two

By the time Kang Jie received my text message, it was nearly noon. She had already analyzed my thoughts from the literal meaning of the words, so she did not say much in a roundabout way.

"How do you speak?" Aunt Chen frowned. "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You always avoid Tang Xi. When Luo Xun came to our house back then, why didn't I see you rush back to your room as soon as you returned?"

A Tibetan person, holding a prayer wheel and murmuring words, walked past me. The sunlight illuminated their calm and serene face, evoking a sense of distant tranquility, as if they had devoted all their reverence to faith, free from all worldly concerns

It is only in front of Kang Jie that I can be so vulgar and direct: "It is only now that it is dark in Lhasa, I find this scene very beautiful, yet I do not know who to share it with, so I am calling you to show off a little."

Kang Jie did not call out to him, and at that moment, a huge question arose in her mind

At that time, I always thought there would be opportunities in the future, after all, we are still young, and eventually, there will be chances for us to be together again, to travel with our backpacks, to witness the rise and fall of the winds and clouds, to observe the ebb and flow of the tides

I am even less aware that later she went to take the self-examination, casually explaining to others, "I just want to give myself an explanation," not because of Su Shiqi's public ridicule, but because I—her best friend Cheng Luoxun—unintentionally revealed my disdain for her

Alright, let's go to the restaurant over there in the new building for a meal

I swear that at the moment I blurted out that sentence, I truly had no intention of belittling her! I was simply accustomed to speaking without thinking in front of her, saying whatever came to my mind without any consideration for her feelings

I feel it is quite worth celebrating. I later went to the bar and never saw you again. Your colleagues said you no longer work there. I wanted to ask them for your phone number, thinking I could invite you to dinner to make amends when I had the chance, but they all said they weren't familiar with you and only knew that your name was Kang Jie

Have you ever seen such a beautiful and strange sky, where at dusk, the entire canopy presents a jewel-like blue? If I had not witnessed it with my own eyes, I would almost think it was a photo with enhanced saturation

At that time, her appetite was always particularly good; she couldn't help but indulge when she saw delicious food, and naturally, she couldn't lose weight.

The old woman with a face full of wrinkles approached, turning the prayer wheel, and tremblingly extended her hand. I gave her all the coins I had in my hand, and her aged face broke into a smile, resembling ripples appearing on the surface of a tranquil lake.

I witnessed this scene, and a gentle wave of emotion surged within me, moved by this ordinary yet solemn moment

On the plateau, it gets dark late, and it is not until nearly 9 o'clock that the sky gradually darkens

Kang Jie originally wanted to say: "Eat your sister's food!" Just as the words were on the tip of her tongue, someone walked over, put an arm around Xiao Hang's shoulder, and turned to Kang Jie, saying: "Hey, you two know each other, what a coincidence."

In certain matters, I have always been a pessimist

But long after, Sister Suran told me that one of the happiest things in the world is that as a pessimist, one can still hold hope and dreams for certain beauties in life

At this point, Tang Xi came to a stop, and Xu Zhijun's footsteps also came to a halt.

Mom, I am not a companion again" he said deliberately

It seems that since that day, the originally chaotic matters between them have become clear and distinct. Tang Xi has no qualms about introducing Xu Zhijun to her friends, and she always maintains a composed expression in the face of others' meaningful smiles and glances.

However, it was not because of him that Xu Zhijun felt a bit of sadness upon recalling this; his sorrow and grief were not for himself.

"Am I being overly sensitive? You know the answer yourself." Tang Xi's voice was not loud, but her tone was unfriendly

I had just taken two bites of my meal when my phone vibrated. I originally thought it was that neurotic Kang Jie wanting to report on Xu Zhijun's new romance. In a fit of anger, I pressed to check, and to my surprise, it was Lu Zhiyao!

But right after that, I thought to myself: Hey, you wouldn't just leave me here, would you?

It was at that moment that I realized I was in the right place

We took a look around and thought she... At this point, he pointed at Kang Jie in front of him, saying, "The most beautiful, so we chose her as a joke. I didn't expect her to have such a sharp tongue, causing me to be laughed at by that bunch of monkeys and their gang for a long time..."

She was thoroughly startled, the scoundrel, it turned out, was that wretch who treated her as if she were an iPhone 4

He certainly understands what his mother means; it is indeed a laborious effort for her to constantly think of ways to bring him together with Tang Xi.

Alright, let's confirm that.

