Crossing the Clouds and Sky to Fall in Love with You - Chapter 4

The unpleasant conversation with Tao Yi-an disappeared completely in the next day’s class. He reverted to his usual calm and cultured self. I breathed a sigh of relief. Through my introduction, Yi-ting also slowly became acquainted with him, and it seemed the two of them also got along well!

It was Friday, and I wandered to the guitar club room to find Han-chun. After a quick meal, they rode off to practice with the band. Han-chun said he would come over to my place tonight to stay with me, which made me a little happy!

“When are you going to let me go to your place?” I didn’t actually mind having my boyfriend stay overnight at mine all the time, but… I also really wanted to understand him more! Why so mysterious?

“I’ll find time, promise! Next week at the latest, okay?” Lu-she was egging him on from the side, saying his place was a pigsty. Given his romantic, almost unkempt nature, I somewhat believed him! After all, he even kept one of his precious guitars at my place, didn’t he?

A light rain began in the evening. The damp, chilly feeling crept up my ankles, and my capri pants suddenly weren’t warm enough. I microwaved a bottle of hot milk at the convenience store. After drinking it, I felt much more comfortable. I used a hot dog bun as my dinner for the day; someone would bring me a late-night snack anyway!

Climbing the apartment stairs, I hadn’t gone up many steps before I heard several heavy thuds. Strange? It sounded like someone was moving something very heavy.

I followed the stairs up and found two large suitcases at the landing corner of the second floor.

“Whose are these…” I frowned; it was very inconvenient to pass with them blocking the way! I lived on the third floor. I looked up and saw a figure flickering outside my apartment door. I stepped over another section of stairs, and the answer was revealed—someone was moving in! A massive suitcase was just being dragged onto the last step, and the owner of the luggage let out a breath, sweating profusely.

He… er! No, she! She put her hands on her hips and wiped her chin, her gaze meeting mine as I stood by the other two suitcases. I noticed the door where she stood, the one directly opposite my studio apartment, was open.

“It’s you!” I opened my eyes in surprise. “You just moved in?”

She frowned and spoke with a puzzled smile. “Yes! Um… have we met before?”

Of course we had! It looked like she had forgotten. The woman I’d identified as a paparazzo didn’t have a large telephoto lens around her neck this time, but she was wearing the same outfit: a white top and jeans, though she had added a scarf and was wearing a pair of heeled women’s shoes. Looking up from my angle, she looked like a giant approaching one-eighty centimeters tall—which naturally reminded me of Monk, who was the tallest in the Facefish band.

“Last week during the heavy rain, you were standing underneath taking pictures of the metal gate with your big backpack.”

“Oh, oh! I think I remember…” She tilted her head, her smile seeming a bit uncertain.

“Are all these yours?” I lightly tapped the handle of the suitcase next to me.

“Yes, that box is very important! Please be gentle!”

My hand hovered in the air, meeting her nervous and anxious gaze. “Are you moving everything by yourself?”

“Yes.”

“I live here too, and we’re both girls…” My mind processed the thought for only a second. “How about I help you move?”

“Oh, no! That’s too much trouble!” She looked pleasantly surprised.

I was amused by her exaggerated expression. “It’s no trouble! I know the inconvenience of a girl living alone far from home; I’ve been boarding out for three years now… This box, right?”

“Wait! That one is full of my cameras and lenses!” she exclaimed. I suddenly found it quite fun; this box of valuables seemed to have become some kind of trigger. “Please don’t touch that one for now!”

All telephoto lenses? That must be expensive! I gave up the idea of helping her move that box. “What about the other one?”

“That box has clothes, it’s lighter.”

“Then I’ll help you with this one! Heave-ho!”

“Thank you so much!” After moving the items, she invited me into her room. The layout of this studio apartment was similar to mine, but the space was noticeably larger.

“It’s nothing, girls have to help each other out!”

She removed her scarf and swayed toward the refrigerator. Her long limbs inexplicably gave the impression of dancing. “To thank you, I’ll treat you to a drink… Do you drink beer?”

I shook my head. “I don’t touch alcohol! I break out in a rash.”

“That’s a shame!” She scratched her head. “Coke?”

I wasn’t particularly fond of carbonated drinks either, but her expression suggested only two choices. “Okay, Coke then.”

We sat on her still-unmade wooden bed frame, drinking. She had beer, and I had Coke, with the damp, chilly drizzle falling outside the window. Honestly, it was a strange feeling; we had only met once just moments before, and now, simply because I offered to help, we were sitting together.

