Mr. Lizard Outside the Window - Chapter 53
Chapter 53: Xiao Lian, Open the Door
In the classroom, Banxia sat in the back row, diligently copying her Western Music History homework.
Shang Xiaoyue and Qiao Xin, sitting in the front row, were chatting. "Hey, have you heard Red Lotus's new song? He's moved to V-Station."
"Yes! The blend of traditional Chinese opera and electronic music is amazing! Red Lotus is the best!"
Qiao Xin turned around and leaned on her desk. "There's this amazing new song. Want to hear it?"
Since Banxia and Shang Xiaoyue had reconciled, the four of them often sat together in class.
Pan Xuemei glanced at the song title on Qiao Xin's phone, then searched for it on her own phone and put in her earphones.
Banxia shook her head. "I have to finish this homework. I'll listen later."
She had been up late the previous night, her mind racing, unable to sleep after her impulsive visit to her neighbor's apartment, the image of his pale face in the doorway haunting her. She hadn't finished her homework.
Her pen moved across the page, but her mind was elsewhere, replaying the events of last night, the unanswered questions swirling in her head.
What was it about him that made her feel so… unsettled?
The class was Contemporary Pop Music Arranging.
The professor was talking about a rising star on V-Station, a popular music streaming platform owned by VY Group, the largest music platform in the country, with millions of users, a world away from the niche Red Orange platform.
"I've always been a fan of this artist, Red Lotus. His latest release on V-Station, 'Chasing Fish,' is a true masterpiece. He's surpassed himself," the professor said.
The students, many of whom were familiar with Red Orange, perked up. "You like Red Lotus too, Professor? The Red Lotus from Red Orange?"
"I've been following him. He joined V-Station a week ago and uploaded his new single, 'Chasing Fish.' It's already number three on the charts!"
"I told you! He should have switched platforms ages ago! His music is amazing! He could be huge!"
"Do you think he'll become a superstar, Professor? V-Station is a much bigger platform than Red Orange. It's not easy to get on the charts there. Even established artists struggle sometimes. And Red Lotus is an independent musician, with no company, no promotion, and he's already in the top three after just one week! That's incredible!"
The young professor, enjoying the students' enthusiasm, chuckled. "I predict 'Chasing Fish' will be a massive hit! Red Lotus is on his way to superstardom!"
Banxia, distracted by the repeated mention of "lotus," looked up.
Her gaze lingered on the name "Red Lotus" projected on the screen.
The professor began to analyze the song's structure.
"This song blends traditional Yue Opera with dubstep."
"The structure and arrangement are incredibly clever, preserving the essence of the opera while incorporating modern electronic elements. The fusion of traditional Chinese instruments and musical modes with contemporary pop music is seamless and innovative."
Banxia, however, was fixated on the name.
Red Lotus… naked Xiao Lian?
What a perfect name, she thought, a strange warmth spreading through her.
She was obsessed, she knew, her longing for Xiao Lian making her see him everywhere, in every shadow, in every song.
Even her neighbor, even a random name on a screen, reminded her of him.
But if everyone is talking about him, he must be a talented musician, she thought. I should listen to his music sometime.
"Does anyone know the story of the Yue Opera 'Chasing Fish'?" the professor asked.
The music students, their backgrounds diverse, their knowledge extensive, were quick to respond. A student stood up. "It's about a carp spirit who falls in love with a scholar. She endures the painful process of removing her scales to become human and stay with him in the mortal world."
"Excellent! And this song begins with a line from the opera, the carp spirit confessing her true form to her lover," the professor said, playing the audio clip.
The classroom fell silent.
A single, unaccompanied voice, pure and ethereal, echoed through the room, transcending time and space, the words clear and distinct, the melody lingering in the air.
【Zhang Lang, listen to my confession…】
Four beats, a slow, drawn-out chime, kuang qi tai qi kuang qi tai qi…
Banxia's pen slipped, tearing the paper. Something exploded in her mind, a white mist clearing, a figure emerging from the fog…
A deep, low bass line and a rhythmic drumbeat began, followed by a haunting melody with a distinctly Chinese flavor, a ghostly voice weaving through the music, the backing vocals and harmonies shifting between high and low, like a phantom lurking in the mist.
A pair of dark gold eyes stared out at her through the music.
Banxia's heart clenched.
She listened intently.
It's Xiao Lian, she realized. Xiao Lian, who had disappeared without a trace, was here, in this song.
Though his voice had been heavily processed, distorted by electronic effects, layered beneath the other instruments, she recognized it instantly.
Anyone else, even with her exceptional hearing, might not have recognized it.
But it was Xiao Lian, her lover, his voice, his every inflection, his every breath, etched into her memory.
No amount of electronic manipulation could disguise it.
But why is his voice in a newly released pop song?
The professor's voice continued, oblivious to her shock.
"The song's structure is dubstep, but the instrumentation uses traditional Chinese opera percussion, the backing vocals a separate melodic line, creating a rich, layered soundscape."
"The electronic processing on the backing vocals is quite unique. It sounds like… a forest spirit! Listen to all of Red Lotus's songs. His use of backing vocals is very distinctive. And his lead vocals are also quite good."
The main melody began, the male vocalist's voice cold and clear as winter ice, cutting through the complex instrumentation.
Ling Dong?
It's Ling Dong!
The song, the arrangement, was by her neighbor, the reclusive senior. But the backing vocals, the harmonies… were Xiao Lian's?
