Chapter 9: Forget each other and live in peace 1
After we have experienced pain and suffering, we will usher in the dawn of light. I thought that one day I would stand on the stage and sing loudly, but I never thought that I would be the only one in the end. How are you all, the people who live in my heart?
——Shen Muxi
Two months have passed since my senior year, and I have completed all the preliminary work for my MV. I plan to divide the shooting time into two phases. The first phase will be Christmas in December, and the second phase will be Hokkaido in April of the following year. Both will be shot in Japan.
Konjac Records cooperates with Japan's Eiyoshi Company , and the videography and MV post-production will be completed by the Japanese Eiyoshi Company.
In December, I was busy writing my thesis and did not participate in the filming. In April of the following year, I went to Japan with the crew.
My favorite sight to see in Hokkaido in April is the clusters of cherry blossoms.
He Yue looked like a student in his school uniform. He and Guan Lin really had a good understanding of each other. I was very satisfied with every shot.
Li Chuan looked at He Yue and Guan Lin in the camera and said to me, "I told you they have a good rapport, right?"
"You're the only one who talks too much." I rolled my eyes at Li Chuan and ignored his provocation.
After the shoot, we had a dinner party with the Painting Society and ate local snacks in a Japanese-style tatami room.
After eating snacks, we prepared to go to the temple fair, but Guan Lin insisted on pulling me to change into a kimono.
Changing into kimono was just an excuse; talking to me was the real reason.
When I was changing into my kimono, Guan Lin asked me, "Shen Muxi, are you and He Yue together?"
Neither of us had told anyone that He Yue and I were together, but when Guan Lin asked me this, I answered without hesitation, "Yes."
"Oh." Guan Lin laughed, "He Yue actually likes a little girl like you. Men's words really can't be trusted. When he was with me, he said he didn't mind my age and that he liked older sister-type girls. Oh, men."
I could hear the meaning behind Guan Lin's words, and said, "It doesn't matter if they are older or younger than me, as long as I like them and they are suitable for me, isn't that fine?"
Guan Lin was very cunning. She turned her head and asked me, "Are you saying that He Yue and I are not suitable enough?"
"You can think that way." I didn't want to argue with her about this issue.
Guan Lin smiled.
As soon as we changed our clothes, she asked the aunt who was helping us change clothes to step aside in Japanese.
After the aunt left, Guan Lin stood in front of me and said, "Shen Muxi, do you know what is the most likable and least likable thing about you?"
I glanced at her and said, "I don't want to know."
Guan Lin couldn't help laughing, and said sarcastically, "The most likable thing about you is your stubbornness, and the most unlikable thing is also your self-righteous stubbornness. I kindly remind you to keep your eyes open when looking for a man. Don't just jump on someone because he can bring you many benefits or is good-looking. This is the person you want to spend your life with."
I ignored Guan Lin's tone and said calmly, "I have opened my eyes once."
I interrupted Guan Lin. I looked unhappy but didn't show it. I said, "Thank you for your reminder. I like He Yue not because he can help me a lot, but because when I was most confused and helpless, many of the things he said and did made me understand many truths and saved me from being so embarrassed in the past two years. He protected me when my first love betrayed me and when I had a conflict with my best friend. I like him and want to be with him because of this. If you think I am doing this for the benefits he gives me, then I tell you the truth, I don't like you very much, and it doesn't matter to me whether you shoot this MV or not."
Guan Lin listened to me in surprise, patted her chest and said, "What a fierce little girl."
After saying that, she trotted out as if frightened.
I don't know how I said this, but in front of Guan Lin, except for my feelings for He Yue, I can't compare to her in anything.
I followed Guan Lin to the temple fair. Guan Lin held He Yue's arm and said something to him. She looked back at me and smiled at me from time to time.
Li Chuan walked with me and asked me with a smile: "What do you think of Guan Lin?"
I answered truthfully, "If she wasn't so tricky, I'd still like her."
"Hahaha!" Li Chuan couldn't help laughing, pointing at me and saying, "Shen Muxi, Shen Muxi."
I don't know what Li Chuan means, and I don't want to ask. I just want to go back home as soon as possible. Guan Lin in front suddenly patted He Yue's arm, then turned around to find her agent.
He Yue stopped and waited for me, and Li Chuan tactfully avoided him.
