Wan Qiu watched as Chu Zhang started the car, then leaned over the passenger seat and looked back at Yang Xiaoyu, who was getting further and further away.
Wan Qiu felt that Chu Zhang was exactly like himself when he faced someone he didn't like, and he would turn around and run away.
"Mom is unhappy." Wan Qiu wanted to go back to Yang Xiaoyu's side.
Chu Zhang smiled strangely: "It's alright, Mom will be happy when we come back."
Wan Qiu nodded blankly, believing Chu Zhang's words.
"Is there anywhere you'd like to go?" Chu Zhang was in high spirits, having successfully escaped with Wan Qiu.
Wan Qiu didn't have any particular place he wanted to go, nor did he know where he should go.
Even though he knows a lot now, his teacher taught him a lot.
Wanqiu had never come into contact with those things that only existed in books and in the mouths of teachers.
There was a little curiosity, but Wanqiu habitually suppressed all the budding curious saplings, preventing them from growing.
"Since there isn't one, then let's follow Big Brother?" Chu Zhang was used to others following his pace.
Wanqiu didn't know where his older brother wanted to take him.
But as long as I'm by my older brother's side, anywhere is fine.
The older brother put on a hat and sunglasses, just like his mother.
Wanqiu didn't know why her mother and older brother always liked to hide their beautiful faces.
Is it because beautiful things are precious that you can't just show them to other people?
Wan Qiu thought to himself that he must have nothing to hide.
The place they went to was a very bustling commercial street.
But my older brother said that the place they entered was a building of an educational institution.
In this unfamiliar place, Wan Qiu unconsciously grasped Chu Zhang's hand.
Chu Zhang chuckled and bent down to whisper in Wan Qiu's ear, "Wan Qiu, you'd better hold on tight to me. You can't lose your big brother. If you lose your big brother, just stay here and cry. If you don't find me, I'll cry myself to death and be rushed to the hospital."
Wan Qiu was taken aback, and subconsciously grasped Chu Zhang's hands.
Chu Zhang laughed so exaggeratedly.
Wanqiu had no idea what an educational institution was.
How is it different from school?
Wanqiu saw a world completely different from the one at school.
There are quite a few classrooms here, but they are completely different from the classrooms that Wanqiu knows.
They weren't students of the same age together; there were older and younger students, and what they were doing wasn't entirely learning the textbook content.
"These are extracurricular classes. Has Wanqiu ever heard of extracurricular classes?" Chu Zhang's voice was mixed in with the noise.
Wan Qiu nodded.
He knows what extracurricular classes are.
My teacher mentioned it when I was in school; it refers to a place of learning outside of school.
However, Wanqiu never had the opportunity to attend extracurricular classes.
Extracurricular classes require payment.
“Extracurricular classes, tutoring classes, interest classes—there are many different terms, depending on what you're learning,” Chu Zhang said. “Doesn't Wan Qiu think she's ugly?”
Wan Qiu recalled what Chu Zhang had said the night before.
"Is this the place that makes things more beautiful?" Wan Qiu asked.
“Yes.” Chu Zhang held Wan Qiu’s hand and walked outside the various classrooms. “Wan Qiu can visit them, find one she likes, study hard, and become beautiful.”
Wan Qiu's gaze lingered on those classrooms through the glass.
There seem to be all sorts of people here, all learning things that schools don't teach them.
In Wanqiu's view, it seemed that everyone was shining with a different kind of light.
"Look, Wanqiu, it's ballet." The older brother's voice guided Wanqiu's gaze to the large dance classroom.
Before Wanqiu's eyes suddenly appeared the world of elves.
The dancers' long, beautiful limbs displayed an elegant dance, their upright backs and slender necks making Wanqiu feel as if he were witnessing a group dance of elves, showcasing the Tree of Life's blessing upon the world.
Wan Qiu followed Chu Zhang, his eyes filled with the beautiful light.
When the beautiful skirts of the ballroom dance bloomed before Wanqiu like the world's largest flowers, the dance, a blend of power and beauty, completely overwhelmed Wanqiu's world.
But Wanqiu suddenly realized that inside the huge steel and concrete building, there were countless different lives in full bloom.
