Apocalypse Tree of Hope

Chapter 329

I am Tao Haiyang.

I have been used to hearing compliments from countless people since I was a child.

When I was young, they said that I was the most beautiful boy, and wherever I went, there would be motherly aunts touching my face. Although I was so disgusted in my heart, I still smiled, thanks to my mother's teaching.

If I show disgust and inappropriateness, my mother will get angry with me when I get home, and even cry. I often wonder when she will be more mature.

Of course, I also realized the benefits. When I made the same mistake at school, the teacher scolded the students and asked the parents to do the same, but he only said one sentence to me. any dissatisfaction.

Forgot to say, that classmate is a girl.

Yes, from childhood to adulthood, because of my outstanding appearance, good family background, and the character of never forgetting to smile at everyone under the aura of my mother, I am invincible. A girl once said that I am the sun god in the sky. Dazzling eclipses others, but others are willing to be burned.

I don't want others to see me like this. Although when I grow up, I thank my parents for their outstanding appearance and good family background, but in fact, I hope that I am an ordinary boy or man, at least not like running to and Other boys played football, but other boys didn't dare to play with me, saying that it was not good to hurt me.

In the summer vacation when I was 16 years old, I made a decision that changed my life.

I'm going to travel, to go to a place that no one knows. Those days are the days when I am most confused and distressed about people, things and myself.

My dad has always been open-minded, and my mom didn't even object. To this day, I still don't know why my troublesome mom showed unexpected tolerance that year.

Maybe it was predestined, I came to Tiancheng, a place where my heart hurts every time I think of it.

At that time, when I got off the train, I was standing on a busy street, holding a mobile phone and wanting to cry.

I don’t know when my wallet was stolen, and all my cash and cards were gone. I repeatedly pressed the familiar number with my mobile phone, but I still didn’t dial it. On the first day I came out, I lost my money and asked for help at home. , It's too embarrassing, anyway, I think it's a great shame as a 16-year-old.

I decided to find a place where I could do part-time work, at least to solve my stomach problem first.

I asked one store after another, including small restaurants and clothing stores. At that time, I deliberately grew my hair long to cover most of my face. The boss shook his head when he saw me like this. Most of the things he said were: "Little brother, go to school well, you are still young, we don't employ child labor here."

Hitting the wall again and again made me extremely depressed, and my stomach that kept screaming reminded me that I hadn't eaten all day.

Tiancheng is still lively at night, and the smell from the roadside food stalls makes me almost unable to hold on.

A tattered man asked me for money with a rice bowl, I shook my head, but a thought came to my mind, should I also experience the feeling of begging for a while?

No amount of pride can beat the feeling of being really hungry. This idea turned over and over in my heart, and I subconsciously came to a remote corner. I thought, even if I really asked others for money, at least I would see fewer people. Not that embarrassing, is it?

Scattered pedestrians walked past me, but it was more difficult than I imagined to speak.

No, I really can't do it!
I suddenly turned around and ran out, but unexpectedly bumped into a person.

"I'm sorry—" The good upbringing made me raise my head without hesitation and sincerely apologize.

"Brat, you don't have eyes—"

Before he finished speaking, a look of astonishment flashed across the man's eyes. I am so familiar with this kind of look. It must be that the hair covering his eyebrows and eyes fell apart when he raised his head suddenly.

"Come on, you are so handsome!" the man said excitedly.

I have never been in contact with such a person since I was a child, but I subconsciously felt that something was wrong, so I turned around and ran away.

"Boy, where are you going!" When I ran to a dead end in a panic, several people approached me with grinning grinning.

No matter how naive and ignorant, I also know what they want to do. I hate myself for being incompetent and useless. What's more ironic is that a boy is still in trouble because of his appearance.

I stared fiercely at the approaching people, and secretly made up my mind that even if I died, I couldn't let them succeed. In other words, if such a horrible thing happened, I couldn't bear it.

"The police are coming!" A voice like a silver bell came, and then I heard the piercing siren, which sounded like the sound of heaven to my ears.

Those people were obviously used to running away, and they scattered without hesitation, but I was still standing there, unable to recover for a while.

"You are stupid, come with me." Before I could see the appearance of the person, I was held tightly by a slightly cold hand, and my body ran away with her involuntarily.

We ran to the busy street in one breath, and we stopped, and I didn't see her clearly until then.

A girl who was about the same age as me looked at me out of breath, her slender eyebrows slanted up, her pair of phoenix eyes were clear, and the tails of her slightly raised eyes showed a hint of coquettishness that did not match her age, but the small dimple on her right cheek It just gives people a baby-like pure feeling.

My heart suddenly beat violently. For the first time, I had a strange feeling for a girl. When I first met her at the age of 16, I didn't understand what it meant.

"Why did you go to such a remote place alone at such a young age?" The girl frowned when she saw that I hadn't spoken for a long time.

I couldn't help but rolled my eyes and said, "How much older are you than me?"

The girl watched for a long time and couldn't help laughing.

At that time, I was very awkward. I obviously wanted to talk to her, but when I saw her smile, I felt a feeling of anger from embarrassment.

