This weekend was bound to be a busy one for Lin Hui.
Sunday morning, he’d yet to fully recover from the previous night when he received a call from He Jianshan’s younger brother, He Jianchuan. He Jianchuan said that his band was performing at a bar that night and invited him to come have some fun. Lin Hui had initially wanted to turn him down, but He Jianchuan kept trying to persuade him, “Ge, come on, just come and listen to the music. I sing really, really well.”
His invitation was so very earnest. Lin Hui couldn’t bring himself to refuse, so he agreed.
He Jianchuan would be performing at White Crystal, a newly opened music bar with an artsy vibe to it. Lin Hui didn’t catch sight of him right away, so he found himself a seat that was neither too far nor too close to the stage and sat down, casually ordering himself a drink. He waited for quite a while with no drink in sight, but he did end up catching sight of He Jianchuan.
He Jianchuan wore a blouse today. His hair was combed back, giving him a much more mature look. His eyes lit up as soon as he saw Lin Hui. “Ge, what do you think of my look? Handsome, right?”
Lin Hui joked, “Not quite as handsome as your brother.”
He originally thought that He Jianchuan would be unhappy with this comment. However, He Jianchuan actually seemed to be of the same mind. “Obviously! It’s my brother we’re talking about!”
It seemed that this maturity of his was just an illusion. He was still the same simple-minded guy from before.
The two of them chatted for a while. They then heard someone calling, “Chuanzi!” He Jianchuan turned his head and gestured to the rest of the band. He said, “Ge, I’m going to be singing soon. I’ll have them bring you a fruit plate.”
Lin Hui nodded with a smile.
He Jianchuan’s band was called the Haystack Poets. It consisted of four people in total, three guys and one girl. He Jianchuan was the lead singer. The first song he sang was a cliche love song. It was quite obvious that he wasn’t a very sophisticated singer. In fact, his technique could even be considered somewhat “clumsy”. However, it was precisely due to this clumsiness of his that made his singing so touching and sincere. It must be said. He Jianchuan may look childish, but, when he sang, he really looked the part.
He Jianchuan sang three songs in succession before finally performing one of the band’s own original songs. The song, “Answer”, seemed to be the same one that they had fought over last time. Lin Hui listened carefully. He Jianchuan’s voice was clean and clear, and the melody was soft and tender. Coupled with the lyrics adapted from a poem, it all fit together perfectly.
It was a very sincere piece of work.
Quite frankly, Lin Hui was pretty impressed. He couldn’t help thinking, “As expected of He Jianshan’s younger brother. If they were to perform this at the annual company banquet, Wanzhu would have to pay them extra.”
He Jianchuan’s band finished performing at 10:30 PM. Afterwards, Lin Hui, He Jianchuan, the band, and two friends went to have dinner together. He Jianchuan rode with Lin Hui. Meanwhile, the others rode in another car. The group decided to have some barbecue at a restaurant called The Big Turntable. On the way there, He Jianchuan kept asking Lin Hui how he did and whether the song was good. Lin Hui praised him, saying that he could probably sign with a company and make his debut already.
He Jianchuan’s lips twitched. “No, Haystack Poets are an independent band.”
Lin Hui heard the name “Haystack Poets” and asked curiously, “Why did you name your band that?”
He Jianchuan instantly got excited. “I took this poetry appreciation class as an elective. It was taught by an older professor, but he was pretty easy-going. I actually didn’t understand much of it. I spent most of my class time sleeping.”
“It sounds like a pretty niche course. Were you not able to get into the more popular classes?”
“Yeah! Anyway, I pretty much forgot everything he said in class. However, I do remember one thing he said.”
Lin Hui was a little curious. “What did he say?”
“He said that the most touching poems are not written but rather discovered while lying on a haystack, basking in the sun.”
Lin Hui earnestly thought it over for a bit. “Inspiration can only be found, not forced.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Yes, yes, yes!” He Jianshan became excited. “Ge, you get it, right? In any case, that phrase really struck me. I then decided to name the band the Haystack Poets. I hope that we’ll always be spontaneous and inspired when writing music.”
