9. Polonaise in A-flat major, "Eroica"

◎Green Pepper◎

They ended up staying up all night that night anyway.

We didn't watch any more horror movies; time slipped away in casual conversation and listening to some strange piano music.

Liang Chuling held her phone the whole time, the screen light illuminating her face. At 11:59:50, she suddenly spoke: "Li Xun, happy birthday. I'm the last person to wish you a happy birthday." Her tone was slightly smug. "I'll definitely give you a belated birthday present, whether you celebrate your birthday or not. I'm different from others!"

Li Xun was leaning against the other side of the sofa when he heard this and turned to look at her.

The balcony door was closed but the curtains weren't drawn. It must have been past midnight when someone set off fireworks. The distant, irregular bursts of light coated his profile with layers upon layers of glow.

Liang Chuling kept looking at him. She had only met Li Xun when she was sixteen, but she had the illusion that she saw the Li Xun of the past on that face.

Vague yet full of emotion, brilliant yet extinguished swiftly.

Li Xun smiled, a smile that made his eyes droop slightly: "Happy New Year. I'm the first person to wish you a Happy New Year."

Then came the sporadic explosions of fireworks, this time from a distance, indistinct due to the tall buildings and the distance between them.

Bang, bang, clang—it was as noisy as a distant war.

Whether it was near or far, no one suggested going to take a look; the two of them remained seated.

After a while, the fireworks stopped, and Li Xun, as if he had just finished processing the second half of Liang Chuling's words, gently added, "Of course. You're different from others."

As soon as those words were spoken, Liang Chuling felt her heart pounding like fireworks.

-

The next day was New Year's Day holiday, which should have been a holiday.

But Li Chi returned and called to inform them of extra classes.

When the two appeared in the music room together, Li Chi glanced at them, said nothing, slapped one of them on the back, and then began teaching.

Li Xun played first.

Technically, he still couldn't match Liang Chuling's precision and brilliance; every note he played was carefully considered.

But when he immerses himself in it, his grasp of musical lines and his portrayal of emotions flow naturally, just like the melodies in his manuscripts.

He wasn't playing the correct music, but rather the music as Li Xun understood it, imbued with his unique gentleness.

Liang Chuling sat beside her, listening with great pleasure.

She felt that the notes under Li Xun's fingers were like the puffs of white breath she exhaled in the pavilion that night—unpredictable, like waves of desolate scenery. They could be played again after they were gone.

People get to know each other by exchanging scenery in this way. Liang Chuling felt that she was getting to know Li Xun better little by little. If she could overcome this obstacle, she could meet him again.

It was Liang Chuling's turn.

She played the Polonaise "Eroica" in A-flat major.

This piece is renowned for its majestic and magnificent style. It is Chopin's tribute to national heroes, full of indomitable fighting spirit and aristocratic splendor.

However, the "Hero" that flows from her fingertips today is different.

The hero makes a classic entrance, still exuding power, his strikes firm and steady, his magnificent entrance marked by clear, sharp lines.

But beneath this solemnity and splendor, both Li Chi and Li Xun clearly heard a sense of inexplicable loneliness.

That hero didn't embark on the journey on his own initiative, full of vigor; rather, he was pushed to that position by an invisible hand in the torrent of fate.

She had no way out; behind her was a precipice, and in front of her was a vast army. So her steps were firm, each one treading on her own shadow and something else that had been abandoned.

Therefore, behind the heroic figure lies not an indomitable spirit, but a sense of being pushed by fate and having no other choice but to accept it.

Her melody carries a sorrowful tone, not out of weakness, but out of a clear understanding of the perilous road ahead and a touch of sadness.

Strangely enough, this loneliness and sorrow did not weaken the power of the music; on the contrary, it made it even more powerful.

Because of the heroism she expressed, her sorrow did not diminish.

Knowing the cost makes their determination to move forward all the more resolute.

Even in solitude, even burdened by a heavy destiny, their steps forward were unwavering; beneath their magnificent battle robes lay clenched teeth and a resolute determination to never turn back.

This is not the collective heroism of Chopin's era; it is Liang Chuling's personal, passive path to heroism.

She chose this difficult path, perhaps not out of her original intention, but once she stood on it, she never thought of coming down.

As the music ended, Li Chi looked at Liang Chuling and praised her generously, "Very good!"

Li Xun didn't speak, but simply looked at Liang Chuling, his eyes clear and ethereal, like wisps of white steam. He was exchanging scenery with Liang Chuling. Now, he had found his own.

After class, Li Chi called Li Xun aside.

"You've been doing well lately. You're practicing much more diligently than before. Are you really planning to pursue this path?"

Li Xun nodded and hummed in agreement.

Li Chi was too perceptive; it's impossible for someone involved in the arts not to be. She asked directly, "Is it for Liang Chuling?"