At this moment, my stomach groaned, loud enough for her to hear.

The girl stopped laughing and said to me: "I just got off work and I'm a little hungry, why don't you eat something with me."

I wanted to proudly refuse, but in the end I was dragged silently to the food stall by the side of the road.

One is that I am really hungry, and another reason is...

I want to stay with her longer.

"Aren't you a local?" The girl ate leisurely with a string of mutton skewers, but pushed the steaming mutton soup to me.

That was the best mutton soup I have ever had in my life.

Probably because the atmosphere was so good, I even told the girl about my troubles and what happened to me, and the more I talked, the more I couldn't stop talking.

The girl listened quietly all the time, her long eyelashes covered the emotions in her eyes, and occasionally handed me the food on the boss's table.

When I finally finished speaking, I blushed when I saw the mess on the table.

The girl didn't seem to see my reaction, she settled the bill skillfully, and smiled at me: "Let's go."

I froze.

The girl gave me a blank look and said, "Why, do you want to sleep on the street?"

I obediently followed behind her, the two chatted casually, and slowly stopped in front of a bungalow, the girl took out the key and opened the door.

"Hush." ​​The girl turned her head and stretched out a finger to me.

"Ah, grandpa and grandma, why didn't you sleep?" the girl asked in surprise.

There were actually two old people sitting in the hall, playing backgammon.

The white-haired old woman stood up and said with a loving smile, "I'm interested in having a fight with your grandpa today, girl, why don't you tell grandma about dating your boyfriend?"

At that moment, I was very moved. The girl's grandparents obviously couldn't sleep because of her late return, and they deliberately said that they couldn't sleep to play chess because they were afraid of the girl's uneasiness.

When the girl heard grandma's teasing, she was not shy like other girls, but walked up to grandma and whispered in her ear for a while.

It can be seen that the relationship between the girl and grandma is very good.

After the girl finished speaking, grandma saw me with a more friendly expression. She personally took out a brand new quilt to make my bed, but the girl pushed her and said, "Grandma, you and grandpa go to bed early, don't you go to bed early every morning?" From the city? I’ll just come.”

The girl took me to a room with the quilt in her arms, bent down to make the bed and said, "This is my brother's room, so you can squeeze with him. Fortunately, he has gone to live with a classmate these days. When will the boy come back?"

I nodded my head obediently, but I laughed in my heart why this girl is so young, but her tone is so mature.

That night, I took a shower, drank the milk brought by the girl, and fell asleep with the scented quilt.

I kept forgetting to ask her name.

The second day was sunny, and I didn't get up in a hurry until there was a knock on the door.

The girl looked at my messy hair, frowned and said, "Hurry up, hurry up, we're going to be late."

After washing in a hurry, I ran out with her. On the way, I couldn't help but ask, "Where are you going? How do you walk?"

The girl said: "Go to the place where I work, it's not too far away, walk and exercise."

On the way, I finally knew her name——Lin Rantong, the white clouds in the sky dyed into red clouds, a very beautiful name.

"Why did you take me when you went to work?" I asked.

Ran Tong rolled his eyes and said: "Why, you plan to eat and drink for free at my house?"

"You, you want to help me find a job?" I asked excitedly.

Rantong nodded and said: "Of course, you just came here to play during the summer vacation. You lost your wallet and don't want to tell your family. You must find a way to earn enough travel expenses before going back. It just so happens that the place where I work has many students our age during the holidays." If you want to earn extra money, it’s just right for you to go.”

Looking at her serious look at that moment, I found that the clouds in the sky were not as beautiful as her.

Those days were the happiest days in my life. We went to work together every morning, and after get off work, we ate at the roadside stall and then walked home slowly. Yes, I also unconsciously regarded that small house as a home.

Since we came back together every day, Rantong’s grandparents have never played chess at night again. They like me very much. Someone accompanied the little granddaughter to get off work at night, but after all, part of the reason was because I was just me.

Later, Rantong's younger brother came back, his name was Lin Xiangbei, the little boy kept looking at me vigilantly, as if I had kidnapped his sister.

I couldn't help teasing him, he was furious, and Rantong kept smiling at the two of us messing around, the dimples on his lips made my young heart more and more intoxicated.

Although I hoped that time would be slower, it would not stop because of anyone's prayers. Finally, that day came, and Rantong sent me to the train station.

"Rantong, I will come back to find you." I looked at the girl who smiled at me and said firmly.

She didn't have a mobile phone. At that time, everyone didn't have a mobile phone like they do now. I had to leave my number and keep in mind where she lived.

"Well, you can still come and play during the holidays. I hope to see you next time, so you won't be so embarrassed." Rantong smiled and blinked.

After getting more and more familiar with her, Rantong made fun of me several times because of that incident, saying that she was a girl who had never met a pervert every night when she went home, but I bumped into her all of a sudden.

I couldn't help asking a question: "Rantong, why did a police car drive by that day?"

Ran Tong squinted at me, took a long time to take off the bag, and took out the things one by one.

"This, what is this?" My mouth grew bigger and bigger.

"Here, this is the anti-wolf stick, this is the anti-wolf sprayer, and this... is the tape recorder with the sound of the police siren." Ran Tong said calmly.

