Chapter 46 – My Goddess is Qin Yuyan
Students trickled in one after another until the classroom was full.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, the man standing on the podium smiled.
“Alright, since everyone is here, let me introduce myself. My name is Zhang Ruilun. I was once a student of the Music Association.”
A bold voice asked,
“Teacher, how old are you?”
Zhang Ruilun chuckled.
“I’m 20 this year.”
“Whoa—”
Lin Yuejiu and Ling Shule exchanged a surprised glance.
“Teacher, you’re so young!”
“You’re only three years older than us!”
“Teacher, do you need a girlfriend?”
Zhang Ruilun only smiled.
“Quiet down. Even though I’m just three years older than you, I still know more than all of you.”
“Got it, got it!”
“So, do you actually have a girlfriend or not?”
“I’m single, and at the moment I have no intention of dating. And I have no interest in high school girls.” His tone was light but clear.
Some students sighed in disappointment.
“Alright, alright, quiet down. Let’s start class.”
“Yes!”
After lunch, the first class of the afternoon was still taught by Zhang Ruilun.
“This lesson, I’d like to see everyone’s actual level.”
“See our level? How?”
“Each of you will come on stage and perform a piece. That way I can see your strengths and weaknesses.”
“Okay, teacher!”
“I’ll call the names one by one.”
“Huang Qian.”
“Here.” The student who was called instinctively responded, feeling a rush of nerves.
Zhang Ruilun smiled gently.
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing scary. We’re all in the same class, and this isn’t a major exam. No need to be afraid.”
He continued reading names until he reached Ling Shule.
Ling Shule flinched subconsciously. Lin Yuejiu squeezed her hand, then let go.
After Shule’s performance, he asked,
“How long have you been learning the violin?”
“Three years.”
“Do you practice regularly?”
“Only occasionally, not every day.”
“Mm. From now on, you’ll need to strengthen your practice. At the very least, you should be able to play a full piece fluently.”
“Okay, thank you, teacher.”
“Next, Lin Yuejiu.”
She walked on stage, picked up her violin, and began to play.
After a minute, he asked,
“How long have you been practicing?”
“Eleven years.”
“Very good. Have you ever competed?”
“No.”
“You’ve practiced long enough, your technique is solid, but you lack stage experience. If you haven’t competed, have you performed anywhere else?”
“I’ve performed at a few banquets.”
“Alright, you can return to your seat.”
“Okay.”
When the day’s classes finally ended, the two of them went back to the dormitory together. As soon as they entered, Chen Qianxi pounced, grabbing Lin Yuejiu’s shoulders and shaking her hard.
She quickly reached out, her voice trembling from the shaking.
“Stop, stop!”
Chen Qianxi let go.
“Why are you in the dorm today? Isn’t it Saturday?”
At that, Chen Qianxi’s expression turned pitiful.
“My mom kicked me out.”
Lin Yuejiu: “??? What happened?”
“Don’t tell me you ran away from home?”
“Jiujiu!” Chen Qianxi looked utterly betrayed. “How can you think of me like that?”
Lin Yuejiu laughed. “Sorry, sorry. Then tell me what really happened.”
“…It’s a long story. Anyway, my mom kicked me out.”
Lin Yuejiu couldn’t hold back her smile.
“You must’ve done something to make Auntie angry. That’s why she drove you out.”
Chen Qianxi pouted. “Of course you’d be the one to figure it out.”
“Does Auntie know you came here?”
“Where else could I go besides here…” Chen Qianxi muttered under her breath.
More students came in one after another, and the classroom gradually filled up.
Once everyone was there, the man standing on the podium smiled:
“Alright, since everyone’s here, I’ll introduce myself. My name is Zhang Ruilun, and I was once a student of the Music Association.”
Someone boldly asked:
“Teacher, how old are you?”
Zhang Ruilun smiled:
“I’m 20 this year.”
“Ohhh—”
Lin Yuejiu and Ling Shule glanced at each other in surprise.
“Teacher, you’re so young!”
“You’re only three years older than us!”
“Teacher, do you need a girlfriend?”
Zhang Ruilun chuckled:
“Settle down. Even though I’m only three years older, I still know more than you.”
“We know, we know!”
“So do you have a girlfriend or not?”
“I’m single, and I don’t plan on dating anyone for now. And I’m not interested in high school girls,” he said with a faint smile.
Some people sighed in disappointment.
“Alright, alright, quiet down, let’s begin class.”
“Yes!”
—
After lunch, their first afternoon class was still with Zhang Ruilun.
“This period, let’s take a look at everyone’s ability.”
“Check our ability? How?”
“Each of you will come up one by one and play a piece. That way I can see your strengths and weaknesses.”
“Got it, Teacher!”
“I’ll call names. When I call you, come up.”
“Huang Qian.”
“Here.” The student who was called instinctively responded, suddenly nervous.
Zhang Ruilun gave her a warm smile:
“It’s alright, don’t be nervous. This isn’t anything big. We’re all one class, and it’s not a formal exam. Don’t be afraid.”
He called one after another, until finally—
“Ling Shule.”
Ling Shule flinched. Lin Yuejiu squeezed her hand for reassurance, then let go.
After Ling Shule played, Zhang asked:
“How long have you been practicing?”
“Three years.”
“Do you practice regularly?”
“Only sometimes, not every day.”
