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二十年前——374Please respect copyright.PENANAAoOieK62lg
374Please respect copyright.PENANAA0scSGz2xD
小荷是個人見人愛的六歲小女孩,胖胖白白的臉配上一雙水靈大眼。她每天穿著荷媽親手做的一雙由彩色布碎拼湊而成的小鞋子到處玩耍,有時會跟同村的孩子們跑上山頭採菇,有時會為獨居老人送上新鮮採摘的漂亮花朵,有時會在湖邊遊蕩。374Please respect copyright.PENANA4A5rcIslGG
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荷媽曾多次提醒她切勿走近湖邊,但小荷偏偏喜歡看蓮花,說蓮花是仙女的化身。荷媽忙著預備晚餐,不甚耐煩地反譏小荷幼稚。小荷不堪被譏諷,激動嚷著會帶蓮花仙女回家,然後頭也不回衝出家門。374Please respect copyright.PENANAzQW9inOi6L
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傍晚,晚餐備好了,小荷還沒有回家。荷媽心緒不寧,深怕小荷遇上意外。她挑燈外出,急步走往湖邊。374Please respect copyright.PENANAyEeiqROqg6
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小荷不在。374Please respect copyright.PENANA9Oy8pH81pj
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荷媽的心頭涼了大截,連忙前去村長家求助。沒多久,大伙兒在湖邊叢林間搜索。374Please respect copyright.PENANAOCpplbYTe2
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無發現。374Please respect copyright.PENANAIgRtvGdxMU
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村長打算重新部署搜索行動之際,有人指著湖中央的一朵蓮花大叫:「看!湖中那朵蓮花上有一隻鞋!」374Please respect copyright.PENANAFr5t2cgQWd
374Please respect copyright.PENANAA5hAptXOcL
大伙兒定睛細看,卻因光線不足而未能確定那是否一隻鞋。荷媽救女心切,不理眾人勸阻跳入湖中游向那朵蓮花。游著、游著,她的身影突然消失了。374Please respect copyright.PENANAlrrRhKHuG4
374Please respect copyright.PENANAEFpV50FddU
為免有更多人命犧牲,村民只得待天亮才落水找荷媽。不出所料,荷媽的腳踝被水草纏住,溺斃湖底。村民認得蓮花上的鞋子確是屬於小荷,但找遍湖底亦找不到她的身影。唯有繼續在林間搜索。無果。個多月後,眾人認為找到小荷的機會渺茫,於是停止搜索。374Please respect copyright.PENANAuo1CjZisRJ
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村裡開始流傳蓮花仙女帶走小荷的傳聞……374Please respect copyright.PENANAkgUUQKfo9A
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「那是在你出生前發生的事情?」阿夏一邊聽得著迷,一邊望著車窗外的油油綠草地,驚嘆著這寧靜山村背後竟有這種可怕事。374Please respect copyright.PENANAjZhZsGj6Ka
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「不。當年我十歲,和小荷挺熟絡。」芙兒沒心情欣賞風景,逕自倚著椅背,微微仰首凝視車廂天花那色調偏冷的米光燈。374Please respect copyright.PENANAog3ZarHWYp
374Please respect copyright.PENANAi37g68VuYY
「小荷失蹤一事是你當警察的原因嗎?」阿夏與芙兒作伴數年,不難看出芙兒心事重重,尤其今趟「回鄉之旅」是離鄉別井十多年的芙兒主動提出,可見其別具意義。374Please respect copyright.PENANAym79Z0YPWS
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「嗯……一部份吧。不能說是完全因為她,也不能說是與這事情毫無關係。」芙兒苦笑,些許後悔無故主動提及這大煞風景的陳年往事。回鄉目的不是向各位鄉親苦老宣佈自己與阿夏的婚訊和設喜宴嗎?不是要歡天喜地、眉開眼笑嗎?374Please respect copyright.PENANARg7S18f33O
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「不管如何……」阿夏是個聰明人,明明對案件內容細節有興趣,但也知道要適可宜止。他輕拍芙兒的手背,安慰道:「事情已然過去,多想無益。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAusqmgpSj6h
374Please respect copyright.PENANADeuBe1HLQm
「是的。過去了。」芙兒吁一口氣,似是釋懷,奈何揪心的感覺難以單憑幾句安慰說話連根拔起。374Please respect copyright.PENANAbyoNmPNESp
374Please respect copyright.PENANA7XcEKQiyqO
