Chapter 50

Another Rainy Day (3)

A few minutes into the call, the phone started heating up again, and the battery was running low.

Xu Muzi had no choice but to end the call, dragging her heavy suitcase into the hallway.

They lived on the top floor, the seventh floor.

The old residential buildings did not have elevators, and it was said that the previous owner had moved out to live with their children because they were too old to climb the stairs, which is why the house was available for rent.

Having lived abroad for so many years, Xu Muzi had grown accustomed to doing everything herself. Even though her wrist wasn’t comfortable in the damp weather, she still pulled the suitcase herself, slowly climbing the stairs step by step.

As she reached the halfway point on the sixth floor, the door opened.

Xu Muzi’s father, wearing slippers, came down to greet her, saying, “Your mom has good ears; she said she heard the clattering in the hallway that sounded like dragging a suitcase. Hurry, give it to Dad, I’ll help you carry it.”

Xu Muzi had only been gone for a little over a day, and changes had already taken place at home.

Several large and small cardboard boxes were stacked together, as if they were preparing to move.

When she asked the reason, her father had a cheerful expression and said that he had gone to see a house with a real estate agent yesterday. They would have to move eventually, so they were tidying up unused things in advance to avoid a rush later.

Xu Muzi’s mother came out of the kitchen with a clay pot, stepping over a small empty cardboard box: “Muzi, wash your hands; dinner’s ready. What did you bring?”

She handed over the canvas bag: “Tomatoes grown by the locals from the guesthouse. They taste really good.”

Xu Muzi knew that Deng Yun’s parents were also looking for a house, and Deng Yun said he would help facilitate things to see if they could live close to each other like in the past.

She was preoccupied with this matter and actually wanted to hear her parents continue discussing topics like buying a house and moving.

However, her parents didn’t talk much about it.

Instead, they brought up some “great news.”

The steaming clay pot was placed in the center of the dining table, and her mother served Xu Muzi a full bowl of vermicelli and meatballs.

She said they had recently learned that the child of an old family friend was also single and wanted to arrange for them to meet.

The date was already set for the day of Xu Muzi’s performance.

Worried that she might have objections, her parents encouraged her in a back-and-forth manner.

They said that it was more reassuring to interact with someone familiar, and it was just a meal. If she really didn’t like it, they wouldn’t force her to keep in contact; whether or not to continue was entirely up to her—they wouldn’t interfere.

Xu Muzi wasn’t keen on discussing this.

She sulkily sipped her soup: “Mom, it seems you forgot to add salt.”

Xu Muzi’s mother still wasn’t great at cooking; she took a small taste with a spoon: “Oh, you’re right, I really didn’t add any.”

She got up: “I’ll go get some salt.”

As she walked into the kitchen and opened the cupboard drawer, she faintly heard her parents whispering together—

Her father said, “It’s a good thing, but the kid’s personality… I never really liked him much…”

Her mother replied, “He is a bit odd. But he’s also quite excellent. Besides, he’s asked about it several times; it wouldn’t be good to keep dragging it out. Let’s just meet first.”

Xu Muzi held the salt shaker, wondering:

What kind of person had they arranged for her?

She had a rehearsal in the afternoon, and time was tight.

While eating, Xu Muzi discreetly moved her charged phone under the dining table, away from her parents.

She sent a message to Deng Yun, asking if he had any intel about his parents looking at houses.

With her head down, her mother noticed and asked, “Muzi, what’s wrong behind your ear?”

Thinking it was a hickey, Xu Muzi was startled and accidentally yanked the phone charger out.

The power cord fell onto the dining table with a “thud.” She touched the skin behind her ear, which felt slightly itchy, and then realized, “It’s just a mosquito bite; I’m allergic.”

Her mother was concerned: “Have you put on some medicine?”

“I have.”

Her father also asked, “Why is your face so red? Did you drink hot soup?”

“… Maybe.”

Xu Muzi later shared this incident with Deng Yun over the phone on her way to rehearsal, describing it in a dramatic fashion.

Deng Yun replied, “Alright, I’ll keep trying.”

“What are you trying for?”

He laughed and said, “Of course, I’m trying to pursue you.”

He then asked if she wanted to publicly acknowledge their relationship to their parents once he got a title.

Xu Muzi didn’t answer, instead changing the topic to the rain in the city, which wasn’t as heavy as in the mountains.

But with a sweet feeling in her heart, she radiantly completed her afternoon rehearsal.

When she returned home in the evening, her parents were out.

Only the sound of rain filled the house as she quietly ate alone. Her energy was limited, and as she ate, her eyes began to droop.

After washing the dishes and returning to her room, it was only a little past six o’clock.

She initially planned to send a message to Deng Yun for a chat and then sleep early, but she dozed off while holding her phone.

Around midnight, Xu Muzi woke up in the dark.

She dreamed of Deng Yun.

