Encounter at Lakeheart Pavilion

"Morning, Ye Bai."

Early Sunday morning, Ding Yuerong and Feng Pingping arrived at the house.

Ding Yebai had just woken up, so sleepy he could barely open his eyes.

"Mom? Sister?"

The two short words seemed to get stuck in his throat.

Feng Pingping was thrilled to see her son. She reached out and lightly patted his shoulder, smiling. "Just woke up?"

Ding Yebai nodded.

Feng Pingping asked, "What time did you go to bed last night?"

Ding Yebai said, "Around midnight. I did a few more practice papers."

Feng Pingping said, "Senior year is tough, son. Mom will make you something delicious for lunch."

Hearing there would be food perked Ding Yebai up a little. He stepped back and plopped down on the sofa. He had intended to sit upright for a while, but he was too sleepy, so he lazily lay back down.

Ding Yuerong sat on the other end of the sofa and casually unlocked her phone.

"Sister, why are you here too?"

"Your sister has plans to meet a friend here. I'm heading out later."

"Oh..." Ding Yebai turned over and ignored her.

Meanwhile—

Rustle—

Feng Pingping opened the refrigerator and was somewhat surprised.

There weren't any vegetables at all...

It was full of drinks.

That really did suit her son's lifestyle.

"This won't do, Yuerong, Yebai. There are no vegetables in the fridge, so Mom can't make you anything delicious."

Once Mom spoke like that, how could her children not understand what she meant?

Looks like they had to go out and buy groceries.

Feng Pingping said, "Go buy some scallions, ginger, garlic..."

Then she rattled off a long list.

As Ding Yuerong listened, she walked over to Ding Yebai and slapped him on the stomach. "Get up. Rock-paper-scissors. Whoever loses goes grocery shopping for Mom."

Ding Yebai said, "Aren't you going out later? Why not just buy them on the way?"

This mother-daughter pair had come to torment him first thing in the morning.

Ding Yuerong said, "I don't know when I'll be back after I go out. Hurry up. Get up already."

Like a zombie being revived, Ding Yebai slowly sat up, hiding one hand behind his back as he prepared for "battle." "Let's be clear first. No backing out after we play."

Ding Yuerong said, "Don't worry. Let's start already!"

"Rock, paper, scissors!"

Ding Yebai lost.

He threw scissors, and Ding Yuerong threw rock.

It felt as though things had always ended this way ever since he was little. The bloodline suppression of being the older sister could not be changed.

He quickly washed his face and brushed his teeth, pulled on a simple white T-shirt and black shorts, put on his favorite black baseball cap, grabbed his phone, and headed out.

He had remembered every single vegetable Feng Pingping had listed after hearing it once.

As he walked, he carefully went over them again.

When he arrived at the market, he bought everything according to his mom's instructions. He also knew exactly how much of each thing to get.

About twenty minutes later, Ding Yebai emerged carrying two large bags of vegetables.

At some point, the wind had picked up. Layer upon layer of clouds rolled thicker overhead, and a fine drizzle began to fall from the gloomy sky, shrouding all of Jinghuai in a misty haze.

Carrying the groceries, he slowly stepped onto the bluestone path as scattered raindrops drifted onto his fair face.

The grass and trees by the roadside seemed to carry the subtle elegance unique to a water town. A few houses stood along both banks, their pale colors reflecting one another and seeming to stretch all the way to the horizon.

When he reached the lakeside, he heard an accordion playing in the distance.

The notes drifted gently through the air, yet the emotion within them stirred the heart.

It was as though Ding Yebai's heartstrings had been lightly plucked. He instinctively looked toward the source and saw two women in Lakeheart Pavilion.

Judging by the melody, it was probably Faye Wong's "Fleet Year."

The music seemed to tell a story, letting the performer's most peaceful years and brightest storms slowly flow forth.

Carrying the two heavy bags of groceries, Ding Yebai began humming along with the tune.