“Um, hiccup… You don’t look like a student.”

Even sitting down, she was clearly a good half-head taller than me. With beer on her lips, I smelled a very familiar malty scent. “No, I’m not a student… I moved here simply because the rent is cheap.”

“You’re quite lucky. Although this apartment is old, many students compete for it, so it’s not easy to rent.”

“Mmm… You said you’ve lived here for three years, so you’re a junior?”

“Yes!” Another hiccup. I gently patted my chest. I still had half a bottle of Coke left and already felt like I couldn’t finish it. “I live across the hall. My name is Yu Xiao-ning. If you want to know where to find cheap and delicious food around here, or ask about general living information, I’ll tell you!” Meeting is fate, especially such a tall and intellectual beauty is rare.

“Thank you! You’re really nice.” She smiled and raised her beer bottle. “Tao Si-qi, I like taking pictures and writing things everywhere.”

Taking pictures, I can tell! “Are you a backpacker?”

She narrowed her eyes in thought. I noticed a small mole on the right side of her nose bridge. “I suppose so?”

I looked at the glass bottle and clinked it against hers.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Han-chun came in the evening, bringing many photos and recordings from their rehearsal. I looked at the scenes, and Saya’s voice soared directly into my heart from the phone speaker. This was how I participated in their rehearsals.

I also mentioned the news about the gorgeous woman who had moved in next door. He was adjusting the red guitar he kept at my place as he listened, not seeming very focused.

“…I wonder what she takes pictures of? I saw her camera, it looked very professional!”

“Since she’s a backpacker, she’s probably photographing people or scenery?”

I laughed out loud. “Oh, come on! What else can a camera take pictures of besides those two things?”

He seemed to realize the mistake in his words, tilted his head, and said, “That’s true too!”

I continued listening to Saya’s recording, occasionally interspersed with a few live strumming sounds and humming. The recording finally ended. I covered my mouth with both hands, my eyes slightly moist. “It’s really wonderful, both your playing and her singing… I really wish I could have a chance to participate in your rehearsals so I could hear the most authentic performance!”

“We’re rehearsing again tomorrow.”

My eyes lit up! “Really?”

He gave me an amusing look. “Why would I lie to you?” He put down the guitar, rose from the chair, and came to the bedside, rubbing my hair. “I’ll take you tomorrow. Saya and the others probably won’t mind having their loyal fan listening in.”

“Are you serious? You’re not lying to me?” He nodded, and I genuinely jumped up with joy! “Yay! That’s great, I can watch Facefish rehearse live!”

“Yu Xiao-xiao! If you jump any more, the person downstairs will complain, you know?”

“What does it matter? Just this once! You’re the best to me, I love you!” I jumped onto him, clinging like a koala. He held my hips with both hands. It started with a few playful light kisses, then, drawn in by his close-up, mesmerizing eyes, I gently stroked his eyebrow with my thumb. Then he kissed me, the intimate contact of our tongues more intense than usual… He gently placed me back on the bed, and his muscular body firmly encircled me.

“If I’m not good to you, who should I be good to? Silly Xiao-xiao!”

I smiled, touched and joyful. He continued to kiss me, his hand slipping inside my shirt to caress my abdomen. I trembled all over from the warmth of his palm; the desire in his eyes clearly revealed the only message.

I pouted shyly and whispered my request in his ear—”Let’s… let’s shower first.”

On Sunday, their rehearsal was still at Plato. They had been using the rehearsal room there for some time. Yesterday’s photos and recordings told me that despite their meticulousness, the atmosphere during rehearsal must have been relaxed and pleasant.

But today felt completely different from yesterday. It was my first time there, so I wondered if I was affecting them. But Jack’s expression was grave from the very first note, and Saya’s strained voice explained everything.

Lu-she and Monk, on the other hand, seemed a little lost; they didn’t seem to know what was going on between the two leaders of the band.

Only A-chun was playing at his usual level, looking unconcerned.

“Stop! Lu-she, you hit a wrong note! What’s wrong! How many times is this today?” Saya snapped! Lu-she turned his face away and muttered something that inevitably made Saya even angrier.

Han-chun finally couldn’t stand it and leaned in to whisper a few words to Saya. Jack waved at me. “Xiao-xiao, can you help us order takeout? It’s about time… Let’s eat first and continue later, the condition isn’t very good today…”

More accurately, the atmosphere wasn’t good.

