Mr. Lizard Outside the Window - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Your Music is Worthy of Her Now…

The campus gates were already locked, so Banxia had to climb over the wall to get out.

Her clothes were damp and cold, making it uncomfortable to cycle, so she walked home slowly.

The rain had stopped, the clouds had parted, and the moon shone brightly in the clear night sky.

The night air was cold, and her damp clothes made her shiver.

"Xiao Lian, are you cold?" Banxia asked the little gecko in her pocket.

"A little."

"Does it hurt when you transform?"

"A little."

Xiao Lian was usually quiet, only responding with a brief "mm-hmm" to her chatter. But tonight, perhaps because they had shared the experience of being caught in the rain, he seemed more responsive, answering all her questions.

Banxia felt cold, but her heart was warm. The rain had been worth it.

Puddles on the ground reflected the lights of the city, the bright moon keeping pace with her footsteps. The long street was deserted, the only sound the occasional drip of water from the trees.

The cold, quiet night made her feel the need for connection even more acutely.

"I've never met my father," Banxia said, her footsteps light and quick as she skipped over the puddles.

"My mother raised me at my grandmother's house. When I was in eighth grade, my mother passed away, and I've been living at school ever since, on my own."

Under the dim streetlights, the slender girl walked along the deserted street, sharing her story with the little creature in her pocket, like a child wandering through a fairy tale world.

"Back then, I had to work part-time to pay for school. For a long time, I didn't even have breakfast."

"I couldn't afford it, or I'd forget, or no one reminded me to eat."

"In my freshman year, after paying my tuition, I was completely broke. One day, I fainted from hunger in my room. It was Ying Jie, who came to collect the rent, who found me and gave me a bowl of eight-treasure porridge. That's how I survived. Ever since then, I've had a sensitive stomach."

Banxia paused under a streetlight, looking at her reflection in a puddle, then touched the pocket where Xiao Lian was hiding.

Xiao Lian peeked out, his black eyes blinking up at her.

"I think maybe some kind god took pity on me and sent a magical lizard to crawl through my window on that cold, rainy night."

She smiled at her reflection in the puddle. "He makes me breakfast every morning, keeps my room clean, and even listens patiently to my playing. I'm so happy he's with me. I'm so grateful to him."

She looked down, her eyes meeting his.

The dark eyes in the shadows seemed to glimmer in the lamplight.

"There's something I've been wanting to say, but I haven't been able to bring myself to say it."

Banxia touched her nose, feeling a slight sweat on her skin. Even she felt a bit awkward saying these words. "Um… I wanted to say… if you have nowhere else to go, you don't have to wander anymore. You can stay with me. Always."

"You've seen what I am," a low voice came from the darkness of her pocket. "Aren't you afraid of me?"

Banxia was about to reply when a gust of wind ruffled the surface of the puddle, making her shiver.

Her clothes were still damp, and her pocket was cold.

She thought for a moment, then gently lifted Xiao Lian out of her pocket and tucked him into her sleeve.

Her actions answered his question.

The space inside her sleeve was small. Xiao Lian's cold claws touched her warm skin. Startled, he instinctively clung to her wrist as she walked.

The warmth of her body seeped through her clothes, warming his cold-blooded skin.

Hidden in the warm, narrow space, he could clearly hear the beating of her heart, a strangely comforting sound.

His little black head poked out of her sleeve, looking up at her.

Banxia pulled her sleeve tighter, holding him close, and continued walking home.

On the long, deserted street, a lone figure walked, yet the sound of two voices, conversing softly, filled the night.

---

Back at her apartment, Banxia quickly took a hot shower, then filled a small pot with warm water and gently placed Xiao Lian inside to clean him.

Xiao Lian clung to the edge of the pot, looking embarrassed as Banxia used a soft toothbrush to gently scrub the mud from his claws.

"This feels like I'm stewing a lizard in a pot," Banxia chuckled, playfully tickling him with the toothbrush. "Do I look like an evil witch brewing a potion?"

His tail twitched in the water, splashing droplets around him. "Don't be so mean," he mumbled.

Banxia's playful chatter continued throughout the bath.

"When can you transform into a human?"

"After dark."

"Can you control it?"

"Only when…my emotions are stable."

"You don't have to worry about finding food anymore, Xiao Lian. I'll take care of earning money. After all, all I'm good at is eating," she grinned.