顛著、簸著,好不容易來到村口。大城市發展一日千里,隱世小村亦逃不過時間巨輪的輾壓,已然根據政府的規劃建議打造成「山村旅遊區」。生來就是城市人的阿夏未曾到過農村,覺得這地方別具風味,但在村內待了十多年的芙兒卻嗤之以鼻:不也就是電視劇裡的假農村嗎?374Please respect copyright.PENANAMaLRMeWkyq
374Please respect copyright.PENANAz7IuPVpGVo
驀地,一個想法在芙兒腦海掠過。374Please respect copyright.PENANAhWESVymHSG
374Please respect copyright.PENANA9Pe3p4uLsM
「阿夏。」芙兒拉拉阿夏的手袖:「我們先去蓮花池那邊看看吧。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAKiNhHAc1zm
374Please respect copyright.PENANAeTFT41FATD
不出芙兒所料,蓮花池已面目全非。池邊的泥地與草叢變成了磚路與涼亭,上了漆的鐵製圍欄整齊繞池而立,蓮花換了個品種,顏色更亮麗奪目,尺寸亦比以往的大上數倍。唯一不變的是頭頂上的烈日,仍然熾熱得惡毒。374Please respect copyright.PENANAxS5XX2BqAZ
374Please respect copyright.PENANApOl3hnQcLW
芙兒逕自繞著蓮花池逆時針方向拐圈踱步。時間彷彿隨著步伐逆行,日落月出,瞬間回到二十年前那個夜晚……374Please respect copyright.PENANA9gllzNa2uV
374Please respect copyright.PENANAWk89CE70P9
「我帶芙兒外出散步散心。」晚飯後,芙爸病懨懨地對妻子說。374Please respect copyright.PENANArHUmoMN7we
374Please respect copyright.PENANAXlvEkKcbzb
「嗯。」芙媽忙於照顧病兒,分身不暇。374Please respect copyright.PENANAXfKqbkoJae
374Please respect copyright.PENANAFvEuUrX5Ob
夏夜有月,月下有蟬,蟬聲擾人又煩人。路上,芙爸眉頭鎖得更深。芙兒乖乖不作聲,默默尾隨他快步走。374Please respect copyright.PENANAsOLvsk8PEa
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「芙兒,你愛媽媽嗎?」374Please respect copyright.PENANAUgo4YKt4Vo
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「愛。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAN39Ivkr1FM
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「你愛爸爸嗎?」374Please respect copyright.PENANAhIGHnjwe1Q
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「愛。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAHHNBhhOUe6
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「你愛哥哥嗎?」374Please respect copyright.PENANAK4dWo4wSxD
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芙兒心裡一寒,不自已停下腳步——她早前無意間發現爸爸向前任村長秘密查詢有關人口販子的事。難道爸爸為了替哥哥籌措醫藥費而打算賣掉她?374Please respect copyright.PENANAtSc28nV4bv
374Please respect copyright.PENANAlQqmqctZZI
「你愛我嗎?」芙兒無力反問。374Please respect copyright.PENANAVfvnoZe5fn
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芙爸沒有回答,繼續低頭開步走。374Please respect copyright.PENANALumJYj1zAV
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芙兒想要跑回家去,雙腳卻不由自主隨著爸爸走,縱然明知那是不歸路。374Please respect copyright.PENANAY08l3mfv2I
374Please respect copyright.PENANAlns332hVlU
途經蓮花池,巧遇小荷。芙爸倏忽衝前打昏小荷。芙兒明白爸爸的意圖,連忙拉住他。374Please respect copyright.PENANAQj7s2dI3np
374Please respect copyright.PENANAHjqxkFKS0L
「小荷是無辜的!」374Please respect copyright.PENANAVLA60erjNi
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「但我捨不得你啊!」374Please respect copyright.PENANAHlDhehheWi
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芙兒不期然鬆開了手——她聽得出話裡的割捨與堅決。爸爸向來善良老實,日子艱難亦不會做鼠竊狗偷的勾當。奈何今次關乎兒子的生命安危和女兒的命運!他寧可割捨良知,亦要保住家人。374Please respect copyright.PENANARo4lTWBVZu
374Please respect copyright.PENANANMi2b1JECy
