Chapter 41: The Piano Prodigy
Before the end of the first year of college, there is a highly anticipated New Year's Eve gala.
Because Xiang Yang's school is a music academy, it's not short of talented students who are good at singing, dancing, and various other skills.
There are many entries for the program from the beginning. After three rounds of selection and two rehearsals, Xiang Yang's piano solo, as the finale of the New Year's Eve gala, astounds the audience with her exquisite skills.
From attracting attention during the preliminary rounds to her stunning performance at the New Year's Eve gala, many students in the academy know that there's a freshman in the piano department who is particularly good at playing the piano. She's even better than the upperclassmen who have been studying for two or three years.
However, they quickly find out that this amazing beauty seems to have a boyfriend. He comes to her dorm to deliver breakfast every morning. Sometimes, he even plays basketball at her school, and the beauty will go to watch. Those who witnessed it say that they have a good relationship.
Xing Zhaoyan doesn't pay attention to his own school's gala on New Year's Eve. He goes to Xiang Yang's school and acts as an audience member. So when she shines on stage, the commotion among the students makes him more or less aware of the situation. After New Year's Eve, he goes to her school every day.
One afternoon, when Xiang Yang is preparing to go to the library, she receives a call from Xing Zhaoyan. He asks her where she is.
Xiang Yang replies, “Of course, I'm at school!”
“I know you're at school. I'm asking about your exact location.”
Xiang Yang says, “What's wrong? I was just about to go to the library to study.”
Xing Zhaoyan smiles after hearing this. “Then wait for me downstairs at your school's library.”
“What?” Xiang Yang hasn't figured out what's going on, but he hangs up the phone. She guesses that he must be coming to find her.
Sure enough, she's only been at the library for a while when she sees him walking towards her with a smile.
Xiang Yang is curious. “Isn't it almost time for the final exams? Why are you suddenly so free?”
Xing Zhaoyan asks her back, “When did you think I was free?”
“Then why don't you have to review and you're just running around our school?”
Xing Zhaoyan points to his backpack behind him. “Have I not been studying since I've been coming to your school? Besides, coming to your school is also studying. See? I brought my textbooks.”
“Why did you...”
Xing Zhaoyan knows what she's going to say and interrupts. “I remember that you don't have classes on Thursday afternoons. And now that the New Year's program is finally over, you're not practicing anymore. I guessed you would come to the library. See? I know you best.”
It seems like that's the case.
Xiang Yang smiles. “Then let's go.”
“Hm, let's go.”
The two of them find a corner in the library and sit facing each other, each lowering their heads to study. Only occasionally does Xing Zhaoyan raise his head to look at her. His gaze is intense. Xiang Yang feels it, of course. But when she looks up at him, he immediately pretends to look at his books and do problems without doing anything.
The library is very quiet. Time ticks by. Xiang Yang's review is quite effective, and she's in a good mood. So in the evening, she smiles. “Let's go. I'll treat you to dinner. Let's call Xiaoyu.”
Xing Zhaoyan only hesitates for a second. Then he smiles slightly. “Okay!”
But when Xiang Yang calls Fan Xiaoyu, she says that she made plans with her roommates to go out to eat, so she can't make it. A three-person outing becomes a two-person outing. Xiang Yang doesn't know how to tell Xing Zhaoyan to make it next time, so she reluctantly agrees to go out to eat at a restaurant near the school with him.
The food at the restaurant is quite good. Xiang Yang orders two dishes herself and then leaves the rest to Xing Zhaoyan. Xing Zhaoyan orders two more dishes based on her tastes.
When the waiter leaves, Xiang Yang says, “Actually, you don't have to consider my preferences.”
Xing Zhaoyan replies, “It's okay. What you like, I happen to like as well.”
The food hasn't come yet. Xiang Yang doesn't know what to talk to him about, but luckily, Xing Zhaoyan has lots of topics. Xiang Yang occasionally adds a word or two, so it isn't awkward. But she doesn't expect to see other girls from her class here.
Although Xiang Yang isn't close with most of the girls in her class, they're still on nodding terms.
Three or four girls seem to have just finished eating and are preparing to leave when they suddenly see Xiang Yang. They walk over and greet her. “Xiang Yang, what a coincidence! You're here too!”
Xiang Yang is startled. Then she says, “You're here too?”
“Yeah, we just finished eating.” Then their gaze drifts to Xing Zhaoyan's face. They smile and say, “Xiang Yang, we won't interrupt your dinner with the handsome guy. Bye!”
Xiang Yang is afraid they'll say something, but luckily, they immediately leave. She smiles and says, “Hm, bye.”
After they leave, Xing Zhaoyan sees that she's relaxed, so he pretends to joke. “You seem so nervous. Why?”
“Is that so?” Xiang Yang is unwilling to admit it.
Xing Zhaoyan replies, “You're quite nervous.”
Xiang Yang gives a forced smile and changes the subject. Luckily, Xing Zhaoyan doesn't continue with this topic.
Xiang Yang just wants this meal to end quickly.
Later, Xing Zhaoyan doesn't come to find Xiang Yang for several days. Her roommates are puzzled. They ask Xiang Yang, “Did you have a fight with that handsome guy?”
Her roommates know that Xiang Yang and Xing Zhaoyan aren't boyfriend and girlfriend yet, but they still tease her a few times. But when they see that Xiang Yang's face looks bad and she doesn't seem to like them talking about it, they unanimously stop mentioning that they're in that kind of relationship.
Although Xiang Yang is a little uncomfortable, she still says, “No, we didn't fight.”
Her roommates are even more puzzled. “Then why hasn't he come to find you lately?”
Xiang Yang explains, “He's probably busy. Everyone's going to have their final exams soon, aren't they?”
