Chapter 42: Give Me Candy
[The fake daughter is practicing again?]
[Heard she’s going to enter that competition.]
[Then she’s bound to win, right?]
[Not sure why, but everyone seems so confident in her.]
[I’m starting to look forward to it.]
—
When Chen Qianxi came back, Lin Yuejiu was still practicing. She stood quietly listening for a while before Lin Yuejiu finally stopped.
Lin Yuejiu stepped back in from the balcony and spotted her. “Mm, you’re back?”
“Yeah. I also just saw a post.”
“What post?”
“It said… the fake daughter is practicing again.”
Lin Yuejiu laughed. “Well, that’s not wrong.”
“Jiujiu…”
“Come on, Qianxi, don’t make that face. I really don’t mind anymore. Let them say what they want—besides, it’s not wrong. I am the fake daughter. I’ve figured it out now: it’s just a label, it doesn’t take a piece of me away. If anything, the nickname means people know who I am. A little recognition’s not bad at all.”
The ache in Chen Qianxi’s eyes returned.
Lin Yuejiu put down her violin and cupped her friend’s cheeks with a smile. “Really, it’s fine. Don’t look like that. I said I’ve moved on, so I have.”
Chen Qianxi pouted. “Alright then.”
—
The day of the competition arrived quickly.
Because it was a music contest, the school arranged for the senior students to attend and “cultivate their artistic spirit.”
In the audience weren’t just students, but also some people from the aristocratic circles—like the Lin family and the Xu family, as well as a few of Xu Nianshen’s friends.
“Alright, I now announce—the competition officially begins! Let’s welcome the first contestant.”
Backstage, Lin Yuejiu was still looking over her score sheet. Chen Qianxi sat by her side, keeping her company.
Lin Yuejiu sighed helplessly. “You really don’t want to sit in the audience?”
Chen Qianxi shook her head firmly. “No need. I’m staying right here with you until the very last second.”
Lin Yuejiu laughed. “This isn’t a battlefield. Don’t make it sound like life and death.”
“Ugh, just let me say it that way.”
“Fine, fine, whatever makes you happy.”
Lin Rumeng’s turn came before hers. While Rumeng was getting ready, Lin Yimo appeared backstage to cheer her on.
She looked at him with a smile. “Brother, can you hug me again? Just as encouragement.”
“Alright.”
Lin Yimo embraced her and even patted her head afterward.
Lin Yuejiu never once looked over.
Suppressing her discomfort, Lin Rumeng smiled. “Then, brother, I’ll head onstage?”
“Mm, good luck.”
Beside Lin Yuejiu, Chen Qianxi fanned her with a program booklet, muttering nonstop. “Jiujiu, your turn’s coming soon. Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous, okay?”
Lin Yuejiu chuckled. “You’re the one who’s nervous right now, aren’t you?”
Chen Qianxi nodded honestly. “A little, yeah. It’s just—it’s your first time on such a big stage, and it’s about your future too.”
“Don’t worry. It’s a small scene. Here, follow me—deep breath in, exhale…”
Chen Qianxi copied her, breathing in and out.
…Wait, something feels off.
The two lifted their eyes at the same time, blinked, then burst out laughing together.
“Thirsty?”
“A little.”
“I’ll get you some water.”
“Mm.”
Chen Qianxi went off with a cup. Lin Yuejiu kept studying her sheet music. Not long after, a tall shadow fell over her. She turned her head—Xu Nianshen’s sharp profile came into view.
Her breath instantly caught.
“Still staring at the score? Do you really have that little confidence in yourself?”
Her curled lashes fluttered lightly, and Xu Nianshen had already taken a step back.
“I’m just afraid I’ll forget something, so I keep checking.”
“Is this really the Lin Yuejiu I know?” His eyes curved gently.
Lin Yuejiu arched her brows at him. “Well, this is the Lin Yuejiu standing here. Believe it or not.”
Her tone made him laugh. He lifted his lips into a smile. “I’ll be waiting for your good news.”
“I definitely won’t let you down.”
Chen Qianxi, holding a cup of water, had just witnessed the whole exchange. Her heart was full of exasperation: God just keeps sending me candy every day. Can’t help it, I’m too lucky.
“Let’s welcome our next contestant—Lin Yuejiu.”
“It’s my turn?” She looked at Xu Nianshen.
“Mm. Good luck.”
She exhaled deeply, took up her violin, and walked onto the stage.
The moment she stepped out, Class 1 of Grade 3 cheered especially loudly: “Lin Yuejiu is the best!”
Lin Yuejiu nearly burst out laughing but managed to hold it back. She bowed first to the audience and judges, then nodded at the host, signaling that she was ready to begin.
The host quietly withdrew, disappearing into the shadows. All the lights focused on Lin Yuejiu alone. She began to play.
The violin’s sound was fluid and melodious—at times like a bird’s crisp call, at times like a graceful voice, at times like the rushing of spring water, carrying listeners into boundless imaginings.
Sweet notes leapt one after another, sparkling as they fell, wrapping everyone in a world of music.
Eyes closed, she poured her whole self into the performance. Her technique was deft, and the entire spotlight seemed to gather on her, cascading light over her like a blessed angel—pure and radiant.
Chen Qianxi, though immersed in the music, still remembered to take photos.
When the piece ended, Lin Yuejiu slowly opened her eyes.
The hall was utterly silent.
Then one person began to clap. Soon after, the applause thundered through the room.
Lin Yuejiu bowed to everyone.
The lights spread outward again, illuminating the entire stage. The host reemerged from the darkness.
“Alright, thank you, student Lin Yuejiu, for the performance.”
From the judges’ table, someone couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “May I ask, when did you begin learning violin?”
“When I was seven.”
“Have you won any prizes before?”
“No.”
“No?! Why not?!”
She answered honestly: “Because I’ve never entered any competitions.”
In the past, learning violin had only been to please the Lin family. She had never thought about winning for herself.
The judge nodded. “You said you’ve been practicing since seven. By right, your violin shouldn’t be new, correct?”
“My old violin went missing.”
“Ah, that’s a pity. But to adjust so well to a new instrument in such a short time—that’s really impressive.”
“Thank you.” She bowed again.
The host said, “Alright, then let’s have student Lin Yuejiu take a short rest backstage.”
“Alright.”
As soon as Lin Yuejiu returned backstage, Chen Qianxi threw her arms around her.
“Jiujiu, you were amazing! The piece was so beautiful!”
Lin Yuejiu smiled, hugging her back. “Thanks for the praise.”
“No, really! I’m sure you’ll be chosen! You didn’t see how the judges were looking at you—like a dog staring at a meaty bone!”
“…That’s not a very good metaphor, is it?”
Chen Qianxi thought it over carefully. “Hmm… maybe not. But it’s vivid, right?”
“You’re not wrong.”
