Wu Yu

  The wind blows through the city with a rustling sound. Here, the stars are densely packed and never hidden, and in the dead of night, the breath from the sea surface will invade. My heart will become calm on this night mixed with the sounds of the wind, starlight, and seawater.

  When the streetlights first came on, I slid out from under a car. The sweltering heat made me sweat all over, and my palms were covered in grease. This was unimaginable in the past. But now, its great. After a day of hard work, the scorching pain in my muscles can even give me a refreshing release.

  I got up, grabbed a bottle of mineral water and drank it. Xiaohua poked my arm muscle with her fist and said: "Yu Ge is really a man among men, a fighter among men! Yu Ge, Im really curious, what did you do in the past? So smart, look at the manual and can repair any machine or car model. Just like a computer!"

  I smiled and replied: "Because their principles are all the same."

  Xiao Hua and several other repair workers showed a helpless smile, one of them asked: "Brother Ou, let me guess, were you a police officer or a soldier before? Youre so majestic and powerful!"

  "No, I think hes a professional racing driver." Xiaohua said recklessly, "Otherwise, the car is so awesome, its like his girlfriend, letting him play with it!"

  A few men all showed ambiguous smiles, which was a sarcastic laugh at me for not having a woman. I also smiled, and pulled out a cigarette from the pocket of my T-shirt, Xiao Hua lit it up for me.

  When Im not alive, I sit in the store, inhaling and exhaling clouds of smoke, nicotine seeping into my lungs through my nostrils, a slightly dry and irritating sensation. It makes me feel a bit indulgent and a bit sober at the same time.

  I used to never smoke before. Now Xiao Hua thinks Im an old smoker. A pack of Yuxi cigarettes, and its gone in a day.

  I lean against the wall, squinting my eyes through the gap in the ceiling, looking at those faint stars. It is said that after people die, they will become stars and watch over their loved ones. There are so many distant stars, but I dont know which one is mine.

  Xiao Hua gently nudged me with his elbow and then whistled.

  It was just like this, I saw her again.

  A bright orange mini SUV drove in, with a very young and slender woman sitting in the drivers seat.

  "Shes quite pretty," Xiaohua whispered. The other repair workers were also staring at her.

  Im also watching, eyes fixed intently.

  She had a very dark and thick long hair, but it seemed that she never carefully dressed it up, always with a few lazy postures. For example, now, she just used a rubber band to tie it loosely, exactly the same as when I saw her last time. Her face was delicate, especially her eyes were shiny and attractive. But her temperament was much more complicated, closing the car door with a light swing of her hand, then putting it into her pocket. Like a girl, also like a woman.

  I noticed her arm. Actually, I had already noticed it last time. She was wearing a simple but somewhat unique T-shirt, light gray, with some indistinguishable patterns printed on the chest. The sleeve was slightly wrinkled and rested on her arm. Her skin was very white, her arm slender, and her bones and flesh were well-proportioned. Very pure, also very sexy.

  I didnt expect that Xiaohua would ask me to repair her car. After calling me, Xiaohua winked at me, it was intentional. At that moment, my chest felt like someone had poked me with a stick. I finished the cigarette in my hand and threw it into the trash can, then stood up.

  She didnt recognize me.

  She held the phone, stood by the car, looked at me for a moment, and then quickly lowered her head. Her expression was somewhat reserved, yet a bit distracted. Her eyes were very calm, but her cheeks had a hint of blush.

  The same expression as when we first met.

  A sudden surge of long-forgotten joy rose up in my heart. But now, I didnt want to be recognized by her anymore. I turned sideways, bent down and went to check on her car.

  She finally sensed something. This girl didnt make any disguise, I heard her clear footsteps, surrounding me, slowly turning around, slowly looking. Finally she walked to my front, tilted her head, and looked at my face.

  I looked up at her.

  In an instant, her face turned extremely complex: shocked, suspicious, and bewildered.

  Its great that she still remembers me. In my heart, a warm feeling arose from this realization. However, I know shes an intelligent girl but also a straightforward and innocent one. Since I didnt want her to recognize me, I maintained a calm expression, lowered my head, and continued fixing the car.