Her roommates are half-believing. “Xiang Yang, you didn't hurt the handsome guy's feelings, did you?”
“How's that possible! Stop teasing me.” Xiang Yang thinks for a moment. She doesn't think she said anything too harsh. It's not possible.
Actually, Xing Zhaoyan is quite concerned. He understands that she was so nervous when they met classmates at dinner because she was afraid that others would misunderstand their relationship. This realization actually makes him uncomfortable.
But after a few days, he adjusts his mindset. He's been planning to run a marathon. This is only the first semester. What's the point of being depressed?
So when Xiang Yang finishes her exams, he calls a car to go to her school the next morning and help her carry her luggage, on the way to the airport.
Xiang Yang is a little dazed when she receives his call. “Didn't your school finish exams one day earlier?”
So Fan Xiaoyu went back early.
Xing Zhaoyan says, “I have something to do with the student union. I got delayed for a couple of days.”
“Oh.” Xiang Yang can only believe him.
“Is it convenient? If it is, I'll go to the entrance of your dorm and help you carry your luggage downstairs.”
Xiang Yang lives on the eighth floor. That's not a short distance. It will be easier for her if he helps. So she doesn't hesitate to thank him.
Knowing that a handsome guy is helping Xiang Yang carry her luggage, the girls in the dorm are envious and jealous. They intentionally say, “Oh, it's good to have a high school classmate at the neighboring school. He delivers breakfast every day, and he even helps to carry your luggage at crucial times. It's so good!”
Xiang Yang can't stand their tone, which is intentionally high-pitched. She turns around and glares at them. “Can you please shut up?”
“Shut up, shut up! If we keep talking, maybe we'll lose our snacks for next semester!”
Xiang Yang shakes her head, helpless against them.
Xiang Yang originally thought he would go back to his hometown, but she didn't expect him to be on the same flight as her.
Xiang Yang watches him busy checking in her luggage and asks in surprise, “Aren't you going home?”
“I'm also going back to Qinglin City.” Xing Zhaoyan replies.
Xiang Yang is puzzled. “Aren't you going home for the Spring Festival?”
“I have something to do there. I'll go back for a few days when I'm free.”
Xiang Yang replies, “Oh,” and doesn't ask him what he's busy with.
Actually, a newly established game company in Qinglin City is recruiting talent. Xing Zhaoyan is going for an interview. Even though he explains that he can only work at the company during winter and summer vacations, they don't seem to mind. Probably because the company has just been established and is desperately short-staffed.
After a few days of happy winter vacation, Xiang Yang receives a call from an unknown number one afternoon.
“Hello, is this Xiang Yang?”
Xiang Yang listens to the clear female voice. She can't remember who it is. “Hello, this is Xiang Yang. Who is this?”
“Do you remember me? I'm Guanxian's former piano teacher, last name Wang. We met a few years ago. Do you still remember?”
Fu Guanxian's piano teacher…
Xiang Yang immediately remembers. In junior high, he tricked her into helping him out, and she even performed on stage.
“I remember. Teacher, what's the matter?”
“It's like this, Xiang Yang. I received a notice from the city. There's a city-wide piano competition. If you pass, there will be a concert after the Spring Festival. Are you interested and do you have time? Would you like to try?”
Xiang Yang says she'll consider it, but the next day, she makes an appointment to meet with the teacher.
After that, it's nothing but practice, practice, practice. After the preliminary rounds, the finals, and the grand finals, Xiang Yang becomes a dark horse and wins the championship.
Some videos of the competition process have been posted online, and there are quite a few people watching them.
After the grand finals, there are only a few days left before the Spring Festival. Xiang Yang accompanies Jiang Manxin to buy New Year's goods, and her life is quite comfortable and leisurely. Most importantly, she hears that Fu Guanxian won't be coming back this Spring Festival. It seems like he's really busy.
Fu Guanxian, who has been busy in front of the computer and only drinks coffee when he is thirsty, sees that there is a new call on the phone next to him. He finally reaches out to rub his temples and picks up the phone. “Hello?”
It's Teacher Wang who's calling him. She says cheerfully on the other side of the phone, “Guanxian, the person you recommended is really great. You didn't let me down. She won the championship! I've already sent you the tickets to the concert. Come if you have time.”
Fu Guanxian smiles slightly. “Teacher Wang, you actually called me to ask about this. I just went with the flow.”
Teacher Wang laughs twice. “Okay, thank you. Happy New Year! Take care of yourself when you're away from home.”
“Okay, Happy New Year to you too.”
Fu Guanxian hangs up the phone and is unusually lost in thought.
A month ago, he received a call from the teacher. She briefly told him about this event and then asked, “Guanxian, are you interested?”
Fu Guanxian smiles. “You know I'm not interested in these things.”
The teacher laughs but doesn't answer.
Fu Guanxian knows she has something else in mind. “Just say it.”
Teacher Wang gets straight to the point. “Is that little girl from a few years ago still learning piano? I think she's quite suitable. But I called her and found out she changed her phone number and I couldn't get in touch with her.”
Xiang Yang did change her phone number when she went to university.
Although Fu Guanxian has never called her, he still has her number in his phone.
He pauses for a moment and directly gives her a string of eleven digits. “Contact her yourself. As far as I know, she majors in piano at university.”
“That's great! I'll contact her now.”
As they both predicted, she's quite talented. It was expected that she would win.
Fu Guanxian thinks about this and unconsciously, her petite figure appears in his mind. He slowly closes his eyes, then opens them and stares at the computer screen, thinking about his schedule. But his brows are furrowed.
~~~~~
Author's Note:
— Xing Zhaoyan, what's your secret to chasing girls?
Xing Zhaoyan
— 1. Make your presence known. 2. Make your presence known. 3. Still make your presence known.
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