Liu Ronglan was still talking about the posture for playing the guzheng. She acknowledged Xia Yu’s talent in technique and affirmed his efforts in learning, but why couldn’t he spare some energy to adjust his demeanor and make his performance a bit more charming?
“This isn’t the past anymore, when people could only listen to guzheng through tapes and radios. Now it’s video, video,” Liu Ronglan emphasized. “Therefore, visual appeal is equally important.”
As she was speaking, she saw Xia Yu place his hands on the strings absentmindedly.
“Young man, are you even listening to me…” Liu Ronglan’s words suddenly stopped because Xia Yu’s aura had completely changed.
Looking at Xia Yu, Liu Ronglan felt that his usual laziness had vanished, replaced by a serene elegance.
His fingers moved, producing the first note.
Liu Ronglan became excited.
Yes! This was exactly the feeling—the arc of his fingers, the way he gazed at the instrument!
The piece Xia Yu played was of moderate difficulty, named “White Composure.”
It was originally an elegant melody, but under Xia Yu’s fingers, it gained an aristocratic charm.
Liu Ronglan slowed her breathing, afraid of disturbing Xia Yu.
Kong Hanyue, who had been preparing to watch the fun, also stopped eating chips and widened her eyes.
After Xia Yu finished playing, Kong Hanyue grabbed his hand, but before she could ask anything, Liu Ronglan pulled her aside.
Grasping Xia Yu’s hand, Liu Ronglan said excitedly, “Exactly! This feeling—the fusion of your aura with the music—is the very concept of our Huapai school!”
After calming down slightly, Liu Ronglan released Xia Yu’s hand and continued, “You’ve grasped the concept. Now it’s time for me to teach you the secret techniques of our Huapai.”
“??? “
Teaching the secret techniques only after mastering the school’s philosophy?
Xia Yu apologetically glanced at Kong Hanyue. He had originally thought that Kong Hanyue’s idea of treating guzheng scores like martial arts manuals was just her being playful, but it turned out Liu Ronglan had started this first.
“I’ll teach you the basics of the secret techniques first,” Liu Ronglan said, approaching the guzheng and beginning to play.
As she reached the guzheng, her smile vanished, and her entire demeanor turned icy.
In her youth, Liu Ronglan was known as the “flower on the high ridge” because of her cold aura while playing the guzheng.
After admiring Liu Ronglan’s aura, Xia Yu focused on the music.
Xia Yu had never heard this piece before. Its melody was passionate, and the techniques were complex.
Watching Liu Ronglan’s hands rapidly moving across the strings, Xia Yu understood the piece’s difficulty.
While maintaining a fast tempo, it was also a highly technical piece. After watching for a minute, Xia Yu had already identified four different playing techniques.
As the piece progressed, Liu Ronglan’s hands moved faster and faster, until Xia Yu could barely track her finger movements.
Fortunately, Xia Yu had dexterity level 3, which enhanced his reaction speed, allowing him to watch the entire piece without missing a beat.
“This piece is named POD042. During World War II, our Huapai ancestors created it together while studying abroad in other regions,” Liu Ronglan explained.
Xia Yu nodded.
“Start practicing now.”
For the following time, Xia Yu learned this piece.
The moon set, and the sun rose.
Lying on the bed, Xia Yu stared at the three options, feeling troubled.
An Siyao, Xu Youxiang, and White Cat—he had to choose where to go.
An Siyao offered delicious food, Xu Youxiang had games, and White Cat had a little girl who made him feel cat-like comfort.
Xia Yu now understood the dilemma of ancient emperors. If even he struggled with choosing among just three options, how much more difficult it must have been for emperors who had dozens of concubines to choose from.
He wondered whether he could eventually reach the emperor’s level of dilemma.
After thinking for a while, Xia Yu clicked on An Siyao’s option.
He hadn’t seen the little silly girl in a few days; he should go check on her.
Mainly to get something to eat.
As the screen darkened, Xia Yu found himself in An Siyao’s garden.
The girl was sitting on a chair on the balcony of her bedroom, sipping tea.
Looking at the half-finished cup of black tea on the table beside her, Xia Yu felt a strange emotion.
Did this count as indirect contact?
Still, asking the maid for another teacup would seem like rejection.
He decided against it.
Picking up the teacup, Xia Yu took a sip.
The milky black tea had no bitterness, blending tea fragrance with milk aroma, creating a wonderful taste.
He also grabbed a small biscuit to munch on.
“Has something happened lately?” An Siyao’s voice echoed in Xia Yu’s mind.
“No, why do you think that?” Xia Yu asked, puzzled.
“You haven’t come over for six days.”
“…”
Had it really been that long?
It was all because of White Cat’s mysterious bonus, which had occupied his attention for so many days!
Although he blamed White Cat, Xia Yu still felt a bit guilty.
Damn it! It was supposed to be a mutual relationship—she asked him to learn piano after I helped her suppress her subordinates!
As for Xu Youxiang, he could visit whenever he wanted without any guilt!
“I encountered some trouble, but it’s resolved now,” Xia Yu told An Siyao.
“Okay then.” After a brief silence, An Siyao added, “Do you need help? I have a lot of money.”
“Just keep an eye on Xu Youxiang,” Xia Yu said.
“Okay.” An Siyao’s mood brightened.
Although she had no particular interest in watching Xu Youxiang, this was something done for “him.”
A romantic feeling arose in the girl’s heart.
Unaware of An Siyao’s tender thoughts, Xia Yu finished a plate of biscuits, thinking about what to do next.
An Siyao suggested playing the piano, but Xia Yu declined.
He had worked hard enough to raise his music skill to level 4 and just wanted to rest now.
Plus, he was learning guzheng.
After a while, Xia Yu had a good idea to ease his guilt.
“I’ll hum a tune for you,” he said to An Siyao.
“Okay.” The girl sweetly agreed.
Xia Yu didn’t hum “Noon Sunlight,” the piece he had previously played for You Xue. Instead, he chose “Colorful Stones.”
“Noon Sunlight” was more relaxed, while “Colorful Stones” was more crisp and cheerful.
In this cheerful melody, both Xia Yu and An Siyao felt sleepy.
Walking to the bed and lying down, Xia Yu closed his eyes.
After a while, the maid knocked twice and entered.
Seeing An Siyao sleeping on the bed, she was slightly surprised.
After confirming that the young mistress was asleep, the maid removed her coat and shoes and covered her with a blanket.
“Asleep, she doesn’t look fierce at all,” the maid muttered. “But she’s still cool when she’s fierce.”
Taking out her phone, she secretly took a few photos to show off to her friends.
Eight hours later, Xia Yu returned to his own body, quite surprised that he had almost spent a full session of game time sleeping.
Indeed, the soothing effect was remarkable. Unfortunately, after recording, the effect completely disappeared. Otherwise, if he could press them into records and sell one to every household worldwide, he would become rich.
…
On Monday, he chose White Cat again.
If it weren’t for not seeing An Siyao for several days, he wouldn’t have gone to her yesterday because White Cat was facing an incident.
Tina and her grandmother had said something about him the day before yesterday, and the police officer might come back to investigate again.
As the light returned, he found himself in the pet shop’s walls, facing the familiar cage.
Had he been sent back?
Xia Yu didn’t expect this situation.
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