Under Clear Skies Chapter 36: Fulfilling the Wish

Chapter 36: Fulfilling the Wish

Translated by Fefe of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Addis

It was mid-September, but the weather still didn’t show any sign of cooling down. This was the kind of city that Wuhan was—long summers and long winters, while spring and autumn were squeezed in between the long-lasting heat and wet cold, disappearing in a blink. Tang Heng finished most of the preparations for the Japanese exchange program before telling Fu Liling, so they naturally argued again.

But nothing could be done. No matter how unwilling Fu Liling was about Tang Heng going abroad, she couldn’t stop him anymore. It wasn’t like she could really lock him up at home.

 

It was another rainy day and the rain finally stopped in the evening. Tang Heng, An Yun and Jiang Ya were eating barbecue at Zhuodao Spring Night Market. There weren’t as many customers as usual, perhaps due to the rain. Only three or four tables were filled, making it seem scattered. Tang Heng and Jiang Ya ate their food—one looked down and eating seafood porridge, sipping it bit by bit like it contained some poison; the other gnawed on pork knuckles wordlessly, gnashing at it so hard that the veins on his forehead bulged. It was like this pork knuckle was his enemy in his past life.

An Yun tapped the table. “Guys, enough, alright?”

Tang Heng didn’t answer, while Jiang Ya huffed.

“To be fair, this thing about Tang Heng going to Tokyo, he really didn’t consider our band… But it’s because he got hurt in his relationship, so Jiang Ya, just bear with it.” With that, she turned towards Tang Heng. “And Jiang Ya doesn’t think before he talks, doesn’t have a filter, so Tang Heng, don’t hold a grudge, okay?”

“Let me repeat myself,” Tang Heng said, emphasizing each word. “I’m not going on the exchange because of Li Yuechi.”

“Bullshit.” Jiang Ya rolled his eyes. “Aren’t you just fucking avoiding him?”

“Who the hell is he to make me hide all the way to Tokyo?”

“Oh, then you just purely don’t wanna hang out with us, huh?” Jiang Ya said snidely. “Of course, you’re a top-level scholar who’s going to study abroad. Our shitty little band isn’t good enough for you.”

“You’re gonna start with this again?” Tang Heng growled.

“Enough!!!” An Yun slammed a hand on the table, her face full of frustration. “You’ve repeated this conversation 20 fucking times already! Are you done yet?!”

“Lao-An, you be the judge. It’s fine if he’s doing an exchange in the US, because he’s going to do his master’s in the US, but Japan? What’s there to do in Japan? And fine! Go for one or two months! But eight months! My son would be going to preschool by the time he comes back! Don’t you think he’s merciless and heartless?!”

“You’re the one who’s merciless and heartless. You’ve been watching too many dramas.”

“You’re not being merciless and heartless? Once you leave, we won’t be able to produce our album, we can’t participate in the competition, everything will be done for!”

“I said that I can come back during this time—”

“Whatever.” Jiang Ya set down his pork knuckle, suddenly deflating. “Go on. Sooner or later, we’ll… go abroad.”

For a moment, Tang Heng felt that Jiang Ya wanted to say split apart instead of go abroad.

When he told Jiang Ya about the Japan exchange program last week, he’d thought that Jiang Ya would be happy for him, like An Yun. Unexpectedly, Jiang Ya’s expression had darkened. This guy always wore his heart on his sleeve and it looked like he’d wanted to beat Tang Heng up.

“Why’d you go to Japan for no reason? Didn’t we decide to produce an album this year? Huh? And Zhouheiya’s competition, I already finished registering! What the fuck’ll we do if you go to Japan?!” Tang Heng blanched from the rapid-fire questions. He wanted to say that he didn’t think about all that when he’d signed up, but he couldn’t bring himself to say those words.

They’ve been fighting like this, one shooting a sentence at the other, for more than a week now. Fortunately, An Yun was here, or else they’d start fighting physically.

