30. *The Four Seasons: January*
◎Coverage◎
In January in Beijing, the dry, cold wind makes a crisp sound, but some news arrives with a gentle touch, like a kitten's paw pad.
The results of Curtis's pre-screening came out earlier than expected, and Li Xun unsurprisingly qualified to go to Philadelphia for an on-site interview and test.
Liang Chuling was even happier than if she had qualified herself: "I knew it!"
She immediately thought of Zhou Xu and sent him a message. Zhou Xu replied instantly, his tone so matter-of-fact that she could almost picture him through the screen: "Of course I got it, is there even a question?"
Thus, the trip to Philadelphia, USA in February was decided, involving three people. Liang Chuling was going to audition and be evaluated, while Li Xun and Zhou Xu were going for interviews and exams.
As the year draws to a close, a restless anticipation of returning home fills the air.
Li Xun needs to return abroad to spend the New Year with Li Chi.
Zhou Xu unexpectedly stayed in China this year. His family members are all in Beijing, but he himself will be leaving Beijing soon.
To welcome a group of important foreign guests who came to see the pandas, Sichuan organized a high-profile cultural exchange performance and invited some young pianists.
In the past, Zhou Xu would probably have looked down on this kind of politically motivated performance, but things are different now. It was an invitation from the state, a good opportunity to regain official recognition, so his family squeezed him in.
Jinxi's name also appeared on the performance list, and Liang Chuling called to ask when Jinxi would return to Sichuan. Jinxi said that it would be about a week or so, and the performance rehearsal would be held earlier.
Liang Chuling calculated the time on the other end of the phone and said in a light tone, "Then there's enough time."
Jinxi asked in confusion, "In time for what?"
Now it was Liang Chuling's turn to keep it a secret, giggling, "It's a secret! You'll find out soon enough!"
Less than a week later, Jinxi received a heavy express delivery package. She unwrapped it layer by layer, and the contents inside made her gasp—
It is a trophy.
The crystal material, which should be indifferent, appears deeply affectionate under the gray and white light of winter, like the classic characters in Hong Kong movies who seem cold but are actually very sentimental.
She was very familiar with the shape of the trophy; the base was engraved with a line of words that described the piano competition she had returned to in her dreams countless times.
The winner's name is engraved with: Jinxi.
Jinxi's hand holding the trophy trembled uncontrollably, her nerves twitched, and then her whole body began to shake uncontrollably. She was so afraid of dropping the trophy that she quickly gripped it tightly with her trembling hand and placed it on the table. But the table wasn't safe enough, so she ran back to her room and put it on her bed. She used a blanket, pillow, doll, and pajamas to build a nest, and inside the nest was the dream that had been incubating for nearly six years.
She reached out her index finger and touched it; the icy touch went straight to her heart through her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.
I forced myself to calm down before looking at the express delivery slip, and finally found Liang Chuling in the sender's address.
Jinxi picked up her phone and dialed Liang Chuling's number.
Liang Chuling's slightly smug voice rang out first: "Hello? Jinxi? Got it?"
"Chu Ling, what's with the trophy?"
Liang Chuling said casually, "I'm really good at notating music! I remembered the name of that competition after just one glance at it last time. After I came back from the mountain hike, I searched for it online and found out what the trophy looked like. I guess the real trophy and certificate were probably requisitioned by the school and didn't end up in your hands, right?"
Jin Xi tacitly admitted that she hadn't even touched the trophy.
Liang Chuling continued, "I once heard Li Xun say that the most thorough deletion is not deletion but overwriting. If data is simply deleted, there is still a way to recover it. But if it is overwritten with new data, then it is really difficult to find it again."
"So I want to give the trophy back to you, to cover up that bad memory in your mind. In the future, when you think back to that match, the first thing that comes to mind will be this trophy, and the first thing that comes to mind will be me."
What Liang Chuling didn't mention was that while searching for that competition, she saw a young Jinxi in a photo of an awards ceremony.
She was forced to look up from the crowd below the stage, watching the beautiful girl on stage who was playing the piano and holding the trophy that should have been hers.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she was trying to make a face that looked like she was both crying and laughing as she applauded someone else who was pretending to be her.
The scene was jarring, and Liang Chuling felt distressed both physically and emotionally.
A long silence fell on the other end of the phone.
Jinxi didn't cry; she just trembled uncontrollably, even more violently than before, her teeth chattering. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed and then released, leaving her body limp. She placed her other hand on the base of the trophy, trying to draw some support from it.
Liang Chuling heard no response on the phone for a long time, only rapid breathing, and couldn't help but worry, calling out repeatedly, "Jinxi? What's wrong? Jinxi? Say something!"