"…"

"Just tell me if you want anything. And when you don't feel like cooking, you can just relax at home."

"Mm-hmm."

Banxia lifted the clean gecko out of the water, wrapped him in a towel, and held him up. "What's your favorite food, Xiao Lian?"

"I…don't have any particular favorites."

"What's your favorite clothing brand?"

Xiao Lian struggled to poke his head out of the towel. "N-nothing."

"Are you afraid of anything?"

"No, nothing."

The sound of cats yowling outside the window made Xiao Lian jump. He scurried up Banxia's arm and onto her shoulder, his back arched, his eyes narrowed into slits.

"Oh, so our Xiao Lian is afraid of cats!"

Banxia placed the clean gecko in his terrarium, which had the heating pad turned on. She lay down on the bed, within easy reach of him, and continued chatting.

"Did you hear me play today? It was a success, thanks to Senior Ling Dong. I have to thank him properly when I see him."

"Yes, I heard you."

"I was so worried when I couldn't find you after the performance. I looked everywhere, afraid someone might have stepped on you."

"I'm…sorry…"

As the night deepened, the lights in the room went out.

Banxia, her eyelids heavy with sleep, yawned and mumbled one last question. "How long…can you stay in your human form…at a time?"

"At first, I could maintain it for longer," a voice came from the darkness, the gecko watching her from his terrarium. "But…it's getting shorter. Now, even when I'm stable, it's only about an hour."

Banxia reached out blindly, stroked his head, and drifted off to sleep.

The dark room fell silent, filled only with the soft sound of their breathing.

Moonlight streamed through the window, clouds drifting across the sky.

After a while, a human figure appeared by the bed. The man, dressed in his pajamas, gently lifted Banxia's arm, which had fallen off the bed, and placed it beside her.

He carefully unfolded the blanket and draped it over her shoulders.

He stood there for a long time, the moonlight casting shadows on his beautiful face.

He raised his hand as if to touch her hair. His pale fingers hovered in the moonlight, then slowly curled into a fist.

The hem of his pajamas flickered in the hallway as he quietly closed the door behind him.

Next door, the click of a keypad lock echoed in the night.

---

When Banxia woke up, Xiao Lian was sleeping soundly in his terrarium, on his back, his belly exposed.

Two slices of toast, a glass of milk, and a small bag of chocolate chip cookies were on the table.

Banxia yawned, tucked the towel around Xiao Lian, and felt like a man who had finally snagged his dream girl, ready to live happily ever after.

She happily tucked the cookies into her bag, grabbed the toast and milk, and headed for the door.

As she reached the hallway, something occurred to her.

The toast was soft and fluffy, the milk rich and creamy, not the cheap brands she usually bought. Even the cookies looked expensive, like they were handmade.

And this was a simple breakfast, because he had been out so late last night.

Puzzled, she opened her refrigerator. It was fully stocked with a variety of food, neatly organized.

The sight of all the ingredients almost blinded her.

How did Xiao Lian do this?

She had seen him last night, naked and vulnerable in the rain.

Banxia stared at the clothes hanging outside her window, her mind racing. She couldn't figure out how he had acquired all this food.

Maybe he can use magic?

She imagined a bizarre scene: Xiao Lian, transformed into his human form, wearing a pink apron, diligently preparing food in her kitchen while she was out working.

For some reason, the image of his rain-soaked legs and his pale body lying in the bamboo grove flashed through her mind.

Banxia shook her head, dispelling the strange thoughts, gathered all her cash, placed it neatly on the table, and left a note that said, "Spend it however you like." Blushing, she grabbed her breakfast and hurried off to school.

---

The morning campus was buzzing with youthful energy.

Two girls walked hand-in-hand, sharing a pair of earphones.

"I found an amazing song! I have to share it with you!"

"What's it called?"

"'Misty Forest.' It's on a pretty niche platform, but a music blogger shared it yesterday, so it's starting to get more popular."

"Let me hear it… Wow, what a unique voice! Who's the singer?"

"He wrote, arranged, and performed everything himself. I can't remember his name. Let me look it up."

"He did everything himself? That's amazing! And the piano accompaniment is so powerful! As a piano student, I'm in awe. He did the lyrics, music, and arrangement? I wonder what he looks like. Does he have three heads and six arms?"

