11
Yaxin returned home and happened to hear Yuling and Yonglai talking in the living room.
“A-Ling, have you found a job yet?”
“Yes, I have. I’m working as a waitress at a karaoke place.”
“A-Ling, you’re still going to work at that kind of karaoke place? All sorts of people come and go there—it’s so complicated. It’s not like you don’t know that.”
“Dad, aside from singing, I don’t really have any other skills. The pay there is pretty good, the working hours aren’t long, and it’s convenient for me to take care of the three kids at home.”
“Otherwise, you could sell fish at the fishing harbor.”
“Selling fish at the harbor takes a long time, and it doesn’t earn much money. It wouldn’t be enough to cover the expenses of three children. Dad, you don’t need to worry.”
“Alright then. Since you’ve already decided, there’s no use for me to say anything more.”
Only then did Yuling notice Yaxin standing by the door: “A-Xin, you’re back. Hurry and go wash your hands and face—we’re about to eat.”

12
Yaxin arrived at Fisherman’s Wharf and saw Xiyang performing. Many listeners were gathered around him. Yaxin joined the crowd and attentively enjoyed his performance. After the performance ended, thunderous applause erupted. Xiyang removed his hat, bowed, and thanked the audience.
“Thank you all for coming today to listen to my performance. If you enjoyed it, I would appreciate your support and encouragement.”

Xiyang walked around with his hat, and the audience members took coins out of their pockets and dropped them in. Yaxin also put a few coins into the hat. After recognizing Yaxin, Xiyang winked at her.
“In addition, CDs are available for sale on-site. If you’d like to take my music home, don’t miss the chance!”

Audience Member A asked: “Sir, how much are your CDs?”
Xiyang said: “One hundred dollars each.”
Audience Member A said: “Then I’ll take one.”
Audience Member B said: “I’ll take one too.”
Xiyang smiled and said: “Alright, thank you.”
Audience Member C said: “I’ll buy two.”

Xiyang took the money from the three audience members. He first busied himself digging coins out of the hat to make change, then turned to the table nearby to get the CDs. Some impatient audience members, seeing that he had not begun playing the next piece, began to leave one after another. Seeing the crowd dispersing, Xiyang grew anxious and accidentally knocked the CD cases off the table onto the ground. Seeing this, Yaxin hurried forward to help pick them up.

“Sorry, Yaxin. Could you help me tidy this up? And later, please give the CDs to those three gentlemen—the one in the shirt wants two.”

Xiyang picked up his violin and began to play elegant and flowing music. Hearing the music, the crowd gathered again.
After handing the CDs to the three customers, Yaxin turned back to help organize the CDs and the table. After finishing this piece, Xiyang handed the hat to Yaxin.

Xiyang said: “Yaxin, could you help me walk around and collect money, and also attend to customers who want to buy CDs?”
Yaxin walked around with the hat, collecting money and selling CDs at the same time, while Xiyang continued performing.

After the performance came to an end, Xiyang and Yaxin stood together, thanking the audience and bidding them farewell.
Xiyang said: “Thank you, everyone! See you tomorrow.”
Yaxin bowed and waved along with him.

Xiyang said: “Phew, Yaxin, thank you. You really helped me out a lot.”
Yaxin said: “It’s nothing.”
Xiyang grabbed a handful of coins from the hat: “These are for you.”
Yaxin pushed them away with both hands: “No, I can’t accept them.”
Xiyang said: “You earned this by helping me. And if you don’t need it now, you can save it for later—then you’ll have it whenever you need it.”

Xiyang took Yaxin’s hand and placed the coins in her palm: “Take it. If possible, I hope you can come help every day. Just treat this as your tips, okay?”
Yaxin nodded with a smile and accepted the handful of coins.

13
In the first-year gifted class classroom at Taipei First Girls High School, homeroom teacher Yan Ruyu wrote her name on the blackboard.
“Students, the ancients said that within books there are houses of gold, and within books there is Yan Ruyu. My name is Yan Ruyu, and I am your homeroom teacher. Today is the first day of school—relax a bit. I’d like each of you to take turns giving a simple self-introduction so that everyone can quickly get to know one another. Let’s start with number one.”

The students introduced themselves one by one at their seats. Then it was Zhang Xueye’s turn:
“Hello, everyone. My name is Zhang Xueye. I started learning the violin at age six. At age ten, I participated in a piano competition. Last year, I won first place in the Yamaha National Youth Piano Competition. My father is Taipei City Councilor Zhang Yingming.”
The students began whispering among themselves. Xueye sat down gracefully with a proud expression.

