Crossing the Clouds and Sky to Fall in Love with You - Chapter 6

‘Most of the time, I’m alone.’

‘I made a firm decision to no longer deliberately capture people’s faces and smiles…’

What kind of past did Sister Tao, who seemed so strong and independent, go through?

The more I tried not to pry, the more I felt like I was sinking into a mud pit; no matter what, I couldn’t help but think and ponder over her every expression, the deeper meaning in her words, and the seemingly free-spirited but actually helpless look in her eyes…

‘I don’t take pictures of people anymore!’

Why?

I could tell Sister Tao genuinely loved taking photos of people once, especially since she was smiling when she said, “I just love photography,” and “It’s nothing more than switching subjects.” If it were painful, she wouldn’t have partnered with someone to open a studio.

So, she must have encountered something, right?

“Xiao Xiao!”

“Whoa!” I clutched my chest, and the person who had startled me was in turn startled by me, their eyes wide as they stared.

“Lu Jinzhe, what the… heck are you doing!” The ‘Luser’ is named Lu Jinzhe; he’s one of the only two people in Men Mian Yu (Face-Fish) whose full name I know.

“I was just checking on you! What’s wrong? Why are you curled up in a corner muttering ‘why, why’?” The Luser frowned, firing off a string of questions.

The rehearsal had ended at some point. Except for Hanjun, whose whereabouts were unknown, everyone else—including Monk—was looking my way.

“Uh! No, nothing, I was just… thinking about someone.”

“Someone? Oh! Speaking of that!” Sister Saya had approached at some point. “Xiao Xiao! I saw you!”

Her ambiguous expression left me confused. “Saw what?”

“I saw you walking with a guy at school last time… wait, no, he was in a wheelchair. Anyway, you were holding an umbrella for him, and the two of you were chatting and laughing!”

I suddenly understood and felt the senior sister was making a big deal out of nothing. “Pfft! He’s just a transfer student. I saw him getting rained on at first, and no one helped him, and we gradually got closer. We’re just friends; there’s nothing more to it!”

“I thought someone was chasing you. Don’t forget how young and beautiful our Xiao Xiao is! I even told Ah Jun to keep a close eye on his girlfriend, or some guy might snatch her away at any moment!”

“Sister, stop teasing me, okay? If I were really that popular, how would I have been single until now before dating Hanjun?” I couldn’t help but laugh! The senior sister really enjoys poking fun at me!

Sister Saya, who had just returned to the microphone, suddenly yelled—and into the mic! “Your first love! With Lu Hanjun?”

The microphone screeched! Everyone covered their ears! “Y-Yes? What’s so strange about that…”

“Ah Jun really hit the jackpot!” The senior sister rolled her eyes, then dramatically leaned backward as if fainting. Jack, her boyfriend, immediately reached out to steady her. “I need chocolate! My blood sugar is too low from being shocked by Xiao Xiao!”

I giggled. This was the harmonious and joyful atmosphere of Men Mian Yu! It was great that Hanjun could be here singing.

After the rehearsal, as I followed them out of the practice room, I saw Hanjun, who had disappeared for a while, standing in the corner of the hallway, talking to someone.

“Hey! Ah Jun, so you were here! I already helped you with your guitar…” The Luser, walking in front, held up the guitar. Hanjun turned his head when he heard the voice, and the person hiding in the blind spot also finally peeked out—

It was a petite girl with long hair. I recognized her; she was Ivy, the soprano singer who performs at Plato. I remember her because her style of blending classical vocal techniques into pop music makes her voice very ethereal and unique.

Hanjun had been talking to her here? For at least ten minutes? So much so that he forgot to go back in to collect his instrument.

“What are you doing here?” The Luser eyed her with a strange look.

Ivy shrugged, glancing at the Men Mian Yu members. “I have to perform my set too, why can’t I be here… Oh! There’s one more? A new band member?” Her large eyes fixed on me, and that inexplicable imposing presence made me feel a little breathless.

“Yes! Does having one more member bother you?” It was Sister Saya who spoke, more rudely than I expected.

“Hmph! I just heard someone shout into the mic until it peaked in the practice room. Breaking equipment isn’t a big deal, but don’t blow out your voice; Men Mian Yu’s status… might be at risk.” Her unaffected sarcasm immediately made the senior sister’s face turn ugly!

“I advise you to talk less.” Hanjun finally spoke. Ivy looked back at him; he ignored her, took the guitar from the Luser, and stepped out of the hallway.

“Let’s go, don’t cause trouble.” Jack quickly intervened to smooth things over, then hurried Sister Saya out. Although there were more of us, it felt like her single presence had suppressed our morale… The relaxed mood after the rehearsal was instantly ruined by her.

Just as I walked past Ivy, she subtly bumped me with her shoulder. I paused, and she took the opportunity to say with a smile, “This is not a place for fans, little girl.”

This… what the heck! She doesn’t look much older than me, does she? She’s about my height too! “You…”

I was about to retort, but she had already walked toward the practice room in her high heels, her haughty posture like a queen.

“Xiao Xiao?” Jack called me.

“Hmm… she…” Complaining would only cause them more trouble… Forget it. “It’s nothing.”

