Close Enough To Pluck the Stars” (GL) - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Faced with Liang Ke’s silent plea for help, Shu Qingchen first expressed sympathy with her eyes, then shook her head to tell her she was powerless. One simply cannot go against an elder—especially one as lovely as this old lady.

Heartless.

Liang Ke cursed inwardly. Resigned, she steeled herself and avoided looking at Shu Qingchen, dragging out a rendition of “Picking Stars” until the doorbell rang. Professor Liang frowned slightly, offered a brief critique, and went to open the door.

“Happy New Year, Teacher!” “Professor Liang, we’re here!”

The living room was instantly flooded with a youthful energy. It was Professor Liang’s students, bearing New Year’s gifts to pay their respects.

The group consisted of both men and women, all slightly older than Liang Ke. A girl with a long braid, a vocal major and clearly the most lively of the bunch, peaked curiously into the music room. She squealed in delight: “Teacher, your little kitten is back! She’s so good, practicing even during the New Year. Come here and let big sister give you a hug!”

“You’re all grown up, stop using that nickname,” Liang Ke said, her face turning green. She stood up to close the door, but the girl dashed in and grabbed her. Another cool-looking girl joined in, reaching for Liang Ke’s armpits to tickle her. Liang Ke surrendered immediately, pleading: “Sister A, Sister B, have mercy! My boss is here, I have an image to protect!”

Only then did A and B notice Shu Qingchen standing elegantly behind Liang Ke. The Conservatory of Music was full of beauties and handsome men, and Liang Ke was no slouch, but in front of Shu Qingchen, everyone else seemed like background scenery. The two girls immediately regained their poise and followed Liang Ke’s lead in calling her “Leader.”

Liang Ke took the chance to bolt, and A and B beat a quiet retreat. The two girls’ faces were written with “stunned by beauty”; they even forgot to take the fruit Professor Liang offered.

Once the noisy greetings subsided, the young people took their seats. Sister A led the charge in teasing Liang Ke about her violin playing. Liang Ke sneered, “Why would you professionals want to hear me saw at a table leg? If you want to hear real music, listen to Professor Liang.”

“Come on, let’s give her a round of applause!” Liang Ke heroically proposed.

No one disagreed. A “big shot” of this caliber rarely performed in person anymore. Everyone present knew the opportunity was rare; they sat up straight, faces full of anticipation.

Professor Liang took the violin Liang Ke had tuned. She said to Liang Ke, “I’ll demonstrate once today. If you pull off another ‘march’ version of such a tender piece next time, I’m bringing out the family disciplinary rod.”

Liang Ke started with a face of tragic indignation, but as the music rose, everyone in the room held their breath. The melodious tune moved everyone present. A and B unconsciously leaned into each other, hands tightly clasped. One hulking male student even had moist eyes.

When the music ended, the lingering charm hung in the air. For a long time, no one spoke; they were all struck by the intense power of art. Comparing the sound to the photo on the wall of a young Professor Liang playing in a grand concert hall, Shu Qingchen was deeply moved by the old woman’s artistic cultivation and magnificent spirit.

Sister A, lost in the moment, leaned over and gave Sister B a quick peck on the cheek. Though it was just a light touch, Liang Ke caught it. Her eyes snapped wide open. Believing Shu Qingchen must have seen it too, she immediately turned to check the other woman’s reaction.

To her surprise, Shu Qingchen was already looking at her. Liang Ke rubbed her eyes, unable to believe that the Big Shot seemed to be… smiling?

“Xiao Ke, I’m going to the department for the New Year greetings. Look after the guests and the house, okay?” Professor Liang put away the violin and hurriedly looked for her coat and hat.

“Yes, yes, don’t worry! I’ll take great care of the brothers and sisters.” Liang Ke’s voice was like honey, but Old Liang didn’t buy it. She looked at her suspiciously: “You, this well-behaved? I’ll be satisfied as long as you don’t cause trouble.”

Liang Ke shooed her grandmother out the door with playful protests. The students were respectful until the door clicked shut. Then, the “brothers and sisters” burst into laughter. Sister A rubbed Liang Ke’s head: “Look after the house well, little kitten.”

“Don’t go causing trouble for me,” one male student mimicked Old Liang’s voice perfectly.

“Hahahaha!”

Liang Ke abandoned Shu Qingchen to chase after them for revenge, but she was quickly surrounded and overwhelmed by the “masses.”

As they joked around, time flew. Seeing that Shu Qingchen looked a bit tired, Liang Ke suggested wrapping things up. Sister B, however, was still energized and proposed various activities, insisting Shu Qingchen join in.

“Oh, you want her to join?” Liang Ke stood up with her hands on her hips. “Do you even know what my Leader does for a living?”

“She leads you!” Sister A said wittily, then turned sycophantically to Shu Qingchen: “Leader, it must be so hard leading a calico cat. You’ve suffered.”

If Sister B hadn’t held her back, Liang Ke would have definitely given Sister A a wrestling takedown. She huffed, “Why do you sound exactly like my unfilial daughter?”

“Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Xiaoxiao lately,” Sister A noted.

“I heard she’s in a bit of trouble,” a tall male student said. His family were also local wealthy merchants, so he heard things through the grapevine.

“What happened?”

“Fighting with her dad. What era is this, still doing the arranged marriage thing?”

The students frowned and pursed their lips. Seeing Liang Ke’s shocked and confused expression, they stopped talking. Sister A pushed her: “This kind of thing could be big or small. As her best friend, you should go check on her.”

Liang Ke nodded. The gathering quietly dispersed. Sister A and Sister B helped Liang Ke clean up before heading downstairs hand-in-hand. Liang Ke watched their retreating backs for a long time, then turned and asked Shu Qingchen directly: “You saw that too, right?”

