Chapter 93

"Jiamu Garden." Zhou Li muttered softly. She stood at the gate of the community and looked around. Shan Jia said that he would come to pick her up and that her unit was difficult to find.

The name of the community was written in gold on the rusty iron gate with peeling paint at the entrance of the community. Zhou Li was standing in the sun wearing black suspenders and overalls. She felt hot in a short while. She saw a store next to the community, so she bought an ice cream and stood under the eaves of someone's house to cool down.

After waiting for a while, a man came out of the community. He was wearing a loose short-sleeved shirt and a hat.

Zhou Li waved, "Here." Seeing Shan Jiawang coming over, she asked, "Want some popsicles?"

Shan Jia shook his head.

Zhou Li ate it in a few bites, threw the popsicle stick into the trash can at the store entrance, and said to the store aunt, "Thank you." She walked over to Shan Jia with an innocent look on her face, "Why don't we go get breakfast? I was thinking of bringing breakfast, but the breakfast shop downstairs from my house is closed."

Zhou Li saw that Shan Jia's place had everything for sale and it was much more lively than where she lived. Zhou Li liked to join in the fun and was curious about everything she saw.

Shan Jia pulled up the brim of his hat and said coolly, "There's food at home."

After saying that, he turned around and Zhou Li followed him: "What's delicious?"

Shan Jia didn't answer and took Zhou Li around the community, turning left and right.

The community has good greenery, and the flower beds are full of unknown flowers, red and green crowded together, lush and lively. Shan Jia took her through a shortcut. Zhou Li was so busy looking at the flowers that she didn't notice where she was going before she was taken upstairs by Shan Jia.

Shan Jia lived on the sixth floor, and Zhou Li was a little out of breath when she reached the fourth floor. But seeing that Shan Jia was fine, she waited for a while, and only took a step forward when she saw that Zhou Li was still catching up.

Entering the house, Zhou Li gasped for breath. Shan Jia said, "Sit down." Then they went into the next room. Zhou Li fanned herself with her hands. The top floor was extremely hot and stuffy. She sat on the sofa. Shan Jia came out with a piece of paper and said, "Let's discuss the lyrics again."

Zhou Li raised an eyebrow. "We can discuss it, but could you please pour me a glass of water first, or turn on a fan before we talk?"

Shan Jia was stunned for a moment. She was indeed a little dull in her behavior. Seeing her standing there in a daze, Zhou Li said helplessly, "It's too hot."

Shan Jia put the paper on the coffee table and lowered his head to look for the fan remote control on the table.

She was used to staying at home and didn't feel it was stuffy.

The ceiling light in the living room has a built-in fan. After turning it on with the remote control, the air in the room circulated and became a little cooler. Shan Jia went to the refrigerator to get some water, and Zhou Li carefully looked at the words on the paper again.

When she opened the refrigerator, Shan Jia remembered that Zhou Li said she didn't have breakfast. Even if she didn't understand the ways of the world, Shan Jia knew what to do now. There was some unpacked cereal in her refrigerator. Shan Jia poured two bowls of it, then added milk to soak it, and took a bottle of ice water separately.

Zhou Li heard Shan Jia's movement and stood up to take it. She looked down and saw the Cheerios bulging fiercely in the ice milk. She took it silently, returned to her seat, and couldn't help but ask, "Is this what you're going to eat?"

Shan Jia looked up, with doubt in his eyes.

If not this, what to eat?

Zhou Li bared his teeth.

It’s okay as long as there is something to eat.

She was really hungry, and while eating, she said to Shan Jia, "I still stick to my original opinion. I'll just change a few words. Don't you think the meaning is more profound?"

Shan Jia said: "I didn't have any profound intention in writing this song."

She was about to say something when Zhou Li suddenly spat out the Cheerios in her mouth. She covered her mouth with her hands and said with a distressed look, "When did you buy this?"

Ah? Shan Jia leaned back and asked hesitantly, "This year?"

Zhou Li went to the bathroom to rinse his mouth and had a strange taste in his mouth. Shan Jia went to the kitchen to check the expiration date. It was two months past the expiration date. The milk was also over ten days past the expiration date. Everything had gone bad.

