Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Signal of Love.
Tao Siyun covered her face and told all the old stories about her and Xu Ji in high school.
Like most stories of a hero saving a damsel in distress, after being exaggerated by the so-called "first-year high school classmates," even their daily online interactions long ago, even if they both liked a classmate's post at the same time, as long as their names were seen next to each other, would be regarded as clues to confirm the rumors and become "evidence" of a secret show of affection.
That's how their scandal started.
Although seven or eight years have passed, when I talk about these past events, it seems as if they happened yesterday, and the scenes at that time are still vivid in my mind.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, so you fell in love with your rumored boyfriend back in high school because of the 'suspension bridge effect'?" Bian Chengzi analyzed seriously, stroking his chin. "That explains why you, with your dream-prone constitution, have these kinds of dreams for no apparent reason. It's definitely your subconscious mind at work, sending you signals of love!"
Tao Siyun was silent for a moment, then said, "Have you watched too many melodramatic dramas?"
"I'm obviously watching an idol drama, okay?" Bian Chengzi blinked and sighed. "Honestly, have you noticed that you've been...how should I put it, different lately?"
“…”
"Although he has a regular sleep schedule, he seems listless. What's wrong?"
"Well, nothing much."
Bian Chengzi looked at her bestie, pondered for a long time, and then spoke hesitantly, "Dorothy, now that we're talking about this, I have to ask you something. Don't overthink it. After your aunt's accident, did your uncle really remarry his ex-wife?"
"Well, they remarried less than two months later. I was abroad at the time, so I don't know the details. Later, I heard from my brother that they sold my aunt's house and moved back to Nanze as a family."
Tao Siyun was very calm when he said this, and there was no emotion in his tone, as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
Bian Chengzi sighed and advised her: "Let the past be the past. Don't always think too much. You still have to look forward to life."
"I know," Tao Siyun lowered his eyes and whispered, "Actually, I've gradually accepted reality over the years. It's nothing."
"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore," Bian Chengzi saw the heavy atmosphere and changed the subject in time: "I'm going to your house tonight to sleep with you. Hey, have you changed your mattress? I slept at your house for two days last time and my whole body ached."
"Yes," Tao Siyun flicked on his phone screen and glanced at the article titled "Wise Parents Never Push for Marriage" that Tao Qian had shared in the "Loving Family" group two minutes ago. He deleted it without even opening it. "The master bedroom has been changed, but the second bedroom hasn't."
"Then...can I sleep in the same bed with you?"
"No," Tao Siyun refused without a second thought, and said in a vigilant tone: "If you wear clothes when sleeping, I might consider it."
Bian Chengzi pouted: "As for you, sleeping naked is very healthy! Doctors say there are many benefits."
Tao Siyun nodded, agreeing with the doctor. "It's quite healthy and has many benefits, but the only downside is that sleeping next to you will definitely give me nightmares."
"What nightmare? I'm not a hooligan to you."
Tao Siyun stared at her inexplicably, and after a while, he spoke with difficulty: "Do you remember the last time we slept in the same bed?"
Bian Chengzi tried hard to recall, and after a moment, he asked tentatively, "Did you say that during the winter break of my freshman year in high school?"
Tao Siyun smiled and said, "Just remember it."
Bian Chengzi was a little scared by her smile, and she crossed her arms to distance herself from them. Suddenly, she acted like a terrified woman and said, "No way, no way, I won't really do anything to you, will I? Oh, don't be like this, I've known you since I was three years old, so what if I take advantage of you~"
"—Stop!" Tao Siyun promptly stopped her affectation and pretentious performance. He propped his chin up with his hand and said seriously, "Bian Xiaocheng, I don't know what you were dreaming about, but you kept calling Liang Jingchao's name that night, and you wanted to throw yourself on me. It was truly terrifying."
"Pfft... there's this thing?" Bian Chengzi's expression froze and he immediately became timid. "Please stop talking about it. I'm getting goosebumps."
***
For several days, Tao Siyun had no contact with Xu Ji, as if what happened that morning had never happened.
She also returned to her previous life of going to school when she was supposed to, teaching students when she was supposed to, and having dinner with her best friend when she had free time.
Sometimes Jiang Zhen and the others were chatting animatedly in the group, and Xu Ji would occasionally pop in or something, but Tao Siyun just watched them chat and didn't say much.
On the day she returned to Beijing, she and Bian Chengzi went shopping all day, and finally, after careful selection, she bought Tao Qian a newly released limited edition watch. After the two of them had a simple meal outside, Bian Chengzi drove her to the airport.
The plane landed in Beijing at around 11 o'clock in the evening. Fortunately, there were not many people around at night. When Tao Siyun came out, he immediately saw Tao Qian waiting at the airport.
After a two-hour flight, she felt a little tired, and her first question was, "Where's Mom?"
"Why, you think it's not enough to torment me in the middle of the night?"
Just as he finished speaking, Qin Shu called, "Xiao Qian, did you get An An?"
"Yeah, I got it." Tao Qian glanced at Tao Siyun who was looking down at her phone next to him, patted her head, and said, "Let's go."
