A few days later, Li Younan set off on his journey to Jinling City in his little cool car.
Under the night sky, Li Younan's car raced along the elevated road, flanked by bright lights.
Li Younan leisurely glanced at the swiftly passing lights on both sides, momentarily dreaming as if in a trance. Not long ago, he was still working diligently in the company, yet now, he had become a tiny speck in the flow of light, driving toward a destination with an unknown exit.
He adapted to this lifestyle surprisingly quickly, feeling like he belonged to it all along.
Following the navigation, the car slowed down, and he finally reached the toll station of Jinling City. Even then, Li Younan felt somewhat unreal.
Looking at the huge toll station sign, he wanted to exclaim, but with his usual lack of eloquence, he could only utter: "Awesome!"
Li Younan found a place nearby to stay.
Standing by the hotel's floor-to-ceiling window, looking out, Jinling City under the night sky was bustling with car lights like bright sparks, hurried pedestrians, and shining neon lights.
Unlike Binhai City, Jinling City has only one must-see spot: Jinling City Museum. But Li Younan does not plan to simply check in and leave.
The goal is checking in, but he cares more about the process. He intends to stay here for a few days, soaking up the city's ambiance.
He plans to check in on the day he leaves.
Speaking of the atmosphere, Li Younan suddenly recalled the girl he encountered at Duoyun Academy.
Lying on the bed, he humorously thought, would he bump into that girl again here? Then, chuckling to himself, in a country this vast, with such a large population, the probability of two strangers meeting again is almost zero.
The night passed without a word.
The next day, Li Younan parked the car at the hotel, grabbed his backpack, and set off.
During the day, he did not set a specific destination nor check any guides, walking aimlessly wherever his steps took him. He visited several significant museums, including the Memorial Hall for Compatriot Victims and other somber places, believing this too was part of the journey.
After finishing his day's itinerary and having dinner, Li Younan planned to visit the popular Confucius Temple pedestrian street in the evening.
He knew well that such commercially dense places are similar nationwide, but as he said, it too was part of the journey.
It must be said, it is indeed lively here.
Shops lined closely together on both sides of the bluestone road with their signs lit up, windows of salted duck glowing with oil, young people queuing at the milk tea shops, taking pictures of the lanterns on the eaves with their phones, and under the Wuyi Lane signpost, guides waved small flags shouting, "Scan here to enter Wang Xie's former residence." Tricycle drivers pedaled through people, bike bells mixed with the cries of "osmanthus cake," hurrying in the opposite direction upon seeing city inspectors.
Li Younan watched the crowd with interest, silently soaking in the atmosphere. He bought a piece of hand-grasped cake by the roadside, not a local Jinling snack, but eating it with relish. As he continued strolling, music suddenly sounded ahead, with many gathering around a singer.
Li Younan joined the crowd, standing among them.
A seemingly young college student was playing an electric piano and singing emotionally.
His voice was quite good, and tourists around him were taking videos with their phones.
Li Younan lightly tapped his fingers, nodding along. Ever since acquiring piano skills, music seemed to take on a shape in his ears, chords, textures, rhythms, and timbres became his focus while listening.
Just as everyone was engrossed in the singer's voice, Li Younan suddenly heard a soft chuckle, a familiar sound that startled him.
He looked toward the source of the sound, only a dozen meters away, where a girl slowly squatted down to open the case she carried.
Seeing the girl's face, Li Younan's expression froze—this was the girl he had briefly met at Duoyun Academy, the cultural traveler.
Yet shortly afterward, Li Younan's expression turned peculiar as he focused on the instrument in the case. It wasn't a violin but an erhu.
As it turned out, the erhu's potential is limitless.
While everyone concentrated on the piano-playing singer, a crisp musical note suddenly blended perfectly into the music during a certain beat.
Everyone paused and looked toward the sound; the girl smiled cheerfully, playing the erhu in a self-created stance, her melody seamlessly merging with the chords.
The singer naturally noticed the girl.
Soon, the unique musician's connection emerged, and the two performed a piece together, concluding amidst audience applause.
The atmosphere was truly fantastic, hard not to be moved.
The girl seemed unsatisfied, trying out a few more notes on the erhu.
This time, however, the singer's expression became uncomfortable.
His specialty was singing, and his piano skill was merely for regular chord accompaniment, making impromptu collaboration challenging. Yet, the live audience did not understand, cheering rowdily as the singer grew increasingly awkward.
The girl noticed the issue too, playing a few notes unsuccessfully, blinking, regretfully stopping.
The commotion continued with many holding phones, capturing photos of the singer and the girl, yet the music did not start.
In this awkward moment, a tall figure approached the singer.
The girl, who initially intended to put down the erhu, froze upon seeing the approaching person, blinking in disbelief, and rubbed her eyes as if unsure.
Noise came from all directions: footsteps, various chaotic conversations, overlapping lights around.
The girl quietly watched Li Younan.
Could such a low-probability coincidence truly occur?
Li Younan softly spoke a few words to the singer, who nodded gladly and stepped aside.
...
In reality, Li Younan was tone-deaf, his last stage appearance related to music being a choral competition back in middle school.
It was a painful memory, so poorly executed that it's nearly blurred in his mind.
At that time, there were only five boys in their class; to unify the tone, the music teacher instructed the boys to sing softly, and Li Younan complied, winning the school championship alongside the girls.
The school leaders were impressed, suggesting them for the county competition, where they won again.
At New Year's Eve, each county had to present a show for the city's New Year gala, once more recommending their choir.
It was a moment of glory, with the spotlight fully on.
Because of Li Younan's good looks, during the city rehearsal, the director exclaimed, "Him, yes him, place him in the front row!"
On the evening of the gala, Li Younan was in the front row, the microphone practically in his face.
The rest of the memory is a blur; he only recalled that day after singing, the audience was all dumbfounded.
Later, he naturally found out that he represented his fellow villagers, performing a major flop live to the entire city.
Due to the microphone, the girls couldn't even attempt to save him.
But the current situation was different.
What I lose, I will get back!
Piano and singing can be considered equals.
At this moment, Li Younan gently placed his hand on the piano, and the melody resumed.
Li Younan did not play sophisticated pieces but started with the prelude of "Canon."
Though this piece is overplayed, each time its prelude starts, people inevitably quiet down to listen.
The girl picked up the erhu, slightly closing her eyes. When the melody reached the right spot, she softly drew the strings.
As the beautiful music flowed, nearby university students gazed enviously at Li Younan and the girl in the center, exclaiming, "Damn, this is just too amazing, I'm so jealous!"