Chapter 19: Not Disturbing Her Highness
Lin Yuejiu agreed, but she didn’t go over that weekend, worried about disturbing the teacher.
That evening, she checked the time and left campus to buy dinner.
Lin Yimo happened to be in the area with a group of friends for a gathering.
“Hey, isn’t that your sister… well, your former sister?”
Lin Yimo paused mid-step and followed his friend’s pointing finger. He saw a young girl sitting at a square table. The stall owner’s wife had just brought over a bowl of wontons. She picked up her spoon, scooped one up, blew on it gently, and began eating slowly.
Lin Yimo frowned. Had she really fallen to such a state? Eating wontons from a street stall late at night?
He walked toward her.
His other friends froze for a moment. “Hey, where are you going?”
Lin Yuejiu was focused on her wontons, not looking up and not noticing them. It wasn’t until someone stood in front of her that she thought maybe they’d mistaken her for someone else. But after a couple of minutes without the person leaving, she looked up. “Sorry, did you get the wrong person?”
The moment her eyes met Lin Yimo’s, she froze. After slowly blinking, she lowered her head again and continued eating.
Seeing her ignore him, he asked, “You’re having just this for dinner?”
She didn’t look up. At first she wanted to stay silent, but that felt rude, so she said, “I don’t have much of an appetite tonight. One bowl of wontons is enough.”
“Wontons have no nutrition. You’re still growing. Didn’t Grandpa give you money before? And you’re just eating this?”
Lin Yuejiu raised her head, looking straight at him. “What’s wrong with wontons? They’re delicious.”
Lin Yimo frowned and was about to speak, when she continued, “In what capacity are you trying to control me? As my brother? You said yourself—I’m not your sister. You only have Lin Rumeng as your sister.”
Lin Yimo was stunned, a feeling of helplessness rising inside him. She was right—what identity did he have to tell her what to do? As her brother? But he’d said himself she wasn’t.
While he was lost in thought, Lin Yuejiu finished her wontons, walked over to pay. “Boss lady, I’m done. I’ll leave the money here.”
The boss lady responded, “Alright, take care, little girl.”
Hearing the voice, Lin Yimo snapped back to his senses and wanted to reach out to grab her hand—but stopped midway. He had no identity that would make her stop, no right to control her.
He just stood there, watching her thin back grow smaller and smaller until she disappeared from sight.
His friends, watching from the side, found his behavior odd. “Hey? What’s wrong with you?”
He lowered his eyes. “It’s nothing.”
His voice faded into the wind until it could no longer be heard.
Lin Yuejiu’s weekends passed between the dormitory and the library. Ever since Lin Yimo had made things clear with her, she felt as if most of her heart had gone cold. Later, when she came to her senses, she realized she shouldn’t let herself fall apart. Quietly encouraging herself to stay strong, she gradually pulled her studies back on track.
The weekend passed quickly, and the students were met with the dreaded Monday once more.
During morning class, right before the lesson ended, the homeroom teacher announced some good news—and the class exploded.
“Where’s the class arts committee member?”
“Here, teacher.”
“Ask around and see who wants to perform in the upcoming school arts gala. Anyone who’s interested can sign up.”
The whole class perked up. “Oh!”
“If you’re good at a musical instrument or any other talent, you can sign up. If you want to form a dance group with classmates, find your own teammates first, then report the program to the arts committee member. Whether your act makes it to the final lineup will depend on your own skills.”
“Got it!”
“Alright, class dismissed.”
Once the teacher left, the classroom became lively again.
The arts committee member stood up and called out loudly from their seat, “Anyone who wants to perform, come to the podium to sign up!”
The arts committee member was quickly surrounded, and the aisle nearby became crowded.
Chen Qianxi quietly scooted over, resting her chin on her desk. “Jiujiu—”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Do you want to perform in the show?”
Lin Yuejiu pulled herself out of the sea of practice problems, turned her head to glance at her, and instantly guessed her intention.
“You want to perform in the show? And you’re short of people to join you?”
Chen Qianxi’s eyes lit up in surprise, “Wow! Jiujiu, you’re amazing! How did you know I was here to ask you to be my partner? Are you a worm living in my stomach who knows everything I’m thinking?”
Seeing her put on an exaggerated thoughtful look, Lin Yuejiu couldn’t help laughing, “You’re too obvious.”
“Really?” Chen Qianxi touched her face, then said seriously, “Alright, I’ll work on that next time.”
“So? What kind of show do you need my help with?”
“I learned a dance before, and I want to perform it for everyone at this school arts festival.”
Lin Yuejiu lightly tapped her chin with her pen, “You want me to dance?”
“No, no, no—not that. I can handle the dancing myself. I want you to accompany me.”
“Accompany? On the violin?”
“Nope. On the piano.”
“??? How do you even know I play piano?”
“I do now.”
“…”
Lin Yuejiu was amused. She reached out and gently tapped Chen Qianxi’s forehead with her pen.
Chen Qianxi covered her head with both hands, looking pitifully at her.
Lin Yuejiu turned away, a faint smile tugging at her lips, then looked back and relented, “Alright.”
Chen Qianxi’s face lit up instantly as she hugged Lin Yuejiu, “Thank you, Jiujiu!”
“Alright, alright, you’re interrupting my homework. Go back already.”
“Yes, my lady. This humble servant will take her leave now and not disturb Your Grace.”
She even put on a mock formal bow, retreating slowly to her seat.
Lin Yuejiu couldn’t help laughing.
Lin Rumeng noticed Lin Yuejiu smiling. She hadn’t caught what they’d just said, but turned her head in thought, then asked Xu Nianshen beside her, “Brother Nianshen, are you going to perform in the show?”
“I never do.”
“Oh…” Lin Rumeng sat back, feeling awkward.
Lan Qingqing came over and asked, “Mengmeng, do you want to perform anything?”
Lin Rumeng thought for a moment, then asked, “Has my sister ever performed before?”
She shook her head, “Lin Yuejiu doesn’t usually perform. The only time she did was because of a last-minute situation—since the teacher knew she played the violin, they had her go on stage for a violin performance.”
“And how was her playing?”
“…The whole audience applauded, and the teachers all loved it.”
Lin Rumeng fell silent in thought.
“Hey, Mengmeng, aren’t you also learning the violin? You could hurry up and practice, then perform too!”
“Well… I just started, so I’m not very good at playing pieces yet.”
“Ah, I see…”
Just then, some classmates came over and asked, “Sorry to bother you, but are you interested in joining our dance performance?”
“Dance?”
“Yes, we’re still short of two people. Do you want to join us?”
Lin Rumeng thought about it. She figured she could join this—after all, she was still a beginner at the violin and really didn’t feel confident about performing.
