On my way back, I sat in the taxi, unable to focus. I just watched the streetlights flashing past outside the window, feeling increasingly lost.
The car radio was playing a midnight song dedication program. A young man excitedly told the host that he would marry the girl he deeply loved the next day, so he wanted to dedicate the song “Getting Married” to his fiancée, hoping their married life would be happy and harmonious. After the host offered her blessings, the cheerful melody filled the car…
“Yesterday’s carefree young man, today is becoming a grown-up. I can’t hide the smile on my lips, filled only with anticipation and dreams. What does she look like? Does she have long flowing hair and a warm, forgiving heart? Who can know right from wrong? Can we grow old together? Is there someone who feels the same as me? With my whole life, I wait for a lifelong love. Perhaps it’s fate, perhaps it’s destined. I really hope for a bit more luck…”
These simple lyrics tore at the most fragile string in my heart. That helpless pain overwhelmed me again, and I anxiously said to the driver, “Sir, could you please turn off the radio?”
The driver looked surprised, then said to me, “Young man, this song was really popular in the 1990s. It’s rare to hear it now. In fact, I proposed to my wife with this song back then… If the radio bothers you, can I just finish listening to this song first? Would that be okay with you?”
I shouldn’t have let my own unease and frustration interfere with someone else’s memory of happiness. Finally, I nodded and said to the driver, “You listen.”
The driver smiled, turned down the volume slightly, and started humming along with the melody. I looked at him. He was just an ordinary night taxi driver. His wife might also be ordinary, but that didn’t mean they weren’t happy.
When the song finally ended, the driver turned off the radio. But his emotions had already been stirred. With a simple smile, he said to me, “Last week was our 20th wedding anniversary. Coincidentally, our son was on summer vacation, so our family went to Qingdao for a few days. Hehe… Although I’ve driven a taxi in this city for more than ten years, I rarely leave the city, let alone see the sea. My wife was the same. When we saw the sea that day, both of us were so excited and took many photos!”
I smiled, but didn’t know how to respond…
He continued, “Our whole family depends on this taxi. My wife drives during the day, and I drive at night. Although we don’t earn much, we bought a house last year. Our son is even more outstanding—he got into Soochow University this year. I’m really satisfied with this life. Even if I drive for another ten years, I won’t feel tired!”
I nodded, but inside me, all kinds of emotions had already been stirred up. I closed my eyes, leaned back on the car seat, and tried not to let my weary tears fall…
The driver misunderstood me, thinking I was impatient. He quickly apologized, “Young man, sorry for talking too much. But when driving at night, you have to say a few words to stay awake!”
“Uncle, actually I really enjoy listening to you. I’m just a bit tired.”
“It’s emotional tiredness, right?”
“Yeah.”
“You young people always work so hard for your careers and for a wife who can give you face. But life doesn’t need so many complicated things. Living a simple and plain life is the greatest happiness!”
His words deeply touched me. As the car passed the last street before reaching my old house, I finally took out my phone from my pocket and sent a message to Mi Cai.
“Life is happy because it’s ordinary…”
…
The next morning, just after I woke up and before I had time to wash up, I received a call from CC. She told me to quickly check today’s entertainment news. I knew this news must be about Leyao, so I immediately turned on the TV.
On a certain entertainment channel, the host was excitedly reporting that Leyao had issued a statement this morning announcing her withdrawal from the entertainment industry. This statement was only written and not announced at a press conference. Then the host read Leyao’s statement…
“Firstly, I would like to thank all my fans who have supported me all along, and my company for their cultivation. Regarding the recent news that has been exposed, I express my deep apologies. At the same time, I acknowledge the authenticity of the news, because I indeed got pregnant for a man I deserved to love, but I painfully aborted the child for my acting career, but I still love him deeply… I have grown tired of the endless disputes in the entertainment industry, so I have decided to withdraw from the entertainment industry and say goodbye to everyone. I also hope everyone can wish me happiness and enjoy the ordinary happiness in a simple life!”
My brain went blank again. But the “ordinary happiness” mentioned at the end of Leyao’s statement kept echoing in my mind. I was shocked to realize that what we were pursuing now was so coincidentally the same!
CC hadn’t hung up the phone yet and asked me, “Zhaoyang, who do you think is the man mentioned in Leyao’s statement?”
I was more concerned about the chain reaction after Leyao left the entertainment industry, so I skipped this question and asked CC, “What about the advertising endorsements and films she was shooting after she leaves the entertainment industry?… She will have to pay a huge breach of contract fee!”
“Don’t worry about that for her. Someone will pay this breach of contract fee for her.”
“Who?”
“Can we not talk about this first? I just want to know what you think about Leyao’s decision to leave the entertainment industry?”
I was speechless and didn’t want to be the man mentioned in Leyao’s statement, because right now, I really couldn’t give her anything… I was still desperately waiting for Mi Cai’s forgiveness, fearing any further complications!
On the other end of the phone, CC sighed and said, “Leyao’s statement undoubtedly cuts off her last retreat. Mi Cai will definitely see her statement, and she will probably feel even worse, because those who know the truth know that you are the man in the statement… So you need to make a decision soon, or else things will get more complicated!”
After a long silence, I finally said to CC, “…I understand. Tonight I will go to find Mi Cai. She must forgive me, and we must get married!”
“Okay, I hope your choice this time is the right one… And we shouldn’t over-interpret Leyao’s statement either. Maybe she just wants an ordinary life, not necessarily love.”
I sighed in my heart, then my mind went blank, unable to figure out what kind of life I was really pursuing. It might be ordinary, or it might be an endless longing…
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