"so what?"
“But she said she didn’t bring it.” Yan hope shrugged and continued to smile.
Ah Heng cupped the sand in her hands, letting it slip through her fingers. When some sand leaked out, she scooped it up, leaving even finer gaps, watching the sand continue to slide away little by little.
A boring game.
“Aheng, let me tell you a story with sand,” Yan hope said, snatching the sand from her hand.
Ah Heng sniffed and nodded.
"Look carefully, cough cough." Under the moonlight, a pair of slender, fair hands clapped gently twice.
The hands scooped up a handful of fine sand and spread it evenly on the ground. The boy's voice was slightly clear and refreshing—"Once upon a time, there was a boy who was a Martian more beautiful than anyone else on Earth..."
With an index finger like a magic wand, I gently sketched on the fine sand. In just a few strokes, a doll with long bangs, big eyes, and a peace sign with half of its lips turned up appeared.
"Then, one day, he suddenly fell in love with a fierce-looking girl. She really was fierce, but she had a cute smile."
The tip of the thumb gently etched lines into the doll's bangs, while the five fingers of the left hand softly slid down its hairline, transforming into long, naturally wavy hair. A mocking smile played on the lips, but the middle finger gently smoothed it away, revealing a warm and endearing smile. In the blink of an eye, the magician's wand sparked, and the proud, handsome boy doll transformed into a cute and playful girl doll.
Ah Heng felt that her eyes must have been filled with surprise and envy. Such a simple thing, yet it was full of love for life and creativity.
"Although the boy is tone-deaf, he still wants to sing a song for the girl. His favorite song is 'Fleeting Time.' Oh, time is fleeting in my world, but always in your way. When life is a photo, you are in my photo and stop day after day."
The boy hummed softly, his right hand's five fingers gliding smoothly over the doll's body, forming a musical staff, while the doll, after being sculpted, became many vivid musical notes.
"But... the girl said she couldn't understand, and thought the boy's strange illness hadn't healed yet, so she cried and ran away."
He spoke casually, then scooped up a handful of sand. His slender fingers slowly released the silvery grains of sand under the moonlight, gradually burying the musical notes.
Everything returned to normal.
After thinking for a moment, Aheng smiled and concluded, "Yanxi, you have a crush on Lin Wanwan."
Yan hope yawned lazily—"Yes, apart from Wen Siwan who doesn't know, almost everyone in the world knows."
"And then, is it that Lin Wanwan has a crush on Siwan?" Aheng suddenly realized.
Yan hope glanced sideways—"Idiot, Si Wan and Lin Wanwan have been together for a long time."
"Is this something the whole world knows?" Ah Heng thought with some difficulty.
"Hmm, except for Yan hope, who doesn't know," Yan hope murmured.
Chapter 38
The new school year has begun.
Based on Yanxi's grades, she naturally wouldn't be able to sit with Aheng during the rankings.
Once Aheng got to know her classmates, they all thought she was a very genuine girl, and that she was also a good student. Sitting next to her would definitely be a good thing. So, this year, when it came to choosing a deskmate, Aheng was extremely popular.
As a result, Chen Juan, whose grades were outstanding, gracefully sat down next to A Heng with small, quick steps. Brother, what a coincidence!
Ah Heng smiled and said, "Yes, yes, it's fate."
A few people later, Xin Dayi walked over with a sidelong glance, gloating—"You ladyboy, hehe, you're finished, oh yeah."
Chen Juan was confused, but the finger with purple nail polish pointed at Da Yi—Pah, when did you turn into a crow, you baboon? You're finished! Believe me or not, I'll bite you to death!
Unfortunately, before she could even warm her backside, Yan hope walked over with a dark face and a sinister smile. She threw her schoolbag on the table, raised an eyebrow, and gave a forced smile—"So, are you going to walk by yourself, or should I give you a ride?"
Rou Si opened her eyes wide and vaguely saw a small creature with black wings swaying around Yan hope's head. Recalling the countless times she had been subjected to the unspoken rules by the sharp-tongued Yan Xi, she smiled obsequiously and stood up—"No, no, Young Master Yan, please sit down. I'm sorry for disturbing your father-daughter reunion, I deserve to die."
