Tenant's Secret Love

Chapter 27: Don't let me see you in Suzhou

The next morning, I left Hengdian and returned to Suzhou in the afternoon. I went straight to the company and reported the situation to my manager Mark. And so the incident of shooting promotional posters for GUCCI was resolved with the promise Violetta gave me.

That evening after work, I sat in the office for a long time, unable to leave. Leaving the house I had lived in for more than two years, I was gripped by panic about having nowhere to go.

In fact, habit is really a terrible thing. My current pain comes entirely from habit, from being used to the love Brittany once gave me, and from the warmth and comfort that house once gave me.

I don't really understand what's been going on all these years. Why do I always lose the precious things in life, and gain so little in return?

Maybe I know the answer, but I don't want to admit it, so I console myself: I've finally seen some hope in my work, and progress at work will definitely make life better in the future, so I'll gather myself and prepare to embrace a new life!

After leaving the company, I didn't go looking for a new place to live. I decided to stay at Robben's place for now, at least at night the two equally lonely and disillusioned men could chat about music and this bullshit life.

...

Wandering the streets alone, I was bored out of my mind, so I decided to go to the bar to find Robben and have a few more drinks.

I left immediately and hailed a taxi to the bar where Robben sang.

When I arrived at the bar, it was still the same scene of revelry as usual, and the same crowd with their hips swaying. I just found a relatively quiet corner and sat down.

Robben came over with a few beers, sat down opposite me, and handed me another bottle of beer, saying, "I thought you were insulated from here, so why are you here again?"

I looked around and said jokingly, "I came here to breathe in some decadent air, because I've been living a bit too happily lately!"

Robben clinked his bottle against mine and asked with a smile, "You're just used to hard times, what's wrong with living a little?"

I laughed too, raised my bottle and said, 'This is the realm of life, little comrade, you still have to slowly realize it...drink!"

Robben laughed and shrugged, took a sip with me, and then asked me, 'You went to Hengdian to find Violetta yesterday, didn't you?"

"I hid it so well, how did you know?" I asked in surprise.

"I chatted with Violetta on WeChat today and she said you went."

"Actually, I went to Hengdian for work. GUCCI is setting up a counter in our department store, and they specifically asked Violetta to take promotional product posters, so I got stuck with this chore." I took another sip of beer as I spoke.

"No wonder Violetta said she was happy for no reason. Maybe she really thought you were going to see her at first."

"Even if I went to see her, I would have gone at the weekend."

Robben nodded and didn't pursue the matter any further. The two of them drank another bottle of beer, chatted for a while, and then Robben left, as it was his turn to go on stage.

More and more people came to the bar for entertainment. I still sat in the corner, sipping my beer, lost in thought. The night I spent with Violetta also appeared in my mind vaguely. I felt a little sad about it. This sadness was very puzzling to me, but it was real.

On the stage, Robben and another female singer sang a song he wrote. The applause came and went. My attention was finally attracted, and I snapped my fingers to the rhythm of the music.