I walked up to He Yue and he took my hand. I asked He Yue curiously, "What did Guan Lin tell you?"
"She didn't tell me anything, but she told me something." He Yue kept looking at me when he said this, his eyes full of doting.
I leaned over curiously and asked, "What is it?"
He Yue took out a recorder, pressed the play button next to my ear, and my voice immediately came out.
I jumped away reflexively, and my voice was playing powerfully in the recorder.
The voice stopped at "It doesn't matter to me whether you shoot this MV or not." My face turned red and I didn't dare to look at He Yue.
Guan Lin tricked me.
Seeing me like this, He Yue pulled me over and whispered, "Don't be embarrassed. I'm very happy to hear you say these words."
"But I misunderstood Guan Lin." I muttered with my head down.
"She won't mind." He Yue smiled and took me aside and asked me, "Would you like something to eat?"
"Takoyaki." I touched my stomach and realized I wasn't full.
He Yue bought me a portion of takoyaki, and I walked through the crowd holding the box of takoyaki, but this time He Yue was with me as I walked through the crowd.
It is the kind of existence that lasts forever.
After the filming was completed, we returned to Shanghai.
That MV came out in June. The unique editing and coloring techniques of Huiyingshe made the whole MV full of campus flavor, coupled with the regret of parting, it touched many people's hearts.
The MV was broadcast on Yin Yue Tai and Miaopai. In just one day, the number of views reached one million. Li Chuan said that the effect was better than expected, and my Weibo fans are also increasing rapidly.
Li Chuan also hired a teacher for me and asked me to work with her to improve my singing skills. He said that if I worked hard, he would sign me after two years of my intermittent release of works.
When I sent this message to the WeChat group, Xiao Anning was the first to shout: "Muxi, I want to treat you to a meal!"
Have a meal?
I raised my eyebrows slightly. I haven't had dinner with them for a long time.
I said, "Okay."
Xiao Anning quickly sent me the address and I arrived as scheduled.
But when I arrived, Xiao Anning was the only one there.
When Xiao Anning saw me coming, she warmly invited me to sit down and said, "Just order whatever you want to eat today. You have achieved such good results and have taken the first step towards pursuing your dreams. We have to celebrate." As she said that, she poured me a cup of hot tea and handed me the menu.
I picked a few dishes we both liked and asked Xiao Anning, "Where's Sunai? Didn't she come?"
Xiao Anning shook her head and said while drinking hot tea, "I don't know. I haven't seen her for a long time. But we are going to take graduation photos soon, so she should show up."
"So do you know where she's been lately?" I asked.
Xiao An Ning put down the tea and sighed, "I don't know, but I heard from others that Qiao Xinyu hasn't appeared for a long time. I guess Qiao Xinyu wants to break up with Su Nai, but Su Nai doesn't want to."
"Why is she so stubborn?" I frowned, extremely confused.
Xiao Anning shook my hand and said, "Muxi, we all know that you liked Qiao Xinyu in high school, but we didn't know that Sunai also liked Qiao Xinyu at that time. Anyway, this is a matter between the two of them now, so let them solve it themselves. Come, I'll tell you a good news to make you happy."
I looked at Xiao Anning, who had regained her lively appearance, and asked with a smile, "What's the good news?"
"I found a job!" Xiao Anning couldn't hide her inner joy. She took out her employment contract from her bag and showed it to me. She said , "Although it has nothing to do with my major, I successfully passed the internship period, and our director even praised me!"
I took the contract and read it carefully, then asked, "Marketing department? Xiao Anning, you're actually working in marketing?"
This gap is too big, but Xiao Anning has a lively personality and is easy to get along with everyone, so she is quite suitable for marketing.
Xiao Anning took the contract from my hand with a smile and said, "You must be envious of me. Besides singing, I have such a big advantage. If I don't meet clients, they won't know how good I am at fooling people with my mouth."
Xiao Anning made me laugh so hard that I almost spit out my tea.
When Xiao Anning saw how embarrassed I was, he immediately started teasing me.
I felt particularly relieved when I saw Xiao An Ning laughing so hard in front of me.
The sunset outside the window became bright and beautiful, and the fiery clouds in the sky were like the blush on the girl's face at this moment, which made people feel comfortable.
Thank God for giving me the original Xiao An Ning back, but where is Sunai and when will she come back?
