WT Chapter 57

Chapter 57: Freedom. Brother, do you like me that much?

Chapter 57: Freedom. Brother, do you like me that much?

Outside the glass wall, Jiang Quanyu was stunned in place.

He looked at Wen Shixi’s figure, taking an exceptionally long time to confirm that it wasn’t his hallucination.

Wen Shixi saw that Jiang Quanyu wasn’t moving, and was confused. He went around the revolving door from not far away and walked out of the hall.

Before long, he walked up to Jiang Quanyu, meeting his inexplicably deep gaze.

“I’m asking you,” Wen Shixi tilted his head and said, “Why are you here?”

It wasn’t until Jiang Quanyu was sure that every movement of the person in front of him was exceptionally real that he blinked briefly, gradually returning to his senses.

Wen Shixi frowned, feeling that Jiang Quanyu looked strange.

“Why aren’t you talking? Then I’ll go.”

As Wen Shixi spoke, he turned to walk towards the taxi lane.

At this moment, a pulling force latched onto his wrist.

Wen Shixi was pulled back, turned around again, and looked at Jiang Quanyu.

Jiang Quanyu regained his senses, squeezing out a few words from his mouth: “…Why didn’t you go to Vienna?”

In the crowd, Wen Shixi pursed his lips, not speaking for a moment.

Soon, when Jiang Quanyu’s hand shook slightly, Wen Shixi said helplessly.

“No matter where I want to go, it doesn’t seem like I need to call my brother in advance to report, right?”

Jiang Quanyu’s eyebrows were tightly furrowed together, his fingers exerting force, stubbornly holding the hand of the person in front of him.

Warm body temperature transmitted from their connected palms, Jiang Quanyu’s speech was exceptionally slow, enunciating each word.

“Wen Shixi, why didn’t you leave?”

The stars in the sky were bright, and cold air traveled between breaths.

Wen Shixi lowered his head, looking at Jiang Quanyu tightly holding his hand.

He took a deep breath, and then exhaled it exceptionally slowly, bit by bit.

“That’s what I’m saying,” Wen Shixi said, “Why?”

Jiang Quanyu’s thin lips tightened, a bright light in his eyes.

Wen Shixi looked at the surrounding crowd, and asked inexplicably, “Jiang Quanyu, have you had dinner?”

Jiang Quanyu paused: “…Are you hungry?”

“I want to eat something,” Wen Shixi said, “Like, sitting at a dining table with beautiful dishes, eating properly like that.”

Not eating a piece of bread to fill his stomach because playing the piano caused a stomachache, nor feeling lonely because of the silence, but being able to chat with family while eating, eating properly like that.

His soft voice was exceptionally small in the noise of the crowd, and a warm color gradually appeared in Jiang Quanyu’s eyes, like the slowly rising morning sun.

He held Wen Shixi’s hand: “…Okay, then let’s go eat.”

–

A low-key private restaurant stood by the sea, located on the national highway not far from the airport.

In a viewing room facing the sea, Wen Shixi sat at the dining table, finishing the last of his steamed egg custard.

The aroma of the dishes was overflowing, and even the remaining side dishes were exceptionally exquisite.

The slow-moving sound of the waves sounded exceptionally peaceful.

In the silence, Wen Shixi put down his spoon, propped his cheek with one hand, and looked at Jiang Quanyu in front of him.

“Since you came back, we haven’t eaten like this, have we?”

After calming down, the steadiness of the past returned to Jiang Quanyu’s eyes. He opened his mouth and said, “We have, at Chen Jiale’s villa.”

Wen Shixi heard this and thought for a moment: “Yeah, I think so, I almost forgot.”

“Where have you been all day today?” Jiang Quanyu asked, “Didn’t you eat properly?”

“I’ve been at the airport,” Wen Shixi said calmly, “Because I thought about it, before leaving, I didn’t have any place I wanted to go.”

Jiang Quanyu’s expression paused slightly when he heard the word “leaving.”

In the quiet private room, the furnishings were exquisite, reflecting just the right amount of light.

“So…” Jiang Quanyu asked, “Why didn’t you leave?”

Mentioning this question again, Wen Shixi propped his cheek, his gaze becoming very distant.

“You seem to really want to hear my reason for staying,” Wen Shixi said, turning his head to look at the sea outside the window, “I ate a little too much, can we go for a walk?”

Downstairs from the private restaurant, there was a garden terrace facing the bay.

Dreamy string lights complemented the plants, and soft light illuminated the small landscape.