"There are many beautiful people in this world, and it's not just about looks," Chu Zhang said with a smile, leaning close to Wan Qiu's ear.
Wan Qiu looked behind the transparent glass and saw children even younger than him.
They may not be the most beautiful in appearance, but when they move their bodies and dance, beauty naturally radiates out.
Wan Qiu stared blankly, while Chu Zhang gently ruffled Wan Qiu's hair.
Wanqiu listened quietly. During this ordinary short holiday, Wanqiu received her first lesson in appreciating beauty.
Chu Zhang did not necessarily require Wan Qiu to study anything.
I just hope that Wanqiu will have the opportunity to find a way to become more confident.
You can stop curling up and straighten your head and chest.
They possess a proudness that allows them to hold their heads high.
Laymen cannot understand the charm of chess, ordinary people do not know how to appreciate calligraphy, and the noise of practice in teaching may prevent people from understanding the joy of learning.
However, Wanqiu seems to focus his attention on people more than on the learning materials.
Wanqiu always observes others with greater care.
Chu Zhang wanted Wan Qiu to better understand the beauty of her peers who were striving for achievement.
Looking at Wan Qiu's bright eyes, Chu Zhang wondered if he should take Wan Qiu to see the chess ranking exams, or perhaps watch some music competitions? Sports would also be fine.
Let Wanqiu know that those who strive towards their dreams cannot be judged by their appearance.
Chu Zhang held Wan Qiu's hand with one hand while searching on his phone for any recent sporting events he could attend.
Suddenly, a girl's crying broke Wan Qiu's concentration.
The screaming and crying made Wan Qiu unconsciously take a step forward.
In the direction from which the sound came, 'unhappiness' was spreading like a black fog to his feet.
Chu Zhang frowned, puzzled. He looked in the direction from which the crying was coming and decided to go closer to see if he needed any help.
Wan Qiu held onto Chu Zhang's sleeve and followed behind him.
As they drew closer, the girl's cries grew increasingly shrill, accompanied by increasingly clear shouts of curses mixed in with her sobs.
"I work so hard to earn money to send you to your extracurricular classes, and this is how you repay me? You even skipped class?! Is this how you repay me?"
The woman's cursing voice reached Wan Qiu's ears clearly, and in that instant, Wan Qiu's whole body stiffened.
A young girl came into Wanqiu's view.
The girl was wearing a dance costume with a jacket over it and sneakers.
That seemed to be her mother; the woman was grabbing the girl's arm and dragging her towards the dance studio.
"I don't want to go, I don't want to go to class, I don't want to go!" the girl screamed, struggling.
"You said you liked dancing, that's why I let you learn. Now I'm paying you every day, and you're skipping classes?" the woman said angrily.
The girl sat down on the ground, using all her strength to resist the woman's pulling, but given her height and weight, she couldn't possibly be a match for an adult woman and was being dragged along.
The girl suddenly opened her mouth to bite her mother's hand, and the mother, in pain, slapped the girl back. The crisp sound was followed by the girl's even more shrill screams.
The enraged mother, whose hands still bore the girl's teeth marks, released the girl's hand and angrily wanted to punish her.
The mother's angry scolding, the girl's sobs, the girl's slightly flushed cheeks—all of this…
Chu Zhang frowned deeply.
Suddenly realizing something, Chu Zhang immediately looked down at Wan Qiu.
Wan Qiu's eyes were filled with shock as he looked at the mother and daughter.
Chu Zhang noticed that Wan Qiu was gripping his clothes tightly, and his heart skipped a beat. He picked Wan Qiu up.
One hand pulled Wanqiu's head into its chest and covered Wanqiu's ears.
Chu Zhang moved with lightning speed, quickly moving away from the arguing mother and daughter until the noise subsided.
I went downstairs, trying to leave as soon as possible.
Back at the car, Chu Zhang placed Wan Qiu in the passenger seat, opened the door, and squatted down beside the car to look into Wan Qiu's eyes.
Will it affect Wanqiu? Chu Zhang could even hear his own nervous heartbeat.
Wan Qiu sat sideways in the passenger seat, looking down at Chu Zhang.
Her beautiful, clear eyes were fixed on Chu Zhang, and she remained calm.