Yan Ruyu said: “Next! Qiu Yaxin. Everyone, please be quiet first!”
Yaxin spoke with unclear articulation: “Hello everyone, my name is Qiu Yaxin. I’m very happy to become classmates with you… thank you.”

The previously noisy classroom suddenly fell silent. Yaxin quietly sat down. The students began whispering about this blonde mixed-race girl.
Student A whispered: “Why does she talk like that? It’s hard to understand.”
Student B whispered: “Is that a hearing aid on her ear?”
Student C whispered: “Her hair is blonde—is she a foreigner?”

Yan Ruyu said: “Yaxin’s hearing is a bit impaired, so she needs to wear a hearing aid. She was admitted with the top score and became your classmate—it was not easy at all. So if Yaxin needs any help, please show your classmate spirit, alright?”
The students responded in unison: “Alright!”

After class, Qiu Yaxin was walking in the corridor when Zhang Xueye and several girls approached from the opposite direction.
Girl A: “She’s deaf-mute!”
Girl B: “She’s like a doll—blonde hair!”
Xueye said: “Shh! Keep your voices down!”

Yaxin stopped, her face showing hurt.
Xueye said: “Sorry! They thought you couldn’t hear.”
Yaxin said nothing and silently walked away. Xueye watched her departing figure.

14
In the karaoke snack bar “Endless Old Love,” floor supervisor Qiu Yuling moved busily among the tables, serving food and drinks and arranging hostesses to sit with customers.

Customers held microphones and sang passionately—songs like “The Pure Love Song of a Sailor,” “A Suitcase,” and “Memories of Anping” rose and fell one after another. At each table, hostesses sat beside them, shaking tambourines to keep rhythm. Yuling bustled between tables, serving dishes.

Customer A said: “Supervisor, why hasn’t the dish I ordered arrived yet?”
Yuling said with a smile: “Coming right away, coming right away.”
Customer B said: “Miss, bring us another case of beer.”
Yuling said: “Alright, alright. A-Qing, get Mr. Chen another case of beer.”
A-Qing responded: “Yes, supervisor, I’ll bring it right away.”

Local gang leader Ma Dafa entered the shop with two subordinates. A-Qing dared not neglect them, put down the beer she was holding, and quickly stepped forward to greet them: “Boss, it’s been a long time since you came. This way, please sit here.”
Subordinate A said: “Call your boss out. We’re here to collect this month’s ‘cleaning fee.’”
A-Qing said: “Our boss stepped out for something. Why not sit for a while? He’ll be back soon.”
Subordinate B said: “What? We have to wait? Damn, he’s got quite the attitude!”
A-Qing said: “Sorry, sorry…”
Ma Dafa said: “It’s fine. We’ll wait a bit.”

The three sat down at a table. Yuling came forward to greet them. Ma Dafa stared at Yuling with lecherous eyes.
“Boss Ma, welcome, welcome. What would you like to eat?”

Without warning, Ma Dafa grabbed Yuling’s hand and pulled her to his side.
With a sly grin, he said: “Beauty, come sit with me for a while.”
Yuling struggled: “Boss, don’t do this!”
Subordinate A said: “There are girls sitting with customers at other tables too. Just let our boss have some fun.”
Subordinate B said: “Yeah, just a touch—it won’t cost you anything.”
Yuling said: “If you keep this up, I’ll get angry!”
Ma Dafa teased: “Alright, you’re even cuter when you’re angry—it makes my heart itch, hahaha!”

Ma Dafa held Yuling tightly, groping her. The three let out vulgar laughter. Yuling raised the tray in her hand and struck Ma Dafa hard across his pockmarked face. The other customers, sensing something was wrong, fell silent.

Ma Dafa exploded in anger: “Damn! You dare lay a hand on me?”
Subordinate B stood up and slapped Yuling hard: “You crazy woman, you need to be taught a lesson!”

Yuling was knocked to the ground by the slap. Subordinate B then grabbed her hair, trying to pull her up. Yuling screamed in pain. At that moment, Wu Tairan entered, saw what was happening, and hurried forward to intervene, pulling Subordinate B away.

Wu Tairan bowed apologetically: “Sorry, sorry, Boss Ma.”
Subordinate A said: “Boss, how do you train your staff? Treating customers like this?”
Wu Tairan said: “She’s just helping out here—she has three children to support. Please be lenient and don’t make things difficult for her. How about this: in addition to the agreed fee, I’ll pay an extra five thousand as medical compensation for Boss Ma, alright?”
Subordinate B shouted: “What? Our boss got hit like this and you offer only five thousand? Damn it!”
Ma Dafa said: “Thirty thousand.”
Wu Tairan said: “Boss, this is a small business. I’ll give ten thousand—no more.”
Ma Dafa said: “Fine, I’ll give you face today. This ten thousand will be for ‘warding off bad luck.’”

