The Eleventh Pill

Identity

The moment she saw these two replies, Gui Tingyue immediately tossed aside her phone, hugged her legs, and rocked back and forth on the bed like a roly-poly doll.

She was so happy she felt like she was flying.

This must be what it feels like to be on cloud nine.

She picked up her phone again and squinted her eyes: So I’ve become a fan?

A moment later, a reply came: Maybe you’ve leveled up.

Gui Tingyue rubbed her itchy nose: Oh, I thought you don’t add fans on WeChat?

Chen Shi: I make exceptions occasionally.

Chen Shi: If you don’t like it, you can be demoted.

Gui Tingyue quickly typed: No way, my fan badge is welded on, it’s not removable. Also, can I make a small request?

Chen Shi: ?

Gui Tingyue seized the opportunity to foster communication: You took me out to have fun today, can I take you out tomorrow? To celebrate the qualitative leap in our relationship.

Chen Shi, always quick to dampen enthusiasm: I can’t get up early.

Gui Tingyue’s face tightened: I didn’t say we had to go out early in the morning.

Chen Shi then asked: Where to?

Gui Tingyue pondered, but came up empty: I haven’t thought of a place yet.

Chen Shi: Tell me when you do.

Chen Shi: I’m going to sleep.

Gui Tingyue was stunned and glanced at the time: So early?

Chen Shi: I got tired from your howling tonight.

Gui Tingyue: ……You’re so weak.

Gui Tingyue: How can someone so weak often bring girls home?

Chen Shi: ……

Chen Shi: You must be a hater.

Gui Tingyue immediately gave herself several justified titles: I’m concerned about your health, I’m a life fan, a health fan, and a mom fan.

She took advantage of the opportunity: So tomorrow, would you like to grace us with your presence for a hearty meal to build up your strength?

Chen Shi bid farewell: Good night.

Despite being full of energy and wanting to chat endlessly, Gui Tingyue didn’t push it. She had already gained so much positive emotional value tonight. One must learn to be content, as contentment leads to happiness.

Okay, good night.

She said.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t curious about Chen Shi.

He was evidently very skilled at playing the drums, but he never worked. Did he teach online classes at home? But usually, for musical instruments, face-to-face instruction was necessary. Otherwise, it would be difficult to correct postures, and pitch accuracy would suffer.

Thinking of this, Gui Tingyue climbed out of bed, took out her journal from the drawer, opened it, and recorded the second milestone after meeting Chen Shi.

“Gui Tingyue, hope this letter finds you well,

I really admire you. With your impressive personal strength and thick skin, you’ve successfully latched onto the handsome drummer from the opposite building as a friend……”

Her pen moved as swiftly as the fast songs and drumbeats from tonight, flowing smoothly.

Finally, she concluded: “I guess you’re friends now. Dr. Teng was right. If you take the first step bravely, the next step will come naturally.

Congratulations, Gui Tingyue, keep up the good work.”

***

On the other side, Chen Shi glanced at the chat interface that hadn’t lit up again for the second time, his eyebrow slightly raised, somewhat surprised.

He didn’t drum on his practice pad today. Coordinating with the off-key queen was already enough of a challenge for one night.

Chen Shi propped his head up with one hand and, for the first time, clicked into Gui Tingyue’s Moments.

Unexpectedly, her Moments were also set to be visible for only three days, with no posts. The background was a pitch-black sky with a small crescent moon in the upper left corner, pale and faint, and blurry at the edges, looking quite forlorn.

The quality of the photo wasn’t high, as if casually taken with a phone.

Chen Shi stared at it, his emotions hard to read.

Suddenly, a notification popped up at the top of the screen.

Chen Shi returned to the chat list, his face immediately stern.

It was a message from an old friend, Kang Xian, asking what he had been up to lately.

Chen Shi replied: Nothing.

Kang Xian asked: You don’t live near Songnan Bridge anymore?