Wan Qiu didn't seem to be too affected by what had just happened.
For a moment, Chu Zhang didn't know whether he should breathe a sigh of relief.
"Are you alright, Wanqiu?" Chu Zhang grasped Wanqiu's hand, looked up at her, and asked patiently, waiting quietly.
Wan Qiu didn't understand why Chu Zhang asked that question.
However, Wan Qiu grasped Chu Zhang's hand in return, cupping it in both hands as if to comfort the now even more anxious Chu Zhang.
Chu Zhang did not see any gloom on Wan Qiu's face.
"Are you alright?" Wan Qiu asked the same question as Chu Zhang.
"Huh?" Chu Zhang was taken aback. "Why do you say that?"
"Big Brother is unhappy." Wan Qiu thought to himself that Chu Zhang's unhappiness seemed to stem from seeing the mother and daughter.
Was it because you saw something you disliked?
"I won't be like that girl." Wan Qiu reached out and hugged Chu Zhang, earnestly promising in Chu Zhang's ear, "I will never bite Big Brother."
Chu Zhang's eyes slowly widened.
Chu Zhang suddenly grabbed Wan Qiu's shoulder and pulled her away.
Under Wanqiu's bewildered gaze, she said earnestly, "Wanqiu, anything that causes you pain is a bad thing! It's not just wrong for a girl to bite her mother, it's also wrong for a mother to drag or hit her daughter."
Wan Qiu blinked and nodded, believing what Chu Zhang said.
Chu Zhang was absolutely certain that Wan Qiu hadn't understood what he was hearing.
Chu Zhang sighed, knowing that changing Wan Qiu's mindset wouldn't be something that could be done overnight.
The fact that Wan Qiu is calm in the face of the same thing now is perhaps proof that he is still 'accustomed' to this kind of thing.
“That’s wrong, Wanqiu, do you understand? It’s wrong.” Chu Zhang emphasized to Wanqiu again, “If someone hurts you, you must tell your family.”
Wanqiu nodded obediently.
Chu Zhang reached out and ruffled Wan Qiu's hair. Seeing Wan Qiu rub against him obediently, his expression finally softened.
He was really afraid that one day Wanqiu would be secretly bullied and would think it was normal.
Chu Zhang seemed to have calmed down, and his unhappiness was gradually dissipating.
Wan Qiu trusted Chu Zhang's words without the slightest doubt.
Just as Chu Yigui said, this is the rule of this family.
The fact that Wanqiu hasn't been beaten for a long time is proof of the new rules.
However, Wanqiu also believed that it was normal for the mother to hit her daughter.
Biting her mother's hand and screaming in pain, it must all be the girl's fault.
Mom is probably right.
Chu Zhang returned to the driver's seat, his fingers unconsciously tapping the steering wheel.
Turning his head to look at Wanqiu, he suddenly said, "Wanqiu, would you like to listen to a song?"
"Mm." Wan Qiu nodded.
Chu Zhang turned on the music, and the slow, flowing melody in the car gradually eased the tense atmosphere.
Wan Qiu noticed that Chu Zhang was also relaxing.
Familiar, pleasant music came from the car speakers.
"Does it sound good?" Chu Zhang asked.
Wan Qiu nodded: "The singer's voice sounds a lot like my brother's."
Chu Zhang is very narcissistic; most of the songs in the car are his own, and the one playing now is no exception.
Surely Wan Qiu doesn't still not know that his older brother is a singer?
Chu Zhang, who had always thought he was very successful, felt a sense of defeat as if struck by lightning.
His reputation, built up over so many years of hard work, was ruined by a single sentence from his beloved younger brother.
Chu Zhang leaned back in his chair, looking utterly desolate.
“I’ve heard this song before…” Wan Qiu listened to the song playing on the car stereo. “I’ve heard it many times.”
Chu Zhang immediately snapped out of his daze and turned to look at Wan Qiu: "Where have I heard of this before?"
“On the street, on TV,” Wan Qiu murmured, then added, “it sounds better than what I usually hear.”
Chu Zhang suddenly laughed. Their car audio system was top-of-the-line, and its sound quality was definitely better than any speaker randomly placed on the street.
The voice is really nice, and you can hear a lot of small details.
