Before My Withering

Chapter 20

Views:

When Xiaoyu's parents found us, she had just finished eating her ice cream. The young couple was so anxious that they were about to cry, and they pulled me to thank them.

When we parted, she still couldn't change the address - "Bye bye brother, bye uncle!"

Looking at the backs of their family of three, I felt an indescribable feeling in my heart, and unconsciously touched my lower abdomen.

if…

never mind.

"Do you like children very much?" Zhou Chen asked.

I hummed, "I like it."

He didn't speak again.

We both knew that I would never have another child of my own.

The countless "firsts" and "last times" in my short life were all given to Qi Shu. These things cannot be uncovered with a flirtatious "I don't love anymore".

When the night comes, we watch the fireworks display of the amusement park on the top floor of the revolving restaurant.

There are countless romantic colors in this world, which can decorate the dark night sky into a gorgeous dreamland of fairy tales.

In the past, I was stupid enough to cover my eyes, thinking that the whole world was dark.

I had a fantastic early summer.

Zhou Chen accompanied me to watch art exhibitions, visit museums, listen to concerts, watch movies, bask in the sun on the lawn in the afternoon, and walk hand in hand by the beach at dusk.

I asked him where the doctor was and why he had such a long vacation. He pointed to the lights on the roof of the hospital in the distance, and said, "See that letter Z? All the buildings with this sign are under my name."

I should have thought of that. There are not many families with the surname Zhou, and the only one who can completely ignore the Qi family is that one.

It's just that the family is too low-key and mysterious. In recent years, in order to withdraw from the political arena and hide a lot of edge, there is no news.

In our spare time, Xu Xingze and I played video rehearsals for the graduation party.

With the development of science and technology today, virtual imaging technology has fully matured. I don't need to be present, and I can also deliver images and sounds to the stage.

The day's rehearsal was over, Zhou Chen knocked on my door, raised the envelope in his hand, "I have your letter."

There was a faint smile on his brow and eyes, as if he already knew the content of the letter.

—I never thought that this is an invitation letter from the Breeze Orchestra.

Herman Evans, the world-renowned principal cellist, personally wrote to me and invited me to join the orchestra after graduation.

I suspect I am dreaming.

I read the thin gold-stamped letter paper more than a dozen times, and smiled when I saw Zhou Chen: "Is it surprising?"

I glared at him: "That's... Lan Orchestra."

—The best symphony orchestra in the world, the ideal sanctuary for every musician.

A question popped into my head, "How did Mr. Evans know that I..."

Then seeing Zhou Chen's secretive expression, I immediately understood.

"you… ?"

He spread his hands: "I just sent them your resume and performance video, and the rest has nothing to do with me."

I was dubious: "Really?"

"I swear." He put away his smile and said seriously, "I never thought of meddling in this matter, because I know you can."

He pulled me into his arms and hugged me hard, "You are the best little rose in the world."

My nose was sore, and tears almost fell down. It was the first time that I didn't want to cry because I was sad.

From Zhou Shen, I got the satisfaction of being needed and the sense of accomplishment of being affirmed, which I have never experienced before.

"We'll see Mr. Evans when you're better." He pinched the tip of my nose, "Actually, I really want to selfishly keep you by my side, but I can't."

Regarding the matter of me playing the violin, Zhou Chen's attitude seems to have always been complicated. He said that musicians with aura are mostly short-lived because they burn their lives in the music, but he hoped that I would live a long life.

I want to tell him that I'd rather die for what I love than live forever.

But I knew he would frown if I said that. His eyes are so beautiful, I don't want him to frown.

So I said, I will try my best to live a healthy life.

On the day of the graduation party, I put on a tuxedo, set up stereo imaging and radio equipment in the piano room, and waited for the host to announce the curtain.

Zhou Chen leaned on the door frame, folded his arms and looked at me.

"Red really suits you very well." He said with satisfaction.

Today's brooch was chosen by him, a rose made of red diamonds, just like the one in the book "The Little Prince".

The TV on the wall was broadcasting the live broadcast of the party. After waiting for a long time, I finally waited for Xu Xingze to come on stage, and then my own virtual image also appeared on the stage.

This feeling is a bit strange, I took a deep breath and picked up the bow.

The song Xu Xingze chose was A Thousand Years, he played and sang by himself, and I accompanied him on the cello.

From the first note, my hand is no longer my hand, but a messenger left by Orpheus in the world. While the melody was flowing, I looked up and saw Zhou Shen's deep pool-like eyes.

—How to be brave

How can I love when I'm afraid to fall

It was as if something hit my heart all of a sudden, and there was a bang, and there was chaos.

I hurriedly retracted my gaze and let myself immerse myself in the music. Even so, I could still feel that Zhou Chen was staring at me.

At the end of the short but long four minutes, Xu Xingze sang the last line—

I have loved you for a thousand years.

I'll love you for a thousand more.

He said: "I wish you to wait for the right person, and then love forever. Happy graduation."

I stood up and bowed, "Happy graduation."

The camera slowly swept across the auditorium and stopped in the middle of the first row. I suddenly saw Qi Shu sitting next to the principal.

He went to the graduation party...

No, the point is, the person on his right seems to be... Wen Yan? !

Wen Yan is back...

His appearance on the screen has changed a lot, and his originally elegant and soft temperament has become more mature and gentle.

