Chapter 14

At nine o'clock on Sunday morning, Hu Yiqing went to the music room, intending to write the prepared teaching content on the blackboard to make it easier to teach Yang Jingxing in the afternoon. However, as soon as she heard the piano music at the stairwell, she knew Yang Jingxing had already arrived.

The two confronted each other, and Yang Jingxing said he had told her to meet in the afternoon so she could rest well. Hu Yiqing replied that the exam was not just Yang Jingxing's responsibility; as a teacher, she also had a duty.

Thus, they quickly began the lesson. After reviewing the chords from the previous day, they started learning about scales and tonality. Yang Jingxing still couldn't escape the fate of exam-oriented education, having to memorize the textbook and do exercises.

As lunchtime approached, Ren Chuyu came to visit Yang Jingxing. However, with Hu Yiqing present, it affected her performance, and she could only ask Yang Jingxing, "Aren't you going to eat?"

Yang Jingxing pointed to the bread and water, "I've already prepared it."

"So dedicated!" Ren Chuyu pouted, "What about Hu Teacher?"

Hu Yiqing said, "It's time to eat. Let's take a break. I'll come back at two. Is that okay?"

After Hu Yiqing left, Ren Chuyu started flipping through Yang Jingxing's books and looked at the blackboard, saying, "I used to learn this too, but I've forgotten everything. Can I join your class?"

Yang Jingxing refused, "I need to focus on my studies."

"Are you really not going to eat? I can bring you something. What do you like?"

"Thanks, but I appreciate the thought. You should go eat. Look how thin you've become."

Ren Chuyu leaned in and whispered, "I saw Shao Lei and Jiang Qing walking together this morning. Shao Lei's car was there."

Yang Jingxing whispered back more mysteriously, "I saw Yang Jingxing and Ren Chuyu in the music room this noon. Ren Chuyu even put on makeup."

Ren Chuyu giggled and got angry, "Then I'll leave!"

Hu Yiqing returned a little after one o'clock and asked Yang Jingxing, "Have you eaten? Where's Ren Chuyu?"

Yang Jingxing replied, "I finished a whole bag of bread in two minutes, and she was scared away."

Hu Yiqing chuckled and asked, "Who do you get along with best at school?"

Yang Jingxing thought for a moment, "You."

Hu Yiqing smiled helplessly, "I meant your classmates." But she didn't pursue the question further and started the lesson.

The afternoon passed with three to four hours of practice. Then Yang Jingxing had to go to the cafeteria for dinner, or he would be very hungry by midnight. The school had three cafeterias, which were more like self-service restaurants. Yang Jingxing and Hu Yiqing went to Huayuan because the food there was lighter.

Yang Jingxing carried two plates, which looked quite intimidating. Hu Yiqing, possibly feeling embarrassed to sit with a big eater, joined a table with her colleagues.

Yang Jingxing quickly finished his meal. He returned to the music room half an hour later, and Hu Yiqing only arrived then, saying she had taken a walk to aid digestion and that Yang Jingxing should develop this habit too.

After half an hour of reviewing the day's content, Yang Jingxing said, "Teacher, you must be tired today. Go rest. I won't learn new content tonight; I'll just review."

Hu Yiqing said it was fine and watched Yang Jingxing practice. After an hour, she said, "With a student like you, a teacher doesn't feel tired at all."

Yang Jingxing felt ashamed, "I'm still at this level; don't let me get too proud."

Hu Yiqing was serious, "Skill has no limits; continuous improvement is key."

As it approached nine o'clock, Hu Yiqing started yawning and putting in eye drops. Yang Jingxing threatened to stop practicing if she didn't go home to rest, while he continued to work hard late into the night.

On Monday, before the morning exercises class ended, Hu Yiqing was already waiting outside the classroom for Yang Jingxing, looking displeased and saying, "Come to the office after the exercises; I have something to ask you."

Hu Yiqing wanted to ask, "Did you see Professor Li Yingzhen on Saturday?"

"Yes," Yang Jingxing nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me!?" Hu Yiqing was quite angry; she had only heard about it from the office director in the morning.

Yang Jingxing felt embarrassed, "She scolded me, and I felt I had let you down."

Hu Yiqing was so angry that her lips twitched, "Scolded you? She only scolds those she respects! How could you not seize such a good opportunity? I was even going to ask Teacher Chen to guide you..." She knew that with her piano skills, it would be difficult to teach Yang Jingxing to the level of 299. With Yang Jingxing's rapid progress, he would soon face her limitations.

Hu Yiqing asked, "Did she give you her business card?"

Yang Jingxing nodded.

