Cynical Romantics - Chapter 22 Can You Stay With Me?

Su Feng and the others arrived after two hours, stopping in between a couple of times to take a snack and a restroom break.

The Su holiday home was large. It was a white-modern house with cottage wood, and red rims and tiles. The lake was right in front of the house, accompanied by trees and forest.

When they arrived, no one took care of the home, and they all went to their own rooms for everyone individually.

The boy’s rooms were parallel of the girl’s rooms, and respectively her room was in front of Song Sheng’s room.

After dropping off their carry-ons, they all went to meet outside as Su Feng had a day of activities planned for them to do.

In the morning they hiked before making lunch, and after lunch Su Feng demonstrated how to canoe in front of everyone. In the end, all activities were done in pairs, and inevitably she was paired with Song Sheng.

She wished she were with Song Ren, things would be less nerve-wracking if she were with her. But she also knew that Su Feng was putting in the effort to spend more time with Song Ren. She also wished to be with Song Jinyi or Song Jun, but they were inseperable despite their constant fighting and bickering.

During their canoe trip, Qian Meigui struggled to steer her paddles, as she had to work cooperatively with Song Sheng in order to steer the boat.

Qian Mei could not concentrate with Song Sheng behind her. She would steal quick glances, and he appeared indifferent as always.

Noticing the canoe was not steering properly, Song Sheng told her to stop. He then directed her,

“Paddle the opposite of me on my mark. And when the current has settled, stop, that way we can rest in between.”

Qian Mei listened to him attentively, and followed his movements and sounds. They worked so well together, that they passed Su Feng and Song Ren on one canoe and Song Jinyi and Song Jun on the other one.

When they reached far enough where the current was steady, they stopped to enjoy the view of the lake. Qian Meigui grinned happily as she admired the sight of the still water, mossy-green rocks, and the abundance of tress on small islands scattered across the lake.

What Qian Mei did not notice was the way Song Sheng looked at her. He was satisfied to have come. He got the change to see Qian Meigui happy.

Ever since they met, three years ago. He saw a distraught and broken girl, and desired nothing more than to make her happy. But that changed a year ago. He desired her more, and he felt strange. He got so scared that he left the house impulsively without saying a word. Truthfully, he stayed in Europe while he was gone, and explored, but he couldn’t avoid the feelings that lingered to her.

While they enjoyed the view, they heard a commotion coming from behind them. They turned around to witness Jinyi and Jun fighting each other with their paddles, while standing. Within a few moments they tipped over with the canoe.

Qian Meigui grabbed Song Sheng by the arm instinctively due to her fear for them. When Jinyi and Jun resurfaced from the water, they continued to argue and Qian Meigui could not help but laugh out loud. She laughed so hard she cried. She then turned to see Song Sheng have the same reaction.

Qian Meigui’s heart skipped a beat, as she watched him laugh. His smile was bright and genuine, followed by a thrill of enjoyment. Qian Mei couldn’t help but feel entranced by this sight. She had not seen him look this happy in a long time.

She stilled, when he suddenly turned around to smile at her. They both locked eyes, and suddenly everything felt intense. Qian Mei let go of her grip on him and they both began to paddle, breaking the eye contact and awkwardness. They paddled toward the house, as the twins swam to shore. Su Feng pulled the canoe that was flipped over and tied it to his canoe.

When they arrived home, the evening fell, and the sun set in a variety of colours.

They ate dinner and afterward they ate sweets by a contained fire pit. Song Ren rested her head on Su Feng’s shoulder as they glanced at the fire. Song Jinyi and Song Jun were exploring fireflies and nature at night

Qian Meigui felt like exploring the house.

She went inside and explored all the rooms of the holiday home. She then found a dark and empty room. When she turned on the light, it wasn’t empty. The back of the room was filled with instruments that were carefully put away.

The room had a mirrored wall, while everything else was encased. She glided the feel of the white piano as she moved onto several other instruments. A guitar, a drum set, and thena violin.

Qian Meigui unpackaged the violin and glided her fingers across it. She felt emotional. It was instrument she loved playing since she was a child. She played songs for her parent’s all the time when they weren’t busy.

