Clicking on the link, Liu Ronglan saw a video of an evening event.
The video started from the beginning of Liu Manman’s performance, with two verbose hosts delivering their opening remarks.
Realizing that this was not a formal or significant gala, a rather impatient Liu Ronglan didn’t bother watching through to the end. She exited the video and asked her friend what was going on.
Her friend urged her to watch patiently.
Opening the link again and dragging the progress bar forward a bit, Liu Ronglan saw her granddaughter and Xia Yu walking onto the stage together, holding guzhengs.
A sense of confusion arose in Liu Ronglan’s mind. She knew Liu Manman was going to participate in the Huada Mid-Autumn Festival gala, but she had no idea that Xia Yu would be there too.
Why hadn’t Liu Manman told her about Xia Yu?
A sense of impending crisis flashed through her mind.
Although she greatly admired Xia Yu, Liu Ronglan had no intention of letting her granddaughter get involved with him.
Xia Yu had inherited the essence of the Hua School guzheng style. His playing was not only skillful but also stylish, and undoubtedly would attract many girls in the future. If Xia Yu wasn’t careful, her granddaughter might end up wearing a green hat.
Thinking she should talk to Liu Manman about this later, Liu Ronglan continued watching the video.
She wondered what her friend meant by “something big” and whether the two kids had performed a love song together or publicly declared their relationship.
Liu Ronglan’s heart grew even more anxious.
Although she hadn’t heard any rumors, she believed it was entirely possible that Xia Yu had secretly won over her granddaughter.
As a former inheritor of the Hua School guzheng tradition, she clearly understood the kind of allure people like them possessed.
She was already considering whether she should break up this budding relationship or pressure Xia Yu to avoid infidelity.
Just as she was contemplating whether she should mention this to Kong Hanyue, the guzheng music began playing in the video.
Liu Ronglan immediately recognized something unusual about the piece.
She instantly forgot her previous concerns and immersed herself in appreciating the music.
Five minutes later, she dragged the progress bar back and listened again.
After finishing, she didn’t even have time to talk to her friend. Liu Ronglan picked up her phone and immediately dialed Xia Yu.
“You have reached a number that is currently switched off.”
The recorded message played.
After hanging up, Liu Ronglan frowned: What could he possibly be doing turning his phone off this late at night?
A possibility flashed through her mind.
In a hurry, she quickly dialed Liu Manman.
“What is it, Grandma?” Liu Manman’s voice came through.
Hearing her granddaughter’s normal tone, Liu Ronglan relaxed slightly.
“What are you doing right now? What about Xia Yu?” she asked.
“I’m stuck in the music room with three teachers going over the piece,” Liu Manman took the opportunity to complain. “Xia Yu ran off by himself!”
“Oh.” Liu Ronglan was completely relieved and then asked about the music.
“It’s Xia Yu’s composition,” Liu Manman said.
Liu Ronglan wanted to ask, “Really?” but she knew Liu Manman wouldn’t joke about something like this.
Previously, Xia Yu and An Siyao had collaborated on a revised version of “The Source Temple Beyond the World,” which had already surprised her greatly. Now Xia Yu had composed this piece, “White Horse in the Rain,” entirely on his own, which amazed her even more.
Creating such a piece by himself, Xia Yu had already earned the opportunity to be remembered in the world of guzheng.
Her previous thoughts suddenly wavered.
“You aren’t dating Xia Yu, are you?” Liu Ronglan asked.
“Of course not!” Liu Manman protested.
“Oh.” Liu Ronglan’s voice involuntarily carried a hint of disappointment.
“By the way, Xia Yu also wrote a piece called ‘White Horse,’ and this ‘White Horse in the Rain’ is the ensemble version he adapted from it.” Liu Manman used Penguin to send Liu Ronglan a video of Xia Yu performing “White Horse.”
Five minutes later, she received another call from Liu Ronglan.
“Are you really not dating Xia Yu?”
“I told you, we’re not!” Liu Manman said impatiently.
“Well, I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if you did date a little,” Liu Ronglan said persuasively.
“What?” Liu Manman was astonished.
“Nothing, nothing. As long as you two are happy,” Liu Ronglan hung up the phone.
Putting down her phone, Liu Manman rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
Dating Xia Yu?
But he already had An Siyao.
Besides, for An Siyao, he had even discarded his own composition to exchange for a sapphire crown for her.
That was truly admirable.
Liu Manman felt envious.
After dealing with the three Huada music teachers, Liu Manman took out her phone and sent An Siyao some notes on sapphire care.
Moments later, An Siyao replied:
“I don’t have a sapphire. I think I have a ruby, though. Is this information applicable to rubies too?”
Seeing this reply, Liu Manman blinked her eyes. Hadn’t Xia Yu said the sapphire crown was meant as a Mid-Autumn Festival gift for someone else? Now it was already evening, and An Siyao still hadn’t received it?
Or perhaps, the crown wasn’t actually intended for An Siyao, but for another girl like You Xue or Kong Hanyue?
No, it couldn’t be Kong Hanyue. If Kong Hanyue had received it, she would definitely have bragged to her grandmother, and her grandmother would have asked her about it.
It couldn’t be You Xue either, because You Xue would also have boasted about it to her.
That meant Xia Yu had given the sapphire crown to another girl with no connection to her!
Detective Liu Manman reached her conclusion.
I never thought you were this kind of Xia Yu!
“?!”
On her phone screen, An Siyao sent another message after receiving no reply for a while.
Liu Manman began to feel conflicted: Should she tell An Siyao that Xia Yu had betrayed her?
After a moment, she dismissed the idea.
Compared to An Siyao, whom she had only known for a short time, Xia Yu, her junior apprentice and someone who had even given her a musical composition, was undoubtedly closer to her.
“It’s nothing, nothing. I must have sent the message to the wrong person!” Liu Manman lied.
To prevent An Siyao from asking further questions, Liu Manman sent another message: “I have something else to do. Talk later.”
Putting her phone away, Liu Manman felt a pang of guilt.
She wanted to send Xia Yu a message but couldn’t figure out how to bring up the matter and eventually gave up.
The next morning, at the airport.
After watching Xu Youxiang pass through security, Xia Yu turned to look at An Siyao beside him.
He felt a bit guilty. He had been so preoccupied with preparing a gift for Xu Youxiang that he forgot to ask Liu Manman for another piece of jewelry for An Siyao.
An Siyao didn’t understand Xia Yu’s thoughts but could sense that his gaze was somewhat different from usual.
Assuming Xia Yu was upset because Xu Youxiang had left, An Siyao reached out her hand to hold his, giving him a smile.
Xia Yu’s anxiety disappeared, replaced by a sense of guilt.
Patting the girl’s head, Xia Yu said, “I’ll make it up to you later.”
“What do you mean?” An Siyao asked, puzzled.
“The Mid-Autumn Festival gift,” Xia Yu said.
“You have to give gifts for the Mid-Autumn Festival too!” An Siyao was greatly surprised. She started calculating how many assets she had and which one would be best to give Xia Yu.
Finally settling on a suitable gift, An Siyao let out a sigh of relief, only to be faced with an even greater worry.
If there was a gift for the Mid-Autumn Festival, what about National Day? And after National Day, there were the Double Ninth Festival, New Year’s Day…
An Siyao deeply felt her own financial inadequacy and began thinking about how to get more assets from An Tiansheng and Yu Liang.
“I’ll give you the gift in a few days,” An Siyao lifted her head and promised Xia Yu earnestly.
Xia Yu thought An Siyao was referring to an ordinary gift. He calmly replied with an “Okay.”
Not until two days later did An Siyao approach him with a stack of documents.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage