Chapter 9

The next day was Friday.

At six in the morning, Li Qian opened his eyes on time.

During the years he made music, his habit was to sleep at six in the morning and wake up in the afternoon, around two or three o'clock. But during the years he shot TV dramas and films, his habit changed to sleeping at midnight and waking up at six in the morning. If the job was a prop master or assistant director, he would sleep at two in the morning and wake up at five in the morning—no one was more miserable than the others, as everyone was equally miserable.

Now, he could sleep at ten in the evening and wake up at six in the morning.

For Li Qian, who had lived two lives, this flexibility in time was itself a kind of happiness.

Of course, years of life's trials had made Li Qian lose the habit of sleeping in.

His eyes opened, and within a few seconds, he was fully awake. Then he got dressed, got up, washed his face, and brushed his teeth.

Li Dad and Li Mom usually got up at 6:30, and only on Saturdays and Sundays would they get up half an hour later. After Li Qian finished getting ready, he was about to leave. There was no movement in the master bedroom, so he didn't wait for them to get up and left by himself.

He went downstairs and started jogging.

In the past few days, he had resumed the habit of exercising every morning.

About a thousand meters from Shengshi Garden was a park called Mingqin Spring Park. Yes, Jinan is known for its "Seventy-two Famous Springs," but Mingqin Spring is not among them, so the park is not very large.

At a little past six in the morning, there weren't many people in the park. By the time Li Qian ran to the park, his whole body was already warm. He deliberately moved around for a while, stretching his muscles and bones, before starting to practice his boxing.

The boxing style he practiced was not some famous martial art; it was a nameless set of moves he learned from an old prop master in a TV drama crew. According to the old master, this boxing style had been passed down to him as the eighth generation, but he only had a daughter and couldn't pass it on. Since Li Qian was sincere in his willingness to learn, the old master was willing to teach him.

Later, they met intermittently in several different crews, and Li Qian learned intermittently as well. It took him four years to complete the learning process. During holidays, as long as he wasn't too busy, Li Qian would visit the old master with his girlfriend, treating each other like family, without the distinction of master and disciple. Their friendship was deep in their hearts.

According to the old master, this boxing style was originally created for killing, but now that the world was peaceful, martial arts were banned, and the skills of killing were no longer suitable for ordinary people. So, when teaching, the old master made it clear that this boxing style generated internal strength from external force, but there was no need to aim for that goal. It could be treated like a set of radio calisthenics. Practicing it regularly could strengthen the body. When it really mattered, even though it looked like just a framework, it could still handle a small thug or two.

In his previous life, Li Qian was very familiar with the boxing routine, but in this life, it felt a bit stiff. Although this Li Qian loved sports from a young age, playing basketball and soccer, his coordination of muscles and bones was not yet smooth enough to perform the routine fluidly. However, after practicing three times, it at least looked somewhat like the real thing.

Li Qian treated it as a set of radio calisthenics in this life, not rushing to advance. After three rounds of boxing, he was drenched in sweat. He rested for a while to catch his breath and then slowly walked back home.

By the time he got home, it was already 7:30. Li Mom had already prepared breakfast. Seeing Li Qian return, she immediately started serving the meal.

"Hey, Mom, did you win the lottery or are you pregnant with another little brother? Why did you make steamed dumplings?"

After a morning of activity, Li Qian was already hungry. Seeing two plates of steaming hot steamed dumplings on the table, he immediately picked one up and put it in his mouth. He was about to pick up another when Li Mom slapped his hand away, "Go, you stink. Go take a shower first, then come eat... I wonder who you take after with that mouth of yours, so foul and talkative? Your dad and I combined aren't as talkative as you!"

Li Qian laughed and quickly went to take a shower.

When he came back after showering and sat down at the table, he realized that his parents hadn't eaten yet and were waiting for him.

Li Qian looked left and right, "Dad, Mom, is there something really important?"

Li Mom looked at Li Dad, who seemed hesitant to speak.

This feeling not only indicated that there was something important but also that it was a big deal.

Li Qian had already picked up his chopsticks but put them down again, putting away his playful demeanor and sitting up straight, looking serious. He looked left and right and said, "Dad, is Mom really pregnant?"

This question made Li Dad's hesitation disappear. The usually gentle and refined Mr. Li instantly lost his composure and raised his hand to strike, but Li Qian dodged quickly, and the slap missed.

Li Mom also looked unhappy, scolding, "This child, your dad is talking about something serious, don't be so disrespectful!"

Li Qian raised his hands in surrender, sat back down, and said, "Okay, okay, you talk, I'll listen."

Li Dad's anger didn't subside. He thought for a moment and said, "You're not a kid anymore, you're seventeen. You're starting to have your own opinions about things, so when we talk, I won't beat around the bush, and you shouldn't be so disrespectful, okay?"

This time, Li Qian was truly serious, nodding and saying, "Okay, Dad, you talk!"

Li Dad tapped the table lightly a few times, then couldn't resist pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. Surprisingly, Li Mom didn't complain but instead brought a ashtray and placed it in front of Li Dad.