He held her on his lap, kissed her, and his hands glided over her waist and gradually downward.

Desire filled his eyes, and the next moment, he closed his eyes and kissed her again, with sweat dripping onto her forearm…

The air conditioner in Xu Muzi’s bedroom was broken, and she was sweating too. She got up to drink some water and brought the cup back, flipping through her bundled-up quilt to find her phone.

There were several unread messages with a small video from the guesthouse’s work account.

Surprisingly, it hadn’t woken her up.

The first video was sent around seven o’clock, shortly after Xu Muzi had fallen asleep.

Behind a few leaves of the duck-foot tree, a lamp glowed quietly. Deng Yun sat by the rain-soaked window, typing on his laptop.

He was still wearing a dark short-sleeved shirt, and although he was focused on his work, he was also perceptive enough to notice. He squinted and looked over, speaking in a calm tone, “Am I being secretly filmed?”

The camera shook violently.

Then came Xia Xia’s barely composed voice: “I’m just reporting to the boss!”

The camera shifted back to Deng Yun, who smiled slightly, lowering his head: “Then go ahead and film.”

The second video was timestamped an hour ago, around eleven o’clock.

In the common area, some people were playing Werewolf again, and Deng Yun was sitting lazily on the couch, arms crossed, tilting his head to observe the hand signals of other Werewolf players.

After the judge said, “Werewolves, please kill someone,” he laughed and nodded toward the closed-eyed Xing Pengjie.

Xu Muzi clearly heard the person recording the video unable to contain a laugh.

The video ended abruptly.

The third video was recorded by Xing Pengjie.

Xing Pengjie was more wronged than Dou E: “Help! Xu Muzi, did you see that? I’ve only chatted with you a few times, and Deng Yun has already outed me three times tonight!”

Xing Pengjie raised his phone, dramatically thumping his chest in front of the camera, shouting about seeking revenge and abusing power…

Behind him, Deng Yun sat calmly on the couch, casually putting down his iced tea can: “She’s sleeping; don’t disturb her.”

The last text message from the guesthouse work account was a list of reminders and instructions edited by Xia Xia after the power outage, polite and entirely businesslike in a robotic tone.

Now, the tone shifted dramatically—

“Reporting to the boss: the boss is very honest. OVER!”

Xu Muzi hadn’t swallowed the water in her mouth yet and wanted to laugh, but ended up choking and coughing several times.

She really wanted to see Deng Yun.

But she woke up too late, thinking he should be asleep at this hour.

It was better not to wake him.

Xu Muzi wandered around her not-so-spacious bedroom, repeatedly watching the videos.

She made a decision:

During her piano solo performance, she would wear the gown Deng Yun had given her.

Xu Muzi opened the wardrobe and moved aside the layers of old clothes covering the gift box, pulling it out from the back of the closet.

Lifting the slightly worn box lid, she found the card still inside, with Deng Yun’s neat handwriting: “Happy early birthday, Xu Muzi. Wishing you a successful competition.”

The gown was brand new, and the crystals sparkled under the light.

After receiving the dress, Xu Muzi had only felt a mix of emotions while looking at it and hadn’t actually tried it on.

Beside the wardrobe stood an old full-length mirror left by the landlord. She took off her clothes, changed into the gown, and stood in front of the mirror, turning her back slightly.

The crystal floral embellishments on the sheer fabric perfectly covered the scar on her back.

Deng Yun had great taste in clothes—simple and casual, yet exceptionally stylish.

The gown he chose for her was also beautiful, exquisite enough for a red carpet, but not overly extravagant.

She felt something cool brush against her leg.

The gown had some weight, adorned with many crystals. Xu Muzi thought it was a tag and didn’t pay it much attention.

After she took off the dress, she was surprised to find a key dangling from a crystal thread inside the hem.

Xu Muzi held the salt shaker, thinking:

What kind of person have they arranged for her?

There was a rehearsal in the afternoon, and time was tight.

During dinner, Xu Muzi discreetly moved her charged phone under the dining table without her parents noticing.

She sent a message to Deng Yun, asking if he had found out any information about his parents looking at houses.

While she was looking down, her mother noticed and asked, “Muzi, what happened behind your ear?”

Thinking it was a hickey, Xu Muzi was startled and pulled out the charging cable.

The power cord fell on the table with a thud. She touched the skin behind her ear; it was slightly itchy, and she realized, “It’s a mosquito bite; I’m allergic.”

Her mother was concerned: “Have you applied any medicine?”

“I have.”

Her father also asked, “Why is your face so red? Did you drink hot soup?”

“…Maybe.”

Xu Muzi talked to Deng Yun about this incident on the way to the rehearsal, describing it dramatically.

Deng Yun replied, “Alright, I’ll keep trying.”

“Trying for what?”

He laughed and said, of course, he was trying to pursue her.

