Online, everyone says Gulangyu Island is crowded and noisy, so Jing Chaoyi wasn’t expecting much. But the title "Piano Island" piqued her curiosity — they say there are many pianos here, and it produces musicians. Is it true that there’s a piano for every three people? Surely, she could hear some piano music here.
After parting ways with Li Younan, she leisurely wandered alone to the Organ Art Center. There was a paper posted on the glass door: "Today’s performance is canceled."
Oh well, at least she hadn’t bought a ticket yet.
She peered through the glass at the big iron beast inside, which was pitch black. There were a few people asking questions at the entrance, but she didn’t pay much attention, and since the sea breeze felt pleasant, she turned around and left.
She checked in with her senior, who was still hopping around, so she wandered aimlessly around the island.
There were plenty of old houses, their peeling walls covered with vine creepers, and the cobblestone paths rose and fell, creating a clattering sound as you walked. It was quite interesting.
She saw a public piano.
The first one she saw was at the edge of a small square, next to a large banyan tree, whose roots bulged out of the ground.
The piano lid was closed and locked.
Jing Chaoyi sat on a stone bench nearby for a while, watching tourists take photos and the shadows of leaves swaying on the ground.
Two leaves had fallen on the piano lid, with no one paying any attention to them.
The imagined scene of an expert playing a Jay Chou piece didn’t happen.
Later, she saw another piano at the entrance of a narrow alleyway. It was placed behind the iron gate of a courtyard, also tightly covered and dusty.
Jing Chaoyi squatted down, peeking through the bars at the piano keys inside, which were also covered in dust.
As she walked and stopped, she neither heard the sound of a piano nor saw anyone wishing to play.
Finally, Li Younan was done with his tasks. He called, saying he was hungry.
Jing Chaoyi then wandered off to find a restaurant to eat.
The shop was in a small alley, with dim lighting and a warm glow. Upon entering, she immediately spotted a beautiful black grand piano in the corner. She called Li Younan to ask what he’d like to eat, and he said he was fine with anything.
So, Jing Chaoyi ordered two seafood fried rice and two cups of milk tea — all in her favorite flavors.
While waiting for the food and for Younan, she looked at the old houses outside the window and occasionally glanced at the quiet piano.
The waiter first brought the milk tea, and Jing Chaoyi asked offhandedly, "Do you still have piano performances here?"
The waiter apologetically replied, "I’m really sorry, the piano teacher had something come up and can’t make it today."
Jing Chaoyi nodded, "It’s okay."
Shortly after, Li Younan arrived, and the fried rice was just served.
"Senior, I got you a milk tea, hehe..."
"Alright, thank you."
Li Younan sat down, no longer sweaty.
The fried rice was fragrant, and the pearls in the milk tea were chewy.
Both of them ate slowly, with the soft sounds of conversation and clinking dishes in the background. As the waiter passed by the piano, they casually dusted the lid with a cloth.
The lamplight was bright and warm.
After dinner, they strolled out.
Li Younan’s task was to walk thirty thousand steps, which wasn’t an easy goal, since a similar task around West Lake only required ten thousand steps.
But luckily, Gulangyu has a maritime monsoon climate, and today’s weather was more comfortable than that day in West Lake. Plus, there were no motor vehicles here; you rely entirely on your legs.
They explored everywhere they could.
Jing Chaoyi also had decent stamina, being a rollerblading enthusiast. But after a long walk, she still got tired, stopped by a drink shop for a rest, and then continued on her way.
Both of them were in no hurry to leave the island.
Li Younan wasn’t fixated on completing the task, strolling at leisure, the scenery while running parkour was one thing, but taking it slow provided a different experience.
There were many old houses here, various styles of consulates and villas built by colonial powers in modern times. It was hard not to imagine a young woman from the Republic of China playing piano in one of these villas.
This place is a cultural travel sanctuary; without some nostalgia, one might miss that feeling.
As they walked and paused, it was suddenly evening.
The cobblestone paths were a bit damp, the sea breeze salty and cool on their faces. The alleyway was quiet, with a faint din from a distant food stall. As they walked, somewhere beneath the eaves of an old house, hung a string of wind chimes, ringing softly in the breeze, the delicate sounds floating through the narrow alley.
Jing Chaoyi paused, looked up towards the dark eave corner from which the sound came.
Jing Chaoyi said, "Senior, let’s find a suite later!"
Li Younan nodded, he had been thinking the same.
There were just over two thousand steps left to complete the task.
The silhouettes of Gulangyu’s old villas were vague at night, but the warm yellow light from the windows felt reassuring.
Jing Chaoyi thought of the silent public pianos from earlier, and a sense of unfulfilled longing resurfaced in her mind — since it’s called "Piano Island," wouldn’t there be somewhere to hear piano music? Even if it’s just a place with a piano on display.
She scrolled through her phone and indeed found several hotels with pianos in them. The pictures online looked quite beautiful, though she wasn’t sure about the actual conditions.
She chose one frequently mentioned in reviews as having "piano music in the garden" and "a piano available in the lobby."
The location was convenient, though slightly pricey. She looked at Li Younan, holding her phone, and asked, "Here?"
Li Younan didn’t look and said, "Anywhere is fine."
Jing Chaoyi put her phone away, feeling a little thrilled inside.
They arrived at a place converted from an old villa.
Upon entering, the front desk attendant was quite enthusiastic.
While checking in, Jing Chaoyi couldn’t help but glance into the lobby — there was indeed a black upright piano in the window-side corner, with its lid open.
The little knot in her heart seemed to be gently smoothed out by the shiny black piano body. The attendant probably noticed Jing Chaoyi looking at the piano and casually said, "Feel free to play until ten in the evening."
Jing Chaoyi nodded, saying nothing.
The room was on the third floor, and the hallway was quiet.
A family suite, presumably for a family of five, with two bedrooms.
Li Younan was a bit regretful, as he had walked fifteen hundred steps there, five hundred short of completing his task.
But he figured there was no need to insist on finishing today.
Li Younan put down his luggage, but Jing Chaoyi was not in the room, so he wandered back downstairs.
Jing Chaoyi wandered downstairs alone, the hotel’s garden was quite large, but it was hard to see its entirety at night. The fragrance of flowers mixed with the salty sea breeze, along with faint laughter and voices, led her to the garden’s deep end, where sure enough, there was a grand piano.
So many pianos indeed.
Some guests sat chatting around it, with the piano bench left empty.
Jing Chaoyi stood at a distance for a while; the night wind was cool, but the piano keys remained silent.
Returning to the lobby, the upright piano was still there.
After a moment of hesitation, Jing Chaoyi walked over and sat down. Her fingers gently touched the keys, cool to the touch.
She randomly pressed out a few atonal sounds, finding it amusing herself.
The piano sounds stopped, and the lobby grew quieter, with only the rustling of the wind moving through the leaves outside.
Forget it.
It’s been a long day, so she decided to go upstairs and rest.
Just as she was about to leave, she turned around to find that, at some point, Li Younan had stood beside her.
He stroked his chin, looking at the piano, then casually rested a hand on the keys, and a smooth, lively melody emerged.
Jing Chaoyi was stunned, "Huh? Senior, you can play this?"
Li Younan glanced at Jing Chaoyi and casually said, "Oh, just a little."
Jing Chaoyi stood up, giving him space, and he naturally sat down.
Someone came down the stairs, the wooden steps creaking softly. Outside guests entered, pushing the door open, allowing the sea breeze to rush in with the distant, indistinct sound of tides.
Li Younan placed his fingers on the keys, playing Jay Chou’s "Silence."
Jing Chaoyi froze, beginning to gaze intently at Li Younan.

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