Crossing the Clouds and Sky to Fall in Love with You - Chapter 40

During the Lunar New Year, aside from visiting relatives, I spent the remaining time practicing singing.

And learning to play the ukulele.

That’s right! As a pampered little princess who reigns supreme at home, I ultimately took the ukulele that Xiaopei (my sister) had temporarily set aside and started playing with it. I searched for popular ukulele tutorials online and even bought some picks for it. Having frequently been around the guitar club before, I knew that people usually don’t use the picks straight out of the package but customize them by filing them down to the angle that suits their preference and habit.

When I took some playing-related questions to the Looser (Lu-she), who might know the answers, he responded with surprise: ‘Xiao Xiao! You’re not planning to learn the guitar and then use it as a weapon for revenge, are you?’ I rolled my eyes at the message. What am I seeking revenge for? Besides, instead of using such an indirect method, I’d rather take a screwdriver and dismantle Lü Hanjun’s heavy motorcycle.

Even during the New Year, the constant socializing and welcoming of guests still felt a bit boring. Just as I was thinking this, a phone call came in. I saw the caller ID and immediately picked up excitedly.

It was Yiting! “Hello?”

‘Haha! Happy New Year!’ After exchanging greetings and pleasantries, Yiting finally got to the point. ‘Xiaoning! Are you free these next few days?’

“These next few days?” Was she asking about the time after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year? “Yeah, I’m available. Why?”

‘School starts in another week! Do you want to come up to my place early and hang out?’

“Go to your place?”

‘Yeah! Come chat at my house, and I can introduce you to my parents at the same time!’

I couldn’t help but laugh! “Hey! What exactly are you up to? I’m not your girl—… just a regular close friend! There’s no need to be that formal, is there? Besides, isn’t your place right near the school? Going to your place is practically the same as going back to mine, just a different location.”

‘Hmph!’ She was probably exasperated after being exposed by me! ‘You are really something, Yu Xiaoning! Just come up early! It’s great when girlfriends get together to chat… Oh, by the way! I bought Chu’s book! Did you buy it yet?’

Speaking of the book… I hadn’t bought it, but now that I was already with the author herself, did I still need to buy it? If I actually spent money on it, Siki (Siqi) might laugh at me. “N-not yet.” Speaking of Chu… should I tell Yiting about the current situation between me and Siki?

‘How come? You’re her biggest fan! Ah, never mind. Just arrange a time, come up early, I want to gossip with you!’

“Gossip? About who?”

‘I’m not telling you yet! Anyway, try to find a chance to come up within the next couple of days, since school is starting soon.’

It was rare for Yiting to be so persistent. I vaguely smelled a conspiracy. “Oh, I’ll talk to my parents about it… I’ll get back to you tonight.”

‘Yeah! I knew Xiaoning was the easiest to talk to. Waiting for your good news! Bye!’

Hanging up the phone, I seriously considered Yiting’s proposal, then went to report to my parents. Unsurprisingly, I got their approval. When I replied to Yiting, she cheered loudly, sounding genuinely happy.

Since I was going up early, I needed to contact one more person!

Compared to Yiting, Siki, my girlfriend, was much calmer. “You’re not unhappy, are you?”

‘No, why would I be unhappy? Actually, it’s a good thing for you to come back early.’

Her voice was lovely, whether through the phone or whispered in my ear. It felt like my heart was about to melt. “Why is it a good thing?”

‘Hmm… to maintain my TV! I haven’t used it at all while you’ve been away.’

“What kind of reason is that! Hurry up! Say something nice!” I put my hands on my hips, even though I knew she couldn’t see me.

She chuckled softly, ‘Alright! I really miss my girlfriend’s warmth. I can’t sleep warm alone in a double bed. If you don’t come back soon, I’ll catch a cold! Is that good enough?’

“You’re really not romantic.”

‘Just figured that out? But, I really am happy… Don’t stay at your classmate’s house for too long, okay? Come back to me soon.’

When she said, “come back to me,” the sudden possessiveness was somehow heartwarming. I bit my lip. “I know, I miss you too… Oh, right! I have something to show you when I get back!” I glanced at the ukulele lying on the chair, suddenly having the urge to bring it back to Taipei.

‘Oh! Okay, I look forward to it.’ She replied quickly, and then called my name, ‘Xiaoning… if possible, I might go back home for a few days soon.’

“I thought you had already gone back.”

‘Not yet… because I want to take you with me.’

I nearly lost my balance! “T-take me? Why? Just to come clean with your brother?”

‘No, it’s because I want to introduce you to my parents.’ Huh? Wasn’t that too fast! ‘Also, didn’t I say that if I go home, I might get tied down there and unable to leave? I meant it; and if I have someone beside me, they might restrain themselves a bit out of consideration for a guest. So, please come back with me, okay?’

