Chapter 49 Cashmere Scarves: Keep Your Distance, For All Time. [Revised]...
Liang Yizhi and Ou Ziyue separated after exiting the corridor.
She only added Gu Yinyan because she was there, and she didn't intend to develop a deeper relationship with him.
After a polite farewell, she returned to her seat.
He Man asked, "How is it?"
"What?"
"Gu Yinyan, didn't he go looking for you?"
"Ah, yes."
"Let's talk things out."
Liang Yizhi thought for a moment and replied, "Let's talk it out."
He Man nodded in satisfaction: "That's more like it. Be peaceful and gentle, don't make things difficult for him or for yourself."
yes.
Liang Yizhi silently repeated the sentence to herself in her heart.
What actually happened? Does it matter?
It doesn't matter at all.
As long as they appear the same as before, no one will notice the undercurrents lurking beneath the surface.
After figuring this out, Liang Yizhi felt much better, and even her appetite improved.
When Gu Yinyan returned, she even raised the corner of her mouth at him.
Gu Yinyan's complexion looked much worse than hers.
Halfway through the meal, she clearly relaxed and ignored Gu Yinyan across from her, and everything was back to normal.
After they left the restaurant, Gu Yinyan carried Jiang Huai by the hand with one hand and Jiang Huai by the other as they walked out.
He was walking, while Jiang Huai was hopping.
Gu Yinyan walked quickly, practically dragging Jiang Huai forward.
Jiang Huai, leaning to one side, said with dissatisfaction, "Hey! Is this how you support a patient? If you keep pulling, my other leg will be ruined too."
"Didn't you just say you didn't need help? I think you might as well throw these two crutches away, reduce your load, and maybe you can jump even further."
"I was wrong, I was wrong, Mr. Gu!" Jiang Huai grabbed his arm, refusing to let go, "I'm more than enough with just this one leg of yours."
Despite his tough words, Gu Yinyan eventually slowed down, taking one step and then stopping.
Liang Yizhi and He Man watched from behind.
He Man mocked them, "They can make such a fuss even when they're just walking. They're really something. I bet they'll still be like this when they're seventy or eighty."
Liang Yizhi smiled.
He Man said, "Do you think we'll still be playing together when we reach that age?"
When asked about her speculations for the future, she said with great interest, "I guess there won't be four people anymore, there will be eight. We'll each bring our spouses, go out for tea, chat, take a walk, and maybe walk the dogs too."
She envisioned, "Although I don't have a pet now, I'll definitely get one when I'm old. If I don't have children, I'll let it keep me company. Walking the dog with friends—what a carefree retirement life!"
The sunlight was not strong, and a cold wind rustled under the trees.
Liang Yizhi took a breath of cold air, which made her nose sting. She hadn't brought a scarf with her when she went out today, and her neck felt chilly.
She buried her chin in her collar and put her hands in the pockets of her fur coat.
What will happen decades from now?
Liang Yizhi really hadn't thought of that.
Until then, she had never doubted that they would always be friends.
Seeing that she didn't say anything, He Man asked again, "What's wrong? You seem to be preoccupied."
"Is it because of Boss He?" He Man guessed the reason, but not the person.
"How are things between you and Boss He lately?"
"Hmm?" Liang Yizhi pondered for a moment.
Since then, she and He Xintu have maintained contact on WeChat. His attitude towards her remains ambiguous, and he has not brought up that sensitive topic again.
If He Xintu hadn't shown her that the new drink called "Quintessence" was on the menu, Liang Yizhi would have almost thought that unreal night was just a dream she had conjured up to escape her own anxieties.
She had been holding back too many things in her heart lately, and it was all a mess. She pulled one thread out of it and confessed to He Man.
"Actually... I haven't had a chance to tell you yet."
Liang Yizhi leaned close to He Man's ear and whispered something.
He Man listened intently, her eyebrows twitching from upper left to lower right, then lower left to upper right, finally both arching upwards, her eyes widening—
Holy crap!
Her voice was quite loud, and He Man covered her mouth: "Did he really say that?"
Liang Yizhi nodded.
"So, did you say yes?"
"Not yet. I told him I... I'll think about it."
"Think about it? You actually said 'think about it'?" He Man's jaw dropped in surprise. "You weren't like this before? Are you really seriously considering this?"
Liang Yizhi couldn't answer.
Even she herself didn't expect that her subconscious answer had already revealed her thoughts. This proved that her choice had already tilted towards a certain answer.
He Man thought for a moment and said, "Actually, it's good that you're like this. Don't agree too quickly, and don't refuse too decisively. This way, you can keep the initiative in your own hands and not be at the mercy of others."
"Let's keep him hanging. He might be losing sleep these days because of what you said."
During the ambiguous period of their relationship, He Man was the most experienced among Liang Yizhi's friends.
She asked her for advice: "What do you think I should do?"
He Man pondered, "To be honest, Yizhi, when you talked to me about this kind of issue before, I always advised you not to be afraid or timid. But now that you've actually told me that this has happened, I feel..."
He Man stopped in her tracks, put her hands on Liang Yizhi's shoulders, and looked at her with affection: "I really can't bear it. My precious cabbage is going to be eaten by a pig!"
