It was still hot in October, and the night was a little cool, but it still couldn't hide the gloom.
At the moment of confirming that it was really Ashley, Jacob looked slightly down and subconsciously put out the cigarette butts. When he wanted to throw it into the dustbin, he suddenly noticed the lady's cigarette in the other hand.
His movements stopped.
Jacob raised his eyes and shook the cigarette in his hand at her. "Who taught you to smoke?"
Haven't seen her for two years. The little girl was obviously much taller.
The last time he met her, she just reached his shoulder, and this time she was able to reach his chin.
There was no change in her facial features, only a little cleaner, a little more girlish than her previous childishness.
She wore a pink slip dress and light blue denim shorts, revealing a thin waist and a well-shaped collarbone, as well as two slim, straight legs.
Her hair color was natural light, with her hair up in a bun, looking beautiful and refreshing.
She has really changed a lot.
Ashley couldn't react at all and stared at him vaguely.
After a while, she withdrew her hand and whispered, "It's not mine."
"Brother saw it with my own eyes," Jacob said lazily. "It fell off you."
"...”
"Little Ashley is not a good girl."
When she heard the word "brother" in his mouth, Ashley felt as if it was a long time ago.
She didn't explain anymore but pointed to the cigarette in his hand. "Don't you smoke, too?"
"When did brother smoke in front of you?" Jacob threw away the cigarette butts and casually put the pack of cigarettes into his pocket. "I got this."
"...” She didn't expect him to have such a show. Ashley hurriedly said," It's really not mine, it's my roommate's. "
"Well," Jacob looked at her and suddenly noticed something, "Kiddo, forget anything else. You didn’t even greet me when you haven't seen brother for so long. "
Ashley pursed her lips and shouted "Brother Jacob" very stiffly.
"Hang out around here?"
"Yes."
"When did the military training finish?"
Like coming home late and being interrogated by her parents, Ashley touched her head and said honestly, "Last month."
"That seven-day National Day holiday," Jacob laughed. "Why didn't you come to play with brother?"
Ashley originally thought that they haven’t seen each other for such a long time, and the little communication was through social software, so when they talked face-to-face, both sides were expected to be a little embarrassed.
But it didn’t.
She was the only one who felt a little embarrassed.
Ashley looked at him and muttered, "I have other things to do."
Jacob, "Like what?"
"Having classes."
"During the holiday?"
Ashley suddenly felt that something was wrong and changed her words," Part-time job. "
"Well, brother used to work part-time."
He sensed that she was prevaricating him. Jacob looked loose and the corners of his lips bent slightly. "I had to take the time to help you see the teacher, watch you do your homework, and take you home."
"...”
"Little Ingrate."
"...”
There was a long silence.
He stood up, his eyebrows thinning in the light, handed the pack of cigarettes from his pocket to her, and uttered the words "fine" coolly.
Ashley didn't dare to take it.
"That the little girl has no conscience," Jacob smiled gently. "is fine."
Ashley was a little annoyed by what he said and reluctantly choked out a sentence, "then you were a sophomore and junior at that time, and I am only a freshman now."
"Okay."
Jacob said faintly, "You think I’m old."
"...”
"Figure it out for yourself, kiddo."
Jacob put his elbow on the railing next to him and tapped his fingertips on it. "Brother is not good to you?"
"I didn't say that."
Ashley couldn't help saying, "I'm a grown-up, don't you think it's awkward for you to call me kiddo?"
Jacob said, "You are still a kiddo to me."
Ashley patiently pulled the cigarette from his hand, but still did not hold back the fire. "Brother, I haven't seen you for years, you are really getting old."
Jacob was not annoyed and said, "Well, it's better to call me brother."
"...”
"Ashley, go back to your phone and do the math."
Jacob said, "How many my calls did you miss?"
Ashley said without much courage, "Didn't I tell you I wanted to study?"
"You have to be cut off from the rest of the world when you study? I'll figure it out with you later."
