Chapter 7: Let’s Listen to Music!
Thanks to her friend’s reminder, Jiang Xue realized she’d been overthinking.
Besides, even if she decided to avoid the topic for now, her personality dictated she would probably bring it up sooner or later, intentionally or not. It was better to address it now.
To be considerate, she just needed to be polite and phrase her questions carefully, giving the Third Princess room to decline.
After thanking her friend, who was hurrying back to catch up on sleep, Jiang Xue returned to her seat and pulled out her phone to compose a reply.
【First, I apologize. Your Highness’s words made me overthink, and I was afraid of offending you, so I skipped those questions. I only hoped our conversations would bring you some joy. I didn’t realize that such presumptuous consideration could also be offensive.】
After converting the text to traditional characters, Jiang Xue quickly copied the message into her diary. Without waiting for a reply, she continued typing.
【In the history I’ve learned, princesses sent for marriage alliances rarely lived as comfortably as they had in their home countries. After learning about your situation, I couldn’t ignore it or pretend to be unaware, continuing to tell you about the peace and prosperity of my world as if everything were fine.】
【I couldn’t help but wonder: Now that you’ve traveled to a distant land with your illness, do you have any trusted and loyal people caring for you? Are the meals in your new home as palatable as before? Late at night, do you miss your homeland, or feel lonely?】
【But we haven’t known each other long, and the things I worry about are deeply personal. I didn’t know if you needed my help, or if offering it unsolicited would be unwelcome, like offering scraps to a beggar. So, I stopped myself.】
As she typed, converted, and copied, she nervously glanced at the time, afraid the bell would ring before she’d finished.
【But if you’re willing to trust me, I will do my best to help you!】
The last sentence was written just as the history teacher’s footsteps echoed in the doorway.
Jiang Xue breathed a sigh of relief, quickly turned off her phone, and stuffed it into her desk drawer. Then, she calmly took out her lecture notes.
However, as she was about to close her diary, she noticed a small, dark spot next to the words she’d just written.
—Something had smudged the paper.
Plip.
The sudden sound from the paper made Xiao Luohan’s heart jump.
She hurriedly grabbed a handkerchief and carefully wiped the tears that had fallen onto the book. But her vision blurred further, and she had to lean back, wiping her eyes again and again.
The spirit hadn’t been changing the subject! She had simply been trying to spare her feelings!
She should have responded properly to the spirit’s kind words, but the tears wouldn’t stop, a confusing mix of sorrow and relief welling up inside her.
She had never experienced such a feeling and didn’t understand it. It even frightened her—she was afraid that this was all a dream, and that one day, she would wake up.
But even if it was a dream, she wanted to seize this moment before it vanished.
What did someone on the verge of death have to lose?
Finally managing to stop crying, Xiao Luohan took a deep breath and picked up her brush, turning back to the book.
A small, square, pink object had appeared.
She stared at it, picking it up gingerly. It was smooth, with slightly sharp corners, yet soft to the touch, and carried a faint floral scent.
Two new lines had appeared in Jiang Xue’s handwriting:
【I’m so sorry!! These are tissues. Lift the silver half-circle to get one. They’re for wiping tears!】
【I’m really, really sorry!!】
The characters were slightly messy and not entirely in the script she was familiar with. It was clear the spirit was worried.
Xiao Luohan sighed guiltily and quickly dipped her brush in ink.
【There’s no need to apologize. I was simply caught off guard. Please don’t be alarmed.】
【I have no requests at the moment. If I do, I will tell you.】
【There’s no need to address me so formally. Just treat me as a friend your age.】
【The tissues are very soft. I like the fragrance.】
Seeing no further response, Xiao Luohan knew the spirit had returned to her studies.
Not wanting to disturb her, she put down her brush and looked at the xuan paper she’d been painting.
The large ink blot had spread, swallowing the surrounding scenery like a terrifying monster. She couldn’t continue this painting.