"Did you call her?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head.

Hu Yiqing rubbed her hands anxiously, "Call her quickly. Do you know what to say?"

Yang Jingxing was uncooperative, "I'll call her after I practice more, so she can see that my teacher isn't just a pushover."

Hu Yiqing really wanted to bite Yang Jingxing to vent her frustration, her face turning red. She pointed at him and said, "Give me the business card. Do you know how much time and effort you could save if she teaches you? Go get the business card!"

Yang Jingxing said, "I remember the phone number."

After getting the phone number, Hu Yiqing hesitated, "You need to seize the opportunity. You should call her... forget it, I'll help you."

The call was connected, but it was answered by an assistant in Professor Li Yingzhen's studio, who said the professor was not available and refused to give out her mobile number.

Hu Yiqing explained for a long time, making it clear that she was the teacher of a student whom Professor Li had criticized at Shangpu High School on Saturday. She repeatedly requested, "Please, tell Professor Li that this student really wants her guidance... Shangpu High School, Yang Jingxing... Yes, thank you very much!"

The class bell had already rung, and Hu Yiqing sighed in relief, looking at Yang Jingxing and saying, "Go to class. Don't worry too much. Even if we can't contact her, it's not a big deal, right? You're not applying for the piano department, are you?"

Yang Jingxing nodded and asked, "You won't give up on me, right?"

Hu Yiqing stomped her foot, the heel making a crisp sound on the ground, and ordered, "Go to class!"

Yang Jingxing ran off, and Hu Yiqing laughed behind him.

Hu Yiqing didn't have to wait long. Her phone rang at eleven, and it was the number she remembered. She quickly answered, "Hello."

"Hello, I'm Li Yingzhen. Who are you?"

"Professor Li, hello. I'm sorry to disturb you. You guided a student named Yang Jingxing at Shangpu High School last Saturday. Thank you. I'm his teacher..."

"Uh, I see. What do you want?" Professor Li's tone was not very warm.

Hu Yiqing quickly organized her words, "Professor Li, you are an expert and must be very busy. If Yang Jingxing were not a good student, I wouldn't dare to bother you. Yang Jingxing is a very talented and hardworking student. He really... Professor Li, could you please give him some guidance?"

Professor Li spoke to someone else and then said, "He's already in his final year of high school. What did he do before? How many teachers has he had?"

Hu Yiqing quickly replied, "I'm just their music teacher and haven't taught him much piano. Yang Jingxing learned piano as a child, but I think he has a lot of talent and works very hard. He can definitely improve."

Professor Li disagreed, "Talented and hardworking, but how could he play like that!? He can't even walk properly, let alone run. How can such a student be taught?"

Hu Yiqing immediately said, "Professor Li, it's my responsibility. I'm not capable of teaching him well. I was already looking for other piano teachers for him. I didn't expect him to meet you. This might be fate. Professor Li, please give him a chance."

It seemed that Hu Yiqing was not an irresponsible teacher and had a genuine appreciation for talent. Professor Li said, "Tell me more about this student. How could such a good seed be taught like that!?"

So Hu Yiqing explained what she knew. Yang Jingxing learned piano as a child, but being from a small city, he inevitably faced limitations in terms of teaching quality. With the pressure of exams and heavy study loads, he had little time to practice piano in junior high and high school. However, his passion for music never faded. At this critical point in his final year of high school, he promised his parents he wouldn't neglect his studies and still wanted to give it a shot to avoid regret in life. Hu Yiqing emphasized how she had seen Yang Jingxing improve rapidly every day, and this progress was built on hard work.

"Every day after dinner, he goes to the classroom and practices until two or three in the morning. The school management has even commented on him. On weekends, he spends the whole day in the classroom, bringing bread for lunch." Hu Yiqing didn't consider the credibility of these statements.

Professor Li said, "He wouldn't play like that if he weren't hardworking. I heard he wants to apply for the composition department?"

...

Hu Yiqing spent half an hour on the phone before returning to the office. A colleague asked her, "What are you so happy about?"

"Oh, nothing," Hu Yiqing still smiled.

Before the end of the class at noon, Hu Yiqing found Yang Jingxing again and took him aside, saying seriously, "This Saturday at two, we'll go see Professor Li."

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Okay."

"Prepare well, and don't play those high-difficulty pieces."

Yang Jingxing nodded, "Thank you."

Hu Yiqing smiled brightly, "Good luck."

Then they continued to practice every night. Hu Yiqing stayed with Yang Jingxing until around ten, focusing on the basics to hopefully change Professor Li's impression of him.

