Chapter 17: Surprise (Part 1)

  White is serene, with a fluffy texture like snow and softness like clouds.

  Lake blue is deep and profound, with a bright and vibrant light, beautiful like the water of a lake immersed in endless silence.

  Green is elegant, when it seeps into yellow to become yellow-green, it is simple and youthful; when it is dyed blue to become bluish-green, it is clear and open-minded. And green with gray, is still a quiet and peaceful color, like the forest at dusk or the fields in the morning mist.

  This is the main tone of the first floor hall of Sacred Heart Private Hospital under Universal Medical Group. The designer drew inspiration from the beautiful bay and coniferous forest seen during his travels in Northern Europe, unexpectedly abandoning the most common white color in hospitals, but not completely abandoning it. Instead, in a lush and vibrant atmosphere, a quiet and soft tone is added.

  At ten o'clock in the morning, the sky was somewhat disheartened, with a few sighing clouds floating about. The distant bell tower rose to an ancient melody, Su Jinghua pushed her wheelchair out of the ward and slowly walked towards the elevator. Downstairs in the square, the sunlight and children's laughter were still as they were yesterday.

  Heart, shrink.

  Gu Huanli had forgotten how long it had been since she last played the piano in front of others. She could recite the score flawlessly, and her fingers could move deftly over the keys as if possessed, but no one knew that in reality, she actually detested the piano, detesting the memories associated with Luo Yichen and the piano.

  She quietly stopped at the corner of the hall, gazing at the children performing seriously on the small stage. At that moment, Su Jinghua suddenly felt the icy atmosphere around Gu Huanli: Don't come near me! Although she was standing in a crowd, she could almost hear the resistance and disgust in Gu Huanli's heart.

  Su Jinghua didn't move, she just stared at Gu Huanli from afar. In the midst of the lively atmosphere, the little girl in the wheelchair sat quietly. Occasionally, she would lift her head and squint her eyes to look at the fountain in the hall, watching as the water droplets fell from the top and shattered on the surface. Only in that instant did Su Jinghua see her innocent smile. Then, she continued to gaze up at the water droplets on the fountain, watching as they rushed towards the edge and fell in large drops, shining brightly like scattered diamonds. In the moment they landed in the water, all the beauty disappeared, leaving only a lingering glow.

  The children stood in a row on the stage, swaying their bodies and singing songs. It's really strange, Su Jinghua thought, she also sang these songs when she was a kid, how come after twenty years, they are still singing these songs?

  But Gu Huanli's gaze had already wandered outside the floor-to-ceiling window. Several children who were about to recover from their illnesses were running hard, holding onto kites - a colorful butterfly kite, a light gray crab kite, and a pale blue centipede kite, all flying crookedly, connected by only one thin white thread. It was so fragile that it made Gu Huanli worry that it might break at any moment and suddenly fall down.

  After a long time, Gu Huanli lowered her head and muttered to herself, "They hold the thread, grasp their direction, and also hold onto happiness. And in my hand..." She looked at the lines on her palm, as if time had frozen there, and she was lost in the stillness of time.

  It's just that gloomy expression, not only losing the calmness of the past, but also with a hint of anger and resentment. The gentle breeze lazily caressed Su Jinghua's cheek, stirring up her hair to dance lightly. She didn't bother to tidy it up, brushing aside the stray strands on her forehead, continuing her observation quietly.

  This was the Gu Huanlin that Su Jinghua had first met, cold and aloof with a hint of arrogance. In fact, in Su Jinghua's memory, Gu Huanlin's eyes were always dull, whether she was smiling or getting angry. It seemed as if nothing could stir up the light in her eyes, it was unclear whether it was due to being traumatized or if she had always been this calm.

  The performance went smoothly and soon it was Gu Huanli's turn for a piano solo.

  She wheeled her chair to the piano, and gently stroked the keys. A faint coolness lingered on her fingertips, but it felt comfortable. She couldn't help but imagine the beautiful melody flowing from the black and white keys under her fingers.

  "Xiao Li! I'll help you turn the sheet music." Chu Lianyou, who had rushed over after learning that Gu Huanli was going to perform in front of the sick children, pushed through the crowd and ran quickly to Gu Huanli's side. As she turned around, she also playfully winked at Luo Yichen and Ye Qinglan, who were following behind her.

  Her fingers on the piano keys trembled slightly, her long eyelashes fluttering lightly, a familiar phrase, and in memory, it seemed like someone had been in this scene before. Suddenly, a figure emerged in her mind, with outlines that were either deep or shallow. Ah yes, how could she have forgotten? They had met before.

  Sunlight passes through the glass, refracting onto her body, casting a soft glow around her. She tilts her head slightly upwards, her expression serene and peaceful, with a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth. Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the butterfly-shaped kite finally breaks free from the silk thread that had been holding it back... Isn't it interesting? The small butterfly flapping its wings changes not just one person's fate.

  "Let's have Qinglan help me with the piano score instead, after all it's been a while and I don't want to keep you on your tiptoes for too long." Gu Huanli looked up at Ye Qinglan with a straightforward gaze, without any embellishment.

