The next morning, Qin Weidong was getting ready to drive to the airport. Fang Li was still half-asleep, not even willing to lift a finger. Qin Weidong’s business trip was truly exhausting him—so much so that when the ruthless man leaned in to kiss him, Fang Li mustered all his strength to push his face away.
“I thought you said there were plenty of rich trust-fund ladies here? Next time, go find them…”
Qin Weidong’s eyes narrowed dangerously, but seeing the scattered kiss marks on Fang Li’s neck, he decided not to press him on the angry words. Instead, he bent down and kissed Fang Li, unfazed by the two slaps he received in return.
“You’re really not coming with me to Los Angeles?”
“No! No, no, no—absolutely not!”
“Alright…” Qin Weidong’s schedule was packed for the week, and he worried Fang Li wouldn’t take care of himself if left alone. “Be good and wait for me at home. Don’t go to bars or places like that with Qiao Shi and the others…”
Fang Li buried his head and mumbled a few half-hearted yeses.
The last time he went to a bar with Qiao Shi without telling Qin Weidong, he got into big trouble. Mainly because he was just unlucky—right as he was leaving the bar, a foreign guy who had been watching him approached and asked for his number. And, of course, Qin Weidong happened to be there to witness it…
Fang Li didn’t want to think about it again.
Qin Weidong gently pulled Fang Li’s head out from under the covers like an ostrich. “Also, about that singing thing at Blitz Plaza you mentioned yesterday—no way. If I catch you sneaking out like last time, getting asked for phone numbers or having your picture taken by all kinds of people, I’ll make sure you learn your lesson.”
Fang Li was already feeling guilty. Hearing that made his insides feel like they were being clawed at. He took a deep breath, forced himself to hold it in, and covered his head with a pillow, humming low.
Qin Weidong’s voice held a warning tone. “You know what I can let slide, and what’s not up for discussion…”
“Not up for discussion, not up for discussion…”
Fang Li suddenly felt a nerve get hit by something Qin Weidong said. He sat up abruptly, grabbed a pillow, and threw it at him. “Besides that phrase, what else do you say? Is it my fault they asked for my number? Did I give it? If you keep this up, one day I’ll…”
He almost finished the sentence but stopped short, locking eyes with Qin Weidong’s narrowed gaze. His throat felt clogged. He cleared it a couple of times and threw a second pillow. “Go away… and take your Los Angeles trip with you!”
Qin Weidong picked up the pillows from the floor and placed them back by the bed. He held back his anger, not wanting to start a fight before the trip. He ran his hand through Fang Li’s exposed hair.
“Give me some time. By the end of the year at the latest, we’ll go back home. You’ll feel freer than you do now…”
What was the difference between staying here and going back home under Qin Weidong’s “no discussion” surveillance? It was just moving to a different place to continue serving time in a prison of sorts! Fang Li really didn’t want to deal with him anymore; he didn’t want to say a single word.
Qin Weidong glanced at the time, kissed him lightly, said he had to go, and told Fang Li to keep sleeping.
Only after Qin Weidong’s presence disappeared from the room did Fang Li yank the covers off his head. He stared at the ceiling and exhaled deeply for a long moment.
To be honest, he had no idea when things between him and Qin Weidong had changed like this. It felt like with every step forward, everything slipped off track and headed somewhere completely beyond his control.
That feeling stirred a restless irritation inside Fang Li. He couldn’t quite put it into words. They’d kept up this way of being together for so long that when he tried to look back and find exactly where it all started to go wrong, he didn’t even know where to begin.
Fang Li had no appetite for lunch. After he woke up, he headed to band rehearsal. Just as he reached the door, his phone buzzed—a message from Qin Weidong. He had landed and reminded him to take his medicine.
Fang Li knew Qin Weidong had arrived safely, so he replied with one word: “Not taking it!”
After a while, Qin Weidong didn’t send a follow-up. He was probably too busy rushing around right after landing. Fang Li slipped his phone into his pocket.
Then he thought, damn it—Qin Weidong was sure that just reminding him would make him take the medicine, so he wouldn’t dare skip it…
That thought made Fang Li even more irritated.
At the rehearsal room, Wu Xuxu was already organizing the dress rehearsal for the charity event the day after tomorrow. Qiao Shi had a part-time job and would come later.
