"Brother, can I sing a song for you?"
Nuonuo thought hard to co up with a way to help her brother relax.
"Okay!"
In Da Bao’s mory, Nuonuo used to love singing during her childhood, especially pestering him to teach her foreign nursery rhys. Her favorite was the French song "Butterfly."
With her little stature and pigtails, she would snuggle in his arms, playing the role of the little girl in the song while he portrayed the grandfather.
Back then, she was innocent and lively.
However, since she started learning the violin, her interests seed to shift, and her passion for singing beca a thing of the past.
"Co to think of it, it’s been ages since I last heard you sing."
Da Bao’s lips curled ever so slightly. He assud Nuonuo was probably going through voice changes, which made her hesitant to sing. Yet, he was her brother; no matter how she sang, he would always support her.
Nuonuo cleared her throat gently and began to sing softly.
Who stands by when I feel deserted
Any day, anyti
Makes willingly share my heart’s drizzles
Who stays beside when I fall
Leaves, but never parts from
Supports with endless warmth
Lighting up cold days
It’s all you, all you
Do you know, having you
What’s the luckier fortune
Solely you gazing at
Makes not give up on myself
...
To Da Bao’s surprise, Nuonuo’s voice was pure and lodious, akin to a clear mountain spring. Coupled with her lyrics, Da Bao could almost visualize a barefoot girl singing to the person she valued the most while standing over pristine waters.
"Nuonuo, you sing beautifully!"
Da Bao praised her sincerely, although he claid he wasn’t well-versed in music. From an enjoynt standpoint, the pleasure this song brought him was on par with that from modern-day queens and kings of music.
"Really?" Nuonuo was evidently pleased by Da Bao’s complint.
"Of course. What’s the na of this song? It’s really good!" Da Bao inquired humbly.
"This song is called ’One Day at a Ti,’ a Cantonese song. I think the lyrics are beautifully written..." Nuonuo’s explanation made Da Bao recall the tender lyrics she’d just murmured.
"Does this song have a deeper aning?" Da Bao seed to anticipate subtly.
"Brother, don’t you think this song resonates with us?"
The little girl pointed it out, leading Da Bao to substitute their roles into the lyrics, aside from the romantic relationship described, which didn’t fit them, the earlier verses aligned well.
"Yes, it really is quite fitting." Da Bao nodded in agreent.
"When did you learn this song? I haven’t heard you sing it before."
He hadn’t heard her sing at ho for a long while, so naturally, he wasn’t familiar with it.
"My classmates know how to sing it, so I learned."
"Do you like singing?"
Suddenly, Da Bao entertained a notion: if a talent scout discovered Nuonuo’s voice, she might be encouraged to release an album.
"I only hum occasionally, not particularly fond of it." Nuonuo chatted away from Da Bao’s back, seemingly forgetting he was carrying her, which would tire him.
"Is that so? If you really like it, we can arrange for a few vocal lessons."
Da Bao had no intention of pushing Nuonuo into stardom. He just wanted to unconditionally support her choice of how she wanted to live.
"Forget it, I want to focus on learning the violin; singing can be just a hobby."
At so point, Nuonuo grew into a decisive young girl.
"Alright, as long as you’ve thought it through. If you change your mind, let brother know anyti—no matter what you wish to do, as long as it brings you happiness, brother will support you unconditionally."
Da Bao didn’t know that in the near future, he’d endure countless hardships and make great compromises for this promise!
"Thank you, brother!"
The pair chatted while walking, almost unknowingly reaching the mountain top.
When Da Bao carried Nuonuo to where the family had set up a camp on a small lookout, the view seed like a world he didn’t recognize.
The mountain wasn’t particularly high, yet due to the weather or the moisture, the valleys between the peaks were shrouded in mist. The layers of pure white intertwined with the mountain’s lush greenery, with wisps of mist rising, creating an illusion of being in a fairyland.
While Da Bao admired the scenery, Ji Rui and Le Tong helped Nuonuo down to sit, equally captivated by the view, she began snapping photos.
"Mr. Ji, we’ve got a new photographer in the family!"
Le Tong joked with Ji Rui, while pouring juice for the kids.
"Indeed, our Ji Family is filled with business folk reeking of money, but Nuonuo’s presence instantly elevates our family’s class significantly."
Le Tong was busy serving juice to the children, while Ji Rui poured himself and Le Tong half a glass of red wine.
Da Bao turned to Little Treasure and laughed, "Little Treasure, why not learn sothing elegant too? That way, Dad, the slly businessman, can enjoy so refined tastes."
Little Treasure readily accepted, saying almost seriously, "Alright, I’ll go to martial arts school in junior high!"
Le Tong burst out laughing!
"Haha, Little Treasure, are you teasing us or being serious?"
Little Treasure guzzled half a glass of juice, wiped his mouth, spread his hands innocently, and said, "
"I only know this bit of refinent..."
Ji Rui and Da Bao were amused by him too, "Alright, you can learn anything you wish, don’t listen to your brother babbling nonsense."
Of course, Ji Rui discerned his youngest son was joking.
"Hehehe..." Little Treasure said no more, moving over with his juice to Nuonuo, peeking at the pictures captured by the little girl’s cara.
"Da Bao, would you like sothing to eat? Once you’re rested, we can walk to the temple."
The five of them climbed with backpacks stuffed with drinks, snacks, and fruits, covering the stone table before them.
"Nuonuo, have so fruit."
Later, throughout the journey, Nuonuo hardly stopped talking, probably thirsty.
"Oh..."
Nuonuo kept her eyes on the cara lens but turned her face, seamlessly chomping down on the fruit Da Bao offered.
"Aren’t you the one who’s thirstier?" Le Tong laughed at her son, Nuonuo was carried while her son was the one carrying, wasn’t it quite obvious who should be thirstier?
How is it the one being carried ends up thirsty?
"Nuonuo talked nonstop the entire way, she must be thirsty!" Da Bao seed entirely focused on Nuonuo, his thirst seemingly didn’t concern him.
[Note: The song is Liang Yongqi’s "One Day at a Ti"]
User Comments
0 comments from readers