Jinxi responded tremblingly, saying, "Chuling, do you want to see freshwater jellyfish?"
The voice was unsteady, yet carried a clarity that came after the ice had been broken.
"I'll take the picture for you when I get back, okay?"
Liang Chuling cheerfully replied on the other end of the phone, "Okay!"
--
Beijing was unusually humid last year.
There's a Ganoderma lucidum (reishi mushroom) in the principal's office, a gift from someone. It's worthless; it grew in the school's flowerbed and is purely for decoration.
It was fine for a year or two, but last year it developed a layer of green mold, like wearing a fleece jacket.
The principal went to a meeting and didn't return to the school for two or three months. He only came to the office this year. After arriving, he stared at that thing for several hours, wondering what it was. When he figured it out, he was so frightened that he cried out and immediately called the cleaning staff to come in and deal with it.
In this kind of weather, the insects are overjoyed, but people can't seem to find any joy in it.
To prevent the piano from malfunctioning, the heating in the practice room was turned on at the end of October last year. However, this backfired, and now in January, the piano is so dry that the keys are loose and the soundboard is cracked, so the humidifier in the practice room has been added again.
Liang Chuling was in the music room, where the humidity and dryness coexisted, making it uncomfortable no matter how she stayed.
I can't play anymore. My mind is racing. I keep thinking about whether I promised to teach Lin Jianni to play the piano.
"You have to keep your word, Liang Chuling!" She slapped her forehead.
Thus, Liang Chuling, the future piano educator, began preparing lessons by talking to thin air.
Teaching adults is not the same as teaching children. After thinking about it, I still need to discuss it with Lin Jiani.
The two chatted casually on WeChat, discussing where they should pick it up next. Liang Chuling felt they should start with something that would give them a quick sense of accomplishment, and Lin Jianni had no objections.
As she pondered, her thoughts drifted to Li Xun.
His gentle patience and clear, methodical explanations, without putting pressure on anyone, made him a perfect teacher for Lin Jiani.
You can find some time to learn from him...
Liang Chuling: "I have a piano that's just sitting there collecting dust. Tomorrow's Saturday, I'll have it delivered to your house by Lalamove. I'll also have someone come and tune it. What do you think?"
Lin Jianni's phone showed that it was typing for a while before it popped up: "That's great! I won't stand on ceremony with you."
Liang Chuling smiled as she looked at the screen; she liked people who weren't coy.
The door to the music room was pushed open.
Zhou Xu poked his head in, and then he followed. He had important business at school today and was dressed quite smartly. After finishing his business, he heard that Liang Chuling was in the music room, so he came here to find her.
After entering, he leaned against the piano as if he knew it well, looking curious: "Practicing? Someone downstairs is looking for you."
Who is it?
"A woman. Big pregnant. Is she your mother?"
Liang Chuling looked at him expressionlessly: "My mother only gave birth to me."
Zhou Xu suddenly realized and said, "Oh, that's interesting. Shall we go down and take a look?"
Liang Chuling muttered to herself as she went downstairs with Zhou Xu.
There was indeed a woman standing downstairs. She couldn't be very old, probably in her early twenties. Even wearing a thick down jacket couldn't hide her prominent belly, the curve of which was striking.
His face showed anxiety and unease.
Liang Chuling was certain she had never seen her before, but the wind blew the scarf around the woman's neck loose, so the woman simply took it off, shook it, and then tied it in a different way. When she took it off, Liang Chuling saw the diamond pendant around her neck, a belated birthday gift from her father.
She then guessed the visitor's identity, which made the situation even more absurd.
Lin Jianni is at least thirty years old. What kind of beast is Liang's father? He keeps dating younger and younger women. Doesn't he fear retribution?
The woman's eyes lit up when she saw her. She hurriedly put her scarf back on and tentatively called out, "Liang Chuling?"
Liang Chuling didn't get too close, maintaining a safe distance. She nodded, still wanting to confirm, "May I ask who you are?"
The woman took a step forward, her tone urgent yet strangely confident: "I'm pregnant with your father's son, and I'm about to give birth, I'm over eight months along." She gestured with her hands to show the size of her belly, emphasizing that it was true.
Someone was playing the piano upstairs, the note F, but in Liang Chuling's mind it sounded like a gong, the sound that precedes the start of a performance on stage—
Please wait patiently, for destiny has arrived.
Recalling that boring party a few months ago, Liang's father asked in a low voice if the results were out yet. So the results were here.
Thinking back to the phone argument with Liang's father on her birthday, his fury wasn't just because she had exposed his hypocrisy, but also because the outcome of his affair was about to come to fruition.
The things she didn't want to know always found their way to her. Now that you've noticed the problem, even if you run away, the answer will come to you.