On Friday afternoon, Hu Yiqing returned to the city and agreed to meet Yang Jingxing at the entrance of the Puhai Music Academy's primary school at one o'clock the next day. She reminded him to rest well and be in the best condition the next day.

Yang Jingxing arrived in the city at nine on Saturday morning and wandered around. At ten, he received a call from Hu Yiqing, asking if he had set off. Knowing that Yang Jingxing was already in the city, Hu Yiqing invited him to her home for lunch, but Yang Jingxing felt uncomfortable accepting.

Yang Jingxing waited at the entrance of the Puhai Music Academy's primary school for half an hour before Hu Yiqing arrived. Hu Yiqing apologized and noticed the bouquet of flowers in Yang Jingxing's hand.

"Happy holiday," Yang Jingxing handed her a simple bouquet of carnations and a small bag.

Hu Yiqing felt a bit awkward, "Thank you... Your class already gave me a gift yesterday." It was Teacher's Day.

Yang Jingxing said, "That was formal, this is from the heart."

Hu Yiqing looked at the bag and then at Yang Jingxing, surprised, "How did you know to choose this brand?" It was a mid-range skincare brand, and a bottle of moisturizer cost a few hundred yuan.

Yang Jingxing said, "I asked my mom."

Hu Yiqing smiled, "Your mom is beautiful." Then she criticized, "You shouldn't have bought something so expensive."

Yang Jingxing said, "It's because I made you lose sleep."

Hu Yiqing suddenly smiled slyly, "Did I become uglier?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "No, just that the trend of becoming more beautiful has slowed down."

Hu Yiqing gritted her teeth, making a threatening face but couldn't help laughing. She looked at her watch and said, "We have half an hour, let's wait."

The sun was scorching, and they chose a shady spot to stand. After Hu Yiqing said she didn't need water or cold drinks, Yang Jingxing said, "I'll offer the flowers to Buddha later, is that okay?"

Hu Yiqing looked at Yang Jingxing for two seconds before understanding and stomped her foot, "Really, I forgot about this... Just giving flowers isn't enough, right? Is there still time to buy something? I'll give this to Professor Li." Hu Yiqing wanted to offer her skincare products.

Yang Jingxing laughed, "She's so old, you'd be mocking her!"

Hu Yiqing was flustered, "We'll make it up next time. I didn't think of it, why didn't you remind me?" She quickly opened her bag to hide the gift Yang Jingxing had given her. But it wouldn't fit, so she had to leave the small bag and put the contents into her handbag. There was a moisturizer, essence, lotion, cleansing powder, almost a complete set. There was also a card, which Hu Yiqing opened before putting it away, reading: "Teacher Hu, thank you. Wishing you beauty and happiness."

Hu Yiqing glanced at Yang Jingxing but didn't say anything.

At 1:45, Hu Yiqing received a call, but it wasn't from Professor Li, but from her assistant. They met, and the assistant introduced herself as Zhang Chujia, a graduate student under Professor Li and also an assistant teacher. Hu Yiqing tried to connect with Zhang Chujia, saying she had a classmate studying at the music academy, but in the management department.

Zhang Chujia was a few years younger than Hu Yiqing, a few centimeters taller, and also slim. However, her attire was less fashionable and feminine than Hu Yiqing's, with natural black straight hair, looking like a simple college student.

In terms of appearance, both had their strengths and weaknesses. Zhang Chujia had slightly larger eyes, but her face was relatively wider. Hu Yiqing's features were more delicate but lacked the same level of contour and charm.

When the two women stood together, the first impression was that Hu Yiqing was gentle and petite, while Zhang Chujia was cheerful and lively.

Because Professor Li was busy, she couldn't come in person, and Zhang Chujia apologized. Hu Yiqing said it was fine and told Yang Jingxing, "Getting guidance from Teacher Zhang is just as good."

So, Yang Jingxing handed the flowers to Zhang Chujia, "Wishing Teacher Zhang a happy Teacher's Day."

Zhang Chujia took the flowers and smiled, "These are for Professor Li, right? Don't worry, I'll pass them on. Hey, let me see your hands."

Yang Jingxing extended his hands for Zhang Chujia to inspect. She looked and smiled, "They are quite large. Have you eaten... Let's go then."

On the way, Zhang Chujia told Yang Jingxing that Professor Li had instructed her to let him attend the piano class for the primary school students, but only as an observer.

Zhang Chujia found it amusing and asked Yang Jingxing, "Do you have any objections?"

Hu Yiqing helped answer, "No, no, thank you."

Zhang Chujia then said to Hu Yiqing, "If you're not busy, you can come along. If Professor Li can't come, she'll call you."

Hu