Zhou Li came out of the bathroom and asked unbearably, "Do you really only eat this on a daily basis?"

Shan Jia: ...

She ate yesterday...

Shan Jia dumped the contents of his bowl into the trash can and said to Zhou Li, "Sorry, I'll treat you to lunch later. Let's finalize the lyrics first."

Zhou Li rubbed his brows and sighed, "Alright."

The two discussed the lyrics again and went to Shan Jia's studio to record the song again. Shan Jia's studio was not big. It was converted from the second bedroom. There was only one fan in it. It was stuffy and hot. There was no cool breeze even when the windows were opened. However, the equipment in the room was very complete, comparable to a small recording studio.

Shan Jia recorded it once but was not very satisfied with his voice.

This song should bring people a feeling of joy, happiness and freedom, but her voice doesn't quite fit the bill.

Shan Jia was thinking when Zhou Li plucked the strings of her guitar beside her. The guitar made a crisp sound. Shan Jia looked at Zhou Li. Zhou Li thought she had disturbed Shan Jia, so she raised her hand and looked apologetic.

Shan Jia: "You try it."

Zhou Li: “Ah?”

Zhou Li was still a little confused when Shan Jia dragged her to the recording microphone. Shan Jia took off her headphones and put them on Zhou Li's head. She said, "Sing along."

When the prelude sounded, Zhou Li choked, but no sound came out of his throat.

Shan Jia paused the music and asked, "Why don't you come in?"

Zhou Li was going crazy.

You are so sudden, who can keep up with you!

Shan Jia said, "I'll sing with you."

Taking off Zhou Li's headset, Shan Jia hummed in her throat. She grabbed the back of the chair, leaned over and pressed the mouse. The sound came from above Zhou Li's head, and her ears felt comfortable.

Zhou Li was still a little shy. Singing was not her forte, and she was not as wild as she was when playing the drums.

Her voice was small, crisp and sweet like sugarcane. Shan Jia listened and nodded. This song really should be sung by a female voice like this. It was a sweet song in itself.

Zhou Li first went through it with Shan Jia, who then asked, "Do you understand?"

Zhou Li: ...She is not a professional singer, so she can get the pitch right in one take.

Shan Jia: "Not yet?"

Zhou Li nodded obediently.

Shan Jia taught Zhou Li to sing. Shan Jia sang a line and Zhou Li followed. After teaching several times, he let Zhou Li sing alone. When it was almost done, Shan Jia put the headset on Zhou Li and said, "Let's try recording."

Zhou Li's singing voice was still a little timid, mainly because she was not very confident and was in a field she was not good at.

After recording it once, Zhou Li started speaking on his own without Shan Jia saying anything.

She took off her headset, rubbed her hair and said dejectedly: "I'm not suitable."

"Zhou Li." Shan Jia turned the chair around, supported himself on the armrests, and completely surrounded Zhou Li, who was sitting on the chair, in his arms.

She lowered her head and leaned closer to Zhou Li, and said slowly: "I think this song is very suitable for you."

Zhou Li blushed.

She looked at Shan Jia's face, then looked away, "I'll try again."

"Okay." Shan Jia let go of his hand, Zhou Li tapped the ground, and silently turned the chair back.

After recording two more sides, Zhou Li's condition is getting better and better, at least he doesn't say discouraging words anymore.

Shan Jia nodded. She knew Zhou Li could do it. She had blind confidence in Zhou Li's abilities.

After recording several times, the weather was getting hotter and hotter. Zhou Li's performance declined, and her stomach was rumbling. She folded a piece of paper into a fan and asked, "When are we going to eat?"

"Hungry?"

"Um……"

Zhou Li hugged her stomach feeling aggrieved.

"Let's order some takeout and then continue." Shan Jia said.

Isn't this the way Zhou Paopi peeled skin? Zhou Li glared.

Shan Jia was still listening to the audio track. She realized belatedly that Zhou Li didn't say anything. She turned her head to look at her, and saw Zhou Li glaring at her again.

Shan Jia: "What's wrong?"

Zhou Li was almost throwing a tantrum and rolling on the ground: "I don't want to eat fast food!"

"Order whatever you want to eat." Shan Jia doesn't have any requirements when it comes to food.