Ceramic animal ornaments were distributed on both sides of the small road, including Peter Rabbit, Tom the Fox, and Tina the Field Mouse, like a scene from a fairy tale, warm and lovely.

Wen Shixi wore a coat, his eyes bright, and walked through the garden.

He came to a high platform overlooking the sea, looked at the sky full of stars, and exclaimed softly.

Wen Shixi turned his head and looked at Jiang Quanyu following behind him: “How did you know there was such a restaurant?”

Jiang Quanyu paused, not wanting to say that he had secretly sent a message to Chen Jiale to ask.

“It’s my first time here too,” Jiang Quanyu asked, “Do you like it?”

Wen Shixi sat on the high stool at the edge of the viewing platform, and the soft light emitted by the string of star lights shone on his face, revealing a bit of brightness.

Then, he turned his head to look at the sea and replied.

“It’s alright.”

Jiang Quanyu slowly took a step and walked behind Wen Shixi.

The broken hair on the top of Wen Shixi’s head was blown by the sea breeze, swaying for a moment.

Jiang Quanyu looked at that strand of hair tirelessly, his breathing slow and peaceful.

In the silence, Wen Shixi decided to answer Jiang Quanyu’s question.

“Jiang Quanyu,” Wen Shixi’s voice contained some confusion, “It’s strange to say, although everything was arranged, when I was about to board the plane, I suddenly felt very lost.”

Not long ago, sitting in the waiting hall of the airport, Wen Shixi looked at the endless apron and slowly realized that the world of freedom was a blank unknown to him.

For many years, Jiang Quanyu wanted him to be a canary in the Jiang family, obediently staying in a pre-determined life and cage. And Teacher Liang Min and Cheng Xuan wanted him to go to Vienna, participate in competitions, win awards, and become a legendary pianist.

But for him, when Jiang Quanyu shattered all his aspirations for the future seven years ago, he never longed for any kind of future again.

He really wanted to escape the collar that Jiang Quanyu had forcefully put around his neck, but under Cheng Xuan’s questioning, he couldn’t answer what kind of pianist he wanted to become.

If it was just playing the piano, he could play it anywhere.

Unlike Cheng Xuan’s enthusiasm, even when talking about the world-famous Mozart Piano Competition, he still didn’t have much interest.

In the end, he went to Vienna with Cheng Xuan, but he didn’t change in any way. How could a heart that didn’t yearn to shine sit in the Golden Hall?

He stood in the unknown without direction, as if he was in an abandoned airport. There were thousands of routes in the world, but none belonged to him.

“I’ve seen Doctor Shen,” In the sound of the waves, Wen Shixi said quietly, “I really didn’t know your mother died in Paris, but if I had talked to you first when changing my study abroad application seven years ago, you wouldn’t have treated me like that, right?”

This was the first time Wen Shixi had talked about the events of seven years ago so calmly.

Jiang Quanyu’s lowered hands paused slightly when he heard Shen Chuji’s name.

Soon, his voice was calm, only saying quietly, “You don’t need to make such assumptions, to find any excuses for what you did for me.”

Wen Shixi: “Why don’t you ask me how I found Doctor Shen?”

“No need to ask,” Jiang Quanyu said steadily, “Besides Chen Jiale, there’s no one else.”

Reflecting the sea breeze, Wen Shixi chuckled.

“Jiang Quanyu, you still don’t want me to forgive you?”

In the silence, Jiang Quanyu looked at the ends of Wen Shixi’s hair, his eyes filled with heaviness.

Faced with candor, Jiang Quanyu tried to put down those self-deceiving thoughts, his voice lighter, and said, “Actually, I understand that this sentence has no meaning.”

Jiang Quanyu had floated and sunk in the business world, deeply understanding the strangeness of human nature.

As long as the heart is willing to forgive, it will forgive even if forgiveness is not spoken.

But if the heart does not forgive, even if forgiveness is spoken, it is not necessarily true forgiveness.

Along with the drifting wind, Jiang Quanyu frowned, trying to slowly say the words in his heart.

“But Wen Shixi, because we have no blood relationship, I…don’t want to become like a relationship that is even less than a temporary mark with you, one that will dissipate with a single blow.”

Love and hate, there must always be one between them.

In a soft voice, Wen Shixi was silent, quietly listening to the voice of the person behind him.

He felt the heaviness from Jiang Quanyu and thought about the times Shen Chuji had told him about.

For the first time, Wen Shixi felt that he and his brother were completely different people.

