Thirteen

  Back to the hall, just in time to see Ye Cangran holding a guitar and sitting on the stage. Seeing her come in and sit down, he adjusted the microphone in front of him and said: "The last song tonight, I want to sing it for a special girl downstairs." Her face suddenly turned red, fortunately the light was not bright, but Liu Qing still cast a meaningful glance from across the way. She thought that even if she jumped into the Yellow River, she couldn't wash herself clean. Her heart suddenly rose to her throat, afraid that he would announce her name on stage, which would be really embarrassing. He didn't announce her name, but instead looked at her deeply and announced the song title, an old English song "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU".

  He sang with deep feeling and immersion, during the performance, he didn't look at her again, nor did he look at the audience below, his eyes wandered to a place she couldn't see, reminding her of the words Huang Hai wrote in that letter: Your eyes are always looking at a place I can't see, it seems like there's someone living in your heart who I don't know, others can't enter your line of sight, nor can they live in your heart.

  Who lives in his eyes and heart? Like frost, she quietly asks herself: Is it me? Suddenly, the evening of sixteen years old came rushing over, making her feel choked in her throat and moist in her eye sockets.

  As the last note faded away, applause erupted, though not as fervent as before. Someone yelled out for an encore. He smiled and shook his head, then walked off to the back.

  Then everyone went to have a midnight snack together, in addition to the four of them, there were also seven or eight people from the band. They chatted, and Yu felt like she couldn't join in on the conversation, so she quietly sat next to Liu Qing, unable to eat much either. Normally not one to stay up late, she almost fell asleep, but noticed that he was drinking heavily. Ai Qing was just the opposite, having only ordered a cup of hot milk, slowly sipping it, and chatting softly with Liu Qing and the band's leader who had come from Beijing. When Yu was at her most sleepy, Ai Qing's gentle and calm voice seemed to be coming from a very distant place.

  They didn't disperse until 3 am, and Ye Cangran was already unsteady on her feet. Ai Qing drove his own car to send Liu Qing first, then took them downstairs, and when they crossed the river, Ye Cangran leaned against her shoulder and fell asleep, surrounded by the warmth and wine fumes, Ai Qing didn't speak either, quietly driving the car.

  Until they got off the bus, he helped her wake up Ye Cang Ran. The person was still dazed and muttered: "Like frost, like frost." Ai Qing looked at her with a bit of curiosity, which made her heart feel a chill. She pretended not to see it, supported Ye Cang Ran and said: "Thank you for sending us back." After finishing speaking, she felt that she had spoken too ambiguously.

  "Want me to send you up?" Ai Qing asked softly. Looking at the drunk Ye Can Ran, she felt that her ability was probably not enough to deal with it, so she nodded shyly. However, the person leaning on her hand said: "No need, no need, I can do it myself. Ai Qing, you go first, it's late." This sentence was spoken very clearly. Ai Qing didn't insist and smiled as she really got in the car and left.

  She helped him upstairs, he leaned on her, loudly humming "I really like you" in Chinese. She urged him anxiously: "It's midnight, keep your voice down." He stopped singing and looked at her with drunken eyes: "I just like to see you anxious, blushing."

  Afraid of disturbing the neighbors, she didn't dare to rush him either. It was easy to get him into the house, and as soon as the wooden door closed, he suddenly turned around and pinned her against the wall by the door. She was both anxious and embarrassed, seeing his face approaching hers, so she could only try her best to turn her head away, and in order to avoid him, she had to bury her face tightly in his arm.

  He pulled her into his arms with a force, muttering to himself: "Ru Xue, Ru Xue, I won't let you go again, no way." She thought he was drunk and found what he said strange. She also knew that if she resisted, her strength would not be enough to overcome his, besides, being hugged together like this didn't feel so bad after all, if only he wasn't reeking of alcohol.

  To her surprise, he let go of his hand, and before she could react, his body slid to the ground. She was stunned for a moment, then squatted down, saw him closing his eyes tightly, breathing rapidly, and instinctively reached out to touch his forehead, which was scorching hot, and Ye Can Ran had fallen ill.