Times of Our Lives - Chapter 31

With less than a week left in the winter break, everyone began packing their bags and preparing to return to school. Ji Qinyang and Xie Meng were finalizing the exact departure time and what to bring while on the phone, when Mo Suyuan walked in.

 

Ji Qinyang raised an eyebrow and said into the phone, “I’ll handle it first… I’ll contact you later.”

 

“Have you packed everything?” Mo Suyuan sat beside her son and folded some clothes for him.

 

Ji Qinyang put away his phone and smiled, “Almost. Anyway, it will be warmer by then, so I won’t need so many clothes.”

 

“Let me know if you need more,” Mo Suyuan said. “I’ll send them to you.”

 

Ji Qinyang replied, “Sending them is a good idea. I probably won’t come back for the summer, so sending winter clothes is indeed necessary.”

 

Mo Suyuan paused her packing, slowly stood up with her back to her son, and after a long silence asked, “Why won’t you come back?”

 

Ji Qinyang hummed a tune, casually saying, “I’ll probably be in a band with friends. Didn’t I say I’m renting a place? I need to earn my own money.”

 

“…So independent? Don’t want Mom’s help?” Mo Suyuan’s tone was light, as if joking. “You’re not really living with a girl, are you?”

 

“I’ve told you, she’s not a girl,” Ji Qinyang said with a smile, explaining, “I’ll be living with Xie Meng. We’re planning to rent a whole apartment. As for the money…” He changed his tone playfully, “I’m grown up now. Earning money myself is nothing. If I really don’t have enough… can you support me a bit, Mom?”

 

Mo Suyuan didn’t respond. She remained with her back to him, her back straight but her shoulders thin and frail.

 

Ji Qinyang then noticed something was off. He stood up and called, “Mom?”

 

Mo Suyuan wiped her face and turned around, smiling with slightly reddened eyes, “It’s nothing. I just suddenly felt you’ve grown up.”

 

Ji Qinyang frowned, “Then why are you crying… What’s wrong?”

 

Mo Suyuan shook her head, saying nothing, only carefully observing her son’s face.

 

Ji Qinyang: “?”

 

Mo Suyuan reached out and gently traced Ji Qinyang’s eyebrows and eyes with her fingertips. She took a breath and said softly, “Take your time with packing. Mom will go arrange the car for you. Don’t forget to ask Xie Meng to come for dinner later.”

 

Since they needed to go to Beijing early to finalize the rental, Ji Qinyang and Xie Meng had booked a flight two days earlier. After checking in their luggage, Xie Meng came back with hot drinks and saw Ji Qinyang frowning at his phone.

 

“What’s wrong?” Xie Meng handed him a cup of coffee.

 

“Nothing,” Ji Qinyang said, pulling him to sit down. “I talked with Qian Mo about the band. They want me to write songs under the band’s name, and I’m still considering it.”

 

Xie Meng thought for a moment, “I don’t really understand this, but does writing songs under the band’s name mean that the composing and lyrics will be credited to the band rather than you?”

 

Ji Qinyang nodded, “That’s about the gist of it.”

 

Xie Meng frowned, “But you haven’t actually joined their band; you’re just writing songs for them.”

 

“If the collaboration goes well, joining the band is possible. A band needs behind-the-scenes support to develop,” Ji Qinyang said calmly, taking a sip of coffee. “Besides, I want to take a bigger share of the money. It’s necessary to show some sincerity.”

 

Xie Meng fell silent, his expression not very pleased. Ji Qinyang reached out and soothingly squeezed his neck.

 

“I asked Guo Linan to help me find a place close to Renmin. How about a two-bedroom apartment?” Ji Qinyang changed the subject as the boarding announcement came on. Before Xie Meng could reply, Ji Qinyang’s phone rang.

 

Ji Qinyang thought it was a text from Qian Mo. He took a sip of coffee and checked his phone.