  Ye Qinglan looked at her face with a pure and genuine smile, like a budding wisteria flower bud, while the corners of her eyes smiled into enchanting crescent moons. She couldn't help but stretch out her hand, slightly flipping through the sheet music, and replied warmly, "Good."

  "It's true..." Chu Lianyu stretched out her hand and grasped Ruo Yichen's arm, smiling sweetly. "Brother Yichen, Xiao Li's piano skills are really good, originally our school was going to send her to England for an exchange program, but she got injured and couldn't go."

  "What a pity." Ruo Yu Chen didn't hastily withdraw his hand, instead responding lazily with just that one sentence.

  "It's not a big deal, we can go again next year. Besides, Xiaoli got to know Lancheng and Yichen because of this. In a few years, we'll also be attending Cihui Middle School, and by then, Lancheng and Yichen will be our seniors..."

  Gu Huanli had no interest in this conversation at all, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. At this moment, a warm palm stroked the top of her head, and someone whispered encouragement by her ear, "Come on, I believe you can do it."

  No mistake, Gu Huanli will definitely be able to do it!

  Calming the turmoil in her heart, Gu Huanli sat quietly in front of the piano, her expression focused and indifferent. Her fingertips fell on the black and white keys, and a beautiful melody floated out. Each note that came out with the black and white keys carried a faint joy, as if telling the emotions she had been trying to hide deep within her heart, happiness without ostentation.

  Suddenly, a strange voice singing familiar lyrics echoed in the air, "When you stand on the stars, everyone is the same. Every secret wish will come true, little heart in dreams, fly wherever you want to go..."

  She looked up at the young man singing softly beside her, this was the first time she had carefully examined him since escaping from there at dawn. His handsome face was warm and jade-like, his dark eyes were deep like a pool. He stood beside her, gently placing his hand on the piano, supporting her trembling body, tenderly understanding her occasional weakness.

  Gu Huanli's lips moved lightly as she hummed, "Fantasizing on the stars, like a dream. The fairy smiled, and those loving children, all sweet hopes, became true." Her voice was sweet and clear, like crystal.

  Two voices blend here, "The fairy is by your side, watching you go anywhere. Fantasize on the stars, and beautiful dreams come true. The little heart in the dream, flies with you wherever you want to go. Fantasize on the stars, and beautiful dreams come true."

  Do you still remember your childhood dreams?

  At night, when it's quiet and deserted, the stars in the sky twinkle with a brilliant light. Each star holds a small secret or wish, unconventional and unworldly.

  Lying on the green grass, looking up. At this time, the distance of the stars is so close that it seems to be within reach. Looking at it, gradually, thoughts are like a kite with a broken string, riding the wind and waves, flying thousands of miles away. It seems that the eyes are staring intently at the starry sky, but in fact, the heart has long since flown into the vast universe.

  But I found that the starry sky is like life, each star represents a different dream. The size of the stars, the shape of the stars, and the brightness of the stars are all closely related to dreams. With dreams, there are stars. When dreams are about to shatter, this star may become dim and lightless. If you make a comeback when the east mountain rises again, this star will shine brightly.

  Perhaps, on the day when dreams come true, the starry sky will have one more permanently shining star, until the moment life ends. As for posthumous fame, such a distant thing, who would know?

  Her slender fingers, like white jade, jumped restlessly on the black and white keys, the sound flowing from her fingertips was clear and bright, soft and warm, fleeting and ethereal, as if it could pierce through the sound to another space-time.

  Exchanging a smile with Ye Qinglan, it was as if they had planned it beforehand. Gu Huanli hummed, "When you stand on the stars, everyone is the same. Every secret wish will come true, and little hearts in dreams can fly wherever they want to go."

  Ye Qinglan's face was filled with warm and gentle smile, his voice was like a spring breeze blowing over the wheat field. "Dreaming on the stars, like a dream. The fairy smiled, letting those loving children, all sweet hopes, become true."

  Their voices blend together in perfect harmony, "Fairy by your side, wherever you go. Dreaming on the stars, making dreams come true. Little heart in a dream, flying with you to where you want to go. Dreaming on the stars, making dreams come true."

  In an instant, everyone seemed to have returned to their childhood, sitting by the pond, with the sky as a curtain and the earth as a seat, gazing at the starry night sky. In the gentle breeze of summer, they listened to the croaking of frogs and the chirping of insects. Occasionally, a bright shooting star, like a drop of water splashing out of a river, flew out from the middle of the Milky Way, gliding across the deep blue night sky, silently falling towards the north.

  Yet, how many people are lamenting the loss of innocent laughter and dreams, as well as peace and tranquility, freedom and serenity? More importantly, in the midst of exhaustion and hardship, how many people can no longer find those pure things.

  "Fairy by your side, wherever you go. Dreaming on the stars, beautiful dreams come true. Little heart in a dream, flying with you to wherever. Dreaming on the stars, beautiful dreams come true."

  The lingering sound faded away, Gu Huanli turned her head and smiled, saying "Xiang Gege, thank you, thank you." Her voice was very soft, as if it were a gentle breeze that left no trace.

  Ye Qinglan leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Little girl, can we continue on now?" His voice was warm, as warm as the scorching sun outside the window.