"Just listen, whatever choice you make, I will support you. Your comfort and happiness are the most important things. You don't need to worry about any other rules, boundaries, or other people's opinions."
He Man spoke earnestly; she was used to a high-pitched voice, and it was rare for her to use such a gentle tone.
"But if you really decide to develop such a relationship with him, remember to always ensure your safety. If he does anything unexpected, you must tell me. Don't give yourself completely. Remember, you are the most important person in everything."
As Liang Yizhi listened, she was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes, and she threw herself into He Man's arms.
She had an urge to tell He Man all the pressure she was under right now.
He Man held the person in her arms, gently patted her back to comfort her, and stroked her fur.
The two people who were supporting each other heard the sound from behind and turned around at a very difficult angle.
Gu Yinyan frowned: "What's wrong with them?"
Jiang Huai: "Is there a bug? Did you cry from fright?"
"..."
Only Gu Yinyan drove today; he was responsible for taking the others home.
After walking to the car, Gu Yinyan helped Jiang Huai jump into the passenger seat and then opened the rear door next to it.
Liang Yizhi walked over.
She glanced at his hand resting on the doorknob.
He Man went around to the other side from the back and got into the car. Liang Yizhi seized the opportunity, pressed the door shut to prevent the people inside from hearing the conversation.
She whispered to Gu Yinyan, "From now on, don't give me any special treatment."
"Opening a car door is considered special?" Gu Yinyan's attitude was cold. "Then does it mean I'm interested in Jiang Huai because I helped him all the way here?"
Liang Yizhi pursed her lips: "Don't misinterpret my words."
"You are misinterpreting my actions and motives."
Gu Yinyan was tall, and Liang Yizhi only reached his shoulder. When he spoke, his breath fell on her cheek, and his voice could only be heard between the two of them.
"Liang Yizhi," he called her name.
The voice, carried by the wind, came clear and bright: "I didn't just start like this now."
Liang Yizhi insisted: "But from now on, you don't have to do it this way."
Ever since she learned that Gu Yinyan harbored inappropriate feelings for her, Liang Yizhi found herself paying extra attention to his every move.
All the details that had never been there before suddenly appeared.
She couldn't take Gu Yinyan's kindness for granted like before.
When her water glass was empty, he would always refill it for her first; when passing through glass doors, he would always walk ahead of her and push it open for her; as long as she made a phone call, Gu Yinyan would be there as quickly as possible; and if she didn't want to do something, he would always stand in front of her and refuse for her.
She didn't quite like this version of herself.
Leung Yik-chi reiterated: "When there are other people around, just treat me the same as everyone else."
She once again distanced herself from him.
Gu Yinyan paused for a moment, then finally said:
"Okay, I understand."
-
The weather forecast shows that the temperature has been below 10 degrees Celsius for the past few days, which, meteorologically speaking, means that winter has officially begun.
The temperature plummeted, making people shiver. Liang Yizhi rushed out the door, afraid of being late for rehearsal, and ran out with her violin on her back.
After a day of rehearsals, she was called to the orchestra director's office before leaving get off work.
Liang Yizhi was extremely nervous when she arrived; her hands were sweating profusely. The last time she came to this office was when she had just joined the orchestra.
She knocked on the door and entered after receiving permission: "Teacher Wang, did you want to see me?"
"Yes. Come, sit down." Teacher Wang smiled kindly and poured her a cup of tea. "It's like this. I heard you really like Hoss?"
Upon hearing the name, Liang Yizhi immediately raised her head, and the gloomy expression on her face vanished instantly.
Liang Yizhi answered honestly, "Yes. He is a renowned figure whom I greatly admire."
Teacher Wang smiled and said, "That's such a coincidence. I have some good news to tell you."
"Hoss is coming to Jade City to perform with our orchestra."
"Really?" Liang Yizhi looked pleasantly surprised.
Hoss is a very famous Italian pianist. Liang Yizhi saw his performances several times when she was studying abroad. He became famous at a young age and his skills are superb. He won numerous awards as early as the age of fourteen.
She admired his playing style and his understanding of the music, and even her father praised his technique.
But she never imagined that one day she would be able to play a duet with him.
Teacher Wang said, "The orchestra has a chamber music performance scheduled for next month, and we've invited Hoss to perform. It's a trio, and we've tentatively decided that you'll play the cello and Shi Ruocheng will play the violin. I'll let you know once the repertoire is finalized."
Liang Yizhi was dumbfounded.
She already felt honored to collaborate with Hoss simply as a member of the string orchestra. She hadn't expected the performance to be a trio, which meant it would put their technical skills and teamwork to the test even further.
If you don't play well in front of Hoss, it's not just about ruining his reputation; it's a disgrace that could be nailed to the pillar of shame in his musical career.
After repeatedly thanking Teacher Wang and assuring him that she would not let him down, she left the office.
After receiving the mission and returning, Liang Yizhi was filled with passion, a surge of enthusiasm coursing through her body, dispelling the stagnation in her body.
