True Story: When the Music Ends, People Stay Together
Tian Xiaocao was walking alone on the path by the river. She had drunk a lot and the alcohol was making her lose her balance. At 24, she still dressed like a little girl, her loose overalls making her look even smaller. She leaned wearily against the dark green railing by the street, murmuring Xu Lunhe’s name, her tears falling drop by drop into the river. The wind howled, blowing her hair wildly in the cool night and carrying her sorrow far away.
Jing Mu thought perhaps it was this very sadness that had driven him to the river. At that moment, Jinkui was already in Australia, their breakup choked in the distance. He was sad too, but had nowhere to place his grief, nowhere to express it. He could easily wrap it up with a few sad songs to comfort his sorrow. Thus, he saw Tian Xiaocao. He reversed his car and drove to her side, watching her lie down on a mottled red bench by the river as if no one else were around.
There were no stars in the sky, and the cold moonlight shone on her pale, tired, yet delicate face, serene like the sleeping beauty in fairy tales that every prince wants to kiss awake. A red mole by her eye looked like a drop of red tear. This pained Jing Mu’s heart; Jinkui also had a mole like this at the corner of her eye, making one feel tender affection. He also remembered the first time he met Jinkui, on a foggy night with alcohol in the air. Drunk, Jinkui had fought with him for a taxi and finally collapsed on him. Those memories, both painful and sweet, vividly reflected on this girl’s serene face.
A few men were looking at her suspiciously.
Jing Mu hesitated for a moment, then opened his car door.
The morning sun was warm and inviting. Tian Xiaocao opened her eyes and found herself lying on a soft and comfortable double bed. Her eyes darted around the room. The setup indicated it was at least a four-star hotel. She sat up abruptly, rubbing her still heavy eyelids. The light yellow floor-to-ceiling curtains were blown into beautiful curves by the wind.
How much does this cost, she wondered, licking her lips. She couldn’t remember checking into a room yesterday. Since the bed was already slept in, she might as well enjoy it. She suddenly remembered the no-star motels she used to stay in with Xu Lunhe.
The walls weren’t clean, the air conditioning required an extra fee, the fan creaked, and the floor was covered with Xu Lunhe’s cigarette butts, making the air so heavy with smoke that she could hardly breathe. Yet, she was so satisfied because at least she could sleep peacefully on his arm, at least she could lie in his arms and ask him to sing a song. Unfortunately, she started missing Xu Lunhe again, and tears fell uncontrollably.
She had come to this lonely city alone and had lost contact with Xu Lunhe for almost three months. He had suddenly changed his phone number, and his QQ avatar was always gray. She was suddenly scared, having taken a day-and-night train to his previous rental. The house was empty.
She was terrified thinking Xu Lunhe might have abandoned her. She was extremely sad, the remaining alcohol in her chest still burning slightly.
Hearing the sound of a key turning in the door, Tian Xiaocao looked up to see Jing Mu opening the maroon door and entering, catching her in the act of wiping away her tears.
Jing Mu had just finished his shift, dressed in a suit, and his hair was immaculate. He was always handsome and gentlemanly. Smiling at Tian Xiaocao, who was staring at him, he said, “Hello, I’m Jing Mu.”
Jing Mu’s smile was confident. At 27, he was already a department manager at his company, driving a black BMW and living in a single apartment. There were always young and beautiful girls subtly or openly showing interest in him. Jinkui’s departure made him even more desirable. Yes, being single had turned him into a diamond bachelor.
Tian Xiaocao looked at his outstretched hand. She wiped her palm before shaking his hand and said, “I’m Tian Xiaocao. My luggage was lost on the train, including my ID and money. I have nowhere to go. Can you take me in?”
Jing Mu was a kind man. He took the seemingly underdeveloped Tian Xiaocao home without asking about her background or any other details, just smiling as usual.
Tian Xiaocao, on the other hand, kept chattering, thanking him repeatedly. “When I find Xu Lunhe, I’ll pay you back and leave.”
However, when Jing Mu learned that Tian Xiaocao was already 24, he was genuinely surprised, furrowing his attractive eyebrows, saying, “I thought you weren’t even 18.”
