Xia Yu’s home, at ten-thirty in the evening.
Youxue looked away from the TV to check the phone.
It was already 10:40 p.m., and her older brother was still out.
She leaned back and faced away from the TV. She hugged the cushion. Its warmth chased away the night chill.
On the TV, the host was struggling to do a talk show, his voice echoed in the empty apartment.
After a while, her phone rang. Youxue sat up and answered the phone.
“Brother! …not coming home tonight?… staying with the teacher?”
Youxue turned off her phone and began to ponder.
Based on the perfume she noticed on his jacket before, her older brother had definitely found a girlfriend!
Youxue calmly analyzed.
Oh no, it’s over for me.
First, staying out all night, then, not coming back tomorrow. He wouldn’t be with me anymore the day after tomorrow!
Holding the cushion, Youxue eased her mind and started to contemplate again.
Her brother wasn’t poor, nor was he a weakling who lived off of women, so he was probably a rich woman’s boyfriend.
Thinking more, Youxue picked up the phone and made a call.
“Hey Lili, I remember you said you had an older sister?”
…
Xia Yu didn’t know his younger sister was trying to pimp him out at the moment. He had gone back with Kong Hanyue and Zhong Yunze.
“Let’s go study more guzheng!’ After taking his hand and walking a bit, Kong Hanyue stopped.
“Wait, it’s rare that you can stay here today. Go take a shower.” She pushed Xia Yu toward the bathroom.
After the shower, Xia Yu understood her goal.
The clothes she gave him to change into was a Han-style set in black.
Xia Yu went to the guzheng room dressed in Han-style clothes. Kong Hanyue had changed into the same style and was waiting for him.
“No wonder you’re my son. You look so handsome.” Kong Hanyue looked at Xia Yu happily.
Zhong Yunze, who heard the comment while standing nearby, also silently changed into the same style, then hovered near Kong Hanyue.
“Zeze is also amazing!”
After receiving Kong Hanyue’s compliment, Zhong Yunze sat down docilely.
Were young people all so naive these days? Xia Yu had to marvel.
Although this really had nothing to do with him.
With Kong Hanyue’s guidance, he started learning a new music piece.
This song was called “Three Style,” which was written in a war style. When hearing the song, one could feel transported to an ancient battlefield.
Xia Yu didn’t play very skillfully since it was a new song. After hearing half the song, Zhong Yunze stood up and walked out of the guzheng room with a smile.
When Zhong Yunze first heard from Kong Hanyue that Xia Yu was also entering the music competition, he panicked a little bit. Now that he had seen Xia Yu’s actual level of music-playing, he had relaxed.
I was indeed my mom’s favorite child.
Satisfied, he changed back into casual clothes and went out to ride his bike.
His bike was not just an ordinary bike to be used on a regular road. He could ride his bike on all terrains, go uphill, go in the water… almost anywhere.
But there was no rural area nearby, so he couldn’t really use the bike to its advantage.
It was boring riding by himself anyway. He should get Xia Yu to join him sometime.
Too bad he wasn’t 18-years-old yet and couldn’t get a driver’s license. He had heard that an off-road car would be even more stimulating to drive.
Zhong Yunze circled the subdivision a few times, one-sidedly raced a taxi, then returned home.
By now, Xia Yu had already finished learning “Three Style” and was learning “40 Style.”
After hearing some more, Zhong Yunze was sure Xia Yu was awful. He was no match for him at all.
“Right. Guzheng is very hard. Don’t be sad.” He comforted Xia Yu. “I’ve learned guzheng a bit too, and I stopped after ‘Moon’s Tears.'”
Kong Hanyue smiled deviously from an angle Zhong Yunze couldn’t see. She winked at Xia Yu, telling him not to explain.
Xia Yu didn’t want to explain anyway. He would surprise Zhong Yunze at the competition.
“Alright. Let’s all get some sleep. It’s almost midnight.”
With Kong Hanyue nagging, Xia Yu and Zhong Yunze returned to their rooms to rest.
At eight o’clock the next morning, Xia Yu woke up. Zhong Yunze had already gone out to ride his bike with some friends.
After breakfast, he studied guzheng all morning with Kong Hanyue. He didn’t return home until 3 p.m.
He’d thought Youxue would cling to him for a while after he’d been out for so long, but the girl was curled up on the sofa while chatting with someone. She didn’t want to get close to him at all.
Was his younger sister all grown up now?
Xia Yu was a little disappointed. He wanted Youxue to stay the same, just like Kong Hanyue.
He had studied guzheng for five hours today, so he didn’t need to go to Kong Hanyue’s place again that night.
The practice from last night and this morning had made Xia Yu’s arms and fingers very sore.
I worked hard today. I should enjoy some good food at An Siyao’s!
After a brief darkness, the space in front of Xia Yu had changed.
He saw Feng Yujia and Feng Yumo, the two sisters, as well as some desserts and black tea.
Were they having afternoon tea?
Xia Yu picked up a piece of dessert after looking around himself.
His gesture made the Feng sisters’ eyes light up.
They looked at each other while thinking to themselves:
“The An Siyao we like is here!”
The sisters picked up desserts and tea, and began feeding Xia Yu.
Xia Yu had one bite of the dessert Feng Yujia handed over, and a sip of the black tea Feng Yumo delivered. Total satisfaction was painted all over his face.
“Are you really not going on this study-trip?” Feng Yujia asked.
Study-trip was an activity that involved touring another place with a bunch of students.
It was like the kindergarten field trip of Xia Yu’s former lifetime.
Different schools had study-trips at different times. When Xia Yu was in 10th grade, he had already gone on the study trip, while the East Land School did their trip in 12th grade.
In his mind, An Siyao weakly explained her reason for not going to Xia Yu, “We have to fly…”
The girl was still worried about her supposed death from a plane crash, which Xia Yu had made up.
“If you want to go, I’ll go,” the girl added.
However, her tone made it clear she didn’t want to go.
If the girl didn’t want to go, Xia Yu didn’t want to force her, though he really wanted to see what kind of good food District 11 offered.
“No,” Xia Yu answered.
“Then, we’re not going either. Let’s go find a place to have fun!” Feng Yujia and Feng Yumo looked expectantly at Xia Yu.
They weren’t particularly interested in District 11 either, they just wanted to be with Xia Yu.
When An Siyao agreed, Xia Yu agreed as well.
The two sisters started a new topic.
“That bad girl from the 10th grade had made the principal really angry.” Feng Yujia said.
“Yeah, I had heard as well. She was hitting someone in the bathroom. She even tore their clothes. The school still hadn’t found her yet.” Feng Yumo had heard about this incident as well.
“Guess it’s time to call in the parents.” Feng Yujia sounded gleeful.
The East Land School, given that it was an elite girls school, didn’t always involve the parents with every little thing. The school only told the parents when the teachers couldn’t resolve something.
So telling the parents meant the incident was quite serious. The next step would be expulsion.
Xia Yu didn’t think too much of this. He thought it was just idle chit chat.
.
.
[Theatre]
Xu Youxiang (counting fingers): …. didn’t come two days before yesterday, didn’t come the day before yesterday, didn’t come yesterday, didn’t come today either.