Chapter 83

When Yang Jingxing and Qi Qingnuo returned to the bar, they were stopped by a group of people. There were five or six young men and women in their mid-twenties, and Qi Qingnuo was relatively familiar with them. Yang Jingxing got to know each of them, and about half of them had English names. A fashionable beauty invited Yang Jingxing to sit down and have a drink, but Yang Jingxing said, "Sorry, I still have to drive... Have fun."

After returning to the corner, Qi Qingnuo said, "Guess how old Karen is?" She was referring to the woman who had been particularly friendly to Yang Jingxing.

Yang Jingxing said, "Twenty-seven or twenty-eight."

Qi Qingnuo said, "She's been divorced for four years, and her child is five years old, and she doesn't even recognize her."

Yang Jingxing was surprised, "You're that close?"

Qi Qingnuo laughed, "I heard it from someone I'm not that close to."

After a while, Karen came over, adjusted her scarf slightly in front of Yang Jingxing, and then took out a business card, "I admire musicians and hope to have the opportunity to collaborate."

The business card was entirely in English, indicating she was a department head at a public relations company. Yang Jingxing flattered her, "If we have the opportunity to collaborate, it means I've made it."

Karen smiled, "Our partners at Yatong are all international companies... Are you and Nuo Nuo classmates?"

Qi Qingnuo said, "Junior, a freshman kid."

Yang Jingxing laughed.

Karen looked at Yang Jingxing, "I know two of Nuo Nuo's male classmates, you are... different."

Yang Jingxing asked Qi Qingnuo, "Do you know any twins?"

Qi Qingnuo smiled lightly and looked away, ignoring him.

Yang Jingxing asked Karen, "Are those all your colleagues?"

Karen said, "Some are, some aren't."

Yang Jingxing said, "The one in the red dress definitely isn't."

Karen was curious, "Why?"

Yang Jingxing said, "He's been looking at you several times."

Karen glanced at her companion and smiled, "We're not colleagues, but we work together... Did you see them?"

Yang Jingxing said, "No, I just guessed."

Qi Qingnuo commented, "You're so boring."

Karen smiled, "We're leaving soon, hope to see you again... Before we go, can I hear you play another piano piece?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Forget it, I don't think her salary is higher than yours."

Karen was initially confused, then a bit awkward, "You heard that?"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "If you're pretty, you should speak softly."

"Sorry," Karen maintained her smile but looked a bit puzzled.

Yang Jingxing said, "Or I could play a piece, and you could say you enjoyed it and treat me, everyone would be happy, how about that?"

Karen scrutinized Yang Jingxing for a moment, "Okay, deal."

Yang Jingxing said, "You go announce your victory first."

Qi Qingnuo asked quietly, "They were betting?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "I'm giving you face."

Qi Qingnuo said, "No need."

After a while, Yang Jingxing really went to play a piece of the Well-Tempered Clavier, but it wasn't very engaging. Only Karen and Fu Feirong clapped for him. Then Karen and her group really left, and Karen kept her word and paid the bill, asking Yang Jingxing, "When can I see you again?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll still be here for the next half hour."

Karen smiled.

Qi Qingnuo asked, "What if she comes back later?"

Yang Jingxing asked, "Won't she come back?"

Qi Qingnuo pulled the corner of her mouth and changed the subject, "Where were we before?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Talking about her five-year-old child and her divorce."

Qi Qingnuo nodded, "Right, I know a lot of people like that, want an introduction? Don't worry, I'll keep it confidential and help you maintain your good image."

Yang Jingxing said, "You can't fool yourself."

Qi Qingnuo said, "You already have this image with me! Hey, do you usually take them out or bring them home?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Let's talk about art instead."

Qi Qingnuo asked, "What kind of art?"

Yang Jingxing thought for a moment, "I really don't understand."

Qi Qingnuo asked, "Was it Yu Xinting who called me?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I told her you won an award."

Qi Qingnuo looked at her empty glass and suggested, "Another drink?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "Enough."

Qi Qingnuo suggested again, "Take me for a drive."

Yang Jingxing agreed.

The car drove around the bar for a while, and Qi Qingnuo opened the window, the cold wind blowing through. Yang Jingxing couldn't do anything about it, so he just drove slower.

Qi Qingnuo occasionally said, "Do you ever feel lonely?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "Not really."

After a while, Qi Qingnuo asked again, "Empty?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Not really."

After a longer while, Qi Qingnuo asked, "Have you ever felt that no matter what—family, friendship, love, gain or loss, career—nothing can fill that void you can't pinpoint? You feel completely helpless, yet you can't just ignore it."

Yang Jingxing laughed dryly, "I think my comprehension is a bit lacking."

After a long silence, Qi Qingnuo said, "I really want to go on a trip."

Yang Jingxing supported her, "Go during the holidays."

Qi Qingnuo pitied herself, "No destination... Can you take me to a place I've never been in the shortest time possible?"

