Chapter 18

Act III: Rachmaninoff (5)

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Huawu High School had a very strict schedule. Students got up at 5:30, morning exercises at 6:00, professional studies in the morning, cultural lessons in the afternoon and ending with the evening self-study at 8 pm. Afterwards the students can either practice night exercises or go straight to bed with lights out at half-past ten.

Although Xiang Cai was anxious to practice the night exercises, he did not forget that he had previously promised to listen to great god Wang Qingyun’s demo and write a long review for him.

Fortunately, the demo was not long. He found a quiet corner to stretch his legs. He wanted to play the video while exercising, but he had promised not to share this with anyone so he had to go to Qi Ji to borrow her headphones.

Qi Ji said, "Don't you have any?"

Xiang Cai blushed, pulling out a crumpled headphone cord from his pocket. The headphones were complimentary with his cheap Android phone, and it was of poor quality. He persisted in using it for so long and kept it carefully. The cracked places were wrapped carefully with scotch tape. But even then, the headphones couldn’t stand the wear and tear — a few days ago, there was no sound on one ear’s cable.

Xiang Cai thought that such headphones is suitable to be used to listen to English, accompaniment music, and the morning radio. However, it wasn't worthy to listen the voice of the great god Wang Qingyun.

Seeing the tape attached to the cable on his headphones, Qi Ji felt sour, and hurriedly said, "I have extra earphones. You can have them."

"... Those are expensive, right?" Xiang Cai recognized the Apple phone brand Qi Ji used, and one alone cost thousands of dollars.

"Not expensive, it’s not the original one, just two or three hundred." Qi Ji insisted on giving it to him.

She was kind, but she didn't know that Xiang Cai’s phone costing 800 yuan was sent by his father. He insisted on using it for two years and he only has to pay 19 yuan a month back.

Xiang Cai even had to borrow headphones from Qi Ji. He lived and ate in the school, and all his uniforms and training clothes were given to him. Because of his good grades, the school not only waived his tuition, but also granted him a scholarship of 1,000 yuan a year, which was 83 yuan per month. In another three months' time, he could pay the all the money he owed for the phone back.

He accepted the headphones, silently looked for a corner, and connected the cable to his phone with a pious attitude.

He thought that he was really the most selfish person in the world. Qi Ji gave him such good headphones, but he had to keep this demo from her and watched secretly — but he reasoned with himself, Yun Da said that this demo could not be shared.

Therefore, he was not wrong, he wasn't selfish right?

He sat in the corner with his legs spread against the wall, his head bowed, blocking his phone in his arms with his body.

Outsiders could only see him practicing, and no one noticed that he was watching something in secret.

On the screen, the circular symbol that represented buffering moved in circles, and Xiang Cai stared at his screen holding his breath, not bearing to even blink.

Finally, the screen lit up. The rising willow leaves danced lightly in midair, the wind blew, and carried them forward.

—Then, the man's voice immediately sounded in his ear.

"Wheniwasyoung, ilivedinsmalltownsouthchina ..."

Tan Yiming forgot to tell Xiang Cai that his demo voice-over was recorded in English.

Xiang Cai was not mentally prepared and was thrown off guard. When he heard the proficient English come out from the man's mouth, his meng point which he thought had been ‘hardened’ for a long time, was suddenly hit hard.

He took off his headphones in panic and haste, like a stray animal who experienced human kindness for the first time, eager to taste yet wary of it.

He thought, ‘It must because of this high-end two hundred yuan headset So ... so that’s why Wang Qingyun's voice was so "close", so intimate to his heart.’

He resisted the burning scorch on his face and continued listening.

On the screen, the title "Slowlytune" looked like a picture scroll, slowly unfolding. The male voice was like a brush writing on a scroll, leaving a trail of ink marks.

This was the first time Xiang Cai had heard Wang Qingyun speak English. Although he knew that he was studying abroad, "thinking it" and actually "hearing it" were very different feelings. His English voice was a little deeper than than his Chinese voice, and it felt as if Wang Qingyun was reciting poetry. 

