MTMIO Chapter 100
by VolareChapter 100: Say You Love Me
The orange soda stain on the carpet was cleaned up and dried with a hairdryer.
Lu You, refreshed from her shower, leaned against the sofa and sat on the rug in front of the fireplace.
The newly added firewood was still burning, the flames baking the nearby air. Her skin, drying in the heated air, was like an uneaten orange segment on the coffee table, taut with a thin layer.
For some reason, she just loved watching the flames inside, the shapes changing as they burned, like a performance of a Ravel melody.
Occasionally, sparks would fly in the firebox, erupting into a small cluster of fireworks.
Yue Yunxi came over with another can of orange soda, lightly touching her face with it.
Cool and slightly damp, like a black dog’s nose sniffing her cheek.
The tiny bubbles inside sounded like a soundtrack to the rising sparks in the firebox, crackling and popping.
The tab had already been opened.
She had just finished a glass of water, but was still thirsty.
Lu You took it and tilted her head back, taking a sip. It was sweet and fizzy, the bubbles dancing merrily in her mouth.
“Tao Xin is trending number one,” Yue Yunxi said, sitting on the sofa, her leg touching Lu You’s.
Lu You “oh-ed” and asked, “Did she get first place?”
As she asked, she felt a little dazed.
She remembered when Tao Xin hadn’t given up the cello, her first time on stage in a competition. She and Yue Yunxi had gone with her.
That day, she had a bad cold, wearing a mask and feeling drowsy, sitting in the audience, and falling asleep while listening.
When she woke up, her head was resting on Yue Yunxi’s shoulder, and a warm hand warmer was placed in her hand, still warm.
Then she rubbed her sore eyes and asked Yue Yunxi the same question: Did she get first place?
Yue Yunxi didn’t look at her, and very softly “mm-ed.”
But this time, Yue Yunxi looked at her and replied, “No, Chen Xiguan got first place.”
Yue Yunxi handed her the tablet.
On the Weibo hot search list, she clicked on the #TaoXinSingsForYou# tag, and the popular Weibo post that popped up was a video posted by an entertainment gossip account.
In the video cover, Tao Xin was wearing a gray Garnish skirt gown, holding a silver trophy in one hand and a microphone in the other. Her fair cheeks were lit up with a hint of warmth, and her apricot eyes were tearful and glistening.
“The irreplaceable pure and innocent face of the entertainment industry” wasn’t just a random label.
Clicking on the video, Tao Xin’s voice, faintly choked with sobs, came from inside: “… Why call it eleven? Because, family, friends, lovers, all have twelve strokes in their names. But in my life, each one is missing just a little bit.
Family is missing a little, lovers are missing a little, friends are missing a little.
I crave completeness, crave for the emotions established with them to be full to overflowing, but I also fear that these little by little gaps will become bigger and bigger.
Because of this fear, I was reckless, robbing Peter to pay Paul, and finally ended up with everything collapsing.
I’ve been struggling these past few days, terrified that after I tell everything, all the things I worked so hard to get, the bigger stage, the opportunity for more people to hear my songs, my music dream, I’ll lose them.
But I don’t want to see the people I care about stuck in the center of the vortex anymore.
All the things, all the truth you gossipers want to know, are organized on Eleven’s account. The main account is controlled by the company, so I can only post on the side account.”
Finally, the tears welling up in Tao Xin’s eyes slid down her cheeks. She bent her straight back and bowed in apology, “I’m sorry, I’ve disappointed you again.”
The video stopped here.
Lu You held the tablet, her heart filled with mixed feelings. For a moment, she felt pity because of the word “again.”
A crackling sound came from the fireplace, like dry, cold firewood being scorched by the red-hot fire.
Lu You took a deep breath and said, “When I was little, it must have been during a class meeting. The teacher asked us, what’s the thing you want to say to your parents the most, but can’t bring yourself to say?”
Yue Yunxi didn’t say anything, her fingers stroking Lu You’s long, loose hair, indicating that she was listening attentively.
“When it was Tao Xin’s turn, class had just ended, so she didn’t say her answer like the other kids.”
“But you must have asked her in private.”
Lu You smiled and nodded, “That night, I went to freeload a meal, and after dinner, I practiced piano with her in the piano room. Hiss–”
The soft hair fell from Yue Yunxi’s porcelain-white fingertips.
Lu You covered the spot where her hair was pulled painfully, glancing at her hesitantly.
“Not on purpose,” Yue Yunxi kindly accepted her suspicion, and said gently, “And then?”
As if she really wasn’t jealous, and didn’t deliberately pull her hair.
