The Third Year After The Breakup, He Knelt and Begged to Get Back Together - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: How Dare You… Qi Mingfeng…

Qi Mingfeng was puzzled: “Is there something wrong with this song? Has it already been promised to someone else?”

Zhou Zhixi: “No, not that.”

Qi Mingfeng understood: “Oh—so this is one you’re keeping for yourself.”

Although Zhou Zhixi was famous for composing, he was a singer himself, and a decent one at that. It was normal to keep songs he particularly liked for his own use.

But Zhou Zhixi still shook his head: “The melody of this song is a bit hard to control; I can’t sing it well.”

He hesitated for a moment before continuing: “To be honest, when I wrote this song, I had you in mind, Senior. Your voice and technique are fine, but I feel this song requires very abundant—even overly abundant—emotion. With your current physical condition…”

Qi Mingfeng understood now.

Zhou Zhixi must love this song very much and couldn’t find a suitable outsider to sing it. But if he gave it to Qi Mingfeng, he was afraid that if the emotions were too intense, Qi Mingfeng’s body wouldn’t handle it; yet he also feared that if Qi Mingfeng relied entirely on technique, it would ruin the work.

Qi Mingfeng felt much better after taking his medicine, and since it was just this one song—and they weren’t in a recording studio or on stage—he didn’t need to go all out.

“I’ll try it first. If I can’t hold up or if you think it’s not working, we’ll stop.”

Zhou Zhixi: “Okay, then give it a try, Senior.”

There were many instruments on the second floor; Zhou Zhixi chose the most basic one: the piano.

The two exchanged a look, and Zhou Zhixi pressed the keys—

Qi Mingfeng threw himself into it from the very first beat. He was already a singer who easily channeled emotion, but the melody Zhou Zhixi played pulled at him, dragging him deeper and deeper.

As he sang, he actually felt an urge to cry.

He seemed to see a banyan tree that blotted out the sky, with a youth sitting beneath it laughing wantonly.

Then the scene seemed to turn to ash and void, and he saw only a pair of tearful peach-blossom eyes.

“You have not spoken of my talent being too low to accompany you to new lands,

You have not spoken of wanting to discard me long ago to find someone new to create new meaning.

Perhaps you have already hinted at it,

But it is I who refuse

To let go.”

The song ended. Qi Mingfeng rested for a moment before pulling himself out of it. He wanted to ask Zhou Zhixi what he thought, but when he turned around, he saw Zhou Zhixi’s face covered in tears.

Qi Mingfeng was startled and ran over: “Zhixi, are you okay?”

Zhou Zhixi looked up at him.

That gaze was so complex he had never seen anything like it; it was full of emotion, yet he felt as though he were merely an object in Zhou Zhixi’s eyes, making his spine go a bit cold.

But soon, Zhou Zhixi lunged at him, tears and snot smearing all over his chest.

Qi Mingfeng was flustered: “Alright, alright. You were just lecturing me, so why are you having such a big reaction yourself?”

Zhou Zhixi took a while to recover. With a tear-stained face, he said embarrassedly: “I’m just moved. My ‘child’ has finally found his other reliable father.”

Although some creators refer to their works as their children, suddenly becoming a “father” made Qi Mingfeng a bit speechless.

He pulled out some tissues to wipe the snot and tears off Zhou Zhixi, saying jokingly: “You really love this ‘child’ of yours that much?”

Zhou Zhixi nodded heavily: “How could I not love the songs I write? Senior, do you think you can handle it? If you can, let’s release this one.”

Qi Mingfeng estimated his own condition.

This was just singing on his own second floor. If he entered a recording studio, the energy required would likely be much greater. For his current body, it was actually a bit of a stretch.

But if he gritted his teeth and kept his medicine with him, he should be able to pull it off, even if it meant overextending himself a little.

However, in his view, the whole point of nursing his health was to spend it on music. If he didn’t take the chance now, wouldn’t that be putting the cart before the horse?

