Please, come home and practice the piano

Chapter 1364, Section 584: Exercise
It felt like a super moment in my life.

Looking back on my short fourteen years of life.

Wang Xiaohu had never been so nervous before.

I've never been this calm before.

When tension and calmness can coexist, it can only mean that this is not the primary contradiction.

In Wang Xiaohu's view, the root of the main contradiction lies in the question raised by Arlene.

Or rather, Arlene's very act of raising this question is completely contradictory.

Arlene couldn't possibly not want to go abroad; under no circumstances could Arlene not want to go abroad.

Based on his understanding of Arlene, Wang Xiaohu was absolutely confident in this matter.

So why would Arlene make the assumption that she shouldn't leave Chengdu?

But Arlene raised this hypothesis. Why?
This is what makes Wang Xiaohu feel most conflicted.

Especially after he learned the whole truth, Arlene brought up the same question she had asked him at the beginning, and made it clear that she wanted an answer from him.

In retrospect, Arlene's decision to invite him here tonight, even knowing everything, might have been precisely to get this answer.

What answer does Arlene really want?
What answer would put Arlene at ease?
Could it be that Arlene wants to stay?

Thinking of this, Wang Xiaohu's heart raced again.

He realized that his absolute confidence had wavered at this moment.
If Arlene truly wants to stay
That would eliminate the contradiction.
Arlene's motivation for asking herself this question then makes perfect sense.
Arlene didn't want to leave, so she asked this question.

Why doesn't Arlene want to leave?
Wang Xiaohu instantly came up with no fewer than five answers, but all of them pointed in the same direction: Arlene needed him.

Arlene needs herself.
Wang Xiaohu suddenly felt as if a mountain was pressing down on his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Only now did he seem to realize how difficult this choice was for him.

The thought of giving up going abroad made Wang Xiaohu's hands, hanging by his sides, tremble uncontrollably.

If he chooses to give up now, what will become of all the resolutions he has secretly made?
If he chooses to give up now, how will he face his mother and teacher?

If he chooses to give up now, will he still be himself?
But what will happen to Arlene if he chooses to go abroad?

Arlene needs him.

Being needed by Arlene has always been his deepest desire.

Is this what adults often mean when they say life is a multiple-choice question?

too difficult.

Wang Xiaohu fell silent.

Although it had been quiet under the umbrella for a long time, Wang Xiaohu still felt silent.

There was a moment when he realized he didn't like Arlene as much anymore, and at the same time, he didn't want to go abroad as much.

Just a moment.

But after that one moment, he realized more clearly that he might like Arlene more than he thought, and he wanted to start this academic journey more than he thought.

Time passed by minute by minute.

The boy and girl under the umbrella each gazed in two different directions at the night sky.

No one knows what they are thinking at this moment.

After an unknown amount of time, Wang Xiaohu finally spoke.

"Arlene."

"Got an answer?"

"Ah."

"Okay, let's skip that question and move on to our last topic."

Wang Xiaohu smiled. This time he wasn't confused; he understood what Xiao Che meant.

Skipping this moment might be a good option for them.

But he didn't want to skip this issue.

"What are you laughing at?" The car turned around.

Wang Xiaohu: "Thank you."

Xiao Che laughed: "You're welcome. You should thank yourself."

Wang Xiaohu: "You seem very relaxed right now."

Xiao Che: "Of course, the main problem for today has been solved."

Wang Xiaohu: "But it's not easy for me."

Xiao Che: "You need a few days to digest this. Trust me, you'll be fine."

a long time.

Wang Xiaohu: "Actually, I used all my strength to muster up the courage just now."

Car: "But you've already done it, haven't you?"

Wang Xiaohu: "Did you already know my choice from the beginning?"

Xiao Che: "Pretty much. You know, sometimes you just have to push yourself a bit."

Wang Xiaohu: "Do you know how bad I feel right now? This is probably what heartbreak feels like."

Xiao Che Le: "What are you pretending for? You talk like you've ever been in a relationship."

Wang Xiaohu: "We talked about it, of course we talked about it. We talked about it every day in our dreams."

Xiao Che: "They're getting more and more shameless."

Wang Xiaohu: "Sigh, what's the use of having a face? I'm heartbroken, it's really painful."

Xiao Che: "You're not heartbroken because you're not dating anyone, so there's no such thing as heartbreak."

"You simply followed your heart and made the choice you believed was right in the end."

Wang Xiaohu: "Yes."

Xiao Che: "There's something I don't quite understand. I've given you so much time, and you seem to have been making two choices the whole time."

Why wasn't a multiple-choice option considered?

Wang Xiaohu was taken aback, then burst out laughing, "What did you say?"

