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墨書 Inktalez
National Day Holiday has unknowingly passed halfway. Early that morning, Qin Mu was dragged out of bed by her mother, who said, "How can a high school senior facing the college entrance examination not wake up early and study hard? Don't you care about your father, the guidance director?"
Under her mother's pressure, Qin Mu locked herself in her study from nine in the morning until she heard Su Wanxian practicing the piano next door in the afternoon.
After finishing a piece, Su Wan saw Qin Mu leaning against the door, munching on an apple.
Su Wan casually flipped through her sheet music and asked, "Finished reviewing?"
Qin Mu chuckled and sat down across from her. "I'm tired, need to lighten my mood. Play me a piece of Most Dazzling Ethnic Style."
Su Wan didn't refuse. After thinking for a moment about the pitch, she played a short segment for her.
After listening, Qin Mu exclaimed, "Wow, nice job, sis!" Then she started humming along while biting into her apple, "The vast horizon is my love, beneath the endless green mountains, flowers are blooming..."
"…"
The two of them stayed in the room with Su Wan playing the piano and Qin Mu listening until Su Yue knocked on the door to remind them it was time for dinner. Only then did Su Wan's practice session come to an end.
After dinner, their aunt and uncle went for a walk in a nearby park. After hurriedly answering a phone call, Qin Mu also left the house. Su Wan, not one to get bored easily, stayed home to practice piano, read books, and listen to CDs—always something to do.
Her phone chimed with a new message. Still absorbed in her book, she glanced at the message: Are you home?
She replied casually: Yes.
Just three seconds after locking her screen, it lit up again with another message: I'm downstairs; come down for a bit.
This caught Su Wan's attention. She looked at the sender's number—it was unfamiliar. Thinking it might be a wrong number, she decided not to reply.
Five minutes later, her phone vibrated again. This time it was a call.
It was still that unfamiliar number. She paused for a moment before answering the call, "Hello."
"Su Wan." The voice on the other end was deep and calm. Upon hearing it, Su Wan's mind automatically recalled the endless loop from that night.
"It's me." Fu Weiheng was sitting in his car, looking at the entrance of the neighborhood, lighting a cigarette. "Come down."
Then he hung up without giving her a chance to refuse.
Su Wan: "..."
She stared at the unfamiliar number on the screen, stunned for a full minute. How did he know where she lived? Then she got up to change her clothes and went downstairs.
Under the night sky, Su Wan saw the familiar Cayenne from a distance. Fu Weiheng was leaning against the car door with a cigarette between his fingers. The streetlights cast a dim yellow glow, but they couldn't hide his handsome figure.
Fu Weiheng lightly flicked off the ash from his cigarette, watching her approach from afar. He walked over to a trash can and extinguished the cigarette butt.
She stood beside him and spoke first, "Mr. Fu."
Fu Weiheng wasn't in a hurry; he smiled and asked, "Have you practiced the piano?"
Su Wan replied, "Yes."
A car passed by, creating a gust of wind. Fu Weiheng straightened up and pulled her a little closer. Su Wan froze for a moment, flustered as she looked at him, but he had already released her, casually saying, "Would you like to grab a bite to eat?"
It was only seven-thirty in the evening, and Su Wan had just finished dinner not long ago, so she wasn't hungry. However, she didn't refuse and nodded absentmindedly, "Okay, wait for me a moment."
The next second, she turned and quickly ran back into the building. Fu Weiheng smiled and got into the car first.
Five minutes later, Su Wan came running out again with a small bag in hand. "I'm ready."
Once Su Wan got into the car and fastened her seatbelt, Fu Weiheng started the engine and drove toward the city center.
The lingering scent of tobacco remained in the car. Fu Weiheng, fearing she might dislike it, raised his hand to press the car window down. A cool breeze immediately rushed in, blowing away the hair that Su Wan had tucked behind her ear.
Su Wan tilted her head to glance at Fu Weiheng and caught sight of the numerous cigarette butts in the ashtray. She reminded him seriously, "Actually, smoking can easily lead to infertility."
Fu Weiheng was silent.
His ears turned warm, and he felt a bit ashamed. He instinctively raised his hand to close the opening of the ashtray.
Seeing his reaction, Su Wan thought he was annoyed by her meddling, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Noticing her expression, Fu Weiheng paused for a moment and spoke gently, "I will quit."
Su Wan was taken aback at first; she wanted to say something but swallowed her words. She didn't think much about the meaning of his statement; all she could think about was how his quitting smoking had nothing to do with her. So she simply tilted her head and looked out the window in silence.
After about fifteen minutes of driving, Su Wan spotted a Cantonese tea house not far away and asked, "Mr. Fu, do you like dim sum?"
Fu Weiheng replied, "It's fine."
Su Wan smiled and said, "There's a Cantonese tea house up ahead; their pastries are quite good."
Fu Weiheng's mood improved as he turned right at the intersection. "Alright."
