Stringy Wind in the Ear - Chap 45
The evening breeze was cool, and Li Xun walked under the hazy moonlight, recalling with great resonance the time when he was depressed.
He had a feeling that Song Yang and he were the same kind of people, destined to be inseparable from archery in this life. They were happy for it, suffered for it, and also felt the freshness and splendor of life because of it.
But it was precisely because of his passion and his thriving ambition that the conflicting impact of unwillingness and fear led to his nearly mental collapse. He could empathize with Song Yang’s dilemma at the moment.
This is a problem that most athletes will face. He knew that Song Yang would have to make a decision in desperate situation one day, but he didn’t expect that day to come so suddenly.
He couldn’t comfort Song Yang as calmly as Zhou You did: “It doesn’t matter if you don’t practice. In fact, there are still many interesting things worth exploring.”
There are indeed many interesting and new things in this world, but for them, their love for bows and arrows is integrated into their flesh and blood. Once separated, it is like a kite with a broken string, losing its direction.
If this happened in a martial arts novel, others would probably think it was insane.
After that night, Li Xun no longer urged Song Yang to go to the archery hall for classes. He believed that Song Yang needed time to think and plan, and he had to respect whatever choice he made.
On Friday evening, he received a message from Song Yang, but it was not good news.
Song Yang: [I have something to do this week, so I’ll be back later. You don’t have to take me with you.]
They usually go home every two weeks. From the time Song Yang started school until now, they have always gone home together, without exception.
He felt that Song Yang was deliberately avoiding him, but was it just because of a provincial sports quota? The Song Yang he knew was not so petty. Their relationship couldn’t be damaged by a quota, right? Also, what was going on with Song Yang and Zhou You? Was it just a simple conversation to relieve his depression or was there another purpose?
He was always trying to show off his presence in front of the girl. He had to find such a secluded corner to read. Can being pitiful help him gain favor? How stupid!
He completely forgot how Song Yang’s little look had made him lose his mind a few days ago, and all the sourness in his heart was gushing out.
I don’t know if these two have been secretly in contact recently to enhance their relationship. Will Zhou You be attracted to Song Yang?
With a lot of resentment in his heart, he got into the car angrily and almost shattered the car window.
The journey was long and there was no one to talk to on the passenger seat. Li Xun was extremely sleepy and yawned several times.
Bored, he glanced at the small incense ornament on the car’s central dashboard.
The figurines were of three little people having a picnic on the lawn and a dog. Their facial features were all ugly in their own ways, but one could barely tell from their clothing styles and hairstyles that one was him, one was Chu Zhi, and one was Song Yang. The dog was naturally Pee.
Song Yang gave it to him after the Chinese New Year. He also applied color considerately, but his technique was a bit average and the application was not so even. Song Yang explained: “This is highlight, do you understand? You can tell at a glance that you have never studied art!”
“Okay, okay, art, art… leave it alone.”
“I’ll give you some essential oil to refresh your mind.”
“Didn’t you tell me last time that this smell is soothing and helps you sleep?”
“Really? Then I might have remembered it wrongly.”
“Can I remember this wrongly? What if I fall asleep while driving?”
“I am here, can I make you fall asleep?”
When Li Xun thought of this, he made a sour “huh” sound and flicked Song Yang’s brain on the ornament.
The little brat’s promise is really not trustworthy.
This scary thing distracted Li Xun’s thoughts. Only when the car behind him honked to remind him did he release the handbrake and restart the car.
As a result, he missed the checkpoint on the highway because of a yawn and had to take a detour of 20 kilometers.
“Damn!” Li Xun slammed the steering wheel in frustration, not knowing whether it was because of this missed checkpoint or something else.
At the same time, Song Yang was in the high-speed rail carriage, feeling equally aggrieved.
When he grabbed the ticket, it was too late, and there was no seat near the window. On his left sat an aunt holding a two-year-old baby, who kept kicking him with her feet when the crying child could not be comforted. On his right sat an old man who was watching short videos with a loudspeaker. In front of him was the aroma of instant noodles, and behind him were aunts talking loudly. He was trapped in this environment surrounded by enemies, holding his small backpack and looking up at the sky helplessly.
I should have known I wouldn’t have done this. I ended up losing both the wife and the army.
He sent that message to Li Xun on purpose, because Li Xun gave the quota to someone else and ignored him. In a whole week, he only sent three messages to him.