Jing Mu said, “You can stay in the study for now. Don’t feel constrained. I’ll lend you 1,000 yuan. Go find that person you mentioned.”
Just then, he received a call and hurried out.
Tian Xiaocao felt her stomach was empty. She dragged Jing Mu’s big slippers, walking unsteadily to the fridge, only to find cans, beer, and a box of instant noodles beside it.
Tian Xiaocao frowned. She thought Jing Mu was just like Xu Lunhe, not knowing how to take care of himself or enjoy life. Did they think they were immortals who didn’t need to eat? She grabbed the money on the table and went out.
When Jing Mu returned home, he saw Tian Xiaocao leaning against the door with a large bag of fresh vegetables at her feet.
Seeing Jing Mu, Tian Xiaocao shouted loudly, “I forgot to bring the key when I went out. Come and open the door. I’ll cook dinner for you.”
She smiled, showing two dimples that made Jing Mu feel as if they had been friends for years.
While Tian Xiaocao was busy in the kitchen, Jing Mu leaned on the sofa reading a book. The smell of cooking made him feel very close. He remembered when Jinkui was still in the city, occasionally cooking some light dishes, always beautifully presented like herself.
She would place a delicate flower vase on the dining table, put a red or white rose in it, and then softly call him to dinner.
Jing Mu felt his heart ache. Then he heard a crash from the kitchen and rushed over, asking Tian Xiaocao if she was okay.
After a while, a small blackened face peeked out, laughing, “It’s nothing, nothing. You’ll have a feast soon.”
The dining table was set with several dishes that looked a bit scary. Jing Mu didn’t know how to start, and Tian Xiaocao, looking crestfallen, said, “I’m sorry.”
Jing Mu glanced at her, picked up a slightly burnt fried egg, and, despite the salty taste, smiled and said, “It’s not bad.”
He saw her smile like a child receiving candy, asking repeatedly, “Really? Really? Xu Lunhe always complained that my cooking was terrible. He said I’d never learn to cook. I practiced at home with recipes. Next time I see him, I can proudly tell him someone praised my cooking.”
Jing Mu noticed that whenever Tian Xiaocao mentioned Xu Lunhe, her eyes sparkled with happiness. He looked down and ate, wondering if Jinkui was doing well in Australia and if she ever spoke of him to others.
Tian Xiaocao seemed restless. After washing the dishes, she told Jing Mu, “I’m going out to find Xu Lunhe. How late do you go to bed? Can I come back late?”
It was already raining outside, the drizzle turning into a downpour in seconds, followed by wind, lightning, and thunder. Jing Mu glanced out the window and said, “Don’t go out tonight. It’s too dangerous in this weather.”
Disappointed, Tian Xiaocao nodded and sat beside Jing Mu. Jing Mu felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward. He asked, “Where will you look for him?”
Tian Xiaocao turned to him, “Where to look?” Her gaze became distant, and she rubbed her sleeves nervously, mumbling, “Where should I look? Besides knowing he sings in bars, I know nothing else.”
Jing Mu was surprised. He looked at Tian Xiaocao and hesitantly asked, “Is he your boyfriend?”
Tian Xiaocao’s eyes suddenly brightened, “Yes, Xu Lunhe is my boyfriend. But we lost contact recently. I can’t find him. He has a great voice, sings beautifully, and has a small band.
Last year, they came to this city. Have you seen him singing in bars? He sang a song called ‘When the Music Ends,’ a tune he composed, and I wrote the lyrics.” As she spoke, her eyes sparkled, and she began to sing. Her voice, clear and slightly hoarse, filled the room with sadness.
“You left your sorrow to me and went traveling. I sing the songs you sang, drink the wine you drank, write the poems you recited, and the melody never stops. Lonely nights, alcohol never leaves, your smiling face never fades. You’re still traveling, I’m still waiting, when the music ends, I’m still thinking of you…”
Jing Mu’s mind filled with Jinkui’s beautiful face. He played her favorite song on the CD player, Faye Wong’s “Wishing We Last Forever.”
Tian Xiaocao hugged her knees, humming along with the tune, smiling as she said, “This is also Xu Lunhe’s favorite song. But can people really
last forever? Can the moon really stay full forever?”
