Pandora’s Box

Zhuo Wenyang quickly came over. When I got into the vehicle, he gave me a gentle smile.

This caused my heart to leap in excitement.

His smile was too stunning, making it seem like there were stars in his eyes.

Captured by the starlights, I was dizzy and brewing back forth, waiting for the right time to bring it up.

Although I had rehearsed my speech countless times and knew it by heart, I was still very nervous and hesitated to speak several times when the words came to my mouth.

Finally, I mustered up the courage and chose a not-so-direct opening line, “I feel that everyone has been so busy recently and so, it is time to relax. Do you have any plans for the next weekend?”

“Next weekend?” Zhuo Wenyang thought for a moment, “I work on weekends.”

“Are you that busy?” I didn’t give up, “You don’t have to work overtime at night, do you?”

“There’s a new project going on so I have a meeting with the design team on Saturday evening. There’s a release that will happen on Sunday night.”

The warmth in my body that caused my ears and head to steam instantly disappeared. A disappointing chill radiated from the bottom of my heart, spreading to my hands and feet.

I said, “Oh, ah that.”

He looked at me, “What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing, my friend gave me two tickets for Xu Yan’s concert next Sunday night and the location is pretty good,” I explained awkwardly, “Of course, I know it’s easy to buy whatever tickets you want so it’s really nothing.”

He looked at me, “Are you asking me to go with you?”

“Yeah. If you don’t have time, forget it. Next time. Besides, there are so many concerts like this in T City.”

He immediately said, “I’ll arrange it.”

“Ah?”

“What time does the concert start?”

“7:30…”

“Okay, let’s get there at six o’clock.”

“Ah?”

“It’s also been a while since I went to a concert,” he explained.

I suppressed my joy and replied, “Yup, yup!”

He was so kind.

His expression made me feel like anything was possible. I had a thought, perhaps I should also make a PPT to confess to Zhuo Wenyang.

I had many, many things to say to him, and those were far more than a simple expression of “I like you.”

However, I didn’t have the courage to say it to him.

This new week’s workload was even busier, but I managed to squeeze some time to teach myself PPT. Just for this reason, I even spent money to buy a membership to access PPT templates.

I planned to send this to Zhuo Wenyang after watching the concert together. With this, even if the confession failed, at least I was able to spend a memorable weekend with him first, akin to having a last meal.

I couldn’t figure out whether the confession should be the call to charge forward or the triumphant song of victory. I couldn’t even think about it now.

Although there were all types of fears and anxiousness, the longing for Zhuo Wenyang still prevailed. Even knowing that the risk of failure was great, he could fill my heart with enough courage to take risks.

Everyone had to work overtime this weekend. Ke Luo was very upset because he couldn’t go to S City for two weeks in a row. Even Lu Feng was very sad that he wasn’t able to be at home with Cheng Yichen to finish watching the morning drama’s finale. I was the only one who slipped through the net and didn’t need to go to the company.

This was the privilege that Cheng Yichen granted me after scolding Lu Feng.

Although I was a tad embarrassed, I could only laugh about it.

After dinner in the evening, Cheng Yichen announced, “I’m going out tomorrow to meet a bookseller.”

Lu Feng expressed his concerns, “Will you be alone? I’ll let someone accompany you.”

“No need,” Cheng Yichen frowned, “I’m such a grown man, can I still get lost? I really don’t like your people following. Besides, let’s give them a break.”

Seeing that Lu Feng was hesitating to speak, as he was worried of being rebutted, I recommended myself, “I’ll take you there, Uncle Chen. I’m free anyways. Let’s take a stroll and eat something delicious.”

Cheng Yichen smiled, “That’s good, there seems to be a lot of internet famous restaurants that young people like to frequent in that area.”

After volunteering, I remembered that I only owned a vehicle with two wheels. As for Cheng Yichen’s car, for some reason, he sent it away to have the interior changed after he went out with Lu Feng last time, but he still did not get it back.

I asked, “Then should we take a taxi?”