So Qi Shu didn't want to marry Wen Ziqing, was it because of Wen Yan

No, if that's the case, why did they separate in the first place? Could it be that Wen Yan really didn't want to get married

In just a few seconds, countless thoughts flashed through my mind until Zhou Chen walked up to me and pulled me back to reality.

"Happy graduation." He kissed my forehead.

The warm lips touched my skin, like feathers and snow.

This kind of touch reminded me of the day when he rescued me. He also hugged me so carefully and cherished him. On the way to the hospital, he pressed his lips to my forehead and whispered in my ear:

"do not die… "

"Hold on… "

"It's almost here..."

All the memories rushed back together, and the figure in the white light at the end of the darkness became clearer and clearer until Zhou Chen's face appeared.

I have never seen such a sad and painful expression on his face, and he said with great self-blame, "It's all my fault, it's all my fault."

How can I blame you...

I hugged Zhou Chen back, buried in his chest and said in a muffled voice, "I remembered."

He didn't ask me what I remembered, but said softly: "It's all over."

Is it over

Xu Xingze guessed that Qi Shu would monitor his whereabouts, but he didn't guess that Qi Shu could also investigate his call records.

When I received the call, Zhou Chen had just left the house not long ago. He wasted too much time with me and had a lot of things to deal with at work.

The voice on the phone was vaguely familiar, and it took me a long time to react.

"Xiaoyu," said the other side after hesitating for a moment, "it's me, Dad."

dad…

ridiculous.

"Mr. Song." I tried to express my attitude with the coldest voice, "Is there something wrong?"

Song Zhiqian was silent for a few seconds, and probably finally gave up on the deep affection with my father and son, and said, "I'm in a hurry, is it convenient to come out and meet?"

I was about to say "inconvenient", but he continued, "For your mother's sake."

—Okay, that's a threat.

Xiao Fei has long been turned into ashes. I have mentioned many times that I want to take him away, but Song Zhiqian refuses, and now it finally comes in handy.

When he arrived at the appointed coffee shop, Song Zhiqian was already waiting there. I haven't seen him for many years, but he is the same except for a few fine lines around his eyes, and he still looks like a successful person in the upper class.

There is no so-called family relationship between us, so there is no need to exchange pleasantries. He cut to the chase and said that he hoped that I would go back to Qi Shu.

"I can't fight against the Qi family, sorry." He said, "This month has been suppressed one after another, and the company's capital chain has been broken. If it continues to lose money, it will go bankrupt sooner or later. This is a company founded by your mother and me. You can bear to see it Did it come to naught?"

"You two founded it together, so what?" I squeezed my coffee cup, trying to calm myself down, "He worked hard to accompany you to start a business, how did you repay him? You stole his shares, made him pregnant with your child Abandoning him, exchanging wedding rings with another person in the church on the day of his delivery... Why do you think I can't bear it, I can't wait for you and everything about you to disappear in this world!"

"Xiao Yu!" He was annoyed by me, "I am your father anyway, how can you talk to me like that?"

Father... how ironic.

Before I was six years old, I lived with a nanny, and I didn’t even know what my parents were. I once thought that all the children would sleep by themselves with the lights on at night like me.

After I was six years old, he took me to Song's house. He couldn't understand my uneducated appearance, so he threw me to the tutor and forced me to learn piano. The teacher was extremely strict, and every wrong note would hit my palm, and I was not allowed to cry.

As an illegitimate child with a dishonorable name, I was treated with cold eyes and cold eyes in the Song family. Song Zhiqian never gave me any care and love. He provided me with food and clothing, but it was an instinct of blood.

Finally, when I was twelve years old, Xiao Fei's lawyer found me and handed over the suicide note and inheritance to me.

I left the Song family, and I haven't seen Song Zhiqian again for a full ten years.

Later, I found a cello and a letter in Xiao Fei's inheritance. He said that these were his favorite things, and he hoped that I could take good care of them for him.

He wrote so many letters to me that there was a whole trunk. I guess he had already foreseen the end of his short life, so he put so many things he wanted to say into the pen.

He said he didn't hate Song Zhiqian, and told me not to hate him either.

I listened to his words, only as an orphan without father and mother.

But now, I kind of hate it.

"I have raised you for more than ten years, and I have never asked you for anything. This time, you will help me, okay?" Song Zhiqian said wearily.

I ignored his soft and hard ways, and asked, "What did Qi Shu promise you?"

He hesitated for a moment, then said: "As long as you go back, he will let go of my company, and will never trouble me again. He will also...give me a sum of compensation."

——How can I be so good that I let Qi Shu lower his status to negotiate terms with others.

"So you... just like that, sold me to him?"

I wanted to laugh, but after trying a few times, I couldn't pull the corners of my mouth. Instead, he was unsteady when he put down the cup, and spilled half a cup of hot American style onto the back of his hand.

"It's not for sale..." Song Zhiqian's face turned ugly, "Give me some time, when the company turns around, I will transfer all the property away, and then take my family abroad."

"... How long?" My heart began to ache again, and it became difficult to speak.

"Half a year. Before I leave, I will return Xiao Fei's ashes to you."

The author has something to say:

Today's playlist: "I Leave Myself"

[I loved you once in a storm, and I love myself when the rain stops a few times]