On Friday morning, Xu Nuo was woken up by the ringing of the phone again. Having learned from the st time, he checked the caller ID before answering.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked.

  “Brother, are you angry?” came the voice on the other end.

  “How much do you want?”

  “Two thousand—hey, wait, I’m not asking you for money!” Xu Ke blurted out, then quickly realized how it sounded.

  She pursed her lips. She’d only said it casually—would her brother now think she was a shameless money-grubber?

  “I’ll transfer it to you ter. Hanging up now,” Xu Nuo said, about to end the call.

  “Hey, brother, you haven’t been home in a long time. Mom and Dad miss you,” Xu Ke said hurriedly.

  Xu Nuo fell silent for a moment.

  “Brother, are you still there?”

  “Yeah, I’ll come back tonight.”

  “Great! Oh, and don’t forget to get me dozens of autographed photos of Lin Wanqing!” Xu Ke cheered.

  Xu Nuo’s expression froze. This sister seemed utterly useless. Why not just toss her out?

  “I and—”

  “You still say you’re not close with her!” Xu Ke interrupted angrily. “You’re the composer of ‘The Wind Rises’!”

  “It’s just a business colboration.”

  “I don’t care. If you don’t get them, I won’t recognize you as my brother!”

  “Is that a promise?!”

  “Xu Nuo!!!”

  Frowning, Xu Nuo pulled the phone away from his ear. “Hanging up.”

  Work at the company wasn’t too busy tely. He was mostly getting familiar with his tasks. Occasionally, when the master composers visited, he’d seek their advice.

  The arrangement for “Fleeting Years” was also complete. Lin Wanqing had mentioned the song would be released at the start of next month.

  That afternoon, Xu Nuo spoke with Qin Bangyan and pnned to leave an hour early to catch the high-speed train.

  Old Qin was understanding. With a wave of his hand, he told Xu Nuo to leave even earlier—Fridays were prone to traffic jams, and he might miss the train otherwise.

  Xu Nuo didn’t buy it. He walked to and from work and had never experienced traffic jams himself. But after Zhao Yuan’s persuasion, he left the company two hours early.

  Once on the subway, Xu Nuo understood its horrors. It wasn’t even rush hour, yet the train was packed. He was somewhat relieved he hadn’t brought much luggage—otherwise, he might not have squeezed in.

  The high-speed rail from Shanghai to Jiangcheng took just three hours. Gazing at the scenery outside the window, Xu Nuo reflected on recent events.

  If a person had two sets of memories—both from different worlds, yet equally vivid—was he Xu Nuo from Blue Star or Xu Nuo from Earth? Or were they actually the same person?

  He felt a little lost.

  Lost in thought, he arrived back in Jiangcheng. It was already eight in the evening.

  Xu Nuo hailed a taxi. Looking out at Jiangcheng’s nightscape—less dazzling than Shanghai’s but still vibrant—he felt a sense of calm.

  He didn’t head straight home. Instead, he stopped by the mall to buy gifts: an executive jacket, leather shoes, and a belt for his father; a skirt and a bag for his mother. His hands were full by the time he was done.

  Reaching home, he knocked on the door.

  His sister, Xu Ke, opened it. She was striking, with shoulder-length hair.

  “I’ve been waiting forever,” she said, handing him slippers and taking the bags from his hands.

  “Mom, Dad, I’m back! You can eat first—no need to wait for me,” Xu Nuo called out as he changed his shoes and washed his hands.

  “Xiao Nuo must be tired. Come sit and eat,” said his mother, Zheng Qiuyun, who worked at the local street office.

  His father, Xu Chengwen, was easy to peg by his attire: polo shirt, bck pants, and bck leather shoes—a court employee through and through. Years ago, Xu Chengwen had pushed Xu Nuo to take the civil service exam for a stable, prestigious job, but Xu Nuo always refused.

  In Xu Nuo’s teasing words, “Old Xu became a section chief at a young age and might even snag a deputy director’s sary before retirement. A bright future ahead!”

  By the way, Xu Chengwen was 46 this year.

  Whenever this came up, Xu Chengwen would huff and gre.