Lu You didn’t think much of it and continued, “Then the power suddenly went out in the house. You went with Auntie Yue to find the property management, and we huddled in the living room waiting for you to come back. Then I remembered the question the teacher asked, and asked Tao Xin.”
“What did she say?”
–“I’m sorry, I’ve disappointed you again.”
In her memory, Tao Xin’s casual and unrestrained tone overlapped with her feigned relaxed tone.
“She said it with a smile,” Lu You gripped the can in her hand, her emotions falling with her trembling eyelashes, and said in a low voice, “I thought she said it with a smile.”
Lu You swallowed, “I thought she had already come to terms with the fact that her parents were biased, no longer obsessed with getting recognition, no longer caring about her parents’ suppression, comparison, and denial, and could say it freely, casually, and even with a hint of provocation: I’m sorry, I’ve disappointed you again. But it doesn’t matter, I’m very satisfied with myself.”
But that wasn’t the case.
Only today did Lu You realize that on that night when the power went out, she didn’t hear laughter.
It was Tao Xin’s suppressed crying.
The child who wasn’t properly guided was never satisfied with herself from beginning to end.
In the unfocused gaze was the color of Tao Xin’s dress, the gray that gradually changed from dark to light from top to bottom, which was also the background color of her person today.
It was no longer the pure white of her youth, but it wasn’t completely dark either.
Therefore, it was impossible to let go of the mistakes she made, and impossible to forget the genuine goodness she once had.
“Honestly, I didn’t think she would stand up and admit her mistakes herself. I was a little surprised, and a little… relieved. I don’t like her wilfulness and bossiness, I hate her taking without asking, but I have to admit that, apart from that, I have also received her well-intentioned care. I can also understand her feelings of unworthiness, her persistent desire to be loved. In some ways, I and she have some similarities, both have bad sides.”
Lu You frowned, wanting to say that they were completely different in nature.
But Yue Yunxi said almost without pause, “You let me know that one hundred minus one… even if you subtract ten, subtract twenty, it won’t go to zero. This applies to me, and it can apply to her as well.”
Lu You was stunned, and raised her face to look at her, her eyes revealing a few traces of confusion and incomprehension.
“What I mean is,” Yue Yunxi picked up a strand of her long hair and wrapped it tightly around her knuckles, completely covering her slender white index finger, paused for two or three seconds, and slowly released it, “Since she has mustered up the courage to stand up herself, then let’s change the plan and change it to, exposing her company’s suppression of her. Her affairs, in our opinion, are over.”
That strand of long hair was bent into a soft arc by Yue Yunxi’s knuckles, and lightly fell into Lu You’s palm.
“Oh, and we have to communicate with her,” Yue Yunxi added in a flat voice, which seemed much colder compared to her previous gentle tone.
She seemed very unwilling.
Lu You lay on her knees and laughed softly, reaching out her hand hanging on her leg to lift the can. The orange soda swayed gently inside, and the fragrance lingered in the air.
It smelled sweet, but it made her nose tingle.
How could she be so good.
“I’m a little worried,” Yue Yunxi suddenly said again.
“Worried about what?” Lu You asked muffledly.
“Worried that you might have a moment of regret, not giving her a chance to turn over a new leaf earlier. Perhaps–”
“No,” Lu You reached out to cover her mouth and interrupt her, “There is no perhaps.”
Lu You sat cross-legged on the sofa, hugged Yue Yunxi’s neck, and looked into her eyes, “I’m not stupid, you’re so good. If I don’t try every means to please such a good girlfriend, and think about those unnecessary things, I’m probably sick.”
Yue Yunxi’s eyes moved slightly, and a shallow smile spread in her eyes.
She always said that she wasn’t a good person, and no one had ever denied it.
Her emotions in this area had been dulled by a certain eternal loss, and now, they were smoothed and polished by a momentary surge of emotion.
Seeing a complete self within.
“Then, have you thought about how to please me?”
Lu You spat and got up to leave, but the leg that was bent and compressed couldn’t exert any strength, and went limp as soon as it touched the ground.
Her wrist was grabbed, and Yue Yunxi just pulled lightly, and she fell back into her original position.
Before she could react, a soft, cool kiss fell.
The firewood in the firebox crackled and burned, mixed with other subtle and far-reaching noises. It was the night wind gently blowing through the flowers and leaves, suddenly rising and rubbing against the branches, slapping against the entire glass wall.
The city slept in the sparsely lit night, and the moon on the black curtain illuminated an absurd beginning.
Yue Yunxi taught her how to Pinch tongue again, and also used a hand that was adept at plucking strings to smear “strings” for her outside slowly and methodically.