Wu Xuxu saw him and handed him the setlist.
“Lili, take a look. You’re up for the third song…”
Fang Li glanced at the list. It wasn’t long—Blitz Plaza had only given them half an hour to perform, so time was tight.
There were only four songs in total, with some charity segments mixed in.
“Can I go last instead? By then the fundraising will be over, and there won’t be many people left. My first time on stage, right in the middle to attract the crowd… What if I mess it up?”
“No way!”
Wu Xuxu didn’t like Fang Li doubting himself. “Lili, your singing is already great. Besides, just with that face of yours—such a handsome guy standing on stage—you know, I told my classmates you’re singing tomorrow, and they all said they’d come to donate even if they had to take the subway…”
Her joke made Fang Li crack a small smile.
Still, not everyone in the band was on board with Fang Li singing on stage this time.
“Xuxu, I support Fang Li stepping up to the front with us, but he doesn’t have much stage experience. I think having him replace Brech is kind of risky. If we mess up the Blitz Plaza event, it’ll be really hard to get invited back…”
Others shared the same worries. “Yeah, I’m a bit nervous too. When I went on stage for the first time, I was shaking just holding the mic. Li, do you have any stage experience? Blitz Plaza is a big deal; lots of tourists come at night—there will be tons of people…”
“How about we let Fang Li get some practice first at the community senior center performance next time?”
The band’s concerns weren’t without reason. After all, this was a student-run band, and landing a gig at New York’s famous Blitz Plaza was incredibly rare. If they messed this up, it would be tough to get the same level of opportunity again. Everyone there was still a student. Having the chance to put on a well-organized fundraising show at a music hall or central plaza would be a huge boost to their resumes. Whether for applying to top schools or job hunting later, it would impress interviewers.
Some members spoke up, and Wu Xuxu, the band leader, said firmly, “Lili isn’t inexperienced. He’s accompanied us at several previous charity events, and the song he’s performing this time is his own…”
Someone asked, “Fang Li, have you sung on stage before?”
Before Wu Xuxu could answer, Fang Li said quietly, “I have…”
“Before? In China?”
He gave a soft “yeah.” His voice wasn’t loud. “But in places that aren’t exactly proper…”
He thought about the brief time he spent in nightclubs back home—probably places none of the music students here had ever visited: shabby, half-Western bars where people drank and had fun. But that was pretty much the only stage experience he had.
One member suggested, “Fang Li plays piano beautifully, we all know that. But this event is important, and since Brech is sick, I think it’s better to have someone with formal training sing. We’ll have more chances later…”
The back-and-forth discussion went on and on. Everyone liked Fang Li, but when it came to making a decision, liking him wasn’t the only factor.
Wu Xuxu, sweet-looking but full of determination and leadership, raised her hand, holding the setlist and spoke loudly: “Let’s hear Lili sing first, okay? This is our band’s two-year anniversary—we all want this to be a successful and meaningful event. Fang Li is my pick to save the day, and Brech recommended him too. Over these two years, Lili has done a lot for us. His song ‘Wing’ even won an award from a charity foundation. Personally, I don’t think anyone understands or can express this song better than Fang Li… And stage experience or formal music school background doesn’t define talent. Some people get nervous no matter how many times they’ve been on stage, and others nail it the first time. Many great singers weren’t formally trained anyway.”
“Alright, let’s run through it once!”
Wu Xuxu’s words carried weight. Though easygoing and sweet, she was unquestionably the leader when the team needed decisions made. With all the awards she’d won during school and how well she’d managed the band’s growth, it was no surprise that under her call, the seven or eight band members put aside their doubts and took their seats.
Fang Li stood off to the side of the stage, a little nervous. Wu Xuxu came over.
“Don’t worry, Lili. Joe, Brech, and I all believe in you. They just haven’t heard you sing yet. Once they do, they’ll feel the same way we do.”
She leaned in and whispered, “Lili, even if I have to abuse my power as band leader, I’ll make sure you get to perform.”
Fang Li cracked a small smile at her playful words, which eased some of his tension.
Before long, the rehearsal of the second song finished, and it was his turn.
Fang Li took the microphone. Cara volunteered to accompany him on piano. Sitting at the keyboard, she gave a nod that she was ready. From the audience, Wu Xuxu gave him a thumbs-up.