芙兒理解了、妥協了,芙爸眼神反倒更為悲憤不安。他脫下小荷的一隻鞋,使勁拋向蓮花池。鞋子剛好不偏不倚落在池中央的一朵大蓮花上。374Please respect copyright.PENANAcIrlkkYzR6
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父女兩人不約而同望向那朵大蓮花。純白蓮花被夜色沾污成帶有瘀青的淡灰色,悉才看來色彩繽紛的小鞋子亦被迫融入夜色,成了一個若隱若現的小黑點。374Please respect copyright.PENANA1HmlZ0ss1B
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小黑點,人生裡的大污點。374Please respect copyright.PENANAHXRCAkdFb9
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來到約定的地方。人口販子沒有芙兒想像中的鼠頭獐目。他相貌平凡,打扮平凡,舉止平凡,有如田裡的一顆穀粒,獨一無二卻平凡普通。374Please respect copyright.PENANAFFxtlUv4Jq
374Please respect copyright.PENANAqh6XH5ZAdl
二人無聲的奉上小荷,默默的收下金錢,不能見光的交易在無光的樹林中順利完成。374Please respect copyright.PENANAZQJxzCmBOa
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芙兒自此在這夜池邊中無限輪迴。374Please respect copyright.PENANABm9IlBeu1L
374Please respect copyright.PENANABhSUzHZI0X
晝如夜,夜是夜。此人是小荷,那人是小荷,異裝同臉。池中有蓮,家中有蓮,路中有蓮,蓮上有鞋。374Please respect copyright.PENANAzKVjocgpVO
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瘋了。芙兒的世界瘋了。374Please respect copyright.PENANA8ChSzX0SCa
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需要救贖。無人能救。只得自救。374Please respect copyright.PENANACtEZk3oBpP
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救哥哥,犧牲小荷。救自己,犧牲誰?374Please respect copyright.PENANAfo4sFR4mGZ
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「記住,賣掉小荷的人是我,不是你。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAap1RAfCWjx
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「我沒有阻止你。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAzcGGh4aH8M
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「阻止得了麼?」374Please respect copyright.PENANAc8dqe8aPN1
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「至少,我該要嘗試。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAcrVaPzu4l1
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「嘗試有用麼?」374Please respect copyright.PENANAihT4VIQcTV
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芙兒如夢初醒——芙爸企圖獨自扛起一切責任,救贖芙兒。她不自控笑著流淚,內心得到救贖的同時又跌落另一深淵——自己得救,爸爸犧牲。374Please respect copyright.PENANABwbEwJoNsW
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真的得到了救贖嗎?不肯定。374Please respect copyright.PENANAmvgF2Jtt6x
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她離鄉到城市尋找工作,輾轉當上警察。對失蹤案尤感興趣。找人,找救贖。找到人,找不到救贖。374Please respect copyright.PENANA4XISZ7DMuc
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收到來自家鄉的信,提及哥哥病逝。她丟掉信件,假裝未曾收到。根本沒意義,根本誰也沒能得救,無論犧牲多大。374Please respect copyright.PENANAr2mHnRM13t
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芙媽來了,問芙兒為何不出席哥哥的喪禮。她說不知道哥哥逝世一事。芙媽低頭掩面大笑,笑了很久,然後哭了很久。「你爸說你不會為此回來,我說你不是狠心的人。原來我們都錯了——你根本不知情。」374Please respect copyright.PENANA1UAdxnuCxm