Li Xun nodded again, his honesty surprising everyone.

Li Chi smiled knowingly: "It really wasn't easy."

I don't know if it means he's finally putting in the effort, or if it means he's finally admitting it.

She reached out and pinched Li Xun's cheek. "Then you have to work hard. Liang Chuling will be very powerful in the future, so don't fall too far behind."

Li Xun nodded again, letting his mother pinch his face, his eyes bright.

It's a kind of unspoken familiarity between mother and son; he knows his mother understands, and his mother knows he understands.

That night, Liang Chuling originally thought that taking in and being taken in would lead to her becoming more dependent on Li Xun, but things took an unexpected turn.

Originally, Liang Chuling was like a little bird that couldn't find its nest, always flying towards Li Xun's peaceful woods. Now, Li Xun seems to have actively adjusted his coordinates.

Li Xun and Liang Chuling's schools were very close to each other, and there was a snack street between the two schools. Occasionally, when they didn't eat in the cafeteria at noon, they would go to the street to eat.

At noon, Li Xun and several classmates strolled over here, where the sounds of students laughing and playing could be heard everywhere.

Li Xun was listening to the boys next to him arguing about whether to eat hot pot or Sichuan cuisine when his gaze fell on a clay pot rice shop next door—or more accurately, he saw Liang Chuling inside the shop.

She and a female classmate were sitting by the window, talking animatedly about something, with a half-eaten claypot rice in front of them.

The sunlight was wonderful, and even the strands of her hair were shining.

Li Xun said to his companion, "How about we have claypot rice?" His companion had no objection, and they walked towards the shop together.

He didn't go in to disturb them, and sat in a diagonal seat.

Liang Chuling was so engrossed in her speech that she scooped up a spoonful of food and put it in her mouth without even looking at it, but her expression changed the next second.

Li Xun could see clearly that she had eaten a piece of green pepper.

Liang Chuling looked around. The shop was rather ordinary; she couldn't find toilet paper or a trash can. While she hesitated and struggled, Li Xun watched as she forced down the green pepper.

Her classmate was busy tying the bow on her back and didn't notice the incident.

But Li Xun clearly saw all her expressions and struggles.

For some reason, he suddenly felt a pang of heartache.

A sore, astringent feeling close to the left side of the chest.

It was such a small thing as disliking green peppers, but her momentary embarrassment and eventual helplessness left him feeling uneasy.

After finishing his meal, Li Xun walked towards a beverage shop next door.

Liang Chuling and her classmates chatted and laughed as they walked towards the school.

Just as she reached the school gate, her phone rang.

It's Li Xun.

"Hello?" Liang Chuling answered the phone.

Where are you?

"At the school gate, what's wrong?"

"I happen to be eating at the food street, and there's a buy-one-get-one-free deal on milk tea. I also happen to be passing by your school. If you're at the school gate, this is perfect for you."

That's just the right amount.

"Oh? That's great! Where are you? I can't see you."

"Turn around."

Liang Chuling turned around, holding her phone, and sure enough, she saw Li Xun walking over, carrying three drinks.

He walked up to her, handed her one of the matcha cups, and then handed the other cup of milk tea to Liang Chuling's classmate.

"I bought an extra cup, if you don't mind," Li Xun said to his somewhat surprised classmate.

The classmate quickly accepted it, saying, "Thank you, thank you! You're too kind!"

Liang Chuling looked at the matcha in her hand: "Thanks!"

"Are you going to practice the piano again this afternoon?" Li Xun asked.

"Yes, I'm full of energy right now!"

"That's good." Li Xun nodded. "I'll head back to school now."

"Bye-Bye!"

Watching Li Xun walk away, her classmate couldn't help but nudge her with her elbow: "Wow, Liang Chuling, who's that?"

Liang Chuling bit her straw: "He's just a friend!"

Since that buy-one-get-one-free drink, Li Xun has been appearing near Liang Chuling's school quite frequently.

When Li Xun first texted her "Have you eaten?", Liang Chuling thought he was just asking casually. But his next message was: "I'm at your school gate."

When Liang Chuling ran out, she saw him standing in the winter sunlight.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

"I can't find anyone to eat with, I'm so pitiful, little genius, please help me."

Liang Chuling truly couldn't refuse...

Later, the two of them simply started having lunch together regularly.

Sometimes we eat out, and sometimes we eat in the cafeteria.

Li Xun's school is an international school, and the cafeteria food is much better than that of the affiliated high school. Liang Chuling was too curious and too greedy, so she often went there to freeload.

During meals, Liang Chuling mostly chattered away, while Li Xun remained mostly silent. Liang Chuling shared her progress in practicing the piano, and Li Xun listened quietly, occasionally pointing to her food to signal her to take a few bites before continuing.