The first time he finished playing billiards with a few friends and returned home for dinner, after parking the car and opening the door, he was surprised to find Tang Xi sitting in his living room watching television

The afternoon before, she went to the supermarket and saw Xu Zhijun standing not far in front of her, facing sideways. Just as she was about to call his name to greet him, Tang Xi suddenly appeared from the side

After chatting for a few moments, she hung up the phone. It was only after I took a few steps that I suddenly realized the original intention of making this call

Aunt Chen had always been very cautious about mentioning the past in front of Xu Zhijun. She comforted herself by saying that young people's relationships are often filled with breakups and reconciliations, and that he is still so young; any emotional turmoil would pass in a hundred days. However, after Tang Xi's appearance, she began to experience some subtle changes in her heart.

What does it mean to be "asking for a beating"? People like me are indeed called "asking for a beating". As expected, my questioning angered him: "Damn! Am I that kind of person?"

Let's just go to sleep, as we have to climb the Potala Palace tomorrow afternoon. If we don't sleep now, where will we get the energy from? I thought to myself, fine, good night, Lhasa, good night to those who are beside other girls

As I took off my headphones, I touched the earring on my left ear, and I fell into a state of sadness once again

There is a person who does not take him seriously at all

I gazed at the Potala Palace, which was within arm's reach, as my thoughts surged like clouds in the sky

What does it mean to say that? Isn't it equivalent to directly admitting that Xu Zhijun is not just a passerby to me, not just a bystander? Isn't it equivalent to confessing that, in my heart, he is different from other men

Just as he was thinking this, his mother came to knock on the door

What are you doing cooped up in the room? Go down and keep Tang Xi company

A little later, Xu Zhijun, following his mother's orders, was about to take Tang Xi home. As he picked up the car keys and prepared to open the door, he was stopped by Tang Xi, who said: "Don't drive, it's too tiring. I can just take a taxi back myself."

I heard that you have a girlfriend? I am truly happy for you

After I managed to get through to Kang Jie, it took her a long time to answer. She opened with, "What’s wrong? Did that Lu Zhiyao abandon you, and you’re calling to cry about it?"

It is evident that this building has some history, with yellowish and white mottled marks all over the walls, faintly hinting at a sense of antiquity. However, what is astonishing is that every wall is filled with writing and adorned with paintings, including the ceiling, making it hard to imagine how they accomplished this.

You can accommodate anyone in your heart, just do not let me reside within it

Xu Zhijun, you truly have no thoughts about me. Tang Xi has already made a diagnosis in her heart, but... I do have feelings for you

This is the only Tibetan phrase whose meaning I know, auspicious and fulfilling

"I don't feel that there is anything worth being happy about at all," Kang Jie thought in her heart and said exactly what was on her mind.

At this moment, she gazed at Xu Zhijun's unmistakable expression of impatience and softly said, "In my opinion, Tang Xi is better than Luo Xun"

Anyone who has met Lu Zhiyao knows that he has an incredibly strong presence. Just now, as I looked at that text message, I almost wanted to kneel down in front of my phone, begging him to forgive my indiscreet words

Looking at the face of joy and surprise across from her, Kang Jie felt as if she might as well end her life on the spot

Kang Jie felt disdainful towards the words spoken by the leader, but under the circumstances, she had no choice but to lower her head. Thus, she could only smile and nod, saying: "No pain, no gain."

When summer officially arrived, Xu Zhijun would almost see Tang Xi every day, and surprisingly, the place where they met most frequently was actually at his home

In the small square of the Brada Palace, there is a large flock of pigeons. In the afternoon, two Tibetan individuals, resembling a grandmother and her grandson, are feeding them here. The grandmother shakily takes out some unknown substance from a red bag and scatters it on the ground, causing the flock of pigeons to gather around them and then slowly disperse.

We have never been together, nor have we ever held hands while shopping like others do, nor have we shared fried street food, watched movies together in a dark cinema, or stolen kisses when no one was watching... We have never snuggled on the sofa watching mindless variety shows, then gone to sleep together, and woken up in the morning to have breakfast together

I do not have complete confidence that he will arrive as scheduled and fulfill all that he has promised me. I am prepared for the possibility that he may not come to see me at all, or even provide any explanation before disappearing completely

We have not shared any of the trivial matters of daily life together, let alone travel.

Xu Zhijun clearly found it somewhat difficult to cope. Ever since his breakup with Luo Xun, he seemed to have been living a solitary life, with no girls around him. Now, suddenly, someone as blunt as Tang Xi had appeared, and he was feeling a bit flustered.