Xiang Cai quickly became immersed in that man's world, and followed him through two continents, spanning decades. Since the protagonist's story spanned fifty years from childhood to adulthood, Wang Qingyun's evocative voice rose and fell to the occasion. The protagonist's youthful vigor, his middle-aged spirit, and the vicissitudes in his old age ... , Wang Qingyun's voice captured and emote them all distinctively and vividly.

Thirteen minutes passed in a flash, and Xiang Cai was intoxicated in this animated short, but even more so, intoxicated in the hero's nostalgia.

What was homesickness? ... Xiang Cai thought he didn't know, but in fact, his nostalgia had always been there.

Xiang Cai was not from Huashi. He lived in a small town that most people have never heard of. Huawu High School was open to enrolling students from across the country. At the age of eleven, he came to Huawu for an interview under the leadership of his dance teacher. His parents had high hopes for him — learning to dance was too expensive, but the headteacher of the dance class promised that if the child was admitted to Huawu High School, not only would he waive all tuition fees, but the child would even receive a large amount of rewards.

Later, Xiang Cai “earned” the money for his parents, and his photos were also used as living signs on the dance hall's honor roll.

Although dancing was hard, Xiang Cai really liked Huawu High School. The school facilities were good, the teachers and classmates were all good ... but this was not his hometown after all. The canteen served no country flavors nor spoke any village accents. He could only go home during the winter and summer vacations, but his peers there distanced themselves from him. They regard him as strange and didn’t understand why a boy not play online games but instead be a sissy and do ballet. They also didn’t understand why he only spoke Mandarin.

Xiang Cai had always been alone, but he didn't realize that he was actually lonely.

Until he met Wang Qingyun, until he saw and heard this story, he found out that the loneliest place in his heart had always existed.

What surprised him the most was that in addition to the attractive sound and pictures, he also heard a familiar melody in the soundtrack of the video!

The three movements of ‘Pull Two’ had different focuses. The first movement was like a storm while the second movement was delicate and pure. The third movement, which was also the origin of "Yelena", embraced all the colors of music.

Xiang Cai had long been familiar with ‘Pull Two’, so when the accompaniment sounded, he immediately recognised the melody of ‘Pull Two’!

Xiang Cai didn't know what words to use to describe this "serendipity" — but he was exceptionally happy because of it.

His fingers flew and typed a series of praises with little thought besides his good fortune. When he finished writing in a bang, he read it again and felt that his words were too unkempt, not at all worthy of what he had just experienced.

But he was reluctant to delete them  ... these praises could not be replaced ...

If only he could compile so many words in comprehension questions and composition questions like this when he took the Chinese exam.

After thinking about it, he finally gathered the courage to send the long string of words to Wang Qingyun on the network.

Because of the time difference, for Xiang Cai, it was 9 o'clock in the evening, but over there, it was 9 o'clock in the morning. He hoped that his male god would receive his long comment as soon as possible, but at the same time, also hoped that Wang Qingyun would see it later.

He felt, there really was no one who was more contradictory than himself in this world.

After Xiang Cai sent the long comment to him, although Wang Qingyun's status was online, he didn't reply.

Suddenly, Xiang Cai panicked. He anxiously re-read his own text, and felt they were not pleasing to the eye.  He had meaninglessly praised too much while the substantive drama review was only a few lines.

Did the great god think he was deliberately flattering? Would he regret sending him the demo? Even though the great god said that he gave the demo to him alone, maybe, in fact, everyone in the radio drama group got it, and everyone thought they were the only ones...

Xiang Cai thought for a long time, without even realizing that his care for Wang Qingyun was far beyond the normal range.

In this way, he unwittingly passed the two-hour evening class. Qi Ji came over several times to talk, and she was confused by his daze.