Ma Dafa took the cash from Wu Tairan and called to his men: “Alright, let’s go.”
The group swaggered out.

Wu Tairan said: “Boss Ma, take care. Come again when you have time.”
Yuling said: “Boss, I’m sorry. It’s all because of me. Deduct that ten thousand from my salary.”
Wu Tairan said: “No need. It’s just ten thousand—consider it medicine money for them. I should be the one apologizing to you. You came here to work and ended up being bullied. You’re tired today—go home and rest.”

15
After returning home, Yuling covered the slap mark on her face and hurried into the yard with her head down, intending to go straight to her room. However, she was spotted by her younger brother Zhikun at the doorway.

Seeing her covering her face, Zhikun asked with concern: “Sis, what happened to your face?”
“Little brother, it’s nothing…” Yuling replied vaguely.
Zhikun said: “Look at your face—it’s all swollen, and you still say it’s nothing. Did a customer hit you?”

Zhigan, standing nearby, took the chance to mock her: “Instead of finding a proper job, you insist on working in places like that. Serves you right to get hurt.”
Zhikun said: “Brother, what nonsense are you talking about?”
Zhigan said: “Nonsense? I’m speaking the truth. It’s lucky she wasn’t beaten to death.”

Zhikun clenched his fists, about to argue, but Yuling stopped him: “Little brother, don’t… don’t fight over something like this…”

Qiu Yonglai and his wife, awakened by the commotion, came out into the yard. Yonglai immediately scolded Zhigan: “What is this? Day and night you keep belittling Yuling. Do you think there’s no elder in this house? Have some conscience! Don’t speak to your sister in such a harsh way.”
Yuling said: “Dad, don’t be angry!”

Zhigan complained: “Am I not your son? Every time you defend her—it’s obvious favoritism.”
Yonglai shouted angrily: “Damn it! Say that to me again if you dare!”
Laichun said: “Stop arguing, both of you!”
Yuling said: “Dad, please stop arguing!”
Laichun also urged: “You’re getting old—don’t get so angry, it’ll harm your health.”

Yonglai said: “A-Ling, all these years, I know very well the grievances you’ve suffered.”
Yuling said: “Dad, don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Little brother, it’s getting windy outside—take Dad inside first.”
Zhikun said: “Alright, I’ll take Dad in.”
Laichun said: “You come in quickly too—don’t catch a chill.”
Yuling said: “Okay, I know.”

Yuling turned and went inside. At that moment, Yaxin returned home. Seeing the injury on Yuling’s face, she felt heartbroken and silently followed her inside.
Yaxin asked anxiously: “Mom, what happened to your face?”
Yuling said: “I’m fine—I accidentally hit the corner of a wall.”
Yaxin said: “Mom, don’t lie to me! Can you stop working at that place?”
Yuling comforted her: “Silly child, no matter what happens, we must endure…”
Yaxin said: “Mom, I’ll help earn money too. That way you can be less burdened.”
Yuling said: “You child—just study well and don’t make Mom worry…”
Yaxin said: “I want to help Mom.”
Yuling said: “Taking good care of your younger siblings is already the biggest help to me…”

Yuling and Yaxin embraced each other and cried.
Zhikun brought medicine in for Yuling. Seeing the mother and daughter crying together, he quickly comforted them: “Sis, A-Xin, don’t be sad anymore. No matter how big the problem is, I’ll take responsibility. A-Xin, go get a towel for your mom to wipe her face.”
Yaxin immediately ran to the bathroom, got a towel, and handed it to Yuling.

Zhikun took out a small jar of ointment and said: “Sis, apply this—it’s very effective for reducing inflammation and swelling.”
Yuling said: “I’ve only caused you trouble…”
Zhikun said: “Sis, don’t say that. A-Xin, help your mom apply the medicine. If anything happens, come find me anytime.”
Yaxin nodded, and Zhikun left Yuling’s room.

16
After school, Qiu Yaxin went to find Xiyang. Xiyang was packing up his instruments. When he saw Yaxin, he said: “Yaxin, you’re here.”
Yaxin nodded in response. As she struggled to say the first word, “To—,” Xiyang immediately smiled and replied: “You want to ask why I packed up so early today, right?”
Yaxin widened her eyes and nodded vigorously.