 

It turned out to be a transaction notification.

 

Seeing Ji Qinyang standing still, Xie Meng asked, “What’s up?”

 

“…” Ji Qinyang opened his mouth, “My mom just transferred 30,000 yuan to me.”

 

Xie Meng: “??!!”

 

Ji Qinyang: “I told her about the rental, and as a result…”

 

Xie Meng was unsure, “Should we… call back to thank her?”

 

The boarding announcement continued, and Ji Qinyang tried calling Mo Suyuan several times without answer. With people starting to urge boarding, Ji Qinyang signaled Xie Meng to go ahead.

 

In the end, Ji Qinyang was unable to reach Mo Suyuan before turning off his phone for the flight.

 

“Call her when we land,” Ji Qinyang said, resting Xie Meng’s head on his shoulder. “Get some sleep.”

 

Xie Meng remembered to thank Mo Suyuan and tried calling again after arriving in Beijing, but the call ended quickly with Mo Suyuan sending a text to rent a better place and ask the family if more money was needed.

 

Ji Qinyang hung up, still stunned.

 

“The surprise came too suddenly…”

 

Xie Meng chuckled helplessly, “What are you talking about?”

 

Ji Qinyang laughed heartily and picked up Xie Meng, spinning him around: “I’ll contact Guo Linan. We’re going to see the apartment now.”

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Guo Linan arrived quickly, peeking around and looking for a while: “Where’s your girlfriend? Didn’t you say you were renting a place? Why isn’t she here?”

 

Ji Qinyang pushed him: “I’m renting with Xie Meng. What are you thinking?”

 

“Seriously!” Guo Linan was stunned: “So, you’re not building a love nest or anything?”

 

Ji Qinyang: “What kind of nest you mind? Let’s go see the apartment.”

 

As a local, Guo Linan found an apartment less than 500 meters from Renmin University. It was in a quiet neighborhood, though not cheap.

 

“It’s 5200 a month at the lowest,” Guo Linan showed them around: “The agency fee can be rounded down, and it’s three months’ deposit plus one month’s rent. Utilities are separate. It’s available for long-term rent. How does it sound?”

 

Ji Qinyang checked a small room: “The soundproofing is a bit poor. I’ll need to install some partitions.”

 

Guo Linan: “Just don’t do any major alterations. Wait… you two are sleeping in the same room?”

 

“Why not?” Ji Qinyang said with an air of indifference: “I don’t need a music studio, do I?”

 

Guo Linan: “Seriously? Are you that close with your buddy?”

 

Ji Qinyang didn’t feel like explaining further.

 

After checking the kitchen and bathroom, which were well-decorated and clean, it was clear the landlord kept it well-maintained. Ji Qinyang and Xie Meng quickly decided to take it.

 

“When do we sign the contract?” Ji Qinyang already looked like he was about to leave his luggage there.

 

Guo Linan laughed and scolded, “What’s the rush? The landlord will come tomorrow to sign. Zhai Lin and Bai Xintian are already here, and you’re about to head out. We should get together.”

 

Ji Qinyang had no objections. He turned to Xie Meng and asked, “Want to join us?”

 

Xie Meng: “But what about the luggage?”

 

“Leave it in our dorm,” Guo Linan generously said. “Bai Xintian’s girlfriend is hosting a party, and they need more handsome guys. The more, the better!”

 

After leaving the luggage, Guo Linan took a cab straight to the clubhouse Bai Xintian had booked. When they arrived, it turned out that the so-called party was more of a social gathering. On one side were several beautiful actresses from the Central Academy of Drama led by Bai Xintian’s girlfriend, Lin Miaomiao, while on the other side were Guo Linan, Zhai Lin, Bai Xintian, and the newly arrived Ji Qinyang and Xie Meng.

 

“This one’s already taken!” Bai Xintian pointed at Ji Qinyang and laughed: “No matter how handsome you are, you can’t make a move.”