Because of this good news, Liang Yizhi was overjoyed all day and wanted to share her happiness with others as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, she was left alone, as Wu You and the rest of the band had already left after get off work.
She quickly tidied herself up and came out of the rehearsal room.
In the distance, she saw a familiar figure again. Gu Yinyan stood by the window in the corridor, gazing out the window.
Liang Yizhi used to love moments like this. As dusk settled outside the window, and she was about to confide in someone, someone who understood her appeared beside her.
The reason why coincidences are so exciting is precisely because they come without warning and at the perfect time.
Their tacit understanding built up over a decade of working together has fostered this kind of inertia.
Liang Yizhi stopped walking as she looked at the person, just as Gu Yinyan turned his head.
Without much hesitation, he walked straight towards her.
Liang Yizhi's attitude was curt: "...Why are you here? There's no concert today."
Gu Yinyan replied, "I've come to see you."
She was speechless at his bluntness.
Liang Yizhi didn't intend to argue with him and left on her own.
Gu Yinyan followed closely beside her: "Are you in a good mood today?"
Liang Yizhi hesitated for a few seconds before replying, "Yes."
She couldn't hide anything, especially good news; her beaming face was always written on it. He probably saw her when she came out of the rehearsal hall.
He asked, "What good thing happened?"
Liang Yizhi retorted firmly, "I won't tell you."
She walked silently all the way to the outside of the concert hall.
She turned her head slightly and found that Gu Yinyan was still following behind her.
Liang Yizhi finally couldn't hold back: "Don't follow me."
"I didn't follow you."
"Why did you follow me in the same direction as me instead of following you?"
"This is the only way out of the concert hall."
He retorted, and Liang Yizhi was left speechless.
Once outside, Gu Yinyan got to the point: "I need to talk to you about something, about Lin You."
Liang Yizhi paused.
Gu Yinyan said, "The loan sharks are one step ahead of us; they've already found her."
“I went to see her mother. Her mother helped her pay off part of the money, and your 300,000 will be transferred to her soon.”
Liang Yizhi was stunned.
This turn of events, proceeding smoothly and quickly, completely exceeded her expectations.
She said, "Does her mother know?"
"Um."
"Did you tell her?"
"Yes," Gu Yinyan answered crisply. "Not entirely. I only told her half of it; the rest was what she guessed. After all, parents know their children best."
Liang Yizhi dared not put herself in Lin You's mother's shoes: "Is her mother alright?"
"Not good," Gu Yinyan said.
"They borrowed the money from Lin You's uncle to pay it back. His mother agreed to transfer the last house they live in to her uncle before he agreed to give them money to help them."
This result actually exceeded Gu Yinyan's expectations.
Gu Yinyan used a bit of cunning, getting involved on both sides, and finally managed to exonerate himself completely.
But he didn't say much, only telling Liang Yizhi part of the story. She only needed to know the result.
After hearing this, Liang Yizhi couldn't help but sigh, never expecting that the affection between family members could be so worthless.
But the blame lies with Lin You, who was at fault first and dragged her whole family down with her.
Liang Yizhi sincerely said, "Thank you."
She knew that Gu Yinyan had put in a lot of effort, but he was used to not mentioning it.
The atmosphere eased a little. She thought, since he was right there and they had already talked so much, and the situation was just right, she might as well mention her own affairs to him as well.
She stopped and looked at him: "Well, I also have something to tell you, but you can forget about it if you don't want to hear it."
"you say."
“I…I’m going to perform with Huo Si.” After saying this, Liang Yizhi nervously observed Gu Yinyan’s expression.
Gu Yinyan asked, "Is it that pianist, Huo Si?"
"right."
He recalled: "You said before that the only person in the world whose playing was on par with Teacher Liang's?"
Only after he pointed it out did Liang Yizhi remember that she had said those words.
She muttered, "How do you still remember?"
Gu Yinyan: "I remember everything you've said."
Liang Yizhi pretended not to hear this.
Gu Yinyan glanced at her face and smiled, "Congratulations."
He then asked, "When is the performance?"
"Next month."
"Can I go see it?"
Liang Yizhi gave him a strange look and whispered, "When did I stop you from going...?"
"After all, someone just said they wanted to distance themselves from me."
Leung Yik-chi argued, "I said not to cross the line of normal interaction, not to sever ties."
"That's not fair of you," Gu Yinyan accused deliberately. "How much distance is it? Which parts are considered close, and which are considered far? Who gets to decide?"
He calmly took a step closer to her, and Liang Yizhi immediately took a half step back.
Gu Yinyan stopped approaching and instead raised his hand to take off his scarf.
He unfolded the navy blue cashmere fabric, folded it a few times, wrapped it around her bare neck twice, and then carefully adjusted its position so that it covered her nose and below.
Liang Yizhi smelled a pleasant, light, and subtle fragrance.
His eyes were clear, and his movements were delicate. He put the scarf on her and gently pulled out her hair that was being pressed down.
Her long, black hair cascaded between her fingers like a black ribbon. He raised his hand, his thumb lightly brushing against her cheekbone, where her skin was red and slightly cool.
"Miss Liang, it's very cold. Remember to wear a scarf when you go out."
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