Xiyang said: “Recently, the Presbyterian church choir is about to perform, so I need to go to the church to help with rehearsals. I don’t have as much time to perform on the streets for now.”
Upon hearing this, Yaxin’s expression suddenly turned lonely. Seeing her disappointed look, Xiyang smiled and said: “Would you be interested in coming to the Presbyterian church with me? But I’m worried you might find it boring.”
After hearing this, Yaxin nodded vigorously and then shook her head.
Xiyang said: “You’re nodding and shaking your head at the same time—so do you want to go or not?”
After hearing this, Yaxin nodded repeatedly and said with effort: “Want to go; not boring~.”
Xiyang smiled and said: “Alright, alright, I know—I was just teasing you. Let’s pack up, and we’ll go together.”
Yaxin nodded and helped pack up.

17
Arriving at the entrance of the Presbyterian church rehearsal room, Qiu Yaxin heard the melodious sound of a piano and became completely absorbed in it. Inside the classroom, the one playing the piano was a piano teacher with flowing long hair, wearing a white dress—Miss Candy (Tang Meiyun).

Xiyang entered the classroom. When Miss Candy saw him, she stopped playing.
“Wow! Wow! Candy, you look just like Snow White today—very beautiful!”
“Have you been eating candy? Your mouth is so sweet.”
“No matter how sweet, it’s not as sweet as you, Candy. Oh, right! Let me introduce you to a very special girl.”

Xiyang noticed that Qiu Yaxin was still standing outside the classroom, so he waved her in: “Her name is Qiu Yaxin.”
Candy said: “She looks very shy.”
Yaxin nodded to Candy in greeting.
Xiyang said: “She’s a special girl—she often listens to music until she becomes completely absorbed.”

Candy noticed the hearing aid hanging by Yaxin’s ear: “Her ears…”
Xiyang said: “Although Yaxin wears a hearing aid, her sense of pitch is actually very good.”
Candy said: “Oh? To be praised by Master Xiyang, I believe you are an unpolished jade.”
Xiyang said: “Then I’ll entrust this unpolished jade to you.”

Candy took Yaxin to sit in front of the piano and said: “Come! Sit here. Touch the piano keys; the magical, beautiful sounds all come from here, following the movement of your fingers.”
Yaxin pressed the keys and smiled happily.
Candy said: “I’ll play a piece for you—listen.”
Candy played “Dream Wedding.”

Candy asked: “Do you like it?”
Yaxin said: “I like it.”
Candy said: “Come, I’ll teach you.”

Candy taught Yaxin to recognize the scales. Xiyang watched the two of them from the side and thought to himself: “Candy and Yaxin really have a teacher-student affinity…”

18
In Yaxin’s bedroom in the Qiu family’s traditional courtyard house, Yaxin sat at her desk. A long strip of white paper was pasted on the tabletop, with black-and-white piano keys drawn on it. Yaxin was intently “playing” the keys with both hands. A hearing aid lay on the desk.

Qiu Dafu sneaked in quietly and suddenly shouted “Boo!” from behind. Yaxin turned her head and shot him an annoyed look, then continued playing her silent piano. Seeing that his cousin ignored him, Dafu simply reached out and took the hearing aid from the desk.
Dafu shouted: “Come and get it!”

Yaxin stood up and chased after him into the living room. Dafu hid behind Zhigan and made faces: “Heh… you can’t catch me, mute!”
Yaxin reached out to grab him. The two darted left and right around Zhigan.
Zhigan said: “What are you doing?”
Zhigan grabbed Yaxin.

Dafu complained first: “Dad, the mute sister is trying to grab me.”
Zhigan scolded: “Qiu Yaxin, you’re not allowed to bully my son.”
Yaxin shouted: “Give me back my hearing aid!”

Zhikun came in from outside and intervened: “Come on, brother—it’s clearly your son who took Yaxin’s hearing aid.”
Zhigan said angrily: “Dafu, are you that bored? Why did you take that deaf girl’s thing?”

Zhikun took the hearing aid back from Dafu. Aijiao came out of the room, hands on her hips, pointing at Zhigan: “Why are you scolding our son?”
Zhigan said: “When did I? Dafu, don’t you ever run into someone else’s room again, got it?”

Zhikun returned the hearing aid to Yaxin and said: “Let’s ignore this family.”
Zhikun accompanied Yaxin as they turned and left the living room.

19
In the Presbyterian church rehearsal room, Qiu Yaxin was concentrating on practicing scales, while Candy sat beside her listening.