On June 10th, we took graduation photos.
Xiao Anning and I called Sunai many times while wearing our bachelor's gowns, but no one answered. I ran to Qiao Xinyu's classroom to ask his classmates where he was, but no one knew.
Not long after I broke up with Qiao Xinyu, Qiao Xinyu moved out of the rental house and returned to the school dormitory. Now none of my classmates know where he is, and Sunai has also disappeared. I don’t know what to do.
"Muxi, Shen Muxi!" Xiao Anning ran over and called me, "Sunai is back."
When I heard that, I quickly followed her.
Suna lowered her head slightly and walked towards us in a daze. She was still wearing her own clothes and had not changed into a bachelor's gown.
I ran over and grabbed her arm, asking, "Sunai, where have you been? Go change your clothes, we're going to take graduation photos soon."
When Sunai heard what I said, he slowly raised his head and a tear slid down his cheek.
Xiao Anning and I looked at each other and roughly understood what was going on.
"Sunai, did Qiao Xinyu bully you?" Xiao Anning asked indignantly.
Su Nai laughed at himself and said, "Shen Muxi, I was just like you two years ago. I encountered Qiao Xinyu cheating on me... But the funny thing is that when you encountered him cheating back then, he was instigated by me, but when I encounter him cheating now, he is doing it voluntarily..."
Looking at Sunai like this, I felt a little distressed and said, "You should have broken up a long time ago. You know very well that he is not worthy of your love."
"But I just like him." Sunai looked at me helplessly, "I just like him, what can I do? Do you want to ask it why it likes Qiao Xinyu?" She pointed to her chest and said crying.
I remained silent.
Su Nai looked at me, as if she wanted to find out the reason. She grabbed my clothes and asked pleadingly, "Shen Muxi, you have been separated from Qiao Xinyu for so long, but he still misses you. Tell me, how did you do it? Can you tell me?"
Sunai started grabbing my clothes and ended up grabbing my shoulders and shaking me. Xiao Anning saw this and helped me pull Sunai away. She comforted her and said, "Sunai, don't be like this. We have already seen what kind of person Qiao Xinyu is. It's good for you to leave him, you know?"
"I don't know!" Sunai broke free from Xiao Anning's hand. At this moment, she was as fragile as a child. If someone touched her lightly, she would run away.
She stepped back, shaking her head and said, "This may be retribution. How can I blame you? You are all living well now, and now I am the only one left..." After saying that, she smiled bitterly and turned to leave.
Xiao Anning was beside me, holding my arm tightly. Her voice of grievance sounded like sand. She asked me, "Why is Sunai so stubborn? Can't we even take graduation photos together?"
I opened my eyes wide, letting the wind dry my tears, then I grabbed Xiao Anning's arm and said, "Let's go take a photo."
Then, I took Xiao Anning into the team and took the only graduation photo.
Yes, we only took this one photo, and in this one graduation photo, Suna was not included.
I don’t know what my mood was that day, but in my past life, it was a day I will never forget.
I once imagined the youthful vigor and vitality of June, but never expected it to end so bleakly as it does today.
After we graduated, I continued to practice singing skills with my teacher to make myself better, while Xiao Anning was doing marketing promotion and had a lot of fun.
As for Suna, we have completely lost contact with her and have no idea where she is.
A few days after graduation, I still stayed in Qingshui Bay. He Yue didn't allow me to move out. He said that I didn't have to pay rent now and just needed to help him take care of the house.
One day at noon, I heard a hurried knock on the door in the bedroom. I ran out in my slippers to open the door, and it turned out to be Suna's parents.
The two of them stood at the door and asked me if I had seen Suna, who had also lost contact with her family.
I quickly invited Su's father and mother into the house and asked them about the details.
They said that Sunai returned home on the day of graduation and locked herself in her room as soon as she got home. The next day, when Su's mother went to call her for dinner, she found that Sunai was missing. Her room was tidy and she didn't take anything with her except her bank card.
Su's father was afraid that his daughter would be hungry outside, so he put a lot of money into the bank card. But it has been a week, and no one answered their phone calls to Su Nai. They were worried that she might be in danger or have a bad day.
I comforted them and said, "Uncle and aunt, don't worry. Since Sunai brought that bank card, it proves that she won't be upset. She may just want to go out and relax. I will ask others where Sunai is now. Don't worry, okay?"