When the singer lowers their voice to its lowest level, the soft sound is like a gentle whisper in your ear.
Even in the most oblivious moments, one could sense a hint of 'unhappiness' in the song.
Can singing convey emotions?
Wanqiu thought of the beautiful dance she had just witnessed.
Wan Qiu looked up, her bright eyes filled with a hint of surprise and anticipation, and asked Chu Zhang, "Is this also beautiful?"
Chu Zhang smiled: "Yes."
Wan Qiu pursed her lips, revealing a faint smile of approval, which Chu Zhang found quite endearing.
Chu Zhang thought for a moment: "Wanqiu, would you like me to teach you to sing?"
Wan Qiu pursed her lips, seemingly a little uneasy. Listening to the singing, she whispered, "I can sing."
There is one music class per week at school, and Wan Qiu takes every class very seriously.
Wanqiu always strives to do well in things that only require repeated memorization.
Music class was one of the few subjects in which Wan Qiu could get high marks.
Chu Zhang was just about to say, "Why don't you sing it for us?"
However, when Chu Zhang saw Wan Qiu opening his mouth as if to sing, he suddenly covered Wan Qiu's mouth.
"Wait, wait, don't sing here!" Chu Zhang started the car, deviating from the original route.
Wanqiu sensed that his elder brother seemed very happy.
The initial fluctuating emotions of happiness and unhappiness gradually turned into high spirits.
Wan Qiu followed Chu Zhang into a very, very tall and very large building.
There weren't many people, but once inside, the older brother stopped wearing the hat, glasses, and scarf that had always concealed his handsome face.
Wanqiu looked at this unfamiliar, bright place.
Although there were only a few people, everyone would show a hint of 'happiness' when they saw their older brother.
The elder brother walked very fast, and Wan Qiu followed closely behind.
Wan Qiu noticed that everyone was casting curious glances at him.
Wan Qiu quietly took Chu Zhang's hand. Although she was no longer as afraid of the gazes around her as she used to be, she was still somewhat uneasy.
"Chu Zhang? Aren't you on vacation?" People who came towards him asked in surprise when they saw Chu Zhang.
"Is the recording studio no one using it?" Chu Zhang asked.
"No... You want to record a song? Now? Record what? A new song? Should I call someone?" Upon hearing Chu Zhang's words, the man quickly went to Chu Zhang's side, even forgetting to pay attention to Wan Qiu.
Chu Zhang pushed away the person who approached and scooped up Wan Qiu: "Record for our little angel."
The person who was pushed away looked confused: "What?"
Chu Zhang suddenly turned around, his extremely handsome face showing seriousness, and ordered, "From now until I come out, no one is allowed to enter the recording studio."
The man suddenly shuddered. Was this really not a recording of a new song? Why was Chu Zhang so serious?
"Has your mother brought you here before?" Chu Zhang asked his little angel with a kind smile.
Wan Qiu shook his head.
"This is where Mom works," Chu Zhang said with a smile as he entered the recording studio.
This is a strange and unfamiliar place.
"Wanqiu, what songs can you sing?" Chu Zhang's eyes lit up.
Wan Qiu vaguely felt that his elder brother's current "happiness" was somewhat beyond his usual normal level.
My older brother is very, very happy now.
Wan Qiu carefully counted the songs he had learned. Chu Zhang listened and realized they were songs he had learned in textbooks.
"How about singing for my older brother?"
While searching for accompaniment, Chu Zhang started recording for Wan Qiu.
Wan Qiu sat alone in the recording studio, holding his headphones, looking quite lost.
For others, having a child record a nursery rhyme might seem like an overreaction, but for Chu Zhang, it carries a completely different weight.
This was the first time his dear brother had ever sung in front of him!
You'll regret it if you don't record it!
Although his home recording studio is quite good, he can't wait! This place is closer!!
Wan Qiu, holding the earphones that had been fastened, noticed the blazing fire in Chu Zhang's eyes.
It looks like my older brother is on fire?
Wanqiu had no idea what was going on.
However, Wan Qiu felt a subtle tension in his elder brother's gaze.
Wanqiu didn't have a music book, but he remembered all the lyrics very clearly.