After leaving his home, the two of them walked silently for a while, neither of them speaking, as if they were both waiting for the other to speak first

I sat alone in the restaurant and ordered the cheapest fried rice on the menu. To my surprise, the portion of the fried rice was generous and the taste was quite good. The price of 8 yuan is indeed very reasonable

Yes, it is rigid! This word popped into Kang Jie’s mind when she finished her soy milk, and no other term could more accurately describe the strange feeling between Xu Zhijun and that Tang Xi beauty.

Fart!

However, I did not realize that my careless remark had deeply wounded Kang Jie’s self-esteem

During the meal, Xu Zhijun experienced a momentary illusion, as if time had reverted to the first time he brought Cheng Luoxun home for dinner. That fool saw the delicious dishes and unceremoniously devoured two large bowls of rice, later nearly crying from being too full

I am truly selfish, really, I am not a good person at all

That night, I got up early, while everyone else in the same room was emitting a steady snore, I was still tossing and turning, finding it difficult to fall asleep

I absolutely did not see it wrong; although I have only seen that girl once, she is definitely Tang Xi. In this increasingly ostentatious city, there are girls everywhere with similar makeup and attire, each one looking as if they walked out of Taobao. It is truly rare to find someone with an extraordinary temperament like Tang Xi, which is why Kang Jie’s memory of her is particularly vivid

How many stories have there been here? A chance encounter, a fleeting moment, a world apart yet so close.

I haven't even had time to eat, frantically replying to messages, afraid of delaying even a minute: I have arrived safely, don't worry, everything is fine. The sky here is so blue!

You have no idea how despicable that Su Shiqi is. Today, she deliberately said in front of our colleagues: 'Oh, Kang Jie, you are a vocational school graduate. This is the advantage of such a small company; there are no strict requirements for educational qualifications.'

Tang Xi is not a dull person; in response to Xu Zhijun's absent-mindedness, she has been contemplating what kind of excuse to use to take her leave later.

However, Xiao Hang did not believe that she was being insincere; he naively thought that Kang Jie had long since let go of what happened that night. What made Kang Jie want to give him a good beating the most was that he actually recounted the events of that night in detail to the boss.

Hehe— I... I did not... have that intention. In this confrontation, Xu Zhijun was completely defeated

The plane landed at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, and the first message I received after disembarking was from Kang Jie. In that moment, my emotions became extremely nuanced; on one hand, I really wanted to ask what was going on, while on the other hand, I found myself quite amusing. Even if he has a girlfriend, what does it have to do with you, Cheng Luoxun?

They did not take a cart or basket. Tang Xi held a box of blue canister cookies in her arms, tilting her head as she spoke to Xu Zhijun, her smile gentle yet somewhat formal. After he took the canister of cookies from her hand, the two of them walked towards the checkout.

Indeed, whether it is the Maldives, Provence, Phoenix, or Wuzhen, those places will always be there

He asked me if I had arrived and how I was feeling

After a moment of silence, Xu Zhijun finally spoke: "I am not very good at socializing, and over the years, I have only a few childhood friends. If my attitude has made you feel uncomfortable, I apologize to you."

As soon as I sent it out, I immediately regretted it. I feel like I really did something incredibly foolish. Why can't I be a little more indifferent? Even if I have to pretend, I should at least act as if I am completely unconcerned and unaffected by this matter

I don't know whether I should tell you this, but please don't get angry when you hear it, Xu Zhijun seems to be together with Tang Xi

I had only been watching for a short while when my stomach began to growl

However, it is not the case; he himself does not know how to articulate it, yet he has been consistently avoiding bringing that issue to the forefront

I thought for a moment and, hardening my heart, replied to her: "I don't know why you want to talk to me if you don't have anything to say, you must be crazy"

I had never seen such mountains, a deep, deep dark red, devoid of any greenery, entirely bare rocks. In that moment, I suddenly understood what is meant by the beauty of desolation

"What a load of nonsense, I have nothing to do, I'm feeling down." Kang Jie’s tone was indeed a bit unpleasant

Kang Jie’s expression instantly changed from anger to a mix of laughter and tears: "Hehe—Boss, really, what a coincidence."

I am Xiao Hang, do you not remember me

Having started the conversation, regardless of whether Xu Zhijun was willing to listen, she continued speaking to herself: "In the eyes of us adults, Luoxun is not a particularly likable girl, but since you like her, I cannot say much. Now that you have been apart for so long, what do you think about all day? Although I do not know the exact reason for your separation, I dare say it certainly is not your fault..." Although I do not know the exact reason for your separation, I dare say it certainly is not your fault...

