That Nameless Summer Chapter 21

memories

The snow was still falling, falling all over the window sill, turning the glass into a blur of white.Song Li held the insulated bag that was still warm, but the warmth on her fingertips could not offset the coldness in her heart.

When Ling Qingye’s back disappeared into the snow, he stood at the entrance of the corridor and suddenly remembered the winter when he was five years old.It was also such a cold day, and it was also snowing. He squatted on the threshold of the old house and watched his father carrying the suitcase and walking away without looking back.His mother knelt down and touched his head. Her eyes were red, but she smiled and said, “Li Li, be good, mom will stay with you from now on.”

Later, his mother took him to get married, and a younger sister named Xu Jiangyou was born in the family.

Xu Jiangyou was still a little girl with a round face at that time.Those days were not too bad, until his mother and second husband also came to an end, dragging him and Xu Jiangyou to their current home.

His current father has never given him a good look.The silence at the dinner table, the impatience in his eyes, and the phrase “either biological or immature” occasionally mixed in the quarrels, were like thin thorns that stuck in his heart for many years.

He learned to shut up, learn to hide his worries in his stomach, and learned to quietly hide in his room to read and do questions when he was ignored.

Xu Jiangyou always said that he was too boring and that he kept everything in his heart.

But she didn’t know that speaking out about some grievances would only make those who care about her more sad.

Just like his mother, who dragged her tired body back from the factory every day and forced a smile on her face to ask him “How was your day?” How could he bear to trouble her again.

The phone vibrated again. It was a message from Xu Jiangyou: [Brother, my mother said you didn’t eat at home. Do you want me to bring you some fried noodles?】

Song Li replied “No”, moved his fingertips across the screen, and stopped at the chat box with Ling Qingye.The message “Winter vacation is over, let’s go to school together” lay there quietly, like a small flame, shining a faint light in the cold winter.

He looked down at the thermal bag in his hand. The dumplings inside were still hot, and they were his favorite fillings.How did Ling Qingye know?Maybe he mentioned it casually when we went to the night market together last time.

It turns out that there are really people who will take your casual words to heart.

The snow outside the window gradually became lighter, and the sun struggled to shine through the clouds and fell on the snow, reflecting tiny pieces of light.Song Li held the thermal bag and walked slowly back to the room.There was an unfinished exercise book spread out on the desk, and next to it lay the clean coat that Ling Qingye had left at his home.He walked over and touched the fabric gently, and suddenly remembered what Ling Qingye said, “The year my dad got divorced, I was at home alone.”

It turns out they are the same person.In the same way, I survived winter after winter alone in the long dark night.

He opened the thermal bag, took out the dumplings and took a bite. The warm soup spread in his mouth, with a faint salty aroma.My eyes suddenly felt a little hot, not sad, but an indescribable feeling, like the first ray of sunshine in winter, warm but a little astringent.

The phone dinged. It was from Ling Qingye: [The road is slippery in the snow, don’t run around.】

Song Li looked at the words and curled his lips.He didn’t reply, just put his phone in his pocket, walked to the window, and watched the snow in the alley slowly melt, revealing the blue-gray stone road.

The winter vacation is not over yet, and spring seems to be not far away.