Car: "Is there a problem?"

Wang Xiaohu didn't reply, his gaze shifting repeatedly as he looked at the car, before finally letting out a strange sigh: "So you don't know me that well after all. I thought you knew what I was thinking."

The car blinked: "Then let's try again."

Wang Xiaohu: "What do you mean?"

Car: "You called me."

Wang Xiaohu: "Ah Lin?"

Xiao Che: "The tone is off."

Wang Xiaohu: "Ah Lin."

Car: "Do you have the answer?"

moment.

Wang Xiaohu: "Mm."

Car: "Please speak."

Wang Xiaohu opened his mouth, then shook his head: "No, no, I'm not in the same state as before. I don't want to experience the feeling of heartbreak again."

But there's one thing you...

The car interrupted immediately: "Okay, that's settled then. Anyway, I'm not worried about you anymore."

"There's one last thing, oh, what was I going to say? Wait, wait, I remember now, that thing."

“We’ve already made things clear. Now I want to be completely honest with the teacher about this so that the teacher can be at ease. But I might need your help.”

Wang Xiaohu: "How can I help?"

Xiao Che: "I think we should work together. The teacher has also put a lot of effort into this for you, don't you think?"

Wang Xiaohu: "Okay, after summer camp ends?"

Xiao Che: "Well, shall we go? They'll probably be done playing soon."

As she spoke, Xiao Che used the ground for support and stood up with great effort. The discomfort in her lower back made her groan involuntarily.

"What's wrong?" Wang Xiaohu quickly stood up as well.

"It's nothing, my legs are just a little numb." Xiao Che glanced at Wang Xiaohu's buttocks and sighed softly, "You've ruined my new pants like this."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaohu felt a surge of emotion; he had been holding back his feelings ever since he was interrupted.

"Just go back and wash it, it's just a pair of pants, what's the big deal?"

Xiao Che was taken aback: "Why are you being so fierce?"

Meeting the slightly aggrieved gaze of the little car, Wang Xiaohu was almost instantly consumed by self-blame and remorse.

I'm sorry, I...

Suppressing the urge to slap himself, Wang Xiaohu swallowed hard, his hands trembling.

Xiao Che stepped forward and said, "What's wrong with you? Don't be like this, it's my fault."

Wang Xiaohu took a step back in dejection.

He felt like he was going crazy.

After a moment, he looked up at the sky and sighed, "I'm not leaving."

Xiao Che's eyes instantly sharpened: "Are you crazy?!"

"You don't need to think about Aunt Xu and the teacher, you only need to think about yourself!" "You've figured out what you want, so you must persevere!"

"The Wang Xiaohu I admire would never back down from anything, he's definitely not like this now!"

Wang Xiaohu laughed: "What I want! You have no idea what I want!"

a long time.

"it is good."

The car nodded, and its clenched fist slowly relaxed:
"You're right. I just don't know what you want. What you want has nothing to do with me. Whether you go abroad or not has nothing to do with me. What difference will it make if you don't go abroad?"

"But I still suggest you come with me to see the teacher. I'll say it again, I don't want the teacher to worry about this anymore. If you're willing, we can go together; if you're not, forget it."

"Thank you for bringing me the milk tea."

After saying that, Xiao Che turned to leave, but Wang Xiaohu had no idea what he was doing.

But his body's instincts made him hold up the umbrella and follow after them.

"The rain hasn't stopped yet!"

The car acted as if it hadn't heard anything and continued moving forward on its own.

"I'll go with you!!"

Wang Xiaohu shouted fiercely, then put everything else aside in his mind.
He held up the umbrella, yet seemed to be deliberately keeping a certain distance from the car, his movements clumsy like a big monkey.

"I'm heartbroken!"

"Don't step in the water! Or I'll give you my umbrella. Here you go! Hey, slow down! Can't we still be brothers?"

"I'm speechless! Girls are such a hassle. I thought you were different from other girls."

"But I just like you, I can't help it, and I feel like I like you more and more, am I sick? You scolded me and I like you even more, what will Ah Liu and Marco think if they find out?"

"Hey! Wait a minute! I left my coat under the tree!"

"Here you go, take the umbrella yourself, I need to go back and get it."

"Never mind, I'll come back and get it myself later!"

Just then, the car suddenly stopped.

Wang Xiaohu was taken aback and looked at the driveway from behind. "Um, could you hold the umbrella? I'll be back soon."

The car turned around, its calm gaze sending a chill down Wang Xiaohu's spine.

"Arlene, please, please don't! I'm scared too if you do this."

Xiao Che remained silent, but his eyes welled up with tears again.

"No, Arlene...no...no!"

moment.

"Wang Xiaohu."