There was no moon this Mid-Autumn Festival. Jing Mu felt the coldness driving away all traces of warmth.
The next day was the weekend. When Jing Mu got up, he found that Tian Xiaocao had washed all his suits and laundry left around. He felt a bit embarrassed and worried that the seemingly scatterbrained girl might mess things up. Luckily, except for cooking, she did everything else neatly.
“You didn’t have to do this,” Jing Mu said, making coffee and seeing the sweaty Tian Xiaocao.
“I shouldn’t live here for free,” she smiled openly. “It’s nothing. I used to do all this for Xu Lunhe.” Then she rubbed her hands that had wrinkled from soaking in water, “Tonight, I’m going to find Xu Lunhe.”
Jing Mu hesitated, then said, “How about I go with you?”
That evening, Jing Mu took her to a good restaurant in the city for spicy fish. Since Tian Xiaocao didn’t have a change of clothes, Jing Mu found a long dress of Jinkui’s for her. Strangely, the always curious and chatty girl didn’t ask anything, as if it was understood.
It wasn’t until she saw the photo stickers of Jinkui and Jing Mu in his black BMW, sticking to the CD case, that she carefully looked at them and then turned to ask him, “Is she your girlfriend?”
“She was,” Jing Mu said calmly, continuing to drive.
“Oh,” Tian Xiaocao lowered her head, “If everyone only worried about clothing and food, wouldn’t there be less sorrow?”
She said this while turning to look at the scenery outside the window.
They searched seven bars, Jing Mu patiently watching her ask each bar’s manager, “Do you know Xu Lunhe? Has he ever sung here?”
Her patience was gradually exhausted, and her fear increased. Xu Lunhe had suddenly disappeared from her world, leaving no familiar traces of his smoke, his impatient tone.
Jing Mu noticed her sobbing, and he slowly pulled the car to the riverside, rolling down the window. The neon lights outside flashed mournfully, matching Tian Xiaocao’s increasing sobs.
He said nothing, just watched her shoulders shake, seeing her cry louder and louder. He remembered Jinkui, the woman who always concealed her emotions. She seemed never to have cried openly in front of him. Even if she shed tears, she would quietly wipe them away, her actions gentle, leaving faint traces. Yet her departure had left a deep and painful scar in his heart.
With a sudden wail, Tian Xiaocao buried her head in the chest of the man she had just met, smelling the cologne on him.
“Xu Lunhe, have you abandoned me?”
And Jing Mu just quietly, slowly placed his hand on her hair, the soft strands slipping through his fingers, gently saying, “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”
Jing Mu told Tian Xiaocao, “Don’t worry. It’s hard to find him by visiting bars one by one. I have some friends who own bars. I’ll ask them to check if Xu Lunhe has sung at any bar they know.”
He said this while tying his tie, nervous about a big business meeting that day.
Tian Xiaocao, watering his spider plants, said, “Thank you.”
He glanced at those plants, which had started to wither after Jinkui left but had regained vitality under Tian Xiaocao’s care.
In his black BMW, he suddenly received a call from Jinkui. She told him intermittently that she was getting married. He pretended to be calm, congratulating her, and hung up, feeling a heavy blow to his heart. He gave himself a weak, forced smile in the rearview mirror.
Not long ago, Jinkui had nestled like a kitten in his arms, saying she would marry him in this life and the next.
But now, she told him she was marrying someone else.
The car played a familiar tune, “Wishing We Last Forever,” and he bit his lip, slamming the gas pedal…
When Tian Xiaocao hurried to the hospital, she saw Jing Mu with his arm bandaged. She almost collapsed in relief after confirming he was only slightly injured.
His BMW was towed to the repair shop. She hailed a taxi, helping him inside. Jing Mu’s face was grim.
“Jing Mu,” she said, her long hair down, wearing a white dress that Jinkui used to wear, looking so thin it made one’s heart ache. Tian Xiaocao tried to make him smile, the sudden silence scaring her.
“What’s wrong?” she finally asked.
Seeing her silhouette overlapping with Jinkui’s, Jing Mu suddenly shouted, “Get out! Get out!”