Damn, she acts like a madam! Xin Dayi scoffs.
The shredded meat was gently moved over—Oh, Young Master Xin, you are so virtuous. From now on, I will have to rely on your influence a lot more.
Then, he plopped down next to Xinshi Dayi.
Their eyes met, and sparks flew.
Outside the iron bars, those visiting prisoners—no, those waiting to be seated—were all filled with sighs of dismay: "Look at this blatant love quadrangle! Xin Dayi was secretly in love with Wen Heng, and they were exchanging glances, a perfectly happy couple. But then Yan Meiren broke up with Mary, and, feeling hurt, decided that wildflowers couldn't compare to home-grown flowers, and that it was better to keep the good stuff in the family. She stole her best friend's lover, staging an unprecedented incestuous father-daughter relationship with Wen Heng, leaving Xin Dayi and Mary heartbroken, drowning their sorrows in alcohol, withering away, their hearts dead, their lives meaningless, barely clinging to life..."
Sitting behind bars—oh no, it's another group of kids already seated, all teary-eyed—it's so cruel, so incredibly cruel! And that Mary Sue kid next door, the one shooting arrows around naked—that's definitely a stepmother, such a damn terrible stepmother!!!
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Ah Heng first heard Si Er play the piano at a solo concert her mother held for Si Er.
She didn't understand music, but she thought it sounded excessively beautiful. Her hands, moving lightly and gracefully, arranged and combined on the piano keys, which was far more wonderful than mathematics.
When the notes stopped, everyone burst into applause, which resounded in our ears like thunder.
Si'er wore a white evening gown, her fair and elegant neck making her look graceful and noble. She stood up, left the piano, picked up the microphone, and amidst the lingering applause, with a slight shyness and earnestness, said, "Thank you, my mother, my most beloved, most beloved mother."
Then, Ah Heng sat in the VIP seat near the front, watching Er Er's equally noble and beautiful mother walk onto the stage with tears in her eyes, embracing the girl in such a warm and caring gesture, unwilling to let go—this is my precious treasure, my friends.
Just the right moment will bring a perfect and satisfying result, which will be met with a tidal wave of applause.
She kept smiling, but her ears hurt a little.
Yan hope looked at her, puzzled. He was flustered and clumsy. He was wearing an elegant white suit, but he had rolled up his sleeves without any manners. He covered her ears tightly with both hands and muttered something under his breath.
For a moment, the world fell silent. She smiled as she watched Yan Xi's mouth open and close, carefully piecing together the overly hasty words.
Sweetie... sweetie... sweetie... if we... Ah Heng... learn the piano... we'll definitely... play it... even better...
Oh, is that so...?
Ah Heng sniffed and chuckled—Yan hope, let go! You're pressing on my ears so hard, it hurts so much!
Yan hope let go of her hand, then knelt on the seat with her legs spread wide, facing her, her big eyes almost closing into slits with laughter—"Really, really, Aheng, you have to believe me."
Ah Heng, you have to believe me.
If you also learned piano at such a young age, my darling, you would be an even more precious treasure than a rare gem.
Siwan turned her gaze from the stage to the audience, her expression gentle and concerned—what are you talking about that makes you so happy?
Yan hope pouted – It's a secret.
Siwan's tone became even more gentle and concerned—Can't I say it either?
Yan hope didn't care, he just said—oh, what a blockhead, he already said it was a secret.
Siwan smiled bitterly—Since when have your secrets to others become secrets to me?
Taking advantage of the enthusiastic applause from the audience during the moving speech on stage, Yan hope smiled and said, "What did you say? It's too noisy, I didn't hear you."
Everyone in the industry seriously praised Si'er's performance as being at an extraterrestrial level.
Ah Heng said seriously to Yan hope, "Yan hope, I think I'm very interested in music."
Yan hope also said seriously, "Daughter, this is a very elegant hobby that can also easily make you fall asleep."
However, life is so boring, we can always find some fun to do.