“Don’t say ‘please’… Okay, since you put it that way, I’ll go back with you.” Even though I really didn’t want to face Tao Yian under these circumstances, she had requested it this way, and I couldn’t bear to refuse.

That evening, I started packing, but the computer was too troublesome… I had to ship it back again!

And the ukulele—just before leaving home, I decided to buy it. Xiaopei originally wanted to give it to me directly, but I refused, insisting on paying her the money she originally spent on it. “I should thank you for letting me have it; it’s just that you’ll have to buy a new one!”

“What’s the difference? This ukulele is slightly higher-end than what beginners typically use; it would be a shame to match it with my voice.”

I shook my head and hugged my sister gratefully, “Oh! We’re family…” “Sis, you’re being so mushy!”

I took the ukulele and some clothes north. Instead of going back to my apartment first, I went straight to Yiting’s house as she wished.

It was my first time there, and her family welcomed me warmly. Yiting kept saying I was her best friend and how much I looked out for her at school, which made me feel quite embarrassed.

I first told her about the trip up Jade Mountain before the New Year, which drew an astonished look from her. “You went to Jade Mountain? It was so cold! I thought you were very sensitive to the cold?”

“I am, but it was worth it.” I opened my phone, wanting to show her some of the photos Siki took, but when I displayed my phone’s lock screen, she noticed something sharp-eyed.

“You’re not… with your neighbor, are you?”

My hand trembled while operating the phone. “Yeah, what about it?”

“You two seem really close, don’t you?” Yiting’s mouth curved into a strange smile. “Not only staying at her place, but now going to climb Jade Mountain with her… Xiaoning, you’re not…”

What was that pause supposed to mean?

“You’re not actually seeing her as an older sister now, are you?” She poked my cheek. “Seriously, I also kind of feel like you treat me like an older sister. I was wondering, aren’t you the eldest daughter? How come you seem more like the youngest, spoiled by older siblings?”

She, she was going to say that? I was terrified!

“Hmph! Don’t you know I’m the little princess at home? My sister is more like an older sister than I am.”

We chatted about everything under the sun until we lay down in bed, and then I heard her say, “By the way, have you been in contact with Tao Yian recently?”

Her spring mattress was a little firm to sleep on, unlike the soft one at Siki’s place, but after having slept on an eco-friendly brick, this still felt very comfortable.

“Tao Yian? Kind of.” I counted on my fingers. “He contacted you?”

“Yeah! He suddenly called me! That’s the thing I wanted to gossip about with you.” Yiting tugged at the small blanket; her room was cold, so we both had two blankets. “He asked me if I knew any guys around you, and I said no, while wondering why he asked that. Then he asked if I’d been in contact with you recently, and I also said no. I asked him why he suddenly asked me all this, and he just said no, casually talking about ‘Happy New Year’ or something, and then hung up.”

What kind of conversation was that? All “no” this and “no” that! “He didn’t say anything else to you?”

“What else could he say?” Yiting countered, “Or did you contact him, reveal some information, and then he suddenly called me?”

Yiting was sharp, after all, she’s a friend I’ve known for a long time. “Actually, you’re right.”

“How?”

“You guessed it right, I called him… to turn down his pursuit.” I pouted, deciding to be honest.

“Huh! So that’s what happened, you rejected him; what did you say?”

“Of course, I said we weren’t a good match, that I didn’t want to be in a relationship right now. Besides, you know, I feel like I’m not good enough for him.”

“Ugh!” She covered her face in exasperation. “If you say that, how can he possibly give up on you?”

“That’s what I was worried about, so later I added… that I like someone else.”

“No wonder he ran to ask me! The truth is out!” She paused. “Then he must be devastated. First you said you didn’t want a relationship, but the truth is you already had your eyes on someone else.”

I pushed her playfully. “So the thing you wanted to gossip about turned out to be gossiping about me!”

“So, do you actually like someone?”

Should I say yes or no? I felt like either answer would be complicated to explain.

I bit my lip. “Y-yes, I guess.”

Yiting pushed me back. “Why are you asking so many rhetorical questions today? If you do, why haven’t you told me who it is?”

I turned to face her. “I just feel… it’s not the right time yet, but I promise I’ll let you know.”

“Is it a guy from our class? I remember you weren’t in any clubs, except for the guitar club when you were chasing the Merman… Ah! Are you crushing on the Looser?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not the Merman! I don’t only pick guitarists… I’m tired, let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow morning I’ll go back to my place first to drop off my stuff.”

“Wait a minute! You haven’t confessed yet!”

“I came to your house, not to be interrogated!” I suddenly found it funny. “Let’s go to sleep!”