It was that same sharp cry; fate had arrived, and there was no escaping it.
Zhou Xu was standing to the side. He was of mixed race, but at this moment, his Chinese blood was in control, so he stood there motionless, waiting for gossip, eager to understand the drama unfold.
She scratched his curly hair in surprise, scratching back and forth, as if rooted to the spot, showing no intention of avoiding suspicion.
Even though Liang Chuling had already guessed it, she still felt like there was something wrong with her ears for a moment.
She looked at the woman who wasn't much older than herself, opened her mouth to speak, but her vocabulary seemed to have been formatted, leaving only "This really is...this really is..." in an endless loop, unable to find the right words to follow.
Absurdity overwhelmed her.
Zhou Xu's other half, of foreign blood, is now playing a heroic role.
Seeing Liang Chuling's hesitant expression, he assumed she was so shocked she needed help, and kindly added, "Is that really unbelievable?"
Liang Chuling turned her head and glanced at him: "Get lost."
She then asked the woman, "So, what do you want from me?"
She tried her best to make her tone sound normal, even though she felt that the situation itself was anything but normal.
The woman seemed to have found someone to confide in, and spoke even faster: "I can't get in touch with your father! He just disappeared! He's not answering his phone or replying to my messages. I'm about to give birth!" She started pacing back and forth in a panic, making Liang Chuling a little scared. "Your father loves you very much, and when he was with me, he always said that you were the one he loved most in his life. Coming to you must be helpful. You can definitely find him, or, or you can help me."
Hearing this, Liang Chuling found it even more absurd. These words, coming from the mouth of this young woman carrying Liang's father's child, were sharp and sarcastic.
Why is it that whenever her father's mistresses can't contact him, they line up to come find her like clockwork?
Is she her father's lost and found?
And it's a classic logic—I'm not a good husband, but I must be a good father.
The phrase "I love my daughter" is a get-out-of-jail-free card that can wipe away all the messes he's made outside.
Men who cheat often like to portray themselves as loving and responsible fathers to their mistresses, both to build a reputation for themselves and to prepare an excuse in advance for not being able to take responsibility for their mistresses in the future, "for the sake of the children."
Zhou Xu, who had been listening nearby, was starting to lose his temper. He stepped forward, blocking Liang Chuling's path, and said to the woman in a sharp tone, "What good is she to you? You've got the wrong person!"
The woman was startled by Zhou Xu's attitude, and then a surge of grievance and anger welled up inside her: "If I don't look for her, who else can I look for! I can't find anyone now! He did it on purpose! He was so good to me before, agreeing to everything, but now that I'm about to give birth, he's afraid I'll force him to divorce me, so he's hiding!"
"He wants children but doesn't want any trouble! There's no such thing as a free lunch!"
Liang Chuling felt exhausted: "You should go home, or go to the hospital for a check-up. I can't get in touch with him either."
"Can't get in touch?" The woman's pitiful expression was replaced by anger. "You two father and daughter are teaming up to mess with me, aren't you! Fine! Fine! If I can't find him, I'll wait for him at your doorstep! At worst, both of us will die, and I'll see how your family will ever have peace again!" She threw down these words viciously, clutching her stomach as she ran out of the school.
Liang Chuling was terrified! "Hey! Stop right there!" she hurriedly chased after him.
The woman looked clumsy, but she was running incredibly fast.
The school path was winding and narrow, and it was during dismissal time, so the crowds were mixed. Liang Chuling chased after her around a corner when the woman suddenly let out a wail, curled up with her back arched, and slowly collapsed to the ground, cold sweat pouring down her face.
"What's wrong with you?!" Liang Chuling rushed forward to support her, only to find her body heavy and cold.
The woman's face contorted in pain as she gripped Liang Chuling's arm, her breath weak yet still insistent: "Call your father and tell him to come...!"
Liang Chuling was both anxious and angry: "You should save your own life first! He won't answer my calls at all. He's lying to you, don't you understand?"
These words shattered the woman's fragile spirit, and she fainted instantly.
"Don't scare me!" Liang Chuling panicked as people began to gather around. She quickly called for emergency medical assistance and gave them her address and the situation.
The ambulance arrived with sirens blaring, and paramedics carried the unconscious pregnant woman into it. Liang Chuling's mind went blank, and she jumped into the ambulance, Zhou Xu following closely behind.
Medical staff gave the woman oxygen and monitored her vital signs. Liang Chuling's body finally warmed up, and she struggled out of her disoriented state to call Li Xun.
Li Xun is recording a program recently, and he was still busy rehearsing until 2 or 3 a.m. yesterday. He's probably still sleeping right now.
"Chu Ling? What's wrong?"