“Take my car,” Lu Feng chimed in, “the Cayenne.”

Including the Rolls Royce, Cheng Yichen dismissed his few luxury cars because they were too extravagant and so, he changed this year’s to a very low-key vehicle for him. Since Cheng Yichen didn’t criticize him anymore, this car was promoted to Lu Feng’s exclusive vehicle.

Although it was a pain to get up early, Sunday morning was very pleasant with fresh air, smooth road conditions, and anticipation for tonight’s concert. I felt that this would be a beautiful day.

On the way, Cheng Yichen picked out a playlist and a melody flowed in the car. It wasn’t a popular douyin, catchy song but it sounded familiar to me, “What song is this?”

Cheng Yichen smilingly answered, “These are all old classics, my nostalgic playlist.”

“I seem to have heard of it.”

“Did you? They’re all older than you.”

When one of the songs was played, I concluded that it was indeed a song I had heard before, “I can sing this one!”

I bobbed my head along and hummed, “Let me forget, all of the hate, all of the sadness~~”

Cheng Yichen was taken aback, “You really have heard of it.”

I said proudly, “I also know it’s called, Endless Rain!”

Cheng Yichen smiled, “One of the three greatest rains in the history of rock and roll. I thought you young people don’t listen to this anymore.”

I suddenly recalled that this was recommended to me by Mr. X. He shared a playlist with me that he treasured. I placed it as a BGM when I gamed, remembering some of the songs.

“Do you also like rock and roll?”

“Actually, I don’t know about it very much but my brother really likes it. He recommended many rock classics to me and shared this playlist,” he said with a smile, “You know, although Yi Chen studied architecture, he’s very talented in music. He can play the guitar and sing well. I thought he would pursue music first. Unfortunately, later…”

He paused abruptly.

I asked curiously, “What happened?”

After a moment, Cheng Yichen quietly said, “Something happened later on and many people’s life plans were disrupted, including his.”

“What happened to him?”

Cheng Yichen hesitated briefly before answering, “He was injured, almost paralyzed, and it took him a long time to recover.”

“…..”

“But it’s fine now,” he continued hastily, “Everyone is fine.”

I had an uncanny feeling, but I couldn’t tell what it was.

The mournful voice was still tearfully singing, “As I try to hold you, you’re vanishing before me… I awake from my dream. I can’t find my way without you…” The lead singer’s voice sounded like splinters after a broken heart.

Although it was a cloudlessly sunny day outside, it felt like it was going to rain because of the lingering regret and hopeless loneliness in the melody.

The atmosphere in the car became inexplicably solemn.

I hummed along silently in my head, using my half-baked Japanese. At the end of the song, I suddenly realized that something was wrong with the car’s condition after recovering from the sentimental feelings.

There seemed to be a problem with the brakes.

However, we were already on the highway.

I tried everything I could think of in this short time, but nothing worked and the car was still speeding wildly out of control.

“Uncle Chen.”

He also noticed something abnormal and looked at me nervously, “What’s wrong?”

My heart pounded rapidly, “The brakes are broken.”

There was a moment of silence in the car.

I urgently asked, “Are there any pillows in the backseat? You hug one and lower your head.”

His voice trembled slightly, “Xiao Jing…”

There was a curve ahead, indicating that we should slow down about now.

I didn’t have much time to think and I also couldn’t think of anything. My mind was blank and many, many thoughts flashed by me all at once.

Zhuo Wenyang, would he blame me?

As the guardrail was getting closer and closer, I maneuvered the steering wheel aggressively.

My ears heard a loud noise, and there was darkness in front of my eyes.

I couldn’t describe that feeling; I was a little tired and confused. I was in between the state of being asleep and awake. And even though I opened my eyes, I could only see black.

This seemed to be a very dark place, and was not only pitch black, but also quiet.

What about Uncle Chen?

I started to get scared.

Where did he go? How was he?

Did I lose him?

Would Zhuo Wenyang blame me? Would they blame me?