He was like grass seed scattered in the wind, without any wishes or direction, but Jiang Quanyu was like a constantly growing tree, rooting himself forcefully in the illusion of having him.

“Yeah,” Wen Shixi said quietly, “I won’t forgive you.”

As he spoke, he turned around, looking at Jiang Quanyu’s deep eyes: “But I still want to thank you, thank you for telling me that day that freedom is not light.”

As Wen Shixi spoke, his eyes rippled as beautifully as the night sea.

“I’m not going to Vienna today, but it’s not like I haven’t thought about anything. I may still leave. It’s just that I feel that leaving aimlessly like this is no different from before, and it can’t be called a life. Instead of trying my best to escape you, I want to feel everything around me, choose a direction, make a plan, and then go towards the goal I want, to find the freedom at the end of the road.”

He didn’t want to be like Strickland in “The Moon and Sixpence,” who disregarded everything and only knew how to chase the moon. That might not be any different from every day he had spent in the past seven years.

He wanted to reach out with all his strength, like playing an accented note, longing for and feeling the weight of freedom when it came.

Under the soft light, the garden looked like a scene in a dreamlike forest.

Jiang Quanyu looked at Wen Shixi, who was talking about freedom, as if he could see the young Wen Shixi in front of him, with his still-tender face but always very serious expression.

Looking at such a Wen Shixi, every distinct heartbeat echoing in his body, every interval, every beat, seemed to be beating for Wen Shixi.

After Wen Shixi finished talking about his formal decision that he had thought about all day, he frowned slightly when he saw that Jiang Quanyu didn’t say anything.

“Jiang Quanyu, don’t you have anything to say? Cheng Xuan even praised me for seeming to have suddenly grown up after hearing it.”

Hearing Cheng Xuan’s name, Jiang Quanyu’s face, which was originally full of tenderness, turned cold.

“What qualifications does he have to say you’ve grown up?” Jiang Quanyu frowned, “In this world, only I am qualified to say that.”

“You don’t.” Wen Shixi’s voice was extremely steady, “Cheng Xuan is my senior, what is Mr. Jiang to me?”

Jiang Quanyu was stunned, his lips slightly parted, and he stood in place.

For a moment, deep irises reflected Wen Shixi’s slightly tilted face.

Jiang Quanyu’s voice was steady, with a bit of helplessness: “So you didn’t leave, besides not being interested in Vienna, also to deliberately stay and make me angry?”

“You’ve been asking me why I didn’t go to Vienna,” Wen Shixi said, “But I don’t understand, since you don’t want me to leave, why do you keep asking me this question?”

As Wen Shixi spoke, his thin lips opened and closed slightly, and he asked, “Do you really want to hear me say that I stayed for you?”

Jiang Quanyu was slightly stunned. After a moment, he replied: “Even if you really said that, I would know you were lying.”

Wen Shixi squinted comfortably, blowing in the sea breeze, and said faintly, “Is that so…”

After hearing all of Shen Chuji’s words, Wen Shixi thought for a long time, not wanting to be drowned by the sea.

His tone was relaxed and slow: “But I really do, don’t want to leave you alone.”

For a moment, the sound crossed the edge of truth and falsehood, falling into the depths of his heart.

Jiang Quanyu’s lips moved slightly, and his hands clenched slightly.

Under the beautiful string lights, Wen Shixi’s gaze wandered, stopping on Jiang Quanyu’s lightly clenched cheeks.

After a moment, Wen Shixi: “…Don’t you know it’s a lie?”

Jiang Quanyu knew.

But he was still going crazy.

Even knowing that Wen Shixi was lying, it was still so good to hear that he was almost suffocating.

Wen Shixi was a little guilty, and touched his nose.

Then, Wen Shixi turned around and faced the sea again.

“By the way,” Wen Shixi said, “In case you do something again, let’s make it clear in advance. I’m still flying to Vienna at the end of next month to participate in this year’s Mozart Piano Competition. If the competition goes smoothly, I’ll probably stay there for about a month.”

Hearing this, Jiang Quanyu asked: “Competing?”

“Yeah,” Wen Shixi said, “I need to get some international awards so Teacher Liang Min can write me a letter of recommendation.”

As Wen Shixi spoke, he thought about it and said seriously, “I…still quite like ensembles, and maybe I’ll try to develop in the direction of cooperative concertos or opera accompaniment.”

Seven years ago, he wanted to go to the Garnier Opera House in Paris to participate in opera performances.

