Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Stubborn
Before reaching the rehearsal room, the sound of melodious piano music mixed with a gentle, low singing voice could be heard.
Slowing down her steps, she quietly approached the door of the rehearsal room and looked inside. She saw a group of people sitting on the floor, with a young man seated at the piano. His ten fingers danced on the black and white keys, his almond-shaped eyes slightly raised, exuding a captivating charm. His lips moved in sync with the piano sound, releasing a deep and pleasant singing voice.
This was the first time Bi Xia saw Xu Renfei like this. Gone was his usual exuberance and silly demeanor. In front of the piano, Xu Renfei seemed like a different person. He sang his own song, unexpectedly quiet and elegant, and the passionate lyrics filled with infectious emotions brought Bi Xia into the song several times.
At this moment, Bi Xia understood why so many people liked Xu Renfei. It wasn’t just because of who he was, but also because of his music.
Leaning lightly against the door frame, Bi Xia looked at Xu Renfei. She had always known Xu Renfei wasn’t as filled with energy as he appeared on the surface, always laughing. Sometimes, Bi Xia even felt that Xu Renfei himself didn’t know when he was genuinely happy.
"I once thought, I could accept everything, as long as you showed me a bit of kindness, a bit of care..."
"I never thought, I could accept everything, clearly having learned to be strong, yet feeling so pitiful..."
Listening to Xu Renfei’s gentle low singing, the discontent and loneliness in his voice tugged at Bi Xia’s heart. She had felt this way before, too – uncared for, misunderstood, wanting to achieve the best but feeling powerless.
Turning her head to look at Xu Renfei, Bi Xia remembered what Xu Renfei had told her about his time when he first came to Yunhui High School. He arrived with a downtrodden spirit, but gradually found salvation. However, looking back, he realized that his awakening and effort were not what everyone had hoped for. That feeling was not much different from her own despair back then.
"The persistence that I never forgot, the past that I never forgot, gradually seeking..."
The almond-shaped eyes slowly opened and suddenly met a pair of clear, seemingly deep eyes. His fingers struck the wrong keys, and the discordant notes instantly wiped away the loneliness and sorrow in the song.
With a slight pause, a bright smile rose up. Xu Renfei returned to his usual unruly self, casting a playful look at Bi Xia, "Oh, our Majesty is here."
With these words, the kids rehearsing in class H stood up, expressing strong affection for Bi Xia who had missed school for a day. Bi Xia simply nodded, stepped into the classroom, and walked over to stand by Xu Renfei. Glancing at the piano, he calmly said, "You really look like shit with that lonely, sorrowful demeanor."
Xu Renfei: ... Uh?
Everyone: ... Oh my god, the leader cursed!
"This song doesn’t suit you," Bi Xia said.
"Oh," Xu Renfei raised an eyebrow, "Then what do you think suits me? I wrote this song myself, you know."
"So it doesn’t suit you," Bi Xia paused, then said further, "It might have suited the old you, but the current you needs something more passionate. This kind of downtrodden and powerless song doesn’t suit Xu Renfei."
Speaking, he picked up a guitar from the pile of instruments. "I play guitar better than piano. Want to hear this song?"
The young man leaned against the piano, the guitar strap slung over his shoulder. Turning to the side with the guitar, his fingers began to strum the strings. The lively melody began to resonate, gradually forming a familiar and inspiring tune, breaking the previous gloom and sadness in the rehearsal room.
The sunlight shone through the open window, falling on the boy and the piano, coating him in a layer of white light. His fringe bounced playfully with each nod of his head, and his exquisite, handsome little face remained calm, his eyelids slightly lowered and his red lips slowly parting.
When I am different from the world, let me be different.
Persistence means fighting against steel.
If I compromise with myself, if I lie to myself.
Even if you don’t forgive, I cannot forgive myself.
The most beautiful wish is the most crazy.
I am my own god where I live.
This was Mayday’s "Stubbornness," a well-known song.
As the young man sang this song, Xu Renfei’s eyes gradually widened. With just a guitar and soft singing, it made one’s heart beat incessantly, beating...
A slight smile curled at the corners of Xu Renfei’s mouth, and he let out a low laugh, shaking his head helplessly. Really... such an annoying rascal... able to see through a person’s heart so clearly.
But truly a boy who you can’t help but like... always filling people inexplicably with energy...
Sitting back at the piano, his fingers started dancing again. The piano accompanied the guitar, and his almond-shaped eyes held a smile as he sang with the boy. Meng Luo stood up with a smile and joined in singing. Before they knew it, it had turned into a grand chorus.
I hold tight to my last bit of stubbornness.
The next stop whether it’s heaven, even if disappointed, we cannot despair.
I sing my proud stubbornness loudly in the wind.
This time, I’m going crazy for myself, just this time, my stubbornness and I.
Just this time, let me sing loudly...
Seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces, Bi Xia and Xu Renfei exchanged a glance, lips curling up in an unspoken understanding, this is who we are.
Everyone has scars in their hearts, everyone has self-doubt, but we are still young, still teenagers. Don’t lock melancholy and sorrow in your heart; our future holds infinite possibilities because we have our own stubbornness...