 

Lin Miaomiao: “But there’s still one more.” She looked at Xie Meng and said, “He doesn’t look like someone from your academy.”

 

Xie Meng greeted them: “I’m from Renmin University.”

 

“Renmin University!” Another girl interjected, “A high-achiever, huh.”

 

Zhai Lin was dressed in a hip-hop style, with a large skull sweater, harem jeans, and a skull cap. He greeted Xie Meng: “Hi.”

 

Guo Linan teased him: “Today, Zhai Xiaolin is using standard Mandarin all the way. Pay special attention to your image.”

 

Zhai Lin retorted: “What’s wrong with me hitting on girls? Why do you care?”

 

Everyone laughed when he spoke with a Sichuan accent. Lin Miaomiao laughed and said, “Don’t think you have all the handsome guys. We’ll have more coming over here. The Central Academy of Drama isn’t short on handsome guys!”

 

Bai Xintian didn’t believe it: “Can they be as handsome as Ji Qinyang?”

 

Lin Miaomiao scrutinized Ji Qinyang and skeptically said, “Do you know Zheng Ming?”

 

“The one who recently won the international award?” Guo Linan seemed familiar with him: “I know him. He’s a freshman at the Central Academy of Drama and is quite good-looking.”

 

Ji Qinyang didn’t really care about these things. He ordered food for himself and Xie Meng, planning to fill up first.

 

Bai Xintian, however, was quite interested: “Did you invite him today?”

 

Lin Miaomiao: “No way he could come. He’s an actor of the year and still so young.”

 

Just as she finished speaking, three more guys entered the private room with the waiter. The beauties next to Lin Miaomiao greeted them first: “Here, here, baby! Over here!”

 

The term “baby” was loudly and persistently used, making Guo Linan look stunned and pained: “…So you’re not all single after all?!”

 

The beauty rolled her eyes: “We’re calling people by their names. Why are you so excited?”

 

Zhai Lin also looked puzzled. Xie Meng, eating his meal, looked up to see a short guy standing in front of him.

 

“Mapo tofu over rice, I can eat five bowls when I’m hungry,” the guy said inexplicably and extended his hand to Xie Meng: “Hello, I’m Xiong Baobao.”

 

“…” Xie Meng silently swallowed a large bite of mapo tofu.

 

Aside from the odd name, during the next half hour of interactions, Ji Qinyang learned that Xiong Baobao was a freshman in the film directing department at the Central Academy of Drama. Despite his small stature, he had a huge appetite.

 

For example, while others were singing, he was eating rice dishes in the back. When the girls started dancing, he ate fruit. When the guys were drinking, smoking, and playing games, he drank every milk-based drink on the menu.

 

Xie Meng couldn’t help but ask: “…Xiong Baobao, do you need to use the bathroom?”

 

Xiong Baobao looked at him and let out a burp.

 

Ji Qinyang, with his arm resting on the sofa, was completely resigned: “What are you even doing here?”

 

Xiong Baobao burped again: “I’m here to scout locations. I’m working on a student film about everyone’s extracurricular life.” He glanced at Ji Qinyang: “Do you want to be the lead actor?”

 

Ji Qinyang immediately replied: “I study music. I don’t have any acting skills.”

 

“Music, huh?” Xiong Baobao thought for a moment: “The film needs music. Are you interested?”

 

Ji Qinyang was more concerned about other things: “Is there any money involved?”

 

Xiong Baobao: “No money. It’s a non-profit project.”

 

Xie Meng: “So have you found the lead actor?”

 

“I want to invite Zheng Ming,” he explained: “You know Zheng Ming, right? The one who just won the international award. I think I can get him.”

 

Xie Meng: “…”

 

Ji Qinyang sighed: “Just keep eating… What do you want?”

 

“Alright.” Xiong Baobao easily got distracted. He looked at the menu seriously: “Then let’s have all the desserts as well.”