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有甚麼值得笑或哭?芙兒不明白。或許媽媽也不明白,純粹為笑而笑、為哭而哭,無謂卻有為。至少她的情緒得以紓緩,面容不再繃緊。374Please respect copyright.PENANAK7LlKcI0z5
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數年後,芙媽死了。芙兒同樣沒有出席喪禮。她向上司請假數天,躲在家裡,足不出戶。不斷憶起媽媽當日又哭又笑的癲狂模樣。真羨慕。沒有隱藏,沒有秘密。374Please respect copyright.PENANA6nFeKJ3Lo7
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假期完結後,芙兒重投工作。警局來了一個新丁,名叫阿夏,比芙兒年輕數載。他長有一張孩子臉,胖胖白白,水靈大眼,像小荷。芙兒的目光離不開阿夏,主動接近他、勾搭他。二人由相識至同睡一床,僅是三天內的事。374Please respect copyright.PENANAZVLqu5gptp
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阿夏不解。374Please respect copyright.PENANAruUM8HkCex
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「你不似是水性楊花的女人。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAENjqhct7tz
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「你不似是諸事八卦的男人。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAXl1f5FDjb9
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阿夏開始追求芙兒。芙兒不接受,卻偶爾與他同睡。為何不愛他卻會與他睡?是發洩,是鬱悶,或是對往事的情感投射?芙兒解釋不了,亦不想解釋——找到解釋之時,另一個問題就會隨即出現。374Please respect copyright.PENANAaxenf5QbPj
374Please respect copyright.PENANAt76komzsT2
繼續同睡,繼續被追求,繼續找人找救贖。生活不過如此,平平凡凡,無無謂謂。374Please respect copyright.PENANA609s3xj5wI
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數年後的某天,芙兒收到來自兒時鄰居的一通電話。對方說芙爸病重,行將就木,希望她回鄉探望。374Please respect copyright.PENANAc3MqvQ8LOM
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「是他希望我回去,或是大家希望我回去探望他?」374Please respect copyright.PENANAO2EkFtqUVT
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「他堅持不要通知你,但大家還是決定要告訴你。」374Please respect copyright.PENANATkagEtFC5e
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「我明白了。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAPX4oQAbGiY
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當晚,芙兒跟阿夏說要盡快回鄉宣佈婚訊、設喜宴。374Please respect copyright.PENANAJMqwCh3zOt
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「你跟誰結婚?」阿夏詫異。374Please respect copyright.PENANATqeVgSq0DV
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「你。」芙兒明白阿夏的不明白。374Please respect copyright.PENANAEBx8k09ww8
374Please respect copyright.PENANA5A7MkYUxdB
顛著、簸著,好不容易來到村口。大城市發展一日千里,隱世小村亦逃不過時間巨輪的輾壓,已然根據政府的規劃建議打造成「山村旅遊區」。生來就是城市人的阿夏未曾到過農村,覺得這地方別具風味,但在村內待了十多年的芙兒卻嗤之以鼻:不也就是電視劇裡的假農村嗎?374Please respect copyright.PENANAvivHfYpFc8
374Please respect copyright.PENANAAqOHGBgFOX
驀地,一個想法在芙兒腦海掠過。374Please respect copyright.PENANAypeDJz5D9P
374Please respect copyright.PENANAF4OMseUNEF
「阿夏。」芙兒拉拉阿夏的手袖:「我們先去蓮花池那邊看看吧。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAknO0I7dTzp
374Please respect copyright.PENANANdDYY1vDLG
不出芙兒所料,蓮花池已面目全非。池邊的泥地與草叢變成了磚路與涼亭,上了漆的鐵製圍欄整齊繞池而立,蓮花換了個品種,顏色更亮麗奪目,尺寸亦比以往的大上數倍。唯一不變的是頭頂上的烈日,仍然熾熱得惡毒。374Please respect copyright.PENANANe8nqVEgd7
374Please respect copyright.PENANAa2Q04MkpES