Tao Siyun followed him slowly, sending messages as he walked to tell Bian Chengzi that he had arrived.
"Tsk, watch where you're going." Tao Qian hung up the phone and took the small suitcase from her hand. "Mom will make you a midnight snack at home."
"oh."
After getting in the car, Tao Siyun took out a bag of snacks from the glove box under the passenger seat with ease.
Seeing that she was eating with gusto, Tao Qian couldn't help but say, "Eat less. Mom made chicken soup. You won't be able to eat later."
"I know." Tao Siyun suddenly thought of something and picked out the most intact potato chip and fed it to Tao Qian's mouth, "Brother, let's talk."
"?" Tao Qian, holding a potato chip in his mouth, asked, "What are you doing?"
"Mom asked me to enlighten you. You can tell me anything that makes you unhappy recently."
"Tsk, you little girl, why are you trying to enlighten me?"
"You are unemployed and heartbroken now. Don't you need some counseling under the double pressure?" Tao Siyun asked with concern.
"Oh," Tao Qian sneered, "Who told you that I was heartbroken?"
"I'm just guessing! You used to be on WeChat Moments every day, wanting to post 800 updates a day. Now, it's been ages since you last updated, and you've set it to only visible for the last month. How is this any different from depression to you?"
“…”
Tao Siyun crunched his chips and said to himself, "You didn't quit because you were embarrassed to stay in the company after your secret crush was rejected? Is that girl your colleague?"
Tao Qian glanced at his sister calmly and curled his lips: "You are quite good at guessing."
"How could I be so blindly guessing? I was the first one to discover your premature love in high school."
Tao Qian: "..."
"Why don't you go to your dad's friend's company and take a class? Wouldn't it be boring to stay at home all the time? Besides, if you keep being decadent, it's easy to lose your fighting spirit. Even if they regret it later, they won't look for you because they see you're so unmotivated."
Tao Qian tsk- ...
It was already past midnight when they got home. The family sat together for a midnight snack. At the dinner table, Tao Siyun took out the birthday present for Tao Qian.
Tao Qian was very pleased, "It's worth it for my brother to go to the airport to pick you up so late at night. You are quite sensible."
Tao Siyun took a sip of chicken soup with a small porcelain spoon and emphasized, "This is the latest model. I've been waiting in line for a long time."
Qin Shu didn't know much about this watch brand. Looking at the exquisite dial, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Hey, this watch is not cheap, right?"
"It's okay," Tao Daiming looked at his daughter lovingly, "Dad will reimburse you later, okay."
Tao Siyun said sweetly, "Thank you, Dad."
Tao Qian couldn't help but complain: "How biased."
Qin Shu knocked his son's head with the end of his chopsticks after hearing this. "You're almost thirty and still competing with your sister for affection. Not only do you have no job, but now you don't have a girlfriend either. Your cousin, who is two years younger than you, has been married for six months, and you're still single. How can you be ashamed of yourself?"
Tao Siyun silently added: "Mom, my cousin was in a school relationship for seven years."
Tao Qian gave her a warning look, picked up a chicken drumstick for her, and knocked on the edge of the bowl, "Eat yours, and stop talking."
Tao Daiming: "How do you talk to your sister? Be nicer."
"...That's enough," Tao Qian wiped his mouth after finishing his meal, leaned back in his chair, and said nonchalantly, "I'm not in a hurry. Why are you two so anxious all the time? Besides, there's no point in being anxious. The Marriage Law stipulates that marriage is free and arranged marriages are prohibited."
Qin Shu was so angry when she heard this that she wanted to pull Tao Qian's ears. She pointed at her husband and said, "Do you still care about your son? He posts those articles in the group every now and then. Every time, relatives come to persuade me to let nature take its course and not put too much pressure on him."
Tao Daiming: "..."
Tao Qianxin said: I did it on purpose.
***
Tao Siyun went back to his room after eating.
It was already very late, and she was a little full. She couldn't fall asleep for a while, so she walked back and forth in the bedroom to digest the food.
Her room is the largest in the house. Tao Daiming originally connected the two rooms and made a small study for her.
After wandering around the balcony for a few rounds, Tao Siyun's eyes inadvertently caught sight of the cello case placed in the corner of the study.
There is not a speck of dust on it, all thanks to her diligent mother. Qin Shu helps her wipe it every time she cleans the room.
Tao Siyun squatted on the floor and gently opened the cello case. He touched the cello with his fingers and suddenly remembered something. Then he carefully took out the thing hidden inside.
When unfolded, there are two sheets of printed paper with black text on a white background.
One is the "Beijing Fu Music Conservatory of Music 2014 Undergraduate Admissions Professional Examination Certificate", and the other is the "Shanghai West Music Conservatory of Music 2014 Undergraduate Professional Examination Certificate".
The professional ranking column is always first.
She looked at them for a long time under the lamp, and finally, reluctantly, she folded the two pieces of paper again and put them back in their original place silently.
All the dreams and regrets of the past were sealed in this piano case, and have been in darkness ever since.
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