Chapter 66
"So, how long do you want to keep this secret from me?"
After the welcome party at Renda University ended, Lin Mian thought that she didn’t know whether He Xintong was still staying at the school, so she simply called him and asked him. If he was still at Renda University, why not have a meal together?
When I told this idea to Zhong Yuqi, I saw a look of surprise and doubt on her face.
"Xiao Mian, don't you know? He Xintong's father is now taking He Xintong to handle his company's affairs. He has dropped out of school and is not at Renda University now."
Lin Mian really didn't know. He Xintong had called her yesterday and she had told him about this matter. She didn't see that guy behave strangely on the phone when Ren Da was mentioned.
It didn't seem so. He paused for a moment, but at that time she thought he was thinking.
If that’s the case, does he think he can keep it secret any longer?
Lin Mian turned on his phone and dialed He Xintong, but did not connect.
Meeting their concerned looks, Lin Mian closed her phone. She couldn't let her worries disturb the happy atmosphere at the moment.
She pretended nothing happened and had a meal with Zhong Yuqi and the others.
But she was still thinking about this matter. When everyone dispersed and went home, Lin Mian called He Xintong's number again.
This time it connected.
Faced with Lin Mian's questioning, He Xintong on the other end of the phone was silent for a long time.
Seeing that He Xintong remained silent, Lin Mian didn't want them to remain silent.
"You don't want to say anything at all? Then I'll hang up."
"Don't……"
Finally, there was a ring on the other end of the phone.
Lin Mian heard something fall, followed by He Xintong's short gasp.
He knew that Lin Mian was a very direct person, and she might have really lost her patience when she said she wanted to hang up.
But what He Xintong didn't know was that this time Lin Mian was not serious, but wanted him to tell the truth. Even if He Xintong still didn't speak, she would wait.
"I know I can't hide it from you today, but I still hope to come later... I really don't mean to hide it from you, I just..." I just don't know how to say it.
I don’t know how to tell you about my stress, my pain, and everything about me.
He Xintong only wanted to be the carefree He Xintong who always made Lin Mian laugh in Lin Mian's memory, rather than the unattractive and painful He Xintong he is now.
He selfishly wanted Lin Mian's gaze to stay on him longer, but he didn't know how long this time could last. Just like now, this bubble was suddenly burst.
Hearing the voice that was clearly filled with tears, Lin Mian was stunned.
After the voice change period, his voice became low. When the hoarse voice with a crying tone sounded in Lin Mian's ears, she suddenly realized that He Xintong had grown up.
She always felt that she had grown up, but forgot that her friends had also grown up and were no longer the same as before.
"It's okay, it's okay, Xiao He."
Her voice was so gentle, almost to the point of being soft.
"I know you have your reasons, but I don't want to be the last one to know about you. Whether it's happiness or pain, I want to know everything about you."
Now it was He Xintong's turn to be stunned. He couldn't believe that the person on the other end of the phone who said such words was Lin Mian.
Does she know what she is saying?
Did she want to treat him as a responsibility? As a responsibility she had to shoulder in her life?
How could he have deserved this?
When he came to his senses, He Xintong could no longer suppress himself and burst into tears.
"I won't hide it from you anymore, I promise."
From his crying, Lin Mian knew everything.
Her sighs came through the receiver, and the wires wrapped around He Xintong. It was so tight that it made him feel suffocated, but it made He Xintong feel very comfortable, as if Lin Mian was hugging him across time and space through the phone.
"Then tell me, are you satisfied with your current life? Do you want to continue?"
Rather than concealing the truth, Lin Mian was more concerned about He Xintong's feelings.
"I understand dad better now, and I'm ashamed of my own immaturity. Just like now, you're obviously younger than me, but you're the one who solves the problem. I won't run away. I also want to become more mature and catch up with you, instead of always being the one standing in front of me. I also want to protect you, Xiao Mian."
Therefore, he would not let go, even if he had to beg for mercy, even if Lin Mian would get tired of him, he would not let go. This was the promise he made when he was twelve years old.