“Li Xun…” Liang Chuling’s feigned composure crumbled as soon as she heard his voice, her voice trembling, “Something’s happened. A pregnant woman came to me. She suddenly had a stomachache and fainted. We’re in an ambulance going to the Third Hospital. I’m a little scared.”
There was a rustling sound of someone getting up on the other end of the phone. Li Xun's voice went from groggy and hoarse to clear and calm: "The Third Hospital, right? Okay, I'll be right there. Don't be afraid, just follow the doctor, I'll be there soon."
The ambulance arrived at the hospital, and the pregnant woman was wheeled into the delivery room.
Liang Chuling and Zhou Xu were left in the corridor. Liang Chuling's legs felt weak as she thought of what the woman had said about two lives lost.
After an unknown amount of time, Li Xun rushed over and saw Liang Chuling and Zhou Xu sitting side by side. He was really troubled by this combination.
He walked up to Liang Chuling and handed her a cup of hot soy milk that he had just bought at the door.
Liang Chuling took the cup in a daze. It was warm, and the warmth brought her strength, which in turn gave her peace of mind. She was about to take a sip to calm her nerves, but her hands were trembling. Just as she brought it to her lips, the cup tilted, and the soy milk spilled out, splashing all over her hand and wetting her clothes.
Zhou Xu immediately stood up, ready to call someone to handle the situation.
Li Xun squatted down, took out a tissue to wipe Liang Chuling's face, and his calmness acted like a rock, slightly stabilizing Liang Chuling's flustered mind.
Zhou Xu watched from the side, angrily kicking the trash can next to him: "What kind of nonsense is this? Is that woman out of her mind? What good is she coming to you! It's not like you're the one who got her pregnant!"
Li Xun wiped Liang Chuling's hands clean and said calmly, "She dared to come directly to the school and specifically ask for your name, so your father must have tacitly approved or even hinted at it. Otherwise, how could she be sure she could find you?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xu flew into a rage and began to curse without restraint: "Damn it! Is your dad even human? How could he do something so despicable? It's unbelievable—"
“Zhou Xu,” Li Xun interrupted him, his tone disapproving, “That’s Liang Chuling’s father. Show some respect.”
He ultimately maintained basic politeness towards his elders, even though he might not have approved of Liang's father's actions.
Zhou Xu was speechless and rolled his eyes, but for Liang Chuling's sake, he kept quiet.
Liang Chuling's mind was in turmoil. Clinging to her last hope, she dialed her father's number. Sure enough, no one answered. Her eyes reddened with anger, and she couldn't help but curse, "Bastard!"
When Zhou Xu saw that Liang Chuling had also cursed, he immediately felt that he had found an ally. He straightened his back and echoed, "That's right! This kind of bastard father—" Li Xun glanced at him, and Zhou Xu swallowed the rest of his words.
Li Xun ignored Zhou Xu and turned to Liang Chuling: "Should we talk to Auntie about this first?"
Liang Chuling immediately shook her head: "No, my mother is not in good health. The doctor said that she needs to pay special attention to her mood during perimenopause. Recently, her hands and feet have been numb, and she has also been suffering from severe insomnia. She can't be subjected to any more stimulation."
Li Xun nodded, but still said, "But this is ultimately a matter between your parents, and if your father tells her in another way later, your aunt will be in an even more passive position. I'm worried that she will be even more upset."
Zhou Xu almost jumped up after hearing this, pointing at Li Xun: "I already said her mother's health couldn't take it, what were you thinking and you still had to expose it? Shouldn't you be helping to keep it a secret at this time? Don't you want things to get worse?"
Li Xun rubbed his forehead, feeling the veins throbbing. He patiently said, "Zhou Xu, can you please stop making noise?"
"I get angry just hearing you talk!" Zhou Xu said, his neck stiff.
"Then don't listen," Li Xun replied calmly. Zhou Xu opened his mouth but couldn't find the words to retort for a long time.
Watching the two argue, Liang Chuling felt even more confused, but she still insisted on her decision: "No, I can't tell my mom. At least not now."
Looking at her tightly pursed lips, Li Xun didn't insist any further: "Okay, I understand, I respect your decision." Instead, he offered a more practical suggestion, "Give Uncle Liang's phone number to the nurses' station so the hospital can contact him directly. If they can't reach him, or if he doesn't care, have the hospital call the police. This isn't something you can handle on your own."
He checked the time and said to Liang Chuling, "Leave this to the hospital. I'll take you home. You won't be able to help if you stay here; you'll only worry."
Liang Chuling glanced at the closed delivery room door and asked hesitantly, "Is this okay? Are we just going to leave like this?"
"Okay. The hospital will handle it. Let's go."
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