Tian Xiaocao was shocked, tears falling like beads from a broken string. She helplessly watched him, his first time speaking so harshly to her.
But she didn’t retreat, standing still. She remembered how a year ago, Xu Lunhe had been similarly erratic in his despair. She knew something must have happened to Jing Mu.
She turned her head, seeing Jing Mu’s tears falling one by one.
In the black night, two lonely souls found solace in each other.
Jing Mu brought Tian Xiaocao home as his girlfriend, a popular rented arrangement. Yes, he rented Tian Xiaocao to give his eager-to-have-grandchildren mother an explanation, fulfilling her hopes.
Being a late-born child, Jing Mu’s mother was nearly 60. Tian Xiaocao was such a filial “daughter-in-law.” She eagerly set the table, mopped the floor, placed a large bouquet of sunflowers Jing Mu had bought into a vase, and dusted his clothes.
The three of them sat at the dining table. His mother’s cooking was excellent, giving Jing Mu a taste of home. And Tian Xiaocao, sitting beside his mother, smiled and chatted, recounting Jing Mu’s childhood. Tian Xiaocao would turn to tease him with exaggerated expressions. Then she would whisper into his mother’s ear, both smiling in a knowing way.
Jing Mu pretended to be annoyed, his voice dark but hiding a smile, “Tian Xiaocao!”
Tian Xiaocao giggled, but his mother scolded him, “Don’t be mean to Xiaocao.”
At that moment, Jing Mu felt as if Tian Xiaocao really was the girl he had loved for years and wanted to marry. The warm scene at the dinner table seemed real.
After dinner, Tian Xiaocao insisted on washing the dishes. His mother sat beside Jing Mu, expressing her fondness for Tian Xiaocao, comparing her to Jinkui. She said, “Mom thinks Xiaocao is better than Jinkui. Jinkui was born a rich girl, too delicate. Mom is a simple person, really likes a plain and cute child like Xiaocao. When are you planning to get married? Mom can’t wait!”
She laughed, straightening the folds in Jing Mu’s clothes, still talking non-stop, “I really like her.”
His mother’s sudden comparison made Jing Mu uneasy. He watched Tian Xiaocao busy in the kitchen, feeling inexplicably sad.
Jinkui was not his. Neither was Xiaocao. Jing Mu was just a highly eligible bachelor that many wanted to marry but no one truly loved.
They stayed at his mother’s house that night. While walking outside, his mother linked arms with both of them, then insisted they hold hands. Reluctantly, their stiff hands met.
Jing Mu smiled apologetically at Tian Xiaocao’s blushing face. Holding hands tightly, they presented a loving image. Who could guess they were merely new acquaintances, not even friends?
His mother went to make pear soup. They sat on the sofa, watching TV in silence.
“Don’t you want to call home?” he asked, thinking Tian Xiaocao had stayed at his place for almost a week without making a single call, feeling a bit resentful of her rebelliousness.
“No need.” She suddenly became quiet, hugging her knees. “Mom is dead. Dad has his own life. They can’t care about me.” She then gave him a sweet smile, “No one has loved me since I was little until I met Xu Lunhe three years ago. I thought he was the only one who’d care for me in this life. But I didn’t expect to meet someone as good as you, Jing Mu. You’re like my brother. And your mother, when I see her, I feel like she’s my mom. I don’t even remember what my mom looks like. Do you know that song? ‘No flowers, no tall trees, I’m an unknown little grass…’”
Jing Mu looked into Tian Xiaocao’s bright eyes, feeling as if tender shoots were growing in his barren heart, one after another, like springtime.
Living under the same roof, Jing Mu used a curtain to separate the large bed, the cool night breeze keeping them awake.
Jing Mu said, “My friend called and said they found the bar where Xu Lunhe works.”
In the moonlight, Tian Xiaocao sat up, her voice filled with joy, “Really? Really?”
But that joy made Jing Mu feel empty, thinking, “Yes.”
Tian Xiaocao was going to leave. Why did he feel a void at the thought? It was as if a room suddenly became empty, a room that belonged to Jinkui.
He heard Tian Xiaocao chattering, saying, “When I find him, I’ll scold him. How could he not contact me? I want him to know how hard I’ve been searching for him. He owes me.”