He also asked if, once he got the official title, they should make it public to their parents.

Xu Muzi didn’t answer, diverting the conversation to how the rain in the city wasn’t as heavy as in the mountains.

Yet, she felt a sweet thrill and radiantly completed the afternoon rehearsal.

When she got home in the evening, her parents were out.

The only sound in the house was the rain. She quietly had dinner alone, feeling her energy was limited, and her eyes began to close as she ate.

After washing the dishes and returning to her room, it was just past six.

She initially wanted to text Deng Yun to chat for a bit and then sleep early, but instead, she held her phone in a daze and fell asleep.

Around midnight, Xu Muzi woke up in the dark.

She had dreamed of Deng Yun.

He was holding her in his arms, kissing her, his hand sliding down her waist.

His eyes were filled with desire, and the next second, he closed his eyes and kissed her again, sweat dripping onto her arm…

Xu Muzi’s air conditioning in her bedroom was broken, and she was sweating too. She got up to drink some water, bringing back her cup and flipping over her blanket to grab her phone.

There were several unread messages from the guesthouse’s work account, sending small videos.

Surprisingly, they hadn’t woken her up.

The first video was sent just after seven, shortly after Xu Muzi fell asleep.

Behind a few leaves of the duck palm tree, a lamp was quietly lit, and Deng Yun was sitting by the window, tapping on his laptop as it rained.

He was still wearing a dark short-sleeve shirt, looking focused while working, but also perceptive enough to squint and glance over, saying casually, “Sneaking a shot?”

The screen shook violently.

Then came Xia Xia’s somewhat forced voice: “I’m just reporting to the boss!”

The camera pointed back at Deng Yun, and he smiled slightly: “Then go ahead and film.”

The second video was from an hour ago, around eleven.

In the common area, someone was playing Werewolf again. Deng Yun sat lazily on the couch with his arms crossed, tilting his head to watch the gestures of other werewolf teammates.

After the judge said, “Werewolves, please kill,” he smiled and nodded toward the closed-eyed Xing Pengjie.

Xu Muzi could clearly hear the person filming couldn’t hold back and let out a chuckle.

The video ended abruptly.

The third video was recorded by Xing Pengjie.

Xing Pengjie was more wronged than Dou E: “Help me, Xu Muzi, did you see? I only talked to you a few times, and Deng Yun has already ‘killed’ me three times tonight!”

Xing Pengjie held up his phone, pounding his chest in front of the camera, shouting about personal vendettas and abusing power…

Behind him, Deng Yun calmly put down his iced tea can on the couch: “She’s sleeping; don’t wake her.”

The last message from the guesthouse work account was still a text Xia Xia edited after the power outage, polite and robotic in tone.

Now the tone had changed completely—

Report to the boss: the boss is very honest. OVER!

Xu Muzi hadn’t swallowed the water in her mouth yet and felt like laughing, choking and coughing several times.

She really wanted to see Deng Yun.

But she woke up too late; she thought he should be asleep at this hour.

It was better not to wake him up.

Xu Muzi wandered around her not-so-spacious bedroom, rewatching the videos several times.

She made a decision:

During the piano solo performance, she would wear the dress Deng Yun gave her.

Xu Muzi opened her wardrobe, moving aside layers of old clothes piled on top of the gift box, retrieving it from the back of the closet.

Lifting the somewhat old box lid, she found the card still inside, with Deng Yun’s handwriting casually saying, “Happy birthday in advance, Xu Muzi; good luck in the competition.”

The dress was brand new, the crystals sparkling under the light.

After receiving the dress, Xu Muzi only looked at its style with mixed feelings; she had never really tried it on.

There was an old full-length mirror beside the wardrobe, left by the landlord. She took off her clothes and changed into the dress, standing in front of the mirror, turning slightly away from it.

The crystal floral embellishments on the sheer fabric aligned perfectly with the scar on her back.

Deng Yun had great taste; it was simple yet exceptionally stylish.

The dress he chose for her was beautiful, so exquisite it could be worn on a red carpet, yet not overly extravagant.

She kept feeling something cool brushing against her legs.

The dress had some weight to it, and with so many crystals adorning it, Xu Muzi thought it was a tag and didn’t pay it any mind.

Only after changing out of the dress did she discover, to her surprise, that there was a key dangling inside the hem, attached with a crystal thread.

Bronze-colored metal key.

It was tied with a bow made of glacier blue satin ribbon that matched the dress.

The key was also engraved with her English name—

Shirley.

Xu Muzi blinked, and in an instant, she understood the purpose of this key.

It was the key to the guesthouse.

Everything connected in a clear line:

That year, Deng Yun had a friend deliver the dress to Xu Muzi, who was studying abroad.

The card had the word “advance” written on it, indicating that he was quite certain she would receive this gift before her birthday and the competition.

The dress was a gift for her to wear during the competition.