"You, you usually take these to the street?" I was shocked.

Ran Tong gave me a blank look and said: "Although I'm not as lucky as you to meet him all at once, there is always an eventuality. I never pin everything on luck. I plan for the worst and plan for the best. It is my motto to greet you in the best state."

At that moment, my heart was deeply shocked, and I finally understood why she always taught me in the tone of a young adult. Maybe in her eyes, these peers are really children, right?
Is it that her experience is not as simple as I thought?
It's a pity that I don't have time to learn more.

"Why are you still standing there, get in the car soon." Seeing me looking at her, Ran Tong urged me.

"Rantong, let me protect you when we are together in the future." This sentence was blurted out without thinking.

Rantong, who had always been calm and calm, finally froze for a moment, a blush gradually appeared on her cheeks, she was very beautiful, just like her name——Rantong.

When I said those words, I had a feeling of going all out, so I fixed her eyes and asked, "Are you willing?"

Rantong's face gradually turned redder and redder, and stammered under my gaze: "You...you are still a child."

"The child will grow up, I don't care, you are mine." Finally, the temper I had developed all along made me wrap my arms around her, and said willfully, I was ready to be beaten into a pig's head by her.

I didn't expect her to be motionless in my arms, her eyelashes trembling slightly, she raised her eyes halfway and said, "I don't believe in fairy tales, but I would like to believe in you."

After she finished speaking, she stood on tiptoe, pecked my cheek lightly, then turned and ran away without even daring to turn her head.

I stood there in a daze, until the staff urged me to get into the car in a daze. The car gradually went away, but I knew that my heart stayed behind.

After I went back, I cut my hair short and started to learn Sanda. My mentality became stronger because of that commitment. I was no longer afraid that others would pay me more attention because of my appearance, or show me more favors because of my family background.

Occasionally my cell phone would ring, it was her call, we have been in touch intermittently, rarely, but I am satisfied.

But I never went back, I want to become strong, at least strong enough to protect her.

Three years later, I finally got on the train to Tiancheng, but when I got to the place where I had come back from thousands of times in my dream, I found that the house was empty.

I ran crazily in the streets and alleys and stayed there for several days, but I couldn't find her.

At that time every year after that, I would return to this place where I was so sweet and despaired, disappointed and helpless again and again, but I did not give up, it was she who taught me to be strong...and wise.

Until that year, I saw her, holding a small child, and smiling at a man with stretched eyebrows.

The end of my heart has come.

What I didn't expect was that the real end was coming.

What I didn't expect was that the doomsday made me meet her again, and at the same time I knew that it was the doomsday that caused her to lose her husband.

I don't want to deny it, but knowing this situation, I am secretly happy. I think this is another chance God gave me, and this time I will never leave foolishly again.

I want to be with her all the time, because I have grown into a man who can protect her, even though she doesn't need my protection.

She forgot about me!

Is there anything more sad than this, she really forgot about me, she has no memory at all, as if the days we spent together day and night never existed.

I hugged her fiercely, and she also pushed me away fiercely. She told me unabashedly that she had her husband in her heart, not me!

I really want to ask her, didn't you say you trust me and wait for me to grow up to protect you, why is someone else living in your heart?
But I can't, she is such a heart-wrenching woman, I hope she falls in love with me now, instead of forcing her based on a previous agreement, not to mention, she forgets me, it's weird everywhere !

In Baima Village, Lin Xiangbei held a grand welcome banquet to entertain us. I quietly watched him respect my companions one by one while holding a cup.

I was wondering if he had forgotten me too. After the first time I left Tiancheng, I had no contact with him. After all, he was still a thirteen or fourteen-year-old kid at that time, and he had his own small circle.

Finally, he came to me with a cup, and I stood up.

The corners of his mouth that had been smiling stopped, and he looked at me straight, time and time again.

My heart gradually became tense, could it be that he still remembers me?
God knows how much I needed him to remember me, to make me realize that that summer wasn't a beautiful heartbreaking dream, but that it actually existed.

"Are you... Brother Haiyang?" Lin Xiangbei finally asked.

Just as I was about to nod my head, Rantong actually asked, "Xiangbei, how do you know Haiyang?"

Lin Xiangbei glanced at me calmly and said, "Hehe, I heard you say that."

After finishing speaking, he clinked glasses with me silently.

On that day, we finally had a chance to be alone with him. We looked at each other and asked in unison, "What's going on?"

I told the story, and finally asked him: "Did anything strange happen to Ran Tong?"

Lin Xiangbei thought for a while and said: "It's nothing, by the way, I remember that when she was 19 years old, she suddenly fell into a coma for a day, which frightened me. I was sent to the hospital but nothing was found. After that, she woke up and everything It's normal, I just forgot about it."

everything is normal?
But why did you forget me, she is 19 years old, not nine years old!
I picked up the bottle, took a sip, then threw it to the ground and heard the sound of the bottle breaking.

Lin Xiangbei patted my shoulder silently and handed me another glass of wine.

　The author has something to say: Liu Ye is so touched that he has received tickets for children's shoes now.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)