Chapter 18: Surprise (Part 2)

  If it were just a piece for performance, Gu Huanli would never have chosen "Fantasizing on the Stars". Because it doesn't count as a performing piece, at most it can only be considered an encore piece. However, Gu Huanli liked it, and from the moment the first note was played, she felt delighted.

  Luo Yi Chen and others stood under the stage, with everyone gazing at that pair of angel-like perfect boys and girls.

  What were they whispering about in low voices? Unknowable. But, Lu Yu Chen could sense that it was not the gentle smile bestowed upon him, nor the stingy trust placed in him. Jealousy? Envy? Anger? Despair? No, for the first time in his life, Lu Yu Chen had this feeling: some people were born as enemies, while others were born as friends.

  "Wow, Brother Lan sings so well!" Chu Lianyou exclaimed, her eyes shining like crystal clear water. "And I had no idea, Little Li could also sing this good." It was as gentle and pure as a crystal, the first time she heard such a beautiful voice.

  "It's not just you who are surprised." With a faint voice, a narrow path gradually emerged from the crowd, and Gu Tianxi strolled leisurely to the front.

  Upon hearing the voice, Chu Lian was taken aback for a moment, raised her eyes and met a handsome face. The corners of her mouth involuntarily curled up into a sweet smile. "Tian Xi Gege, when did you come back? Why didn't you tell me? I would have gone to the airport to pick you up!"

  "I just wanted to give Xiao Li a surprise, but unexpectedly, the one who truly received the surprise was me." Gu Tianxi walked past Chu Lianyou's side and slowly made his way in front of Gu Huanli, elegantly leaning against the piano.

  "Brother!" Gu Huanli's eyes widened in surprise, with a hint of confusion and dizziness at the bottom of her heart. This was a warmth that had never existed in her memory, just like the rippling light flowing in his eyes. For an instant, she almost couldn't tell whether she was in an illusion or reality. She hesitated for a while before stammering, "Didn't you say last time that you'd be back in a few days?"

  Her long fingers lightly tapped on Gu Huanli's forehead, looking at the thoughts that were plain to see in her eyes, Gu Tianxi pressed his lips into a fine line and smiled slightly, "I missed you, so I came back early after finishing my business. What, didn't you want me to come back early?"

  "No, no!" Gu Huanli hastily shook her head, strongly objecting. At first, when her brother saw that her injuries were stabilizing, he transferred her to this hospital and then hurriedly returned to the UK. Gu Huanli didn't dare ask if her brother would come back or why he left in such a hurry. In fact, she had long been accustomed to waiting. At least, this wait was not endless. After arriving in the UK, her brother called her, instructing her to rest and recover, promising that within a month at most, he would return to check on her recovery.

  Now, her brother is back, Gu Huan Lian still doesn't dare to ask him how many days he will stay, even more so she doesn't dare to ask why he came back early. To her, as long as her brother comes back it's good, really, as long as he comes back to take care of her it's good.

  "Is this for real?" The sudden increase in volume startled Gu Huanli, when did he sit down beside him, and who moved the piano stool for him?

  As he gazed at Gu Huanli's changing expressions, Gu Tianxi affectionately scratched Gu Huanli's nose and leaned in close to her ear. His warm breath rustled the strands of hair by her ear as his low voice whispered, "Do you still remember Mozart's D major double piano concerto?"

  D Major Double Piano Sonata

  Mozart composed it in 1781 for performance with his pupil, Josepha Auernhammer. The work is in three movements. It begins with a forte passage, followed by a brilliant run, then presents a beautiful theme softly in the dominant key, after which the two pianos imitate each other, the same melody appearing successively, crossing and interchanging, pursuing and entwining, until the final long coda provides a magnificent conclusion.

  Light, bright and lively music, like a gentle breeze, lightly takes away worries. More importantly, it requires the tacit cooperation of two musicians, skilled techniques, control over melody, to make the ups and downs, dynamic expansion, strength and weakness of the music all well presented, making the song more pleasant to listen to.

  Gu Huan remembered the score, in the past, of course, it could also be called her previous life. She had played this piece with her classmates before. But now, there was only one piano, and more importantly, she had never played with her brother...

  "Do you believe me?" Gu Tianxi held her face and looked at the shadow of herself in her pupils, saying softly, "Xiao Li, do you believe me?"

  Her moist eyes gazed at the young man in front of her, and Gu Huanli's tears were about to fall from the corners of her eyes. Her eyebrows and eyes seemed to be scolding and flirting with each other, and her cheeks had two light red marks. She said softly, "I believe you, because... brother is the person I trust most in this world." A faint smile appeared on her lips, like the river water melting the ice and snow, or a peach tree being blown open by the spring breeze.