He can't live without Lin Mian in this life.
Hearing the other party abandon his hesitation and become decisive and firm, Lin Mian chuckled, "I won't wait for you, so you have to work hard."
The words were so light, yet so powerful.
His heart became more turbulent than the waves. His heart skipped a beat and then started beating wildly again.
The scorching heat rose uncontrollably from his neck and instantly occupied He Xintong's ears.
He Xintong was confused and couldn't remember what they talked about afterwards or how they hung up the phone.
After a long while, He Xintong suddenly shrank back and hit the back of a chair. He raised his arms to cover his face.
This is nothing but an attempt to cover up one's own mistake. The corners of his mouth that are exposed are raised higher and higher.
What? What? She actually considered putting him in her future.
How could anyone refuse this?
After laughing for a long time, He Xintong continued to process the documents seriously. He had to work harder. Lin Mian's pace was not so easy to catch up with, but he would not give up.
A puppy with an owner will hold the bone tightly in its mouth and keep up with the owner's pace.
"Did something good happen today? Xiao Mian looks very happy."
Chen Xiaoqiu came to pick up Lin Mian today. Since Lin Mian didn’t have any karting competitions recently, she stayed in the country.
Meeting the pair of teasing eyes in the rearview mirror, Lin Mian snorted.
"A lot of things happened today, but they were all good things."
She won't let up in this chase.
"Ivan, don't be too proud this time. I looked at the list, and I don't think you can win the championship this time."
Alexei called his nephew. He came to America this time for the success of his nephew's competition. This time, he basically did all the things for Ivan himself, just to witness his nephew achieve what he failed to do.
"Uncle Alexey, I'm not you. I will win the Clib championship that you didn't win."
Ivan had a confident look on his face, shadowed by his high cheekbones and straight nose, and his ice-blue eyes, which had grown in winter for a long time, were clear and deep.
He has always been a confident young man, Alexey thought, isn't that why he particularly admires Ivan? But now, it is not the situation that can be dealt with casually as before.
Just like when he met his rival Anna, he didn't take the girl seriously, and as a result, his trophy was forever missing Clib's glittering golden trophy, which represented the glory of a young pianist.
Although Anna's trophy was added to the family trophy, it was not hers after all.
Alexei really wanted Ivan to make up for this regret.
"Don't worry, not everyone is as powerful as Aunt Anna."
Ivan waved his hand. He didn't think he would encounter the same situation as his uncle Alexei. Oh, unlucky Uncle Alexei, not only did he lose the game, but he also married the grumpy Aunt Anna who defeated him. He was really a man who was extremely unlucky.
"Bang, bang, bang"
What is that sound?
Alexei didn't move, but if you looked closely, you could see that his pupils were vibrating violently.
The girl on the stage, wearing a blue and white gauze dress, reminded people of Chinese blue and white porcelain. However, she controlled the piano and the whole audience with a skill that was totally inconsistent with her age.
This innocent yet slightly sad song is like a stream gurgling in the mountains, and no one knows where it will flow to.
It is so fragile that people can't help but hold their breath for fear of hurting it, but when the emotions move forward a little, the tone becomes warm and bright, and a powerful and shocking vitality comes to the face. Those fragility and breakage are just the listeners' fantasies, and the singing of life is what she wants to express.
What kind of soul can give such a deep and vast answer?
Ivan bent his fingers slightly and wanted to say something, but was stopped by something blocking his chest.
He couldn't help but walk forward step by step, until he was stopped by the staff, he suddenly realized that he was too far forward.
An unprecedented, intense and pure torrent of emotion surged in his chest. Ivan tried hard to look at the girl on the stage. He could never remember the appearance of Oriental people, but every part of this girl's face was deeply imprinted in his mind, clear and distinct.
"Ivan, stop looking. You need to prepare yourself."
Alexei slapped Ivan awake. He looked back at his uncle with a dazed look on his face, but his tears spoke better than his mouth and dripped onto Alexei's palm.
"Uncle...I lost"
He murmured.