  “I’m back. Let’s eat,” Xu Chengwen said, picking up a half-gss of wine and sipping it contentedly.

  “How’s work?” he asked.

  “It’s fine. The company’s good, and the boss treats me well,” Xu Nuo replied.

  He blocked his mother’s chopsticks as she sneakily piled food onto his pte. “Mom, stop, I can’t eat that much.”

  “Are you still writing those lousy songs? Singing and dancing around like a monkey?” Xu Chengwen said with a look of disdain.

  “What do you mean ‘lousy songs’? It’s called art,” Xu Nuo shot back, pouting. The old man was so stubborn.

  “Hey, Mom, enough already—I really can’t eat more.”

  “Look at you, thin as your sister. You need to eat more,” Zheng Qiuyun insisted.

  Xu Nuo had no choice but to shield his bowl with one hand while bickering with his father.

  The two argued, neither backing down, until Xu Nuo’s bowl ended up with a heap of green vegetables.

  “Xu Ke!” he snapped.

  “What, brother?” she replied innocently.

  “You’re being picky again.”

  Xu Nuo’s brain felt overloaded—debating his father while fending off two women.

  His mother took pity on him. She gred at Xu Chengwen. “Eat properly. Xiao Nuo just got back—stop lecturing him.”

  Xu Chengwen took a bite of his food. “Be careful. People in the entertainment industry aren’t good. Don’t make me lock you up myself.”

  “Hmph, my brother wouldn’t do that!” Xu Ke retorted. “He’s famous now—he even wrote a song for the big star Lin Wanqing!”

  “Really? Which one?” Zheng Qiuyun’s eyes lit up. She wiped her hands and grabbed her phone. “Xiao Ke, find it for me.”

  “Mom, I’m a bit short on cash tely…” Xu Ke hinted.

  “I’ll send you some ter.”

  “No, that’s not what I meant!” Xu Ke snatched the phone and pulled up the song.

  “Mom, I just gave her two thousand,” Xu Nuo said dryly.

  Zheng Qiuyun and Xu Ke’s faces shifted in unison. “You little brat, asking your brother for money behind my back again?!” Zheng Qiuyun scolded.

  Xu Ke panicked, winking at him desperately. “It was just once, right, brother?”

  “Yeah, just once,” Xu Nuo said, throwing her a lifeline with a look.

  Zheng Qiuyun ate while listening to the song. “This is nice—the girl’s voice is pretty. Right, Old Xu?”

  Xu Chengwen nodded. “It’s decent.”

  Zheng Qiuyun rolled her eyes. “Always so stubborn. I won’t let you listen then.”

  “Finish pying it if you’re going to—why stop halfway?” Xu Chengwen grumbled, snatching the phone and setting it aside.

  Zheng Qiuyun gave him a sidelong gnce, ignoring him. “How’s the food at the company, Xiao Nuo? Is work tiring?”

  “It's all good. High sary, easy job, and my rented pce is close to the office. Couldn’t be better.”

  “Oh, that’s nice. Take care of yourself out there—alone,” she added, the word “alone” nding heavily.

  Xu Nuo froze. Oh no—was this a marriage nudge? Xu Ke snickered beside him.

  “Xiao Ke, I got you a gift. Check the white bag,” he said.

  “I’m eating. Look ter,” Zheng Qiuyun chided.

  “I’m done!” Xu Ke tossed her chopsticks aside and dashed to the bag.

  “So heavy—what is it?” she asked.

  “Open it and see,” Xu Nuo said gravely. He couldn’t be the only one suffering.

  Muttering, Xu Ke opened it. “Xu Nuo!!!”

  He’d covered his ears in advance.

  “What are you yelling for?” Zheng Qiuyun jumped.

  Xu Ke pouted, holding up a stack of Five Years of College Entrance Exams, Three Years of Simutions with teary eyes.

  Xu Chengwen’s stern face cracked; he quickly grabbed his wine gss to hide a ugh.

  “It’s fine. She’s starting senior year soon—she should study more,” Zheng Qiuyun said, chuckling.

  A world where only Xu Ke suffered was complete.

  (End of Chapter)