I met Shen Xi at a business meeting. She graduated from a key university and returned from studying abroad for two years. Well-off family and rich experience make a good first impression. A girl like her should live an enviable life. However, after in-depth understanding, it is found that the facts are far from what they seem.

Although Shen Xi was born in a relatively wealthy family, he is not a sissy at all. Along the way, I have worked very hard both in my studies and in my interest in guzheng. I talked about a boyfriend, Li Li, in my sophomore year. Shen Xi said that at that time, Li Li pursued her crazily. Although Li Li is not very satisfied with her various conditions, she feels very safe because of her thoughtfulness, so she agrees to associate.

Both of them are gentle in character, far from being in love, but they are both tepid in getting along. Soon, the senior year arrived. Li Li plans to work after graduation, but Shen Xi studies IELTS hard. Li Li heard that Shen Xi is going to study abroad. In the eyes of many students, the couple will break up soon, and Shen Xi is ready for it. Shen Xi spends every day in the library, but almost every time, Lili invites her to have dinner with her at the dinner party, and often helps her buy water to occupy a seat. Shen Xi saw Lily's kindness to Shen Xi, but he felt a lot of pressure. After all, such a long relationship does not mean that it is so easy to separate. It seems that both of them have reached a tacit understanding. If they don't mention breaking up, they will automatically break up after graduation.

Soon, Shen Xi received an admission notice from a New Zealand university, and Li Li also got an internship in a Chongqing company. The night before leaving school, two people had a meal. Li Li drank a lot and told Shen Xi sadly that he didn't want to let go. Even if Shen Xi studies abroad for two years, he is willing to wait for her. Shen Xi was deeply moved by Li Li's words. He didn't know what to say, but he cried Shen Xi said that she didn't think so much at that time, but she felt that the man in front of her really loved herself, and she was reluctant to let go of the man who loved her so much.

To tell the truth, Shen Xi doesn't like Lily very much. Li Li looks ordinary and her family is ordinary, and all aspects of her conditions seem to be out of place with her. According to Shen Xi's words, there is always a gap. Shen Xi is proud and diligent, and her expected height is different from Lily's.

02

During his days abroad, Shen Xi took two jobs besides studying. Although Shen Xi doesn't have to worry about his tuition and living expenses, he hopes to integrate into local life as soon as possible. Life is simple and full, but it is also lonely. Shen Xi didn't expect that he would continue to maintain this relationship with Lili when he was abroad. Basically, I make overseas calls to Shen Xi every day. At that time, there was no WeChat, and international telephone charges accounted for more than half of Li Li's salary. Lily's meticulous care made Shen Xi feel a lot of warmth in a foreign country. Shen Xi always reports to Lily, no matter big or small. College students lamented their persistence, some broke up in a few months, but the foreign love lasted so long.

At school, Shen Xi also has many boys' pursuits. But every time I see a boy I think I like better, I dare not take a step forward. How can I put it? Shen Xi thinks she is Lily's girlfriend. If she goes out with other boys, she will feel betrayed. She can't stand this guilt. But I know very well that every time I think about the future, it seems that the person standing next to me is unlikely to be Li Li. Because I was entangled in my heart and didn't take the initiative, I passed by a few boys I liked. Shen Xiyou thought about breaking up with Li Liti, but the words came to his mouth and he swallowed them. First, it is not ruthless enough, worrying that Li is too sad; Secondly, she is reluctant to part with Lili's good job.

Shen Xi's roommate, Xiao Qiong, is a careless girl. She knew that Shen Xi would call Lily overseas almost every night, so she accidentally leaked it to others at a party. Soon everyone knew that Shen Xi had a boyfriend, and her personality was very cold. Few boys asked her out after that. During that time, Shen Xi didn't think much and studied hard. When he was lonely, he was always accompanied by Lili's soft language, and time passed. Three years passed quietly. Shen Xi graduated as he wished.

At the moment I attended the graduation ceremony, I received an exciting message from Li Li on qq. Li Li said, "I finally waited for this day. I miss you. Come back soon. " Shen Xi said that she was not happy at all. I was puzzled to ask her why, but she said she didn't think too much and always felt confused about the future.