Why haven’t you come to training yet?
Are you coming today?
Are you coming?
Her attitude became more and more perfunctory, and she didn’t seem to care about him at all. She even didn’t care that he skipped physical education class!
He thought that after sending that message, Li Xun would at least care about what happened to him, but Li Xun just replied “OK” and turned away. This shows that he is nothing in Li Xun’s heart.
The water was spilled, so he had to book a ticket temporarily and grope his way to the train station by himself.
The station was winding like a maze. He spent half a day queuing up to get his ticket and ended up missing a train, so he had to change his train.
His cell phone was running out of battery, so he called Song Jingshan and told him that he was on the high-speed train and expected to arrive in an hour, and asked him to wait near the train station in advance.
Song Jingshan felt strange: “Hey, why didn’t you take Axun’s car today?”
Song Yang pursed his lips and made up an excuse: “I’m thin-skinned and don’t want to trouble him to wait for me every time.”
“Yo——” My own father mocked without any hesitation, “You still feel embarrassed?”
Song Yang said angrily: “My phone is out of battery. I won’t bother you any more. Remember to wait for me at the gate of South City Department Store. Bring some food. I’m starving.”
“Okay, okay…” Before the call was hung up, Chu Zhi’s soft and tender voice came from the other end, “Is it Brother Xiaoyang?”
“Yeah, do you want to go with me to pick him up?”
Before he could hear Chu Zhi’s reply, his father had already hung up the phone. Song Yang smiled helplessly, set the alarm, put on an eye mask and headphones, and leaned back in his chair to take a nap.
During a short break, he had a dream that Li Xun wanted to sever the master-disciple relationship with him.
Under the bright lights of the archery hall, Li Xun threw him an attendance card, his face as gloomy as water: “Look at you, how long have you not come to training? With your attitude, you want to join the provincial team?”
The big red cross on the card was like the claws of a devil, strangling him so hard that he couldn’t breathe. He apologized to Li Xun, but Li Xun told him: “If it’s really that painful, don’t practice anymore. There are so many interesting things in this world, and you will definitely find something that makes you feel fulfilled and happy. Don’t call me Master anymore.”
He was awakened by a fright, and his palms were covered in sweat.
He couldn’t remember how many times he had had a nightmare this month. He rarely had nightmares before, and even the nights before the college entrance examination, he dreamed of traveling after the exam. It seemed that since this semester, he had more and more troubles and the frequency of nightmares was increasing.
When he took off the blindfold, he saw that the night outside the window was as dark as ink and dotted with stars. The child and the uncle next to him were both fast asleep.
He held his backpack and stood up quietly.
His cell phone had automatically turned off, and without navigation, he could only follow the crowd and walk out based on his sense.
The aroma of grilled sausages filled the air, stimulating his saliva secretion, but after searching all the pockets on his body and in his bag, he only found two coins, not even enough to buy a bottle of mineral water.
The most annoying thing was that he chose the wrong exit and had to take a detour of one kilometer to get to the department store.
“”If I had known I wouldn’t have gone home…”” His mutterings echoed the growling of his stomach.
I don’t know if my dad has arrived yet.
Song Yang hung his head, hooked a plastic bag that had floated over from somewhere with his toes, and kicked it as he walked.
The faint moonlight was broken up by the branches in the wind, and dotted his face, alternating between light and dark, making him look a little lonely.
Li Xun honked the horn for the third time.
Song Yang finally raised his head and looked at him, frowning with some impatience.
Li Xun flashed his high beam at him again.
With the help of the light from the roadside shop, Song Yang saw the license plate clearly. He was shocked, but without time to think about it, he happily walked around the green plants on the street.
The car window was down.
“Master! Why are you here!?”
Li Xun carefully looked at the young man outside the window. In just a week, Song Yang had obviously lost weight and his little face was almost unrecognizable.
His heart was still sour, and he showed a helpless expression: “I have to accept the order in times of crisis, so I have to come.”
Song Yang probably guessed what was going on. Li Xun had no obligation to pick him up, but since he came, it was a favor. He stopped being awkward and got into the passenger seat happily: “Did my dad ask you to come?”
“What else?” Li Xun handed him a steaming egg-filled pancake.
“Uncle, people who lie will have their noses grow longer.” Li Chuzhi, who had been hiding in the back seat eating an omelet, spoke righteously, “It was you who insisted on coming here.”
Li Xun: “………………”
