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春节啦,插播一些轻松的呗,祝大家心有所属,身体健康 / g- `9 H, @ l' ]7 V+ x
2024年的时候Leo 30岁了。对,这孽障也是明日黄花了。不过毕竟是个小小的里程碑,感觉我还是得表示表示。只是想了好几天,貌似也找不到什么值得送的。平常该送该买的都做得差不多了,连锦上添花都很难。眼看着日子一天天靠近,实在伤脑筋8 s' J/ W+ d* f- [$ A# l# ~
无意间目光聚焦在家里的鱼缸上。这是个10加仑的小缸,里面有几只小虾,几条红绿灯和花鼠。这还是再前一年跟Leo逛Petco的时候被他连哄带骗逼着设好的缸,本来说好一人一缸,结果我这边都弄好大半年了,他那边一点动静也没有,每次问起来都是各种理由推脱,什么房子是租的不方便没有合适的架子blahblahblah。想到这儿豁然开朗,原来答案一直近在眼前,何不趁这个机会将他一军,给他也设一个?先偷偷在我家设好,等他生日那天直接搬到他门口,难道他还能当场拒绝不成?. [8 s, s# H" I! H; C+ x
而且毕竟30岁嘛,得有仪式感,不能随随便便是个缸就解决了,得是分量足够的才行。一拍脑袋,那就设个海缸吧0 `/ d0 R3 D3 @1 w* M! y0 D) w& a
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还好以前在国内的时候也接触过海缸,活石,过滤,恒温,基本知识都有。头像里那条三间火箭就是原本家里养的,漂亮是真漂亮,麻烦也是真麻烦。傻乎乎的,还挑食得不行,下嘴前得对着食物盯半天,长得不好看的都不要。想到Leo将来也有可能会面对这些烦恼,恨不得立刻就给他设好搬过去) x% o. \, J: W0 M( n- ]. }7 Y
当然因为还是要在家里摆一段时间,先跟老婆沟通好,腾出了一个位置。花了一上午时间研究,决定还是从10加仑着手,毕竟再大就不好搬过去了9 H0 E! y! {- D1 z: U! i7 g' M6 w
设缸的细节不再赘述,出于对水质的考量,整体过程用了将近两周才基本完成,最后放了一对小丑,一条火鸟,一只清洁虾,一只瓷蟹,还有蜗牛寄居蟹若干。还是给Leo留了情面的,买的都是些见啥都吃的猪,是海缸里最简单的那些了。为了防止他再用没有架子放这种狗屁理由来搪塞,索性连架子也一并给他配齐了。发现海缸在美帝是个相当昂贵的爱好,虽然已经能省则省,最后加起来还是超过了300刀,感觉同样的配置能以大约五分之一的价格在国内解决。Leo的公寓我很熟悉,我甚至都能想象他会怎么摆,摆好后会长什么样。
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. T4 K/ [0 h# L7 E/ w% E7 V/ zLeo的生日很快到了。为了防止生日这天他另有安排这种乌龙事发生,早早就跟他约了午饭。但深知这人尿性,一觉醒来还是不放心,赶紧给他发个短信:
M \* e) _* j+ W0 z) ^“Leo happy birthday!! We're doing lunch today right? I can pick you up"1 g, w! q9 g& |# J. ]. J% y
Leo有早起看股票的习惯,不一会儿就收到了回复:
1 e$ C! K$ h9 u6 c: n8 f, p0 Y“Thanks. Sure. I'll pick the place"
: x/ ^4 R4 y& U7 F9 K2 T2 K肉疼。。。算了,待会儿看好戏 t$ U) f g2 c& @
“Aight. Can I come over a bit early like around 11? Just wanted to hang out"8 e) J J$ {! s+ t: C) R r5 N
Leo回了个OK的表情符号,好嘞, G1 G8 g3 l( |: e8 i
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结果连Leo影子都还没见着呢,报应先落到我头上了。搬鱼缸真的是个浩大的工程,就算是这么小的一个,也动用了一个额外的大水桶装水和石头,两个脸盆装器材。因为是海水的关系,还得提前把车子布置一下以防溅洒。Leo住公寓,停车场离他的单元老远了,思来想去还得带上平板购物车,最后愣是装满了一辆小SUV8 @9 F/ D( i2 F, k( N3 x
一路上小心翼翼,老干部开车,恨不得每个路口都缓缓划过去,连路上的每个不起眼的小坑都让我心惊肉跳。好不容易到地方了,停好车,怀着忐忑的心情打开后备箱,呼,幸好,只撒了一点点出来而已- s* }0 h% E6 Z3 c( Q1 H, S
我打电话给Leo,打到第二次才接:
2 g4 b' r F3 m' I“Hey I'm in the parking lot. Wanna come down?"