Both the teaching and playing were slow-paced, and Lu You was very uncomfortable, whimpering aggrievedly.
Yue Yunxi coaxed her softly in her ear: “Be good, just bear with it a little longer, I’m uncomfortable too.”
“You’re uncomfortable… you deserve it, I didn’t ask you to get hurt… If your injury heals, I…”
Her brain gradually went blank, Lu You’s eyes slowly lost focus, and she stopped talking.
She only heard Yue Yunxi say softly in her ear, “Are you sure I deserve it?”
“…” She actually used a heavy hand.
Lu You closed her eyes, begging for mercy sweetly, but the little person in her heart put her hands on her hips and thought, there will always be a time to get even!
When it was over, Lu You didn’t care about her image, lying on the carpet with one leg bent, her arm covering her eyes.
As long as she couldn’t see herself, she could ignore what Yue Yunxi thought of her.
A soft, furry ball fell on her body.
Lu You knew this touch. Just a few minutes ago, Yue Yunxi had murmured in her ear: “I really want to crush you and knead you into my body. I want a lot, a lot, to fill the sense of security.” At that moment, she felt like she was being electrocuted, a wave of numbness, and she gripped this piece of fabric tightly in her palm.
It was Yue Yunxi’s bathrobe.
Lu You got up from the carpet, put on the bathrobe, tied a knot casually, and walked to the coffee table, picked up the half can of soda, and tilted her head back, drinking most of it in one breath.
In her lowered gaze, Yue Yunxi walked closer barefoot.
With the last sip, Lu You put her arm around Yue Yunxi who was walking to her side, and passed it directly to her, mixing the lingering taste in her mouth, “Say you love me.”
Yue Yunxi’s heart leaped up suddenly, paused, and when it fell, her heart seemed like an inflated balloon.
It was so magical, this actually made her feel like the empty valley in her heart was filled with the spring breeze all at once, even more than Lu You saying sweet words to her again and again.
“I love you, from here all the way to the moon, and then back again.”
–
On the ninth day, Lu You didn’t wake up until nearly noon. Her waist and legs were very sore. At least for a while, she didn’t want to do the frog pose again.
That half of the bed was empty. Yue Yunxi wasn’t in bed.
There was no light in the shower room, and Lu You strained her ears, but didn’t catch any sound either.
It seemed that she wasn’t in the house at all.
She reached her hand into the bedding to test the temperature, it was icy cold.
She must have gotten up early.
Lu You touched her phone, unlocked the screen, and glanced at it.
Twenty minutes ago, Yue Yunxi sent her a message saying: [The teacher is here, staying at the same hotel. I’m going to see her.]
[Deer]: [What time will you be back, approximately?]
Waiting for a reply, Lu You browsed other apps as usual, feeling bored.
Tao Xin alone dominated the top five hot searches.
[Big upset! Tao Xin, who was originally guaranteed to win first place in the “Sing For You” finale, disregarded advice and gave up singing “Shi Ye” (Eat wild), which had become popular, insisting on showcasing a new song, and only got second place!]
[She wouldn’t dare to sing Shi Ye anyway, [eye roll] only the most ordinary four lines of Shi Ye were written by her. When the whole internet was praising Shi Ye as being good, I said, that’s all there is to it.]
[I take back all the remarks I made supporting Tao Xin before. My face is going to be slapped raw. I was like a clown running to the front lines for her. From today on, I’m turning from a fan to a hater.]
[What kind of fan is it to insult the fans who chase after you]
[After eating the melon, I just want to say, like father, like daughter. Her dad is a crazy duck who doesn’t get a marriage license and plays around, and she’s cheating by stealing and deception.]
[U1S1 (Unpopular Opinion), I actually admire this wave of self-exposure of hers. I wasn’t a fan before, but now I’m a bit of a fan. Looking at it, I feel a little sorry for her.]
[Are you okay with being a fan of someone who cheats! Are you okay feeling sorry for a 208 (salary of 208k RMB)! Are you okay! Feel sorry for yourself more.]
[I dare say that the people who defended her before and the people who scold her now are the same group of people.]
Closing the app, Lu You contacted Yun Zhu, told her the result of the discussion with Yue Yunxi yesterday, and decided to help Tao Xin one last time.
Yun Zhu: [OK]
Yun Zhu: [Haven’t you considered joining our orchestra yet?]
Lu You patted her head: [Forgot, forgot, I’ve thought about it, conductor~]
Yun Zhu: [Agreed?]
[Deer]: [Mm-hmm]
Yun Zhu: […]
Yun Zhu: [You wouldn’t be agreeing just because you want me to help [Peach], would you?]