 

“Hey, Long Love is holding another grass party and invited us.” An Yun poked Tang Heng’s elbow and nudged Jiang Ya’s knee. “This Friday. Should we go?”

“I’m fine,” Jiang Ya muttered.

“Me too,” Tang Heng said.

Thus, the three got together again to practice. They prepared two songs: Don’t Cry by Guns N’ Roses, and 30,000 Inches by Dick and Cowboy, all chosen by Jiang Ya. When they chose the songs, An Yun had said that she was fine with everything. Tang Heng had finally made up with Jiang Ya, so he suggested to have Jiang Ya make the decision.

They ended up with these two songs. Tang Heng felt deeply that the asshole Jiang Ya did this on purpose.

Especially with the song 30,000 Inches. Whenever he sang the line, To escape from you, I hide under the cloud 30,000 inches away, Jiang Ya’s drumbeats would become insanely excited. At Where should I fly to, where should I fly to, the drumbeats were practically flying too. It just sounded like a jab to him.

Tang Heng put down the microphone and glared at Jiang Ya coldly. “You wanna sing?”

“Aiyo, I wouldn’t dare,” Jiang Ya drawled. “I’m an uncultured brute. I can’t express those delicate feelings.”

Tang Heng took a deep breath, deciding not to get worked up over this motherfucker.

But An Yun just had to make things worse. “Jiang Ya! C’mon, why do you have to pour salt on his wounds?”

“Aw, my son, listen to Daddy’s advice.” Jiang Ya placed his sweaty arm over Tang Heng’s shoulder. “Heartbreaks don’t last more than a month. I’m serious.”

Tang Heng: “Fuck off.”

Jiang Ya grinned and said, “Nope.”

 

Friday evening, they came to Long Love as planned. The owner had placed a neon blue LED sign on the grass, wrapped in little pink lights that formed the words Most Beloved Summer. The stage was just a piece of waterproof tarp that squeaked when you stepped on it. Small stools were placed all around and there were already some audience members waiting.

A-Hao’s band was here too. They greeted each other and then A-Hao ran over to Tang Heng’s side. “Jiang Ya is so showy today,” he whispered.

Tang Heng agreed.

Jiang Ya had curled and dyed his hair. Now, he had a head of small pink curls, like he was wearing a bowl of red oil ramen, paired with huge sunglasses hanging off his face. When the three of them met up, An Yun asked in shock, “Jiang Ya, who hurt you?”

“It’s fashion,” Jiang Ya said. “You won’t get it.”

But actually, Tang Heng seemed to understand Jiang Ya’s idea. This was probably their last time performing together this year. Nobody knew when the next time would be. Tang Heng wore the white Comme des Garcons shirt—the one he’d worn that night they had the fight with A-Zhu. He knew that this was probably his last time singing at Long Love.

When the performance started, the grass was full of people. Students were back in school, so it was a lot livelier than during the summer. The sky darkened completely, while the blue and pink LED lights flashed on and off. Fans hurried over continuously, standing on the outside ring when they ran out of seats. The owner had prepared beer and snacks, so the audience ate and drink while listening to the music. The fragrance of beer, the saltiness of the snacks, the faint odor of sweat, and the songs mixed together in the air.

Tang Heng clutched his guitar pick in his palm. He sat amidst the noisy crowd, spacing out. He really was going to leave this place. This must be the first time he’d be away for so long since he came to Wuhan six years ago. He’d long been sick of Wuhan, sick of the extreme heat and extreme cold, sick of the dirty water after the summer rain, sick of the never-ending drizzle, sick of the pitch-black alleys without lights, sick of so, so much. But he hadn’t actually thought of these things when he’d signed up for the exchange program, just like how he hadn’t thought of the band’s album or competition. His only thought had been that he wouldn’t see Li Yuechi again.

Even though he was unwilling to admit this.