"Haha, you'll be disappointed. He's probably not very good-looking. If he was, he wouldn't be hiding behind the scenes. He'd be a livestreaming idol by now."

Two boys, carrying thermoses, were discussing yesterday's selection competition.

"Did you hear? Ling Dong actually showed up at the end!"

"Yeah, I was there. His playing was incredible!" His friend shook his head. "I thought I was getting close to his level, but after hearing him play live yesterday, I realized how far I still have to go."

"Those violin girls sure know how to play their cards. Yan Peng, Ling Dong… those big shots actually lowered themselves to accompany them."

"Girls have it easy. Could you or I ever get someone like that to accompany us?"

"Tsk tsk, girls have all the fun."

Pan Xuemei, passing by, rolled her eyes. "You guys are so pathetic. Jealous much?"

She turned to Banxia. "So, did you find Xiao Lian?"

"Yes, I did," Banxia returned the umbrella and offered her some of the chocolate chip cookies from her bag. "More snacks? Handmade again? Are you experiencing some kind of magical windfall lately?"

"I told you I'd get more," Banxia said, her mouth full of cookies.

"Oh, come on," Pan Xuemei nudged her. "Are you going to tell me again that it's all thanks to your lizard?"

Banxia just grinned.

"And next time, don't pull him out of your pocket and scare me like that!"

"Don't be like that. Xiao Lian is adorable."

"Fine, fine. I guess I'm getting used to it."

"Did you hear? Xiaoyue came down with a fever last night. The doctor said it was from exhaustion. Her parents took her home to rest," Pan Xuemei said.

Banxia murmured a response, lost in thought.

"Xiaoyue has been trying to catch up to you since freshman year. She was really impressive last night," Pan Xuemei said, studying her friend's expression. Seeing that she didn't seem upset, she added, "It's a shame about Xiaoyue."

Banxia nodded silently, kicking a small stone.

"Okay, confess!" Pan Xuemei suddenly remembered something important. "Why did Senior Ling Dong suddenly appear last night and accompany you?"

As a Ling Dong fan, she grabbed Banxia's shoulders and shook her. "Tell me! Do you know him? The video of him accompanying you is all over the school forum!"

"No, I don't really know him," Banxia said, trying to free herself from Pan Xuemei's grip. "I've only met him once, and we barely spoke."

She counted on her fingers. "I said, 'Hello, are you Senior Ling Dong?' and he just replied, 'Hello.'"

Pan Xuemei: "And then?"

"That's it. Two words. Then he turned and walked away. Totally aloof."

Pan Xuemei was speechless. "Well, I guess geniuses are… unique."

"He might seem cold, but his music is passionate. I take back what I said about him before," Banxia said regretfully. "I really wanted to thank him last night, but he left so quickly. I didn't get the chance."

Little did she know that the opportunity to thank him properly would come sooner than she expected.

That evening, one of her students at the music school canceled their lesson. Banxia, skipping happily up the stairs to her apartment, bumped into the ice-cold senior.

Despite the cold weather, he was still dressed in his usual thin clothes, a soft cashmere coat draped over his shoulders, a small plastic bag in his hand.

Hearing her footsteps, he turned his pale face, his eyes widening slightly as he saw her. He quickly shifted the bag in his hand, hiding it behind his back – a bag of groceries just delivered.

His gaze swept over her face, then he lowered his eyes, said nothing, and reached for the doorknob of his apartment, about to go inside.

"Wait, Senior Ling Dong!" Banxia hurried up the stairs, slightly out of breath. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I just wanted to thank you."

Ling Dong's hand froze on the doorknob. He turned slightly, still silent, but didn't close the door.

"I'm so grateful for your help at the competition yesterday," Banxia said, smiling. "But what truly made me happy was the performance itself."

"It was the first time I experienced such a…peak moment on stage. I think you might understand what I mean," she gestured vaguely. "That feeling of perfect musical connection… it's pure joy. I wanted to thank you, for sharing that moment with me, for making that music with me. Thank you for giving me that joy."

The evening breeze ruffled her hair, her radiant smile seeming to brighten the dim hallway.

Ling Dong watched her, his expression unreadable, his pale hand still on the doorknob.

After a long silence, long enough that Banxia thought he had zoned out, he finally opened the door, his voice cold as ice. "If you really want to thank me, perhaps you could do me a favor."

As Banxia followed him inside, she noticed that he used the doorstop to keep the door open as he invited her in.

