Mr. Lizard Outside the Window - Chapter 28
Chapter 28: Kikujiro's Summer
As Banxia went downstairs, she almost bumped into a neighbor coming up with soy milk and youtiao.
"You're up early, famous writer," Banxia greeted him, holding the stair railing as she hopped down the steps.
"Early? I haven't even slept yet," the online novelist, his face pale and dark circles under his eyes from a night of writing, said enviously, watching her disappear down the stairs. "You're so full of energy."
Downstairs, she hopped on her bike and cycled along the dew-covered path, the cool morning air clearing her head.
What came over me last night? she wondered, recalling her impulsive behavior.
It was still early, the faint light of dawn filtering through the leaves. Birds sang in the trees, dogs barked, roosters crowed, and the village slowly came to life in the morning sun.
The door of an old house opened, and an elderly woman, watering her plants in the courtyard.
On a second-floor balcony, a young mother hung laundry while calling to her child to wake up for school.
Further down the street, a woman bustled around her kitchen, preparing breakfast for her family.
Banxia stopped at the grocery store at the intersection to buy a bottle of water.
At the bus stop outside the store, two young women, dressed in stylish wool skirts and with meticulously applied makeup, chatted together, their voices soft, their gestures graceful.
Even Banxia found them charming.
She liked cute, gentle girls like them. But sometimes, she wondered if their demure demeanor was a genuine reflection of their personalities or simply a learned behavior, a way to conform to societal expectations of femininity.
Having grown up without a father figure, the concept of a normal, healthy relationship with a man was somewhat abstract to her.
But sometimes, instinct took over. It was like placing a skinned fish in front of a wildcat, a delicate deer before a snow leopard. Their primal nature would inevitably emerge.
In the dimly lit corner of her room that morning, she had felt a primal urge, a desire to sink her teeth into that pale skin, drag him back to her nest, possess him completely.
Banxia shook her head, took a large gulp of water, and continued cycling towards the school.
As the semester progressed, competition for practice rooms intensified. Pan Xuemei, having overslept, couldn't get a key, so she camped out in Banxia's practice room to do her homework while waiting for her.
Banxia was deeply engrossed in her practice today. Her music was so intensely emotional, so captivating, that it made Pan Xuemei's heart race, her cheeks flush.
"If Old Yu heard you play like this, he'd kill you," Pan Xuemei chuckled, chewing on her pen. "Is this what you call 'a girl's heart'? It sounds more like… a secret garden."
"It's okay. Old Yu might seem grumpy, but he and his wife truly understand music. They're not as rigid as you think," Banxia said, smiling. "Every girl is different. Every girl's heart is different."
"You're probably the only one in our class who's not afraid of him."
"Xuemei," Banxia stopped playing and leaned on the table. "If you were to fall for a guy, what kind of guy would it be?"
Pan Xuemei, writing in her notebook, replied casually, "Someone masculine and charming, but completely devoted to me."
Banxia considered this. "Masculine and charming usually means experienced, and experienced men are rarely… devoted."
Pan Xuemei twirled her pen in her hair. "Then someone protective, someone who can give me a sense of security. Someone who opens doors for me, buys me gifts, a true gentleman."
"But," Banxia said, "your family is wealthy, and you're capable and independent. You can open your own doors and buy your own gifts. And the chances of you being mugged are practically zero. Why would you need a man to protect you?"
Pan Xuemei put down her pen and glared at her. "Are you seriously questioning this? That's how it is in all the dramas!"
"The handsome hero protects the damsel in distress, shields her from danger, declares, 'Don't worry, I'm here!' And the girl is instantly safe and sound. So romantic!"
Pan Xuemei gestured dramatically. "So, we're all supposed to believe that if we act weak and helpless, we'll be cherished and protected by our boyfriends forever. Who wouldn't want to be pampered and cared for? We watch these stories, and we start to believe them, even though we've never been in a relationship ourselves."
"So, you're also perpetually single? I guess I shouldn't have asked," Banxia said, disappointed.
"As if you have any experience! Who has time for relationships in the music department?" Pan Xuemei retorted. "So, what's your ideal type?"
"Me?" Banxia ticked off her requirements on her fingers. "I like someone who can cook, who's clean and tidy, who can hold a conversation with me, who enjoys listening to my music. And someone shy and a bit awkward. Hee hee, preferably with long legs and pale skin…"
"Okay, okay, stop! What are these criteria based on? Mine was a fantasy, but yours is completely unrealistic!" Pan Xuemei interrupted her. "That kind of man doesn't exist. Or rather, that species is called 'house husband'."
