Reef

The venue of the competition was still the auditorium of the Conservatory of Music, the place where Zhou Muzhen felt like a stick in his throat.Today he is wearing a tuxedo that was custom-made in a clothing store. It is the dark blue that Gu Zhan likes, with light silver vertical stripes hanging on the surface of the tuxedo.The scissor-like tail hangs behind Zhou Muzhen, swinging with his walking posture.

The trousers are suit pants to match the jacket, and the shirt is a spotless white shirt.He tied the shirt with a button to his mouth, and hidden under the shirt was the ring with Gu Zhan's name engraved on it.

The bow tie was bought by Gu Zhan online a few days before he fainted—it was a dark blue bow tie.The brooch on his chest was in the shape of a lizard, which Gu Zhan bought for him once in a while when they were out on the street.

The hair is occasionally combed meticulously, all the bangs are wiped back, and only a few mischievous strands remain.The glasses are still the usual thin-rimmed glasses, but now they look a bit serious.

Every step he took towards the auditorium was like walking on the tip of a knife, into a sea of ​​flames.He relaxed his mind and let those fragmented memories flood into his mind.He no longer refuses, he only hopes that he can live up to Gu Zhan's wish.

In May, the weather gradually turns hot.A few days ago, the hospital finally received a corpse that had participated in body donation before his death, and Gu Zhan's heart was relieved.And today was the day when he was pushed onto the operating table.In such a coincidental collision, he was working hard to call back the soul here, while he was working hard to call back the life there.

We... all have to work hard.

Zhou Muzhen finally walked into the auditorium, his mind was in a mess and he couldn't figure out why.So he decided to concentrate on thinking about his piano, dancing his hands in the air, simulating the real experience of playing the piano.Everything is so familiar, familiar stage, familiar backstage, familiar mirror.

What is strange is myself in the mirror.

He raised his wrist and buttoned his cuff buttons, which were difficult to button.The people behind seemed to be discussing something, but Zhou Muzhen had no intention of listening.His heart is filled with everything about love, about music, and about memories.He sensed that part of what was missing was slowly finding itself back, especially here.

It seems that the longer you stay here, the clearer those broken memories will be.

He thought of the expired invitation again.

"What song are you playing this time?" Another face suddenly appeared in the mirror, which was also unfamiliar.

"Chopin, Fantastic Impromptu in C sharp minor." Zhou Muzhen replied.

"I met you last time. I didn't expect the runaway general to dare to come back again?" After finishing speaking, the corner of the man's mouth curled into a mocking smile.

Zhou Mu really didn't want to think that he was too much, he just glanced at him again and then turned his head back to his seat.

I wonder what happened to Gu Zhan?

He unbuttoned a shirt and pulled out the ring.The temperature of his skin remained on the ring, and he held it tightly with his hand.Close your eyes and you will look like a big boy. He seems to be a fantasy riff in his mind, as bright as the sun, as yearning for freedom as a boat, as warm as the sea breeze, as undulating as the sea, as dangerous as a reef, as his It is generally illusory in itself, like a dream forced to be placed in his sleep.

Come suddenly, go quickly.

Or maybe it will be forgotten soon.

"Contestant No. 15 is ready."

Zhou Muzhen glanced at the staff at the backstage exit, he took a deep breath, put the necklace back into his shirt, and fastened the top button.After tidying up his bow tie and grooming, he followed the staff to the backstage to prepare.

On the steady brown stage, the red curtain was lazily put away.In the center of the stage is a grand piano that has gone through the years, and the mirror coating reflects the cold and unforgiving steel and concrete on the top of the stage.

After waiting for the previous contestant to finish his performance, he walked to the piano with steady but not heavy steps.First, he bowed to the judges, and glanced at the auditorium, which was almost full.He saw that the place he had reserved for Gu Zhan was empty.

But in a flash, he seemed to see him again.Gu Zhan was smiling, applauding, and cheering, like an unruly concert hall audience.

Sitting down in front of the piano, the mirror reflected his meticulous attire today.The face is expressionless, and the steel and concrete on the top floor are generally impersonal.

After the whole venue became quiet, Zhou Muzhen began to play.

He started with an accent, and after a short pause, a long piece of music like catharsis suddenly popped out from under his hands.Every key seems to be a knock on the soul, crazy but restrained.

He finally remembered the reason why he jumped off the stage that day.Accompanied by the music that suddenly softened, he thought of that invitation letter, and thought of Gu Zhan who did not appear in this auditorium that day.His music began to cry silently, his wrists exerted strength, and his fingertips became humble.

He thought of Gu Zhan's illness, and his careful actions for his illness.He thought of the orange-flavored effervescent tablet that Gu Zhan didn't like to drink every morning.

He thought of the rude man in the hospital, of the pain in every corner of his body, of the nausea that had once pulled his soul away, of himself like a man who had fallen off a cliff and clung to a branch.

Consciousness flows slowly, and the movement is eager to renovate.

Music notes crowded out from under Zhou Muzhen's hands like flowing water, and the turbulent current washed against the reef in an attempt to break it into pieces.It's anger, it's despair, it's helplessness...

The music gradually became softer, and Zhou Muzhen thought of the cream cake that Gu Zhan bought for him that day, and his fingers became soft again, but the other party's life was hanging by a thread, so he had to tense up his nerves.

If he could go back to the past, he would choose to forgive Gu Zhan, and he would ask why he didn't come, instead of blindly and eagerly looking for someone to rely on.

If only I could go back in time...

But what if.

Hands leave the black and white keys, and return to the colorful world.Zhou Muzhen sat in front of the piano with his head down, the mirror coating reflected his weeping face.

It was a cry without tears and a sound, a cry that squeezed the cartilage tissue of the throat, and he regained his soul.

The torrential applause from the audience hit his slightly arched back. He couldn't hear it, he couldn't feel it. The missing soul was replenished, but a deeper emptiness in the soul was ushered in.

He stood up, bowed towards the audience expressionlessly, and exited.