My Heart Beats - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Henry rented out the entire bar and, under the guise of a “Year-End Party,” hosted a birthday celebration for Xueman. The guests were company colleagues and a few friends from the entertainment industry. Everyone prepared a three-tiered cake and many birthday gifts for her. After the birthday song was sung, Henry took out a delicate necklace and put it on Xueman. The moment he touched her neck, Xueman instinctively flinched.

Everyone flocked to toast her, and she kept pouring glasses down her throat. She had to drink, or that scoundrel’s face would run rampant in her mind.

She stumbled out of the bar, finding an excuse to shake them off. Passing a cake shop, and taking advantage of the fact that it hadn’t closed yet, she bought the last small lemon cake.

Her phone vibrated with a “zzzz” sound. Yinchi casually picked it up and answered. “Scoundrel! Get out here!” Hearing this, Yinchi’s anger flared up again. “Did you go drinking again? Where are you?” “I’m at the coffee shop.” Why did she go there? The owner wasn’t open today. “Don’t wander off. I’m coming to find you.”

Quickly grabbing her coat and keys, Yinchi ran towards the coffee shop like the wind. This lunatic, seriously, what is she doing out on the street on such a cold day? And she’s been drinking.

Seeing Xueman huddled against the coffee shop door, Yinchi quickly walked up and grabbed her arm. “You lunatic, why are you drinking for no reason?” She took off her own coat, draped it over Xueman, and tightened it. Xueman shook off Yinchi’s hand. “Why didn’t you show up today? Do you even know what day it is?” Seeing her nearly fall over from unsteady steps, Yinchi held her shoulders to steady her. “What are you trying to say?”

“It’s my birthday today.”

Hearing this, Yinchi finally understood what she was angry about. “Let’s talk about it at home. It’s cold here.”

Xueman smiled slightly. “Aren’t you going to say ‘Happy Birthday’ to me?” Yinchi let out a soft sigh. “Happy Birthday.” I hope you are happy for all your days.

Xueman opened the box, took out the cake she had just bought, and threw it right at the face of the person beside her. Yinchi couldn’t dodge in time and was splattered with cream all over her face.

Seeing Yinchi’s stunned look, Xueman burst into laughter. Yinchi silently wiped her face and tightened Xueman’s coat again. “Let’s go.”

The two streets from the coffee shop back home were walked every day, yet the mood was different almost every time. Yinchi looked up at the sky; there were no stars, and the moonlight was pale enough. A cold wind blew, and she could still smell the lemon cream on her.

Back at the apartment, it was again the scene of them each taking out their keys. After opening her door, Xueman turned to Yinchi and said, “Scoundrel, you still owe me a birthday present.”

After getting home, Yinchi washed her face and got into bed early. She tried her best to fall asleep quickly, but when she closed her eyes, all she saw was Xueman’s face: her smiling, her angry, her full of expectation, and her hesitating to speak. When exactly did her iceberg meet the sun? Did it start with that line of text on the coaster? Or when Xueman angrily ran out of the coffee shop? Or perhaps… the night she couldn’t help but hold her to sleep?

The more Yinchi thought, the more confused she became, and the less she could sleep. She simply turned on the light and sat up. Picking up her classical guitar, she casually strummed a few chords, repeating them, her mind singularly focused, just lightly playing the tune she had been imagining recently, and adding some self-dialogue lyrics to it.

“Forgot how it started

Maybe it’s just a feeling for you

Suddenly realized I…”

Realized what? Yinchi’s fingers stopped. She choked up. After a moment of silence, she put down the guitar and turned off the light. Clearly, she couldn’t find the answer to the confusion in her heart right away. Stop thinking about it. Just say good night to myself.

The night sky was beautiful. The road viewed from the tenth floor was coldly quiet, with only the dim streetlights and the steaming food stalls beneath them. Xueman saw that the balcony next door was dark. Was she not writing tonight? Did she go to sleep this early? Unable to see the figure of her annoying female neighbor, she couldn’t help but sigh softly. Why could she never speak calmly with her? She really wanted a good look at her, too. Just as she thought this, a long, melodious guitar sound suddenly drifted from next door. Sure enough, she’s still awake.

The simple, repetitive, quiet, and moving melody, carried on the night’s breeze, but not from the night’s heart, felt strangely elusive and mysterious.

So that day she was writing a song. She really is talented. Xueman softly harmonized into the humid air around her:

“Right or wrong, there’s no choosing

It’s impossible to be happier

As long as we can be together, anything is possible…”

But who was this person she wanted to be with? Could it be her? Xueman didn’t know. But she at least knew this person definitely wasn’t Henry. Thinking this, she took off the sparkling necklace from her neck and carelessly put it aside. I’m tired. Time to sleep.