I'll wait for you amidst the romance of nature.

The phone kept ringing, and I could feel how anxious my parents were on the other end. But I also had many worries, and I didn't know what to say to make them understand, so I hesitated to answer the phone.

That's just how I am. Sometimes I'm not afraid of going through fire and water, but I'm afraid of my parents' scolding. But eventually, I have to face this.

I finally gritted my teeth, steeled myself, and answered the phone. Then, with a nonchalant smile, I said, "Dad, I was just about to call you back when you called me yourself. What a coincidence!"

Where are you now?

I could sense the emotions Old Mi was suppressing on the other end of the phone, and I couldn't keep it from him after things had come to this point, so I replied in a low voice, "Dali, I quit my job in Shanghai a month ago."

Old Mi finally spoke after a long pause: "You're such a scoundrel! How could you deceive us, your parents, like this... And what's going on between you and Lu Jia?"

I reached into my pocket for a cigarette, only to find that my only pack had been taken by that beast, Coach Ma, which made me even more depressed. I looked up at the brightest lights on the opposite bank before replying, "I'm not good enough for Lu Jia. She wants to leave, and I can't stop her... Dad, I've tried my best all these years, but I really don't have the ability to make it in Shanghai."

"You're talking nonsense... Do you think Lao Huang didn't tell me? He's been saving the product manager position for you all along. You've waited so many years for this opportunity, why don't you cherish it and instead run off to Dali to fool around?"

"I'm not just messing around in Dali; I want to make something of myself... and things are starting to look promising now."

"What do you mean by 'some progress'?... I don't want to hear this nonsense. Michael, if you still care about me and your mother, pack your bags and go back to Shanghai. Old Huang might still be able to keep this position for you, but if you wait too long, it'll be hard to say... Please understand how we, as parents, feel. We'll raise the money right now to help you with the down payment on an apartment in Shanghai. You should also have a serious talk with Lu Jia. After so many years of relationship, you can't just let it go like that. You're both getting on in years!"

I clenched my fists, panting, and replied, "You all want me to be understanding... but who's going to understand me?... Dad, do you really want me to stay in Shanghai? Do you even know what the housing market is like there?... Yes, we can borrow money from relatives and friends, but does that mean we don't have to pay it back?... Even if we manage to scrape together a million or so, it'll only be enough for a down payment, and then there's the mortgage. How am I supposed to manage that all by myself?"

Old Mi was silent at first, then glared at me angrily and said, "Did you do something to betray Lu Jia? If you and Lu Jia were truly together, how come you can't afford the mortgage?"

"Everyone's pursuits are different. What Lu Jia wants, I can't give her... Dad, please don't pressure me. I really don't have the ability to buy a house and a car in Shanghai, and then use those to keep a woman with higher aspirations..."

After saying all this, I closed my eyes, and scenes from my time in Shanghai flooded back into my mind...

If a man hadn't truly been broken enough, how could he be willing to say he was incompetent in front of his parents? I was exhausted, like a pile of mud, having rolled from Shanghai to Dali; my self-esteem was also shattered, which is why I felt unworthy of Lu Jia, and in the end, I preferred to say nothing and just let her go.

Old Mi spoke up again: "This is just a sign of your incompetence. Do you think you're the only outsider in all of Shanghai?"

"Go ask around, and you'll find that, apart from a very few, how many people there actually live a peaceful life?"

"I can't explain this to you over the phone. I've already booked a train ticket to Dali. I'll be at the train station at 6 PM tomorrow... You can decide for yourself."

Old Mi angrily hung up the phone, but I was too stunned to react, and kept the phone to my ear, not putting it down for a long time...

I wanted to explain something, but I found the world to be so cruel, because no one was willing to spend time listening to me, not even my own parents... All they wanted was for me to live the way they wanted me to, without caring about the torment I was going through.

The pile of firewood that Coach Ma had brought had already burned to ashes. As I felt cold, the wind blew in with moisture, and there was no place for me to stand on this boundless Erhai Lake. I slunk back to the inn, then collapsed onto the bed, no longer wanting to move, as if I were dead.

……

I had a nightmare where I fell from a tall building. I woke up with a start and sat on the bed for a long time before finally picking up my phone to check the time. The timing was awkward, sandwiched between midnight and dawn.

I opened WeChat and saw that Tie Nan had posted a Moments update more than two hours ago. He had met Tao Zi and they had a late-night snack together... I don't know how he managed to trick Tao Zi into coming out, but I could see his joy.

It seems this is a case of some being happy while others are sad.

I sighed softly, closed WeChat, and then went to the bathroom to wash my face with cold water. After I regained my senses, I rode Tie Nan's motorcycle away from the inn, drifting along the coastal road like a withered leaf...

……

As we approached "Majiuyi", the morning sun finally peeked out from the other side of Erhai Lake, and the entire ancient town came alive. In this peaceful and vibrant scene, I encountered street cleaners and vendors selling tofu and bean curd.

Finally, I stopped in front of the "Seaway Inn," but didn't dare go in. I just sat on the motorcycle and lit a cigarette. Of course, I hoped Ye Zhi could help me with this, but I still lacked confidence.

Because I've never been with a woman of this class before, even if she's willing to help, I don't know how to interact with her in a way that makes us look like a harmonious couple and prevents Old Mi from getting suspicious.

Just as I was finishing my cigarette, the door to the "Seaway Inn" opened, and I saw Ye Zhi walk out...

She was dressed in sportswear, and her long hair was tied in a braid. It was clear she was going for a run.

She stopped beside me, then asked with some surprise, "What brings you here?"

"I...I was just taking a casual drive and happened to pass by your place."

"Um."

Ye Zhi responded and then ignored me completely. She ran along the coastal road towards a village next to Ma Jiuyi where inns were more concentrated...

She was such a cold woman, which made me even more timid. Given her personality, how could I possibly cooperate with her and put on this act in front of Old Mi?

When I was at my wit's end, I thought of confronting Old Mi head-on, but then I remembered that he had a heart condition, so I gave up the idea. I was afraid that I might upset him and cause him serious harm, and then I would be unable to clear my name of the sins I had committed.

Should we really go along with his wishes and go back to Shanghai?

I can not be reconciled.

I took my phone out of my pocket again and called Coach Ma.

Coach Ma, who's practically in the final stages of his laziness, actually got up. He answered my call and, quite alertly, asked, "What's up?"

"This is a huge deal... My dad's train arrives in Dali this afternoon. You need to find me a woman with a diamond ring right away, or I'll really have to pack my bags and go back to Shanghai."

"Is it really that serious?"

"Even if you gave me the guts of a bear and the gall of a leopard, I wouldn't dare joke about this..."

Coach Ma was silent for a moment, then replied, "Oh, this is really difficult. What decent women could a singer in a bar possibly know?"

These words reminded me of the women I met at the "Women's Flower" bar where he sang last time; they not only smoked, but they also all had tattoos, which was obviously not something a stereotypical old man like Lao Mi could accept.

Just when I was at my wit's end, the fresh scent of shampoo wafted in on the morning breeze. I turned my head and was surprised to find Ye Zhi standing right beside me. She asked me, "What did you mean by saying you wanted to find a woman with a diamond ring?"