Qi Mingfeng: “It should be no problem.”

Zhou Zhixi: “Then I’ll head to City D. I wrote this song while I was hanging out there, and a lot of my things are kept there. I’ll also have someone tidy up the recording studio. You should get ready too.”

Qi Mingfeng hadn’t expected Zhou Zhixi to be in such a rush.

But he liked it.

He understood Zhou Zhixi’s passion for music.

Qi Mingfeng: “Okay, I’ll wait for your word.”

Zhou Zhixi washed his face and packed his things to leave. Before walking out, he turned back: “By the way, Senior, I remember your brother is also in City D, right? Which hospital is he in? I’ll go visit him. Do you have anything you want me to bring to him?”

Qi Mingfeng felt that since Zhou Zhixi and Qi Huan had never met, there was no need for a special trip to the hospital. But he suddenly thought of something.

Qi Huan’s medical fees were not a small amount. Qi Huan was smart; it would be difficult if he ever guessed that He Xian was the one providing the money.

But it would be different if he attributed the medical fees to Zhou Zhixi.

Qi Huan knew he and Zhou Zhixi were fellow students, and Zhou Zhixi was wealthy—that bit of medical fees was just a drop in the bucket to him. The money could be paid back slowly, and the psychological burden would be minimized.

But how should he broach this…

He got along well with Zhou Zhixi, but it was strictly about music. He had never thought of getting anything from the other party; he wasn’t the type who liked to trouble people.

Seeing his hesitation, Zhou Zhixi smiled proactively: “Is there some difficulty, Senior? Don’t be so formal with me.”

Qi Mingfeng spoke tentatively: “Could you pretend that you were the one who paid for Ah Huan’s treatment fees?”

Zhou Zhixi: “Eh?”

Qi Mingfeng: “If it’s a trouble, then forget it.”

Zhou Zhixi: “What trouble could it be? I’m just a bit puzzled. It’s okay, if it’s inconvenient, you don’t have to say. Don’t worry, my acting skills are decent.”

Qi Mingfeng hadn’t told Zhou Zhixi before because he felt his history with He Xian was too humiliating—to use an internet term, he had dated a “criminal record,” and now he was married to that record.

But since he was asking Zhou Zhixi for help, he told him a bit about the situation. Firstly, since the person was willing to help, it wasn’t good to keep hiding things; secondly, with a “script,” it would be easier for Qi Mingfeng to act, making it less likely for Qi Huan to discover the truth.

After listening, Zhou Zhixi fully demonstrated a lyricist’s command of language; words that were more insulting than actual profanity flowed out of him as if they were free.

After venting his anger, Zhou Zhixi asked: “So, Senior, what do you plan to do now? I know a few lawyers with good reputations. If you need them, I can refer them to you. I’ll cover all the legal fees—just consider it a way to gain some merit by punishing evil.”

Qi Mingfeng: “Thank you. Let’s wait a bit. Qi Huan’s relapse gave me a real scare. If I need it then, I might really have to trouble you.”

“What ‘trouble’? Our teacher has disappeared to who-knows-where; you’re the only close person I have left in this world,” Zhou Zhixi laughed. “If you feel bad about it, find some time to sing for me. I love hearing you sing.”

A warm current flowed through Qi Mingfeng’s heart; he only felt that it was a pity they hadn’t become friends sooner.

Because they chatted for a while longer, the time grew late. He and Zhou Zhixi went out for lunch… by the clock, it might as well have been afternoon tea. Only then did Zhou Zhixi set off for City D.

Qi Mingfeng was left alone in the villa. It was a bit early to go back and listen to the XB lectures, but too late to do anything else.

Qi Mingfeng held the steering wheel with both hands when his eyes were suddenly flashed by something.

He looked down slightly at the ring on his finger. Before the traffic light changed, he turned the steering wheel and merged into the flow of traffic in another lane.

…

7:00 PM.