Fang Li walked to center stage and told himself this was just a rehearsal… even if he didn’t sing well… it would be okay. He gripped the microphone.
But when he sang the first line, the whispering among the students stopped instantly. They looked up at Fang Li on stage and, as his voice filled the room, their faces showed surprise.
They had never known that this Chinese boy, who always worked behind the scenes in the band, could actually sing so beautifully! His style wasn’t some mainstream, definable technique, and he didn’t use flashy skills. But his voice was clear, delicate, ethereal, without a trace of impurity. Even though he wore a simple hoodie and jeans, it couldn’t hide the brilliance shining through his voice…
When Fang Li finished the song, his heart pounded wildly. He opened his eyes to see everyone staring at him in stunned silence.
“Uh… Xuxu…?”
Wu Xuxu snapped back to reality, filled with amazement. She was the first to rush up to him excitedly.
“Lili…! You just gave me the biggest surprise of the year! You’re my muse!!”
Fang Li asked cluelessly, “Muse…?”
“This is way beyond what I imagined! Joe and Brech told me you sang well, but I had no idea it was this good! I should’ve had you perform ages ago! That time at the academy concert hall—should’ve been you! If you perform, we’ll definitely be the hit of the academy…”
Fang Li was a little embarrassed by her enthusiastic praise. “You’re exaggerating… I know my own abilities…”
“Don’t be so lacking in confidence!”
Wu Xuxu shook his shoulders. “Lili, you need to believe in yourself! Really! You should listen more to what everyone thinks! Look! I guarantee they’ve all changed their minds now! Right? Our lead composer—Fang Li—didn’t he sing amazingly?!”
The band members who had just heard him sing still had that stunned feeling ringing in their ears. They began to applaud, and some of the boys who’d just snapped out of it whistled!
“Fang Li! You really sang great!”
“Fang Li! I take back what I said earlier! Back home, this is called playing the fool to surprise everyone!”
“Fang Li! Next time the band performs, we’ve got to save you the prime spot in the center!”
“Brech! I sincerely thank you for getting sick!”
“Wu Xuxu! You’re the most insightful band leader I’ve ever seen!”
They were all students who loved music, gathered together with no ill intentions. Their earlier worries had been genuine, but they weren’t targeting Fang Li. After hearing him sing, they completely relaxed inside! They swarmed around him. “Fang Li! I want to give you some advice! You didn’t fully open up your voice just now—you might have been a bit nervous. Tomorrow, relax more, and you’ll definitely sing even better!”
Seeing the band members change their attitude and encourage him made Wu Xuxu ecstatic. She had known her instincts were right. Fang Li felt a surreal yet happy feeling inside. More than that, he gained a confidence in himself he rarely experienced. He smiled genuinely and said, “Thank you.”
Cara, who had accompanied him on piano, said, “Fang Li, I’m happy to accompany you tomorrow, but I think if you played piano yourself tomorrow, singing and playing at dusk in Blitz Square, I’m sure you’d be the most beautiful sight there that day!”
Wu Xuxu pictured the scene immediately. “Exactly, exactly! Lili! Tomorrow you’ll play and sing! Oh my god! Tomorrow I have to bring three cameras to record you!”
Fang Li had become their biggest surprise that afternoon. After rehearsal, they went out to dinner together. Soon, the day of the Blitz Square performance arrived.
At three in the afternoon, the band members arrived at the square and began setting up the stage. The creative stage design was Wu Xuxu’s idea. They followed the management center’s protection rules, avoiding steel structures that could damage the square’s paving, and didn’t use flashy posters as a backdrop.
Wu Xuxu borrowed a glass display platform used for music theater performances at the academy. They placed it in front of the central fountain on Blitz Square’s main street—a five-by-five-meter pure glass stage. Underneath the hollow glass platform, pure white chrysanthemums representing “pure love and hope” were scattered, creating a romantic and artistic atmosphere.
Members responsible for collecting donations arranged handmade charity postcards nearby. Each postcard opened to reveal children’s drawings of sick kids. Every donor that night would receive one of these meaningful postcards.
Blitz Square was a popular tourist spot in New York, bustling with visitors. Their stage also attracted Yang Yuecheng, who happened to be strolling through with his wife on their honeymoon.