I fumbled forward. I didn’t know how long had passed. Finally, far away, there appeared to be light ahead.

I quickened my pace towards the bright light.

That should be the exit.

There was a figure standing there at the exit, as if waiting for me.

I got excited, was it Uncle Chen?

When I got closer, I discovered that it wasn’t Uncle Chen, but a woman.

She smiled and looked at me. She looked very kind, very gentle.

I had never met her, but without reason, I thought she was very gentle. So much so that I asked her rashly, “Who are you? Are you my grandma?”

She nodded with a smile.

I’d actually seen my grandma. My dad had a family portrait of their Qin family. In the picture, my grandma had a graceful, luxurious and jewel-like demeanor. She appeared elegant and strict, a typical mistress of a wealthy family.

But this woman had a very simple and gentle appearance.

However, I didn’t have the means to make sense of the difference at this moment. I just didn’t know why I felt sad and vulnerable.

I said, “Grandma, take me back.”

I had been walking in this darkness, feeling utterly lonely and so tired.

She shook her head and said softly, “That won’t work since they are still waiting for you.”

Then I felt like I was being pushed hard.

I felt like I fell from a very high place with endless weightlessness, but before I reached the end of the fall, I woke up with a start.

I took a deep breath like a drowning person finally surfacing.

There was light again in front of my eyes, but I couldn’t open them. My ears began to pick up noisy sounds, but I couldn’t quite make them out.

There was someone shouting, “We have it!”

“……”

“We have a heartbeat!”

Then, my consciousness gradually slipped into the darkness.

This time around, in the darkness, I didn’t meet my grandma again. However, I met my childhood self.

My consciousness frequently came and went, in and out. I was tossed and suffering in one dream after another repeatedly, cycling through the hell-like pain of reincarnation, but I could not completely wake up.

That was until I vaguely seemed to hear chirping birds unexpectedly. The sound was very melodious, crisp, like a light, dispelling the black mist covering my eyes.

Someone softly said, “Wake up.”

I was dazed for a bit and finally felt that my eyelids could move. I had the strength to lift them up, and was slowly regaining control of my body.

“He’s really awake!” Through my hazy vision, I could barely make out familiar faces, and couldn’t see their expressions clearly. Even any movements that my ears caught were indistinguishable.

“Xiao Jing, Xiao Jing…”

“Keep it down and don’t disturb him.”

“Wu wu wu…”

Oh God, why was someone crying? Was I dead and listening to all of this as a spirit now?

“Don’t cry, don’t get too overwhelmed. Go and wipe your face or you’ll scare him.” This must be my dad talking.

I opened my mouth, trying to think of something to say, but I still couldn’t get a note out.

The surroundings fell into silence all at once.

“Is he going to talk?”

Someone asked quietly, “What do you want to say?”

It seemed to be Zhuo Wenyang’s voice!

From my throat, I voiced out a strange sound, “Where’s Uncle Chen?”

I felt my hand being grasped by a warm palm.

“He’s fine, don’t worry.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Then I remembered another thing.

“Now… what time is it?”

“Eleven o’clock in the evening,” he answered, “What’s wrong?”

“Ah…,” I suddenly was at a loss, “The concert… it’s too late…”

“…..”

After a moment of silence, my hand was clenched harder.

He whispered, “It’s okay, next time.”

Someone asked, “What concert?”

I recognized it; it was Cheng Yi Chen’s voice and he was the one who was crying earlier.

Zhuo Wenyang said, “Xiao Jing originally planned to go to a concert that night with me.”

My dad was dumbfounded, “Silly boy, how many days had already passed.”

“Ah…”

It was then did I belatedly realize that from the moment the car crashed into the guardrail to when I woke up, was a matter of not only one day.

However, my consciousness still remained to that day, the morning when I was looking forward to going to the concert with Zhuo Wenyang.