I took down everyone’s order and volunteered to go out and buy it for them, except for Monk’s pizza. Before I left, Han-chun looked at me, and I had a hunch but didn’t know what kind of closed-door meeting they planned to hold by making an excuse for me to buy lunch.

I was a little stunned, never expecting to encounter such a situation on my first time attending their rehearsal…

But, I believed they would be fine! After all, everyone had a good relationship, and the band members had been working together for at least three years… It must be okay!

I not only bought the lunch they wanted but also took out a few cups of bubble tea. Jack praised me for being thoughtful. Everyone’s mood seemed to have calmed down with the food. Saya started smiling, and so did the others.

A few minutes before the rehearsal resumed, Saya clearly intended to go out for some air. Before leaving the rehearsal room, she specifically waved at me, “Xiao-xiao, come here for a moment!” She had a cigarette dangling from her mouth, just not lit yet.

“What is it, Saya?”

She brushed her newly dyed orange bangs back and took my hand. “Let’s go outside and chat!”

“But…” Rehearsal was about to start!

“We’ll let A-chun sing first. It doesn’t matter if I’m not there.”

Oh… Is that so?

Leaving the rehearsal room, without the air conditioning, and facing the blazing sun, the weather felt stuffy even with a slight breeze.

The back door of Plato led to a paid parking lot, and it was the lunch hour, so there weren’t many empty spaces.

“Thank you for coming.” Saya put her arm around me and gave me a sisterly hug. She smiled and lit her cigarette. I stared at the plume of thick smoke she exhaled, completely baffled. “If it weren’t for you, I think the rehearsal atmosphere would have just kept sinking.”

“Oh, oh! It was nothing…” I just helped them buy lunch.

“It’s a bit embarrassing to have you see this mess on your first visit…” She laughed self-mockingly, flicking off the ash.

“That’s your style, Saya, I don’t mind. I think Lu-she and the others feel the same.”

Saya had indigenous ancestry, and although it wasn’t visible in her appearance, anyone could guess it after hearing the explosive power of her voice. Her infectious and controlled singing was the key to Facefish’s popularity. I knew she always sang with emotion, so people who didn’t know her might think she was a little hysterical.

But I knew Saya was just a little passionate; she was very good to people, especially once she considered them one of her own.

“Saya, the atmosphere at the start of practice today was bad. What exactly happened?”

“You don’t know… giving us this time slot from ten to one in the afternoon is clearly deliberate sabotage!” Saya glared fiercely at the back door. I shivered, probably knowing who that knife-sharp look was meant for. “It’s so early, and after deducting lunch time, we won’t even have two and a half hours to practice! How long has it been since I was scheduled to rehearse at this time since I started performing here?”

Not to mention that Facefish was now arguably the most popular act at Plato.

“I heard Han-chun say before… that you were looking for other…”

“Shh!” She touched her lips with a finger, slightly nervous. “Don’t talk about it here, keep things like this private.”

I covered my mouth. Saya glanced at the surveillance camera and immediately smiled. “This matter is still uncertain. For now, this place is barely bearable… It’s also a very important stage and exposure opportunity for us, supporting the band’s expenses… We absolutely cannot give up easily.”

“I know this place is important.” I nodded in agreement.

Saya gently exhaled the smoke and pulled me away from the surveillance area. “Xiao-xiao, how are you and A-chun getting along?” The topic suddenly changed, and her tone instantly softened, catching me off guard!

“J-just fine!” I bit my lip, avoiding her gaze.

“You’ve known each other for a long time; it wasn’t easy to finally get together. Do you feel any pressure?”

“Not really.”

“Even though you met us as a fan, the others and I have long considered you a part of Facefish.” She took a deep drag of her cigarette, looking up at the autumn sun. “A-chun is lucky to have secured you!”

“How so? I’m so ordinary, Han-chun is the rising star… Lots of female fans are crazy about him and Jack!”

“Xiao-xiao, you…” Saya sighed and tossed the cigarette butt into the drain. “Don’t underestimate yourself. A-chun is talented, but he’s also very reliant on you… Among our band, A-chun is the most sought-after. You have to take good care of him for us, understood?”

“What are you talking about, Saya, you’re joking! Everyone in Facefish has such a good relationship, he can’t leave you guys.”

Saya only smiled mysteriously at my words. The autumn sun overhead made her smile even brighter. Perhaps I was momentarily mesmerized? So, I didn’t seriously try to fathom the deeper meaning in her smile.

It wasn’t until later, looking back, that I finally understood what she meant—

If only I had figured it out sooner.