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墨書 Inktalez
Not far from the French Restaurant, there is a river with shimmering waters, where occasionally a few snow-white herons leisurely play in the water.
On the riverbank is a small park, filled with many empty benches, and in the center, there is a large green lawn.
Qiluo Ling and Xu Xiaoya sit on the lawn, enjoying the warm afternoon sun that feels very comfortable on their skin.
"Who are they to you?" Xu Xiaoya asks, staring intently at her.
"Who?"
"The Korean Woman and the Young Jewish Man in the photo?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"From the photo, you look very much like that Korean Woman, and you have the same birthmark as that Young Jewish Man."
"Uh-huh."
"And also, the old lady looked very surprised when she saw you. What is your relationship with them?"
"I'm not really sure if they are my Great-Grandparents."
"Not really sure? What does that mean?"
"Because my current parents are my Adoptive Parents. I was raised by them since I was little. I don't even know who my Birth Mother is, let alone confirm my Great-Grandparents."
Xu Xiaoya looks at her in surprise, speechless.
Qiluo Ling calmly recounts many things that have happened to her.
"I'm sorry for making you think of these sad things again," Xu Xiaoya says apologetically.
"Everything is fine, it's all in the past now. At least in my heart, it has become a scene from yesterday."
Xu Xiaoya was astonished by her tone, which was so calm and indifferent, as if she were telling someone else's story.
"What do you plan to do from now on?" Xu Xiaoya asked.
There were faintly blooming blue flowers on the lawn, surrounded closely by wild grass, and the gentle breeze carried a light floral fragrance.
Qiluo Ling sat there, picked a few small flowers, and played with them for a long time before finally saying, "I don't know how long it will take to find the answer. I can't keep staying at your place. I've decided to find a new place to settle down first, and then slowly look for answers."
"You can stay at my place as long as you want. There's no need to find a new place."
"No, you know I don't like to trouble others."
"Finding a place costs money. Besides, you don't have a job right now, which means no income."
"I've thought it through. I've decided to look for a bar or a place with live music nearby to work as a pianist, playing some classical pieces and charging for it. I searched online, and the industry standard is 100 yuan per hour, plus tips from customers. It should be enough to get by."
"Alright, you have your own plans, and I respect your decision. But since you're new to Shanghai and unfamiliar with the area, let me help arrange a place for you. Also, I can inquire about it; I have a friend whose relative works at Shanghai Red House Hospital. He can borrow medical records under the pretext of research needs. That's all I can do to help you."
Qiluo Ling sighed in relief and tightly held Xu Xiaoya's hand.
This was a small bar hidden in a narrow street.
Outside the bar was a patio with several brown wooden tables and chairs, adorned with large white umbrellas.
Choi Jae-sun pushed open the vintage coffee-colored door and saw a black piano in the center of the bar, where a girl in a white dress was playing.
Qiluo Ling had her hair tied in a neat ponytail and wore a white knee-length sheer dress that gently brushed against her bare calves as she moved. She wore a pair of flat black leather shoes.
Choi Jae-sun found a seat by the window and focused intently on her.
She played "Castle in the Sky," and her ethereal, clear sound floated above the bar, penetrating all the noise and chaos, cutting through all the dazzling colors. Everything around her blurred and faded away.
The world seemed to cling to her beautiful melody, which flowed like a smooth stream into people's bodies. It wasn't until the last beautiful note disappeared that people became aware of the existence of the real world.
After she finished, sparse applause erupted in the bar. She stood up from her stool, smiled, placed her left hand on her right chest, and bowed to the audience.
As she stood up, she already spotted Choi Jae-sun in the crowd.
Qiluo Ling walked toward Choi Jae-sun, who was sipping on a drink he had ordered. She smiled as she stood in front of him, her white long dress appearing pure under the dim Light.
Earlier in the afternoon, Xu Xiaoya had called to say that she had found a place for her to stay, which was previously occupied by a Korean employee of the company. After he returned to Korea, the house had been vacant. Originally, she planned to take Qiluo Ling to see the place, but since she had to work overtime tonight, Choi Jae-sun suggested he take Qiluo Ling to see it since he would be passing by that bar.
"Hello!" Choi Jae-sun stood up and said to her.
"Hello!" She smiled and sat down across from him. At that moment, a waiter approached and handed her a glass of juice.
"Are you in a hurry?" Choi Jae-sun asked.
She took a sip of juice and replied, "I'm not in a hurry; my performance has already ended."
"Then good, I want to stay at the bar a little longer," he paused for a few seconds before adding two more words, "with you."
She looked up, her gaze somewhat dazed and confused as she stared at him, but it seemed like she wasn't really looking at him.
"I feel like I've seen you somewhere before. But I just can't remember where," Choi Jae-sun said after a long pause.
"There are too many people in the world who look alike; maybe I just resemble someone you've seen before," Qiluo Ling replied with a faint smile.
Choi Jae-sun was lost in thought and did not speak.
Thirty minutes later, the two stood up and walked out of the bar.
They drove for fifteen minutes and arrived at the secluded Dongping Road.
A three-story old apartment building stood there, with several shops on the ground floor, including a Grocery Store, a bookstore, and an elegantly decorated café.
They climbed the stairs, passing a few people in the hallway. Finally, they reached the door of the innermost room on the third floor. He took out a key and unlocked the door.
She followed him inside.
"This apartment was originally rented for a Korean Employee from our company who was on a business trip to Shanghai. However, he returned to the headquarters in Korea a month ago. If you find the conditions acceptable, please feel free to stay. Besides, my company has already paid a year's rent, and even if we terminate the lease early, the landlord won't refund the rent. If you don't come, the place will just be empty. Of course, you don't need to pay me anything; since you've come all the way to Shanghai, let's consider it as making a friend."
She looked around the room. The space was indeed small but sufficient for one person. The furnishings were simple and tidy.
She did not decline and expressed her gratitude with a few simple words.
He handed her the key and said, "The blankets are in the closet, and there are some basic toiletries in the drawer by the bed. You won't need to buy anything else; everything in the apartment should be complete."
He walked to the window, pointed at a shop across the street, and said to her, "There's a restaurant across that serves breakfast in the morning and lunch and dinner during the day. You can go there for your meals. Next door is a Chain Supermarket where you can find everything you need for daily necessities."
Finally, he asked, "Do you have any other questions?"
Everything had been explained in detail, and it seemed there were no further questions. She thought for a moment and then shook her head.
He glanced at his watch and said, "I have to go now; I still have some things to take care of. If you have any questions, feel free to call me."
With that, he took out a pen and wrote his phone number on a piece of yellowed paper on the table.
"Thank you!" she smiled gratefully at him.
"You're welcome!"
Not long after Choi Jae-sun left, the sky began to rain.
At first, it was just a light drizzle, but soon it turned into a heavy downpour, tapping loudly against the window panes. The rain quickly flooded the entire city, creating a world of white. Shanghai in the rain resembled a charming and elegant lady, dressed extravagantly yet filled with an unusual sadness for love.
Before long, the heavy rain transformed back into a gentle drizzle. She extended her hand out the window, and the cold droplets dripped down her arm. As they flowed over the Butterfly Birthmark, she felt an inexplicable pleasure.
From somewhere came a familiar melody. She listened closely and realized it was "Forever at Your Feet" sung by Oh Susanna.
a locket on a chain
a bow that's made from rain
a briar grows entwined with rose
I've come to be forever at your feet
...
The sounds of rain, piano, and violin, combined with the softly narrating female voice and the gentle flow of water, enveloped her in a subtle sense of melancholy.
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