The Trees on the Mountain Have Branches
Selina clutched the card, tears still welling in her eyes.
She looked at Kexi, at his awkward expression as he tried to put on airs like a young master, and suddenly took a step forward, opened her arms, and hugged him tightly.
Kexi froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.
His hand hung in mid-air, unsure of where to put it.
Selina's hair brushed against his chin, and an indescribable fragrance wafted into his nose.
His face burned from the base of his neck upwards all the way to the tips of his ears.
Selina quickly released her grip and took two steps back.
Her face flushed, her head lowered, her hands clasped together, and her voice returned to the volume of a mosquito's buzz.
"I'm sorry, I lost my temper. I just... didn't know how to thank you."
Kexi coughed twice, pretending to straighten her collar to hide her still-flushed face.
He racked his brains for a while before deciding to say something to get the atmosphere back on track.
"So you really want to thank me?"
"Aren't you a talented woman? You studied music, and you can play the piano, sing, and dance."
His tone returned to its casual manner, "Then sing me a little love song and dance a little."
Selina looked up, a hint of conflict flashing across her face.
She bit her lip, a hint of hesitation in her voice. "Does it have to be... a little love song?"
Seeing her serious and conflicted expression, Kexi couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Of course not, I was just kidding. Anything is fine."
Selina was silent for a few seconds, then closed her eyes.
She stood under the streetlight, her eyelashes casting two faint shadows on her face, her chest rising and falling slightly with her breath, as if she were making some kind of solemn preparation.
Kexi waited for a minute, then couldn't help but ask, "Are you done yet?"
Selina opened her eyes.
Her eyes sparkled in the dim light, and the tension on her face hadn't completely faded, but now there was an added layer of seriousness.
She didn't answer Kexi's question, but instead reached out and took Kexi's hand.
When Kexi's hand was grasped, she stiffened for a moment.
Her fingers were slightly cool, but her grip was very firm.
"What are you doing?" Kexi felt the blush that had finally subsided coming back.
Selina didn't explain, but simply took his hand, took a half-step back, and then led him around.
Her other hand gently rested on his shoulder, the movement as natural as if she were doing something she had practiced countless times.
Kexi realized what was happening.
She was leading him in a duet dance.
His face turned completely red.
Having lived for so many years, he'd seen it all, yet here he was, being dragged into a duet by his own secretary, completely at a loss for what to do with his hands and feet.
I'm not very good at dancing--
"Just follow me." Selina's voice was very soft. After saying this, she lowered her head slightly, as if taking his hand had used up all her courage.
She led him slowly in circles.
The streetlights shone like spotlights on the two people, casting their shadows that were sometimes long and sometimes short.
Kexi looked down at his toes, trying not to step on her feet. His heart was pounding so loudly that he suspected even the patients in the sanatorium could hear it.
Then Selina spoke up.
She sang almost right next to his ear, her voice so soft it sounded like a secret sung only to him.
"Is it enough for two people to capture moments of love? I close my eyes and remember your smile..."
Kexi paused for a moment.
"The calmness of happiness~empty your soul and enjoy the emotion for a minute..."
Kexi felt her face burning again.
She spun him around, and it felt as if his heartbeat spun around with her.
"Whether or not you fall in love with someone doesn't depend on tomorrow; even the most beautiful mountains and rivers aren't as captivating as you..."
Her voice trembled slightly when she sang this line.
Kexi looked down at her and found that she was looking at him too.
Their eyes met for only a moment before she quickly turned her face away, but her grip on her hand didn't loosen at all.
Holding your hand, we walked to the very end, but now, how can I turn back...?
The last note faded.
Selina released his shoulder, took a step back, and lowered her head again.
Her face was as red as burning coals, the redness spreading from her cheeks down to her neck.
She stared at her toes, her breathing light and rapid, unsure of what to do with her hands, and finally could only clutch the hem of her clothes.
Kexi stood there, opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say for a moment.
The atmosphere immediately fell silent.
Neither of them spoke.
It's so awkward it makes you want to scratch your toes.
In the end, it was Kexi who broke the deadlock.
He cleared his throat and said in a deliberately casual tone, "You're pretty good."
Selina looked up at him blankly.
"You even managed to dance with someone as uncoordinated as me, and you still sang so well." Kexi put her hands back in her pockets, smiled at her, and said, "You truly are a talented woman."
Selina's eyelashes fluttered, and she blushed as she lowered her head. "Thank you, young master."
"You've got some nerve, daring to flirt with me."
"I... I didn't, I was just doing as you asked, young master..."
"Really?" Kexi craned her neck, her eyes fixed on her without blinking.
Selina was speechless for a moment.
She just shrank her neck, lowered her head, her face flushed, not daring to look at him, but a faint smile always lingered on the corners of her mouth.
Looking at her shy expression, Kexi suddenly felt a gentle prick in her heart.
Actually, I also have a song I want to sing for you.
Selina raised her head again, a hint of expectation in her eyes.
"Really?"
Kexi cleared her throat and, without any preamble, began to speak.
His voice isn't professional, but his rhythm is steady, and he sings earnestly.
"What I want to see most is your smile. In my eyes, you are the best."
Selina's gaze softened, and a faint smile unconsciously curved her lips.
However, her expression quickly changed from soft to stunned, and then from stunned to completely red.
Her face turned even redder than when she had just finished dancing, and even her neck was tinged with pink.
"A cheesy tone~ You'd never know~ How quietly I love you~"
How should I continue this conversation?
"It's all my fault for being too timid~"
"I just keep staring at you and grinning like an idiot, what am I going to do?"
"But I really didn't expect you to pull me into your arms~"
After finishing his song, he took the opportunity to bump into Selina's arms, grabbing her arms and gently wrapping them around himself.
Selina immediately pushed him away shyly and scolded him playfully.
"Young Master!"
"What's wrong? If you sing, I'll sing too, it's fair."
Kexi put her hands behind her back, took two steps back, grinned at her, and said, "Okay, you're done singing. It's time to go back to sleep. Hurry up and get rid of those dark circles under your eyes; they look awful."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving behind a dashing silhouette.
Selina watched his tall figure, her eyelashes trembling, before finally revealing a smile that was hard to decipher.
What they meant by those two songs is something only they and God know.
Meanwhile, far away in Montelli's boudoir.
Carlotta was fast asleep when a message popped up on her terminal.
[Your family card has been used to spend 384,380 Monnaie]