"Is it okay not to work while eating?" Zhou Li made another request.

Shan Jia glanced at her, opened the phone and handed it to Zhou Li.

"Order it yourself."

"You can rest now."

Seeing that she was still immersed in making songs, Zhou Li took Shan Jia's mobile phone and quickly ordered her favorite food. Zhou Li then asked Shan Jia what she wanted to eat.

Shan Jia: "Well, you order, I'll pay."

Zhou Li rolled his eyes and handed the phone directly to Shan Jia. Shan Jia didn't even look at it and paid with his fingerprint.

The room was too small. Zhou Li saw Shan Jia still sitting in front of the computer motionless. She went out to the living room, lay on the sofa, held her phone and ordered two more drinks. The fan was blowing, and Zhou Li fell asleep while lying down.

She was still in a daze when the doorbell rang. Shan Jia came out and saw her lying on the sofa, struggling to turn over, her face and neck red. Only then did she realize that her room was hot.

She was born with a cold body, so she couldn't feel much heat even in summer. Her hands and feet were cold, so she didn't feel uncomfortable living on the top floor. Usually, no one came to her house. Only when she saw Zhou Li's appearance did Shan Jia feel hot.

She took the takeaway back and Zhou Li sat up in a daze.

"Can I eat now?" While speaking, she rubbed her eyes and got up to wash her face. It was really too hot.

When Zhou Li came back from washing his face, he saw Shan Jia changing his shoes.

She suspected she was still dreaming, "Where are you going? Aren't you going to eat?"

Shan Jia picked up the takeaway on the table and said, "Let's find a cool place to eat."

There is a lake in the community, with willow trees all around and a long pavilion. The cool breeze by the lake is more comfortable than at home. Shan Jia put the food on the stone table and opened the box. Zhou Li stretched and felt comfortable.

"This place is more comfortable than your home." Zhou Li wrinkled her nose and took the chopsticks handed to her by Shan Jia. She said vaguely, "Let's talk about it in detail at my house next time."

Shan Jia raised the corners of her mouth, opened the rice and slowly began to eat.

Zhou Li's cell phone rang, and the delivery man's breathless voice rang out: "Hello, are you home? Your takeaway is here!"

Zhou Li exclaimed, then she remembered that she had ordered a drink.

She apologized for a long time on the phone and asked the other party to put the drink at the door.

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Li glanced at Shan Jia and said sadly, "I forgot everything."

Shan Jia said, "I'll get it."

"Forget it." Zhou Li shook his head. "It's the same if we go back and drink after eating."

Zhou Li asked again: "We need to prepare three more original songs. What are your ideas?"

Shan Jia shook his head: "Time is too tight. It's impossible to come up with three songs in such a short time, but..."

"Um?"

"I've written a lot of songs before, some of which haven't been released yet. After we finish recording, you can pick some and see which ones are suitable."

"good."

After dinner, on the way back, Shan Jia's phone rang. It was Zhu Le. Zhu Le asked loudly, "When do we start rehearsal?"

Shan Jia looked at Zhou Li, who was standing to her right as she answered the phone. She laughed loudly into the phone, "I'm at Shan Jia's this afternoon. Do you want to come over?"

"The old lady's house?" Zhu Le shook his head. "Her house is too hot. How about we go to the rehearsal room?"

Zhou Li said, "We are recording a song and will pick out the songs later. Do you want to come and see?"

"Okay." Zhu Le agreed.

After hanging up the phone, Shan Jia seemed to be lost in thought. She put away her phone and said to Zhou Li, "Let's not go back yet. Let's go to the mall."

"Hmm? Where are you going and what are you doing?"

"Buy an air conditioner." Shan Jia's voice was filled with laughter. "I'm worried that you'll get a heat stroke in my house this afternoon. That would be a huge loss for me, as I'd have to take care of two patients at once."

Zhou Li glared at her and then laughed after a while. He really didn't expect that Shan Jia was also a joker.

She followed him and deliberately joked, "Did you buy the air conditioner just for me? Are you saying this on purpose because you're afraid I'll find out?"

Shan Jia laughed and pulled the brim of her hat to block out the sunlight.

"Yes, I'm afraid you'll rely on me."