"For whom?"

Do you think I'm doing this for myself?

"Has this always been how you see me?"

Do you think I'm forcing you to make a choice?

Wang Xiaohu opened his mouth, "I..."

"What? What are you trying to say?"

"You want to say no? Haven't you even considered for a moment that I'm the one pressuring you?"

"Fine, I'll force you now. Why am I forcing you?"

"Because this is the biggest problem right now, you know that?!"

The gentle drizzle instantly silenced the car's roar, but it couldn't extinguish her emotions.

What will happen if I don't push you today?

"Do you want to go abroad carrying all sorts of emotions?"

"Will it prevent you from focusing on your studies abroad?"

"Say it!"

"Say it!"

"You think you're the only one feeling bad?!"

Do you know how I've been getting through this lately?!

"I need to prepare the stage, prepare the concert, prepare the music season performances!"

"do you know!"

"You're right, I'm not Xiaoxing, I don't have that many songs in my repertoire, but is that a reason for me to back down?"

You said you felt sorry for me because I was under a lot of pressure practicing the piano!

"Don't I feel sorry for you, knowing you'll be under a lot of pressure studying abroad?!"

“I still have teachers, classmates, and good friends here! After you went out, you only had Aunt Xu by your side, but you didn’t tell Aunt Xu anything. How can I not worry about you!”

As if crying out that he had no more strength left, the car opened its mouth but said nothing more.

Finally, she let out a soft sigh of relief, "Go back and get your clothes, I'll go with you."

Wang Xiaohu smiled, nodded, smiled again, and then shook his head.

"Arlene, would you believe me if I said I knew everything you just said?"

Xiao Che: "If you have anything else to say, hurry up, we can't go back too late."

Wang Xiaohu: "You don't know why you interrupted me just now, but I still have to tell you that the reason I finally decided to go abroad was you."

Car: "For me?"

Wang Xiaohu: "For you, and for me, or rather for us, but when I made that final decision, you were the one I thought of."

He paused, then said, "We're still too young."

"There's no way to handle so much at once."

“I know you’re reluctant to part with me too; you told me that last night.”

"I don't want you to be unable to concentrate on practicing the piano because of me."

"Knowing you as I do, you'll only feel at ease after I'm gone."

"It might be tough for a while, but I believe you have the ability to adjust yourself."

"It was with this in mind that I made my decision."

Wang Xiaohu raised his hand and gently wiped the corner of Xiaoche's eye. "I'm not taking advantage of you. You did this to me yesterday, so we're even."

“If you can rest assured, then I can rest assured too. It takes time to adjust after going abroad, and I believe I can adjust myself.”

So for you, for me, for us, my answer is—

"Arlene, I've decided to go abroad. As for when I'll be back, I don't know."

"Can you promise me something?"

Car: "You say it."

Wang Xiaohu: "If you ever stop liking me, just post on your WeChat Moments and say, 'Everyone needs to keep working hard!'"

"OK?"

Car: "Too much trouble."

Wang Xiaohu: "Alright, now I'm going to use that opportunity. You haven't forgotten, have you? I helped you pick out books for Aunt Sang, so you still owe me one."

Xiao Che frowned: "We can't go too far."

Wang Xiaohu laughed: "Now that you mention it, I really want to make an outrageous request, sigh."

"listen."

"If you ever stop liking me, just post on your WeChat Moments and say, 'We all need to keep working hard!'"

Xiao Che: "Are you really going to waste this opportunity?"

Wang Xiaohu: "This is my last request."

Xiao Che: "What if you stop liking me one day? Are you going to post something on your WeChat Moments too?"

Wang Xiaohu: "How is that possible!"

Xiao Che: "Why not? Objectively speaking, you are still very attractive to girls. What if someone keeps pursuing you and you end up being pursued by someone else? What are you going to tell me then?"

Wang Xiaohu: "Impossible. Believe it or not, such a thing could never happen. I swear."

Xiao Che: "Stop. If it's happened, it's happened. Just send me a message."

Wang Xiaohu: "Are you sick? Does your class have relationships like this?"

Car: "Who's dating you?"

Wang Xiaohu: "So what are we talking about now?"

Xiao Che: "We are solving problems; dating is a matter between couples."

Wang Xiaohu: "How about we become a couple? Can we practice it out?"

Car: "Get lost. You think this kind of thing can be practiced?"

Wang Xiaohu: "Che Lin, will you be my girlfriend? Even just for a few days, just between us, without telling anyone or letting anyone know, okay?"

a long time.

Xiao Che: "I wouldn't do that if it's just for a few days."

Wang Xiaohu: "I don't know how either, but this shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

Car: "So annoying."