He might be quiet, but he's very polite, Banxia thought, her impression of him improving slightly.

Ling Dong's apartment was much larger than Banxia's cramped little room. The decor was minimalist, the appliances modern, and the walls and ceiling were covered in sound-absorbing foam.

The bedsheets and blankets were neatly folded, and everything was in shades of cool, muted colors.

The only unusual thing was the placement of his music equipment.

The small MIDI keyboard, laptop, monitor speakers, headphones, and condenser microphone were all positioned unusually low.

Unless he worked while sitting on the floor, composing on these devices would be incredibly awkward.

Geniuses and their eccentricities, Banxia thought, glancing at the aloof, ethereal figure in white.

She couldn't imagine how he managed to use this equipment.

The only normal instrument in the room was the electric piano against the wall.

It looked a bit old. Banxia remembered the night they had played Zigeunerweisen together, two strangers connected through the wall by their music. A warmth spread through her chest.

Music was a language of its own.

Even without ever meeting, without speaking a word, two strangers could communicate through this magical language.

"So, you also like composing," Banxia touched the white keys of the electric piano, playing a few chords. "Doesn't it affect your piano practice?"

Ling Dong, who was adjusting a microphone stand, paused. "You…think so too?" he asked, his back to her, his long black hair falling over his shoulders. He didn't turn around, his voice low, as if talking to himself. "I've been playing the piano for so many years, and now I want to… dabble in something else. It's ridiculous, isn't it?"

"Not at all. Composing is also a form of musical expression," Banxia chuckled. "Seeing your setup reminded me of a childhood friend. He loved composing, and he was very talented. He used to play his music for me secretly, hiding from his parents and teachers."

She played a simple melody on the piano, remembering the sunny days she had spent in that bright window, listening to her friend's childish yet beautiful melodies, accompanying him on her violin with her own clumsy skills.

"Those summers were so wonderful," she sighed wistfully, not realizing that the melody she had just played was the same one from her dream, the one the little boy, his face flushed, had played for her.

"Oh, sorry. I'm not very good at the piano. I must sound terrible," she turned to him. "What did you need my help with, Senior?"

Ling Dong seemed not to have heard the melody. He continued adjusting the microphone stand, his hair covering his face, his thoughts hidden.

The black metal stand contrasted sharply with his pale fingers.

After a moment, he stood up, placing the adjusted microphone in front of Banxia. "I wrote a piece, and there's a violin part in the accompaniment. I was hoping you could record it for me."

As he reached for the music stand, his hand slipped, and the sheet music scattered across the floor. He bent down to pick them up, flustered.

As he bent down, Banxia noticed the tips of his ears turning pink.

Suddenly, the aloof, otherworldly senior seemed less like a distant god and more like a human, just like her, with flaws and vulnerabilities.

"Take your time, Senior. I'll just go put my things away and be right back," Banxia reassured him and returned to her own apartment to tell Xiao Lian where she was going.

Her room was dark, the only light coming from the blue flames of the gas stove. A clay pot simmered on low heat, the lid slightly ajar, the fragrant steam filling the room.

Banxia lifted the lid. Inside, tender chicken simmered with small abalone in a rich broth, ginger, garlic, and red chili peppers swirling in the bubbling liquid.

She swallowed, her mouth watering, and searched the room for Xiao Lian, but he was nowhere to be found.

She left a note on the refrigerator:

[I'm next door. Senior Ling Dong asked me for a favor. Be right back.

Save some of that for me! It looks delicious!]

She added a drooling emoticon at the bottom.

After inhaling the delicious aroma one last time, she reluctantly left, her violin in hand, her stomach rumbling.

A song written by Senior Ling Dong… with a violin part… I wonder what it's like?

---

On the other side of the world, George, Maestro William's son, saw a notification on his phone and opened the Red Orange app.

His father, his youthful enthusiasm seemingly increasing with age, quickly joined him.

"Come on, George, let's hear what Mr. Lian has come up with this time."

"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed this time," George chuckled, turning up the volume on his speakers. "Even the most talented musicians can't constantly produce groundbreaking new music. He'll probably just stick to his previous style."

"Shh, be quiet," his father hushed him, closing his wrinkled eyes, his white hair swaying gently to the music.