Gradually, Jiang Quanyu looked at the self-talking figure in front of him, his gaze once again fixed on the strand of hair swaying on the top of Wen Shixi’s head.

Jiang Quanyu suddenly had the illusion that the current Wen Shixi was even more dazzling than when he was sitting in front of the piano.

A very wonderful experience stirred up a slight itch in his heart.

It turned out that as long as Wen Shixi was released from the birdcage, he would not only not fly away, but also become even more beautiful.

In an uncontrollable approach, Jiang Quanyu gently approached the figure, placing his hands on the railing at the edge of the terrace, encircling Wen Shixi in front of him.

His voice, deep as the sea, was extremely gentle, responding: “Yeah, concerto or opera, Wen Shixi can do whatever he wants.”

In the garden of the world, whatever his Wen Shixi wants to become, as long as Wen Shixi likes it, he can do it.

In the low tremor, Wen Shixi noticed Jiang Quanyu’s approach, and before he could move, he was embraced in warm arms.

His arms blocked the night wind, carrying gentleness and cherishment.

For a moment, Wen Shixi was slightly stunned.

Although many years late, he still heard Jiang Quanyu say these words to him.

Wen Shixi’s height was just at Jiang Quanyu’s shoulder, and the current proximity was like an intimate embrace.

Wen Shixi looked up from the side, looking at Jiang Quanyu’s chin.

In his view, his messy hair was constantly touching the sharp lines of the person behind him’s jaw.

Soon, Jiang Quanyu said again: “But why did you lie to me back then, saying you didn’t like ensembles?”

Wen Shixi: “…”

For the current Wen Shixi to say how much he wanted to monopolize Jiang Quanyu’s gaze back then, he really couldn’t say a word.

Wen Shixi said indifferently: “I’ve lied to you a lot, are you going to investigate every single one? Save it.”

Because of the closeness, Jiang Quanyu’s hoarse voice came from above, with a hint of laughter: “Ah, so the one I raised is a little liar who likes to lie.”

Hearing this, Wen Shixi gently “tsk”ed, and then twisted his body, struggling away from Jiang Quanyu.

The night wind was pervasive, and as soon as he broke free, the cold wind blew again, immediately making him feel a bit cold.

Wen Shixi stood for two seconds and walked towards the small road he had come from.

“Let’s go,” Wen Shixi said what he wanted to say and also felt a little tired. He said as he walked, “I’m sleepy.”

On one side of the terrace, Jiang Quanyu was still standing in the scenery of the night sea.

Jiang Quanyu looked at Wen Shixi’s light and quick pace walking away and said in a deep voice.

“Wait a minute.”

Wen Shixi didn’t know why and while turning around, he grunted, “Hmm?”

In the night wind, the two stood at the end of the garden.

Jiang Quanyu was dressed in dark colors, looking heavy at the moment.

Jiang Quanyu was often serious, but the solemnity on his face at this time was even greater than when facing a contract worth hundreds of billions.

“Wen Shixi, I gave you a chance.”

Jiang Quanyu said word by word: “But since you didn’t leave today, I won’t let you leave me again.”

Waves surged one after another, spreading along the coastline.

The good weather that had been clear all day, until this time, the moonlight was gentle, surrounding by the stars.

Wen Shixi listened to Jiang Quanyu’s words and was silent for a moment.

Then, Wen Shixi asked: “No matter what I do?”

Jiang Quanyu thought about it and said in a deep voice, “Yeah, no matter where you want to go after that.”

There was only one direct flight from the harbor to Vienna today, but if he transferred, spending more than twenty hours, there were still seven routes to choose from.

Or, spending more time applying for a route, a private jet could also fly directly.

It wasn’t that Jiang Quanyu had no way, it’s just that Wen Shixi didn’t ask him for much, so he wanted to comply as much as possible.

But perhaps he wouldn’t be able to experience such a thing again.

Moreover, Wen Shixi stayed, didn’t he…

The unspeakable avowal, using a commanding tone, yet saying pale and pathetic wishes.

What Jiang Quanyu said clearly was that he wouldn’t let Wen Shixi leave again.

But the conditions he offered were no matter what Wen Shixi did, and no matter where Wen Shixi went…

Such terms with no fairness, on second thought, were really not worth it at all.

No entrepreneur would bet his wishes on such a contract.

At least, Jiang Quanyu shouldn’t.

Soon, Wen Shixi exhaled and asked faintly: “Brother, do you like me that much?”