Olc Lel uijcmfv ja Lf Aljcmtejc. Lf ofia atja atlr kjr jc fwbalbcjiis rfcrlalnf jcv rqlglaejiis glmt xlv, rbwfbcf nfgs wemt relafv obg atf jgar.
Ktf gfrajegjca kjr bcis obeg bg olnf xlibwfafgr jkjs ogbw atf yjg. Ktfs rbbc jgglnfv ja atflg vfralcjalbc. Vlcmf atfgf kfgf delaf j ofk qfbqif lc atflg ugbeq, atgff ulgir jcv obeg uesr, atfs vfmlvfv ab rla bearlvf. Ktf sbecu jcv ilnfis xlvr rja jgbecv atf ajyif, ijeutlcu jcv mtjaalcu, wjxlcu j iba bo cblrf. Olc Lel jiwbra ofia jr lo tf kjr yjmx lc mbiifuf, tlr fcalgf qfgrbc gfijzlcu jr tf ilrafcfv ab atf mbcnfgrjalbc. Ynfg atf mbegrf bo atflg wfji, rbwf bo atfw yfujc rtbklcu lcafgfra lc Olc Lel. Lf kjr rb ubbv-ibbxlcu jcv tf tjv remt jc bearajcvlcu jegj, rb tbk mbeiv atfs cba? Ycf bo atf wbgf vjglcu ulgir jrxfv tlw ragjluta eq, “Gb sbe tjnf j ulgioglfcv?”
“No, I’m too busy with work. I don’t have time for dating.” Lin Hui smiled and began cutting up the lamb that was just served.
“How could you not have a girlfriend? It’s impossible!” He Jianchuan couldn’t believe it.
The girl was a little speechless. “He Jianchuan, do you even know him? How come you don’t know anything about him?”
He Jianchuan felt a little displeased when he heard this. He casually picked up the cell phone on the table and began spouting nonsense. “Of course he is! He’s my biological cousin! See? Our phones are even matching.”
It just so happened that Lin Hui and He Jianchuan’s phones were in fact the same brand and model. The girl turned her eyes back and forth between the two and muttered, “They do look kind of similar … ”
Lin Hui: “…”
Once they’d pretty much eaten their fill, Lin Hui quietly went inside to settle the bill. Meanwhile, He Jianchuan opened another bottle of beer and began filling up another guy’s glass, shouting grandly, “Cheers!”
“He Jianchuan, your phone!” One of the girls called out to him. Seeing that he’d spilled some beer on himself, she considerately helped him pick up the call.
He Jianchuan took the phone without even looking and said with a smile, “Hello, who’s this?”
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
He Jianchuan waited for a while, but no one spoke. He thought that it might be a prank call and was just about to hang up when he heard a chilling voice coming through the phone. “He Jianchuan.”
He Jianchuan shivered and hurriedly looked down at the phone screen. The contact name, “President He”, stung his eyes. This was Lin Hui’s phone.
He Jianchuan swallowed nervously and quickly put the phone back to his ear, “Ge, I’m sorry. I-I grabbed the wrong phone by mistake.”
“Where’s Lin Hui?”
He Jianchuan craned his neck to take a look around and saw Lin Hui walked over from the front door of the restaurant. He rushed to say, “He’s just come back. I’ll help you — ”
“Lin Hui, come and try this!”
“Lin Hui, the eggplant is ready!”
“Lin Hui, can you grab a pack of tissues?”
One shout after another interrupted He Jianchuan. He Jianshan heard it all through the cell phone.
He Jianshan: “…”
He Jianchuan braced himself and explained, “We’re … having some barbecue … with some of my friends … ” His voice grew smaller and smaller. Lin Hui had walked over to him by then. He Jianchuan quickly handed him the phone and mouthed, “It’s my brother!”
