Chapter 13 – Visiting

Xiang Ning thought the new song’s popularity would fade quickly, but on the third day after its release, he received another message from Director Lin.

“Xiang Ning, have you been on Weibo the past two days?”

Xiang Ning, puzzled, frowned. “What’s up?”

“Nothing much.”

“Did you ever participate in the National Youth Singing Competition?”

“Yes,” Xiang Ning replied, opening Weibo and frowning at the sudden surge in followers.

He ignored the private messages and comments, scrolling to find the source.

“Listened to the song Ye Wu shared the other day. I love the style of the lyrics! Out of curiosity, I searched for the songwriter and found a few other songs that weren’t very popular but were still great. Then I stumbled upon this!”

Below was a video. Xiang Ning hesitated, not clicking it. Director Lin sent several more messages:

“Does it bother you?”

“The comments are mostly positive, but if you don’t like it, I can have it deleted.”

Xiang Ning didn’t rush to reply, lowering his eyes and clicking the video.

The video, old and blurry, still showed traces of Xiang Ning’s current appearance as a child.

He sat cross-legged on the carpet, ignoring the kitten meowing at his legs, his mind half on the video and half wandering.

“Hello, I’m Xiang Ning from the seventh region. The song I’m going to perform is…”

His attention drifted, caught by a passing breeze, and he kept checking the video’s duration, forgetting the number each time.

When was it? His finger hovered over the screen, listening to the unfamiliar yet familiar young voice singing a melody. He could almost recall the sweat in his half-closed palms, the uncomfortable hair gel in his hair, the reflection in the judges’ glasses, and his parents standing to the side, not in the camera’s view.

He opened his mouth, but only a faint, almost inaudible sound came out.

The kitten’s paw slapped the screen, disrupting the video and pulling Xiang Ning back to reality. He steadied himself, about to close the video, but noticed the camera wobbling, missing the young boy’s final bow but capturing a man and woman standing behind him.

Xiang Ning’s eyes widened, and he quickly rewound the video. Near the end, the camera didn’t straighten, capturing the young boy excitedly hugging his mother, who smiled warmly.

Xiang Ning shooed the kitten away, his eyes quickly reddening.

Memories can be cruel. Older memories lose their details, the vivid scenes gradually losing color, smell, patterns, and sound, turning from three-dimensional images into flat pages, finally becoming a black-and-white photo. Only when a key point is triggered do they flood back, the two-dimensional lines quickly filling in, like a dream.

“Click,” Xiang Ning wiped his eyes, hearing the door lock.

“I’m back,” He Rong said, his voice halting as he saw Xiang Ning’s red eyes. The kitten, angrily clawing at the door, was ignored.

“What’s wrong?” He Rong’s hand paused mid-air, then he took a tissue from the coffee table and handed it to Xiang Ning, watching him with concern.

Xiang Ning shook his head, searching for a way to download the video.

He Rong watched silently, considering. “Do you want this recording? There might be a way to get the full version.”

Xiang Ning was indeed drawn to him, eagerly lifting his head to look.

“Wait here.” He Rong got up, walked to the side, and made a call. He nodded at the person who was eagerly watching him.

Xiang Ning let out a sigh of relief, opened his mouth, and silently thanked him.

After hanging up, He Rong waited with Xiang Ning for the complete video to be sent over. Xiang Ning took a while to react, turned to He Rong, and opened his mouth. Remembering he couldn’t speak, he pulled out his phone and hurriedly typed: “Have you eaten?”

He Rong thought for a moment and said, “No, you can make something.”

Xiang Ning didn’t look well, and He Rong thought that doing something might help distract him. Xiang Ning nodded and went to the kitchen, looking rather listless.

After a few days of staying, Father He finally had to pack up and leave the hospital. He grumbled as he leaned on his cane and got into the car. After a while, he impatiently stuck his head out to urge Xu Hui, “Are you done yet?”

Xu Hui hurriedly put things away, closed the trunk, and rushed into the car.

The new driver was sent by He Rong a few days ago. He Mingde, half-closed his eyes, and halfway through, he suddenly spoke, “Go to He Rong’s house.”

Xu Hui looked up at him and opened her mouth but didn’t say anything.

“The President is probably at the company,” the driver said expressionlessly.

“Hmph!” He Mingde slapped the seat heavily. “Then go to the company!”

The driver, having received the order, turned the car around. He Mingde got angry again and started coughing loudly. Xu Hui helped him calm down, speaking softly, “Mingde, you just got out of the hospital, don’t get too upset.”

“If it weren’t for He Rong’s stubbornness, I wouldn’t have ended up in the hospital!” He Mingde closed his eyes, his brows furrowed, and he huffed.

Xu Hui didn’t say anything more and remained silent until they reached the company.

The receptionist was a new girl. She stared at He Mingde, who was storming in, and without thinking, she reached out to stop him, “Do you have an appointment?”

He Mingde coldly snorted and turned his head. Xu Hui smiled and stepped forward, “This is President He’s father, no appointment needed.”

The girl looked at her suspiciously, making Xu Hui feel uncomfortable. She clearly didn’t believe it and smiled, “Wait here a moment, I’ll call President He.”

He Mingde was about to get angry but was calmed by Xu Hui. He refused to sit down and stood there, “Call him, I want to see if he recognizes his father!”

A moment later, Xiao Ye came down the elevator and smiled at He Mingde, “Mr. He, President He asked me to bring you up.”

He Mingde glared at the receptionist and followed Xiao Ye, leaning on his cane.

Xiao Ye didn’t let him into the office. He Mingde glared at him, and Xiao Ye bowed his head, respectfully saying, “Mr. He, President He instructed that no one can enter the office without permission.”

“I’m his father!” He Mingde’s cane thumped on the ground, but Xiao Ye didn’t budge. “President He is in a meeting, he’ll be here soon. You can wait here, and if you need anything, I’m here.”

Xu Hui looked worriedly at Father He, who was breathing heavily, and whispered, “Mingde, let’s just…”

“He’s gone too far!” He Mingde’s face turned red, “He’s starting to put on airs with his own father!”

He pushed away Xu Hui’s arm, turned, and walked out, “Let’s go home!”

Xu Hui’s hand hung awkwardly in the air, and she nervously rubbed her skirt. She nodded at Xiao Ye and hurriedly followed Father He.