Outside, darkness had completely fallen. Downstairs, residents were still walking their dogs, some families strolling with children. There was a little noise, but not enough to disturb sleep. Inside the bedroom, the lights were off, the curtains not fully drawn. Moonlight and streetlight spilled onto the neatly organized desk where her backpack sat quietly.
The clock on the wall showed it wasn't even ten yet, but Xia Yao had already washed up and lay in bed. She slept lightly, strange images flashing through her mind like a comic strip—grotesque and gray, even the sky a bizarre color. That afternoon, in her dream, she'd found her mother in a room, cooking in the kitchen. As she moved to call out to her, the woman turned in the blood-red sunlight, her features obscured, her face a bloody mess.
Xia Yao woke with a start, blinking rapidly, taking a while to shake off the nightmare. Sleep was elusive after such a dream. She switched on the bedside lamp and glanced at the clock. She'd fallen asleep close to eight, and it was barely ten now. Feeling listless, she lay there for a moment before getting up for a glass of water. Picking up her phone, she saw a video message from Zhou Ye, sent just ten minutes ago. Her drowsy mind snapped awake.
She clicked the video, seeing a piano. Zhou Ye's room was brightly lit; a woman's voice could be heard, and the branches of a plane tree were visible through the window. The black surface of the piano gleamed. Zhou Ye said something, but the audio was muffled, unclear from the distance.
Half a minute later, he sat down in front of the camera, wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His long, clean fingers rested on the keys, their reflection mirrored in the polished surface, perfect as a work of art. As the first note sounded, a smooth melody flowed out. Xia Yao watched him play, a chord resonating within her. She recognized the piece instantly: "Por una Cabeza." She'd had it on repeat for a while, so it was deeply familiar. The melody began light and soothing, then, as the tempo increased, his fingers danced across the keys, swift yet elegant. The piece, just over two minutes long, ended as he silently reached out and stopped the recording, freezing the image.
Xia Yao saved the video and rewound it slightly, mesmerized by his fingers. Her boyfriend seemed even more charismatic when he played. The tendons and blue veins on the back of his hands, the slender, pale fingers, looked almost angular, like ice. The music soothed her lingering anxiety from the nightmare. She couldn't help but send Zhou Ye a thank you emoji. She remembered him mentioning his evening piano lessons, the one-on-one tutoring he'd received since elementary school. She'd always been impressed but hadn't dared ask him to play for her. This was the first time he'd sent her a video of himself playing.
Soon, a voice message arrived from Zhou Ye. "Don't… Why are you thanking me?" His voice was low, tinged with displeasure. Xia Yao quickly replied, "-I just feel like you can do everything, and you play the piano so well… You’re so talented, and you still put up with me, so I really wanted to thank you." Her heart raced as she sent the message, belatedly realizing how sexy his voice had sounded. Hesitantly, she replayed the message. Just as it finished, another message arrived. He must be outside now; there was a hint of wind in the background, and his tone was lighter. "I'm your boyfriend, baby… Have I ever not put up with you?"
Her heart tightened in her chest, her lips pressed together. Xia Yao lowered her head, a warmth spreading through her. She realized this was definitely one of the qualities she loved about him – his humility despite his obvious talent. "...Zhou Ye, can you play for me again sometime? I love the sound of the piano." Her voice was small, but the quiet room amplified it. Her grandmother preferred silence, disliking childish noise, so Xia Yao had grown up quiet, her voice always soft.
The boy on the other end of the screen, standing at his front door, took a deep breath. He'd just seen his piano teacher off when he received her reply. She was still polite and slightly distant, but her attempts to explain herself were endearingly naive. His aunt called him in for some fruit, and he answered, then looked back at his phone, the night air cooling his flushed cheeks. Leaning against a pillar by the door, he looked at the roses climbing the wall. Hesitantly, he pressed the voice message button. "Then come over to my house next time, and I'll teach you to play."
A long moment passed before she replied with a simple, "-Okay." Followed by another thank you emoji. So cute. Zhou Ye chuckled, a warmth spreading through him, leaving him momentarily speechless. If she were here, he'd probably hold her head against his arm and ruffle her hair with his other hand. Last night in bed, she'd been so clingy, yet the moment they were up, she was back to being reserved. He wanted to talk to her, but she always slipped away after a few messages, never acting coquettish with him.
Zhou Ye had never considered himself demanding. Even in a relationship, he'd expected to be the one annoying his girlfriend. He wanted a girl with her own life, who wouldn't constantly need his attention, wouldn't get upset if he didn't reply immediately. But now that he was in a relationship, he was the one doing all those things.
If he didn't contact her, she could go a long time without reaching out. And even when they did talk, she wasn't very responsive. Like his friend's kitten – content to be held and petted, but quick to wander off and play, never seeking affection. She was so soft and pliant in bed, so different from her usual self. He loved that side of her, but it was rarely seen.
Zhou Ye sighed, putting away his phone and looking up at the small lamp on the stone path. He had the feeling he'd have to thoroughly make love to her before she'd blushingly embrace him in return. He wanted to hold her all night, but he hadn't married her yet. He couldn't just keep taking her to bed… that would make him seem like a scoundrel.