Chapter 5
Time passed as usual. The next day, Jiang Chaochao went to rehearsal as usual, and on the third day, he arrived at the theater early, as usual.
Jiang Chaochao had just graduated from W City Conservatory of Music this year. His main task recently was to start a studio with a classmate, and his secondary tasks were some performances and competitions. He was a fresh face in society.
This time, it was an event organized by the city, and he was invited to play a piano piece.
At the theater, it was sometimes busy, sometimes not. Some friends who knew he was performing today sent him many encouraging messages. Xu Hengzhi also said he had sent a flower basket to the entrance and would arrive soon.
It wasn’t until just before he went on stage that Jiang Chaochao received a message from his mother.
Mom: “Performing today?”
Seeing this message, Jiang Chaochao subconsciously smiled, but quickly composed himself.
He thought for a moment, took a selfie, and sent it to his mother.
Jiang Chaochao: “Yes.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Going on stage soon.”
Mom: “Good.”
Mom: “Very handsome.”
Mom: “Send me the video after you finish. Good luck with your performance.”
Jiang Chaochao: “Okay.”
There wasn’t much to say about Jiang Chaochao’s performance. He was very relaxed and at ease. He just wanted to mention Xu Hengzhi, that attention-seeker, making a heart shape with his arms in the audience, almost making him laugh on stage.
Also, he seemed, perhaps, vaguely, as if he saw…
Not sure, maybe he was mistaken.
After leaving the stage, Jiang Chaochao exchanged pleasantries with some teachers and friends, then went to the lounge.
The lounge was crowded at the moment, with boys and girls who were about to perform checking their attire. Jiang Chaochao found a sofa in the corner, sat down, took the water from the staff, and started looking at his phone.
There was new progress with his studio today.
The person he was starting the studio with was called Zhang Xinping. He was a year ahead of Jiang Chaochao in university, also from A City. They had organized several events together in school and collaborated very well.
After graduating, Zhang Xinping worked elsewhere for a while, but wasn’t very satisfied, so he contacted Jiang Chaochao and proposed the idea of starting a studio together.
Jiang Chaochao also had similar plans, so they hit it off.
Zhang Xinping was currently in Q City. He was helping someone produce a song, and he had just sent a message with some approved documents for the studio.
Everything was as expected. Jiang Chaochao replied to Zhang Xinping with an “Okay.”
Jiang Chaochao had also been teaching a group of children recently, and they had a performance opportunity next month. Jiang Chaochao took the opportunity to tell Zhang Xinping about this as well.
Having a studio would make things much more convenient. Jiang Chaochao could consolidate all his scattered work outside.
Putting down his phone, Jiang Chaochao picked up his glass again.
But just as the water reached his lips, Jiang Chaochao saw someone in the crowd.
He was standing by a table not far away, holding a glass of water, looking down at a little girl who was adjusting her bow tie.
Soon, the little girl finished adjusting her bow tie. She said something to him, he nodded, the little girl said something else, he replied, and the little girl smiled and turned to leave.
Jiang Chaochao naturally couldn’t hear, but he seemed to be able to imagine it.
“Is it okay now?”
Nod.
“Then I’m going.”
“Good luck.”
“Okay.”
Having watched for a bit too long, Jiang Chaochao looked away and took another sip of water.
People came in and out of the lounge, some talking, some making noise.
After a few minutes of this coming and going, Jiang Chaochao zoned out and then came back to his senses. The lounge was empty.
And the person who had just greeted him and left was the last one.
Well, not exactly.
It should be, besides Jiang Chaochao and Xiang Ye, the last person.
When it was crowded, Jiang Chaochao felt that the distance between him and Xiang Ye was quite far.
Now that everyone was gone, even though they were both still in their original places, it seemed much closer.
The sudden quiet seemed to draw Jiang Chaochao in, and he couldn’t help but glance towards Xiang Ye.
Xiang Ye also happened to look over. Their eyes met, and they no longer seemed like strangers.
Jiang Chaochao stood up.
“What a coincidence.”
The first words were spoken by Xiang Ye.
Jiang Chaochao nodded: “It is. Hello.”
“You still remember me.” Xiang Ye said.
Jiang Chaochao said: “I do.”
Xiang Ye gave a low “mm-hmm” and looked down slightly: “A different little duck today.”
Jiang Chaochao followed his gaze and lightly touched the small guitar on his brooch: “It’s a performance little duck today.”
Xiang Ye smiled after hearing this: “Very cute.”
He looked up, meeting Jiang Chaochao’s eyes again: “My name is Xiang…”
“Xiang Ye.”
Jiang Chaochao answered before Xiang Ye could finish.
Xiang Ye didn’t seem surprised that Jiang Chaochao knew his name, he just smiled again.
And Xiang Ye’s next sentence was: “Jiang Chaochao, hello.”
Jiang Chaochao couldn’t help but purse his lips: “Hello.”
Xiang Ye said: “Your performance was wonderful.”
Jiang Chaochao had heard this kind of praise many times, but coming from Xiang Ye, he felt inexplicably shy: “Thank you.”
Xiang Ye said: “My niece is about to go on stage too.”
The image of the girl from earlier appeared in Jiang Chaochao’s mind: “Xiang Shici is your niece.” After saying this, Jiang Chaochao suddenly realized: “She also has the last name Xiang.”
He didn’t know what was so funny, but Xiang Ye laughed again.
Then Jiang Chaochao should also laugh.
Xiang Ye: “Do you have many little ducks?”
“These?” Jiang Chaochao looked down again, pointing to the little duck. “A set of ten.”
Xiang Ye nodded: “Shici seems to like little ducks too.”
Jiang Chaochao finally had a realization.
No wonder Xiang Ye paid so much attention to his brooch.
Always generous, Jiang Chaochao’s hand already went to his chest: “Do you want one? I can give her one.”
He thought for a moment and felt that giving away something he had already used seemed inappropriate, but he had already said it, so he added: “I just opened this set today.”
Xiang Ye asked: “Where did you buy it?”
Perhaps this was a way to decline, so Jiang Chaochao didn’t take it off: “World City. The store also has other little duck accessories, figurines, bags, and things like that.”
Xiang Ye asked: “Which store?”
Jiang Chaochao choked, inwardly thinking, Oh no: “I don’t remember.”
Xiang Ye seemed to raise an eyebrow slightly.
Jiang Chaochao: “I really forgot.”
Xiang Ye asked: “Do you still have the brooch box?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Yes.”
Xiang Ye: “Does it have the store name on it?”
Jiang Chaochao: “Yes.”
Xiang Ye: “Then is there a chance I could find out?”
Jiang Chaochao: “I’ll check the box when I get back.”
Xiang Ye didn’t speak.
Then Jiang Chaochao didn’t know what to say either.
A moment later, Xiang Ye suddenly smiled again.
He didn’t know what he was smiling about.
Then, very quickly, Xiang Ye took out his phone: “Is it convenient?”
Without thinking, Jiang Chaochao replied: “Convenient.”
Xiang Ye asked: “Convenient for what?”
Jiang Chaochao was a bit tongue-tied: “I don’t know,” he asked Xiang Ye in return, “Convenient for what?”
Xiang Ye laughed for the umpteenth time. This time, his voice seemed to carry a hint of helplessness: “To add you on WeChat?”
