Left ear (46)

  Section 46 of the main text: The name of the bar on the left ear (46) is only one word, called: Wait.

  It's located at the corner of the street, with a small facade that can be easily overlooked if you're not paying attention. I pushed open the door and went in, it was around noon, and there were almost no customers in the bar. The interior was simple, with several red sofas, dark wooden tables, and long glass bottles on the tables holding a few branches of bright yellow wild chrysanthemums. As soon as I sat down, I saw him, he was wearing a uniform, carrying an order pad, walked up to me and asked: "What can I get you to drink?"

  I looked at him, speechless for a moment.

  He recognized me. He put the bill on my desk and turned around and left.

  "Xu Yi". I called out to him, but unfortunately found that my voice had suddenly become hoarse.

  He stood with his back to me.

  "Do you have time today?" I said, "I want to talk with you."

  He turned around and said to me: "Sorry, miss, I have work, I get off at 11 o'clock tonight."

  I smiled and said to him: "Okay, have a glass of iced water."

  "Sorry, we don't sell ice water here."

  "So, watermelon juice," I said.

  A few minutes later, he brought me a glass of red watermelon juice. With an additional glass of iced water, floating on top was a slice of golden lemon. He placed them on my table and said in a low voice, "I'm treating you to this, finish it up and then leave."

  His tone was so cold. I controlled my tears and didn't let them fall easily.

  He walked away.

  I pulled out a thin book from my backpack to read, the old Durass's "The Lover", I've seen this movie, Tony Leung and his French little lover, in a foreign hotel, her eyes begging for love recklessly excited me. To be exact, I only watched half of it, because when I was halfway through, mom came back from buying groceries, and under her somewhat uneasy gaze, I turned off the TV.

  The ending is just like I imagined. Separation.

  As I closed the book, dusk arrived and the bar finally started to liven up. A group of fashionably dressed girls burst in laughing and pushing each other. They seemed to be from an art school and were familiar with this place. I saw a girl wearing a floral skirt and red high heels stretch out her hand and pinch Xu Ye's face.

  Xu Yi smiled. My angel-faced Xu Yi. He was still as handsome as ever.

  "Xu Yi, I'm going camping tomorrow. Count you in!" another girl said loudly.

  "Alright!" Xu Yi stretched out his hand and quickly patted the girl's head. The girls laughed ambiguously yet radiantly.

  They were indeed very familiar with each other.

  I put 50 yuan on the table, slung my backpack over my shoulder and stood up to leave.

  Walking out of the bar, looking at the unfamiliar sky with Shanghai's dusk high-rise buildings, I have lost my desire to cry. I must pay the price for my own willfulness, I am clear about it.

  Suddenly, someone reached out from behind and grabbed me.

  I turned around and saw Xu Yi.

  "Your money." He handed me the money and said, "I told you I'd treat."

  I pushed him away.

  "Take it," he said. "I'm still on duty and can't talk to you much more. Don't come here again in the future."

  I took the money down.

  He turned and walked into the bar.

  As I walked to the subway station, I decided to turn back. I told myself that I would never give up easily, never! So I went back to the entrance of the bar and sat down on the steps by the road, starting to read a book. The dusk light made my eyes feel swollen and painful, but I still persisted in reading. The words on the page gradually became blurry to my eyes, but I still persisted. As I said before, many times, I was powerless against my own stubbornness.

  11:05 at night. I saw Xu Ye walking out of the bar. He had changed into his own clothes, without a backpack, with his hands in his pockets whistling as he crossed the road. I rubbed my numb feet and stood up, wanting to follow him. I knew there were many girls chasing after him, but I'd rather believe that he was used to this way of life, and besides, I had no other choice. At this moment, I really wished I had a white T-shirt with green paint, with the words "I love Xu Ye" written on it. Then I could stand in front of him without needing any words.

  But before I could even walk up to him, a green off-road vehicle stopped in front of him, and three men jumped out. They exchanged a few words with Xu Ye, and one of them suddenly clenched his fist and punched Xu Ye in the face.

  Xu Yi covered his face and squatted on the ground. He quickly got up, wanting to run, but was held tightly by them and pushed into the off-road vehicle.

  I rushed over at a rapid pace and shouted loudly: "What are you doing?"

  My sudden appearance gave them all a big fright, including Xu Yi.

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