And the key inside was something she would definitely ask him about upon receiving it. If not for the subsequent family changes, after Xu Muzi returned to the country, she would have accompanied Deng Yun to the guesthouse and personally used the key engraved with her name to open the guesthouse door.

It turned out someone had already been sincerely fond of her before her twentieth birthday.

Xu Muzi clutched the key, her heart feeling as if it had been drenched by the fine rain outside, beating damply.

This feeling had nowhere to go; she thought of Weibo and updated the photo of the key tied with a bow, captioning it with just a key emoji.

Two or three minutes later, Deng Yun called: “Did you wake up?”

“Yeah, did you see my update?”

Deng Yun said he did.

Xu Muzi asked him why he hadn’t slept; he replied that he had taken a nap in the afternoon and wanted to see if she would contact him.

Xu Muzi sat on the edge of her bed, holding the key up to her eyes, unable to get enough of it.

She told him she received a gift she really liked, feeling particularly good, and also asked him about the situation with Xing Pengjie in the Werewolf game.

Deng Yun laughed on the phone.

He said her friend couldn’t hide anything, just like her, wearing her emotions on her face. When he got the role, he would show off his big smile, of course, he would get “killed.”

“Are you… indirectly calling me simple-minded?”

“No, you’re just overthinking, aren’t you? You’re very smart.”

“Then tell me, where am I smart?”

“Someone who can play the piano without looking at the sheet music, why would I need to praise anything else?”

Both her parents had gone to sleep, and the bedroom was overly quiet.

His laughter came clearly through the phone, causing her fingers to twitch.

“Deng Yun, you big mouth.”

“What’s wrong with me?”

Xu Muzi blushed: “Does everyone in the guesthouse know about us?”

“Xia Xia has known for a long time; Xing Pengjie isn’t the one who told.”

“Oh… it was me.”

“Xing Pengjie told everyone.”

“…If we play Werewolf again, you should poison him with the Witch card.”

Xu Muzi lay on her bed, swinging her feet in the air, casually chatting with Deng Yun.

She mentioned that her air conditioning was broken, and it was stuffy; she was sweating a bit on her neck.

He probably heard some rustling sounds and asked what she was doing.

Xu Muzi was very straightforward, saying it was too hot; she just tied her hair up, and the material of her nightgown wasn’t breathable, making her a bit sweaty around the neckline.

She went on to describe the style of her nightgown in detail, mentioning the straps and the embroidered patterns.

She took off the nightgown and put on another one, poking her head out from the neckline: “Wait a moment, I’m changing.”

Deng Yun was quiet for a moment on the phone: “Xu Muzi, are you trying to keep me awake?”

In the following two days, they occasionally called each other and sometimes texted.

Xu Muzi had contacted Xia Xia.

She joked on the work account, asking where the boss’s updates were today.

The reply came instantly:

The boss is doing well, but misses you a lot.

Food tastes bland.

Sleepless nights.

This casual tone…

Xu Muzi was stunned for two seconds, typing back, “Why are you messaging me?”

Deng Yun replied: “I happen to be here; do you want to know what the boss is up to? I’ll tell you.”

Xu Muzi learned that Xing Pengjie and the “Chicken Nest Head” guy had already checked out, and new guests had checked into the guesthouse.

The rain in the mountains was still much heavier than in the city.

Xia Xia took some time to visit the pet hospital at the foot of the mountain to see three kittens and sent photos via Deng Yun. The kittens looked energetic, clean, and adorable.

Xu Muzi took the bus every day to practice at the paid piano studio, and time passed quickly.

On the day of the performance, the weather remained gloomy, and there had been a rain shower in the morning.

Xu Muzi’s parents were particularly excited.

It was because they were satisfied with her work in the band and also because of her matchmaking activities.

Xu Muzi got up very early.

When she left the house, her mother was in front of the mirror trying on earrings, while her father was tying his tie on his shirt.

It had been a long time since she had seen her parents like this, resembling how they used to organize gatherings frequently in the past.

She was glad to see her parents so lively but still disliked bringing up the matchmaking topic.

Just as her mother was about to remind her for the third time to remember to come out and meet them after the performance, Xu Muzi finished putting on her shoes and quietly slipped out of the house.

As she closed the door, she could still hear her mother’s startled voice: “Hey, this child!”

Xu Muzi arrived at the performance venue earlier than her colleagues. Just after she had changed into the gown, she was getting ready to do some light makeup when she received a call from the courier, asking her to come downstairs to collect a package.

She received a large bouquet of peach-orange roses from the London Eye.

There was no card.

Xu Muzi called Deng Yun, jokingly in a good mood: “I received the flowers you sent; are you wishing me luck on my blind date?”

Deng Yun laughed: “Now I’ll take care of you.”

“Are you back already?”

“Yeah, I’m on my way to see you.”