Lu You: “…”
[Deer]: [It has nothing to do with her, I decided it on the day I found out you guys had a small group.]
Yue Yunxi still didn’t reply. Lu You wondered if she should make a phone call, but was worried that she would spoil the atmosphere and interrupt Yue Yunxi’s catching up with her teacher.
After lazing in bed for a while, Lu You got up, washed up, and walked to the window, pulling open the curtains on both sides.
The warm yellow sunlight, like poured gold powder, fluttered into the room, scattering all over the floor, painting the wooden floor like roasted chestnuts.
On the small round table by the window was the sheet music bouquet she had folded, and next to it was an orange-red can with a orange peel rose in the triangular opening, blooming brightly in the sun.
Lu You held up her phone to take pictures of the two different materials of “fake flowers”.
When she took the third picture, the phone vibrated, and a WeChat message from Yue Yunxi popped up.
[Full Moon]: [I’m back.]
Lu You was stunned for a moment, then ran happily out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
She heard footsteps leaking in through the crack in the door, familiar, belonging to Yue Yunxi.
She grabbed the doorknob and pulled it open, and the fiery red roses, like the fiery and bright flames in the fireplace yesterday, burned into her eyes.
The roses moved away, revealing a bright and beautiful face. Her white, porcelain-like skin under her eyelids was dyed crimson by the gorgeous and bright flowers, like the midday sunlight falling on an illustrated porcelain bottle.
Her eyes, filled with smiles, were black pebbles washed clean by the rain.
Lu You opened her mouth, not knowing whether to ask what was going on with the flowers, or whether to take them directly from Yue Yunxi’s hand.
“Here,” Yue Yunxi put the roses into her arms, and then, with her other hand, picked up a paper bag and handed it to her, “Freshly baked chestnuts.”
They were still hot, sweet roasted chestnuts, with a sweet but not greasy and moist taste.
“Are they all for me?” Lu You lowered her eyes, her gaze falling into the soft petals.
“Yes, it’s a pity there wasn’t enough time. I found someone to buy them for me, otherwise I would have bought them myself.”
Some of the flowers weren’t full enough, and she wasn’t particularly satisfied.
“Why did you suddenly think of buying me flowers?” Lu You narrowed her eyes, “You wouldn’t be preparing them for your teacher and giving me a bunch as well, would you?”
Yue Yunxi reached out and flicked her forehead, “You think everyone is like you.”
Lu You covered her forehead, “Like what?”
“The first time you listened to my concert, you gave Teacher Zhong flowers, and gave me a bunch as well.”
“…” Lu You blinked her eyes, and defended herself without much momentum, “We weren’t familiar then.”
“What about now?” Yue Yunxi smiled a little ambiguously.
“Now,” Lu You didn’t think much, and curved her lips, saying in a particularly sycophantic way, “Of course, you’re my dear girlfriend.”
The corner of Yue Yunxi’s mouth deepened even more, “Then, my dear girlfriend, can I come in?”
Lu You was stunned for a moment, and quickly stepped aside to make way.
The roses reflected on her cheeks, dyeing them with a few traces of blush. The wind that rushed into the room brushed over the petals, trembling in her eyes.
Yue Yunxi closed the door behind her back, leaned against the door, reached out and wrapped her arms around her waist, pulled her closer, and slowly pushed away the flowers in the middle, “I wanted to buy you flowers a long time ago, when you gave me the sheet music bouquet. I was thinking, wouldn’t the person who gives flowers also want to receive a bouquet that symbolizes love?”
Completely removing the bouquet, Lu You kissed her naturally.
The roses bloomed next to her cheeks, and the wisp of rich fragrance floating in the air was wrapped on the tip of her tongue.
This was the brightest bouquet of flowers she had ever received.
The most touching reason she had ever heard for giving flowers.
After the two finished lunch, they went to the hospital to remove the stitches at the scheduled time. The wound was healing well, but she had to pay more attention before the needle holes healed.
The doctor prescribed a prescription and gave her scar patches and an ointment to prevent infection.
On the way back, Yun Zhu sent a message saying that she had arranged for an internal employee to leak the company’s suppression of artists.
Lu You showed it to Yue Yunxi, “This short period of time is so much trouble for Yun Zhu, your things, my things, and the things of unrelated people. Do you want to treat her to a meal when we get back?”
She said “unrelated” to Yun Zhu.
But it made Yue Yunxi secretly happy, hooked the corner of her mouth and smiled, “No need.”
“That’s not good, is it?”
