DXXZL - 48

In recent years, whenever Zhu Xingyao woke up from a nightmare in the middle of the night, she often found it hard to fall back asleep.

Tonight was an exception. After hanging up the phone, she lay back down and soon drifted off. When she woke up the next morning, she sat on the bed for a while, feeling a bit regretful about that late-night call. She wondered what Jiang Tu must have thought…

Sighing softly, Zhu Xingyao got up, washed her face, changed her clothes, and went downstairs.

It was Saturday, and both Zhu Yunping and Ding Yu were at home, sitting at the dining table having breakfast. Ding Yu looked up at her. “Why are you up so early today?”

It was only 7:30 a.m. On nights when Zhu Xingyao didn’t sleep well, she sometimes slept in later. Moreover, since the orchestra had the day off, she usually wouldn’t get up until around 9:00. Walking over, she said simply, “I woke up, so I got up.”

Zhu Yunping stood up, smiling. “Let me fry you an egg. Sit down first.”

“Thank you, Dad,” Zhu Xingyao replied.

A little while later, the three of them sat together at the table enjoying breakfast. After finishing, Zhu Yunping leaned back in his chair and scrolled through the news on his phone. Turning to his daughter, he asked, “Your birthday is coming up in a few days. How do you want to celebrate? I might have to go on a business trip next week.”

Over the past few years, Zhu Xingyao’s birthdays had been simple affairs. She had been abroad, performing with the orchestra in various places, and opportunities to gather with Li Xixi and her parents were rare. Even if they did meet, it wasn’t always on her birthday, so celebrations were kept low-key. Now that she was older, birthdays didn’t hold the same excitement they once did in her childhood.

But this year felt a little different.

She was in Jiangcheng.

Jiang Tu had returned, Lin Jiayu was here, Ding Xiang was nearby, and Li Xixi had mentioned just a couple of days ago that she happened to have time and could fly back to celebrate with her. It was as if everyone had suddenly returned to their high school days—all gathered together again.

Inevitably, Zhu Xingyao’s thoughts drifted back to the starry lights Jiang Tu had once given her. After a moment’s consideration, she said, “Xixi said she has time to come back. You two can focus on your work—I’ll celebrate with my friends.”

Ding Yu came over and ruffled her hair, glancing at Zhu Yunping with a sigh. “Look at our daughter—so beautiful, about to turn 26, and still no boyfriend…” She had always believed that her daughter’s lack of romantic relationships in recent years stemmed from the incident involving Chen Yi several years ago. The thought of it troubled her deeply.

Who would have thought that even a goddess in everyone else’s eyes could be nagged by her parents to find a boyfriend? Zhu Xingyao looked up at Ding Yu, protesting, “Twenty-six isn’t old. I’ll get married before I’m thirty.”

Zhu Yunping, clearing away the dishes, chuckled and shook his head.

________________________________________

In the morning, Zhu Xingyao practiced the cello for two hours.

After taking a nap in the afternoon, she got up and started picking out clothes when a few messages popped up on WeChat.

Lin Jiayu: “Jiang Tu just returned to the country not long ago, and Jiangcheng has changed so much. He doesn’t know which restaurants are good, so I’m helping him choose. Let me ask you secretly—do you want to eat out or stay in? We could go to Jiang Tu’s new place! It’ll be like warming up his new home.”

Lin Jiayu: “He just moved in, and it’s still empty and cold. We’ll treat it as a housewarming party.”

Lin Jiayu: “What do you think?”

Holding her phone, Zhu Xingyao hesitated. Did Lin Jiayu know about Jiang Tu’s feelings for her in high school? Or about the starry lights? Probably not. She likely just saw Zhu Xingyao as Jiang Tu’s deskmate—a close classmate.

Curiosity sparked within Zhu Xingyao, and she suddenly wanted to see what Jiang Tu’s home looked like. She replied to Lin Jiayu: “Sure.”

Jiang Tu calculated the time and planned to leave at 5:00 p.m. to pick up Zhu Xingyao. Around 3:00 p.m., he received a message from Lin Jiayu: “I’ve already talked to Zhu Xingyao. Tonight, we’re not eating out—we’re going to your place for dinner. Consider it a housewarming party. How does that sound? [Yay]”

To his place?

Lin Jiayu really was... presumptuous.

Jiang Tu felt a bit helpless but quickly realized it was a good idea. In the past, he had always wanted Zhu Xingyao to stay away from the hardships surrounding him. But now, things were different. Allowing her to enter his life and get closer to him was precisely his goal.

He replied to Lin Jiayu: “Alright.”

Jiang Tu left half an hour earlier than planned and arrived at Xingyuan Villa shortly after 5:00 p.m. He called Zhu Xingyao: “I’m waiting for you outside.”

Soon, Zhu Xingyao emerged wearing a white dress.

Jiang Tu stepped out of the car, walked around the front, and opened the passenger door. Looking down at her, he said, “Sit in the front.”

Zhu Xingyao glanced up at him, lifted her skirt, and climbed into the passenger seat. She placed her bag on her lap and fastened her seatbelt. Once Jiang Tu got in and started driving, he glanced ahead and asked, “Do you want to listen to music?”