芙兒逕自繞著蓮花池逆時針方向拐圈踱步。踱踱踱,時間有可能隨著步伐逆轉,帶她回到二十年前的那個晚上嗎?若明知結果,她還是會不阻止爸爸賣掉小荷嗎?374Please respect copyright.PENANA9VN0S0eSyA
374Please respect copyright.PENANAhYibysFpg3
老家陋宅裡,趁著阿夏上廁所的空檔,芙兒湊近芙爸耳邊直接問:「若明知結果,你還是會賣掉小荷嗎?」374Please respect copyright.PENANA2GTKSEOv3w
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「會。」氣若柔絲的芙爸斬釘截鐵:「因為我是當爸的。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAa7X3kfI8b7
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「若沒有遇上小荷,你會賣掉我嗎?」374Please respect copyright.PENANAwy7ybMp3Aj
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「會。因為你們兄妹倆都會活著。活著才會有希望。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAd9i3ihsbLD
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芙兒大受刺激,轉身奪門而出。374Please respect copyright.PENANAxeSxFWFql8
374Please respect copyright.PENANAnk6ElyxV4J
夏夜有月,月下有蟬,蟬聲擾人又煩人。路上行人疏落,卻異裝同臉,小荷的臉。路中倏忽生出白蓮朵朵,蓮上皆有小彩鞋一隻。芙兒知道自己瘋了,眼前盡是幻覺。理智脫軌,她不再恐懼,像個十歲的少女那樣跳脫輕盈,一步踏一蓮,來到池邊。374Please respect copyright.PENANARFVcRusLhW
374Please respect copyright.PENANAfYFtfuBw5p
池邊有人,像小荷,像芙爸,像人口販子,像阿夏。她握著一隻彩色小鞋,木無表情直盯池中那朵大蓮花。芙兒走近女子,女子報以微笑,遞上手中小鞋。374Please respect copyright.PENANAwx3yP6EWLK
374Please respect copyright.PENANAZXkEoXrWol
芙兒接過它,模仿爸爸當晚的姿勢,以完美的拋物線弧度拋出小鞋。小鞋不偏不倚剛好落在池中央的蓮花上,有如二十年前的那夜。純白蓮花被夜色沾污成帶有瘀青的淡灰色,悉才看來色彩繽紛的小鞋子亦被迫融入夜色,成了一個若隱若現的小黑點。374Please respect copyright.PENANA077tC3jZGm
374Please respect copyright.PENANAXcXyOujcqb
女人哈哈大笑起來,笑聲豁然開朗。芙兒腳下的白蓮和小鞋驀地消失隱去,唯獨女子依然完好站在面前。笑過以後,女子轉身離開,身影沒入林間不復見。374Please respect copyright.PENANASSwJdVdl5b
374Please respect copyright.PENANA3Lyh26bz8m
芙兒惘然——她不肯定對方是幻覺或是確切存在的真人。374Please respect copyright.PENANA603HKIOGs6
374Please respect copyright.PENANArGFqCvx10D
數日後,芙爸與世長辭。374Please respect copyright.PENANAGGzbtLmWuO
374Please respect copyright.PENANAQkMCPUbv3m
「既然不需要沖喜,你還會跟我結婚嗎?」374Please respect copyright.PENANAuQdjG0PZyp
374Please respect copyright.PENANAZHBvludqAx
「你想跟我結婚嗎?」374Please respect copyright.PENANAtMGWDdwz2a
374Please respect copyright.PENANA2eyAnaySjM
「想。我愛你。」374Please respect copyright.PENANA7z0s7c3qTU
374Please respect copyright.PENANApJH5H3y1wQ
「那就繼續吧。」374Please respect copyright.PENANAm0lrJvmv4m
374Please respect copyright.PENANAerm1ebBCgl
喜慶夜,大排筵席。此人是小荷,那人是小荷,新郎是小荷,老爺是小荷,奶奶是小荷,滿堂皆是小荷。芙兒帶醉喜極而泣,感激小荷前來祝福她。374Please respect copyright.PENANADmaZz4nrMY
374Please respect copyright.PENANAfLSBBniAJH
宴後,賓客散去。醉得幾近失去意識的芙兒被攙扶到新房去。滾燙的臉龐忽爾涼涼的。她知道有人為她用濕毛巾抹臉抹汗。374Please respect copyright.PENANAsheje5dikk
374Please respect copyright.PENANA258pOLgVlC
「謝謝你……小荷……」374Please respect copyright.PENANACKbMjK0LtM
374Please respect copyright.PENANAadPb99OAUz
「不用客氣……」374Please respect copyright.PENANAInXcDnCuLW
374Please respect copyright.PENANAdGX77NsIeX
說著說著,阿夏哭了。晶瑩淚水沿著胖白的臉頰下滑,水靈大眼楚楚可憐。像小荷。