Yang Jingxing asked, "The men's restroom?"

Qi Qingnuo didn't even turn her head, leaning against the seat and looking out the window, expressionless.

Yang Jingxing said, "Then stop complaining."

Qi Qingnuo raised her hand to close the window, and Yang Jingxing sped up, soon reaching a wide, almost deserted road. The speed was even faster.

As the area became more sparsely populated, Qi Qingnuo turned her gaze, "Where are we going?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I don't know."

Qi Qingnuo closed her eyes, "Wake me up when we get there."

Yang Jingxing drove for over half an hour at eighty kilometers per hour, passing through a desolate area and then slowly seeing lights, which seemed to be a small town. The road sign showed the name.

Yang Jingxing stopped at a gas station. Qi Qingnuo opened her eyes, looking a bit sleepy, "Are we there?"

Yang Jingxing asked, "Have you been here before?"

Qi Qingnuo leaned out to look, "No."

After refueling, Yang Jingxing drove into the town and drove around. It was quite remote, with no buildings taller than ten stories. It was past midnight, and they finally found a late-night snack shop that was still open. The street was a bit dirty, with three- or four-story buildings on both sides.

Hearing Yang Jingxing speak Mandarin, the owner was a bit unaccustomed, "From Puhai? So late, where are you going?"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "On a trip."

"Traveling in the middle of the night, to Shiling?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Boss, I won't order dishes, just pick the best for us, we're really hungry."

Qi Qingnuo said, "I'm hungry too... the more I think about it, the hungrier I get."

The owner suggested a few dishes, and Yang Jingxing and Qi Qingnu had no objections. Yang Jingxing asked, "Do you want to drink?"

Qi Qingnuo shook her head, "Eat! I didn't eat much in the afternoon." She looked at the messy tables and chairs in the small shop and rubbed her hands.

Yang Jingxing took out a heater-like device and placed it next to Qi Qingnuo, turned it on, and a warm red light emitted.

The dishes came quickly, a small round pot with pork ribs and tofu simmering on a small gas stove, emitting steam.

Qi Qingnuo couldn't wait to try a piece, "Delicious... Yu Xinting would be praising life again, rice, I want rice."

When the rice came, Qi Qingnuo found it a bit cold, so Yang Jingxing asked the boss to warm it up. Without a microwave, the boss stir-fried it. The boss explained that the temperature had dropped sharply in the past two days, and it might snow.

Yang Jingxing asked Qi Qingnuo, "Do you want a bowl of ginger soup to prevent a cold?"

Qi Qingnuo shook her head, "I'll eat the dishes, this is a bit spicy, I'll drink some."

After the four dishes were served, the boss sat nearby, ready to chat with the guests and admire Qi Qingnuo's beauty.

Qi Qingnuo asked, "Boss, what's this place called?"

"Qiaozhen, also under the jurisdiction of Shanghai, how did you end up here?" the boss was curious.

Qi Qingnuo said, "Just for fun... Boss, your fish is well-cooked."

The boss said, "It's river fish... how about the young chicken?"

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Boss, good skills... the chicken leg is for you."

Qi Qingnuo was picky, "It's so small."

The boss explained, "The bigger ones are less tasty, they're raised with hormones... hey, it's snowing."

Yang Jingxing and Qi Qingnuo both looked outside, and under the dim streetlights, there were some tiny snowflakes. Qi Qingnuo put down her chopsticks and ran to the door, and Yang Jingxing followed.

The two stood under the dark night sky, looking up, hoping for a few ice crystals to land on their faces. A three-wheeled motorcycle drove by, stopped at the restaurant entrance, looked at Yang Jingxing's car, and greeted the boss before leaving.

Qi Qingnuo's phone rang, and she told Yang Jingxing it was her mother. She explained on the phone, "We're having late-night snacks... with a friend... going back... a bit far, go to sleep!"

After watching the snow for a while, the two "crazy people" went back to continue eating. By the time Yang Jingxing was on his third bowl, Qi Qingnuo had started her second. Seeing Yang Jingxing struggling to pick things from the pot, Qi Qingnuo suggested, "Use a spoon... can you drink the soup?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll try... it's quite good."

"Get me a bowl." Qi Qingnuo was eating happily.

In just half an hour, they had almost finished. Qi Qingnuo wiped her lips and sighed, "This meal was great."

Yang Jingxing said, "Glad we found it."

Qi Qingnuo put the napkin on Yang Jingxing's table and asked, "Do you have to get up early tomorrow?"

Yang Jingxing said, "No problem."

Qi Qingnuo smiled, "Thanks for the trouble."

"Not at all."

After finishing, Yang Jingxing paid the bill and they left. The boss wished them a safe journey. In the car, Qi Qingnuo was no longer listless and looked at the dark scenery along the way, worrying, "It would be fun if we broke down now."

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Yeah, I'll play with you."

