Chapter 76 — With The Same Lively, Slightly Teasing Tone
On the bus, Lin Yuejiu handed her medal to Xu Nianshen.
He looked up at her, as if asking what this meant.
“Thank you.”
“??? Isn’t this just another math competition medal for you?”
“Yeah,” Yuejiu smiled at him, “so I’m giving it to you.”
Xu Nianshen lowered his eyes slightly: “The original…?”
Yuejiu winked at him, looking innocent and sweet: “Do you want the truth or a lie?”
He was amused: “Truth.”
“Alright, since you chose truth, I’ll tell you,” she said seriously, meeting his gaze. “My math was never good before. Even going to tutoring didn’t help much. Then you taught me math, helped me understand the problems, never complained that I was slow, and patiently taught me for a long time. That’s how my grades improved. It’s the same for competitions: whether it was prelims or finals, you taught me so much. Without you, I probably would have given up. I’ve never really liked math. You were there encouraging me, giving me confidence to keep going. So if I got this medal, most of the credit goes to you.”
Xu Nianshen quietly gazed at her, the calm lake of his eyes now rippling slightly.
Seeing him silent, she asked, “You don’t believe me?”
A smile slowly appeared in his eyes: “I do. How could I not believe you?”
His voice was low, clear, and pleasant, with a faintly heart-fluttering quality.
Hearing the last part, Yuejiu’s hidden ear in her hair turned red: “W-what…?”
Xu Nianshen lifted his eyes and looked straight at her: “I believe you.”
His voice was firm.
Yuejiu smiled in return: “Just take it quickly. If I wait any longer, I might change my mind.”
“I wouldn’t give it to you even if you changed your mind.”
At school, they were surprised to find the classroom full. The homeroom teacher, already aware of their win, stood at the door smiling. The two greeted her before entering, and as soon as they stepped into the classroom, all the students clapped in unison:
“Congratulations to Lin Yuejiu and Xu Nianshen for winning first place in the math competition!”
Lin Yuejiu and Xu Nianshen: “…Thank you.”
Not long after sitting down, the principal’s voice came over the PA:
“Congratulations to Lin Yuejiu and Xu Nianshen of Class 2-1 for winning first place in the math competition. Our school is the only one with two first-place winners. All students should learn from them! Now, please give them a round of applause!”
The applause from Class 2-1 was thunderous.
Lin Yuejiu and Xu Nianshen exchanged a glance, each seeing the same helpless amusement in the other’s eyes.
When the bell rang, their seats were immediately surrounded. Lin Yuejiu quickly handed over the medal so others could see it for themselves. The golden medal was soon covered in fingerprints—everyone trying to see whose was whose.
—
After the crowd dispersed, everyone went back to their own routines. Yuejiu returned to the dorm and barely sat down before Huang Weixue called.
“Hello, Teacher.” She greeted politely.
“Hmm, how was the competition?”
“First place.”
“Impressive, just as I expected from my student!”
“Teacher, did you call for some reason?” She shifted the topic.
“Yes, I wanted to tell you—you’ll be performing the violin tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Yuejiu exclaimed. “But I haven’t practiced at all. I haven’t touched my violin in a week!”
“Don’t worry, I haven’t finished,” Huang Weixue reassured her. “It’s not a new piece—you’ll perform the same ensemble piece as last time.”
“The same as last time? When Xu Nianshen and I played together?”
“Yes.”
“But we already performed that!”
“A senior music teacher has recently arrived at the association. I heard about your performance, so he wants to hear it live.”
“Okay, got it. Did the teacher inform Xu Nianshen?”
“I just sent him a message. No reply yet, but he probably saw it.”
“Okay. So where will the performance be?”
“Right in the association’s practice room.”
“Alright.”
“Come early tomorrow morning. He’s busy in the morning and will perform in the afternoon. You can use the morning to practice.”
“Got it, thank you, Teacher.”
“Mm, get some rest.”
“Okay, goodbye, Teacher.”
After hanging up, she immediately sent Xu Nianshen a message: [Did you see Teacher Huang’s message?]
Xu Nianshen: [Saw it.]
Lin Student: [So when do we go tomorrow?]
Xu Nianshen: [After breakfast, nine o’clock.]
Lin Student: [Okay.]
Xu Nianshen: [Rest early.]
Lin Student: [You too.]
At nine o’clock on Sunday morning, the two arrived punctually at the music association entrance. They nodded to each other and went into the same practice room as last time.
In the afternoon, Huang Weixue arrived with the visiting teacher. They started playing, and their coordination was just like before, if not even better.
After finishing, neither of them moved. Both eyes were on the teacher.
The teacher rested a hand on his chin, silent and contemplative.
Huang Weixue stood quietly beside him. Lin Yuejiu’s hands still gripped the violin; her palms were slightly sweaty.
After a long pause, the teacher finally spoke: “How long have you been playing the violin?”
Huang Weixue asked: “Who are you asking?”
“Her,” the teacher said, pointing at Lin Yuejiu.
“Eleven years,” she answered immediately.
“Eleven years—was it self-directed?”
“Outside of study time, I mostly practiced during my free time.”
The teacher nodded, then asked: “Do you practice because you enjoy it?”
Lin Yuejiu pressed her lips together, then relaxed them: “Not at first, but now I do.”
“So, for the past eleven years, you didn’t play because of your own interest, but for someone else?”
Lin Yuejiu was startled, then admitted: “Yes.”
“No wonder your sound lacked what I wanted to hear. It seems those eleven years were just about technique and skill.”
Lin Yuejiu had no words to refute it. She quietly listened, the sweat on her hands growing.
No one had ever told her this before. She realized she had been floating aimlessly, and now, suddenly criticized, her heart sank, panicked.
Huang Weixue silently stood by.
The teacher glanced at her: “Alright, that’s enough for today.”
“Okay, I’ll see you out.”
Huang Weixue escorted the teacher out of the practice room. Suddenly, it was just Lin Yuejiu and Xu Nianshen inside.
The teacher’s departure seemed to lift the heavy atmosphere, and Lin Yuejiu finally relaxed, her legs weak.
Xu Nianshen steadied her from behind, silent.
The room was quiet, with only Lin Yuejiu’s steadying breaths breaking the stillness.
