Chapter 9
Lin Qi looked at the playful calmness in Chen Yan's eyes, smiled knowingly, and followed his footsteps.
Together, they entered another section of the record store. The style here was completely different from the restrained and quiet classical music section, filled with vibrant colors and bold visual impact. The languid jazz music in the air seemed to be affected by the atmosphere, becoming distant.
Chen Yan walked straight to an area without the slightest hesitation, his fingers expertly swept across a row of records, and then, like an old friend who had known each other for years, he pulled out one of them.
He handed the record to Lin Qi.
On the cover is that classic, surreal photo in the history of rock music - two men in suits shaking hands on a movie set, one of them is burning with flames.
The images pack a weird, calm punch.
"Pink Floyd." Chen Yan handed the record to her and simply said the name of the band.
He looked at the album cover, a rare, tender nostalgia in his eyes: "This one... when I was in college, I listened to it over and over again."
He paused, then raised his head and looked back at Lin Qi, and very frankly acknowledged her guess.
"You're right." His voice was calm, as if he was stating a simple fact. "Everyone probably needs a place in their heart to store some... less peaceful things."
When he said this, it was as if he was dissecting himself, revealing to her without reservation the restless soul of his youth hidden beneath his mature and restrained shell.
Lin Qi quietly looked at the visually striking album cover and frankly said, "I don't know much about this band. But just looking at the image, I can guess their style: it's passionate and uninhibited."
This is the most intuitive feeling. Fire usually means passion, burning and destruction.
Hearing her frankness and speculation, Chen Yan did not directly refute her, but instead thought about her words seriously. He looked at the album cover, then turned his gaze to her with a gentle look.
“A lot of people will think so when they see this cover for the first time.”
He used a very clever sentence, which neither denied her nor hinted that the real appearance of the record might be different from her first impression.
"But their music isn't passionate, nor is it uninhibited," he said slowly, as if solving a mystery for her. "It's more like... a huge, lucid dream. Or a puzzle without an answer."
He paused, gently stroking the edge of the record sleeve with his fingertips, and added, "The name of this record is 'Wish You Were Here'."
He didn't elaborate on the profound background and metaphors, because he knew that for someone like Lin Qi who relied on intuition to establish connections, verbal explanations would always be pale.
The best way is to let her listen in person.
He took the record and walked towards the somewhat old vinyl audition machine placed in a corner of the store.
"Would you like to listen?" He turned around and invited her.
"Listen to a little bit and you'll understand."
"Oh? Really?" Lin Qi followed with a hint of curiosity. "Okay, let's listen to it."
Chen Yan nodded when he saw her following him. His movements were very skillful, and it was obvious that this was not his first time listening to music here.
He carefully took out the black bakelite record and placed it steadily on the turntable, then picked up a pair of over-ear headphones and handed them to Lin Qi, while he put on another pair himself.
He didn't say anything, just gave her a prepared look, and then placed the needle steadily on the record.
After a slight electric noise that seemed to come from a distant time and space, a distorted guitar sound that seemed to come from an old radio slowly rang in Lin Qi's ears.
That wasn't how she imagined any kind of rock music should be.
There are no frantic drum beats, no tearing roars. The guitar is lonely and distant, with a sense of vast, boundless emptiness, like a person in the depths of the universe sending a signal that no one responds to.
They stood side by side, connected by a headphone cable, blocking out all other sounds in the store. The entire world seemed to be left with only the two of them and the lonely yet vast soundscape in their headphones.
Chen Yan didn't look at her, but just lowered his eyes slightly, watching the slowly spinning record, as if he was completely immersed in it. He gave her a completely undisturbed, private listening space.
About a minute and a half later, as the long prelude ended and the lead singer's voice was about to enter, he raised the needle.
The music suddenly stopped.
He took off his headphones and waited quietly for Lin Qi to take them off.
He did not rush to ask her "how is it" or "do you like it?", but just looked at her quietly with a calm gaze, as if he was patiently waiting for her to slowly walk out of the huge and lucid dream just now.
Then, tell him how she feels.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
