Which way to go is the road?

Having rented the apartment, Xiang Fei couldn't wait to move in. He didn't have much stuff; he just packed up his few clothes and that was it. He didn't cancel the basement lease. Lao You said he might come and stay for a couple of days at any time, since it was much closer to "Shuiyunjian" than the school, and unlike the school, there wasn't a curfew.

As Xiang Fei walked out of the basement with his backpack, he recalled his first day in Yandu. He was lucky to have met friends like Dong Lu and Lao You, a boss like Qian Luomei, and a girlfriend, Bai Xue, who believed in fate and love.

Looking at the men and women still walking through the dimly lit corridors, busy with their lives, Xiang Fei felt a sense of emotion and a blessing: he hoped that all the workers at the bottom of society could settle down as soon as possible, and that their lives would gradually get better. He believed that hardship should not be a reason for giving up on themselves, falling into depravity and confusion, but rather a valuable asset for moving forward.

People always have to move forward. Many familiar aspects of life have unknowingly become the past, sealed away in the hometown of memories, naturally gilded with a golden hue, waiting for us to reminisce at some point. People should strive and work hard to have many memories.

It wasn't the weekend, and Bai Xue had to go to class, so she couldn't come to help with the move. Qian Luomei drove Xiang Fei to his new house, and on the way they bought two more quilts and some household items.

When they went upstairs to get their things, Qian Luomei carried even more than Xiang Fei. Seeing the elegant woman carrying bedding and a variety of daily necessities, Xiang Fei felt very guilty. He tried to take them from her several times but was refused each time, so he had to walk a few steps quickly to open the door.

After helping Xiang Fei lay out the bedding and place the household items in their proper places, Qian Luomei sat on the sofa by the balcony, letting the warm sunlight gently caress her. Looking at the neat and cozy arrangement of the room, a pang of sadness welled up in her heart.

Yes, she also wanted a home, not a house in the literal sense, but a home with a sense of life, with a male head of the household, where every little thing in life was observed, appreciated, and even quietly complained about.

"Sister Luomei, have a drink!"

Qian Luomei took it and gave Xiangfei a sweet smile. Her thoughts were still lingering on the sadness she had just felt. Suddenly interrupted, she didn't know what to say. Seeing the many green plants on the balcony, she stood up and walked over.

"These succulents are growing really well, and there are quite a few rare varieties. You can't water these things too much; once every two weeks is basically enough, otherwise they'll rot at the roots."

"Oh, the landlord has arranged everything for me. There's a note on the door frame with watering instructions; I'll just follow those instructions!"

Xiang Fei also came to the balcony and found that it was a bit small. There was almost no room to turn around when the two of them stood there. Just as he was about to leave, Qian Luomei turned around and hugged him tightly.

"Don't move, let me hold you quietly for a while. Just think of me as a kitten, and I'll treat you like a warm cushion!"

He didn't dare to move. Following Qian Luomei's advice, he tried his best to calm himself down, gently patting her back as if comforting a stray kitten.

Five minutes later, Qian Luomei stepped away from his broad chest and laughed heartily at Xiang Fei, "Sorry! This old woman is a bit sentimental and just wanted a shoulder to lean on!"

"It's alright, Sister Luomei! Feel free to lean on me, don't worry, I won't charge you!" Xiang Fei was quite generous, and hearing that hearty laughter made him feel much better.

Qian Luomei smiled even more broadly: "Great, I've got a free, warm cushion! This feels good! You're quite honest; Bai Xue made the right choice in choosing you!"

"Sister Luomei, I've always felt very sorry for you. Sometimes I even deliberately kept my distance from you. Firstly, because you're unmarried, I was afraid it would affect your reputation. Secondly..." Xiang Fei couldn't bring himself to say the rest of his sentence, so he swallowed it back.

"Secondly, Bai Xue has become your girlfriend, and you're afraid I'll have feelings for you, putting yourself in a difficult position! Right?" Qian Luomei spoke frankly, revealing what Xiang Fei was thinking.

Xiang Fei nodded: "Sister Luo Mei, was I too selfish? Please don't blame me!"

"It's not selfish of you. You're being responsible to Bai Xue, and it's also a positive guidance for me. To be honest, I've been thinking a lot about our relationship lately. After that absurd night, I feel like we've gotten closer. I don't know if this is just a natural feeling after sex, or if I've really fallen in love with you?"

"I'm sorry, Sister Luomei, I apologize again for what happened! I deserve to die!"

"I'm not blaming you. We don't remember anything from that night, so it's hard to say who was right and who was wrong. Maybe I seduced you?" Qian Luomei said, covering her mouth and laughing. "After all, you were still a virgin back then, and you didn't understand many things. Maybe I drank too much and just let my physical desires show! Alcohol is a harmful thing; it not only makes people say whatever they want, but it also makes them reveal their ugly side and act without restraint!"

"So after that incident, I resolutely decided to control myself, to control my drinking, and to control myself after drinking. I absolutely could not allow any opportunity to make any mistakes!"

Qian Luomei nodded: "Do you know how I came to know about our relationship?"

Xiang Fei shook his head, looking completely bewildered.

"I admit you're very talented and outstanding, and I can't help but look at you a few more times. Perhaps if you really fell in love with me, I would throw myself into your arms without hesitation!" Qian Luomei continued, ignoring Xiang Fei's blushing face, "But just now, I've confirmed that this isn't love, it's just the syndrome of an older single woman desperate to get married!"

"Is there such a thing as 'older single women desperate to get married' syndrome?"

"Whether it exists or not, let's just say it's my own invention! The specific manifestation is envy and even jealousy of everyday life. When I see any outstanding man, I want to possess him. Love or not love becomes secondary! That's why so many older single women get scammed out of money and sex, including me!"

Qian Luomei waved her hand, rejecting Xiang Fei's comfort and advice: "So I'm pretty sure I don't love you. Even if I admire and agree with you a lot, it's just the kind of affection a boss has for an employee, a friend for a friend, or at most, a sister for a brother. It was that syndrome that made me misjudge things sometimes, even causing my dad and Dazhi to misunderstand!"

"Sister Luomei, you've truly impressed me today. I used to think of you only as an elegant woman, but I never knew you were so intelligent, with such a comprehensive and clear understanding of yourself!"

"Alright, stop praising me. You're happy to have gotten rid of such a big burden, aren't you?"

"How could that be? How could you be a burden? You're my sister, and you'll always be my sister! I've always been the eldest child, with only one younger sister. I especially wish I had an older sister or brother to take care of me. Please, be my sister!"

"Sure! I'm an only child, and I don't have any siblings. I wanted a younger brother, but unfortunately, my parents weren't going to cooperate! So, we've decided to have you as my little brother. Come on, call me 'sister'!"

"sister!"

"Why!"

The relationship between men and women should not be made too complicated. A sister is a sister, a brother is a brother, and an elder is an elder. Outsiders should not gossip, and those involved should not have wild thoughts or do anything reckless. Wouldn't it be better to have a clear and straightforward world?