He dragged a piano that had been abandoned for many years out of the attic, which was filled with childhood toys. Then, when he had some free time, he familiarized himself with the almost moss-covered sheet music and let Ah Heng pick whichever piece he chose to play.
He said, "Hengheng, why do I feel like I'm a certain type of person waiting to be ordered in a certain store?"
Ah Heng glanced at Yan hope's fair skin and snow-white face, and cautiously asked—"Nightclub gigolo?"
Yan hope coughed up blood—he was clearly a hotel pianist. Heavens above, where did my upbringing go wrong...?
Ah Heng's face was expressionless—there was a problem everywhere.
Yan hope angrily said, "I'm done! Let's go, it's my treat today, let's go listen to someone sing a song while sawing with a saw!"
Then, dressed in ordinary T-shirts, ordinary jeans, and the most ordinary clothes imaginable, they walked to what is said to be the most famous opera house in the country.
These days, the opera house has invited a famous American troupe to perform in China. There will be a total of thirty-three shows, no more and no less. After the show, they will pack their bags and leave. They are really big shots.
Ah Heng searched for a long time but couldn't find the ticket booth.
Yan hope made a phone call, and a while later, a man in a suit and tie arrived, bowing and scraping, and handed over the tickets.
Ah Heng sighed – “You’re too much of a high-ranking official’s son, too capitalist.”
Yan Xiqie, bring up Wen Muxin's name and see if that person's bowing posture becomes even more capitalist!
Ah Heng felt embarrassed; that was true. Then, she leaned closer to look at the ticket—what was the name of the opera?
Yan hope looked at it horizontally and vertically for a long time before calmly spelling it out as "Mousai".
Ah Heng spelled in her palm—mousai…Muse?
The muse, the goddess of inspiration?
The two sat in the front row, somewhat impressed. "Look at this, look at this," they said. "The muses of capitalist countries are just different; even their clothes are so capitalist."
Yan hope blinked her big eyes—Aheng, apart from their loud voices, can you understand what they're singing?
A mocking snort came from the seat next to me. I turned my head and saw a well-dressed man in a suit and tie.
Yan hope, clutching popcorn, angrily exclaimed, "Oh, so what if you know English? Speak an African tribal language for me! Damn it, that's racism, pshaw!"
Big eyes staring wide-eyed.
The man lost his temper.
Ah Heng laughed—Alas, beauty is a curse.
Yan hope is confused—who are you talking about?
Ah Heng pretended to be stupid, pointing to the woman on stage with fair skin, wearing a beige elegant dress, and belting out high notes—Muse…
Yan hope whispered to A Heng, asking with a serious expression, "Who did she harm?"
Ah Heng suppressed a laugh—there were so many people.
Yan hopes to be on stage, but it happens to be the climax of a scene. The impoverished young painter accidentally encounters the goddess of inspiration, the goddess who spreads the light of inspiration to the world, and falls in love with her at first sight.
The handsome young man with golden hair knelt on one knee—"My noble goddess, why are you so beautiful, stealing my heart and soul? Your silver hair is the most dazzling and pure radiance in this world, even beside my omnipotent father Zeus; all around me is darkness, only because your eyes, my goddess, dim all the light in this world; the proud goddess Athena bestowed wisdom upon me, yet I abandoned it, using every bone and soul to yearn for your red lips, the sweetest and most beautiful flower in this world. When the morning breeze blows and the sunlight shines on the earth, I open the window, and you descend to the mortal world, with divine benevolence and ignorance of the world, cruelly making Venus smile at me, casting me into the fiery hell, for love, eternal life and eternal death!"
The Muse held the book of inspiration aloft, her expression slightly ethereal and solemn—"Dear Lulifer, you have only fallen in love with a part of yourself—the eternally mysterious and elusive inspiration. Every poet, painter, musician, and historian of this world has spoken of their love for me, but the only thing that attracts you to me is my boundless inspiration. Therefore, in the name of the gods, I now bestow inspiration upon you."
lulifer remained silent.
The Muse smiled, with understanding and nobility, and waved her wand, drawing the light of inspiration upon Lulifer.
Curtain falls.