It wasn't until the lights turned off at 10:30 in the evening, when he got into the bed, gathered courage to send a message to the great god, that Wang Qingyun's reply finally came.

Yiming Qingyun: Sorry, I was too busy working this morning when I saw the drama review you've sent.

Yiming Qingyun: You wrote so well, it really made me feel embaressed.

Yiming Qingyun: I just contributed my voice, and the director and screenwriter are even more powerful.

Yiming Qingyun: Is the child asleep?

Yiming Qingyun: Let's talk after you get up tomorrow morning.

Xiang Cai was awake.

guess: No, the light in the dorm just turned off, I haven't slept yet!!!

Yiming Qingyun: Lights just turned off? University dormitories should not turn off the lights?

Yiming Qingyun: Are you still in high school?

guess: No, no!

Xiang Cai lied.

He didn't want the male god he admired to know that he was still a young high school student. He felt he was not naive at all but was already a mature adult.

Anyway, across the network, Xiang Cai could boldly fabricate a completely different identity and immerse himself in the fun of "making friends who are on an equal footing".

guess: I'm a senior!

guess: I’m 22 years old, very old!

He wanted to show off.

He specifically emphasized he was ‘old’ because, in the eyes of adolescent children like him, over 20 years of age was unthinkable maturity.

He also knew how bad his lies were, and if Wang Qingyun continue to question him, he was afraid he might be exposed. He quickly shifted the subject.

guess: Yun Da, I have finished watching the demo! I really liked it!

guess: I don't know what competition you are in, but I believe you will win the prize!!!

guess: If there is no prize for you, there is definitely something shady!!!

On the other side of the ocean, Tan Yiming was in his company's tea room when he read these words. The coffee in his hand shook and almost spilled.

Yiming Qingyun: ... Do you know, my roommate said the same thing the other day?

Yiming Qingyun: You are all too exaggerated.

Yiming Qingyun: There are more people in the world besides us, and there the whole sky outside. Who said that if we don’t win a prize, there is something shady? Many people in this world are better than us.

guess: [loud quack].jpg

guess: No more!

guess: No one in this world is better than you!!!

Xiang Cai has also heard voices on the radio before, or that kind of online audiobook column. The anchors' voices were all very nice — but there was absolutely no one who could grasp his heart better than Wang Qingyun.

Others had ‘love at first sight’, and he had this love at first sound.

Xiang Cai repeated it stubbornly.

guess: Yun Da, you can win the prize!

guess: [Meng Goose Spreads Wings].jpg

Yiming Qingyun: Then I’ll borrow your good words.

Yiming Qingyun: However, we submitted this for an animation award, not a dubbing award.

Yiming Qingyun: [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

guess: It’s alright, I can give you a prize in my heart!

guess: In my heart, you are the best, best, best and very best voice actor in the world!

Yiming Qingyun: ...

From the beginning to the end, Tan Yiming did not mention to Xiang Cai how much he had pinned behind this video. He hadn’t disclosed to Xiang Cai anything about commercial dubbing. He hadn’t mentioned his hesitations, his decisions nor his ups and downs.

He just ... just wanted to share the demo with the little swan.

The little swan not only watched, not only highly praised but also gave him a prize in his heart ...

Tan Yiming thought that if there was such a trophy, it would be better for him to give it to this child.

Yiming Qingyun: By the way, I saw that the accompaniment was mentioned in your long review?

Yiming Qingyun: Do you like classical music? Do you like Rach too?

guess: [swan nodding] .jpg

guess: Because classical ballet is all piano music.

guess: For example, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty are actually ballet suites. I heard them from a young age.

guess: Coincidentally, we just happened to be studying ‘Pull Two’, so I could recognize the accompaniment as soon as i heard it!

guess: [swan’s tail lifting up proudly].jpg

Yiming Qingyun: Oh? Ballet with ‘Pull Two’?

guess: It's not dancing, it's singing.