Chen Shi said: I moved.

Kang Xian: No wonder I couldn’t find you.

Chen Shi: If you have something to say, just say it.

Kang Xian: An artist team contacted me, they need a professional drummer for long-term collaboration. I recommended you first. Want to give it a try in a couple of days? It’s in Shanghai, I’ll cover your flight.

Chen Shi declined: No.

Kang Xian didn’t understand: This is a rare opportunity. You haven’t worked for half a year. Why are you wasting your life?

Chen Shi took a deep breath: Can you just mind your own business?

Kang Xian was exasperated: POPCORN is over! It’s gone! Don’t you get it? Why are you so stubborn, guarding a corpse? What good does it do to shut yourself in every day? Are you letting your sentimentality bury your ambition and talent? You’re 24, not 84. Are you giving up on your future?

Chen Shi deleted him.

After lying down for a while, Chen Shi felt restless and found it difficult to sleep. He sat up and ruffled his hair in irritation.

His chest heaved, feeling increasingly suffocated, so he got out of bed and opened the window to get some air.

As soon as he drew back the curtains, he saw a figure jumping happily on the opposite balcony. Even with the railing in the way, the girl’s all-white nightgown was very eye-catching, like a snowflake dancing in the night.

Chen Shi froze, thinking he was dreaming.

As if afraid he couldn’t see her, she turned on her phone’s flashlight and waved it vigorously like a glow stick.

Her message followed immediately, confirming that what he saw was no illusion.

MoonPie: You can’t sleep either?

Chen Shi could no longer pretend not to see. He lowered his head to type: What are you doing there?

MoonPie: I’m probably too excited today and couldn’t sleep, so I came to sit on the balcony for a bit.

She asked: You too?

Chen Shi replied: No.

MoonPie: Then what?

Chen Shi: I just feel like someone is watching me from outside the window.

MoonPie: That someone should be me.

Chen Shi: ……

Chen Shi glanced up. The girl was standing still and seemed to be engrossed in chatting.

He sighed helplessly: Can you go to sleep?

MoonPie: What about you? Are you going to sleep?

Chen Shi: Mm.

After replying, he immediately pulled the curtains shut.

The screen lit up again.

MoonPie: I’m going back.

Chen Shi: Mm.

MoonPie: I’m really going back.

Chen Shi: Go on then.

MoonPie: Got it.

After waiting for a minute, Chen Shi used one hand to carefully part a small gap in the curtain, peeking out to check if the troublesome girl had honestly left.

However, she was still there, having caught all his small movements. She began to taunt him verbally.

MoonPie: Bazinga!

MoonPie: Bet you didn’t expect I’d still be here.

Chen Shi: “……”

This girl was unbelievable. Engaging in such childish behavior – he’d be lowering himself if he engaged for even a second more.

Chen Shi quickly left the window and returned to his bed, but he didn’t lie down immediately, waiting for the inevitable activity report from the annoying person.

Sure enough.

The expected message appeared before his eyes.

MoonPie: This time I’m really back in my room.

Chen Shi picked up his phone, an inexplicable smile rippling in his eyes: Oh.

MoonPie: You can stop worrying and guarding the window now.

Chen Shi: ? I’m not, thanks.

She suddenly called him: Chen Shi.

Chen Shi sensed she was up to no good, responding coolly: Mm.

MoonPie: I just reviewed our chat log from when we were looking at each other on the balcony, and then……

Looking at each other on the balcony.

Chen Shi cringed at this description, his tone turning icy: Speak.

MoonPie: I’ve temporarily added a new fan identity for myself.

Chen Shi: ?

MoonPie: You know, that one.

Chen Shi’s patience was wearing thin: ??

MoonPie: Girlfriend fan.

MoonPie: Hahaha.

MoonPie: Pretty good, right?

Chen Shi was stunned for a second, then quickly exited WeChat, opened a music app, and shared a song:

《A Fool’s Dream》