He continued home along the path by the lake, gradually drawing closer and closer to Lakeheart Pavilion.

He thought the music sounded nice, so he looked over a few more times.

Who would have thought that, with one look, his eyes would meet those of someone in Lakeheart Pavilion?

As the breeze rose and the rain fluttered down, Ding Yebai stopped in his tracks as he looked at the people in the pavilion.

Why was it Ding Yuerong!!!!

And the person beside her... Sister Yang Zhi???

He looked around, then at the courtyard residences in the distance. It made sense for Sister Yang Zhi to be here.

Yang Zhi lived so close to this place. It was perfectly normal for her to come out for a walk.

So she was the person Ding Yuerong had arranged to meet.

Yang Zhi wore a pure white dress, her black hair falling like a waterfall. She possessed an intellectual, elegant air.

The wind gently lifted her lovely hair, while her delicate face bore the same warm smile as always.

She was like a white rose placed in a crystal vase—clear and luminous, pure and noble.

Her slender, fair fingers continuously pressed the keys as she played the beautiful melody. The music flowed as smoothly as a brook beneath a small bridge. Who could help but become intoxicated by it?

Ding Yebai's expression remained as indifferent as ever, as though he were simply appreciating the performance.

There was a ripple in his heart, but he thought it was merely the natural emotion people felt toward beautiful sights.

The boy did not yet know that every flutter of joy would be drawn into the music, brewing pure, beautiful verses in his heart and blooming within dreams where the sky-blue waited for misty rain.

Ding Yuerong said, "Oh? Isn't this my dear little brother? Come here, come here."

Sitting in Lakeheart Pavilion, she waved excitedly at Ding Yebai from afar and called out loudly.

Only then did Ding Yebai come back to his senses. Hearing his older sister call him, he had no choice but to carry his bags over.

When he entered the pavilion, he first glanced at his sister, then looked toward Yang Zhi and gave a slight nod. "Sister Yang Zhi."

Yang Zhi had been so immersed in the music that she had only just noticed Ding Yebai beside her. Then she gave him a gentle, quiet smile. "Ding Yebai? What are you doing here?"

Ding Yebai lifted the bags full of vegetables for her to see. "I lost rock-paper-scissors to my older sister, so I came to buy groceries."

After saying that, he felt slightly dazed.

In the past, he could have ended the conversation with just the words "buying groceries." Yet now, he actually wanted to say a few more words.

"I see..." Yang Zhi was slightly amused by him. Looking toward Ding Yuerong, she said, "Senior Sister is still the same as ever."

Ding Yuerong clicked her tongue. "Ding Yebai, a bet's a bet. Why are you talking so much?!" Laughing, she pointed at Yang Zhi. "You heard it too, right? Doesn't your Sister Yang Zhi play the accordion especially well?"

Ding Yebai said, "It's pretty good. Sister Yang Zhi, do you practice often?"

Yang Zhi said, "Ever since I was little."

At the mention of this, Yang Zhi's gaze dimmed.

She could play three instruments: piano, accordion, and violin. The piano and violin were what she herself liked.

But she had specifically learned the accordion because her late mother had liked it.

Though she was not as skilled at it as the other two...

Whenever she heard the sound of an accordion, it felt as though her mother were by her side. She transformed into gentle notes and melodies, healing her.

"Do you come to Lakeheart Pavilion to play the accordion?" Ding Yebai asked again.

Ding Yuerong, sitting to one side, was dumbfounded by their conversation. Why was this ice-cold little brother suddenly so talkative? Was it because Yang Zhi looked easy to talk to????

Yang Zhi said, "I'm usually busy with classes at school... so I don't come often. My hands have gotten rather rusty, so it doesn't sound very good."

Ding Yebai said, "I think it sounds very good."

Seeing how unconfident she looked, he solemnly emphasized it once more.

Yang Zhi's eyes widened slightly. She smiled brightly and said, "Mm... As long as it sounds good."

Ding Yuerong said, "..."