Misunderstood as someone who completely disregards him, on the first day after arriving in Lhasa, I was eager to learn about this legendary city that is said to cleanse the soul

I stood by the bed, intrigued, and looked for several minutes at the remnants left by the travelers who once stayed in this room. As I scanned through, I finally came across a sentence in a corner that momentarily left me somewhat dazed: "Anyone can reside in your heart, just don't let me live inside it"

The girl sitting across from me ordered a bowl of beef noodles. Watching her add salt to the bowl again and again, I couldn't help but feel proud of my wise choice

However, he does not know how to approach his mother, saying that this is too deliberate and too obvious, with motives and purposes being all too clear. This is not good for Tang Xi, and as for himself... there is nothing much to say about himself; in short, he simply does not like it this way

Just saying this sentence, I felt it was not enough to vent my anger, so I added, "I have arrived in Lhasa, and soon I will go to find a handsome Tibetan guy!"

I do not know why, the content of the text message from Kang Jie that I received in the morning has resurfaced in my mind at this moment. I am trying hard to suppress it, but it is increasingly stubbornly resisting me

Later, I heard that for a long period of time, she did not want to eat anything at all. Even when forced, she could only eat a little. The time I saw her at the airport, she had truly become unrecognizably thin

This is Lhasa, a place where I am wholeheartedly seeking the sincerity and tranquility of my inner self, Lhasa

Suddenly, Tang Xi asked straightforwardly: "Xu Zhijun, in fact, you don't really want to see me, do you?"

Is it true that Xu Zhijun is really with someone else? The last time we met, he still seemed to be infatuated with Cheng Luoxun. Has he so quickly heeded everyone's advice and changed his affections?

But in fact, I do not have confidence

When Tang Xi spoke these words, it was as if she had changed her face, vastly different from the gentle and refined demeanor she displayed in front of her mother. At that moment, she was proud, confident, and expressed her thoughts directly, without any hint of circumlocution.

I want to tell him that life cannot be forgotten

He has thought it over, and if it really does not work out, he will honestly admit that there is someone else in his heart

However, if they are truly in a romantic relationship, they both seem a bit too stiff, don't you think

Su Jin said she is jealous of me, but I haven't even said that I am jealous of her. At least they have been to a small island together. As for me, apart from the bar and his home, where else have we been together?

At that moment, Kang Jie fell silent for a while and jokingly said with a hint of self-deprecation: "I would never spend my whole life in a small company, scheming against women like her. Once I obtain my diploma, I will go to the 'United States' to be a secretary for Obama, and you are welcome to come and visit then"

Kang Jie thought, what qualifications do you have to speak about others, you are not a decent person yourself

What is it that is making you feel down? I am indeed quite bored, I just don't want to hang up the phone

He organized his thoughts and explained: "I just feel that my mother is being too deliberate. In fact, you don't need to cater to her. If she calls you ten times, coming three times is enough. Otherwise, it will be troublesome if she becomes spoiled"

What are you doing here? What a coincidence, Changsha is indeed small, and we ended up running into each other like this. It must take a truly oblivious person to completely ignore the ominous clouds hanging over Kang Jie and continue to greet her so enthusiastically.

Sitting on the bus from the airport to the city, my attention was gradually drawn to the towering mountains flanking the sides of the road

But we will not be together forever

He has never asked me whether I love him, and I have never seriously told him that I love him very much

Tashi Delek, she said

She even visits his home more frequently, and her relationship with his mother is also improving.

After sending it, I felt ashamed of my complete lack of creativity! Am I not usually quite eloquent and articulate? Why is it that at such a critical moment, I can't come up with a few sentences like "The sky here is as blue as the inverted sea water" with that artistic flair?

Her voice roused Xu Zhijun from his reverie, and only then did he realize that he had been holding the bowl in a daze

I am not just calling you to chat out of boredom! What I am concerned about is whether Xu Zhijun is really in a relationship with Tang Xi, who you all describe as an angel on earth!

After listening to their experiences of getting to know each other, the boss noticed Kang Jie’s discomfort and quickly explained to her: "Xiao Hang and the others are my junior classmates. Back in school, we often played football together and had a very good relationship. Although they may seem slick on the surface, they are actually quite good people and can be considered reliable young men."

The summer in Changsha always lacks a distinct boundary; early summer, mid-summer, and late summer blend seamlessly into one another. It feels as though we have just entered summer, yet the night breeze has already become warm.

