Chapter 47 – The Drink, Very Sweet
When the teacher entered the classroom, everyone instantly quieted down.
The matter had already spread throughout Class 1 of Grade 11, and then all over the school’s online forum.
Post thread excerpts:
[So relieved, my goddess is still single!]
[I don’t know why, but even though I can’t have her, I’m just happy knowing she’s single.]
[Scared me to death, I really thought something had happened.]
[Calm down, calm down. The moment I saw that photo, I knew it had to be a misunderstanding. My goddess has been single for so many years—how could she suddenly fall for a man she’s only met once? Impossible.]
….
[Am I the only one who wants to know why that teacher called her out alone?]
Ling Shule: [I’m in Violin Class 2 with Jiujiu. The teacher called her out alone because she practices more than the others, and her skills are stronger. The teacher values her, so he called her aside. We were all in the classroom.]
[Ah, mystery solved. I get it now.]
…
[What can I say? As expected of the fake daughter, still just as outstanding.]
…
[Her other name is basically “Excellence.”]
The matter came to an end.
Soon it was Saturday again. Lin Yuejiu and Ling Shule went to the music association. Everyone was in the classroom waiting for the teacher, chattering noisily.
Lin Yuejiu asked if anyone had taken the photo of her and the teacher last week. Someone stood up.
“That… it was me. Is there something wrong?”
“It’s nothing, just that… the photo got circulated around, and it caused me some trouble.”
The student panicked: “Ah, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean it!”
Lin Yuejiu waved her hand: “It’s fine, it’s already settled. I just hope you don’t take photos next time.”
The student scratched their head awkwardly: “I only thought it looked beautiful in that moment, I didn’t think it would cause you problems. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay, really. It’s settled now. Just don’t let it happen again.”
“Yes, of course! It won’t happen again.”
“Mm.”
At that moment, Zhang Ruilun walked in, and the classroom fell quiet for the lesson.
After class, Lin Yuejiu left the classroom for a walk. Standing by the third-floor window, she could faintly hear someone practicing violin upstairs on the fourth floor. After a minute or two, she turned to leave but bumped into someone.
“Sorry…” she said instinctively.
Looking up at a familiar face, she froze.
“You—why are you here?!”
Xu Nianshen lowered his eyes slightly. “Why can’t I be here?”
Lin Yuejiu blinked, struggling to believe her eyes. “Wait… do you even play violin?”
“No.”
“Then what are you doing in the music association? Visiting? But I thought outsiders weren’t allowed in here so easily?” Her face was full of confusion.
Xu Nianshen let out a faint laugh, though it wasn’t clear if it was from anger or amusement. “So in your eyes, if I appear here, there are only two possibilities? Either I’m a visitor or I can play violin?”
“Then… is there some other reason?” she asked uncertainly.
He gave her a long, deep look.
Just then, Zhang Ruilun walked over. Xu Nianshen had his back to him, so he didn’t see clearly, but he did spot Lin Yuejiu.
“Lin Yuejiu, class is about to start. Why are you still here?”
“Yes, teacher. I’m heading in now.”
She started to leave, but her wrist was suddenly caught. She turned back—Xu Nianshen was holding onto her.
“What’s wrong?”
His grip tightened slightly, then loosened. “Nothing. Go to class.”
He glanced once at Zhang Ruilun, then turned and walked away.
Lin Yuejiu gave him a small nod and headed back.
Zhang Ruilun adjusted his glasses. Had he imagined it, or did that male student’s gaze just now seem hostile? But why? He was pretty sure they’d never met before. What had he done to offend him?
His gaze shifted toward Lin Yuejiu’s departing figure, and instinct told him it must have something to do with her.
Midway through class, Huang Weixue came to call Lin Yuejiu out and informed her of an upcoming competition.
Lin Yuejiu immediately understood. “Teacher, do you want me to participate in this competition?”
“Mm, with your ability, there’s no problem for you to join the competition.”
“But I…”
“I know what you want to say. You want to say that you’ve never joined a competition before, that you’re not ready yet. But you need to understand, this day will come sooner or later. It’s better to enter earlier than later. Besides, you’ve already delayed it for far too long.”
Lin Yuejiu said nothing.
“Oh right, this competition isn’t just a solo performance for you.”
Lin Yuejiu froze: “There’s someone else?”
“It’s a violin and piano duet. The person who will play with you has already come today. You don’t have to attend afternoon classes—go rehearse with your partner. The competition is on the Sunday after next.”
“The Sunday after next? That soon?”
“Mm, which means time is short. You’ll have to make the most of it.”
“Alright then. I’ll do my best.”
Huang Weixue nodded. “I’ve got other matters to attend to, I’ll head off first.”
Lin Yuejiu had just thought of something she wanted to ask, but he had already walked away.
She sighed. Forget it—she would find out sooner or later anyway.
Zhang Ruilun seemed to have learned about this as well, and he gave her some advice on things to pay attention to when playing in a duet.
Lin Yuejiu nodded. “Thank you, teacher.”
That afternoon, Huang Weixue brought her to the duet rehearsal room.
“The person I’ll be playing with is inside?”
“Mm, inside. I don’t know if you two know each other.”
The door opened, and she saw the scene inside—a boy sat at the piano bench. Hearing the sound, he turned his head toward them, his gaze meeting hers.
Lin Yuejiu suddenly remembered—
One afternoon, bored at home, she went over to Xu Nianshen’s house.
“Auntie Xu, I’m here again!”
“Yuejiu again? Nianshen’s upstairs in his room, go find him yourself.”
“Okay, Auntie.”
“Oh, right. Auntie made mung bean soup. It’s already cooled, come have some.”
Xu’s mother found a cup, carefully put in a wide straw, then prepared another cup for Xu Nianshen.
Lin Yuejiu took it, thanked her, and sipped. Her eyes lit up: “So sweet! It’s so good!”
Xu’s mother beamed. “I’m glad you like it. Here, could you bring this one up to Nianshen for me?”
“Sure, Auntie, I’ll take it up!”
“Mm, careful on the stairs.”
“Okay okay!”
Holding both cups, she walked upstairs while sipping, her mouth full of the sweet flavor of mung bean soup.
She went to Xu Nianshen’s room. The door wasn’t locked, but he wasn’t inside. After swallowing the beans in her mouth, she went to look in the other rooms.
In one of them, she heard sound. She gently pushed the door open.
What she saw was a boy in a white shirt sitting at the piano, long slender fingers resting lightly on the black and white keys—strikingly beautiful.
She blinked and curiously asked: “Xu Nianshen, you can play the piano?”
“No.”
“Then what are you doing sitting here?”
“Just looking around.”
“Ohhh.” Lin Yuejiu didn’t think much of it. She handed him the other cup of mung bean soup. “Here, Auntie Xu told me to give this to you.”
Xu Nianshen accepted it, lowered his gaze, and asked softly: “Is it good?”
She couldn’t stop herself from nodding hard. “Mm-mm-mm, super delicious! Try it!”
Xu Nianshen took a sip as she suggested.
Lin Yuejiu licked her lips, watching him. “Well? How is it? Good?”
Xu Nianshen’s dark eyes met hers. “Good.”
“Very sweet.”