"We haven't competed yet. Nothing is certain yet. Don't say discouraging words."
Although he said this, Alexei already knew the answer.
Everything was such a coincidence. He was also in the backstage that year. He was ignorant of the world and wanted to laugh at his opponent, but in the end he was just as dejected as Ivan.
Is this fate?
A curse that belongs to the men in their family.
When you foolishly think you are the most talented pianist in the world, you will be hit hard.
No, this is not a curse, it is clearly a blessing.
A blessing that will prevent you from becoming a complete fool.
Although it was a pity, Alexei was grateful for this moment all the time. The moment he fell in love with Anna, he had God's gift to him.
Ivan lowered his eyes and didn't let Alexei pull him back. "I want to hear the end."
Such a wish moved Alexei. He let go of his nephew's hand and accompanied him to listen to the blessing that sounded in Ivan's life.
Only by realizing your own insignificance can you grow better.
But listening to the amazing music, Alexei's heart tightened.
At this level...can Ivan really take this step?
If Anna had been so talented back then, Alexei couldn't guarantee that he would be able to make it.
The moment the audience applauded, Ivan stepped back without saying a word.
He was afraid that she would see him when she left. He didn't want her to see him at all.
She was the center of the universe, and he was just a tiny planet.
It's so embarrassing for him to appear in front of her like this.
Lin Mian was completely clueless until she won the Clib Youth Group Championship. She didn't know that one of her opponents had chosen to withdraw from the competition after witnessing her competition, nor did she know that Alexi, the husband of Anna, the pianist she particularly admired, was also present at the event.
So when Lin Mian received the congratulatory email from Anna, she was completely confused and didn't know how this pianist she particularly admired knew her.
"It's normal for her to know you. The Western media are now predicting whether you will win the junior championships in the three major tournaments and become the first Grand Slam winner. She might want to take you in as a student."
Li Zhiyuan was a little wary. He knew that Anna's husband had accepted his nephew as a student, but Anna didn't have many students. He was afraid that Anna would want to reap the fruits of victory now.
"No, that's not the case. She just wrote that she admires me very much and would like to come and see me live if she has the chance."
In this brief explanation, Lin Mian did not mention how exaggerated Anna's words were. She seemed to really admire her.
Li Zhiyuan snorted coldly, then thought about how Lin Mian was indeed so outstanding that it was normal for others to miss him. Moreover, such an outstanding person was now his student.
"Then let's go all out and win the first Grand Slam, so those people can see that the first person to win the Grand Slam is a Chinese."
Lin Mian smiled and nodded, "I will get it."
Li Zhiyuan smiled. He liked this point about Lin Mian. If someone who wanted to win the championship was timid and said that just working hard would be enough, he would not be able to win. A champion must have the confidence to win.
But he didn't expect that his student was indeed a person with a strong personality.
In 2005, she fulfilled her promise and successfully collected the championship trophies in the youth groups of the three most prestigious piano competitions, becoming the Chinese girl who "created miracles" in the eyes of the Western media. Li Zhiyuan was also sought after by the media, who wanted to know his secret on how he taught such a student. He experienced the same happiness and worries as her Go teacher Wang Changfeng when Lin Mian won the Xingyue Cup championship.
Although Li Zhiyuan was a little tired of dealing with these people, he was really happy and proud.
His student is indeed an extraordinary person.
But Li Zhiyuan, immersed in happiness, didn't know that this happiness was so short-lived.
In the summer of 2005, when the group was supposed to be promoted, Lin Mian disappeared without a trace. Li Zhiyuan called everyone, including Lin Mei, who was closest to Lin Mian, but she just said that she didn't know where her daughter had gone.
How is this possible? !
She's still a minor, how could her mother not know? It's just an excuse.
But why can’t Lin Mian be found?
Not only Li Zhiyuan, but also many people could not contact Lin Mian.
For a while, the "disappearing genius girl" caused a lot of controversy, but it was soon suppressed by something.
It was as if there had never been a genius named Lin Mian.
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