As we left Plato, the sky was a little gloomy, and the wind was chilly, but a jacket was enough to block it. The senior sister and the Luser were already surrounding Hanjun, asking about what had just happened.

I wanted to know what they had talked about too.

“It was pretty much what I said; she just criticized our band.” Hanjun gave a very brief explanation.

“Then why did you talk to her for so long? You didn’t even come back to collect your guitar?” Sister Saya was clearly unconvinced.

“That’s because she kept preventing me from leaving and threatened me about our rehearsal and performance schedule…”

“Who does she think she is? She’s just a resident singer; are you such a coward?”

Jack’s face changed, and he stepped into their conversation. “Hey! Enough, Luser, go get your bike. Saya, you too… don’t pressure Ah Jun, he was also doing it for the good of the band. Don’t forget, Ivy’s band is eyeing us like a tiger. Ah Jun being careful isn’t wrong.”

“Careful my ass! That was just groveling! Didn’t you see how that woman provoked me just now? You just focused on pushing me away and didn’t even say a word to defend me!”

“That’s because you don’t understand the situation…” Jack’s expression turned even nastier.

The senior sister sneered, launching a merciless jab. “Right! You’re the only one who understands the situation, aren’t you? We used to be a big deal at Plato, but now that I’m back, our status is even lower. What kind of band leader…”

“Sister!” I couldn’t stand by and watch anymore; I had to cut in before the most hurtful words came out! “Don’t be like that! Some words, once said, can’t be taken back… they only hurt your own people and achieve nothing!”

Sister Saya froze, and Hanjun and Monk quickly took the opportunity to mediate. The tense atmosphere finally eased a little.

“Is everyone just extra irritable because of midterms?” Jack said with a wry smile. The senior sister, who didn’t have midterms, awkwardly looked away. “Ah! How about this? It’s been a while since we had a ‘staff outing.’ The exam week is over anyway, so how about we go for a night drive and grab a late-night snack tonight to relax a bit? What do you say?”

The band leader’s suggestion was unanimously approved without question! Facing setbacks and slumps, complete relaxation might be the best remedy.

“Xiao Xiao, you come too. You’ll be riding with Ah Jun anyway.” Jack formally invited me, and Hanjun glanced at me and nodded.

“Thanks for earlier,” he whispered to me, subtly gesturing toward the senior sister, who was putting on her helmet.

I smiled. “It’s nothing!”

Although an internal dispute had been resolved, I was still bothered by the words Ivy had thrown at me before leaving.

The night drive was very enjoyable. We went up Yangming Mountain to admire the night view and have fun. The Men Mian Yu group is truly hard to control when they get crazy! Our four cars were driving back and forth, and we even raced a little on the mountain road.

It wasn’t until we were about to disperse that I finally got a chance to be alone with him.

“What exactly did you talk about with her?”

Hanjun pouted. “It was pretty much what I said; she first criticized Sister Saya’s screaming singing style as outdated, then said Jack’s drumming skills were poor, the Luser was often spaced out, and Monk was easily over-hyped… she said Men Mian Yu just covers popular songs, lacks originality, and has little distinctive style, and so on. Do you think I could say all that in front of them?”

Well… no, I guess not.

“Then what is Ivy’s background? I feel like you and Jack are both very afraid… See you tomorrow, Sister!” I waved to Jack and the senior sister. The Luser and Monk were still sitting and drinking, probably with more to chat about.

“Let’s get on the bike and talk on the way home, it’s getting late.”

Just like when we came, I wrapped my arms around his waist, and he slowly coasted down the slope. A few cars passed us on the way down, but most of the time, it was just the two of us on the scooter, creating a strange sense of being isolated from the world.

“Ivy… I heard she is the boss’s niece.”

“What… niece!” I had no idea she had that kind of background all this time!

“I only heard it from Jack later.” The mountain road was winding, and Hanjun concentrated on riding without looking back. “When Sister Saya was performing, our Men Mian Yu’s status was unshakeable, but when I came to fill in before, their band got more space…”

“So… that’s why Jack didn’t argue with the senior sister!” Because the problem actually stemmed from the senior sister’s absence due to illness!

“It’s also partly because I don’t sing well!”

“Nonsense!” I tightly hugged his waist, pressing my face closer to him. “How can you not sing well? Sister Saya even praised you, saying you’re the most sought-after member of Men Mian Yu!”

I shouted loudly; he must have heard it, but he didn’t reply immediately. We were silent for a long time until we passed a section with more people and stopped at a red light. He finally turned his head, held my hand, and said, “Thank you. Only you support me with all your heart.”

“Silly. If I don’t support you, who will I support?” I pouted. He took off my helmet and kissed me passionately at the deserted intersection—it was a bit crazy, but the surge of sweetness in my heart undoubtedly overcame my reserve.

He cupped my face. The night wind was a little cold, but his hands were warm. “Sleep at my place tonight?”

He was actually asking me to make love… Well, I wasn’t unwilling, but… “I have an eight o’clock class tomorrow.” I looked down, my face feeling hot.

“Let’s go back and grab your notes and stuff, okay? Stay with me tonight…”

He knew very well that I would never refuse his request.

Because, I love him.