He Xian knew that Qi Mingfeng wasn’t willing to stay at home. Since he was out with Zhou Zhixi, he certainly wouldn’t eat dinner at home; he might even go out to have some wild fun and wouldn’t return until the middle of the night.

He was already prepared to go out and “catch” him.

But when he arrived home, he saw the shoes Qi Mingfeng wore today at the entrance.

He was quite surprised.

He hung up his coat and followed the sound inside, finding Qi Mingfeng sitting in the dining room leisurely eating.

A pungent smell hit him square in the face.

He Xian was a bit of a germaphobe, but the fact that Qi Mingfeng was at home suppressed his fastidiousness.

He didn’t say anything about Qi Mingfeng eating Luosifen (River Snail Rice Noodles) at home, only saying: “Did you not have Aunt Sun cook? Did you bring a portion for me as well?”

Qi Mingfeng nodded and pointed to another bag: “Yours.”

Joy welled up in He Xian’s heart.

As expected, Qi Mingfeng responded to the soft approach rather than the hard one.

He had relented this morning and let Qi Mingfeng go find Zhou Zhixi, and Qi Mingfeng returned the favor by coming home on time in the evening and even bringing him food.

He tried to suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth but couldn’t, so he simply gave up, sat down opposite Qi Mingfeng, and began to unpack his meal.

But halfway through unpacking, he felt something was wrong.

He received a notification for every cent Qi Mingfeng spent, but there had been no expenses from Qi Mingfeng today.

He Xian: “Did Zhou Zhixi buy this?”

Qi Mingfeng had just finished eating; he wiped his mouth: “I bought it.”

He Xian said suspiciously: “I didn’t see any payment record…”

As he spoke, he noticed something: “Where is your ring?”

Qi Mingfeng raised his hand. His long-fingered ring finger was bare; the ring He Xian had slipped on him during the day was nowhere to be seen.

Qi Mingfeng looked at his own hand and said lightly with a smile: “Sold it.”

Those two simple words were like a heavy hammer smashing into He Xian’s heart: “Sold it?”

He stood up abruptly and grabbed Qi Mingfeng’s collar across the table: “You sold the ring I gave you?!”

The smile still lingered on Qi Mingfeng’s lips: “I still prefer to spend my own money. Unfortunately, since I can’t use my own cards, I could only sell it for some cash. Five hundred yuan—quite a lot of money.”

He Xian’s hands were shaking with rage: “I designed that personally and made it for you with my own hands, and you sold it for five hundred?”

Qi Mingfeng: “There was no certificate of authenticity. Even if there was, anyone who knows their stuff would see your name engraved on it and wouldn’t dare take it. I could only sell it to a roadside stall. They didn’t recognize the material of the band and even said second-hand diamonds aren’t worth much. Five hundred yuan was the price after negotiation.”

He pried He Xian’s fingers off one by one. Specifically, when he got to the ring finger that was wearing its own ring, he pressed down hard on the ring: “Why so angry? When you destroyed the things I cared about, I didn’t raise a hand against you, did I?”

Qi Mingfeng bypassed the table, planning to return to the study to study.

Thud—!

Before he could take two steps, He Xian grabbed him by the neck and pinned him against the wall.

He Xian’s eyes were red with rage, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as if he wanted to snap his throat. But surprisingly, Qi Mingfeng didn’t feel much force on his neck.

“How dare you… Qi Mingfeng… how dare you!”

Qi Mingfeng clearly saw the overflowing pain in He Xian’s eyes, but he remained unmoved. He leaned against the wall and said indifferently: “Can’t take even this? The ‘lifetime’ you want is still very long.”

He Xian’s fist was raised high; Qi Mingfeng could even hear the sound of the wind it stirred. He instinctively closed his eyes, and the sound of a heavy impact rang out beside his ear.

A biological instinct of fear toward violence made Qi Mingfeng’s heart skip a beat. He remained still for two seconds before reopening his eyes.

He Xian’s hand was seeping blood, but he seemed not to see it. He gave Qi Mingfeng a savage glare and slammed the door as he left.