 

By the time Tang Heng’s group went onstage, the mood was hyped up completely. The audience members who’d been sitting were all standing now, bopping and swaying, shaking their heads. Tang Heng tightened his loose ponytail, tapped the microphone, and called out, “Hello everyone, we are—Hushituo!”

“Ah!!!” Lulu yelled. “Tang Heng, you’re so hot!!!”

The audience started hooting. Tang Heng laughed and said, “I’m not her boyfriend.”

Jiang Ya grabbed the mic. “Your man is right here!!!”

The music started up. The first song was Don’t Cry and halfway through, Tang Heng saw that two girls in the audience really were crying. Tears shimmered in their eyes like the ripples of the nearby East Lake. When he sang 30,000 Inches, Tang Heng closed his eyes. He heard everyone harmonizing with his voice. Many different types of timbre mixed together so brightly that this song wasn’t so depressing anymore. It reminded Tang Heng of the rumbles of a plane taking off.

If Li Yuechi was home, he could probably hear it too, right?

 

When the second song ended, Lulu yelled out, “Another one!”

“Another one!” many other audience members yelled with her.

“What do you wanna hear?” Tang Heng’s voice was a bit raspy.

“—Anything’s fine!”

“How about Summer Night’s Breeze?”

“—Yes!”

Tang Heng hugged his guitar and sat down. “This song is for someone,” he said softly, “even if he doesn’t know.”

Then the music started up and Tang Heng sang it gently for once. Actually, this song was the most suitable to be sung by the summer seaside, the brine of the sea wind blowing over from the Taiwan Isle, brushing softly against his cheeks. The moon would be bright, splashing onto the surface of the sea in a thin layer of silver. But it was fine that there was no sea tonight, Tang Heng thought. The East Lake was as wide as the sea and you couldn’t see the end. It was fine that there was no moonlight. Artificial light spilled into his eyes, spilling into the crowd. It was fine that were was no love. Not all love would get a response. He was fulfilling the wish for himself, no matter if Li Yuechi could hear or not.

After they finished, the three bowed to the crowd. Tang Heng went offstage without saying anything. He pushed through the crowd of people, only wanting to leave this place, leave the memories of this place.

Tang Heng circled around the audience by himself, planning to go get his guitar bag from Long Love. But after a few steps, he halted in place.

There was someone standing under a tree not too far away. He wasn’t moving. If not for the blue-pink light that just happened to illuminate his black sneakers, Tang Heng would never have noticed him standing there. Did he come for the performance? Why was he standing outside the crowd as if using a tree’s shadow as coverup? That was him—why had he come to the performance?

Tang Heng’s heart sped up. He took a deep breath and walked over, asking like he was calm, “Li Yuechi, what are you doing?”

Li Yuechi’s head turned so, so slowly toward Tang Heng. His voice was a bit slurred. “I’m listening to the music.”   

Was he drunk? Tang Heng said out loud, “Can’t you hear it from your house?”

“No.” Li Yuechi chuckled softly. “I lied to you.”

“…”

“Last time you sang Summer Night’s Breeze, I was standing here too.” He spoke drunkenly, slowly. “I didn’t know if it cost money to go over there and listen, so I stood here and listened.”

Tang Heng was quiet for a few seconds. Then he said in low voice, “It’s free.”

“Mn… I got it.” As soon as he finished, he stepped forward and grasped Tang Heng’s wrist. He pulled hard and yanked Tang Heng into the black shadows.

Tang Heng’s entire body stiffened, because Li Yuechi was hugging him. Li Yuechi pressed heavily against his body. In the near distance, the crowd was still cheering. Li Yuechi’s fingertips touched the guitar on his back and it emitted a low sound. Being so low, it must’ve been the sixth string.

“Wha… what’s wrong?”

Li Yuechi didn’t speak. His drunken breaths patted the side of Tang Heng’s neck, making his body tense. Standing here, they could easily be seen, but Tang Heng didn’t move.

 

A moment later, Li Yuechi said, “Tang Heng, I don’t feel good.”