My dad and Cheng Yi Chen finally were willing to go rest after the doctor came to check up on me. Zhuo Wenyang informed me that they hadn’t been able to close their eyes properly for a while and so, he urged them to get some sleep before returning to work. He stayed with me by himself.

Therefore, the rest of the night belonged to Zhuo Wenyang, who accompanied me by the bed, and me.

Even though my current appearance was disastrous and impossible to stir anyone’s romantic emotions, I was still very joyous in my heart.

Since I was unable to talk too much at the moment, but had an appearance of wanting to ask questions about everything. Hence, Zhuo Wenyang spontaneously chatted according to my facial expressions.

I seldom listened to him talk so many words under one breath. Throughout his patient narration, I had a general understanding of the chaos during this period and everyone’s restlessness.

At first, the house was in a mess. My dad and Lee came from S City simultaneously while everyone stayed in the hospital to watch. Later, someone happened and it was realized that this wasn’t a good solution. So, Ke Luo was asked to return back to the company to keep an eye on it, and Lee went to help him.

Although Uncle Chen was out of danger, his injuries were serious so Lu Feng was keeping him company. I couldn’t prevent myself from not feeling guilty about Uncle Chen.

His younger brother and son all came to my place, but he only had one Lu Feng.

“I went to visit my father’s ward just now. He was given medicine and fell asleep. Lu Feng is also asleep,” Zhuo Wenyang said, “I didn’t wake them up. I’ll wait until tomorrow, and tell them that you’re awake in the morning.”

I tried my best to nod, “Mhm, let them rest up well.”

I thought this was very good. Compared to their visits, I was more eager to spend time with Zhuo Wenyang like this.

Zhuo Wenyang said, “When you were unconscious, Lu Feng also visited you a few times.”

“Really?”

I was very surprised. I thought he only had Cheng Yichen in his eyes and didn’t care about other people’s lives.

Zhuo Wenyang saw my surprise and softly said, “He’s not that cold-blooded anymore. At least, he hopes that you’re safe and sound like we all do. Besides, you’re more injured than my father.”

“Really?”

He added, “In a car accident, the passenger is usually much more injured than the driver. Because people have an innate instinct to avoid the impact, they generally will use the side far away from themselves to collide with the impact and reduce the direct damage received. Except it was the front of the car on your side.”

He stopped, pausing for a while before continuing in a lowered voice, “It was all crushed.”

I said, “Actually, it might just be that my skills are too poor to avoid in time.”

He smiled, “It doesn’t matter. I will regard you as the greatest hero who overcame instinct.”

I proudly puffed out my chest in response, “So you want to praise me?”

He smiled again, “Of course. I will give you a little, red flower.”

He was really gentle and cute.

“And one more thing.”

“Mm?”

Zhuo Wenyang put away his smile and said, “Your car accident was not a simple accident. It was intentionally caused.”

I couldn’t stop my eyes from widening.

“The brakes were tampered with and it was intended for Lu Feng,” he said, “but you took his car that day.”

“…..”

“So during these days, we’re all very cautious and nervous, and a bit agitated. Don’t be surprised.”

“Mm…”

“However, you don’t have to be scared,” he added hastily, “It won’t happen again. You are safe now.”

I nodded.

With Zhuo Wenyang around, I felt extremely safe from the bottom of my heart.

I was thinking about this until I suddenly heard Zhuo Wenyang say, “Ah right.”

“Mm?”

“I put something under your pillow for good luck. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Oh? What is it?”

Zhuo Wenyang stretched out his hand and hesitantly took something out from under the pillow, holding it to my eyes.

Under the light, I could clearly see that it was a piece of translucently auspicious cloud and phoenix jade pendant.

“I went to the temple master to ask for it. It’s said that this is very effective.” He seemed a little embarrassed of this superstition. “Whether you believe it or not, just keep it for now. It looks very beautiful.”

I was instantly happy but calmly said, “Wow, it looks quite valuable, not bad.”

Zhuo Wenyang, a proper young man who preached about science and technology, made a special trip to request a superstitious item for me!

I was so happy!