your cell phone..."
"Oh, maybe the power is out of power and the phone shuts down." Qingyou put one hand into her bag and pressed the power button in front of Zhang Zhekai. The phone lit up for a moment and then showed that the battery was low and then shut down automatically. Only then did Zhang Zhekai believe it.
He followed Qingyou out of the ward with peace of mind.
It was already evening when he got home, and Qingyou started cooking as usual. Although Zhang Zhekai is the boss of a medium-sized company, his life is very simple. Before Qingyou, he did all the housework by himself, and Qingyou was independent.
Once you're used to it, you don't care if someone is waiting for you. Doing it yourself will be fulfilling.
Zhang Zhekai walked into the study, took out a bunch of keys from the pen holder, very carefully opened the small lock on the third drawer on the right side of the bookcase, took out the box inside and put it on the desk. He sat down slowly, as if touching the treasures in the world.
Touching the box, the things inside are his lifelong treasures. It's like Lin Meihong's collection of marriage certificates. People of that age will always put their most precious things in a certain place, which means to keep happiness.
He opened the small lock on the box tremblingly again, and the photos in the box were still lying there quietly, and the beloved girl in the photos still smiled brightly. Wait... No! Zhang Zhekai squinted his eyes, and he clearly put one of them
The photos were placed on top of the box. How come they are all inside the box now? Someone has moved it...could it be Xia Qingyou?!
There was sudden movement outside the door, "Who?!" Zhang Zhekai looked towards the door keenly.
Qingyou, who was wearing an apron, opened the door and came in, "It's time to eat..."
"I know..." Zhang Zhekai closed the box calmly, "You go out, I'll be back in a minute!"
"Okay!" Qingyou exited and closed the door. She had just seen Zhang Zhekai walk into the study and carefully peeked through the crack in the door. She saw that he had indeed taken out the box to reminisce, but she carelessly touched the door.
Zhang Zhekai retracted the box into the drawer. The thick and rough fat layer on his face showed no expression. He walked out of the study and saw the virtuous woman shuttled back and forth between the kitchen and the dining table. This beautiful image was very reminiscent of the summer softness that year.
.
Qingyou served him a bowl of rice, "You have a bad stomach, so I cooked it thinly today. I originally wanted to cook porridge, but I'm afraid you won't be full and you'll get sick again if you're hungry in the middle of the night... Eat quickly, and take medicine after eating."
, and then go to bed early!”
He quietly pulled up the chair next to the dining table and sat down, picked up the food and started eating. Qingyou secretly looked at the man opposite him with her peripheral vision, feeling uneasy and frightened.