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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 , L: f; }) s# \% Y2 {* p2 `# \7 G
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, z9 X+ j- u7 ?1 ]7 g
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?. x6 `- z3 S% K8 Q* C
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1 W* f/ w1 t5 f* L2 |, Z
& \6 v) K/ V$ a- y( P# ~: Y$ g2 C# C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- E# X& y$ C! m/ ^$ m
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+ M: h8 s! M" q* L- K4 z
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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Leo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:3 M; a; x" {4 Y- m
“Leo happy birthday!! We're doing lunch today right? I can pick you up", d. b0 |1 a- M
Leo有早起看股票的习惯,不一会儿就收到了回复:
+ v. L$ `; `& I; V& q9 G* {4 Y“Thanks. Sure. I'll pick the place"( d. |" g0 z4 ^- _' S. s1 i# Y/ ]
肉疼。。。算了,待会儿看好戏, \% H0 D' I9 D7 L4 e+ @2 ~5 O7 A
“Aight. Can I come over a bit early like around 11? Just wanted to hang out"
# d3 n* T7 ]: w4 B6 q a. CLeo回了个OK的表情符号,好嘞
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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SUV$ w$ b5 D1 [3 _' r
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
, r: f8 i# L; I. @3 n+ H+ j我打电话给Leo,打到第二次才接:" u% V; ]. | e+ f4 U5 L
“Hey I'm in the parking lot. Wanna come down?"
6 F) G8 L& Y! ELeo 听起来显然早上看完股票又去回笼了一下:
2 p \! i3 W- N: D& n"Oh is it lunch time now? You can just come up"
( u% d m$ M5 T4 ?* U" O可恶,我忙了这么久,这家伙爽睡到现在。不能放过他,我坚持:+ `' p4 N& o6 n
"No Leo get your ass down here. Come on it's almost noon time why are you still on bed"
2 y9 I8 I8 \$ q2 HLeo满不在乎:
- h' P) \( h" }* y1 h6 n4 s+ _"I'll meet up when I'm hungry. You're welcome to take a stroll or something. Later Dustin"2 L# j r5 @0 e" Q
"No no Leo don't go"我咬咬牙,只好使出大绝:7 c' C9 [' h$ Z
“I got something for you. I promise it'll be worth it. Please Leo please"
) L9 N! K6 B$ x, x9 ]0 ]# ~7 |5 k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:5 ?- e$ b3 B2 R4 x; e5 a
“Gimme a bit"0 @% `& r) S5 _$ p I
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0 ^& B. M4 ~# ~. X" R
* h2 K$ s0 y/ l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+ F: h/ x" | o+ j0 s, |5 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:2 a: E1 X% F6 g
“What the..."
; K" T e. d) _& ]5 {7 v% w我满意地看着他,还没欣赏够,Leo转过头,眼睛危险地半眯着:* j7 O) X+ B& R2 e8 y
“Is this some sort of comeback for last year?"" {; o. | q8 X+ B4 W
"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:
; |. K ^+ H, B7 b7 m“In Chinese culture, turning 30 is a big thing. So I just wanted to get you something special". D y: e- ?, i/ Z
不想跟他纠结这些有的没的,我拉着他的胳膊:* c% X" @, \9 N+ W2 _
“Let's get this thing up and running. I can't wait to see how it'll turn out in your apartment"
5 f! V) P. [% \1 V K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:
5 t6 d5 d9 ]# E2 j“This is supposed to be a gift right?": I/ p4 f% W- [
不明白他在搞什么名堂:, ~+ ^' j# s0 W) i9 X! f# Z; Z6 Y
“Yes?"
1 z/ B4 J. y; q: U8 o' YLeo伸了个懒腰:0 T4 S1 L2 N+ _) T8 _ |/ l
“Then you're supposed to deliver it to my door. Keep rolling. I'll wait upstairs"
6 I) z! M/ X7 B1 M说完潇洒地转身就走。这回轮到我下巴掉到地上:
. n& t) g8 P$ J8 i“Wait Leo. It's very heavy"- E! i2 g/ m$ R% F& n* Q
Leo 头也不回:
; K" Z( ]7 [& U2 D1 Y“You've made it here. Shouldn't be that bad"
, T, J# D+ z! o3 S9 `算你狠,我咬咬牙:4 \& g N- a" e: T0 _
“Leo would you please help me?"
. C4 z( n+ g) u; [+ Y% J' ^Leo摆摆手
) v% u2 N$ Q6 [& q“You ran out of that today. Good luck"6 q) I& y: Y. v
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:$ h0 f( N, R. D! W B* n
“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?"' k& {5 F) X' b K. d
兴许是良心发现,Leo回过头来,若有所思地看着我:; J7 l& `8 W! Q% g7 d: y4 r/ s( T( ]8 @
“That one probably"# u7 u( z$ O% D% g
( x7 W3 q' M! R C5 o/ b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
v# n. C! F. T! J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. T* e2 E9 |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。。。
: ?; `. Q2 i8 F$ ^0 ~8 t终于来到了他的门口,我两手一摊:/ y0 i5 Y! N2 [8 h7 E9 q/ r% i
“Ok it's now at your door. You can do the rest right? Good luck..."
9 d+ c+ r6 b% {0 N( W2 T还没说完脑袋上就挨了一记,Leo指着来路: E M5 a3 T; W: g! u
“Unless you wanna haul all of these back on your own, you're gonna help me"
4 N- E4 @( ]: e6 V2 E& w没等我抱怨,又接着说:" t' Z2 y" v; ?; b
“Now let's start off with the stand. I think i have an idea of where to put it, but we'll see"- I3 D5 f, j1 Y, n0 {4 n0 F; L
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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
) m7 l% _9 L' m4 P4 n% P# ?) I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1 ]" A8 s* m# d7 t8 C7 u U& @
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:0 W' g) t1 u4 a* Q2 J% q$ g
“Hang in there"
' Q" d+ w- D3 n- g$ J7 P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3 d3 H( M. ?/ @
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:
, p5 F( r4 }6 O& u“Done. Lunch?”- r0 `0 D+ w3 q
我点点头,完了抬起头看Leo,他正在看着鱼缸,我忍不住问道:" E! A; b1 r9 W9 E- Z" h
“Did you...like my gift?"4 L9 k; {; h* d# m
Leo看着我,咧着嘴坏笑:
& z; Y4 t b6 r"I would say yes if it was a McLaren"
3 S# h: L3 T7 [) A我抓抓头:
" s: Y& o( S0 D* b' L“Sorry I can't afford that. My kids are serious money sinks you know"
6 P8 T9 }+ @. ?2 n6 G' z3 @. {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:( x6 i9 @: i* B! L3 N# ?
“Easy. Just put them up for adoption”, v P- m' `; O4 o5 e$ J+ k
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:
8 S* b" C3 Z& `& @“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", \( t i# n" l
Leo 停下来,看着我,难得露出一丝为难的表情:4 w" x) z1 q e& k1 \
“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"
$ @& Q+ f* L, v% \6 [0 V0 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:
% {' v) o( m% w8 s“I can help. Wanna treat me to lunch instead?"
7 @* Q2 w( e t' x E# |6 {* z bLeo意味深长地看了我一眼,指了指身后的鱼缸:( _5 w. A+ R" k
“How does seafood sound? Small portion due to supply"& p$ _0 f( t8 a
我撇撇嘴,得,午饭还是我请吧
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