Then her voice turned sad, “Jing Mu, what about
you? Will Auntie miss me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. You’re not that charming.” Jing Mu coldly mocked her.
Tian Xiaocao didn’t get angry, just giggled, “Jing Mu, give me your bank account number tomorrow. I’ll pay back the money I borrowed. And remember to water the spider plants. I left some vegetables and fruits in the fridge. Don’t eat too much instant noodles. Remember to do your laundry. And the girl you like, try to win her back.”
Her mention of Jinkui made Jing Mu angry. He turned over and didn’t speak again.
But he felt a slender arm gently embrace him. In the dark, he heard Tian Xiaocao’s raspy voice, “Jing Mu, thank you for taking me in.”
His heart softened, and he said, “Tian Xiaocao, sing me a song. Sing that ‘When the Music Ends’ you and your guy wrote.”
Tian Xiaocao sang softly. “Listen, the music ends, and people still part.” Just like they were strangers who walked parallel lines that would never intersect.
At C-SONG Bar, Jing Mu sat with Tian Xiaocao, who spotted a familiar figure on stage.
She widened her eyes, trying to see clearly. The familiar but now distant Xu Lunhe with a stubbled chin and silver hair. His unchanged but unfamiliar features stirred complex emotions in her: resistance, longing, hope, and fear.
She looked at Jing Mu beside her. He was also watching her.
She mustered the courage, like a moth flying into a flame of love.
Xu Lunhe’s voice was still magnetic but no longer gentle. Three months of separation had made him look more weathered. He didn’t know she was sitting below, the girl who had loved him for three years.
“After he finishes the song, go hug him,” Jing Mu suggested, planning to leave quietly when she stepped forward. He feared seeing Tian Xiaocao embrace her beloved, fearing his heart would become an empty city, filled with the chill of winter. He had to escape. He couldn’t pinpoint when he had developed such feelings for this seemingly carefree girl who gave without expecting anything in return. Feelings he once thought lost with Jinkui had returned, following his breath to his heart.
But unfortunately, those feelings couldn’t cross the Pacific and had to be buried deep again.
At this moment, Xu Lunhe finished his song. Tian Xiaocao stood up, hesitating, while Jing Mu also rose, ready to leave the bar quietly.
But just then, a seductive figure beat her to it, throwing herself into Xu Lunhe’s arms. Two smiling faces lit up like fireworks. Applause thundered. Tian Xiaocao stood frozen, unable to speak. Only Jing Mu saw her sadness overflow and flood the ground.
Jing Mu jumped up, climbed onto the stage, and punched Xu Lunhe. Like a lion, he forgot he was wearing a suit, forgot he was a gentleman. He stubbornly used his fists to protect Tian Xiaocao’s tears.
He pinned Xu Lunhe to the ground, hitting him while shouting, “Do you know how much she loves you? Do you know?”
If not for Tian Xiaocao, he would never have known he could lose control to protect someone.
When Jinkui left, he didn’t feel this way. But under Tian Xiaocao’s tears, he lost his mind, just to scoop up her sadness.
Amid the girl’s screams, Tian Xiaocao ran out, and Jing Mu stopped, chasing after her.
At the corner, he found her trembling, crying. He crouched down, wanting to comfort her but unable to find the words, only saying, “Don’t cry.”
Tian Xiaocao looked up, saying, “Jing Mu, Xu Lunhe is dead. He told me when he came to this city, he broke up with me. He never wronged me. I couldn’t let go. I thought he was the only one who’d be good to me. Jing Mu, Xu Lunhe has been dead in my heart. Look, our love song ended long ago.”
She stared at Jing Mu, “But I’m afraid to tell you, someone alive has taken his place in my heart. I’m afraid you only see Jinkui. You don’t see me. I’m just a little grass. I jumped into your life, but you don’t see me. The person alive in my heart is Jing Mu. I…”
Jing Mu suddenly felt his heart ache. He tightly hugged Tian Xiaocao, holding her as if never to let go. He said, “Tian Xiaocao, I want you to sing that song to old age.”
Even if the music ends, we’ll still stay together. Don’t you think so?
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