"Oh my! What have we here?" he exclaimed, opening his eyes as the music ended and standing up excitedly. "Interesting piano work! And this time, there's a violinist who can match him! A duet!"

"Mr. Lian has truly outdone himself! I hear a golden voice, not just one, but two! To find a kindred spirit… he's a lucky man!" He turned to his son excitedly. "What's the title of this piece, George?"

"It has an Eastern name. It translates to… 'Monster in the Rain'," George said, clicking on the song information. "And you're right, Dad. There's another musician credited. Let me see… Summer? Interesting. Lotus, accompanied by Summer."

---

In the RES office building, Xiao Xiao took off his headphones, his face slightly flushed.

Two of his colleagues, who had been subjected to his constant praise of Red Lotus, walked over and put their arms around him. "What's the new song Red Lotus released?"

"'Monster in the Rain'," Xiao Xiao mumbled, covering his face.

"'Monster in the Rain'? Sounds like another dark, creepy song, like 'Misty Forest'."

"No, no, no, you're all wrong! It's nothing like you'd expect. We mere mortals can't comprehend his genius," Xiao Xiao shook his head. "Red Lotus is not human. He's a god in the making."

He jumped to his feet. "I need to talk to Bai Ge again."

A short while later, the sound of a table being slammed echoed from Director Bai's office.

"I'm giving you one more chance. Offer him double the salary. If he still refuses, then forget about him and focus on your actual work!"

Then came Xiao Xiao's familiar whining. "But Bai Ge, Boss, you have to listen to this new song! It's so cheerful and unique, completely different from his previous style. We should buy the rights to it! It could be the concept for our next album! I have a feeling it's going to be a huge hit!"

His colleagues, amused, clicked on the newly released track.

The music was surprisingly upbeat, unlike its dark title.

The piano intro was light and playful, mimicking the sound of raindrops. A seductive bass line laid the foundation, and then the violin melody soared, captivating and mesmerizing, like a siren's song.

As the vocals began, the listeners at their computers exchanged glances, their faces flushing slightly.

So, this is the monster in the rain, the spirit of the forest.

In a dormitory at Rongyin, a group of girls took off their headphones, their lips slightly parted, and exchanged glances in the dim light of their phone screens.

"So seductive. Red Lotus's new song."

"Completely different from what I expected. Not his usual mournful style, not cheesy or vulgar, but… seductive to the core."

"Especially the chorus, the monster vocals. The emotion is so perfect! The fear, the apprehension, but also… a hint of anticipation. That low, husky voice, with a touch of hidden pleasure… like someone being… teased, but too shy to protest. It's so captivating!"

"I thought Red Lotus only wrote sad, dark songs. I never imagined… you were this kind of lotus."

"Hee hee, so the 'red' in his name isn't about a pure heart, after all?"

"Haha!"

"This charming little devil has piqued my interest," one of the girls sat up in bed and started typing furiously on her phone, her fingers adorned with a Bulgari ring. "I swear, I have to see what he looks like, even if he's a two-hundred-pound fatso!"

---

Ling Dong, meticulously comparing prices on his phone, received a few notifications.

He switched to the Red Orange app.

The first two messages were job offers, one from overseas and one from the familiar "Xiao Xiao Loves Music."

Xiao Xiao Loves Music: After hearing your new song, I wish I could teleport to you right now! Sadly, I can only dream. Our director said he's willing to double your salary! Six figures, starting! Won't you reconsider, Red Lotus? 🥺

A string of emojis followed.

Probably a young girl, fresh out of school, Ling Dong thought, closing the messages without replying.

The third message, from a user named "I'm the CEO," was more… forward. "Hey, man, do a livestream! I'll buy out your entire orchard if you do, even if you don't show your face!"

"Buying out the orchard" was Red Orange slang.

On the app, donating a Green Orange earned the artist one yuan. A Red Orange, ten yuan. A Fruit Basket, one hundred.

During a livestream, if someone clicked "Buy Out Your Orchard," a shower of fruit emojis would fill the screen, and the artist would receive a one-time donation of 3,000 yuan.

On a niche platform like Red Orange, it was a considerable sum.

Ling Dong stared at the message for a moment, then switched to his shopping cart.

A beautiful black dress was in his cart, priced at just over 3,000 yuan.

He switched back and forth between the two apps, a flicker of humiliation in his eyes.

He had performed on international stages, wearing designer clothes worth thousands of dollars. Now, to buy her a simple dress for a competition, he had to sell out and do his first livestream.

