Troublesome – Chapter 50

The Key

The car key now lay solitarily on the coffee table.

Jin Shuilan sat on the chair, holding her phone. The sounds from outside the door went from pacing back and forth to a gradual quiet, as if the whole world had fallen silent. She pulled open the drawer, placed the phone inside, and her hand paused when it touched a notebook. She then pulled the notebook out.

In the quiet study, there was only the rustling sound of a pen tip scratching against paper. Jin Shuilan looked up, wrote the date on a full sheet of paper, then closed the notebook and put it back in the drawer. She stood up. The screen of the phone beside her hand lit up with a live stream notification from the Sanshui Platform.

【The streamer you like has started broadcasting! Zhenqiu, come and see me?】

Jin Shuilan habitually clicked on it. Before the page could even jump, she already heard Lu Zhenqiu’s voice.

“I did take time off, but I wanted to come on and stream for everyone for a bit.” Lu Zhenqiu had changed her clothes. She wore a light pink sweater, her beautiful hair tied up in a bun, and had light makeup on. She wasn’t wearing cosmetic contact lenses¹; her pupils reflected the light from the screen, making them sparkle.

She couldn’t sleep. She had originally wanted to wash up and go to bed early, but she tossed and turned and still couldn’t fall asleep. She couldn’t bring herself to read her script either, so she decided to come online to stream and sing some songs.

Many people in the live stream room were her old fans². After wishing her a happy birthday, they asked her to sing the happy birthday song. Lu Zhenqiu suddenly remembered when the cake was pushed out after dinner, everyone had also sung the happy birthday song. Jin Shuilan had sung while looking at her and smiling, her expression gentle.

Perhaps, most of the time, she had missed these small details, to the point that she never discovered Jin Shuilan had other feelings for her.

It went on until she posted on Weibo, and then that birthday gift.

The one Jin Shuilan gave was different from the others.

She gave what was needed, what was needed right when her own phone broke.

If it wasn’t because she paid attention to her, how would she have known what she needed?

When did it start? Was it that day playing basketball? Or in the recording studio? Or perhaps, right when they first met? She was too slow-witted, to have not noticed at all…

Lu Zhenqiu lower her head. Many comments had already scrolled past in the bullet chat. Just as she was about to speak, she saw a familiar ID enter the live stream room. The ID ‘Dream Lover Yi Zhenqiu’ was a moderator, and their entrance effect was different from others. Lu Zhenqiu glanced over and said, “Welcome, Boss.”

The bullet chat erupted, with everyone saying it had been a long time since they’d seen the Boss. Jin Shuilan had been busy writing her book for the past two days and hadn’t come to Lu Zhenqiu’s live stream, or sometimes she would just have it running in the background without interacting, so the other fans thought she wasn’t around. Now seeing the Boss enter, the fans clamorously greeted her.

【Dream Lover Yi Zhenqiu】spent 999 Fish Coins to request【If】.

Lu Zhenqiu’s voice was faint, “If?”

She said, “Let me search for the song.”

The bullet chat was still spamming that the Boss was great. Lu Zhenqiu asked, “There are several versions, which one does the Boss want to hear?”

【Dream Lover Yi Zhenqiu】spent 999 Fish Coins to request【If】.

【Dream Lover Yi Zhenqiu】spent 999 Fish Coins to request【If】.

【Dream Lover Yi Zhenqiu】spent 999 Fish Coins to request【If】.

Jin Shuilan requested it ten times in a row, and the bullet chat comment read: 【Sing them all.】

Lu Zhenqiu: ……

Fine, the Boss is always right.

Lu Zhenqiu found the song, adjusted her equipment, and began to sing: “How many misunderstandings can a love endure, to survive a winter of drifting snow; how deep a connection can a single sentence tear apart, becoming more distant than strangers… If I don’t let go, after many years, will you blame me, hate me, or be moved…”

She sang several songs in a row until her throat was dry. Lu Zhenqiu turned her head to look at her cup, but there was no water in it. She got up and went out to get some water. As she passed the study, she glanced sideways. There was no one in the study; it was pitch-black inside. A sliver of light shone from under the door of Jin Shuilan’s room. She stood there stiffly for a few seconds before going to the kitchen to pour water. When she turned back, she saw that the light under the door was gone; it was now pitch-black. She returned to her own room. The light in Jin Shuilan’s room next door clicked on again with a pata sound. A person stood at the doorway, their figure blocking part of the light, causing the light under the door to be a mix of bright and dark. Jin Shuilan gripped the doorknob, only letting go when she heard the door to Lu Zhenqiu’s room close.