The reason Su Wan agreed to Fu Weiheng's invitation to dinner was that before National Day, Fu Weiheng had treated her and two others to a meal. Originally, it was supposed to be Su Wan treating them, but in the end, Deity picked up the bill. A couple of days ago, she had ungraciously claimed not to know Deity, feeling uncomfortable about it but still nodding in agreement.
Su Wan found a window-side table and sat down. After Fu Weiheng parked and joined her at the table, she proactively handed him the menu and poured him a cup of Pu-erh tea.
As Su Wan poured more tea into her cup, she recommended, "The char siu bao here is delicious, and they also have great rice rolls and egg tarts."
Fu Weiheng glanced at the menu before setting it aside. "You decide."
Su Wan nodded and called over a waiter.
The waitress was a young girl, and upon seeing such a handsome man as Fu Weiheng, she naturally felt a bit flustered. She then glanced at the girl opposite him, who had red lips and white teeth, looking delicate and beautiful; truly a case of a handsome man paired with a beautiful woman.
Su Wan ordered a few small dishes and pastries, finally adding an egg tart after confirming with Fu Weiheng that he had no objections, thus finalizing the menu.
Before long, baskets of exquisite dim sum filled the dining table. Su Wan poured some tea into Fu Weiheng's cup and said cheerfully, "Mr. Fu, let's eat."
Fu Weiheng responded with a "mm," picking up his chopsticks to grab a char siu bun.
Su Wan took a sip of tea and prepared to add some conversation to this silent meal: "Mr. Fu, are you here in Yishi for tourism?"
"No, I just came here to see a friend on the way," Fu Weiheng replied, looking at her with gentle warmth in his clear black eyes. "What about you? Are you back home for a short stay?"
The word "home" reminded Su Wan of her late father. She slightly lowered her head, her eyes dimming a bit: "Mm."
Noticing the melancholy in her eyes, Fu Weiheng reached out and placed an egg tart into her bowl, changing the subject: "Do you want to listen to a concert?"
Su Wan was momentarily taken aback by the egg tart that appeared in her bowl. She then looked up to see him pulling two tickets from his jacket pocket and sliding them across the table toward her.
"These are from Grandpa Weng," Fu Weiheng said, suddenly feeling an inexplicable annoyance. It was he who had specifically asked Zhang Lin to hold them for him, but he maintained a calm demeanor. "You can invite your friends to go with you."
So, he contacted her tonight just to pass on concert tickets?
Su Wan's eyes lit up as she quickly spotted the words on the tickets—Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. She felt excited; after all, it was Germany's famous symphony orchestra. She asked eagerly, "How much do they cost..."
Fu Weiheng shot her a glance: "Do you think I would care about this little ticket money?"
Su Wan was left speechless.
He explained, "They were given by Grandpa Weng. He has been having trouble with his legs lately and finds it inconvenient to go out; letting them go to waste would be a shame." (Grandpa Weng: ...I was inexplicably dragged into this.)
Su Wan loved listening to symphonies, and since Fu Weiheng had said so, she felt even less inclined to refuse. She thought she could treat him next time and readily agreed: "Thank you, Mr. Fu."
Fu Weiheng frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with the title, but his eyes were filled with warmth. "Aren't you going to eat the egg tart? Go ahead and eat."
Su Wan smiled, "Okay."
The meal was almost coming to an end when Su Wan, being clever this time, took the opportunity to pay the bill while heading to the restroom.
Unaware of this, Fu Weiheng went to the cashier to settle the bill before leaving, only to be informed by the staff that it had already been paid. At that moment, Su Wan happened to walk past him and smiled, "I've already paid, let's go."
Some gentlemen nearby who were unaware of the situation felt like a herd of wild horses galloping through their minds: Look! Look! That's someone's girlfriend! All of them have girlfriends!
When they returned home in the evening, everyone in the house was back. As soon as they entered, Su Wan's uncle, who was watching TV in the living room, heard the noise and said, "Guan Guan is back."
Her aunt happened to walk in from the balcony and casually asked, "Did you go out with friends?"
Su Wan nodded with a smile, "Yeah, went out for a late-night snack."
Suddenly, Qin Mu burst out of her room with excitement. "Sister! Where did you go?"
"I went out for a late-night snack." Su Wan sat down on a chair to change her shoes and thought of the concert, casually asking, "Are you going to the concert with me tomorrow night?"
Qin Mu was usually not very interested in classical music, but she loved lively events and replied, "Sure! But I have a classmate gathering tomorrow night. You go ahead first; I'll come directly to the Concert Hall to find you."
"Okay."
Later that night, as Su Wan was preparing to turn off the lights and sleep, her gaze fell upon two concert tickets on the table. For a moment, she felt a small flame deep within her heart begin to burn slowly, warm and comforting.
The next evening
The concert was set to start at seven-thirty. However, just ten minutes before it began, while waiting in the lobby, Su Wan received a call from Qin Mu: "Sister, sob sob sob... I'm really sorry! The class gathering got too lively; they're planning to go karaoke for the second round and won't let me leave."
Su Wan understood and didn't push her. She smiled and reassured her, "It's okay; you enjoy yourself. I can manage on my own."