Banxia, gripping the edge of her desk, stood up abruptly, her sudden movement drawing the attention of the entire class, even the professor, who stopped mid-sentence. "Is something the matter?" he asked, looking at her.
Banxia's face was pale, her eyes wide and bright, almost feverish.
The pieces of the puzzle, the strange coincidences, the unsettling feeling… it all clicked into place.
Pan Xuemei tugged at her sleeve, her voice low and urgent. "Xia, what's wrong?"
Under the gazes of her classmates, Banxia took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, mumbled an apology to the professor, and slowly sat back down.
"What happened?" Pan Xuemei and the others whispered, their voices filled with concern.
Banxia sat there for a long moment, her face pale, her expression grim, like a warrior preparing for battle, then waved them away.
For the rest of the class, she did nothing but listen to Red Lotus's music on her phone, her earphones blocking out the professor's lecture, the songs playing in chronological order, each one a piece of the puzzle.
His first song, "Misty Forest," had been released shortly after Xiao Lian had arrived, when she herself had been struggling with the concept of the wanderer, lost and alone in a world of shadows and uncertainty.
"Through the Wall," the song they had played together, separated by the thin partition, a duet of unspoken longing.
And then, "Monster in the Rain," the seductive melody, the hunter stalking his prey in the bamboo grove, the naked, vulnerable figure in the rain…
Banxia covered her face with her hand. It was the night in the bamboo grove, she realized. And the violin part… that was me. I played that for him.
I was the hunter.
The answer had been right there in front of her, and she had missed it.
【One dress, two dresses, three dresses…】
The fairy tale melody, the dress in her dreams… He had given her the dress of stars, the dress of moonlight, and then… disappeared, like a bubble bursting.
She suddenly remembered hearing Xiao Lian's voice, in his human form, just once, when he had carried her to the hospital after the finals of the national competition.
She had been in too much pain then, her mind hazy, but now, she remembered his voice… the same voice as her neighbor, the one who had accompanied her on the piano, who had given her medicine, who had slammed the door in her face…
Ling Dong.
She sent a message to Zhang Qinyun, who was in Beijing.
"I was sick that day, my vision blurry. Do you remember who took me to the hospital?"
Zhang Qinyun's reply came quickly. "？？?"
"！！！！!!!"
"You don't know?"
"I thought you knew him."
"He seemed to know you. And he was from your school. That's why I didn't… interfere."
"It was… that guy… the famous one… from the piano department… the Rachmaninoff Competition winner…"
"Ling Dong!"
The name confirmed her suspicions.
A mixture of emotions, of relief and anger, of love and betrayal, washed over her.
She loved his talent, his music, their shared passion, their connection.
But she was furious at his deception, his silence, his abandonment.
He's going to pay for this, she thought, her jaw clenching.
Banxia cycled home, the sky ablaze with sunset colors. She paused at Ling Dong's door, then, without knocking, went into her own apartment, her face impassive.
She plugged in Xiao Lian's heating pad and replaced his towel with a freshly laundered one.
She cooked herself a bowl of noodles and sat by the window, eating slowly.
The last rays of the setting sun touched the corner of the table, the evening breeze stirring the clothes hanging outside her window, their gentle clinking against the metal bars a rhythmic counterpoint to the clatter of her chopsticks.
She finished her meal, washed the dishes, meticulously cleaned the kitchen and bathroom, then sat on the edge of her bed and picked up her violin.
Banxia was nothing if not determined. Once she had set her mind on something, she would see it through, her resolve unwavering. Like a hunter, patient and stealthy, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The melody of Zigeunerweisen filled the darkening room.
The song they had played together, the night he had appeared on stage, seemingly out of nowhere, and accompanied her, creating a moment of musical magic she would never forget.
The lonely sound of the violin echoed through the open window, a silent invitation, a plea for the missing piano accompaniment.
To be without family was to be a wanderer.
And without him, she was lost again.
The wall behind her remained silent, offering no response.
She finished the piece and knocked on the wall.
Silence.
She thought for a moment, then began to play a different melody, the cheerful tune of "Mermaid."
The dress of stars, the dress of moonlight, the dress of sunlight…
Where's my dress of sunlight? she wondered. He had sung this song to her the night she had been sick, his voice soft and gentle in the darkness.
A single piano note, a soft "dong," echoed from behind the wall, then another, and another, the melody intertwining with the violin's, a gentle counterpoint.
Banxia suddenly changed the key, transforming the mournful ending into a joyful major key.
The piano followed seamlessly, their musical minds in perfect sync, a harmonious duet that eased the tension in her heart.
Through the wall, the two melodies intertwined, their voices merging, a beautiful expression of their shared connection.
So, Ling Dong's music… is Xiao Lian's music, she realized.
The anger that had been burning within her suddenly subsided, the flames retreating, leaving behind a glowing ember, a deep, steady warmth.
She smiled, a slow, deliberate smile, her hand clenching into a fist.
No matter his reasons, no matter his excuses, she wouldn't let him run away again.
There was only one Xiao Lian, and there would only ever be one love like this.
She had to bring him back.
The burning ember in her heart, a deep, steady heat, fueled her resolve, unleashed the wildness within her.
Banxia stood up, her face calm, opened her door, and walked to the apartment next door. She knocked gently. "Senior, open the door," she said softly.
A muffled voice came from inside. "I… I'm not decent."
You couldn't resist playing along, could you? she thought, a smile playing on her lips. Now you can't pretend you're not home.
She leaned closer to the door and whispered, "Xiao Lian, open the door."
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa oh my god finally
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POOR XIAO LAN WITH NO ESCAPE