' p4 }% L/ U3 `Leo 听起来显然早上看完股票又去回笼了一下:$ H' L4 i* h- ?) ~
"Oh is it lunch time now? You can just come up"
5 A, X8 ~* G: C% T# S可恶,我忙了这么久,这家伙爽睡到现在。不能放过他,我坚持:' n: S% i& H8 Z3 ?* K4 I
"No Leo get your ass down here. Come on it's almost noon time why are you still on bed"
. D& W/ [: R0 ~* |% i# p$ P; I" HLeo满不在乎:
2 w* K5 J9 G( d8 a6 r; h( I"I'll meet up when I'm hungry. You're welcome to take a stroll or something. Later Dustin"
) @4 ^$ J8 M$ i8 P. C) G7 ~"No no Leo don't go"我咬咬牙,只好使出大绝:
. i& P+ @. B a3 i4 [“I got something for you. I promise it'll be worth it. Please Leo please"
5 |* _ Z: e& f我很少这么郑重其事地求他,料想他一定不会拒绝。果然,沉默了一会儿,好像听到他轻轻叹了一口气:$ P: y& X2 V4 N8 ?% W3 E" ?
“Gimme a bit"
! o2 V# R# ^$ A- S9 \* _挂掉电话,心里笑开了花,期待着待会儿Leo看到这缸鱼的表情。我知道他没那么快,干脆把椅子躺倒,闭目养神一会儿
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X9 |' A: Z. l+ f/ h4 J不知过了多久,听到了有人敲车窗的声音。我睁开眼睛,Leo穿着睡衣就下来了,头发乱得跟鸡窝一样,哈欠连连。我一跃下车,趁他还没反应过来抱了他一下。哎,跟女朋友处久了,这小子身上的味道也慢慢变了,但还是挺好闻的6 ~. A$ o4 }0 n. {" z% _
放开Leo,兴致勃勃地打开行李箱,等着看好戏。Leo过来一瞧,果然下巴掉到了地上:6 b I9 T: S9 X9 t
“What the...") {) X+ {" i Q- q2 _
我满意地看着他,还没欣赏够,Leo转过头,眼睛危险地半眯着:6 i A# ^9 \2 }# D9 t
“Is this some sort of comeback for last year?"; F9 P3 I4 ?$ J4 i5 [, @
"No no definitely not"我心里偷笑,果然猜到了,但为了人身安全,这嘴上肯定是不能承认的:- ?5 U/ I7 } d# W3 g
“In Chinese culture, turning 30 is a big thing. So I just wanted to get you something special"( q$ A' h4 n n
不想跟他纠结这些有的没的,我拉着他的胳膊:
' R/ F, P! z$ N$ ^“Let's get this thing up and running. I can't wait to see how it'll turn out in your apartment"
# h/ Z9 z1 @% g9 Z4 ]没想到Leo纹丝不动,脸上换了一副似笑非笑的表情,打掉我的手:
. O. H, G' E6 o# x& q# c+ ?( b) h, |“This is supposed to be a gift right?"9 U( N6 n/ n9 o
不明白他在搞什么名堂:
X4 k( d/ m$ D0 o9 {0 I“Yes?"/ Y( s; ^+ w2 [7 `
Leo伸了个懒腰:
# ?; H1 C! i/ P1 f“Then you're supposed to deliver it to my door. Keep rolling. I'll wait upstairs", Q) o; z- _6 a2 l! w ]! T
说完潇洒地转身就走。这回轮到我下巴掉到地上:
7 d) j, r2 |, R“Wait Leo. It's very heavy"
% W, u2 b' F; x: h$ B$ u5 BLeo 头也不回:# }: \7 y: m. Z
“You've made it here. Shouldn't be that bad"
9 K* W* }; @; Z, O9 S% \7 {算你狠,我咬咬牙:2 X. c4 j# t" E; K' B3 h: [" E
“Leo would you please help me?"5 k. l2 Y7 M+ X
Leo摆摆手% ]! N V0 V. ~$ T& B3 z7 p# b( b
“You ran out of that today. Good luck"
8 X1 ^+ G8 M7 F, m" b. ]% u6 ]怎么还有这种事。。。想着中间还有好几道防火门,只好最后再挣扎一下:
1 f+ R) X% j, [' g“Could you at least hold those doors? It would be very difficult for me to get through with a trolley full of containers filled with water. Please?"
: a3 r% u9 N- h, J3 i% H5 T( n6 |兴许是良心发现,Leo回过头来,若有所思地看着我:
+ r! X9 y' K" l/ i, Y: J8 o, s“That one probably"6 u9 G3 z. ]2 N& w, Z- m: P
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看着满满当当的后备箱,叹了口气,我为什么要给自己找这么多事。。。看到身边Leo这混蛋,又憋了一口气,妈的,自己来就自己来,撸起袖子干就是了0 u X" y) D0 I6 L* [1 _
打开平板车,再一样一样小心翼翼地把剩下的装备拿出来,很快就把小车装满了。不知道是不是巧合,经过一番调整,小车居然完美地装下了所有零零散散的东西。Leo果然铁石心肠,说到做到,真的一丁点忙也不帮,全程就在一旁双手插兜,乐呵呵地看着( c" K& g" e/ S% I8 B4 V
还好这混蛋最后有帮我把门。我数了数,Leo这破公寓从停车场到他的单元之间竟然有五道防火门。每一道都挺重的,平常问题不大,现下是真的没他不行。。。% g, c, R, a ]5 ]$ D% ?
