Chapter 119: Spring

The meaning of a song to a listener is likely that no matter how many years pass, hearing it again will inevitably evoke the scenes associated with it from the past.

The snow that swirled across the sky that year gradually blurred, and Bai Qingxia’s focus returned to the present. On the large screen, the image froze on Stefanie Sun’s gentle smile.

As the song neared its end, the two boys with buzz cuts beside her clapped enthusiastically. Bai Qingxia snapped out of her trance, turned to look at them, and offered an embarrassed smile.

The two guys were still clapping fervently, showing no signs of stopping.

The girl could only lower her head in shyness.

In that moment as she looked at the floor, she suddenly thought: if only she had found the courage back then to clap for the boy who had performed for her father in the falling snow inside the iron gate.

She would have told him:
You were not without an audience; my father was one, and I was listening from inside the gate, too.

But Bai Qingxia knew this was merely wishful thinking. Even if she could do it all over again, she still wouldn't have had the courage to make a sound from the other side of that iron gate.

"Time’s about up, let's go."

Lu Yuanqiu pulled out his phone to check the time. He had been waiting for the session to end, and yet Bai Qingxia hadn't sung a single song.

It was hard enough getting this girl to a karaoke bar; how could she not sing? Whether she sang well or not, it was about the experience. Otherwise, coming here would have been for nothing.

Life is long, and one shouldn't avoid trying things just because they can't do them well. Trying is what turns an experience into something valuable.

The three of them left the room. Cao Shuang seemed to remember something and said, "Oh, right, Brother Qiu, speaking of singing, I recall that our New Year's Eve gala this year is going to be school-wide. It’ll be in the auditorium; it’s no longer just an internal class event."

Lu Yuanqiu scoffed, "What does that have to do with me?"

"Aren't you going to sign up for a performance, Brother Qiu? It’s the last New Year’s gala of high school, after all. You could play the guitar and sing—show off a little and leave behind a memory."

Lu Yuanqiu frowned. "I don't recall ever participating in those New Year’s gala things. Seems pointless."

He couldn't clearly remember his junior high days—after all, it had been nearly twenty years—and as for high school, he was certain he had never taken part in such activities.

Back in high school, it was rare for him to even attend a few classes at school.

Bai Qingxia followed silently behind Lu Yuanqiu, listening to the boy’s words without a sound.

She hoped Lu Yuanqiu would perform at this New Year’s gala; it would make up for the regrets of his junior high days. Because Bai Qingxia knew that the buzz-cut boy from back then must have hoped his audience was more than just one person.

Cao Shuang: "Really not signing up?"

Lu Yuanqiu shook his head: "Not signing up."

After saying that, a clever idea flashed in his mind. He turned around, hunched over with a mischievous, gravelly chuckle, and looked at the girl beside him. "Unless Bai Qingxia signs up, then I’ll sign up too."

Cao Shuang: "Heh heh heh heh—"

Lu Yuanqiu: "Heh heh heh heh—"

Cao Shuang was busy eating "dog food," while Lu Yuanqiu was plotting some sort of scheme.

Bai Qingxia glanced at him, then looked away, her beautiful eyes composed.

The three arrived at the front desk, and Cao Shuang pulled out his wallet to pay the bill.

Just then, a one-yuan coin fell to the ground. It didn't fall from Cao Shuang’s wallet, but from another girl standing near the counter.

Bai Qingxia shifted her gaze from the coin and looked up.

The girl was tall, likely over 170cm, with a badminton racket slung over her back. She was wearing a denim jacket and a denim skirt, showing off long legs covered in brown calf socks, paired with white sneakers. Her hair was tied in a messy bun, with slightly curled strands framing her ears.

She had a high, straight bridge on her nose and distinct facial features. Her profile was beautiful, revealing a sense of heroic spirit—a crisp, dashing air like a female general from ancient times.

After sizing her up, Bai Qingxia looked back at the coin on the ground.

She felt conflicted.

Not about whether to sneakily pick it up and keep it, but about whether she should remind the girl.

She didn't want to talk to strangers.

But...

It was a whole yuan; that was a lot. Seeing Lu Yuanqiu and Cao Shuang walk out of the karaoke bar, Bai Qingxia followed them while looking back. Finally, she made up her mind, hurried back, and picked it up.

"You dropped your money!"

She spoke shyly, holding her hand straight out.

The heroic-looking girl turned around, responding with surprise: "Ah, thank you!"

"Chun!"

A girl called out from near the rooms. The heroic-looking girl quickly answered, nodded at Bai Qingxia with a smile, and ran off with her badminton racket on her back.

"Phew~"

Bai Qingxia let out a soft breath, swung her hands with a lightened mood, and turned to catch up with Lu Yuanqiu.

Lu Yuanqiu: "Who were you just talking to?"

Bai Qingxia was honest: "Someone dropped their money, so I picked it up for her."

"Wow~ our Xiaxia is so warm-hearted~" Lu Yuanqiu put on a mock fanboy expression.

Bai Qingxia instantly lost the interest to talk to him.

After parting ways with Cao Shuang, Lu Yuanqiu rode his bike to take Bai Qingxia home. He called out to her from the front: "Anyway, your dad can walk to the supermarket himself now, and they provide three meals a day there. Come over and tutor me tomorrow morning."

Bai Qingxia gave a soft, "Oh."

Lu Yuanqiu frowned: "Why does your tone sound so reluctant, classmate Bai? Am I forcing you?!"

"No, I'm not," Bai Qingxia said, looking up blankly.

Lu Yuanqiu continued: "Remember to bring me a scallion pancake from Hu’s on your way."

"Okay!"

...

The next day.

Lu Yuanqiu was still fast asleep in bed when he was suddenly dragged up by Lu Tian.

Though his body was up, his soul seemed to have remained on the mattress.

"Huh?" Lu Yuanqiu opened his eyes in a daze.

Lu Tian: "Hurry up and wash your face and brush your teeth. Your uncle just called; he wants you to get ready and go with him to a banquet."

"What?!"

"Did you sleep your ears deaf, damn it?"

Lu Tian grabbed his ear, leaned in close, and repeated it loudly.

Ten minutes later.

Lu Yuanqiu was still in a stupor, brushing his teeth in front of the bathroom mirror.

According to his father, a company executive was meeting a business partner named Liu at a hotel for a small family banquet, and they were supposed to bring their family members along.

He heard his older cousins (his uncle's daughters) would be there, but his uncles insisted on dragging him along as well, saying it was good to get some experience early.

They could have told him sooner.

Lu Yuanqiu brushed his teeth while opening his phone and calling Bai Qingxia.

"Hey, let's skip the tutoring for today. Something came up on my end."

The girl's voice came from the other end of the line: "Okay."

After a few brief words, he hung up. Bai Qingxia tucked her phone into her pocket.

She looked at the storefront of Hu’s Scallion Pancakes. There was already a long line, and she was currently positioned in the middle of it.