My girlfriend was reborn.

Chapter 36 Old Times, Hands the Size of Hearts

For senior high school students, the National Day holiday is just a change of scenery for studying.

For the next four days, the two lived a routine of going to school to study during the day and cooking together at home in the evening.

Lu Bai still practices in the multimedia classroom for most of the day. She asks Cheng Shuangjiang piano-related questions more often. The two occasionally disagree on music, but it only stays on the music itself.

"So, you think music should be purer, and faithfully reproducing the composer's original intention is the most important thing. But Lu Bai thinks that the audience's preferences are more important. If a piece of music is considered to symbolize love, then it should be shaped in a tender and affectionate way?"

In Cheng Shuangjiang's rented room, Zhou Heming ate the scrambled eggs with tomatoes he had made while summarizing the opinions he had heard from the two people.

"What do you think, Ah He?"

Rarely showing any sign of indignation, Cheng Shuangjiang picked up a piece of stir-fried greens with her chopsticks and asked a classic, potentially fatal question.

"Just tell the truth."

She added that she took another small bite of rice.

I'm going to tell you the truth, so don't be upset.

"Once a work is created, the original author is dead. This is a theory of creation. In layman's terms, a thousand readers will have a thousand Hamlets."

Zhou Heming carefully considered his words, trying to express his thoughts as accurately as possible.

"Like many works, due to the limitations of the era in which they were created, if we only consider the author's life experiences, the conclusions we draw will definitely be very limited. However, truly excellent art can still show its charm even when it is detached from its time."

"So, you agree with Lu Bai's point of view?"

Cheng Shuangjiang hit the nail on the head.

"Like, well, like the piece 'Canon in D Major,' it may have originally originated from the composer's reminiscence of his lover, and it was a piece full of love. But after so many years of transmission, the piece has actually acquired a different meaning. It seems a bit one-sided to interpret it solely through the lens of love."

He explained again.

"But the essence of your arguments is actually the same: to make the music better. Perhaps different approaches would be better in different situations?"

Upon hearing this, the girl nodded slightly and ladled a spoonful of egg coated in tomato sauce into Zhou Heming's bowl.

"Sure enough, although you and Lu Bai seem to get along, you are actually the same kind of people at heart."

"I won't mention it for now, but Lu Bai seems to be quite unconventional, doesn't he?"

Zhou Heming scratched his head.

It seems Cheng Shuangjiang isn't upset that Zhou Heming's musical views lean towards Lu Bai's.
"Did you feel unhappy with my answer?"

"Ah He, you've been speaking your mind more and more lately~"

The girl picked up the greens again.

"I'm not unhappy. People you like don't necessarily have to think the same way you do in everything. In fact, having disagreements in these areas might make life more interesting."

She certainly didn't hold any grudges.

When Zhou Heming finished washing the dishes and dried his hands, Cheng Shuangjiang had already cleared the table and placed the books on it.

"Oh, right, A-He, I'm going to the hospital tomorrow~"

She raised her left hand to indicate the bandages on it.

"Go remove the bandages."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

“Fool, at this point you should say, ‘I’ll go with you,’ without the question mark.”

"I go with you."

"Okay~"

She let out a clear, bell-like laugh.

"We've studied for five days and need a break. Next, we have five days of classes plus two days of exams. Studying hard is a good thing, but we also need to balance work and rest."

"So, where do you want to go this afternoon? I'm fine with anything, it's up to you."

Although Zhou Heming has lived in Jiangcheng for eighteen years, apart from the classic scenic spots he visited during his primary and middle school spring outings, he doesn't know any of the trendy tourist spots that have become popular on social media apps in recent years.

"Well, there's a place I'd like to go."

She revealed a rare expression of nostalgia and sadness.

"Because when we met again, that place no longer existed, so you and I have never been there."

"Where?"

Zhou Heming became curious.

“A used bookstore.”

Her smile was sunny and bright.

*
October 6th.

It rained lightly last night. They say that each autumn rain brings a chill, and autumn has indeed quietly arrived in Jiangcheng.

Since they were going to the hospital, neither of them wore their school uniforms; Zhou Heming was still wearing a shirt and had brought a long-sleeved jacket.

Cheng Shuangjiang changed into the dress she wore on the first day they met, paired with a loose-fitting cherry blossom-colored shirt with ruffles and a beige sweater vest.

During the past few days when Zhou Heming ate at her house, he noticed that Cheng Shuangjiang only had a few pairs of sneakers, and not many skirts and clothes, but the way she put them together gave people a different feeling every day.

The two took a bus for more than half an hour to reach Jiangcheng People's Hospital.

Even during holidays, the hospital remains busy, but fortunately, Cheng Shuangjiang made an online appointment in advance.