“Sure, I’ll turn it on,” Zhu Xingyao replied, pressing play herself.

The deep, resonant tones of the cello filled the car. Zhu Xingyao paused, listening for a moment. The music felt vaguely familiar. Every cellist had their own unique style, and the same piece played by different people would evoke different emotions.

Zhu Xingyao knew her own style better than anyone, but something about this still felt uncertain. As the piece drew to a close, a soft, youthful voice murmured at the end: “Thank you all.”

This was…

Her voice.

From when she was fifteen or sixteen.

Zhu Xingyao’s heart felt as though it had been gently plucked like a string. She turned to look at him in surprise. The evening sun was no longer harsh, filtering through the tinted windows and casting a faint golden glow over his white shirt and sharp features.

He was now a man in his late twenties, and she was twenty-six. Yet here he was, playing recordings of her performances from ten years ago.

Perhaps her gaze lingered too long because Jiang Tu stopped at a red light, turned to her, and softly said, “Do you remember the pieces you put on my MP3 player? Have you forgotten?”

Zhu Xingyao lowered her head. “I remember. I just didn’t expect you to still have them.”

The light turned green.

Traffic was a bit heavy today, but Jiang Tu continued driving. “I’ve kept them all this time.”

Zhu Xingyao suddenly didn’t know what to say. One cello piece after another played—all of them hers. She gazed out the window, her emotions tangled and complex, with a hint of... happiness. But she wasn’t a teenager anymore. They hadn’t seen or contacted each other in eight years. Even if there had once been countless connections between them, a sense of distance remained. Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringtone of Jiang Tu’s phone.

As the car entered the residential complex, she snapped out of her reverie and turned to ask, “Don’t we need to buy groceries?”

Jiang Tu steered the wheel to make a right turn. “Lin Jiayu said she’d handle the shopping. She should already be upstairs by now.” After a pause, he added, “Uncle Lin helped me a lot in the past. Our families have always been close, almost like relatives.”

Was he explaining this to her?

Zhu Xingyao made a small sound of acknowledgment and said nothing more.

The apartment was on the fifteenth floor. After exiting the elevator, Jiang Tu entered the password to unlock the door, and Zhu Xingyao followed him inside. Sitting on the couch playing games, Jiang Lu and Ding Xiang turned to look. Seeing Zhu Xingyao, Jiang Lu grinned cheekily. “Goddess Sister, long time no see!”

Standing at the entrance, Zhu Xingyao froze for a moment. She looked at the now-grown Jiang Lu, smiled awkwardly, and said, “Yes, in my memory, you were still this tall.” She gestured with her hand to indicate Jiang Lu’s height at twelve years old.

She knew Jiang Lu was now a professional esports player and had seen videos of his matches online. The mischievous boy from the past had grown into someone who bore a resemblance to Jiang Tu but had an entirely different demeanor.

Jiang Lu scratched his head. “That was almost ten years ago. I’m nearly as tall as my brother now.”

Jiang Tu placed a pair of pink slippers by her feet. Zhu Xingyao slipped off her flats, revealing slender feet clad in boat socks. Her instep was pale and delicate. She glanced down quickly, slipped her feet into the slippers, and stole a glance at Jiang Tu from the corner of her eye.

She remembered that during his pre-college physical exam, his height was measured at 187 centimeters.

Lin Jiayu emerged from the kitchen, smiling. “Dinner will be ready soon.”

It was already 6:00 p.m.

Zhu Xingyao walked over and saw several dishes already laid out on the table, their colors, aromas, and flavors perfectly balanced. Surprised, she exclaimed, “You’re so talented!”

Lin Jiayu laughed. “It wasn’t me—it was Aunt Shu... Jiang Tu’s mother. She prepared everything, and we brought it over. The pig’s trotters, spare ribs, steamed meat, and crispy fish were all made by her. The two cold dishes were store-bought, and we just reheated the soup. We’ll stir-fry some green beans and vegetables, and then we can eat.”

Shu Xian had heard they were coming to warm up Jiang Tu’s new home and spent the entire afternoon preparing. She also reminded them to buy house slippers so there’d be enough for everyone.

Zhu Xingyao recalled meeting Aunt Shu briefly and thought to herself that Jiang Tu’s mother must be a very kind person.

Ding Xiang’s wife came out of the kitchen and greeted them warmly.

As the host, Jiang Tu couldn’t let the guests lift a finger. He headed toward the kitchen and said quietly, “Let me handle it.”

Lin Jiayu quickly interjected, “No, you go chat with them. I’ll take care of it.”

“I’ll do it.”

Jiang Tu’s tone brooked no argument as he strode into the kitchen.

Lin Jiayu pouted, pulling Ding Xiang’s wife out of the kitchen. Zhu Xingyao’s gaze followed Jiang Tu’s tall figure, then wandered around his apartment. The minimalist, cool-toned décor suited him perfectly.

The lively sounds of Jiang Lu and Ding Xiang playing Honor of Kings echoed through the room. Zhu Xingyao sat on one side chatting with Lin Jiayu.

Lin Jiayu asked, “Do you play?”