Lin Hui nodded. He took the phone and walked to a quieter place. “Hello? President He?”
He Jianshan pinched the bridge of his nose and said helplessly, “… Was the barbecue good?”
Lin Hui inwardly laughed to himself, but he pretended to answer seriously. “The lamb and cartilage was pretty good.”
He Jianshan: “…”
“Did you need me for something?”
He Jianshan fell silent. If truth be told, there wasn’t anything important that he needed him for. He’d simply finished his work and wanted to rest for a bit when he thought of Lin Hui. Hence, he decided to give him a call. “I just wanted to remind you to finish the contract with Huaisi.”
“Alright, President He.”
He Jianshan paused for a moment. He then asked, “Why did you go out for barbecue all of a sudden?”
“Mr. He’s band had a performance today. He invited me to watch him live, so I treated them to barbecue afterward.”
“Oh? How was the performance?”
“Hmm … we’d probably have to pay them extra if they performed at the annual company banquet.”
“…”
It was a little windy in this little secluded corner. Lin Hui’s hair was blown into a mess. Not too far away, He Jianchuan and the others seemed to have said something and a loud burst of laughter followed. It was particularly obvious due to the lull in their conversation. He Jianshan suddenly remembered the enthusiastic shouts from those girls just now. He also recalled Xue Pei asking him earlier, “What kind of person do you think would be good enough for Assistant Lin?” His heart was somewhat moved, and he blurted out, “What kind of person do you like?”
“… What did you just say?” Lin Hui was taken aback.
He Jianshan then realized how strange it was for him to ask such a question at this moment and quickly added, “… Xue Pei said that he wanted to introduce someone to you.”
“Oh.” Lin Hui snapped back to his senses. “I-I … ”
He stammered for a long time before hesitantly saying, “I like someone I can get along with.”
What did that mean?
Did he want someone who shared the same interests as him or someone he just clicked with? Did he want someone he could say anything to or someone that he could sit in comfortable silence with?
It sounded too abstract. He Jianshan was puzzled. He wanted to ask a few more questions. However, the faint sound of singing began coming through the phone, and he fell silent once more. Lin Hui listened to the sound of his shallow breathing over the phone and watched as the others sang, swaying shoulder to shoulder. Singing voices pierced through the night fog, causing the people around them to stop and listen.
This is the most beautiful season.
It can wipe away one’s dreams.
There are blooming flowers everywhere.
Shadows drift through mountains so it seems.
This is the most beautiful shadow.
It can shake even the sun.
Gently come down the mountain.
Clinking glasses have already rung.
This is the most beautiful glass.
It can sing the most wonderful songs.
Give it a fragrance and pick it up.
The sun is all around.
This is the most beautiful sun.
It prints flowers upon the ground.
Whoever chooses to take the shadow,
With light they shall be found.
Lin Hui suddenly laughed.
He thought to himself. He Jianshan must not realize, but the way they were right now was also a sort of getting along. They didn’t need to say anything. They were simply listening to the same song at the same time, and that was enough.
The Author Has Something To Say:
Gu Cheng’s “Answer”. When I first read this poem, I thought it was very suited to be adapted into a ballad.
Next week, we should get to the ellipses part of the summary. See you next week!
The Translator Has Something To Say:
Gu Cheng was a famous Chinese modern poet, essayist and novelist. He was a prominent member of the “Misty Poets”, a group of Chinese modernist poets. I couldn’t find an English translation for this poem, “Answer”, so I struggled quite a bit with the translation. Hopefully, it reads decently.
Thanks for the chapter!! Ahhh I love the slow and steady development!
Thank you for the update!
💐💐💐💐💐
Don’t worry translator-ssi, you did a great job!
im so invested in this story. this kind of slow burn romance is exactly my cup of tea, i don’t get bored at all 😭
Thank You for the new chapter ( ˘ ³˘)♥
Thank you for translating !!!
Thank you for your translation 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
Poem sounds really refreshing and perfect for summertime