One of them returned to her bed, the other sat in front of her computer. Maomao was shut in Lu Zhenqiu’s room. It was the first time it had lost its freedom here, and it was still a bit unaccustomed to it. It lay by the door, letting out a whimper from time to time, looking pitiful.

Lu Zhenqiu sang for a whole night. Before she slept, her ears were filled with music, disturbing her and making her feel unsettled. She turned over and called out, “Maomao.”

Maomao’s ears perked up. It got up and, in a few steps, jumped onto Lu Zhenqiu’s bed. Lu Zhenqiu hugged it, her chin resting against its head. The furry touch made her feel a little better.

She said softly, “Sorry.”

Maomao leaned in her arms and licked her cheek.

Lu Zhenqiu didn’t even know what time she fell asleep. She was woken up by her alarm clock. At six-something in the morning, the sky wasn’t even light yet. After changing her clothes and washing up, she stood in the kitchen. Maomao squeezed in. She glanced at Maomao and said, “Let’s go out to eat.”

Maomao woofed once. Lu Zhenqiu reached out and covered its mouth, “Shh…”

The person and the dog left the house very quietly. As the door closed, the person on the bed in Jin Shuilan’s room turned over, averting her gaze that had been fixed on the doorway. She pulled the blanket over her head and tried to sleep.

She hadn’t rested all night. Her eyes were sore and dry, and they hurt even when closed. The sounds from outside the door subsided into quiet. She used to want a quiet environment the most, but now her heart was palpitating and she was panicking. Jin Shuilan didn’t stay under the covers for more than a few seconds. She still got out of bed and walked quickly to Lu Zhenqiu’s door. The door was closed. She grabbed the doorknob. All it would take was a little force to open the door, yet she felt a little timid.

The feelings she had never experienced since she was little, she had experienced them all with Lu Zhenqiu. Jin Shuilan closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and opened the door. Everything inside was still there, including the live-streaming equipment. Inexplicably, she let out a sigh of relief, and all the strength was drained from her body. Jin Shuilan leaned against the doorframe, then turned to go back to her own room to change her clothes.

The morning’s cold wind rustled, scraping against one’s cheeks painfully. Lu Zhenqiu held Maomao’s leash, walking while eating an egg crepe roll³. She carried two bags in her hand; one was another breakfast, and the other was her soy milk. Maomao walked with a sway, leading the way in front. This was probably the route Jin Shuilan took when walking Maomao; Lu Zhenqiu rarely walked this way.

The fewer people there were, the easier it was to spot her at a glance. Jin Shuilan stood at the corner and saw Lu Zhenqiu bundled up tightly. Her down jacket was very long, the hem reaching her calves. It was a slim-fit style, and wearing the down jacket didn’t affect her slenderness. Jin Shuilan didn’t get close, just followed from a distance behind, watching. Lu Zhenqiu’s back was to her. Jin Shuilan looked at her narrow shoulders and the curve of her waist, thinking of that day when she thought she was dreaming and had hugged Lu Zhenqiu.

Will there be another chance like that?

Jin Shuilan lowered her head and turned to go back to the house.

Before going home, Lu Zhenqiu and Maomao walked two more laps downstairs, brushing past people who were up early for work. Maomao stood obediently by her side. Before going upstairs, she called Hua Luo. Hua Luo was surprised, “Why are you calling me so early in the morning, what’s up?”

“Yeah…” Lu Zhenqiu hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Are you awake?”

Hua Luo said, “I just went to the bathroom, woke up because I had to pee. I probably drank too many beverages last night. It’s so cold outside!”

As she spoke, she quickly burrowed back into her quilt. Her apartment complex didn’t have floor heating, so in the winter, she was practically glued to her bed and couldn’t get out. Hua Luo basked in the sudden warmth and asked, “What’s wrong? You need me for something?”