“Honor of Kings?” Zhu Xingyao shook her head. “Xixi dragged me to play a few times, but I’m not very good, and I don’t have much time, so I haven’t played since.”

Lin Jiayu smiled. “Right, you have to practice the cello and prepare for concerts. There’s no time for games.”

Jiang Tu emerged from the kitchen momentarily to place the vegetables on the table. Zhu Xingyao, seated on the sofa facing the kitchen, looked up and met his gaze. Wearing a gray shirt, his broad shoulders accentuated by his gold-rimmed glasses and pale complexion, his face was strikingly handsome.

But his demeanor wasn’t particularly refined. Having endured so much hardship in his youth, the passage of time had imbued him with a deep, restrained, and slightly aloof air.

Zhu Xingyao thought Li Xixi was absolutely right—Jiang Tu now exuded far more charm than he had in his younger years.

Flustered, she quickly lowered her head.

Lin Jiayu turned to her and asked, “Do you think Jiang Tu has changed a lot?”

Zhu Xingyao nodded. “Mm.” After a moment’s thought, she added, “Actually, maybe not that much. We’ve all just grown up, and our appearances have matured. His personality probably hasn’t changed much.”

“His personality has always been like that,” Lin Jiayu said with a smile. “Jiang Tu is incredibly stubborn. Once he likes something, it’s hard for him to change.”

Zhu Xingyao pursed her lips. “Is that so?”

Lin Jiayu blinked. “Yes!”

You have no idea how much he liked you, how many years he liked you for.

About fifteen minutes later, everyone sat down at the dining table, and dinner began.

Ding Xiang had brought two bottles of red wine. He poured everyone a glass and said cheerfully, “Come on, we must drink a few rounds tonight! At the wedding, there were too many people, and I barely got to talk to any of you.”

Lin Jiayu whispered jokingly, “You didn’t even invite me to your wedding.”

Ding Xiang scratched his head sheepishly. “To be honest, I felt a bit awkward since we weren’t classmates... I didn’t want you to spend money. Here, I brought you some wedding candy, and I’ll punish myself with another drink.” He downed a glass in one gulp.

Lin Jiayu burst out laughing. “I was just kidding!”

Everyone raised their glasses in a toast, the atmosphere lively and cheerful.

Zhu Xingyao noticed that Jiang Tu hadn’t touched his wine glass at all.

Before 8:00 p.m., Jiang Lu announced he had to leave. He waved at Zhu Xingyao. “Goddess Sister, I have to get back to training. See you next time!” As he reached the door, he turned back with a grin. “I heard you’re holding a concert soon. I’ll buy tickets for my teammates to come watch.”

Lin Jiayu said, “The tickets are already sold out.”

Jiang Lu: “...”

Embarrassed, he said, “Then next time I have a match, I’ll invite you to come watch.”

At 10:00 p.m., Ding Xiang and his wife also prepared to leave. Lin Jiayu arranged for two designated drivers to take them home. After they left, Jiang Tu turned to Zhu Xingyao beside him and said softly, “Let’s go. I’ll drive you home.”

Zhu Xingyao looked up at him and asked quietly, “You didn’t drink just now because you were planning to drive me home?”

Jiang Tu lowered his eyes. “Mm.”

Zhu Xingyao bowed her head and turned to walk toward where he had parked earlier. “Then let’s go.”

Jiang Tu took two large strides to catch up with her. His hands in his pockets, he pulled out his car keys. After both got into the car, Jiang Tu glanced at Zhu Xingyao as she slowly fastened her seatbelt. The dim light illuminated her fair, radiant face clearly. His gaze lingered on the small mole near her nose. “Did you get your driver’s license?”

Zhu Xingyao turned to him. “Yes, but I don’t drive much...”

Jiang Tu started the car and asked quietly, “Are you afraid to drive?”

Zhu Xingyao had obtained her driver’s license abroad in 2013 but rarely drove after returning to China. She explained, “No, I just don’t feel like driving. I’m lazy.”

Looking ahead, he smiled.

Half an hour later, the car came to a stop under the shadow of a tree by the roadside in Xingyuan Villa. As Zhu Xingyao leaned forward to unbuckle her seatbelt, Jiang Tu shifted slightly and looked at her. “Can I add you on WeChat now?”

Click—the seatbelt unlocked. Zhu Xingyao paused, then looked up at him. “Have you already added me?”

Jiang Tu’s eyes fixed steadily on her, unsure whether she genuinely hadn’t guessed it was him or was pretending. He picked up his phone from the center console, opened WeChat, and turned to her. “Let’s add each other now.”

Zhu Xingyao clutched the strap of her bag, her lashes lowering.

Her long lashes cast a shadow, making her appear somewhat melancholy. She raised her eyes again, looking directly at him. “If we add each other on WeChat, will you send me messages? Or if I send you messages, will you reply?”

Deep down, she also wanted to ask why he hadn’t contacted her all these years.

Sometimes, she understood his deep-rooted pride, his restraint, his clarity, and his rationality.

But thinking about it still made her feel wronged and resentful.

Jiang Tu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as though swallowing some emotion. Softly, he said, “Yes.”