Everyone who studies abroad will face two choices after graduation, whether to stay or return to China. Both parents in Shen Xi hope that their daughter can stay there, get an identity there and live a better life in the future. Although Shen Xi does not reject the quiet and stable pace of life here, he still wants to work hard in a big city like Shanghai.

03

Shen Xi has returned to China and the flight is direct to Shanghai. Looking at this bustling city, Shen Xi felt inexplicably happy. No sooner had I connected the phone than Li Li's phone came in. Li Li said on the phone that she hoped to see her as soon as possible. Listening to Lili's happy and excited voice, Shen Xi suddenly felt that Lili might be a person who could get married. The person who picked her up was her cousin. My cousin has been doing business in Shanghai all the year round and is already familiar with Shanghai. When she saw Shen Xi, she took her hand and told her that she supported the development of Shen Xi in Shanghai. Cousin said that although foreign countries are good, the domestic economy is in a period of rapid development and there are many opportunities, which are worth fighting for. My cousin said that the talent introduction policy in Shanghai is also very good now, and people like Shen Xi who go back to work in Shanghai can just enjoy this policy. My aunt's career was very successful, and Shen Xi looked at her with admiration and envy.

When I almost settled down, I began to look for a job. I have been looking for a job for nearly a month, but it is not suitable. Either the other party doesn't like Shen Xi's inexperience, or this position really has no future. Li Li, her boyfriend, has been urging her to come over. She misses Li Li very much. I left my job and went to Chongqing to find Li.

Lili is no longer an intern in those days, but now she is an experienced old clerk. In Chongqing, this kind of mixing is especially open. Li Li happily introduced Shen Xi to his colleagues and friends. The next day, Lili invited many friends to have a big meal together. The private room was elegantly decorated. After a few drinks, Lili took out the ring she had already prepared. Lily knelt down and Shen Xi was at a loss. People around shouted, "Promise him ..." "Marry him ..." Shen Xi's head was blank. Egged on by everyone, Shen Xi took the ring. Applause and laughter came to my ears ... Shen Xi was not very happy, but it occurred to me that I was 27 years old and there was no one around. Maybe Lily can do it.

Lily wants Shen Xi to develop in Chongqing, and Shen Xi tells Lily about his idea of staying in Shanghai. Li Li said that his career is on the rise and he can't change well at this time. Li Li inquired about many jobs for Shen Xi through several headhunting companies he knew. Not long after, a large foreign company sent a recruitment notice to Shen Xi. Shen Xi didn't expect Lili to help him find a job so soon. He hasn't decided whether to stay in Chongqing. Li Li told Shen Xi that this is a very good company. You can do it first, accumulate experience, and then go to Shanghai to find a better job. Moreover, they have been separated for so long, and now they can finally be together, and they can no longer bear long-distance love. Li Li said that we would definitely go to Shanghai together in two years.

Shen Xi hesitated and always wanted to develop in Shanghai, but Lily is here. I can't bear to leave him after waiting for Lili for three years. Shen Xi decided to work first. Of course, she is still worried about Lili's words: Go to Shanghai together in two years.

In this way, Shen Xi took part in the work. The work is not bad, and I like the corporate culture of big companies. After work, I went shopping with Lili to get something to eat, and my life was ok. But Li felt a sense of distance, so that the number of quarrels increased. Once, one of Shen Xi's high school classmates, Chen Yan, came to Chongqing on business to see her. Shen Xi asked herself to meet Chen Chen at the station alone, but Li Li insisted on greeting her old classmates.

They looked around at the exit. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded in the distance, "Shen Xi, long time no see!" Shen Xi turned around, and the girl in front of her was completely changed, fashionable and beautiful. And the boyfriend standing next to her is also very handsome and sunny. Chen Yan looked at Lili around Shen Xi and asked him who he was with a smile. Shen Xi was silent for a while and said, "He is my friend. His name is Li Li." This sentence seriously hurt Li Li's heart. After Chen Yan left, Shen Xi explained to Lili that he didn't think so much at that time, just didn't want others to ask too many questions about himself. Although Lili forgave Shen Xi, his attitude gradually lost its previous enthusiasm.