After finishing a section of practice, Yaxin raised her head and was suddenly startled by a priest standing by the window listening. Her face turned pale.
The priest had a face as ugly as a demon, crisscrossed with burn scars. He stared at the blonde-haired Yaxin.

Candy noticed Yaxin’s reaction and reassured her: “He’s Father John—he’s a very kind person.”
John’s gaze softened, and he smiled and waved at Yaxin. He noticed the hearing aid by her ear.

Yaxin got up to go to the restroom and passed by John.
Candy said: “Good day, Father.”
John asked: “Is this girl your student?”
Candy said: “Yes. Although she has a hearing impairment, but she is a nice girl.”
John said: “I noticed that just now. Her appearance reminds me of my long-lost daughter, Vivian.”

Candy asked curiously: “Oh? You have a daughter, Father John?”
John said: “Yes. Before I became a clergyman, I was once married.”
Candy said: “How come I’ve never heard you mention it?”

John said: “It’s been more than ten years. Back then, I was an Air Force pilot, stationed in the Far East and sent to the Vietnam War. When I came to Taipei from Saigon on leave, I met a local girl in a piano bar. After she became pregnant, I returned to the Vietnam War. A few months later, I came back to Taipei on leave and married her. After marriage, we had a beautiful blonde baby.”

Candy said: “I see.”
John said: “That was the happiest time of my life, though it only lasted a few months. Soon after, I returned to the Vietnam War. During a bombing mission, my aircraft was shot down by North Vietnamese ground fire. I ejected from the burning cockpit. By God’s mercy, when I woke from the pain, I found myself wrapped in bandages like a mummy. I was evacuated back to the United States and treated for a full year. I wrote letters to find my child’s mother, but they had already moved, and my letters were returned. At that time, I was completely despairing. I met a priest, and under his guidance, I converted to the Lord Jesus.”

Candy said: “Father, you miss them very much, so you came back to Taiwan?”
John said: “Yes. In my lifetime, I want to find them, though the sea of people is vast…”
Candy asked: “You want to make it up to them?”
John said: “Yes, I hope I can do something for them.”

Candy sighed: “Ah, fate plays tricks on people. Father, I believe the Lord Jesus will fulfill a father’s wish.”

Yaxin returned. John looked at her profile and thought: “Could this girl wearing a hearing aid be my long-lost daughter Vivian? Vivian should be about her age…”

20
Yaxin walked out of the rehearsal room. Father John was playing the piano at the corner of the chapel stage. The sound of the piano drew Yaxin’s attention. She walked over and stood not far away, listening.

John also noticed Yaxin. When the music stopped, he asked: “Do you like this piece?”
Yaxin nodded and smiled.
John asked: “I composed this piece myself. Does it sound good?”
Yaxin said: “It sounds good.”

John said: “I wrote this piece in memory of my wife and daughter.”
Yaxin thought: “How can a priest have a wife and daughter?” So she asked in confusion: “Your wife and daughter?”
John said: “Yes, before I became a priest. What is your name?”
Yaxin said: “Qiu Yaxin.”

When John heard the surname “Qiu,” hope suddenly ignited in his heart. He asked: “Is your mother named Qiu Yuling?”
Yaxin said: “Yes.”
John asked excitedly: “Has your mother ever told you about your father?”
Yaxin said: “Yes. She said my father was an American military pilot who later died in an accident during a mission.”

John cried out in his heart: “God! This girl is my daughter Vivian—I’ve found them!”
Suppressing his emotions, John asked gently: “Where do you and your mother live now?”
Yaxin said: “In the outskirts of Tamsui.”
John asked again: “Could you write down your address for me? I’d like to visit your mother.”
Yaxin said: “Okay.”

John gave Yaxin paper and a pen. Yaxin hesitated and asked: “Father, do you know my mother?”
John said: “Your mother is the person I have been looking for.”
Yaxin asked: “The person you’ve been looking for?”
John said: “Yes, she is an old friend of mine.”

Yaxin wrote down the address for John.
John asked: “Do you like the piano?”
Yaxin smiled and said: “Yes.”
John asked: “Even though you wear a hearing aid, I believe you can do it. Have you heard of the great musician Beethoven?”
Yaxin nodded: “Yes.”
John said: “In his later years, Beethoven gradually lost his hearing, yet he still composed many immortal works. God may close one door, but He will open another window for you. Child, you can make it!”

Yaxin smiled as she looked at the priest before her—his appearance was ugly, but his expression was kind and gentle. Questions lingered in her heart, yet she found it inconvenient to ask them.