  "I know." Gu Tian Xi's eyes flashed with warmth, warm as if tears were about to fall. He smiled lightly. Suddenly, his hand fell on Gu Huan Li's shoulders, gently supporting her, looking directly into her eyes, "So, let it be the perfect finale for your piano dreams."

  "Brother..." Looking at Gu Tianxi, who suddenly became unusually serious in front of her, Gu Huanli lowered her head, and a thought flashed through her mind - indeed, brother is the person who understands and cares for me the most in this world. So, she nodded seriously, "Okay."

  Four-hand piano duet...

  Two pairs of hands, equally fair but different in size, lightly wandered over the piano keys, as if blooming flowers, light and lively yet not lacking vitality, every sound emitted was intoxicating.

  The melody, as if enchanted, swirled out of the black and white keys, dancing in mid-air. Time and space seemed to stand still, with only the clear and translucent piano sound lingering on in the hall, drifting with the wind to every corner. Gu Tianxi and Gu Huanli exchanged a tacit smile, a warm scene that dazzled many eyes, yet deeply buried in whose gaze?

  It wasn't long after that...

  "Oh no!" Gu Huanli's heart secretly cried out in dismay, she had accidentally pressed the wrong piano key, and the sudden unexpectedness made her mind a mess. Her fingers trembled, unsure of how to continue playing.

  Another pair of hands intervened in a timely manner, and the gentle melody did not stop. The audience was still immersed in it. Although the original tune had changed slightly due to the previous mistake, Gu Tianxi used his own adaptability and talent to modify several notes, making the song smooth.

  Gu Huanli's face gradually revealed a smile, her stiff fingers became agile on the keyboard, all troubles be gone, at this moment she just wanted to enjoy this quiet time.

  Sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft golden glow on Gu Tianxi's profile. As she watched her brother's slender fingers dance nimbly across the keyboard, it was as if he were drawing notes onto a blank sheet of paper, filling in the five-line staff with music. Suddenly, an inexplicable wave of emotion welled up in her heart. She had always assumed that her brother, busy with his studies, had long given up on his dream of becoming a pianist.

  She was being habitually self-righteous again.

  The sound of the piano returned to a familiar chapter for Gu Huanli, and Gu Tianxi smiled faintly at her. The four-handed duet struck the keys in unison, with Gu Tianxi repeating the main theme and Gu Huanli playing the accompaniment with agility and variation. The seamless fusion of the two created beautiful music that was like a beautiful and moving oil painting being painted in everyone's heart, even the restless children gradually became immersed in it.

  As soon as the music ended, people had not yet awakened from the music, but the boy and lovely little girl who suddenly appeared on stage had already disappeared.

  Accompanied by warm yet not noisy applause, a voice suddenly emerged from the crowd, "Hehe, is this what they mean by blood ties?"

  Not far from the piano, Ruo Yi Chen's thin lips slightly curled up, his eyes sparkling with interest. He lazily leaned to one side, looking at the silent person beside him, "You said so, Lan?"

  Warm eyes, a calm and slightly mischievous expression gazed at Gu Huanli, Ye Qinglan smiled and said, "I've already booked my ticket to France, what about you? Where are you planning to go this summer?"

  "I say, are you going to the Louvre to sketch again?" Ruo Yi Chen looked at his good friend with an unbearable gaze. To be honest, he really admired Ye Qing Lan's perseverance. Since high school, every holiday, she would go once, and it was always from opening to closing, truly more punctual than the Louvre staff themselves.

  "You're definitely going to Saint-Tropez for vacation anyway, how about we go together?"

  "Are you planning on going to the Annonciade Museum this time?"

  "I have this intention."

  "I'm saying, you really don't plan on studying medicine?"

  "Does painting conflict with studying medicine?"

  "If you agree to accompany me to Plona Beach, I'll reluctantly let you help me book an extra ticket to France."

  "Hey, hey, that's a celestial beach!"

  "It's not the most popular one, I won't go!"

  "Brother Lan, what is a celestial beach?" Chu Lianyou, who was standing beside them, looked puzzled and asked curiously, "Is it like a planetarium? The kind of beach where you can lie down and gaze up at the vast starry sky?"

  This...

  Ye Qinglan and Luo Yichen stared at each other, could it be that they were too used to Gu Huanli's maturity, so they neglected the fact that she and her cousin were still just little girls.

  Okay, they need to reflect on their actions after going home. But now, how do you explain to an 8-year-old girl what a celestial beach is?

  Every day doing sports on the beach? This sounds pretty good, after all, there are many people on the beach playing beach volleyball, kicking beach football, jogging, surfing, rock climbing, and flying a parachute...

  This explanation should be reasonable... right?

  Support Rebirth of Sweet Love, available at major bookstores and online stores.