There are many benefits to having dinner with Li Xun.

For example, Li Xun would take away the green peppers she didn't like; when she was complaining endlessly about Li Chi's perverted finger technique requirements, he would hand her a tissue to wipe up the spilled soup; and he would unscrew the bottle cap for her in advance.

Liang Chuling likes spicy food. Every time she orders spicy hot pot, Li Xun starts picking out the peppercorns. Only after she finishes eating to her heart's content does she realize that she has hardly found any peppercorns in her bowl.

Once, Liang Chuling stared at the hot and sour noodles, wanting to eat them, but hesitated because she touched the newly emerging pimples on her forehead—she had a performance coming up soon, and her manager had reminded her many times about her image.

When Li Xun returned, he was carrying a bowl of wontons and a small bowl of hot and sour noodles, which he could only eat a couple of bites of.

"Just taste it." He pushed the small bowl over.

At home, Ms. Ma stayed at home for an unexpectedly long time this time she returned to China.

She's been back for over a month, and aside from shopping and meeting up with her friends who have sun and moon icons, she hasn't planned any long trips.

Most of the time, it was still Liang Chuling and Aunt Zhang at home, but the occasional loud and boisterous presence of Madam Ma, along with her shopping bags that filled the living room, diluted much of the usual quietness.

Mr. Liang felt no psychological pressure and didn't return after that night. Liang Chuling and her mother were happy to have some peace and quiet.

-

During the last lesson, after Liang Chuling finished playing an etude, Li Chi smiled and said, "You've been in such good spirits lately? You seem to be really into it. What happened?"

Fireworks exploded in Liang Chuling's heart!

But she still told the truth: "Nothing happened. I can be quite dramatic when I play for myself, but I get a little nervous in front of you! I'm not nervous anymore now."

Li Chi smiled and turned her head away. She could understand; she had been there too.

After class, she couldn't wait to tell Li Xun again, "Did you hear that? Teacher Li Chi said I was in good form! Did you hear that?"

Li Xun couldn't help but laugh: "I heard it, I heard it with both ears."

This is a metaphysical phenomenon about Li Xun that Liang Chuling discovered.

The source was that every night after dinner, Li Xun would chat with Liang Chuling for a while.

Sometimes it's typing, sometimes voice, and occasionally video.

During video calls, Li Xun is usually in his room.

The content of their conversations wasn't anything special. Sometimes they didn't even speak, just kept their video calls on and did their own things. Liang Chuling was flipping through sheet music, and Li Xun was doing his homework. They could only hear each other's voices.

What's amazing is that every time I finish talking to Liang Chuling and then go to the music room to practice, my performance is always exceptionally good. Those elusive emotional layers become clear.

She had told Li Xun before that she played music much better when she was alone than when she played for others, and she didn't know how to improve it.

Li Xun couldn't offer any good solutions either.

But it's okay, Liang Chuling found a solution herself.

It seems that chatting with Li Xun unknowingly opened up a channel between her and music, allowing her to be more open when facing her teacher.

That's amazing.

From initial anxiety about not being able to express myself, to a strong belief in my ability to do so, I made great strides.

What's needed is a little bit of metaphysics.

So after class, Liang Chuling skipped along beside Li Xun, saying, "It's amazing! Do you have some kind of magic? Every time I talk to you, my piano playing feels like it's been blessed."

Li Xun turned to look at her: "Maybe I have a built-in buff?"

“Yes, it’s a buff!” Liang Chuling nodded, having discovered some amazing truth. “From now on, you will be my lucky charm.”

"Fine, you decide."

Then we'd have to make Li Xun the master of metaphysics.

When she felt something was off, she messaged Li Xun: "Urgent! Let's chat for a bit."

Li Xun usually replies quickly. Sometimes it's "Keep it up," sometimes it's sharing a song he's listening to, and sometimes it's just an emoji.

It really works every time.

Before a performance, she was a little nervous; her hypothenar eminence was sore, and her little finger felt weak. Without hesitation, she messaged Li Xun: "Mysticism! Mysticism! Come quick!"

Li Xun immediately called the video call. The person on the other end of the screen looked like he had just finished exercising; he was wearing sportswear, and the background was a sports field.

"What?" Liang Chuling was stunned for a moment when she saw his expression.

"Weren't you going to use some kind of mystical method?" Li Xun's breathing was still a little unsteady. He faced the camera and made a deep breathing motion. "Follow me. Inhale—exhale—"

Liang Chuling followed his rhythm for a few rounds, and felt her wildly beating heart calm down considerably.

"Alright," Li Xun said on the other end of the screen, "Go ahead. It's okay if you don't play well."

In short, Liang Chuling performed very consistently that day.

She angrily shouted, "How could I possibly not play well?! Are you kidding me?!"