Mr. and Mrs. Su are at a loss now. They agree with everything I say.
I called Qiao Xinyu, and he finally answered after I called twice.
"Mu Xi, you were looking for me..." Qiao Xinyu's voice had lost its former vitality, as if it was wrapped in dust.
I walked aside and asked, "Where are you?"
"Do you still remember the house we rented before?" Qiao Xinyu said.
"I'll come find you." After saying that, I hung up the phone immediately without waiting for Qiao Xinyu to answer.
I walked into the living room and asked Su's father and mother to go back first, and I would call them when I had any news.
After I sent Su's father and mother to the car, I immediately rushed to the place where Qiao Xinyu and I used to live.
The house was still the same as before, except that it was empty. Qiao Xinyu stood by the window with his back to me. The sunlight outside enveloped his body, making it difficult for me to see his figure clearly.
I walked towards him, and Qiao Xinyu suddenly stopped me and said, "Don't come over, Muxi, just stand there."
I stopped and asked, "Where is Sunai?"
Qiao Xinyu was startled, then relaxed and said slowly: "You all come to ask me where she is, how do I know?"
"But she left because of you," I said.
Qiao Xinyu didn't answer me. He asked me, "Shen Muxi, which one is more important to you, love or friendship? If I told you earlier that Su Nai liked me, would you give up Su Nai as a friend for me?"
I shook my head and said, "Qiao Xinyu, you know, if you really like someone, even if her friend likes you very much, you shouldn't let her give up this friend for you. If you really liked me at that time, you wouldn't agree to let Su Nai lie to me together, do you understand?"
"I understand." Qiao Xinyu smiled bitterly, "So before this, I never knew what regret felt like. Shen Muxi, I have liked many people and let many people down, but I have never regretted it. The only thing I regret is that I gave up on you for Su Nai, so that I still don't know how to love someone wholeheartedly."
"Is it useful for you to say this now?"
"It's useless." Qiao Xinyu said, "So I won't force anything. I'll bear the consequences of my actions. But I really don't know where Sunai is. Don't worry, nothing will happen to her. In order to make her give up, I pretended to cheat on her. She's better than you and slapped me and that girl on the spot. She hates me so much that she wants to see with her own eyes that I will never be loyal in the future."
Qiao Xinyu kept talking with his back to me. I didn't want to expose his vulnerability, so I said, "If you have any news about Su Nai, you must tell me."
"I will." Qiao Xinyu said gently.
I looked at the person in front of me. He was someone I once liked.
I didn’t know what to say, so when I turned around, I just said “take care” and left without looking back.
We should forget each other, live in peace with each other, and stop lingering on the past.
Since then, I have not only lost the news of Sunai, but also lost the news of Qiao Xinyu. Someone told me that Qiao Xinyu went abroad, and Sunai went back to his hometown with his parents after returning. I shook my head and didn't pay much attention to it.
I continued to stay busy with my music courses and produced some original songs from time to time.
I have always lived in He Yue's house, but I seldom cook because He Yue's cooking is much better than mine.
He Yue probably couldn't stand my lazy state, so he took me to the garage and asked me to get in the car.
I asked him, “Where are you going?”
He said, “My parents’ house.”
When I heard that I was going to meet He Yue's parents, I immediately said excitedly: "Hey, hey, hey! Going to meet your parents? You should have told me earlier, I haven't dressed up yet! I still have to buy gifts!"
"There is a supermarket downstairs, so just go and buy whatever you want. Besides, you've seen people like my mother before. She only wants a daughter-in-law, not gifts." He Yue said it calmly. Of course, it was me, not him, who wanted to meet the parents!
I awkwardly rubbed He Yue's arm and begged him to stop the car. He freed his hand to touch my head, and with his other hand, he held the steering wheel and said, "Don't make trouble, I'm here."
"You're so mean." I complained, sulking in the passenger seat.
But when the car stopped downstairs of He Yue's parents' house, I immediately perked up. I felt uneasy like an ugly daughter-in-law meeting her parents-in-law.
I have met He's mother, but this is the first time I have met He's father.
He Yue took me upstairs and knocked on the door.
Mother He opened the door, and when she saw me behind He Yue, she immediately turned around and shouted, "Hey, old man, the child's aunt, come out quickly, our He family's daughter-in-law is here!"