Lu Zhenqiu let the cold wind blow on her for a while and said, “It’s nothing, just reminding you to eat breakfast.”

Hua Luo let out an “ai” and said, “I’m not eating. I’ll nap a bit more. I chatted with Teacher Bai until after two last night, I’m dead tired. I managed to trick her into posting the article soon!”

Her voice was still a bit excited. Lu Zhenqiu didn’t want to ruin her good mood and said, “Then you go back to sleep, I’m hanging up now.”

Hua Luo was puzzled, “Really nothing?”

Lu Zhenqiu pursed her lips, “No.”

After she hung up the phone, she went online and bought a new cell phone, the same model as the one Jin Shuilan had given her. She also bought a designer bag that cost about the same as the phone. Maomao sat beside her, tilting its head up to watch her busy herself. Lu Zhenqiu lowered her head, put away her phone, and said, “Let’s go back.”

Maomao woofed once in agreement. Lu Zhenqiu took it up the elevator.

Jin Shuilan was standing on the balcony. She turned her head when she heard the door open. Lu Zhenqiu walked in, holding Maomao’s leash. She didn’t let Maomao loose in the living room as usual, but instead took it into her room. Jin Shuilan walked out from the balcony. Lu Zhenqiu took half a step back and called out, “Teacher Jin, good morning.”

“Morning.” Jin Shuilan’s voice was slightly hoarse. She rubbed her sore eyes. Her attitude and expression were no different from before, which greatly eased Lu Zhenqiu’s awkwardness. Lu Zhenqiu said, “I was just outside, I brought this breakfast for you⁴.”

Jin Shuilan’s brow twitched. She reached out to take it. The crepe roll was still warm, but her heart felt as if it were filled with ice shards, chilling her to the bone. She turned her head, “Thank you.”

Lu Zhenqiu said, “It’s nothing.”

After she finished speaking, she scratched her head, “Well then, Teacher Jin, I’ll go in and change my clothes.”

Jin Shuilan watched her walk into the room and close the door. Maomao barked twice. Jin Shuilan turned to look at the balcony; Maomao’s food bowl was also gone. She held the breakfast, feeling it was immensely heavy.

When Lu Zhenqiu came out of her room, she didn’t see Jin Shuilan, but she did hear the sound of someone washing up in the bathroom. She walked over, raised her hand, and after a few minutes, knocked on the door, “Teacher Jin.”

Jin Shuilan’s voice came from inside, somewhat muffled, “Yes?”

Lu Zhenqiu said, “I’m heading to the studio.”

The water in the sink was gushing, flowing over Jin Shuilan’s wrists. The icy water stimulated her nerves. Jin Shuilan came back to her senses, “Okay, you can go ahead.”

She hadn’t gone over much since she caught a cold; it had always been Lu Zhenqiu who drove there.

Lu Zhenqiu breathed a sigh of relief and left the bathroom door. Only after hearing the front door close did Jin Shuilan walk out. The living room was empty and devoid of any sound. The silence made her a little flustered. Jin Shuilan pulled off the elastic band tying her hair, letting her beautiful hair fall down her back. She returned to her room and threw herself directly onto the bed, pulling the quilt over her head. All around was silent. She could hear her own heartbeat, thumping and racing, each beat more urgent than the last.

After a long while, the person on the bed sat up. Jin Shuilan walked out of the room barefoot and came to the living room. She saw the breakfast Lu Zhenqiu had bought earlier. She sat down at the dining table, opened the crepe roll and the soy milk, and took a sip. The soy milk wasn’t as sweet as before, and it was cold. Even so, she still finished the crepe roll and the soy milk. As she was returning to her room, she passed by the coffee table and her body froze. The aftertaste of the soy milk she had just drunk seemed even more bitter.

She saw the car key she had previously lent to Lu Zhenqiu, now lying solitarily on the coffee table.

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The author has something to say:

Thirty red envelopes, muah muah, are there many darlings who want Teacher Jin’s song list?

“How many misunderstandings can a love endure, to survive a winter of drifting snow; how deep a connection can a single sentence tear apart, becoming more distant than strangers… If I don’t let go, after many years, will you blame me, hate me or be moved…” from If.

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