Translator: System Yaoi
Chapter 1: Arrival In A Rainy Night
Kindly read all the translations at https://chrysanthemumgarden.com/novel-tl/ees/
“Do you also live around here?” Gu Yuqing gently steadied him.
“Yeah.” Lin Ting pointed to the sign above his head. “I get off at Exit B.”
Subway stations near the terminal usually have few people, especially on a rainy night like this—it’s even more deserted. Lin Ting thought it was time to part ways, but Gu Yuqing’s eyes suddenly brightened.
He walked beside Lin Ting, steps light and brisk. “I also get off at Exit 8,” he said. Following Lin Ting, they boarded the escalator together. “There’s only one residential area at Exit B. It seems like we really have some fate. Both our work and home are in the same place.”
As they ascended on the escalator, the rain whispered with a refreshing sound. A slightly cool breeze of the spring night brushed against their faces, and Lin Ting’s heavy mind became slightly clearer.
He asked Gu Yuqing, “What?”
Gu Yuqing was momentarily taken aback by his question and then asked, “What do you mean, ‘what’?”
Lin Ting also froze, his thoughts already sluggish, and now he couldn’t even make sense of the question.
“Nothing,” he shook his head and turned to stand straight.
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.
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The elevator was nearing its end, and they could gradually feel the cool and damp air. Lin Ting gathered his focus, his voice trapped in his long hair locks as he said, “Yes, a little tired.”
Maybe it was the pleasant spring rain, or perhaps it was because they had become somewhat familiar with each other. Maybe it was the drawing with missing pages in his pocket. Lin Ting suddenly didn’t want an awkward silence. Even though he was already tired, he was willing to muster the energy to say a few more words.
Fortunately, Gu Yuqing wasn’t the type to create awkward moments. Lin Ting responded to him, and Gu Yuqing could carry on the conversation by himself. “Then go back and rest well. Most students can be quite exasperating. When I have to grade their artwork, it’s the same, especially when some of them are participating in competitions. I wish I could just tear up their works and do it myself.”
As they spoke, the elevator reached its end. Warm yellow street lights replaced the cold white light, and the wind felt gentle. Lin Ting didn’t know which remark made him laugh, but his eyebrows and eyes curved, a smile hiding behind his bangs, faintly visible, like sunlight filtered through waves, reflecting the pearls within a seashell.
It was a memorable face, even if it appeared a bit weary.
Gu Yuqing opened his umbrella and instinctively tilted the handle. His umbrella was large enough to cover both of them, and a patter of droplets formed on the surface, gathering into a fine mist that rolled down along the umbrella.
Lin Ting’s umbrella only covered half of him, and his head was surrounded by darkness. He lifted his gaze and looked around. After a moment, he slowly closed the umbrella and said the third “thank you” to Gu Yuqing for the evening.
He didn’t reject Gu Yuqing’s kindness.
There weren’t many people on the road, and even if there were, they hurriedly passed by, making the two of them appear as if they were taking a stroll in the rain. No one on the road knew that they didn’t know each other. Gu Yuqing thoroughly enjoyed this sense of comfort.
He walked on the outer side, occasionally a passing car splashed water onto the curb, and sporadic droplets fell onto their pants.
Gu Yuqing led Lin Ting further along the path and said, “You said ‘thank you’ a lot tonight.”
Lin Ting didn’t look up, his gaze fixed on the neatly divided bricks on the sidewalk. “It’s common courtesy.”
Gu Yuqing chuckled and continued, “Then may I ask for your name? Exchanging names between friends is also common courtesy.”
Lin Ting thought for a moment, realising there was some truth to it. He didn’t dwell on the definition of friendship but straightforwardly stated his name.
“I’m Lin Ting.”
“Lin Ting,” Gu Yuqing repeated.
“Which Ting?”
Lin Ting said, “The sound of listening.”
Gu Yuqing repeated it again and said, “Melancholy fills the sound of listening. This name suits you well.”
Coincidentally, raindrops fell from the tree leaves, shattering into raindrops on the umbrella’s surface. The barriers that Lin Ting had built seemed to be suddenly shattered by the rain, and a coolness flowed through his heart.
He suddenly looked up and gave Gu Yuqing a bright smile. “Have you read this poem?”
Gu Yuqing tilted his head and responded with an even more exuberant smile. “I’m an outstanding humanities student, you know.”
Hiding in the shadow of the umbrella, his smile was charming. The umbrella’s frame brushed against Gu Yuqing’s hair. Lin Ting took the umbrella and held it a bit higher. “This name was given to me by my father. He was also an outstanding humanities student. He searched through many books to find this line of poetry. But at that time, he never thought I would study music. It turned out to be a happy coincidence.”
The wind passed through the umbrella, blowing Lin Ting’s bangs, and a hint of brightness appeared in his hidden eyes. Gu Yuqing couldn’t look away, his gaze sticking to him.
The security guard at the entrance of the residential area was very conscientious. When Lin Ting opened the gate, the security guard leaned on the window, observing the two of them with a serious expression. It wasn’t until he recognized them that he put on a friendly face, raised his hand in greeting, and Lin Ting nodded in response, returning a smile.
“Do you want to hear me play the qin?” Lin Ting suddenly looked at Gu Yuqing, caught off guard. “When are you available? I can come to D University to find you, or you can come to my house. Anyway, this residential area is not that big, and it’s just a few steps away. My parents are good at cooking. You can come for dinner, and if you want to listen to the qin, I can play it for you.”
“This residential area is indeed not big, and where I live is a bit further from the main gate,” Lin Ting said, his voice trailing off as he stopped his steps. He pointed to the brightly lit entrance of the building and said, “I’ve arrived.”
The light from the building’s entrance illuminated Lin Ting’s hair, with the tips shining. His heavy overcoat felt much lighter, and he unbuttoned the collar, allowing the gentle glow of the rain to fall on his collarbone.
Only then did Gu Yuqing realise that since they entered the residential area, he seemed to have not continued any of their conversations. Lin Ting’s words always stopped at unexpected places, and the following remarks didn’t follow the original trajectory. The person in front of him seemed different from the Lin Ting on the subway. It was as if two souls inhabited the same body, creating this difference.
“I’m available the day after tomorrow,” Gu Yuqing shouldered the umbrella. “I don’t have classes that day. Would you like to invite me to your house for dinner?”
“Of course,” Lin Ting stepped up one step and then jumped down. “You can let me know in advance what you like to eat, if you have any dietary restrictions. Or we can go to the supermarket together. Oh, right, you don’t know which house is mine.”
As he spoke, Lin Ting reached back and found the zipper on the outside of the qin case. He took out a notebook and pen and quickly wrote down the detailed address. Then, he tore the paper off, not very neatly, with frayed edges. He folded the paper and walked up to Gu Yuqing, stuffing it into his pocket. “This is a return gift,” he tilted his head, a smile still on his lips. “Thank you for the drawing, I really like it.”
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