He checked the time and said. "It's 11:00 now, go back."
"I don't know when they are going to leave."
Ashley also looked at her cell phone. "Then I'll go back first."
"...”
"Brother Jacob," afraid of being told by him that she had no conscience, Ashley asked a few questions very officially, "I didn't have time to ask, aren't you leaving?"
"The company holds a party welcoming the new colleague."
Jacob said casually, "Go catch your things, brother will take you back to school."
Ashley shook her head. "I'll go back with them."
"That's fine."
He didn't force it.
Jacob was still leaning on the original place, staring down at her as if thoughtfully.
Feeling a little uncomfortable, Ashley couldn't help moving her eyes and smelled the faint smell of wine in the wind.
In this dress, she didn't think there was anything.
But at the moment, there was an inexplicable feeling that she went to school without wearing a school uniform and was discovered by the director.
Ashley asked again, "Did you drink?"
"No."
He suddenly said, "Stand over here."
Ashley didn't move. "What?"
"I haven't seen you for such a long time," Jacob stood in place, with his bright eyes, smiling. "I want to take a closer look at you. To see whether Little Ashley..."
"...”
" beautiful or not now."
Ashley returned to the box.
Several people had fallen into their seats, and there was a person who was drinking up, holding the microphone, and howling.
The smell of alcohol was so strong.
No sooner had she come in than she wanted to go out.
Noticing her figure, her roommate Vivian asked, "Hey, Ashley, what took you so long? Let's play cards."
Ashley sat next to her; "When are we leaving?"
"They said 1:00"
Ashley said, "The subway is out of service then. "
"We can take a taxi."
Vivian said, "or take the bus, but I don't know what time the latest ride of No. 888 is."
Ashley couldn't accept the smell in the box, or it may be because she has had a few glasses of wine and felt a little nauseous. "I'll go back first. I can't stay up all night."
Birthday star Sophie leaned over and smiled, "Ash, are you leaving?"
“Yes.”
"It's so late. You can’t go back by yourself."
Sophie said, "Let Alex take you back."
Ashley paused for a moment, "Who is Alex?"
"That one."
Sophie took her arm, quietly pointed to Alex, then leaned to her ear and said, "He is pretty handsome, right? I think he is interested in you."
"Come on. I haven't said a word to him."
Ashley stood up and rubbed her sleepy eyes. "It's all right, it's the subway station just out there. I'm leaving. I'm sleepy. "
"Oh, all right."
"Don't be too late. It's not safe."
"You get your keys?"
"Yes."
Ashley then was relieved and went out of the box.
The KTV in the evening was always very lively, and the waiters were very enthusiastic.
She was startled for the first time, and then she got used to it.
Ashley walked out of KTV and went down the stairs.
She reached out to cover her face, and finally had the mind and time to recall the appearance of Jacob and his last words.
Maybe the wine came up, and Ashley felt inexplicably angry.
‘Bastard.
Old, bastard.
What does it have to do with him?
And she has been beautiful since childhood, and she must be beautiful when she grows up.
He even wanted to take a closer look.’
Ashley stopped and exhaled slowly.
The reunion came so sudden that she was completely unprepared.
She remembered the words of Jacob again.
" You are still a kiddo to me."
Ashley laughed inexplicably.
It was exactly what she thought.
She was an adult and was still a child to him.
Maybe when she was 70 or 80, he would still cling to the word "kiddo".
Seven years older than her.
Ashley was a little angry, but she couldn't think of how to vent her emotions.
She never said a dirty word, and she couldn't swear.
After holding it for a long time now, only two words "old thing" came out.
Just finished her words, a man's familiar voice suddenly appeared behind her. "Yeah."
Ashley turned her head stiffly.
"Calling me?" Jacob stood on the steps behind her as if he had stopped as long as she stopped.
He thought for a moment and seemed to laugh angrily. "That's right."
"...”
"I think I’m the only...." Jacob stared at her for a few seconds, then pronounced clearly and said, "old thing you met tonight."