04

During the Spring Festival holiday, Li Li and Shen Xi went to Shen Xi's home together. Shen Xi's parents are very eager to see Li Li. They told Shen Xi that they could do it as long as they liked, and Shen Xi was also the big boss. They have been hoping to settle down early. Shen Xi's brother is a software engineer with a successful career and a complete family. My brother's views are different from those of his parents. For Lili, my brother is not very optimistic. When talking with Shen Xi's brother, Lili also felt his brother's indifference. Lily looked at Shen Xi's beautifully decorated home and suddenly understood something.

When she returned to Chongqing after the Spring Festival, Lili broke up and advised Shen Xi to go to Shanghai at once, which was what she wanted. After that, I simply moved out of the apartment. After breaking up, Shen Xi was suddenly at a loss, thinking it was a relief, but the pain came quickly. She thought about the happy time with Lili and how good Lili was to herself ... She thought she didn't like Lili enough, but she didn't know when Lili took root in her heart.

But no matter how hard he tried, Lily didn't want to change her mind. Shen Xi doesn't understand the feelings for so many years. If he says no, he doesn't. They survived the foreign love, but parted ways when they were about to reach the finish line.

05

Shen Xi quit his job in Chongqing, returned his apartment and sent him everything that belonged to Li Li. While cleaning, Shen Xi saw the ring lying in the jewelry box. This ring is a diamond ring set with platinum, which must have cost Li a lot of savings. Take a closer look, the appearance is novel and atmospheric. But I didn't care much about it before, and I rarely wore it on my hand. Shen Xi wrapped it in a box, put it in a courier box and sent it back to Lili.

06

Now, Shen Xi works in an enterprise group in Jing 'an District. Living in the city of Shanghai, everything has to start all over again, with pressure, pain and a little joy. Almost 30 years old, she is still single. For Lili, I gradually let go. But facing the loneliness now, it is a kind of sadness.

This is really a long story. This feeling spans more than half of Shen Xi's youth. Although it ended in failure, it also made Shen Xi grow a lot. I can't comment on Shen Xi's right or wrong, because everyone is immature when he is young and makes mistakes.

I asked Shen Xi, "Do you think you really like Li Li?"

"I think so." Shen Xi said.

I shook my head in disapproval. "If you really like him, going abroad will not be so calm; If you really like him, you won't hesitate to agree to his proposal; If you really like him, you won't be reluctant to introduce him to others as your other half; If you really like him, you shouldn't let that ring lie there all the time ... "

07

Most of us will lie to others when we are young. We lied to our family, our classmates and our lovers, but we couldn't lie to ourselves. Shen Xi didn't recognize Lili from the beginning, but violated his heart and Lili. Every time she contradicts her inner will, she chooses to avoid it. She didn't dare to face herself honestly because she was afraid of losing, but she didn't expect that running away again and again not only hurt others, but also delayed herself. Be honest with yourself, recognize what you want and pursue it bravely, so that your road will not stagnate.

I told Shen Xi that I remembered a well-known story when I was a child: the little monkey went to the forest to pick peaches, saw apples after picking peaches, and threw peaches to pick apples. After walking for a while, I saw the watermelon, threw away the apple and picked the watermelon. Walking, I saw a bouncing rabbit and threw a watermelon to chase the rabbit. After chasing the rabbit for a long time, the rabbit suddenly disappeared and it was dark. The little monkey didn't pick the peaches he wanted at first, but he got lost in the forest.

A short story tells us to hold on to what we want most and ignore what we don't want too much. If you want peaches, apples, watermelons and rabbits, you will get nothing like a little monkey and waste a lot of time. There are often too many temptations in front of you. If you choose to stick to what you want and resist those temptations, you won't come to a fork in the road. If Shen Xi had stuck to his original intention from the beginning, he wouldn't have lost his way and started from scratch.