She tugged at one of the strings, creating a nostalgic sound.

The sound echoed in the room, and she moved on to pick up the bow.

It was as if she was enchanted. She positioned the violin under her chin and positioned the bow properly along the instrument naturally.

She glided it across the violin, creating a rhythmic harmonious sound.

There were no song sheets in sight, so she decided to play based on her memory.

–

Song Sheng felt exhausted, and excused himself from everyone shortly after Qian Mei disappeared. Leaving Song Ren and Su Feng alone.

Song Sheng went inside the house, hoping to get some work done from his tablet, when he abruptly heard classical music.

Song Sheng thought it was a recording, but he followed the sound to the room, and it became more apparent that it was coming from an instrument.

When he walked in, he saw Qian Mei’s back facing him, and she was playing heavy heartedly. Initially it began slow, but her crescendo gradually increased throughout.

The sound seemed to be reckless, but intended. Her sound was high pitched and low at the same time, hypnotic as if she poured her feelings into the music. The speed of the sound grew faster and faster, as if she was trying to escape from something. The sound was so rich and enthralling, that it had to be the same level of a professional.

She seemed to not even notice he came in as she continued to play without hesitation. He watched her, as he was entranced by the sight and sound. He felt drawn to it. But he stood quietly, allowing her to play the piece.

He looked at her in awe, as she made movements that helped her pour her feelings into the music. It was sad and melancholic. He wanted to reach out to her, to tell her she was doing all right. That she played well, but it seemed to have hurt her more than she imagined. But at the same time, it seemed to have satisfied her, as she played naturally. He made the assumptions from her movement as he could not see her face.

When she finished the song she panted heavily. She slowly lowered the violin and bow. She turned around panting heavily, and she stepped back, startled at the sight of Song Sheng. Her face was flushed and wet with tears and sweat.

Song Sheng moved forward, when Song Ren came into the room abruptly with Su Feng behind her.

“Mei Mei, we just saw you play from the window! We didn’t know you play the violin and you played so well!”

Qian Mei glanced at the window and because it was dark and she did not realize that people from the outside could see her. She then quickly rubbed her face dry before Ren seemed to have noticed, and with a sad smile she said, “Yes, I’ve played for years since I was a child.”

She went up to Qian Meigui and grabbed her hands. “You must play for my wedding? Can you?”

Qian Meigui thought for a moment and nodded. If it were for her sister’s wedding, she would do anything for her.

Song Ren smiled and looked back at Su Feng. Su Feng was stunned. She had acknowledged their wedding and smiled at him, as if she looked excited. Su Feng felt warm. He then said, “Yes, you must play for us sister-in-law, it would be an honour. And as a gift, you can keep the violin as it does not have a master to play it.”

Qian Meigui bowed a bit, as if she had finished a show and said, “Thank you, young master Feng.”

Song Ren left the room with Su Feng, both very spirited.

Qian Meigui looked sad as she put the instrument back in the case.

Song Sheng was still in the room, and he thought of how he should approach her.

“Xiao Mei,” he called.

Qian Mei did not look at him as she said, “Yes?”

Song Sheng pinched the space in between his brows, afraid of what he was about to say. “You played beautifully,” he said courageously.

Qian Meigui stilled. She then turned to face him with watery eyes.

Compelled, Song Sheng moved forward and embraced her. She wept on his shoulder and she cried mournfully. He never knew she could play, but he already knew the reason why he didn’t know. It takes a lot of energy and emotion to play an instrument, and it was a reminder of her past.

Song Sheng wiped away her tears using his thumb. He calmed her down by using soothing words and hugging her tightly. He also caressed her head, as she silently cried on his shoulder.

He then walked her to her room, and he helped her changed into nightwear. He didn’t look at her when he had taken off her dress. He then placed on her nightgown, and thankfully it was one piece.

He then tucked her into bed and she stared into the distance, dispirited, sad and cold. Song Sheng rubbed her forehead before he began to approach the door.

Before he moved, Qian Mei pulled his shirt and asked, “Can you stay with me?”