“Mm. You’ll need to train more from now on. At the very least, be able to smoothly perform one complete piece.”
“Alright, thank you, Teacher.”
“Next, Lin Yuejiu.”
She walked up, picked up her violin, and began to play.
After a minute, he asked:
“How long have you been practicing?”
“Eleven years.”
“Very good. Have you competed before?”
“No.”
“You’ve put in the time and you have the skill, but you lack stage experience. Since you haven’t competed, have you at least performed somewhere?”
“I’ve performed at some banquets.”
“Alright. You can return to your seat.”
“Okay.”
—
Class ended for the day. When Lin Yuejiu returned to the dormitory with Ling Shule, Chen Qianxi suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her hard.
Lin Yuejiu quickly raised a hand, her voice breaking from the shaking:
“Stop, stop!”
Chen Qianxi let go.
“Why are you in the dorm today? Isn’t it Saturday?”
At this, Chen Qianxi looked pitiful:
“My mom kicked me out.”
Lin Yuejiu: “??? What happened?”
“Don’t tell me you ran away from home?”
“Jiujiu!” Chen Qianxi looked at her in disbelief. “How could you think of me that way?”
Lin Yuejiu laughed:
“Sorry, sorry. Then tell me.”
“…It’s hard to explain. Anyway, she kicked me out.”
Lin Yuejiu couldn’t help but smile:
“You must have done something to make Auntie mad. That’s why she kicked you out.”
Chen Qianxi pouted.
“You’re too sharp.”
“Does Auntie know you’re here?”
“Where else could I go but here?” Chen Qianxi muttered softly.
“Better send her a message at least, let her know you’re safe.”
Chen Qianxi fidgeted, clearly unwilling.
“If you don’t, I’ll do it for you,” Lin Yuejiu reached for her phone.
She still wouldn’t give in.
“Xixi, don’t stay mad at your parents. One day, when you’re older, you’ll regret it. Parents are the ones who love you most in this world, you know?”
Chen Qianxi looked up at her. Lin Yuejiu smiled, her voice soft, though there was something hidden deep in her eyes.
Chen Qianxi’s chest tightened. She said, “You’re right. I’ll send it now.”
She quickly picked up her phone and texted her mom, then showed Lin Yuejiu:
“Jiujiu, look, I sent it.”
“Good.”
“By the way, Jiujiu, have you run into anything fun at the Music Association?”
Chen Qianxi changed the subject.
“Hmm? Nothing special.”
“Any handsome guys?” Her eyes sparkled.
“Handsome guys?” Lin Yuejiu blinked. “Maybe one.”
“Who?!”
“My teacher. His name is Zhang Ruilun.”
“What’s his vibe?”
“Refined, gentle—the scholarly type.”
Chen Qianxi’s eyes lit up:
“A refined gentleman!”
Lin Yuejiu smiled:
“You like that type?”
“Who doesn’t? Always smiling at you, always so considerate…”
“Stop.” Lin Yuejiu raised her hand.
Chen Qianxi shut up immediately.
“He’s 20.”
“Mm? 20 is a great age!”
“He also said he’s not interested in high school girls.”
“…Forget it then. I’m not into old men anyway.”
Lin Yuejiu shook her head with a laugh:
“Go wash up and get to bed.”
—
On Sunday, classes continued as normal.
While the others studied general violin knowledge, Zhang Ruilun pulled Lin Yuejiu aside to play so he could give her guidance.
She complied.
“Raise your elbow a little.”
His voice was close by her ear. He gently lifted her elbow to the right angle.
“Don’t keep your neck so stiff. Relax a little.”
Lin Yuejiu happened to meet his eyes. He smiled warmly.
Someone secretly snapped a photo of their eye contact.
—
Monday. Back to school.
The moment Lin Yuejiu stepped into the classroom, she felt something was wrong. The noisy room instantly quieted, and everyone’s eyes turned to her. She paused mid-step, then forced herself to act calm and walk to her seat. Once she sat down, she whispered to Xu Nianshen next to her:
“What’s going on? Why’s everyone staring at me?”
Xu Nianshen looked at her flatly:
“You don’t know?”
“…What should I know?”
Chen Qianxi poked her back then.
She turned:
“What is it?”
“Jiujiu, look at this photo.”
“What photo?” She leaned over to see Chen Qianxi’s phone. It was the picture from yesterday’s class—Zhang Ruilun correcting her, the moment they locked eyes. Edited with a filter, it looked… anything but ordinary.
Lin Yuejiu immediately understood the stares, rubbed her temples, and asked:
“Who posted this?”
“No idea. I just saw it on the school forum this morning.”
Chen Qianxi looked at her carefully:
“Jiujiu, is this the ‘refined gentleman’ you told me about Saturday night? Do you… have something going on with him?”
Lin Yuejiu gave her a look:
“You could make your imagination a little wilder if you tried.”
“What’s the harm?”
“He’s my teacher. Yesterday he was just correcting me. That eye contact was pure coincidence.”
Xu Nianshen’s pen paused mid-writing, then continued.
“Really nothing?”
“You trust some photo more than me?”
“Of course not! I believe you completely!” Chen Qianxi thumped her chest to prove it.
Lin Yuejiu sighed, turned back, and opened her book.
Their conversation wasn’t quiet, and since the room was silent, everyone overheard.
Ohhh—so it was just a misunderstanding. I knew it! My goddess is pure and untouched!