Qi Qingnuo laughed, "Can you afford it! Dare to turn around now and drive to the next city?"

Yang Jingxing was hesitant, "Then I'd be a human trafficker."

Qi Qingnuo asked, "Would you sell me? Who could afford to buy me!"

Soon, Qi Qingnuo's phone rang again, urging her to get home quickly. Fortunately, Yang Jingxing remembered the way and drove faster, finally dropping Qi Qingnuo off at her doorstep at two o'clock. It wasn't far from the club. They didn't say much on the way, just said goodbye.

On Saturday morning at seven, Yang Jingxing found a place to wash his car and then went to pick up Tao Meng.

"It's so cold today," the heavily wrapped Tao Meng took off her scarf, "Where are we going?"

Yang Jingxing said, "It's a secret for now."

Tao Meng didn't press, "I have to go to your school tomorrow."

After reaching the suburbs, Tao Meng was puzzled, "Not going to Shangpu again, right?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Right, there are dozens of places with your name, enough to see for half a year."

Tao Meng pouted, "I don't believe it."

They took a turn halfway, closer to the school, to the largest indoor ski resort in Puhai. The large parking lot showed that there were many customers.

Tao Meng was a bit surprised and worried, "Why did you bring me here?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Didn't you have regrets after coming back from Canada?"

Tao Meng asked, "Have you been here before?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Twice, not very skilled."

"With who?"

"Once with Tan Dong, once alone, he's not as persistent as me."

Tao Meng looked at the building, "I've always wanted to come, but no one to accompany me."

Inside, they first hired a coach. Then they chose ski suits. Tao Meng didn't want to rent, so she bought them, and she paid for them herself, saying, "I haven't used my manuscript fees yet."

Both of their suits and shoes were chosen by Tao Meng, yellow and black, not very attractive. They looked at each other, and Tao Meng said, "Yours is a bit small." There was no choice, as Yang Jingxing had the largest size.

Inside the ski area, they found that hundreds of people were in uniform. The coach was a woman in her thirties, who asked about their situation. Yang Jingxing said he could manage, and asked her to focus on Tao Meng. The ski slope was long, about three to four hundred meters, with varying degrees of slope. For beginners, they started on the small slope at the bottom.

Yang Jingxing squatted down to help Tao Meng put on her skis, then did the same for himself, and told the coach, "The principle is not to fall, try to learn as much as possible."

Tao Meng was confident, "It's not that hard."

First, they did some basic warm-up exercises. Yang Jingxing didn't leave, just watched Tao Meng take her first steps, encouraging her, "You're learning faster than I did."

Tao Meng was very careful, listened carefully, and followed the instructions strictly, avoiding any immediate embarrassment. But once she started sliding, she inevitably fell on her bottom. Fortunately, the snow was soft and didn't hurt much. Yang Jingxing was always nearby, ready to help Tao Meng up as soon as she fell.

After just half an hour, Tao Meng was already out of breath, "It's more tiring than I thought."

But after resting for a few minutes, she quickly started again.

They started at 9:30 and by 11:30, Tao Meng could slide a short distance and stop smoothly, though her posture wasn't quite natural and relaxed.

For the last time, they slid side by side, about a hundred meters. Tao Meng felt satisfied, "That's it, I'm so tired and hungry."

They changed back into their clothes, and Yang Jingxing asked if they should eat there and continue in the afternoon or go back to the city. Tao Meng said, "I definitely don't have the energy to ski anymore, I can't even walk around the city."

Yang Jingxing said, "Come, I'll carry you."

"No way!"

On the way back, Tao Meng looked at their ski suits and felt a bit regretful, "I should have chosen the purple ones."

Yang Jingxing said, "The orange ones look good."

Tao Meng said, "But the two sets are the same."

Yang Jingxing said, "The sizes are different."

Tao Meng asked, "How long did it take you to learn?"

Yang Jingxing said, "The first time, I didn't learn in three hours, the second time, I bought an all-day ticket, from morning to afternoon, and I could slide down from the top."

Tao Meng said, "I'm so tired, my whole body feels weak... but I did make some progress, I think playing should be meaningful."

Yang Jingxing asked, "Are you praising me?"

Tao Meng was a bit smug, "Sort of. Have you checked the school alumni list?"

Yang Jingxing said he hadn't for a long time. Tao Meng then talked about a female classmate who had a Thai boyfriend and wrote diary-like entries in the alumni list about how sweet and happy they were, even though they didn't do much. This girl used to be unattractive, but the photos she posted looked completely different. Her Thai boyfriend was dark and strange-looking, yet he asked everyone if he was handsome!

Tao Meng said, "You'll see, he's really not good-looking... it feels like many of our classmates have changed."

Yang Jingxing said, "The environment has changed, so people have changed."

Tao Meng asked, "Have I changed?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I've always wondered what kind of people are around you, making you cuter and cuter."

"Annoying!" Tao Meng lifted her chin, "I'm discussing something serious with you."