Chapter 21

It was three hours ago.

At 8:54 AM, Lu Liang arrived on time at the building where Qi Jie lived and took her away.

After all, they had known each other since childhood. Although there had been some conflicts before, once they walked together and talked a bit more, their relationship gradually became more harmonious, and Lu Liang finally stopped frowning.

They spent the whole morning shopping. Lu Liang bought several pieces of clothing for Qi Jie, totaling a bit over 2,000 yuan. He looked very proud, and it seemed that his family's business had been doing well recently. Qi Jie also bought him two sets of clothes, not many, totaling just under 2,000 yuan—this would make Lu Liang feel that he hadn't lost much money and also experience the satisfaction of a man spending a lot of money for his beloved.

Both of them felt that everything was going quite well.

During the shopping, Lu Liang held Qi Jie's hand several times. Qi Jie did not refuse and let him hold her hand very gently, but each time, within less than half a minute, she would find some nice-looking clothes in a nearby store and casually pull her hand away—Lu Liang didn't notice anything unusual.

After a morning of shopping, they went to have lunch together at noon.

Lu Liang was very talkative. He said that this year, his family's business had a good chance of breaking through 3 million yuan. If it really happened, the net profit would be over 800,000 yuan. They had agreed that no matter how much they earned, he would get one-fifth, which would be around 200,000 yuan. Even though pork was very expensive, selling for more than 3 yuan per pound, a regular person like Qi Jie, who had just started teaching, only earned about 1,500 yuan a month. After deducting insurance and various taxes, she would earn less than 15,000 yuan a year.

So, 200,000 yuan a year was really a huge income.

Lu Liang said he had already found a house, located in the southern part of the city, close to Qianfo Mountain. It was a new neighborhood with a new house, a small high-rise, three bedrooms, two living rooms, over 120 square meters, on the edge, with good ventilation and a great layout. He planned to get the 8th floor, symbolizing prosperity. The total price was a bit over 360,000 yuan, but the developer knew his family, so with a call, it could be bought for around 300,000 yuan. His father had already agreed to pay for it, and they could start the renovation during the summer vacation.

Although... although Qi Jie thought that buying a house for their marriage should involve her, just like how an unrelated uncle visiting the house didn't require her to entertain him... but since Lu Liang had already decided, she didn't say anything. She just smiled and listened, as if it were something completely unrelated to her.

Lu Liang said, "I'm very busy, so I'll hire a renovation company. But someone needs to supervise it. The materials contain formaldehyde, and my mother is old and not in good health. You can go, you're young."

Qi Jie said, "Okay, I have nothing to do during the summer vacation, I'll go."

Lu Liang said, "I've already thought about the renovation style. It should be grand. Have you seen that TV drama? The hotel with the Tang Dynasty palace style. I saw one like that in Beihai when I went out with my father to discuss business. I like that style, it's grand and looks high-class. We'll do it that way. I'll give detailed instructions to the renovation company, and you just need to supervise."

Qi Jie continued to smile and said, "Okay."

It took an hour and a half to finish lunch. In the afternoon, Lu Liang wanted to take Qi Jie to see a movie. He said there was an American movie called "Pride and Prejudice" that was showing, and several of his friends had seen it and said it was quite good.

But Qi Jie refused. She said she wasn't feeling well these past few days. There was a particularly mischievous student in her class who had upset her, so she wanted to go back and rest.

Lu Liang seemed a bit unhappy but didn't pay much attention. He just told Qi Jie, "It's just a bunch of kids. Teach them, and don't worry if they learn or not. You'll only teach for one more year. After we get married next year, you can quit and stay home to cook and do laundry. Women can't earn much money and it's not good to go out and work. Staying home to cook, do laundry, and take care of the children is the right thing to do. Taking good care of your husband is better than anything else."

Qi Jie smiled and said, "Okay," looking very happy.

In the end, she didn't let Lu Liang see her home. She took a taxi and went back by herself.

As soon as she sat in the taxi, she closed her eyes, looking very tired. When the car arrived at her building, she paid, got out, and stood in the hallway for a long time before realizing she was home.

Then, she went upstairs, climbed a few steps, and came back down.

Her car was parked nearby. She went over, got in, started the engine, and backed out, quickly reaching the street.

She drove very slowly, very, very slowly.

And aimlessly, she turned into a less crowded street at every intersection.

