"Thank you... thank you all, this next song is for your youth!"
At this moment, as a loud voice echoed from the microphone, just outside the first bar on the bridge, the singer who was performing at the door picked up the microphone and gave a simple introduction, then began to play the guitar in his arms.
When the prelude started, there were excited shouts from both inside and outside the bar, including the passing crowd.
Ding Yi and Zhou Wang were also drawn in, glancing sideways.
"The little yellow flower in the story has been floating since the year I was born; the swings of childhood sway with memories up till now, Re So So Si Do Si La... the day I skipped class for you, the day the flowers fell, the classroom, why can’t I see it..."
After listening for a while, Zhou Wang suddenly laughed.
"It’s quite fitting."
"Mhm..."
Ding Yi nodded and smiled, then her smile faded as she gazed at Zhou Wang, "Don’t tell me this is your answer..."
After saying this, not waiting for Zhou Wang to respond, she suddenly leaned in a little closer, once again softly laying her head on Zhou Wang’s shoulder. As he looked over at her, she quietly closed her eyes.
Her eyelashes trembled lightly, her flawless fair face flushed slightly.
It was the first time since they had met that Zhou Wang saw Ding Yi displaying a nervous emotion.
"How I want to ask you again, will you wait or leave..."
Just then, the performing singer reached the line before the chorus, and with a strong strum of the guitar, his singing also abruptly stopped.
Everyone around held their breath in anticipation.
Zhou Wang hesitated for a moment, finally lowering his head to gently kiss Ding Yi on the forehead.
Ding Yi opened her eyes, just looking at Zhou Wang, as if asking him, "What does this mean?"
"Once upon a time, there was a person who loved you for a long time, but unfortunately, the wind gradually blew the distance far apart..."
At this point, the guitar strums started again, accompanied by the singer’s passionate singing, plus the harmonies from the audience.
When Zhou Wang wanted to say something, Ding Yi had already placed a finger over his lips, then smiled and said:
"You know, Zhou Wang, there’s actually another version of ’Sunny Day’..."
Zhou Wang didn’t understand, but Ding Yi didn’t explain further. She just wrinkled her nose, hummed softly, then released Zhou Wang’s hand and walked towards the other side of the bridge.
"I’m home, tomorrow morning, come to this place, someone will take you to see her."
Saying this, Ding Yi walked away with her hands behind her back, and Zhou Wang could only faintly hear her humming:
"On the windy day, I tried to hold your hand..."
Zhou Wang stood silently in place for a while before walking to the entrance of the bar, placing a tip of a thousand on the stage, then turning to leave amid the singer’s repeated thanks, soon disappearing into the crowd.
...
When Zhou Wang returned to the courtyard suite at the Waldorf, the director from the credit card center of a Beidou branch of CMB had already been waiting for him for quite some time.
"Mr. Zhou, this is your card, we need you to activate it personally..."
The person was there to deliver a CMB all-currency VISA Unlimited Credit Card to him. Zhou Wang looked at it for a moment. In terms of appearance, the card was just average, even a bit ugly, not quite matching Zhou Wang’s aesthetic, but with a 30 million limit, he tolerated it.
Moreover, this type of card was more useful abroad, saving a lot of trouble... Zhou Wang always loved to wander.
Following the guidance of the credit card center director, Zhou Wang easily activated the card.
After sending the person off, Zhou Wang linked the card with WeChat and Alipay, then casually topped up ten thousand in phone credit to test it. After confirming there was no issue, Zhou Wang washed up and went to sleep.
...
The night passed without further events.
At four in the morning the next day, Zhou Wang got up and, accompanied by Miao Ying, went to watch the flag-raising ceremony.
Actually, Zhou Wang wasn’t up particularly late, but he still didn’t get a spot at the front, although he didn’t mind because he just wanted to witness the solemn moment every Huaxia citizen should experience.
After watching the flag-raising until past six, he went to have breakfast in a nearby alley, then returned to Houhai Bridge by around seven.
The middle-age driver he met just yesterday was waiting here. Seeing Zhou Wang, he quickly approached. After a greeting, the driver led Zhou Wang to the mouth of an alley.
"Mr. Zhou, Miss Jiang Mo will pass by here shortly, and this is my number. If you need anything, not limited to car service, feel free to call me. Just call me Old He."
After handing Zhou Wang a business card, the driver, Old He, left.
At that moment, a fine drizzle began to fall from the sky. As Miao Ying, who had checked the weather forecast early on Jiang Qingkui’s instructions, pulled out a portable umbrella, she stood behind Zhou Wang, silently sheltering him from the rain.
Zhou Wang lit a cigarette and stood in the rain, quietly watching ahead.
He didn’t know how much time had passed when a figure appeared at the end of the alley.
She was tall and slender, even holding an umbrella in one hand, her face was clearly visible.
Her features were austere; the light makeup and expressionless face made even the rain unable to obscure the serene aura emanating from her.
In her other hand, she held books close to her chest. Her fitted white shirt and conservatively styled black skirt still slightly revealed her graceful and slender silhouette.
Zhou Wang felt a bit dazed because Jiang Mo’s outfit was exactly what she had worn on the day they first met at the Provincial Library...
Time seemed to overlap at this moment.
He had met her again.
With her head slightly lowered, Jiang Mo hurried along without noticing Zhou Wang by the roadside. It wasn’t until she passed by that Zhou Wang smiled quietly and followed silently.