As soon as this sentence was sent, Xiang Cai realized that he was exposing something!

What he said was too revealing. He just had to mention that he was studying ‘Pull Two’ recently. Previously, he had told Wang Qingyun that he was a ballet dancer, a good dancer, so there was no need to learn singing!

He scrambled to withdraw the last sentence, but his hands shook and turned ‘withdraw’ into ‘delete’ ...

Xiang Cai: ... goose-mazing.

While trying to figure out how to cover up the lie, Tan Yiming, who knew nothing about art candidates, had already accepted his ‘reasonable’ answer.

Yiming Qingyun: You art students work really hard.

Yiming Qingyun: Tired from learning to dance, and still have to take a vocal course.

guess: ...

guess: Yes! It's an elective!

guess: It's not a compulsory course that everyone has to learn or they won’t graduate!

This topic stumbled past. Xiang Cai simply walked down the steps and complained that no classmates in the class would sing with him, leading him to sing "Yelena" alone.

guess: "Yelena" is really nice, but unfortunately, my voice alone is too thin.

guess: If only I could find someone to help me harmonize.

guess: I can record well in advance. Anyway, the test will also play an accompaniment.

Having said that, Xiang Cai suddenly reacted — wasn’t the best male voice in the world right in front of him?

If he could beg great god Qingyun to harmonize with him ...

... but, would the great god agree?

Xiang Cai knew his request was too bold, but he couldn't restrain his impulse at all. It was as if a fire rushed into his heart, urging him to type those string of words.

In the dark, only the light of the mobile phone screen was projected on his face, sketching the handsome features of the boy.

Please ... please ...

A good person like Yun Da would definitely agree, right?.

There were already two candies between them. If he took the initiative and was brave, there would surely be a third fallen into his palm, right?

guess: [swan weeping].jpg

guess: That ... great god ...

Xiang Cai took a deep breath.

guess: Can I ask you to harmonize with me?

guess: I, I, I have a score with translated lyrics, it's very simple! Just a few words!

guess: It really won't delay too much of your time!!!

In a hurry, Xiang Cai even said ‘you’.

But he couldn’t care too much. After laying the last punctuation mark, he held his mobile phone, widening his eyes and staring at the "typing ..." on the dialog bar.

One second ... two seconds ... three seconds ...

Ten seconds ... fifteen seconds ... half a minute ...

The longer he waited, the more Xiang Cai’s heart fell. These thirty seconds were like a roller coaster of his life. He had already made a bold request for himself during the ups and downs, and regretted it 800 times.

The phone trembled, and in the end, one short word text into view—

Yiming Qingyun: Sorry.

Xiang Cai: "..."

He knew it.

Xiang Cai slumped into the pillow, burying his hot phone under the pillow.

What did he do!!! Obviously, it was difficult to get closer to the great god, but he couldn't help but make his own shameless request!!! He had only exchanged a few words with Yun Da, why should the great god waste time help him record for his final exam?!!!!

He understood it all intellectually, but emotionally, Xiang Cai felt extremely defeated because of that simple refusal.

In the darkness, the boy sighed emptily, closing his eyes and wiping back the tears that had reached the corner of his eyes.

Just then, the phone under his pillow suddenly hummed again.

Xiang Cai: "..."

The thought in his head was not to look, to look might bring more humiliation.

But the boy's hand touched the pillow uncontrollably and pulled out his phone.

The fluorescence was bright at first glance.

He narrowed his eyes in the darkness, searching for the words in the dialog box—

Yiming Qingyun: Sorry.

Yiming Qingyun: I was born with incomplete tone.

Yiming Qingyun: If I sing a harmony for you, you will probably fail.

Xiang Cai: "... ????"

Yiming Qingyun: I suggest that you record the harmony yourself, then mix the dry tone and accompaniment, then sing again by yourself.

Yiming Qingyun: If you are embarrassed to ask the group for help later,

Yiming Qingyun: then little swan, I can help you.

***

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