终于来到了他的门口,我两手一摊:' U6 m1 g3 S& o! F( ]& q0 s# h
“Ok it's now at your door. You can do the rest right? Good luck..."
* j; N! s1 G( K2 i还没说完脑袋上就挨了一记,Leo指着来路:2 L! x d* [& _8 U. h& u% ?3 U0 [. E& o
“Unless you wanna haul all of these back on your own, you're gonna help me"
. W( r4 v" f2 p- a* U没等我抱怨,又接着说:
' o p- h) H+ S- K( F5 c- e! C“Now let's start off with the stand. I think i have an idea of where to put it, but we'll see"" S6 N- n3 r1 T. ~
. Q/ Y4 C/ i- p) I* `; o一个鱼缸架两个人一起抬并不重,看走的方向,果然,Leo计划摆放的地方跟我预想的差不多。放下之后Leo再比划了一阵,确认没什么大问题后,我们便把剩下的东西都搬了进来。又折腾了一阵,总算是大致把鱼缸复原了。还好,小动物们看起来有些受到惊吓,但状态都似乎没什么大问题
- H& p% l* w% o5 |; H g, a: k' A因为考虑到需要搬运和Leo公寓空间的限制,鱼缸架高度较矮,基本上蹲下来才能跟鱼缸平视。蹲了一会儿腿有些麻,想着这块儿反正也是地毯,便索性跪坐下来。Leo站在我后面,越过我和鱼缸整理电源线。低下头的时候可以看到Leo的拖鞋还有白色的袜子,后脑勺正对着Leo的胯下,头发甚至偶尔能感受到跟睡裤间轻微的摩擦 t0 r3 E4 a# v& Y% h
Leo就这样弯腰操作了一会儿,也许是这个姿势有些累,Leo拍拍我的脑袋:
" M8 [5 C8 c4 n) n& \* ?) Y5 ]“Hang in there"( P0 k7 u. C5 k
正想问他指的是什么,只听Leo踢掉一只拖鞋,右边肩膀压力陡增,一个软软暖暖的东西压在了上面。我转头,一抹白色近在咫尺,原来如此
# z5 N, |! ~+ `. l0 p- N. O6 L5 j; Y我尽量挺直腰板撑着Leo,这个姿势多少还是有些羞辱。我抬头看了看,Leo正全神贯注地理线,没有丝毫的分心,仿佛这是一件再自然不过的事。我低下头,默默地靠近Leo的白袜脚,偷偷吸了吸鼻子。刚起床的Leo根本没什么味道,但是自从我跟他不再住在一起之后便鲜少有机会能接触到这些了,下半身还是又有要抬头的趋势
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乱七八糟的想法还没发酵完,肩膀上突然一轻,Leo拍拍手:7 J/ {* W% n) j, Q
“Done. Lunch?”+ O3 \5 d H* K; a
我点点头,完了抬起头看Leo,他正在看着鱼缸,我忍不住问道:) m& b1 N3 g- x' `9 C
“Did you...like my gift?"$ v7 k! Y7 Q# I) b$ k3 l4 ]6 Z
Leo看着我,咧着嘴坏笑:$ L) `& B# [* x% _ |
"I would say yes if it was a McLaren"
' P. T4 {+ D: s( n: T0 ]. ]我抓抓头:
: h& G/ m% B q/ Y“Sorry I can't afford that. My kids are serious money sinks you know"7 ]) e" q9 I5 k
明明知道是胡搅蛮缠,却仍然忍不住想要解释,也不知道为什么。Leo还是那个欠揍的表情:1 c" u1 q! m7 B( t: p& \ x: i
“Easy. Just put them up for adoption”
6 D" V8 N; b7 Y9 A) A% h我哑然。可能也是觉得胡话说够了,Leo伸出手,摸摸我的头,笑着说:0 a/ f* E7 E; ]
“Kidding. I like the tank. It looks amazing. I can see you've put in a lot of thoughts and efforts. This is a truly special gift, one of the best I've ever had. Thank you Dustin. I really appreciate it. There's only one problem, though"
1 ^' A- M" A4 R/ x1 z, d/ I+ bLeo 停下来,看着我,难得露出一丝为难的表情:, Y" [2 Z# m. P
“I have zero experience with saltwater. I had freshwater back in Chicago and that's about it. I assume you've already picked the hardy ones and I'll try my best. But still, I wanted to preemptively apologize if anyone there doesn't want to work with me"
& `# E: ?& g, i* Q8 u嘿嘿,难得Leo也有不自信的时候,不能放过这个机会,想了想,对Leo说道:
" ~/ \) ]4 ^6 w9 l8 |2 l“I can help. Wanna treat me to lunch instead?"
7 Y8 C" u: o( O5 E) F: \0 QLeo意味深长地看了我一眼,指了指身后的鱼缸:
1 ^5 m% o! O, ]5 E# n" {. q& @0 j- q“How does seafood sound? Small portion due to supply"
- x" Q) o+ R! b+ Q) _: Z" R我撇撇嘴,得,午饭还是我请吧
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