“Yun Zhu is a businessman.” Yue Yunxi was led into the car by her hand, “She will wait for you to fully master the new fingering before ordering you to perform with her for free.”
Lu You put her arm around her waist to protect her in front of her, “That’ll be a while.”
“I’m waiting too.”
“Oh, then I’ll work harder.”
She heard Yue Yunxi’s indulgent and helpless sigh, and couldn’t help but laugh.
No matter how the car drove, looking out the window, she could always see the Hundred flowers Church.
Focun (Buddha Village) has regulations that no building within the city limits is allowed to exceed the height of the Hundred flowers Church.
It’s like a belief of the people here.
Faith is above all else.
The Hundred flowers Church was like a painting framed in the window, with Yue Yunxi’s figure reflected in the glass, imprinted on the painting.
Lu You looked at it and said seriously: “Don’t worry, I will definitely try my best to keep up with you and go to a higher position.”
Yue Yunxi squeezed her hand holding her hand lightly, “No rush, take it slowly.”
Lu You put her chin on her shoulder, “I really like you saying take it slowly.”
So gentle.
–
On the tenth day, the internet was full of melons about Tao Xin. The news about the economic company’s long-term suppression of artists hadn’t spread yet, and the rumors had escalated to the point where all of Tao Xin’s songs were stolen.
Some people even faked the timeline, falsely accusing Tao Xin of plagiarism.
At the same time, the company issued a statement, suing Tao Xin for breach of contract, demanding compensation of 100w, and seizing the copyright of Tao Xin’s newly written “Trio”, which would be used as Chen Xiguan’s song in the future, which immediately intensified the conflict between the two fans.
While the internet was arguing endlessly, Lu You and Yue Yunxi were discussing city walk strategies.
Florence is very small, and it only takes 40 minutes to walk through the process. Yue Yunxi suggested that they could complete the walk in about three days, based on her physical condition.
So, the two went out and first had an afternoon tea, tasting a glass of Italy’s national drink, Spritz.
It’s a drink made of wine, soda water and a slice of lemon. Yue Yunxi couldn’t drink it, so Lu You took a sip alone, and summarized a review, “It’s just that people who think it’s delicious will think it’s very delicious, right.”
She reviewed it as if she didn’t review it. Yue Yunxi simply grabbed her collar and pulled her closer, tasting the flavor through her mouth.
She also tasted the very beautiful blue ice cream in the same way. It was like swallowing a mouthful of toothpaste.
The tiramisu was very sweet, with a particularly rich level of flavor.
Lu You couldn’t get used to the Old grandma’s cow tripe buns, with a special sauce. She missed the domestic Roujiamo a bit.
Yue Yunxi was okay, and helped her solve the cow tripe buns that she didn’t want to eat after taking two bites.
The regrettable thing was that the stall owner selling Pinocchio handmade wooden puppets didn’t come out.
However, the compatriots they met gave them the stall owner Pirò Firenze’s ins account, and they could follow it to find out when they would be on the stall.
There is a golden pig fountain on the south side of the new market. The pig’s nose has been touched so shiny.
Yue Yunxi gave her a coin and told her: “Throw the coin into the golden pig’s mouth, wait for it to fall into the wishing well below, and then touch the pig’s nose–”
“Your wish will come true!” Lu You Answered, and put the coin into the golden pig’s mouth.
Hearing the sound of the coin sliding into the well, she put her hand on the golden pig’s nose, closed her eyes, and made a devout wish.
After opening her eyes, Yue Yunxi prepared to take her to walk the old bridge in Jay Chou’s MV.
“You don’t make a wish?” Lu You asked in surprise.
Yue Yunxi shook her head.
“No wish?” Lu You was skeptical, and chuckled teasingly: “Don’t tell me your life is already without desire.”
Yue Yunxi smiled: “If my life is really about to be without desire, you will also be the only greed.”
It was convoluted, but Lu You understood. She wasn’t without desire, “Then why don’t you make a wish.”
Yue Yunxi looked at her silently for a moment, then suddenly said softly: “Because winning a big gamble has spent all the opportunities I can to fulfill my wishes, I dare not Luxury what the future will be like.”
Lu You was stunned, “If I use my opportunity to add to your bet, and let you bet one more time, what would you bet?”
She saw Yue Yunxi put a coin into the golden pig’s mouth and reached out to touch the pig’s nose.
She heard Yue Yunxi’s voice low and slightly heavy, like a warm wind carrying weight brushing her face and heart.
“I bet you’ll be long-lasting, be with me day and night, and go to old age together.”
Her heart was like the Arno River under the afterglow,hot a layer of gold leaf, ripples Yangyang.