He practiced repeatedly for the music exam.
Wan Qiu's voice wasn't loud, and because he rarely spoke, his singing was somewhat disorganized.
They didn't have the exceptional talent that Chu Zhang had hoped for, the kind that, with more nurturing, could lead to meteoric success.
The song doesn't employ any particular technique in terms of melody, but it tries its best to match the original melody.
Wan Qiu's voice was lovely, and to Chu Zhang's ears, it sounded better than any other singing.
But just listening to it made Chu Zhang like it.
He wanted to process all the songs he recorded today and use them as his phone ringtones, and maybe even blackmail Yang Xiaoyu for a small gift.
We'll record it again after Wanqiu's voice changes.
"So incredibly cute."
Chu Zhang lay prone on the recording console, completely charmed by his adorable third brother's voice.
Even though Chu Zhang knew that there must be some idealization of Wan Qiu's spirit in this, he couldn't help it.
"Wanqiu, what else can you do?" Chu Zhang asked someone to bring a cup of water and handed it to Wanqiu.
His cheeks were flushed with excitement; he was about to post this on his official Weibo account.
Wan Qiu took a small sip of water and thought for a moment: "I don't know the name."
"What song is it? Can you sing it?" Chu Zhang took out his phone to try and identify the song, as he wasn't very familiar with the names of the children's songs.
A familiar melody surfaced in Wan Qiu's mind.
It wasn't during music class.
Instead, it's a song he's familiar with, a song he's always been listening to. He'll always hear it, and as soon as he hears it, he'll stop and wait for the song to end.
After hearing it so many times, it seems I can do it too.
Wan Qiu had no concept of hiding anything. Now, his elder brother's eyes were full of hope that he would sing. Even if Wan Qiu racked his brains, he wanted to satisfy his elder brother's eagerness.
What kind of melody does the song have?
Which lyric did it all start with?
I don't know the name, and I can't quite remember the lyrics either.
Wanqiu hummed softly, occasionally singing the lyrics clearly where he remembered them, and using muffled humming to cover up the parts that were unclear.
The sound was faint, thin, and seemed to have fallen out of tune.
However, when Wanqiu reached the end of the song, she snapped out of her reverie and looked up at Chu Zhang.
Chu Zhang seemed to be in a daze.
The phones that were ready to use the song recognition feature had all turned off their screens.
Wan Qiu looked up and saw that Chu Zhang seemed to be in a daze.
The way my older brother looked at me was very subtle.
Like a tiny green shoot peeking out from under the last of the melting snow in spring, or a tender bud sprouting on a bare branch.
It is the beginning of a green world that will soon be covered by spring.
When Wanqiu heard his elder brother's voice, it lacked its usual elation; instead, it was hoarse, like a white light blooming from the darkness.
"Wanqiu, how come you know this song?"
Wan Qiu thought for a moment and said, "I heard it when I first came to the city, and then I heard it many times and remembered it."
"Many times?"
"Mm." Wan Qiu nodded.
Chu Zhang smiled, but this smile was different from his usual one: "How many times?"
I can't remember how many times Wanqiu has done this.
but……
"I only remember it after I've heard it many times and sung it many times."
Without any instruction or sheet music, Wanqiu learned the lyrics by guessing and piecing them together.
It wasn't something that needed to be done, but Wanqiu remembered the song because she had listened to it many times.
Wanqiu didn't know why his elder brother would show such an expression.
It's like a seed that's been carefully held in the palm of your hand, tended to with great care and full of anticipation.
And finally, in the pitch-black world, amidst anticipation, it finally bloomed, more beautiful and dazzling than imagined, illuminating the entire dark world, breaking through the darkness, and restoring the sky.
"Brother, shall I teach you how to sing this song?" Chu Zhang said.
"Mm." Wan Qiu nodded.
“Wan Qiu sang very well; you just need to remember the lyrics,” Chu Zhang said.
Even if some notes are not accurate, even if they may not match the accompaniment, even if...
These are the most beautiful sounds.
Wanqiu didn't know why, but his older brother didn't seem as boisterous as usual these days.
Like a wind that has fallen silent.
It was blowing gently.
Something unfamiliar wafted in the wind, brushing past Wanqiu's ears.
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