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhijun could no longer listen to a single word. He rarely spoke to his mother in such a disdainful tone: "Enough, stop talking, I will go down immediately"

For me at this moment, the passage of time is meaningless; I am willing to squander time in this way, enjoying half a day's tranquility

At that time, a few of us, as you know, the monkeys and their antics, they loved to engage in such trivial matters, and they always targeted me

The entire afternoon, I sat dazed at the entrance of the Prague Castle, with headphones in my ears, having no desire to speak to anyone.

We have not really been together, I mean Lin Yizhou and I. During those brief moments we shared, we never seriously discussed the matter of love.

Only through loss can one validate what was once possessed, and only when one truly realizes that they have lost them can the dull heart perceive their mockery. They wish to make you sorrowful, yet you, foolish one, have truly fallen for their trick.

"Mother, why bring her up so seriously?" He appeared somewhat embarrassed.

I was wrong! You are a principled and loyal elder! This is just how spineless I am

Who said that time is meant for wandering, the body is meant for loving, and life is meant to be forgotten

But is it true? While having lunch at Yonghe Soy Milk near the office building at noon, she was still pondering this question

Seeing her so persistent, Xu Zhijun also went along with it and said, "Alright, I will take you to get a taxi"

He was taken aback by her directness, and after regaining his composure, he quickly denied it: "That is not the case; you are overthinking it."

Xu Zhijun, to be frank, my personality is somewhat... the kind that others describe as... aloof. It is not something that just any boy can pursue. I cannot quite explain why, but I always feel at ease when I am with you, and I am willing to spend time with you. Of course, I hope you feel the same way.

Tang Xi's hair was blown up, and from the side, Xu Zhijun was almost deceived by that illusion again

We always hide the words we most want to say, for the sake of so-called dignity, as well as for many foolish reasons

Just as Kang Jie was feeling pleased with her own keen insight, suddenly a person strode up to her desk and exclaimed in surprise: "Kang Jie?"

In fact, Tang Xi is not an unpleasant girl; as Xu Zhijun interacted with her more, he developed a new understanding of her

Everything suddenly became vibrant and bright

Xiao Hang maintained a very excited demeanor: "I really didn't expect to run into you, and I certainly didn't expect you to be working at my senior's company. Haha—this will make it much more convenient to hang out with you in the future"

Looking at that message, I was filled with an indescribable feeling, very light, very gentle, very ethereal

The sky here is so blue! It resembles an elementary school student's essay, how embarrassing for me to say it out loud

I truly do not know whether this can be considered a fateful entanglement; throughout the entire afternoon, Kang Jie was forced to confront that face, which made her want to slap it twice upon seeing it, accompanied by a forced smile.

For Kang Jie, this was a very tragic lunch. She lowered her head to look at the remaining youtiao in her plate, and a voice in her heart was shouting at several thousand decibels: Damn it! What the hell are you playing at!

He quickly replied to my message: "You go ahead and explore for a while, and wait patiently."

After that serious illness, Aunt Chen always appeared to be in poor health, and no amount of supplements seemed to help. However, it is fortunate that she always maintained a calm demeanor, regardless of the circumstances

Xu Zhijun was taken aback for a moment, smiled politely, and then returned to his room

"Troublesome? I don't find it troublesome at all, as long as you don't think I'm a bother." Tang Xi's face blossomed with a smile akin to summer flowers.

I! Day!

What are you bothering with her for! Doesn't she, with all her supposed abilities, earn just a meager living in this small company like you do! I can't help but get angry when I hear such words, and even in the peaceful and tranquil Lhasa, I cannot shake off my foul temper that resorts to cursing at the slightest provocation

I am truly full. In the face of Aunt Chen's hospitality, Tang Xi could only repeatedly express his apologies, saying, I am not intentionally trying to lose weight; I really can only eat this much. Auntie, please do not misunderstand; the food is really delicious.

When Tang Xi saw him, she felt a bit shy as well. She smiled bashfully and explained, "This afternoon, my aunt called to tell me that she bought some delicious Eight Treasure Rice, and I couldn't resist coming over."

I reside at the Pingo Youth Hostel located on North Duosenge Road. It is said to be the largest youth hostel in Lhasa, consisting of two buildings. The restaurant in the new building offers a direct view of the Potala Palace, which is situated not far away on Beijing East Road.

After thinking for half a day, I ultimately decided against it. If I were to send this text message to Xu Zhijun, I would look down on myself.