In the darkness, the beautiful prince covered his face and sighed. Life is hard.

---

In Shang Xiaoyue's room, her mother knocked on the door. "Xiaoyue, you have a visitor."

Banxia's smiling face appeared behind her mother, a slightly wilted bouquet of sunflowers in her hands.

After her mother left, Shang Xiaoyue glared at her. "What are you doing here? Gloating?"

Banxia placed the sunflowers on the nightstand and sat down. "I came to see if my destined rival is feeling better."

Shang Xiaoyue rolled her eyes, her expression shifting between a smile and a pout.

Finally, she couldn't help but ask a rather silly question. "Do…do you consider me a rival?"

"I didn't really notice you before," Banxia said, pulling one leg up onto the chair. "But that night, after hearing you play, I suddenly felt a sense of… danger. You're still not as good as me, of course. But I can feel you catching up. So I'll have to work even harder now."

Shang Xiaoyue snorted, but a small smile played on her lips.

Her gaze fell on the sunflowers. "They're so ugly. You bought these?"

"Of course not," Banxia said shamelessly. "I'm broke. I got them from the cafe where I work. They were going to throw them away."

Shang Xiaoyue was rendered speechless by her audacity. She looked at Banxia's simple clothes, remembering the rumors she had heard.

She asked hesitantly, "Do…do you really work every night? It's not just…for the experience, or something?"

"Of course! Who would work themselves to death for 'experience'?" Banxia scoffed, pulling a stack of notebooks from her bag. "Here, my notes from the past few days. I usually copy yours, but this time, I actually stayed awake in class and took notes myself."

Shang Xiaoyue took the neatly written notebooks, her fingers tracing the pages. She finally felt a sense of peace.

"There are three rounds in the Collegiate Cup. You need to prepare three pieces. Have you decided what to play?" she asked.

"Not yet. I have to discuss it with Professor Yu," Banxia said. "But for the preliminary round, I want to play the piece you played."

"My piece? The Tchaikovsky concerto? Why?"

"Because you played it so well," Banxia said, her usual cheerful expression replaced by a look of seriousness. "Your performance made me see the piece in a new light. I don't want to shy away from it. I want to challenge myself and try my own interpretation."

Shang Xiaoyue looked at Banxia, the rival she had always considered lazy and careless. Her eyes were clear and bright, filled with a quiet determination, her own reflection shimmering in their depths.

Shang Xiaoyue met her gaze. "If you play that piece in the preliminary round and lose, I'll be very upset."

Banxia twirled her fingers, then stood up. "I'll do my best, Class Monitor."

As she reached the door, Shang Xiaoyue called out, "Banxia!"

Banxia turned. "What?"

"Your clothes…" Shang Xiaoyue gestured vaguely. "The selection round is one thing, but for the actual competition, you need a proper dress. First impressions matter."

"But I don't have a dress," Banxia said, trying to weasel her way out of it. "Can I borrow one of yours, Xiaoyue?"

"You! You know I'm much shorter than you!" Shang Xiaoyue threw a pillow at her. "Ask Pan Xuemei!"

After Banxia left, Shang Xiaoyue looked at the sunflowers. She found a vase, filled it with water, and arranged the flowers.

The wilted flowers, revived by the water, perked up, their bright yellow faces turned towards the light.

Like wildflowers blooming in the summer sun, their vitality is incredible, she thought, touching the bright petals.

Another knock came on the door. Her father, Shang Chengyuan, stood there, his expression stern. "If you're feeling better, come to the music room."

Shang Xiaoyue followed him nervously, her heart pounding. She took a deep breath and stood up straight, wondering what he was going to say.

Would he criticize her for losing the competition, or point out her technical flaws?

Shang Chengyuan stood with his back to her, holding a beautifully preserved antique violin with a reddish varnish.

He held the precious instrument, his fingers caressing its smooth surface, then turned and solemnly presented it to Shang Xiaoyue.

Shang Xiaoyue's eyes widened in disbelief. She looked up at her imposing father. "Is that…the 'Queen'? Do you mean…?"

"From today onwards, it's yours," her usually stern father nodded. "Your music, your heart… they are worthy of her now."

He reached out, his own hand slightly trembling, and gently stroked her hair, just like when she was a child.

"Take good care of her, my Moon."

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