The pungent smell of disinfectant reminded Zhou Heming of the time he used to travel between school and hospital.

The electronic screen displayed Cheng Shuangjiang's name. She stood up and tugged at Zhou Heming's clothes.

"Come in with me."

"Okay."

The boy and girl walked into the consultation room together. The doctor in charge was a woman with a neat ponytail. When she glanced at Zhou Heming, her expression immediately showed some curiosity. "Oh, you brought your boyfriend along."

"Hello Dr. Tang, this is Zhou Heming, my boyfriend."

Cheng Shuangjiang said generously.

"Youth is wonderful. Let's look at your left hand first."

Dr. Tang asked Cheng Shuangjiang to raise her left hand, lift up the loose sleeve, revealing the bandage wrapped around her forearm.

Zhou Heming stood to the side, looking a little awkward.

This was the first time he had seen Cheng Shuangjiang's wounds directly.

For a fleeting moment, he understood why the girl had asked him to come along.

Dr. Tang slowly unwrapped the bandages, revealing the arm that should have been fair, tender, and capable of playing music that even the gods would admire.

Numerous scars left faint marks on the skin, and a surgical scar was clearly visible.

Cheng Shuangjiang turned her head slightly and glanced at Zhou Heming, only to find that the young man had not looked away, but was looking intently at her arm.

"You're recovering very well. It seems that love really can nourish the body and soul, hahaha."

Dr. Tang seemed to be the talkative type, chatting as he examined her.

"And you are in much better spirits than last time you came. I was worried that you might do something rash, and I thought you should see Dr. Hao from the psychiatry department next door for some counseling."

He really couldn't see things clearly.

Zhou Heming thought of it.

The last time she was in the hospital, it must have been around the time she was discharged. The next day, she attempted suicide—if she hadn't been reborn, she might be back in the hospital now.

It can only be said that top students also excel in this aspect.

If it were someone like Zhou Heming, even if he desperately wanted to die, he would give up on suicide due to a lack of motivation.

"It's all because Ah-He is with me~"

Cheng Shuangjiang said softly.

"Young man, you must treat her well."

Dr. Tang carefully examined Cheng Shuangjiang's left hand.

"That's fine. You can live a normal life from now on, but don't lift heavy objects for a month to avoid collisions. I've mentioned these things to you before, so please pay attention."

She then turned her gaze to Cheng Shuangjiang's right hand.

How does your right hand feel?

"I still don't feel anything."

The girl's smile was somewhat understated.

"That's normal, considering the injury was quite serious. It's good that you're not in pain. Many people experience rejection after bone nails are implanted, so you need to be careful."

Dr. Tang offered a word of comfort and then typed a few more words on the keyboard.

"Let's go to the radiology department to take an X-ray first, so I can check the condition of the bones."

Holding the forms, Cheng Shuangjiang and Zhou Heming walked out of the consultation room, preparing to get an X-ray.

"So, you have no sensation?"

Zhou Heming had previously thought it was just a serious fracture, but now it seems the problem is much more serious.

Imagine the despair a piano prodigy would feel if he woke up to find that he had lost all feeling in his right hand. He couldn't even imagine it.

"It will get better. After all, based on my experience in my past life, in the end I just had no strength and would tremble."

She even went so far as to comfort Zhou Heming.

Judging from this, she didn't choose treatment in her previous life, so the cost and consequences of the surgery must have been an unbearable figure.

Zhou Heming's understanding of money has deepened considerably.

"Let's not talk about that. Look, my left hand is all back to normal now. Do you know what that means?"

The girl raised her left hand and spread her fingers toward Zhou Heming.

Her hands are so small.

As Zhou Heming thought this, he subconsciously raised his right hand and palmed hers.

Warm, soft hands, yet marked with mottled scars, touched. The slight friction between her slender fingers and his fingertips caused an itchy sensation. Before he could fully appreciate it, he saw the girl's fingers close up.

Her slender, delicate hands slipped past his long, thin fingers, slipping between them, and then, with an irresistible force, gripped his palm.

"Ah He, you should be holding the girl's hand now too~"

Zhou Heming silently closed his fingers as well.

The two intertwined their fingers.

Zhou Heming had never understood the special meaning behind the descriptions in novels. He thought it was just a matter of holding hands with a larger contact area.

But when it actually happened to him, he was somewhat taken aback.

"I've heard that when you hold hands like that, your hands and your heart are the same size."

Zhou Heming recalled what he had read in the book and looked directly at Cheng Shuangjiang, whose face was adorned with a shy smile.

"Therefore, when two fingers are intertwined, it is also the time when two hearts are closest."

"Ah He, you're saying that."

The girl looked at her own embarrassed reflection in his eyes and murmured softly.

"It's something you'll never want to let go of for the rest of your life."

*
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(End of this chapter)