Qin Mu was deeply moved: "Sister, I love you. I'll treat you to crayfish tomorrow night!"
Su Wan instructed, "Be careful and come home early."
After hanging up the phone, the hall rang with a bell, signaling that it was time to enter. Su Wan looked at the two tickets in her hand, pulled one out, and tucked it back into her bag before proceeding to the entrance.
Su Wan successfully entered the Concert Hall and found her seat. She pulled out the chair and sat down.
The next moment, she saw a man standing at the front of her row, a familiar and handsome man.
Fu Weiheng sat down beside her without making a sound, a charming smile on his lips as he said, "What a coincidence."
Su Wan: "..."
Wasn't this ticket given to her by him? What coincidence? What was he trying to tell her?
However, Su Wan was not surprised. Since Fu Weiheng had given her two tickets, it was only natural that he would keep one for himself.
Fu Weiheng turned to glance at the empty seat next to Su Wan and casually asked, "Are you here alone?"
Su Wan smiled at him: "My cousin has a classmate gathering and couldn't make it."
Fu Weiheng nodded and looked toward the stage: "Hmm, it's about to start."
The lights in the venue gradually dimmed, and the entrance doors closed. The performance began. Performers took to the stage with their instruments one after another.
Next came a renowned chief Conductor, who led the orchestra in bowing to the audience before turning his back to them and starting the Performance.
The first piece performed was "The Marriage of Figaro," one of Mozart's famous operatic masterpieces. The story tells of the clever and upright servant Figaro using his wit to win the hand of the beautiful maid Suzanna. The symphonic performance featured the overture of this opera; the first theme played swiftly by the violins was followed by a melodic rendition from the woodwinds, culminating in a powerful ensemble from the entire orchestra. The second theme was as beautiful as a song, and finally, the piece concluded in a lively atmosphere, announcing a happy ending.
Mozart's immense talent was truly admirable. Although Su Wan had a fondness for this outstanding master of classical music, it seemed that this "musical genius" had some incomprehensible quirks?
During the intermission, Su Wan turned to Fu Weiheng and leaned slightly closer to his ear. "Mr. Fu, do you know what Mozart said after he contracted syphilis?"
Her casual proximity made Fu Weiheng's heart skip a beat. He suppressed his inner turmoil and turned to her, "Hmm?"
Su Wan bit her lip, holding back a laugh, and said, "He said, 'Damn the bourgeoisie, Hallelujah, I have syphilis!'"
Fu Weiheng: "..."
At that moment, Fu Weiheng thought to himself that perhaps it was because he was four years older that he couldn't keep up with her rhythm of thoughts.
At nine-thirty, the performance officially ended.
It was Su Wan's first time hearing a world-renowned orchestra perform live, and as she exited the concert hall, her face radiated excitement and joy. She gladly accepted Fu Weiheng's offer to drive her home.
Fu Weiheng walked behind her, took out his car keys from his pocket, pressed the unlock button, and smiled with satisfaction. Yes, next time he could consider inviting the Vienna Philharmonic.
The car smoothly stopped in front of the community entrance. Su Wan unbuckled her seatbelt and smiled brightly, "Thank you."
Fu Weiheng replied with a simple "Hmm," saying, "Be careful on your way back. See you later."
"Okay, Mr. Fu, please be careful on your way too. Goodbye."
After Su Wan got out of the car, Fu Weiheng didn't drive away immediately; he waited until he saw her enter the building before feeling reassured enough to leave.
Once home, Su Wan was preparing to take a shower when Qin Mu returned with a cheerful demeanor, humming a little tune.
"Sis, is the concert over?" Qin Mu tossed his keys aside and bounced into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water.
Su Wan replied with a simple "Hmm" as she entered the bathroom.
After showering, Su Wan sat on the edge of her bed drying her hair when her phone vibrated with a new message notification. She glanced at it and saw it was from Gu Ming.
Su Wan felt a bit helpless but still clicked to open it.
Gu Ming: Are you asleep?
She had subtly rejected Gu Ming multiple times regarding his feelings. She knew very well what she wanted, and she had never responded to such ambiguous private messages. With a swipe of her finger, she decisively deleted Gu Ming's chat.
Just then, Qin Mu finished showering and walked in. Seeing Su Wan sitting on the edge of the bed, frowning while looking at her phone, he leaned in and asked, "Sister, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," she smiled, putting her phone aside and lying down. As she turned over, Su Wan suddenly recalled Fu Weiheng's handsome face and couldn't help but ask, "Mu Mu, what does it mean to like someone?"
Qin Mu, who was chatting excitedly in a group with classmates, was surprised by Su Wan's question and immediately locked his screen before lying down next to her. "Sister, have you figured it out? Do you have someone you like? Is it Fu Weiheng?"
Su Wan turned away: "…Forget I asked."
"Come on, sister, I was just joking," Qin Mu quickly turned her back to face him, grinning. "Liking someone is simple; you just think about them all the time and want to see them. When you do see them, you're really happy."
"…"
Looking at Qin Mu's animated expression, Su Wan felt a pang of anxiety in her heart. She might as well figure this out on her own…
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