It was 2 PM on a hot summer day. The weather was scorching, and the sun was intense.

A couple walked by, holding hands. The girl wore a light white T-shirt with a smiling face and a knee-length floral skirt. She was laughing and talking, looking very happy. The boy beside her smiled indulgently, looking both amused and exasperated.

Not far away, a young couple walked out of a store with a child, about two or three years old, crying in the mother's arms. As they walked out, the child stubbornly looked back at the big stuffed animal in the store...

Suddenly, Qi Jie stepped on the brake.

Beep!

The car behind her was startled, honking and swerving to pass her. As the two cars passed each other, a man in his thirties, bare-chested, stuck his arm out and gave her the middle finger, "You idiot, can't you drive?"

Qi Jie had no expression, watching the car drive away.

Perhaps the air conditioning in the car was too strong, she suddenly felt cold and instinctively hugged her shoulders.

After a moment, she released the brake, checked the direction, and sharply turned the steering wheel, driving back.

Straight to the school.

She stopped the car at the school gate, locked it, and walked into the campus under the blazing sun.

...

"I once asked you repeatedly,

When will you come with me,

But you always laughed at me,

Saying I have nothing.

I want to give you my pursuit,

And my freedom,

But you always laughed at me,

Saying I have nothing.

Oh, when will you come with me?

Oh, when will you come with me?

The earth beneath my feet is moving,

The water beside me is flowing,

But you always laughed at me,

Saying I have nothing!

Why do you always laugh without end,

Why do I always have to pursue,

Is it because in front of you,

I am still nothing.

..."

The weather was really hot.

Li Qian's heart was really troubled.

He knew that some things couldn't be rushed and had to be taken slowly. But at this moment, his heart was so restless that he wanted to roar to the sky and let out a long cry.

It was around 2 PM, the hottest time of the day.

Just riding his bike to school made him sweat profusely.

He went to the rooftop and took off his T-shirt, going shirtless.

He sang several new songs he had been practicing recently, but he felt the fire in his heart burning even brighter. So, for the first time since his rebirth, he suddenly started singing rock.

From "Nothing to Lose" to "Private Run," then from "The Phoenix" to "Existence."

The fire in his heart burned even brighter.

After singing for more than half an hour, he stopped, picked up his water cup, and drank a few big gulps. He put the cap back on, put it down, took a deep breath, and picked up his guitar again.

Perhaps because of the heat or the burning fire in his heart, his face was red, and he was drenched in sweat.

The guitar started, and after a somewhat ordinary prelude, he suddenly began to sing.

...

The teaching building seemed... quiet?

Qi Jie climbed to the fifth floor, a bit out of breath, and stopped to look up.

The rooftop was completely quiet.

Suddenly, she felt an urge to cry.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the酸酸的感觉, and wanted to turn around and go home, but fatefully, she decided to go to the rooftop to take a look.

From the fifth floor to the rooftop was a two-story staircase, a total of 36 steps.

She walked more cautiously, one step at a time.

Suddenly, the guitar started.

Qi Jie stopped immediately.

At that moment, she felt an uncontrollable joy in her heart.

It was as if she had suddenly transformed from someone else's fiancée back into a Chinese literature teacher at National No. 13 High School.

Then, she felt an even stronger urge to cry...

...

The guitar started, and after a somewhat ordinary prelude, the person upstairs suddenly began to sing.

The clear yet沧桑的声音, the intense and indignant lyrics, and the aggressive melody soon made her feel a tingling sensation all over her body—like a sharp, cold sword piercing through her from the sky!

The singer's voice was clear, yet carried a sense of freedom and nonchalance, along with a complex emotion that was hard to describe—

"Ideals always fly around, intangible and elusive;

Reality is solid and unescapable."

These two lines immediately captured Qi Jie's heart.

She almost instinctively held her breath.

At this moment, the guitar suddenly became fierce, and the voice rose sharply, like a shout or a roar—each word seemed to have a desire to tear everything apart!

Qi Jie's heart suddenly tightened—

"Full of desires, but no strength in the body,

Not wanting to feel sad, so I pretend to be wild.

Flying around, I fly around, full of hope.

I am like a little bird!"

The guitar suddenly became gentle again, with a swaying rhythm. The singer also put away the previous aggressive roar and returned to the casual and free-spirited tone—

"I feel no fatigue, but have nowhere to go.