Just as she was about to put it away, she noticed that two small inkblots at the top had “feathered,” resembling a pair of furry, round ears.
Staring at the “ears,” inspiration struck. She picked up her brush and transformed them into pointed ears, then began reshaping the entire blot.
The terrifying ink stain became a giant cat.
It held its head high, strolling leisurely down the street of that other world.
On a whim, Xiao Luohan drew a small figure of herself on the cat’s broad back.
The tiny figure, wrapped in a fur-trimmed robe, knelt on the giant cat’s back, gazing into the distance.
If she had the chance to enter that dream again, she hoped the spirit would be by her side, guiding her as she ventured forth into that other world.
Jiang Xue was truly grateful for the history teacher who always allowed ten minutes for independent study and questions.
The Third Princess’s tears had startled her. Unable to do anything more than apologize during class, she had offered a pack of tissues, hoping it would provide some comfort.
While other students approached the teacher with questions, Jiang Xue pulled out her MP3 player from her backpack, plugged in a new set of earbuds, and placed it on the diary.
The school didn’t forbid these simple music players. Some students found that studying with music improved their focus.
The MP3 player had been one of her sister’s birthday gifts last year. But Jiang Xue felt the Third Princess needed it more. Even if her sister found out, she would surely support her decision.
【This is a music player. Press and hold the round button to turn it on. You’ll hear music after a moment.】
【The earbuds are marked left and right: L for left, R for right.】
【It’s filled with guqin and piano music. My sister picked them out for me. They’re all very soothing. They always calm me down when I’m feeling anxious.】
As soon as she finished the instructions, the MP3 player and earbuds vanished.
Xiao Luohan stared at the new object in her hands, dumbfounded.
The “music player,” as the spirit called it, was very light. Both sides were decorated with clear images, like the sticker.
One side depicted plum blossoms in ink, the other, a lone figure fishing on a wintry river. The angler in the boat was clearly a woman, dressed in red, with a golden hairpin in her hair.
Just turning it over in her hands brought a smile to her face. After reading the spirit’s instructions, she hurried to bolt the door, then eagerly put on the earbuds and pressed the power button.
The smooth white earbuds felt strange in her ears at first. But when the music began, she instantly understood their purpose.
She was familiar with the sound of the guqin, but the first piece wasn’t a guqin piece. It was played on an instrument she’d never heard before. Recalling the spirit’s words, she realized this must be the “piano.”
Unlike the calm, steady tones of the guqin, the piano was more lively. But this liveliness wasn’t chaotic or rushed. It flowed like a stream through a forest, or like pearls scattering across a plate.
The image of a little deer frolicking came to mind.
She felt herself relax, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes, immersing herself in the music. She didn’t forget to share her thoughts with Jiang Xue:
【The piano music your older sister chose is very pleasant.】
【The images on the music player are beautiful. I especially like them.】
【I see little deer.】
Perhaps influenced by the music, her writing was more relaxed and casual.
【It’s not that amazing!!】
The spirit replied immediately.
【But these are all instrumental pieces. If you want to hear vocals, I can find some for you! Just send the music player back to me when you’re done!】
【Do you prefer female or male vocals?】
【Female vocals.】 Xiao Luohan replied. 【How do I return it to you?】
【I’m not sure. I just placed it on the diary, and it vanished. You can try that.】
Try it…
The music was still playing, and Xiao Luohan was reluctant to interrupt it by experimenting with the music player. Her gaze wandered across her desk.
The spirit had given her a dictionary, tissues, and this music player. She should give the spirit something in return.
However, the objects on her desk were all from Wangmei Pavilion, not things she’d brought from Beiliao. They were too impersonal for a gift. Even if the spirit didn’t mind, she did.
After some thought, she remembered something and quickly retrieved her silk pouch containing her most treasured possessions.
She carefully held a thin jade pendant carved with a plum blossom between her fingers.
It was one of her elder sister’s gifts for her sixteenth birthday.
—“If you ever meet someone important, give this token to them on my behalf.”
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