"They do exist!" Banxia protested, pouting. "The world is a big place! There are all kinds of people! It's just that society puts us in boxes, making us think there shouldn't be certain types of 'men' or 'women'."
As they went downstairs, they saw a notification in their class group chat. There would be a concert in the school auditorium the following evening, and attendance was mandatory.
The concert was being held to thank a renowned piano manufacturer for donating a batch of high-quality pianos to the academy. The school had invited television stations and media outlets to promote the sponsor.
Banxia wasn't thrilled about the event. It meant she had to call in sick to her part-time jobs.
Pan Xuemei, however, was excited. "I heard the sponsorship is because of Senior Ling Dong. And his father is the national distributor for the piano company! Do you think he might attend?"
Senior Ling Dong…
Banxia thought of her mysterious neighbor.
She knew most of the other tenants in Ying Jie's building. But she had barely seen the person living next door.
Though she heard his music every day, their interactions had been limited to a handful of brief encounters in the hallway.
He's wealthy and famous, a successful musician. Why is he living in a noisy, run-down apartment building like this? And why does he always stay cooped up in his room?
The world of geniuses is truly beyond my comprehension.
At that moment, in Ling Dong's apartment, the curtains were drawn, and the screen of his phone glowed, displaying an ongoing video call.
A woman's gentle voice came from the phone. "I know it's difficult, but it's in the contract."
"If you don't even make an appearance, your father will have to pay a hefty penalty. You know his business hasn't been doing well this year."
"Can't you just come for a bit? You just need to show your face, play a piece. If you're careful, it shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"Your teacher said she saw you at the school the other day."
"Just this once. There won't be any other requests after this, I promise."
"Xiao Dong, are you listening to me?"
A small, black creature sat in front of the phone, the screen's glow reflecting in its patterned eyes. It stared at the increasing call timer.
After a moment, a soft voice replied from the darkness. "Alright."
The screen remained lit, the woman's voice relieved. "Why didn't you tell us you moved out?"
"I… I sent you a message. Didn't you see it?"
Silence. The woman's voice faltered, then softened with sadness. "I'm sorry, Xiao Dong… I'm…a weak person."
That evening, as Banxia returned home, she heard a simple piano melody echoing from the third-floor hallway. It was "Summer" from the movie Kikujiro, a cheerful, carefree tune.
But for some reason, tonight, it sounded melancholic.
Banxia slowly climbed the stairs, the music filling her mind with images from the classic film, the two protagonists and their complex relationships with their mothers.
The online novelist who lived across from her opened his door, his hair a mess, his face creased with worry.
His pen name was the rather flamboyant "Jade Face," but his real name was the much more down-to-earth Lin Shi. He had lived in this building since he was struggling and hadn't moved even after achieving success.
He was now a moderately successful writer, having published several well-received books.
"What's wrong, Lin Shi?" Banxia asked.
"My readers say my writing is terrible, fit only for elementary school children," he said dejectedly, shuffling out in his slippers and baggy pajamas. "I was already feeling down, and then I heard this song, and now I feel… hopeless. I can't write anymore."
"Don't let a few bad reviews get to you. That's normal online," Banxia reassured him. "You have plenty of fans! I know a little girl who loves your books! She's a huge fan! She even asked me for your autograph. A personalized one."
"Really? Sure, of course!" Lin Shi's face brightened instantly. He hurried back inside and returned with a copy of his book and a pen. "What should I write? What's her name? Is she pretty? How old is she?"
"Just write 'To Tiantian.' She's adorable. She's in second grade."
Lin Shi looked at her, his dark circles even more pronounced.
Banxia blinked, confused.
Lin Shi let out a wail and slammed the door shut. "See? I told you! I only have the writing skills of an elementary school student! Only little kids like my books!" The sound of him collapsing onto the floor echoed from inside his apartment.
A moment later, he opened the door again and thrust the signed book into Banxia's hands.
Banxia opened it. Despite his slovenly appearance, his handwriting was neat and elegant.
To: Adorable little Tiantian,
Study hard and be a good girl! See you soon!
He had added a little stick figure drawing of himself smiling.
LOL
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