Emptiness throws me onto the street, like a patient avoiding death."

Then, the fierce strumming and the violent roar resumed—

"Here is a place for wandering, eyes cannot close.

The buildings are so magnificent, the lights so bright.

Flying around, I fly around, reality is a cage.

I am like a little bird!"

The intense electric current hit her again, striking her hard!

Qi Jie stood there, feeling numb all over, unable to even raise her hand.

Reality is a cage... reality is a cage... reality is a cage...

Suddenly, the酸楚而又无奈的感觉 returned to her heart, and she felt a lump in her nose, instantly having an urge to cry!

At this moment, the singer upstairs did not stop—

"They gave me a pair of wings, they gave me a direction.

They said that is happiness, so I was full of hope.

I flew with full power, then saw the truth,

There is no happiness, only a big wall.

Flying around, I fly around, full of hope.

I am like a little bird!"

Completely uncontrollably, Qi Jie's eyes quickly became blurry, and large tears silently fell, sliding down her cheeks!

The guitar upstairs alternated between gentle and fierce.

At the same time, in sync with the guitar's rhythm, the singer upstairs repeatedly sang softly—

"Flying around,

Flying around,

I fly around,

Like a little bird."

Mom said, "...Actually, Xiaoliang is really a good boy, we've known him since he was little. Your dad and I have watched him grow up since he was little, how could he be wrong? Besides, you've known him for years, since you were little. Tell me, what's wrong with Xiaoliang? And his family is well-off, you'll live comfortably if you marry him. Otherwise, why would your parents arrange such a marriage for you?"

Dad said, "Xiaojie, you never complained about this marriage before. Why are you saying all this now? Is it... did you have a boyfriend in college?"

...

"Flying around,

Flying around,

I fly around,

Like a little bird."

"Dad, Mom, I've told you so many times, I really don't want to go to a women's college. There's not a single man with a beard in the whole school. If I go there, I'll go crazy! Besides, I don't want to be a teacher. Why do I have to study education? You two have done enough for the country's education, why do you have to drag me into it? I won't go! I won't go! I'd rather die than go!"

"...Look at you, Xiaoliang has a point. Girls should study education and come back to teach. Your dad and I have taught for so many years, we have a few good friends. If you come back and think No. 13 High School isn't good enough, your dad can use his connections to get you into No. 1 High School. And the women's college is so clean and convenient, without all the messy things in other schools..."

"Xiaoliang is trying to raise me like a child bride. A women's college, where I never see men, and an education major, where I come back to teach for a few years and then take care of him... He's dreaming! Why should I? Are you my real parents? Are you really thinking about me, or are you more willing to raise a qualified child bride for Xiaoliang?"

...

"I fly around,

I fly around,

I fly around,

Like a little bird."

"...Xiaojie, come, look at this... chocolate! Ha, Aunt He bought it for you, try it!... Is it good? Ha, it's good, I won't eat it, you eat it. This is your wedding candy... Mom and Dad went out today to meet Uncle Lu and Aunt He to discuss your marriage with Xiaoliang. It's settled! How do you feel? Now, when Xiaojie grows up, she can marry with peace of mind! You don't have to worry about finding a good man... Look, your parents have already chosen for you..."

"Mom, what does 'marriage' mean? Does it mean I have to marry Xiaoliang when I grow up?"

"Yes, how about it, is it good?"

"But... but I don't like Xiaoliang..."

"Why don't you like Xiaoliang? He's so good, he plays with you and gives you candy, right?"

"But... he has a runny nose, and... and... he gets angry easily, and when he gets angry, he pushes me and knocks me down, it hurts! He doesn't care when I cry and even threatens to hit me..."

"Xiaoliang won't do that anymore, now you're his wife, right?"

"But..."

...

Qi Jie was in tears.

...

At this moment, the fierce strumming suddenly changed back to the swaying rhythm at the beginning, and the singer upstairs sang lazily and casually:

"I no longer want to be numb, no longer want to be controlled;

No longer want to waste my life in lies.

We once wandered the streets, the cold wind beating against our chests;

We once clenched our fists, fighting for a little freedom."

Then, the guitar suddenly strummed again, and he screamed—

"Let's sing together, sing the song of freedom,

Let's fly together, fly to the sky.

Let's sing together, sing the song of freedom.

Let's fly...

Like a little bird,

Like a little bird,

Because we,

Are born free!"