After a few puffs, Li Dad flicked the ash and finally spoke, "I've talked to your mom about your songwriting. We discussed it last night. But I still want to hear your thoughts. Do you really like music and plan to pursue it as a career, or is it just a passing interest, something to play around with?"

Li Qian thought for a moment and answered seriously, "Right now, I'm still a high school student. No matter what I want to do in the future, it's all practice for now. Even if it's just for fun, it's also preparation for the future. After I graduate from high school, or even college, if there's an opportunity, I want to pursue this career."

Li Dad nodded, took a few more puffs, and said, "Your mom and I aren't old-fashioned. We both love the arts, and you know that, right? Look, when you were little, we tried to cultivate your artistic cells and even bought you a guitar, right?"

After saying this, he looked at Li Qian seriously, waiting for him to nod in agreement.

If it were the seventeen-year-old Li Qian, he might have already become impatient with such a heart-to-heart talk from his parents. But the current Li Qian, who had been through the ups and downs of life for over a decade and had seen both the good and the bad, understood why his parents were patiently and indirectly bringing up this topic.

At this moment, he even saw a hint of anxiety in his father's eyes.

Yes, thinking back, when he announced to his parents that he wanted to form a band, he had seen a similar look of anxiety in their eyes.

It was anxiety.

They loved their son and wanted him to do better. They were even willing to sacrifice everything for him. So, they naturally wanted him to follow his own will and pursue the things he loved and the career he was passionate about. However, based on their own experiences and the insights gained from decades of life, they knew that the career their son loved was not a good choice.

Loving music, that's easy to say.

Loving art, that sounds noble.

But in this world, there are many children who love music and art, yet very few of them can actually pursue this path and achieve success.

So few that it's only one in ten thousand or one in a hundred thousand.

As parents, when they foresaw the difficulties of pursuing this career, how could they not warn their son? How could they bear to try to change his mind?

But they also knew that changing someone's mind, even their own son's, was very difficult, especially when he was in his rebellious teenage years.

So, they knew they had to try, to attempt to change or at least remind him, but they also knew that the results might not be ideal.

Silent resistance? That would already be a relatively good outcome.

At seventeen or eighteen, how many young men and women are deeply dissatisfied with their parents, or even run away from home or become enemies?

So, they were anxious.

But they didn't know that the current Li Qian was no longer the same Li Qian.

The hardships of the past thirty years had made Li Qian more mature than his peers. Facing his father's probing gaze, he was resolute and calm.

"Father, I understand what you mean," he said.

Li Dad was taken aback, turned to look at Li Mom, and both of them were surprised.

"You... what do you understand?" Li Dad asked.

Li Qian smiled and said, "I love music, and that won't change. I will continue to practice and accumulate energy, and that won't change either. But first, I will ensure that I can get into a public university, preferably a public university in Beijing. How does that sound?"

Li Dad was taken aback, frowned, thought for a moment, and then sighed, pressing the cigarette out in the ashtray.

Then, he raised three fingers, "If you can get into the top thirty in your class by the end of the semester, your mom and I won't interfere with what you do during the summer. But in the second year of high school, you must not fall below the top thirty in each monthly exam, and you must be in the top twenty in the final exam, and maintain that until the college entrance exam... Can you do that?"

Li Dad and Li Mom both looked at Li Qian. Li Mom, afraid of putting too much pressure on her son, encouraged him, "Xiao Qian, think about the past few years. When you were in junior high, weren't you always in the top ten or top five? Even in the key class at No. 13 High School, you could maintain the top ten or at least the top twenty, right? You're very smart, you can definitely do it, right?"

Li Dad then added, "Don't blame your parents for interfering. From your recent behavior, speech, and actions, I can feel that you've matured a lot. So, I think you should understand the good intentions behind what your mom and I are saying today, right? We don't ask for much, just that you get into college and don't fall behind your peers at the starting line... Of course, even if you get into college, I still think that music is only suitable as a hobby, not a career. Those stars may look glamorous, but you can't just focus on them. You should think about how many failures it takes to create one success! For example, I like writing, right? But what is my profession? I'm a Chinese teacher!"

As Li Dad became more and more passionate and started to give a long lecture, Li Mom nudged him with her elbow.

So, Li Dad's "Admonition to His Son" came to an abrupt end.

Li Qian smiled and said, "Dad, I know you're full of doubts now, but give me some time, okay? At least while I ensure my academic performance and can get into college, don't interfere with my music, okay? I promise you and Mom that I will succeed! Of course... of course, I don't need to wait until the end of the semester. This monthly exam, I will be in the top thirty, and then, as you wish, I will meet your requirements in every exam! But don't interfere with me, okay?"

Li Dad turned to look at Li Mom, tapped the table a few times, and then nodded solemnly, "I still maintain my opinion. I don't support or encourage you to pursue music. But as long as you can meet my academic requirements, your mom and I won't oppose it!"

Li Qian's face lit up with a bright smile. He stood up, walked between his parents, and hugged them both, kissing each of them on the cheek.

Seeing his father's disgusted and disapproving expression as he wiped his mouth, Li Qian's smile became even brighter.

"Deal!" he said, "I love music, but I also love you both!"

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