He originally wanted to take photos of the central fountain, but after seeing the glass stage setup, he snapped a picture with his camera. “This stage design is pretty creative and doesn’t cost much. When I get back to the hotel, I’ll send it to Brother Jing. One of the bands at our company is about to hold an album signing, with lots of reporters coming. We’ve been struggling with how to set up the venue…”
His wife asked, “Is it the Southeast-Northwest band? Isn’t that your company’s rock band? This is all flowers—doesn’t really fit, right?”
He kept taking photos, saying, “Ah, just tweak it. We’ll add some black flowers—black roses. That’d be cool…”
Yang Yuecheng took a flyer but couldn’t really understand it. “Is there a live show soon?”
His wife saw the host walk on stage. “Looks like it’s about to start…”
As the deep, resonant bells of Blitz Square chimed, the crowd of pedestrians and tourists gradually grew, weaving through this historic, charming street that carried over a hundred years of history. Fang Li sat inside Wu Xuxu’s Beetle, feeling completely different from rehearsal—his palms were sweaty, and even tiny beads of sweat appeared at his nose.
Wu Xuxu wiped some powder on him. “Relax…! Lili, you look absolutely amazing today! I told you, letting Lisa pick your clothes was definitely the right call!”
Fang Li wore a simple white suit, not overly formal, carrying the fresh lightness of spring and summer. It was borrowed by Lisa from the school drama club, but Fang Li was so slim that she stayed up late last night altering it to fit perfectly. Underneath, he wore a thin white turtleneck that covered the ambiguous marks on his neck that hadn’t faded in three days. Lisa chose a bling-bling star pendant for him, hanging over his chest like the finishing touch. But now, she felt a little unsatisfied. The sparkle on Fang Li wasn’t matched by the pendant; it seemed a little heavy…
As she was thinking this, she spotted Wu Xuxu’s silk scarf thrown inside the car. “Xuxu, can I borrow your scarf?”
The scarf was brought back from China by Wu Xuxu and was a bit long. She always felt it was a bit too long to tie into a flower knot when she wore it.
Lisa took it and lightly wrapped the delicate silk scarf once around Fang Li’s neck. The ends casually draped—one in front, one behind—falling to his waist.
Wu Xuxu looked surprised. “Lisa! You’re a genius!”
Lisa removed the star pendant and said with satisfaction, “Fang Li! Just relax—trust me. I swear, even if you forget the lyrics or sing off-key, everyone at Blitz Square will still be completely stunned by your beauty!”
Qiao Shi knocked on their car window from outside, urging them, “Ladies and gentlemen, keep an eye on the time—Brother Li is up next!”
As the second song ended, Yang Yuecheng’s wife tugged on his arm. “Look, the next one seems to be Chinese…! Honey! He’s so handsome…!”
A crowd of tourists had gathered around the square, all of them now turned into audience members. Fang Li stepped onto the glass stage, with the sound of the fountain cascading behind him. He sat down at the piano, nerves wound tight. He could feel the weight of every gaze—curious, expectant, appreciative—all focused on him like natural spotlights. His heartbeat was pounding so loudly it echoed in his ears, clear and deafening…
He took a steadying breath and adjusted the microphone in front of him. As he exhaled deeply, his fingers landed on the keys. From the black and white keys flowed the first note, and he began to sing softly:
“I lay on flowers and had a long dream;
I fantasize that one day I can grow wings;
Leap to the distant world;
no pain, no disease,
Angels weave beautiful garlands;
And put it on my head;
I can freely flying in the sky.”
The sunset bathed historic Blitz Square in amber light, refracted by the glass stage into a soft, glowing shimmer.
Upon a bed of flowers, the boy’s voice rang out pure and clear, like snow falling gently in spring.
His singing had no flashy technique, but carried a quiet, unwavering strength—tender yet resolute. The silky white scarf around his neck lifted gently in the breeze, glimmering with delicate ripples like the surface of a lake under the sunset…
“I will grow wings and go where I aspire;
That’s where I must be.”
In the square, visitors from all over the world paused in their steps, captivated by the boy and his beautiful song. And beneath the stage, Yang Yuecheng stood holding his camera, completely spellbound.
Axolotl Translations 
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