“Yes.” “Any thoughts?” Liang Ke asked expectantly. “It was very warm.” “That’s it?” “What else did you want?” Shu Qingchen countered.

Liang Ke just chuckled and ran off. On her way out of the unit, she tripped over the threshold, falling flat on her face. She groaned the whole way back.

As Shu Qingchen drove, she looked at her helplessly at a red light. “Is your arm okay? Do you need a hospital?”

“Hehe, I’m fine. Luckily I’m wearing thick winter clothes. Anyway, thanks for the concern, Leader.”

Before Liang Ke could recover from her silly grin, Shu Qingchen added: “Good. Then don’t let my reports be late. Both of them need to be on my desk by the morning after tomorrow.”

“…”

…

Liang Ke fought through half the night under her lamp and woke up early the next day. She buttoned her shirt carefully, found her sharpest coat, and headed out after some meticulous grooming. She ran into Zhao Pu downstairs.

Zhao Pu lived in the next unit. As the son of a director, he was well-liked by the neighbors, but currently, he was being cornered by several aunties asking about his relationship status.

Irritated, the young man pointed at Liang Ke just as she emerged: “That’s my girlfriend.”

One sharp-eyed auntie asked suspiciously, “Isn’t that Liang Ke?” “So?” Zhao Pu countered.

Seeing his annoyed expression, an uncle stepped in to smooth things over: “Well, at least they’re in the same unit. They know each other well, your dad will be relieved.”

The aunties still felt this “young talent” was being snatched by a “scruffy wildflower.” One asked unwillingly, “How long have you been dating? Have you met the parents? Does your mom really agree? There are several girls in this building with better prospects. I’m telling you, there’s a new post-doc named Shu—beautiful and sweet-tempered. My boy talks about her every day…”

Liang Ke approached, greeting them happily: “Hello, Uncles and Aunties!” Then to Zhao Pu: “Hey, Jeep, why are you skipping work?”

Zhao Pu, already feeling guilty and provoked by the aunties, blurted out: “It’s a new era! We believe in freedom of love. It doesn’t matter if they agree. Meeting the parents is just a formality. We’re getting our marriage certificate next month!”

Hearing such shocking gossip, Liang Ke’s expression became bizarre. She pretended to be calm, staying in the crowd to continue eavesdropping.

“Sorry, I’m in a hurry for an important meeting,” Zhao Pu pushed through the elders. Seeing Liang Ke standing still, he stepped forward. “Move, let’s go!” He grabbed her and marched toward the complex gate. They walked past the gate, the school, the supermarket, and rows of shared bikes until they reached the subway entrance. Liang Ke finally struggled free.

She poked Zhao Pu with her elbow. “Line 5 is this way. It’s not on your route.”

Zhao Pu’s face turned bright red. He finally told the truth: “I only lied to escape that suffocating atmosphere. It’s lunch break; I don’t need to rush back.”

“Oh, you’re a sneaky one,” Liang Ke mimicked the old neighbor, patting Zhao Pu like an old man. “Then… do you want to come with me?”

“Huh?” “Didn’t you just say it’s a new era and love is free?” “Wha?” Zhao Pu was even more confused.

Liang Ke waved her hand. “Don’t be nervous. I’m going to rescue a young woman who is being oppressed by feudal parents and is fighting for her romantic freedom. This journey is a dragon’s den and a tiger’s lair—do you have the guts to be my bodyguard?”

Zhao Pu was still skeptical. After much questioning, Liang Ke told him the whole story.

“The wealthy world is like a deep sea, but we live in a society ruled by law,” Liang Ke said. “In case Boss Xiao kills me to keep me quiet, go back and tell Teacher Shu: the water and electricity cards are in my desk drawer. The password is the last four digits of my employee ID. Property fees are due on the 10th. And there’s a kid at the university who likes wearing floral shirts with grey suits—he owes me 25 yuan for noodles…”

Zhao Pu used “violence” to stop her rambling. They decided that visiting someone’s home required a gift. They circled back to the supermarket, pooled 300 yuan together, and bought ten pounds of cherries.

“Shocking price! Incredible value!” Liang Ke let out a breath of cold, impoverished, and sorrowful air. “Ten pounds for 310 yuan. My wallet is bleeding. My heart is bleeding.”

Zhao Pu, having been dragged into chipping in, was still patient: “You first-line researchers get high subsidies. It’s way more than us administrative staff.”

Liang Ke searched for a shared bike. “Times have changed. Teacher Shu has the face of a goddess but won’t lend a hand; she has power but won’t use it for personal gain. My bonuses this month are gone. I’m living on base pay. I even had to borrow water and electricity money from her.”

Zhao Pu sighed. “She lives in your house; she should share the costs.”

“She paid for the groceries and bought all the household supplies,” Liang Ke said truthfully, jumping on a bike and gesturing for him to follow. “From every angle, excluding rent, Teacher Shu is selflessly ‘keeping’ me as a sugar baby.”

Zhao Pu pedaled hard to catch up, angry: “Be precise with your words! How is that being ‘kept’? You have a pure superior-subordinate relationship.”

“Sigh,” Liang Ke was still worrying about next month’s expenses. “Life is hard. I don’t really want to refuse, either.”

Zhao Pu shot her a furious look, but Liang Ke sped away. They chased each other until the GPS led them to a high-end community. They were stopped at the gate by security for registration.

The guard asked: “Invited by Boss Xiao? On bikes? Are you bodyguards or domestic help? Salespeople or milkmen? And if you’re milkmen… where’s the milk?”